Public transport in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Overview

Hong Kong's public transport is built around rail, and the government's stated policy is to use railways as the transport backbone. The core of the system is the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), operated by MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC), which runs the metro network, the commuter rail lines linking the New Territories to the urban areas, and a light rail network in the northwest New Territories. The operations of the two leading railway companies, MTRC and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), were merged in 2007, so you now deal with a single integrated network even though some lines were formerly part of the KCR system.

For a visitor, riding end to end is straightforward. You plan your trip, enter a station, tap your smartcard or ticket at the gate, follow signage to the correct platform, ride to your interchange or destination, and tap out on exit. The MTR covers all major districts and even reaches the Mainland China boundary at Lo Wu Station and Lok Ma Chau Station. Beyond the trains, you can fill the gaps with double-decker trams on Hong Kong Island, buses and minibuses across the territory, and ferries to the outlying islands.

The network

The MTR local network comprises 10 heavy rail lines with 97 railway stations, plus one light rail network with 68 stops. The heavy rail lines are:

The Light Rail is a separate light rail network with 11 lines and 68 stops serving the northwest New Territories, running between Yuen Long and Tuen Mun with high-floor vehicles and partial street running. It was formerly part of KCR/KCRC.

Beyond the MTR, several smaller-scale railways are run by different operators:

Buses and minibuses complement the rails. Airbus "A" routes serve the airport with more than 20 routes to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau, with fewer stops than ordinary city buses. Minibuses carry up to 19 passengers: green minibuses run fixed routes at fixed prices with fares paid on boarding based on distance, while red minibuses have routes that are not always fixed and allow you to board or alight anywhere except prohibited zones, with fares paid on alighting.

Ferries connect Central Ferry Piers on Hong Kong Island to the main outlying islands. Most routes offer standard ferries and slightly more expensive fast ferries, and other ferry routes exist between various points around Hong Kong.

For cross-border travel, a high-speed rail link connects Hong Kong with Shenzhen and Guangzhou in mainland China. The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link is a 26-km stretch that opened for commercial service on 23 September 2018, running from West Kowloon Terminus through Guangdong stations including Futian, Longhua (Shenzhen North) and Humen to Guangzhou South and beyond. Journey times are about 14 minutes between West Kowloon and Futian, 23 minutes to Shenzhen North and 48 minutes to Guangzhou South. The service is a cooperation between the MTR Corporation and CR Guangzhou. Note that the older cross-border through trains from Hung Hom, and the high-speed service itself, were suspended from 30 January 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, so check current status before relying on them.

Tickets & fares

The MTR is a tap-to-ride system. You enter and exit through gates using a smartcard or a single-journey ticket, and the fare is calculated from your entry and exit stations. The Octopus card is the local stored-value smartcard and is accepted not just on the MTR but also on trams, green minibuses and taxis, where it is listed among accepted e-payment methods. On the Airport Express, free in-town check-in is available at Kowloon and Hong Kong stations for specified airlines, which lets you drop your bags before heading to the airport.

On the Hong Kong Tramways, a flat fare applies regardless of distance. You need exact change if paying cash, and Octopus is accepted. Board at the rear and pay at the front when you exit. Green minibuses also require exact change for cash, with Octopus accepted, and fares are paid on boarding based on distance. Red minibuses charge on alighting, and the driver usually provides change for small notes.

Taxis are metered, with the fare and any surcharges (for baggage and tunnels) displayed inside the cab. You pay the exact metered fare and can request a machine-printed receipt, or a hand-written receipt if the meter is not functioning. From 1 April 2026, taxis must offer at least two e-payment methods, one QR code and one non-QR code option, while cash remains accepted; accepted e-payments include Octopus, credit cards, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Fleet taxis are a government-regulated premium service with online booking and e-payment; pre-arranged journeys cost the metered fare plus a pre-agreed booking fee, or a pre-agreed lump sum, while street-hailed fleet taxis charge standard metered fares.

Fares and pass prices change over time, so treat any figure you see quoted as approximate and confirm current prices with the operator before you travel. Tourist passes and day passes are commonly available, but check the operator's own site for what is currently on offer and how it is validated.

From the airport

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), also known as Chek Lap Kok (赤鱲角), is on Lantau Island in the west of Hong Kong. The Airport Express train is the fastest and most comfortable way into town, taking roughly 24 minutes to Hong Kong Island, and it is the fastest airport-to-city link. You can use free in-town check-in at Kowloon and Hong Kong stations for specified airlines on your way back.

If you prefer the bus, Airbus "A" routes run more than 20 services to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau, with fewer stops than ordinary city buses; board to the right after exiting the Arrivals Hall. Taxis wait at the pick-up area in front of the Arrivals Hall, and hotel shuttle buses and bookable coaches or limousines are also available. All taxis may serve the airport and Hong Kong Disneyland, regardless of their colour coding.

If you are arriving via Shenzhen, direct buses run between Shenzhen Airport and the Elements Shopping Mall above Kowloon MTR station, where in-town check-in is available (except for China Southern Airlines passengers) on the 1st floor opposite Starbucks; the service costs about $100 and is advertised at 75 minutes but usually takes around 100 minutes, with buses every 30 minutes from 6:30AM to 7PM from Hong Kong and from 10AM to 9PM from Shenzhen. Cheaper options include Shenzhen Metro Line 11 from the airport to Futian (29 minutes, ¥7) and then high-speed rail to West Kowloon (15 minutes, $80), or Shenzhen Metro Line 10 to Futian Checkpoint (10 minutes, ¥2), which is Lok Ma Chau on the Hong Kong side, or Line 1 to Luohu (20 minutes, ¥4), which is Lo Wu, then crossing the border and taking the East Rail line into central Hong Kong (45 minutes, $35). From Fuyong Ferry Terminal at Shenzhen Airport you can buy ferry tickets to Hong Kong, and transfer passengers can use the ferry to or from Hong Kong airport without passing through Hong Kong immigration.

Etiquette & customs

Queuing is the norm on platforms and at bus stops, and you should let passengers off before boarding. On escalators, stand on the right and leave the left side clear for people walking past. Priority seats are reserved for the elderly, pregnant passengers and those with disabilities, so give them up if you are occupying one.

Eating and drinking are not permitted on the MTR, and this is enforced, so finish your snack before you go through the gates. Keep noise down and avoid taking calls on speaker; the carriages are generally quiet. During rush hour, move right into the carriage rather than blocking the doors, and keep backpacks in front of you or on the floor to save space.

On trams, remember to board at the rear and pay at the front when you leave. On minibuses, have the exact fare ready if you are paying cash. In taxis, wear your seat belt whenever one is available, and note that drivers must display their taxi driver identity card on the dashboard. If you have a complaint, the Transport Complaints Unit Hotline is +852 2889 9999; for lost property call +852 1872 920; and for Transport Department enquiries call +852 2804 2600.

Official links

Survival terms

Before you set out each day, check the operator's app or website for live service updates and current fares, since disruptions and price changes are the two things most likely to catch a visitor out.

Sources

  1. Rail transport in Hong Kong
  2. Wikivoyage: Hong Kong
  3. a guide to public transport and travel mobile app

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