BRAND KONG 3 MONOCLE TIME TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT

Hong Kong is a high-functioning, sophisticated and layered ecosystem. We meet some of the most interesting players from the worlds of business, technology, the arts and more – and find out why they love their city. The natural environment is high on many lists but some of their answers will surprise you: from a hotel chief’s love of tennis to a gallerist’s favourite ferry route. brandhk.gov.hk

ASIA’S TOWERING CITY BRANCHES OUT. Hong Kong has always provided a unique platform for businesses looking to build a presence in 1 2 3 Financial services Trading and logistics Tourism Asia and this decade will be no Hong Kong is first and foremost Hong Kong made its name as Hong Kong’s hospitality experts an international financial centre. a trading entrepôt and that have been keeping residents different. The four core pillars This dynamic city of some 7.5 million import-export ethos continues and office workers well looked people is a global banking giant to this day. Everything and everyone after while they wait for the safe of the economy (see 1 to 4) are with a deep pool of investment is on the move and this city knows return of overseas tourists. capital and a chart-topping global how to transport goods around Myriad international chefs and powering ahead with the rapid stock exchange. A combination of the world. Cargo enters and leaves restaurateurs are cooking up this rich financial pedigree with one of the busiest airports in the a storm in Hong Kong, where local adoption of technology and the new technology has created the world, while lorries drive in and out palates are both uncompromising framework for a growing fintech of the container port at all hours. and hungry for fresh concepts. rollout of reforms. Meanwhile, a industry. Banking and insurance Even the ships themselves are up Five-star service has always start-ups are benefitting from for sale: Hong Kong is the regional been one of Hong Kong’s specialities. creative set of pillars has arisen regulatory reforms and the port of call for the buying and The city’s heavyweight hotel sector ability to hire talent from all over selling of luxury yachts. Geography has the red carpet ready to roll (see 5 to 8) that leverage the the world, leading one CEO to continues to pay dividends: half of out and plans in place to wow city’s traditional strengths and describe Hong Kong as “the city for the world’s population lives within new guests and diners in the digital banking”. five hours by air. years ahead. lead to broad opportunities. 4 5 Business and professional services Science and technology Not everyone in Hong Kong works Hong Kong has a strong science in finance; there are also plenty of and technology background; lawyers, accountants, engineers hidden-away laboratories just tend and architects too. Hong Kong’s to be overshadowed by the bright professional-services sector stands lights of banking and finance. Now out in Asia for its expertise and the industries are being brought overseas companies looking to closer together. Biotechnology invest or expand in mainland China companies are funding research by come to Hong Kong for its trusted listing on the stock market, while legal system. Students, meanwhile, entrepreneurs are working with are drawn to its top-ranked academics to take inventions from universities. Hong Kong invests the lab to the market. Manufacturing heavily in education and its natural and hardware have always been environment provides opportunities among Hong Kong’s strengths and for learning beyond the classroom. robotics is a new growth area. 6 7 8 Design Fashion and textiles Arts and culture Hong Kong’s current crop of Many Hong Kong fortunes (and Hong Kong is adding a few more designers is starting to make business yarns) have been made layers to its established reputation a name for themselves around in the textile industry and the as an international art market. A the region and their expertise garment industry is stitched into variety of artists’ spaces and creative extends far beyond hospitality the fabric of this city. Alongside enclaves are springing up across the interiors. The city is home to one international brands sourcing city and art lovers around the region of the world’s largest workplace materials and manufacturing, local are eagerly awaiting the opening design firms, where creative creatives are developing their own of a world-class contemporary art teams are collaborating to create brands and fashion graduates are and design museum in . safe, clean and inspiring office getting a commercial leg-up before International curators and other environments. There’s also launching their designs on the global industry professionals are building plenty of fun to be had along catwalk schedule. Members of the a home as well as a career in Hong with the hard work. Exploring younger generation are helming Kong, while developing a strong Hong Kong’s great outdoors is a classic labels, while new arrivals are appreciation for its culture. In this natural source of inspiration and giving luxury a second life. Nevertheless, modern skyscraper city, heritage provides the city’s creatives with some fashions never change: in Hong appreciation is on a high and an fresh ideas. Kong, it always pays to look the part. old ferry is the real star. Financial services Hong Kong’s growing fintech sector has a clear edge over other markets – thanks to the unique combination of the clout of its prestigious financial institutions and its full-throttle 1 FINTECH WINS entrepreneurial attitude. Here are some highlights.

