Hong Kong's banking industry is dominated by HSBC. As such, you can get some great discounts at stores in Hong Kong if you have an HSBC credit card. The stores don't usually care which country it's issued in, just keep an eye out for the discount sign at the cashier desk.

Stores across Hong Kong
www.hsbc.com.hk

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I can highly recommend a day trip to Macau, another SAR (Special Administrative Region), for the gambling and the architecture. There's a regular ferry service that will take you on the 45 mile trip (the threat of pirates in the area will give you something to look out for along the way). Alternatively, wait until 2010 and you can get there via an 18 mile long bridge that has just been commissioned by Beijing. When I was there, I used Macau as my departure airport to go to Thailand as it was cheaper than flying from Hong Kong.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau

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Stay at the YMCA in Salisbury Rd, Kowloon. The harbour view rooms are very comfortable with fabulous views of Victoria Harbour and the stunning Hong Kong skyline. The YMCA building is exactly next to The Peninsula Hotel, the oldest and possibly the most stylish hotel in Hong Kong. The great advantage is that the cost of your room at the YMCA will be a fraction of that at The Peninsula Hotel. The money you save on accomodation can go towards impressing your clients in the exclusive Stark restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel next door. You might even meet in the Felix bar with its superb view or simply take a traditional afternoon tea in the lobby. All the time that you are wining and dining, your clients will surely believe you are staying at one of the most exclusive hotels in Hong Kong.

Find the YMCA at 41 Salisbury Rd, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The nearest tube station is Tsim Cha Tsui.

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This is probably the biggest tourist trap here into which many have fallen. Many of the shops on Nathan Road in Kowloon selling electronic products don't display the prices on the items. Many tourists have been scammed or cheated. One ploy is to give you an unbelievably good price, then after they have your money, they say they are out of stock, offering you another item but at an outrageous price. Some tourists have said that even calling the police did not help.

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Quite the best way of travelling in Hong Kong and the many outlying islands is on the brilliant integrated transport system. The electronic Octopus card will save you both time and money, not least of all on the express in from the airport.

Unlike London airports where transport for London offers no prominent advice to those visiting the UK, The Octopus card is comprehensively trailed at a dedicated desk at the airport.

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Cycling is a great way to see Hong Kong in the autumn sunshine, and this film shows you how to pack in rural scenery, temples, local food and even a day at the beach.

If you have broadband, download the high-res version by following the link below; otherwise you can watch it low-res in eight episodes on youTube by searching for HK cycling bend.

www.paulmcausland.com/roundthebend/

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Bought an iPod Video 30GB in HK recently for £145, when they cost around £190 in the UK.

Being slightly anal about being ripped off I looked at www.appleclub.com.hk/buy/reseller.html figuring that if Apple have allowed them to be authorised resellers then it would be safe to buy there.

To be fair I could have just chosen any branch of Fortress or Broadway, which are the HK versions of Comet and Currys. Also, as in the UK, it is not worth shopping round for iPod's as the price difference is nominal to non existent.

Do beware the 'Bait and Switch' Scam in independent electronic shops where they show you the real item before switching it for a counterfeit product.

One final warning for the other techno-geeks out these is DON'T be taken in by shops offering Duty Free prices as there is no Duty on electronics in HK.

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34th Floor Restaurant with 270 degree views overlooking Victoria Park, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and Victoria Harbour.

All you can eat dim sum, sushi, sashimi, miso soup, freshly cooked noodles, sandwiches, quiches, fresh Fruit, chocolate fountain, Haagen-Dazs and cakes. Add all you can drink sparkling dry white wine and a price of HK$200 each (about £15) and you have a full stomach, few drinks, happy wife and happy wallet.

And if you have not had enough you can go back on a Sunday. Less of a buffet, more of a meal, and unlimited champagne instead of Sparkling Wine. HK$250 each.

Saturday Sparkling Tea Buffet is 1pm to 4.30pm.
Sunday Bubbly Brunch is 11.30am to 3pm.
Book early to get a window seat!!

www.excelsiorhongkong.com/
281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay MTR Exit D1

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This smart card allows you to travel on all the transport system in Hong Kong without the need to worry about carrying the correct amount of small change. It works on the swipe card principle. Available from all metro stations and 7/11 shops.

The initial deposit is 50 HK dollars, minimum credit when purchased is 100HKD. Top up as required.

www.octopuscards.com/enindex.jsp

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If you are looking for budget accommodation, try Winner Holiday House for HK$170 a night. The room has a double bed, TV/DVD and its own bathroom.

The low apartment blocks are a five-minute walk from Silvermine Bay and can be booked on arrival from the accommodation kiosk on the pier

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Within the concrete jungle of Central and away from the shopping malls, is a haven: beautiful gardens containing exotic shrubs, sculptures and fountains, a fantastic zoo housing shy orang-utans, noisy monkeys and pretty birds. And surprisingly, it is FREE.

