Ways of Hathaway: America’s sweetheart Anne Hathaway has journeyed from girl next door to empowering woman of the world

Anne Hathaway has been a fixture in Hollywood for more than two decades, cementing her status as one of America’s most beloved and talented actresses. With her girl-next-door charm and undeniable acting chops, the ingénue has blossomed into an influential humanitarian and won over audiences worldwide.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1982, Hathaway was drawn to the performing arts and appeared in local theatre productions while still at school – her mother, Kate McCauley, was an actress. “I knew from a very early age that this is what I wanted to do with my life,” she reflects. “There was just something about being on stage that felt so natural and exhilarating to me.”

The family moved to New Jersey, where she graduated from Millburn High School and attended Vassar College before transferring to New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Her breakout role came in 2001 when she was cast as the clumsy-yet-charming Princess Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries. The movie was a runaway success, and Hathaway’s star began a rapid ascent.

Showing her versatility as an actor, she took on a variety of roles, from ground-breaking romance Brokeback Mountain (2005) and comedy The Devil Wears Prada (2006) to iconic musical Les Misérables (2012), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

“As an actor, I’m always looking to push myself and tackle roles that will allow me to grow and explore new emotional terrain,” says Hathaway, who turns 42 in November. “Fantine (a single mother forced into prostitution in Les Misérables) was one of the most demanding and rewarding parts I’ve ever had the privilege of playing.”

Her modus operandi is to immerse herself completely in her roles. For Fantine, she shed 25 pounds and resolved to shave her head after researching that this look was genuine to the historical period. She also insisted on more than 20 takes of her character’s lament, I Dreamed a Dream, despite the fact that director Ang Lee thought she had nailed it on the fourth attempt.

She gets so into the zone when filming that she feels as if she leaves her body: “The truth is that you let go. You black out a little bit. You come up at the end and you’re like, ‘What just happened?’”

Positive Outlook

Hathaway has spoken candidly about her approach to life and happiness. “I think the most important thing is to find what you love and just go for it,” she once said. “Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back.”

She also emphasises the importance of self-care and finding balance in life. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this industry, but I’ve learned that it’s crucial to take time for yourself. Whether it’s a yoga session, a long walk, or just a quiet moment of reflection, those moments of self-care are what keep me grounded and happy.”

Hathaway’s commitment to authenticity and willingness to show vulnerability have also been sources of inspiration for her fans. “I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and I think it’s important to be honest about that,” she says. Her first husband, Italian property developer Raffaello Follieri, was imprisoned for fraud in 2008. “It’s not always easy, but I believe that by embracing our flaws and our struggles, we can find true happiness and fulfilment.”

She believes she is now less stressed and nicer as a mother to Jonathan, eight, and Jack, four – her sons with actor-producer Adam Shulman whom she married in 2012 – and applies that gentleness to herself: “When I was younger, the way that I knew how to improve was by being hard on myself. There’s a ceiling to that path. I had to relearn what it means to have a drive but to do it in a nurturing way. And that’s when you go, ‘Oh, if there’s a ceiling, I haven’t discovered it yet.’”

A Voice for Good

Off-screen, Hathaway uses her platform to advocate for important causes. She is a long-time supporter of the Nike Foundation’s efforts to empower adolescent girls in developing countries, lending her celebrity to raise awareness and funds for initiatives in education, healthcare and economic opportunities. In addition, she has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health issues, using her social-media platform to speak out against discrimination and destigmatise conversations about mind wellness. She has also participated in fundraisers and public awareness campaigns related to these causes, demonstrating her commitment to using her influence to create positive change.

“I believe that we all have a responsibility to use our voice and platform to make a positive difference,” she remarks. “These are issues that are deeply important to me, and I’m honoured to be able to lend my support.”

Through her philanthropic work and willingness to use her voice for important social issues, Hathaway has consistently shown that she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact beyond her achievements in the entertainment industry. Her determination to do good serves as an inspiring example for her fellow celebrities and the general public alike.

Future Path

From Disney adolescent princess to celestial monarch in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland (2010), Anne Hathaway is a real Hollywood blue blood. Paradoxically, she is the go-to girl next door; intellectual and alluring; and as loved by women as she is cherished by men. She shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to captivate audiences with her work. She earned praise for her role as WeWork founder Adam Neumann’s wife Rebekah in the Apple TV+ miniseries WeCrashed (2022), starred in this year’s Amazon Prime romantic comedy The Idea of You, and will appear opposite Ewan McGregor in the sci-fi movie Flowervale Street next year.

When reflecting on her remarkable career, Hathaway emphasises the importance of staying true to oneself. “The best advice I can give is to find what lights you up and pursue it with passion and authenticity,” she says. “That’s the path to true fulfilment, both professionally and personally.”

Guided by her inspiring talent, unwavering dedication and compassionate spirit, Anne Hathaway’s remarkable journey serves as a testament to the power of following your dreams – and underlines how celebrities can use their platform to make a difference in the world.

Flower Power: Striking national posies can instil a strong sense of cultural pride

Colourful flowers enrich our lives with their mesmerising beauty and charm and have an amazing ability to lift the spirits on all occasions. Through the ages, these masterpieces of creation have inspired great works of art, acting as metaphors for the meaning of life itself, and decorated literature with wondrous wordplay. Among their fragrant appeal, they can serve as symbols of cultural identity displayed with pride. Here, we smell the roses and other national flowers with interesting stories to tell.

Yellow wales

The daffodil has been the symbol of national identity in Wales since the 19th century, and was especially visible in the time of David Lloyd George, the only Welsh Prime Minister of the UK (1916-22). The politician would often go to events wearing a daffodil, especially around 1 March, which is St David’s Day, the National Day of Wales. He also wrote newspaper articles promoting the daffodil and detailing why the yellow bloom should be used to unite the country.

A spokesperson for the National Museum of Wales relates in a BBC podcast why the daffodil, the bright trumpet of spring in many countries, became such an important symbol for Wales as the former principality sought to retain its identity in the 1800s: “There was a real sense of urgency that [Welsh] histories and culture were going to be lost and because of this desperation, a lot of what was told and written was actually invented. The daffodil became one of the symbols that was invented as a signifier of Welshness and what made Wales different to England and other countries of the United Kingdom.”

Leek out

It was the leek which had been the national emblem of Wales for hundreds of years. Indeed, legend has it that David, the patron saint of Wales, ordered his soldiers to identify themselves in a sixth-century battle against the Saxons – which happened to take place in a leek field – by wearing the plant on their helmets. The leek and the daffodil in the Welsh language share the name ‘cenhinen’ – the daffodil is ‘cenhinen pedr’, Peter’s leek in Welsh. The daffodil emerged the stronger from this semantic confusion as a more potent symbol of Welsh identity.

The leek was given short shrift in the 19th-century cultural revival in Wales, and according to the National Museum of Wales spokesperson, by 1858 the daffodil had superseded it as the national symbol. She notes the existence in the museum of a triple harp, made in that year by Bassett Jones, with a daffodil carving, signifying the importance of the flower to the Welsh people. Another similarly extravagant harp from Jones dated 10 years earlier has no sign of a daffodil.

