Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong, celebrating its 60th anniversary of local operations, is offering the public an unprecedented look inside its world-renowned bottling facility in Sha Tin. This rare access, focused on the newly upgraded Hong Kong Coca-Cola Museum, features “The Bottling Hunt” experience, an immersive one-hour guided tour scheduled for a single day in March. Historically closed to the public, the tours mark a significant milestone by allowing up to 90 visitors to explore the facility, which notably houses the world’s tallest Coca-Cola bottling plant.
The opportunity arises following the company’s sixtieth year of continuous operation, initiated in 1965. The specialized museum experience is designed to be highly interactive, tracing Coca-Cola’s global journey and its deep roots within Hong Kong society, while simultaneously highlighting modern production methods and sustainability commitments.
Exploring Coca-Cola’s “Made in Hong Kong” History
“The Bottling Hunt” is engineered to captivate both adults and children, moving beyond a standard facility walkthrough. The experience begins in the lobby, featuring a historical timeline of bottle designs and valuable collectables that span various manufacturing eras.
A key highlight is the faithful re-creation of Jacobs’ Pharmacy, the original 1886 retail location where Coca-Cola was first sold. Visitors are encouraged to engage with this historical chapter by donning period costumes, assuming the roles of lab assistants to founder Dr. John Pemberton, and participating in a scent challenge to identify classic beverage components.
The tour then shifts focus to the local narrative. It chronicles the pivotal moment in 1965 when Swire Group secured the exclusive rights for manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Coca-Cola products in Hong Kong, leading up to the 1991 completion of the state-of-the-art Sha Tin factory. Visitors will observe the plant’s unique vertical transport system—a necessity given Hong Kong’s compact industrial footprint—and examine a curated collection of global and Hong Kong-exclusive Coca-Cola memorabilia, including limited-edition sports souvenirs.
A Glimpse into Modern Production and Eco-Friendly Practices
The tour’s final segment emphasizes modern manufacturing and environmental responsibility. Utilizing interactive screens within a dedicated viewing gallery, attendees gain insight into current production lines and advanced recycling processes. This section underscores Swire Coca-Cola’s commitment to minimizing its environmental impact and achieving long-term sustainable operations.
Due to the exceptional nature of this access—as the Sha Tin plant is actively operational and typically hosts no public visitors—these guided sessions are highly sought after.
Key Tour Details and Registration:
- Date: March 7
- Sessions: Three one-hour tours are available: 1:30 PM–2:30 PM, 3:00 PM–4:00 PM, and 4:30 PM–5:30 PM.
- Admission: Free of charge.
- Capacity: Strictly limited to 30 participants per session (90 total).
- Registration: Opens at 2:00 PM on February 12. Slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional chances to secure entry and receive exclusive souvenirs are available through a partnership with the COKE+ loyalty programme. Prospective visitors are strongly advised to complete registration promptly via the official ticketing website (thebottlinghuntbyswirecocacola.ievent.hk) upon the specified release time to secure a place for this extremely rare behind-the-scenes exploration of a crucial part of Hong Kong’s industrial and cultural heritage.
