LATEST INFORMATION

MAINLAND VISA RESTRICTIONS EASED

Mainland visa restrictions imposed on foreigners since April 2008 have been lifted from mid-October.  The restrictions which had been imposed as security measures increased prior to the Beijing Olympic Games meant that foreigners were restricted to single or double-entry visas valid for up to three months and increased "red tape" such as evidence of advance hotel bookings and return travel tickets was required. The 5-day Shenzhen visa on arrival at the mainland border, popular with tourists, which was also suspended since the restrictions were imposed is now available again according to travellers who have applied to the border visa office at Lo Wu.

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KAI TAK LANDING RESURRECTED !!

Flight Experience Hong Kong has opened its new flagship store at Megabox, Kowloon Bay on 15th October 2008. The company has invested HK$20 million in two Boeing 737 flight simulators and customers can enjoy the experience of piloting a real airliner under the supervision of professional pilots and flight attendants. Simulations include the hair-raising landing at Hong Kong's old Kai Tak airport. For more information see WHAT'S NEW

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NEW SUBWAYS FOR TSIM SHA TSUI STATION

A major MTR project at Tsim Sha Tsui Station includes a new subway, installation of lift and three new entrances at the Mira Hotel (formerly Hotel Miramar), the Mira shopping centre and the Tung Ying Building. The subway project comprises two 80-metre sections of tunnel and a 45-metre concourse running 15 metres under Nathan Road from the junction of Cameron Road and Kimberley Road. The work is expected to be completed in 2013. Earlier plans to build two new station entrances next to Kowloon Park have been abandoned to avoid a negative impact on old and valuable trees in the area.

MTR Stations at Jordan, Sham Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei are also having lifts installed at one exit of each station in projects due to be completed by 2011 which will then reduce the number of MTR stations without lift access to 13.

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STAR FERRY FARES RISE APPEARS INEVITABLE

The Transport Advisory Committee agreed on September 24th 2008 to support an application from the Star Ferry Company to increase fares on its two most popular routes between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. The company is seeking approval to increase fares on both routes by 30 HK cents on weekdays and by 80 HK cents at weekends and public holidays. Upper deck fares would be HK$2.50 weekdays, HK$3 weekends and public holidays whilst Lower Deck fares would be HK$1.90 weekdays, HK$2.50 weekends and public holidays. The recommendation is will now be submitted to the Executive Council for consideration and a final decision.

Fares were last increased in 1997 and the company is currently making heavy losses. Even if the increases are approved the company estimates it will face a deficit of at least HK$5 million by the end of 2008. Since the old Star Ferry Pier in Central closed in November 2006 and the new Star Ferry Piers (Central Ferry Piers 7 and 8) opened there has been a 10% decline in passenger numbers. Approximately 30% of patronage is tourists with the remainder being mostly local commuters.

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TAXI FARES TO RISE

Increases in fares for urban (red) and Lantau (blue) taxis have been approved and will take effect on November 30th 2008. The average rate of increase is 5.46% for urban taxis and 7.67% for Lantau taxis.

The flagfall for urban taxis will increase from HK$16 to HK$18 followed by an incremental charge of HK$1.5 per 200 metres or part thereof and for every waiting period of 1 minute or part thereof until the fare reaches HK$70.5 (9km) then reducing to HK$1 from HK$70.5 upwards.

The flagfall for Lantau taxis will increase from HK$12 to HK$13 followed by an incremental charge of HK$1.3 per 200 metres or part thereof and for every waiting period of 1 minute or part thereof until the fare reaches HK$130 (20km) then reducing to HK$1.2 after HK$130.

These fare increases follow earlier interim increases in flagfall of HK$1 for urban and New Territories taxis in February this year which were the first increases in taxi fares since 1998. Taxi drivers current average net monthly income is currently substantially less than in 2004. Although fares for shorter journeys will increase fares for longer journeys in urban taxis will be lower, a fare currently costing HK$100 in an urban taxi will reduce by about 5%.

