Office Hours
Commercial offices: 9 am - 5 pm (Mon - Fri) - 9 am - 12 noon (Sat)
Government offices: 9 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm (weekdays) - 9 am - 12 noon (Sat)
Shops: 10 am - 9 pm (including Sunday) - 10 am - 6 pm (Mon - Fri)
Banking: 9:30 am - 4 pm (Mon - Fri) - 9:30 am -12 noon (Sat)
Hong Kong Island
Practically the whole of Hong Kong Island is a shopper's paradise. With its
many, many sales at Central, Western District and Admiralty, there are many,
many bargains to be had.
Central
Quaint old traditional markets provide the vivid contrast to the shiny new
skyscrapers which houses the many designer boutiques. Designer shops and exclusive
labels are a dime a dozen here, and lots of foreign tourists usually come here
to restock and update their wardrobe.
The many stalls at "The Lanes" peddle everything from cheap clothing,
watches, costume jewellery to luggage and shoes. Rain or shine, the markets
stay open every day, from 10 a.m. until 7.00 p.m.
Photography enthusiasts inevitably make a beeline for Stanley Street, and
little wonder, since there's such a wide array of equipment on sale there.
For antiques, head for Hollywood Road. A little to the west, sidewalk hawkers
take pride of place.
Western District
Interested in getting some lovely fabric or Chinese handicraft? Then Western
Market is just the place to visit. The building itself is something of an attraction,
with its Edwardian design and architecture. Move farther west, and you'll find
that Chinese-style shops dominate the view, with their dried seafood and medicinal
herbs. Antiques can also be had here, at the Cat Street Bazaar, where you'll
find and a dazzling array of old coins, watches and stone carvings, sold at
the shops and stalls.
Admiralty
Another area for branded luxury items with the Pacific Place topping
the list of popular shopping destinations. It has more than 130 outlets,
including the famed Marks & Spencer, Lane Crawford and Seibu.
Wan Chai & Causeway Bay
Lovely rattan and Chinese furniture await you at Wan Chai and there
are shops that sell products specially for export. Causeway Bay is locally
known as "Little Japan" because of the major Japanese department
stores that specialize in electrical goods, shoes and fashion for the young.
Tai Koo Shing
Over in Quarry Bay, you'll be able to find one of Hong Kong's largest
shopping complexes - the Cityplaza. It has an ice-skating rink, entertainment
outlets and the usual retail and department stores. Located right above the
Tai Koo MTR Station.
Ap Lei Chau
The area near Aberdeen is good hunting ground for discount furniture
and clothing warehouses and the Horizon Plaza houses many furniture and clothing
factory outlets.
Stanley
One of Hong Kong's most famous seafronts and its historic lanes are
full of stalls peddling Chinese paintings, silk collectibles, handicrafts,
furniture and lots and lots of Hong Kong souvenirs and curios. Stanley has
also gained widespread fame for its markets.
Kowloon
Tsimshatsui
This is Hong Kong's shopping and fashion centre, with its many malls
and department stores carrying the latest in clothes and accessories. A must-see
is the magnificent Harbour City, a huge shopping and entertainment centre,
which also has a berthing area for visiting cruise liners. Up-to-date computer
equipment is also available here. But the piece-de-resistance is the open
rooftop that gives a fabulous view of the harbour vista.
Mongkok
Mongkok is a lively place, indeed, with its live houseplants, songbirds
and fish. Its famous markets are a beehive of activity with shoppers flitting
from one market to the next and from one stall to the other, in search of
better bargains. The Mongkok Ladies' Market draws a huge crowd of ladies,
men and children, with its dazzling array of goods on sale. Household items,
clothing, accessories - perfectly new and all at a bargain!
The Goldfish Market has a mind-boggling range of fish, aquariums and
decorations as well as fish food. Live grasshoppers and worms are as common
a sight as the beautiful fishes and coral in the tanks. Fish- rearing (and
trading) is big business in Hong Kong, a society that places much emphasis
on feng shui, an ancient art of creating a harmonious surrounding.
Many wonderful sights for sore eyes. Songbird lovers and their owners
congregate at the Bird Garden, where wondrous melodies fill the air, and
your ears. All sorts of bird paraphernalia go on sale here - the pretty bamboo
cages, interesting water bowls and sometimes even the birds, themselves.
As you move on, you will soon be greeted by the wonderful scent of flowers.
That's when you'll know that you have arrived at the Flower Market.
The fragrance of local flowers and exotic blooms fill the air, just as sure
as the stalls and hawkers fill the sidewalks. Mongkok is truly a feast for
the senses!
Hung Hom
Yet more clothes on sale here; this time it's ready-to-wear, export-quality
fashion apparel, accessories and jewellery. The shopping venues are also
markedly different from the marbled malls and luxurious malls. Here, you
shop at the factory outlets.... Another attraction at Hung Hom is the Whampoa.
It is Hong Kong's inland cruise ship, and a leisurely stroll will bring you
to the "Wonderful Worlds of Whampoa" - a host of cinemas, shops
and clubs - all on this 110-metre long entertainment centre in the shape
of a boat.
Yau Ma Tai
Lots of jewellery and more clothes go on sale here. Nevertheless, this
area is more well-known for its street markets. The main attraction is the
Temple Street night market but it is also a wonderful experience to visit
the jade market, too.
Kowloon Tong
One of the newest shopping malls in Hong Kong is the Festival Walk.
Its retail outlets carry everything from fashion for people to fashion for
their homes - the furnishings. It also has an 11-screen cinema, an ice-skating
rink and more than 25 restaurants where shoppers can have a bite after all
their 'vigourous' exercise.
New Territories
Tsing Yi
The main shopping spot in Tsing Yi is the Maritime Square, an engrossing mix
of all the old and new in Hong Kong. The Square houses over 200 shops, a cinema
and restaurants with special themes. A display of Hong Kong's markets of yesteryear
has been put up inside the Square. Being close to the Hong Kong International
Airport, it is greatly popular among transit visitors.
Foreign Exchange
The Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) is a separate, internationally-recognised currency
linked to the US$.
Credit Card Houses
American Express International, Inc.
18-22/F., Somerset House,
28 Tong Chong Street, Quarry Bay
Tel: (852) 2811 6888
JCB International (Asia) Ltd.
Rm 507-9, Hong Kong Pacific Centre
28 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: (852) 2366 7203
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