MARCH 27, 2000 VOL. 155 NO. 12

Hot Tip

TRAVEL WATCH Hong Kong's Palate Pleasers Lifted by dotcom fever, Hong Kong has come alive. One result: more cool eateries have opened in the past year than in the previous two combined Detour Lovers of good cuisine in Hong Kong can be thankful for Maria Lee Hot Spot If you're looking for a good old-fashioned barber, head for the Barbershop, in the heart of the brick-covered, beer-splattered streets of Lan Kwai Fong Hot Tip Visitors to Hong Kong in the coming months will be overwhelmed by the choice of things to do Web Crawling Hong Kong's guides to what's on

Visitors to Hong Kong in the coming months will be overwhelmed by the choice of things to do. The 2000 Credit Suisse First Boston Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament will be held this weekend (March 24-26) at the Hong Kong Stadium. The lager-soaked event brings together the world's best rugby players for fast-paced action that almost rivals the wild show in the south stands.

If you're looking for something more cultural, wait until April and take in some of the 153 films scheduled for the 24th annual Hong Kong International Film Festival (www.hkiff.com.hk). Running from April 4 to 27, the festival is a major event for local cinephiles--and an excellent opportunity to view films from around the globe that don't otherwise come to Asia. Tickets are $7 for most shows, $5.60 for weekday matinees.

For live action, catch the musical Chicago (www.chicagothemusical.com) at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from April 22 until May 14. Call 2815-1516 to reserve tickets, which range from $32 to $266.