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Important information and emergency hotlines are efficient and provide foreign-language speakers – mainly English.

Hong Kong’s tap water is safe to drink. Wash fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid locally caught seafood if your health is fragile, as high pollution levels and some diseases can lurk in local fish. Many local restaurants source fish from abroad.

Urban air quality is improving rapidly following the introduction of cleaner vehicle fuels. Even so, the air pollution index can still head above 100, at which point people with respiratory complaints are advised to stay indoors. Consult the SCMP’s websitehttp://weather.scmp.comfor regular updates.

Sadly, Hong Kong has made slow progress in treating the sewage it empties into its own waters, let alone in tackling the pollution washing from China’s rivers. There are good beaches (usually government managed) but seawater quality can vary markedly. Toxic algae blooms occasionally make swimming unsafe. It’s best to swim on a lifeguard-staffed beach with shark net. On unmanaged beaches never swim at dawn, dusk, in murky waters or with open wounds.

Crime and theft directed at tourists are rare in Hong Kong. To be completely safe, take common-sense precautions such as keeping a close hold on personal possessions, using a hotel safe if provided and not leaving valuable items or documents in your backpack.

If you are planning to spend time in Hong Kong, registering your passport with your local consulate or embassy will make replacing a lost one easier. Extra travel insurance may be a good idea if you are travelling with expensive items.

Hydration is important at all times, especially so in Hong Kong’s stifling summer heat and humidity. Ensure you drink plenty of fluid. Cool, light, loose cotton clothing will be most comfortable. Wear a hat if you are outdoors for long periods or turn your umbrella into a sun parasol. If you’re worried about the heat, avoid too much activity during the hottest part of the day. Head up Victoria Peak for cooler climes or to the coast for sea breezes.

Don’t underestimate your ability to sweat and lose fluid in the heat. Take lots of water. Buy a good map, take a mobile phone if you have one and small change for local transport. Sensible clothing and footwear are a must for walking unpaved trails. Pocket tissues might come in handy for some of the public toilets in rustic areas. In winter, take a waterproof.

Caritas Medical Centre and Queen Mary Hospital are among those with 24-hour accident and emergency departments.

The Adventist Hospital and the Matilda Hospital are both private hospitals with bilingual (Cantonese/English) staff. Their outpatient departments include those for women and travellers, and there are also maternity and dental clinics. See theYellow Pages for more foreign-language doctors and dentists in Hong Kong.