Narcissist tendencies

The beauty and vanity associated with daffodils – as mentioned, Lloyd George would regularly pin one on his button hole – is fitting as the Latin name for daffodil is narcissus. In Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection and pined away, while Persephone, the queen of the underworld, found the daffodil more beautiful than any bloom she had ever seen. They are currently harvested in the Welsh mountains for galantamine, a compound in the bulb used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Many botanists believe Spain was the epicentre of the genus narcissist and from there it spread along the Mediterranean and beyond, although there are question marks surrounding the route of travel. Narcissus tasseta, known as the Chinese sacred lily but actually a type of daffodil, symbolises good fortune in China, and is commonly used in New Year celebrations. The Japanese believe the daffodil brings joy and mirth.

Cherry and gold

While Japan has no official national flower, the sakura, or cherry blossom, is a cultural phenomenon in the country. Symbolising the transient nature of life, its fleeting beauty is celebrated annually with hanami (flower-viewing) festivals, where families gather under blooming trees to appreciate the petals’ momentary splendour.

The chrysanthemum is the other important flower in Japan. Derived from the Greek name, krus anthemon, meaning ‘gold flower’, it symbolises longevity and rejuvenation; a 16-petalled chrysanthemum is the Japanese imperial crest.

Name of the rose

Roses have been the focus of song, literature, art and legend for centuries across many cultures. The woody perennial’s powerful symbolism perhaps lies in its mutability – it has been a signifier of everything from sex to socialism, and romance to religious belief. It inspired some remarkable Persian poetry and even the first punk rock single in the UK – New Rose (1976) by The Damned.

Shakespeare penned the verse “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” in Romeo and Juliet, while Othello, in his murderous rage, cries: “When I have plucked the rose, I cannot give it vital growth again: It needs must whither, I’ll smell thee on the tree.”

Although the rose is often associated with England, it is a truly global flower. Most of the cultivated roses in England originate from a handful of wild species, with varietals coming from ancient gardens in China, Turkey and Persia, and their background is one of Byzantine complexity. Interbreeding of roses has added more than 80 hybrids into the British mix, creating a thicket of thorny identification problems.

In the magnificent David Austin Rose Gardens in the heart of the Shropshire countryside, the midsummer air is heavy with the scent of nearly 800 varieties of roses in bloom, many with rich, luscious, bowl-shaped blossoms. Amid crowds thronging to see beds of exotic roses of all shapes, textures, hues and scents, its managing director David Austin Jr told the BBC: “Nobody can really track down – as far as I know – how we suddenly got from the single-flowered simple rose to these beautiful multi-petalled roses. So, it is a little bit of a mystery!”

English emblem

England’s floral badge is the Tudor rose, a plant which does not exist but represents the amalgamation of two English houses – Lancaster and York – following the so-called Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. Five white inner petals and five red outer petals make up the bright red floral emblem that adorns the England team sports shirts, British coins and magnificent buildings such as Hampton Court Palace in London.

Jennifer Potter, author of The Rose: A True History, believes the concept of the Tudor rose was one of the great political inventions. “It emerged out of massively successful Tudor spin doctoring,” she commented. “The so-called Wars of the Roses were actually no such thing, or at least they weren’t fought under the banner or the emblem of roses.”

The rose was declared the national flower of the United States in 1986, when Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in the White House Rose Garden. The states within the United States, though, have their own separate flowers and emblems.

Tulip mania

Despite originating in Turkey, it was Holland that became the global trading hub of the tulip in the 17th century, and ‘tulip mania’ took hold following frenzied trading. Rare varieties were sold over and over again even before they had even flowered, and the subsequent implosion was probably the first recorded stock-market crash.

Interestingly, the tulip is not the national flower of the Netherlands, but that of Hungary. A public vote last year placed the daisy as the Dutch unifying bloom.

Kraven Power: From Bullet Train to Marvel villain and on to Bond? Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains surprisingly grounded

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has captivated audiences worldwide with his versatile acting and magnetic on-screen presence. The British talent, who turns 34 this month, has carved out an impressive career, transitioning seamlessly from independent films to big-budget blockbusters, and industry spies suggest he might take on the biggest action role out there – a certain Bond, James Bond.

Born in 1990 in High Wycombe, England, Taylor-Johnson’s passion for the arts blossomed at a young age. He recalls: “As a kid, I was always putting on little shows and performances for my family. I knew early on that acting was my calling.” His breakthrough role came in 2009 when he starred (under his birth name, Aaron Johnson) in the critically acclaimed film Nowhere Boy, portraying the teenage John Lennon. The performance earned him a trio of British film award nominations and showcased his remarkable talent. “I wanted to do justice to Lennon’s story and capture the complexity of his character,” the actor reflects.

Following this breakout success, he continued to impress, taking on diverse roles that showcased his impressive range. In 2010, he headlined the action-packed Kick-Ass, playing a high-school student who becomes a superhero. “I loved the opportunity to explore the duality of the character – the shy teenager and the fearless masked avenger,” he says.

Taylor-Johnson’s range was further demonstrated in films like Anna Karenina (2012), Godzilla (2014) and Nocturnal Animals (2016), for which he earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor trophy. “I’m drawn to characters that challenge me and allow me to step outside of my comfort zone,” the actor reveals.

Age is More Than a Number

In life and work, Taylor-Johnson has advanced quickly. In addition to acting from the age of six, he married his Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Wood in 2012 at just 22 and had children at a young age. His wife is 24 years his senior, and the couple adopted a shared surname of Taylor-Johnson.

When he was 13, he starred in the Jackie Chan-Owen Wilson vehicle, Shanghai Knights, and at the youthful age of 15, he dropped out of school. He gained knowledge by working on movie sets instead of attending drama school. “You work with good and bad actors, divas and non-divas. You learn how not to behave. You get skilled at misbehaving,” he claims.

Reflecting on (as it turned out) a well-spent youth, he recalls his travels with his mother to London from their Wycombe home – a 60-mile round trip – to attend countless auditions. “It wasn’t easy. Sometimes I’d audition twice a day five days a week, up and down London. My mum would take me to Amersham.”

Quite the Character

Taylor-Johnson has consistently sought out diverse and challenging roles, a strategy that has played a pivotal role in shaping his versatile on-screen persona. “I’m not interested in playing the same type of character over and over again,” he has said. “I want to constantly challenge myself and explore new avenues of storytelling.”

Each performance has showcased his remarkable ability to inhabit vastly different characters and bring them to life with authenticity and depth. “As an actor, I’m constantly searching for roles that will push me to grow and expand my abilities,” he explains. “I’m not afraid to take risks or step outside of my comfort zone if it means I can deliver a powerful and memorable performance.”

This dedication to exploring new creative horizons has earned the actor critical acclaim and a reputation as one of the most versatile performers of his generation. “I’m driven by a desire to tell stories that matter, to create characters that resonate with people on an emotional level,” he shares. “That’s what keeps me motivated and excited about my craft.”

2024, Beyond and Bond?

Fast-forward to 2024, and Taylor-Johnson still seems to be moving at a faster pace than many of his peers. He will appear in Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 F.W. Murnau silent horror masterpiece Nosferatu with Bill Skarsgård, who plays the titular vampire. On the horizon too is the lead role in the Marvel superhero instalment Kraven the Hunter. Next year there will be Fuze, a heist thriller from Hell or High Water director David Mackenzie, and 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic sequel.

