The 5th International Conference on Optimization: Techniques and Applications

ICOTA 2001
The 5th International Conference on Optimization: Techniques and Applications

December 15-17, 2001
Hong Kong

Visit Beautiful Hong Kong

Language

Hong Kong is a metropolis influenced by both oriental and western cultures and home to almost 7 million people. The native tongue of most residents is Cantonese, but English and Mandarin can get around easily.

VISA Information

Please make sure your travel documents and visas are in order. All visitors to Hong Kong and Mainland China must hold a valid passport. Residents of some countries require a visa to enter Hong Kong. This can be obtained through any Chinese Consulate. Anyone who is not a Chinese citizen will need a visa to travel to the Mainland.

For those requiring a visa, applications should be made to:
Immigration Department, 2/F,
Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road,
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
(Tel: (852) 2824 6111, Fax: (852) 2877 7711)
or the nearest Chinese Consulate.

When applying for a visa, it is advisable to give at least six weeks' notice. Further information can be found on the web site of: Hong Kong Immigration Department

Weather

Hong Kong is cool in December, temperature may fall to 10^o C (50^oF). Air-conditioning is very popular in Hong Kong. Thus you are recommended to bring a sweater or light jacket with you. For more information, Click Here to get local weather information from Hong Kong Observatory .

Air Traveling

The new Hong Kong International Airport is your first entry point into Hong Kong. The best way to get to the city is to take the Airport Express (AEL) train. The 448-seater Airport Express takes approximately 23 minutes between the airport and Hong Kong Station in Central, with 2 stops (Tsing Yi Station and Kowloon Station) en route, operating at speeds of up to 135 km an hour. Complimentary in-town check-in services for airline passengers at Hong Kong Island and Kowloon stations are also provided. The fare is HK$70 for a one-way adult ticket from airport to Hong Kong Station. Travel time to Kowloon Station is around 19 minutes with an adult fare of HK$60 one-way. The MTR Corporation also provides free Airport Express Shuttle Service to all major hotels for the convenience of AEL passengers. Services are provided daily between 6 am and 11 pm and at 10-20 minute intervals.

Local Traveling, Eating and Shopping

Hong Kong is geographically compact, with plentiful and inexpensive taxis and excellent public transportation, so travel is generally quick and easy. Like most major cities, though, it's best to avoid rush hours (8 am - 10 am and 5 pm - 7 pm) if possible. All public transportation signs and street signs are available in both English and Chinese. If you plan to take the taxi, please get your destinations written in Chinese at your hotel reception desk. Please also carry your hotel name written in Chinese if you wish to find your way back to the hotel by taxi.

We probably have the highest number of restaurants per capita in the world. If you enjoy exploring, you will find Hong Kong offers all kinds of cuisine (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, American, European, etc.) in all kinds of environments (from outdoor stalls to elegant restaurants).

Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay are two large shopping areas in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board also provides information at the airport and at either terminus of the Star Ferry on where to shop. You can exchange foreign currency into local currency at your hotel, money changers, or banks (usually the best rate: US$ 1 = HK$ 7.8). Almost everywhere in Hong Kong there are automatic teller machines that dispense local currency to holders of major credit cards.