Telephone numbers in Hong Kong

Telephone numbers in Hong Kong are mostly eight-digit. Fixed land line numbers start with 2 or 3, cellular (mobile) phone numbers with 6 or 9, pager numbers with 7 and forwarding service with 8. There is no area code today in Hong Kong.

Country Code: 852
International Call Prefix: varies, depending on IDD provider

1970s

In the 1970s, area codes were assigned with the following pattern.

3 Kowloon, New Kowloon and Sai Kung 5 Hong Kong Island and Outlying Islands 12 New Territories

There was no standard trunk prefix like '0' - only the area code and phone number were dialed when calling from one area code to another. Thus the Kowloon number xxx-xxx would have been dialed as follows:

xxx-xxx (from within Kowloon) 3 xxx-xxx (from Hong Kong Island or New Territories) +852 3 xxx-xxx (from overseas)

1980s

In the mid 1980s, 6-digit numbers starting with '0' became 7-digit numbers starting with '71', making way for subsequent change of the New Territories prefix from '12' to '0'.

0xxxxx became 71xxxxx

Fixed-line phone numbers were either six- or seven-digit in the 1980s. Area codes were assigned with the following pattern.

3 Kowloon, New Kowloon and Sai Kung 5 Hong Kong Island and Outlying Islands 0 New Territories

Cellular phone numbers are all eight-digit starting with '9'.

1990s

Early 1990s

On 1 January, 1990, area codes were abolished. Area codes for six-digit numbers became part of subscriber's numbers. Area codes for seven-digit numbers were simply removed.

(3) xxx xxx became 3xx xxxx (5) xxx xxx became 5xx xxxx

(3) Nxx xxxx became Nxx xxxx (N = 7) (5) Nxx xxxx became Nxx xxxx (N = 8 or 9) (0) Nxx xxxx became Nxx xxxx (N = 4 or 6)

Mid 90's

In the mid 1990s, a '2' was prefixed to all fixed line (land line) numbers which are now eight-digit. A '7' was prefixed to existing pager service numbers.

xxx xxxx became 2xxx xxxx 11xx xxx became 711xx xxx 11xx xxxxx became 7xx xxxxx 9xxx xxxx remained unchanged

Late 90's

Before the introduction of portable fixed line numbers, numbers were assigned in a pattern akin to districts. For example, in additional to the existing 3, 5 and 0 prefixes, a 4 prefix was used for Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, 6 for Tai Po and Sha Tin, and 8 for Island East.

2000s until today

Numbers starting with '3' were introduced when '2' for fixed lines started running out. Cell phone numbers remain eight-digit. The number '6' started to be used when numbers started with '9' were running out:

2xxx xxxx fixed lines 3xxx xxxx fixed lines and dialup ISPs 6xxx xxxx cellular phones 7xxx xxxx pager services 8xxx xxxx forwarding services 9xxx xxxx cellular phones

For example, one can request a SkypeIn number which is usually in the form of 81xx xxxx.

In May, 2008, cellular phone numbers with '5' as the beginning were also introduced.

Making international calls

YYY (Country Code) () xxxx xxxx

YYY is the access code for an IDD service provider - YYY is not necessarily three digits.

Calls to the rest of the People's Republic of China and to the Republic of China are international.

Macau YYY 853 xxx xxx Mainland China YYY 86 (Area Code) xxxx xxxx Taiwan YYY 886 (Area Code) xxx xxxx

During the years of telephone monopoly, YYY was 106 (through 1980s) and then 001.

Emergency services and other special numbers

Telephone number for emergency services --- Police, Fire Service and Ambulance --- is 999.

Some special numbers are three- to five-digit. Some premium rate services, for example for games, are 9-digit.

Numbers beginning with 1 are usually reserved for carrier/operator services. These services are provided by the individual telephone carrier. In general, these numbers can be used across all carriers:
*Directory services can be reached at 1081 (English) and 1083 (Cantonese).
*Time and temperature information can be reached at 18501 (English) and 18503 (Cantonese).

ee also

*China telephone numbering plan
*Macau telephone numbering plan