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TAXES & REFUNDS

There is no sales tax in Hong Kong. The only ‘visible’ tax that visitors are likely to encounter is the 3% government tax on hotel rates.

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TELEPHONE

International Calls & Rates

Hong Kong’s ‘country’ code is 852. To call someone outside Hong Kong, dial 001, then the country code, the local area code (you usually drop the initial zero if there is one) and the number. Country codes:

Australia ( 61)

Canada ( 1)

China ( mainland 86)

France ( 33)

Germany ( 49)

Japan ( 81)

Macau ( 853)

Netherlands ( 31)

New Zealand ( 64)

South Africa ( 27)

UK ( 44)

USA ( 1)

Remember that phone rates in Hong Kong are cheaper from 9pm to 8am on weekdays and throughout the weekend. If the phone you’re using has the facility, dial 0060 first and then the number; rates will be cheaper at any time.

You can make International Direct Dial (IDD) calls to almost anywhere in the world from most public telephones in Hong Kong, but you’ll need a phonecard, available from most phone service providers, such as PCCW’s Hello card. You can buy phonecards at any PCCW branch, at 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores, Mannings pharmacies or Wellcome supermarkets.

PCCW ( 2888 2888; www.pccw.com) has retail outlets called i.Shops ( 2888 0008; www.pccwshop.com) throughout the territory, where you can buy phonecards, mobile phones and accessories. The most convenient shop for travellers is the Central branch ( Map; Ground fl, 113 Des Voeux Rd Central; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, noon-7pm Sun). There’s also a Causeway Bay branch ( Map; G3, Ground fl, McDonald’s Bldg, 46-54 Yee Wo St; 10am-10pm Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun).

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Local Calls & Rates

All calls made from private phones in Hong Kong are local calls and therefore free. From public pay phones calls cost $1 for five minutes. Pay phones accept $1, $2, $5 and $10 coins. Hotels charge from $3 to $5 for local calls.

All landline numbers in the territory have eight digits (except 800 toll-free numbers and specific hotlines), and there are no area codes.

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Mobile Phones

Hong Kong locals are addicted to their mobile telephones, which work everywhere, including in the harbour tunnels and on the MTR. Any GSM-compatible phone can be used here.

PCCW i.Shops have mobile phones and accessories along with rechargeable SIM chips for sale from $45. Local calls work out to cost between 30¢ and 50¢ a minute (calls to the mainland are about $1 to $2 a minute) and top-up cards are $88 or $180. Handsets can be hired for as little as $35 a day from Hong Kong CSL ( 2888 1010; www.hkcsl.com), which maintains 1010 outlets in Hong Kong, including a 1010 CSL Central branch ( Map; 2918 1010; 4th fl, Century Sq, 1-13 D’Aguilar St; 8.30am-11pm) and a 1010 CSL Tsim Sha Tsui branch ( Map; 2910 1010; 122-126 Canton Rd; 8.30am-10pm). CSL’s prepaid SIM cards come in a variety of price options, depending on if and where you need roaming services; top-up cards are also available at 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores.

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Useful Numbers

The following are some important telephone numbers and codes; for emergency numbers, see Click here. Both the telephone directory and the Yellow Pages can be consulted online at www.yp.com.hk.

Coastal Waters & Tidal Information ( 187 8200)

International Dialling Code ( 001)

International Directory Inquiries ( 10015)

International Fax Dialling Code ( 002)

Local Directory Inquiries ( 1081)

Reverse-Charge/Collect Calls ( 10010)

Time & Temperature ( 18501)

Weather ( 187 8200)

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TELEVISION

Hong Kong’s four free terrestrial TV stations are run by two companies: TV Broadcasts (TVB) and Asia TV (ATV). Each runs a Cantonese-language channel (TVB Jade and ATV Home) and an English one (TVB Pearl and ATV World). Programmes are listed daily in the South China Morning Postand in a weekly Sunday supplement.

The better hotels in town (although not usually the guesthouses) offer