Dear Peter,
As every Old China Hand knows, Hong Kong is fondly referred to as “Honkers” by many of the foreigners who live here.
Indeed, compared to other parts of China or Asia, it’s not too foreign here.
But I promise you, everything’s up to date in Kansas City.
NEW MALLS
Kowloon, especially the TST district, has several new malls—let’s call them mini-malls since they are smaller and much less intimidating than Harbour City near the Star Ferry terminal. I-Square and The One are the ones people are talking about for having changed the face of shopping here. I wasn’t impressed by either one of them, but hey, that’s just me.
There is a very, very nice supermarket in i-Square, called Market Place by Jasons that is great fun and very convenient to the luxury hotels of the area. In fact, i-Square is just right behind The Peninsula Hotel.
The InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong has lost its mall—the New World Center—but a new mall is coming in just a year and the hotel is open as usual, with still the most breathtaking harbor views in town. If you’re missing a favorite store from here, try the Miramar Shopping Centre just up Nathan Road—many of the stores have relocated here.
If you really want a hotel with a mall, try The Prince Hotel, attached to the giant Harbour City complex. Dart through the hotel lobby to the mall and you reach the proper escalator for City Super, my favorite grocery store and novelty shopping store in the area. This is where I buy Japanese inventions, beauty stuffs and picnics for the plane ride home.
MINI-COOPER SHOPPING DEAL
If you don’t want to duck into either of these malls from your Kowloon hotel, perhaps you need to book a suite at the ever-glam Peninsula because the hotel’s newest amenity is a free three-hour shopping trip. The experience is in a custom-made Mini Cooper, with driver who speaks English and your own iPhone to keep in touch with the hotel, the concierge or maps on GPS.
Using the Mini is a good way to scuttle to out of the way places or tour Central without having to cope with the hills, the city’s escalator to the Mid-levels or the metro stairs.
We went to Honeychurch, a favorite antiques store on Hollywood Road and the driver walked us from the corner (the only safe place to alight) right to the shop door.
RENOVATIONS & MOVES
My late husband’s regular tailor in Hong Kong is W.W. Chan & Sons where you can also have women’s clothing made. I got six banded collar shirts made from Italian shirting cottons. The showroom has just been renovated in Hong Kong and a new shop has been opened in the Ritz-Carlton Portman Hotel in Shanghai. (Prices are slightly less in Shanghai!)
Maylin Shoe Company, a fabulous source for shoes and handbags (also small leather goods) is moving from the mezzanine in The Pen down to the basement in the fall. Meanwhile, Sam Wo, a copy-bag handbag wannabe store has moved from a basement in The Lanes to the sixth floor of the high-rise towering over their former headquarters. The space is smaller and the stock is sad; this is a horrible loss for mankind.
If you really want to feel loss, head out to Stanley Market which is cleaner and brighter than ever before with many of the same Tourist Traps but a bevy of zippy electronics stores and other creations. A single scoop of ice cream from Haagen-Dazs there cost $5, which says everything you need to know about this destination. On the other hand, at Sun & Moon, there were the usual Tommy Bahama discounts … but don’t go on a weekend.
MARKET TIME
Most of the markets in Hong Kong are the same. My favorite is still Fa Yuen Street Market (afternoons after 4 p.m.; beginning at Prince Edward Street West), which should not be confused with the Ladies Market on Tong Choi, nearby.
The most stunning thing I saw there was a set of metallic purple-aubergine colored J-style watches (no brands; some with ‘diamonds”) for which the vendor started out at $30 each. Since I wanted two and she would not go down significantly in price, I walked.
Stubborn Kisses,
SuzyKG
By Suzy Gershman for PeterGreenberg.com. Suzy Gershman’s Born to Shop California Wine Country by Suzy Gershman & Sarah Lahey is now available on Amazon.com now and in book stores in mid-October!
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