Getting there London offers the only direct flights: Air New Zealand, BA, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Virgin from Heathrow; Oasis flies from Gatwick.

Where to stay The Peninsula ticks all the grand-luxury boxes, but for somewhere with a little more intimacy, try JIA (right), a small, but perfectly formed boutique hotel just off Keswick St in Causeway Bay. Cute.

Business climate Hong Kong is seen by many as the unofficial capital of the Greater Pearl River Delta region, home to almost 60,000 factories which generate exports of $519bn a year. In addition, the island attracts much of Asia's financial expertise, although its battle with Shanghai to be China's number one financial hub will be undermined by its independent currency, the Hong Kong dollar.

Ice breaker The island was once dismissed by one-time Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston as "a barren rock with nary a house upon it".

Etiquette The toast forms an integral part of any evening. "Ganbei" means "dry glass" or "bottoms up".

Eat like a local A six-course Cantonese dinner at the Peninsula's Spring Moon costs a very reasonable £75 per head.
Email: dining.pen@peninsula.com