Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [229]
Public and private hospitals with 24-hour accident and emergency departments:
HONG KONG ISLAND
Hong Kong Central Hospital ( Map; 2522 3141; 1 Lower Albert Rd, Central) Private.
Matilda International Hospital ( Map; 2849 0111; 41 Mt Kellett Rd, the Peak) Private.
Queen Mary Hospital ( Map; 2855 3838; 102 Pok Fu Lam Rd, Pok Fu Lam) Public.
KOWLOON
Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (off Map; 2339 8888; 222 Waterloo Rd, Kowloon Tong) Private.
Princess Margaret Hospital ( Map; 2990 1111; 2-10 Princess Margaret Hospital Rd, Lai Chi Kok) Public.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital ( Map; 2958 8888; 30 Gascoigne Rd, Yau Ma Tei) Public.
NEW TERRITORIES
Prince of Wales Hospital ( Map; 2632 2211; 30-32 Ngan Shing St, Sha Tin) Public.
There are many pharmacies in Hong Kong and Macau. They bear a red-and-white cross outside and there should be a registered pharmacist available inside. Though in Hong Kong many medications can be bought over the counter without a prescription, you should always check it is a known brand and that the expiry date is valid. Birth-control pills, pads, tampons and condoms are available over the counter in these dispensaries, as well as in stores such as Watson’s and Mannings.
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MONEY
Consult the inside front cover for a table of exchange rates and refer to the boxed text on Click here for information on costs.
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ATMs
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) can be found almost everywhere in Hong Kong and are almost always linked up to international money systems such as Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and Visa Electron. Some HSBC so-called Electronic Money machines offer cash withdrawal facilities for Visa and MasterCard holders; American Express (Amex) cardholders have access to Jetco ATMs and can withdraw local currency and travellers cheques at Express Cash ATMs in town.
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Changing Money
Hong Kong has no currency controls; locals and foreigners can bring, send in or take out as much money as they like.
Banks in Hong Kong generally offer the best rates, though two of the biggest ones – Standard Chartered Bank and Hang Seng Bank – levy a $50 commission for each transaction for those who don’t hold accounts. Avoid HSBC, where this charge is $100. If you’re changing the equivalent of several hundred US dollars or more, the exchange rate improves, which usually makes up for the fee.
Licensed moneychangers, such as Chequepoint, abound in touristed areas, including Tsim Sha Tsui. While they are convenient (usually open on Sundays, holidays and late into the evenings) and take no commission per se, the less-than-attractive exchange rates offered are equivalent to a 5% commission. These rates are clearly posted, though if you’re changing several hundred US dollars or more you might be able to bargain for a better rate. Before the actual exchange is made, the moneychanger is required by law to give you a form to sign that clearly shows the amount due to you, the exchange rate and any service charges. Try to avoid the exchange counters at the airport or in hotels, which offer some of the worst rates in Hong Kong.
No foreign-currency black market exists in Hong Kong. If anyone on the street does approach you to change money, assume it’s a scam.
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Credit Cards
The most widely accepted credit cards in Hong Kong are Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diners Club and JCB – and pretty much in that order. It may be an idea to carry two, just in case.
Some shops in Hong Kong add a surcharge to offset the commission charged by credit companies, which can range from 2.5% to 7%. In theory, this is prohibited by the credit companies, but to get around this many shops will offer a 5% discount if you pay with cash. It’s your call.
If a card is lost or stolen, you must