Life in Hong Kong

• A cosmopolitan city, with a fantastic mix of people from around the world, historic temples and ultra-modern high rises, intriguing cultural festivals and trendy shopping and entertainment districts.
• Fast-paced urban lifestyle and the opportunity to escape to secluded beaches and country park walking trails and villages.
• Freedom of expression, information, and religion.
• Highly efficient services and a superb public transportation system.
• A major gateway to Mainland China and Asia, and a popular headquarters for regional operations.
   

• Hong Kong enjoys year-round sunshine with a mild winter and a hot and humid Summer.
• Summer: Rainy, humid, and a very warm 32° Celsius (89° Fahrenheit) from June to August.
• Winter: Little rain and usually pleasant with temperatures rarely drop below 15° Celsius (59° Fahrenheit) from December to February.
• Hong Kong experiences both occasional typhoons and rainstorms. Each has its own warning system of signals to let people know what they should do.
   

• Most people speak Cantonese and some Mandarin (Putonghua).
• English is one of the city’s official languages and is widely used by the government, business sectors and other professionals.
   

Under Hong Kong immigration laws, exchange students at Hong Kong tertiary institutions cannot take up part-time or full-time employment, whether paid or unpaid.
 

Hong Kong offers huge variety of Chinese, Asian and Western cuisines; amazing range of its shopping experience anywhere.
 

• Hong Kong uses 220V/50hz and three-pronged plugs.
• Transformers and adaptors for your electrical devices are readily available in Hong Kong.
   

• Bring sufficient Hong Kong currency to cover immediate expenses such as transport fares and meals.
• Do not carry a large amount of cash while travelling to Hong Kong. You may purchase traveller’s cheques in your home country and then open a bank account on campus after your arrival.
• Money exchange is available at the airport and on campus.
• Service charges may apply if you withdraw money on your home country bank card at local ATM machines.
   

• Most shops and restaurants accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express cards.
• Some may not accept credit cards for purchases below HK$200 (US$26), or may add bank service charges.
   

Hong Kong enjoys one of the world’s leading smart card payment systems through its “Octopus” system. Such cards are widely used on public transport and in convenience stores, fast food shops, supermarkets, vending machines, schools and car parks. We highly recommend you get an Octopus card.

You can purchase a card from any customer service counter in Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations. Concessionary fares are available to Personalised Octopus cardholders (with student status), who are under 26. Completed application form must be endorsed by Student Affairs Office before sending to any MTR Customer Service Centre. Application details will be provided during Orientation.
 

Hong Kong has a well developed transportation system. The major components of public transport include railways, buses, minibuses, taxis, ferries and trams.
 

• Most of the world’s mobile telecommunications systems operate in Hong Kong, including GSM 900, PCS 1800, LTE, CDMA and WCDMA.
• Local SIM cards are widely available at convenience stores and mobile phone shops.
   

Recently, the number of telephone deception cases has been increasing and victims are new students to Hong Kong. In the latest scenarios, the swindlers pretend to be officials of Immigration Department of Hong Kong or the Mainland made calls to victims, stating that there were parcels in the Immigration Department for collection or visa issues. Students are reminded not to disclose any personal information when receiving such calls. Immigration Department will not contact students directly by phone call via pre-recorded voice messages for any visa issue.

If you suspect a caller is trying to con you, please hang up the phone and report the case to the police.