Actress Clara Lee talks about her childhood, acting and fashion

Clara Lee has landed roles in a number of films including the recently released Qing Sheng.

Click here to watch the photo shoot

Am I correct in saying that you spent a good deal of your youth travelling?
Yes, my father was working a lot in Europe, so I was born in Switzerland. My mother studied in London so that is how I received my UK citizenship. I, however, ended up studying in California and now I work in Korea.

Having seen quite a lot of the world from a young age there must be a few cities that left an impression on you. Do you have any favourites?
I love travelling because I get to meet different people, feel the different vibes in each city and immerse myself in the culture. I feel like I learn a lot by travelling so I really enjoy it. Recently when I spent time in Verona, Milan and Rome, it was very different. I had been to Milan before to shop but I didn’t really get to see much of the city, but this time around I found it very romantic. Ideally I would love to spend more time in Europe as it has now become one of my favourite places to visit.

Being so well travelled, in terms of nationality would you call yourself Korean, British or a ‘citizen of the world’?
That is difficult to say. People know me generally as Korean, so if I were asked I would say Korean. When people ask about where I grew up or want to know more about my background then I explain to them about my UK citizenship and how I spent my youth travelling a good deal.

Your father is a famous musician and your mother a talented ballet dancer. Have you inherited any of these artistic genes from your parents?
I don’t really think about it in terms of inherited talent but I do really enjoy dancing, listening to music and singing, so perhaps I did inherit some aptitude genetically. If that is the case, I certainly appreciate it! I am actually doing some work on the musical side and some ballet dancing. Hopefully I will be releasing an album in 2017.

Another one of your talents is fashion design, which you studied at university in California. Is that something you are still involved with now?
Yes that is why I recently started collaborating with the lingerie brand Charmante; it’s allowed me to get involved with fashion again. I have always been interested in fashion design so anytime I am presented with the opportunity to get involved I absolutely jump at the chance. I feel like my recent collaboration with Charmante is a great start.

You began your career as a model before making the transition onto the silver screen. Was there a particular moment you remember wanting to be an actress?
I think I always aspired to be an actress. I remember the first day I was on set working on a Korean drama, I was very nervous but as soon as the director started shooting my nerves turned to excitement. Whenever I am in front of the camera I feel very passionate and excited. Acting is something I really love to do.

What is it that you love so much about acting?
Everything! I feel like acting allows me to get in touch with myself. I feel like I didn’t know very much about myself before I started acting. Being in front of the camera makes me much more aware of how I talk, where I look and how I use my hands. I am starting to learn more about myself and learning to love myself, which is a very exciting journey.
I am generally a quiet person, not that outgoing and I only have a few friends. But when I have to play a ‘bad girl’ I am forced to be boisterous and act out by screaming or throwing tantrums, so it was interesting to see that part of myself come out, a dark side I didn’t realise I had. Other times when I play a doctor, for example, I feel happy that I can get in touch with my more intellectual self. Acting, for me, is about studying life and looking at different careers and people with very different personalities. I enjoy playing different characters and finding different sides to my own personality.

“I feel like acting allows me to get in touch with myself. I feel like I didn’t know very much about myself before I started acting…”

It sounds like you get quite wrapped up in the characters you play?
Yes, most recently I shot a movie in China where I played a swordsman and kung fu master so I learned to fence and fight. It involved a lot of scenes with wires and although naturally I am quite an athletic person, I do have a fear of heights. I didn’t know I could jump out of high buildings and all that so it has really been a learning process where I discovered quite a lot about myself. It allowed me to gain more confidence and made me even more passionate about my work. I have really enjoyed doing more action recently.

Do you find the stunt and action scenes difficult?
It can be tough but I really have found myself enjoying the more physical side of acting as well. I have learnt many different fighting techniques and I really like challenging myself. I don’t like to waste time and I love working hard.

How do you emotionally prepare for more dramatic roles?
I spend time studying the character by watching films about that specific topic. Most recently, with the action film in China, there was a lot of emphasis on the poses and the looks so I did a lot of research into different action actresses and how they portray different styles on film.

Do you dream in English or Korean?
I love this question! Actually I dream in both although sometimes I surprise myself when I start speaking English or Korean in my dreams and even I get confused sometimes!

So you are just as comfortable expressing yourself in English as Korean?
Yes I would say so, depending where I am. If I am in Korea I tend to express myself in Korean whereas when I am travelling I am just as comfortable expressing myself in English.

What is it like being a sex symbol?
It motivates me to keep fit and stay active in a healthy way. I like to think that I can be a positive role model and help motivate my fans to lead a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy sharing my diet and fitness regime with my fans. I am a very positive person so I think that also helps. It is not all about being sexy on the outside. It is just as important to feel sexy on the inside and exude a bright and positive vibe.

What would you say is the secret to success in life?
I think it is still a secret to me. I just try to work as hard as I can. I believe that whatever effort I put into my work and life it will come back to me in the form of success. I feel that if I work hard enough my dreams can come true.

