TAIWAN bookseller Eslite Bookstore opened its first overseas outlet in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay area Saturday.

    “Hong Kong is like a second home to me, and I hope the new shop can help Hong Kongers show their friendly natures to each other,” Eslite founder Robert Wu said at the book shop’s grand opening.

    The new shop occupies floors eight to 10 of the Hysan Place department store. It will be open for 24 hours every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with regular business hours for the remaining days of the week. It is the first bookstore in Hong Kong to operate through the night.

    It is hoped that the Eslite Bookstore can become a highlight of Hysan Place and a new landmark in Hong Kong, said Lee Yun-lien, executive chairman of the board of Hysan Development Co.

    The shop attracted a large crowd on its opening day, with one shopper commenting that the shop is very comfortable and unlike any other Hong Kong bookstore. Another young shopper made similar remarks, but noted “the books seem a bit expensive.”

    Causeway Bay is dubbed “Little Japan” due to the amount of Japanese merchandise on sale in the area and shops like Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store and Sogo Department Store in the past. The district is also home to large numbers of Japanese expats. However, Taiwan and Hong Kong companies have started to move into the traditional Japanese enclave in recent years.

    (SD-Agencies)