Old bank, new tricks Payment plan Pay as you go Mox Octopus Some 15 million Octopus transactions take place every Standard Chartered is banking Octopus started out in 1997 as a world-leading day in Hong Kong, royalty in Hong Kong. It’s the oldest payment method for public transport before either by card or via issuer of Hong Kong banknotes still in expanding to convenience stores, fast food and smartphone. Fast existence and also founder of a other retailers. “It has always been our dream and convenient “tap start-up. Mox launched in September to take Octopus outside Hong Kong,” says CEO and go” technology continues to be 2020 – one of eight virtual banks Angus Lee (pictured). Travellers might soon be preferred to scanning launched in 12 months. “We are using Octopus to pay on mainland China’s subway QR codes and a new building a future operating model for network and deals with smart-card transport initiative, rolled out Standard Chartered,” says Mox CEO systems around Asia are also on the cards. in July 2020, should Deniz Güven (pictured), a Turkish help the company banker and former basketball player. penetrate the city’s final few cash Hong Kong’s clutch of new holdouts, mainly internet-only lenders follows taxis and traditional sweeping reforms in 2017 by the wet markets. Trust blue Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Mox’s bank card is a specially created Pantone colour called “Hong Kong is pioneering in Asia,” “trust blue”, a nod to Hong says Güven, who transferred from Kong’s neon lights and the to set up Mox. “It is going corporate colours of Mox’s to be the market in digital banking.” parent, Standard Chartered.

Dog days Talent show OneDegree staff come from as far OneDegree afield as the US and Australia. “That is the strength of Hong Kong,” says Insurance start-up OneDegree Alvin Kwock, who has built the firm occupies a floor in Fun Tower, a from scratch with fintech talent from pet-friendly building in . all over the world. The former industrial area, now an alternative business district, is currently home to a cluster of insurance companies, from long- standing players Axa and AIA to a new batch of online-only insurers My Hong Kong such as OneDegree. CEO and Lawrence Chu, co-founder, Oriente co-founder Alvin Kwock (pictured), a former banker, is keen to explore Oriente, which allows SMEs to provide credit to emerging lifestyle trends such as customers without a bank account, is expanding e-commerce; coverage for the return throughout . Co-founder Lawrence shipping costs of unwanted orders Chu (pictured) is based at its HQ in Hong Kong, is a popular policy. Pet insurance, where he is also a keen collector of contemporary launched in April 2020, is another art. Chu and his wife Natalie recently decided to growth area. “There are more dogs sell some of their art to fund a series of grants and and cats in Hong Kong, and an artist-residency programme. “We are looking Japan than there are kindergarten for new ways to engage in art,” says Chu on the and primary school kids,” says morning of the Sotheby’s auction. The 40-year-old Kwock, while playing with golden began collecting while living in London and kept it retriever QQ. OneDegree has also up after moving back to Hong Kong in 2005. Young opened a Taipei office (where cats are artists feature heavily in his gallery at home, which more common pets among staff) and displays Hong Kong’s Firenze Lai, Stephen Wong it’s in the process of expanding into and an early Chris Huen (alongside work by even mainland China, Singapore and Thailand. younger painters: the four Chu children). Trading and logistics A long-standing trade nexus, Hong Kong is geographically blessed – as a port, an aviation hub and a terminus for goods travelling by land across Asia. It’s also well placed to direct the digital 2 LOADING ZONE movement of people and goods. We meet some key players.

