Hong Kong buses are a delight--especially the British-style double-deckers. They're good for traveling to places where other forms of public transport don't go, such as to the southern part of Hong Kong Island like Stanley or up into parts of Kowloon and the New Territories. Bus numbers containing an "X" are for express buses, with limited stops. Depending on the route, buses run from about 6am to midnight, with fares ranging from HK$1.20 to HK$45 (US15¢-US$5.85); half fare for children under 12 and seniors over 65. Air-conditioned buses cost more than non-air-conditioned buses. You must have the exact fare, which you deposit into a box as you get on. Make sure, therefore, that you always carry a lot of spare change, or buy an Octopus card (note, however, that not all buses accept the card). Drivers often don't speak English, so you may want to have someone at your hotel write down your destination in Chinese, particularly if you're traveling in the New Territories. And with the exception of congested areas like Central or Tsim Sha Tsui, you must flag down a bus to make it stop, especially in the New Territories or on an island.
Hong Kong's buses are operated by three companies: New World First Bus (tel. 852/2136 8888), which operates on Hong Kong Island; Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB; tel. 852/2745 4466), operating in Kowloon; and the common yellow buses run by Citybus (tel. 852/2873 0818), which operates on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. There are two major bus terminals, located at or near both ends of the Star Ferry. On Hong Kong Island, most buses depart from Exchange Square in the Central District or from bus stops in front of the Outlying Islands Ferry Piers. Some buses also depart from Admiralty Station. In Kowloon, buses depart from in front of the Star Ferry concourse in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The HKTB has individual leaflets for Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories that show bus routes to most of the major tourist spots, indicating where you can catch the bus and its frequency, the fare, and where to get off. Keep in mind that buses can get very crowded at rush hours and that some buses look pretty ancient--which can make the winding trip to Stanley in a double-decker bus a bone-rattling and exciting experience.
