Gourmet paradise: InvestHK's Ophelia Tsang visits the second Hong Kong outlet of Wang Jia Sha - one of Shanghai's most famous restaurant chains.

With InvestHK's assistance, Wang Jia Sha, one of Shanghai's most famous restaurant chains, has opened its second Hong Kong outlet.

InvestHK Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion Ophelia Tsang visited the new restaurant in Aberdeen today.

Wang Jia Sha opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong in December 2002 and it became an instant success.

With a $6 million investment, the new restaurant employs 70 local staff.

The company's Managing Director Chan Hoi-po said Hong Kong's cosmopolitan lifestyle, skilled labour force and transparent legal system made it an ideal place for Wang Jia Sha's expansion.

He said another eight new Hong Kong outlets are in the pipeline, adding: "Our success in Hong Kong has allowed us to build a solid foundation for our future expansion to international markets."

Ms Tsang welcomed Wang Jia Sha's expansion in Hong Kong, adding that this is a clear indication that the impact of SARS on the hospitality industry is diminishing and business is back to normal.

Wang Jia Sha's expansion is an excellent example of a successful investment of a Mainland company in Hong Kong, she said, adding it also demonstrates our position as the region's gourmet paradise with over 7,000 restaurants catering to nearly every international cuisine.

The chain has its roots in old Shanghai's Wang Jia Ku district, where the first outlet was established in 1945. There are now six outlets in Shanghai.

Wang Jia Sha's dishes are famous for integrating different varieties of Chinese cooking styles into one, using Shanghai-style dimsum as the base, but adding local cuisine from areas south of the Yangtze River.