Where is the appointment?
The appointment in Hong Kong takes place first in our administrative headquarters located in the district of Tsim Sha Tsui then at the bank. The bank does not allow our presence during this appointment but we will take the appointment for you and prepare it with you.
When and at what time is the appointment?
We invite you to give us the dates of your trip to Hong Kong at least 3 days before your trip. We will then confirm the time of your appointment at our premises. You will be given the exact plan and directions to get to our premises by taxi and public transport. This appointment will take 2 hours maximum.
How is the appointment?
The appointment takes place in two stages:
1/ For the first hour, we will:
- Go through and explain all documents related to your company (statutes of the company, registration certificate, stamps …). If it is available, you will be given the green box containing all this information. You can either bring it back with you or leave it safe at our offices.
- Sign all the original documents (share certificate, declaration of trust, etc.).
- Review your activity with you and validate certain points of your business plan before giving it to the bank.
- Exchange your cash deposit for the opening of the account by a check of the same amount in the name of your company (the banking procedures require that the first deposit into an account be made via a check in HK $). This exchange takes place before you and does not involve any commission or fees.
- Review the documents you brought (passport, proof of address, etc.).
2/ We then accompany you to the bank where you will meet your account manager. We present your file to the account manager. It is common for the bank to ask you what your business is. If you do not speak English very well, you just have to answer what has been indicated in your business plan (“Business nature” and “Target market”). After some exchanges according to your level of English, the appointment will be finished. This appointment with the bank rarely lasts more than 20 minutes.
ATTENTION: The appointment at the bank is only possible if your company is already registered (Certificate of Incorporation issued). Otherwise, it will not be possible to set up an appointment with HSBC HK but the account opening procedure can be performed in our offices because we have HSBC HK delegation for this.
It takes a total of 2 hours maximum.
What should I bring for the appointment?
During your appointment in Hong Kong, please come with the following five elements:
- Original of your passport or the statutes of your company.
- Original proof of address (electricity bill or water or gas or mobile or fixed phone, bank statement …).
- Your business plan written in English and possibly validated in advance by our service (it will be re-validated with you on the spot in Hong Kong). We recommend that you only use our template which will be shared with you.
- Minimum HK $ 10,000 (approximately EUR 950) in cash (you may convert them locally if you wish) for the first deposit into your account. You can deposit more if you wish (no limit).
- Information documents requested by the bank to justify your experience / network / know-how / professional knowledge.
These five elements will be explained to you in detail after you enlist our services.
How should I behave with my representatives in Hong Kong?
The Chinese are very pragmatic and will do everything to facilitate your appointment to HK. When you do not understand your counterpart, do not hesitate to have it repeated. Note that a sense of humor is very well accepted!
When a Chinese gives you a business card (and even any other document), it is customary to receive it by extending both hands. Place yourself in front of the person who is presented to you and, with both hands, offer him your card (upwards, facing your interlocutor). While giving the card, present yourself with a boilerplate formula such as “my name is Pierre DUPOND, nice to meet you” (“my name is Pierre DUPOND, delighted to make your acquaintance [meet you] “). It is customary for visitors to be the first to present their card.
As you give or receive a business card, accompany your gesture with a slight inclination, proceeding slowly and methodically with each person in turn. Do not distribute your cards as if they were playing cards. When you are given a card, read it carefully and treat it with respect.
Pocketing it immediately, crumpling it or annotating it would be interpreted as a sign of non-respect. It is acceptable to leave the cards on the table during the meeting, which will allow you to remember in case the name of your counterpart.
What is there to do in Hong Kong?
There is plenty to do in Hong Kong whether for work or play!
Between the city to visit and the nature to discover, a few days will allow you to discover Hong Kong. Here is the website of the HK Tourism Office: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/
Please note that we provide our clients free of charge a French guide to the main HK landmarks as well as some good addresses that will allow you to fully enjoy Hong Kong during your stay.
Which airlines and hotels in country would you recommend?
It is difficult to advise you because these choices are often very subjective and depend on your budget.
We will be able to give you some addresses and names according to your budget. In any case, please note that it is very easy to travel to Hong Kong, whether by taxi or metro.
