Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Britain in Hong Kong is the highly regarded monthly magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. The magazine is sent out to all full members both in Hong Kong and abroad, as well as to a database of other key contacts in Hong Kong. The magazine features news and articles supplied by member companies. Members are entitled to submit news items, new appointments as well as informative articles.
Citation preview
By Sam Powney
Up until the mid-20th century, women
in Jianyong county, in the south of China’s
central Hunan Province, could communicate
i n a sec re t l anguage . Nü shu（女書）,
meaning simply ‘women’s writing’ was a
written simplification of the Chinese script
based on the local dialect, and was passed
down through generations of women at a
time when only men were officially taught
to read and write. The women of Jianyong
possessed this elegant script, which they
frequently wrote down or wove into their
fabrics, until their secret communication was
at last stamped out during the Japanese
occupation and the Cultural Revolution. The
last woman proficient in nü shu died at the
age of 98 in 2004, but scholars have gone to
work and most of the remaining examples of
nü shu script can now be translated. Many
of the surviving glimpses into that world
are messages commiserating on arranged
marr iages and various other hardships
largely unknown to people today, yet the nü
shu script has become an enduring, and
increasingly well-known symbol of solidarity
among women.
The British Chamber’s regular Women in
Business networking events are a long way
from the ‘sworn sisterhoods’ of Jianyong
county, but something of that solidarity
is evident, especially in their events and
discussions. In September the Br i t ish
Chamber’s Women in Business held a
panel discussion, ‘Smashing Through the
Glass Ceiling’, with Christine Loh, CEO of
the non-profit think tank Civic Exchange,
moderat ing the d iscussion. Panel l is ts
included Sophia Kao, the Chairperson of the
Women’s Commission as well as Vice-Chair
of the Hong Kong Federation of Women;
Shalini Mahtani, founder and Advisor to
the Board of Community Business; and
Kay McArdle, Board Chairperson of The
Women’s Foundation (NGO). The discussion
ranged from the bald statistics of women’s
employment in Hong Kong, through the
mechanisms women in the business world
can use to succeed, to more subtle areas
such as common gender differences in
gestures and facial expressions.
T h e f i g u re s a re c e r t a i n l y s h o c k i n g .
Community Business carried out a survey
in 2009 which found that only 9% of al l
directorships of companies listed on the
Hang Seng Index were held by women.
Broken down, this fi gure represents women
in 7% of executive directorships and 10% of
non-executive positions. Though influential
women remain divided about the usefulness
of affi rmative action, nearly everyone agrees
that the present situation is unacceptable.
Several of September’s Women in Business
panellists noted that not all women wish to
rise as far as they can go, and that pregnancy
can in some cases be a valid consideration
for employers, yet the statistics demonstrate
a clear narrowing of the pyramid as women
climb the professional ladder. The overall
number of women in employment in Hong
Kong is impressively high by international
standards, but that percentage is inverted for
women in senior management.
Examining Examining the Ceilingthe Ceiling
Facts and Figures
Women as a percentage of Hong Kong’s workforce (Statistics provided by the Women’s Foundation)
Overall workforce: 53%Senior management: 35%Legco: 19%Academia: 14%Barristers: 10% Global average percentage of female CEOs: 8%
Recruitment experts Korn/Ferry International estimated this
year, based on a sample number of Hong Kong companies,
that roughly 2% of Hong Kong’s CEOs are women.
PAGE 4Gender inequality
PAGE 8Greening Up
PAGE 6Health Insurance
PAGE 10Wine
In This Issue
(Continued on page 2)
November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
www.britcham.com
Plus• News / New Appointments• Events• Shaken Not Stirred
Christine Loh is cautiously optimistic about the future however. Companies are male-
dominated for many reasons,’ she says, ‘part of it is to do with history and demographics.
In many places, more men went into the workforce than women. This is changing rapidly –
more women are now attending university for example. The fact that companies are having
to deal with many more qualified women joining them requires current management to
consider gender and diversity issue now.’
Few doubt that the issue of gender inequality runs into deeper questions than employers’
discrimination. The South China Morning Post recently investigated the position of women
in employment in Hong Kong, and concluded that many people privy to the statistics see
complete gender equality (of pay and position) as a positive aim, but one which can never
be fully achieved. That attitude may smack of defeatism, but it is understandable coming
from those business people who can’t afford to sit and contemplate gender issues all day.
After all, scholarship on gender and gender inequality provides a good deal more questions
than answers. When Simone de Beauvoir commented that motherhood left woman "riveted
to her body", she was explaining how a patriarchal society could exploit one aspect of
a woman’s life in order to relegate her to second class citizenship. Many other feminist
thinkers have since elaborated on the shape of patriarchal societies and social structures,
not least our modern business corporation. Diversity and flexible working arrangements
may be more acceptable nowadays, but are such fundamental patterns as hierarchy,
competition among colleagues, and recognition for assertiveness fundamentally patriarchal,
or at least favourable towards men?
