Transportation
Getting Around by Water
Cross-harbor passenger services (shortest route - 7 to 10 minutes) are operated by Star Ferries (www.starferry.com.hk) between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (sailing every 6 to 12 minutes). There are frequent passenger services on other cross-harbor routes. Ferries and hydrofoils service the outlying islands, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island and Lantau Island, including Discovery Bay. Ferry services are run by New World First Ferry Services (tel: 2131 8181; www.nwff.com.hk), the Hong Kong Kowloon Ferry (tel: 2815 6063; www.hkkf.com.hk) and Discovery bay Transportation Services Ltd (tel: 2987 7351; www.hkri.com).
Tours of the harbor and to Aberdeen and Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelters are available by watertours junks, and visits to outlying islands are possible by public ferry. Weekdays are the best time to go, since ferries tend to be very crowded at weekends. During the typhoon season (May to November), all ferry services may be suspended during bad weather.
Getting Around by MTR (Mass Transit Railway)
Carrying an average 4.0 million passengers every weekday, the MTR is regarded as one of the world's leading railways for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency. The MTR network comprises nine railway lines serving Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. In addition, a Light Rail network serves the local communities of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the New Territories while a fleet of buses provide convenient feeder services.
The Corporation also operates the Airport Express, a dedicated high-speed rail link providing the fastest connections to Hong Kong International Airport and the city's newest exhibition and conference centre, AsiaWorld-Expo.
From Hong Kong, passengers can travel with ease to Guangdong province, Beijing and Shanghai in the mainland of China using the MTR's intercity railway services.
For visitors staying for a week or more it is worth getting an Octopus Card, an electronic ticket from which the cost of the journey is automatically deducted when it is placed on a sensor. The card may be used on MTR services, major bus routes, trams, minibuses, ferries and many shops.
For details please refer to the official website of MTR. (http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/homepage/cust_index.html)
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. The road network is extensive and of high quality but often congested in central areas.
Bus: The Octopus Card (see Getting Around By Rail above) can be used on buses. Routes run throughout the territory, with cross-harbor routes via the tunnels. Air-conditioned coaches operate along certain Hong Kong and Kowloon routes. Final destinations are marked clearly in Chinese and English. Bus services covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories are operated by Kowloon Motor Bus (tel: 2745 4466; www.kmb.com.hk), New World First Bus (tel: 2136 8888; www.nwfb.com.hk), Citybus (tel: 2873 0818; www.citybus.com.hk), Long Win Bus Company (2745 4466 http://www.kmb.hk/en/about/organisation/longwin.html), and New Lantao Bus Company (2984 9848 http://www.newlantaobus.com/)
Minibus: Red minibus can pick up and stop on request except at regular bus stops and other restricted areas. Green minibus stops can pick up and stop at designated stations. Octopus Cards are accepted on most routes.
Trams: The Octopus Card can be used on trams. They are only available on Hong Kong Island, running from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan (via Happy Valley racecourse). Peak Tram on Hong Kong Island has operated since 1888 and is a cable tramway to the upper terminus on Victoria Peak; Octopus Cards accepted. For more details, please visit the Hong Kong Tramways website (http://www.hktramways.com/en/service/index.html).
You can visit Transport Department website (http://www.td.gov.hk/) for further transportation information in Hong Kong.
