A short briefing drawn from the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s traveller essentials. Rules and fees change, so confirm the details on the official page before you fly.
Go Hong Kong and e-Channel
Eligible frequent visitors can enrol for e-Channel before they arrive through the Immigration Department’s Go Hong Kong app, then use self-service clearance.
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How to get here, and visas
HKTB lists arrival advice and visa notes by country or region. Check your own nationality on the official guide rather than relying on a general rule.
Learn more →Immigration and customs
Everyone passes customs. Declare dutiable goods over the duty-free allowance, and read the rules on prohibited items before you pack. Customs also offers the XiaoHui information assistant.
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Climate and time
Hong Kong is GMT/UTC+8. May to mid-September is hot, wet, and humid, and typhoons can occur from May to November. November to April is cooler. Check the Observatory before outdoor plans.
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Chinese Mainland connections
Air, land, and sea control points link Hong Kong with the Mainland. HKTB’s guide summarises transport, routes, and opening hours for each one.
Learn more →Mobile service and Wi-Fi
Tourist SIM cards and free Wi-Fi.HK hotspots are widely available at attractions, malls, parks, museums, and visitor centres.
Learn more →Emergencies
Call 999 for police, fire, or ambulance. The police hotline published by HKTB is +852 2527 7177. Report a lost passport at a police station, then contact your consulate.
Learn more →Language and power
Chinese and English are official languages, and most signs and transport announcements are bilingual. Cantonese is the everyday spoken language. Power is 220 volts AC, 50Hz, with three-square-pin sockets.
Learn more →Health, smoking, and medicine
Littering or spitting can draw a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. Smoking is banned in many indoor and outdoor places, and alternative smoking products are prohibited. Buy medicine only from a registered pharmacy, marked with the ℞ symbol.
Learn more →Local habits
Let people off the train before you board, stand on the right of escalators, and keep voices and videos down in public.
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Insurance, money, and tax
Visitor medical care costs more than local care, so buy travel insurance, including cover if you will hike or take to the water. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged near 7.80 to the US dollar. Most restaurants add about 10% service. A hotel accommodation tax applies from 1 January 2025, and air passengers aged 12 and over pay a departure tax of HK$200 unless exempt.
Learn more →Getting around
MTR, bus, tram, taxi, and ferry cover the city. Pay with an Octopus card, contactless bank card, mobile wallet, or cash. Visitor centres at the airport and the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier can help with routes.
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