Asia’s Leading Private Jet Charter: Hongkong Jet at the World Travel Awards

The ever-changing global travel restrictions keep travellers at bay. Nevertheless, with the technical industry knowledge and strong operation experience, Hongkong Jet’s team has been able to support the travel needs of their clients. They have operated over 220 international flights and accumulated more than 550 flying hours with excellent safety records since the outbreak.

With more than a decade of experience in the private jet industry, Hongkong Jet’s team remains committed to show clients the best aviation has to offer. Passengers can expect the most cost efficient personal flight plans accompanied by excellent real time service for any assistance or last minute changes to their charter flights.

The market is fully optimistic about the recovery of air travel with an increasing number of travel bubble and green lane agreements established by different countries. Given private aviation offers more privacy, safety, flexibility and comfort than scheduled flights, flying private may become a new normal especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.

For more information, please contact the team via charter@hongkongjet.com.hk or +852 3126 1026.

Culture Conversations: History of Hong Kong’s bauhinia flag

July 1997 was the end of an era – 150 years of colonial rule had just ended, the British Hong Kong “dragon and lion” flag was lowered to make way for not one, but two flags under the “one country, two systems” principle to be hoisted over the SAR. Every morning since then, China’s five-starred red flag and Hong Kong’s five-petalled, white bauhinia flower against the red backdrop, fly over the autonomous state.

The British colony-turned-Special Administrative Region of China has never flown an independent flag, but flags have played an integral role in its politics and history. Seven years ahead of the handover, the white bauhinia flower emblem was selected from thousands of submissions to be the centrepiece of the new Hong Kong flag.

The bauhinia – a genus of five-petalled flowering plants – already enjoyed an elevated status in the city, with our very own hybrid cultivar being the official flower since 1965. Named in the early 20th century after Sir Henry Blake, the 1898-1903 botany-loving Governor, it was deemed an apt representation of the place itself – a conglomeration of backgrounds and contrasts.

“The hybrid nature of the plant is seen as symbolic of Hong Kong’s history and how the colony had drawn its strength first from Britain and then China”

Bauhinia blakeana, or Hong Kong orchid tree, is distinguished by intense, pinkish-purple flowers that bloom from November to March. The fragrant, semi-evergreen flowering plant is an ideal streetscaping solution, but in a region which boasts a diverse flora including some 390 native tree species, the elevation to national emblem of a sterile cultivar of non-indigenous parents that propagates only by hand-grafting was met with some puzzlement. In Portraits of Trees of Hong Kong and Southern China, co-author Richard Saunders described this barren badge as an “arguably inauspicious” choice for a “city built on mixed Chinese and British heritage”.

Flag History

Golden Bauhinia sculpture the making of Hong Kong's national flag gafencu feature local culture — The national flags of Hong Kong and China by the Golden Bauhinia Sculpture

The new flag was on the drawing board as early as 1984, when the government called for design concepts that best reflected “the spirit of ‘one country, two systems’”. From among more than 7,000 submissions – many littered with dragons and stars – six sketches were shortlisted by a panel of judges, but they fell short of expectations. Thus, three of the jurists – architect Tao Ho, designer Hon Bing-wah and sculptor Van Lau – were asked to remedy the situation and submit a proposal.

“The stylised flower is asymmetrical, and therefore its form implies movement, alluding to Hong Kong’s democratic energy and economic vitality”

They put their heads together to envision an abstract design of white bauhinia petals in a clockwise motion on a red background, and it received the resounding approval of China’s National People’s Congress in 1990. Unlike the static symbol of the Urban Council, the post-handover emblem was admired for its lyrical, poetic interpretation of Hong Kong’s native flower.

“We had to avoid certain shapes like the crescent, which could be religiously sensitive,” explained Hon, fittingly a Bronze Bauhinia Star-winning artist. “A triangle enclosing a circle that suggests Lion Rock wasn’t lively enough. A sailboat couldn’t represent the whole of Hong Kong’s diverse communities. A dolphin wasn’t appropriate enough, while a dragon had varied resonances across cultures.”

The making of Hong Kong's national flag gafencu feature local culture — Hand drawn designs of the Hong Kong Flag. Photo courtesy: Hon-Bing-Wah

Settling on the flower as a “neutral” choice, Hon has related that they were “inspired by the auspicious spiral patterns found in Chinese paper-cutting aesthetics” that thus “arranged the bauhinia flower’s five petals like a windmill, incorporating movements to symbolise that Hong Kong is an energetic city that never stops progressing forward.”

Shanghai-born, Harvard-educated Ho, whose legacy also includes the Arts Centre and the panda enclosure at Ocean Park, concurred. He wrote on his website: “The stylised flower is asymmetrical, and therefore its form implies movement, alluding to Hong Kong’s democratic energy and economic vitality. The red background represents China, and the five stars… hint at the integration of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy.” The respected architect passed away two years ago this month at the age of 82.

Also Read: Reclaiming Hong Kong: A history of the changing coastline

Flower Power

legco building The making of Hong Kong's national flag gafencu feature local culture — The national flag of Hong Kong and China side-by-side at the LegCo building

Despite the name and appearance, the Hong Kong bauhinia isn’t an orchid, but rather a tree from the legume family, which includes the likes of peas and beans. The undoubtedly pretty petals were accidently discovered in 1880 by French Catholic missionary Jean-Marie Delavay while hiking in Pok Fu Lam. Fascinated by the brilliant magenta of its flowers, Delavay took a cutting and propagated it near Béthanie, then a sanatorium belonging to the French Mission. A few years later, the plant was offered to the Botanical Gardens.