In the movie Line Walker you played an assassin. Being such a naturally positive person did you find it difficult playing such a dark role?
Yes it was certainly challenging. I had to scream a lot and I didn’t really have many spoken lines so all of the emotion had to be expressed through screams or facial gestures. At the time I found it challenging but once the camera started rolling I had invested so much time in my character I almost felt like a real assassin! While I was training I found it difficult and I was often too shy to scream but once we started shooting I was fine. That is why it is so important for me to have time to train and prepare for my roles.

If you hadn’t become an actress what could you see yourself doing instead?
I think I would have liked to have been a fashion designer. I am always reading about and staying up-to-date with fashion. I find fashion changes so quickly nowadays but I have my own look. I like to wear high-waisted clothing to make my legs look longer or tighter-waisted clothes to accentuate my curves. I have the kind of fashion sense that I feel looks good on me. I like to wear fitted clothing. If I wear baggy clothing I tend to eat more so I try to wear tight clothing to help motivate myself to keep fit.

You have also appeared in a few music videos. Is there a certain musical genre you are more partial to?
I like ballads and sad songs. I am typically quite a cheerful person and I used to listen to a lot of EDM and fast songs, so I would like to branch out a bit and work on ballads to challenge myself musically.

Do you have any favourite musicians?
I love Beyoncé but I can’t imagine her wanting to work with me! I love her, she is my musical motivation.

What do you do in your time off and what is an ideal day for you?
When I am in Hong Kong I like to take in the views, so I like to go to bars and restaurants on the top of high-rise buildings. The weather is perfect right now because it is not too hot and it is pleasant, so I like to stay outdoors, walk around the city and do a bit of shopping. I love places like Isola which has a great view and good food.

Thank you.

Text: Hans Schlaikier

Founders of Atelier Cologne discuss Clémentine California

The founders of Atelier Cologne, the first Maison de Parfum to create pure perfumes inspired by the legendary Eau de Cologne, were in Hong Kong recently to launch their latest product, the Clémentine California Cologne Absolue.

Sylvie Ganter and Christophe Cervasel, who met in New York in 2006, founded the perfume house in 2009 to blend citruses with precious natural raw materials to make their Cologne Absolue range.

Each Cologne Absolue tells the story of treasured emotions and powerful memories.

The Clémentine California tells the story of a movie producer looking for the actress of his dreams. He meets a young woman by chance with a fresh, natural beauty who has just arrived in Hollywood: his new muse.

In September 2015, Atelier opened a boutique in IFC mall. This was followed by a second store at Harbour City’s Ocean Centre.

Sylvie and Christophe spoke to Gafencu about their new Clémentine California Cologne Absolue.

Click here to read more about Atelier Cologne.

3 different venues to try this Valentine’s Day

Looking for somewhere a bit different this Valentine’s Day? Why not try a restaurant owned by a world-renowned chef that mixes vintage and modern decor in a warehouse-style layout; a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui that recreates a mini park; and a bar styled around peacocks and Eastern decor that is hosting an alternative take on Valentine’s Day.

Bread Street Kitchen

Owned by the famously volatile chef Gordon Ramsay, Bread Street Kitchen in Lan Kwai Fong is offering a Valentine’s Day menu featuring curried scallops in cauliflower puree and grapes; lamb cutlet with Anna potatoes, peppered sweet bread and aubergine caviar; panna cotta with raspberries and brandy snap and more. The restaurant’s design is based on its London edition and has a very casual open-plan layout with comfy sofas and lights dangling from the ceiling. A perfect place for a laid-back date.

Valentine’s Day dining starts at 5pm, and guests pay HK$588 before 7pm and $688 after 7pm.

Location: LKF Hotel, 33 Wyndham Street, Central

Phone: 2230 1800

Website: Breadstreetkitchen

Urban Park

As the name suggests, this restaurant recreates a mini park in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui. Covering 3,500 square feet, the European eatery is offering a Valentine’s Day menu with fresh avocado and a chilled crabmeat ball with cream, cheese, beetroot and low-fat yoghurt dressing; lobster tail and miso-marinated US black cod with wasabi spinach and miso mayonnaise; and beef rossini Australian Wagyu with pan-fried foie gras and truffle sauce.

Urban Park’s Valentine’s Day dinner costs $599 per person with a complimentary glass of prosecco.

Location: 4/F 20-22, Granville Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui

Phone: 2751 1999

Website: UrbanPark

Ophelia

One of the hippest bars in Hong Kong is hosting an alternative take on Valentine’s Day: Anti-Valentine’s Day. Aimed at the many single people in the city, Ophelia’s anti-Valentine’s Day will feature dancers, a lucky draw, special cocktails and, of course, singletons.

The intimate venue with peacock feathers on the walls, bird cages hanging from the ceiling and a giant swing is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s sampling cocktails such as Eros, made with prosecco, rhubarb cordial, peach liqueur, pear puree and rose water or The Heartbreaker, made with Mitcher’s rye whiskey, vanilla, lemon juice, egg white, absinthe and popcorn. All cocktails are $98.

Anti-Valentine’s Day starts at 6pm and runs until late.

Location: Shop No.41A, 1/F The Avenue, 200 Queen’s Rd E,, Lee Tung St, Wan Chai

Phone:2520 1117

Website: Ophelia

Written by Andrew Scott

Fitness Video: Start the New Year off on the right foot

If you’re feeling a bit unfit (fat) after gorging yourself on fish, pork and rice cake over Chinese New Year, or you just want to start the New Year in a positive way, then we have the video for you.

