Hong Kong visa and immigration processes can be profoundly easy or incredibly complex. It all depends on the unique combination of circumstances you find yourself in. In a pure linear world of job offer-visa application-approval-then take-up the job, it can be relatively straightforward to align your working visa permissions to your job as well as the time spent working for that one approved employer.

But what happens, say, if you get made redundant six weeks before your employment visa is due to expire – and you have no new job offer in hand by the time your current period of stay under the employment visa endorsed in your passport comes to an end? Do you have to leave the HKSAR? Will you be given an extension to your employment visa even though it is no longer sponsored by an employer you have now ceased working for? Do you go into a kind of visa-limbo land? Do you leave HK for a day or 2 and come back as a visitor? If you do that, does it mean you lose your continuity of residence for the purposes of an eventual application for a Permanent Hong Kong Identity Card, securing right of abode in the process?

These are all-important questions faced frequently enough by foreign national residents of HK to warrant answers to. So here we go:

1. Without a job offer you cannot apply to extend your employment visa permissions.

2. Consequently, when your current period of stay runs out, you will have to go to Immigration Tower in Wanchai and get yourself a visitor visa on the pre-text that you need to remain in the HKSAR to continue to find an alternate employment.

3. The HKID should accommodate such requests for several weeks/a few short months, especially as the longer you’ve lived in the HKSAR, the more amenable they are to empowering you to remain in situ to help you get yourself back on a sound employment footing once again.

4. Once you have a job offer in hand, you must re-apply for an employment visa via the 24/F of Immigration Tower once more using the forms ID990A and ID990B (even though these forms are designed for applicants who are presently living outside of Hong Kong). Using the form ID91 (extension of stay for a visitor seeking to change status back to employment whilst in HK via the 5/F is no longer the process adopted by the HKID). Note that if you intend to start your own business a separate process applies that goes beyond the scope of this discussion.

5. Under this mechanism, once your new visa application is approved, you will be issued with a new visa label which you have to activate by exiting HK (usually via Macau or Shenzhen for the day) and re-entering with the new visa label placed in your passport for activation when you recross the border back into the HKSAR.

6. Any accompanying family members with expired dependent visas simply follow in the stead of your employment visa applications so you can address the situation for each of you in exactly the same manner.

None of this process advice, by the way, means you’ll automatically pass the approvability test for your new employment or (possibly) investment visa application, but does shed necessarily light on the twilight world for expats who find themselves temporarily visa-less after having made Hong Kong their home.

One final point. Typically, any time spent in such visa-limbo-land will not compromise your continuity of residence in Hong Kong for the purposes of your eventual right of abode application. But don’t let too much time pass. Get on with regularising your employment visa situation as soon as you can.

It’ll save you a world of grief.

Though a majority of families with kids in Hong Kong opt for dogs or cats as pets, a growing number is bucking the trend and bringing home other pets to give their tiny tots company. If you don’t want to bring a cat or a dog as your pet, here are the top 5 picks from which you can select your preferred one:

• Fishes: After the most popular category of dogs as pets, fishes rank as the second choice along with cats for most Hong Kong families with kids. The aquarium fish market of Hong Kong offers the largest collection of interesting aquatic pet stores from which you can take your pick. You may also visit the Goldfish Market where a series of shops sell pet fish. Most shops here sell goldfishes, which are packed in bags full for water and hung outside the shops.

• Turtles: Kids love these slow crawlers and many have them as pets. You can buy Albino turtles from stores at the Goldfish Market. Kowloon street market is yet another place where you can find a wide variety of turtles on sale. If you plan to bring home a turtle, remember that it might be small in size (somewhat similar to a HK$5 coin) but can grow big to resemble the size of a plate. You will need large enclosures with special lighting and heating arrangements as well as adequate filtration systems to help your pet grow and live life in a healthy and spacious environment.

• Birds: The bird garden on Yuen Po Street is your destination if you want to buy birds as pets. Over 70 bird stalls exist here, which house a wide variety of beautiful birds like mynahs, macaws, cockatiels, songbirds, and starlings. This garden and its spacious courtyards are a treat to behold, with their mesmerizing blend of sights and sounds. Though songbirds are the most preferable pet for buyers here, other birds too are sold fairly quickly. You can also buy pet bird paraphernalia from this place, which could include porcelain water bowls, exquisite wooden and bamboo cages, and bird snacks like special honey drinks, toasted seeds, as well as live grasshoppers and crickets.

• Cavies: The cavy family native to South America includes the wild cavies, the capybara, and the domestic guinea pigs, among other animals. In Hong Kong, guinea pigs are the most common pets that you will find in many families. However, if you want to buy cavies just because you think that such small pets need a lot less maintenance work as compared to dogs or cats, think again. These rodent pets require high maintenance. You can buy cavies that are a few months’ old from Hong Kong pet stores. The maximum life span of these pets is usually 7 years.

• Rabbit: If you are planning to bring home rabbits, prepare yourself mentally to commit for a long-term as the life expectancy of these pets is between 7 and 10 years.

