A Palace of Gold Is Sold Off For Its Melt Value
By JONATHAN CHENG
HONG KONG — At $800 an ounce, the golden bathroom sink had to go. At $1,000, say goodbye to the golden horse-drawn chariot. But don’t even think about touching the golden toilet.
Global economic uncertainty over the past few years has pushed gold prices into the stratosphere, and few people have felt that rise as much as Hong Kong entrepreneur Lam Sai-wing has. He has spent the past decade constructing a palace of gold, decked out in six tons of the precious metal. In recent years, the palace has become an attraction mainland Chinese tour groups couldn’t miss, and a boon for Mr. Lam’s retail jewelry business, Hong Kong-listed Hang Fung Gold Technology.
Since gold prices hit four-digit territory earlier this year, Mr. Lam has been taking apart his hall of gold as quickly as he once raced to construct it. He is melting down golden chandeliers, armchairs and armored knights and selling gold by the ton to fuel growth plans that include hundreds of new retail outlets in mainland China. But even with the selloff, one thing is certain: The toilet stays.
“I don’t care if gold hits $10,000 an ounce,” Mr. Lam says. “I’m not melting it down.”
Related Articles
- China Gold demand likely to reach record after bumper growth
- Daily gold report: Monday 16th July
- Second commemorative golden coin was presented at Trakai Castle
- United States Mint to Publicly Display Never-Before-Seen Gold “Space Coins†In Milwaukee
- Price rise is bad news for gold sellers
- Gold marks 28-year peak, sights on $800
- Gold falls 2 pct on dollar rise, profit-taking
- The Future for Gold
- Florida Home Purchased with Gold Coins
- Platinum inches higher, gold hits 7-week low
- Soaring Gold Prices Create New Rush
- Gold glittering at record price
- Your Last Chance to Buy Cheap Gold
- As Gold Price Rises, Experts Issue Consumer Caution Advisory
- Gold Plummets on Profit-Taking
- Gold Gets More Precious, Cracking $800 Barrier
- Gold, copper end at highest levels in more than two months
- Gold touches 27-year high of $746.30 an ounce; silver surges nearly 3%
- Gold rush makes a mint
- Collectors Universe to Present at the 10th Annual Needham Growth Conference on January 9th



















Hong Kong Attractions | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
Thank you for sharing a very informative blog.
Mariz