The Hong Kong time difference is +8 hours from London and +13 hours from New York in winter, and +7 hours and +12 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; Hong Kong does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 20:00 in Hong Kong during UK winter time (GMT) and 19:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 01:00 the next day in Hong Kong during Eastern Standard Time and 00:00 the next day during Eastern Daylight Time.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Hong Kong: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+8, IANA identifier
Asia/Hong_Kong - Difference with London: +8 h in UK winter (GMT), +7 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +13 h during Eastern Standard Time, +12 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in Hong Kong: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and Hong Kong
| Time in London | In Hong Kong (UK winter, GMT) | In Hong Kong (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 16:00 | 15:00 |
| 12:00 | 20:00 | 19:00 |
| 18:00 | 02:00 (next day) | 01:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 | 06:00 (next day) | 05:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Hong Kong (US winter, EST) | In Hong Kong (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 01:00 (next day) | 00:00 (next day) |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 07:00 (next day) | 06:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 11:00 (next day) | 10:00 (next day) |
| Period | Hong Kong vs London | Hong Kong vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +8 h | +12 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +8 h | +13 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +8 h | +12 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +7 h | +12 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +8 h | +12 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +8 h | +13 h |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Hong Kong does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Hong Kong does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+8 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call Hong Kong from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Hong Kong time, call between 01:00 and 12:00 London time in UK winter, and between 02:00 and 13:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 20:00 and 07:00 (starting the evening before, local time) during EST, and between 21:00 and 08:00 during EDT.
Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations, and check the times above again around the clock-change dates in the UK and the US.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
In clock terms, going from the UK or the US East Coast to Hong Kong means travelling east: your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Hong Kong time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Asia/Hong_Kong | UTC+8 | UTC+8 | HKT |
- Hong Kong (
Asia/Hong_Kong): last clock change recorded on Sunday 21 October 1979, from UTC+9 to UTC+8. Daylight saving time was applied in some years since 1970 (last: 1979); it no longer is.
No daylight saving time in Hong Kong in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Hong_Kong: standard time remains UTC+8 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Hong Kong vs London | Hong Kong vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +8 h | +13 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | +8 h | +12 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +7 h | +12 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +8 h | +12 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +8 h | +13 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Hong Kong in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Hong Kong (22.31° N, 114.18° E); the last column converts them to London time, UK clock changes included. They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:05 | 12:32 | 18:00 | 10 h 55 | 23:05 / 10:00 |
| February | 06:55 | 12:37 | 18:20 | 11 h 25 | 22:55 / 10:20 |
| March | 06:32 | 12:32 | 18:32 | 12 h 00 | 22:32 / 10:32 |
| April | 06:04 | 12:23 | 18:43 | 12 h 39 | 23:04 / 11:43 |
| May | 05:44 | 12:20 | 18:56 | 13 h 12 | 22:44 / 11:56 |
| June | 05:39 | 12:24 | 19:08 | 13 h 29 | 22:39 / 12:08 |
| July | 05:48 | 12:29 | 19:10 | 13 h 23 | 22:48 / 12:10 |
| August | 06:00 | 12:28 | 18:55 | 12 h 55 | 23:00 / 11:55 |
| September | 06:10 | 12:19 | 18:27 | 12 h 17 | 23:10 / 11:27 |
| October | 06:19 | 12:09 | 17:59 | 11 h 39 | 23:19 / 10:59 |
| November | 06:35 | 12:08 | 17:40 | 11 h 05 | 22:35 / 09:40 |
| December | 06:55 | 12:18 | 17:41 | 10 h 47 | 22:55 / 09:41 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (13 h 29 between 05:39 and 19:08), the shortest 15 December (10 h 47).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Hong Kong
- Outbound from the UK or the US (flying east): you « lose » 8 hours from London in UK winter and 7 hours in summer, and 13 hours from New York in winter and 12 hours in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK or the US (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 07:00 – 15:00 in Hong Kong from London in UK winter (06:00 – 14:00 during BST), and to 12:00 – 20:00 from New York during EST (11:00 – 19:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Hong Kong, the sun rises around 07:05 and sets around 18:00 in mid-January, and around 05:48 and 19:10 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Hong Kong
- Our complete Hong Kong travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Hong Kong: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and the UK or the US?
Hong Kong is 8 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 7 hours ahead during British Summer Time. It is 13 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 12 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in Hong Kong when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 20:00 in Hong Kong in UK winter and 19:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 01:00 the next day in Hong Kong during EST and 00:00 the next day during EDT.
Does Hong Kong have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+8 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call Hong Kong from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 01:00 and 12:00 London time in UK winter (02:00 to 13:00 during BST), or between 20:00 and 07:00 New York time during EST (21:00 to 08:00 during EDT). The New York window starts on the previous evening.
What is the IANA time zone for Hong Kong?
Hong Kong: Asia/Hong_Kong.
What time does the sun rise in Hong Kong?
Around 07:05 on 15 January 2027 and around 05:48 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:00 and 19:10. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes (BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October): GOV.UK, When do the clocks change?
- US daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November): NIST, Daylight Saving Time
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
