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Hong Kong Transportation Mickey Kung ©2002 Mickey Kung shares his insights on How to navigate Hong Kong's transportation system when using a wheelchair. I am a Hong Kong citizen and in a wheelchair for 9 years. I can tell you some updated information regarding the accessible transportation in Hong Kong. I hope this information helps the tourist from anywhere in the world, when they are planning to stay in my home city. It is strongly recommended to use the manual wheelchair when travelling to Hong Kong. You are always need to have a strong attendant anytime to assist you while pushing your wheelchair around. Hong Kong is not a really "wheelchair friendly" place. Some of the places, shopping mall and buildings is inaccessible if you have no assistant, especially when you take the bus and subway. If you are using electric wheelchair, the AEL is the only accessible transport between the city and the Airport. You are also needed to pre-arrange the transport from the stations to your Hotel. Taxis are quite cheap, but they are only fit for the manual wheelchair user. Although some of the taxi drivers only provide limited assistant for wheelchair user, there are more helpful drivers help you in anyway. I do believe that it is very difficult for a tourist to drive in Hong Kong, the sign is limited and small although it contains both English and Chinese. Parking is expensive and extremely difficult especially for handicap. I am also afraid it is not easy for you to find an adapted car here from the car rental company. Minivan for wheelchair is not available in Hong Kong, but you can take the MTR - the Subway going most of the interest and shopping places. All the stations are accessible now. Some of them are equipped the lift from the ground to the ticketing floor, and some of them require you to notice them in advance for the wheelchair aid with staff assistance. Visit their Website to get more details of each station. The Buses services is now becoming accessible in the main routes. All the buses departing from the Hong Kong International Airport to downtown Kowloon or Hong Kong Island are accessible. The super-low-floor Easy Access Bus lets the people in wheelchair to embark the bus easily. The fares is cheaper and more convenience for tourist. Although not every bus is accessible, the public transportation in Hong Kong is now improving the facilities for the people with disabilities. Nowadays, you can easy to find an accessible bus in the city especially in the main districts like Tsimshatsui, Mongkok, Causeway Bay, Central, Yaumatei etc. It provides you a cheaper way to go anywhere for shopping and sightseeing. The Airport Express Train - AEL is fully accessible for all kinds of disabilities. There is no direct bus service between Kowloon to
Stanley Market. However, it is not difficult for wheelchair user to go. You can easy to find the
MTR stations nearby the major hotels either in
Hong Kong or Kowloon side. Then, The following Websites are useful for you: The HK MTR / AEL Website provides very details information for accessible station: www.mtr.com.hk The Kowloon Moter Bus Company, provides bus services mainly in Kowloon Island ww.kmb.com.hk The New World First Bus Company, provides bus services mainly in Hong Kong Island www.nwfb.com.hk
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