Business Travel Guide: Hong
Kong
East meets West in Hong Kong, a maxim as true today as in 1841, when British seafarers described arriving on “a barren rock with hardly a house upon it.” These days the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China sprawls not only across the island of Hong Kong itself but up the Kowloon Peninsula towards mainland China, as well as to smaller surrounding islands where countless houses and high rises have sprung up. What lures everyone to cram into relatively small accommodations that sell for astronomical prices? Money, honey. That’s what Hong Kong is — and always has been — about.
Making and spending it top the list of how residents and visitors spend their time. The pirates and opium trade that jump-started HK are long gone. In their place are investment bankers, telecommunications entrepreneurs, manufacturing mavens and real estate barons willing and eager to work around the clock. When you do spy them weaving and snaking their way through the HK streets in bespoke suits and handmade stilettos, expect to see a luxury brand shopping bag or two in their well manicured hands. As for those who wonder about the true flavor of the once British territory now that it’s had time since the 1997 Handover to settle into being China’s window on the world, it’s a complex combination of East and West, where some of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers tower over alleys filled with dim sum and astrologers. The most dramatic change, as far as corporate life is concerned, has been the invasion of businesspeople from mainland China which makes Hong Kong today the ideal place for foreign investors looking for their gateway to the mainland. As China continues to grow (it’s now the world’s second largest economy) Hong Kong’s crucial position in the global financial community will leap like a tiger from strength to strength.
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Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Currency:
HK Dollar
| Despite
a takeover by China, Hong Kong maintains autonomy
over its currency, the HK dollar, which has been
fixed since the early 1980s at HK$7.8 to the U.S.
dollar; rates in other currencies can be calculated
off their U.S. exchange. Notes are issued by three
banks (each has its own design). There are numerous
exchange outlets at the airport, and countless ATMS
throughout the city that dispense HK currency. |
Smart Card
Octopus
Octopus makes getting around Hong Kong easy with transportation payment cards that look like credit cards. Additionally, what started as an easy way to pay fares for public transport has expanded to include small-value payments in select retail outlets. Find out more at www.octopus.com.hk
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Transportation:
| Opened in 1998 on Lantau Island, Hong Kong International Airport (www.hongkongairport.com) serves as a major gateway to southern China. From here metered taxis are plentiful—flag fall is HK$18, and the cost to the Central District is about HK$400. But the best option for travel into town, as far as we’re concerned, is the MTR (Mass Transit Railway, www.mtr.com.hk) Airport Express. It takes less than half an hour; we suggest you purchase a round-trip pass at HK$180, good for one month and available from a counter and automated machines just after visitors clear customs in the airport arrival hall. In addition, check with your hotel, as most offer free shuttle or limousine service from the airport. Once in town, MTR is easy to use, and unlimited use day passes are available. If you need to take a cab, keep this in mind: red taxis serve most destinations throughout Hong Kong, green taxis serve New Territories, and blue taxis serve Lantau Island. |
Information:
| For daily local and international news, Hong Kong’s English language newspapers are the South China Morning Post and The Standard. The International Herald Tribune is also widely available. There are also local TV and radio stations in English. To find out what’s going on around town each week, check out the following free publications: What’s On—Hong Kong (available from the Tourist Board, www.discoverhongkong.com) and HK Magazine (available in restaurants, bars and shops). |
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east Hong Kong
29 Tai Koo Shing Rd.
Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong
852 3968 3968
www.east-hongkong.com
reservations@east-hongkong.com
As the second Hong Kong hotel from Swire Hotels, east expands the line for business travelers. Perched on top of a massive shopping complex, this sleek business hotel is located near Hong Kong's Cityplaza and TaiKoo Place in Island East, close to the hundreds of local and international businesses of the area. The hotel offers a great value with its modern space with a chic rooftop lounge for entertaining – Sugar Bar+Deck+Lounge – located 32 stories up. Feast (Food by east) is the hotel's unpretentious café, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual setting on the first floor. All rooms are stocked with the latest technology, including an iPod Touch, an iHome player and complimentary Wi-Fi, in addition to a 37" HD LCD TV with satellite and i-cable channels, walk-in rain shower, mini bar and safe. Rooms are designed with floor-to-ceiling windows (with views of Hong Kong's busy harbor), natural limestone, bamboo flooring and deep carpets. Property amenities include an outdoor lap pool and a 24-hour fitness facility, cleverly named Beast (Body by east), with personal trainers and a juice bar. The friendly and efficient service staff is an added bonus.