We spoke to fitness coach Tricia Yap to find out how easy it is to exercise at home and what type of mistakes people make when they try to get fit.

Tricia also demonstrated some easy exercises, along with a 5-minute workout to do at home.

So now you really have no excuse.

Mr Electric: Michael Kwan talks about his family, work in electronics trading

Michael Kwan is the chairman and owner of electronics import-export company Vibrant Development Limited. He is also a former president of the Rotary Club of The Peak.

You spent a number of years studying in the US. What did you do there?
I first went to the US in the early ‘80s when I was still in high school. I went on to graduate from Peddie School, a private institution in Hightstown, New Jersey, in 1982. I then studied psychology at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and after graduation I returned to Hong Kong to work. Texas was fun, but it wasn’t all that exciting because it was still quite old-fashioned in the ‘80s. I imagine it’s very different now, but I’ll find out for sure when I revisit this June.
Back in the early ‘80s, a lot of people my age, who studied abroad, returned to Hong Kong to work in banks or financial institutions. I was never interested in banking, but with psychology I realised I could take a completely different approach to business. I could get a feel for what people wanted, and learn how I could help fill those needs.

Click here to watch the video

Your first job was working as a front office clerk for a Mong Kok hotel. What was that like?
I had never worked in the service industry before, and when I returned to Hong Kong my father brought me to the opening of a hotel run by someone he knew. When he asked me if I wanted to work there, I was pretty enthusiastic about the offer, so I accepted and worked there for a year as a front office manager trainee. I made many friends, many of whom I still see today when I patronise various hotels. My second job was also as a hotel trainee. The chain had quite a few hotels in Hong Kong, so I trained in various departments and got a broader view of what the service industry is all about. It was a lot of fun and I learned a great deal about people too.
I always wanted to open my own boutique hotel, but I was never able to do that in Hong Kong because everything is so expensive. I thought of opening a cottage-style hotel in Canada, the US or England, but I realised it’s very impractical to do so while living in Hong Kong because you have to be completely hands-on when heading up a small venture like that.

“I don’t have to work very hard, which my wife doesn’t like. She says she works harder than I do!”

Where else have you worked, and how did you end up founding your own company?
After cutting my teeth in hotel management, I changed track and got involved with Chinese trade. I worked in several provinces in China including Guangdong, and also in the Nanjing and Nanchang areas, where we invested in a couple of factories that built electronic components.
I was involved with three factories there, and then I took on another project that required me to move to Macau for two years. We produced copper anodes to be sold as electrical plating for PCB boards, which are installed in computers and other electronic products. I worked there for two years until the Macanese government took the land back and started developing casinos. So I returned to Hong Kong and started my own company, Vibrant Development Limited. I’ve been able to use the knowledge I gained from working in factories, but now I’m selling the basic components like resistors and capacitors rather than manufacturing them. Over the last several years I’ve also helped my family’s company with real estate rentals and renovation projects for our buildings. It’s great because I get to know all my tenants and see what they need and how we can improve upon what we do.

What’s a typical day for you?
My days are quite relaxed now because the business is on track and it’s essentially self-operating. In the morning I talk to my business associates and see if my tenants have any problems – a leaky faucet or busted water pipe, for instance. If there are no issues, I usually stay in the office for lunch and leave around 4 o’clock. Sometimes I’ll go and play golf or work out, and on other days I’ll pick up my son from basketball practice. I don’t have to work very hard, which my wife doesn’t like. She says she works harder than I do!

“We trust our children to decide for themselves what is best in life. All we really want is for them to enjoy themselves.”

You have two children, Chloe and Christian. Do you have any family traditions?
Every Chinese New Year we go skiing somewhere like Japan or Europe. Skiing is fun if you know what you are doing. But since I learned to ski at a slightly more advanced age, it didn’t come naturally to me, and it was harder to come to grips with the trepidation.

I do enjoy watching my family ski or snowboard though. It’s an incredible thing that I only get to see once a year. My wife, Vanessa, struggled to keep up with our son Christian last time because he’s practically a pro now, and he likes to go all the way to the top of the mountain. Vanessa usually stays with him for half the day, and for the other half we’ll take a walk or get a massage. Another reason to avoid the slopes is that I’m getting old, and I don’t want to fall. Falling is no fun.
One thing I do like about skiing is the fashion. Snowboarders wear all these stylish, saggy clothes. I can’t pull it off because I don’t have the physique to wear it with grace, but my son can wear it quite nicely. Even when they’re not skiing, people at the lodges wear such amazing clothes – Monclers, furs, chinchilla. It’s a great place for people watching, especially with such incredible scenery to take in too.

We’ve heard you also enjoy cooking. What’s your speciality?
I like to cook, but I can only make two or three dishes that I consider edible. I’m still learning. I do make an awesome roast chicken, according to my friends. I’m exploring other dishes, so maybe I’ll come up with something new in the near future. I was put in charge of Christmas Eve dinner at my mother’s, so I made roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with roast vegetables. It turned out okay. As far as I know, they are still alive!

