Hampers fulfil a delicate gift-giving function - with a little bit of everything, you are sure to provide something for everyone. This is especially useful when, as in the case of business associates, you do not know the intended recipient very well.
The tradition of giving hampers probably goes back to the days of the Roman Empire in northern Europe, when small gifts were exchanged during mid-winter celebrations. By Victorian times, hampers had developed into being quite fancy.
Hong Kongers have been firm supporters of the hamper-giving tradition for many years and the choice is now available to suit every taste and budget.
Great in Pacific Place has a Hard-Working Hamper priced at HK$350. Goodies in the bag include cookies, chocolates, tea, coffee and nuts. This is a far cry from last year's Imperial Hamper, which would have set you back HK$128,000 and contained the favourite tea of Mao Zedong and coffee specially brewed for Napoleon, as well as a HK$30,000 bottle of cabernet sauvignon.
The Inter-Continental has three Christmas hampers. Its Connoisseur includes Christmas pudding, Panettone, home-made chocolates, Amarette Morbidi, Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial and Chateau Clarke, Baron Edmond de Rothschild Cru Bourgeois, Listrac-Medoc, Bordeaux 1996. The cost is HK$2,480.
The hotel's Italian Gourmet hamper is full of Parma ham, olives, pasta, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, tomato sauce with mushrooms, Panettone, home-made chocolates and a choice of one of Collio Pino Grigio, Russiz Superiore, Friuli 2001 or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Avignonesi, Tuscany 1999, all for a HK$1,880.