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.
   

• 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.
   

• Hong Kong enjoys year-round sunshine with a mild winter and a hot and humid Summer.
• Spring (March to May): Temperature and humidity are rising. Evening can be cool. Average temperature:17°C-26°C.
• Summer (June to August): Hot, humid and sunny, with ocassional showers and thunderstorms. Average temperature: 26°C-31°C.
• Autumn (September to November): There are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Average temperature: 19°C-28°C.
• Winter (December to February): Cool, dry and cloudy, with occasional cold fronts. The temperature can drop below 10°C. Average temperature: 12°C-20°C.
• Hong Kong experiences both occasional typhoons and rainstorms. Each has its own warning system of signals to let people know what they should do.
• Current weather information is available from the Hong Kong Observatory.
   

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
   

• Octopus card is widely used in Hong Kong for paying for public transport, and in convenience stores, fast food shops, supermarkets, cake shops, vending machines, schools and parking.
• It’s highly recommended get an octopus card, which can purchased at any customer service counter in MTR stations.
   

Concessionary fares are available to Personalised Octopus cardholders (with student status), who are under 26. Application form can be obtained from Student Affairs Office ( Room 01, G/F. Block B4) , any customer service counter in MTR stations or MTR website. Completed application form must be endorsed by Student Affairs Office before sending to any MTR Customer Service Centre.
 

• Non-local students on full-time locally accredited degree programmes and above do have opportunities to gain work experience in Hong Kong. They can take up study/curriculum-related internships approved by EdUHK, part-time employment on campus for not more than 17 hours per week throughout the year, summer jobs without any limit in relation to working hours and location.
• Employment policies governing on-campus and off-campus employment for non-local students are available at SAO website (Section “Employment Policies for non-local students)

• Local SIM cards are widely available at convenience stores and mobile phone shops.
   

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

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.