Will Shanghai Replace Hong Kong as a National Financial Centre by 2020?

The Shanghai Free Trade Zone marks China's attempt to turn the eastern city into Asia's global business hub.(Carlos Barria/Reuter)

Will Shanghai Replace HK as a National Financial Centre by 2020?

The launch of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone marks China's attempt to transform its largest city into Asia's top global business hub. Will it work?

China’s Commerce Minister, Gao Hucheng, presided over the launch of the much-hyped Shanghai Free-Trade Zone (FTZ). Beijing had approved the zone with the full backing of Premier Li Keqiang, there had been growing speculation in Hong Kong that the former British colony’s unique role as China’s offshore financial center was in jeopardy.

Now that the 11-square-mile FTZ—which includes the tariff-free areas of Yangshan Port, Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone and Pudong Airport—is open for business, there are more questions than answers. The two big questions are: Will the zone fulfill its potential as a testing ground for bold financial reforms for the rest of the country? And, will Shanghai ever be a global financial center on par with Hong Kong?

“I don't think there is any chance that Shanghai will become a global financial center by 2020, because the country's service sector will take far longer to develop than its manufacturing sector.”

However there are the potential risks of Hong Kong,

Many post 90s generated are spoiled by their parent, too much protection becomes loss of competitions.

Hong Kong has to take a political reform for changes or the City will die, in fact we are dying now!

The last Semiconductor manufacturing company NXP has finally moves into Hui Zhou leaving only one Semiconductor equipment company ASM in Hong Kong as the government has no vision to support the hi tech industry, opposite the way Korea, Singapore and Taiwan has been doing in the past 20 year.

We had J-pop, now K-Pop, never could hear any HK-pop!

Now Four Little Dragons has change into Four Little Dragons and One Caterpillar (Hong Kong!)

The  renminbi and HK Exchange rate pull wider apart the gap between the dollar and RMB, 80% of food and major domestic utilities are imported from China, Hong Kong People is getting Poorer and poorer due to disgrace of buying power and inflation.

The confrontation between mainlander Chinese and Hon Konger is getting worse!

What Hong Kong people should do!? Nothing much to change the situation but going into state that the cases would changes their position.

Hong Kong people would one day work as a domestic helper in Shenzhen Rich Family home as they get paid in RMB.

China will import labour from Hong Kong especially middle management but remember that only those who spread good mandarin.

More Hong Kong student would rate Tsing Hwa and Beijing would be the first choice than University of Hong Kong.

More Hong Kong people would be called “Kong Tsan” (Hong Kong Pumpkins)

Rolex Advertisement in Shanghai 2005

Rolex will shift their focus from Hong Kong into China bigger city like Shanghai, GuangZhou, Beijing, Cheng Dou rather than Hong Kong.

Will Shanghai Replace Hong Kong to be a National Financial Centre by 2010, yet but almost!  May be Shanghai could replace Hong Kong by 2025!

HK Snob

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

Meeting Philippine Movie Stars Ronnie Ricketts, Mariz, Tirso (Pip) Cruz III in Manila

Tirso (Pip) Cruz III, HK Kong Tsan Snob, Ronnie Ricketts

Ronnie is CEO of OMD, a Martial Art master, 

Charriol with diamond

Ronnie Ricketts, Mariz and Tirso Cruz III are Famous Movie Stars in Philippines.

Mariz used to wear Rolex Date Just Ref 179178. She worn a Charriol Watch Yesterday.

Mariz is wife of Ronnie Ricketts.

Manila Snob
HK Watch Fever

Is There A Free Luch!?

  Sweet and Sour Pork with Japanese Rice, Corn Soup, a Glass of house Red Wine, slices of bread with Denish Butter... HKD$78.00 (USD$9.00)! Good Deal!

Is there a Free Lunch?

Famous Dentist

There is a dentist who was known to me he changed all the front teeth of Anita Mui back with all artificial teeth in 1986.

And whenever you go into his clinic at Yan Ping Road, he would like to ask you where did you park your car? Did you come by MTR? Did you come on foot?... What is your job? Who introduce you to him? Actually he is doing customer profiling!

And if he could identify you profession, well, say, if you drive a Mercedes 500SEL coming, he would ask for a HKD$4,000 for a tooth repair whereas the same work for me that took MTR to go would be just $500!

Big Discount for Pre-owned

People told me that there is big discount about watch in one shop than others. Well, I can ask why there is big difference in price for a watch like Rolex of the same condition and same model?

