Came here (obviously) for Visa application. I have been here before so it was relatively easy to…read morefind. From the ferry you enter Star House and turn left, walk all the way to the end and take the lifts at the end to 12/F. The consulate will be directly on your left when you walk out the lift. Things you need to bring for a Visa application (if you hold a BNO or HKSAR passport): - Application form (they have it at their office, but you can print your own from the website below) - Recent passport photo (4cm x 6cm or larger so they can cut it up) - Photocopy of your passport - Original passport for their verification/reference - Cash (Tourist Visa is HK$290 and business is HK$360, make sure you have cash because they don't take credit card) I think most people will find it difficult to visit their office given they operate short hours within working hours. The good news is that anybody can hand-in the application for you as long as they have all of the above (especially the original passport), no authorization/delegation form is necessary. The process will be quite short and painless if you have everything I've just mentioned. Given no line-ups (there usually are none), the process shouldn't take anymore than 5 minutes. The official website is a mess; HKTDC has a much more organized website: http://hong-kong-economy-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Visa-On-Demand/Cambodia-Visa-on-Demand/vod/en/1/1X000000/1X007HXO.htm

Well, everything in the process of getting 5 visas on the spot in 10' for my family went well…read moreEXCEPT that they tried to charge me adult fares for 2 kids under 12. Luckily their visas mention "gratis" in english at the top of the visa stamp/sticker. I came back to the counter and asked why they charged me nearly HKD 600 for 2 kids' visa earmarked as "gratis". Without an additional word (nor disagreement nor apology), I was refunded in cash immediately. Absent mindedness or corruption? Either way, caution is in order there...

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has been around for more than 66 years and provides…read moreassistance to Filipino nationals living in Hong Kong. Within its time here in Hong Kong, it has changed location for more than 8 times. In 1999, when I was eight years old, it moved to its permanent location on the 14th floor of United Centre. The Consulate enjoys the liberty of taking the day off both on Philippine and Hong Kong holidays. I've been going here for as I can remember, mainly to renew my passport or accompany other family members to do the same. Legal Philippine documents can also be applied here. As the majority of Filipinos in Hong Kong consists of domestic helpers, it forms the larger crowd here especially during Sunday. Scratch that, it is busy every day that it is open, regardless of time. But it does help to arrive early as the crowd only begins to gather an hour after they open. Thankfully, I've never tried using the Consulate's assistance in criminal and social welfare cases, but it's good to know that it is there when I could possibly need it. Renewing passports isn't that easy as there are four (sometimes three) long lines to follow, but at least it's streamlined. Passports can be renewed, at the earliest, 8 months before expiration but can still be handled even though it's 3 months due to expire. Renewing a Philippine passport costs $480 which might not seem much but losing it costs a whopping $1,200! Thankfully, I have never lost my passport. The majority of the world's population enjoy a 30-day visa-free entry to the Philippines while HKSAR passport holders, due to the 2010 tension between Hong Kong and the Philippines, can only stay for 14 days. I like that the official website has downloadable forms so I wouldn't have to take a special trip to Admiralty just to get the forms I need.

As I will be leaving soon for Germany, getting my Visa ready is of utmost importance. Since this…read morewas my first time to be in a Consulate, I did not know what to expect but I would say it was definitely an experience. First thing I know is that the opening hour is from eight thirty to eleven thirty during weekdays, which got me thinking, who could have been available during those hours? Anyways, I went there during my dayoff (first time ever I feel lucky to have my daysoff on weekdays). Before I got in there was a security check, no phone or anything unnecessary could be brought inside. Instead, we were asked to put everything else inside a locker outside. I have to say that the security guard is super nice and funny. Sometimes people go to talk to him as they are waiting for their turns and it was definitely fun for me to eavesdrop. There were four counters in total but only two that were in service - one for German citizens of course and the other one for visas and all kind of inquiries. And you would have expected to spend some time here. I always have the feeling that staff working in embassy or consulate or any kind of government departments are quite rude and this one proves me right. I am sure she was busy but sometimes she came off quite condescending. Well, she was the only one was is going to help me so I am so not complaining. Fun fact, seems like lots of Hongkongers are going to Germany for working holiday these days; but as I was talking to the lady at the counter (which was around 11:30 - time to close), one girl showed up at the door asking if she could get in to apply for the working holiday scheme, the guard said no and she was so anxious about how many spot left for this year, the lady at the counter replied 1 left. And they still refused to let her in though she was kind of begging... Anyways, hopefully she gets that... Anyways, I finally got my Visa today but guess what - they kind of messed it up on my duration of stay so I need to ask them about it. As for the hotline, no matter it is during working hour or not, you can never reach them. For real. Hopefully this will be my last time to be visiting here.

Spending a day at Immigration Tower is sort of like going to a DMV in the states. Depending on the…read moretime of arrival, it be disorganized, crowded and above all, confusing. There is a certain level of efficiency here, but chaos tends to reign supreme. Since Immigration Tower is actually quite big, it's important to know how to get there. Take get out the Wanchai exit A1 and walk the footbridge north until one reaches the dead end building. From there walk through the security guys and let them know you're heading to the main lobby of the immigration offices. Naturally, there are all sorts of people here. Immigrants, expats tend to dominate the ID card area, but there are also folks who are just looking to square away their travel / visa situations as well. English is definitely spoken here, but one's mileage will vary depending on how good the desk agent is. It is important to come prepared, so do a little research on their official website (http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/index.html) ahead of time. There are copy machines on the 4th floor and ATMs are available on the bottom level in case cash is needed. When it comes to the ID session, the picture taking is the most fun. Choice of photo and autoadjust is pretty awesome. Don't get too carried away though, the desk agents have a several other hundred people waiting behind you.