Entrance is on Albany Road. Open daily.

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To the North-East of the Happy Valley racetrack is the Happy Valley market, a concrete covered market which is thronging with all sorts of food during the day. However go upstairs and there are a couple of open courts with the ubiquitous plastic stools and tables where remarkably cheap and fantastically fresh food is served. Get your tea in a beaker and hit the fish in particular, but frankly you can afford to buy so much at the prices just to have a bit of everything.

Happy Valley, north-east of the racetrack, Happy Valley tram.

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For the best views and pictures take a 20p (First Class) trip on the Star Ferry between Central and Kowloon. Takes 5 minutes to cross the harbour, but provides great views of the skyline, even better at nightime.

Take the ferry from Central Ferry Station, across from the Mandarin Oriental station.

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Go here for some of the finest curry outside India. On the steps outside, men with business cards might haggle with each other for your custom, but most of the restaurants inside the Chungking labyrinth are well worth checking out. Go in large groups so you can share as many dishes as possible.

The prices are excellent too: You should be able to feed five people for no more than £30 (under 500 HKD).

Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

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For a near-free tour of HK island's major attractions, travel on the upper deck of the old electric tram, from Kennedy Town in the west, through central to Quarry Bay and beyond in the east. You can peel off at Wan Chai for Happy Valley and the horse races.

Though very slow, you see virtually the whole of HK island and savour its flavour at street level, jumping off wherever you want - each trip is just HK$1-2 (20p). Avoid rush hour. Watch out for pickpockets. Anyone tall should find a seat quick, or face a crick neck all week.

If there's a few of you, hire your own tram, complete with its own bar for a Friday night trawl. Ask the tourist board.

All major HK island MTR stations, just look for the tracks, listen out for the clanking bell

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On most Wednesday nights throughout the race season (September to June) catch the night racing at the Happy Valley racetrack. Hemmed in on all sides by tower-blocks, each meet can attract up to 60,000 people, though about 25,000 is the norm.

Pay HK$10 (about seventy pence) to enjoy the action from the public stand, and whilst there get some of the cheapest lager in town. Either watch the horses hurtle past you from touching distance on the uncovered ground floor, or catch the elevator to the 7th floor of the stand to watch from up high. A wet afternoon in Uttoxeter will never be the same again.

Happy Valley - behing Causeway Bay shops on HK Island. Either get off the MTR at Causeway Bay or get the tram directly to the track

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One of the original cheesy-dance-on-the-bar kind of bars, and still good for a drunken night out. Popular with airline crews passing through HK, Carnegies has been able to last the distance (at the last count almost nine years) in a place where the shelf-life of a bar is normally counted in months and not years.

The atmosphere is fun, and the drinks are reasonably (for HK) priced, with special promotions throughout the week. Check out ladies’ night on Wednesdays (free "champagne" for the women), and do not miss the parties on Friday and Saturday nights.

The best time to get there at the weekend is after 11pm - just as the night is beginning to warm up! Whilst in the area, also be sure to try out Mes Amis 100m away for more of the same and Eboneezer's - the best kebabs in HK.

Lockhart Road / Luard Road, near Wanchai MTR, exit C

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Start your evening in style with cocktails at The Felix Bar in The Peninsula (be sure to check out the view from the men’s toilet!). Cross the road to Chunking Mansions on Nathan Road. Be brave, hold your nose and take the lift up to The Khyber Pass Indian restaurant where you can have as much freshly cooked food to eat with beer for about $100. Two Hong Kong experiences not to be missed.

Felix Bar: 28th Floor, Peninsula Hotel, Salisbury Road, Kowloon;
Khyber Pass: Block E; Chung King Mansions, 36-40 Nathan Rd

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The Peninsula in Tsim Sha Tsui is famous - and very expensive. However you can visit for much less. You can try high tea in the lobby, but the real pearl is the bar on the top floor of the hotel (there's also a restaurant there).

It has the most amazing view of HK Island. Stupid prices, but just have a small beer and drink in the view. Or, even better, check out the view from the gents.

Tsim Sha Tsui - from HK Island, the Star Ferry is terrific value and also has a stunning view.

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At the edge of Victoria Park, near the harbour and the highway, lies a little known but huge open-air swimming pool complex, with kiddies' pool, diving boards, licensed bar and restaurant. Certainly helps you cool off in the HK humidity, if your hotel is the run-of-the-mill shoebox without a pool. Entrance is about HK$19 for adults. There is also a public pool at Sai Ying Poon, aka Western district or Kennedy Town, but it's far less exotic and much less central, although it's just as cheap.

Hing Fat Street, Causeway Bay; tel: 2570 4682; nearest station: Tin Hau MTR; open: late March to November (it's too cold otherwise, apparently)

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