Get your movie ticket now for the Christmas

Last Sat, I wanted to saw a movie, guess what it was full from Sat all the way to Sun evening. I can't imagine what will happen during Christmas. Do get your ticket now ONLINE if you want to watch movies during Christmas.

Here is the way... and some hot movies.....

To book online:
website/ online ticketing: http://www.cinema.com.hk/
ticketing hotline: 2388-3188
enquiry hotline: 2388-0002

All you need to know about HK Taxi system: Taxi fare from Hong Kong International Airport

Remember a few weeks ago, the taxi stuck the Hong Kong International Airport? Now all the taxi fare sign boards at Hong Kong International Airport have changed. Basically there are 3 types of taxi in Hong Kong, one is city / urban taxi (red in color), one is New Territories Taxi (green in color), and one is for Lantau Island (seldom see).

Depending your destination and place of alight, you may only take some of the taxi. For example, if you are from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and going to Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, you can only take the red taxi, and the fare charges are shown in the figure below:

If you are going to New Territories, then both Red and Green taxi are alright. But only Lantau taxi for Lantau island. Places llike Disney Land, all can go:
Obviously, you can see that the fare to New Territories for red and green taxi got some changes, they indicate the range rather than saying red is cheaper than green (which cause the taxi drivers stuck the airport a few weeks ago):


Hope those info are uselful to you.

Bit torent sites for Hong Kong TVB programs

Remember the TVB "so good" "蘇GOOD" cooking program that I mentioned earlier? Now you can download the second series at: http://www.tvbnow.com/thread-525326-1-1.html

You can also downlaod other uptodate TVB TV programs at:
http://www.tvbnow.com/forum-9-1.html
http://www.newsgroup.com.hk/forum-67-1.html

Prepaid SIM card with free IDD service

There are plenty of prepaid mobile services in the market. In Hong Kong, all you need is just go to 7-11, and immediately you can get a SIM card and start to making call or receiving call. There is this card IDD Talk Stored Value SIM Card from Peoples, which I find that most suitable for tourists, expats, and other foreigners.

Why is that so? Because it provides Free IDD to 30 Countries/Destinations, including China. That means basically you can make a phone call to your home countries, and that is being charged for local call (about HKD 0.25 per min). The SIM card itself just costs HKD $60 with $58 value inside or buy a $98 with $98 value inside. Pretty a good deal.

So why pay roaming charge to call back your home while you are having fun in Hong Kong?

Mobile broadband services in Hong Kong

SmarTone-Vodafone普及隨身寬頻服務 - 全新優惠月費計劃只需$188.

SmarTone-Vodafone全方位通訊服務的策略，為消費者及商業客戶帶來更具吸引力的隨身寬頻服務。每月只須$188，無論戶內戶外、樓上樓下、港鐵、渡輪或隧道內，均可無限量以高達3.6Mbps下載及1.5Mbps上載的寬頻速度上網。此外，$348寬頻月費計劃更可以高達7.2Mbps下載及2Mbps上載的速度上網。現凡選用以任何一個月費計劃及簽約24個月，即可獲贈隨身寬頻USB裝置。

SmarTone-Vodafone隨身寬頻的顧客可查閱電郵、瀏覽心愛網站、欣賞最新影片、用VoIP網上電話或MSN與朋友交流。此外，SmarTone-Vodafone完善的HSPA/3G/GPRS漫遊覆蓋至海外180個地區，方便漫遊期間隨時上網。

For more info: http://www.smartone-vodafone.com/jsp/tchinese/index.jsp

HDTV development in Hong Kong

Digital TV is being offered by all pay TV operators in Hong Kong via cable, satellite and broadband network. As for terrestrial TV, the Government announced in July 2004 the implementation framework for digital terrestrial TV (DTT). The existing two terrestrial TV broadcasters, Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) are required to launch DTT by 2007 and achieve at least 75% of coverage in 2008. Subject to further market and technical studies, the Government aims to switch off analogue broadcasting in 2012.

Tenants of over 140 public rental housing (PRH) estates can now receive Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast with proper TV device. Starting last year, the HA arranged upgrading work for the communal aerial broadcast distribution (CABD) system in its estates in two phases to tie in with the phased DTT launched by the two domestic free television stations, Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited. Subsequent to the completion of the first phase covering 68 estates last December, the second phase was now completed as scheduled, adding some 80 estates and hence all PRH are now ready to receive DTT broadcast.

With all upgrading works completed, anytime the two TV broadcasters commence DTT broadcast through their transmission stations at Temple Hill, Golden Hill, Kowloon Peak, Castle Peak, Cloudy Hill, Lamma Island and Mount Nicholson, PRH residents would be able to receive DTT signals.

LCD 22" or 26" (and above) TV with 720p standard (refer to CNET) will be good enough to receive the HDTV broadcast.