So, choose from any one of these pets to help your kids enjoy some precious company and make them learn a lot about their companions from close quarters.

The term “brain drain” first appeared in 1957 in a novel called Atlas Shrugged and the term refers to the loss of skilled researchers, analysts, the accomplished and the talented – for political, industrial and social reasons.

It’s currently frequently utilized as a dramatized synonym for loss and could be outlined as “the world transfer of resources in the shape of human capital” and “the loss of abilities or human capital to society or to the country from which migration takes place“.

Brain drain appeared in Hong Kong in 1987 when a major wave of emigration was seen experienced due to the uncertainties surrounding Hong Kong’s future in light of the 1997 hand back to China. The trend endured in the following decade thanks to the concerns of some HK residents, particularly those educated and professionally talented, about the political future under Mainland Chinese sovereignty and the enlarging immigration opportunities to be had in the more well-liked destination nations.

An annual average of 55,000 émigrés left Hong Kong between 1989 and 1995. This resulting outflow of talent impacted on the economy of Hong Kong in four discrete ways:

Loss of Efficiency

In order to compensate for the lack of professionally trained employees due to their emigration, junior staff were promoted ‘beyond their station’ to take up their vacancies. As such junior staff had neither adequate coaching nor experience for these higher level positions, the standard of service and operational effectiveness were significantly negatively impacted.

Productivity of Subordinates

The exit of the very skilled influenced the output of their subordinates due to the lack of their supervision. The economy so suffered an indirect loss of output.

Loss of Human Capital

Émigrés were often highly educated, had received significant job related training and were well-experienced in their work having typically been engaged with their employers or within their professionals since the end of their formal education. Their exit represented a great loss of human capital to Hong Kong’s economy.

Outflow of Capital

Most émigrés left Hong Kong with their wealth. Depending on their destination of choice, quite a number of them had to commit significant sums of capital in their new countries in order to qualify for immigration overseas.

To address the issues caused by brain drain in the 1980s and 1990s, the government of Hong Kong has taken concrete measures in the development and implementation of immigration policy.

These initiatives including retention, return migration, replacement and retraining. Among those measures, replacement was a comparatively simple and acceptable way to fill the vacancies of the émigrés. Aside from the swift growth of tertiary educational opportunities, the HKSAR Government has relaxed its limitations on the importing of professionally trained employees, particularly those from the Mainland, to fill manpower openings.

Out of the phenomenon of Brain Drain emerged the Admission of Mainland Talents and Professionals Scheme, the Quality Migrants Admission Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme. In the meantime, the private sector has responded aggressively to the lack suitable talent caused by emigration by employing more expatriates under the General Employment Policy.

Popularly referred to as simply H.K, Hong Kong is located on the southern side of China and is run as its special administrative Region. But the place is not as popular for tourism as it should be. I believe it deserves more attention and appreciation than it gets. The place is ideal for tourists. It has abundance of natural beauty, the region is generally secure and the culture is quite unique. All in all, it is a place worth discovering. If you are planning a holiday, do give Hong Kong a chance. It does not disappoint.

Lantau Island

The Lantau Island has the privilege of being the largest Island in it. It is located in the beautiful Pearl River. The Island has been developed especially to attract tourists.

Ngong Ping 360

The government has made a lot of efforts to promote tourism. Npong Ping 360 is a result of such efforts. The name refers to a cable car system that connects Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on the Lantau Island. The journey is beautiful and the whole project has been a successful one.

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

Yes, you hear it right. The renowned chain of wax museums has a branch in it too. It has the honor of being the only Madame Tussauds museum in Asia. Here you will get to see figures of more than 75 celebrities and famous personalities. Most these are Asian personalities. Some of the most popular figures are Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Mahatma Gandhi, Pablo Picasso, Angelina Jolie, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, Amitabh Bachan, Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock and Albert Einstein.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Housed in a complex and unique looking building, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre hosts numerous events. Inside the centre are big halls, meeting rooms, theatres and restaurants.

Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is the most visited and most popular destination of it. The theme park is divided into different zones and each one has a unique outlook. The park attracts children and adults alike.

Ocean Park

This oceanarium and amusement park is part of the ’50 most visited World’s attractions” and is extremely popular. From animal zones, roller coasters to aquariums, the park has loads of things to entertain its visitors.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is named after the Queen Victoria. The public park is bordered by the Victoria Harbor and has wonderful surroundings. The famous Lunar New Year Fair is held here every year.

Overview

Textile quotas were eliminated among WTO members at the first day of 2005 in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). However, resistance to quota removal spread in the US and EU. Subsequently, China reached agreements with the EU and the US in June and November 2005 respectively. The China-US agreement, effective from January 2006, governs the exports of a total of 21 groups involving 34 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing products to the US during 2006-2008. The China-EU agreement, effective from June 2005, covers 10 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing exports to the EU during 2005-2007.

