I'm off to China on business for two weeks this weekend. Assides from explaining an absense from the board, I thought I'd check whether I'll be able to charge my serene or macbook out there? I'm not exactly sure what the power situation is out there, ie whether I'll be fine with a plug adaptor bought at the airport or whether it's more complicated than that. Anyone else been to know?

Hi from France,

Voltage in China and HK is 220V. Plugs in HK are UK style (of course), but you would need an adaptor in China.

Hope that did help,

Cheers, Laurent.

The mains plug below has also a grounding pin and two flat prongs forming a V-shape and is based on the Australian standard.

There is an ungrounded version of this plug as well, with only two flat V-shaped prongs.

Although there are slight differences, the Australian plug mates with the socket used in the Peoples Republic of China (mainland China).