Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [220]
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce ( Map; 2529 9229; www.chamber.org.hk; 22nd fl, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty) Services for foreign executives and firms, such as translation, serviced offices, secretarial help and printing.
Hong Kong Labour Department ( Map; 2717 1771; www.labour.gov.hk; 16th fl, Harbour Bldg, 38 Pier Rd, Central) Contact this department for labour-relations problems and queries.
Hong Kong Trade & Industry Department ( Map; 2392 2922; www.tid.gov.hk; Room 908, Trade & Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Rd, Mong Kok) This department is a key source for trade information, statistics, government regulations and product certification. Enter from Fife St.
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC; Map; 1830 668; www.tdctrade.com; 38th fl, Office Tower, Convention Plaza, 1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai) Cosponsors and participates in trade fairs, and publishes a wealth of material on Hong Kong markets.
TDC Business InfoCentre ( Map; 2248 4000; http://infocentre.tdctrade.com; New Wing, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat) Run by the HKTDC, the centre is well stocked with relevant books, periodicals and reference materials.
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BUSINESS HOURS
Office hours in Hong Kong are from 9am to either 5.30pm or 6pm on weekdays and often (but increasingly less so) from 9am to noon or 1pm on Saturday. The weekday lunch hour is usually from 1pm to 2pm. Banks are open from 9am to 4.30pm or 5.30pm weekdays and 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.
Shops that cater to tourists keep longer hours, but almost nothing opens before 9am. As a rule of thumb, assume a place will be open from 10am to 7pm daily. For specifics, see Click here.
Museums are generally open from 10am to between 5pm and 9pm and are closed one day a week (usually Monday, Tuesday or Thursday).
Restaurants in Hong Kong are generally open from noon to 3pm; dinner is usually from 6pm to 11pm.
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CHILDREN
Hong Kong is a great travel destination for kids (see the boxed texts, Click here and Click here), though the crowds, traffic and pollution might be off-putting to some parents. Food and sanitation is of a high standard, and the territory is jam-packed with things to entertain the young ’uns. As a starting point, get a copy of the Hong Kong Family Fun Guide from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) or download it from the HKTB website (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/travelneeds/family/index.jhtml).
Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children,written by Brigitte Barta et al, includes all sorts of useful advice for those travelling with their little ones.
Most public transport and museums offer half-price fares and admission fees to children under the age of 12, but combination family tickets are rare. Hotels can recommend baby-sitters if you’ve got daytime appointments or want a night out sanschild. Otherwise, call Rent-A-Mum ( 2523 4868; www.rent-a-mum.com; per hr $110-140); transport charges may be added, depending on the location.
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CLIMATE
Both Hong Kong and Macau have a subtrop-ical climate characterised by hot and humid summers and cool, relatively dry winters.
October, November and most of December are the best months to visit. Temperatures are moderate, the skies are clear and the sun shines. January and February are cloudy and cold but dry. It’s warmer from March to May, but the humidity is high, and the fog and drizzle can make getting around difficult. The sweltering heat and humidity from June to August can make sightseeing a sweaty proposition, and it is also the rainy season. September is a grand month if you like drama: the threat of a typhoon seems to loom every other day.
The very informative Hong Kong Observatory ( Map; 2926 8200; www.hko.gov.hk; 134A Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui) issues