Shopping in Hong Kong
 SHOPPING MALLS
Hong Kong's well-designed shopping mega-malls cater to every taste and budget.
These vast emporiums combine boutiques from a Who's Who of the international designer scene with brand names from every corner of the world. Enjoy the fine dining and gourmet food outlets in Hong Kong's malls, offering everything you could ever desire under a single air-conditioned roof.
Hong Kong's biggest and brightest malls play host to fashion shows, previewing the very latest trends from around the world.
 ifc mall
ifc mall Ideally located for business travellers above Hong Kong Station, ifc mall has a bright, modern design. Inside this two-phase complex, you can find a cinema complex, restaurants, local and international clothing chains along with shops selling beauty products, cosmetics, books, gifts and stationery.
Open : 10:30am - 10pm, daily
Address : 8 Finance Street, Central
Tel : +852 2295 3308
Website : http://www.ifc.com.hk/
The Landmark
Hong Kong's premier shopping mall, The Landmark is a four-storey arcade that offers department store, designer shops, exclusive brand names, jewellery and lifestyle stores.
Open : 10:30am - 7:30pm, daily
Address : 12-16 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Tel : +852 2500 0500
Website : http://www.hkland.com/
The Sincere
This department store offers high quality and sophisticated fashion, shoes and accessories geared towards the working professional. You can also find high-quality infant and children's wear, gifts, kitchenware, bathroom fittings and home appliances.
Open : 10am - 7:30pm, daily
Address : 173 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Tel : +852 2544 2688
Website : http://www.sincere.com.hk
Prince's Building
This upscale shopping mall, with its impressive, contemporary design, contains a mix of designer shops, specialty stores, jewellers, tailors and other popular local retailers.
Open : 10am - 8pm, daily (most shops open until 7pm)
Address : 10 Chater Road, Central
Tel : +852 2500 0500
Website : http://www.hkland.com/
STREET MARKETS
Hong Kong's street markets are always full of excitement and colour.
The market stalls are where Hong Kong's dedicated shoppers hone their bargaining skills. A little Cantonese helps but sign language is universal.
Pick up a bargain or just wander among the fascinating range of wares.
Hong Kong
Stanley Market
Stanley Market is the perfect place to buy something special for friends or relatives. The historic fishing lanes are jam-packed with vendors selling Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and curios.
Stanley Market Road, Stanley, Hong Kong Island
9am - 6pm
Kowloon
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
The Bird Garden is the favourite gathering place for Hong Kong's songbird owners. The market provides them with all manner of creature comforts, from intricately crafted cages to nutritious grasshoppers.
Yuen Po Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon
7am - 8pm
Flower Market
Hong Kong's Flower Market is a truly magical experience.
Admire in the colourful displays, the sweet scents and the exotic blossoms of many fortune-bringing houseplants.
Flower Market Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon
7am - 7:30pm
 SHOPPING TIPS
Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme
The QTS Scheme is organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board(HKTB) to help visitors find shops and restaurants they can trust. This scheme certifies shops and restaurants that pass stringent annual assessments showing that they:
- Provide genuine products with clearly displayed prices;
- Display clearly product information and/or menus; and
- Ensure superb customer service with front-line staff possessing extensive product knowledge so they can answer questions efficiently.
Only shops and restaurants that qualify for the scheme are allowed to display the QTS sign of quality. The HKTB also provides assistance for enquiries about purchases from shops and restaurants accredited by the QTS Scheme.
Duty-free Prices
All goods, other than alcohol and tobacco, are tax-free. This makes Hong Kong one of the world's most attractive shopping destinations.
Compare Prices
Check different shops to compare prices of items you want to buy. Department stores and chain stores also clearly label their products. Smaller shops and street market stalls often do not mark product prices providing a great opportunity to practise your bargaining skills. You may contact the Consumer Council on +852 2929 2222 for suggested retail prices.
Know Your Product
Make sure you know what you want in terms of models, features, price, accessories and warranty such as terms and geographical coverage, especially when you buy electronic goods. When you buy Chinese medicine and dried seafood, please check the product’s unit price and the method used to measure the weight of the goods. If you have any queries about prices please contact the Consumer Council, wholesaler or agent, or visit the manufacturer's showroom for further product information.
Be Aware of Parallel Imports
Parallel imports are items brought into Hong Kong by someone other than the official import agent. While these products can be cheaper, they often offer restricted guarantees or limited after-sales service. Check the product and ask the sales staff before buying.
Avoid Bait and Switch Tactics
Some merchants display ambiguous prices or request a deposit on a product only to claim later that only an inferior or more expensive product is available. In order to avoid these bait and switch tactics, be sure to shop at outlets where product price is clearly displayed. You should also compare prices to get a better idea of the product’s price and features before purchasing it. You should also verify and understand exactly what you are buying and what the price covers. We recommend that you patronise QTS-accredited merchants only.
Inspect Your Products
Check the product before paying and make sure you have all the accessories that should be included. Check the product you have bought again before you leave the store.
Check Your Receipts
You should always get a sales receipt (street stalls sometimes do not provide them). Check to ensure that all details and verbal agreements are fully listed on the sales receipt. Make sure the product details listed match the product you have bought.
Credit Card Payments
Most Hong Kong shops accept credit cards. Check the credit card slip before signing it and remember to take your receipt. Credit card companies and/or banks issuing the cards may charge a currency-exchange fee on overseas purchases. Please check with your credit card issuer for further details.