On the other hand, the mainland and Hong Kong agreed in October 2005 to further liberalise the mainland market for Hong Kong companies under the third phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA III). Along with other products of Hong Kong origin, the mainland agreed to give all products of Hong Kong origin, including clothing items, tariff-free treatment starting from 1 January 2006. According to the stipulated procedures, products which have no existing CEPA rules of origin, will enjoy tariff-free treatment upon applications by local manufacturers and upon the CEPA rule of origins being agreed and met.

Hong Kong clothing companies are reputable for ODM and OEM production. They are able to deliver quality clothing articles in short lead time, as foreign importers and retailers request clothing suppliers to tighten up supply chain management to ensure the ordered merchandise reaching the store floor at the right time. Increasingly, Hong Kong clothing companies, the established ones in particular, have shown enthusiasm for brand promotion.

Hong Kong’s total exports of clothing rose year-on-year by 9% in the first 11 months of 2005. While Hong Kong’s re-exports of clothing rose by 20%, domestic exports fell by 14%. In the first 11 months of 2005, Hong Kong’s clothing exports to the US and EU rose by 11% and 18% respectively. While Hong Kong’s clothing exports to Japan levelled off, those to the Chinese mainland declined by 11%.

Industry Features

The clothing industry is a major manufacturing sector of Hong Kong. Its gross output is one of the highest among all manufacturing sectors, amounting to HK$35.9 billion in 2003. It is the largest manufacturing employer in Hong Kong, with 1,673 establishments hiring 28,752 workers as of June 2005. It is also the leading earner in terms of domestic exports, taking up 40% of the total in the first 11 months of 2005.

Hong Kong’s geographic boundary has never constrained the development of the forward-looking clothing industry. The majority of clothing manufacturers have set up offshore production facilities in an attempt to reduce operation costs. Relocation of production facilities offshore has however resulted in a steady decline in the number of clothing manufacturers in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is not only a leading production centre but also a hub for clothing sourcing globally. Companies doing garment trade in Hong Kong are experienced in fabrics procurement, sales and marketing, quality control, logistic arrangements, clothing designs and international and national rules and regulations. The professionalism that they command and the combined services offered are not easily matched elsewhere. With a total of 15,190 establishments hiring 95,889 workers, they form the largest group involved in import-export trade in Hong Kong.

Performance of Hong Kong’s Exports of Clothing

Hong Kong’s total exports of clothing rose year-on-year by 9% in the first 11 months of 2005. While Hong Kong’s re-exports of clothing rose by 20%, domestic exports fell by 14%. The contrasting performance of Hong Kong’s re-exports and domestic exports was basically ascribed to the increasing relocation of garment manufacturing to the Chinese mainland, resulting from the removal of quotas under WTO’s Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). But the declining trend of domestic exports has been reversed somewhat in recent months, due to the re-imposition of quantitative restraints on mainland-made textiles and clothing by the US and EU.

Retail sales in the US held firm in the first 11 months of 2005, rising by nearly 6% from the same period in the previous year. In the first 11 months of 2005, Hong Kong’s clothing exports to the US rose year-on-year by 11%.

In the first 11 months of 2005, Hong Kong’s total clothing exports to the EU surged year-on-year by 18%. Clothing exports to major EU markets like France, Germany and Italy recorded growth rates in excess of 20%.

On the other hand, Hong Kong’s clothing exports to Japan levelled off in the first 11 months of 2005 partly due to the trend of direct shipment. On the back of the rising income however, Japanese consumers tend to resume their spending spree on premium clothing items. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s clothing exports to the Chinese mainland dropped by 11% in the first 11 months of 2005, compared with the same period last year.

Product-wise, Hong Kong’s exports of woven wear rose by 12% in the first 11 months of 2005. While woven wear for women/girls grew by 13%, those for men/boys recorded a growth of 8% from the same period in the previous year. Knitted wear grew by 2%, with women/girls and men/boys rising by 1% and 6% respectively. While clothing accessories declined by 3%, other apparel articles, for their part, increased by 13%.

Sales Channels

Hong Kong’s clothing manufacturers have forged strong relationships with their customers. They are able to understand and cater for the preferences of very broad customer bases. Exporters also have good knowledge of international and national rules and regulations governing clothing exports, such as rules of origin, quota restrictions, tariff rates and documentation requirements. Cut, make and trim (CMT) arrangements are common although many Hong Kong manufacturers have moved to higher value-added activities such as design and brand development, quality control, logistics and material sourcing.

A few well-established local manufacturers have entered into the retailing business, either locally or in overseas markets. Many of them have retail networks in major cities around the world including Beijing, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo. Some well-known manufacturing retailers include Baleno, Bossini, Crocodile, Episode, Esprit, G-2000, Giordano, JEANSWEST, Moiselle and U-2.

As a global sourcing hub in Asia, Hong Kong attracts a number of international trading houses and major retailers. Buyers sourcing from Hong Kong include American and European department stores (e.g. Macy’s, JCPenney, Federated, Karstadt Quelle, C & A), discount stores (e.g., Sears, Target and Carrefour), specialty chains (e.g., The Gap, The Limited) and mail order houses (e.g. Otto and Great Universal Stores). Many international premium designer labels — such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Yves Saint Laurent — source clothes in Hong Kong through their buying offices or other intermediaries.