What is your involvement with charities?
I am very involved with the Rotary Club of The Peak, which has unlimited resources to help NGOs. The club just donated a few hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars to a school for the physically and mentally impaired. It meant that they could purchase studio equipment like green screens so the students can film videos and conduct interviews.
In a separate programme, we’ve arranged for famous radio hosts to come in and teach special education students interview techniques. It really gets them thinking, and they are getting quite good at it.
I’m also involved in The Great Chefs of Hong Kong charity, which is hosted by the Heep Hong Society each year. We donate money and sell seats to Rotary members so they can invite their families to enjoy dishes prepared by over 40 chefs from Hong Kong hotels and restaurants. The proceeds from this are donated to children with special needs.
To a lesser extent, I’m involved with the Society for Abandoned Animals. My family already has a rabbit and a dog at home, so we can’t afford to take in any more pets, but we like to donate money in the hope that these animals will find permanent, loving homes.

What travel destinations are on your bucket list?
I’m definitely hoping to see the Northern Lights. I’ve seen pictures – they look amazing – and I’ve never been to a place where they are visible. Typically I tend to go to the same places over and over again. But if I were to venture into new terrain, I’d love to go on an African safari. Somewhere in South America would also be great, but my family is not too keen because they’re always worried about mosquitoes. And of course shopping is another big consideration when choosing a destination.

What is the most challenging thing you have done?
I’d have to say that raising a family is the most challenging because you have to accommodate other people with every choice you make. It’s not smooth sailing all the time, but we try to make compromises and live happily. One of the most difficult moments was saying goodbye to Chloe when she left home to study in the US. That was pretty tough for Vanessa and I at first, but then we had the chance to visit her soon after she left. We also managed to visit again with her brother, Christian, during his fall break. With our frequent visits, the first year was actually okay, especially now that she is settled in at school.
Many parents send their children to school in England at a very young age, but we do not believe in that. We trust our children to decide for themselves what is best. Chloe was accepted to a school in England and she decided that it wasn’t for her, so we didn’t push her. Christian got accepted to my old high school in the US but decided he didn’t like it, and I told him, “That’s fine. Stay.” Now he’s one of the top basketball players in his school. He’s also on the rugby team and involved in all sorts of extracurricular activities to keep him busy. He’s enjoying school, and that’s really all we want – for our children to enjoy themselves.

Thank you.

Written by Emily Petsko

Hong Kong Olympian Stephanie Au on passion, natural talent and making history

Team Hong Kong swimmer Stephanie Au has competed for her home city in three Olympic Games since 2008. She was also Hong Kong’s flag bearer at the 2016 Rio games.

When did you first discover your passion for swimming?
I started swimming training at nine, but I’d say my passion really developed in college because my coach introduced a whole new angle of swimming to us. We added on new exercises like dry land training, Pilates, balancing work, high-intensity workouts and runs. We also had things like mindset coaching and we’d read up on the sport. It was a very rounded way of developing. My coach always said that we were trying to build and empower young women; he didn’t want us to just focus on the swimming itself.

Click here to watch the video

To what do you attribute your athletic success? Is dedication and training key, or is it more about natural talent?
I think natural talent to a degree. When you start training, it’s more about basic talent and your skill set, although you do need dedication to get yourself into the pool every day. Once you get older and you become more professional, it does become more about the passion. If you don’t get that feeling of passion when you’re competing at a higher level, it becomes much harder. Every time you try to beat that 0.01 second it’s much more difficult, so you need to give yourself that little nudge.

What keeps you motivated in training? What do you enjoy most about swimming?
I enjoy the quietness of swimming and the solitude in the pool. I also like how it gets you sweating, even though you don’t feel like you are at all! The focus on breathing and moving makes you feel alive. Also, once you’ve been in the competition pool, the competitiveness is thrilling. The swimming world contains a wide spectrum of different feelings.

What made you decide to study at the University of California, Berkeley?
Some of the older girls – my swimming peers – who I’d worked with studied there; two of them went to Berkeley. I saw both of them excelling, both in academics and in athletics, so I decided I wanted to follow in their path. Realistically, I knew I could only do all three – study, train and be able to balance the work at such a high level – in the States.

“We made history. I felt very honoured and proud to be on that team. Walking into the marshalling area with my teammates and feeling relaxed and smiling through the entire race was a precious moment.”

You studied Environmental Economics. What was that like, and is it something that still interests you?
Yes, it is. I picked that over other subjects because, unlike most student athletes who study subjects related to sports in some way, I wanted to keep my mind off swimming. I wanted to use my study as a break away from training. But another reason I picked Environmental Economics is because we don’t really get to study it in Hong Kong. In the States there is so much high-calibre research on the subject.

You were awarded an Outstanding Student accolade. How did you juggle school work and training? Was it stressful?
It was stressful, but mainly it was about prioritising and time management. Once you get that down, it’s okay. It’s easier said than done but you really need to stick to your routine. It’s relatively challenging for a secondary school-aged child, but once you can manage that, you are halfway there.

What was it like in the Olympic Villages? Did you meet and spend time with fellow athletes?
To be honest everyone is just completely focused on the competition and concentrating on their own event. Nobody wants to bother other people too much because it’s a very important game for everyone. So we do the socialising after it’s all finished.