More flamboyant, mainstream roles have been inserted in between. He recently starred in David Leitch’s charming action film The Fall Guy, portraying an arrogant A-lister whose stuntman happens to be Ryan Gosling. Huge action scenes abound in the movie, which is basically Barbie’s Ken amplified to the maximum.

At time of writing, Taylor-Johnson neither confirms nor denies the Bond rumour. “I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me,” he says. “It’s the best when you sometimes lose all inhibitions completely, and you feel like you’re dangling there, and the director has sort of got one finger on the back of your shirt, so you don’t fall. It’s all about chasing that feeling. There’s nothing so exhilarating as that.”

This analogy is nearly exactly in line with the vibrancy and physical elegance that define his on-screen persona. Whether he’s fighting Brad Pitt on a Bullet Train or tearing through the African savannah with a knife in the Kraven the Hunter trailer, Taylor-Johnson has shown that he is an incredibly physical actor for whom the tough demands of the part are intrinsic to the character’s transformation. He explains: “I grew up dancing; I work with movement coaches.”

As Taylor-Johnson continues to impress audiences and critics alike with his diverse filmography, it is clear that his impact on the industry will be felt for years to come. By challenging preconceptions and demonstrating the power of versatility and emotional depth, the actor has set a new standard for what it means to be a celebrity.

Wondering what’s next for Hollywood’s most grounded new leading man has occupied many column inches in the entertainment media. Will he really step into Daniel Craig’s shoes? Well, it’s certainly no time for dreams to die.

Healing Heritage: With TCM wards and Western diagnostics, Hong Kong can break through borders as a Chinese medicine frontier

The age-old traditions of Chinese medicine have continued to thrive in Hong Kong, standing as a testament to the enduring wisdom of holistic healing practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Hong Kong has long been regarded as a reliable and effective approach to maintaining overall health and treating a wide range of ailments.

Practitioners of this ancient art often take a comprehensive view of the body, focusing on the delicate balance of yin and yang, as well as the flow of vital energy, known as qi. Through the use of herbal remedies, acupuncture and other traditional techniques, Chinese medicine aims to address the root causes of health issues, rather than just treating the symptoms – a common criticism of routine Western medical practice.

One of the key advantages of Chinese medicine is its emphasis on preventive care and the promotion of overall well-being. Practices like acupuncture, tai chi and herbal therapy seek to strengthen the body’s natural defences and increase resilience to disease. This stands in contrast to the Western medical model, which often relies on reactive measures and the use of prescription drugs to manage symptoms.

Herbal Hospital

The opening of the Chinese Medicine Hospital, Hong Kong’s first TCM hospital, in Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, in late 2025 is slated to serve as a showcase for international attempts to integrate Western and traditional practices. “This is a Chinese medicine hospital, but there will be a number of Western medicine examination facilities,” says its CEO, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, a renowned authority in traditional Chinese medicine.

The government-funded hospital will have a total of 400 beds – including 250 in inpatient wards, 90 in day wards, 40 in paediatric wards, and 20 in the clinical trial and research centre. The highly anticipated opening of its Chinese medicine inpatient wards will mark “the first time in Hong Kong’s history that there will be such services,” notes Bian. Some 65 per cent of the new hospital’s services will be subsidised by the government, with the remainder provided by the private sector. Currently, private practitioners provide 95 per cent of TCM services in the city.

“Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine sector should seize the opportunity to capitalise on our characteristics and strengths … to demonstrate the value of traditional Chinese medicine and the collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine to the world,” says Lo Chung-mau, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Health.

A cooperation agreement between the upcoming facility and the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been also inked, covering areas like talent exchange, database setup and the creation of a network for scientific research. Lo declares that Chinese medicine in Hong Kong will reach “new heights” as a result of the partnership with the state-run Guangdong hospital. “With the rich experience and technology sharing from the [Guangdong hospital], I believe that the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong will be able to launch its services smoothly,” he noted at the signing ceremony in January.

Holistic Endeavour

While Western medicine has made remarkable advancements in the fields of diagnostics, surgical procedures and pharmaceutical interventions, it is often criticised for its narrow focus on treating specific symptoms or conditions. In contrast, Chinese medicine takes a more holistic approach, viewing the body as an interconnected system and seeking to restore balance and harmony.

Dr Arthur Lau Chun-wing, the Chinese Medicine Hospital’s Deputy Chief Executive in Western Medicine, anticipates that the new facility will capitalise on the advantages of the two types of treatment. “I hope we can formulate standards that can serve as the blueprint for the world to follow and reference,” he says.

China’s main medical practices have historically been acupuncturing and herbal therapy. Acupuncture is regarded as a yang therapy, and for more persistent problems, yin herbal medicine is used in addition. Arguably the most advanced in the world, the Chinese herbal system encompasses thousands of recipes and plants. The majority of herbs are used in combinations, with eight or more different plants often combined to provide a synergistic cure. Additionally, animal parts are frequently included in medicinal formulae. Two examples to treat asthma are dried caterpillar fungus and gecko tails. A highly sought-after and costly tonic in Hong Kong is created from the saliva of the swiftlet bird.

Chinese vs Western

Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of certain Chinese medicine practices in treating conditions such as chronic pain, digestive disorders and even certain types of cancer. However, the reliability and scientific evidence behind Chinese medicine remains a subject of ongoing discussion, with some Western medical professionals expressing scepticism about the lack of standardised clinical trials and the potential for inconsistent quality control.

Dr Leung Ting-hung, the former Director of the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong, has said: “Chinese medicine can complement conventional Western treatments, but patients should be cautious of unsubstantiated claims. The safety and quality of Chinese medicine products require more regulation and oversight.”

The pros of TCM in Hong Kong include its long-standing tradition, its holistic approach to health, and its potential effectiveness in treating certain conditions. Many patients appreciate the natural and non-invasive nature of Chinese medicine treatments, as well as the emphasis on maintaining balance and harmony within the body. On the downside, doubters cite the lack of standardised quality control, and the potential for inconsistent or unreliable results and adverse reactions with Western medications. Additionally, some Chinese medicine practices, such as the use of endangered animal parts, have raised ethical concerns.

Future Tradition

Cheung Wai-lun, the Hong Kong Health Bureau’s Project Director for the Chinese Medicine Hospital, says officials want to coordinate and promote the quality development of Chinese medicine. “Besides local development of the sector, we hope to cooperate with the motherland’s development plans in this area. That is to use Hong Kong as a platform – like a display window – to showcase to the world how Chinese medicine can be applied.”

Ko Shing Street in Sheung Wan has been the heart of the wholesale trade in Chinese herbal medicine in Hong Kong for 100 years. It’s nirvana for herbal or health geeks, and a must-visit to witness a unique insight into the past. While shopkeepers in this iconic street find it challenging to keep their stores operational due to Hong Kong’s expensive rent and living expenses, preserving these customs and ensuring that they continue to influence modern holistic treatment in the future are essential.

As the city continues to navigate the dynamic landscape of healthcare, the role of traditional Chinese medicine remains an integral part of the city’s medical landscape. While the debate over its reliability and effectiveness compared to Western medicine continues, the enduring legacy of this ancient practice serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and exploring diverse approaches to healing and well-being.

