Discoveringthe lures of Hong Kong

What makes Hong Kong so popular especially with Filipinos? I’ve al-ways wondered why a Hong Kong vacation is a favorite grand prize in raffles, contests on television, radio, in company parties and even a popular honeymoon destination for newly-weds. My editor, who has been to the Crown colony many times already has nothing but praises for its attractions and food. Is it getting all the attention because of its proximity to the Philippines, its fame as the ultimate shopping mecca in Asia or is it because of the ideal working climate it provides especially to our Overseas Filipino workers? I have discovered much more than I expected during my first sojourn to this bustling “City of Life” recently. Together with a group of journalists, we went on a four-day familiarization tour of Hong Kong’s most popular and rarely visited attractions courtesy of our gracious hosts, Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). Leading our group were Rowena Romero, CX Marketing supervisor and Maia Baconguis of Perceptions, HKTB’s PR firm in the Philippines. A prelude to an exciting adventure and Hong Kong hospitality was glimpsed as soon as I boarded a CX plane. For about an hour and 30 minutes, I was comfortably tucked in a Business Class seat (after being upgraded from Economy Class). Cathay Pacific has long been synonymous to Hong Kong. There are other carriers plying the Hong Kong route but there’s no better way to bring one there than HK’s most adored, Cathay Pacific. Hong Kong, which is surrounded by water, has been dubbed “Venice of the East”. It is nestled on the southeastern coast of China and spreads out to over 424 square miles, including more than 260 Outlying islands. It is composed of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. Hong Kong island lies south of Kowloon and is separated by Victoria Harbor while the New Territories is situated on Kowloon’s north and runs up to the boundary with mainland China.

I did not mind the long queue of incoming visitors at the immigration counter as I took the time admiring the impressively huge Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong’s International Airport.

Hong Kong’s ultra-modern airport is definitely world-class and at par with the region’s stunning airports like Singapore’s Changi and Japan’s Narita. In fact, Guinness World Records has named it as the world’s largest airport terminal in 1998.

The airport, which spans 1.3 kilometers in length and 550,000 square meters in width, has a baggage hall as big as the New York Yankee Stadium and can accommodate five Boeing 747s parked wing tip to wing tip. This architectural masterpiece designed by Sir Norman Foster opened in July 1998. Situated on a flattened island off northern Lantau island, the 1,248-hectare Chek Lap Kok costs a whopping US$1,175 million and was one of the world’s largest reclamation projects. According to reports, the airport is so enormous that its Y-shaped terminal is actually visible in satellite images taken from space. The wonders and beauty of Hong Kong gradually opened up to me as soon as I hopped on the airport shuttle which took passengers to their hotels. Another breathtaking view that welcomed me was the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world’s longest road and rail suspension bridge. The 4,518-foot bridge, rests on a superhighway which links the airport to the urban areas of mainland Kowloon. This project was one of Asia’s most remarkable engineering feats and has won international acclaim for Hong Kong, including the British Construction Industry Supreme Award in 1997. The postcard-beauty of Hong Kong further unfolded as the towering skyscrapers and a handful of vessels plying the Victoria Harbor came into view. The city’s skyline is one of the popular symbols of HK and is among the most recognized in the world. The territory which is divided into 18 districts, is a city of contrasts. Its 5,000 years of Chinese tradition has been gracefully preserved and combined with some 150 years of British colonial influence. Some of the old world, rustic atmosphere can still be seen in the city’s historical landmarks sitting side by side with its futuristic buildings and modern attractions. It was really delightful seeing mountains on one side and skyscrapers on the other; century-old double-decker trams alongside sleek cars and luxury limousines; a 103-year-old Star Ferry sharing a vibrant harbor with fast-speed ferries and international cruise liners; and street-side food stalls located nearby classy restaurants.

We were billeted at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, one of Kowloon’s most popular hotels. Sonny Ang, the first Filipino to hold a top marketing post in a hotel in Hong Kong and Ivy Chung, director of Public Relations treated us to a sumptuous nine-course welcome dinner at the hotel award-winning Loong Yuen Restaurant. This resto bagged the gold prize for the Dim Sum category in the “Best of the Best” Culinary Contest. Consuming all that food was quite a challenge for us but it became all harder to digest as soon as Sonny amused us with his outrageous working experiences abroad. After an early briefing the next day with Boyd Fung, HKTB Public Relations manager, Denny Ip, an incredibly vivacious tour coordinator who practically knows everything about Hong Kong led us to a scenic 30-minute ferry cruise to Lamma Island. Denny told us that lots of expats live here as house rents are three times cheaper than those in downtown. Residential houses that are available for rent to tourists cost only HK$200 on weekdays and HK$400 on weekends.

The third largest island in Hong Kong, Lamma offers a relaxing respite from the bustling metropolis. There, you can take long leisurely walks without having to worry about bumping into a single car. There are lots of mountains to hike and fine beaches for bathing. The island also has some of the city’s most popular seafood restaurants. Before hiking to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan family trails in Lamma island, Denny made sure we gathered enough energy and stamina from a bountiful seafood feast at the Rainbow Seafood Restaurant. The trek up the mountain was quite exhausting for most of us but the fascinating view on top was worth the climb. At the foot of the mountain, we had the chance to taste a Ah por toufu or Grandmother’s tofu which is basically cold taho with sweet syrup. Our group dropped by Shanghai Tang in Central and Causeway Bay, two of the city’s most popular shopping destinations for some quick shopping before boarding the Peak Tram for the much-awaited evening sightseeing at the Victoria Peak Tower. The Peak Tram, a cable-hauled funicular railway transports about 9,000 passengers a day to 369 meters or 1,267 feet above sea level on its 1.4 km. line with gradients as steep as one in two. One of the world’s oldest transport systems of its kind, the Peak Tram started its operations in 1888. Until now, it proves to be the best mode of transportation when going up the Peak. Before the highlight of our tour, we had dinner at the Peak Lookout, a popular fine-dining restaurant which boasts of European and international cuisine. The romantic ambience of this resto is perfect for couples, especially honeymooners.

The Victoria Peak, located in Central and Western district is a must-see for tourists. I was completely swept off my feet when we got to the viewing deck of The Peak. While braving the cold breeze, I marveled at the city’s spectacular skyline famous in the world for its towering skyscrapers which transform into a glittering spectacle at night. These skyscrapers and the rest of the city will be further illuminated in full splendor starting tonight until January 26, 2002, as HKTB kicks off its Hong Kong Lights Up promotion, a part of a two-year worldwide tourism campaign dubbed “City of Life: Hong Kong Is It!”