Hong Kong’s fashion designers have been gaining worldwide reputation for their professional expertise, sensitivity to current trends and ability to blend commercialism with innovation. Medium to high-priced fashion clothing bearing Hong Kong designer labels is being sold/have been sold in renowned department

stores overseas such as Bloomingdale’s, C & A, Harrod’s, Isetan, Macy’s, Marui, Mitsukoshi, Nieman Marcus and Seibu.

Trade fairs and exhibitions remain common places for buyers and suppliers of clothing to congregate. To establish connections and explore market opportunities, Hong Kong manufacturers and traders have involved themselves actively in international shows led by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), including the ones in Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Hong Kong, Moscow, Mumbai, Paris and Tokyo. ‘Hong Kong Fashion Week’ is organised twice a year and attracts international suppliers and buyers to participate in the exhibition. Organised by TDC, ‘World Boutique, Hong Kong’ is the first independent event in Hong Kong dedicated to promoting designers’ collection and brands from around the world.

Industry Trends

Changes in retail landscape: In the US and EU, large-scale retailers are undergoing drastic restructuring and consolidation, in particular, the growing prominence of hypermarkets such as Wal-Mart. To strengthen competitiveness, Sears and Kmart have merged to form the third largest retail group in the US.

Growing importance of private labels: Private labels, in essence, have become an increasingly effective marketing tool among garment retailers. In order to differentiate as well as upgrade the image of their products, major retailers have started to put a stronger emphasis on their own labels. According to Cotton Incorporated, private labels accounted for 45% of total US apparel sales in 2003, up from 39% in 2001. In some adult apparel categories, such as skirts, private labels accounted for as high as 76% of the total sales. It is also estimated that 45% of products sold in the EU are sold under private labels. Renowned retailers such as H&M, Marks & Spencer, Orsay, Palmers, Pimkie, Springfield and Kookai have owned their private labels. As consumers desire to have private labels on everyday garments like jeans, accessories and T-shirts, the doors are also open to the supply of these clothing items to private label owners.

Growing interest in China’s domestic market: The rapid expansion of mainland’s economy has attracted great interest of Hong Kong clothing companies to explore its clothing market. A TDC survey on mainland’s garment shoppers indicates that Hong Kong brands are ranked number one by the respondents in the mid-range segment. While international brands are most preferred in the high-end segment, mainland brands dominate the low-end. In addition, the same survey finds out that in the eyes of mainland consumers, Hong Kong companies are very strong in casual wear, as they are generally of good design and quality. In essence, many mainland consumers have developed a stronger awareness of Hong Kong brands through tour to and shopping in Hong Kong. Therefore, Hong Kong’s casual wear has successfully projected a positive image to mainland consumers.

CEPA

On 18 October 2005, the mainland and Hong Kong agreed to further liberalise the mainland market for Hong Kong companies under the third phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA III). Along with other products of Hong Kong origin, the mainland agreed to give all products of Hong Kong origin, including clothing items, tariff-free treatment starting from 1 January 2006. According to the stipulated procedures, products which have no existing CEPA rules of origin, will enjoy tariff-free treatment upon applications by local manufacturers and upon the CEPA rule of origins being agreed and met. But non-Hong Kong made clothing products will remain subject to tariff rates of 10-25% when entering the mainland.

The promulgated rules of origin for clothing items to benefit from CEPA’s tariff preference are basically similar to the existing rules governing Hong Kong’s exports of these products. Generally speaking, the principal manufacturing process of cut-and-sewn garment is sewing of parts into garments. If linking and/or stitching is/are required, such process/processes must also be done in Hong Kong. For piece-knitted garment, if it is manufactured from yarn, the principal process is knitting of yarn into knit-to-shape panel.

If the piece-knitted garment is manufactured from knit-to-shape-panels, the principal process is linking of knit-to-shape panels into garment. If stitching is required, it must also be done in Hong Kong.

Trade Measures Affecting Exports of Clothing

According to the ATC, textile quotas were eliminated among WTO members at the first day of 2005. However, resistance to quota removal spread in the US and EU. Particularly in the US, China-specific safeguards on 10 categories of clothing items from China were invoked. Against this background, China reached agreements with the EU and the US in June and November 2005 respectively.

The China-US agreement, effective from January 2006, governs the exports of a total of 21 groups involving 34 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing products to the US during 2006-2008. It allows an annual growth of 10-15% in 2006, 12.5-16% in 2007 and 15-17% in 2008. The China-EU agreement, effective from June 2005, provides for an annual growth of 8-12.5% in 10 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing exports to the EU during 2005-2007. In addition, both EU and US agreed to exercise restraint in invoking China-specific safeguard against Chinese textiles and clothing that are not covered in the agreements.

Product Trends

Formal Dressing: While casual wear accounts for the bulk of clothing sales, a general trend towards stricter corporate dress codes has led to a rising demand for formal dressing, particularly suits. According to a survey by Cotton Incorporated in late 2004/early 2005, 38.5% of respondents believe that people dressed too casually at work. This is a 6.5 percentage point increase over the same year-ago.

