Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) comprises the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and 234 outlying islands. It has recently been at the centre of the most remarkable changeover in recent history, from its former colonial position to incorporation within the mighty People's Republic of China; yet it retains much of its former freedom to trade and continues to build upon its success.

Art and Culture

A visit to Hong Kong would hardly be complete without seeing a performance of Chinese opera. Hong Kong has some 500 performers, and troupes from other parts of China regularly visit. There are four distinct types of opera, from the high culture Beijing opera which makes much of traditional props but little by way of scenery, to the local Cantonese style which draws upon themes of tragedy and unrequited love. Chaozhou opera retains much of Chinese traditional folklore and legends; it has changed little since the days of the Ming dynasty.

Operas, despite their name, bear little resemblance to those performed in the West. Performances combine song, dance, acting, mime and acrobatics and can last for up to six hours.

There are some fine examples of Hong Kong art to be found in the Fringe in Central. Much of it is personal and explorative and can be seen at the Dragon's Back Gallery, which hosts regular exhibitions.

The Festival of Asian Arts is held in October (sometimes November) and is one of the art world's major international events.

Newspapers and Magazines

British, American, Australian and European newspapers and magazines are available through the Business Centre and at certain news vendors throughout Hong Kong.

There are several excellent English-language newspapers published in Hong Kong. TheSouth China Morning Post has the largest distribution of any English-language newspaper in Hong Kong and it is reputed to be the most profitable newspaper in the world. The Hong Kong Mail is also a very popular newspaper with locals and ex-pats alike, and has excellent news coverage.

Three international newspapers are published in Hong Kong including the Asian Wall Street Journal, the International Herald Tribune, and USA Today.

News magazines include Asiaweek, the Far Eastern Economic Review, the Economist, Time and Newsweek, whilst the lifestyle magazines market includes the Hong Kong Tatler and Home Journal.

Where and City Life Magazine provide the latest entertainment scene and restaurant guide and give a complete listing of the best Hong Kong clubs and nightspots.

Climate

Hong Kong enjoys four distinct seasons with early spring and late autumn particularly good times in which to visit. Summer temperatures can reach 33°C (91°F) with high humidity, dropping to an average of 17°C (62°F) during the winter months (December to February).

Time

Hong Kong Standard Time is GMT / UTC plus eight hours. There is no daylight saving time.

Weights and Measures

Hong Kong uses metric measurements with the exception of traditional Chinese measures such as the tael (37.8 grams) and the catti (600 grams), which are used for certain domestic transactions.

Electricity

The electric current is 220V, 50HzAC. Plugs vary considerably with an assortment of pin configurations. Although British and Australian-style plugs may fit certain sockets, it's a good idea to come prepared with conversion plugs.