GETTING THERE TO BOOK FLIGHTS TO HONG KONG, VISIT
WWW.VIRGINAUSTRALIA.COM OR CALL 13 67 8 9 (IN AUSTRALIA).CLOCKWISE,
FROM FAR LEFT
Hullett House;
a taxi in the Central
district; Ho Lee
Fook’s entry is
decorated with
maneki nekos
(fortune cats);
the ground floor
of PMQ in Sheung
Wan; Potato Head’s
modern exterior;
cabbage and
pork dumplings
at Ho Lee Fook;
aternoon tea is
served in The Lobby
of The Peninsula;
the vibrant decor
at Mrs Pound; The
Pottinger’s elegant
lobby; Upper Lascar
Row is the spot for
antique hunting;
Yewn’s window
display; open-air
food stalls abound in
the older districts.
cutting and architectural lattice. Yewn’s
masterworks are highly prized — not
least by former US First Lady Michelle
Obama, who drew attention for wearing
his Lattice Jadeite ring to a banquet at
Buckingham Palace in 2011 with Queen
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Hong Kong’s hotel scene has always
drawn inspiration from the city’s history.
Named after Hong Kong’s first governor,
Sir Henry Pottinger, Pottinger Street is
one of Central’s oldest lanes. It’s here
that The Pottinger boutique hotel casts
a stately presence amid the dai pai dongs
(open-air stalls). The classically styled
interiors feature patterned tiles, elegant
chandeliers and art by the late director,
photographer and actor, Fan Ho.
Nearby, sits the Murray Building —
once the tallest government building in
Hong Kong. The 27-storey site, whichwas auctioned of for redevelopment in 2011, is currently
being transformed into a luxury hotel, which will be called
The Murray. Its doors are expected to open in October.
Across the harbour, Hullett House — the 1881-built former
headquarters of the Royal Marine Police — ofers 10 themed
suites named after iconic Hong Kong locations, such as the
vibrant red lacquer and gold decorated Shek O Suite, inspired
by the antique shops on the famous Hollywood Road strip.
For a romantic retreat away from the urban buzz, Tai O
Heritage Hotel occupies another former colonial police station
and serves up serenity and seclusion in style. Overlooking
a fishing village on Lantau, it has nine elegant rooms and a
rooftop restaurant with views of the South China Sea.
While the bright lights and big city appeal of Hong Kong are
undoubted, the authentic charm resides in its creative embrace
of historic influences, compelling natural landscapes and
a forward-thinking outlook. This multi-layered personality
means ‘Asia’s World City’ never fails to surprise and delight.