Grand
Hyatt Hong Kong
1 Harbour Rd.
Wanchai, Hong Kong
852-2588-1234
www.hongkong.hyatt.com
info@grandhyatt.com.hk
 In a city flooded with venerable luxury business hotels, Hyatt International’s flagship property offers 556 comfortable, contemporary guestrooms and suites (the majority with panoramic Victoria Harbour views) and plenty of business amenities. Overnight spa suites are also available with deep soak bathtubs and holistic amenities for those in need of after work detox. Even for those who don’t intend to move into the cutting edge Plateau spa, consider booking at least one treatment with these top notch therapists rightly considered some of Hong Kong’s finest. Twenty-six meeting rooms are equipped with inter-room computer connectivity—temporary internal networks can be set up. Accommodations come with high-speed Internet, confidential fax machines and interactive TVs with Internet and email capabilities via cordless keyboards. There are eight floors of Grand Club accommodations with extensive business perks (take advantage of one-hour complimentary boardroom use per day) and Specialty Suites for VIP delegations. Eight restaurants and bars include Cantonese favorite One Harbour Road, the dramatic high ceilings of Grissini's with an excellent Sicilian chef, and the outdoor Grill in the warmer months for lush steaks and superb salads. A notch above the usual recreational offerings is Grand Cru, a 150-foot motor yacht.
InterContinental
Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Rd.
Kowloon, Hong Kong
852-2721-1211
www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com
hongkong@interconti.com
 The InterContinental takes its business hotel status seriously. At the same time, it throws out a few surprises. Most notably: the restaurants SPOON by Alain Ducasse and Yan Toh Heen (see below), plus their in-house Steak House, with an excellent wine list and enormous American strip steaks, melting chocolate cakes, and platters of oyster. Nobu's first non-Japanese outlet in Asia is on the hotel's second floor. Formerly the Regent, this waterfront hotel has a contemporary look and lots of business perks, including 24-hour business services, the largest ballroom in HK and harbor view meeting rooms. The 514 guestrooms and 92 suites (most with harbor and island views) come with high-speed Broadband Internet access. One notable amenity is the Club InterContinental Executive Lounge—with all the freebies of a typical corporate level lounge, it doesn’t require you to stay in a corporate level room. You simply sign up and pay a fee for the privileges. The food, dedicated concierge, and meeting rooms here are among the best, and the Presidential Suite with its outdoor infinity pool is arguably the city's finest—available by the day or for a half-day event.
Mandarin
Oriental, Hong Kong
5 Connaught Rd.
Central, Hong Kong
852-2522-0111
www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong
 When it comes to flagship hotels, Hong Kong has its fair share. But the Mandarin Oriental is surely the most distinguished. Overlooking Victoria Harbour, it boasts a guest list mingling business titans with sultans, princesses and U.S. presidents, plus the crème de la crème of the Hong Kong beau monde. The style—both in the bedrooms and boardrooms—is classic, with tasteful Asian touches like silk wall hangings and teak paneling. Most of the 486 guest rooms and 55 suites feature balconies, and all come with TV systems that access your email, STSN plug-and-play for laptops, and high-speed Internet access. Meeting and event spaces are classic-contemporary. Among the excellent restaurants are Pierre by French chef Pierre Gagnaire, Mandarin Grill designed by Sir Terence Conran for power dining and the China House restaurant—featuring traditional Cantonese in an Art Deco atmosphere reminiscent of 1930s Shanghai. Tea here is still the draw for Hong Kong society and the rose petal jam and scones are rightfully legendary.
The
Peninsula Hong Kong
Salisbury Rd.
