Hong Kong will celebrate its 27th HKSAR Establishment Day on July 1. To mark the occasion, there are a ton of freebies that residents of the SAR and visitors to the city can get. Think free rides on the city’s iconic trams and Star Ferry, as well as free access to exhibitions at new landmarks like M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Here’s the list of what you can get for free on July 1 and how to access them:
Star Ferry rides
Passengers can take unlimited trips for free on the Star Ferry between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. However, if you want to take the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui ferry, you’ll have to pay the full fare.
Tram trips
Hop on board any HK Tramways tram on July 1 and get rides across the northern part of Hong Kong Island for free, courtesy the Hong Kong Youth Patriotic Education Foundation.
Fortune Ferry journeys
Sail across Victoria Harbour on for free two of Fortune Ferry’s routes: Central-Hung Hom and North Point-Kwun Tong-Kai Tak. You need to book your tickets in advance before you board by heading to Central Pier 8 and the North Point Pier. If it’s your birthday on July 1, you can get free trips on the Central-Hung Hom, North Point-Kwun Tong-Kai Tak, and Tuen Mun-Tai O routes.
MTR Light Rail and New Territories bus trips
All passengers who take MTR’s light rail and New Territories buses will get fare-free rides on July 1. Children aged between 3 and 11 years old can travel for free on all of Hong Kong’s MTR lines — including the Airport Express and on journeys to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations. The city’s rail corporation will add more than 400 trips to six of its lines and boost its Light Rail services on July 1 to handle the increased passenger traffic on this day.
Sun Ferry rides
Sun Ferry will distribute 400 free ferry tickets for various routes between Hong Kong Island, the outlying islands and Kowloon. Anyone interested in getting fare-free rides from Central-Mui Wo, North Point-Hung Hom, and North Point-Kowloon City should head to Central Pier No. 6 or North Point Pier on June 27 to collect their tickets. Those who wish to travel between Central and Cheung Chau for free should go to Central Pier No. 5 on June 28 to pick up their passes.
KMB and Long Win Bus rides for kids
Children aged 3-12 can ride for free on all KMB routes (except the K12, K14, K17 and K18) and Long Win buses for 10 days from July to September this year. The fare-free ride offer begins on July 1, and kids who tap their Child Octopus Cards on the fare readers on these buses will not be charged.
Entry to Hong Kong Wetland Park
All visitors can enter Hong Kong Wetland Park without registering or buying a ticket. However, they cannot enter the Wetland Challenge, What are Wetlands, Living Wetlands and Human Culture galleries, as well as the Swamp Adventure Indoor Play Area and Souvenir Shop as they are closed for renovations.
Guided tours
There will be free guided tours, dining, consumption, and accommodation offers from late June to the end of July for the 13 projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme. Some of the free tours will be at:
- Green Hub
- HKFYG Leadership Institute
- Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre
- Viva Blue House
Entry to government-run leisure facilities
Anyone can use the following indoor and outdoor facilities managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as long as they make a booking first:
- Indoor leisure facilities such as badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms, and a cycling track
- Outdoor leisure facilities like tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls, archery ranges and golf facilities (except camp facilities, sports grounds and artificial as well as natural turf pitches)
- Public swimming pools except for the Wan Chai Swimming Pool and the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool (no prior bookings required)
- Water sports centres, except for recreational kayaks, pedal-driven boats, sampans and colour boats at Chong Hing Water Sports Centre, which are available only for campers
Museum exhibitions
Entry to the following museums and exhibitions are free on July 1:
- Hong Kong Palace Museum: General Admission exhibitions, which require pre-booking on the West Kowloon Cultural District website, the West Kowloon Cultural District mobile app, or on Cityline.
- M+: General Admission exhibitions, which do not require pre-booking. Enter the museum through the Artist Square Entrance.
- Hong Kong Space Museum: All permanent exhibitions except for the Space Theatre shows.
- Hong Kong Science Museum: All permanent exhibitions.
- Hong Kong Museum of Art: All free exhibitions, including ‘The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Fragrance of Time – In Search of Chinese Art of Scent’.
In addition, admission to several exhibitions will be free at the following museums:
- Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
- Hong Kong Railway Museum
- Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
- Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery
- Law Uk Folk Museum
- Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum
- Sheung Yiu Folk Museum
- Hong Kong Film Archive
- Sam Tung Uk Museum
- Oil Street Art Space (Oi!)
- Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Other discounts on July 1
Several Hong Kong attractions and restaurants will give visitors and customers discounts for the forthcoming long weekend to celebrate HKSAR Establishment Day. Here is the list of the special offers during this time:
- Hong Kong Ocean Park: Up to 30% off on an Ocean Park Hong Kong All Day Delight Tickets, from June 29-July 1. Adults will pay HK$270 (original price HK$398) and children’s tickets in this category will cost HK$189 (original price HK$239). Tickets can be bought at the park gates and on the website.
- Ngong Ping 360: Children and senior citizens will get 73% off Ngong Ping 360 Standard Cabin cable car tickets. Kids aged between 3 and 11 years old will pay HK$36 for their passes, while tickets for seniors will cost HK$42.
- sky100: Hong Kong residents will get 73% off when they buy admission tickets for the sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck if they use with the promo code of “27HKSAR” from June-July 1. A quota of 130 tickets will be available each day, and standard tickets for adults, children, and senior citizens will cost HK$53.
- Restaurant offers: Several restaurants across the city will give customers discounts on beverages, à la carte menu, and special menus. Check out the full list here.
For the full list of freebies and discounts, visit the official website.
Header image credits: YuenWu, urban cow, and seaonweb via Canva
