Written by HK Cheapo
July 1 marks HKSAR Establishment Day, commemorating the handover.
What happens?
July 1 marks HKSAR Establishment Day, commemorating the handover. 2026 marks the 29th anniversary of the handover. July 1 is a public holiday, and it falls on a Wednesday this year. To mark this holiday, the HKSAR government offers a variety of freebies:
- Free rides on the tram: Trundle along the length of Hong Kong Island for free July 1–3! For ideas, check out our self-guided tram tour.
- Free MTR rides: 71,000 free domestic single rides via lucky draw on July 1. Airport Express discounts available for holders of Child Octopus, Personalised Octopus with “Student Status” and JoyYou Cards.
- Free ferry rides: Select ferry routes offer free passage on July 1 (advance voucher distribution for some routes).
- Free access to the Hong Kong Wetland Park: Use the long weekend to explore the New Territories. Yuen Long’s Wetland Park will be free to enter on July 1.
- Free access to world-class exhibitions: All exhibitions at the M+ museum and all thematic exhibitions at the Hong Kong Palace Museum will be free on July 1.
- Free admission to LCSD facilities: Fee-charging leisure and cultural facilities under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be free on July 1 (for example, the Hong Kong Museum of Science).
- Dining and consumption offers: Over 1,000 restaurants and merchants offering deals on July 1. 29% discount at “Local Fresh” online store, app, or physical store July 1–7.
- Attraction ticket offers: Peak Tram, Ngong Ping 360, Ocean Park Hong Kong, and Tai Kwun discounts available.
While we do our best to ensure it is correct, information is subject to change.