For full details of current and revised taxi fares see TAXIS

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TAI O CULTURE WORKSHOP FUTURE IN DOUBT

The future of Tai O Culture Workshop on Wing On Street, Tai O (not to be confused with nearby Tai O Rural Committee Historic and Cultural Showroom also on Wing On Street) is in doubt after severe flooding during Typhoon Hagupit on September 24th damaged or destroyed many of the exhibits. The folk museum founded in 2001 by its curator local resident and historian Wong Wai-king who has written a book illustrating the history of Tai O is located in a 100 year-old riverside building a feature of which is its extremely low ceiling. The museum which contains rare relics from the local salt and fishing industries demonstrating how the villagers lived a century ago receives no external funding and exists mainly on sales of postcards and books.

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WEST KOWLOON PROMENADE CLOSURE

A 200 metre stretch of the recently opened West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade is to be closed for three years from early 2009.  The section of promenade which includes a cycle track is being closed to allow for construction works to enable a water main to be laid across the harbour from West Kowloon to Sai Ying Pun.  

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NEW AIRPORT EXPRESS / MTR FARE CONCESSIONS

The concession currently offered to Airport Express passengers using Octopus Card of free connection to the MTR network was extended to the (former KCR) East Rail and West Rail lines on 28 September 2008 when integration of the two networks was completed. This means that for passengers using the Airport Express from the airport the portion of travel via the MTR network from the connecting Airport Express station as far as the border stations of Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau will be free of charge subject to the existing proviso that the connections are made within one hour of each other.

Additionally the free MTR travel included with the Airport Express Travel Pass (see TO/FROM AIRPORT) has been extended to include travel on all MTR lines including the ex-KCR lines (East Rail, West Rail and Ma On Shan Line) except that travel to the two mainland border stations of Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau is not allowed.

Fare reductions previously enjoyed only by Octopus Card holders since the December 2007 when MTR and KCR merged where passengers interchange between MTR and former KCR lines have been extended to single-journey ticket users which can result in possible savings of up to HK$9 on a single journey. Interchange ticket barriers at Kowloon Tong, Mei Foo and Nam Cheong stations will be removed by mid-November to allow seamless travel throughout the whole network and in the meantime barriers will be covered and left open.

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DISNEYLAND EXPRESS BUS ROUTES CONSOLIDATED

Special direct Disneyland Express bus services from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon have been discontinued from 1 September 2008. However return services after the fireworks (the last event each day at Disneyland) still operate. Route R11 has been consolidated with route R21 and serves Mong Kok, Jordan, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, Cross Harbour Tunnel, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and North Point. Route R21 is discontinued. Route R22 from Disneyland has been extended to Yau Tong. For more information on bus services to and from Disneyland see HONG KONG DISNEYLAND.

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HOTEL MIRAMAR RENAMED FOLLOWING RENOVATION

Following a HK$400 million major upgrade the 51-year-old Hotel Miramar in Tsim Sha Tsui has been renamed The Mira and been given a chic new 5-star contemporary look. The renovation is intended to be a model for the future renovation of its sister hotels in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Each of the 493 rooms is equipped with a 500GB Blu-ray personal computer, free mobile phones for use in Hong Kong and i-Pod chargers. The name "Mira" means "peaceful and perfect" in Latin and is also that of a red giant star in the constellation Cetus. At the time of the name change announcement on 21st August 2008, 120 of the 493 rooms were in operation with the remaining rooms due to open shortly. The upgrade will enable The Mira to compete with the new 5-star W Hotel at Kowloon Station.

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HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE ARTS FAIR

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is launching a new phase of the Arts and Crafts Fair from August 10th 2008 to July 26th 2009. The fair located at the piazza of the centre provides a platform for arts practicioners to display their work and share their creativity with visitors. A wide variety of arts services including live painting, portrait, sketching, silhouette cutting, calligraphy, photography as well as stalls selling self-made handicrafts will be available at the fair. Live services including painting and sketching a well as sales of handicraft will mainly be open from 2pm to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays, whilst the photography service will be open daily from 8pm to 10pm.