Plane view Hong Kong International Airport Judging by the number of cranes at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the world’s busiest air-cargo hub is building for an even busier future. A suite of projects is due to complete over the next few years, from a major existing Central Asia Hub to a giant new logistics centre backed by e-commerce giant Alibaba. Cissy Chan, executive director, commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong, says that the new three-runway system in 2024 will be a “quantum leap in terms of capacity”. Cargo volumes have stayed robust during the pandemic. Operators such as Cool runnings have been shuttling HKIA has received several accreditations from the essentials around the world, International Air Transport contributing to a recent increase in Association for its handling cargo flights. Hong Kong’s aviation of temperature-controlled hub is also upping the cool stakes products and produce. Out in the transport of fresh food and on the cargo apron, a fleet of new cool dollies (caravan- pharmaceuticals, another long-term style fridges-on-wheels) growth area alongside e-commerce. My Hong Kong take care of high-value “Within a five-hour flight of Hong Mike Simpson, pharmaceuticals and other Kong you can reach half of the Simpson Marine perishables on the journey world’s population,” says Chan. between plane and terminal. Originally from the UK, Mike Simpson first came ashore in Hong Kong on a 38-foot yacht that he had built Port of call himself. More than 35 years later, Waterside dining the ex-army adventurer continues to arrive in a similar form, steering Hong Kong’s most exclusive new his Windy 22, a 1970s daycruiser, restaurant is not where you’d expect from his home on Lamma Island to – inside a Tsing Yi warehouse. The his office in Aberdeen. The commute Rambler, opened in October, serves takes 20 minutes, from dock to dock. classics, healthy salads “In fair weather,” he says. “If there’s and flat whites amid the cranes of a typhoon in the offing, it takes a one of the world’s busiest ports. The little longer.” diners at this handsome cafeteria, Simpson’s company, one of Asia’s designed by A Work of Substance, are largest yacht dealers, has offices the 1,000 or so lorry drivers, forklift around the region, representing operators and other workers at European yacht brands, such as Goodman Interlink. This warehouse Beneteau and Sanlorenzo. The Safe harbour Simpson christened his new is one of 11 in Hong Kong belonging 76-year-old is excited at the growth sailing yacht Domino 2 in a to Goodman, an Australian property prospects of Sanya on the island of nod to the boat he sailed here developer. Another two are in , recently declared a free- in 1984, when he dropped development; Goodman Westlink in trade zone. “That could make a huge anchor in the city. “Hong will connect directly to the difference to the development of the Kong is the biggest market by far for us and it has the airport via a new underwater tunnel. China market,” he says. longest tradition,” he says. Tourism Epicurean delights can be found around every corner in Hong Kong. Top restaurant and hotel chefs work hard to please the city’s discerning diners – and casual options are equally exciting. 3 SUPER FOOD Hong Kong proves that there’s no such thing as too many cooks.

Team players BaseHall team 10 12 BaseHall 1. Nick Chan Co-founder, Basement food halls are a popular Roti Tori lunchtime spot around Asia but 2. Alex Huels BaseHall is taking the communal 1 2 4 6 8 Director of F&B, concept to new culinary heights. The Mandarin Oriental tasty new food hall sits at the bottom & BaseHall Bar 3. Lindsay Jang of Jardine House in the central Co-founder, business district and brings together Roti Tori a who’s who of Hong Kong’s hottest 4. Matt Abergel independent restaurateurs. Co-founder, Soho’s Treehouse brings its Roti Tori veggie wraps to Central, while Roti 5. Tom Andrews Senior asset Tori is a rotisserie chicken concept by manager, HKL the yakitori specialists 6. Pamela Yeung Yardbird. The globe-spanning food Asset management stalls range from Korean cuisine at officer, HKL Moyo Sik to tacos from Westside 7. Melody Ho Assistant property Taqueria and Mexican chef Esdras analyst, HKL Ochoa. New Yorker Will Fang 8. Wil Fang provides something sweet at the Owner, Cookie DPT Cookie Department, and, to top it all 9. Francesco Lee off, there’s a coffee-to-cocktail bar Owner, Moyo Sik 10. Jon Chan staffed by the Mandarin Oriental, Co-founder, which keeps pouring until late. Westside Taqueria “Our aim was to create a platform 11. Alice Stevenson to reduce the barriers to entry for Assistant asset F&B operators to try out creative manager, HKL 12. Brian Woo concepts in a prime location,” says Owner, Co Thanh Tom Andrews, a senior asset manager 13. Christian 3 5 7 9 11 13 at Hongkong Land (HKL) and the Mongendre brains behind BaseHall. Owner, Treehouse