The longest wait ever to extend my visa here…read more You pretty much grab a number and then sit down and wait to be called. I waited about 2.5 hours for my number to be called. You can't even leave the place without knowing if you're called. Once you're called it goes pretty fast with the processing.

Been here on several occasions and I have to say this place is big. Reading online confirmed my…read moresuspicions- the British Consulate in Hong Kong is the biggest in the world and built into the complex is also the office for British Council which deals with educational affairs. My first visit to the British Consulate was to renew my British passport- this was before the days when it was all done by post and online. I cold report that the staff were friendly and they did try to process my application as smoothly as possible. As with all major institutions after 911, security is extremely tight and you could tell that the front door has been made as small as possible to prevent any attacks. On the top of the escalator you will spot a coat of arms- may seem slightly familiar and you would be right as that used to be hung in one of the reception rooms at Government House. My latest visit was also for the same purpose and I was told very quickly that I was not to come in. Not because I'm a terrorist but the fact is that all passport applications are now handled remotely and you have to submit an application online. I guess this is part of the cost cutting procedure in maintain as few personnel here as possible. The British Council section is much more inviting (naturally) and they offer both local language courses as well as advice on higher education in the UK. I was there for an IELTs test and found the place to be really comfortable and the staff friendly. I guess its no wonder that British Council remains popular with students and shall continue to be so.

Good for family , especially those with kids. They have a room with this sorta jungle playground,…read morewhere kids can climb here and there , basically to exhaust their energy. There are 3 sessions of opening in the afternoon, and sometimes it can get busy, so I would say talk to the staff and get a ticket and a rough idea when you should bring the kids there. Otherwise, you can miss it and your kids might get grumpy. lol It has a beuatiful lotus pond, and the flowers are budding and only a few has opened. There are other fishes and insects from nature to look at as well. In the butterfly garden, a speaker will explain to you the life of a butterfly and the features of them. But it is in Cantonese only. Must bring Hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent! srsly I got bitten even with mosquito repellent on.

When I was working as a kindergarten teacher in Yuen Long, we would come up with fun field trips…read morefor the children. Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai was probably one of our highlights: the park being a huge open area with ecodiversity that few Hong Kongers ever get to truly appreciate. If I hadn't worked in Yuen Long, I'm not sure I would've ever heard of the Wetland Park, which would have been a shame since the project site has been designed so well, architecturally and educationally. There's a butterfly garden, and a few trails that pass by mangroves, fishponds and streams - all seemingly miles away from the urban Hong Kong hustle and bustle. So, strap on your fanny packs, rock your sun visors, and dip in a bath of sun screen, because the Wetland Park is a day-trip of eco-friendly fun. Down with the 18 degree aircons! Well, down with the 18 degree aircons for a little bit: there's an indoor exhibition area, the Visitor Centre, where you can learn about animals that live in the wetlands - including Pui Pui the crocodile, who has a home at the Wetland Reserve. The viewing gallery also gives you a good view of the Wetland Reserve too from an indoor site. Admission is $30 for a standard ticket, while concessionary tickets are half price. The Park is a great place to take the kids, to get some fresh air, or to learn more about conservation in Hong Kong.

Well, it's been almost three years and I am finally being brave enough to get my Hong Kong drivers…read morelicense; it might take me another three before I'm brave enough to use it, but that's another story. The process is actually pretty simple. Print off a form and show up at the office in Queensway with your original license, passport and Hong Kong ID card. I made sure I was at the office by 10am (the opening hours stated online, but they actually open at 9) and the queues weren't bad - although there were audible sighs of relief when the lady crazy enough to bring a stroller to the queue whipped out an iPad and shamelessly used Frozen to keep the baby in it quiet. I did have to wait about half an hour, but that was partially due to standing in the wrong queue. Now, going back to collect the actual document, it makes sense, but the sign "first issue of HK licence" seemed completely applicable to the act of applying for one (I'd read and re-read it multiple times to make sure and I thought I had a reasonable grasp of the English language). So, tip for new players, ask at the information desk before joining a queue and save yourself some time.

Queues, queues and more queues. That's about the only way you could describe this place. On the…read moreoccasions that I have been here, whether you are trying to apply for a license, renew a license, transfer vehicle ownership papers or registration mark ; it has always involved an hour of heel killing and neck hurting (from spending too much time on my phone) wait. To the uninitiated you really don't know which queue to follow as well- almost all of them seem to do the same thing (blame the government for having so many similarly named forms). However, as much as you may like to hate this place- it is convenient. If you work on HK island then this is probably the only place that you could go to during working hours that could handle everything (notably the international driving license). Given that government offices rarely open outside of office hours this is the only choice you have and I'm afraid you just have to bear with it. The staff are not to blame in that sense, I can see that they try their best to accommodate the masses of people who come through. Language wise they have to deal with all sorts of nationalities hence you can't expect too much if you don't speak English. I would say that you will need to leave a good hour clear in your diary if you were to do anything there as it will almost always involve an application stage and a payment stage; both of which involving more lines. Its the government- what else do you expect?

I took the MTR to travel from North Point to Wanchai . We sat in the park class by to rest and…read moreenjoyed the beautiful sky and sunshine . Outside temperate was 55 F . Proven cold for HK people but perfect for me . This WanChai tower is a government building . One of the main office is to fill in the application for a new Hong Kong ID . Beside local HK citizens, there were Indians , Caucasian, Asians from other parts of the world . It is recommended to make an appointment to avoid long wait . All the staffs were well trained , efficient , good manner and patient. It could be good example for other government staffs in other cities . They are so efficient and polite even it was very busy . I am so impressed and this was a totally wonderful experience.