The official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and English. Cantonese is the most spoken language. English is widely spoken, especially in business circles. In business life, Standard Chinese (Putonghua) is spoken in addition to English.
The dates of some religious holidays are based on the lunar calendar and change annually.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items may be brought into Hong Kong duty-free: 19 cigarettes or 1 cigar or 25 g cigars or 25 g tobacco (persons aged 18 and over); 1 liter of wine or spirits (over 18s); items for personal use. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
Weapons, ammunition, psychotropic drugs, narcotics, meat, game, poultry, fireworks, explosives, counterfeit branded and other counterfeits, plants, parts of plants and endangered species (live or stuffed), endangered plants. More information is available from Hong Kong Customs.
Contact addresses
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The diplomatic representation takes place through the Chinese embassies, where visas can also be obtained (see China for contact addresses ).
Business
Business etiquette
Business people are expected to dress well. The local business people are mostly very hospitable. Scheduling appointments is common, and value is placed on punctuality. Business cards should have the Chinese translation on the back. Most top hotels offer special services for business people, e.g. B. office service or translation service.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 09.00-13.00. Some offices are open later on Saturdays, and almost all Hong Kong offices are staffed with late workers well after sunset.
Business contacts
Hong Kong Trade Development Council Kreuzerhohl 5-7, 60439 Frankfurt/M., Germany Tel. +49 (0)69 95 77 20. Website: german.hktdc.com German Industry and Commerce Greater China GmbH Bismarckstraße 45, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany Tel. +49 (0)721 161 42 84. Website: china.ahk.de (There are other AHK offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai, among others) Swiss Chamber of Commerce – China Kappelergasse 15, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)44 421 38 88. Website: www.swisscham.org or www.sccc.ch (Other offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Geneva and Lugano, among others) Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce 22nd Floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong Tel. +852 (0)25 29 92 29. Website: www.chamber.org.hk
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 00852. The directory assistance is digitized and can be reached on 1081 (English) and 1083 (Chinese). Local calls are free to private landlines. Public phones, on the other hand, are chargeable and can be used with cards or coins.
Mobile phone
GSM 900 and PCS 1800 as well as 3G (900/2100) and 4G (LTE) networks in Hong Kong and surrounding islands offer excellent transmission/reception range. Cell phones also work throughout the subway network. Network providers include SmarTone and Hutchison. Tourists can use the Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM card to make cheap international mobile calls and free local calls, among other things. Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM cards are available at any 1010 Center store in the city, at the 1010 Center outlet at 5/F in the Arrivals Hall of Hong Kong International Airport, and at most 7-Eleven, Circle K or Available at VanGo stores.
Internet
In Hong Kong, cafes, restaurants, shopping malls and other public places offer free WiFi. There are numerous free WiFi hotspots in central, public places in Hong Kong. Internet cafes are everywhere. The Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM card offers tourists free Wi-Fi, among other things. MRT stations and Hong Kong International Airport also offer visitors free WiFi.
Post office
Mail to Europe takes 6-10 days to arrive. Poste restante counters are available. Post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat 08:00-14:00. Supermarkets also sell stamps.
