Shopping

Visitors are still coming to Hong Kong to go shopping despite the fact that the cost of living in the territory has risen above that of most other countries in the world. The famed electronic goods of Nathan Road, for example, are by no means cheap any more and when you consider the high possibility of some form of rip-off, you are probably best advised to buy your cameras and other gadgets at home. What is special about Hong Kong, however, is the enormous range of goods on offer- and all in such a tiny area of land. And some
things are indeed cheap, particularly clothes, silk, jewellery, Chinese arts and crafts, some computer accessories and pirated goods. Many of these are made in the People’s Republic. As a general rule you’ll find that the farther ou are from touristy Tsim Sha Tsui, the cheaper your shopping becomes. Shops stay open late and are open daily. In Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, general hours are l0am-10pm;in Central it’s 10am-7pm. For more detailed shopping listings, consult the HKTB staopping guide for the latest and
reatest or browse www. qtshk.com for shops and stores listed under the HKTB’s Quality Tourism Services Scheme or check their shopping guide (listedunder “Things to do” at www. DiscoverHongKong.com). Antiques, arts and crafts.You are unlikely to find any bargain antiques in Hong Kong, but you may find itpleasanter making your purchase here than in aggressive mainland China. You’ll also find a larger selection of items and a wider range of quality. The main area forantiques is Hollywood Road in Central, where there are dozens of shops, sellhgeverything from embroidery to burial ceranfics. Even ifyou have no iutention ofbuying, it’s fun to look and you can learn a lot about ancient Chinese culture in a couple of hours.If you are interested , note that “antique” doesn’t ,always mean more than 100 years old - ask to be sure. Vincent Choi’s guide, Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong, is also worth a read (available at Dragon Culture, 184 & 231 Hollywood Rd, Sheung Wan 2545 8098, www. dragonculture .com.hk). ifyou’re more interested in modern arts and crafts, there are also a number of stores specializing in goods from China and elsewhere in the region. The best is probably Chinese Arts and Crafts, which has branches at the China Resources Building, 26 Harbour 1kd, Wan Chai; 230 Tile Mall, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; Star House, 3 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; and the Nathan Hotel, 378 Nathan Rd, Kowloon. Each has a huge selection of fabrics, porcelain, cashmere, clothes and other Chinese-made items, although some of the silks and household linens can be bought cheaper in Stanley Market. They also stock jewellery and jade - for more of the latter the Jade Market in MongKok is a good place to look (see p.741) - and it’s sensible to take everything the stallholders here tell you with a heavy pinch of salt. Otherwise, if you’re after Chinese furniture and home decorations, it5 worth trekking out to Horizon Plaza at Ap Lei Chau, for 200,000 square feet of shops such as Banyan Tree and Shambala. Some more specific stores include:

Eu Yah Sang Ground Floor, 152-156 Queens Rd, Central 2544 3308, www.euyansang.com. One of the most famous medicine shops in town, said to have been around for over ninety years, this is your source of teas, herbs and Chinese medicines, all carefully weighed and measured.

Friendship Trading Company 105-107 Hoilywood Rd 2548 3830. Wholesale and retail antiques, arts and crafts. They also organize shopping trips to mainland China, if you’re keen; goods ~neither be taken home on the spot or exported once they’ve been renovated.

Karin Weber Gallery 32A Staunton St, SoHo 2544 5004. Large selection of mid-price items. Aisc organizes furniture-buying trips to warehouses on the mainland.

L&E 188 Hollywood Rd CD 2546 9886. New decorative porcelain and old Chinese furniture. They have a warehouse in Sheuog Shui full of old furniture and china, Packing and shipping can be arranged.

Museum Shop Hong Kong Arts Centre, Cultural Centre, Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sba Tsui. Art books and supplies, calligraphy materials, prints, postcards, gifts and stationery. Unfortunately the staff are not very helpful.

Palette Collections Gallery Floor 5, 23 D’Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong 82522 5928, www.palettecollections.
com. Authentic paintings from all over China and the US, in addition to porcelain and antique Chinese furniture.

Shanghai Tang Pedder Building, Pedder St, Central.As well as clothes they also stock a small selection of upmarket craft and household items linen, notebooks,photo frames, and the ever-popular Mac and Deng watches.

