INTERNET ACCESS FOR VISITORS
GOV WiFi FREE INTERNET ACCESS
The Hong Kong Government GovWiFi scheme commenced in March 2008 and provides free wireless internet access via 350 "hotspots" locations throughout public spaces in the city including public libraries, cultural and recreational centres, museums and large parks. The facility is available for visitors to use. The scheme does not extend to private or commercial buildings and is not on the same scale as free city wide wi-fi schemes already in operation in Taipei and Singapore but nevertheless allows free internet access at 350 public hotspots throughout Hong Kong. The scheme which initially covered 35 locations was rolled out in phases with 120 hotspots becoming available by mid-2008 and all 350 hotspots being available as scheduled by mid-2009. The scheme has since been expanded and at March 2010 over 370 hotspots were available. The hotspots are located mainly in public libraries, government premises, public parks and tourist locations. Tourist locations with hotspots include Peak Road Garden, Repulse Bay Beach, Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza/Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Stanley Waterfront Mart/Promenade, Hong Kong Macau and China Ferry Terminals.
GovWiFi has two network ID's (SSIDs) "freegovwifi-e" for encrypted connection and "freegovwifi" for unencrypted connection. Users experiencing difficulty connecting to the "freegovwifi-e" encrypted connection will usually be able to connect without difficulty by searching for wireless networks and locating the unencrypted "freegovwifi" connection.
Following completion of the programme the Hong Kong Government has since announced that in response to public demand free wi-fi facilities would be provided at a further 30 premises by March 2010 including major district parks, community halls and centres and sports venues. In an expansion of the scheme to provide site-specific services in June 2009 Hong Kong Observatory and Office of Government Chief Information Officer jointly launched a location specific local weather information service where members of the public using mobile devices connected to the free GovWiFi service can click a link for instant detailed weather forecasts for that location for the next 24 hours.
Details of locations available can be obtained from the GovWiFi website here;
http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/wifi/location/index.htm
Gov WiFi free internet "hotspot" at Statue Square, Central
It was announced in December 2007 that The Office of Telecommunications Authority is also making provision for broadband wireless access via Wi-Max, a much more powerful version of Wi-Fi where a single transmission tower can provide wireless Internet up to 48km away. This will even allow wireless internet to be accessed on a bus. Licences were due to be auctioned in autumn 2008 with services rolled out during the following two years. During January 2008 free wireless access was made available for tenants in the communal areas of about 120 public rental housing estates of the Housing Authority.
In the meantime Broadband Internet terminals which are free to use for visitors are fairly widely available in Hong Kong at a number of locations including the following;
PUBLIC LIBRARIES (FREE FIXED INTERNET TERMINALS)
In addition to providing free wireless internet there are over 1600 fixed public access Internet terminals in public libraries available for visitors to use. Hong Kong Central Library in Causeway Bay (opposite Victoria Park) has 470 terminals with around 20 on the ground floor which visitors can reserve for either a one hour or two hour session by calling in at the library. If no terminal is immediately available you can make an advance reservation for later the same day if terminals are available or alternatively for another day. The Central Library is open from 10am to 9pm every day except Wednesday when opening hours are 1pm to 9pm. City Hall Public Library has 87 terminals and Kowloon Public Library has 67 terminals. Opening times at most major libraries have been extended since April 2009 but some of the smaller libraries close on one day every week. Visitors can use terminals where available at any public library and the full list of libraries with public terminals is detailed below and addresses, location maps and opening times can be found here;
http://tinyurl.com/35fdvv
Additionally the following libraries also have Express Internet Terminals where no reservation is allowed and access is limited to 15 minutes to enable users to quickly check e-mails and surf the Internet;
City Hall Public Library
Kowloon Public Library
Ma On Shan Public Library
Sha Tin Public Library
Stanley Public Library
Tai Po Public Library
Tuen Mun Public Library
Tsuen Wan Public Library
Tsim Sha Tsui Public Library
MTR STATION iCENTRES (FREE INTERNET TERMINALS)
The following MTR stations have "iCentres" with free Internet terminals;
Hong Kong Station (Concourse exit C paid area)
Central Station (Platform 3 Island Line towards Chai Wan)
Prince Edward Station (Concourse – paid area)
Wan Chai Station (Platform 1 Island Line towards Chai Wan)
Tsuen Wan Station (Concourse –paid area)
Kowloon Tong (Concourse –paid area)
Kowloon Bay (Concourse –paid area)
Causeway Bay (Concourse, exit B, C, paid area)
Quarry Bay (platform level towards station concourse exit A
Admiralty Station
Tai Koo Station
Mong Kok Station (Concourse, paid area)
Sham Shui Po Station
Kwai Fong Station
Free Internet Terminals - Tsuen Wan MTR Station "iCentre"
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MTR STATIONS (SUBSCRIPTION Wi-Fi INTERNET)
32 MTR Stations (as at January 2010) along the Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Airport Express Lines have Wi-Fi Internet access for which a paid subscription with PCCW is required. Details of stations with Wi-Fi access can be found here;
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/facilities/wifi.html
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AIRPORT EXPRESS TRAIN AND STATIONS (SUBSCRIPTION Wi-Fi INTERNET ACCESS)
From January 2009 Wi-Fi Internet access has been made available on Airport Express trains. Passengers need to pay HK$20 for a 24-hour PCCW Wi-Fi package to use this service.
