What you need to know about Hong Kong

Weather

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with distinct seasons.
 
Spring - March to May
Temperature and humidity are rising. Evenings can be cool.

Summer - June to August
Hot, humid and sunny, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The temperture can exceed 31°C.
 
Autumn - September to November 
There are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Many people regard these as the best months of the year to visit Hong Kong.
 
Winter - December to February
Cool, dry and cloudy, with occasional cold fronts. The temperature can drop below 10°C in urban areas.

Language

Cantonese is the Chinese dialect spoken by over 88% of the people in Hong Kong. However, English is widely used in the Government and by the legal, professional and business sectors as well as tourist areas. Most taxi drivers and salespeople are able to communicate in English.

Since reunification with China in 1997, Mandarin, more commonly known as Putonghua – the official dialect of China, has gained in prominence and most locals can at least comprehend it to a certain degree.

Money

The legal tender is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). Hong Kong banknotes are issued by three banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and Bank of China), and vary in design. Exchanging money is available at hotels, ATM machines and banks throughout both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Passport & Visa

Australian nationals whose passports have at least six months’ validity can enter Hong Kong for a period of up to three months without a visa. Those who wish to stay longer must apply for a visa from a Chinese Consulate at least one week prior to departure. Applications can be addressed to either the Chinese Embassy or Consulate offices. If you plan to go to Shenzhen for shopping, this is over the border and you will need to purchase a Chinese Visa either at the border, or prior to departure.

Transport

Hong Kong is geographically compact and boasts one of the world's most efficient, safe, affordable and frequent public transport systems. Whether by taxi, ferry, rail, bus or tram, you can get around easily and catch wonderful glimpses of the city along the way.

For convenience, use an Octopus Card electronic stored-value card that is accepted on most public transport.  the Octopus Card, an electronic fare card that is accepted by almost all forms of public transport, and at many fast food chains and stores. It's easy and convenient to use, save time and eliminates the need for small change. Add money to it whenever you need to, and any unspent value in On-Loan Octopus is refundable along with the HK$50 deposit (minus HK$7 handling fee for cards returned within three months).

Electricity

230V 50HZ – a three pronged adaptor.