HK sets are definitely officially unlocked, I think people are really desperate to get an Iphone should try to get from HK since they have stocks n can be bought without contract... The price for 16gb is 5388hkd which is slightly cheaper than Malaysia if converted to MYR.. The only shorthand is u won't get an online plan with it...
Anyways, most of the iPhones in China are smuggled from USA or UK I think... cause they're all locked sets... I have frens from China using iPhone and theirs were locked sets...

I don't think u can get a new one that easy because 16gb 3GS already EOL.. The ones available are old stock also..