Teenager: One of the major driving forces of clothing market appears to be the teenagers in the coming years. The number of teenagers in the US expects to increase from 31.6 million in 2001 to 34.1 million in 2010. A recent survey by Teenage Research Unlimited found that teens are saving money by value shopping. While JCPenney is their favourite department store, Target and Wal-mart are their favourite hypermarkets. In addition, Old Navy is their choices among specialty apparel stores.

Silver Market: Ageing population becomes a common phenomenon in many developed countries in Europe as well as Japan and the US. Elderly people constitute a major market segment called ‘silver market’. Supported by savings, social security benefits and pensions, many elderly people have rather strong spending power. It is estimated that the age group of 65 year and above accounted for about 21% of Japan’s consumption expenditure in 2000. A survey conducted by the Japanese government also shows that people who are 60 years old and above possess almost three times the financial assets of those in the 40-50 age group. In the US, those aged at or above 65 amounted to 18.1 million in 2001, and the number is expected to swell to 26 million in 2015.

Plus-size Market: The plus-size market has been an area of growth for many years, and the trend is expected to continue in the coming future. It is estimated that 65 million women in the US wear size 14 or above. This group represents one-half of the US female population. It is reported that some renowned brands have already responded to the trend by offering merchandise of larger size; these companies include Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

Easy-care Clothes: Clothes made of stain-resistant and wrinkle-free fabrics are well received in the market. It is estimated that about a quarter of apparel is now made of easy-care fabrics, and its popularity is expected to continue in the next few years. While major apparel brands like Dockers and Liz Claiborne have already marketed extensively easy-care clothes, major hypermarkets, like Wal-Mart, also offer more merchandise of such quality.

Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Shopping in Hong Kong is going to be an incredible experience. Hong Kong shopping is famous for its competitive prices and enormous product varieties. Hong Kong imposes no import tax, no sales tax or value added tax. You can buy the hottest, trendiest and newest items at highly competitive prices. As a native Hong Konger, I would want to tell you some interesting facts about Hong Kong shopping – what and where to buy.

Jewellery

Many people don’t plan to buy expensive items while travelling. However if you are shopping in Hong Kong, you would have to change your mind. Diamond and gold are popular to buy here. You would find eye-catching sparkling jewellery shops in Central, Causeway Bay, Tsimshatsui and many other areas. You must be convinced by their fashionable designs, first-class craftsmanship and attractive window displays.

It is safe to buy diamond and gold here because Hong Kong has an ordinance that vendors have to give customers correct information of carat rating and gold purity.

Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Tse Tsui Lun are very reputable local chain stores. J’s, Just Gold, Just Diamond and Van Cleef Arpels are selling very fashionable items.

Electronics

Large chain stores like Fortress and Broadway have a wide selection of the latest products like LCD or Plasma TV, digital camera, iPod, MP3, video camera etc.

Hong Kong shopping is for everything. I did see people at the Hong Kong Airport taking home TV sets and other over-sized electronics. Don’t worry about weight and size, just buy whatever you want, as prices and product ranges are extremely attractive.

Electronics are best to be shopped at reputable chain stores. Shopping malls in Causeway Bay and Tsimshatsui have many large electronics stores.

Mobile Phones

Large and beautiful mobile phone shops are everywhere in Hong Kong. The mobile phones here are not just mobile phones. Other than the latest 3G technologies, they are equipped with all kind of functionalities such as photo-taking, video call, email, MP3/4 etc. Just start at HK$1,000 (US$125) and you’ll get more functions if you pay more.

Computers

Computer shopping in Hong Kong is very popular. Computer malls are usually packed with people. Please be prepared to put up with crowds. You can find all kinds of PCs, notebooks, accessories and related products. One of my favourite computer malls is located at Wanchai, just next to MTR Wanchai Station Exit A4. Windsor House in Causeway Bay has three floors dedicated to computer products.

Designer Label Fashion and Accessories

Hong Kong shopping malls are full of internationally famous designer label boutiques. Here is just a short list: Bally, Burberry, Chanel, Cerruti 1881, Gucci, Hermes, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Valentino….I am sure these shops are selling at the lowest price compared with their other shops in the world. Click here to check a list of Hong Kong shopping malls.

Tailor-made Suits

Hong Kong’s quality custom tailors are extremely efficient and good value for money. Turn around time could be as short as 24 hours for some tailors in the tourist area like Tsimshatsui and Central. Some of them even provide free transport service to their shops. In general, a men’s package around HK$1,600 (US$200) would include one suit, one blazer/sports jacket, one pair of matching slacks and two ties. Ladies’ package of a similar price would include a dress, one suit, one blouse, one skirt and one scarf.

You can pick up a Hong Kong shopping guide from your hotel room and call up a tailor.

Other Hot Items

Shopping in Hong Kong is very much diversified. There must be something that fits your budget and interest. Antiques, cosmetics, watches, sports wears and Chinese goods are very popular shopping items here. Click here for a detailed Hong Kong shopping guide.