The main different is their way of doing business, some of the shop is running by the owner himself, who knows watch and who has a passion of watch and he speaks well in many languages. So whatever you receive is a courtesy customer handling and if you do not buy he won’t mad with you as he knows watches. Today you don’t buy, probably you will come tomorrow.

That is Chinese saying. Using a long line for Fishing, “放長線釣大魚”

Also he is doing customer profiling to understand how many watches you have and to probe if you would come for second purchase. So he may offer your bigger discount… whereas if you don't know much about watch or you just want to buy a Rolex using for the next 15 years, then he probably would not give you too much discount…  So next time, this is your chance to do sales to the shop owner and ask for more discount… this is Counter Sales “反銷法”!

Rent

Rent in HK goes crazy as we are working to pay for Mr. Lee, Mr. Kwok as their devil hands cover 30% of the HK rest estate, if they see your business is good they will raise the rent until your profit drops to nearly zero…they won't kill you immediately but they will strangle you to half-death!

One Wanton Shop at Wanchai sells the first 5,000 wanton just enough to pay for the rent that day.

One Mong Kok street shop selling meat Ball has to sell 83,000 Fish Balls a day just enough to pay the rent.

Most of the Watch shop in HK has to pay very high rent, I believe some of the watch shop at Mong kok has a rent of HKD$350,000  a month. I am not talking about Rolex AD, just small shop with 200 square feet selling pre-owned Rolex and AP.

And what they can earn the amount of money? Big portion will be coming from your watch purchase money.

I could sometimes seeing used watch is selling the same price as the watch in Rolex AD., well, because they expect you to ask for discount. I had witness that a watch listed with price of HKD$180,000  could finally done deal at HKD$120,000 well, see how high the mark up is!!

If you do not ask for discount, they would not mind saying one more time  ”Thank you!” to you,

Next time, try say “Can you give me a Better price, this will be my 88^th watch if you offer me some discount!”

If you say’ Please give me some more discount, as this is my first Rolex!’  The chance is lower for better discount!

No price tag

Many of the pre-owned watch shop in TST area has no price tag, well, if you do not care about the price, this is the right place for you. As they are the dentist I mentioned. They don’t have a fixed price but they do have a very high price.

Buy a new Rolex at Rolex AD

It is always safe to buy a new one at Rolex AD if you do not know the watch, the shop nor the shop owner in case for an Pre-owned Rolex.

FrakenWatch

There is many people selling Frankenwatch and some of them can pass all scrutinization of watch expert.

Tyr to go with a local guy as always it is safer to buy with a local, it means he can come back tomorrow if the watch has a problem.

BMW Repair Centre, taken By HTC One XL

Watch Repair

When I saw this picture, BWM Spare part car,  it says, “Inside matters, BWM Original parts”

It reminds me watch repair must go to original watch service centre as it is always better and cheaper at the end of the day. Unless someone who you know outside and he is known to be the best in skill, but somehow he has to go to find the original part. Parts that matters!

Is there a Free Lunch?

Everything is marketing, yes, we can have cheaper lunch, but don't dream about free lunch!

As the pimp says, always choice the expensive one, there is not cheap good stuff.., they comes with AIDS!

WOW!?

HK Snob

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

MongKok Snob

LED Fever

Price of Rolex in Hong Kong is average 12% cheaper than that in Philippines!

These are Branded Watch Shops in Resort World, Manila.

Taken By Samsung Note II LTE

8 Nov 2013

Rolex Price in Rolex AD, Manila

I had a call from one of the friends who did not want to buy Rolex in HK as she said she can get less 20% discount in Philippines. But of course she did not mention which Rolex AD.

Recently a British Expat who asked me where to Buy Daytona White Dial, and I told him it is hard to get one in HK unless you pay deposit and wait. But there I could see Philippine Rolex AD has more chance to get one… Immediately the same day he Bought one Rolex Ref 116520 Daytona White Dial at Ayala Cebu. He did some Negotiation from list price of Peso $52,000 and done deal at Peso $500,000

In fact Today, I purposely went to another Rolex AD in Resort World Shopping arcade, near Manila  Airport.

This is what I get about price

Daytona
Ref 116520 Daytona stainless steel Black dial Peso $556,500 after 5% discount Peso $530,000  that is  HKD$101,923

In Hong Kong, we can get this watch with HKD$95,000, that is further 7% cheaper.

