Hong Kong

There is no consumption tax. A 10% service charge is added at restaurants other than local diners and fast food restaurants, and at hotels other than guesthouses and cheap hotels. The departure tax is HK$120, the airport security tax is HK$ 55, and the airport construction fee for building a three-runway system is HK$ 90 to 160 (for economy class), HK$ 70 to 160 (for transit), and all these taxes and fees are included in your ticket. If a traveler departs Hong Kong within 24 hours, or departs via SkyPier, he or she can be refunded the departure tax. Although there is no customs duty for bringing items into Hong Kong, commodity tax is charged for bringing in alcohol or tobacco over a certain amount.

Hong Kong has a custom of tipping that is a holdover from the British culture, but tipping is becoming less frequent.

Dates of holidays change depending on the year. These are the dates for 2024.

Below are guidelines for general business hours, which differ by shop, department store, restaurant, etc.

Mon.–Fri. 9:00–16:00, Saturday hours vary by bank, but are usually until 13:00. (some banks are closed on Saturdays), closed on Sun. and holidays. Currency can be exchanged during business hours.

Around 11:00 to 21:00. Convenience stores and some fast food restaurants are open 24 hours. Large shopping malls are open from around 10:00 to 22:00, and department stores are normally open until 22:00. Note that some branches are only open every other day or are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Open from around 11:00 to 23:00, but dim sum restaurants, rice porridge/noodle shops, and Cha Chaan Teng cafés are open from around 7:00. Many establishments are open all year round, excluding the lunar New Year. Note that many upscale restaurants close for around an hour between lunch and dinner.

In Hong Kong, the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and alcohol is 18. Also, persons under 18 are prohibited from being admitted to category 3 films (containing excessive violence, sexual depictions, etc.). Entrance to racetracks and the purchase of betting tickets, soccer pools, and the Mark Six lottery are only permitted for persons 18 and older.

A uniform fine of HK$3000 is imposed for littering, spitting, and hawking phlegm in public places.

The scope of non-smoking areas is extensive and includes all offices, public places, restaurants, bars, karaoke rooms, and bus terminals. In addition, basically public markets (including eateries within markets), public restrooms, pools, gymnasiums, sports grounds, amphitheaters, museums, libraries, and the majority of parks are non-smoking (some parks and promenades have smoking areas). Some restaurants and bars have outdoor smoking areas, so be sure to check with staff. Smoking in non-smoking areas is subject to a uniform fine of HK$1500.