Intense Competition Keeps Down the Prices in Hong Kong

What is shopping like in Hong Kong? Imagine, if you can, the melding of Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, the stalls and hawkers of Tijuana, and Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, surrounded and interlaced with every conceivable swap meet and flea market to be found anywhere.

You will be surrounded by fashions befitting the most elegant of Europe, worn side by side with garments of China that have not changed for hundreds of years. You will see more opticians and optical dispensers than in all of Los Angeles. Jewelry stores abound. You cannot walk 30 feet without being faced by at least one.

The wares of the jewelry merchants and manufacturers would add up to a thousand kings’ ransoms.

Watches and clocks are available at every store, every stand, every corner stall. From expensive imports from Switzerland and France to the locally manufactured quartz watches and replicas, every taste, style and price can be found. And the prices are right.

Shopping for Fun

My wife and I are not exotic shoppers. We shop for fun and look mainly for the tourist goods, the casual clothes, the quartz watches. Gift items are always high on our list. Let me suggest some of the places we have discovered that are true bargain spots. There are probably hundreds of others, and part of the fun is discovering your own. Always ask friends or fellow travelers for their suggestions.

Hong Kong starts out with a distinct advantage: It is a duty-free port. Free enterprise reigns, at least for the time being, and competition tends to keep prices attractive. Bargains galore await and the variety is limitless, be it for brand names, local craft wares, treasures, trinkets, clothing, antiques, handicraft, jewelry or the ubiquitous watches.

Shop the malls, the arcades, the outdoor markets. Don’t pass up the large shopping complexes or the elegant department stores. The side street stalls and back alley shops abound with hidden treasures. And don’t look down your nose at the pushcarts.

Probably one of the best places to shop for bargains is Stanley Village on Hong Kong Island.

Manufacturers’ Overruns

What has it got to offer? Stanley is a noted outlet for manufacturers’ overruns. There are some seconds and imperfects offered, so check all items carefully. It will be worth it--one can buy a “Members Only” jacket, for instance, at $8 or $9. You will find all kinds of men’s and women’s designer label clothing at equally ridiculous prices.

Silks and other exotic fabrics are available, as well as porcelain, silver and ivory. Gadgets and gifts and all types of souvenir items are plentiful, as well as lamps, bric-a-brac and cutlery.

The open-air and street markets are where the locals do their shopping, and they can be found all over Hong Kong/Kowloon. The open-air markets are world famous for clothing bargains. From sport shirts to designer label jeans, from silks to cottons in every shape, color and style, there is something for everyone. The majority of the shop owners buy direct from the factories. By and large, the products are legitimate and great bargains.

A Collector’s Dream

For antiques and knickknacks, Hollywood Road and Ladder Street on the Hong Kong side are a collector’s dream. Hollywood Road is the home of some of Hong Kong’s most fascinating antique shops and offers porcelain, silver, rosewood, paintings and curios. But be aware--there are many very clever reproductions and copies on the shelves.

Queens Road Central is one of my favorite places to shop. For women, there is probably no greater selection of handbags to be found, designer label and designer copies as well as many originals. Prices are absolutely right. Chinese clothing, as well as Western clothing, is abundant. Leather goods, jackets, and all kinds of sweaters are also available, as well as traditional gift items. Merchandise changes on a day-to-day basis and you will, in all probability, make a second trip to the area.

Probably the largest concentration of shops is to be found in the Ocean Center Buildings, which include the Hong Kong Hotel. Approximately two city blocks of buildings are joined by ramps and passageways with about 1,500 shops of every conceivable type located throughout the many floors and arcades. It would be easy to spend an entire day in the center and still not cover it all. There are also a variety of excellent restaurants and coffee shops in every section.

Some of the shops are quite exclusive while others are for the tourist. Bargaining is acceptable, even expected.

The Golden Mile

On the Kowloon side, another favorite shopping area is the Golden Mile on Nathan Road. The entrance to this shopping center looks like an alleyway, but it leads into a lower level of at least 400 stalls and shops. There are two floors of bargains.

This is not a fancy shopping center. It is crowded and can be very hot and humid. But it is definitely worth a look. Elsewhere in the Nathan Road area can be found blocks of inter-twining side streets packed with stalls, stores, and pushcart merchants. Everything imaginable is available, and be sure not to pass up the pushcarts. Among the best buys are the Polo and LaCoste label golf shirts. These are real bargains at approximately $3.25, compared to a stateside price of about $25. Buy them by the dozens and be sure to check sizes. Some are marked in European sizes. Ask the seller.

Products of China

At the China Department Store on Nathan and Jordan Roads, everything sold or displayed is a product of China. Porcelain, fine bone china, all types of pottery, jade, cutlery, toys, office supplies, clothing, gifts and gadgets, all are available. It is a one-price store (no haggling), but there are some excellent values. It is well worth a visit, especially the china and pottery departments. They will pack anything you purchase for shipping.

If you are a wristwatch aficionado, the inexpensive, locally manufactured quartz watches are a bargain. The movements are usually excellent. Prices range from $7 to $20 U.S., with an unlimited selection. They make great gifts.

I have touched only briefly on the bargain spots. Be assured, there are many excellent values in expensive and luxurious items as well.

A note of caution: Don’t, when shopping or bargaining, insult the merchant. These are very proud and industrious people. They work very hard and long for minimum profits while paying astronomical rents for the tiniest stalls or sidewalk privileges. Let them make a living.