Hong Kong Expat Tips, links and life-hacks…
Tips for foreigners residing in HK…
- Accessing iPlayer from Abroad.
- Cheapest Books Delivered to HK.
- Cheapest Mobiles: Top 4 Places.
- China Visa – How to Apply.
- Comprehensive Map of HK Markets & Hidden Malls.
- Escaping HSBC: HK’s Alternative & Least Worst Banking Options.
- Flat-Hunting Guide and Links.
- Flight Tips and Links.
- How to Bypass the South China Morning Post Paywall.
- Local Job Hunting Links.
- Navigating HSBC’s New ATM Card Farce.
- Teaching Work in Hong Kong.
- Surprise! Loyal HSBC Customers Who Remained With Bank Screwed Again.
Other external links:
Affordable Hotels/hostels:
- Anne Black YWCA
- Couchsurfing.org
- Check Inn HK
- Dragon Hostel
- Garden Hostel
- Hostelbookers Hong Kong
- Hostelworld Hong Kong
- Trip Advisor Hong Kong
- Wikitravel Hong Kong
- YesInn
- YLoft Youth Square
- YMCA International House, Yau Ma Tei
- YMCA Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui (and discount deals)
Animals & Pets
- Hong Kong Alley Cat Watch
- Hong Kong Animal Adoption Centre
- Hong Kong Cat Salvation Army
- Hong Kong Cat Lover’s Club
- Hong Kong Dog Rescue
- Hong Kong Kennel Club
- Hong Kong Reptile & Amphibian Society
- Hong Kong Veterinary Association
- Lamma Animal Protection
- Lamma Animal Welfare Centre
- PALS – Lantau
- Society For Abandoned Animals
- SPCA
- WWF
Articles:
- Engadget feature on Sham Shui Po.
- CNN’s travel tips and a slideshow of attractions.
- CNN Go: 45 sightseeing tips for HK.
- GNN Go: 50 reasons why HK is number 1.
- CNNGo: 88 things to do in the summer.
- CNNGo: Best dim-sum.
- CNNGo: Best live music venues.
- CNNGo: Guide to the best live music venues.
- New York Times: Fireflies in Hong Kong.
- New York Times: Private kitchens.
- The Observer: Hiking in Hong Kong. (More from The Guardian)
- Time Out HK: 45 things to do.
- Time Out HK: 48 hours in Hong Kong.
- Washington Post: Camping near Pui O.
- Worldcrunch – Chungking Mansions.
- Yahoo’s World’s Most Beautiful Ferry Rides.
Banks:
- Bank of China
- Bank of Communications
- Bank of East Asia (BEA)
- Citibank
- DBS
- Hang Seng
- HSBC
- Standard Chartered
- A list of all other banks may be found here and a Hong Wrong guide to Hong Kong current accounts here.
Cantonese:
- AsiaExpat 1-on-1 language exchange
- Basic Phrases
- Cantonese Podcast
- Chinese Bay phrases
- Chinese lessons
- Chinese symbols
- Colloquial Cantonese
- Dictionary
- Free Lessons
- Hong Kong Institute of Languages
- Hong Kong Language & Cultural Exchange
- HKLLC
- HKU Space language course
- myCantonese.net
- My Language Exchange, Hong Kong
- Wikipedia: Cantonese
Charities & NGOs:
- Aids Concern
- Amnesty International Hong Kong
- Christian Action
- Clean Air Network
- Clear the Air
- Crossroads International
- Friends of the Earth
- Greenpeace
- Hong Kong CancerFund
- Hong Kong Unison
- International Care Ministries
- Oxfam Hong Kong
- Po Leung Kuk Protect the Young
- Salvation Army
- St James’ Settlement
- The Community Chest
- Vision First
- WWF
Cinemas:
- Broadway cinema
- Chinachem cinema
- Cityline ticketing
- Golden Harvest cinema
- Space Museum Omnimax cinema
- UA cinema
Complaints:
- Aircraft Noise
- Building Works (unauthorised)
- Businesses
- Car Parking Fine
- Consumer Council
- Corruption (ICAC)
- Government Services (Ombudsman)
- Insurance
- Newspapers
- Noisy Neighbours
- Pavements
- Police
- Pollution
- Racial Discrimination
- Radio
- Report Nuisance Caller
- Restaurants
- Roads
- Shops and service
- Smoky Vehicles
- Tax
- TV/Film/Entertainment
Dentist Recommendations:
- Dr. Felix Fok, Central. Tel: 2524-2071.
- Dr. Kung Pan Pan, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2367-9090.
- Dr. Titania Tong, Central. Tel: 2810-1801.
- Dr. Dominic Cheung, Whampoa Gardens. Tel: 2627-0488.
- Dr. Barry Chan, Tai Po. Tel: 2660-0082.
