Thousands of people visit Hong Kong daily and knowing the types of electrical outlet and plug used in this country will surely come in handy for any visitor. The primary electrical outlet type used in Hong Kong is the Type G British BS-1363 and the Type D Indian BS-546 5 amp. In terms of the voltage used by the appliances and electronic gadgets, the voltage is 220-240 volts. If a traveler visiting in Hong Kong has electronic gadgets that are not compatible with the existing electrical outlet, he or she must have an adapter for the Type G, Type D, and Type M sockets.

Type G British 3-pin Plug, Electrical Outlet, and Adapter

Type G electrical outlet with safety fuse

The Type G electrical plug is a British 3-pin rectangular blade used widely in Hong Kong. It has a protective fuse inside to protect cords from high-current circuits and, most of the time, the Type G electrical outlet includes a safety switch. The Type G British 3-pin  also has a receptacle end that is compatible with most household plug types, except the Type M South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug. The plug end is a British BS-1363 13-amp type. For the adapter, the live and neutral pins are 4 x 6 x 18 mm apart, with the grounding pin measuring 4 x 8 x 23mm. The plug of this Type G British 3-pin is polarized and grounded but not fused. Also, through the Type G British 3-pin adapter, a tourist could use his or her appliance or electronic gadget in Hong Kong. Another name for the Type G British 3-pin plug is the 13-amp plug and for safety reasons the Hong Kong requires electrical outlets in households that use the Type G British 3-pin to have shutters over the live and neutral connections of the electrical outlet.

Type G plug

In the insertion of the longer earth pin from the plug, the safety shutters of the Type G British 3-pin are opened. The shutters are also present to prevent the use of incompatible plugs made to other standards. However, there are cases wherein the safety shutters of this electrical outlet could be opened through a screwdriver in order to insert Type C plugs. But then, the usage of Type G British 3-pin outlet along with another kind of plug is not recommended because these plugs do not have a fuse. The regulation about the safety shutters and fuse is then followed in Hong Kong and all the other countries that use the type G British 3-pin electrical outlet and plug like the United Kingdom, England, Ghana, Grenada, Macau, Malta, Malaysia, Qatar, Saint Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and Hong Kong.

Type G adapter

In terms of compatibility, the Type G British 3-pin electrical outlet will work together with the Type G British 3-pin plug and adapter in Hong Kong. For the electrical outlet, the Type G British 3-pin sockets are not compatible with other types of electrical outlet. With all the safety measures and features of this plug and outlet, it is considered as one of the safest in Hong Kong, even the world. However, with all its features, this type of plug is bulky and cumbersome. Some people claim that the Type G British 3-pin plug is mostly bigger than the appliances they are connected to but if tourists would want to use their electronic gadget or appliance in Hong Kong, then they must have a Type G British 3-pin adapter. Although the adapter would not change the voltage used, it will enable the plug of the appliance or electronic gadget to be inserted to the electrical outlet used in Hong Kong.

Type D Indian Adapter Plug and Electrical Outlet

Type D Indian Plug

This adapter is used for the “Type D” Indian (Small 5 amp BS-546) electrical outlet in Hong Kong. The receptacle end of this Type D plug is also compatible with common household plugs except the Type M South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug. In this Type D Old British Plug Adapter, the live and neutral pins are 5mm in diameter, spaced 22mm apart, and the grounding pin is 7mm in diameter with the plug being polarized and grounded. The Type D Old British Plug Adapter is most compatible with the Type D Indian electrical outlet that is sometimes used in Hong Kong.

Type D electrical outlet

It is an old British standard electrical outlet which is still the primary household electrical outlet in countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Namibia, and Hong Kong. Although the Type D electrical outlet and plug is not the standard in Greece and other countries, it is still used in various households. In terms of design and appearance, the Type D Indian electrical outlet and plug is often confused with the Type M South African electrical outlet and plug. However, as similar as these two may seem, they are not compatible and must not be used together in Hong Kong or even in other countries.

Type M South African Plug, Electrical Adapter, and Electrical Outlet

Type M plug and electrical outlet

The Type M South African plug has a technical name of BS 546 (South African 15 A/250 V) and is the standard plug in South Africa. This kind of electrical plug has three circular pins and is a little bit larger compared to the Type D. Also, the Type M South African plug is commonly used in Mozambique, South Africa, and Hong Kong. For the Type M adapter, the neutral pins are 7mm in diameter and spaced 25mm apart with a grounding pin that’s 8.7mm in diameter. This plug used in Hong Kong is also polarized and grounded.

Type M adapter

Moreover, the Type M large South African and the Type D Indian plugs are small versions of the old British BS-546 standard. These two are often confused and used in the same location although if a tourist is visiting Hong Kong, it is still best to bring an adapter for these plugs and electrical outlets. The Type M plug and electrical outlet might be used in some countries as mentioned above, including Hong Kong, but even in this country, the Type M South African plug and electrical outlet is now replaced by the Type G. However, old houses and buildings in Hong Kong still use the Type M electrical outlet.

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