Lost Property: Disputed colonial-era treasures long held by museums in the West begin the journey home

From the late 15th century when the Western colonial powers held sway over vast swathes of the world, hordes of precious artefacts were seized as spoils of war or amassed in other ways. Many were sold privately and larger numbers still ended up in the great encyclopaedic museums of Europe.

As territories gained their independence following the Second World, they began to voice a desire for the return of cultural treasures that had been looted, purchased or gifted. Arguments about the legitimate ownership of such heritage pieces are long and complex, but in recent years Western governments and institutions have begun to heed a groundswell of public opinion and make accommodations for some to head back to their original home.

In the UK, the issue is complicated by a law that prohibits national museums from permanently handing over items in their collections. To circumvent this legal hurdle and find common ground, a collaborative approach is required.

Contested marbles

It was reported last year that the British Museum had engaged in talks with Greece over the fate of the Parthenon sculptures. The Elgin Marbles, as they are known in the UK, are perhaps the most famous of the contested colonial artefacts in the museum’s collection. The Parthenon, ancient Athens’ most important temple, sat atop the Acropolis and was decorated with marble statues and a sculpted frieze depicting heroes and gods at a festival in honour of the goddess Athena.

The exact circumstances surrounding permission in 1801 for British ambassador Thomas Bruce, the Earl of Elgin, to remove “some pieces of stone with old inscriptions and figures”, as he put it, have been debated ever since. At a UK parliamentary committee convened in 1816 to investigate the possible purchase of the marbles from Lord Elgin and assess their worth, British sculptor John Flaxman called them “the finest works of art … [and] the most excellent of their kind that I have ever seen”.

Cultural commentators are divided on the issue of important national symbols – as the Parthenon Marbles are to the Greeks – residing in institutions that belong to another country. Many believe there is a strong moral argument for the repatriation of cultural treasures acquired during colonial times. Indeed, in a poll last year, the majority of the British public supported the marbles’ return to Greece in a cultural partnership.

British sociologist Tiffany Jenkins, author of the book Keeping their Marbles, believes the Elgin Marbles perform a valuable service by sitting in the British Museum, where a reported 75% of visitors are from overseas. When viewed there, in context with galleries showing artefacts from the Roman Empire, for instance, it is possible to see the influence the Parthenon had on other cultures.

The Greek government has sought the return of the marbles from Britain for more than 40 years. The remaining Parthenon sculptures reside in a state-of-the-art museum next to the Acropolis, where a place has been reserved for those removed by Elgin. It is thought the Greeks wanted to strike an agreement that would mean masterpieces like the mask of Agamemnon could be shown in the UK for the first time.

Regalia return

The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) announced details in January of a long-term loan agreement whereby gold and silver regalia from the ancient Asante royal court will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, Ghana. These artefacts are of cultural, historical and spiritual significance to the Asante people and the announcement was greeted with joy by Ghanaians; many of the objects will be seen in the country for the first time in 150 years. The collaboration follows an official visit to London by the Asantehene (King of Asante) Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in May last year.

“We are delighted to be lending these beautiful and significant cultural objects for display in Kumasi in this the Asantehene’s Silver Jubilee year and the 150th anniversary of the Anglo-Ashanti war, and to be doing so through a collaboration with Manhyia Palace Museum and the V&A,” said Lissant Bolton, Keeper of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the British Museum.

Items from the British Museum collection include those looted during a later conflict, in 1895-1896, as well as gifts to the museum presented during trade negotiations in the early 19th century. Among them are the Mpomponsuo sword of state and a small gold ornament in the form of a lute-harp (sankuo).

For its part, the V&A is lending 17 objects, including all 13 pieces of Asante royal regalia it acquired at a Garrard auction in 1874. Standouts are a gold peace pipe and three gold soul-washers’ badges (akrafokonmu) that were worn around the necks of court officials responsible for cleansing the king’s soul.

Moot loot

A report commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 called for thousands of African artworks in French museums taken without consent during the colonial period to be returned to the continent. France duly gave back 26 objects to Benin from a collection known as the Abomey Treasures that were looted by French forces in 1892 – including statues, portable altars, palace doors and a throne. The gesture was part of French moves to improve its image in Africa and allow Africans access to their heritage.

Belgium is also making strides to repatriate many items taken during its colonial occupation of the Congo. King Philippe recently handed over a magnificent large wooden mask to Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other items are set to follow.

Now scattered in museums in the UK, the US, Germany and elsewhere, the Benin Bronzes are another collection of artefacts whose repatriation in some form have been urged. These superb royal and personal objects crafted from the 16th century onwards at the behest of the court of the Oba (king) in Benin City (in modern-day Nigeria) include elaborately decorated cast plaques, commemorative heads, and animal and human figures.

The 1860 plunder of Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) in Beijing left a treasure trove of Chinese art and artefacts in British hands. Years later many were sold at auction houses and found their way into museums. Unesco has estimated that about 1.6 million Chinese relics are in the possession of 47 museums worldwide, including about 1 million looted from Yuanmingyuan. Chinese antiquarians believe more than 10 times that number are in the hands of private collectors. Some of these precious heritage objects are now being bought by wealthy Chinese and returning to China. The fate of the remainder is open to speculation.

India pride

India has been hankering since independence in 1947 for the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond acquired by Britain during colonial times from the 10-year-old Maharajah of Punjab. Following its arrival in Britain, the Koh-i-Noor was eventually cut by Dutch master craftsmen in perfect symmetry with 33 facets on top and the same number underneath. Widely lauded for its dazzling beauty, the diamond was set in successive royal crowns, most lately that of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Pakistan has also laid claim to the jewel.

One interesting development, which organisers are hoping will provide a new model for sharing art across borders, is an exhibition at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai, India of items on long-term loan from the British Museum, the Berlin State Museums and J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. On display until 1 October 2024, Ancient Sculptures: India, Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome brings great works of antiquity from Western museums to an Indian audience and helps shed light on the interconnectivity between religions and cultures since ancient times.

“We see the exhibition as a unique and important educational endeavour that provides our Indian audiences and children with new ways of viewing their own culture as a result of seeing it in relation to other societies and geographies,” said Sabyasachi Mukherjee, director general of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, also noting that a high percentage of India’s young people might never have the opportunity to travel and experience the art and culture of other parts of the world.

Set for Life: Hong Kong insurers’ policy of attracting mainland buyers is paying dividends

Selling the world’s most valuable life insurance policy earlier this year was undoubtedly a major coup for Hong Kong. Paying an astronomical US$250 million to the beneficiary upon the holder’s death, it was issued by HSBC Life to an ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNW) whose identity understandably has not been disclosed. The cover surpassed the previous Guinness World Record for life insurance, a US$201 million policy to a US billionaire facilitated by advisory firm SG, LLC in 2014.

The 10-year wait to break the world record is relatively short, considering the previous interval spanned almost a quarter of a century – it was back in 1990 that British life insurance agent Peter Rosengard sold a US$100 million policy to a prominent figure in the US entertainment industry.

To the surprise of many industry insiders, this latest record-smashing policy is fully underwritten by HSBC Life. But what is certain is that it represents a huge vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s financial services industry, and particularly the insurance sector.

The attention-grabbing sale in question was an HSBC Life Paramount Global Life Insurance Plan, a type of life insurance that offers whole-of-life protection with wealth preservation and legacy planning features. According to HSBC Life, the demand for such policies among UHNW individuals has ballooned over the past year, with a further 10 valued at US$50 million or above issued by the insurance firm to clients seeking facilities for wealth transfer and legacy planning.