Made to order Meat market “One of the signature My Hong Kong Windows on the world Feather & Bone things we offer is Toby Smith, deputy chairman, Three F&B businesses that in any of our Feather & Bone is staking a claim restaurants, people Swire Hotels Hong Kong’s hospitality entrepreneurs can choose their are as well travelled as the customers to be Hong Kong’s neighbourhood Launched in 2008, Swire Hotels butcher, having recently expanded steak from the they serve. Take a seat at these three butcher’s counter has two Hong Kong sites: its luxury international imports for a taste of why across the . Founder and have it cooked in Upper House in Admiralty and the Asia’s world city is a recipe for success. Paul Daley set out to replicate the front of them,” says larger, more leisurely East in Taikoo butchers from his native UK. “We director of operations 1. Breakfast: Baked, Sheung Wan Mark Chan (pictured). Shing. “We wanted to create hotels Sixth-generation South-African baker wanted a quality butcher where that were full of soul,” says deputy you could have a glass of wine or a “In many ways that’s Zahir Mohamed moved to Hong Kong a reframing of a very chairman Toby Smith, who joined with his jar of 50-year-old sourdough coffee,” says Daley, who has since local concept with the the Swire conglomerate in 1991. starter and opened Baked in 2018. broadened the business to include seafood restaurants. The Englishman took up tennis 2. Coffee: Fineprint, a delicatessen, grocery shop and an Diners can pick their Co-founded by veteran Aussie barista fish or oysters, have during his first post in Sydney and, Scottie Callaghan, Fineprint opens all-day-dining restaurant. “We want after working around the world, has to reach 15 stores in Hong Kong,” it cooked in front of early for Hong Kong’s fitness fanatics them and see the brought his racquet to Hong Kong. and later turns into an intimate bar. says Daley who also has an eye for provenance of Smith is now searching for hotel sites 3. Dinner: Hansik Goo, Central expansion to Thailand, Vietnam those products.” in Japan, Korea and Australia. “We Hansik Goo honours Korean’s home- and mainland China. Sai Kung is the have a great brand and we want to style and street-food classics created latest opening and a cooking studio by chef Mingoo Kang, who made his introduce it to more people,” he says. name at Seoul’s Mingles restaurant. designed by Sean Dix is on the boil. Business and professional services From research to law, Hong Kong is a vital centre that draws some of the brightest from around the world. Its professionals are valued for their expertise, experience and judgement. We meet a 4 SHARP MINDS few to learn about their work and global connections.

Education and research temperatures. “It’s a really dynamic Rewriting the rulebook Swire Institute of and biodiverse environment,” says Three legal updates Williams. Hong Kong is home to Marine Science Innovation and the legal profession might not about 25 per cent of marine species be obvious bedfellows but Hong Kong’s trusted Hong Kong has half a dozen marine in China, despite only accounting legal system is moving with the times. parks but only one marine reserve, for 0.03 per cent of the marine area. set aside for scientific study. This Some postgraduate students live on 1. ODR: Let’s settle this online protected spot at Cape D’Aguilar, a site and the current cohort hails from Hong Kong is one of Asia’s leading dispute- resolution centres and now the process has rocky outcrop on the southeastern many countries. “During summer moved online. Ebram Centre launched an tip of , is home to our residences are crammed with online dispute-resolution (ODR) platform in the University of Hong Kong’s Swire overseas visitors,” says Williams. June that removes the need for businesses Institute of Marine Science (Swims for Thirty years after joining Swims, he to travel abroad to settle cross-border short). First opened in 1990, Swims is is focused on turning it into an Asian commercial disputes. Virtual mediation or currently undergoing an expansion. hub by working with labs and stations arbitration hearings reduce costs and time, while enhancing access to justice. A new-look building will be unveiled around the region. 2. New patent system: Novel idea by the beginning of 2021 with an Hong Kong’s new patent system was launched indoor and outdoor aquarium, wet in December 2019. Applicants can now and dry labs, a dive locker and the apply directly for a standard patent in Hong key ingredient: a copious supply of Kong instead of having to first register their patents in a designated patent office outside fresh, high-quality seawater. “There Hong Kong. The system makes it easier for are very few marine-research centres inventors to secure legal protection for their of this quality in the tropics,” says inventions in Hong Kong and promotes the Gray A Williams, director of Swims. city as an intellectual-property trading hub. Williams (pictured) has worked 3. Gateway to mainland China: Open sesame Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway to at Swims since it opened – his mainland China has always been attractive to motivation for moving from the UK in foreign businesses. The door to the mainland 1989 – and he took over as director market has been kept wide open under the in 2003. Right now, his group is Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic studying thermal effects on molluscs Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) since 2003. A recent amendment to the services in extreme environments – an area agreement under CEPA has further liberalised of global interest amid rising sea the trade in services between the two places.

