Many thought that when Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China on July 1, 1997, all nightlife --- in its various forms --- would disappear. Not so. It is better than ever.
It is true Hong Kong has undergone some momentous changes, and continues to evolve. But one thing remains constant: it's still very much a man's town. The things men savor are here in abundance: good food, good drink, good companionship, and sex.
Let's start with sex. The game goes on here just as it does everywhere in the world, but there are local rules (the same as anywhere) so if you're new to Hong Kong, it's important to be knowledgeable. Some things that are accepted in the West are viewed differently here.
This being the Mysterious Orient, things are not always what they seem. It pays to bear in mind that in spite of its outward veneer of a modern Western city complete with skyscrapers rocking skyward, Hong Kong, just a scratch below the surface, is an Asian city, specifically a Chinese city -- culturally that is since it is now a Chinese city politically. This situation did not happen with the departure of the British --- it has always been so.
At first impression, Chinese girls can seem very aloof and cold, unapproachable.
Although the Chinese are by no means oblivious to sex (they may even have invented it --- the Chinese have a name for simply everything), public displays of sexuality are considered low class.
While the Chinese very likely do the same things in private that the Europeans and Americans do, the public face must always be one of virtue and decorum. In other words, here, if you've got it, you don't flaunt it. Sex, that is.
Casual sex and premarital sex are much less prevalent in Chinese society than in Western societies, but they exist nonetheless --- obviously. Much like the West, "respectable" Chinese girls don't go for "one-night stands", particularly with Westerners. Anyway, as a visitor, the chances of meeting "nice" Chinese girl and taking her out on a date are very slim. They lead sheltered lives.
So if it is action you're looking for, that leaves the "other" kind of girl, the professionals. (Some men think they're more fun anyway). Where do you find them?
Traditionally, the Wanchai District (Suzie Wong territory) on Hong Kong Island was where sailors and horny businessmen head when they have just one thing on their minds.
During the heady days of the Vietnam War and the GIs' famous R&R junkets, Hong Kong's girlie nightlife spread across the harbour to Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, the area along Nathan Road close to the Star Ferry. (Most of the R&R hotels were there so the extension was only natural.) Incidentally, Hong Kong is still a popular R&R centre for warships of many nations on patrol in the area.
In Wanchai, along the famed Lockhart Road and its side streets were dozens and dozens of girlie bars, hostess clubs and pubs, cheek-by-jowl, ranging from evil-smelling dives where anything goes (and where one ventures at one's own risk) to respectable establishments with live music and uptown prices. That's changed somewhat these days --- Wanchai has become respectable with an excellent selection of ethnic restaurants and up-market pubs. The number of earthy girlie bars and discos has decreased since Suzie Wong's heyday, making meeting your very own "Suzie" much less likely.
The Lan Kwai Fong area in Hong Kong's Central District is probably the best known entertainment area in the city, but it is certainly not like Wanchai or Tsimshatsui of old. The hundred or so bars and restaurants crowded into two streets are distinctly up- market. Consequently, trying to meet someone becomes that much more difficult and expensive.
Wanchai and Tsimshatsui aren't the only two areas with girlie bars and hostess clubs of course, but the others cater almost exclusively to Chinese, and a Westerner might not be made to feel welcome.
The older, traditional clubs that look like Hollywood movie sets --- vast, plush, opulent, and very, very expensive --- still exist and are mainly patronized by well-off Chinese and Japanese businessmen
These days, many are called karaoke clubs. They're easy to tell with their doormen in fancy uniforms, hostesses in evening gowns, greeters in tuxedos, big orchestras, exotic, lavish decor, expensive sound systems --- the works. In these establishments, the girls who command the highest fees are Westerners!