Category: 2016

Charles Pang on failure, ‘tiger parents’ and educating China

For Charles Pang, Executive Director of the Canadian International School of Beijing, success is more than just academic… 

You grew up in Canada. What do you recall of those years?

I moved to Toronto when I was about five or six and went to boarding school there, which proved to be one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Some of the people I met during that time became lifelong friends.

What brought you back to Hong Kong?

You could say that I never really came back to Hong Kong. After university, I headed off to join the family education business in Beijing. It was only after I got married that I started to spend more time in Hong Kong, largely because my wife – and then, later, my kids – lived here.

Read: Singer Charlene Chou Xuan on spreading traditional Chinese music to new audiences

Initially, your family was heavily involved in the textile sector, but then switched into education. What triggered such a dramatic change?

Around 1994, my father was part of Team Canada, a business delegation invited to meet Li Peng, then the Chinese Prime Minister. One of the issues discussed was the possibility of exporting the Canadian education system to China. With Li’s blessing, we then launched the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), with my father as one of the founders. Today, CISB has more than 30 branches across China, catering mainly to the expat community.

Do you see your schools as having had an impact on China’s education system overall?

Education in China is very much focused on the gao kao, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, an approach that I find quite one dimensional. Typically, the teacher speaks and the student just listens. In our schools, the teacher is more of a guide, rather than forcing education on students.

We also took a lead in terms of technology. Some 10 years ago, we were the first to bring Smart Boards into the classroom. Now, nearly all of the schools in China have followed our lead.

Over recent years, the education sector has been transformed. What do you see as the most dramatic change?

When we started CISB 16 years ago, education was not at all technology-based and everything was still taught in a traditional fashion. Now, the internet has become an integral part of the educational process.

This is to the extent that we rarely use blackboards or whiteboards anymore, with many schools set to become entirely paperless. Similarly, homework and assessments can now be submitted online, with teachers able to instantly award grades and provide feedback. It also allows parents to go online and check grades in real time.

Moving on, you’ve now ventured into the luggage sector…

Ah, Ventris; it’s an aspirational lifestyle brand. The concept came about two years ago and then a few of us got together and informally launched the brand. Initially, we were just making luggage for family and friends but, after a few people commented on its commercial potential, we decided to get more serious about it. The brand has been under development ever since, with an online launch planned very soon.

The luggage sector is famously competitive – what do you see as Ventris’ USP?

It’s made from carbon-fibre, the same material racing cars are built from. As a result, it’s super-sturdy, yet very light. While we hope it will appeal to those who enjoy a fast-paced, jet-set lifestyle, it’s not going to be mass-produced. It’s a bespoke line for a distinctly niche clientele. We definitely won’t be going up against TUMI, Rimowa or any of the other big brands.

Does that complete your business portfolio or do you have other plans?

Well, I have just opened a restaurant in Causeway Bay – the Phó Metro. We also have a number of new schools opening this year – two in the US and two in Canada. Just as we brought Western education to China, we’re now looking to export Chinese language and culture to North America, with the Chinese Ministry of Education being one of our key backers. It’s also partly about giving the children of Chinese ex-pats the opportunity to learn about their own language and culture.

Read: A guide to gentlemen’s grooming and skincare in Hong Kong 

In terms of teaching your own children, what are the most important values you have sought to instill in them?

For me, it’s important that they grow up well-mannered and considerate. I am actually okay if they don’t turn out to be too academically-inclined. I am a great believer in the importance of kids being kids.

Right now, I see a lot of ‘tiger’ parents in Hong Kong, mums and dads who are constantly pushing their kids to over-achieve at school. Many of them are packing their kids’ after-school hours with endless extra-curricular activities and supplementary tutoring, with their children having little say in it.

I feel most Hong Kong kids don’t really get the freedom to enjoy their childhood. While I was growing up in Canada, we really had the chance to be ourselves and kids need that. They shouldn’t be burdened with their parents own unfulfilled ambitions.

Read: The 300 Most Powerful People in Hong Kong

Overall, then, do you see yourself as a laid-back parent?

No, not laid-back, but I do want my children to realise their full potential in as natural a way as possible. Of course, that doesn’t mean there are no ground rules. While I ensure that homework is done, I don’t force them to do things they don’t like. Inevitably, if you force your children into learning something they have no interest in, they will never excel at it.

Finally, as a successful entrepreneur with several businesses under your belt, what advice would you give to those looking to follow in your footsteps?

As an entrepreneur, you should never be afraid to fail. Not all businesses will succeed, and failure is part of the learning process. On top of that, you need a good business plan, solid finances and a willingness to work very hard indeed. Above all, though, learn from your mistakes and apply that knowledge to your next venture.

 

The full version of this interview appears on Gafencu Magazine’s March 2018 print issue as “Class Act” by Suchetana Mukhopadhyay. You can download the free app for digital editions of the magazine.