Architecture My Hong Kong Integrated Design Associates Jenny Quinton Founder, Ark Eden When Cebu’s Terminal 2 opened in 2018, the tropical timber structure Jenny Quinton came to Hong Kong in wowed visitors to the Philippines 1989 on her way to Tibet – and never and won a number of awards. For its left. She fell in love with a remote architect, Hong Kong’s Winston Shu valley on the northern side of Mui (pictured), it also ushered in a new Wo on Lantau island and made it her look for airports around Asia. “Before home. A teacher, Quinton (pictured) Cebu, the way to incorporate local left the school system 14 years ago culture was to get local artists to to start her own environmental put in artwork. But the building still education initiative from her Lantau doesn’t say anything about where forest house. Ark Eden is her eco- you are,” says Shu, who worked under education and permaculture centre Norman Foster before establishing and forest school. “We’re not going his specialist airport-design practice to save the planet unless we scale up in 1999. “We started to think, what eco-education,” says Quinton, who if airports were to put something has planted more than 34,000 native unique about the regional character trees in the past 25 years. “I see Hong into the building,” he says. Kong as a game-changing place.” Science and technology Scientists might tend to shy away from the spotlight but Hong Kong’s strong commercial sectors are teaming up with laboratory scientists to get their useful inventions out in the world. We find 5 REALITY TECH out more about a few of their impactful projects.

Hot listing SinoMab are exploring therapeutics What smart city initiatives are you SinoMab Bioscience for cancers and other diseases. Its working on? flagship product is a rheumatoid We have created a Joint Railway Innovation Laboratory with the MTR. Biotechnology is becoming big arthritis treatment. SM03 is currently There’s no bigger public transport business in Hong Kong. In 2019, in phase three clinical trials; if its system so it’s only right for us to really SinoMab Bioscience became the first efficacy is proven, the treatment apply our technology in making the MTR local biotech firm to list on the Hong could become a global first. “We faster, safer and more efficient. One Kong Stock Exchange. The company are the only ones to do what we project involves developing a 5G network that can help it connect all of its sensors, benefited from a rule change the do,” says Leung, who wants to grow cameras and detectors. previous year that allows companies his company into a global leader in to go public before generating any the innovation of therapeutics for When will the average Hong Konger revenue and use the injection of fresh immunological diseases. come into contact with one of capital to fund further research and your projects? development. “This was the missing Q&A People will encounter our work via Hugh Chow Industrial and Commercial Bank of piece of the puzzle,” says Dr Shawn CEO, Astri China’s mobile banking portal, and Leung (pictured, far right), who more specifically its chatbot. Chatbots founded SinoMab in 2001. Leung now The Hong Kong Applied Science and are everywhere but ours is designed for sits on the stock exchange’s biotech Technology Research Institute (Astri) mixed languages. advisory panel, assisting the review celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. The body was established by the Why is that? of applications to go public under the government to turn Hong Kong into a There are a lot of mixed languages in new listing regime. “Hong Kong will smart city and give companies an edge in Hong Kong. If you walk in the street, be a biotech powerhouse in Asia,” technology-based fields, such as artificial most Cantonese speakers would actually he says from his laboratory at Hong intelligence and cybersecurity. Hugh mix in English, right? So it really renders Kong Science Park. Scientists at Chow, an engineer by training, became some of these chatbots or speech- CEO in 2018. recognition tools useless.

problem that people accepted and My Hong Kong Innovation hub asked myself, ‘Is there a better way?’”. The Hong Kong Science Park Rice opened a Robotics Catalysing There was: to develop a green, Centre in 2020 to support the cellulose-based material at its When guests describe the service at industry. After Rice Robotics laboratory at Hong Kong Science L’hotel Island South as robotic, the moved in, Rice signed up for a Park. A natural, plant-based fibre, feedback is a compliment. Named front of house role. Ecoinno’s “Green Composite for its similarity to a rice cooker, Material” (GCM) has a superior Rice joined the staff earlier this year temperature tolerance to plastic and and the waist-high robot has been it is 100 per cent biodegradable in winning fans with its delivery of less than 75 days. The resulting food cappuccinos and warm croissants, containers and coffee capsules made safely stowed inside its flip-top from this GCM are also made in Hong head. Work days begin with pre- Kong at a production facility in Tai dawn room service, Rice’s favourite Smart packaging Po. Ecoinno was one of five winners task: whizzing along quiet corridors Ecoinno of Alibaba’s annual Jumpstarter and going up and down in empty competition in 2020 and the lifts is easier than when the hotel George Chen believes that enjoying a company has also secured funding springs to life. A sensitive outer shell nice cup of coffee or slurping through from the Alibaba Entrepreneurs and 360-degree vision really come a bowl of ramen shouldn’t happen at Fund. Chen (pictured) and his team in handy while zigzagging around the expense of the planet. “People are currently working with the guests, suitcases and the occasional don’t know where their garbage goes, largest coffee supplier in Italy and out-of-control child. After a nobody knows and nobody cares,” partnering with Hong Kong’s leading two-hour power nap to recharge, it’s Robotic delivery says Chen, co-founder of Ecoinno, a airline to supply biodegradable time to deliver refreshments and Victor Lee, founder of Rice Hong Kong-based manufacturer of food containers for in-flight meals. greetings to arriving guests and pose Robotics, wants to build a compostable food packaging that is “There’s nothing that science cannot for the odd photo. Guests loved Rice fleet of autonomous robots to work across the service seeking to reduce the need for single- do,” says Chen. “You just have to so much that the hotel launched a industries, from hotels use plastics. “I saw a tremendous think outside the box.” robot-themed summer staycation. to hospitals. Design In tune with Hong Kong’s global outlook, its design firms are sought-after by clients from around the world. We get to know three of the city’s creative founders: a Californian, a Czech and 6 FINE FORMS a native Hong Konger who previously worked in New York.

