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Hong Kong used to be dubbed as a shopping heaven. While no longer as true as it was once in terms of price, the city still has a dazzling range of goods that meet what you as an expat need.

The two major supermarket chains in Hong Kong, Park'N Shop and Wellcome, run a number of "superstores", though on a smaller scale than that of Wal-Mart, or Tesco, where you can buy literally every daily necessity. Stores are scattered throughout the city which are stocked with foods appropriate for the majority. Moreover, drugstore chains such as Watson's and Mannings (also operated by the same two conglomerates) have penetrated all major expat neighbourhoods.

More tailored to Westerners are independent or "theme' stores such as Olivers, The Great, CitySuper and Taste. These stores offer a wide selection of Western and imported foods and merchandise of international brands.

For other essentials such as clothing and household goods, Hong Kong well lives up to its reputation. Go to any shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay and you can almost get what you want, be it design-led furniture to chic designer cloth stores. Street markets in Mongkok or Stanley may nevertheless satisfy bargain hunters.