2. You can send the recipient a US Dollar personal check, which they can deposit with their bank. However, the check will take about 1 month to clear.

3. Go to a branch of a Hong Kong based bank in your area, e.g. Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. or Hang Seng Bank in any major metropolitan area with a significant Chinese population, and purchase a Bank Draft or Cashier’s Check. Enquire if they can issue drafts in HK$ drawn on their account with their HK parent. Otherwise, check if they have provisions to clear their checks quickly (eg. if deposited with a particular HK bank).

4. Of course, you can always tell your bank to initiate a wire transfer, or get a HK based bank in your area to do it (probably better, since they are used to doing it).

5. ETC International (similar to 1. above, but subject to transaction fee) This is actually quite popular in Canada now.

6. Bank Draft. Every bank in HK that issues US$ Bank Draft can draw on their accounts in the US, so worst case is 7 days to clear. Add the time to deliver the physical draft to the recipient (2 – 7 days).

7. Cable/Telex/Wire transfer. Yes they are all different (in speed), and subject to service charge. Hang Seng Bank seems to charge a fixed fee for amounts up to some large number, and is probably cheapest. Note that the recipient will ALSO be charged a fee, typically USD 10 to USD 15, so if you wire $5000, they may only get $4990. This is caused by the Fed Wire Transfer between the correspondent bank (ie. the bank that, for example, Hang Seng deals with), and the receiving bank.

8. Cash. What else

It is good to learn how to do the proper Chinese way of greeting so as to show respect for the culture and establish a good impression on them. Bowing is their way of greeting and when a handshake is made be gentle because they are not used to close and intimate interactions with foreigners or strangers for that matter. Because they recognize seniority, be conscious of greeting the most senior member first.

Hong Kong Business Culture may also be described as results or role-oriented rather than that of the Western values of personal and social growth. Avoid confrontation and aggression. Remember to use language diplomatically. Refrain from directly refusing anyone by saying “I will try” or “I will see.” Be modest in all you behavior and also keep you calm.

Gift giving is also a part of doing business in Hong Kong. It helps establish or maintain relationships. Avoid giving clocks, books, green hats and anything unwrapped or wrapped in blue. Gift money in a red envelope is known as hong boa. Accept gifts with both hands and remember that gifts are to be reciprocated. A meal could also be a form of gift for the Chinese. Be punctual and courteous in meetings. Do not set appointments on Chinese New Year because they look forward to this time for vacation.

Limited companies

Limited companies are companies that shoulder limited liabilities from a legal standpoint. The liabilities of the shareholders and proprietors are limited to the value of the shares they hold. This means during a legal tussle, the proprietor or shareholders can only stand to lose the nominal value of their shareholdings. The director or shareholders do not bare any personal liability to the debts of the company whatsoever.

In non limited companies the liabilities of the investors is not limited to their investment in the company. The shareholders are directly responsible for the creditors’ losses and are required to repay the debt their company has caused to its creditors.

Conditions to register a limited company

The law allows for a company to be set up by one or more persons; furthermore one single legal or natural entity can act as a shareholder, a director, a proprietor, an investor and also a company secretary simultaneously. There are no restrictions to the nationality of the secretary involved; however it is required that he or she must be a resident. There are no restrictions on the domicile or nationality of the other members involved.

A company’s executive body is made up of its board of directors who are responsible for the daily functions, supervision of documentation and audits, and deciding and implementing the future course of action for the company in the AGM – Annual General Meeting. As per Hong Kong law an AGM must be held at least once a year; there is also a regulation that there cannot be a gap of more than 18 months between consequent AGM’s.

An alternate route to set up a Hong Kong company

If you, as an investor, wish to set up a company in a hurry and cannot afford to wait to complete the normal start-up procedure, there is the option of acquiring a readymade shelf company. Shelf companies are companies that have not commenced any sort or form of business and have no economic presence in the market; such companies have no liabilities or debts at the time of purchase. Shelf companies are set up as per Hong Kong laws and are registered with The Registrar of Companies and have already attained a Certificate of Incorporation. The cost to purchase a shelf company is almost comparable with that of the cost to start up and register your own company in Hong Kong. The company must then obtain a permit from the Business Registration Office to engage in commercial activities.

At whatever time you walk in the street, you will be come across heavy traffic and the citizens and tourists continuously throng this place. But everything is very methodical and tidy.

Nathan Road is the most important road of Tsim Sha Tsui. All the other streets branch out from there. Countless international brands are clustered in those streets. Particularly, the Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard which is planned for shopping, and youth like to rove there to purchase some stylish and smart clothes. For those travelers who are hunting for cosmetics, going to the cosmetic stores in Granville Road and Harbor town will really surprise them.

