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Electricity
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Voltage in Hong Kong is
220 volts, 50 cycles. There are two main electricity companies - Hong Kong
Electric Company which supplies power to Hong Kong
Island, and China Light and Power
provides power to Kowloon, the New Territories
and the Outlying
Islands. Electricity
is competitively priced, but bills can increase quite considerably during
the summer months when air conditioners and dehumidifiers are used.
The relevant electricity company may be contacted by telephone in order to
obtain a new connection.
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Telephone
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Hong Kong
Electric Company
www.hec.com.hk
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+852 2887 3411 (Enquiries)
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+852 2555 4000 (Emergency)
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China Light &
Power
www.clpgroup.com
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+852 2728 8333
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Gas
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A piped gas supply is available on Hong
Kong Island, Kowloon and certain parts of the New Territories.
Other areas are supplied with gas cylinders for domestic usage. Most stoves
and water heaters are gas operated.
A new gas connection may be obtained within 2-3 days of application by
contacting the gas company in person or by telephone. A refundable deposit
is required for all new connections.
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Telephone
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Hong Kong &
China Gas Company - Towngas
www.towngas.com
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+852 2880 6988
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Product Hotline
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+852 2963 3000
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Water Supply
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Water is heavily subsidised by
the Government and is a cheap commodity. There are mixed views about how
safe the tap water is for drinking, and whether to drink it or not will
therefore be a personal decision. However, tap water in new buildings is
generally safe, but we suggest that you boil or filter the water before
drinking. An alternative to boiling or filtering is to purchase bottled
water which is readily available and can bought at the supermarket or
delivered to your home or office.
To apply for the water supply to your home to be in your name, contact the
Water Supplies Department on the number listed below, or visit:
www.wsd.gov.hk. There is a refundable deposit to pay and water bills are
sent out on a quarterly basis.
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Water Supplies
Department
www.wsd.gov.hk
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Telephone
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+852 2824 5000 (Hotline)
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Bottled Water
There is a wide selection of
bottled water available in Hong Kong;
distilled, distilled with minerals added, spring water etc. It is not
recommended to drink large quantities of distilled water which can leech
out the minerals in your body, but preferable to buy bottled water with
minerals. Water deliveries are easy to organise and many people prefer the
convenience of having a home dispenser rather than buying individual
bottles.
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Telephones
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Fixed Lines
PCCW is the main provider of
fixed line telecom services for both commercial and domestic usage in Hong Kong.
A refundable deposit is required
for all new installations and line rental, and there is a monthly rental
charge for telephone and fax lines. All local calls are free.
For more information on the
telecom industry in Hong Kong, visit the
website of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).
OFTA was established in 1993 and is an independent government department
responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong.
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Telephone
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PCCW
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1000 (Hotline)
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Directory Enquiries - English
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1081
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Telephone Repair/Fault Reporting
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109
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24-hour Sales Hotline
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+852 2888 0008
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IDD 0060
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10060 (Enquiries)
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OFTA
www.ofta.gov.hk
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+852 2961 6333
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Mobile Phones
Mobile phones or
cell phones as they are often referred to, are part of everyday life. They
can offer very many benefits; however, they can also present certain
challenges, not the least is whether they will work when travelling from one
place to another. Hong Kong's phone
industry is very sophisticated and there is little to choose from between
the main service providers. Most mobile phone companies have outlets in the
main shopping areas or shopping malls, and it is worth "shopping around"
to find the best deal.
If you are visiting Hong Kong, an easy and convenient way to keep in
touch with family or business colleagues is to purchase a pre-paid SIM
card. This can be used in your own phone and although it may not be the
cheapest method, it will provide you with a local telephone number which
will save routing local calls through your home country. Pre-paid SIM cards
can easily be topped-up, but do check before you make any purchase that
your phone is compatible with the Hong Kong
system. An alternative to purchasing a pre-paid SIM card is to rent a
phone. Contact the following phone companies for more details.
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