Time will tell whether or not our seismic upheavals in the global financial system will
eventually lead to more equal employment in the offi ce space. What is certain is that a quiet
revolution is going on in the ether of webspace. The internet has already allowed millions of
women with the right skills to work from home, sometimes while looking after small children
or elderly relatives. Of course, one might not view as an entirely positive development the
fact that large numbers of qualifi ed women are choosing to work independently. But a quick
look at online message boards for web-service professionals reveals a great number of self-
employed women freely and frequently helping each other out with business tips and in
many cases simple encouragement. The fl avour of this advice is, in some ways, strikingly
similar to the practical and encouraging tone of Jianyong county’s nü shu writings. It is a
striking reminder that although shifts in politics and technology will likely play the greatest
role in changing business conditions, women will naturally fi nd a grass-roots way to share
information and experience.
www.br i tcham.com2
COVER STORY
(Continued from cover)
Executive searchwww.boyden.com
Management consultingwww.bmca.com.hk
»»»
»»»
Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers www.lambertbrothers.com.hk
Winnie Hung 2585 8260 [email protected]
GENDER INEQUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4KEEPING COVERED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6GREENING UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8UNCORKED: INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10PERSPECTIVE: INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12CEILIDH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14BOXING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
BUSINESS ANGELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18OCTOBER EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19NEW APPOINTMENTS / UPCOMING EVENTS . . . . . 20NEWS / MEMBER DISCOUNTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21NEW MEMBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22SHAKEN NOT STIRRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Congratulations to New Zealand for winning the Rugby World Cup. The whole event was excellent and the interest in our
community was tremendous, with Wales just missing out on the fi nal thanks to an interesting decision from a certain referee…
Having been in Wellington for the quarter-fi nals, I can testify that the atmosphere was fantastic and it was great to see so many of
the Hong Kong community in the bars and restaurants before and after the games! The New Zealand win was well deserved and
congratulations to the French for making this a truly competitive fi nal. With the damage from last February's deadly earthquakes
still visible - and acutely felt - it goes without saying that the All Blacks and their fans dedicated their win to the community
of Christchurch.
Earlier last month the British Chamber was awarded the privilege of meeting and presenting our views on how Hong Kong has
progressed since 1997 to China’s Vice Premier Li Keqiang, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang and our Financial Secretary
John Tsang as well as a small number of other senior leaders in Hong Kong.
We were the only international chamber offered the opportunity to provide our views and I am delighted to say we were very positive
about how Hong Kong is performing and how the Hong Kong government has continued the development in the fourteen years
since the handover. While we may sometimes fi nd fault with certain policies, the underlying truth is that Hong Kong has developed
wonderfully under the Hong Kong SAR’s ‘one country, two systems’ framework and we congratulate both the Chinese and Hong
Kong governments for taking Hong Kong to a new level.
It is terrifi c to see China’s complete support for the development of Hong Kong as the major Chinese and Asian fi nancial centre, and
with the city becoming an RMB offshore trade hub we now know it is fi rmly placed on the fi nancial trading highway with London and
New York. The Chinese government also views professional services as a key differentiator and sees Hong Kong as world class in this
area. This bodes well for future development into China.
We had the privilege of hearing from the Chief Executive of the HKSAR at the Joint Business Community Luncheon on November 2nd.
At the end of this month we have another chance to hear Mr. Tsang speak at the 12th Hong Kong Forum taking place in the Hong
Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
There are two very interesting sessions that will be worth attending this month, Douglas Gerber, CEO, FocusOne Ltd. will address
attendees about the challenges and solutions of leading diverse executive teams in Asia; Duncan MacInnes, CEO, Xenfi n Capital
Ltd. will discuss fl uctuations in the currency market that can have a signifi cant impact on the bottom line of an organisations
business revenues.
A key event to mark on your calendar is a breakfast session on the UK Bribery act in December. Andrew Seaton, Consul-General,
British Consulate-General and Richard Alderman, Director, Serious Fraud Offi cer, UK will explain the major provisions of the new Act
and the likely impact on UK companies and business people operating abroad.
Finally, it is very important that we get things right at the Chamber and as we move ahead with our duties, I ask you to please share
your thoughts on how we can make the Chamber an even better enabler for business in Hong Kong. I hope that you enjoy this issue
of the magazine.
