What is worth buying in Hong Kong ?

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Electronics and computer ware : Hong Kong boasts a great variety and the prices are relatively low, especially when it comes to computers and computer-related products.

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Hong Kongers just love computers and gadgets, which means you can find the world’s cutting edge technology at the city's shops, including things that have not yet reached the rest of the world, at fairly moderate prices...

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Provided you know what you are looking for and how much are you ready to pay, you can end up spending far less than you would in Europe, Australia, or the States.

The best places to shop for computers and computer-related products, including games and softwares are: 

• Golden Computer Centre and Golden Computer Arcade, in Sham shui Po (A short stroll from Sham shui Po's MTR Station)
• Mong Kok Computer Centre, on 8 Nelson Street, in Mong Kok (a few steps from the famous "Ladies' Market")
• Wan Chai Computer Centre, on 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai (right next to exit B-1 of Wan Chai MTR Station)  

Please pay attention to the "smart buyer's tips": They are specifically relevant for those who wish to buy these types of products.

Gold and other jewelries :

Hong Kong is a good place to buy high-quality pieces of jewelry at very reasonable prices.  Gold, diamonds, pearls, gemstones and the ever-popular jade are all widely available in hundreds of shops across the city.  Moreover, Hong Kong's goldsmiths are well known for their fine workmanship and creative designs, so if you want to order something special to suit your taste, instead of buying a ready-made set "off the shelf", this is the right place to do so...

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Please note:

• When buying Jade or other gemstones : A stone is judged according to its consistency in color, translucency and coldness to the touch. The vendor should give you a receipt that details the type and origin of the stone. If you are purchasing jade of significant value, it is advisable to go with someone who is an expert.
• The law in Hong Kong requires gold jewelry to be stamped with a hallmark, indicating the purity of the gold.  The most common hallmarks are: 999.9 (99.99% pure) and 999 (99.9% pure) for 24-carat gold, 990 (99% pure), 916.6 for 22-carat gold, 750 for18-carat gold and 585 for 14-carat gold.
• Hong Kong jewelers often refer to the term Chuk Kam, which means the purity of gold is 99% or higher.
• Gold jewelry should be marked with the shop's name.
• Fixed retail prices are based on weight, purity and craftsmanship
• Make sure you obtain an invoice indicating the fineness, weight and price of the jewelry item
• For more information, please contact the Hong Kong Jewelers' & Goldsmiths' Association, Tel: 2543 9633.

• Cultured pearls from mainland China are sold here at a fairly good price, and while they are not as high quality as Japanese pearls, they are perfectly fine for most jewellery buyers.  

Cheap clothing and footwear : There is an unbelievable selection of imitations and fakes that arrive to the city markets from China, alongside surpluses of genuine brand names. Large stores, selling export surpluses, are very popular, and you might just as well want to visit Citygate Outlets, which is Hong Kong's only outlet mall.

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Chinese-style clothing and fashion : Chinese Clothes are also a good buy in Hong Kong

Although the city's zillion workshops have long moved across the border, to China's quickly developing industrial towns, the prices of Chinese styled clothes in Hong Kong are still very reasonable, so if this kind of fashion appeals to you, you are at the right place…

You can shop for Chinese-style clothes at... 

• Li Yuen streets east and west in Central (better known as "The Lanes")
• Tailor-made Chinese clothes can be ordered from tailors in Western Market in sheung Wan
• Stanley Market

Yue Hwa Emporium is another good place to shop for traditional Chinese-style clothing, including silk shirts.

Their main shop is at 301-309 Nathan Road, Kowloon (Near exit A of MTR Jordan), but they also have shops in 151-155 Queen's Road, in Central, and on 188 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.

Shanghai Tang, one of Hong Kong's best fashion and lifestyle chains, is a great place to buy Chinese-inspired western fashion… Self-describing itself as "the global ambassador of contemporary Chinese Chic", this internationally successful chain sells very unique fashion at high quality, but the prices are adequately high…

Their flagship store can be found in Pedder Building, at No.12 Pedder Street, Central (Exit D-1, MTR Central), and other than clothes, you can also find there very special accessories and home furnishings.

Shanghai Tang also has shops in Pacific Place, Admiralty (Shop 237) and in 1881 Heritage, in Tsim Sha Tsui.

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Expensive clothing and footwear : Thousands of shops across Hong Kong specialize in international brands... From the more casual brands, to the world's most notable fashion designers.  "Sale seasons" (see above) are a particular good time for you to get quality brands at competitive price (and if you like brand names, you can save heaps of money, just by buying in the right place at the right time).

Tailor-made suits : Hong Kong's tailors are renowned for their fine workmanship and quality garments.  Suits, shirts, skirts and evening gowns can be created to suit the most elaborate or sedate of tastes and the prices are much lower than the US, Europe or Japan. Tailor-made shoes are also popular (see below).