We can enjoy a full revelation of the Victoria Bay in this region, and the suggested attractions are the Avenue of Stars and Tsim Sha Tsui Beach.

Eateries- Steamed dumplings, cakes, steamed stuffed buns, seafood dishes, soup, etc.

How to reach there: Catch the subway and reach Tsim Sha Tsui or you can be on the Star Ferry to reach the destination. And the travel in Hong Kong is quite easy, so you can arrive at your end very comfortably and without difficulty.
Street of Stars

The Avenue of Stars, to be found in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, was constructed to showcase Hong Kong’s film industry, its past record, movie actors and those working at the rear of the camera. There are approximately 73 movie celebrities tablets inlaid on the surface of the street. Nearly 30 celebrities also left their handprints on their tablets along with Jackie Chan, Jet Lee, and Andy Lau. Sitting on the avenue is a 3-meter tall bronze figure of Kung Fu Star Bruce Lee.

At the doorway to the avenue is a bronze imitation of an Oscar statuette and a tiny stage for presentation. Having a walk along the avenue, tourists can find many snack shops, memento booths, a number of statues associated to movies and benches to be seated and relax.

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.

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.

Those of you who enjoy the finer things in life can try out the Lei Yue Mun Seafood Village Dinner Cruise. This exceptional dining experience gives you the unique opportunity of enjoying an assortment of local seafood dishes while admiring breathtaking views of the city in the comfort of a cruise ship. A number of bars and pubs are also on offer for visitors who enjoy a drink in the midst of great company. Lan Kwai Fong is a popular choice among the many pubs found in Hong Kong, primarily because the high profile locals who visit this outstanding establishment regularly.

Finding an upscale dining outlet is not hard work in this part of the world as most of the gourmet restaurants are located in the city itself. Many of these restaurants are elegantly furnished and serve mouthwatering delicacies that give your taste buds a treat worth remembering. Lovers of the arts can pay a visit to the Sunbeam Theatre, which is one of the most popular venues that stage frequent Cantonese Opera performances. These highly stylized theatrical masterpieces are carried out by professional actors who have undergone intense training which can take up to a decade to perfect.

Hong Kong Disneyland

No visit to Hong Kong can possibly be complete without a visit to the Hong Kong Disneyland. If you are visiting Hong Kong with your children then they will never forgive you if you don’t take them to this amazing Hong Kong tourist attraction. Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island and there are a number of Hong Kong hotels and resorts located nearby to this popular tourist attraction.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park has been one of the most popular Hong Kong tourist attractions for some time now. This excellent theme park is popular with both local residents as well as tourists. There are all sorts of attractions and activities at the Hong Kong Ocean Park including a shark aquarium and various rides and roller coasters. If you are interested in visit the Ocean Park during your visit to Hong Kong then please note that Ocean Park is located on the south section of Hong Kong Island. Opening hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 until 18:00.

Victoria Peak

One of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak. It is located at a height of just over 550 meters and many tourists visit Victoria Peak so as to enjoy the Hong Kong from above. Be sure to take your camera when visiting this popular Hong Kong tourist destination. If you are interested in visiting the Victoria Peak then please note that you should take the Peak tram which will take you all the way to the top and takes only eight minutes.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Hong Kong is home to some rather stunning temples and one of the most popular of these Hong Kong temples is the Wong Tai Sin Temple. This popular Hong Kong tourist attraction is especially very popular with Chinese people visiting from abroad. The Wong Tai Sin Temple is a Taoist temple and was build in 1921.

Place to stay in Hong Kong come in all types of quality, shapes and prices. There are really cheap youth hostels with lots of “character” and five star luxury hotels that would make an emperor blush. Universally, the accommodations are smaller than you would expect in other parts of the world. You can expect rooms to be smaller than Thailand, but a bit bigger than what you find in Japan for corresponding prices.

Luxury lodgings are primarily located on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island is the central area of Hong Kong, the location you see in pictures of the massive skyline. It is situated on an amazingly thin strip of land between the ocean and mountains. If you are doing business in Hong Kong, this is where you want to stay as most of the major commerce centers are on the island. There are a bevy of five star places offering accommodations. In truth, your choice is limited only by your budget.

If you are looking for cheaper accommodations in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New territories offer a variety of sources. You can even find hostels on Hong Kong Island. Put another way, accommodations are plentiful regardless of where you are. Hong Kong is a major transportation hub for Asia, so it caters to all budgets.

Finding a place to stay in Hong Kong is a piece of cake. Figure out where you want to stay and then shop around to find the best prices.