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Is this what you’ve been waiting for ? Mention Hong Kong to just about anyone and the first thing they think of is overwhelming and there are a number of good deals to be had. With the locals, shopping is a pastime second only to eating.

The territory is mostly duty-free, which whisks a good bit off the top of a bill. And, depending where you shop, you can often bargain off a good bit more. There are many outlets offering fantastic deals. And you will often find top designer goods in street market bins for the price of a good pair of socks. Hong Kong’s own designers are beginning to come into their own internationally. Consequently, the territory’s designer shops have grown rapidly in number.
The variety is astounding. There are special shoe streets, an electronics district, a notions lane, one road devoted to carpets, one to modern furniture, antique markets, even streets that sell nothing but birds. Alltough the 24-hour suit is a thing of the past, most tailors can assure the best possible result after only a few fittings. And a pair of shoes, copied from the ones you’re wearing, can make up for the fact that you did’nt buy a pair in every colour when you first had the dance.

Shopping in Hong Kong is as adventurous as it is rewarding. Gold, ivory, jade, porcelain, silk and Chinese arts and crafts can all be very good buys. Bear in mind that shops displaying the red junk symbol of the Hong Kong Tourist Association assure quality goods and fair prices within.