Kowloon, Hong Kong
852-2920-2888
www.peninsula.com
pen@peninsula.com
 Flashy new pads crop up but The Peninsula remains the Grande Dame of Hong Kong hotels. Dating back to 1928, it’s a bastion of tradition—exemplary service, a fleet of Rolls Royce limousines, classic high tea with live musicians, and Gaddi’s French restaurant, a local institution. The business center offers private working offices, and the rooms (both in the historic Main Building and newer tower) come with treats such as silent fax machines and TVs with video camera playback. At over 4,000 square-feet—and with conference room, mini gym and private office—The Peninsula Suite is a standout.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
International Commerce Centre
1 Austin Rd. W. (Lin Cheung Rd.)
Kowloon, Hong Kong
852-3760-9000
www.ritzcarlton.com
 With the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, new records have been set ... for the tallest building in Hong Kong, for the tallest hotel in the world, and for the highest swimming pool in the world. Superlatives aside, this swanky hotel inhabits the 102nd to 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon. All 312 guest rooms and suites feature Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations and flat-screen TVs, as well as expansive windows overlooking Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. Designed by Japan's Spin Studio, the six food and beverage venues include upscale Chinese and Italian, but the highlight is the rooftop al fresco bar, serving Asian-style tapas around fire pits. The rooftop is also the site of the indoor pool, which literally drifts among the clouds. Also of note is ESPA, where floor-to-ceiling windows in every treatment room make it one of the most memorable spa experiences on the planet. |
Über-designer Philippe Starck made his name in Hong Kong with this eye-popping penthouse dining room of zinc cylinders, aluminum walls, curving glass façades and even a tiny disco. Elevator lights dim to set the mood as you ascend to the 28th floor of the Peninsula Tower. Begin at the bar for first-rate fruit martinis and unusual riffs on Bellinis. Then head to the dinner table for contemporary French-inspired fare from the kitchen of Japanese-born Chef Yoshiharu Kaji. who entertains palates with pan-fried goose liver with rhubarb and butter-poached Boston lobster with Meyer lemon, baby beets and lavender.
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 Calvin Yeung and Mabel Wong followed their tiny cult favorite Shui Hu Ju in Central district with this stylish Kowloon eatery inspired by up-country Chinese cooking, delivered with creative, modern flare and no MSG. Hutong has awesome 28th-floor panoramas of Victoria Harbour and the HK cityscape. Nineteenth-century rooftops and tables sourced from mainland markets make for a dramatic re-imagining of the traditional Beijing courtyard. Steamed scallops cloaked in a sensuous pumpkin puree speak to the earth-bound restraint of cooking in China’s colder provinces. Bamboo clams are cut julienne-thin, lightly bathed in rosewater, finished with hot peppers. Lamb ribs are de-boned and then deep-fried, their primal meatiness tamed by a chile-soy dip. Shredded pig’s throat with scallions and coriander is transformative. It tastes elegant and almost squid-like. Vegetarians need not stay home thanks to the chilled dry tofu with preserved greens, kicked up several notches by fiery chilies and the generous grilled platter of string beans, asparagus, eggplant, black mushrooms and garlic. |
Holland-born Chef Richard Ekkebus trained in France under celebrated talents Guy Savoy, Alan Passard and Pierre Gagnaire before creating this modern French-influenced menu crafted from ingredients flown in daily, from the Tokyo fish market to those in Tasmania and Brittany. Standout dishes on the ever-changing seasonal menu include duck foie gras ravioli simmered with black truffles over a creamy violet artichoke in poultry velouté; sea urchin in lobster jelly with cauliflower, caviar and a crispy seaweed waffle; Bresse pigeon with wild mushrooms; and line-caught amadai with orange and fennel confit. Pastry chef Matthieu Goddard more than holds up his end of the evening, balancing French classics with the fruits of his local market excursion, including a delectable passion fruit soufflé with sticky rice ice cream. Complimenting the exceptional cuisine is the Macassar ebony wood-filled dining room designed by Adam Tihany under a chandelier of 4,320 suspended bronze rods used to cast a warm metallic glow over the double height interior.
