Hong Kong Dollar Symbol (HK$)
The Hong Kong Dollar (HK$ or HKD) is the official currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Issued by three commercial note-issuing banks under the authority of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong dollar is the ninth most traded currency in the world.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, Hong Kong Dollar shares the universal DOLLAR SIGN (U+0024) glyph. While domestic retail stores write plain $, international financial contracts and software APIs require prefix disambiguation to prevent monetary ambiguity.
| Currency | ISO 4217 | Domestic Notation | International Prefix | Example Formatting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Dollar | USD | $ | US$ | $100.00 / US$100.00 |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD | $ | C$ or CAD | C$100.00 (EN) / 100,00 $ (FR) |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | $ | A$ or AUD | A$100.00 / AU$100.00 |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD | $ | NZ$ or NZD | NZ$100.00 |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | $ | HK$ or HKD | HK$100.00 / 港元100 |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD | $ | S$ or SGD | S$100.00 |
| Mexican Peso | MXN | $ | Mex$ or MX$ | $100.00 / Mex$ 100.00 |
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Hong Kong Dollar.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | HK$ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Encoding Classification | Plain Latin Letters | Written as standard text without a single dedicated Unicode point | |
| Base Character / Block | U+0024 (Prefix HK) | DOLLAR SIGN (PREFIX HK) | |
| HTML Representation | HK$ | Standard text in HTML documents (No dedicated entity) | |
| CSS Content String | "HK$ " | CSS content string for pseudo-elements |
How to Type Hong Kong Dollar Symbol (HK$) on Any Device
Windows PC
Type HK$ directly as standard letters on your physical keyboard.
Mac / macOS
Type HK$ directly as plain letters on your keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Type HK$
Android (Gboard)
Type HK$
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Hong Kong Dollar symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
In everyday domestic writing, '$' is placed before the amount ($100). In international documents, 'HK$' or 'HKD' is prefixed. In Chinese characters, the currency is written as 港元 (Gǎngyuán) or formally on banknotes as 圓 (U+5713).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Saying Macau's currency is the HKD (Macau's official legal tender is the Macanese Pataca MOP, though HKD is widely accepted).
- Stating the symbol is pegged to USD (it is the currency exchange rate that is pegged via the Currency Board system, not the symbol).
- Confusing the three commercial issuing banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Bank of China issue Hong Kong banknotes).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
Hong Kong established its first silver dollar mint in 1863. In 1935, following global silver shocks, Hong Kong abandoned the silver standard and established the Hong Kong dollar pegged to the British pound. On October 17, 1983, the Hong Kong government introduced the Linked Exchange Rate System, pegging the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar at a rate of 7.80 HKD per USD (later refined to a convertibility zone of 7.75–7.85 HKD/USD). Note that Macau does NOT use the Hong Kong dollar as its official legal currency; Macau has its own currency, the Macanese Pataca (MOP), which is pegged to the HKD at 1.03 MOP per HKD.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using HK$
Related Tools & Guides for Hong Kong Dollar
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Dollar Sign Currencies ($) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
How does the Hong Kong dollar peg to the US dollar work?
Under the Linked Exchange Rate System operated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), commercial note-issuing banks can issue banknotes only by depositing equivalent US dollars with the Exchange Fund at the fixed rate of 7.80 HKD per USD, maintaining a tight trading band between 7.75 and 7.85 HKD/USD.
Who prints the banknotes in Hong Kong?
Unlike most economies where a central bank prints money, Hong Kong banknotes are issued by three commercial banks licensed by the HKMA: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), and Bank of China (Hong Kong). The government only issues the 10-dollar note and coins.
Is the Hong Kong dollar accepted in Macau?
Yes, Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted in retail stores and casinos throughout Macau alongside the local Macanese Pataca (MOP), but Macau's official legal currency remains the Pataca, pegged at 1.03 MOP to 1 HKD.