What did it mean for you to be chosen as Hong Kong’s flag bearer?
It was a total honour, I was so happy. I never expected to be chosen, especially at the Olympic Games. I’d always wanted to be a flag bearer. It was my third time as an Olympian, and the Olympic Committee stated they’d chosen me over the others because of the extra work I’d been doing within the sporting community and the contributions I’d made towards sports development.

Of the three games you participated in, did you have a particular favourite?
All three were very different, but I would say that the 2016 Rio Olympics were by far the best. Although I tried to go in with my individual 100-metre backstroke event and failed to qualify, I also helped the relay team get into the top 16 in the world. Just the fact that we made it to the Olympics – and it was the first time for a Hong Kong swimming relay team to be there – was so special. We made history. I felt very honoured and proud to be on that team. Walking into the marshalling area with my teammates and feeling relaxed and smiling through the entire race was a precious moment.

Apart from that, are there any particular memories or defining moments that stand out?
At the World University Games, which were held two years ago, I was competing in the 50-metre backstroke and I barely made it into the finals. During the race, most of my friends – who had been competing with me since we were 12 – were in the stands cheering for me. Once I touched the wall, I heard them screaming like crazy. I didn’t win – I got silver – but they were so happy for me, and they were cheering so loudly that I knew I had made the top three. I’d qualified as seventh into the finals, but then I ended up finishing second; I’ll always remember that moment. It’s not about the time or the medals – it’s my teammates that matter.

If you could give a young athlete one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’d say you really need to find your passion and do something you love. You need to make sure you put your heart into it. You can’t just do it for a couple of months, and of course there will be challenges ahead, but if you really love it, you will find a way to make it work.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I feel like 10 years is quite a long time, because things could really change in 10 years! I know that in 10 years, I won’t be swimming professionally anymore. Hopefully I will find a sustainable new path and career. I want to give something back, perhaps by working in sporting development or training. Everything I have right now is thanks to swimming, and the sporting system that helps nurture athletes. So now I want to continue that cycle.

What do you do in your free time to relax? Is it difficult to unwind after a day of training?
I like just sitting still and listening to music. In some ways, it’s similar to swimming because once I put in my earphones it’s my own quiet world again. I can talk to myself and analyse my performance if I need to, all in my own small zone. And of course, I can get ready for the next practice.

Thank you.

Written by Siobhan Brewood-Wyatt

Set sail with Monte Carlo Yachts’ president Carla Demaria

Even though Monte Carlo Yachts is the new kid on the block when it comes to the luxury yacht market — launching its first unit in 2010 — the brand is starting to make waves with the backing of the Beneteau Group and Carla Demaria as president.

Gafencu spoke to Carla recently about the brief history of Monte Carlo Yachts and the importance of the Asian market to the company.

Tell us about yourself and Monte Carlo Yachts.

In 2008 I decided to work with the Beneteau group, which at that time was one of the largest yachting groups in the world, but not in the segment of bigger luxury power yachts. So they decided to enter that market.

Even though this decision was made before the financial crisis in 2008, Beneteau decided to stick to their plan and we are doing exactly what was decided before the crisis. Maybe other companies would have delayed, but Beneteau has more than 130 years of history and they had a vision.

At that time it was tough and not every company could do what we were trying to do, but the crisis was also an opportunity for a strong company to take on a new challenge, and this is exactly what happened.

Beneteau trusted me and my team, and we started from a blank sheet in 2008 with Monte Carlo Yachts.

The crisis put a lot of pressure on us, which was a good thing because we did everything we could to make sure we didn’t make any mistakes, starting from the decision to pick the design studio Nuvolari Lenard.

A lot of big names were struggling during the crisis, so our idea was to have a long-lasting product that was new and could be immediately recognised on the water. Our yachts also had to be innovative and stand out because we were new.

Beneteau put a lot of resources and money into the project and I am proud to say they have been fully rewarded. In the six years since we launched our first yacht, we have had a successful product every year.

The next step is to move forward even faster over the next five years.

How important is the Asian market to Monte Carlo Yachts?

Our product is accepted all over the world, but Asia, for us, is the number one market. Here in Hong Kong, people can be quite demanding and the fact our product is well received means we are doing the right thing. They are experts and the fact we are successful here tells us a lot.

One of the key things for our yachts is we can customise our product 100 percent, and not just in terms of decor. We have a production patent so we can tailor make every single boat for our customers.

What can you tell us about the recently launched MCY 80?

We are here in Hong Kong to present the number 6 (the MCY 80). After the company’s first 5-year cycle, this is the first boat in the new cycle.

It isn’t the biggest in the range, but this yacht perfectly expresses all the key features of our product and it is the DNA of Monte Carlo Yachts. The boat can be customised as much as the owner wants and it has the same level of detail you’d get on a bigger yacht.

Apart from being faster than any competitor, it is also made to the highest quality. On MCY 80, we have combined our experience from building the biggest yachts, the MCY 105, to the smallest, the MCY 65.

The new 24-metre MCY 80 has a class-leading entertainment foredeck and Portuguese bridge. The large full-size windows bring in vast amounts of natural light to the saloon and cabins.