Now abundant, it has been planted extensively throughout the territory since 1914. All Bauhinia blakeana are believed to have hailed from the French missionary’s ancestor tree, and since the Hong Kong orchid tree is sterile (bearing no seeds or fruit), each was cultivated by hand by someone who took the stock of an old tree, stuck it onto another root, and let the descendants grow from there.

Foreign Roots

It’s not just this barren nature that makes the flower seem an unlikely choice as a symbol of Hong Kong; its parents also have no ties to the city. In 2005, Saunders traced the origins of Bauhinia blakeana by comparing its breeding system with those of other bauhinias. He confirmed that the cultivar is the result of hybridisation between two exotic plants: Bauhinia purpurea (the purple bauhinia or camel’s foot), a native of the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and Bauhinia variegata (the orchid tree or mountain ebony), found abundantly in China and East Asia.

Though its rise from flower pot to flag pole may have had some detractors, the fact that our bauhinia flourished in Hong Kong from overseas heritage will endear it to many citizens who share a similar origin story. The stylised white five-petal bauhinia flower amid a red field has fluttered in the morning breeze more often of late – in schools as well as government landmarks – flies over the city in a symbolic representation of the region’s ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle.

One person’s trash is another’s treasure. While Saunders and others may have objected to its selection, the Urban Council, which oversaw public services and facilities under British rule, unanimously praised the decision. Indeed, the body had adopted the bauhinia as its logo 25 years previously. The hybrid nature of the plant is seen as symbolic of Hong Kong’s history and how the city had drawn its strength first from Britain and then China.

Also Read: Pulse of the Peak: Chronicling the ascent of Asia’s oldest furnicular

(Text: Nikita Mishra Photos: Hon-Bing-Wah)

Awkwafina: The unexpected Hollywood star we didn’t know we need

To say that 2018 was a seminal year for Awkwafina would be putting things mildly. Having only been known in certain comedy and music circles until then, she suddenly found herself in the limelight with not one, but two breakthrough movies – Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians. Since then, she’s gone on to become a household name as an actor, creating her own TV show, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, and starring in several blockbusters. Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, in which she voiced Sisu, were among the quartet of movies she headlined last year.

Indeed, the talented 33-year-old is the very definition of a multi-hyphenate. Actor, comedian, rapper, writer – it seems that everything the New York City native touches turns to gold. But while her life may seem like a fairy tale today, it has been anything but easy…

Grandmotherly Love

Nora Lum – to give the actress her birth name – was born on 2 June 1988 in New York as the sole child of Wally, a Chinese-American, and Tia, a South Korean painter. Tragically, her mum passed away when she was just four, leaving her father and his parents to raise her. If the story sounds familiar, that’s because it closely mirrors the life of her eponymous character in Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, the hit TV series she created for Comedy Central.

Like her fictional role, Nora spent her formative years in the New York borough, and was particularly close to her paternal grandmother. An early role model, the latter signed her up for singing lessons as a child without her father ever knowing. Speaking of this close relationship, the star explains: “My grandmother is everything to me. She taught me that Asian women are strong. They’re not meek orchard-dwelling figures.”

Losing Home

Awkwafina in ‘Awkwafina is Nora from Queens’

Her grandparents ran a Chinese restaurant in the Flushing area of Queens, but when it began to fail, they had to file for bankruptcy, losing the business as well as their home. At this point, the entire family was forced to move into a tiny apartment, with Lum sharing the sole bedroom with her grandparents until she turned 12. Recalling these troubled times, she notes: “I remember staying up with my grandma at night and asking her, ‘What is the only thing you wish for that you could have right now?’ And she said, ‘To pay the bills.’”

Troubled Teen

akwafina shang chi — Athe premiere of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

Having been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) as well as depression during her teens, Nora was anything but an A-plus pupil. Despite being accepted into the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School – an institution famed for churning out musical talents and thespians such as Al Pacino, Jennifer Aniston and Timothée Chalamet – she was, in her estimation, “a bad kid”. She says she would often skip class to drink or smoke with friends, and would always get caught. Thankfully, she managed to scrape together a C-minus average, eventually graduating and – after learning Mandarin in Beijing – making it to the University of Albany.

Also Read: First Asian superhero in a Marvel movie: Simu Liu as ‘Shang-Chi’

Alter Ego

akwafina Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy category — Awkwafina wins the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy category at the Golden Globes

Lum fell in love with music at an early age, learning to play the trumpet when she was in the fifth grade and training in both the jazz and classical traditions. However, it was rap that truly captivated her imagination. She began rapping when she was 13, often recording her own tunes into a boombox mixtape recorder, and three years later picked out her own stage name – Awkwafina.

It wasn’t until Nora was in college, however, that she would fully embrace Awkwafina as her alter ego. Having to temper and filter herself to fit the mould of a ‘proper’ university student, she used that outlandish persona to release the repressed side of her personality. “She’s the girl who’s high on sleepover energy, running around and dunking ice cream cones in her eyes,” shares Lum. “College was like prison reform where I learned to be quiet and more passive – so when Awkwafina comes out on stage, she’s that crazy high-school kid that doesn’t really care about anything. It’s an extra burst of confidence that Nora doesn’t have. There is a duality.”

Bad Rap

akwafina ocean's 8 — Awkwafina with co-stars Sarah Paulson, Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, and Cate Blanchett in Ocean’s 8

Awkwafina may have been rapping and producing her own songs since her teenage years, but her first big break came in 2012 when My Vag became a viral hit on her YouTube channel. Her song’s success – it garnered over three million views – galvanised her into a frenzy of songwriting, and she followed it with the 12-track Yellow Ranger album in 2014, then In Fina We Trust in 2018. She was featured in the rap documentary Bad Rap, an exposé on four Asian-American hip-hop artists, which debuted at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.

