Dear CUAC Triennial Travelers:
A week from now we shall all be making our way to Hong Kong….
Here is some initial information that you should find helpful before you travel. This and further information will also be posted on our web-site www.cuac.org. Please check there for further information.
Remember that Hong Kong is sub-tropical in climate. It will be fairly hot (30°C+), and there may be some sudden rain showers. All accommodations are air conditioned. Dress at the Conference is casual and comfortable, but we will probably dress up for both our opening and closing events. We will not use academic dress.
When you travel, be sure of course to bring your passports and visa documents. The letter you were sent from CUAC and Chung Chi College would be helpful to have for backup. Remember that we are all traveling as tourists. This is not an "official" visit to Hong Kong or China, and we are not claiming that status. This is an educational conference and not a conference for religious purposes.
When you arrive at Hong Kong International Airport, you will first go through Immigration and Customs. You can see the layout of the airport at http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/interactivemap.html. After passing through Immigration, you should call The Rev. Andrew Ng: (+852) 9120 1497 to report your arrival using an airport courtesy phone at the Passenger Service Desk on the way out of the Baggage Carousels area.
In that same area, it would be wise to get some local currency (HK$) either at an ATM Machine, or at the currency exchange in the airport. You will need HK$20. for the airport bus in exact currency. We advise you to get most exchange at the airport or prior to your trip, for both HK$ (currency in Hong Kong) and RMB ("Renminbi" – People’s Currency - the Yuan) in mainland China. Those in Dorm or Block-E will need to pay their bills in HK$ cash. Credit cards (Visa or Master) are accepted at Guest House and the Hotel.
There will be one Conference bus on Monday, May 26th departing at about 1pm, as there are a large number of arrivals. That morning a student will be at the Burger King Restaurant at the arrivals levels from 10am to 1pm to help travelers with arrangements (watch for a "CUAC" sign!).
Attached you will find information about both taxi and bus. The easiest way to travel from the airport is by bus, and simply find the "A41" double-decker bus (KMB-Kowloon Motor Bus) at the Airport Bus terminus to the right of the main terminal. You will need HK$20 in exact change. The bus trip takes about 45 minutes, and you get off at the third stop - The Royal Park Hotel - one of our accommodation venues.
Rather than the bus, you could also take a taxi to "The Chinese University of Hong Kong" or to "The Royal Park". A taxi seats five at most. Both the red and green taxis go from the airport, the red ones being slightly more expensive. If you see a fellow CUAC traveler you may be able to share a taxi about HK$300 (US$ 40) and you should ask for receipt.
If you are at one of the on-campus accommodations sites, we suggest simply taking a taxi from that bus stop in Shatin to the University is (HK$40 – 50), as there is a walk on campus and you will have luggage. You may find Appendix 1 of Chinese texts for direction of the taxi driver.
It is easily possible to travel to the campus by train. Simply follow directions to the Shatin Train station – (which is one the other side of the New Town Plaza/Royal Park Hotel where you have arrived by bus - see map, Appendix 2). You will need to purchase a single-trip ticket from a machine ($HK4) and board the train to the direction of "Lo Wu". It is just two short stops to "University". You will now be at the base of the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Just across from the station there is a bus stop (Bus-stop 1 on map at appendix 3). If you are going to Minghua Dorm, get off the bus at the Bus-stop 2, you will need to look for a blue building and there is a narrow staircase next to it. Walk downwards and there is the Minghua Dorm. If you are going to the Guest House, you will get off at Bus-stop 3, walk backwards until the end of the road, you will locate a narrow staircase. Walk downwards and turn left and walk until the end. For those staying at the E block apartments, these are directly opposite the train station.
The details in Chinese/English of all these accommodations are on our web site.
Registration for the Conference will be open at the Chapel at Chung Chi College from 2pm on Monday, May 26th and all your Conference materials will be there.
