Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [226]
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December
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IDENTITY CARD
Hong Kong residents are required to carry a government-issued Hong Kong Identity Card with them at all times and this rule is strictly enforced. As a visitor, you are required to carry your passport; it is the only acceptable form of identification as far as the police are concerned.
Anyone over the age of 11 who stays in Hong Kong for longer than 180 days must apply for a Hong Kong ID. Inquire at the ID-issuing office of the Hong Kong Immigration Department ( Map; 2824 6111; www.immd.gov.hk; 2nd fl, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai; 8.45am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 9-11.30am Sat). Make sure you take your passport and other documents along with you.
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INTERNET ACCESS
Long since fully cabled with broadband, getting online in Hong Kong should be a breeze. Wi-fi is increasingly available in hotels and public areas, including in all of the major shopping malls.
The most-used internet service providers (ISPs) in Hong Kong include PCCW’sNetvi-gator ( 183 3833; www.netvigator.com), HKNet ( 2110 2288; www.hknet.com), CPCNet ( 2331 8930; www.cpcnet-hk.com) and Yahoo ( 2895 5769; www.yahoo.hk).
Most hotels and hostels have internet access either through terminals or by offering wireless access to hook your own machines up to. You’ll also be able to log on for free at major MTR stations (eg Central and Causeway Bay) and many public libraries, including the Causeway Bay branch of the Central Library ( Map; 3150 1234; www.hkpl.gov.hk; 66 Causeway Rd; 10am-9pm Thu-Tue, 1-9pm Wed, 10am-7pm some public holidays; Shau Kei Wan). All it takes to log on to one of the terminals at the Pacific Coffee Company (www.pacificcoffee.com) or the many Mix (www.mix-world.com) juice bars is the purchase of a drink.
The following are among the best private internet cafes (ie they have fast machines, good locations and lots of terminals):
Cyber Pro Internet ( Map; 2836 3502; Basement, 491-499 Lockhart Rd, Causeway Bay; per hr 11am-mid night/midnight-7am Sun-Thu $16/10, Fri & Sat $18/13; 11am-7am) This huge place is packed with young ‘uns playing games.
IT. Fans ( Map; 2542 1868; Ground & Cockloft, Man On Commercial Bldg, 12-13 Jubilee St, Central; membership $10, per hr members/nonmembers Mon-Thu $16/20, Fri-Sun $18/22; 10am-5am) This massive and very central place has 100 monitors and serves food.
Pacific Coffee Company ( Map; 2735 0112; www.pacificcoffee.com; Shop G31-G32A, Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; 7am-midnight Mon-Thu, 7am-1am Fri & Sat, 8am-midnight Sun) In ternet is free for customers. There are dozens of other branches throughout Hong Kong.
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Wi-Fi & Wireless Broadband Access
One of the most wired cities on earth, Hong Kong has lately been going wireless. You’ll find excellent wi-fi connectivity in urban areas, and an increasing number of hotels and bars offer free access, along with almost every shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui and on Hong Kong Island, often only requiring registration and possibly an email address. Many chains of coffee and juice shops, such as Pacific Coffee Company (www.pacificcoffee.com) offer free wi-fi. For a comprehensive list of wireless locations, try Hotspot Locations (www.hotspot-locations.com).
Most of the mobile-phone-network oper-ators in town now offer USB ‘dongles’ that use a mobile phone SIM card as a data link for your laptop; some also offer these on pay-as-you-go plans that do not require a contract (and thus proof of residency). The cost (around $900) of these contract-free units will doubtless fall in time, but they are probably only worth considering if you are staying several nights or longer in town and your hotel charges a daily rate for internet connections. If you have a dongle of your own, see if you can use it here. Many overseas dongles are locked to their original country of use, so insist on the shop trying out your unit in store before you buy.
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LAUNDRY
Laundries