Text: Andrew Scott

Andy Wong discusses fur and fashion

Andy Wong is a director of both Mandarin Fur and the Hong Kong Fur Federation.

Your childhood was split between Hong Kong and Toronto. How was growing up in Canada different to growing up here?

First of all, the weather is completely different. One is freezing and the other is humid. I was raised in Toronto from when I was seven years old. My whole family emigrated in the run-up to 1997, along with many other Hong Kongers.

As my father still worked in Hong Kong, though, he travelled back and forth quite frequently. In my case, I didn’t come back to Hong Kong permanently until I was 22 and had graduated from university.

Initially, it wasn’t easy to adjust to life in Canada, especially with regards to the language differences and the need to learn English. It took me about a year to adapt to Toronto’s culture. As I was the youngest, it was easier for me. My older brother and sister found it more of a struggle.

Click here to watch footage of the interview

How would you describe your university experience?

I was a student for one year at the University of Toronto. I was studying economics, but then I realised I didn’t really like it. I found it boring and it really wasn’t me. Fashion, though, was something I’d liked since I was a teenager. When I was about 13, I started following designers, reading fashion magazines, going shopping and doing a lot of fashion research. So, after one year of university, without telling my family, I transferred to another school – the International Academy of Design and Technology. There they taught vocational programmes in areas such as interior design, fashion design and computer graphics. I graduated from there in 2002.

It was quite a fun time. I made a lot of new friends at college, especially in the fashion design department. I came to realise you could wear whatever you wanted to. I used to wear skirts and dresses to school and had my hair in dreadlocks. I can’t even begin to describe how I looked back then. After turning 30, my look became a little more mature. As you age,your fashion tastes change in line with your advancing years. It wouldn’t be so easy to wear a skirt now.

After I graduated, I moved back to Hong Kong, believing I would have better chances of work here. My family had already returned, which was another incentive.

How did your family get started in the fur trade and what made you join the family business, Mandarin Fur Limited?

My grandfather worked in Nanjing, one of the centres of the mainland fur industry. Way, way back the emperor of China was said to have commissioned workers from Nanjing to make fur items for the royal family, believing them to be the most skilled in his kingdom.

Sadly, my grandfather passed away when my dad was just 14. He then travelled to Hong Kong on his own and found work under a master who taught him the secrets of the fur trade. After that, he got married and, in the 1970s, he started his own business – Mandarin Fur.

Once I had graduated, he asked if I wanted to work for the company, recognising that I was already working in the fashion sector. Although, initially, I feared it might be a little dull, in the first two years of working for my father I had to travel all over the world for work. It was then that I realised what a fascinating role it was.

I wasn’t expected just to look at the business angle. I also had to consider the factory requirements, current fashions, available fur materials and the role played by auctions. All fur is bought through auctions.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the industry. Some think that the animals are skinned alive, but I can tell you that’s not true. Some 97 percent of all fur is sourced from farm-raised animals. They die painlessly and their fur is then sent to auction. Once we have successfully bid for particular fur pieces, we send them to a semi-dressing factory, where they treat the skins and make them softer. They are then sent to another factory for the processing to be completed.

“My favourite designer would have to be Hedi Slimane, Yves Saint Laurent’s former creative director”

As you travel extensively for work, do you still enjoy leisure travel?

Before I went to college, I visited Japan with my father on a couple of occasions in order to meet customers, which was a great experience. After I joined the business full-time, travel became something of a burden. Now I don’t fly if I can possibly avoid it.
I work alongside my brother, so he tends to do the travelling while I stay in Hong Kong and take care of business here. In the first two years, though, I couldn’t even speculate as to just how many miles I covered.

The most painful experience – and hence the most memorable – was when I went to Milan for a trade fair for a week. As soon as I arrived back in Hong Kong, my father told me I had to go to Denmark for another event. That was really draining and I have been reluctant to fly ever since.

While I used to like travelling, as I get older I tend to like relaxing and spending time with family and friends far more. I still love Japan, so that’s maybe my number one choice if I have to travel. I used to like going to Western Europe, too, but I came to realise that Eastern Europe is fascinating when it comes to sightseeing. There are still a lot of Eastern European countries that I haven’t had a chance to visit.

You are also involved with the Hong Kong Fur Federation. What does that entail?

I am actually one of its directors. It involves quite a lot of meetings, most of them related to fur fairs. The next one is taking place in February – the Hong Kong International Fur and Fashion Fair – which is the largest event we organise. Aside from that, we’re also responsible for the general promotion of fur in Hong Kong.

When people think of fur, they tend to think of Italy or Europe as being the focal point of the industry. Hong Kong, though, is actually number one in the world when it comes to fur exports. Our international fur fair is a four-day event and, on the first day, we always hold the Hong Kong Fur Gala. This is a huge event with about 140 tables. It’s the biggest event of its kind in the world, never mind just in Asia. It’s far bigger than anything Milan can offer.

During those four days, it’s basically an open exhibition, allowing overseas clients and buyers to shop for furs. More than 100 companies and buyers from around the world take part, visiting each booth and selecting pieces that they like. It’s a hugely important event.