High penetration

Hong Kong has been a major player in the world of insurance since the early 20th century, a feat commonly attributed to its relatively stable sociopolitical environment, advanced finance infrastructure, and open-door policy to foreign investment. Given its strong, high-income per capita economy, there is a high life insurance penetration in the territory. Insurance companies eye further expansion via a proliferation of new policies and the city’s rapid growth as an Asian hub, particularly its close ties with mainland China.

“Asia is home to one of the fastest-growing UHNW populations in the world, and as such we are seeing a substantial increase in demand for insurance solutions to address business succession, estate management and legacy planning needs,” says Edward Moncreiffe, CEO of HSBC Life Hong Kong and Macau. He stresses that the issuance of these high-value life insurance policies proves that Hong Kong has reaffirmed its position as both a preferred destination for wealth management and a leading international insurance hub.

“The Hong Kong life insurance market has a number of characteristics that puts us in a strong position to capture this growth in regional UHNW wealth-transfer demand,” he says, citing Hong Kong’s deep talent pools across intermediaries, underwriters and actuaries, strong competition among international banks, brokers and insurers, well-capitalised insurance companies with strong credit ratings, and sound regulatory regime as contributing factors to the thriving insurance services.

Massive sector

According to recent research by GlobalData, a UK-headquartered data analytics and consultancy company, the Hong Kong life insurance market was worth HK$478.2 billion (US$61.1 billion) in 2023 and is expected to grow by more than 3% per annum from 2024 to 2028.

The high level of financial literacy and digitalisation has spawned a diverse range of products in Hong Kong. Major developments have included the growth of finance technology such as insurtech and Environment Social and Governance (ESG) related products, as well as inclusive insurance products aimed at the excluded or underserved market.

The industry’s leading line of business in Hong Kong last year was whole life insurance. Demand in this area is driven by an ageing society, increased life expectancy and a falling fertility rate. It is also buoyed by inclusivity elements to reflect these societal changes, such as whole-life protection for senior citizens and expanding the package of death and dementia-related benefits.

Mainland surge

Many Hong Kong-based life insurance companies have experienced a surge in interest and sales since the reopening of the border with mainland China in early 2023. Prudential, one of the top three life insurers in Hong Kong, has cited border flow from the north as a major contributor to the vast boost in sales last year. Its annual report stated that mainland customers were looking for “diversification of currency and asset class, professional financial advice across a broad product spectrum, and access to high-quality medical care available in Hong Kong”.

The border reopening came not a moment too soon for Ryan Lam Leong Sing, a Licensed Individual Agent of an insurance company with nearly 15 years of experience. He shares that about 80% of his life insurance business emanates from mainland buyers, adding that sales have rocketed by 30% and the pent-up demand from mainland Chinese eager for Hong Kong life insurance policies is huge. “It’s not difficult – the demand is there,” notes Lam of the influx of mainland buyers, pointing out that they need to be physically present in Hong Kong to sign the policy.

Mainland Chinese are attracted to Hong Kong to buy life insurance policies for a plethora of reasons, including its status as a leading financial centre and its legal system. More specifically, they are limited to US$50,000 per year in currency exchange and transfer out of China “If their money is in Hong Kong, they can exchange whatever they want and transfer it to any country,” says Lam.

Vehicle for growth

Due to Hong Kong’s highly developed financial services sector, life insurance policies here can offer mainland customers a far better vehicle for the growth of financial assets. “The growth of their money is what they are seeking,” affirms Lam. “They maybe want to put it in a trust, and life insurance is an important part in the trust.”

Their life insurance policies fall into three categories: risk management, such as life, accident and medical insurance, and critical illness; savings management, such as savings plans for retirement and educational funds; and investment plans, offering customers a passive income and a fund manager to monitor their money.

Hong Kong attraction

According to Lam, Hong Kong policies have an advantage over those offered on the mainland for paying dividends on the likes of critical illness cover. “In Hong Kong, after 30 years, even if you don’t become ill, you still get money paid out. On the mainland, there is no dividend at all,” he says.

“Then, for some savings plans, like an educational fund or retirement planning, the yearly return is under 3% on the mainland. But in Hong Kong, you can get like a maximum of 6-7%.”

This is important, stresses Lam, as the key component of these types of policies is maximising return for educational or retirement provision, while the insurance part acts purely as the foundation of the plan.

Lam adds that higher operating costs and taxes on the mainland are factors in limiting the level of return there. “Also, in Hong Kong, premiums are reinvested, and they can be put in any market around the world. In China, it is limited to the mainland market.”

The Covid years were difficult for life insurers in Hong Kong as business dropped by as much as 70%. Confidence in the Hong Kong insurance sector hinges on three factors, says Lam – “trust, ability and integrity” – and it appears this is now paying off. While it is not every day that a new policy smashes a world record, the industry has rebounded and sales are soaring.

High Table Stakes: Are the number of best restaurant trophies awarded today muddying the chef’s soup?

Chef-humanitarian and 2024 Nobel Peace Prize nominee José Andrés famously defended the relevance of culinary awards, saying: “I love what it’s done elevating the profession.” If chefs are the new rock stars, there’s now a stage for them, their ideas and causes. Certainly, awards for chefs and their restaurants have received greater scrutiny in recent years, since they are now held responsible for wider changes. Any award must, by definition, condense multiple servings of exceptional skill and intricacy into a shortlist consisting of one choice per category, a single No. 1 or ‘Restaurant of the Year.’ For the eating and travelling public, who don’t spend all day (and night) discussing restaurants professionally, these honours are practical distillations.

What began as an evaluation of ‘best’ and excellence has expanded to include more than simply food and service. These days, any organisation that bestows culinary gongs must take responsibility for humanitarian causes and industry trends. Too much wokeness? Maybe. But in these times of instant communication, being overly informed is preferable to not giving any care at all.

More awards mean more chances. Awards are inherently limiting – there are only so many categories to spotlight, so many new names, women and people of colour who can be singled out without sacrificing integrity or lengthening the duration of the gala presentation.

So, is another round of chef awards really necessary? Similar to how there is no one ultimate authority on international film, there is no one body that has exclusive rights dishing out culinary honours, though three of the most well- known worldwide – Michelin, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the James Beard Foundation – still live up to the clamour they receive.

Working wonders

Dining awards are a fantastic way to promote a restaurant and raise employee morale. They also bring in new consumers and increase the number of repeat patrons. First off, the press attention for the winners is immense as the awards are advertised in local media, and local and international media will report on the event and publish chef profiles and dining features, which in turn feed the restaurant’s own marketing machine. Awards such as Diners’ Choice by Chope frequently work with influential local and media figures to announce the winners, generating publicity that will benefit the lucky recipients.

Another gain is that it attracts diners outside of the usual clientele. Dining awards target locals who will patronise the restaurant business. Appearing on an awards list ensures more awareness and, for the winners, may result in free entitlements such as email marketing, social media postings and blog articles. For example, each Diners’ Choice restaurant winner in Singapore and Hong Kong is entitled to marketing credits, posts on Facebook and Instagram, and web and app placements to drive traffic into the dining room.

