Hong Kong and Macau presence in Shanghai.

The Hong Kong and Macau Shopping Centre has just opened a branch in Shengdena Plaza on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai in September 2005. About 20 brands will be moving into this 1,000 sqm store in the first stage of its development.

This will be the first store specialising in Hong Kong and Macau brands on the Nanjing East Road pedestrian shopping street under the Special Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, which came into effect in 2004.

Garments, food and other products well known in Hong Kong, such as Wing Wah moon cakes and Walt Disney's children's series of products, will be sold at the store.

While international brands are increasing their presence in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau specialty stores have, to date, remained conspicuously few.

According to the company's general manager Jin Chenglong, the Hong Kong and Macau Shopping Centre will step up its efforts to bring in more Hong Kong and Macau brands, if the Nanjing East Road experiment turns out to be successful.

The aim is to form a distribution centre for Hong Kong and Macau goods in the Yangtze River Delta.

The Hong Kong and Macau Shopping Centre has developed patented counterfeit-proof labels for use on zero-tariff products, with the help of the Hong Kong Productivity Council.

The anti-crime move will assure local consumers that they are getting authentic Hong Kong and Macau products.

from Joan Huang, Shanghai Office