We're building an FAQ about driving in Hong Kong.
Here are some questions to begin with
0) Do I need a car? Whats the public transport like?
First of all, I'd like to highlight that most people do not need cars in Hong Kong. The public transportation in Hong Kong works well, is safe and costs far less than most other international cities like New York, London and Tokyo.
The public transportation is broken up into several types.
-- The MTR and KCR form the core of the mass transit system in Hong Kong. They provide train services for most of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New territories. New routes expanding into the south of the Hong Kong island and various other parts of the territories are planned.
-- The second most popular form of transportation are the buses. As a norm, most buses in Hong Kong are airconditioned and provide extremely efficient service. The frequency on most routes is 5-10 minutes with some long distance routes like the Airports falling to once every 20 minutes. Our transport section has several links to local bus companies.
-- The third most popular form of transportation is the mini-bus. These buses follow a fixed route and stop virtually anywhere on the route on request (assuming there are no parking and stopping restrictions).
-- Finally the most popular form of transportation for most expats that I run into, in Hong Kong -- the Taxi. Taxies are available everywhere and are extremely reasonable. Several years ago, the taxi driver in Hong Kong was synonymous with the cities rude and harsh attitude towards tourists and foreigners but this is changing. 95% of the time you can expect silent and efficient service. You're not expected to tip or make conversation with the driver (trust me.. I find this a pain in the rear when travelling to places where the taxi driver has no concern about your jetlag and starts treating you as his best friend).
Some interesting articles about the public transport from bloggers and expats in Hong Kong to give you a perspective of what the transport system is like.
Batgung.Com
-- The Joys of Public Transport (I've spent a couple of formative years in Iowa and I know exactly what he's talking about)
BigWhiteGuy.Com
-- The Taxi Driver (I've had worse experiences in New York and Chicago by the way!)
To answer your question, do you need a car? I strongly recommend reading this article which sums up the pros and cons about owning a car.
Most american expatriates who are on expatriate terms (many are hired on local terms) do end up getting a car and never using it. These cars are frequently picked up in the classifieds when they leave town for peanuts (and a few dollars).
1) Do I need a drivers license?
2) Can I use my overseas license here?
3) Where do I go to get the license?
4) Can you recommend any driving instructors?
5) Any tips on getting my drivers license quickly?
6) Why do people drive on the wrong side of the road? (For our American expatriates)
7) Can I use my drivers license overseas?
8) What insurance do I need to drive in Hong Kong?
9) How do I get from one place to another?
10) Parking related costs, locations etc
11) Can I rent a car or a van for a day in Hong Kong