Category: 2017

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.

Sa Sa director Melody Kwok-Chan talks beauty and brand strategy

Melody Kwok-Chan is the director of corporate strategy and development at cosmetics retailer Sa Sa International Holdings Limited.

You spent a decade abroad. What brought you back to Hong Kong?

I attended high school in Canada for two years and then moved to Australia. I went to university in Melbourne, first studying marketing at RMIT and then earning my master’s in international business from Monash.

I’m a pretty independent person, but after eight years in Australia I started to feel homesick so I decided to move back to Hong Kong. I love everything about Australia – the food, the weather, the vacation spots – but career-wise Hong Kong is a better fit for me. Plus, my family is here.

Based on my experience, I would advise students to go abroad to learn about another culture firsthand. Experiencing it for yourself is much more meaningful than reading about it in a book or seeing it on TV. Looking back, I wish I could have studied in more countries and learned different languages.

Your parents founded Sa Sa nearly 40 years ago. Did you think you’d end up working for the family company?

 I’ve had an interest in cosmetics ever since I was young and always dreamed of working in the beauty or fashion industry. I think that can be attributed to my parents’ influence and all the hours I spent in Sa Sa stores growing up. My parents occasionally let me sample the products while helping out at the shop. Cosmetics were practically my toys.

On top of that, after graduation I wanted to help reduce my parents’ workload, so I decided to complete the company’s management trainee programme. After that, I joined Sa Sa’s marketing department.

What does your role at Sa Sa entail?

I oversee marketing, product development and business plans. On the product side, I’m tasked with selecting the highest quality products for our stores.

I also monitor beauty trends. European and Japanese brands used to be the most popular, but customers now want Korean products.

On the marketing side, we organise a few major annual events, like the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day, held in conjunction with The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

How has Sa Sa grown over the years?

The first Sa Sa store was in a basement and measured only 40 sq.m. There were two employees: my mom and dad. As the first male consultant at Sa Sa, my dad quickly learned the value of his opinion. When my dad told a customer that a certain shade of lipstick looked beautiful on her, she almost always bought the product. Now you can see many male beauty consultants in our stores.

My parents then opened their second shop in Causeway Bay, right beside Sogo. From there, Sa Sa continued to grow. We now have about 60 shops in mainland China, 100 in Hong Kong and more than 280 altogether in Asia.

To what do you attribute Sa Sa’s success?

I think it all boils down to our products and service. We stress the importance of quality and train our staff to provide excellent customer service. Our beauty consultants undergo nearly 260 hours of training, enabling them to provide personalised beauty advice to our customers.

How did you get involved with the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association?

My mom is also a member, so I learned about it through her involvement. I love having the opportunity to work with teenage girls. I created a cosmetics course for the girls to learn how to look professional and put-together when they enter the workforce.

I also helped establish Sa Sa’s first charity platform – the Sa Sa Making Life Beautiful Charity Fund – in 2013. It has been helping young people build self-confidence and spread positive energy throughout the community.

Do you have a role model?

It would have to be my parents. They started Sa Sa in 1978 when it was just a tiny shop in Causeway Bay and transformed it into the first cosmetic one-stop shop in Hong Kong. My mom is extremely detailed, while my dad is adept at managing a business. They’ve taught me so many important lessons, and I’m still learning from them.

Thank you.

Interview: Emily Petsko

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

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

The Vinci Code: Vinci Wong on becoming Tung Wah chairman and LGBT rights in the city

Vinci Wong is founder and chairman of Chinese medicine pioneer 3 Kings Holdings, a subsidiary of the Wongs’ WKK Group. Following his highly publicized marriage to partner Kevin Chow last year, he also prepares for the coming year as chairman of the city’s most prominent charity organization, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. We caught up with the former TVB star at the new Kerry Hotel (a Shangri-la brand) in Hung Hom.

Your career took off when you became a talent with TVB and artist with ATV. Did you always see yourself getting into entertainment?

I’ve been enamoured with the entertainment industry since I was young. I liked to express myself. Whenever they had games on those radio programmes I’d always phone in – not for the prizes, but for the thrill of hearing my own voice on air.

What were your first steps into that career then?