Therefore, we often advise our customers to choose a hotel at Central or Kowloon according to your budget and your criteria because it will then be easy for you to move around Hong Kong.
Please note that we have preferential rates from Langham Place Hotel.
We can therefore book rooms at this hotel as well as with Emirates airlines.
Hong Kong Overview
Geography
Hong Kong consists of four parts: an archipelago of 234 islands, with a main island (Hong Kong Island, 80 km2) and a peninsula (Kowloon, 50 km2) extended by the New Territories (70% of the area).
Population
The total area is about 1,100 km2, about 10 times Paris and there are 7 million inhabitants, the population density is 6,870 inhabitants / km2 (107 in France). 70% of the population lives in the New Territories and Kowloon, which has one of the largest population densities in the world.
Currency
The Hong Kong dollar (HK $ or HKD). The usual price is around 1 euro = 10 HK $. “Money changers” are more interesting than banks that often take between 30 to 50 HK $ per transaction. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. It is also possible, with these same cards, to obtain cash in vending machines bearing their logo. Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday from 09AM to 04:30PM and Saturday from 09AM to 12:30PM. They are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Language
Chinese (Cantonese) and English.
Status
Formerly British territory, Hong Kong is since 1 July 1997 a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, governed by the “Basic Law” which guarantees the maintenance of its economic, judicial and social system for 50 years (until in 2047).
Religion
There are several religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and other traditional beliefs. There are 10% of Christians.
Financial strength
Hong Kong is ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in Asia. It was 4th in the international rankings before the Asian crisis of 1997-1998, but remains a major financial center. Firmly optimistic, the local “CAC40” is called “Hang Seng”, or “Eternal Growth” …
Foreign Trade
1st investor in China and 2nd largest source of investment in Asia. Hong Kong did not wait for the retrocession to invest in the region of Canton that it knows well (cradle of a majority of Hong Kong population) and where it employs about 5 million people. For this reason, the territory continues to be the world’s leading exporter of toys, watches, calculators, radios, telephones, luggage, imitation jewelry and artificial flowers.
Industry Sectors
Agriculture is virtually non-existent in Hong Kong and everything is imported from abroad … 85% of its activity is in the service sector (banking and financial mainly), but also structural. It has the 1st container port in the world with more than 700 boats a day and also the 1st international airport for freight traffic. Let’s not forget about textiles (the world’s 2nd largest exporter), telecommunications, the Internet and the “new economy”.
Average income
Greater than USD 25,000 per capita, tied with Japan and Singapore and above the average income of Taiwan. There is no minimum wage and Hong Kong people often combine several jobs at the same time.
Passport
It must be valid 1 month after the end of the stay. You must also have
a return ticket or a travel extension. No visa is required in Hong Kong for French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian for a stay of less than 3 months.
Vaccinations
No additional vaccination is required for travelers from Europe. The “universal” vaccines offered in Europe are recommended for those who travel further in the region especially tetanus, polio, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B. It is worth mentioning that Hong Kong has the best hospitals in the region.
Daily life
Regarding accommodation and restaurants, here are some prices:
- Accommodation rates per night:
Very cheap: from HK $ 80 to 130.
Cheap: from 130 to 250 HK $.
Average prices: from 250 to 500 HK $.
More “chic”: more than 500 HK $.
- Restaurants meals:
Cheap: from $ 30 to $ 60.
Average prices: from 60 to 120 HK $.
A little more chic: from 120 to 150 HK $.
More chic: more than 150 HK $.
Weather
Hong Kong enjoys a subtropical climate with relatively few temperature differences, but a fairly high humidity (80% on average).
Spring is from March to the end of May; summer from early June to mid-September; autumn from late September to early December and winter from December to February (around 18°C to 20°C).
Getting around Hong Kong
There are many modes of public transportation: the taxi, the metro (MTR = Mass Transit Railway), the train (KCR = Kowloon Canton Railway), the tramway, the double-decker bus, the ferry, and the Airport Express.
There are taxis on every street corner and it’s not very expensive, about $ 30K per ride. Taxi drivers rarely speak English, get a map and be sure about the address of your destination!
