Kowloon Transportation

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MTR is a good way around hong kong especially forn us tourist since most public bus drivers in hong kong don't speak english of which I find Ironic since hong kong WAS A BRITISH COLONY for 150 YEARS! Taxi's charge exorbitant rates.
Rates for MTR are cheap and you can get an OCTOPUS CARD (a rechargeable contactless smart card used in an electronic payment system in Hong Kong for use on both the MTR and the KCR and is the most widely used electronic cash system for transactions in Hong Kong. The Octopus card uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology so that users need only hold the card in front of the reader. Physical contact is not required, and the card need not even be taken out because the reader can penetrate through materia) which you can add monetary credits for not only paying in the MTR but also at selected stores, pubs, bars in hongkong. MTR fares are slightly lower when using an Octopus card compared to using single journey tickets. For example, the cost of the 3-minute journey from Admiralty to Tsim Sha Tsui across the Victoria Harbour is (as of 2005) HK$7.9 using the Octopus card, compared with HK$9.0 for a single-journey ticketthere are two different fare classes on the MTR: Adult and concessionary.

Two types of tourist passes are available: one allows unlimited rides for a single day (at HK$50), while the other allows three days of unlimited rides on the MTR, with a stored value of HK$20, refundable deposit of HK$50 and choice of either a single (HK$220) or return (HK$300) trip on the Airport Express.

Similar to some other metro systems in the world, the fare payable by a passenger depends on the approximate distance travelled. The fare to all stations in a "zone" is the same and increases with distance, especially if the journey involves a harbour crossing. Adult fares range from HK$3.80 to $26.00. Concessionary fares are usually half the adult fare, and range from HK$2.40 to $13.00. Fares for the Airport Express Line are significantly higher.

During our three-day stay in Kowloon, we walked everywhere. Most of the attractions are all near Tsim Sha Tsui, where most of the shopping places and restaurants are located.

Otherwise, the MTR stations are located on all major streets.

If you're going to be in Hong Kong for more than a day or two, take the time & put a deposit down for an octopus card. It's basically a checking card for HK transportation, and includes the busses, trains, subway, some taxis, some vending machines, etc. It's incredibly efficient, and keeps things moving well. And you can recharge it whenever you need to at just about any station.

The best way of getting around is by a combination of MTR rail service, buses, trams (on Kowloon & Hong Kong island) and ferries. You can purchase an Octopus Card (see photo) which enable you to use almost all types of transport, including the tram to Victoria Peak ! Very convenient indeed !

Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Ltd operate the following routes

Central back and forth Lamma Island Yung Shue Wan

Central back and forth Lamma Island Sok Kwu Wan

Central back and forth Lamma Island Pak Kok Tsuen

Aberdeen back and forth Lamma Island Yung Shue Wan(via Lamma Island Pak Kok Tsuen)

Besides travelling by the MTR subway, you can also take the buses along the streets of Kowloon which will bring you to different parts of the island as well as across to Hong Kong Island.