Tips

o Though Hong Kong traders are usually honest, some of them do apply bait-and-switch tactics. Always look for clearly marked prices and inspect your product before paying. Shops that display the Quality Tourism symbol are safe to buy from.

o Get an international guarantee to ensure you can receive service after returning home.

o Check and keep your receipts and ensure that all details and verbal agreements are fully listed.

o Credit cards are widely used in Hong Kong. Make sure you have lots of limit for shopping.

o Prepare a shopping list and research prices at your home town. Compare prices while you are shopping in Hong Kong.

o If something does go wrong, call the Hong Kong Consumer Council on (852) 2929 6111. Take immediate action, as it is easier to rectify a problem while you are still in Hong Kong.

It was a few years back when I was living in the Hong Kong. I decided to move there after I graduated from university. A good buddy of mine was already working in Hong Kong and convinced me to come try working over there too. So I packed my bags and off I went to the “far east” to try something new. I started working as an English teacher. The life there was fast paced and exciting. The nightlife was unbelievable and it felt like I had landed on another planet! But soon I adapted to this new exciting lifestyle and it became a normal way of life for me. It was around this time that my inner urges and my curiosity as a “born to fish angler” forced me to wonder if it was at all possible that the busy Hong Kong harbour had any fish in it worth chasing. I felt like I was ten years old again wondering if the Toronto Harbour had any fish to be caught! I found out back then that there were fish there, “why can’t they be here too?”, I asked myself.

Finding fishing information in Hong Kong was quite difficult initially because of the language barrier. I kept asking around and eventually I talked to my hair dresser and he told me to go to a nearby fishing shop and talk to them about fishing possibilities. I was so excited at that moment because I knew if there was a fishing shop, there had to be some sort of fishing to be had! So right after my haircut, I hurried over to the local fishing store! As I went through the doors of the shop there was a big board of fishing pictures. I scanned through all of them, I saw pictures of squid caught on rod and reels, pictures of GT’s caught off of oil rigs, snappers caught off of tropical beaches and mangrove looking areas and then I saw a picture of something that looked more like my fingertips. I saw pictures of a this one giant fish being caught at night off urban city lit shorelines. It sort of looked like a snook and kinda’ had spots of a sea trout, the mouth of a large mouth and the shine of a steel head. All these characteristics were things that equaled fish I must catch!

After seeing the fish that I wanted to target, it was time to figure out what I was gonna’ need to know to catch this fish. I started trying to talk to the guys that worked in the shop, especially the guy I saw on the board with all those giant fish. I brought him over to the board and pointed to that awesome looking fish that I was aching to come in contact with. He then replied to me in Cantonese “ahhh, lo yu”. So the fish on the board was called a “lo yu” but I soon figured out that it was called a Sea bass in English. I started to try to explain how I would love to catch this thing and asked where to go. The guy looked a little confused but after a lot of broken English and Pictionary style sign language he started to catch my drift. He then brought me to the wall of lures and pointed to a bunch of red head white body minnow baits. So picked a few but then the guy took over and suggested a few. I gladly excepted his help and walked out of there with a variety of lures. The lures were consisted of lipless crank baits without rattles, pencil stalwarts that barely broke the surface and an assortment of sizes from 2-6 inch minnow baits in natural and red head colours in floating and sinking models.

The next day I came back with a few of my rod and reel outfits to see if I had the gear suitable to bring these things in. I had a couple of calcuttas spooled with 14 pound test on a seven foot and six and half foot rod both in medium actions. The guy looked at it and said, “ok!” and gave me the thumbs up! I asked him where I should go and he said “Wan Chai” harbour. My bilingual friend that was with me at the time asked him if I could go with him and his friends some time and he said no problem come next week and we’ll leave from the shop around 7pm but bring about $100 hkd which was about $25 can. He said we were going to use this money to rent a boat. Next week finally came and I was off to the shop to meet the local guys from the tackle shop! There were three guys there waiting with the same excited anxiousness I had with their tackle on their backs and their rods in hand. We couldn’t speak the same language but I had a good feeling we could definitely bridge that gap through the love of fishing! We then all jumped in cab and took off for the harbour. When we got there, there was a man wearing a rice hat waiting in one of those junk boats you see in Bruce Lee movies. We all jumped in his boat and were off into the middle of Wan Chai Harbour. It took about a ten minutes to get out to some stationed ships. The ships were well lit so there was a shade line from light to dark created by the ships light. The guys from the shop pointed and told me to cast along the shade line and in between the docks and the boats. I was starting to like what I was beginning to understand about these fish. It was becoming clear that these fish behave a little like large mouth. Before I made my first cast I was overwhelmed by the futuristic beauty that surrounded me! It was a breathtaking moment, it felt as if I was fishing in the movie Blade runner!! The Hong Kong skyline at night is something to see, especially when you’re fishing in the middle of the harbour and you’re surrounded by it all! Its really hard to put into words but all I can say is I’ll never forget that moment and that I’m getting chills as I write at this very second.

