We;ve put turf in two (maybe three, can't remember for sure) times in the past 10 -12years. Its an expensive proposition and it always seems to die. I'd recommend laying grass seed and buying a strimmer to keep it short unless you have a garden the size of a football pitch. The Cricket Club lays new turf every year I believe so you could check with them. They used the Japanese short grass which is probably what you are looking for but ours was rubbish. Sorry, I know our contacts have disappeared but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them anyway.
Our lawn is not trictly speaking a "lawn" English style but it's green and looks ok even though some of the thicker grass blades look a bit weedy when they get long! You can get a strimmer from Wanchai. Nothing like the old lawn mower your Dad used to heft around, I'll bet!
Good Luck!