Kevin Taylor
CHAIRMAN’SMESSAGE
EditorsIan CruzSam Powney
DesignBill MoAlan WongKen Ng
Advertising ContactCharles Zimmerman
Project ManagementVincent Foe
Jointly Published by Speedfl ex Medianet Ltd andThe British Chamber ofCommerce in Hong Kong1/F, Hua Qin International Building340 Queen’s Road Central, Hong KongTel: 2542 2780Fax: 2542 3733Email: info@speedfl ex.com.hkEditorial: Ian@speedfl ex.com.hk sam.powney@speedfl ex.com.hkAdvertising: charles@speedfl ex.com.hk
British Chamber of Commerce Secretariat
Executive DirectorCJA Hammerbeck CB, CBE
General ManagerCynthia Wang
Marketing andCommunications ManagerEmily Ferrary
Special Events ManagerBecky Roberts
Events ExecutiveMandy Cheng
Business Development ManagerDovenia Chow
Membership ExecutiveLucy Jenkins
AccountantMichelle Cheung
Executive AssistantJessie Yip
SecretaryYammie Yuen
Offi ce AssistantSam Chan
Room 1201, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, WanchaiTel: 2824 2211Fax: 2824 1333Website: www.britcham.com
© All published material is copyright protected. Permission in writing from the Publishers must be obtained for the reproduction of the contents, whole or in part. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Publishers. The Publishers assume no responsibility for investment or legal advice contained herein.
The Magazine of the BritishChamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
By Sheila Dickinson, Senior Vice President, ipac fi nancial planning Hong Kong limited
Gender inequality in the workplace
Myth or Fact?
In Hong Kong, many women juggle their career and family life in an organised way, and
it is not uncommon to see women taking up senior positions in corporations. However, it
is surprising to reveal that women are paid less than men in Hong Kong and that women
here are overwhelmingly concentrated in low-paid work. As the Chairwoman of the Women
in Business Committee of the British Chamber, I see many different examples of women
interacting within their career and their workplace. Therefore I have a slightly different
vantage point on gender inequality.
Are women earning less?I received some surprising fi gures recently. The Government data* shows that women with
degrees earned an average of HK$20,000 a month in 2010, compared with HK$28,000 for
men. That’s a 40% difference. Moreover, there are 250,700 women in Hong Kong earning
HK$3,000 to HK$3,999 a month, compared with just 19,800 men. The fi gures may spell
out the fact that women are earning less than men in Hong Kong, yet I wonder if it presents
the full picture on the cause of this phenomenon.
A survey# commissioned by the Women’s Committee in Hong Kong reveals that 82.2%
of people interviewed agreed that “to have a job is the best way for a woman to be
independent” and about 57.1% of people agreed that “women have to sacrifi ce more than
men in order to achieve career success”.
Combining these findings, it seems that women are somehow destined to put greater
efforts into their careers while achieving less in terms of both earnings and seniority.
However, is this the whole truth, or is there a lifestyle choice involved?
Why are women earning less? Having worked in Hong Kong for over 5 years now and being in the fi nance fi eld which
involves frequent client interaction, I have had opportunity to observe some empirical
causes for women earning less than men, other than putting it in the controversial context
of discrimination.
The most common reason for women to quit the labour market is that they become
mothers. Many women I know choose to stay at home full time after the birth of their
children and may continue to do so until the time their children turn 6 or 7. However, it
can then be diffi cult for them to re-enter the workforce due the fact that their skills and
knowledge may then be outdated.
Some may choose to work part-time, so that they can take more time to take care of their
children. However, from what I can generally observe, companies’ fl exibility in offering part-
time jobs is limited in Hong Kong. Moreover, working part-time means earning less, which
also contributes to the fact that women are earning less than men in Hong Kong.
These child-minding responsibilities do impact women’s earnings capacity and career
development. It is generally true that an aggressive career progression implies more time
commitment and a trade-off in time spent with children.
Is there any exception?Some women opt to stay at home, and others do not. There is no right or wrong answer to
this. Taking myself and my company as examples, I see a completely different picture.
Being the Head of our European Advice Team within the Independent Financial Advisory
sector, my career progression has not been hindered at all by being a woman. I can even
say that the qualities that a woman possesses can be a great benefi t in this client-focused
industry. The strong communication skills, sophisticated interpersonal skills and genuine
commitment that women possess can provide distinct edges for them to shine in this
industry. I found these skills making a difference personally, especially when I competed
with other industry male elites in the renowned fi nancial planning awards in 2008 and was
eventually named the Best Financial Planner of the Year!
The career progression for women in my company is also amazing. We have a women CEO
and 7 out of 8 executives in the leadership team are women. We also have a family friendly
policy in place to make sure our women staff can look after both their families and manage
their work without the normal problematic hassles that can go with juggling career and family.
Is there really gender inequality?
Something you can’t miss…At the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself. If you are in a progressive
company which recognises the need for gender balance and acts on it, that’s certainly
a good place to be. If your employer is a boys’ club, you might be better off looking for
other opportunities!
One last word: women can choose between focusing on career or family, or indeed a
combination of both, and it often comes down to a lifestyle choice. However, no matter
what, you should not forego the benefi ts in having a sound fi nancial plan in place for your
own future fi nancial security. Remember - a man is not a fi nancial plan!
* Women and Men in Hong Kong, Key Statistics 2011 Edition, Census and Statistics
Department, HKSAR
# “What do Women and Men in Hong Kong Think about the Status of Women at Home, Work
and in Social Environments?”, Women’s Commission, September 2011
In preparing this information, the author did not take into account the investment objectives,
fi nancial situation or particular needs of any person. Before making an investment decision,
you should speak to a fi nancial planner to consider whether this information is appropriate
to your needs, objectives and circumstances. For further information, please contact:
Sheila is the Senior Vice President and a SFC Licensed Representative (SFC CE no.:
ANS128) with ipac fi nancial planning Hong Kong limited.
