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Banks and ATMs are numerous. Opening hours are 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri and 9am–12:30pm Sat. Most ATMs operate 24 hours. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted.

Banks offer the best foreign exchange rates, although there are plenty of independent bureaux de change. Using your bank card at an ATM may be cheaper than changing money or using travellers’ cheques. Money forwarding can be arranged through local banks, or try Western Union.

The Hong Kong postal service is rapid and efficient. Local mail takes one to two days. Zone 1 air mail (all of Asia except Japan) takes three to five days. Zone 2 (the rest of the world) takes five to seven days. The General Post Office operates Hong Kong’s post restante service.

Local calls in Hong Kong are free. Many hotel lobbies and shops will make phones available free for local calls. Coin-operated public phone boxes cost HK$1 minimum. Some accept credit cards or have Internet services. Phone cards for calling abroad are available from convenience stores, some vending machines, the Star Ferry piers and HKTB offices (see HKTB Services).

The international code for Hong Kong is 852, for Macau 853, and for mainland China 86. Hong Kong and Macau have no area or city codes, but Guangzhou is 020 and Shenzhen 0755.

Hong Kong’s mobile networks are GSM-based. Dual-band mobile phones will work in Hong Kong if you have set the service up with your home provider. Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) has outlets offering phone rentals by the week. WAP services are available, but not advanced.

Internet access is plentiful, convenient, cheap and often free (see Free Calls and Internet Access). Much of Hong Kong uses speedy broadband connections, including the main hotels, most of which have installed dual telephone/modem connectors into rooms.

Hundreds of magazines and newspapers from around the world are available to read free at the shiny new main library in Causeway Bay. Internet access here is plentiful, fast and free (bookings taken for one hour at a time). There’s also a good café with outdoor seating.

Faxing from business centres or photocopying shops is simple, although not cheap. Your hotel may offer a cheaper service and will accept faxes on your behalf.

Hong Kong is well supplied with business centres and services. See Hong Kong’sYellow Pages . Business cards can be printed on Man Wa Lane in Sheung Wan, off Des Voeux Road West. Have your details translated into Chinese on the back.