My first forays were in radio, during my days in Vancouver. I spent high school and university in Canada, where I entered an international Chinese DJ contest. I got into the top 10, which landed me a gig in one of Vancouver’s Chinese radio stations. I worked there for four or five years. Once I finished my studies, I came back to Hong Kong and joined Metro Plus Live, and then TVB.

What made you decide to move?

It was time. I was with TVB from 24… 13 years later I was already towards my 40s.

I had a lot of opportunities, but it was getting repetitive. A lot of shows are done every year, like the annual countdown, beauty pageants, charity shows. I found myself standing on stage and saying the same thing again and again. I kind of got scared, asking myself ‘Do you want the rest of your life to be like this, doing the same thing?’

I couldn’t find anything new about what I was doing. I could still manage to change myself, but had I waited 10 more years it would have been too late.

Let’s talk about your upcoming year as chairman of Tung Wah, which starts next April. What are your plans for that?

I want to create more awareness about Tung Wah. Most people might think that it’s old fashioned as it’s been around for 150 years, but I want to change that. I hope I can leverage my prominence as somebody people have been seeing on TV over the years.

When you married your partner of 7 years, Kevin Chow, in Vancouver last year it made the headlines in Hong Kong as the first same sex marriage in local entertainment. How did people react?

My family, relatives, old school friends and even the management at Tung Wah – they all supported me. This gave me a lot of confidence to take the next step in our relationship, and I’m thankful for that.

It’s been in my head for a long time: If I met someone I think is the right one, should I get married? But before meeting Kevin, there was never the right person.

How was your journey coming out?

Whether straight or gay, you just know it inside of you. It wasn’t something I ever questioned. In my generation especially it wasn’t easy; I told my family when I was in my twenties and I had other problems making me unhappy. On top of all that I was tired of hiding my sexuality, so it happened all at once. I told them about my problems, ‘Oh and by the way, I’m gay’ [laughs].

They might not have embraced it at first, but it wasn’t a big drama. In the end they not only accepted it but wanted me to find the right person with whom to have my own life and family as well.

After you married Kevin, you became a role model for the city’s LGBT community. How are you handling that unintended role?

I do my best… a lot of organizations like Pink Dot and BigLove Alliance call us to support their events; we’re asked to join demonstrations like the gay parade.

We would definitely want to do more for society, for younger ones of future generations. We’re talking about equality here. Same sex marriage is a must in the future.

Text: Julienne C. Raboca

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

 

Annie Tse on giving up her IT career to run one of HK’s finest jewellery giants

Annie Yau Tse is the chairman and chief executive officer of Tse Sui Luen Jewellery (TSL), one of Asia’s largest jewellers.

 You haven’t always worked in jewellery. What did you do early on in your career?

I studied computer engineering in college. I’m a very analytical and logical person, and I like math and science. After graduating, I worked in a software company for a few years in the States. Later, I moved back to Hong Kong and began working for Motorola, then for IBM as an IT consultant.

I enjoyed being part of the IT industry because it’s such an innovative environment. It exposed me to many new concepts and people. It’s quite different from jewellery, but I’m trying to incorporate the lessons I learnt from IT into my current role.

When you joined TSL in 2002, was it a big change for you?

Not too much. Although I had never worked in jewellery before, I got married to jewellery, so to speak. When I initially began dating my husband [Tommy Tse, son of TSL founder Tse Sui Luen], I spent a lot of time at TSL shops listening to him, talking to staff and learning how to do business.

By the time I joined the company, I already knew a lot about the trade. At that time I had been married six years, and my husband and I often talked about business at home. Even when I wasn’t with TSL, my husband liked to share his views with me and get my opinion on products as a consumer.

Was it your plan from the beginning to work together?

Not really. Originally we didn’t want to work together because we didn’t want to bring business back home. My husband told me that as a child he would see his parents arguing about business over the dining table. He wanted us to avoid that kind of conflict. Besides, we both enjoyed our own careers – me in IT and him in jewellery.

When did the turnaround happen?

I changed my mind when I saw him struggling. Like me, he studied in the States, and then worked for Johnson & Johnson. Being on the manufacturing side, he was used to a certain kind of technology and way of doing things. He was trained in material planning systems and wanted to introduce that expertise back into his family business. He was trying to implement those ideas – which were new here 30 years ago – but people around him were far from ready. They didn’t understand what he was trying to achieve.

