I recently visited Hong Kong and brought back some souvenirs. I’ve compiled these souvenirs and my memories of the trip into this article as a keepsake.
Octopus Card
I had already activated my Octopus card before arriving in Hong Kong. The Octopus card can be used almost everywhere in Hong Kong: MTR, convenience stores, trams, buses, the Peak Tram, Star Ferry… you name it, and it probably works there.
You can activate an Octopus card directly in Apple Pay using RMB, with a 50 HKD deposit. Though it’s refundable, I wonder how many people actually bother to get it back—it’s more like a card activation fee. However, there are no extra fees for using RMB in Apple Pay to activate and top up the card, and the exchange rate is quite favorable. Thumbs up for that.
csl. SIM Card
The cheapest SIM card for tourists in Hong Kong is CMHK’s MySIM, but I opted for the more expensive csl., almost double the price. Why? To keep my number active, of course.
Even though I knew CSL’s ClubSIM could let me keep a number active for just 6 HKD per year, the first convenience store I visited didn’t have that card on shelf. So, I had no choice but to go with csl.’s Hong Kong Tourist SIM. With a 50 HKD top-up, it extends the validity for 180 days. Doing the math, that’s 100 HKD a year to keep the number active. Annoying! If only I had found a store selling ClubSIM.
Of course, this card can be kept as a memento.
SUA Registration Label / Hong Kong Government Letter
The first thing I did upon arrival in Hong Kong was to pick up the SUA (Small Unmanned Aircraft) registration label I had applied for earlier.
According to Hong Kong law, Chapter 448G, “Small Unmanned Aircraft Order,” my drone falls under Category A2, requiring registration with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), along with affixing a QR code from the CAD. I also needed to register online as a “remote pilot” to obtain the necessary license. Only with both can I legally fly the drone.
Since there are no direct flights from Changsha to Hong Kong, I entered through the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station. From there, I headed straight to Austin Station, took the Tuen Ma Line to the Tung Chung Line, and headed for the airport. The convenience of direct access to the city center from high-speed rail was overshadowed by the long and painful journey to and from the CAD office.
After getting off the Tung Chung Line, I transferred to the S1 Airport Bus and got off at the “CAD Headquarters; Tung Yiu Road” stop, where you’re greeted by this lovely middle-of-nowhere scene:
Hong Kong is really hot. Even though the air conditioning indoors is strong, there’s no AC in this remote area. For someone like me who sweats easily, it was hell. After a short uphill walk, I was drenched. Thankfully, once inside the CAD office, I was greeted by some much-needed air conditioning. The staff were very friendly and efficient, quickly retrieving the label I had applied for two months ago. They also helped me complete the drone pilot license process (just reviewing some rules, nothing to worry about).
And so, I happily got my registration label.
HSBC Bank Card
Opening a bank account in Hong Kong has many benefits, such as not needing the 500,000 HKD minimum deposit to trade Hong Kong stocks, and not being subject to mainland China’s foreign exchange controls. Since I had enough time on this trip, I decided to open an account early in the morning.
My hotel was in Wan Chai, and I wanted to go to the HSBC headquarters in Central, which meant traveling from the west to the east side of Hong Kong Island. There are two main ways to traverse the island: the MTR Island Line or Hong Kong’s famous trams, nicknamed “ding dings.” Compared to the expensive MTR, the ding ding is one of the best transportation experiences in Hong Kong. No matter how far you travel, the fare is always a flat 3 HKD. For such a low price, you get to experience a century-old tram system. With dedicated tracks, the ding ding rarely gets stuck in traffic, slowly making its way through the bustling streets of Hong Kong, occasionally ringing its bell. The streets are filled with noise: the roar of double-decker buses, the hum of the crowd, and even the beeping sounds of traffic lights for the visually impaired. This is the vibrant, noisy Hong Kong.
The main entrance of the HSBC headquarters is actually on Queen’s Road Central, not the Des Voeux Road entrance by Statue Square, though most people use the latter due to its convenient public transport connections. After getting off at Bank Street, you’ll see the HSBC headquarters right across. Elevator up, and you’re there. An appointment to open an account? Don’t be ridiculous. Some branches are booked a month in advance—who can wait that long? Just walk in, tell the receptionist you want to open an account, and they’ll give you a number on the spot. I have no idea where all those people with appointments go, because there was barely any wait when I went. I only had to wait for one person. The service was great, and after a few questions about why I wanted to open an account, I got my card on the spot.
After opening the account, I strolled around Central, visiting the Court of Final Appeal, Statue Square, the Cenotaph, Prince of Wales Barracks, and the government headquarters in Tamar. It’s impressive how you can find so many historical monuments and buildings in such a skyscraper-filled area, showcasing Hong Kong’s rich history. With so many renowned financial institutions and government offices gathered here, Central truly lives up to its reputation as Hong Kong’s political and economic center.
“Besieged City” and “書店有時”
These two books don’t hold any special meaning. I just found them interesting while browsing a bookstore. Together, they cost me nearly 300 HKD—Hong Kong is really expensive.
Hong Kong’s publishing industry was once thriving, but since the handover, it has gradually declined under the pressure of censorship. During this trip, every bookstore I visited, every book I read, gave me the feeling that authors and publishers were holding back, which was hard to accept. In the end, I chose one book published before the National Security Law took effect and another rare vertical-printed book from mainland China as keepsakes.
Peak Tram Round-Trip Ticket
Even though I could have used my Octopus card, I deliberately bought a round-trip Peak Tram ticket as a souvenir. At 88 HKD, the price is steep, but by Hong Kong standards, it could even be considered a daily commuting option. Hmm, maybe I’m just too poor as a mainlander.
On the way to the Peak Tram Central Terminus, I also visited the French Mission Building and St. John’s Cathedral, which are behind the HSBC headquarters. The latter is the oldest Western-style church in Hong Kong, with a solemn atmosphere, elegant decorations, and a simple, peaceful exterior. Central is full of treasures.
The Peak Tram has been in operation since 1888 and is now in its sixth generation. The flow of passengers boarding at the Central Terminus is constant, with many tourists but also locals. The design of the tram has evolved over time, and it even has air conditioning now. This puts it miles ahead of the ding ding, which has never changed its cars since it started service, though the ticket price is more than 20 times higher.
Upon reaching Victoria Peak, unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great, so I couldn’t take any good photos. Even with the drone, the results weren’t ideal.
Given the weather, equipment, and the fact that I had the aperture too wide, I’m fairly satisfied with the outcome.
Hong Kong Dollar Banknotes
Unlike other places, Hong Kong has a unique currency issuance system, with three note-issuing banks authorized and regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Bank of China Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government issues the 10 HKD note. I didn’t manage to get any coins with the Queen’s portrait this time, which is a bit of a shame. But these banknotes from different issuers are still somewhat valuable as souvenirs (actually, I just didn’t spend them all).
Some Other Photos
As I write this, I realize that while these souvenirs can string together most of my experiences in Hong Kong, they can’t capture the random moments I discovered while wandering the city. Since this is meant to be a keepsake, key moments should be recorded as thoroughly as possible. So, I must pause my description of the souvenirs and instead document the rest of my time in Hong Kong through photos.
High-Speed Rail Ticket (Reimbursement Proof) & Wrap Up
Tickets have long been fully digitalized, and the only physical tickets you can get now are reimbursement proofs, which don’t function as actual tickets. I didn’t need to get reimbursed, but I still got the physical ticket, naturally making it my final souvenir before leaving Hong Kong.