Coming clean Lightbulb moment M Moser Associates Lasvit M Moser Associates is one of the Lighting-design specialist Lasvit’s world’s largest office designers, Czech founder Leon Jakimic came with more than 1,000 staff to Hong Kong in 1999 to study. He spread across 21 cities. Moira stayed on to start his own business – Moser (pictured), a Californian, a combination of modern technology founded her firm in Hong Kong and contemporary design based in 1981 – back when cubicles on his family’s five generations of were in fashion. These days, glass-making. “It was natural for me the latest innovations in office to stay in Hong Kong and use what wellbeing are invisible. “This I had learned,” says Jakimic. The is one of the cleanest offices company’s bespoke light installations in Hong Kong,” says Moser, as and glass art can be found in some she talks through her office’s of Hong Kong’s shiniest venues, from high-grade air-filtration and the Peninsula hotel to the K11 Musea purification system. An architect shopping mall. by training, Moser prides herself on taking an integrated approach where interior designers and strategists work with engineers My Hong Kong and technicians. Air quality Nelson Chow, founder, has risen up the agenda with NC Design & Architecture clients investing in creating safe environments. Moser is convinced Sai Kung’s bays, coves and islands about the future of the physical are a playground for water sports. Office building workplace and, no, the cubicle First-timers fall off paddle boards Moira Moser usually shuttles between will not be making a comeback. while the more adventurous whizz overseas offices but, lately, she has been overseeing operations from in “What has not gone from the around on wind foils, a type of hybrid Hong Kong – the firm’s fifth address in workplace is the interaction of surfboard and windsurfer. Designer the city and a lab for testing concepts people, who need to come up Nelson Chow (pictured) took to sea before they’re introduced to clients. with ideas and innovations.” kayaking in Sai Kung two years ago. “I love exploring new things,” says Chow, who paddles on weekends throughout the year. “There are so many different pockets to discover and I can do it at my own pace.” Salt Island is a favourite destination – roughly a three-hour return paddle. The 43-year-old took his studio there for the company’s latest team- building expedition. Chow set up NC Design & Architecture in 2011 after working in New York and the studio is responsible for some of downtown Hong Kong’s signature hangouts, from bar and restaurant Foxglove to coffee shop Fuel Espresso. NC Design & Architecture turns 10 in 2021 and there will be plenty of openings to celebrate, including new hospitality projects in mainland China and , as well as a circus-themed nightclub in his home city. Fashion and textiles From its rich and skilled history in tailoring to its excellent support systems for young designers, Hong Kong has all the ingredients to help fashion businesses thrive. Of course, 7 STYLE FIXES the style-savvy populace is key too.