Awkward Feelings

Akwafina nora lum crazy rich asians — Dolled up for the premiere of Crazy Rich Asians

Having long struggled with depression and her overall mental health, Awkwafina was not shielded from feelings of inadequacy and anxiety when she found fame. Indeed, she points to the summer of that seminal year – 2018 – as being particularly challenging. When Netflix film Dude, Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians were released in a rapid five-month span, the sudden attention and scrutiny caused her to feel displaced.

“That summer, it was a lot of people being like, ‘Just enjoy, dude, just have fun, live in the moment,’” she recalls. “All this stuff started to come up. I wondered at a certain point, when everything in my life was amazing, why I felt so low and with no sense of identity.” Thankfully, she’s now adjusted to her celebrity status.

Farewell Arrival

Not only has she successfully overcome stereotypes and mental health issues, she’s even made acting history. With her 2020 Golden Globe triumph, she became the first-ever performer of Asian descent to win in the Best Actress category (for her poignant portrayal of Billi in The Farewell).

So what’s next for Lum and her wildly successful alter ego? Well, next month sees the barrier-breaking talent lend her voice to animated film The Bad Guys as Ms Tarantula and then to the part of Scuttle the seagull in the 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

Also Read: Jess Unstopabble: Here’s what you didn’t know about actress Jessica Chastain

(Text: Tenzing Thondup)

Yung Kee: A new look at the iconic Cantonese eatery

In a city where restaurants rise and fall according to the admittedly fickle tastes of its discerning diners, Yung Kee is a singular success story. Indeed, the Cantonese eatery is something of an institution, having recently celebrated its 80th anniversary. Despite being internationally renowned today, its roots, however, are humble to the extreme.

yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining renovation — Newly renovated dining room at Yung Kee

Having begun as a dai pai dong in 1936, Yung Kee moved to a sturdier location in Wing Lok Street in 1942. Two years later, though, during Hong Kong’s occupation by the Japanese, the site was razed by US bombers and had to be rebuilt. Two decades on, Yung Kee finally found its forever home on Wellington Street, and to mark its landmark 80th year, the restaurant underwent significant renovations.

Yvonne Kam, Third-generation owner yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining — Yvonne Kam, Third-generation owner of Yung Kee

“With the new refurbishment, we’ve ensured that each floor provides a different type of atmosphere to suit diners’ different needs,” says third-generation owner Yvonne Kam. “The ground floor is more for light dining, while the first floor has a ’50s / ’60s teahouse vibe. At the top is our formal dining area, replete with a stunning Dragon Phoenix Hall. We’ve even interspersed various pieces of memorabilia and artworks from Yung Kee’s past, so it’s almost like eating within a majestic living-history museum – one that has evolved alongside the city’s rapid culinary development.”

Multiple nods to the restaurant’s legacy are indeed to be found, from the painstakingly restored handcrafted Italian tiles that were fitted on the first floor in 1964 and the original signage that now graces the contemporary bar area, to the beautifully maintained gold-plated, traditional dragon and phoenix statues and custom-made art punctuating the second-floor grand hall.

dim sum yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining -1 — Yung Kee steamed shrimp and scallop dumpling

Amid this august environment, we kick off our own tasting with a duo of signature dim-sum dishes – Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumpling and Supreme Soup Pork Dumpling. The former encompasses delightfully delicate oceanic flavours, while the latter features a single oversized dumpling brimming with soup and a soft pork stuffing.

yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining 1 — Yung Kee Roasted Pigeon Legs and Stir-fried Pigeon Fillet

Next to arrive is Roasted Pigeon Legs and Stir-fried Pigeon Fillet, an updated combination of two disparate dishes. Here, the plump bird’s legs have been deboned then sewn up, so not one iota of flavour or moisture can escape. Roasted to perfection, each mouthful combines succulent meat with crispy skin. The fillets, meanwhile, are beautifully tender, with the accompanying asparagus slivers and lily bulb petals adding a welcome textural element.

yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining — Yung Kee Crispy Toast with Mixed Shrimps and Lobster Tail

Another new addition to the menu then hoves into view – Crispy Toast with Mixed Shrimps and Lobster Tail. An elevated interpretation of a dim-sum favourite (shrimp toast), this particular iteration sees the base layer of bread covered with a decadent lobster tail, which is then sprinkled with sakura shrimp for a dash of added texture. Crunchy yet subtly flavoured, this is a guaranteed hit for any shellfish aficionado.

yung kee 2022 80 year anniverary gafencu dining goose — Yung Kee Signature Charcoal Roasted Goose

Rounding out our delicious tasting is a return to that Yung Kee classic – Signature Charcoal Roasted Goose. “The secret behind our iconic roast goose is our Chinese charcoal grill,” explains Kam. “We have the last remaining one in the CBD area, as the government no longer issues new licences for them. By slow-roasting the goose in it, the meat retains a succulent flavour while simultaneously being given a uniquely fragrant smokiness.”

That’s not all, though. The bird in question is no ordinary goose. It’s a purebred black-maned Chinese goose, carefully chosen for its juicy flesh, which is then bathed in a secret marinade that locks in extra flavour. The result is an explosion of fat, meat and saltiness with every bite – a powerfully addictive combination that keeps you coming back for more. Small wonder, then, that this dish, more than any other at Yung Kee, has kept eager epicureans in thrall across the decades.

Yung Kee. 32-40 Wellington Street, Central. (852) 2522 1624. yungkee.com.hk

(Text: Tenzing Thoundup)

Stuck in self-isolation? Here’s the best of Netflix!