• It's advisable to invest a bit of time in a short market research, as you can get some really nice pieces at a fraction of what they would have cost in Europe or the States

• When ordering tailor-made suits or clothes, a certain deposit might be required.

• Avoid tailors who use touts to try to get you into their shops.  

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Hong Kong is also one of the best places on earth to order Personalized Footwear and custom-made handbags.

The prices range from "reasonable" to very high, but the quality is outstandingly good, and you will normally get a very decent bang for your buck (Try not to follow touts who promise bottom-rock prices, as the quality you will get will be just as much bottom-rock).

The crème de la crème of Hong Kong's shoemakers include Kow Hoo Shoes and The Mayer Shoe Co., who have been dressing the feet of some of the world's rich and famous for who knows how many years…

Kow Hoo Shoes are located at Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd, Central (shop 241), while the Mayer Shoe Co. can be found at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, on Connaught Road Central (M-3 in the Arcade).

Those of you who have a "somewhat" lower budget, can still order fabulous shoes and handbags in one of the slightly less glitzy shops… Quality is still very good, and so are the materials and craftsmanship.

There are two types of shoemakers in HK: Those who will make your shoes from scratches, asking you to bring them a photo, or sketch, and those who have their own designs, which you can choose from… In both cases, you should bring a pair of your favorite shoes with you, so the shoemaker can study your foot and design the newly ordered shoes accordingly

LIII LIII Shoes & Handbags are housed in Admiralty Centre (Exit A – MTR Admiralty).

ShoeMan Lau, in the Sheraton's shopping arcade (corner of Nathan Road and Salisbury, in Tsim sha Tsui), is also one of Hong Kong's most favorite shoemaker shops.

Vickie, in 3 Queen Victoria Street, Central, offers their own designs for you to choose from, and so does Gigi, in Causeway Bay (171 Wong Ngai Chung Road – Corner of Leighton, almost opposite the CCC cricket club), although both of them will probably be more than happy to follow your own unique instructions.

Fabrics : Huge selection of Chinese, Asian and Western fabrics at very good prices. The best places to shop for fabrics are Western Market (in Sheung Wan) and Sham shui Po.

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Milan Station is a retail chain that specializes in expensive designer handbags – Purchasing latest, or limited edition designer bags in 'as good as new' condition, mostly from celebs and other fashion savvy folks, and reselling them to the more ' common' people at a much saner price.

They currently have ten shops across Hong Kong, including these centrally located ones:

• G/F 77 - 83 Percival Street, Causeway Bay (A short stroll from Times Square).
• 26 Wellington Street, Central (Near Lan Kwai Fong / LKF).
• 52 Haiphong Street, Tsim sha Tsui, Kowloon (A few steps from exit A-1 of MTR Tsim sha Tsui).
• 81 Chatham Road South, Tsim sha Tsui, Kowloon (Opposite the Science Museum).
• 1A - 1K Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong kok, Kowloon (Parallel to "Ladies' Market")

It is also advisable to take a look at their discount information page, as sometimes there is a promotion only in ONE of the shops…

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Arts, Crafts and Antiques : There is a stunning variety of crafts and antiques available in Hong Kong and the prices are normally very good.  Personal seals engraved in stone, Miniatures, Silk rugs, delicate Chinese vases, imperial embroidery and old opium pipes, just to name a few...  Many shops can arrange to insure, pack and ship your goods safely back home.

You may wish to consider an expert's appraisal and the customs duty regulations in your home country before buying.

Man Wa Lane (Chop Alley), in Sheung Wan, is where you can find small stalls of chop-makers: The chops are traditional Chinese stamps and seals, engraved on various materials like wood, stone, bone and the likes... They come in a nice presentation box and can make a very nice gift.

Bone China and porcelain : The city shops stock a huge selection of porcelain products and bone china, imported from various provinces in Mainland China. Available in co-ordinated sets or as single items, the colors and patterns of Chinese tableware represent blessings and celebrations in Chinese culture.

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Herbal medicines, Chinese tea and exotic dried foods : These are abundant in the city's open-air markets and in small traditional shops, found in many areas across Hong Kong.  Your only problem might be that the vendors in those traditional shops don't normally speak English... No worries, you will probably find someone who can help.

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Good Spring Company Ltd, on 10 Cochrane Street, at the lower part of the famous escalators, is one of Hong Kong's best known herbal tea shops. There are always herbalists on site, who can diagnose you and give their recommendations. 

The old streets of Sheung Wan are also lined with numerous shops that sell all those exotic goods..

Optical products : Huge selection of quality products at very reasonable prices.

Watches : Great variety and good prices.

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Sales and special deals

Quality and Price

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