Vintage finds Stepping out Brand picks from three retail shops that Vestiaire Collective are worth a visit

Vestiaire Collective is an unlikely 1. Womenswear: B/major trendsetter in the fashion world, “People rarely think of Hong Kong pioneering the online sale of when it comes to shoe design,” says secondhand luxury clothing. designer Grace Lai, who co-founded President Fanny Moizant moved to B/major with husband Leo Chan in 2019. “We wanted to challenge this Hong Kong in 2017 to launch the perception and make beautiful, high- Asia expansion of the company she quality and affordable shoes.” co-founded in Paris in 2009. “Hong The Mills, Kong is a hub of luxury in Asia, so it 2. Menswear: ONS was interesting for us to be in that “Hong Kong has a lot of cool brands ecosystem,” says Moizant (pictured) but they were never really able to get a spotlight,” says ONS founder Brian from her office and warehouse in Chung, who has just opened a shop in Wong Chuk Hang. Vestiaire Collective New York. “My vision is to cultivate has since launched in Australia and these talents for a global arena.” Moizant plans to rummage around in Landmark Men, Central South Korea and Japan. “We wanted 3. Unisex: Lane Eight “I’d wear four different pairs of shoes to disrupt the world of secondhand on the same day,” says Josh Shorrock, by bringing trust and inspiration,” Pre-loved luxury Vestiaire Collective sells who, with his brother James, designed she says. “All of a sudden, we created pre-owned designer labels, a versatile shoe using sustainable something cool; a community that saving consumers money and materials that performs just as well on people wanted to be part of.” extending the life of clothes. the track as in the office. St Francis Street, Wan Chai

My Hong Kong Label to watch Christopher Owen, co-founder, Ffixxed Studios Thirty30 Creative Fashion designers Fiona Lau and Christopher Owen (pictured, right) Kain Picken founded Ffixxed Studios founded design studio Thirty30 in Hong Kong in 2010, soon after Creative with his wife in 2015, moving to the city from Berlin. “That creating brand identities and cultural shift was the source of a lot marketing campaigns for businesses of inspiration,” says Picken. “Hong across Asia. The Brit has also been Kong’s very strong character set the investing in his own style with the tone of our brand. That density, that help of his friend Justin Chang of old and new pushed up against each Ascot Chang, a dyed-in-the-wool other, the ad-hoc nature.” In 2012, Hong Kong tailor that was founded Lau won the Hong Kong young design Making the cut in the 1950s and has shops in the US talent award and the duo recently Tailoring history and mainland China. During Hong completed an incubation programme Justin Chang (above) is the third Kong’s hot summers, linen trousers run by the Hong Kong Design Centre. generation of his family to run Ascot are a wardrobe must-have for Owen, “There’s a lot of opportunities and Chang. Try it or one of these outfitters. a keen cricketer, who captains one support for small businesses,” says of Hong Kong’s 12 teams. “There is Picken. Government funding allowed 1. Attire House 8 Wyndham Street, Asia Pacific Centre, this sense of confidence you get from Ffixxed Studios to show at Paris putting on a suit that you know fits Fashion Week for six consecutive Talent shows attire-house.com Ffixxed Studios won the very 2. WW Chan & Sons you well,” he says. When not wearing years. “No matter where we are first Creative Call-out in 2015. 30 Queen’s Road Central, his work uniform, or cricket whites, physically, we are still very tied to This annual competition to Entertainment Building Owen and his young family can be Hong Kong,” he says from Shanghai, discover emerging creative wwchan.com talent is organised by Lane 3. The Armoury found buying plants from the flower where the couple recently showcased market in Prince Edward or exploring their spring/summer 2021 menswear Crawford, a fashion-forward 12 , Pedder Building Hong Kong retailer that thearmoury.com ’s alleys and shops. and womenswear collections. turned 170 years old in 2020. Arts and culture Not just a city of skyscrapers, Hong Kong has plenty of galleries and industrial buildings that are being turned into cosy artists’ studios. We drop by a few for a visit and speak to the curator of 8 CREATIVE HUB the hotly anticipated new museum of visual culture, M+.

Work in Creative conversion progress UK artist Hart Haus Damian Boylan A former industrial building, Hart (left), Hart Haus in is home director to 21 artists. Manchester-born Jeannie Wu multidisciplinary artist Damian (centre), Boylan draws on his background and American as an aircraft engineer, while artist American Shane Aspegren sits Shane at his keyboard composing Aspegren music. Aspegren was one of four (right) “Hausians” to take part in an inaugural exhibition at Hart Hall, a sister gallery in Central. “Our main criteria is diversity, both in culture and art medium,” says Jeannie Wu, director of the not- for-profit art organisation behind Hart Haus. Cassie Liu, a Chinese visual and sound artist, joined after she graduated in 2019. “The most amazing thing is the people here,” she says.

