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Archive for March, 2010

Hong Kong Shopping Destinations

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Hong Kong is probably the best shopping destinations in the world that offer various types of goods and services at reasonable costs. Hong Kong is also one of the world’s leading destinations that thrive in shopping mall tourism as well as retail therapy. In fact, Hong Kong is a shoppers’ paradise. For tourists visiting Hong Kong, shopping is not only a process of buying several exciting stuffs but also an important recreational as well as fun filled activity.

Since Hong Kong is a free international port, it keeps abreast with the world’s latest fashion trends and provides opportunities for the tourists to buy custom-free products that have been brought from across the world. No matter you want to shop fashion accessories, apparels, or electronic items, Hong Kong has superb options for all. Discussed further in this article are some of the most popular shopping areas in Hong Kong that are spread across its three major sections such as the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and New Territories.

One of the most prominent shopping areas in the Hong Kong Island is the Central District, which is also the economic and financial hub of Hong Kong. With a fusion of designer outlets, high-end shopping malls, and old markets, shopping in the Central District is truly an enjoyable experience. For antique collectors, Central District’s such areas as the Cat Street and the Hollywood Road are a great choice, both of which are lined with a number of antique shops.

Likewise, if you want to shop fabrics, souvenirs, handbags, and other fashion accessories at bargain prices, then Des Voeux Road and Queens Road in Central District are some of the popular choices. Further, the Central District is home to the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system, the Midlevel Escalator and Walkway System.

Prominent shopping areas in the island also include Admirality, which comes with a great number of shopping malls, departmental stores, upscale hotels, and recreational areas. Few among the shopping options available here are Pacific Place and Queensway Plaza. The Admirality stations link Hong Kong Island’s MTR Line with the Kowloon Tsuen Wan Line.

Among the significant shopping destinations in Kowloon are Mong Kok, which is a great place for shopping electronic items at bargain rates; Tsim Sha Tsui, an area designed especially for those who want to shop high-end fashion accessories; and Kowloon Tong, whose focal point is the mall Festival Walk, with more than 200 shops. When comes to New Territories, perhaps its most prominent shopping area is Tsing Yi, with a number of glitzy shopping malls.

With these scores of options, visitors touring Hong Kong can shop from morning to late night. But, certain important things have to be considered while shopping in Hong Kong. First of all, don’t get swayed away by illegal products. Since Hong Kong consists of a large number of stores selling same products at various prices, a smart shopper must shop around to compare prices and to buy a product at the possible least price. Likewise, it is advisable for the buyers to shop from stores or malls with membership of the Hong Kong Tourist Association.

Hong Kong Real Estate Investing

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Real estate in Hong Kong is regarded as one of the costliest as well as the lucrative in the world. In other words, buildings and land in Hong Kong form a significant portion of the nation’s wealth and economy. Further, due to its attractive tax system, many international business firms and corporations find their way to Hong Kong for the establishment of their innovative projects. This in turn has led to great demand for high grade industrial and residential real estate in the city.

According to certain records, the cost of residential real estate in the city has gone up to US$ 585 per sq ft. The price is even higher in such posh areas as the Peak – the area between Victoria Peak and Mount Gough, covering spots such as Peak, Victoria Gap, Mount Kellet, Jardine’s Corner, Mount Gough, and Plantation Road.

Nowadays, great choices as well as potential are made available for those who are interested in real estate investment in Hong Kong. Additionally, real estate in Hong Kong provides great benefits to investors. The main advantage is that investing in a property in the city allows you to have access to world’s one of the established markets.

Another worth mentioning benefit of investing in a real estate here is that not any kind of restrictions have been imposed on international investors to buy a property or asset. Further, buying a real estate in Hong Kong is considered one of the best options for long term investment, as it can undoubtedly fetch you huge profits.

Hong Kong’s property buying processes are administered by the Conveyancing and Ordinance, which is modeled in the form of English Law. In other words, the real estate law of this Special Administrative Region is quite similar to the one found in the UK, which in turn has attracted many American and British real estate investors.

One of the unique things regarding the Hong Kong Property Law is that all of the land found here belongs to government, ie, each of the real estate in Hong Kong is held under leasehold title. Hence, those who are interested in property investment buy an agreement or a lease for a period ranging from 50 to 999 years.

A real estate or property in Hong Kong can be either solely owned by one person or through jointly by several investors. However, joint investment may be usually in the form of tenant or a joint tenancy. Further, a property can also be owned through a company structure. But, in case, if a company would like to conduct its business through the purchase of a property on lease, then it should be registered with the Hong Kong Companies Registry. In addition, every type of lease should be listed at the Hong Kong’ Land Registry.