Electricity

Depending on where you live, one of two electricity companies will provide service.

CLP Power supplies services to Kowloon, the New Territories, Lantau, Cheung Chau and most of the outlying islands.

Hong Kong Electric provides services to Hong Kong Island, Ap Lei Chau and Lamma Island.

Water

Potable water is supplied by the Hong Kong Water Supplies Department. There is a fee for this service, and you will be billed based on usage. Application for water supply and information on other services is available on the Water Supplies Department website. Please note that in most apartments, hot water normally requires turning on a switch.

Gas

Hong Kong homes, companies and industry rely on either town gas, pumped through a 3,600-kilometer network of pipes, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) — with town gas accounting for roughly 88 percent of total consumption.

LPG, a clean-burning fuel, is used in Hong Kong homes primarily for kitchen stoves and ovens, and for water heaters in kitchens and bathrooms. The government is also actively promoting the use of LPG in vehicles to help alleviate air pollution. LPG bottles and tanks can be used outdoors for barbecues and to heat swimming pools.

Towngas supplies gas to homes, sells gas appliances and conducts cooking classes. Application for an account can be made via the Towngas service hotline at 2880 6988, or by visiting any of their customer centers. You will need to bring proof of your residential address. You may also apply online.

DSG Energy supplies gas to homes in Discovery Bay. Application for service can be made online or in person at their Discovery Bay showroom. Payment of a deposit and a connection fee is required for set-up of the service. Their shop is on the ground floor of Discovery Bay North Plaza.

Watching local television channels is one way to improve your Cantonese and Putonghua listening and speaking skills. However, if you want to catch up on the latest American and international shows as well as catch up on sports events, then signing up for pay TV is a good investment.

Some streaming TV services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are available in Hong Kong; for others, like Disney Plus and Hulu, you’ll need to use a VPN. HBO Max is not currently available in Hong Kong but you can subscribe to HBO Asia and HBO Go through Now TV.

Fixed-line telephone services are often sold “bundled” together with a broadband connection and pay TV. Most of these companies also provide mobile phone service packages. Make sure to compare prices between companies before signing up with one. Be warned that many of these service contracts have long and inflexible contract periods, and breaking the agreement prior to its end date will incur hefty penalties. Also beware of sales pitches promising to provide coverage of key sporting events — which have a habit of evaporating just weeks before the opening bell.

Some companies offering “bundled” packages include:

• Hong Kong Broadband Network (myTV)
• Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (i-CABLE)
• PCCW (Now TV)

Mobile phone service providers in Hong Kong include:

• 3 (Three)
• CSL 
• SmarTone 
• Birdie (no-contract plans using the SmarTone network)
• China Mobile