Teresa Coleman 79 Wyndham St 82526 2450,www.tereeacoleman.com. One of Hong Kong’s best-known dealers, with an international reputation for Chinese textiles. In addition, they have a good selection of pictures and prints.

The Tibetan Gallery 55 Wyndham St 82530 4863. This has an interesting - if expensive selection of Tibetan furniture, rugs, silverware and religious paintings.

Wah Tung China Ltd Floors 14-17, Grand Marine Ind. Buildings, 3 Yue Fung St, Aberdeen 52873 2272. A 30,000 square foot showroom, groaning with antique porcelain and reproductions.

Clothes

These can be good value in Hong Kong, particularly the local fashion brand names such as Gordiano, U2, G2000, Jessica, Episode and Bossini, which have branches all over the city. Big-name foreign designer clothes can also be found with remarkable ease, although they are often significantly more expensive than back home because of the extra cachet attached to foreign upmarket brands. But the sales are worth checking out. Another interesting and potentially very cheap way to buy clothes (including designer clothes without the labels) is from factory outlets. These places can open and close very quickly so consult the HKTB brochure, Factory Outlets, for addresses, or pick up a locally published guide like The Smart Shopper in HongKong or The Complete Guide to Hong Kong Factory Bargains. Be sure to try things on before you buy marked sizes mean nothing. If you just want to browse,good places to start include Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Pedder Building on Pedder St in Central and, just round the corner, Wyndham St and D’Aguilar St. If you’re a fan of high fashion the Joyce Warehouse i1 the Hing Wai Centre, Aberdeen, is a must - it’s where Hong Kong’s smartest boutique sends last season’s (or last month’s) stuff that didn’t sell - discounts up
to eighty percent. Other places to look include:

Blanc De Chine Floor 2, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder St, Central. Elegant designs loosely based on traditional Chinese clothes, mostly in silk or cashmere.

Joyce Boutique 16 Queen’s Rd, Central; Shop 226 & 344 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. Hong Kong’s most fashionable boutique offers its own range of clothing, as well as many top overseas designer brands.

Shanghai Tang Ground Floor, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder St, Central. A must visit store, beautifully done up in 1930s Shanghai style. It specializos in new versions of traditional Chinese styles like the cheongsam split-sided dress - often in vibrant colours - and they can also make to order, although items are far from cheap (see below) The sales are regular and good.

Walter Ma Century Square, 1 D’Aguilar St,Central. One of the best-known local designers, who designs for foreign figures as well as local people. He is particularly well known for his formal wear.

Tailor-made clothes
Tailor-made clothes are a traditional speciality of the Hong Kong tourist trade and wherever you go in Tsim Sha Tsui you’ll be accosted by Indian tailors offering this service. But you may find better work elsewhere, in residential areas and locations like hotels or shopping arcades where the tailors rely on regular clients . Western women in particular should look for someone who understands theWestern body shape. Prices are relatively low here, but not rock bottom. Have a long chat with your tailor before committing yourself, and make sure you know exactly what’s included. And don’t ask for something in 24 hours - it either won’t fit or will fall apart, or both. Expect at least two or three fittings over several days if you want a good result. You’l] need to pay’about fifty percent of the price as deposit. The best-known tailor in town is probably Sam’s Tailors, at 94 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. Sam is famous as much for his talent for self-publicity as for this clothes. Others include:

Johnson & Co 44 Hankow Rd, Kowloon. Does a lot of work for military and naval customers.Mostly male clientele.

Linva Tailor 38 Cochrane St, Central. Wellestablished ladies’ tailor, popular with locals who want cheongsams for parties. They work a lot with embroidery.

Margaret Court Tailoress Floor 8, Winner Building, 21 D’Aguilar St, Central. She has lots of local Western female clients, and a solid reputation for good work, although it doesn’t come cheaply. A shirt costs around $300 plus fabric.

Pacific Custom Tailors Floor 3, 322 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. Upmarket suits with a price to match, in one of Hong Kong’s snazziest shopping malls.

Shanghai Tang Pedder Building, 12 Pedder St Central www.shanghaitang.com. This boutique also has a tailoring service turning out Chinese style garments for men and women, and a fabu. Ious selection of fabrics. They are used to helping visitors - and can arrange quick fittings and post.lng of finished garments.