Is it a seasonal business? Do Hong Kong’s hot summer months see a downturn in sales?

Actually, our primary market is not in Hong Kong at all. So, in terms of sales, the weather here doesn’t affect us. Overall, some 95 percent of sales do not come from Hong Kong, but from our export markets instead.

In Hong Kong, we tend to mostly sell to friends or to someone who is looking for a particular luxury item. As Hong Kong is quite warm, people wear fur mainly to parties or high-profile events. They don’t wear it on the street. Looking beyond Hong Kong, though, the market is immense. People still wear a lot of fur in Russia, for example, where they really need it. It’s freezing there and the same applies to northern China. In fact, most of our buyers are in Korea, Russia or America.

As a self-confessed fashion fan, which designers do you most admire?

My favourite would have to be Hedi Slimane, Yves Saint Laurent’s former creative director. He left the brand in March last year and now I’m looking forward to seeing where he ends up. He’s definitely my number one, the closest I get to having a fashion idol. My second choice would be Raf Simons, the chief creative officer of Calvin Klein. He’s simply amazing. Essentially, he incorporates architecture into his design. He doesn’t follow trends, so his collections are always one-of-a-kind. The last one would be Thom Browne, the founder of the Thom Browne menswear line. He’s always my first choice for suits.

When you are not working, how do you unwind?

In addition to spending as much time with my family as I can, for the past 10 months I’ve been a regular visitor to Zerve Bar in Causeway Bay. I come a few times a week and always play beer pong. It’s got to the point where I don’t even have to come with my friends because they’ll already be here when I show up. Back in September, some friends asked me to join their beer pong tournament. At the time, I declined, thinking I was too new to the game. The next one is going to be held in June and then I will be taking part. It will be my first ever beer pong competition. I regret never having tried it in college. It really is hugely enjoyable.

Thank you.

Sharie Ross-Tse on her infusive love of life

“I hope I have equipped my children to enjoy art – in all its forms – as informed onlookers”

Sharie Ross-Tse is the co-founder of Reviv Hong Kong.

What was it like growing up in Hong Kong? Was it a good place to be a child back then?

I was what I would call a product of the British Empire, but I had a great childhood. I was at Glenealy Junior School until P6M, followed by the Island School for a year. Despite the colonial overtones, it was a great time to be a kid.
I’m a Hong Kong girl through and through and my husband’s just as enamoured with the city as me. To our very cores, we’re steeped in the place. It’s just been such a big part of our life experience.

Our children were also born here and they’ve grown up understanding their Chinese heritage, while also appreciating just what an amazing place Hong Kong is in so many ways – efficiency, culture, food … They’re both at school in the UK now. That’s the same route that my husband and I took. We were very keen on them having the same experience.

Click here to watch more of the interview

At university, you majored in Political Science and Classical Studies. How did that come about?

I didn’t have as much foresight as some people when it came to choosing what to study. These, though, were subjects that interested me at the time. Classical Studies basically encompasses every aspect of a certain period of ancient history – drama, literature, astronomy, poetry … I loved them all. Political Science, meanwhile, appealed more to my contemporary interests. I was good at both subjects and knew I would pass them.

You’re co-founder and director of Reviv HK. What can you tell us about the company and what inspired you to get involved?

Essentially, we are a global wellness provider. We offer IV vitamin infusions and intramuscular booster shots. At present, we have 35 clinics and more than 150 service points around the world. More are opening all the time.

In Hong Kong, where everybody works at the speed of light and we’re all in a very hectic and toxic environment, it’s ideal as part of a health regime. People here aren’t just adversely affected by pollution, there’s also problems with regards to how little we sleep, how indulgent we are with our food and how often we travel. This leaves anyone liable to being run down, stressed or jetlagged. As sport, wellness and health have always played important roles in our family life, I was intrigued when I first came across the Reviv proposition.

At the beginning, I wasn’t 100 percent convinced. It all seemed such an alien concept to me. Then, while we were in the UK, I decided to give it a go. Initially, I had an intravenous wellness infusion, something we call a megaboost. It’s actually packed full of vitamins.

At the time, I think I was already coming down with the flu and I was also quite badly jetlagged. When I woke up the next day, though, I felt wholly energised and completely fatigue-free. A day or so later, I was still feeling pretty great. That was when I realised that there could be a huge market for this treatment in Hong Kong.

It’s very easy to administer. The IVs are all made up of water-soluble, all-natural vitamins. They are far more effective than oral supplements, which have to go through your whole digestive system before you get any benefit. The majority of the time you’re only absorbing about 20 percent of the vitamins via that particular route. With the IV, you potentially get to absorb 100 percent.

How has Reviv been received in Hong Kong? What has been the reaction from those not overly fond of needles?

The reception has been very positive. We’ve had lots of people trying it for a variety of reasons, including concerns over wellness or stress. We’ve also treated a number of athletes, some of whom came in with sore muscles or dehydration and wanted to get back to their optimum health as soon as possible.

We’ve also had clients come in with jetlag. Sometimes, they may have just arrived from New York that morning and need to fly on to Australia later the same day. Of course, some people are a little nervous about the needle, but they have the reassurance that we are a registered company with an affiliated doctor and qualified nurses on hand. Only properly qualified medical professionals are allowed to administer the IV.