14-day 100% Refund Policy
Visitors who patronise a registered shop arranged by Travel Industry Council (TIC) members are entitled to a full refund provided the request for a full refund is made within 14 days and that the purchases are completely undamaged as well as retruned with the original receipts and the original packaging when they were bought or collected. Visitors may contact their tour guides or receiving agents or TIC for the arrangement. (Telephone: +852 2807 0707)
Disputes
If you have any problems, keep your receipts and call the Consumer Council Hotline +852 2929 2222 for assistance.
In the event of a serious dispute, call the 24-hour Hong Kong Police emergency number 999 or obtain assistance from a nearest police officer.
You can also call the HKTB multilingual Visitor Hotline +852 2508 1234 for assistance.
WHERE TO SHOP Hong Kong Island
Central
Hong Kong's Central district houses many shimmering skyscrapers and marbled shopping atriums and malls.
The contrast between the old world markets and designer boutiques provides variety and excitement to any shopping day. Scattered among the government headquarters and financial and banking houses are a wealth of opportunities for any shopper. The Landmark, The Galleria, Prince's Building, Alexandra House and the ifc mall are the main shopping centres, with designer shops and exclusive brand names in abundance.
Two parallel streets in Central known as "The Lanes", Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West are a riot of stalls hawking everything from inexpensive clothing, watches and costume jewellery to luggage and shoes. Situated between Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central, the market is open daily from 10am to 7pm.
Stanley Street is known for its range and reasonably priced photographic equipment. Hollywood Road winds above the Central business district and is Hong Kong's antiques row. Farther west towards Sheung Wan is a bustle of sidewalk hawkers on Central's stepped "ladder" streets.
Western District
Western Market in Sheung Wan is a handsomely renovated Edwardian building filled with Chinese handicraft stores and fabric shops. It is situated at the corner of Connaught Road and Morrison Street, Sheung Wan. The area to the west is famous for its small Chinese-style shops selling dried seafood and medicinal herbs.
Cat Street bazaar is best known for stalls and shops selling antiques, such as watches, old coins and stone carvings.
The area is also home to many interesting Chinese herbal medicine stores.
Admiralty
Admiralty too is famous for its brand-name luxury goods.
Pacific Place, one of Hong Kong's most popular malls, is the ideal place to go in this area. You'll find perfect gift ideas within its 130-plus outlets, including the Lane Crawford and Seibu department stores and top designer labels. Pacific Place is connected to the Admiralty MTR Station.
GREAT BUYS
Whatever you wish, you'll be able to find it in one of Hong Kong's thriving shopping districts.
Indulge yourself by getting that little special something you've been wanting. If you're after electronics or something classic; a new wardrobe or something to put in it, you'll be able to find it all and ship it home with ease.
Browse through the categories and save your shopping time with the address and contact details of the shops.
CLOTHING & TAILORS
Hong Kong's designers have taken the world by storm in the past few years, proving how serious fashion is in the city where East meets West.
Chic local brands and international design houses rub shoulders in exclusive outlets throughout the territory and chain stores bring the styles to the streets.
Renowned Hong Kong designers, such as Vivienne Tam, William Tang and Walter Ma, have stylish boutiques, while cheap and cheerful styles can be found in outlet stores. There is something for every fashion finder's budget and plenty for those who want to make a style statement all of their own.
For something unique, why not have an outfit custom-made at one of the many reputable and famous
tailors. Suits, shirts, skirts and evening gowns can be created to suit the most elaborate or sedate of tastes. A figure-hugging traditional cheongsam (Chinese dress) might make the perfect gift for yourself or someone special. Hong Kong's tailors also boast a wide range and high quality of wedding garments. Besides, furs bought in Hong Kong are often of higher quality but are much cheaper than in most Western cities.
JEWELLERY & WATCHES
All that glitters ... is usually gold and in Hong Kong the choice is phenomenal.
 Gold, diamonds, pearls, precious gems and ever-popular jade all sit strikingly in every jewellery store window. Hong Kong is a terrific place to buy high-quality pieces of jewellery at extremely reasonable prices
The Chinese prize jade for its beauty and the luck it's supposed to bring. A top quality stone is judged according to its consistency in colour, translucency and coldness to the touch. The proprietor should give you a proper receipt that details the type and origin of the stone. If you are purchasing jade of significant value, it is advisable to go with someone who is an expert.
Pearls are judged by their lustre, size and the brilliance of light they reflect. Diamonds and a wide selection of precious stones in a range of colours are also readily available at affordable prices.
Time is truly precious in Hong Kong, with the many expensive watches on offer. But if you would rather go for something sporty or funky, there is a wide range of fun and specialised sports models available too.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Hong Kong is a great shopping destination for all types of Asian arts, crafts and antiques.
Valuable Chinese antiques, such as delicate vases, imperial embroidery and ancient pots can all be unearthed, as well as traditional silk garments, centuries-old opium pipes and historical photographs. Many shops can arrange to insure, pack and ship your goods safely back home.
Hong Kong is the ideal place to make major purchases of antiques and artifacts. For a wide variety of goods, such as porcelain, silk garments, musical instruments, seals and handicrafts, Chinese department stores offer a wide range and make good one-stop shops.
You may wish to consider an expert's appraisal and the customs duty regulations in your home country before buying.
AUDIO & VISUAL
Hong Kong is the gadget capital of Asia and the perfect place to pick up a gizmo or two.
Literally thousands of shops fill the demand for cutting-edge technology, electronics and home appliances. The latest products are often on sale here before they are available in other countries and there is always something to impress even the most technologically savvy shopper.
Prices are extremely competitive and the extent of electrical, audio and visual products is mind-blowing. As things get smaller and faster, it is often amazing to find equipment that was considered beyond one's imagination only a short while ago.
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