Havenly Shopping in Hong Kong

February 28th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Cosmopolitan Hong Kong has always been famous for its film stars and shopping rather than its natural landscape, a small country that is divided into an island and the mainland by a short ferry ride, it is certainly one of the better known Asian countries and a very happening Asian city country. With the recent opening of Disneyland at Lantau Island, it has certainly made itself into a place where it is almost a one stop center of tourism. It is also touted as a country with the highest number of millionaire per square foot , although I believe they mean a small part of Hong Kong.

This island city which I guess to be 95% populated by Chinese descendants makes me feel quite at home like in Malaysia but yet I realize that we are miles apart in terms of cultural and social norms. Likewise I think, the Chinese in Hong Kong are so different from their mainland China counterparts physically so alike yet different. What is different you may ask, well for one, the distinction of “thank you” between Malaysian Cantonese and Hong Kong Cantonese dialect. We just say “em koi” for everything and every occasion. But in Hong Kong , they use “em koi” when they ask for something , when they receive something they would say “tor chei”. So Hongkies, as we so fondly call them , has always been able to suss us “local” pretenders out especially when we try to bargain with them in the shops and then sell to us at cut throat prices.

Another thing that is absolutely fascinating about Hong Kong is the way they love their “discounts”. This is a country that is totally obsessed with getting a “good” deal. It just thrilled me that in Hong Kong, I can sit down at a nice restaurant and the head waiter comes over and upon being asked which credit card has discount promotion is able to recite at least 10 cards and their discount privileges “platinum-15%, gold card is 20%” and so on and so forth and that is just from one bank, mind you. Now were we in Malaysia, I certainly doubt any of our waiters would even think of discount as such an important thing that needs to be memorized, just look at the number of overlapping Citibank discounts pamphlets over any Coffee Bean or Starbucks counter. And would a platinum card holder in Malaysia even deign to ask for discount, very likely not! And if you think that is cool, try going into a designer store and ask for more discounts simply because you have some privileged credit cards… you will shock some of the salesgirls in Malaysia no end, but in Hong Kong , you ask and you might just get some…

For the last couple of years now I have been shopping regularly there, it just so happens that I have always managed to go during their sale period whenever I go over for my business trips… and I have to confess that I am fascinated by the shopping experience there. This year I went a little earlier in early January instead of April like I normally do. It was serious further markdown time in all major shopping complexes. And they really mean serious markdowns, it can be a real bargain shopping there. Although I must confess that I have never yet bought anything truly cheap in Hong Kong just yet… not because I am a big spender, but because, they are truly savvy sales people.

Only in Hong Kong, have I ever been persuaded to buy 3 pairs of shoes in the same shop just to get some silly discount card. I say silly, because I can use the card anywhere in Asia except in my home country where I do most of my shopping, oh and not to forget, one more unnecessary set of manicure utensils as a freebie. So, what was it that they said that they turned me into a big time sucker, I can’t tell for sure… they are so glib and persuasive and utterly natural with their charm, which is by the way turned off the minute the deal is complete and you walk out the door. Something in the way they do it, totally disarmed my sensibilities and budget conscious mind. Suddenly, it just seemed so much more viable and “smart” to buy three pairs and even though till today, one pair still hasn’t seen daylight yet, and it has been two years. Thank God, gold colour is still in… But my action was not the exception but rather the norm, because, people in Hong Kong, actually shop that way. They really dig in on the “good” deals.

Then there is the Chinese connection, we know how the Chinese get around as proven by my very existence the adventure of my Chinese forefather. Ever since Hong Kong was returned to The People’s Republic of China, we have seen more and more ventures southwards by our mainland China counterparts into Hong Kong. In fact it is quite safe to say that shopping in Hong Kong could be an introduction to shopping experience in China at least in terms of the environment.

The economy of Hong Kong is very dependent on mainland Chinese tourist and investors. A booming eonomy with 2.2 billion people unleashed onto this small island can boost sales tremendous especially retail sales. In fact if you are in Hong Kong during mainland China public holidays, streets and shops in Hong Kong will be flooded with people from the mainland and that in itself is quite an experience. Every nook and corner, groups of people from the mainland hang around experiencing Hong Kong’s hustle and bustle that is so different from their own peasant towns. And as they say, you can take a man from the ‘kampung’ but you can’t take the “kampung” from the man.

Then there is that whole havenly shopping with the “stars” thing… Yep, in Hong Kong it is quite normal to rub shoulders with Coco Lee or even Do Do Cheng if you shop or window shop at the right places. And I don’t mean the likes of Mongkok (even though I am sure they too like a good bargain), but hang out at Causeway Bay and the Central shopping district enough, you are bound to bump into someone you know of, in a manner of speaking.

So, next time you go to Hong Kong, checking out all the sights and sounds of this great city, one of the last colony to be relinquished by the British colonialism and see the new Hong Kong, really listen to it, it is the same yet different. Still regal, still majestic but yet somewhat tired but keeping up a brave front and like everyone and every where else, people carry on their lives, work three jobs a day so that they can have a better life and wear designer goods, “yam char” and meet up with friends every afternoon… and every weekend and then there is the shopping…

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