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SCALE THE EIGER AT SPACE MUSEUM

Hong Kong Space Museum's latest Omnimax show "The Alps" screens from 1 August 2008 until November 16th 2008 and takes audiences to scale the Eiger, the world famous mountain in the Swiss Alps with three climbers. The film features renowned climbers John Harlin III, Robert Jasper and Daniella Jasper scaling the mountain of which the north face is considered the most treacherous climb in Europe with its dangerously exposed vertical wall of jagged limestone made more perilous by the constant threat of falling boulders, avalanches and unpredictable weather patterns.

The 45 minute show is being screened at the museum's Stanley Ho Space Theatre at 1-30pm, 5pm and 8-30pm daily except on Tuesdays (when the museum is closed other than on public holidays). Tickets cost HK$24 (front stalls) and HK$32 (stalls) and can be purchased at the Space Museum box office. The Space Museum is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. For further information call (852) 2721 0226 or visit the museum's website;

http://hk.space.museum/

From 17th November 2008 the Stanley Ho Space Theatre will be closed for refurbishment until June 30th 2009.

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OUTLYING ISLAND FERRY SERVICE CHANGES AND FARE INCREASES

Following re-tendering of outlying island ferry service routes licences have been awarded to new operators for three of the routes to take effect from 1st July 2008 for a three year period. The service from Central to Peng Chau (previously New World First Ferry "NWFF") will be operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Limited (HKKF), Central to Yung Shue Wan (previously operated by HKKF) will be operated by Islands Ferry Company Limited (a subsidiary of HKKF) and Central to Sok Kwu Wan (previously HKKF) will be operated by Winnertex Limited (also a subsidiary of HKKF). NWWF have been retained as operator of the Central to Mui Wo route. These routes have been making substantial financial losses and there will be fare increases ranging from approximately 5% to 22% although there will be some fare reductions on the Central to Yung Shue Wan which will be operated by a single vessel type rather than "fast" and "ordinary" vessels which currently serve the route.

NWWF have retained the operating licences for the Central to Cheung Chau and Inter-Islands routes. There are minor changes to the Cheung Chau timetable including an additional early morning Fast Ferry from Cheung Chau and small fare increases. On the Inter-Islands route there is no change to the number of sailings but timings of some sailings have been brought forward by five or ten minutes.

Over the next three years an extra tier will be added to each ferry pier in Central to assist ferry operators generate additional income from shops, restaurants and leasing buildings for exhibitions and performances.

Since these revised arrangements were implemented however residents of Peng Chau have complained of a reduction in quality of service. Concerns mainly relate to cleanliness of vessels and stability of ferries now being operated on that route.

For more details, revised timetables and fares see "Ferries-Outlying Islands".

Additionally, from August 2008 the ferry service previously operated by HKKF from Aberdeen to Yung Shue Wan (Lamma Island) via Pak Kok Tsuen has been taken over by Tsui Wah Ferry Service (HK) Ltd resulting in increased fares and an increased journey time of 40 minutes.

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FASTER IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE

Hong Kong International Airport announced on 9th July 2008 that it has commenced a HK$90 million project to reconfigure the North and South Departures Immigration halls Iin Terminal 1 at Chek Lap Kok. The number of security channels at the airport is to be increased from 18 to 32 in anticipation of an increase in passenger numbers. Although HKIA compares favourably with other airports in terms of time taken for passengers to complete immigration formalities it is expected that during peak periods passengers will be able to save up to 10 minutes when the project is completed next year.

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TUEN MUN - TUNG CHUNG FERRY CEASES OPERATING

The Tuen Mun - Tung Chung New Development Pier ferry service operated by New World First Ferry ceased operating on 30th June 2008. The existing licence expires at the end of June and there were no bidders for a new licence to operate this route. Passengers will in future need to take rail or bus services between Tuen Mun, the airport and Tung Chung. A new peak hours only bus service T39 will operate between Tuen Mun Yuet Wu Villa (Wu Shan Road) and Tung Chung MTR Station has operated since from 1 July 2008.

The separate Fortune Ferry kaido ferry service between Tuen Mun, Tung Chung New Development Pier, Sha Lo Wan and Tai O will continue to operate. There are however only four sailings on weekdays and eight sailings on Sundays and public holidays. This service is also under threat as the existing licence expires in September 2008 and the operators have indicated the service is barely breaking even and they may not reapply for a new licence.

