Hong Kong (HK)

Hong Kong is one of the world's most dynamic cities — a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China operating under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework that preserves its common law legal system, independent judiciary, free port status, and separate currency.

Capital: Hong Kong

Region: Asia

Language: Chinese (Cantonese)

Currency: HKD (HK$)

Cost of living: Very expensive (index 90)

Emergency: 999

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Hong Kong.

Public Transport Overview

Hong Kong has one of the world's finest public transport systems. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is the backbone — punctual, clean, air-conditioned, and covers all major urban areas. An integrated network of buses (KMB, CTB/New World First Bus), minibuses (green and red), ferries, trams (on HK Island), and light rail (New Territories) completes the coverage. The Octopus card works on all modes and at 350+ retail outlets. Average commute cost: HK$10–30/day depending on distance. On-time rate for MTR: over 99.9%.

Main operators:

MTR Corporation (Mass Transit Railway — 11 lines covering HK Island, Kowloon, New Territories, Airport Express)KMB (Kowloon Motor Bus — largest franchised bus company, serving Kowloon and NT)CTB / New World First Bus (Hong Kong Island and cross-harbour routes)New Lantao Bus (Lantau Island)Star Ferry (iconic harbour crossing between TST and Central/Wan Chai, HK$2.50 lower deck / HK$2.70 upper deck weekday)Hong Kong Ferry / inter-island ferries (Outlying Islands: Cheung Chau, Lamma, Lantau)Hong Kong Tramways (the iconic double-decker trams along HK Island north shore since 1904, HK$3.30 flat fare — raised May 2025)Red minibuses (no fixed stops — shout to stop)Green minibuses (fixed routes and stops, slightly cheaper than bus)MTR Light Rail (Yuen Long and Tuen Mun, NT West)Airport Express (Hong Kong Station to HKIA in 24 minutes, HK$130 standard / HK$120 Octopus one-way — raised June 2025)

🎫 Transit Passes

Octopus Card HK$150 (includes HK$100 stored value + HK$50 refundable deposit)

All MTR lines, KMB, CTB, New Lantao Bus, light rail, Star Ferry, trams, selected ferries, and over 350 retail partners (7-Eleven, McDonald's, ParknShop, Wellcome, and thousands more).

💡 The single most essential item for daily life in HK. Get one at any MTR Customer Service Centre or 7-Eleven on the day you arrive. Keep balance above HK$5 to board MTR. Auto-add function links to a credit/debit card for automatic top-up when balance falls below a set threshold. Also used as contactless payment at most retailers — faster than cash or card.

Monthly Pass (MTR) HK$400–600/month depending on route

Unlimited travel on a specific MTR route (origin-destination pair) for one calendar month.

💡 Available at MTR Customer Service Centres. Best value for employees who commute the same route daily. Different passes for different route pairs. Can be loaded onto your Octopus card.

Airport Express Travel Pass From HK$300 (3-day unlimited MTR + 2× Airport Express round trips)

Unlimited MTR travel plus return journey on Airport Express to HKIA.

💡 Excellent for newly arrived expats staying the first few days in a hotel before moving. Available at HKIA Customer Service Centres.

City Saver Ticket HK$3.30 flat fare (raised May 12, 2025)

Hong Kong Tramways (double-decker trams) along the HK Island northern shore (Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan).

💡 Pay on exit with Octopus card. Cash accepted (exact change only). The tram is slow but the cheapest and most scenic way to travel across HK Island.

Taxi & Rideshare

Three taxi types, distinguished by colour. Red taxis: urban areas (HK Island, Kowloon, most of NT), most common. Green taxis: NT only (cheaper but limited zones). Blue taxis: Lantau Island only. Fare: red taxi flag-fall HK$29 for first 2km, then HK$2.10 per 0.2km (raised July 2024). Harbour tunnel surcharge: approx. HK$50–55 (round-trip tunnel toll paid by passenger). Taxis are metered and strictly regulated. Tips: round up or say "keep the change" — not obligatory but appreciated. Book via HK Taxi Hailing app, GoGoVan, or simply hail on the street. Taxis accept Octopus card at many stands.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

Uber operates legally in Hong Kong (licensed UberX, UberBlack) and is widely used. Pricing via app, usually competitive with taxis but surge pricing applies during peak hours and typhoons. For delivery: Deliveroo, foodpanda, and GoGoVan (freight) are dominant. Grab is not widely available in HK.

Cycling

Cycling infrastructure is improving but still limited in urban areas. Dedicated cycling paths exist in the New Territories (e.g. Tuen Mun, Yuen Long cycling trail, Sai Kung). Cycling in urban Kowloon and HK Island is not recommended due to traffic. Bike sharing: Gobee.bike and other dockless schemes operate in some NT areas. For leisure: Dragon's Back trail, Sai Kung and Ma On Shan are popular mountain biking destinations.

Intercity Trains

MTR East Rail Line connects Hung Hom to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau (border crossings with mainland China). Cross-boundary High Speed Rail: West Kowloon Terminus to mainland China cities via China's high-speed network (Guangzhou: 48 mins, Shenzhen: 14 mins, Shanghai: 8.5 hours, Beijing: 9 hours). Book in advance at West Kowloon Station or via MTR app.

Driving

Drives on the LEFT (same as UK and Australia). Urban speed limit: 50 km/h. Highways: 70–110 km/h. Blood alcohol limit: 50mg/100ml (0 tolerance for new licence holders in first 3 years). Three harbour crossing tunnels: Western Harbour Crossing (HK$55), Cross-Harbour Tunnel (HK$20), Eastern Harbour Crossing (HK$25) — fees paid by driver. Parking is extremely expensive in urban areas (HK$25–60/hour). Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) planned for Central but remains under legislative deliberation as of mid-2026. International Driving Permit valid for 12 months for new residents; then exchange for HKDL at Transport Department.

Airports

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA, IATA: HKG) on Lantau Island is consistently ranked among the world's best airports. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (connected by automated people mover). Airport Express: most convenient, 24 minutes to Hong Kong Station (Central), trains every 10 minutes, HK$130 standard / HK$120 Octopus one-way (raised June 2025). In-town check-in at Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station available. Bus routes: A routes (A21, A11, A22 etc.) — slower but cheaper (HK$40–50), reaching Kowloon and HK Island. Taxi from airport: red taxi to Kowloon ~HK$280–350, to HK Island ~HK$350–450.