Former tennis star John Hui on pro career and helming the relaunched Fleming Hotel

Gafencu gets up close and personal with John Hui. Hong Kong’s top-ranked tennis player is now growing into his new role as owner and managing director of The Fleming – a revitalised boutique hotel in the heart of Wan Chai.

Let’s start at the beginning – when did you start playing tennis professionally?

I was 15 when my parents approached me and asked, ‘Do you want to quit school and play full-time?’ Back then I was already on the junior circuit, but being a typical teenager, I thought, ‘No school? Hell yeah!’

Reality didn’t quite match the fantasy, though. For a year, I travelled all over with my coach; I didn’t really get to experience teenage life. After that, I continued to play but was also homeschooled.

Instead of turning pro in my teens, I went to college for four years at Pepperdine University in California. They have an incredibly rich history in tennis and my coach there was excellent. He’s still coaching today and is probably one of the most successful instructors at the collegiate level.

At 20, I decided to take the plunge and competed for four years. I loved it and have no regrets. I’d started when I was 12 and didn’t stop until 24. After I went pro, I’d train for four to seven hours per day including off-court work. It was extremely tough, both mentally and physically.

You are the most successful Hong Konger yet to compete in pro tennis – attaining an overall ATP ranking of 157 at the age of 24. How did you achieve this feat?

I discovered my passion when I was very young. Obviously, you have to love the sport. I lived for tennis and put my blood, sweat and tears into it. Like any sport, if you don’t have the passion for it you’re not going to be any good. You have to have the hunger. A solid foundation and the desire to improve are essential.

Good guidance is also key. When I went to Pepperdine I was lucky enough to have not one, but two world-class coaches who influenced my decision to turn pro.

Was there a particular catalyst for your decision to shift career paths from professional sports to the hospitality industry?

Eventually I got to a point in my career when I had to decide whether to continue playing for the next decade or switch professions. I believed I had done quite well in tennis, having achieved a certain ranking, so I decided to retire from the sport, return to Hong Kong, get married and pursue hotel management.

What made the redevelopment of The Fleming hotel such a special project?

For a long time, my family operated the property as a serviced apartment. I convinced them to convert it into a hotel in order to capitalise on our proximity to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. ‘Fleming 1.0’ was focused on business travellers.

For the current iteration, I wanted to develop a hotel property that stayed true to Hong Kong. We didn’t want to take those New York and LA properties and shoehorn them into a completely different city.

Why did you choose to partner with Max Dautresme for the re-launch of The Fleming?

We met several overseas and local designers but felt a strong connection with Max. He designed restaurants that I’d always enjoyed going to like Bibo and The Ocean. Max is a passionate designer and – this being his first hotel – he was as excited about this project as we were.  

You’ve said that your goal is to launch a hotel that authentically represents Hong Kong. How has that been achieved?

When you arrive, right from the get-go, it’s unmistakably a Hong Kong hotel. In the concierge area, you’ll notice a narrow twisting passageway that’s reminiscent of back alleys in Kowloon. In reception, you’ll see bamboo walls and post boxes that hark back to old Hong Kong. Our rooms follow the dimensions of ferry cabins; even small things like the umbrellas were designed to resemble Chinese oil parasols. Much of the furniture throughout the hotel is reversible, much like the seating on the Star Ferry!

You’ve known your wife, Jacklyn Fu, since the age of 12. How have you two managed to maintain such a long and successful relationship? 

We used to play tennis together in Hong Kong. When we were 16, we won two of the big local competitions as partners in the mixed doubles category. There are many ups and downs in marriage – you have to be able to give and take. It’s not always easy raising three fast-growing kids, so it’s important to help one another.  

Do any of your children have a talent for tennis?

Well, my eldest son is on the national tennis squad for Hong Kong, and my youngest was on the national team for wushu. I play casually with them but that’s about it – it’s extremely hard to coach your own children. I read an article recently about Bjorn Borg. He never even watched his son play tennis! As for my daughter, she loves gymnastics and dance. Each one of them has diverse hobbies, which is great. 

Thank you.

Text: Randalph Lai

Clement Cheung: Ultimate challenge of juggling three companies

Clement Cheung co-founded travel agency Matata Limited, luggage brand Ventris and, most recently, Absolute Fitness gym in Central.

When did you move to Toronto?

I moved to Canada when I was nine years old. At that age, we didn’t really think about what to expect, so everything was new and fresh. I studied in Toronto, from primary school through university, and then I moved back to Hong Kong.

Why did you return to Hong Kong?

I had just graduated from university, so I was 22 years old. The main drive was my parents’ business. Back then it was more of a curiosity. I wanted to know what they were doing and understand what they did to raise me up, so that’s why I came back.

What was it like growing up in such a business- oriented family?
My first taste of business was when I was about seven years old. My sister and I made some fake money to buy each others’ toys and stationery. Later, we used our actual pocket money. My first real business, though, was when I opened a bubble tea house while studying at university.

Growing up in a business family can be difficult. There were times when business would come up at the dinner table, or we would bring up a family issue at the office. It can be quite confusing, and sometimes it all mixes together. I got used to that, though.

