Shopping in Hong Kong

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Muji store in Hong Kong Muji Store HK.JPG
Muji store in Hong Kong
The Louis Vuitton branch in Hong Kong LVHongKong.jpg
The Louis Vuitton branch in Hong Kong
Nathan Road in Kowloon Kowloon Nathan Road 2007.JPG
Nathan Road in Kowloon

Shopping is a popular social activity in Hong Kong, [1] [2] where basic items for sale do not draw any duties, sales taxation, or import taxation. [3] Only specific import goods such as alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, cars and petroleum products have associated taxes. For companies, there is a 17.5% corporate tax, which is lower than international standards. [1] Shoppers reportedly spend over US$5.2 billion a month in Hong Kong shops. [4]

Contents

Hong Kong's proximity to manufacturing plants in China, as well as its status as a free port, allow it to sell and transport a wide variety of goods. There are few restrictions on merchandise vending, and therefore items such as realistic toy weapons are available. The two main shopping seasons are at Christmas and the Chinese New Year.

The region is unique in the sense that it is official languages are both Cantonese and English, which enables a healthy tourist trade with English-speaking customers as bilingual sales tags and salespeople are common, especially in tourist areas. The MTR subway and effective taxi service also facilitate Hong Kong's busy shopping industry.

Overview

Hong Kong is the fifth largest exporter of jewellery in the world, mainly in the supply of jade and gold, and the second largest exporter of custom jewellery. [5] Chow Seng Seng and Luk Fook are among the more well-known local jewellery chains. [1]

A variety of cuisines are available in Hong Kong; the Soho area in Central is the centre for Western foods, while traditional Chinese cuisines including Shanghainese, Hanainanese, and Cantonese are widely available. Street vendors or hawkers selling local snacks such as dumplings and snake soup can be found in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay.

Custom tailoring is popular and affordable in Hong Kong. Customers can draw out a design for clothing and have it made in a few days. Modern fashion is sold in the Times Square, IFC, and Elements shopping malls, while leather goods are available in Tsim Sha Tsui. Fa Yuen Street and the Ladies Market (女人街) on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok, as well as Jardine’s Crescent in Causeway Bay, are known for the availability of low-priced clothing and accessories.

Electronics from Japan and Europe are available for example in Apliu Street and the Golden Shopping Center in Sham Shui Po. There are computer appliances centers in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, and Causeway Bay.

Japanese culture has become popular in Hong Kong, with Japanese department stores such as Sogo, Yata, and Muji operating. Japanese clothing brands like Swordfish, Moussy, and Uniqlo have also opened flagship stores in the city.

Stanley Market sells a variety of inexpensive goods, particularly souvenirs. Antiques can be found on Upper Lascar Row and Hollywood Road, which are popular with tourists.

History

During its early colonial period, Hong Kong served as a port that sold far more than it consumed. Goods were mostly sold via mobile hawking or independent traders, with the majority of trade, utilities, shipping, and manufacturing handled by major business houses known as hongs. [6] The establishment of banks and deposit institutions allowed people to accumulate savings.

The economy underwent an upturn in the 1960s, which led to the opening of several shopping centres.

Shopping centres

Two of the first modern shopping centres were Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and The Landmark in Central, above the MTR station. [2] Daimaru led a trend of Japanese exports into Hong Kong in 1966 [2] and Deng Xiaoping's 1978 Open Door Policy made Hong Kong the definitive gateway to China. [1] As the economy improved during the 1970s and 80s, there was increasing demand for luxury goods, such as air conditioning. [7]

In 1984, Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing was redeveloped. A large architectural project at the time was also undertaken to connect Ocean Centre to the Harbour City shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui. Many large shopping centres were also built in the new towns, including Tuen Mun Town Plaza, New Town Plaza, and Tai Po Mega Mall.

The large mall construction movement continued into the 1990s with Pacific Place, Dragon Centre, Time Square, Plaza Hollywood and Festival Walk. [2] Developments further expanded into the New Territories.

Speciality local stores

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mong Kok</span> Neighbourhood in Hong Kong

Mong Kok is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Prince Edward subarea occupies the northern part of Mong Kok.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yau Tsim Mong District</span> District in Hong Kong, Kowloon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsim Sha Tsui</span> Urban area in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui, often abbreviated as TST, is an urban area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui. The area is bounded north by Austin Road and in the east by Hong Chong Road and Cheong Wan Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan, Hong Kong</span> Suburb in Kowloon, Yau Tsim Mong District