Ref 116520 Daytona stainless steel White dial Peso after discount Peso $520,000

The British Expat could negotiate for Peso $500,000 that is HKD$96,154

In Hong Kong, we can get the same watch with HKD$87,500,  that is 10% cheaper.

Submariner

Ref 116610LN Submariner Date Black dial Peso $395,000 less 10%  HKD$68,365 in Manila.

In Hong Kong, the list price is HKD$62,100, assume walk-in less 5% that is HKD$58,995, VIP Discount is HKD$57,632. That is 14%, 16% cheaper respectively for Walk-in and VIP discount.

Ref 116610LV Submariner Date Green Bezel green Dial Peso $420,500  no Discount.  HKD$80,865 in Manila

In Hong Kong, the list price is HKD$66,100, no walk-in and VIP Discount, which is 19% cheaper in HK.

GMT Master II

Ref 116710BLNR GMT Master II Blue bezel Peso $ 415,000 less 5%   HKD$75,817

In Hong Kong, the same watch is selling now at HKD$65,300  no discount, so that is 14% cheaper.

Sooner like December, I expect I can get some discount, so that would be 19% cheaper if we buy in Hong Kong.

The variety of Choice

Honesty, 80% of the watch available is Date Just!

More Stain less steel than gold, more DJ II than Standard DJ 36mm, mainly because Philippine people is more stocky and have rounder wrist.  This is due to the food they eat and their genes.

Sport Model

I see One DeepSea, One Submariner Date and Submariner no Date in the shop, cannot find a GMT  master II stainless steel at all.

Day Date

Forget it, only a few pieces, mainly plain one, colour is boring grey and champagne!. No white Gold, no Platinum, I cannot see one…

Lady Date Just

The common 26 mm plain one a few with Diamond Dial, I cannot see many choice for colour…

Conclusion
A. Rolex Watch price is still cheaper if you buy in Hong Kong than Philippines with a difference of 7% to 19% depending on models.

B. There is more change you can get a Rolex Daytona White Dial or even Black if you buy in Philippines but you have to pay 10%.

C. Choice for model, type, dial colour, very limited choice!

Manila Snob

HK Kong Tsan

HK Snob
LED Fever

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Next Coming Posts from WATCH FEVER

Next 3 Posts.

1.  is there is a free lunch for Rolex?

2.  Dinning with Philippine Movie star and their watches, Rolex...

3.  Philippine Rolex market, prices and hot models, Buying tips!

4.  HK Recent Store that you can get GMT master II Blue


Manila Snob
HK Snob
Sham Shui Po Snob
HK Kong Tsan Snob

HKIA Comfort Room

Mosaic Picture of Victoria harbour in Comfort Room of HKIA near SIA Lounge gate 11

In the past two years, I had met two young ladis walking into this men's rest room whilse she was talking on the mobile, and eveyrtime I tapped her shoulder and she almost cry out... Not because of me, but....

One of them even talking to her boy friend may be and never noticed she went to a wrong place until she saw some organs that was not supposed to be appearring in her CR she used to go... I noticed her wearing an Solid gold Cartier Bubble!

PS, the urine basic reserved for me not because I am too short, in fact, it is because I am too long! Hmm!

HKIA Kong Tsan

Sham Shui Po Snob

Watch Fever

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL large date, Moon-Phases.

Picture taken by Samsung Note II LTE at HKIA T2

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL large date, Moon-Phases.

The Vintage 1945 XXL Collection combines proven techniques with uncluttered aesthetics to give its time indications their maximum impact.

The Vintage 1945 Large Date, Moon-Phases model indicates, as well as the hours and minutes, the date and lunar quarters also. Situated on opposite sides of the dial at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock respectively, the large date fixes the framework for the phases of the moon. The large date is displayed by means of two extremely thin disks, one for the tens, and the other for the units. The date change takes place instantly, in one ten-thousandth of a second.

The new Girard-Perregaux timepieces beat to the rhythm of the GP03300 caliber, the delicate workmanship of which can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back. Entirely designed, manufactured and assembled in the firm's workshops at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the automatic mechanical movement is decorated in keeping with the time-honored requirements of watchmaking tradition.

The layout is beautiful, the Arabic numerals are floating, big date, Curvature crystal add on an Art Deco 1945. The end of WWII, the time we should celebrate. Quick glance in this Pink gold big watch has certain images of Jaeger LeCoultre’s Reverso, but the slug design is different.