After my exhilarating moment I rushed to the front of the boat and hurled a cast along side a giant ship with a Yo-Zuri Red Live vibration bait. I pulled it along waiting for a bite but didn’t get anything. Every cast felt like I was going to get bit. Around my tenth cast, I pitched a beauty cast underneath a rope and in between two boats where the lights from the boats was pouring down on the water. As soon as I engaged my spooled I felt a heavy thug on my rod. I swept into it and the thing started stripping drag like a steelhead on steroids!! After a sharp and heavy run a fish about 6lbs shot out of the water like a giant smallmouth! I couldn’t believe it was only 6lbs, the thing fought like you wouldn’t believe.! The local guys were pretty impressed and were surprised how I could get my casts in there like that but little did they know how long I have been bass fishing back in Canada. As the night progressed, the fishing kept getting better and better as the tide level started to drop. I later learned that when the harbor water level is at its highest and the tide starts to drop is when the fishing is best. So new moon and full moon periods were best. When the water and tide is still, fishing for these things are the worst, its like fishing in a severe cold front situation up here. From my understanding I think the tide stirs up the water and oxygenates it greatly and in turn creates fish activity.

Anywayzzz, we must have caught about twenty or so of these crazy fish between 2-8lbs. Although I lost a giant (maybe 14 lbs or so) on 8lb test on a medium light action spinning outfit. I couldn’t do anything with that light rod, the fish just took off and broke me off around a piling. I put that rod down for the night and stuck with my heavier action bass rods. As we headed in for the night, we did one last stop along a boat that was a restaurant park on the harbor shore. The light was pouring off of this boat as well, the guy from the shop launched a pencil bait alongside the boat and nailed one more nice one about ten pounds! The people on the boat eating were cheering, it was hilarious! We didn’t catch anything after that and the tide was pretty still by that time so we decided to head back in. Boy oh boy was I happy, that was the best 25 bucks I’ve ever spent!

As for the rest of my days in Hong Kong, I discovered that there were tons of other places to fish from

shore at night. Any well lit piece of harbour front that had shade as well was becoming obvious to me that fish could be holding. I fished all over the city and caught many giants in the twenty pound range!!! To my surprise very few people were fishing for these beautiful creatures, I know in Japan the anglers would have been all over this opportunity. When I did bump into other anglers they were just fishing really for food and not for the sport as much. I was surprised that most of them didn’t believe in lures and seemed amazed when I reeled one in on something artificial. It still remains a mystery on how big the population of Hong Kong is and how small the population that actually gets out fishing. They don’t know what they’re missing! Sea bass still remains one of my very favourite fish to catch. Who wouldn’t want to catch a fish that acts like a large mouth, fights like a steel head on steroids and jumps like a small mouth! I can’t wait to go to other cities around the world to find out what other urban gems lurk beneath the surface!

Requirements for opening a company

An offshore company opened in Hong Kong must appoint at least one director but their number may be unlimited. It’s not mandatory for them to be Hong Kong residents.

Minimum one shareholder is required and maximum fifty. The shareholders may be natural persons or companies.

The company created in Hong Kong must also appoint a local individual or corporate resident to have the role of company’s secretary.

Procedure for starting your business in Hong Kong

The foreign investors have two choices in incorporating an offshore company in Hong Kong. They may register a new company or buy an already registered one.

The companies that are only registered but do not pose any liabilities or assets are called shelf companies and may be purchased by investors that have no time to wait until a new company is incorporated. After buying it, the investors may invest directors and secretary of the company, increase the share capital and change the name and the registered address.

The investors that wish to register a new business must know a few facts. First, the company’s desired name must be checked at the Companies Registry. If it’s not a duplicate or too much alike with another one, it can be reserved.

After that, the following documents must be submitted to the Registry:

• the registration application form,

• the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Incorporation,

• the passport copy of the founders,

• bank reference letter for non-resident shareholders or directors,

• copy of Hong Kong identity card for Hong Kong resident shareholders or directors and copy of parent company registration

• documents (only for corporate shareholders).

After 14 days from registration, the offshore company established must also deposit the following documents:

• notification regarding the registered address,

• the decision of appointing the director(s) and the secretary and their consent to act in that position

• other documents requested by the Business Registration Office, depending on the nature of the business.

A bank account must be opened and within a month since the registration, the company must be registered at the Inland Revenue Department.

Special requirements for operating a business

Operating a trading company, a retail shop, a travel agency, a restaurant, an employment agency, an education business, a financial services agency, an event management agency are activities that requires receiving a license, so it is important to apply for it at the competent authorities. The type and number of required permits and licenses vary greatly from business to business. We recommend taking the help of a qualified lawyer or business consultant in Hong Kong for professional advice, which will certainly help you rest assured you start your business proper and in the legal framework of this city-state.

Only if the above steps are completed, the foreign investors may start operating business and enjoy the benefits of having an offshore company opened in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s local food scene is heavily dominated by wonton noodle and dim sum, which are possibly the two most popular local dishes… Visiting the city without enjoying a hearty bowl of Wonton noodle in one of the humble eateries across Central, or Wanchai, is just as unthinkable as visiting Paris without dining at a local bistro, or passing through Athens without having a Souvlaki… This article will take you to Hong Kong’s best wonton dens.

Wonton noodles (or Wan-tan Min) is normally served In Hong Kong in a steaming hot broth, garnished with green vegetables, and plump wonton dumplings, stuffed with prawn, with or without minced pork.

According to local food connoisseurs, the perfect bowl of wonton noodle should boast all these qualities:

• The broth has to be slowly cooked with prawn shells, chicken and pork bones.
• The noodle should be as thin as a thread and springy in texture.
• The wonton dumpling itself should contain crunchy fresh prawn, wrapped in ultra-thin skin.
• Just before serving, the dish has to be sprinkled with thinly chopped yellow chives and shrimp eggs.

The best places to enjoy wonton noodle in Hong Kong are usually nothing more than a hole-in-the-wall eatery, which does not have an English menu, and none of its stuff speaks English, but with a bit of patience and some help from passers-by, you’ll be fine…

Mak Man Kee Noodles, on 51 Parkes Street in Kowloon, just a short stroll from Jordan MTR Station, has been around for 40 years or so and still serves the same fantastic wonton noodle that has earned it its reputation, with thin skin and rich filing of either pork or shrimps, floating in a delicious slow-cooked broth with springy handmade noodles, that are traditionally prepared with duck-eggs.

Mak’s Noodle, on 77 Wellington Street, in Central, has long become a local landmark, and although its portions are infamous for being small in size, the dumplings are awesome, with fresh and well-marinated prawns, the broth is to die for, and the handmade noodles are just as delicious, with duck eggs that give them this springy texture which makes people want more and more of them…

Just a stone’s throw away, on 98 Wellington Street, is Tsim Chai Kee – Mak’s eternal competitor and a Hong Kong culinary institution in its own right… Unlike most of the city’s old school wonton eateries, Tsim Chai Kee boasts a somewhat more modern design, with a Chinese – oriental fleur, which makes you feel you are, indeed, in a Chinese eating house… The portions here are larger than those at Mak’s, but some say the wanton dumplings are not as gorgeous, mainly because Tsim Chai Kee stuffs them with chunks of prawns, while Mak’s use whole prawns… A matter of personal taste I presume…

Still on Wellington Road, Wong Chi Kee Congee & Noodle is another legendary noodle house. Originally opened in Macau more than 50 years ago by Wong Wun Chi, who learned the secrets of noodles-making from a master in Canton, back in the 1940s, this popular restaurant is known not only for its wonton noodle, but also for its Congee, which some sayis the best in town.

Migration demographic analyses first came into play in 1885 in the Journal of the Statistical Societywhen geographer Ernest George Ravenstein essayed what he termed the “Laws of Migration” seeking to set out an explanation for and attempting to predict migration patterns in England.

In his seminal paper, Ravenstein compared 1871 and 1881 UK census data and plotted patterns of migration movements and from his observations he contrived a series of “Laws of Migration”. Among those laws, Ravenstein considered that there was a process of “absorption” in which people immediately surrounding a fast-growing location would move into it and the gaps they left behind were filled by others from more distant areas. This process continued until the underlying attraction behind the movement of populations was no longer sufficiently compelling enough to maintain the momentum and the ‘migration’ was completed. Moreover, Ravenstein also stated that there was a law of “dispersion”, being the opposite of “absorption”.

Ravenstein suggested that the “Laws of Migration” were underpinned by a number of “pull” factors and “push” factors. Pull factors attracted inward migration and applied to both the highly skilled and the less so whilst push factors prompted migrants to leave their country of origin.

Examples of the “push” factors cited included high unemployment rates, low income, political instability, poor security and natural disasters. Family connections, higher income opportunities, improved medical care, greater professional career development, higher living standards and overall quality of life were cited as examples of “pull” factors. Naturally, “pull” factors can be enhanced as a result of the posture of the receiving nation in encouraging such inflow of migrants whereby their desire to use foreign nationals in their economies is driven by labour needs, availability of land resources, overall economic opportunities and political liberalism.

As you would expect, Hong Kong has a number of “pull” factors which attract highly skilled immigrants from more than 120 economies into our economy, and the people who have gone through the process of migration to the HKSAR generally agree these include the following:

1. Geographical location, especially its proximity to mainland China.

2. Excellent employment opportunities.

3. Relatively high salaries.

4. Low rates of tax.

5. Easy and efficient immigration procedures.

6. Excellent telecoms.

7. A largely bi/trilingual workforce.

8. Low risk of terrorism.

9. The rule of law.

10. Low level of overt racism.

In recent years, Hong Kong has introduced specific immigration programmes to encourage these “pull” factors including the Admission of Mainland Talents Scheme, the Quality Migrants Admission Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme. All other immigration is managed under the General Employment Policy and the policy in respect of family dependent relationships.