Source:
Digital TV Gov HK
TVB HD
HK Housing Authority
Presentation Slide

My favourite HK TV programs

Several TV programs (besides the TV series) are quite good.

[TVB] 蘇GOOD : Cooking tips, and where to eat in Hong Kong.

[ATV] News http://app.hkatv.com/v3/webtv/webtv.php?program=1000143

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the ATV at youtube: http://hk.youtube.com/hkatv

Two good programs are:

[ATV] 主播天下: this is something similar to news, however, the two girls will give you more background information, and of course, you will enjoy their talkings.

[ATV] 開心到鎮: this programs bring you to many remote and well preserved places in China. You can see some very old villages and listen to their stories.

Bit torent sites for Hong Kong TVB programs

Hong Kong Tram - Just HKD 2 (photos inside out)

Hong Kong island still keep the electric powered tram system. They run across the Hong Kong Island with dedicated track. So no worry about the traffic jam. Most important, they are cheap, just HKD 2 (USD 0.30!). It is the best way to tour around Hong Kong Island. For more info: http://www.hktramways.com/en/home.html

Entrace at the back:
Lower desk with a staircase to higher level:
Upper desk:
Very lookalike the cable car at San Francisco. However, the one at SF is by cable, this one by electric.

The train system at Hong Kong

Hong Kong train system is quite good. One station got many exits link to you different parts of the area through underground. So need not afraid of the rain, sun, or cold weather. However, with dense population, the train can be crowed during peak hour. But no worry, the train comes very frequent, basically within 3 mins you can get on to the next train. This is much better than many other countries, where you need to wait for 10 mins, and equally crowed. So in Hong Kong, train is crowed, but the waiting time and travel time is shorter as the trains move faster. While in many other countries, the train is crowed, and the waiting time and travel time is long too.

Above is a snap shot during a rush hour. It is an extreme case, as typhoon is coming to town, so everyone rush home.

Most prettiest and comprehensive online game - no download at all

Take a look at this fantastic online game Travian developped at Hong Kong / Taiwan. You will be surprise with its online graphical interface. They looks so nice. Basicall you start from an empty village something like this. 每一名玩家都由一條細小村莊開始發展

And slowly, you can develop it into a city as follows. 不斷攻城掠奪，以外交、權謀、諜戰、結盟、分工等等，帶領人民走向最終勝利。
Superior graphical interface. And even better, no download is needed, all online.

Newspaper in Hong Kong

Paid Newspapers in Hong Kong:
South China Post
明報
文匯報
信報財經新聞
蘋果日報
星岛日报
China Daily
成报
Yahoo Hong Kong News

TV News
TVB News
ATV News

Free Newspaper in Hong Kong:
Headline 头条
Metro 都市
The Standard
am730

Free Magazine in Hong Kong:
Metro Pop

Religion related:
Ming Hui 明慧
角聲

Listing from Yahoo: http://hk.dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries_and_Regions/Hong_Kong/News_and_Media/Newspapers/

Educations in Hong Kong

Hong Kong educations is now 5-2-3, i.e. Form 5 for secondary school, Form 7 for pre-university, 3 years University.

Or also Form 5, then continue wiht 2 years Diploma, and then continue with another 2 years of Higher Diploma.

But two more years, it will be 3-3-4 standards, i.e. 6 years for secondary school, and 4 years for university.



Below are some link to the Hong Kong Educations:

- Hong Kong Art School 香港艺术学院
- London Arts Academy 倫敦藝術大學

Basic Information on Hong Kong

Here consists of all the basic information that you need to know about Hong Kong. With these information, you can visit Hong Kong without any worry. These information are even more important if you are moving to Hong Kong for mid to long term stay.

Important Links:

- Hong Kong HOT and INTERESTING News
- Hong Kong Educations Systems
- Hong Kong Culture Information
- Newspapers in Hong Kong
- HDTV development in Hong Kong

Entertainment:

- My favourite HK TV programs
- Bit torent sites for Hong Kong TVB programs
- Yahoo Movies Guide
- Online Movie Booking

Communications:

- Prepaid SIM card with free IDD service
- Mobile broadband services in Hong Kong

Transportation:

- All you need to know about HK Taxi system: Taxi fare from Hong Kong International Airport
- Tram in Hong Kong with only HKD 2
- Train MTR system in Hong Kong
- Octopus Card

Interesting Stuffs:

- TVB 2009 Calendar - Jan to June
- TVB 2009 Calendar - July to Dec

Investment:

- 恒 生 銀 行 一 月 熱選
- 恒 生 五 項 優 惠
- 善用資金 透過「恒生基金每月投資計劃」累積財富！
- 恒 生 基 金 每 月 投 資 計 劃

Others:

- Hong Kong Government
- Online Game -- Travian
- Labour Department 劳工处