<p>Do not drink water right out of the tap even though technicly it exceeds the United Nations WHO standards. You can buy bottled water in Circle K and they are everywhere. It’s a good practice to carry it at all times just to keep yourself hydrated anyway and it also comes in handy for lunch/dinner as many restaurants without the filtering systems won’t serve tap water (hot tea is served instead for free; of course, you can order one of the drinks on the menu).</p>
<p>I agree with Hep A vaccination. The risk is much lower than mainland China but slightly higher than the States. Hong Kong has pretty good hygiene standard and the streets are actually cleaner and less trashy than many cities here. Hong Kong is not a high risk area for cholera. The air is more polluted than anywhere here though.</p>
<p>HK is a shopping mecca, like others have said. However there is alot of pollution, it’s mostly exhaust from cars and such. If you are able to get a hotel, choose one on the highest floor possible…the view is simply amazing, and a little like the late night las vegas skyline. </p>
<p>With regards to you being African-American, I have lived there and it is a very open and cosmopolitan city, with many nationalites and races, and also people of mixed descent. You will find especially businesspeople from all corners of the globe there. I seriously doubt that there would be any negative perceptions, and I lived there for 2 years in the early 90’s. In fact “Payshnytz” from the show Flavor of Love 2 lived there and liked it. </p>
<p>You will, however, find that half or most of the billboards, magazine advertisments, hotel advertisements, etc, will feature European/Caucasian people/models. Also, skin Lightening creams and products are widely hawked at department stores there. Just be aware that this does not mean that people are not tolerant there, it simply has to do with the colonial history of Hong Kong (ruled by the British for 100 years), you will see this in many countries with a history of european colonial rule, i.e., Hong Kong, Phillipines, Vietnam, and quite a few South American and African countries. However the younger generation is starting to rebel against this type of thinking. What’s funny is that you will find half of the teenagers there have old British names like “Ophelia”,
“Daisy,” “Sally” , Anges, etc. </p>
<p>I say to get a hepatitis shot, other than that, don’t worry. It’s sanitary for the most part, and rates higher on the WTO’s health standards than one might think.</p>
<p>Do not miss the Stanley Market in the back bay of Hong Kong Island. The public bus that takes you there is a trip in itself. It goes over narrow road just over the cliff and gives you a panoramic view of the surrounding sea (slightly unnerving because at times you feel like you are in the drink). Sit on 2nd deck to get the full effect. Enjoy.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned the food in HK. I like to add when I visited I probably was not used to the water, and lost my the appetite the whole trip. Even drinking quart size bottles of TsingTao beer didn’t help. Only when I returned to US did I regain my appetite. I wish it wasn’t so :(</p>
<p>Now I remember on previously trip I had no such problem because my wife used to fill a suitcase of US water (not bottled but boiled tap water) to slowly phase in the drinking water. We were probably only ones who does that.</p>