Jordan is an area in Hong Kong, located on Kowloon Peninsula. It is named after a road of the same name in the district. The area is bordered by King's Park to the east, Tsim Sha Tsui to the south, Ferry Point to the west, and Yau Ma Tei to the north. Administratively, it is part of Yau Tsim Mong District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mong Kok station</span> MTR station in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Mong Kok station is a MTR station in Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The station is one of the first MTR stations established in the city, serving Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan line. It is now used by more than 200,000 passengers daily. The colour scheme for Mong Kok station is dim red. The station was initially named after Argyle Street as Argyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Road</span> Main street in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Nathan Road is the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong, aligned south–north from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. It is lined with shops and restaurants and throngs with visitors, and was known in the post–World War II years as the Golden Mile, a name that is now rarely used. It starts on the southern part of Kowloon at its junction with Salisbury Road, a few metres north of Victoria Harbour, and ends at its intersection with Boundary Street in the north. Portions of the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines run underneath Nathan Road. The total length of Nathan Road is about 3.6 km (2.2 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sogo</span> Japanese department store chain

Sogo Co., Ltd. is a department store chain that operates an extensive network of branches in Japan. In 2009, it merged with The Seibu Department Stores, Ltd. (株式会社西武百貨店) to become Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd. (株式会社そごう・西武). It once owned stores in locations as diverse as Beijing in China, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok in Thailand, London in United Kingdom, but most of these international branches are now closed or operated by independent franchisees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeon (company)</span> Japanese multinational retail holding company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton Road</span> Road in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Canton Road is a major road in Hong Kong, linking the former west reclamation shore in Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok and Prince Edward on the Kowloon Peninsula. The road runs mostly parallel and west to Nathan Road. It starts from the junction with Salisbury Road in the south and ends in the north at the junction with Lai Chi Kok Road in the Prince Edward area. The southern section of Canton Road is home to many upscale retail shops, shopping centres and others business establishments, with busy traffic from both vehicles and pedestrians from morning till late at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taste (supermarket)</span> Hong Kong-based supermarket chain

Taste is a chain supermarket in Hong Kong owned by AS Watson, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited. It opened its first branch in Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong in 2004, but most of the branches are opened based on the re-decoration of Park'n Shop, Taste's sister company. Its main customers are middle-class families. Its retail products are similar to those in ParknShop and Great.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tai Lin Radio Service</span> Hong Kong electrical appliance retail chain

Tai Lin Radio Service Limited was one of Hong Kong's largest electrical appliance retail chains. Founded in 1946, it liquidated on 17 October 2008, having thirteen branches altogether throughout the territory at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sogo Hong Kong</span> Hong Kong department store

Sogo Hong Kong is one of Hong Kong's largest department stores. First established by Japanese retailers, Sogo Co., Ltd., the department store is now owned by Lifestyle International Holdings. In addition to the flagship store in Causeway Bay, Sogo Hong Kong operates a second store in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Sogo Hong Kong has been a member of the International Association of Department Stores since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympian City</span> Housing and shopping complex in Hong Kong

Olympian City is a shopping and residential complex built on reclaimed land in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, next to the MTR Olympic station. It is one of the main shopping and residential areas in West Kowloon. The shopping arcades, Olympian City 1, 2 and 3, were developed by Sino Land while the residential buildings were developed by MTR Corporation and Sino Land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K11 Art Mall</span> Shopping mall in Hong Kong

K11 Art Mall is a seven-storey shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong located in The Masterpiece, developed by New World Development and completed in December 2009. It is near Tsim Sha Tsui and East Tsim Sha Tsui stations.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fallon, Stephen (2006). Hong Kong & Macau . Lonely Planet city guide (12th ed.). Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet. ISBN   978-1-74059-843-9. OCLC   62225842.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mathews, Gordon; Lui, Tai-Lok (2001). Consuming Hong Kong. Hong Kong culture and society. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN   962-209-546-1. OCLC   47638448.
  3. ↑ Barber, Nicola (2004). Hong Kong. Great cities of the world. Milwaukee, WI: World Almanac Library. ISBN   0-8368-5038-6. OCLC   54544041.
  4. ↑ Cheung, Tony. "Consumer Products and Retail | English". www.investhk.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Cheung, Tony. "Consumer Products and Retail | English". www.investhk.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Genzberger, Christine (1994). Hong Kong Business: The Portable Encyclopedia for Doing Business with Hong Kong. World Trade Press country business guides. San Rafael, Calif: World Trade Press. ISBN   0-9631864-7-7. OCLC   29467723.
  7. ↑ Yu, Tony Fu-Lai (1997). Entrepreneurship and Economic Development in Hong Kong. Routledge advances in Asia-Pacific business, 5. London: Routledge. ISBN   0-415-16240-8. OCLC   36165215.
  8. ↑ Chibber, Kabir (1 April 2009). "Store Review: G.O.D. in Hong Kong". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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