Accessible Travel in Hong Kong
Posted February 24th, 2010 in access guides, general news and helpful information
Hong Kong Finance Centre
Photo by: C2 RINGO (Stock Exchange)
Welcome one and all to today’s Disabled Travelers blog! Since we recently took our first accessible voyage to Asia by checking out handicapped travel in Japan, I thought we would continue the trend for a little while in this post. With that in mind, we’re heading to Hong Kong, a fascinating locale on the southern coast of mainland China that, until very recently, was a British territory for close to a hundred years. It remains one of the most iconic locations in China. Home to about seven million people, it boasts a major tourism industry, including a growing segment catering to handicapped travelers.
Disability World is the first to key us in to the growing number of accessible travel initiatives going on in Hong Kong with its article “Hong Kong: Becoming an Accessible Destination.” Along with a good overview of the situation, it includes the names of a few tour operators and some sites of general interest for travelers. The most useful for us is Easy Access Travel, Ltd., the major accessible tour operator in Hong Kong. From the website, you check out airlines, hotels, and search for packages, all provided in English. The site is a touch wonky (I assume the Chinese-language one is a bit more full-featured) but you can definitely find what you’re looking for if you’re willing to take your time.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board provides disabled travel resources on its disabled travelers page. One of the best things here is the Hong Kong access guide written by Sarah Fuller, who claims it to be the first accessibility guide of its kind for Asia. Unfortunately, it is not free, but the author provides complimentary information on accessible car rental, local holidays and festivals, and a shopping guide on her website. I have not had a chance to read the guide, but it seems like a strong resource, and you can read the index and a few pages on the site before you decide to purchase.
Hong Kong’s Transportation Department has a very valuable English-language Guide to Public Transport for People With Disabilities which is surprisingly comprehensive and user-friendly. As it turns out, taxis, buses, and other forms of transport are particularly well-equipped to handle the needs of users with visual impairments. There is also a slowly growing fleet of wheelchair taxis. For more on getting around using Hong Kong’s public transportation, check out this blog post by Mickey Kung.
From “In Transit”, The New York Times’ “Guide to Intelligent Travel”, you can read of author Joyce Hor-Chung Lau’s disabled travel experiences in Hong Kong. This is a very in-depth account, sprinkled with Internet resources and insider tips that can really help you get the most out of your visit. For accessible hotels and attractions try out this Hong Kong article from AbilityTrip. There are a lot of good tips and precautions here, as well as information on ferry trips, Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak, and other classic sites around the city and its environs. (Incidentally, Hong Kong Disneyland has its own special needs page.) To ensure a smooth and easy time flying in, review this useful access guide for Hong Kong airport.
Stay tuned for more handicapped travel advice throughout Asia as we continue our mission to build up Internet access guides around the world and make your trips as rewarding as they can be! Adventure on!
