Emergency numbers and help in Hong Kong

The numbers

• 999 is free from any phone, including one with no SIM, and the operators speak English.
• Say which of the three services you need first, then the district and street. Hong Kong addresses are dense and the building name matters more than the number.

If something goes wrong

• Get a police report for anything you will claim on insurance. Report at any police station; they are marked in English and open around the clock.
• Lost passport: report to the police, then to your consulate. Most countries have a consulate general in Hong Kong, which is a real advantage over most places in the region - you are not dealing with an embassy in another country.
• Keep the landing slip with the passport. If the passport is lost, the slip is what proves your lawful status and limit of stay.
• Hospital accident and emergency departments are open around the clock and will treat you first and bill afterwards. Have the insurance details ready.

During a typhoon or rainstorm

• Stay indoors and stay put. Do not go to the airport during a Signal 8 - flights are already cancelled and the transport to get there is not running.
• Airlines rebook automatically in most cases, but check the airline app rather than queuing.
• Hotels will let you stay in the lobby and generally handle it calmly. This is routine here.