Whenever he came home and aired those concerns, I thought, ‘How can I help him?’ In time, it occurred to me to offer my help, even though that meant risking future arguments.

Surprisingly, he was receptive. As Christians, we tried to discern what God wanted us to do. The more we prayed, the more at peace we felt about working together. After mulling it over for a couple months, I quit my job and joined TSL.

How do you navigate the road bumps of working together as husband and wife?

Of course we argue from time to time about the other’s way of doing things, but in the end we love each other so much. Love can help us overcome all problems.

I enjoy and treasure the experience because it lets me see the unity between myself and my husband. Even though we don’t take the same path to achieve something, we have the same destination.

We also try to avoid talking about business at home and focus on our children instead. If we do have arguments, they end in the conference room.

You’re the youngest member and one of two women on a board of seven. Is it challenging being in the minority?

I think it’s perfectly fine. Being in charge as a woman even has its advantages in a jewellery company. I can try on the jewellery and be a model for the brand! I am well respected by my husband, colleagues and friends, as well as the other directors when we’re meeting in the boardroom. I do, however, have privileges as the owner’s wife, and of course people have no choice but to respect me [laughs]. Kidding aside, so far I only see advantages, and it helps that I actually wear the product.

What advice do you have for other aspiring career women?

I think you just need to work wholeheartedly. I devote a lot of time to something I want to achieve and give 100 percent. If people around you see you putting in time and effort, you naturally gain respect. But if you take shortcuts and evade responsibility, then of course you lose credibility. It’s about accountability, responsibility and working at things with all your heart.

Are you grooming your children to take over TSL one day?

I wouldn’t force them to, but I really hope they will. I respect them as individuals, and if they have talent in certain areas, I wouldn’t force them to give that up. My eldest daughter’s dream is to be a medical doctor. She’s now studying biochemistry in the States, and wants to come back to help people. Of course, I hope she’ll ultimately come back to the family business, but if she’s determined to pursue her dream, I will be there to support her.

My younger daughter is talented in art and design, and I believe there might be an opportunity for her to work on TSL’s core products. We really need someone who is creative. Thankfully, she’s open to getting involved. My youngest child likes sports but is still too young to decide what he wants to do.

What does the future hold for the company?

I really want to bring TSL into a new era. Nowadays women are looking for practicality, even when choosing fine jewellery. In Hong Kong it’s too segmented – people look at fine jewellery as a valuable item that you need to spend a lot of money on. On the other hand, there are non-precious metals or stones that you can buy very cheaply. I want us to strike a balance and bring fine jewellery to the mass market in a real way.

We are also focusing on developing our business in China. In 2014 we started franchising in the mainland. That market has been our growth engine since the early 2000s, especially since Hong Kong has taken a hit in recent years. We would like to expand into Southeast Asia as well.

Thank you.

Text by: Julienne C. Raboca
Photos by: Neville Lee
Art Direction: San Wong
Hair & Makeup: Chris Yu @ Morphologique
Venue: Fantastic Suite & Kitchen at W Hotel

Jonathan Young

You grew up in Hong Kong. Can you tell us a little about your childhood?
I was born here and lived in the city until I was 12. We then moved to Beijing, which was quite unusual back in the 1980’s. At the time, most people were looking to move to Canada, the US, the UK or Australia. As my father was going to work in Beijing, he thought it would be good for me to experience life there for two or three years. I studied at a local school and began to learn Mandarin. I’m glad I did. It’s so much easier to learn a language when you’re young. In total, I spent two years studying in Beijing, then I went to boarding school in the UK.

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.

Alan Lo

Describing Alan Lo as one of Hong Kong’s few Renaissance men does not quite do him justice. Perhaps best known as co-founder of the Press Room Group, the company behind a number of the city’s favourite eateries – Classified, The Principal and The Pawn – he is also the driving force behind Duddell’s, the Central-based Cantonese restaurant-cum-art gallery he co-founded with his wife, Yenn Wong. Arguably one of Hong Kong’s preeminent restaurateurs, he has a Midas-like reputation for delivering gastronomic gold at all of his outlets.