Layover guide
Tipping in Hong Kong
Most restaurants add a 10% service charge, some bill for tea or snacks you did not order, and no official tipping norm is published.
All of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Tourism Board says most restaurants add a 10% service charge, though some cafes and diners do not.
In certain places, waiters bring tea, condiments or snacks you did not ask for, and these are added to your bill.
The Tourism Board's visitor essentials page sets no tipping norm or percentage for restaurants, taxis or hotels, so none is given here.
- Hong Kong Tourism Board: Traveller Essentials (Dining Charges) · checked 2026-09-28
The rest of Hong Kong
The whole guideGetting out of the airportAirport Express reaches Hong Kong Station in as little as 24 minutes, and the same-day return is free.Ride-hailingRide-hailing is only now being licensed; until licensed platforms start, the door-to-door option is the metered taxi.Local laws that catch crew outCBD is a dangerous drug here, vapes are contraband, and you must be able to produce your passport on demand.Staying connectedA local SIM must be registered to your passport before it will activate.WeatherTwo separate warning systems, one for wind and one for rain, and the No. 8 signal is the one that ends your day out.Eating near the crew hotelsA 10 per cent service charge is normal and should be displayed; the disputes are over what else gets added.What to buyA free port that charges no tariff either way, but a tight allowance on what you carry in.