Robin Hwang works as an Executive Director of Hong Kong Parkview Group, her family’s business. She also oversees the Foodlink Foundation, a charity that aims to alleviate hunger and poverty throughout Hong Kong.
Click here to see Robin Hwang on video
How do you make a difference?
Well I am not sure how much of an impact I make. I do, however, work very closely with Foodlink, a charity that my mother started in 2001. She was at a buffet with a number of friends and was surprised at how much food was left over. She asked what the hotel did with it and was told that some went to the staff canteen and the rest was thrown away. When she asked why they did not give it to the nearby homeless shelter, they explained that there were issues with liability. That gave her an idea. She decided she would assume the liability, collect the food and distribute it herself to any organisations that were trying to help the needy and the hungry. This worked well for a few years. Then SARS struck in 2003 and everyone became very concerned about hygiene and so they had to take a break.
When my sister and I returned to Hong Kong after finishing our studies in 2009 my mum decided to get us both involved. We resumed deliveries and, in 2010, we formally registered as a charity, with a board of directors and a full set of operational procedures. All the relevant liability insurance was also put in place. Foodlink is now a purely grant-based charity, relying totally on community support and funding in order to uphold its objectives and to keep operations going.
From the early days – with only three suppliers and three recipient organisations – we’ve now grown to 89 food donors, supply 83 charities and currently provide around 13,000 meals a week all over Hong Kong. We work with a number of charitable organisations and concerns which we first vet to ensure that they meet all of our criteria and regulations.
We have also started working on the passing of the Good Samaritan Law in Hong Kong. This has been established in many other countries to protect those corporations that donate food in good faith from liability and litigation. I just hope that what I am trying to do is making a difference to some people’s lives. I think it is.
Do you subscribe to a philosophy or a religion?
Yes, I do. I am a Christian and my family are all Christian. More recently, I have become involved with the Alpha Course run by my church. It’s a sort of Christianity 101 where I help talk about prayer, the Bible and Jesus to people who want to learn about Christianity in their search for answers. I enjoy it hugely and love to see the difference that it makes to people’s lives as they go through their journey. Religion is a very big part of my life and I feel it helps to keep me on track. It helps dictate the way that I act in my bid to be a better person. I think I am becoming more forgiving and also a lot more thankful for everything that I am blessed with in my life.
What is in your wallet right now?
Well, no money, I don’t think. Let’s see. There is my ID card, some credit cards, a picture of me and my fiancé and my gym card. Not too much really.
What is your favourite aroma?
Actually, I hate perfumes and scents. I can’t stand floral essences. When I was a child, I was a bit of a klutz and was always hurting myself. I often had to visit the Chinese bone-setter. I love the smell of the potions and lotions they use. A bit weird, I know, but I do. That’s me.
When was the last time you went to the cinema?
My sister recently gave birth and so we decided to take her to a Thursday matinee to get her out of the house. We went to see the latest Hunger Games and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also recently saw Spectre which I thought was really boring and I normally love James Bond movies.
What three words would describe you best?
Oh, that’s quite difficult as one wants to try and stay humble. I think I am pragmatic and a bit of a prankster – I love April Fool’s day. Also, I think I am generally quite a kind person.
What do you like to watch on TV?
I love to watch The Walking Dead – my fiancé can’t understand that at all. I like The Americans (a sort of Cold War spy series), House of Cards, Newsroom and, of course, Game of Thrones, which really is one of my favourites.
What would you say is your greatest indulgence?
That would be an ice-cream sandwich – vanilla ice-cream between two home-made chocolate chip cookies.
Is there a TV show that you particularly dislike?
I don’t know. I won’t watch anything I don’t like. I don’t watch many Hong Kong TV shows as I think they are generally not that well produced. I don’t want to offend but I just feel that Hong Kong TV is really not very good.
What clubs are you currently a member of?
I am not really a club-type of person. I hardly ever really leave Hong Kong Parkview. I live here and I work here. I belong to the Parkview Club and Pure Yoga, but none of the other clubs.
What has been the scariest moment in your life?
We all went to Universal Studios when I was about seven years old. I wandered out of the park and couldn’t find my parents. I headed for the car park and our car because I figured that way they could not leave without me. I waited for simply ages and began to imagine that they might never come out. My sister always teased me that I had been adopted and so my little brain thought: “What if they abandon me?” So that’s why I reasoned that, if I stayed by the car then I was safe – that was my precocious side coming out.
If you could choose any other job in the world, what would it be?
I’d like to be a member of the United Nations, probably working on the World Food Programme. It is something very close to my heart. At one time I played with the idea of studying law and practising in the Human Rights sector. When I visited Cambodia quite recently I saw some of the awful things that were happening to young girls that were sold into human trafficking. One poor girl had been sold by her family for a television. It was a serious eye-opener for me. Those poor girls have no rights and no opportunities at all.
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given?
Once I was dating a guy that I was really rather unsure of. My friend suggested I should get more involved, if you know what I mean. I didn’t and the guy turned out to be absolutely the wrong man for me. I dumped the guy and switched friends. Bad advice but a good move on my part, I think.
What do you find the most attractive feature in a person?
Gratitude. It’s all about the way you treat people. We generally expect too much and so seldom say please or thank you. I think that, with both gratitude and the recognition of services offered, comes a certain amount of humility – another nice characteristic in my view.
What do you do on Saturdays?
I like to hike or play tennis. Sometimes I just like to hang out with the family. All my siblings are now back in Hong Kong, except my brother who’s in Hawaii – finding himself or sort of “MIA.” I miss him. He’s a lot of fun.
What is your favourite food?
Well I cut out meat about a year ago. It’s entirely my brother’s fault as he showed me all these awful videos about how they slaughter animals. It upset me so much I decided to give up meat. I really do miss siu lung bao (Shanghainese steamed pork dumplings), though. I am not vegan, but pescetarian which means I can eat fish and all sorts of sea food.
When did you last tell a white lie?
Recently, I had a trial hair and make up session for my up-coming wedding. The lady was so sweet and asked me if I liked it. I thought that I looked like a Thai “lady boy.” I didn’t want to hurt her feelings so I said: “Oh yes, very nice.” Then quickly told my friend who’d arranged it that I didn’t think she was the right person for the eventual session. My fiancé was wondering why I looked so mean.
Do you play chess?
Yes, I do, but I find it frustrating because I still can’t beat my dad. He’s not that good. It’s just that I am that bad. I do enjoy the game as it makes you think at least three steps ahead. My dad is always telling me that I am far too slow.
What are your parents’ jobs?
Well, dad is in real estate development, as you know. My mum is really the power behind the man. I don’t really know what exactly she does – trading gold, investments and all sorts of things. She seems to have a hand in everything. Most of all she keeps all of us children in our places and out of mischief.
Can you sing?
I’d like to think so. I love to sing and dance and was always performing in plays at school. I love Disney, so when I first met my fiancé we went to karaoke. While everyone else was singing Canto-pop I was singing Can you feel the love tonight? and Hakuna Matata.
Korea or Japan?
Korea for shopping and Japan for skiing and food. I used to go snowboarding, but wasn’t that good. I then switched to skiing which I now really enjoy.
Which is the place you’ve never been but wish you could go?
I would love to see the Northern Lights. I don’t know where it would be best to see them, Scandinavia or Northern Canada? It doesn’t really matter. I would just love to see the lights – they must be fantastic.
Thank you.