Aside from managing symptoms (knock on the wood if you’re negative!) and hoarding on food and medicine, everyone we know is bored and looking for something to do. The crisis is not abating, grab some popcorn, slip into your jammies and bookmark this post for great content to stream on Netflix while you’re hauled up inside…

Inventing Anna

Shonda Rhimes has done it yet again! Creating another widely successful TV series that will have you hooked from beginning to end. Loosely based on the true story of con woman Anna Sorokin, known as Anna Delvey, a Russian-German socialite who posed as a German heiress with a bottomless cashflow and quickly made herself known within New York’s high society. In 2017, at the age of 26, she made headlines for single handedly defrauding major financial institutions, banks and hotels in New York and was sentenced to four years to 12 years in prison.

Love is Blind (Season 2)

binge worth neflix shows to watch in march 2022 love is blind — (Photo: Netflix)

Singles across the US have once again gathered to participate in this dating experiment, hosted by pop star Nick Lachey and wife Venessa Lachey, all for the sake of finding true love. The show invites 15 men and 15 women to participate in a blind-date within “the pods” for 10 days, getting to know each other without ever having seen one another. Ultimately, the participants will choose to propose to or leave without their soulmate. Throughout the 25 episodes, the walls of these people (figuratively) come down as they learn to build emotional connections with one another. Already trending on every social media platform, viewers might just find themselves emotionally invested in these relationship as much as the participants are. Perhaps finding a favourite couple to root for (or hate).

Bridgerton (Season 2)

Another one from Shondaland, the long-anticipated second season of Netflix’s second most successful show, Bridgerton, finally arrives with more drama, more extravegant balls and, of course, steamy romance. Based on the book series, and set in 1813 Regency London, the second installment follows the love-hate affair of Daphne’s eldest brother, Anthony – the elusive bachelor is to marry, and headstrong Kate sharma, the elder sister of whom he is to be bethroed. Scandelous indeed.

Pieces of Her (Season 1)

binge worth neflix shows to watch in march 2022 pieces of her — (Photo: Netflix)

Based on the 2018 novel of the same name, and from the Producers of Big Little Lies and The Undoing, Pieces of Her is a thrilling suspense action genre that will have you gripped to the edge of your seats. Starring Toni Collete and Bella Heathcote, the series follows Andy as she uncovers the truth about her mother following a shocking chain of events triggered by a random act of violence. Not everything is as it seems.

Forecasting Love & Weather (Season 1)

binge worth neflix shows to watch in march 2022 forcasting love and weather — (Photo: Netflix)

Among the many promising shows slated for this year, the South Korean office-theme romantic comedy Forecasting Love & Weather is likely among the top worth bookmarking. Who would have thought Korea’s national weather service would serve as the catalyst of a romance between two coworkers. The story revolves the relationship of reserved Jin Ha-Kyung (played by South Korea’s rom-com Queen Park Min-young) and free-spirited Lee Shi-woo (played Sweet Home’s Song Kang). It would seem that falling inlove in the workplace is just as challenging as predicting the weather. New episodes every Sunday.

Lies and Deceit (Season 1)

binge worth neflix shows to watch in march 2022 lies and deceit mentiras — (Photo: Netflix)

A Spanish remake of the British series Liar, Lies and Deceit (Mentiras) is a psychological thriller that will have tensions on high and your interests piqued throughout the six-episode mini-series. Newly single Laura goes on a date with widower Javier but wakes up to find that something horrible had happened. Unlike most shows in which the facts are revealed towards the end, this show lays it bare early on. But just as you think you know who’s guilty, each character takes their turn in pleading innocence and manipulating the truth – making viewers second guess their judgement and perhaps the person next to them the entire season through.

Queer Eye: Germany (Season 1)

binge worth neflix shows to watch in march 2022 queer eye germany — (Photo: Netflix)

A spin-off series to Netflix’s Queer Eye, fans of the reality show will meet a brand new Fab 5 in this German edition. Joining Ayan, Aljosha, Leni, David and Jan-Henrik as they transform the lives of men and women, one makeover at a time. Making their way across across the country and into the homes, and the lives of their lucky participants, we get a close up into the inspiring power of love, positivity and self-care. Picking up a styling tip or two is just the bonus.

The Last Kingdom (Season 5)

Possibly one of the best historical drama to have streamed on Netflix, The Last Kingdom is set during the Danes’ invasion of England. In the first four seasons of the show, we watched Uhtred, the young successor of Saxon earldom, who was captured and adopted by the Danes lead an army to avenge the death of his adoptive father then leading an army to fight for his rightful place as the lord of his birth home Bebbanburg. As a truce between the Saxons and Danes are established towards the closing of season 4, Brida, Uhtred’s rival and former lover, come face to face once again ending with Brida’s vow to be Uhtred’s undoing. In this final season, several years have passed and though Brida is rumored to be dead, Uhtred believes otherwise. If you haven’t seen the first four seaosons, now will be a good time to catch up before closigng the book on this hugely successful show.

Pulse of the Peak: Chronicling the ascent of Asia’s oldest furnicular

After almost a year of waiting, the sixth generation Peak Tram is set to launch by summer 2022 — trundling up and down the heavily forested slopes of Victoria Peak for 133 years, we look back at colourful history and the old world charm of this meticulously designed modern classic…

Trundling up and down the densely forested slopes of Victoria Peak for 133 years, the tramcar has long been the best way to see the sights from atop, to soak up the panoramic vistas and to absorb the boundless energy of a sleepless city that rises from sea level to Mid-Levels. For generations of families and millions of visitors, doing a weather check and then hopping on Asia’s oldest funicular railway to creak up to the Peak has been a holiday ritual.

