Travel essentials for Hong Kong
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Power & adapters
Type G adapter required
Hong Kong uses the Type G three-rectangular-pin plug, the same as the UK - not the Type I used in Australia and not the Type A used in mainland China. If you are combining Hong Kong with the mainland you need two adapters.
220V, 50Hz
Tap water
Safe to drink
Tap water meets WHO standards and is safe. Many locals still boil or filter it because of old building plumbing rather than the supply itself.
Staying connected
Outstanding, including in every MTR tunnel and on the outlying islands.
Hong Kong is one of the cheapest eSIM destinations in the world. Note that a Hong Kong plan does not cover mainland China, and that the mainland internet is filtered while Hong Kong's is not - a Hong Kong eSIM used across the border sometimes routes around that, but do not rely on it.
Compare Hong Kong eSIMsHealth risks
- Typhoons between May and October
- Extreme summer heat and humidity
- Air quality on high-pollution days
Emergency numbers in Hong Kong
| All emergencies | 999 for everything |
|---|---|
| Police | 999 |
| Ambulance | 999 |
| Fire | 999 |
| Australian consulate | Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong - +852 2827 8881 |
Tipping and everyday costs
Not customary. Restaurants add a 10% service charge; leaving the coins from your change is plenty. Taxi fares are rounded up.
What screening will actually let you pack
Half of what goes in the bag is decided by someone else. What you can take on a plane sets out the Australian rules item by item - power banks, liquids, scissors, aerosols - and what has to be declared at the border on the way home.
More Hong Kong essentials
Further reading: Power adapters by country: what Australians actually need to pack
How these comparisons are made
Plug types, voltages and frequencies come from the international electrotechnical standards data for each country, stated per destination with what that means for Australian appliances specifically - what needs an adapter, what needs a converter, and what should stay home. Read the full editorial policy.
Hong Kong travel essentials FAQs
What power adapter do I need for Hong Kong?
A Type G adapter, the three-rectangular-pin UK plug. It is different from both the Australian Type I plug and the Type A plug used in mainland China, so a Hong Kong and China trip needs two adapters.
Planning Hong Kong?
We will send you the Hong Kong guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.