Where can I pick up a cheap, local SIM CARD in Hong Kong. I have a China unicom SIM card in my phone now (from Beijing). It worked in Shanghai but I don't think so in HK.

How much are the cards in HK? and where is the chepeast place to pick them up?

Lots of cellular stores in Hong Kong. One of the cheapest is Sunday, which I use. Their starter card only cost HK$48 (US$6), and local cost is HK$0.06/0.12 per minute, offpeak/peak. That means your starter card alone will give you at least 400+ local minutes.

www.sunday.com

They have dealers everywhere. The other companies' rate are about the same, but their starter kit may cost more (but give you more minutes).

Your China Unicom card should work in Hong Kong too. But the rate will be significantly higher.

I recently bought one at the Airport in the arrivals hall, before getting on the Airport Express. It was from 3 Mobile.

Cost was $99 HKD but can't remember how much usage it had on it for local calls. Only used mine for international. Refill was easy at any 7-11.

Just want to add that you may find prepaid SIMs at convenient stores too. Besides Sunday, other companies include Smartone-Vodafone, NewWorld/CSL, Hutchison/Orange/3, etc. All have starter SIM for HK$100 or less.

I purchased my SIM at 7-11 at Central in the subway station. It was a quiet time at the moment, and the nice young male employee inserted and set it up for me, too.

ok, good info. but i still need to know what card i should get. i'm in hk for less than 2 months and only need to make LOCAL SMS. What card should I get?

and btw, my China unicom doesn't work in HK.

If you just want to make local phone calls, those are FREE in Hong Kong from any telephone. So if you can restrain yourself from having to send SMSs, you can make all the calls you want from any pay phone or telephone anywhere in town and not have to pay any money at all.

Also, if you go to any Pacific Coffee Company, you can get onto the Internet for free. I don't think they would even hassle you if you don't buy a coffee, but you could buy the cheapest thing there and then sit for hours.

Otherwise, as rkwan says, any one of the SIM cards will be pretty much exactly the same cost; some may cost more up front but give more minutes, some cost less, but give fewer minutes. You have to decide if you would rather lay out less cash now and run the risk of having to pay more later or pay for minutes you may not end up using.

I also use SIM card from Sunday. They are valid for 6 months from activation or from when you recharge. Minimum recharge is HK$50. I always purchase the cards at convenient stores. They cost the same everywhere unless there is special promotion.

Any truth to this comment: "Sunday is normally the cheapest because they have less stations and poor reception"??

I asked my relative in Hong Kong to get some sim cards (from Sundays) for me and mail them here (OK I let to be prepared), but this is her comment.

I see that Travelmug has, and he/she did not report any problems. Anyone else have used Sundays?

My mom and I use Sunday for years. Don't have any problem with reception.

Prices are very competitive in Hong Kong. So, one carrier may be cheaper today, tomorrow it may be a different one.

But we use them not because of cost, but because they were (are?) the only carrier that allows one to only recharge once per 180 days and still keep the same number. Others usually 90.

Just tell your relative to get your whatever SIM card they feel the best for you.

Thanks rkkwan - that was good reassurance.