Humble Beginnings
Altitude is affluence in Hong Kong. By default, the higher you live, the wealthier you are. Mansions on the elite Victoria Peak make for some of the costliest real estate in the world. In the early years before the Peak Tram was constructed, just 30 or 40 well-heeled British families were in residence. From 1904 for nearly half a century, under a racially discriminatory ordinance passed by the colonial government, Chinese nationals were banned from living there unless they were domestic workers. Once that abhorrent European privilege changed in 1947, navigating the heavily forested slopes of the Peak was unequivocally possible because of the Peak Tram.

Pause for a moment and wonder how the people of the Peak functioned before the tram. With no speeding cars, mass transit system or fossil-fuelled vehicles, hauling up and down that staggering height for an arduous hour or more in sedan chairs, on horses, mules or on foot would undoubtedly have required beastly strength and, in the summer, buckets of sweat.

More of a tourist attraction than a commuter train in today’s world, the Peak Tram climbs the 1.4km from Central in eight to 10 minutes, ascending a dizzying height of almost 400m, and navigating a 27-degree gradient on the most thrilling stretch of its single-track route. It is not only the most efficient route to the top but also the most picturesque. The journey in a boxy, burgundy carriage to the city’s best vantage points is a visual and visceral feast, revealing spellbinding views.

Most of the credit for the gravity-defying funicular goes to an enterprising Scot, Alexander Findlay Smith. A young entrepreneur with a background in railways, Smith arrived in Hong Kong in the 1860s and built the prestigious Peak Hotel atop the Victoria Peak in 1873. Fascinated by the potential of combining rails and wheels, he suggested the ambitious plan for a tramcar to increase trade for his hotel.
Approval for the construction of tracks across the mountainous terrain was granted in 1882, allowing the colossal work of laying track to begin. Machine parts often weighing up to 136kg each were carried uphill by brute manpower. Six years of blood, sweat and tears later, the first generation of the Peak Tram was ready for its inaugural ascent.

Crafted from varnished timber, the car had a seating capacity of 30 passengers; for many years the first two seats were reserved for the Governor of Hong Kong, whose summer house, Mountain Lodge, was then on the Peak. Some 800 passengers rode the tram on the first day, and 150,000 in the first year – to put this number into perspective, in 1888 that was the entire population of Hong Kong.

A Slice of History
A revolutionary feat of engineering for a genius mode of transport, the first Peak tramcars were powered by coal-fired steam. The original price for a first-class ride was 30 cents, with 20 cents for second-class seats and 10 cents for third class, and tickets for the return journey slashed by half. At the last count this year, a single ticket was HK$37, thousands of times higher than the early fare, but only the cost of a Starbucks latte for a vintage Hong Kong experience.

The nostalgic, colonial vibe of the tramway, with its characteristic wooden benches, hasn’t really changed in 133 years, nor indeed the necessity of queuing for hours at peak times to board a crammed carriage. But in tandem with the extraordinary vertical growth of the majestic city skyline, the technology and structure of the funicular itself has undergone a series of makeovers since it first set wheels on the hilly terrain. The power system switched to electric in 1926; the tramcars began their shift from wood to metal in 1948; and the colour of the carriages went from deep red to green and then back to burgundy. Since the fifth-generation Peak Tram (car capacity: 120) was rolled out in 1989, it has carried some 140 million people up and down for day trips, evening dinners and scenic strolls around the summit.

A Tramcar Called Nostalgia
A further, highly anticipated modernisation has been underway. The massive HK$700 million facelift during the last eight months will reveal a passenger-capacity uptick to 210 and a weekend waiting-time cut from 90 minutes to a mere 17 minutes. The upper and lower terminuses will be extensively renovated to accommodate the bigger cars, and the control and signalling systems completely overhauled.

An emblem of Hong Kong, the Peak Tram has withstood the ruins of the Second World War, survived epic hillside floods and braved the current pandemic. Before 2019, it recorded an annual ridership of six million – roughly 17,000 passengers a day – and even during the peak of Covid-19, patronage stood steady at one million. It’s one of the oldest forms of public transport and a slice of local history.
Owned by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels since 1971, the tramway is a landmark in the same ilk as the group’s grand-dame property, The Peninsula Hong Kong. It takes a place of pride in Hongkongers’ hearts. Hundreds of people queued for hours to ride in those iconic burgundy carriages one last time before the service closed at the end of June.

In a futuristic megapolis, the humble carriages of the Peak Tram are a reminder of the contrasts that define Hong Kong – of old and new, gritty and glossy – and they serve as a social bridge between the rich and the poor. Yes, you can whoosh to the top of the Peak in your Ferrari, but is it as enriching as chugging up in an ancient time capsule, wind caressing the hair as you reminiscence about the first tram journey you took as a child? The 10-minute ride to the top brings awe and perspective, changing more than just how you travel.

(Text: Nikita Mishra)

Montblanc redefines the Meisterstück Collection

Long lauded for its artisanal skills and distinctive finishes, Montblanc, the rightly-renowned German maker of luxury watches, writing implements and accessories, has given its iconic Meisterstück Collection a sweeping all-leather overhaul this season.

Inspired by the classic Meisterstück writing instrument, the updated line sees an array of beautifully crafted leather goods accented in motifs drawn from that very design. Think nib-shaped zip pulls in vintage palladium, the emblazoning of its ’20s-era Mont Blanc mountain graphics across pouches, and even nib-shaped leather detailing etched across sundry bag handles and straps.

Montblanc Redefining the Meisterstück Collection leather bag pouch wallet and accessories (2) — Meisterstück Long Wallet, Meisterstück Pocket, Meisterstück Key Pouch

Typified by more contemporary, rounder silhouettes burnished in a new, luxuriously soft deep-black leather, the new Meisterstück creations run the gamut from larger bags such as the Neo Tote and Duffle to medium-sized Portfolios and Pouches. Among the assortment of smaller offerings – all available in the buyer’s choice of Montblanc black, red or blue – are such useful designs as Wallets, Card holders and Key Pouches.

