COUNTRY PROFILEIssue 2 | 2012 www.52exhibition-world.netHONG KONGINFORMATION FOR VISITORSINTERNATIONAL DIALLING CODE: +852EMERGENCY SERVICES: 999DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES (CHINESE): 1083DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES (ENGLISH): 1081LOCAL TIME: GMT + 8 hoursIMPORTANT DATESNATIONAL DAY: 1 OctoberHONG KONG SAR ESTABLISHMENT DAY: 1 JulyELECTRICITY SUPPLY: AC 220V, three-pin UK plug.SMOKING: Smoking is banned in most indoor spaces and many outdoor leisure areas.PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and Airport Express will deliver you from the airport to Hong Kong Station (Central) in 28 minutes. TAXIS: Plentiful throughout Hong Kong's non-remote areas, and can be hailed on the street as well as summoned by phone. They are metered, relatively cheap, air-conditioned and clean. Expect to pay HK$20 for the fi rst 2km, and HK$1.50 thereafter. The price drops to HK$1 if the trip exceeds HK$72.5.FERRY: The Star Ferry runs between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from piers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in Kowloon, and Central and Wan Chai on the Island.If you're visiting AsiaWorld-Expo then the Regal Airport Hotel (pictured) is very well suited. Not only is the fi ve-star hotel directly connected to Hong Kong International Airport by a covered bridge, it's also located one stop from AsiaWorld-Expo on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR).The 1,171-room hotel is also geared up to accomodate small-scale conferences and corporate events.Visitors to events at the HKCEC have more choice, given the venue's downtown location, but a convenient option is the 61-storey Conrad Hong Kong. The hotel's location beside Victoria Park offers fast access to post-show tranquility and instant gratifi cation above the luxurious, if busy, hub that is Pacifi c Place shopping mall. A tale of two citiesFINDING A PLACE TO STAY23.9% The increase in visitor arrivals from Mainland China in 2011. More than 28 million people made the trip compared with 3.75 million from South and East AsiaKEY FACTS CURRENCY The Hong Kong Dollar is the offi cial currency, and HK$7.8 is worth US$1.  POLITICS Hong Kong's constitution provides for the development of democratic processes, however Beijing can veto changes to the political system, slowing reform to the chagrin of pro-democracy forces. ECONOMICS Buoyant. Although interestingly, once seen as having wealth far beyond that found on the mainland, Hong Kong residents are now faced with the reality of hugely wealthy mainlanders visiting its shopping malls with newfound income.  GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GDP is US$225bn; GDP per capita is US$31,836; average wage is US$1,544 per month.  LANGUAGEBoth Chinese and English are accepted as offi cial languages, making it easy for most visitors to get by without a phrase book. RELIGION Buddhism and Taoism, both of which will be hard to fi nd in practice on the showfl oor of a busy exhibition. NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION VENUESTwo; AsiaWorld-Expo on Lantau Island and the HKCEC on Hong Kong Island. AVERAGE PRICE OF A BURGERUS$2.12 will buy you a Big Mac. AVERAGE PRICE OF A BEERUS$5.5 for a pint on Hong Kong Island. The price drops signifi cantly as you head out west to Lantau Island.  BUSINESS HOURS9am-5pm for offi ce workers. Shopping malls are open between 10am and 9.30pm. Unfortunately for HK traders, stockmarket trading hours have just been extended to make it more competitive with Asian cities.  WEATHERHottest month of the year is July (28.7C); coldest month is February (16.1C).

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