Price is more comfortable for someone like me to buy, a very reasonable price for a 222 years of Heritage and history… What do you think!?

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Ap Liu Street Kong Tsan

These are the places that we could possible get a Rolex Daytona Stainless Steel watch!

“T317tairport update bought Ref 116520 Daytona Stainless Steel White face. Ayala Cebu. Asking price 556,000 peso 520,000 cash anyway settled 500,000 ask for the boss. Got It. With your help i was able to determine what was a fer price to pay. and i am very happy. Thank you once more for the great info on this site.”

A message he left in my blog, well, I had a chance visiting Fort Rolex AD, I spotted one Ref 116520 Daytona Black dial.

And this gentleman just asked me comment on where he can get one, not long later he went to Ayala Cebu to buy his Ref 116520!

Congratulation!

People waits for months and years for a Daytona, and he got it almost immediately.

Peso 500,000 is about HKD$94,300, that is about 7% more expensive than HK, in HK, A whit dial is HKD$87,500 provided there is the watch!

Three weeks ago HKIA friend told me have a Ref 116520 Daytona Black offered to us at HKD$93,000  that is a super good deal, of course the watch sold immediately after the annpouncement!

And If you had time and if you have money of course, go try these places

Makati Rolex AD,

Cebu Rolex AD.

HKIA Rolex AD.

HKIA Rolex AD

 Rolex Datejust lady 31 Ref 178245 List price HKD$210,500

Rolex Submariner Ref 116610LV HKD$63,100 net

Samsung Note II LTE 5 Nov taken at HKIA

There may be having surprise!

HK Snob

HK Kong Tsan

Sham Shui Po  Poor Snob

Cebu Snob

Classic Rolex Flagship Model Day Date and Submariner with Colourmix horse hair watch strap

 

Panther like Horse hair Strap Day Date,  brown Horse hair Date Just,  Pink Horse Hair Day Date for Woman, Black plain Strap Submariner.

Ref 18038 White Enamel Like Dial Day Date 18KY yellow gold, Never been polished, for Sale HKD$45,500 net.

 

Horse Hair unhide!

Men's Date Just 18 KT solid Gold with greyish green dial (not champange gold) with White markings, carry brown feather like soft horse hair strap on Sale with just HKD$21,000 net. A men's Classic Watch for life!

Open. Classic Rolex Flagship model with Colourmix Horse hair Strap

Horse hair is very very tender, soft and having satin like texture and it is two-dimensional as the hair stand up like a sea urchin… Nice soft, unique Rolex that no other would have the same on the write.

HK Snob

Tsim Sha Tsui Kong Tsan Snob

Sham Shui Po Snob

Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710BLNR is available now in some of the Rolex AD in HK

Hi All

Two Places location I know is having this watch:

Mong Kok Hing Wah, there is One in the window, marked Cash price. HKD$65,300
Stock level :2 pieces 3 Nov 2013.

Oriental Watch Company TST store at Holiday Inn Shopping Arcade HKD$65,300 no discount
card and cash same,
Stock Level : One piece
4 Nov.

GO and try your good luck!

HK Snob
Tsim Sha Tsui Kong Tsan Snob
LED Fever
Mong Kok Kong Tsan Snob

An Unisex 1975 Georg Jesen Watch

Is this watch Lovely!??

Mechanical manual winding watch, Chopard Movement. Mirror dial.

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Kong Tsan Snob

LED Fever

Rolex DateJust with the Rarest Dial of Lapis Azuli Dial, with Bubble Diamond and the Most LUCKY model No. 16233...more...

What can you buy with HKD$60,000 for A Rolex?
Probably an Explorer II, a Submariner, a Stainless steel Date Just, of a Milgauss Green Glass!

Can you buy a Two Tone Rolex? I'm sorry, you have to pay a bit more.

Can you buy a Lapis Azuli dial with diamond? Well, I do not think so!
Nowaday, a Date Just 36mm men Two tone with 10 diamond on MOP Ref 116234 list price is $92,200.


Well, this is what, NOS Rolex Ref 16233 men 36mm Date Just Two Tone Yellow gold and steel, with Lapis Blue diamond, Jubilee Strap, How much!? HKD$72,950 list price.... before the "Discount!"

This is a discontinued item still using the old price. There was two sold alreay in this year and Still have three left...

People know Lapis blue know what they are and if you think this is not the most value for money Rolex we can buy today, tell me what else would be!

