๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong ยท First days

First 48 hours in Hong Kong

The first two days in Hong Kong, in priority order: what has to happen, what should, and what can wait. Tick things off as you go.

For Hong Kong
How long you are staying

Must do

  • From any MTR customer service centre or convenience store, or add it to your phone's wallet. It pays for transport and most small purchases from the first hour.
  • Every SIM, prepaid included, must be registered with your passport or HKID. CSL, SmarTone, 3 and China Mobile Hong Kong sell them at the airport and in shops.
  • Online, at a Registration of Persons office, for a date within 30 days of arrival. Slots go quickly; book on your first evening.

Should do

  • 999 for police, ambulance and fire, with English-speaking operators. Switch on MyObservatory's alerts: typhoon and rainstorm signals change what is open.
  • Bring your passport, visa, proof of address and an employment letter; some banks will not finish until you have the HKID. Ask about FPS and an Octopus top-up link.
  • Before signing, make the trip at 8.30 in the morning, including the walk uphill from the station. Gradients and transfers matter more than the distance on the map.
  • The tenancy must be stamped with the Inland Revenue Department within 30 days of signing; the cost is normally shared. The stamped copy is your proof of address.
  • Salaries tax is not taken from your pay. Put money aside each month for the demand note, which arrives after the 31 March year end.

Nice to do

  • Mid-morning on a weekend, at a busy restaurant. Tick the order sheet, pour tea for others before yourself, and tap the table to say thanks when someone fills your cup.
  • Most consulates run a registration or alert service for nationals living in Hong Kong. Two minutes now saves time in an emergency.
  • Government market buildings sell fresh produce on the lower floors and cheap cooked meals upstairs. The fish and vegetables are better value than any supermarket.
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