It also brings in tourists. When searching for ‘Best restaurants in (country name)’, one will undoubtedly find a list by a top travel or local publication of enticing places to dine. Many of these listicles are penned by food journalists who want to put a country on the world map, selecting restaurants that have internationally recognised awards.

The buzz beyond

Culinary award-giving bodies not only exist to celebrate excellence in the world of food and dining but also strive to make a positive impact on society. Through their philanthropic initiatives, they aim to address pressing social issues, promote sustainability, foster diversity and inclusion, and encourage responsible practices.

Exhibit A: the Michelin Guide collaborating with StreetSmart to combat homelessness in the UK. Diners at participating restaurants have the option to donate £1, which is added to their bill.

Funds collected through this initiative are then distributed to specialist charities that assist those living on the streets, catering to their basic needs and providing resources, mentoring and skills training. By covering StreetSmart’s operational costs, sponsors ensure that every penny raised directly benefits those in need.

The James Beard Awards in the US, which promote and nurture talent, sustainability and diversity, are another example of awarders extending their remit beyond the plate. The New York-headquartered James Beard Foundation provides scholarships and mentorship programmes to aspiring chefs and food professionals, fostering education and empowering the next generation of culinary talent. It also promotes sustainability by encouraging farm-to-table sourcing and reducing food waste, thereby minimising the industry’s environmental impact. In addition, the James Beard Awards recognise chefs from diverse backgrounds, celebrating their contributions to American cuisine and highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in the culinary world.

Launched in 2022 to honour top chefs, restaurants and culinary destinations, the World Culinary Awards aim to encourage culinary tourism, cultural exchange and collaboration among chefs worldwide. Such initiatives not only elevate industry standards but also promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for diverse culinary traditions.

The Good Food Awards, established in 2002 by the UK publication The Good Food Guide, recognises products that achieve a harmonious balance between superior taste and responsible practices. Winners meet rigorous environmental and social responsibility standards, showcasing their commitment to building strong, healthy communities through good food. By honouring craftsmanship, flavour and sustainability, the Good Food Awards inspire consumers to make conscious choices and support businesses that prioritise ethical and sustainable practices.

Food for thought

Awards are fun too – though those chefs whose dreams of earning a Michelin star were crushed this year may not agree. They celebrate the industry as a whole and recognise people who are great at what they do, whether they are actually the best or not.

What does ‘best’ even mean? The 46-year- old baker who makes the freshest bagels every morning in a shop along the Kennedy Town tramway; the 77-year-old owner of an excellent sisig restaurant in Pampanga in the Philippines; and the mother and daughter who have served egg waffles beside the Macau Cathedral since the ’80s, to name just a few, all deserve to be called the best.

As Nobel nominee Chef Andrés would say: “Women are the ones who feed the world. Not big male chefs and not even famous female chefs… but everyday women. If awards become too exclusive, it loses the magic effect. And while we, restaurant chefs, feed the few, at the end of the day, all others who feed the many should be recognised the same.”

Food has the power to bring people together, and by embracing culinary inclusivity, we can create a more diverse and inclusive society. So, let’s celebrate the power of food and use it as a tool to connect, learn, and grow together. And are culinary awards good things? As long as the quest for a medallion does not get in the way of the central job – serving the people.

Beyond Bunny: How the late – and lamented by some – Playboy millionaire Hugh Hefner shifted the cultural landscape

The recent sale of Hugh Hefner’s personal heirlooms and the Playboy archives has highlighted once again the huge historical and cultural impact this libertarian had on America and society the world over. Hefner was a one-off, a complex man who overtly encouraged the pursuit of pleasure, and to the astonishment and displeasure of many, wielded immense influence on modern culture.

Raised in the conservative 1930s, Hefner exhibited a creative streak from a young age, setting up a school magazine for which he provided a stream of cartoon strips. During his formative teenage years, he chaffed against social restrictions on matters like sex and immersed himself in popular culture. Considered a social high-flyer at school, he loved movies, cartoons, magazines, dancing and swing music. Enlisting in the army in 1944, he contributed to military newspapers, and after the Second World War studied psychology, art and creative writing at college. He was spurred to publish his own magazine when refused a pay rise as a copywriter at Esquire.

Following the launch of Playboy magazine in 1953, Hefner became the epitome of the self- made man so admired in US society. His vision echoed the changing cultural landscape as post-war America boomed and mass consumerism became emblematic of the dominant world power.

An intellectual Playboy

In the early 1950s, most men’s magazines were outdoor-themed and championed the male bonding that emerged in the post-Second World War era over the likes of poker, bowling, hunting and fishing. “This had no real interest for Hef,” says David Goodman, CEO of Julien’s Auctions, who oversaw the March sale of Playboy memorabilia. “He wanted to distinguish his magazine from all the others and cater to the indoor guy instead – the intellectual, cosmopolitan male – focusing on the single life, the period of bachelorhood before you settle down.”

Ultimately, Goodman believes Hefner created Playboy because it was a magazine that he personally would enjoy, and because he saw no others in the marketplace aimed specifically at the stylish male singleton. Certainly, through Playboy’s pages and throughout his personal life, the entertainment mogul railed against the perception that men, married or otherwise, should be encumbered by convention. ‘The Playboy Philosophy’ advocated was, in his own words, “a moral maturity and honesty’’ in line with “adult tastes, interests and opinions”.

Mother knows best

Raising the US$8,000 necessary to publish the magazine’s inaugural issue required some maternal support; his mother contributed a cheque for US$1,000. “His father said no, but his mother believed not necessarily in his venture, but in him,” reveals Goodman.

Setting the tone for a bold new publication, the first issue featured intimate portraits of emerging film actress Marilyn Monroe. They had been shot by celebrity photographer Tom Kelley, who then sold them to the John Baumgarth calendar company on Chicago’s West Side, close to where Hefner grew up. Knowing he needed a hook to create a buzz and attract readers, the fledgling publisher “drove out there in his beat-up Chevy, met with Baumgarth, and purchased the photos”.

Pin-up party

“Marilyn’s appearance in that initial issue and her now-famous response to the [nude] photos [being published], ‘I had nothing on but the radio,’ made a huge impact on the magazine’s success. Marilyn drew them in and the rest of the content kept them coming back,” says Goodman.

Playboy became synonymous with nude ‘pin-up girls’, and by rallying against America’s prevailing puritan values, it brought sex into the public forum. “It was Hef who believed that the pin-up could – and should – be acceptable in everyday life, right alongside art, culture, literature, et cetera. He rightly believed that the sexual nature of the pin-up wasn’t shameful and that our sexuality should be celebrated.”

Pushing boundaries

According to Goodman, Playboy had a profound influence on public opinion and the way we think as individuals. Upon Hefner’s death in 2017 at the age of 91, The New York Times obituary said as much: values long espoused in the magazine now reflected American society. However, it also noted that both the man and his brand were criticised over the decades as adolescent, exploitative and degrading to women.

Hefner’s track record on social issues of the day reads more positively. He was never afraid to embrace and defend unpopular opinions at the time, and his liberal ideals helped to advance progressive values and civil rights within society. Playboy interviewed Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Fidel Castro and Jimmy Hoffa, among many other momentous figures, and regularly covered topics that were considered taboo.