Those staying at the Royal Park have wi fi internet access in their rooms, but for a small daily charge. Those staying at the Guest House have cable access included, but must supply their own cable connection. There is also a computer room in the college which will be open from at the Multimedia Centre which is next to the Library, and opens for use at 0900-1300 and 1400-1730 from Monday to Friday.
Remember that you can contact the Rev. Andrew Ng: (+852) 9120 1497 in Hong Kong if you need help and assistance.
Both Tracy Andres and Don Thompson will be traveling to Hong Kong on the Friday/Saturday, so the New York Office will be closed for the duration of the conference. Don Thompson's traveling E mail (cuacaec@aol.com) will be monitored throughout the Conference.
Let us know if we can help in any way.
Rev. Andrew Ng, Chung Chi College
Dr. Don Thompson, CUAC
Tracy Andres, CUAC
Useful Notes
1) All of the above instructions and maps can be found on the CUAC web site at www.cuac.org.
2) There will shortly be a revised Conference Schedule, and also at list of those attending the Conference on www.cuac.org.
3) We suggest you bring at least some Academic Calendars or programme descriptions for your institution, to share with others. There will be tables available to display this material throughout the programme on Thursday.
4) When we make the trip to Guangzhou, there will be baggage storage available at both the hotel and on campus, for those who don't want to travel with all their luggage.
Pre-departure Reminders
1. Please make sure you have got the visa to mainland China (and Hong Kong if needed).
2. It is advised to buy your own travel insurance which covers the whole period for your stay in both Hong Kong and mainland China. The conference has liability insurance through the Chinese University of Hong Kong, but this coverage does not extend to those over 70 years of age.
3. For participants staying in the dormitory/Block-E in Chung Chi College, please bring along with all your personal daily needs, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, hangers, towels, cups, slippery etc. The dormitory/Block-E provides ONLY basic bedding. Payment of dormitory/Block-E should be done upon check-in in cash in $HK.
Amount in HKD per night
Dormitory $HK 150 per person
Block-E $HK approx. 200 per person
4. Weather Forecast
You can get the 7-day weather forecast at the Hong Kong Observatory website: http://www.weather.gov.hk/contente.htm.
5. Electricity
Electricity/Socket plug: The voltage in both mainland China and Hong Kong is 220V.
But the plug is different. Please prepare your own converter for your notebook or other electrical appliances that you may bring along.
6. Please bring sufficient supplies of you medications, including at least two days supply on your person.on the aircraft. These will be difficult to obtain in Hong Kong.
7. Note the currency differential to you own currency: A handy calculator can be found at http://www.xe.com/ucc/. Try making your own calculator on the basis of $HK 10 or $HK 20, which are the most common HK bill usages. The Chinese Yeung (Reminbi) is close but slightly more valuable than the $HK.
Currency in Hong Kong: USD 1 = HKD 7.8 (approx.)
Currency in mainland China: USD 1 = CNY 7 (approx.)
It is advised to get your exchange for both Hong Kong Dollar and China Renminbi at the airport as there is not any time to do so during the conference.
Internet Service
1. During office hours, a computer will be set at the Conference room, 1/F of the Chapel for use from 0900-1200 and 1300-1800 on May 26, May 29, May 30 and May 31. Multimedia Centre, which is next to the library, opens for use at 0900-1300 and 1400-1730 from Monday to Friday.
2. At accommodation, there is be paid Internet service at the Royal Park Hotel. For people staying at the guest house on campus, you need to bring the Internet cable (Lan cable) with you in order to get access to the Internet. There is no Internet service both at the Block-E and the Dorm.
Check Out information
1. For Participants who stay in the dormitory and leave before 1 June, check-out is available from 8:00 am to 8:30 am on 30 and 31 May. If you are checking out before 8:00am, please do it the night before.
2. For Participants who stay in Block-E and will leave before 1 June, please hand in your room key to Ms. Joanne Kong before 9 am. If you are checking out before 9:00am, please do it the night before.
3. For all participants who leave before 1 June, please check the conference schedule and prepare your time needed for departure flight (estimated 1 hour travel from the university/hotel to the airport and arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight departs.).