In light of the recent fi gures on gender inequality, Sheila Dickinson refl ects on her experience of the situation for women in business in Hong Kong.
www.br i tcham.com4
BUSINESS
By Ralph Tam, Managing Director Asia Pacifi c, Now Health International
Use international private medical insurance to attract and retain your employeesIf you work in a sector where competition for good quality staff is high, it’s worth considering
an international private medical insurance plan to gain a competitive edge. A plan like this,
which offers access to treatment anywhere in the world, could be attractive not only to
your expat employees, but also to your local staff. International health cover is typically only
offered to expats, but since some providers can offer cover to locals too, this could give
your company that extra benefi t that more and more local staff are looking for.
To recruit and retain good quality staff always poses challenges to employers. According to the
2011 Hays Salary Guide, 78% of employers expect to provide employee benefi ts in addition
to salaries and bonuses in Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Japan. Health insurance is the
number one benefi t, provided by 65% of employers surveyed. This could mean that providing a
local health insurance plan is an expectation, so using it as a differentiator may not work.
What to look for in a good insurance providerSo if you decide that international health insurance could be your package differentiator, how
do you go about looking for the provider that suits you? There are a number of factors that HR
Managers need to consider before choosing their supplier:
• Where do they cover?
• Who can they cover?
• What levels of in-patient and out-patient benefi ts do they provide?
• What underwriting approach do they take?
• What kind of medical provider network do they have?
• How fast will they respond to my, and my employees’ requests?
Global footprintThe purpose of international health insurance is to provide access to healthcare wherever in
the world your employees need it. One of the most important things to look out for is where in
the world a provider will and won’t cover. It’s likely that every provider will pay claims incurred
anywhere in the world, but many have restrictions on where employees can be resident. This
could be for a number of reasons: the complexity of the local regulator or where OFAC sanctions
have been imposed, are a few common reasons why. If you have employees located in places
like North Korea, Burma or Iran, this is one of the fi rst things HR Managers need to ask.
What to Look for from anInternational Health Insurance Provider
Expat or local nationals?The classic target audience for international health insurance is the expat population.
Of course if you have an Australian employee located in Cambodia, it’s a sensible idea
to provide a plan that means they can be evacuated or repatriated if they need medical
treatment. But what about local residents? Can they access healthcare internationally too?
Some insurance providers can offer international plans to local nationals so fi nding out if
all your employees can benefi t is a good idea. It’s common for providers to be able to offer
this in established territories like Hong Kong. And in locations like this where competition
for good quality staff is severe, when you’re offering a role to a candidate, their choice of
employer could be the difference between your and your competitor’s benefi t packages.
Levels of coverGenerally speaking, there are fi ve core types of benefi t: in-patient, out-patient, routine dental,
routine maternity and wellness. Providers of international health insurance will most likely provide
varying levels of all of these benefi ts, so HR Managers need to make some decisions about
what’s important to them as a business and what they would like their employees covered for.
For example, if the Board are mainly concerned about protecting their employees against
serious medical conditions like cancer, then there’s no point in buying a plan with out-
patient benefi ts and routine maternity cover. If however, if your sector is seriously competitive,
then an all-round plan that includes high levels out-patient and routine dental benefi ts where no
money needs to change hands, is a good idea.
ChecklistThere’s no doubt that offering an international health insurance plan to employees adds a
heavyweight element to any employee benefi ts package. Finding the one that best suits
your business need not be diffi cult or long-winded.
Here’s a quick checklist of what to ask your short-list of providers:
• Find out if all the territories where your employees live are covered
• Can they cover expats and local nationals?
• Can they help you fi nd the level of cover right for your business?
• What underwriting approach do they take?
• Ask for an up to date copy of their medical provider list. Does it cover your preferred
territories? Will they set up any arrangements for you?
• What service guarantees do they have? Is there a fast-track claims process?
• How do employees access their plan? What online tools are there?
The Human Resources Manager is one of the lynch pins of any business. Since this role
is responsible for so many elements including recruitment, staffing, policy and payroll
amongst many others, fi nding a differentiating benefi t that’s easy to manage sounds like a
dream. An international health insurance plan might tip the balance in employer desirability
however, and following these steps could make it easy to implement.
To find our more about Now Health International or the author, please contact him at
Ralph Tam of Now Health International, a specialist international health insurance provider, sets out the key points that employers should look for when considering health cover for their employees.
KeepingCovered
www.br i tcham.com6
BUSINESS
By Steve Chan, Head of Engineering and Operations Solutions, Property and Asset Management, Greater China
Maximising property management to achieve realestate sustainabilityHong Kong lags behind other advanced economies in practising green property
management, now a growing trend in the real estate industry. More buildings in the city,
both new and old, need to be equipped with environmentally-friendly features in order to
attain energy effi ciency and sustainability.
Green property management is an enhanced approach to traditional property management
as it enables effi cient use of energy by taking a holistic view of the environmental impact of
the occupiers’ activities and balancing their needs with ecological concerns.
Among all types of properties, commercial buildings, which were one of the biggest energy
consumers in Hong Kong in 2010 - taking up 60% of the total electricity consumption,
could play a larger role in improving energy-efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions through the implementation of green property management. However, few
buildings in Hong Kong adopt this.
According to the BEAM Society, the number of projects that have applied for green building
label BEAM increased from 144 in July 2008 to 221 in September 2011. Considering that
Hong Kong has about 40,000 private buildings, the number of applications is low, which
means that there are huge untapped opportunities for the city to promote green property
management and enhance real estate sustainability.
The commercial sector needs to recognise and appreciate the benefits of green buildings.
Sustainable offi ce space not only helps save operation and maintenance costs from the effi cient
use of energy and water, but also enhances productivity and better health among occupiers.
Traditionally, property management is about the management of communal areas such as
security, safety, cleaning and maintenance of essential building services but over time it has
evolved to cover a much broader scope including, but not limited to, waste separation,
adopting energy saving measures, establishing house-rules to control pollution problems
and providing good indoor air quality – the ultimate aim is to provide occupiers with a better
and greener environment to work and live in.
While it’s ideal to have buildings designed and incorporated with cost-effective green
features (such as a metering system, internal and external lighting systems and reversible
fresh air systems) starting from the design and construction stage, it doesn’t mean that old
buildings cannot turn into environmentally-smart premises to enjoy the same green benefi ts
despite having already been up and running for many years.
Green property management practices are indeed feasible for both new green and
existing buildings and are needed to maximise energy effi ciency and extend building life.
Research shows that over its lifetime more than 70% of a building’s cost and 80% of its
environmental footprint occurs during operations. In order to enhance effi ciency and cost-
effectiveness, landlords can commission an energy audit before they retrofi t and upgrade
the building’s features.
A good example of effective implementation of green property management is a local
industrial building, the YKK Building in Tuen Mun, which was built in phases between 1978
and 1991. Having managed the property for over 25 years, Jones Lang LaSalle together
with the support of the landlord and tenants, has carried out a series of green management
practices over the years. The efforts have yielded impressive results and have helped the
building reduce both energy consumption and total carbon emission by 54% between
2008 and 2010. It also reduced waste disposal fees by 22% and generated income of
HKD444,000 from waste recycling during the same period.
Redevelopment of existing buildings is not always feasible as it consumes time and
money, but the classic example of the YKK Building demonstrated that incorporating
environmentally-friendly measures and retrofitting with the latest green technologies
can be an sensible alternative option for older, conventional industrial buildings to
go green.
Everyone has a role to play in going green. In addition to what property managers can
do with buildings, landlords and tenants can also work hand in hand to drive sustainable
practices inside the offi ce. This notion is best illustrated with Jones Lang LaSalle’s new
offi ce at Three Pacifi c Place, which has recently been awarded with the world’s highest
LEED Platinum rating under the Commercial Interiors category. The selection of a green
building featuring high levels of natural
dayl ight and the implementat ion of a
sustainable design and planning approach
in the inception stage proved effective
in achieving sustainability, with energy
consumption per square foot and staff
absenteeism rate significantly reduced
(by 13% and 32% respectively) in the
new offi ce.
Demand for green building management
is set to rise as more environmentally-
conscious corporate occupiers look for
green offi ce space and public awareness
o f rea l es ta te sus ta inab i l i t y g rows .
Understanding the advantages of green
property management will help landlords
and tenants of both new and existing
buildings to reduce their operating costs
and prolong the life of buildings, as well
as to prepare for future compet i t ion
by upgrading buildings’ green hardware
and software.
Greening UpGreening Up
As more and more companies look for ways to achieve sustainability and energy effi ciency, Steve Chan explains what can be done and examines successful examples of where green measures have been taken in Hong Kong.
www.br i tcham.com8
ENVIRONMENT
We Collect and deliver your carFREE OF CHARGE
(subject to distance)We provide good, quick repair service at
reasonable prices
ALL REPAIRS WITH THREE MONTHS GUARANTEE
Our Business Hours8am-6pm, Mon-Sat & Public Holiday
Our 24hrs. Emergency Towing Agent“Firstone Towing Services” 8203 3411
Please call us at 2565 6166 or Fax: 2856 1047E-mail Address: [email protected]
Our competitive Labour charges: From
Lubrication Service $ 110
Tune Up Engine $ 220
Engine Decoke & Grind Valves $ 1,500
Engine Overhaul $ 4,000
Brake System Overhaul $ 900
Clutch Mechanical Overhaul $ 1,000
Air Condition Freon Recharge $ 400
Alternator Overhaul $ 400
Starter Motor Overhaul $ 400
FOOKIE MOTORS CO. LTD.Shop 7, G/F, Paramount Bldg.,12 Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
Living in a developed economy, the citizens of Hong Kong enjoy the convenience and luxuries of any first world
counterparts, and this can’t be more true than for the privileged Generation Y of Asia’s World City. Rarely do we fi nd
ourselves looking at current issues outside our borders or at trends that may affect Hong Kong in the long-term. But while
this may be accurate for the majority of the population, there are in fact, a handful of brave youths who are challenging
their comfortable environment and looking beyond Hong Kong to a make a difference in the global community.