Entertainment:
Events:
- Timable Events
- Hong Kong Clubbing
- Hong Kong Events
- Hip Hong Kong
- HK Ticketing
- I Love Soho
- Last.fm Gigs
- Time Out Magazine
- Live Nation Gigs
- URBTIX ticketing
Food:
- 360 supermarket
- Aussie Organics
- Asia Expat dining
- Eating etiquette
- I Love Soho restaurants
- Meat.com.hk
- Meatmarket.hk
- Open Rice reviews
- ParknShop Supermarket
- South Stream Seafoods
- Tenderloin Fine Food
- Tourist Board guide
- The Organic Farm
- The Porterhouse Steak and Chops
- Wellcome Supermarket
- Wine guide
Flat Shares & Renting:
- AsiaExpat
- Craigslist
- Easy Room Mate (paid ads)
- GeoExpat (paid ads)
- Gohome.com
- Gumtree
- SCMP Classifieds
- See also my own special page on flat-hunting in Hong Kong here.
History:
Jobs:
- CareerJet
- Career Times
- Government Vacancies
- Headline Jobs
- HK Jobs
- JobsDB
- Ming Pao JUMP
- Monster
- Recruit Online
- SCMP
Man in a Van movers (ask a Cantonese-speaker to call for best rates):
- Shing Kee: 2755 5555
- Chi Tat: 2334 9494
- Ms Yung: 66990144
- Convenient: 2723 0000
- Orient: 2390 0000
- First 3171 1111
- 24-hr: 2522 4222
- Elephant: 2749 9000
- Ging-Tak: 2110 3333
- Whole Island: 2396 6666
News:
- China Worker
- HK Dollarsaver
- HK Magazine
- Magazine Downloads (free/bootleg)
- News.gov.hk
- RTHK News Page
- South China Morning Post
- The Standard
- TVB Daily News
- Wall St Journal (Asia)
Taxi Numbers (Red Hong Kong Island/Kowloon taxis)
- Hong Kong Taxi Centre – 2574 7311
- Taxicom Vehicle Owners Association – 2529 8822
- Chuen Lee RadioTaxi Association – 2398 1881
- Hong Kong Taxicab Call Centre – 2186 6866
- City Taxi O.D. Association Co. Ltd – 2343 3189
- Fraternity Taxi Owners Association – 2527 6324
- Royal Motors Taxi Company – 2571 2929
- Happy Taxi Operator’s Association – 2728 8282
- Hong Kong & Kowloon Radio Car Owners Association – 2760 0455
- Hong Kong & Kowloon Rich Radio – 2729 1199
- Hong Kong Kowloon Taxi & Lorry Owners Association – 2572 0097
- Pak Kai Taxi Owners Association – 2728 2281
- Abbo Taxi Owners Association – 2383 0168
- Rights of Taxi (Si Hai) Telecommunication Center – 2332 2571
- Sha Tin Taxi Service Association – 2332 2571
- The Kowloon Taxi Owners Association – 2760 0411
- The Taxi Operators Association – 2362 2337
- United Friendship Taxi Owners & Drivers Association – 2760 0477
- United Radio Taxi & Goods Vehicle Association – 2332 2477
- Wai Fat Taxi Owners Association – 2861 1008
- Wai Yik H.K. & Kln. & N.T. Taxi Owners Association – 2776 7885
- Wing Lee Radio Car Traders Association – 2397 0922
- Wing Tai Car Owners & Drivers Association – 2527 8524
- Yik Sun Radiocabs Operators Association – 2394 0111
Taxi Numbers (Green New Territories taxis):
- Fanling Taxi-Call Services Centre – 2669 1088
- Hong Kong & Kowloon Rich Radi – 2729 1199
- H.K. Tele-call Taxi Association – 2675 7688
- North District Taxi Merchants Association – 2677 8888
- NT Business Car Operator Fraternal Association – 2457 2266
- NT Taxi Owners & Drivers Fraternal Association – 2457 2266
- Taxi Association – 2383 0168
- Sun Hing Taxi Radio Association – 2450 2288
- Tang’s Taxi Companies Association – 2475 0417
- The Association of NT Radio Taxicab – 2657 2267
- The Fraternity Association of NT Taxi Merchants – 2478 8332
- NT Taxi Merchants Association – 2476 4247
Taxi Numbers (Blue Lantau taxis):
- Lantau Taxi Association 2984 1328
Telecom Providers:
- 3 Mobile
- China Mobile
- One to Free
- PCCW mobile
- Vodafone Smartone
- Calling abroad: IDD 1507, IDD IDTAsia, IDD Jajah, IDD Rebtel.
- To add your number to the ‘Do Not Call’ junk SMS/call list, call 1835000.
- If having trouble with nuisance callers, fill out the police nuisance caller form.
Weather: