Hong Kong is an important trading center in Asia. It was a former British colony for a century and was handed back to the People’s Republic of China as a special administrative region. Most of the residents of the island colony trace their ancestry to the Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City formerly known as Canton. The influence of Guangdong province is very visible in the dialect spoken in Hong Kong. It is also reflected in the culture and cuisine in the former British crown colony. As a result, most Hong Kong recipes are actually Cantonese recipes perfected and adapted by chefs. Most of the chefs are either trained or natives of Guangdong Province, China.

Most of the Chinese immigrants to the western world also trace their roots back to the Guangdong region. Upon reaching foreign shores, they also brought with them their cuisine. So most people in the west will be familiar with Hong Kong recipes as they share the same culinary foundations.

Hong Kong recipes play particular attention to freshness of ingredients to attain the maximum umami flavor or the fifth flavor defined by the Japanese as a sweet and salty taste. Because of its proximity to the sea and its importance as a trading port, seafood is also an important ingredient in most Hong Kong recipes. Another representation is the play of textures. A soft tender texture is usually contrasted with crunchy ingredients to enhance the dining experience. Hong Kong recipes also pay more attention to quality rather than quality. The ideal is to achieve a balance between taste and presentation as a reflection of the affluence of one of the greatest trading centers in the world.

Upon visiting the country, there are some food and dishes which are quintessential to a trip to the former crown colony. A few of these culinary dishes are as follows.

Roasted Barbecued Pork is probably one of the most popular Chinese dishes known in the world. It is often served as part of an appetizer course in a birthday, weddings and other important occasions. It is also served as a rice topping eaten as an everyday packed lunch. Barbequed pork can also be found as a filling to various pastries and snacks. Many local chefs have practiced the art of roasting pork into this gooey sweet and savory pork dish. It almost tastes like candy with a hint of burnt caramel.

Dim sum also defines Hong Kong cuisine. Dim sum meaning little hearts in Cantonese is actually a collection of small bites, either savory or sweet, usually eaten during tea time but has expanded to being eaten all through the day. Dim sum dishes can be steamed, fried, sautéed, boiled, baked and roasted. Small tea houses serving these little delights used to abound all through the island but the rising costs of rent and property prices drove these small joints to close shops. Now, dim sum is usually served in large restaurants and hotels.

Hong Kong is always bustling with life and it is one of the most happening tourist spots all year round. The city’s wonderful culture and traditions with its festivals and events attract tourists from all over the world. So, to support this thriving and ever growing tourism industry, one of the most important aspects that have to be dealt with is transport services. Tourists should be able to travel from one place to another with ease and for this Hong Kong Airport has introduced Airport Transfer and Vehicles Service. This helps tourists reach their hotels easily, without having to worry about directions or also helps them reach their travel destinations.

Hong Kong Airport Shuttle Service

For the first time visitors, it is often a difficult task to find their way through the busy, lively streets of Hong Kong. Though they are aware of their destinations, which streets to take or how to get there can be confusing. This is where the Airport Shuttle Service comes to make things easier. The tourists are able to avoid the hassle of standing in a queue to book a ride or trying to find a cab, as they are able to pre book their ride on the shuttle. The shuttle service has two parts to it; one, it picks up the tourists from the airport and drops them at their hotel, and two, it also picks up tourists from their hotels and drops them at the airport, ensuring a smooth ride without any problems.

The premium shuttle service is extremely comfortable with leather seats and air conditioning. Its door to door transfer service is not only a boon to the tired tourists who are able to relax on the ride to the hotel, but it is also fully licensed and insured. Another excellent feature of the Hong Kong Airport Shuttle Service is that if any tourist finds the service not satisfactory at any level or not up to their expectations for some reason, then without asking any questions the fee for the shuttle service will be refunded within seven days!

Booking and Transfer Service:

• At the time of booking, a confirmation email is sent to the client’s account. This email contains all important instructions related to the service and also the directions to the customer service desk at the airport.

• When the tourists who have pre booked their rides reach the airport, they are welcomed by a customer service team whom they have to check in with and they’ll be given the voucher for the service.

• The tourists will then be guided by the staff to the shuttle.

• If the tourists have to be picked up from their hotels, then the shuttle will pick them up from the hotel entrance itself at the time scheduled.

For those who book their ride online, Hong Kong Airport Shuttle Service includes the following services:

• Passengers are allowed to share the trip whether one way or the round trip to or from the hotel

• The reservation on the premium shuttle is guaranteed

• Live chat and email support is also available for making any changes

• Customer Service Team to help all tourists

• Baggage is loaded and off loaded by the staff

• The staff and drivers are also given gratuities

Customers have found the Hong Kong Airport Shuttle Service extremely helpful and easy to use. The service has received a lot of positive feedback as it is punctual and comfortable.

Hong Kong Airport Private Transfer Service

The Hong Kong Airport Private Transfer Service delivers luxury at its very best with Toyota Alphards for the tourists and other passengers. The Toyota Alphard is very convenient for passengers with luggage as it seats seven passengers along with their luggage. This private Hong Kong International Airport Transfer picks up passengers from the airport and drops them to their hotel, while they relax on their way to the hotel in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. Other vehicles are also provided at an hourly basis.

The Private Transfer Service includes:

• Hong Kong Private Arrival Transfer: This service takes the clients from the airport to their hotel. The service costs $79.

• Hong Kong Private Departure Transfer: For those who want to be picked up from the hotel and dropped at the airport, this service is ideal and reasonably priced at $79. Another version of the Hong Kong Private Departure Service helps clients travel from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to the Airport. This service too costs $79.

Other transfer services to or from the Hong Kong Airport include limousine service, private car service and also van services and rentals. All these transfer and vehicles services aim to provide utmost comfort to their passengers and all travelers have found these services to be extremely convenient and time saving. The staff of all these services is dedicated and also often English speaking which helps the passengers communicate better.

Hong Kong being an important hub for businesses, industries and trading centers, is bustling with traffic and its airport is one of the places which has to have good transfer and vehicles services. This is exactly what is provided to make all journeys the best and the most reliable.

Hong Kong today remains one of the best offshore banking jurisdictions. It offers a great combination of bank secrecy, corporate secrecy, a financially and politically stable environment, and strong banks. But despite most importantly, it's a secure offshore investment haven for those who want to diversify out of sinking western currencies into booming Asian markets, and China in particular.

So how can you go about opening an offshore bank account in Hong Kong? Do you have to travel there? This article will answer these questions and give you some practical hints and tips. But first some background.

A Successful Free Market Experiment For East and West Alike

Hong Kong, in my opinion, is the only practical example in the world of a major city that has been developed from scratch and run as something of an offshore, free market experiment – first by the British, then by the Chinese.

The main Island (and later Kowloon and the New Territories, parts of the mainland) was a British colony for most of the nineteenth and twenty centuries. During this time it grew from a fishing village and opium trading hub, into a city-state of seven million people. It became known as a free-wheeling, free market paradise for capitalists, with an economy characterized by low taxation, free trade and no government interference in business.

In 1997 the British returned sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. The former colony became one of China's two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), the other being Macau. Many people were actually hopeful about one of the world's capitalist bastions being run by a communist power, and at the time a lot of investors poked out, many taking their dynamic business acumen heading to places like Singapore and Vancouver.

However, the "one country, two systems" model adopted by Beijing to coincide with free market reforms and the growth of China into an economic superpower has proved very successful. The Basic Law of Hong Kong, the equivalent of the Constitution, stipulates that the SAR maintains a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign relations and defense. The SAR today operates as a major offshore finance center, discreetly oiling the wheels of commerce between East and West.

These days, rather than being put off by the Chinese influence, most international investors who are attracted to Hong Kong are coming because of this Chinese connection. Hong Kong is the point of access to Chinese trade, without the legal and cultural difficulties of doing business in mainland China.

Those who do not trust their own governments are reassured by the fact that under the Basic Law, Hong Kong's foreign relations are run from Beijing. While most offshore jurisdictions humbly submit to claims from the USA and other western countries, the relationship is definitely reversed. Hong Kong does have a number of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (see below) but these are sensitively policed ​​and do not allow for fishing expeditions.

Offshore Banking in Hong Kong

The region's population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups, but English is very broadly spoken and is the main language in businesses like banking.

One thing I like about using Hong Kong for offshore bank accounts is the same argument I have used for Panama and Singapore: it's a 'real' country with real trade going on. The Hong Kong dollar is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Compare this to doing business on a small island or other remote banking jurisdiction, where everyone knows your only reason for doing business there is offshore banking. It also means that there is no problem doing your banking in cash, if you so wish.

For now the HKD, the local dollar, still tracks very closely the US dollar, but this appears to be changing as the Chinese Yuan circulates freely in Hong Kong, both in cash and in bank deposits. We think this represents an excellent opportunity to diversify funds out of the US dollar now, gaining exposure to Chinese growth in the meanime. (Of course, you can also hold HKD in banks in other parts of the world too)

Bank accounts in Hong Kong are almost all multi-currency by default, allowing all major local and international conventions to be held under one account number and translated freely and instantly within the account at the click of a mouse.

There is no capital gains tax, no tax on bank interest or stock market investments, and no tax on offshore sourced income. This, combined with a welcoming attitude to non-resident clients in the banks (including US citizens by the way, who are generally unwelcome in traditional offshore banking havens like Switzerland), and strong cultural and legal respect for financial privacy, makes Hong Kong one of Asia's best offshore banking jurisdictions.

For those who want to establish a small offshore account under reporting limits, or simply to have the bank account established in view of future business, Hong Kong is also attractive given the low minimum deposits demanded by the major banks there. The minimum bank account balance can be as low as HK $ 3,000. Of course, you can not expect red carpet, VIP private banking at this level – but you get a perfectly good functioning bank account with all the technological trimmings.

Offshore Corporate Bank Accounts in Hong Kong – Do's and Don'ts

Typically, offshore clients choose to open accounts using corporations, as opposed to personal accounts. This not only offers greater privacy, but also flexibility and can – depending on course on how things are structured – offer significant tax and asset protection advantages.

Accounts can easily be opened both for pure offshore companies like Panama, BVI, Nevis or Marshall Islands, or local local Hong Kong companies that are set up using nominee directors and shareholders.

When contacting local corporate service providers in Hong Kong, you'll find that most of these corporate service providers will recommend you use a Hong Kong company to open the account. The reason they do this is that it's simpler and more profitable for them. They can comprise a local company at low cost, opening the bank account is smoother and faster with a local company, and they can carry on billing nominee director fees every year. But it may not be the right thing for you.

Whilst it is true that Hong Kong companies do not have to pay any tax provided they do not make any local source income, managing such a company is not so simple. For example, Hong Kong companies are required to file audited accounts every year. They must file pages and pages of documents to convince the Inland Revenue Department (HKIRD) that they do not have any local business, and, from practical experience, the HKIRD is getting much stickier about this. Long-established companies are normally left unmolested but newly established companies can expect a lot of compliance work in their first few years. Again, these suits the Hong Kong corporate service providers who charge handsomely for such services.

Another factor to consider is Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) legislation in your home country. (For an explanation see Wikipedia ) Many clients choose to set up LLCs as they can be treated as passthrough entities, vastly simplifying reporting requirements in some countries like the USA. Hong Kong corporations are not LLCs and can not be rated as passthroughs for tax purposes.

My advice – assuming you do not intend to do any business in Hong Kong between banking and sometimes the occasional trip to visit your money – would be to open the account in the name of a company from a foreign offshore tax haven. It's a little more work and expense at the beginning, and the bank might ask you more questions, but it will save you a lot of money and headaches in the long term. If you want a local look and feel for your company, numerous virtual office services are available.

Hong Kong Tax Information Exchange Agreements

Contrary to what you will read on some out-of-date websites, Hong Kong has signed a number of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). However, the HKIRD is at pains to point out that fishing expeditions are not going to be tolerated.

The HKIRD has issued Practice Note 47, available on the internet, which effectively explains how the HKIRD seeks to achieve a balance between the requirements of compliance with the OECD requirements, while providing checks and balances to protect the rights of businesspeople.

The HKIRD are professionals and should be well positioned to deal with TIEA requests properly and justly in accordance with the treaties and guidelines. I am confident not going to allow their 'clients' rights to be trampled on.

Regulation of Banks in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Banking Ordinance was revamped in 1986. It has since undergone several amendments to improve prudential supervision. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) was formed in 1993 as a one-stop financial regulator, responsible for everything from banks to stored value anonymous debit cards.

The SAR maintains a three-tier system of deposit-taking institutions, accounting licensed banks, restricted license banks, and deposit-taking companies. Only licensed banks may operate current and savings accounts, and accept deposits of any size and maturity. RLBs are only allowed to accept deposits of HK $ 500,000 and above, while DTCs are only permitted to accept deposits of a minimum of HK $ 100,000 with original maturity of not less than three months.

Both these latter categories provide an opportunity for overseas banks to conduct wholesale, investment or private banking activities in Hong Kong without having to jump through the hoops of applying for a full banking license. In addition, some foreign banks have chosen to open representative offices in Hong Kong, which are not allowed to take deposits but can assist in opening accounts at other offices within their groups.

As Hong Kong is an international financial center, it is an explicit policy of the HKMA that the regulatory framework in Hong Kong should conform as much as possible with international standards, in particular those recommended by the Basel Committee.