Computers

Both hardware and software can work out very cheap in Hong Kong, though if you are buying hardware check that it is compatible with your country’s electrical mains voltage, and make sure you get the right kind of warranty. Without an international warranty you won’t be able to have your computer repaired or replaced once you have left Hong Kong. It’s often wise to patronise local chains, such as Fortress, if you want to avoid the risk of taking home shoddy goods. A good place to check the latest prices and special offers is the Technology supplement in the Sou& China Morming Post, published every Tuesday. Pirated computer software is also big business, though these days it’s more discreet. As with all pirated goods the risk is yours. You pay very litte but it may not work and you may even have difficulty importing it into your own country.

298 Computer Zone 146 Fuk Wa St, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon (Sham Shui Po MTR exit C2). Ranginc from dodgy pirated stuff to top-notch brands.

Golden Shopping Centre 156 Fuk Wah St, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon (Sham Shui Po MTR exit D2).Lots of cheap computer goods, including pirated software.

Mongkok Computer Centre, at the corner of Nelson St and Fa Yuen St, Mongkok. One of the best places for pirated CDs.

Wan Chai Computer Centre 298 Hennessy Rd,Wan Chai (Wan Chai MTR, ext A4). Warren-like place, full of shops selling new, second-hand, official and pirated computer gear.

Department stores

You probably never intended to while away your time in China walking around department stores, but in a shoppers’ paradise like Hong Kong the chances are you will go to one at some point. In summer particularly their air conditioning is attractive, and most have nice cards to boot.You should also give a few of Hong Kong’s glossy shopping nralls a whirl; some of the best include Times Square (Causeway Bay MTR), Pacific Place (Admiralty MTR), Lee Gardens (Causeway Bay MTR) and Festival Walk (Kowloon Tong MTR).

CRC Department Store Chiao Shang Building, 92 Queen’s Rd, Central; Lok Sing Centre, 31 Yee Wost, Causeway Bay. At the cheaper end of the spectrum, but a good supply of Chinese specialities like medicines, foods, porcelain and handicrafts.

Lane Crawford 70 Queen’s Rd, Central; One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; Times Square, 1 Matheson St, Causeway Bay. HongKong’s oldest Western-style department store.

Mitzukoshi Hennessy Centre, 500 Hennessy Rd,Causeway Bay. If you’ve never been to Japan, try this place at least. Possibly the smartest of all the Cause way Bay stores.

SOGO East Point Centre, 555 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay. Another of the Japanese contingent. Immaculately presented goods over ten floors, including a Japanese supermarket.

Wing On 26 Des Voeux Rd, Central (and other branches). Another long-established store, with branches throughout Hong Kong SAR. Standard, day-to-day goods rather than luxuries.

Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium 54-64 (main branch) and 301-309 Nathan Rd, Yau Ma Tel (and other locations). Chinese department store particularly strong on silk clothing, medicines and foodstuffs.

Jewellery

Hong Kongers both men and women - love jewellery, the flashier and more sparkling the better. Consequently, there are literally thousands of jewellers. Some offer pieces which look remarkably like the more popular designs of the famous international jewellery houses. Prices are low, so ifyou’ve always coveted something like that, it’s worth having a look. But shop around, as different shops may ask wildly different prices for the same design. Most places will bargain a little. The HKTA’s fi’ee Shopping Guide to Jewellery, is helpful . Some places to start include:

Gallery One 31-33 Hollywood Rd, Central. A huge selection of semi-precious stones and jewellery amber, amethyst, tiger’s eye, crystal and much more. They will string any arrangement you want.

Kai-Yin Lo Ltd Floor 3 Pacific Place; Shop 11A, Peninsula Hotel. Hong Kong’s best-known jewellery designer ,who uses old jade, carved and semiprecious stones. Expensive, but nice to look.

Opus Collections Ground Floor, Tak House, 5-11 Stanley St, Central 2868 2801. Classy jewellery,watches and ink pens.

Peter Choi Gems & Jewellery Shop 224A, HongKong Hotel, 3 Canton Rd, Kowloon. This shop isjust inside the main entrance to Ocean Terminal. It has a lot of nice, simple designs, including some classics, and a wide range of prices. Peter Choiwill bargain a little.

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