Hong Kong & Macau - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 124

Hong Kong's unit of currency is the
Hong Kong dollar (HK$); it is divided
into one hundred cents. Bills come in
denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100,
$500 and $1000, and there are 10 cent,
20 cent, 50 cent, $1, $2, $5 and $10
coins. At the time of writing, the
exchange rate was around HK$12 to the
pound sterling , HK10.3 to the euro, and
it's pegged at HK$7.75 to the US dollar.
here are no restrictions on taking any
currency in and out of Hong Kong.
he unit of currency in Macau is the
pataca (abbreviated to MOP$ in this
book; often seen as M$, MOP or ptca),
which consists of one hundred avos. At
the time of writing, the exchange rate
was £1 to MOP$12.50, US$1 to MOP$
8 and €1 to MOP$10.5. Bills come in
MOP$10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000
denominations, and there are 10-,
20- and 50-avo coins, as well as MOP$1,
2, 5 and 10 coins. he pataca is pegged to
the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of
MOP$103.2 to HK$100, and the two
currencies are interchangeable in Macau,
though you get slightly less for your
Hong Kong dollars. Try to get rid of your
patacas before heading to Hong Kong.
All the major credit cards are accepted in
the larger hotels, but most guesthouses and
restaurants still expect payment in cash.

HONG KONG AND MACAU
ONLINE
W discoverhongkong.com The Hong
Kong Tourist Board's fantastic website is
packed with information, and their
interactive itinerary planner can transform
your visit. Download free mobile apps
such as Discover Hong Kong and Hong
Kong city walks.
W hkoutdoors.com For an insight into
Hong Kong's hidden side, as well as
practical information on mountain biking,
sea kayaking, birdwatching and hiking.
W macautourism.gov.mo Not quite as

good as the Hong Kong website but still
handy for its travel information, lists of
guesthouses and suggested tours.

3

Carrying some form of identification is
a legal requirement: for a traveller this
means your passport. Most police o cers
speak some English, and will quickly
radio help for you if they can't
understand and you have a major
problem. Drug possession carries stiff
penalties in both Hong Kong and Macau.

MEDICAL CARE AND EMERGENCIES
Pharmacies (daily 9am-6pm or 24hr in
hospitals) are marked with a red-and-
white cross and sell many medications
over the counter without a prescription.
Contraceptives and antibiotics are also
available over the counter. Hong Kong
pharmacies have a registered pharmacist
on-site who usually speaks English.
Medical care in Hong Kong (see
p.150) is generally of an excellent
standard, but does not come cheap.
If you need a doctor, you'll have to
pay for any treatment or medicines
prescribed, so make sure you have
adequate travel insurance. Note that
both doctors and dentists are known as
“doctor” in Hong Kong. Both of
Macau's hospitals (see p.158) offer 24hr
emergency services.

OPENING HOURS
In both Hong Kong and Macau, o ces
are generally open Monday to Friday
9am-5.30pm, with lunch hour between
1-2pm; shops are open daily 10am-8pm
or later in busy tourist areas like
Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui. Banks
are open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm
and Saturday 9am-12.30pm; post o ces
are open Monday to Friday 9.30am-5pm
and Saturday 9.30am-1pm, and
restaurants tend to be open 11am-3pm
& 6-11pm or else 11am-11pm.
Government o ces close on public
holidays and some religious festivals.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Hong Kong's public holidays are
changing as China jettisons the old
colonial holidays in favour of its own

MONEY AND BANKS
AT M s throughout both Hong Kong and
Macau accept international cards.