MWR OFFICE (Hotels and Tours)

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Office at Fenwick Pier offers a booking service for hotels and tours for US Military Personnel visiting Hong Kong. The Information Booth does not help with these arrangements. You can get DISCOUNTS up to 50 per cent. Hotels range in price from US$75 to more than US$200 per night. MWR can handle your airline ticketing and other travel plans as well as day and night tours.

Individual or group tours can be arranged at the MWR Office at least one day before. Whole day tours include lunch, or dinner for evening cruises.

Check with the MWR Office to make prior arrangements by contacting them at Tel: (852) 2802-9379.  FAX: (852) 2511-3106, or write to: MWR Office, PSC 464 Box 20, FPO AP 96522-2200. (Local Address: G/F Fleet Arcade, 1 Lung King Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong. E-Mail:  ssomwr@pacific.net.hk

THE NAVY LEAGUE

Founded in 1902, The Navy League is a civilian organization whose objective is to educate and motivate Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and US citizens about the role of the US Sea Services.

Contact the Hong Kong Council at GPO Box 4224, Hong Kong or Tel/Fax at 2803-2561.

TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation is convenient and of a high standard. Owning private cars is discouraged by high taxes, but there are more luxury cars per capita here than anywhere in the world.

RICKSHAWS

The SGA has a rickshaw on display at Fenwick Pier that you can use for FREE picture taking. Nowadays it is rare to see one in actual use. In the 1960's it was common to see people being pulled on rickshaws around the streets of Hong Kong.

TRAMS (TROLLEYS)

Running the length of Hong Kong Island, double-decker trolleys called "trams" are a good and cheap way to see the island and experience a bit of history. Operating since 1904, trams travel the main thoroughfares west to Western Market, Whitty Street and Kennedy Town and east to Causeway Bay, North Point, Sai Wan Ho and Shau Kei Wan. Since trams go slow and stop often, they are good for taking photographs. Trams are boarded at the rear and exited at the front. The fare is HK$2.00 no matter how far you travel. Pay at the front as you exit.

TAXIS

Taxis are plentiful. Red taxis operate in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, green in the New Territories. Blue taxis work Lantau Island. Red taxis can go back and forth between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon though some may refuse. If your taxi travels through a cross-harbor tunnel, you must pay the tunnel fee both ways plus the amount on the meter. Tunnel fees are about HK$25 each way but vary from tunnel to tunnel. Hong Kong taxis are cheap when compared to other major cities, but if you are not careful it is possible to be taken for a very expensive ride.

During the past few years we have had many sailors victimized by unscrupulous taxi drivers who wait outside of Fenwick Pier for a sucker. Their meters are running from a previous ride and some sailors have paid them as much as ten times the true fare. BE CAREFUL!