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Capturing the zeitgeist of the new/old Hong Kong is KEE Club on Wellington Street. Riotous fun can be had thanks to the eclectic room—decked out with Picasso prints, African statuettes, and funky retro vibe—and a glamorous crowd. Chanel-suited ladies lunch on authentic dim sum like Chui Chow dumplings and deep-fried taro stuffed with stewed pork, plus Cantonese dishes such as scallops stir-fried with lychees and ginger, as well as the famous roast goose from Yung Kee restaurant downstairs. Evenings belong to Chef Andre L’Herminier. His European menu is highly adventurous, with novel mains like black cod and butternut squash in ginger cream and poached lobster tail and sea urchin in vegetable salsa. Equally formidable, KEE’s cellar is stocked to the brim with first-growth and rare Burgundy. Late-night on the weekends, the dining room turns into a lounge for the beautiful people and celebrities of Hong Kong. Befriend your hotel concierge at places like Grand Hyatt and Peninsula to get a table. |
 New on the scene, this industrial chic eatery is grabbing the attention of gourmands who appreciate true Napolitano pizzas among other Italian delicacies served by dapper young waiters in an unpretentious European café ambience. Tables downstairs in the brick clad wine bar do not need to be reserved but competition is tight among Hong Kong’s sleek elite to snag these hot seats every night. The ground floor serves up cold cuts fresh from the old country, while upstairs the more intimate dining feels homey, with solid walnut floors, walls covered in blue and white ceramic tiles printed with Chinese illustrations and old-fashioned marble tabletops. Chef Vinny Lauria came straight from the acclaimed Babbo in New York, bringing with him world-class pizza previously unavailable in Hong Kong. The chef himself recommends the D.O.C., a deceptively simple pie of cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and basil as well as the marinara con accuighe that adds garlic, anchovies and oregano. For the table, order the pan roasted whole mullet with braised artichokes, charred lemon, bottarga di muggine and chili citronette. Everything on the menu goes even better with Lauria’s crispy prosecco potatoes. |
 When it took over from the Regent, the InterContinental put itself on the map with its superb selection of restaurants, including the haute Yan Toh Heen. The authentic Cantonese cuisine is overseen by chef Lau Yiu Fai. We like the freshness and consistently high quality of the food, which includes signatures like the wok-fried lobster with crab roe and fresh milk, golden stuffed crab shell with fresh crab meat and Australian Wagyu beef served on an iron skillet with Japanese shisito peppers and bamboo shoots. This elegant honey and gold hued dining room is also an excellent choice for dim sum lunch with standout innovative bites like the steamed crabmeat, green vegetables and black truffle dumplings and baked diced chicken and walnut with Portuguese sauce in a sugar pastry.
|
 D-I,
as locals call it, has become a legend in both
local and global circles. Owner Gilbert Leung
hired designer India Mahdavi to create a modern
Oriental fantasy with silk lanterns, circular
banquettes, and even a birdcage on the terrace.
There's a dim sum lunch during daylight hours
and contemporary Japanese food in the evening,
but it's the after-dark and late-hours action that
counts most. Models, celebrities, captains of
industry East and West all congregate here for
the scene—very, very beautiful thanks to
hundreds of models who come here nightly—and
the dance floor. |
 The flagship bar of the group behind Hutong sits
lofted above their 29th-floor Italian restaurant,
Aqua Roma. It's got industrial design style and
is barely lit save for sexy spotlights on tables,
the radiant light of the skyline, and an underlit
bar. The drinks, like lychee bellinis, are superb,
the wine list strong on blockbuster Italian reds
and vintage Champagne, and the lounge seating
area is small, but perfectly made for business gatherings.
