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General Information |
HKUST, Clear Water Bay Road , Kowloon, Hong Kong
Suites. A block of suites on the HKUST campus has been reserved for WVLC-5 participants for the six nights between Aug 18-24. The suites are in the University Centre, quite close to all campus facilities. Each air-conditioned suite contains 3 bedrooms, with a shared living room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and cable TV. Each bedroom is private and contains a single bed (some double bedrooms are also available). The cost is US$40 or HK$300 per night. The registration form is at www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dekai/wvlc-5/housing.htm. The deadline is August 10, 1997.
Airlines. In general, travel to Hong Kong is heavy during the summer. It will be more so this August due to the change of sovereignty taking place in Hong Kong on July 1. To ensure flights, reserve airline tickets as early as you can! For those who are planning to attend both sessions, i.e., August 18 in Beijing and August 20 in Hong Kong, make sure that you reserve the connecting flight as well from Beijing to Hong Kong on August 19.
Weather. Hong Kong's weather is subtropical; Hong Kong is approximately at the latitude of Cuba. Light dress is advised, but bring a jacket or sweater, as the air conditioning everywhere indoors tends to be on strong settings.
Electricity. Hong Kong uses standard 220V AC, predominantly with British 3-prong plugs. Plug adapters are available in the on-campus Park'n'Shop.
Currency. The Hong Kong dollar is officially pegged to the U.S. Dollar at a rate of US$1 = HK$7.80, though there is slight fluctuation. Common foreign currencies can be exchanged at the on-campus banks during office hours.
Right past the main gate, you will be going down a slope to the atrium with a red sundial at the center. If you are going to the on-campus housing, then you should ask the security guard at the main gate to explain directions to the taxi driver.
If you are not going to the on-campus housing, then you can get off the taxi near the red sundial. Canteens/cafeterias, the bookstore, offices, and the conference theater are all within steps.
From HKUST to the airport or elsewhere. From the HKUST campus, taxis usually wait at the main gate above the red sundial piazza. If you are going to the airport with luggage, you probably want to call for a taxi (for which there is only a small surcharge). One nearby taxi company can be reached at 2729-1199. Call 5-10 minutes in advance of your departure; no advance reservations are accepted.
Taxis. Taxis can simply be hailed from the roadside in most areas of Hong Kong, and charge by meter. Luggage pieces and tolls cost extra. If you ask a driver to cross the Harbour, you are required to pay his return-trip toll as well. Drivers are required to take you to any destination (except that green taxis are not permitted to leave the New Territories); drivers who fail to comply lose their license if you take down their number.
MTR. For visitors, taking the Mass Transit Railway (or MTR, in the local parlance for subway/metro) is the easiest way to get around Hong Kong. Tickets can be purchased from machines in the stations on a trip by trip basis. If you consider this a hassle, you can also purchase a Common Stored Value ticket at the ticket office. The stored value tickets are priced at HK$70 and HK$100.
Bus. You should pay the bus fare when boarding the bus. Bus drivers do not give change. To go to the town from campus, one can take the No. 91 bus (Choi Hung direction) to go to the Choi Hung MTR station and transfer to the MTR. Or, one can take the No. 298 bus to go to the Lam Tin MTR station and transfer to the MTR. To get back to campus, one can take the No. 91 or No. 91M bus (Clear Water Bay direction) at the bus terminus near the Choi Hung MTR station. Or, one can take the No. 298 bus at the bus terminus near the Lam Tin MTR station (HKUST direction).
Housing. The University Centre will be where you will reside
if you have reserved on-campus housing. Please check in at the University
Centre Management Office (2358-8072), located on the first floor (for Americans,
that means the second floor) of the University Centre. Hours are
8am-10pm; if you arrive outside this time, please telephone the concierge
Sam Leung at 9046-2404 to get the key. In any case, directions and
assistance can be obtained from the Information Centre at the main piazza
near the red sundial between 9am-5pm, or, during any other hours, from
the Campus Security Office right next to the Information Centre.
Bookstore. A special 10% book discount has been arranged for WVLC-5 participants at the University Bookstore, located on the main piazza near the red sundial. Simply present your WVLC-5 name badge to obtain the discount. You may also stop by for stationery and stamps.
Grocery. There is a Park'n'Shop on campus on the LG5 (lower ground 5) floor, open from 8am to 7pm daily. Take either Lift 3 or the central escalators from the Atrium.
Post. A mobile post office van services the campus from 3:15pm to 4pm every day. The van parks outside the Academic Concourse.
Food. There are ten on-campus eating establishments. The Chinese-style Staff Canteen is on the ground floor opposite to the library. The Western-style Staff Canteen is on LG1 (lower ground one) right below the Chinese-style Staff Canteen. Right next to the Staff Canteen (Western style) is a Student Canteen (cafeteria). A Coffeeshop/Cafe serves espresso and sandwiches right on the Academic Concourse and the courtyard (right next to the conference theater). Other Student Canteens include a Maxim's canteen on LG7, a Maxim's Chinese restaurant on LG7, a Wendy's (for fast-food lovers) on LG5, and a noodle/congee outlet on LG5. Prices are inexpensive, though the Staff Canteens are more expensive than the Student Canteens. A small noodle/congee place down the hill, across from the swimming pool, stays open till 11pm or midnight. Finally, the University Centre houses a more upscale Bistro.
Parking. Special arrangements need to be made in advance for parking. Please contact us in advance if you will be driving.
Lunch. A Chinese-style workshop lunch will be provided on August 20.
Evening cruise. Right after the workshop on August 20 at 7pm, an evening boat cruise will start off from the on-campus pier. The cruise will take you to the Harbor, eating at one of Hong Kong's famous waterfront seafood eateries, and then either drop people off on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, or back to the campus. The cost is US$25 or HK$200 per person. The registration form is at www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dekai/wvlc-5/cruise.htm. The deadline is August 10, 1997.
Email/Internet access. WVLC-5 participants may telnet and rlogin to their home accounts using the Express Stations, which are online kiosks distributed throughout the campus. Web browsing is also possible. A number of Express Stations are located directly outside the Workshop theater (LTF) and the adjacent Coffeeshop/Cafe.