The Dream Factory of China

　　CTF HOKO spins a New Year record as 160,000 throng complex for the know-how in HK shopping

　　The proliferation of cross-border e-commerce stores is gradually changing the shopping habits of mainland residents, with more people now willing to buy Hong Kong products on the mainland without having to join the crush at the border checkpoints.

　　Qianhai Chow Tai Fook Global Goods Shopping Centre, or CTF HOKO - Shenzhen's first concept shopping center located in the Qianhai special economic zone and created with the goal of partially easing the jam at retail facilities in Hong Kong - drew some 160,000 visitors on New Year's Day. It was a record attendance since the first phase of the experimental project threw open its doors on Dec 7.

　　The mall, run by Hong Kong-based property and hotel group Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, offers a wide variety of Hong Kong products, the prices of some of which are said to be comparable to or even cheaper than those in the SAR.

　　It gives retailers in Hong Kong a run for their money at a time when they are languishing under the dual weight of an economic slowdown and the diminishing number of mainland tourists in the city.

　　"Shopping in Hong Kong is now no longer my priority," vowed Xu Qingqing, 31, who lives in Shenzhen's Bao'an district, which is not far away from Qianhai. "I can save on transportation costs and time and I don't need to worry about the quality."

　　With 20 stores in full swing under phase one of the project, the shopping center will expand its scale under the second phase, which is expected to open in April and accommodate 50 stores from Hong Kong.

　　"The difference in shopping experience between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is narrowing," said Hu Xiaochun, a 36-year-old mother.

　　Hong Kong saw the value of its retail sales plummet 7.8 percent year-on-year in November last year, according to the latest government statistics.

　　Qianhai showcase mall gets the feel

　　The city's gloomy retail scope has resulted from a lackluster tourism industry, with the number of tourist arrivals in the SAR diving 10.4 percent year-on-year to 4.75 million in November. Mainland visitor numbers fell by 15.5 percent, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said.

　　However, the situation improved somewhat during the just ended three-day New Year holidays.

　　A report by Tuniu.com - a mainland online tourism platform - shows that Hong Kong remained the most popular destination for outbound tourists, attributed to a range of promotional activities launched by the HKTB, as well as falling airline fares and hotel rates.

　　"Apart from shopping, Hong Kong has many other tourism products. We're working actively to promote deep traveling and attract visitors by launching various activities, including food and cultural events," a HKTB spokesperson said.

　　Travel agencies are also striving to recoup mainland travelers' interest in visiting Hong Kong through innovation. A Shenzhen travel firm said it will introduce "supervisors" for its Hong Kong tour groups, who will travel with them and keep an eye on the whole trip in Hong Kong.

　　Reporters, lawyers and those with a rational occupation are encouraged to act as supervisors, said Liu Ke, marketing director of Shenzhen China International Travel Service Co.

　　"We hope the introduction of supervisors in our tour groups will alleviate their concern and improve the quality and services of Hong Kong tours," he said.

　　According to Liu, the first supervised tour group will set off next Tuesday.