Despite that, we still have a number of people who come in once or twice before they pluck up the courage to try it. In truth though, we are very adept at minimising the pain, so that most people don’t feel any discomfort at all.

“I think I am probably better equipped than a man when it comes to multi-tasking”

What do you attribute Reviv’s success to?

Well, it’s not an entirely new treatment. IV infusions have been commonplace in hospitals for decades, if not longer. It was originally introduced by a team of four emergency room doctors who were constantly seeing people coming in and needing treatments for colds, hangovers or allergies of some kind.

Looking to take the strain off the Emergency Room, they saw intravenous vitamin shots as a way of helping those with minor, non-chronic ailments. Now, of course, Reviv is a truly global concern, with clinics throughout the US, Europe, Africa and Australia. Often, clients book a session straight after a flight and some of the clinics now have a concierge service, allowing them to take the treatment directly to the client wherever they may be.

So how does a typical day pan out for Sharie Ross-Tse?

My husband and I are both very into sports and fitness, so we tend to get up quite early in the morning to exercise. On a typical day, I’ll be up at 7am, hopefully in time for my 8am spin class at XYZ, the fitness centre started by a friend of mine – Belinda Koo – three years ago. I’m a huge fan – it’s really given something very different to Hong Kong. Normally, I try to do one or two classes a day there.

After that, I usually pop into the clinic and meet up with Jenny Leung, my partner in the business. This gives us the chance to go over anything we need to discuss. At the same time, it also gives me the opportunity for a quick IV session if I am feeling a little jaded. The rest of my time is spent in meetings at the clinic and, once every two to three weeks, I’ll have a board meeting at the Hong Kong Ballet or the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Foundation. The afternoon, then, is when I often get a call from my daughter in London or I might have another meeting across town. I am always trying to develop the business and looking to meet with potential partners.

You mentioned the Hong Kong Ballet and the Adventist Hospital Foundation. What is your involvement with those organisations?

I’ve been a ballet enthusiast for many, many years. Whenever and wherever I travel, I always try to take in a show. I am not sure, though, just how much the average audience member understands the hard work that goes into every performance. I don’t think they realise just how much time the ballerinas have to spend rehearsing and just how much every production costs to stage.

I’ve been involved with the Hong Kong Ballet on and off for 13 years now and it has been a really great experience for me.
When my children were about five and six, I got very involved with the Ballet Guild’s annual Nutcracker benefit, an event held at the Shangri-La Hotel every December. It’s a wonderful way of introducing young children to ballet, allowing them to be participants rather than just spectators – even if they’re not born ballerinas.

I hope I have nurtured in my children a true appreciation of the arts. I want them to understand how difficult it is to be a performer, while also equipping them to enjoy art – in all its forms – as informed onlookers.

As for the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Foundation, I was asked to join the board about three years ago, and through the guidance of my friend Jo Soo Tang, the chairperson of the Foundation, we work on several initiatives a year designed to raise funds and provide medical assistance to children, the elderly, cancer patients and anyone else who could use a helping hand.

How do you manage to juggle all of your various responsibilities?

I am truly blessed in that I have the privilege of managing my own time. Not many people are able to do that in this day and age. A lot of people talk about how women can’t have everything – they can’t be good mothers, effective leaders and successful in business. They have to make a choice.

Now, in Hong Kong at least, there are a number of like-minded women – myself included – who are proving that, actually, you can have it all. It’s a challenge we’ve accepted. And we’ve made it work.

It helps that Hong Kong is an extremely efficient city. It’s small enough that you can get most places around the island within 20 minutes. We also have an excellent public transportation system which makes getting around for work very easy.

I also have a very active social life as we have many friends in Hong Kong. On top of that, I have a very supportive family and an excellent home network in terms of staff.

I am also lucky in that I have a great business partner, while my husband is extremely supportive of everything that I try – and hope – to do. Whenever I make a mistake, he’s always there to help – just as I am for him.
So, overall, is it difficult to juggle everything? Well, yes. As a woman, though, I think I am probably better equipped than a man when it comes to multi-tasking. I am not saying I manage everything perfectly, but I’ve made my choice and I do my best to fulfil every role required of me.

Thank you.

Gafencu’s top 5 interviews of 2016

With the New Year nearly upon us, it’s time to look back at some of Gafencu’s top stories of 2016.

Throughout the year we have interviewed a number of discerning men and women, including Hidy N.g, founder and design director of Hidy N.G and Nathan Louey, private client director and consultant for Remy Martin, to name a couple.

But out of all the interviews, which ones were the most popular with our readers?

Below are our top 5 interviews of 2016, in no particular order.

Click on the photos to read the full interviews.

Kenneth Fok spoke to Gafencu in December about the Hong Kong Olympic team and his work in Nansha.

Nathan Louey sat down to chat about how he became the “king of cognac”.

Marie-Christine Lee was Gafencu magazine’s first ever female cover star in November.

Dr Lau Chu-Pak is one of Hong Kong’s leading collectors of Ming period furniture.

We spoke to one of Hong Kong’s leading designers, Hidy Ng, earlier this year.