Near Gate 1 in T1, this is your true last‑minute cash stop
Bank of China (Hong Kong) sits near Gate 1 in Terminal T1 and mainly works as a final top‑up point for HKD or RMB, not a full banking visit. It runs Monday to Friday from 09:00–19:00, then 09:00–15:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. If you skipped changing money in Central, Mong Kok, or at a city branch, this is the safety net before boarding.
Rates at airport bank counters, including this one, track closer to tourist pricing than downtown branches, and forum regulars say the gap is noticeable on larger sums like HKD 2,000 or more. Reviews repeatedly mention that city branches of Bank of China (Hong Kong) beat airport FX boards by a clear margin, especially on RMB and USD. Treat the counter as an emergency option, not your primary exchange plan.
HKG veterans usually pull HKD from ATMs airside or landside using their own bank card, then only use this counter near Gate 1 for tiny amounts — think HKD 100–300 to cover a bus fare or a snack. This location handles standard currency exchange plus basic banking, but staff are focused on quick transactions, not long-form account servicing.
Watch out for exchanging big stacks like EUR 500 or JPY 50,000 here; you’ll likely lose more to the posted rate than to an overseas ATM fee. If you need cash, hit an ATM first; use Bank of China (Hong Kong) in T1 only to tidy up any last small gap before boarding.