Reserve the couch seating next to the bar or,
for something more private, the semi-circular
booths overlooking Kowloon and its urban
sprawl in the back. |
 For entertaining clients, this is one of the most
intriguing charters in Asia. The famous, high-style
restaurant group behind Hutong and Aqua has taken
their areas of expertise—dramatically chic
looks, Western style, but superb Chinese food—and
applied them to that most famous of Hong Kong
icons, the Victoria Harbour junk. It's possible
to charter the boat and do bespoke menus, cocktails,
and journeys in front of the famous skyline. The
28-meter ship was built by craftsmen in the
1980s and hand-detailed. It does 45-minute sails
daily between Hong Kong and Kowloon, and can be
rented out completely. |
Festivals
www.discoverhongkong.com
 Given
that celebrations coincide with every waxing and waning of
the moon, you’ll be hard pressed not to find a
festival when you’re in town. The most famous
is the New Year Festival in late-January or early-February,
although keep in mind that this isn’t the best
time for business travelers as many companies shut down
for the party. The Dragon Boat Festival in June is good
fun with the racing of elaborately decorated dragon
boats. One of our favorites is the Mid-Autumn Festival
in September, which finds public spaces and parks filled
with families wielding lanterns and chowing down on
moon cakes. With their feasts, fortune-telling, Chinese
opera and more, festivals offer unbeatable entertainment.
Happy
Valley Racecourse
1 Sports Rd.
Happy Valley, Hong Kong
852-2966-8111
www.happyvalleyracecourse.com
 Good
luck finding a sport more popular in Hong Kong than
horse racing. It’s a must see cultural event,
particularly at the Happy Valley Racecourse, where the
first race was run in 1846. Today the track is a modern
marvel, with enormous video screens, computer betting
and room for 35,000 spectators. In season (September
through June) you can mingle with locals in the standing
room only section, or flash your passport—and
pay a small fee—for access to the exclusive Hong
Kong Jockey Club Members’ Enclosure. Races are
on Wednesday evenings and the occasional Saturday and
Sunday afternoons.
Hiking
Lantau Island
www.hiking.com.hk/english/
 For
those who think Hong Kong is all skyscrapers and stock
markets, think again. More than 40 percent of HK is
made up of nature parks. With these parks come excellent
hiking trails, particularly on Lantau Island, which
has over forty miles of marked trails. The trails are
divided into twelve sections, and if you’re looking
for the ultimate coffee break, this is it. Depending
on which section you hike, you may encounter temples,
traditional Chinese gardens, fishing villages and beaches.
The pinnacle hike: a two-and-a-half hour trek to the
top of Lantau Peak.
The
Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course Limited
New Territories, Hong Kong
852-2791-3388
www.kscgolf.org.hk
jckscpgc@kscgolf.org.hk
 Hong
Kong has a wealth of good golf clubs (www.hkga.com),
but most are private and allow outsiders only on select
days on a first come basis. That’s one of the
things that makes this public course—the only
one in HK—so popular. With three 18-hole courses, of which two were designed by
Gary Player, there are courses for both medium and advanced
level players. The course sits at the north end of Kau
Sai Chau Island and is considered to be one of the most
scenic in Asia. It offers a refreshing escape from the
concrete jungle, as well as a driving range and putting
facility. Priority is given to Hong Kong residents,
but being able to book a week in advance helps. Beware
windy days.
Bespoke Shopping
Sam's Tailor
Burlington House Ground Floor
94 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong
852-2367-9423
www.samstailor.biz
Shanghai Tang
G/F Pedder Building, Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong
852-2525-6923
www.shanghaitang.com
(tailor made dresses and suits from US$1,000)
Elissa Cohen
209 Hankow Centre
5-15 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
852-2312 0811
www.elissacohen.com
 Tailor to everyone from former U.S. President Bill Clinton to NBA giant Yao Ming, Sam is actually Manu Melwani, famous for impeccably tailored suits and speedy turnaround. Go native with a tailor made Mandarin collared suit or cheongsam from Shanghai Tang in the highest quality silks embellished with brocade. Cigar smoking icon David Tang snagged the island’s finest fingers when he launched this world famous brand so you know your Chinese inspired couture will contour to your curves and musculature like no other. Finish off an Eastern or Western look by making an appointment to select the ultimate Hong Kong souvenir with jeweler to the tai-tais, Elissa Cohen. The Hong Kong born bling queen maintains a world class selection of precious stones and China’s finest pearls. Choose from classic styles, her eye-catching collections, or work with her to come up with your own designs.
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(Updated: 12/30/11 CT) |
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