For those who haven't already heard of AIESEC, it is the world's largest youth-run organisation, founded after World War II
to develop friendly relations among nations. Today it has presence in 110 countries and territories and more than 2500
universities across the world. AIESEC is focused on providing a platform for leadership development, by offering young people
the opportunity to participate in overseas professional internships, take on leadership roles and attend global conferences.
In the past year alone, more than 150 youth participants of Hong Kong’s AIESEC Exchange Program travelled to
volunteer in developing countries to learn about a new culture, assist the local community with pressing issues, and
develop themselves through adapting to culture shock and returning to Hong Kong to inspire others.
“I think the internship really is a life-changing experience where I gained a lot and which has since changed my way of
thinking about cultural understanding forever,” explains Ivy Cheng, an AIESEC member from the Hong Kong University of
Science & Technology, who worked in Malaysia for a project with other AIESEC members from Belgium, Brazil, Greece,
Australia, and Japan. “I had to be involved in a green project about sustainability and helped organise an international
conference called “MIRACLE”. I chose this green-related internship because I am seeking to impact lives by delivering
the message that everyone plays a role in safeguarding the environment… my tasks included conducting workshops,
meeting with NGOs about green issues like Ecolight, and attending local AIESEC events and meetings. Through these
events, I gained a lot of personal and professional development in areas like communication, analytical thinking,
multicultural awareness and much more besides.”
Siny Chan, an AIESEC member of Polytechnic University who did an internship in Romania, shared her experiences in
building her emotional intelligence and personal development, “During the 6-week GROW Program in Lugoj, I was
growing with the students by being a trainer. There was one session about early career orientation. We were like friends
sitting around and discussing our own mission and vision. We spent a precious morning on a critical question, “What is
truly important for me in life?” Frankly, my answer was somewhat vague. It can be a very hard question and requires
a deep understanding of ourselves, so the true answer might take a long time to fi nd. Just questioning myself would
defi nitely not be a good way to fi nd the answer, but going somewhere new, experiencing something new and talking
to new people has unwound my thoughts and allowed me to know more about myself and my surroundings. The
internship is a precious opportunity for such exploration.”
The various realities in different countries contribute to the diverse issues and projects that the AIESEC members work on,
such as in Cameroon, where the tourism industry has been suffering due to poor infrastructure and the corruption of
offi cials impedes any growth. Freda Wang, another AIESEC member from Polytechnic University, shares her experience “My
[internship] has involved joining several trips, and after experiencing local travel resources I was involved in establishing a
website to help other interns…Our project’s name is Afrikatour and we were divided into several groups whose aim was to
establish a website. A German intern and I were in the same group, preparing a report to submit to the local government.
We really devoted a lot to the report and I also used my professional knowledge (tourism management). I had good
practice in applying my professional training to real work. It was a tiring but valuable process for me. And our report does
reveal some obvious problems about the local tourism industry as well as offering some
constructive solutions. I realised that AIESECers can really do something valuable
for the world through our efforts, which is amazing!!!”
Over and over in policy addresses, the Chief Executive has eluded
to the fact that Hong Kong is fast becoming a knowledge-based
economy. While some may choose to ignore Hong Kong’s strength in
this regard, many of us feel it’s our responsibility to use these skills to
help human beings across the world in growing together.
Hong Kong’s Youth Hong Kong’s Youth Gives the WorldGives the Worlda Helping Handa Helping Hand
To learn more about AIESEC, please visitwww.aiesec.hk or the global website atwww.aiesec.org.
How do you view the importance of emerging markets within the wine trade?Without question, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, and Singapore are absolutely vital to the
wine trade at the moment. To a huge extent the wine trade is being driven by this new
demand from this part of the world, and I’m sure that India too will become important.
Can wine catch up with whiskey in the sub-continent?Yes, that is likely to change. It did here after all.
The market for imported alcohol both here and in
Singapore used to be dominated by whiskey and
cognac. It’s the same with the market in India –
you can see the enthusiasm for whiskey is there,
but the true wine-lovers are coming from the
younger generation. They’re the ones showing
massive enthusiasm for wine and becoming
extremely knowledgeable very quickly.
When did you fi rst get started in Hong Kong?
We established ourselves in Hong Kong in 2008, just one week before the tax on wine was
lifted! We knew that Hong Kong would be a great base for expanding into the China market
and had been preparing to open up here for about a year beforehand. We had a feeling that
the tax might be lifted, but coming when it did was an added stroke of fortune for us. I think
nearly everyone’s glad the government made that decision – it has made Hong Kong the
centre of the Asian wine market.
