Shangri-La's properties secure 3 Michelin stars: Summer Palace and Petrus at the Island Shangri-La and Shang Palace at the Kowloon Shangri-La, both in Hong Kong.

The Four Season Hotel, Hong Kong and Robuchon a Galera, Macau were the only two restaurants awarded with a 3 star nomination. There are currently only 75 restaurants in the world with a 3 star attached.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, welcomed the release of the Michelin guide in Hong Kong yesterday, December 2nd.

Mrs Lau said, "I am very pleased that Hong Kong has become one of the first Michelin cities in China. The release of the Michelin guide is further recognition of Hong Kong's reputation as a centre for gastronomy."

"Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2009" is the first bilingual Michelin guide. It includes 202 establishments in Hong Kong, with 22 of them receiving one or more Michelin stars.

"Building on the momentum given by the removal of wine duty since February and the opportunities brought by the release of the Michelin guide in Hong Kong, we will, through the Hong Kong Tourism Board, work to further enhance Hong Kong's status as a capital for fine wine and good food," Mrs Lau said.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board also said it would make use of "Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2009" to step up promotion of Hong Kong as a prime destination for fine wine and gastronomic delights in order to further stimulate visitors' interest in coming to Hong Kong to enjoy its diverse array of cuisines.

As previously reported at 4Hoteliers.com, there are still several critics of the Michelin star ratings for both cities.

The quite vocal critism is aimed at the fact that in the panel of judges, only 2 seats were occupied by Asians; 1 Hong Kong and 1 mainland Chinese. Critics say that the panel does not understand Chinese food and the whole thing is a hype to increase sales of the book.

In reply the Michelin guide stated that, "One does not have to be French to understand French food".

Hong Kong ~ Starred Restaurants:

*** Lung King Heen, Cantonese, Four Seasons Hotel

** Amber, French Modern, Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel
** BO Innovations, Asian-flavored "molecular gastronomy", independent
** Caprice, Modern French, Four Seasons Hotel
** L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, French Modern, independent
** Shang Palace, Cantonese, Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
** Summer Palace, Cantonese, Island Shangri-La Hotel
** T'ang Court, Cantonese, Langham Hotel

* Fook Lam Moon Wanchai branch, Cantonese, independent
* Forum, Cantonese, independent
* Hutong, Beijingnese, independent
* Lei Garden IFC branch, Cantonese, independent
* Lei Garden Tsim Sha Tsui branch, Cantonese, independent
* Ming Court, Cantonese, Langham Place Hotel
* Petrus, French, Island Shrangri-La Hotel
* Pierre, French Molecular, Mandarin Oriental Hotel
* Regal Palace, Cantonese, Regal Hotel
* Shanghai Garden, Shanghainese, Maxim's Group
* The Golden Leaf, Cantonese, Conrad Hotel
* The Square, Cantonese, Maxim's Group
* Tim's Kitchen, Cantonese, independent
* Yung Kee, Cantonese, independent

Bibs Gourmands:

• Cafe Siam
• Cheung Kee
• Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (TST)
• Farm House
• Golden Bauhinia
• Gunga Din's
• Ho Hung Kee
• Jashan
• Kin's Kitchen
• Lei Graden (Elements)
• Lei Garden (Mong Kok)
• Le Soleil
• Lian
• Luk Yu Tea House
• Naozen
• 1/5 Nuevo
• Tandoor
• Tasty (Happy Valley)
• Tasty (Hung Hom)
• Tasty (IFC)
• West Villa
• Yee Tung Heen
• Ye Shanghai (Admiralty)
• Yunyan

Macau ~ Starred Restaurants:

*** Robuchon a Galera

** Tim's Kitchen

* Imperial Court
* The Eight
* Tung Yee Heen
* Ying

Bibs Gourmands:

• Noodle & Congee
• Corner
• Square Eight