Hong Kong's five largest banks, in terms of total assets, are as follows:

– Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)

– Bank of China (Hong Kong)

– Hang Seng Bank Ltd

Standard Chartered Bank

– Bank of East Asia Ltd.

A full list of updated Hong Kong banks can be found on Wikipedia .

Visiting Hong Kong to Open a Bank Account

If you are visiting Hong Kong to open your account, it can normally be opened the same day provided you have made some arrangements with a local service provider, or directly with the bank, in advance. This is assuming you use one of the major banks, that nearly everyone does. You can then simply visit the bank, sign documents and receive the bank account number immediately. This will be a full multi-currency account and you will typically receive a digital token for internet banking, a password and a debit card.

The documents required for opening offshore bank account are:

1) Formation documents (in the case of corporate accounts. Apostilles are required in the case of foreign corporate accounts – your offshore provider will know how to obtain these.)

2) Bank forms and business plan / expected activity (a corporate service provider will typically supply these as part of the service)

3) Passport copies of each director, signatory and shareholder (take special note of this requirement if you are using nominee directors – if the persons are not present, copies will have to be notarized.)

4) Proof of address (such as updated bill statement which shows up your name and address) and signed (of each director and shareholder)

A bank reference is generally required if you are dealing directly with the bank. If you go through a corporate service provider, they typically write a reference so you do not need to supply a bank reference. However, if you can obtain a bank reference it is better.

Opening an account without visiting Hong Kong

It is also perfectly possible to open accounts without visiting Hong Kong (known as 'remote account opening') although this process tend to take substantially longer as banks will ask a lot more questions. In this case, your bank or service provider will generally e-mail you the forms, that you will need to print out and sign.

Depending on the bank, there may well be certain special instructions about how and where to sign – for example, HSBC in Hong Kong will typically request that you have your signature witnessed in the HSBC Bank near to you. As with all foreign bank accounts, you should be sure to use the same signature that appears in your passport, otherwise the documents will be returned.

In the case of remote account opening the bank will normally courier the password, debit card, and token direct to your address in your home country. Then you need to activate them via the bank's website.

Conclusion

Hong Kong competes very favorably with Singapore, the other Asian banking jurisprudence we favor. If you have not yet diversified your offshore holdings into Asia, you should seriously consider doing so. I hope this article will be helpful in this regard.

Filmmakers and film fans interested in more than a century of Asian cinema can find what they’re looking for in this new reference book. Lisa Stokes, a humanities and film professor who also wrote “City on Fire: Hong Kong Cinema,” includes enough background information to educate newcomers, while also adding plenty of scholarly insight to enlighten devoted film buffs, industry professionals, and even Hong Kong filmmakers.

This extensive reference begins with a chronology that traces the area’s history back to its 1841 occupation by the British to the 2005 Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which brought together eight creative events including the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards. A fascinating introduction follows the chronology, in which the movers and shakers in Asian cinema are highlighted, in addition to economic, social, and political factors that influenced filmmaking there over the years.

The bulk of the book, of course, is the dictionary itself, which describes as well as defines the directors, actors, writers, films, production companies, genres, and other significant people, places, and things that surround this niche market. For example, let’s say a reader wants to learn more about filmmaker Stephen Chiau, whose recent film Kung Fu Hustle broke box-office records in Hong Kong and enjoyed critical and economic success in the United States. Besides brief mentions in the front matter, his listing under “Chiau” provides his name in various languages, birth date, personal and professional background, a listing of his awards, partial listing of numerous television and film credits, descriptions of his acting/directing style, and insider information about his two big international hits Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle.

Readers also learn that he is called “The Chinese Jim Carrey” because of his slapstick and pratfalls. Boldfaced items listed under each dictionary entry (in the case of Stephen Chiau: Tony Leung-wai, Danny Lee, television, Golden Horse Awards, Michael Hui, Ng Man-tat, kung fu, martial arts, and Hong Kong Film Awards) represent cross-references with their own listings.

In the center of the book, a brief section is included with photographs of films and filmmakers cited in the text. “Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema” concludes with a bibliography that lists online, magazine, journal, and book sources used in compiling the text.

Stokes writes in the preface that her goal is to provide “a comprehensive and detailed overview of the immense contribution of Hong Kong to film culture.” She surely succeeds in this endeavor, as the book will serve fans, filmmakers, and scholars ready to delve into the intricacies and peculiarities of this unique cinematic style.