As soon as you arrive at the airport, we advise you to buy an “Octopus” card. It will serve you right away (includes both airport trips by “Airport Express”) and until the end of your stay. At any time you can credit your Octopus card to take the metro, the bus, the ferry and even use it to pay at some places (McDonald’s, Seven-Eleven, etc.). When you return your card upon departure at the airport, all the unused remaining credit will be refunded to you.
The Kowloon Peninsula
In the district of Tsim Sha Tsui, you can take a nice walk in the “Kowloon Park” to admire small lakes with turtles and fish. There is also a large aviary and outdoor pools.
Do not miss Nathan Road, also called the “Golden Mile”, it is the main street that goes up the peninsula, it starts with hotels and luxury shops and ends with low-end showcases. Our offices are at number 610 on this street.
Near Nathan Road, you will be able to visit Temple Street, it is a nice and lively night market, ideal to find souvenirs at lower prices. Even higher, there is the Jade Market, which is open during the day.
Back on the harbor, there is the Avenue of Stars which is right on the Victoria Harbor, nice walk, especially in the evening to admire the illuminations of the island of Hong Kong. Why not have a drink while continuing to admire this bay? We strongly advise you to go to the bar Le Félix at the hotel Le Peninsula where the cocktails are delicious and varied, served in small rooms, overlooking the bay! Prices are very reasonable.
There is also Victoria Harbor, from where you can take the StarFerry to get to Hong Kong Island.
Hong Kong Island
Start with the Central Business District, you can see the huge buildings, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and so on.
Next, there’s the world’s largest escalator (792m) that connects all the streets between Queen’s Road and Conduit Street: it’s the perfect way to explore the steep areas of Central, Mid-Levels and SoHo on foot. Attention, from 10h to 24h, it goes up the hill but between 6h and 10h, its meaning is reversed!
After you can take the road of Conduit Street and go to the botanical garden and zoological, the entrance is free and you will observe many animals.
Not far away is also the Peak Tram station which will take you to the peak of the Peak and from where you can admire the Hong Kong Bay. Go at night and on a clear day, the view is superb!
South of the island, you’ll find restful places like Aberdeen, Stanley, and beautiful bays (Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay). You can visit Aberdeen aboard a sampan. There are also floating restaurants (the famous Jumbo). Take a taxi or a bus to go to Repulse bay, you will have a little Mediterranean air on thise beach.
Then go to Stanley, you will find beautiful beaches and a market where abound clothes, silks and souvenirs. To return to Hong Kong, there is a direct bus (No. 260) that goes to Central in 20 minutes.
Lantau Island
Treat yourself to a day in nature on Lantau Island and visit Po Lin Monastery. You can access it by the MTR, then you will find buses or tele-cabins that will take you there. The monastery of Po Lin is surmounted by a huge Buddha 26m high.
There is possibility to eat locally, but exclusively vegetarian food with lots of cooked Tofu
In the afternoon, join the fishing village of Tai O by bus. There are still houses on stilts, do not hesitate to get away from the busy streets by the shops to see houses up close.
In the late afternoon, take the ferry to Mui Wo to go to Cheung Chau Island.
Cheung Chau Island
This ancient haven of pirates and fishermen evokes the old traditional Hong Kong.
There is no car on this island and we advise you to rent a bike to go around the island and leave the city center.
In the evening, stroll through the narrow streets and eat at a seafood restaurant.
You can go directly to Kowloon or central by ferry (30 minutes).
New Territories
The cities do not deserve a special visit because they are without interest (“dormitory towns”), however, visit the seashore. The temple of “Ten Thousand Buddhas” located in Sha Tin should be very beautiful. Going up the many steps (400) to reach this temple, you will see free monkeys eating the peanuts left as offerings to the statutes of the Buddhas. The temple and its colors dominate the city, do not hesitate to climb a few more steps to see more temples and admire the view. At the change of moon, there are dragon dances in front of the temple
Holidays and holidays
For your visit to Hong Kong (especially for your appointment at our premises and with the bank), we invite you to consult the list of public holidays on this site: http://www.gov.hk/en/about/ abouthk / holiday / index.htm
The holidays in Hong Kong often take place according to the lunar calendar. Dates vary each year. You can inquire at the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
We show you the most important festivals and festivals:
Chinese New Year (between late January and mid-February): the most important event of the Chinese calendar. Very colorful atmosphere in the streets for 3 days to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Fireworks over Victoria Harbor, decorations in shop windows, flowers, parades of floats, lion dance … At the end of the New Year takes place the Lantern Festival or Yuen Siu, during which we hang, of course, multicolored lanterns in temples, parks, etc., is equivalent to our Valentine’s Day.
