Hong Kong, population 6.9 million, is a city of energy! It is international – a city of East and West blending together. However, do not be mistaken, Hong Kong is truly a Chinese city with ninety six percent of the population ethnic Chinese, two percent Filipino, Indonesian, Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalese, and the other two percent is everyone else.

Hong Kong’s official languages are English and Chinese. Cantonese is most commonly spoken; however, Mandarin (known as Putonghua in Hong Kong), the official language of China, is also widely spoken.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is fantastic. There is a wealth of free, excellent information for travelers. You may visit HKTB’s homepage at www.discoverhongkong.com. One of your first stops at the Hong Kong International Airport (www.hkairport.com) should be the tourist information center (open from 7:00 to 23:00). The main HKTA office is located in the Central District at 99 Queen's Road Central – about a 10-minute walk west of Star Ferry pier and Central MTS station. In Hong Kong, you may call the HKTB Visitor Hotline (852 - 2508 1234).