When people are asked about Hong Kong, a lot of people always say that it is the shopping capital of the world. You might be wondering why this is so when in fact, there are also other things that can be bought in other countries that are considered fashion forward such as Paris or New York. The reason why Hong Kong is the shopping mecca of the world is because it has apparel, shoes and other items that people use in varying prices. This means that while there are some that are expensive, there are also others that can be purchased at dirt cheap prices.

There are certain areas that people can check out for all of their shopping needs. These areas are the following:

– Soho – This is the night district of Hong Kong. This is where you should go if you would want to party the night away. Of course there are also specialty shops that cannot be found anywhere else. Some exotic restaurants are also located in this area.

– Sheung Wan District – If you are not particularly looking for clothes then you can visit this district so that you can get a feel of how Hong Kong was like in the past. A lot of the buildings there have been preserved to maintain the look of the establishments. This is also the place to go if you would like to look for herbal medicine which is very popular in this country.

– Canton Road – This is the place that you should check out if you would like to take a look at a wide range of designer items. They usually have a lot of designer label shops that you can check out if you would like to purchase something expensive.

– Apliu Street – If designer labeled items are not what you are looking for, you can probably check out this street to scour the flea market. You might be able to purchase something that you will treasure for a very low price.

– Cheung Sha Wan Road – Are you looking for apparel that you can wear on a casual day? This is the place to visit because you will surely find something that you would like to take home.

Other than these places mentioned there are still other places wherein people can shop. Admittedly, shopping malls and department stores are scattered all over Hong Kong. You can probably walk just a little bit and discover another store just around the corner. You are recommended to check out the shopping malls there if you are looking for designer labels and signature items. There are also some independent stores that are located in different neighborhoods. You just have to know ahead of time which one you would like to visit so that you will not have to keep going around.

The great thing about Hong Kong is that you can purchase almost everything that you would need. It does not matter what kind of items you would need to shop for. When you walk around Hong Kong, you will find items that you never thought you would find anywhere else.

Hong Kong is one of the pioneering and astounding cities that calls for travelers and expats from all around the world. Being christened as the ‘Fragrant Harbor’ this city surely entertains millions from both near and far destinations. Hong Kong is part of two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People’s Republic of China, the other Macau. As on date HK has its own governed rules with no link or rule of authority from mainland China. If you are planning to visit Hong Kong the best season to experience and enjoy the city’s amazing view is during the winter seasons between January and March when the weather is less humid and pleasant to meander around the city. Apart from this, the city has a lot to offer for expats looking for a home as this city has plethora of fun and awesome cityscapes.

Once you decide to relocate to Hong Kong you will surely be mesmerized to find hassle-free relocation companies overseas for end to end packing, moving and settling-in services. As part of professional services, one can also avail city orientation services for an exquisite experience in the city. Wanting to explore the city? One can visit the Victoria Peak and get a glimpse of the sprawling city. The Peak Tower which is a huge tower in the shape of a wok makes this possible. This peak has its shopping mall, restaurants and a world-famous Madame Tussaud’s museums to entertain all its visitors’. Expats visiting the city for the first time are fascinated and excited to the global statue laid in the famous wax museums. Apart from these the Hong Kong Museum of History is a much-deserved museum to be explored by travelers and residents alike. The temple street holding the Ten Thousand Buddhas statues is worth exploring too if you get stressed from the hectic work-life. Apart from the steel jungle this city exposes its nature freely to its guests with its natural scene, nothing can beat the Lantau Island which itself is most of the times responsible for people opting to move to Hong Kong. Holiday makers seeking an escape from their vivacious city lives often run off to the HK to seek the detached ambiance of the tranquil and cerulean crystallized beaches. Sight the renowned pink colored dolphins known as the Chinese White Dolphins and exhilarate in the adventures of the most engrossing theme park; Disneyland Park. The fun and excitement offered at the island is simply inexpressible if you are settling down in HK and want a stress-free life.

Shopping and Hong Kong go hand in hand. Shopaholics from around the world get enticed to the shopper’s paradise. The city is indeed blessed with the overabundance of goods on sale from emerald and jewel stones to apparels, cosmetics, toys, sports gears and electronics. Toys, video games, CDs, DVDs, cameras and other digital and electronic equipment tops the list of tourists and expats shopping list as it is relatively inexpensive in the city. Another most sought-after shopping item in the city is the decorated lanterns, theme dress, shoes and the good luck wind fan artifacts that links back to the city’s past. Some of the important shopping destinations within the city circumference include the Times Square, IFC Mall, Pacific Place and Harbour City to name just a few. One can also choose to hang out at Ladies Market, Stanley Market and Temple Street. Shopping aficionados can refer to the Hong Kong city guides before moving to the city.