Leading the debate

From 1965, the issue of abortion was discussed in nearly every issue until the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, and the Playboy Foundation began funding the abortion rights movement in 1966. “Letters from women were published, describing the emotional and physical pain they experienced from botched illegal abortions and, while Playboy’s stance was very clear, Hef let readers debate the issue publicly by printing responses monthly – both pro-life and pro-choice,” notes Goodman.

The magazine was ahead of public discourse on the issue of homosexuality, too: “Not only did people not discuss homosexuality [then], but the idea of a publication accepting it as an alternate lifestyle was revolutionary,” opines Goodman. It began editorialising about Aids before any other national magazine, educating its readers and bringing rational thought to the subject. Goodman says: “While the media was causing panic and prejudice by reporting on Aids as a ‘gay disease’, Playboy delved into the science, explaining that that’s not how viruses work – they don’t discriminate.”

Club rules

On the back of the magazine’s early success, Hefner opened the inaugural Playboy Club in his home city in 1960. Scores followed in the US and even overseas, and they were notorious for their parade of scantily clad Bunny girls. Criticism grew that the concept objectified women and the clubs were closed by the late 1980s, but Goodman argues they performed a useful social purpose. “The Playboy Clubs were groundbreaking not only for the stylish and sophisticated atmosphere they provided their patrons but more importantly for the advancement of the civil rights movement,” he states.

“Members of all races were welcomed, as were performers, and Bunnies of all races were employed. Black musicians performed regularly, right alongside white performers. Aretha Franklin, then 18, got her start professionally at the Chicago Playboy Club. It was her first performance in front of a white audience, at the height of the civil rights movement.”

Hefner even bought back the franchises of clubs in New Orleans and Miami that refused to allow Black members. “This anti-segregation policy was at the heart of Hef’s ethos, and he would not stand for any deviation from it,” says Goodman. Black entertainer and activist Dick Gregory commented that “white folks weren’t exposed to [black comedians] until this fragile guy who smoked a pipe put us on stage”.

It was fitting that Julien’s auction united Hefner and his Playboy memorabilia with that of Marilyn Monroe. Both were symbolic of the sexual revolution in the 1950s and 1960s. Although the publishing magnate never met the actress during her short lifetime, they are close in death – he purchased the crypt next to hers in 1992 and is interred there. Whether he is resting easily is a matter of debate. As Goodman said of the recent sale, it was “about a time and a place that does not exist anymore”.

Arrival Notice: In a tactical change, Hong Kong is rolling out new local attractions. Will more tourists roll up?

Hong Kong’s ability to attract tourists and stage major events featuring international stars has dominated the headlines over recent months. Just when visitor numbers began to rebound following the devastating Covid years, the Lionel Messi saga put Hong Kong in an unwelcome global spotlight and undoubtedly left many unanswered questions. Negativity about visitors reducing their spending while on our shores has also threatened to derail efforts to lure more.

It wasn’t always difficult, of course. Hong Kong has been a beacon for tourists through the ages. The stunning harbour set against the backdrop of a forest of skyscrapers and majestic hills has long captivated the imagination, and there are positive signs pointing to a return to the days of abundant incomers.

Cruise high

In an indication of rising arrival rates, cruise ship visits are now buoyant. Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) shares that from November 2023 to April 2024, the number of international ship calls exceeded pre-pandemic levels. No doubt many of those luxury-cruise travellers would have been mesmerised by the engrossing view of the fragrant harbour as their ship slowly moored at Ocean Terminal or the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Tourism is big business. Government economists have calculated that each batch of 1.5 million tourists contributes HK$3 billion to Hong Kong’s gross domestic product.

In the recent Budget, HK$1.09 billion was allocated to help boost tourism, which will enable the HKTB to increase efforts in four strategic directions: developing diversified tourism experiences; staging and supporting large-scale international events; developing diverse visitor source markets and stepping up promotions; and enhancing service quality and providing continuous support for the travel trade. A new dedicated team at the HKTB, the Mega Event Development and Advancement division, has been tasked with helping global event organisers navigate their way into the city more easily.

Shift in emphasis

HKTB spokesperson opines that Hong Kong’s tourism offerings do not necessarily need to be improved, but there should be a shift to cater to changing consumer preferences.

Government estimates suggest tourism numbers in Hong Kong will recover to 50 million visitors this year – a figure encouragingly revised from an earlier HKTB forecast of about 46 million. While this is up from 2023, it still represents a significant shortfall from pre-pandemic levels; about 65 million tourists flocked to Hong Kong in 2018, with nearly four in five arriving from mainland China.

Today’s tourists from the north, though, do not seem to splurge on luxury items as before. “Changes in consumer behaviour and travel demands have undergone a paradigm shift from consumption to higher demand of immersive and in-depth experiences,” says a HKTB spokesperson. “[So] our tourism offerings are also gradually shifting the focus from tactical offers such as discount and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences to arts and culture, wellness and green tourism, together with digital experiences and quality, customisable services.

Reconnecting tourists

HKTB research suggests recent HKTB campaigns like ‘Hello Hong Kong’ and ‘Hong Kong Night Treats’ have been hugely successful in re-engaging with world travellers. The goal for the upcoming year is to convert tourists interested in visiting Hong Kong into actual arrivals, and secondly, to get them spending in town.

Just the first step in the diversified tourism experience will be a revamped version of the nightly light-and-sound show ‘A Symphony of Lights’. Monthly pyrotechnic and drone shows, another of HKTB’s new initiatives, have been in the firing line though, as an environmentally aware segment of public opinion suggests these should be switched to drone-only.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan has indicated the pyrotechnic shows would encompass different monthly themes in line with mega events. He also suggested publicity measures to promote Hong Kong would include producing reality TV shows and rewarding outstanding frontline staff in the hospitality sector.

Local flavour

The HKTB recently leveraged its year-round promotional platform, ‘Arts in Hong Kong’, to showcase international art and cultural events, including Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Central and ComplexCon Hong Kong, in a bid to create a wider buzz. Through its research after the pandemic, the tourism body has gleaned that visitors are particularly drawn by local culture. A cha chaan teng-style cafe, for example, was set up at Art Basel to add local flavour and enrich visitor experiences.

“That’s why we will continue to promote the local neighbourhoods to offer authentic experiences and launch a second phase of the Temple Street promotion,” says a HKTB spokesperson. “Our East-meets-West festival calendar is also unique in Asia, and we will devote tangible resources to amplify the ambience of these festivities through events, promotions and city-wide décors to appeal to visitors.

Events capital

Much debate of late has centred on Hong Kong’s capability to promote and stage world- class events and bring big stars to the city. That Singapore held an exclusive deal to hold the Taylor Swift concert with plenty of carrot involved in the form of government monetary assistance caused some consternation here. Whether taxpayer’s money would be best served by such inducements is the source of heated argument in Hong Kong. There has been much talk of the ‘Swiftonomics’ effect of her performances in Singapore.

The government did inject HK$16 million into last month’s LIV Golf tournament, which duly attracted global attention and some of the best golfing professionals. The fact that this widely- praised event proved such a success has gone some way to alleviating disappointment over the Messi no-show.

In terms of courting international mega acts, the 50,000-capacity stadium at Kai Tak Sports Park is expected to open next year. Hoteliers hope this facility will help entice stars to perform in the city and fans to stay overnight, especially if multi-night performances can be scheduled. The authorities also intend to release details of mega events in a timelier manner so commercial entities can best capitalise on business opportunities.