Being a Chinese who does not like this Ref 16233!?? nice model number!  The Colour of the Lapis Blue dial is unique. No wonder Dala Lama like Lapis Blue Dial Rolex!

Check when stock still last in one of the Rolex AD....!

HK Snob
Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan
Kong Tsan
LED fever

Rolex Special bulletin Release No. 1 Daytona

A 140 pages of content with some of watch columnists' article on Daytona, Story of Daytona, Watch Collection, design speciality of 4130 movement.

A free gift from Rolex AD., go and get one...when stock lasts.

HK Snob
Watch fever

Another Killer Rolex, rare Ref 19019 White Gold OysterQuartz Day Date

Osvaldo Patrizzi belived that there are only 1,000 pieces of Ref 19019 made!

Needless to say, this is one of my favourite Rolex Watches. A Day Date in White gold with Super Accuracy no other Rolex non Quartz Rolex can beat it.

Friend of mine who purposely SHOW OFF yesterday during our regular Tea-Watch Gathering.

Price of such an super excellent condition watch is in the range of HKD$95,000-115,000.

Note the Special OysterQuartz box, itself is a collectible item.

Kong Tsan Snob
Watch Fever

Manual Winding Automatic Watch Winder

There is watch Maniac who had once purchased an Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar, there is a free Auto Watch Winder with size of a shoe box comes with the expensive Watch.

However that special dry battery cells only can be available at AP AD, it is HKD$250 for the pack of battery that it may be used for a period of three months.

So Friend of mine modified the AP Auto watch winder with a hand crank like mechanism. He saves up the battery cell un-used.

So every time he left office for home, first thing he does is to put the watch with a price of BMW 530 into the watch winder, and manually rotate the handle to wind up the Winder with that AP watch!

He Does it everyday!

HK Snob

Watch fever

HK Kong Tsan Fever

JEANRICHARD Aquascope "Boat Race" model, Limited with just 160 pieces

JEANRICHARD launches LIMITED EDITION Aquascope Watch as OXFORD and CAMBRIDGE accept the 2014 BNY Mellon Boat Race challenge.

On 24 October 2013, at the Autumn Reception held at the BNY Mellon Headquarters and accompanied by the official timekeeper JEANRICHARD in London, the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs accepted the new challenge acknowledging the start of 2014 season. They agreed to face each other on the Thames on Sunday 6 April 2014 in a challenge laid down by the Cambridge University Boat Club President after they lost in 2013.

As the Official timekeeper of the famous rowing competition, JEANRICHARD participated in these kick-start proceedings. The new Aquascope model designed in the race’s traditional colours, with a minutecircle and double hour-marker at 12 o’clock reproducing the two shades of blue corresponding to the two teams (Dark Blue for Oxford, Light Blue for Cambridge), a blue rubber strap with a finely-ribbed surface, and a seconds hand adorned with an arrow referring to the logo of the Race.

Technical specifications:

Polished and vertically satin-finished stainless steel case with blue PVD coating

Circular satin-finished stainless steel bezel

Unidirectional rotating bezel

44.00 mm

Height: 13.05 mm

Antireflective sapphire crystal

Case-back, screwed-down, engraved

Screwed-down crown

Water-resistant to 300 m

Movement JR60,

self-winding

Calibre: 11 ½’’’

Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)

Jewels: 26

Power reserve: minimum 38 hours

Functions: hour, minute, second, date

Grey vertically satin-finished dial with “The BNY

Mellon Boat Race Oxford and Cambridge” inscription

Applied rhodium-coated indexes with luminescent material

Light and dark blue indexes at 12 o’clock

Light and dark blue minute-circle

Rhodium-coated hands with luminescent material

Blue rubber strap

Stainless steel folding buckle

Limited and numbered edition: 160 pieces

 

Available from November 2013 at authorized JEANRICHARD sales outlets.

Aquascope “Boat Race” model with its self-winding movement.

What I like about this watch is the Satin fine line dial, they are made as a simple way to carry out the touch up for a sport watch design, the size is 44mm, bold and large, clearly to tell the time, big bezel that could not be ambiguous in tell the timer.

Antireflective Sapphire crystal, and Big Hour Pointer is a nice feature. If there is shoulder beside the crown would be a step close to perfect.

Blue is the Colour of the year for Watch, it is never lose the pace in keeping up the fashion. The Red Pointer second is a Icing on the cake.

I am Checking what Special Number we have in HK JR AD so that we can reserve one!

HK Kong Tsan

Watch Fever