Montblanc-Redefining-the-Meisterstück-Collection-leather-bag-pouch-wallet-and-accessories — Meisterstück Duffle

Imbued with that sense of timeless elegance that has made Montblanc so beloved the world over, you can rest assured that each of the multitudinous pieces in this attractive new luxury leather collection effortlessly blends beautiful form with the utmost functionality.

For more information, please visit www.montblanc.com

What’s On? Things to do this March in Hong Kong

With an influx of distressing Covid updates 24*7, never have we ever so desperately needed a break from reality… If you’re in the same boat and tired of idling at home, bookmark our handy list of things to do about town – from supporting your neighbourhood F&B to enjoying the diverse cultural scene of Hong Kong, or double masking and going to socially-distanced virtual events, – our curated a list has something for every taste. Scroll on…

Hong Kong Arts Festival 2022
When: Until 31 Mar

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_hong kong arts festival — (Photo: HK Art Festival)

The 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival returns once more with a wide array of music, opera, drama and dance performances, both traditional and contemporary. As the city’s biggest and most high-profile cultural event, its 50th iteration pulls out all the stops to showcase local talent, as well as feature pioneering projects in arts and technology.

Price: HK$100
For more information: hk.artsfestival.org

XYZ On-Air
When: Until 20 April

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_xyz on air — (Photo: XYZ)

Although fitness centers and yoga studios may have shut their doors for now, boutique spinning studio XYZ is opening its virtual doors to the city’s many fitness enthusiasts with an On-Air programme to make sure viewers at home stay safe and healthy. Exercise whenever and wherever by tuning into the studio’s live classes.

Price: Free
For more information: onair.youarexyz.com

Chamber Music Series: Tai Kwun Beethoven Meets Mozart
When: Until 15 Mar

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_chamber-music-series-hkphil — (Photo: HKPhil)

The combination of piano and wind comes gracefully alive in this comparatively rare piano and wind quintet. Fittingly appropriate for this repertoire, the programme expresses Mozart’s fascination with the clarinet as well as his profound influence on Beethoven.

For more information: hkphil.org

HKMoA Online
When: Throughout 2022

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_hkmoa online — (Photo: HKMoA)

Enjoy art at home through a slew of virtual exhibition presented by the Hong Kong Art Museum. Browse the varied exhibitions and showcases online with complementary audio guides, multi-media programs and exciting stories of vibrant museum collections.

Price: Free
For more information: hk.art.museum

Aqua mark-making
When: Throughout 2022 (5 days booking in advance)

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_pmq_513 paint shop_Aqua_mark_making — (Photo: 513 Paint Shop)

As part of the PMQ’s Creative Workshop Series, 513 Paint Shop, a boutique paint shop that’s all about bringing brilliant colours and environmentally safe paints to the home, presents an online painting workshop to welcome fellow art enthusiasts to scribble, splash, doodle, and dot. Enjoy the process and bring your emotive imaginations to canvas.

Price: HK$380 (Materials included)
For more information: pmq.org.hk

Wine and Dine Online Masterclass
When: Throughout 2022

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_hong kong wine and dine online — (Photo: HK Wine & Dine)

The thousands of the city’s epicureans are in for a treat with Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival’s permanent online masterclasses programmes. Satisfying the curiousities of the city’s gourmands with a conveniently accessible virtual courses that hosted by food and wine experts; from on-air wine tastings to the art of pairing food and wine to a special hojicha cocktail workshop.

Price: Free
For more information: discoverhongkong.com

Museum-inspired Jewellery Shopping
When: March onwards

In a global first, the iconic Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) museum in London and the city’s reputed jewellers Chow Sang Sang have collaborated to create an innovate shopping adventure for patrons at K11 MUSEA. Anyone with an appreciation for history, culture, precious craftsmanship and jewellery art will love the unique and immersive experience the grand store offers – expect artistic genius to be sprinkled throughout the space, a fine selection of merchandise from the V&A museum in a harmonious old-world, British vibe whilst you select the fine pieces of high-end jewellery.

For more information: chowsangsang.com

Hong Kong Cine Fan Online
When: Until 31 Mar

Virtual Events to tune into_gafencu_hkcinefan — (Photo: HKIFF)

The many Hong Kong movie buffs were delivered unfortunate news that the 12-day HKIFF event, initially scheduled between 31 March and 11 April, had been postponed. Nonetheless, HKIFF have — in place of physical screenings — will continue to screening movies online for film enthusiasts to while away the impending lockdown and possible quarantine days.

For more information: online.hkiff.com.hk

EduVirtues Workshop: Yoga and Mindfulness for the Family

When: 27 Mar

Stay active at home with the family through EduVirtues Workshop: Yoga and Mindfulness for the family, presented by K11 Musea. Spend a joyful Sunday at home bonding with your little tots and introduce the family to different stretches and yoga poses inspired by nature, and open the platform for young minds to learn about expressing gratitude, respect, mindfulness, teamwork and communication.

Price: HK$750 (each pair of yogis — parent and child — will receive a complimentary lightweight non-slip grip kids yoga mat (valued at HK$630)
For more information: k11musea.com

Disclaimer: While Gafencu tries to keep up to date with the latest restrictions, the situation in the city is rapidly changing – contact the establishments to make sure you get the latest information of opening hours and services before venturing out. Follow all government directives when you’re out and about.