Quality count

What the city can be proud of is the breadth and quality of the events it holds. Underscoring Hong Kong’s intention to remain Asia’s event capital, the HKTB spokesperson reeled off a number of major events organised or partnered by the HKTB that will “contribute to soliciting high-yield and high-value visitors”. These include the Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Tennis Open, Art Basel, Clockenflap, Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Cyclothon and Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.

The five Art March installations running until 2 June are expected to attract more than two million visitors. Despite an estimated combined staging cost of about HK$50 million, they are free to the public, and the government has stressed the idea is to bring fun and happiness to the city.

One particularly innovative offering, teamlab: Continuous, features more than 200 luminous eggs sitting in Tamar Park and dotting Victoria Harbour. The hues and acoustic outputs of this mesmerising display of ovoids will transform upon interaction with visitors.

Art March spanned a diverse range of activities from exhibitions of art and culture to television and film festivals. These were part of 80 events scheduled for the first half of 2024, as Hong Kong slowly but surely woos back the gone but not forgotten tourists.

Festive Crackers: Festival fervour lights up streets and hearts each month somewhere in the world

Following last month’s joyous celebration of Chinese New Year, we pay homage to the start of a new cycle. There’s an abundance of festivals held around the world throughout the year that have deep cultural significance and bring people and communities closer. Here is a guide to the best and the brightest for globetrotters seeking to soak up local colour.

Colour of Water

March sees the Holi festival in India, a beloved tradition in the country’s north, where Hindus celebrate the arrival of Spring according to the lunar calendar by joyously throwing coloured water and powder dyes on anyone within range. No one or orifice is safe from the technicolour assault, which takes place on 25 March this year. Mathura, one of India’s holiest cities, attracts floods of pilgrims during this festival. Bonfires are held the night before to celebrate the demise of the demoness Holika.

Saint Patrick’s Day falls annually on 17 March – a day in honour of the foremost patron saint of Ireland. The best place to celebrate the biggest day in the country’s cultural calendar is in the capital, Dublin, which becomes awash with the colour green. It’s a festival of fun – the famous Irish craic – and copious quantities of Guinness.

The Songkran Water Festival in Thailand has gained a reputation as the largest water fight in the world. It is part of the wider Songkran celebration of the Thai New Year (13-15 April), which is rich in symbolism for the Buddhist and Hindu calendars.

Music & Movie Mania

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, held this year from 25 April to 5 May, brings 10 days of marvellous music from a multitude of genres – jazz, funk, gospel, blues, folk, bluegrass and others. The celebration marks the city’s roots as the birthplace of jazz. The latest celluloid splendours are aired every May at Festival de Cannes, known internationally as the Cannes Film Festival. Dating from the 1940s, the famous red- carpet event sees the best actors and filmmakers from around the world congregate on the French Riviera in an orgy of cinematic heaven. This year’s dates, 14-25 May, are a must for anyone fascinated by the global influence of movies.

June heralds two famous music festivals, Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Glastonbury in the UK. The former is marketed as the largest music festival in the US and is noted for its diverse range of musical styles; this year (weekends from 20 June to 6 July) features more than 1,000 performances by 800-plus acts spanning some of the industry’s hottest stars. The UK event (26-30 June) has moved to the mainstream and attracts mega stars as well as mega crowds to the muddy Somerset fields. Across the English Channel – or le Manche depending on your perspective – the huge biennial Paris Air Show takes place this month, too, with the next take-off on 16-22 June 2025.

Races in the Sun

The Basque Country goes bull crazy at the height of summer. In Pamplona, Spain, the world-famous Running of the Bulls (Festival de San Fermin) sees six bulls and steers released every morning from 7-14 July onto narrow, winding cobble-stoned streets thronged with brave (or mad) festival- goers – many donned in a traditional white shirt and red neckerchief – who attempt to dodge the stampede or run the entire five-minute course alongside them. The whole town is in a party mood for the week in honour of Saint Fermin, the co- patron saint of Navarre.

Over in Italy, the magnificent Palio di Siena horse race is staged twice in the summer, on 2 July and again on 16 August. The event has medieval origins and is preceded by a majestic pageant that attracts visitors from across the world.

Back in Spain, the world’s biggest tomato fight takes place in the Valencian town of Buñol, La Tomatina on the last Wednesday of August (28th this year). First held in 1945, following a quarrel that broke out near a handy market stall, it has grown into an annual entertainment. The medieval city centre fills with bands and parades, and participants are doused in water before the fun begins.

Autumn High Lights

The famous Oktoberfest is held in Munich every autumn. This more than 200-year-old tradition began as a celebration of the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Therese of Saxe- Hildburghausen in 1810. With people dressed in traditional lederhosen and drindl swaying to the music of the oompa bands, the city becomes one huge party with many raucous beer tents as well as a huge fair. This year’s epic beer-swilling lasts from 21 September to 6 October.

Diwali, or the ‘Festival of Lights’, falls on the first day of November in 2024, with festivities held on two days each side of the main holiday. Though celebrated by Hindus and other Indian religions across Asia, India knows how to put on a festival and the subcontinent is a good place to be during this nod to the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Stay on for the Pushkar Camel Fair in India, a must-see cultural event held in Rajasthan, which begins this year on 9 November.

Dancing the Year Away

In Konya, Turkey, the Mevlana Festival occurs in mid-December, with the famed Sufi whirling dervishes spinning their way to a closer connection with Allah. With roots from the 13th century, this quite dizzying performance dance is accompanied by drums, flutes and camera shutters.

New Year celebrations at the end of December and early January herald rejoicing the world over, none more so than Hogmanay in Edinburgh, Scotland. The festival lasts about four days spanning New Year’s Eve and the beautiful Georgian city becomes a massive outdoor street party with concerts and fireworks.

Heading as far north as you can get in the UK, Shetland is home to Up Helly Aa, a series of fire
festivals that bid adieu to Yuletide; the largest, in the capital of Lerwick, blazes on the last Tuesday of January. Each festival ends with the burning of an imitation Viking galley that has been dragged through torch-lit streets in a magical ceremonial procession, followed by a night of partying.

Letting Rip Before Lent

The end of February sees the huge Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (28 February – 5 March), a signal for non-stop revelry with parties happening in every corner of town. Streets heave with partygoers dancing to the samba beat and drums pounding amid an array of amazing costumes of feathers, sequins and glitter and towering parade floats. Held every year before Lent, parties go on through the night in this celebration that has its roots in Catholicism and also salutes Brazilian culture. Samba schools train for many months in preparation for the four-day parade which winds its way through to the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí arena.

Mardi Gras is another famous Christian tradition, again celebrated before the Lenten sacrifices. The words mean ‘Fat Tuesday’ in French – a day of feasting before the fasting begins. Many countries celebrate Mardi Gras, rejoicing in a proliferation of exuberant costumes to celebrate the beauty of life. The Cape Verde archipelago off the coast of West Africa has gained a reputation for holding raunchy parties that mix Latin style and Brazilian sex appeal. The traditions behind the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras party, particularly known for its elaborate costumes, date back to the time of the French colonialists.

The Carnival of Venice with its distinctive masks was reinstated in 1979 after centuries of being banned. Celebrating the history and culture of Venice, it takes place over 10 days, ending on Shrove Tuesday (4 March in 2025).