My Hong Kong Grand opening Long view Art and coffee Designed by Swiss Nadia Ng, director, Perrotin M+ architects Herzog & de Meuron, the layout French contemporary art gallery Asia’s art landscape is set to change of M+ is dramatic. Tai Hang’s grid of low-rise walk-up Perrotin relocated to Kowloon, dramatically in 2021 with the opening Doryun Chong, deputy buildings, or tong lau, make this from the other side of Victoria of M+, Hong Kong’s new museum director, curatorial, quiet, residential neighbourhood, Harbour, in the middle of 2020. of visual culture. Doryun Chong and chief curator, tucked behind , a The change of address has meant moved to Hong Kong from New M+, describes it as popular spot for an afternoon coffee “radically horizontal”. a change of transport for gallery York’s Museum of Modern Art in Almost all of the or early evening tipple. Shophouse director Nadia Ng, who swapped 2013 . “Part of our mission is to be a museum’s 33 galleries has added an extra dimension by the century-old tram for an even museum with global perspectives,” sit on one floor, a converting a tong lau into a gallery older and more quaint form of says Chong, who was born in Seoul. departure from the and shop. Opened in May 2020, it commute: the . “The other part of the mission is to usual gallery model. hosts a revolving programme of solo “I’ve been very lucky to enjoy be rooted in Hong Kong and inspired and group shows, straddling art, the best of these old forms by Hong Kong because this is such an fashion, design and collectables. of public transport,” says Ng international and cosmopolitan city”. Founder Alex Chan remembers being (pictured). “We don’t have Chong and his team will have some dragged around flea markets as a anything like this in Singapore.” 17,000 square metres of display child before falling under the spell of The native Singaporean usually space to show off the museum’s antiques. Previous exhibitions have takes the 10.00 ferry from the growing permanent collection: included vintage typewriters and Wan Chai pier. The most direct close to 8,000 works cover visual 1980s Apple uniforms. Regardless route is also the best value, at art, moving image, design and of what’s on, it’s worth popping by about €0.30 a trip, although the architecture from the 1950s to the Second Lane simply to have a peek harbour crossing only takes a few present. Pride of place will go to upstairs for a rare glimpse at Hong minutes. “I wish the ferry ride was the M+ Sigg Collection, a private Kong’s pre-war architecture. Original longer,” says Ng, who moved to donation of about 1,500 works and features have been faithfully restored Hong Kong in 2017 to take up the one of the most important collections and the terrazzo flooring feels like an position with Perrotin. of Chinese contemporary art. artwork in itself. Monocle’s bureau and shop in Wan Chai turned 10 in 2020. Here are 10 things about 2018 Hong Kong that we’ve celebrated during Safety is sky high Children going to school alone on the the last decade. subway are just one sign of the city’s safety record. Another is the chopper teams from the Government Flying Service (see issue 113) that lift injured 2010 2014 hikers down from the mountains. A growing sense of community Built on craft and culture We got to know the residents of Sheung Every skyscraper starts with one length Wan in issue 37. It’s still a colourful of bamboo tied to another by a team of neighbourhood and has rubbed off on scaffolding specialists. We featured a nearby and Kennedy Town. master and apprentice in issue 76. 2011 2015 Wall-to-wall art A city marches on its stomach Art Basel Hong Kong debuted in 2013 Lunch hours are respected and eating and draws collectors and dealers out is central to Hong Kong’s way of from around the world. In issue 44, we life. Ho Lee Fook (in issue 82) offers a interviewed founder Magnus Renfrew. modern take on . 2012 2019 Heritage has found a home Full of bright ideas The former police station-turned- To use space efficiently, architects hotel was one of the first in a growing of a primary school (see issue 121), list of restoration projects in Hong Kong elevated classrooms to make room for a this century. We checked in for issue 56. playground and parking bay.

2016 It works on multiple levels Tai Hang (in issue 93) is a village next to the corporate towers of Causeway Bay. Its low rise tong lau architecture appeals to creatives, while families find village houses in the New Territories. 2013 2017 2020 Family is big business ‘Tis the season to be merry Attracts plenty of eyeballs Family firms are getting fresh ideas As we observed in issue 109, Issue 132 noted that few advertising from a new generation, such as Adrian harbourfront high-rises put up opportunities are as quintessentially Cheng, CEO of New World Development, Christmas lights at the end of year and Hong Kong as the century-old tram as it who we interviewed in issue 64. keep them until after Chinese New Year. trundles through the business districts.