2020 International Students Survival Kit International Development Office
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International Students Survival Kit 2019 - 2020 International Development Office (IDO) 14/F, VTC Tower, 27 Wood Road Wanchai Hong Kong | http://ww w.vtc.edu.hk/ido Tel: (852) 2836 1705 | Fax: (852) 2891 2372 | E-mail: [email protected] Emergencies Emergency number In emergency situations, you can contact the local police, ambulance service, fire department and other emergency services by dialling 999. Consular Posts & Officially Recognised Representatives There are over 100 Consulates-General, Consulates and Officially Recognised Bodies in Hong Kong. Contact information can be found here: http://www.protocol.gov.hk/eng/consular/index.html Lost passport If your passport is lost, you should immediately report at the nearest Hong Kong police station (or locally where the passport was lost) and file a ‘lost peroperty report’ and request a copy of the report. Take this proof of loss to your country’s Consulate-General/Consulate/Officially Recognised Body in Hong Kong and request a replacement. (Tips: If you need to take passport photos, you may go to self-service booths located in MTR (metro) stations or photo service shops, eg. Fotomax. Remember to check photo requirements, including size and background colour, with the authority that has requested the photo e.g. your country’s Consulate. ) Lost Hong Kong Identity Card If your Hong Kong ID is lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, you should report to any Registration of Persons Office and apply for a replacement within 14 days, or within 14 days of your return if it is lost or damaged outside of Hong Kong. The damaged or defaced identity card should be surrendered to the registration officer upon application for replacement. A fee of HK$370 will be charged for the replacement of an identity card (see Q15 here: http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/faq_hkic.html). Lost or stolen wallet If your wallet or valuables are lost or stolen, please notify your hotel, dormitory or apartment management immediately and make a police report at police station in Hong Kong (or locally where the wallet was lost). Keep a separate record of your credit card number(s) and report the loss to your card issuer(s) as quickly as possible. Most issuers have toll-free numbers, often listing numbers specifically for customers calling from abroad, and a 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. Useful Numbers Emergency Police, Fire and Ambulance 999 Police Department Hotline 2527 7177 General Enquiries Telephone Directory Enquiries 1081 Weather (Hong Kong Observatory) 1878 200 Government Departments and Authorities Hong Kong Immigration Department 2824 6111 Customs and Excise Department Enquiry Hotline 2815 7711 Department of Health 2961 8989 / 2961 8991 Travel and Tourism Hong Kong International Airport 2181 0000 Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Hotline 2508 1234 Reminder: Dial +852 to call a Hong Kong number from overseas. There are no regional codes. 1 Contents 1. PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 ACCOMMODATION ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 LIVING COSTS IN HONG KONG ................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 WEATHER............................................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.5 QUICK FACTS ABOUT HONG KONG ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2. ARRIVAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 EXPECTED ARRIVAL DATE ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 ARRIVAL PROCEDURES ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 ENROLMENT, STUDENT HANDBOOK & STUDENT CARD ................................................................................................................. 9 2.4 HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD ................................................................................................................................................... 9 3. COMMUNICATIONS ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 POSTAL SERVICE .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 4. ACCOMMODATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 VTC ACCOMMODATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.2 PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION .................................................................................................................................................. 11 5. MONEY AND BANKING SERVICES .................................................................................................................................. 12 5.1 MONEY ............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 5.2 ABOUT BANKS IN HONG KONG ............................................................................................................................................... 12 5.3 BANK & CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT OPENING ............................................................................................................................... 12 5.4 AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES (ATMS) ................................................................................................................................. 13 6. HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ............................................................................................................................................... 14 6.1 OVERVIEW OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG ............................................................................................................ 14 6.2 PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................... 14 6.3 FEES AND CHARGES FOR PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SERVICES ............................................................................................................ 15 6.4 CHINESE MEDICINE SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................. 15 6.5 MEDICATION AND PRESCRIPTIONS........................................................................................................................................... 15 6.6 INSURANCE ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15 7. PUBLIC TRANSPORT ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 7.1 MTR ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 7.2 BUS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 7.3 TAXI .................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 7.4 FERRIES ............................................................................................................................................................................. 20 7.5 TRAM ................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 8. SHOPPING IN HONG KONG ........................................................................................................................................... 22 8.1 WHERE TO SHOP ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 8.2 SUPERMARKETS AND WET MARKETS ......................................................................................................................................