初到香港 First2HK

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Data: eSIM, airport SIMs, Sham Shui Po

How to get data in Hong Kong: eSIM before you fly, airport counters, or a physical SIM in Sham Shui Po. UK Type G plugs.

Notes dated 2026-09

SIM cards for sale in Sham Shui Po
SIM cards for sale in Sham Shui Po

Hong Kong is 4G/5G, including most MTR stations and trailheads. Upper-deck buses and harbour tunnels still drop.

Three options

  1. Buy a Hong Kong eSIM before you fly (CSL, 3HK, CMHK, or a travel eSIM). Turn it on after landing.
  2. Airport desk or kiosk. Convenient, usually a worse rate.
  3. Physical SIMs in Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, or Causeway Bay. Cheaper than the airport. Bring your passport. Shops will insert and test.

Plugs

UK Type G, 220 V. Mainland two-pin plugs will not fit. Get an adaptor at a convenience store. Hotels sometimes add USB.

Questions

Will a Mainland SIM work?

Usually only via roaming, which is pricey, and some apps behave differently. Use a Hong Kong number or eSIM for maps and SMS codes.

Octopus: which card tourists should buy Tourist Octopus HK$39, airport T-Union pack HK$170, on-loan adult card, iPhone Tourist Octopus, and why interchange discounts usually need Octopus—not a random bank card. Sham Shui Po: parts, fabric, SIMs — not a photo set Apliu Street electronics, Golden Computer Arcade, fabric, cheap food. MTR Sham Shui Po. Crowded — watch your bag. It is not a “danger zone”. Everyday: plugs, water, smoking, rubbish, crossing Hong Kong plugs are UK Type G, 220 V. Tap water is drinkable. Indoor smoking is mostly banned. Wait for the green man. Convenience stores solve a lot.