Birth of Tin Hau (April-May): For a day, the fishermen pray to the Heavenly Empress, Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the Sea for good peaches. Street parades and boat decorations on the islands and in the New Territories.
Buns Festival (April-May): on the island of Cheung Chau. Feast of Taoist origin. 8 days of festivities including a parade of children in traditional costumes (the 4th day), all punctuated by Chinese operas. The day after the parade, distribution of rolls (buns), a guarantee of prosperity for the following year.
Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng, May-June): commemoration of the death of Qu Yuan, a national hero who drowned about 2,000 years ago to protest the corruption regime of the time. On this occasion, regattas of boats adorned with a head and a tail of dragon, to the rhythm of the drums.
Fête des Demoiselles (August): feast of single girls looking for a husband, in reference to the legend of the bouvier and the weaver. On the advice of his buffalo, a cowboy convoluted with the seventh daughter of the emperor of heaven and weaver clouds of his condition, hiding the coat that allowed him to fly. Furious, the empress mother separates them with a silver pin from her bun that has become milky way but, finally touched by this love, she transforms them into stars and allows them to see each other again on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.
Mid-Autumn Festival (September-October): a very important and eminently family festival. It is at the same time the festival of the moon and that of the harvests. It celebrates a popular revolt movement of the fourteenth century, which spread the rebellion by messages hidden in cupcakes, the famous “moon cakes” (moon cakes based on dates, lotus seeds and sesame), which ‘tasted while watching the moon under the illuminated lanterns …
Christmas and New Year’s Day (25 December and 1 January): Hong Kong is also influenced by theWestern tradition and businesses, hotels, etc. are very decorated.
Other holidays: Ching Ming Festival (All Saints Day, early April), Buddha’s birthday in May, the anniversary of the retrocession to China on July 1st and 2nd, Easter, Good Friday, May 1st, etc.
Our advice and good addresses
When you arrive at Hong Kong Airport, we advise you to buy an “Airport Express Travel Pass” card which includes a round-trip fast rail link between the airport and Central Hong Kong (via Kowloon ) and 3 days of unlimited use of the MTR network (metro and bus). This card is equipped with the Octupus feature that allows you to pay the Star Ferry, the Peak Tram and several merchants (Mc Donald’s, Seven Eleven, etc.). It is rechargeable and the balance will be refunded upon return to the airport from Airport Express Customer Service Center.
If you have some time and want to have a view of Hong Kong as soon as you arrive, we invite you to do the following:
Take the Airport Express to Hong Kong Station (terminus)
Then take Exit 2B (located below Exit 2A of IFC Mall) to reach the Star Ferry Pier via the bridge.
Take the ferry up the Upper Level to the upper level of the boat crossing Hong Kong Bay to Tsim Sha Tsui (across the Kowloon Peninsula).
From Tsim Sha Tsui, you can see the entire island of Hong Kong and join the Kowloon subway system (to get back to your hotel or visit Kowloon).
The Peninsula Hotel is the legendary hotel in Hong Kong (a very upscale hotel that was at the arrival of the Orient Express). We advise you to have a drink at the bar of the Felix restaurant and visit their toilets designed by Philippe Starck.
For a concise and simple guide to Hong Kong, we recommend the guide “Top 10 Hong Kong” published by Hachette (ISBN: 2012440835, about 12 EUR).
The day of your departure, it is possible to register your luggage in Central Hong Kong at the Airport Express terminal (In-town Check-in Service) in the morning and up to 90 minutes before your flight), which you leave the rest of the day “free”.
Do I need a visa to come to Hong Kong?
Some nationalities (France, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.) benefit from a visa exemption to enter Hong Kong if the length of stay on site in Honk Kong is less than a certain length (usually less than 90 days). We invite you to visit this site: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm#part2
Please note that Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Zone and therefore has different immigration rules from China.