March 9, 10 ,11th
Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were returned to China by the British at the end of a 99 year lease, in 1997. The origin of the lease is interesting to note. The British conducted a very profitable opium trade for tea and silk from 1773 to 1839 when the emperor banned the drug trade and expelled the British. In 1841 a series of conflicts followed, with the British backed by the French, Russian, and American interests. A combined British and French force invaded China in 1859, forcing the Chinese to agree to the Convention of Peking. It conceded Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and nearby Stonecutters Island to the British. In 1898 the British also gained a 99 year lease on the New Territories which further protected their interests. The agreement allows Hong Kong to maintain its pre-1997 social, economic and legal systems for at least 50 years after 1997. China’s official policy is “one country, two systems”.

Day one is an orientation, with a trip up Victory Peak for a spectacular view of the harbor and city. We then go to Aberdeen for sampan ride to see the floating fishing village and end with a visit to a gem factory. It was compete with a discount showroom and Ann did not hold back. Day two is a visit to the Central District to shop, back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we do a harbor tour by boat but jump ship on the Kowloon side at the Star Ferry Pier. We walk to the elegant Peninsula Hotel and down the Nathan Road, Kowloon’s dense and busy shopping street, from the famous Kansu Street Jade Market to Lady’s Market. This is a distance of about two miles of dense humanity and the most “branded” shopping I have ever seen, no bargains. Every major brand in the world has a store, from Rolex to Timberland. The selection was over the top, but as I said no deals. The only opportunity was, discount, custom tailors and 23 of them approached me………….. I must have been the worst dressed guy on Nathan Street. We ended up at the Continental Hotel bar, over looking the harbor at night fall. We saw a fantastic light show with colored lasers on the skyscrapers surrounding the harbor. On day three we grab a taxi (my mandarin is becoming pretty good by now………ha, ha……. each word can have 5 or more unrelated meanings, depending the tone) and go value shopping at Stanley Market.