Because I had to take a trip to the post office, I thought it'd be beneficial to those who are curious to know the who, what, where, when, why and how of what I was looking for today, which was mainly the post office.
The Mui Wo post office is located in the Mui Wo Government Offices building.
Mui Wo Government Offices Info:
Location
2 Ngan Kwong Wan Road
Mui Wo, Lantau Island
Within this complex are two of the things that I will have to visit the most in the coming months:
1. Mui Wo Post Office
2. Mui Wo Maternal and Child Health Centre
The post office was easy to find…as it was the first building that I ran into after walking from the ferry pier. It's also got the giant Hong Kong post insignia that cannot be missed! The post office opens weekdays from 9 am - 4:30 pm. On Saturdays, it's open from 9 am - 12:30 pm.
While waiting for the post office to open, and…if you are in dire need of stamps and to get something mailed, there is a stamp machine located right outside of the main doors.
These days, a stamp for mailing the "average" letter comes out to $1.70 hkd.
The drop box for letters is just to the side of the stamp machine.
The post office is quite small, which is a change! Yuen Long's post office always had a line of people waiting outside to do all sorts of transactions. The Mui Wo branch has two main counters: (1) Speedpost/ Local Courier Post/ Parcel Collection and (2) Pay Thru Post/ Stamps/ Registration. I'm not too sure on anything there than posting parcels, collecting parcels, and buying stamps…but, if I gain more insight, I'll probably blog about it.
While waiting at the counter, I noticed something that I'd not realized before…You can pay bills at the post office. I had only paid bills through 7Eleven, so this was quite enlightening! Here are some of the things you can pay (check out the image below).
Though you can purchase your own packaging or envelops, the post office also provides their own, which you can buy at the counter. A lot of information is posted up around the post office, so you can take a glance around if you do have questions…which is especially good on a busy day…when you want to just make an inquiry over what size boxes they have available!
Also…on a hot day, I think it's a great idea to stop by the post office to cool off…it's a long walk from the villages to the ferry pier…and vice versa!
The Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCHC) is also conveniently attached to the Mui Wo Government Offices complex. It's also right across the way from the first aid station. I'd previously transferred my Yuen Long MCHC history to the Mui Wo one via the Yuen Long Madam Yung Fung Shee Clinic. It's quite easy to do (just fill out a transfer sheet) and the office does the transferring for you.
The only thing I did not realize was that the Mui Wo branch is only open twice a month! This was a huge difference from Yuen Long, which was open all the time.
The MCHC is located just to the right of the Mui Wo Post Office. You can see the Mui Wo General Out-Patient Clinic sign as you walk along the corridor. The MCHC is located on the first floor…
The clinic is quite small, so it is easy to find your way around. But, you can easily spot signs directing you to the MCHC.
Today was one of the days when the clinic was closed.
Mui Wo MCHC Info (also noted in the photo below):
Open the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month
Open from 8:30 - 12:30 pm and from 2 - 4:30 pm
What is the MCHC?
As a resident of Hong Kong, I have the option of choosing to go the public route (which is a lot cheaper, medically-speaking). The MCHC is a clinic specifically for women (under 64 years old) and children (birth until about 5 years old). The clinic is there to provide sexual health education and care, breast awareness education (e.g., breastfeeding) and care, cervical screenings, family planning education and advice, menstration problem education and care, ante/post natal care, etc…For babies, the clinics provide check ups (e.g., baby health and development), parenting information (e.g., how to take care of a newborn, starting solids, etc) and also immunizations.
Why the MCHC?
I decided to take this route when I got pregnant, mainly because it was the most inexpensive route. All of my check ups were free (though my taxes go to the support of public institutions like this one). And, when I gave birth at the local government hospital, my entire experience costed me only a fraction of the price of giving birth through the private hospitals (private doctors, etc).
Benefits of the MCHC?
1. Though there is quite a long waiting period (especially in Yuen Long), the doctors, nurses and supporting staff have always been so supportive to me. The Yuen Long branch, especially, had such a great vibe about it.
2. The cost of check ups and basic baby immunizations are free…and prescriptions are just a fraction of the price.
3. They are found in most districts of Hong Kong!
Hopefully, this information proves useful for some!