Why did you study architectural design, and do you still incorporate what you’ve learnt into your businesses?
I’ve always enjoyed arts as well as design. Design, to me,is creating things and going from nothing to something. Even though my companies are not related to the design or architecture industries, design has trained my creative mind, and I apply that to my different businesses.

My first real venture, Chillichilly, was a homeware brand. I designed household items that you use every day, but the difference was that they told a story. Aside from the aesthetic appearance of the product, most of the products created a conversation.

You also co-founded Matata Limited, a travel consultancy. What inspired you to enter the travel sector?
My friends and I love travelling, and every time we took a racing trip or ice drifting trip, or went to the Maldives, people would comment on our pictures on social media and say, ‘Your trip looks so fun. Can we join?’ That’s what inspired us to create our own tour company and arrange our own trips. Our idea was to make travelling more fun and cater it to groups of close friends.

Later, we changed course and started offering educational tours. I’m very fortunate because I was born in Hong Kong, I studied in North America and now I’m working in China. I think you have a more well-rounded view if you can see the best of different worlds.

I have two children, and I would love to give them the opportunity to go abroad. That’s why we designed a tour that gives children the opportunity to have fun while also learning lessons that they can take home from their trip.

“Design, to me, is creating things and going from nothing to something”

You went on to head up Ventris Limited, a luggage brand. Why suitcases?
This is a little more in line with my design background. We offer high-end, full carbon luggage. I’m a co-founder, and my business partners do a lot of carbon work in factories. We love travelling and we love to have high- quality luggage to bring with us.

What role does travel play in your life?
I’m adventurous so I like to explore different places and different cultures. Africa, for instance, was quite different for me. We went to a game reserve that’s essentially a 35km by 45km piece of desert where thousands of wild animals live. We drove around searching for different animals, and that was very special because it’s not a zoo – we were visiting their home.

What are your hobbies?
I like racing. I used to race often with my friends, and we would go to Mongolia for snow drifting with a team. I used to draw for leisure. Singing is also a hobby, and I enjoy all kinds of sports.

What sets your gym, Absolute Fitness, apart from others in Hong Kong?
The fitness industry is well-established nowadays. A lot of people, including myself, are quite health- conscious. There are people who like yoga, people who like spinning classes and people who like HIIT or weightlifting. We don’t want to design a gym that accommodates everyone, though, because it would lose its focus.

Absolute Fitness is designed for people who enjoy circuit training and more functional training – not necessarily for those who want muscles like Superman or Captain America. It’s focused on getting your heart rate up, so we have a lot of cardio training, but we also have the traditional equipment you’d need to build up muscle mass.

It’s different from other gyms because we don’t encourage membership. We do mainly one-on-one training with a coach or training in small groups of two or three people. It’s quite a private gym. Some people like to go to a big gym to mingle and chat, but Absolute Fitness is more about improving yourself from the inside to the outside.

“I want to do something that creates wealth for society. That’s my real paycheck”

You’ve founded a lot of companies. How do you balance your time?
It’s always difficult in the beginning to set up a business, but luckily I have a good team and good partners who support me with their resources and time. For me, it’s a matter of balance and time management, which is something I’m still working to improve. It’s difficult, but so far it’s working out fine.

Do you plan to start another business any time soon?
I think I have enough on my plate. I’m not a greedy person, but I don’t see Absolute Fitness being my last business, either. Maybe it’s my habit of liking to create things. My entrepreneurial mind is always nagging me and saying, ‘What’s next?’ I just started Absolute Fitness, though, and I want to get it up and running before I do something else.

I would be regretful if I started a business and it failed because I didn’t spend enough time looking after it. A lot of businesspeople are big investors, but for me, aside from investing capital in a company, I also participate in them. People say to me, ‘That’s very tiring. Can’t you just put money into it and let it grow?’ But I enjoy every part and every moment of building a business. If it ends up being successful, it will be much more satisfying.

Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
There’s a saying that it’s more difficult to sustain a business than it is to start one, and I believe that’s true. First I would ask why they want to start a business. There can be plenty of reasons. Of course, we have to make a profit – that’s the number one rule of business – but when I start a company, that’s not my first and only question.

After Chillichilly was put on hold, I waited five years before I started another venture. I don’t want to start a business just for the sake of starting it. I want to do something that I have a passion for, that I enjoy doing and, most of all, that creates more than just money. I want to do something that creates wealth for society, whether it’s educating the next generation or giving people a place where they can enjoy working out. That’s my real paycheck.

Text: Emily Petsko

Marie-Christine Lee

Marie-Christine Lee is the founder of both the Sports for Hope Foundation and Sports Max.

You are the founder of the Sports for Hope Foundation. What led you to set up this particular charity?

I have always loved sports, ever since I was a child. I fundamentally believe that sport can be hugely beneficial – both mentally and physically. Sport gives people a goal and it teaches them to be persistent in many other areas of their lives. It instills in people a never-give-up attitude, something that is essential to have no matter what your aim in life.