Hong Kong is a long way from any vineyards, the food and climate are arguably not well suited to many wines, especially reds. Is there a gap in logic here?There’s been a distinct move towards Burgundy in
recent years, and I think that that’s partly because
Burgundy sometimes goes better with Chinese cuisine.
On the other hand, Chinese cuisine is a very broad
spectrum and of course red wine doesn’t go well
with certain Chinese foods, but then neither does it
go well with certain British food! Yesterday I had a
most amazing lunch in Singapore, with great wine and
Japanese cuisine – and it worked perfectly. I think too
much is made of the idea that red wine doesn’t go with
Chinese food.
There’s a popular stereotype of mainland millionaires swilling down Chateau Lafi te Rothschild along with diet coke. Is wine still just a foreign novelty in China?I’m sure it happened in the past, but I think it’s extremely unlikely nowadays. Chinese wine
drinkers have become immensely knowledgeable and talented tasters in a remarkably short
space of time, and I’m sure they will continue to refi ne that knowledge.
What’s the biggest recent news in the wine trade?That would have to be the fall in price of Château Lafi te in the recent sales.
In a time when confi dence in major currencies is weak, there’s a great rush towards alternative investments. How do you view treating wine purely as an investment?We’ve always encouraged people to buy more wine than
they could dr ink because i t ’s a good investment. But
when Goedhuis started this was primarily to ensure that
our customers had something to sell to pay for their next
vintages. It’s only in the last few years that we have clients
who buy wine simply as an investment. To be honest, we
were probably late on the scene in terms of selling wine
purely an investment and still our selection of wine is done
on the basis that we want people to drink it. If people want
to buy wine to make money out of it, we work extremely
hard to make sure they do; but our love is still wine as a
product to drink. It would be fantastic if people could drink
and enjoy these very expensive fi rst growths, but I completely
understand that people will invest in expensive wines as a
fi nancial investment.
Also, it must be diffi cult to invest in wine without some personal experience of it?Yes, I think that deep down amongst most people who look at wine as an investment, there
is this idea that, ‘Even if it doesn’t work as an investment, at least I can drink great wine!’
And wine should be fun, both as an investment and as a drink.
What’s your recommendation for a wine to suit the Hong Kong weather today (grey, misty, wet and mild)? The problem is that my recommendation would always be red burgundy – that’s my love.
On a day like today, it could possibly be a little chilled. But rain, wind or shine, it would have
to be red burgundy.
Interview with Johnny Goedhuis, founder of Goedhuis & Co.
Surrounded by the eye-catching artworks of The Space gallery on Hollywood Road, we sit down with Johnny Goedhuis, Chairman of Goedhuis & Co., who founded the company 30 years ago. Looking comfortable despite a whirlwind tour of several Asian destinations in a few days, he opens up about the company’s successful involvement in Hong Kong and in Asia, and about the wine trade in general.
UncorkedUncorked
www.br i tcham.com10
LIFESTYLE
PerspectivePerspectiveGrosvenor is a wholly owned private company with a single shareholder, the Duke of Westminster, whose family history in the property market goes back more than three hundred years in London and a thousand years in the UK.
Interview with Nicholas Loup, Chief Executive of Grosvenor Asia Pacifi c
How’s business?Business is very good. We’re in an expansion phase for our
business in Asia. On the proprietary side, where 90% of our
capital resides, we have two key drivers. The fi rst is our residential
development programme, where we’re focused on luxury upper-
mid to high-end residential developments – projects we can
brand with the Grosvenor name, like The Westminster Terrace or
Grosvenor Place. And on that part of the business we have a joint
venture with a sovereign fund. At the moment we’re actively involved
in acquiring new sites in Tokyo, we’ve just signed an MOU for a
residential development in Ningbo, and we’re looking at a number
of opportunities over the next 12 months, particularly in China
where the market is adjusting as a result of the tightening measures
that the government has introduced. We also expect to see some
opportunities in Hong Kong, and we’re seeing the early signs of the
market adjusting here too. The second part of our strategy is to build
up our portfolio of core investment properties, many of which will
be with co-investors. With this in mind, we are working to acquire
around US$800m of assets over the next 12 – 18 months.
What are your plans for Grosvenor in Asia for the coming year?From a group strategy point of view we have two priorities at
the moment; the fi rst is to expand our business in Asia, and the
second is to expand our fund management business. There
are essentially two parts to Grosvenor’s business. One is the
proprietary balance sheet side of the business, and the other is
our property fund management business. We have both in Asia
and the expansion plans are relevant on both sides.