International Women’s Day: 8 influential Hong Kong women breaking the bias

Managing teams at work, orchestrating change, leading the way, breaking the glass ceiling in a very male-dominated world, making key decisions, inspiring young women along the way – empowered women, empower women – truly, no better time to reflect on those words than today, on International Women’s Day. With the theme #breakthebias, Gafencu shines the spotlight on eight influential, powerful women who are truly working to make their fields more open, inclusive and accessible to all…

Yolanda Choy

Co-founder of EcoDrive

On a crusade to fight the burgeoning rise of single-use plastics, Yolanda Choy has made it her mission to to educate the public on the environmental damage of single-use plastics and hopes to create a greener, more sustainable future. With roots in fashion and Marketing and PR, she connects with corporates to provide solutions for sustainability and encourages lifestyle change on both the individual and community level through campaigns that promote sustainability initiatives. She also co-founded Central Weddings, a luxury bridal salon.

“Education plays a big part, because, by and large, many people might be throwing away things that contaminate the entire collection bin unrecyclable and sent to a landfill instead…We educate people different ideas on how they can make a difference to create a better, more sustainable world for future generations.”

Yenn Wong

Founder and CEO of JIA Group

For the thousands of foodies and discerning diners in Hong Kong, there is high chance you have dined in one of Yenn Wong’s many establishments that embrace an array of culinary concepts. As the owner of multinational F&B company, JIA Group, the continuously growing vibrant and diverse gourmet flavours have Yenn Wong to thank for. Especially, during strict social distancing rules, JIA Group has spearheaded bringing fine-dining and Michelin-star menus to the comfort of patrons’ homes through its digital platform JIA Everywhere.

“We pride ourselves on providing a range of gourmet experience, ranging from casual to fine dining, all of which place equal emphasis on the quality of the cuisine and the dining environment. Our outlets not only aim to satiate a customer’s appetite, but also deliver a visual feast. It’s a formula that resonates with our guests and one I take a great deal of pride in.”

Mei Mei Song

Brand and Product Transformation Director of Plaza Premium Group

It’s no secret that aviation has been the hardest hit global industry in the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, but Mei Mei Song exemplifies what rising from adversity looks like. She took the tumultuous Covid period to revamp, regroup and reinvent the brand, making travel better with initiatives such as opening their first pay-per-use lounge in Africa, introducing pet-friendly services, valet, baggage-wrapping, buggy and a plethora of other convenient amenities at key international airports, and tapping into new markets such as train lounges in China and launching their first zero carbon footprint lounge in Helsinki. Song is creating a new benchmark of sustainable, convenient, premium hospitality in the travel sector – her team aims to increase their current 230-plus global lounges to be at 550 by the year 2025.

“Founding a successful business is not enough. How you conduct that business and the strength of your vision and values are key.”

Betty Ng

Architect and Founder of Collective Studio

With a degree from Cornell University and a masters from Harvard University and stints in prestigious global design firms like Herzog & de Meuron and OMA, Betty Ng is Hong Kong’s leading architect and has already amassed an impressive body of work and founded her own Hong Kong-based firm, COLLECTIVE Studio, all before her late 30s. A diverse amount of local and international work can be credited to her name including the “Things, Spaces, Interactions” exhibition space in the new M+ museum, all four Kapok lifestyle stores, and is currently working New World Development on their twin tower and commercial podium project in Cheung Sha Wan. Having only started COLLECTIVE Studio six years ago, they have already been awarded a MIPIM Asia ‘Best Futura Project’ Award in 2021, for the King Lam Street commercial development. Betty strongly believes in giving back and inspiring the next generation of architects through her work, she teaches at the prestigious Chinese University of Hong Kong, and hopes that more young women will follow in the future.

“Personally, I don’t think too much about whether I am female or male – I am an architect. I focus on the designs I create. In return, fortunately, I am surrounded by people who see me for what I bring to the table rather than my gender. I hope to inspire the younger generation and remind them that in 2022, disrupting the state of play is certainly possible.”

Also Read: 2021 Power List 300: Hong Kong’s most powerful and influential minds of our time

Helen Ma

Socialite, Entrepreneur, Mom

For a girl discouraged by her father to work, Helen Ma blazed a trail in fashion, beauty and catering. After a slew of successful businesses which range from launching a magazine, Helen Ma Loves Muse, running a successful F&B venture and introducing the French-influenced Japanese luxury skincare brand Evidens de Beauté to Hong Kong – the style guru and beauty goddess has done it all. But no venture comes close to the gratification of being a mum to 9-year-old, Shymie. Currently running her lifestyle e-commerce platform, One Plus One, Ma is eyeing yet another successful, quality lifestyle venture with the idea of creating healthy food, sustainable trends, home styling and engaging experiences. Her advice to the modern-day career woman juggling family and home:

“Balancing a thriving career and a blissful family will take too much of your strength and resilience. Try to live guilt-free [and] happy.”

Ariel Yang

Executive Director of DS Regenerative Medicine

Having started her career teaching from Zhejiang University’s Faculty of Science, followed by a stint in its School of Management, before pursuing other passions such as designing Chinese jewellery, and following her lifelong passion for beauty and skincare by leading the DS Regenerative Medicine business in the field of regenerative beauty and medicine. Recently, she has gone back to her teaching roots and started a new youth education venture to raise awareness of artificial intelligence for young minds. Her company, DS Regenerative Medicine was listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017.

“Our company currently helps more than 200 primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong, training them to develop requisite skills within this sphere. We also host activities to increase awareness and encourage development, be it annual competitions or even international conferences. I believe it’s something that fills an unmet need, and that’s very meaningful to me.”

