Job Discussion Forums

bleek · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

I'll be arriving in Hong Kong on a Sunday night and I have to stay there until the next day when I can go get my Visa.

I'm just curious (since I have never been to HK) what should I do?

Are there relatively inexpensive places for me to stay the night? Also, can someone tell me where I go to get a Visa?

Much thanks!

SydGirl2 · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 50

Visa for ____? China presumably. Tourist visas can be obtained through travel agencies in HK as well as China Travel Service.At least this was the case a couple of years ago. If you are willing to pay extra, the visa will be issued on the same day. Otherwise allow a couple of days. Last I heard there were quite a few travel agencies in Mongkok that can arrange visas quickly and cheaply.
Cheapest places to stay are on Nathan Rd Kowloon- Chungking , Mirador Mansions etc. Ok for a few nights.
Also check the sticky threads at the top of the China forum.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

I don't know how much time you have left before you leave, but you could think about getting your visa directly from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa (you're a Canadian, eh?). See http://www.chinaembassycanada.org/eng/lsfw/Chinese%20Visa/default.htm
Then you'd have one less thing to worry about in HKG. In fact, if the only purpose in stopping over in HKG is to get your visa, you could (if you already have your visa) take the ferry from HKG airport to Shenzhen. You could overnight there -- the Nanhai hotel, 5 stars, is right next to the ferry terminal, and there's a Holiday Inn not too far up the road -- and then catch a bus to Guangzhou, if that's where you're going. There is a bus terminal not far from the ferry terminal.

bleek · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

I'm going to have to get the work visa when I arrive in HK and I'm prepared to pay for the same day.

Is that something I can do anywhere? I have heard that you can get them downtown somewhere but the information was a little hazy..

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

See Sydgirl's post. There are lots of travel agencies etc where you can get your visa. I used the China Travel Service office in Mongkok -- about two blocks east of Nathan and two south of Argyll (can't remember the names of the streets). I imagine she suggested the Mongkok area because that's a good place to find cheap accommodations if you have to stay overnight, also cheap if you want to do some shopping.

Ben H Nevis Jnr. · Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 108 Location: peninsular china

i've just come back into mainland China last week from my first visa run to HK. there's a hostel in Mongkok, right on Argyle Road in a grotty tenement tower called Sincere House called Dragon Hostel, that's who i got to process it, they'll do it same day if needs be. prices decent. if there's no room at that hostel, there are about 6 or 7 others int he same building, all about 180 to 250 HK$ per night for a bed in an air-con shoe-box. cheaper than Chungking and Mirador i think, and more secure, and cleaner. but sadly none of those wonderful Indian sweets on the ground floor...

what to do in HK...?
i found so much to do i ended up spending a week there, very taken with HK, but then i have been in the PRC for 2 years solid, so i guess anywhere would have seemed charming in comparison...

the scenery is great and the whole territory is covered in marked hiking trails. do the tourist honeypots, sure, but get out and about too, explore the more traditional urban districts north of Mongkok, marvel at the escalator over on Hong Kong Island and envy the corporate types with salaries. get the metro out to some dystopian housing estate and eat roast duck with the locals. go to the fishing villages, the far side of Lantau island and the Sai Kung area especially are really beautiful...

i sound enthusiastic, but then again i'm a keen photographer so i'm never bored as long as there are people, buildings and scenery.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

I'm confused. Most people are giving you information about a visitor's visa for China and you are talking about a work visa - I'm not sure if it is for Hong Kong or China.
You can't get a work visa for Hong Kong in a day as you have to have a job first and the employer has to send the forms to Immigration. I don't know about China but I expect it is similar.

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

For accomodation try Wang Fat Hostel in Caseway Bay - No A2, 3/F, Paterson Bldg., 47 Paterson St., Causeway Bay . http://www.hostels.com/en/availability.php/HostelNumber.1168
Close to the action and quite homely - good deal in my opinion. I used to stay there on visits to Hong Kong before I became a filthy rich NET. You can get your own room for about 250-300 a night, and I think they have shared rooms too.

bleek · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

I am getting a work visa for mainland China and the person who hired me gave me the info! So I'm set. Smile

I need to go to the Chinese Visa Office in Wanchai where they can do it same day... I will be staying at the Dragon Hostel overnight and I won't have much extra time so I don't think this trip to HK will be very thrilling... except for the adventure I'll have finding the places I need to be.

It's my first time to HK, actually my first time to Asia! I'm going alone and I'm not sure if I will be brave enough to go on an adventure... not just yet anyways. After I settle into the place I'll be working and living, I will try get out there a little more and make a few trips on my time off...

Ben H Nevis Jnr.'s post was very encouraging! Thanks!!