The following Airport Express Stations have wireless broadband access for which a paid Wi-Fi subscription with PCCW is required;
HONG KONG STATION - Ground floor - In Town Check In
Level 1 - Shops/Restaurants
Level 2 - Concourse
Level 3 - Tung Chung Line Concourse
KOWLOON STATION - Ground floor - In Town Check In
Level 2 - Trains to Airport
Level 3 - Trains from Airport
TSING YI STATION - Level U2 - Trains from Airport
Level U4 - Trains to Airport
AIRPORT STATION - Level 5 - Trains to City
BUSES (FREE Wi-Fi INTERNET ACCESS)
During November 2008 Citybus/New World First Bus announced the introduction of free Wi-fi internet access on many buses on ten routes including "Cityflyer" airport routes A11 and A12. Buses with Wi-fi are labelled accordingly near the entry door. The wireless network can be identified as "Planet G705". Full list of routes is;
2 Grand Promenade <-> Central (Macau Ferry)
2A Yiu Tung Estate <-> Wan Chai Ferry Pier
8 Heng Fa Chuen <-> Wan Chai Ferry Pier
101 Kennedy Town <-> Kwun Tong (Yue Man Square)
104 Kennedy Town <-> Pak Tin Estate
106 Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort) <-> Wong Tai Sin
111 Central (Macau Ferry) <-> Ping Shek Estate
112 North Point (Pak Fuk Road) <-> So Uk Estate
116 Quarry Bay (Yau Man Street) <-> Tsz Wan Shan (Central)
A11 North Point Ferry Pier <-> Airport
A12 Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort) <-> Airport
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PACIFIC COFFEE COMPANY (FREE TERMINALS AND PCCW SUBSCRIPTION Wi-Fi ACCESS)
Pacific Coffee have 50 shops throughout Hong Kong (including two at the airport) which have free Internet terminals (obviously you’re expected to purchase a drink!). The number of terminals at each shop varies from one to about six.
Time is not limited although if all terminals are occupied anybody waiting can set the timer next to each terminal to limit the current user to a further 15 minutes maximum.
A full list of shops, locations and opening times can be found here;
http://www.pacificcoffee.com/eng/store/st_sto_hkm.html
PCCW wi-fi internet access is also available at Pacific Coffee but is not free to use.
STARBUCKS, MCDONALDS, MCCAFE FREE WI-FI
20 minutes free wi-fi internet access is available at all branches of Starbucks, McDonalds and McCafe branches where Y5Zone wi-fi is available. This is the vast majority of branches throughout Hong Kong but does not include some small outlets such as kiosks. To take advantage of free wi-fi it is necessary to complete a short simple (three or four question) online questionnaire. After 20 minutes further access can be gained at a charge of HK$5 per hour by sending SMS text to Y5Zone for user name and password. Alternatively customers can connect to a paid wi-fi network and PCCW wi-fi network is widely available.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (FREE PCCW Wi-Fi AND FIXED TERMINALS)
Complimentary wi-fi internet access provided by PCCW is available throughout Hong Kong International Airport.
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FREE INTERNET ACCESS - OTHER LOCATIONS
Many large shopping malls have either free Internet terminals/free wi-fi hotspots or both including Times Square and Windsor House in Causeway Bay and Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Some Uncle Russ Coffee bars including the ones at Central Ferry Pier 6 (for Mui Wo/Peng Chau), Central Pier 3 (for Discovery Bay) and Star Ferry Pier Tsim Sha Tsui have one or more Internet terminals for customer use.
Many Mix juice bars have free internet access.
NWFF (New World First Ferry) have made free wi-fi available at Central Ferry Pier 5 (for ferries to Cheung Chau) and at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier.
Hong Kong Jockey Club provide free wi-fi access at Happy Valley and Shatin Racecourses. For details see;
http://racecourses.hkjc.com/english/come_racing/useful_tips/racecourseservice_other/
Some hotels provide complimentary in-room wireless internet access for guests.
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PRE=PAID WIRELESS INTERNET
PCCW have over 3000 wireless hotspots throughout Hong Kong including phone booths (see below) from which a wi-fi signal is usually available within about 100-metres radius. A pre-pay 30-day pass allowing unlimited access for HK$158 is also available from PCCW shops and will represent good value for many visitors;
http://www.pccwwifi.com/eng/index.htm
PCCW has over 3000 wi-fi hotspots including phone booths from which a wireless signal is usually available within 100-metres radius.
REGISTERED WI-FI ACCESS POINTS
There are over 5000 registered wi-fi access points throughout Hong Kong. You can search for locations and details of all these points by district or by service provider here;
https://apps.ofta.gov.hk/apps/clr/content/public_search.asp