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RECREATIONAL SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY BUS SERVICES DISCONTINUED

Two Citybus recreational services which operated on Sundays and public holidays only have been discontinued with effect from 22nd June 2008. The routes are;

315 Stanley - Peak

309 Central - Shek O

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OCEAN PARK RAIL SYSTEM TO OPEN IN 2009

Work on a rail system "Ocean Express" to connect different areas of Ocean Park is well under way and a 1.2 km tunnel has already been dug. The funicular system will be capable of transporting 10,000 people an hour and the ride will take 3 minutes. The attraction which is expected to open in mid 2009 will also provide an alternative means of transportation between the Headland and Lowland  areas of the park in the event of weather disrupting the existing cable car system. The rail system forms part of Ocean Park's huge six year redevelopment programme.

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BOTANICAL PARK JAGUAR DIES

Previous visitors to Hong Kong's Botanical and Zoological Gardens will be sad to learn of the death at the age of 21 of Siu Fa, the female jaguar which had been resident in the gardens since 1989. Siu Fa was born in a German zoo in 1987 and had been suffering ill health for some time. Siu Fa will be turned into a specimen for educational and exhibition purposes and the cage she occupied will be renovated for endangered primates.

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BUS FARE INCREASES FROM JUNE 8th 2008

Following Transport Advisory Committee approval fare increases have been implemented from 8th June 2008 to many franchised routes operated by Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), Citybus, New World First Bus, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus (NLB). However the increases ranging from 2% to 7.24% which are in most cases the first increases for almost ten years are less than those applied for by the companies and do not apply to Citybus Cityflyer routes between the airport and Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, Disneyland routes and some other services popular with tourists such as routes to Ocean Park and Stanley. The fare for the route 15 service to the Peak has increased from HK$9.20 TO HK$9.80.

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CLOSED ZONE TO BE OPENED TO PUBLIC

The closed area between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is to be opened up to the public in 2010 and in early May 2008 the government announced a green plan for the area which envisages cycling routes between Lok Ma Chau and Lo Wu to enable people to enjoy the natural and rural landscape, fishponds and wetlands. A country park will be built in Robin's Nest between Pat Sin Leng Country Park in Hong Kong and Wutongshan National Forest Park in Shenzhen. Hiking trails have also been proposed between Cheung Shan Monastery and Lin Ma Hang and between Lok Ma Chau to Hoo Hok Wai. There are some 300 heritage sites in the area and the government is proposing to create trails to link some of these sites. Only one small plot of land at Kong Nga Po near Man Kam To is being reserved for for residential development and this and this will be a small community with green architecture built with energy saving materials. A public consulation on the proposals ends on August 8th 2008.

VISITORS WARNED OF FAKE MONKS SCAM

The public and particularly expatriates and overseas visitors have been warned not to give money to fake Buddhist monks begging for alms. The "monks" with shaven heads, saffron robes and brass bowls are often seen in tourist spots and busy streets. The Hong Kong Buddhist Association has confirmed genuine devotees are not allowed to beg in Hong Kong. The situation is being monitored by police and there have been some arrests. Most of those arrested were found to have come from mainland China.

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OASIS HONG KONG AIRLINES CEASES OPERATIONS

Hong Kong based Oasis Hong Kong Airlines ceased operating on 9 April 2008 and has applied to go into liquidation. The budget long-haul airline which commenced operating in October 2006 flew routes between Hong Kong and London Gatwick and Vancouver. KMPG have been appointed liquidators and the company was formally wound-up on June 11th 2008.

The following hotline numbers have been set up for ticket holders for assistance;

Hong Kong (852) 3628 0628 (8am to 8pm HK time seven days a week)

Canada (1) 888 983 0808 (9am to 7pm Canadian and US time weekdays, 9am to 6pm Saturdays and Sundays) 

UK (44) 1293 596 633 or from within UK 0844 482 2323 (8am to 8pm UK time seven days a week)

The airline is believed to have incurred debts of about HK$1 billion during its period of operation.