Veronica Lam

Executive Director of Big Honor Entertainment

Daughter of Lam Kin-ming and successor of Big Honor Entertainment, Veronica Lam is an innovative promoter of musical talent, even co-founding Hardbit Music with her brother, to put a new light on alternative music and DJ events in the city. Despite the hard hit that the entertainment industry took throughout the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, her response has been confident and resilient. She launched B.Live app to bring the experience of live music and theatrical shows to audiences in the safety of their won home; allowing people to enjoy music while interacting in chat rooms. All the while pursuing her own passion in photography work through VL Visuals.

“At a time when in-person musical events are all but non-existent, we have to keep creating new spaces for musical acts within the entertainment industry. B.Live is a streaming app that offers viewers multiple angles during broadcasted events, so they can decide how they take in their favourite acts.”

Christal Leung

Skin Formulator, Founder of Skin Need

A major in biochemistry at the University of California, Christal Leung had a natural inclination towards the science of beauty. Growing up, her mum ran a beauty centre where she spent her weekends. Seeing her mum’s approach to skincare – customising products with fresh fruits and vegetables – and watching the way she brought joy and confidence to her customers, sparked a keen interest in beauty. Skin Need, her hugely successful line of skincare with an exceptionally attractive, minimalist packaging was launched with the same childhood passion of simplifying beauty, customising products according to the need of the skin and bringing joy from within. A firm believer in sustainability, clean products and bespoke products, Christal credits her accomplishments to a loving family, a brilliant team and the loyal customers.

“Our philosophy evolved from the experiences and skincare problems that my mother encountered over her career, and how she felt beauty products should actually be addressing those needs.”

Also Read: In Conversation with Ryan Cheung, CEO & Founder, PressLogic: Asia’s new-media wizard

LPM Restaurant & Bar: Fine, flavoursome, fuss-free French dining

Exquisite service, incredible food, attention to detail – a beautiful restaurant in the heart of Central whisked us off to the French Riviera without having to catch a plane. Located in the art-themed complex of H Queen’s on Stanley Street, LPM Restaurant and Bar is a modern brasserie awash in elegant whites, and one of the go-to places in the city for fine French-Mediterranean food minus the fuss or undue flourishes.

Casting off the gloom of a fifth Covid wave in Hong Kong, on a bright winter’s day, we arrive at the stylish, handsomely white-tableclothed restaurant for a lunchtime tasting. Entering through an open patio that seats 14, we are immediately struck by the expansive dining space (LPM accommodates 104 in total), modern architecture and relaxed, welcoming vibe. The interiors are a sunny delight, dotted with carefully curated contemporary artwork from the South of France and its environs.

Modern French gastronomy may not be hot at the moment, but that doesn’t bother head chef Maurizio Pace. “Our food is timeless,” he says, “You really can’t eat a bad French meal, and we’ve designed a classic menu with a contemporary twist. It is labour-intensive, detail-oriented and the execution is flawless.” Armed with more than two decades of culinary experience across Italy, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, Pace steers clear of trends to create new, bold flavours amidst an informality unfamiliar in most traditional French restaurants. Each mouthful here, is an unapologetic food adventure, one that is not easily forgotten or recreated elsewhere.
From a menu exhibiting a wide confluence of classics, the chef prepares four courses of earthy fare for this vegetarian. Once seated, the server comes forth with a plate of Italian tomatoes, lemon and olive oil to “make your own salad”. Ripe and bursting with flavour, it’s an entertaining start to escape the wait for entrées which are prepared in the open kitchen.

Also Read: The best restaurant takeaway options in Hong Kong

Language of Love No longer a petite maison, LPM Restaurant and Bar shows its maturity in fine, flavoursome, fuss-free French dining Endive Salad with Gorgonzola and Caramelised Walnuts — Endive Salad with Gorgonzola and Caramelised Walnuts

We begin with Endive Salad with Gorgonzola and Caramelised Walnuts. Bitter and twisted, endives are an acquired taste, but once you’re accustomed, there’s no looking back. Sliced and bathed in a tangy dressing of mustard, mayonnaise and olive oil, the chicory is topped with apple slices, a mound of cheese and crispy caramelised nuts.

Our taste buds thus shocked out of hibernation, we’re ready to dig deep into Black Truffle with Burrata. Fresh, milky burrata cheese flown straight from Italy is served with a drizzle of olive oil and a generous shaving of European black truffle. This delicious marriage of earthy, aromatic ingredients can be savoured all winter long.

Language of Love No longer a petite maison, LPM Restaurant and Bar shows its maturity in fine, flavoursome, fuss-free French diningHomemade Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes — Homemade Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes

Homemade Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes is a humble, comforting dish – flavourfully packed with herbs but not piled with cream, and most importantly not leaving a sinking feeling in the mouth like some pasta creations. It’s served with the right amount of piquancy, warmth and salt, and I can imagine children getting wild for it.

LPM offers an exhaustive wine list, as well as cocktails that are beyond impressive. Bar Manager Benjamin Boyce, stirs a complex, magical potion for Beauty and the Beast, a mildly sweet and invigorating mix of Ketel One vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, strawberry, fennel cordial and yellow Chartreuse.

The heady cocktails are outdone by the calorie-dense dessert of Vanilla Cheesecake with Berry Compote. A faultlessly smooth, unassuming wedge comes with the promise of airy lightness, the thin crunchy base and the tartness of mixed berries prove to be exactly the sort of old-school sweetness I’d wage a fork-war over.
The undisputed simplicity and freshness of ingredients here, prepared with love and respect, make you crave for a leisurely Saint-Tropez holiday, and it’s this ability to captivate and transport diners that has built LPM such a solid local clientele.

Also Read: The best restaurant takeaway options in Hong Kong

LPM Restaurant and Bar. H Queen’s, 23-29 Stanley Street, Central. (852) 2887 1113. lpmrestaurants.com/hongkong

(Text: Nikita Mishra Pictures: LPM Restaurant and Bar)