What does your work involve?I visit our four Asian offi ces regularly: Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing and
here in Hong Kong. Then there are also other places where we have
partners or potential partners. For example, over the last few years
I’ve been visiting Seoul on quite a regular basis. We’re looking at
that market and we’re also talking to some potential co-investment
partners in Seoul for business inside and outside Korea. I travel to
the Middle East for similar reasons. People don’t necessarily know
about us unless they’ve visited London, but we certainly have
an interesting background. Grosvenor is a wholly owned private
company with a single shareholder, the Duke of Westminster, whose
family history in the property market goes back more than three
hundred years in London and a thousand years in the UK.
What’s the greatest challenge?Finding the right investment opportunities at the right time.
How does the British Chamber of Commerce add value to your business?On a number of different levels. It keeps us plugged in with
the relevant issues of the day in Hong Kong, and some of the
medium/long-term issues which face the dynamic city that we’re
in. It allows us to have a cross-section of our people in different
Chamber committees and activities that we’re involved with or
help to organise. The events and seminars add a lot of value,
as do the joint Chamber events; the British Chamber brings
in a lot of interesting speakers; it’s very good at getting hold
of interesting and important people who are in Hong Kong or
passing through to meet the members. The youth network is
a good thing too, which gives young members of the business
community an opportunity to meet across business sectors.
How long have you been living here?Since January 1993.
What’s your favourite spot in Hong Kong?I would say Dai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay) in Sai Kung, early on
a Sunday morning in the summer.
What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed since you’ve been here?The biggest change is constant change itself. Hong Kong
continues to, in a wonderfully refreshing way, reinvent itself. This
is true in every business sector and in the evolution of the city
itself. It’s becoming a more dynamic, more international city year
by year. You’ve only got to look at how the restaurant industry
is continuing to fl ourish and expand up beyond Lan Kwai Fong
and in the Western District as well.
If there was one thing you could change in Hong Kong, what would it be?I think the environment and pollution. Set against the progress
that mainland China is making with a much bigger challenge,
you can see that Hong Kong is being far too timid in the targets
that it sets itself in this area. Sustainability is a very important
issue in real estate. Any property company that you talk to today
is very concerned about those issues for the long term. One
of the things I’ve learned is how engaged people are generally
in this subject; most think that it’s important and really want to
contribute. I don’t think there would be any diffi culty in getting
the community at large and the business community here to
support more challenging targets.
Thank you for yourcontinued support
TheBritish Chamber’sSterling MembersSterling Members
www.br i tcham.com12
MEMBERSHIP
The Aberdeen Marina Club played host once again to our highly anticipated
Scottish Ceilidh!
As ever there was the exceptional pipe band and highland dancers, as well as the
captivating Haggis Address led by John Bruce. The night then proceeded with the delicious
fare and of course the whisky! After the food came what all the guests had been waiting for,
the dancing! A huge thank you must go to Iain Carmichael and his band who even said that
this year’s event was the best Ceilidh they had ever played at!
Jardine Matheson Group were our title sponsors this year, so a huge thank you to them for
all of their support and cooperation; the night was such a success and we couldn’t have
done it without them. Special thanks must also go to Maxxium who sponsored a bottle
of whisky per table, which was very well received by all the guests! Thanks also must go
to KPMG and DTZ for sponsoring the entertainment. Other special thanks must go to all
those who donated prizes for the lucky draw; A big thank you to Hong Kong Yachting for
donating two tickets to the Saturday afternoon Adventure Sail, an amazing top prize. Other
special mention must go to: Dance Trinity for donating 2 free entries to Salsa for Beginners;
the W Hotel for donating a Sizzling set dinner for 2; the Conrad for donating a dinner for 2
at Brassiere on the Eighth; Platinum Wines for donating a magnum of Cabernet Sauvignon;
and lastly, to Red Packet for donating a Simply Pampered and Simply Tasty packet.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to all the guests for donating so generously, we
managed to raise HK$19,159.50 for MINDSET, which is greatly appreciated. Thanks to
everyone again for making this year’s Ceilidh another fantastic success and we look forward
to seeing you all next year!
For more information about the event or any upcoming YNetwork events please contact
The Jardine Matheson Group & British Chamber YNetwork
Scottish Ceilidh
www.br i tcham.com14
EVENTS
15November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
On Saturday 8th October 2011 at the Hong Kong Football Club, 12 talented young
boxers put on their gloves and stepped into the ring to show off their talent to the Hong
Kong community, competing to be crowned champion of the night!
An evening of great sporting action, the event was an excellent opportunity for Hong
Kong Police’s Operation Breakthrough to showcase their work. A successful youth boxing
programme, the Operation Breakthrough scheme combines mentoring with the discipline
and culture of boxing, to give a positive option for troubled youths to turn their lives around
– many of whom are socially disadvantaged, involved in crime, or are from dysfunctional
families. Operation Breakthrough has helped young people learn to box, and is committed
to seeing all youngsters grow basic values of honesty, humility, hard work and integrity.
Boxing as a sport cultivates these values in young people and helps to re-engage the most
diffi cult-to-reach youths to make a positive contribution to society.
This year, two young boxers from the Philippine National Amateur Boxing squad were invited
to compete at the event, and they proved to be a tough challenge for Breakthrough Boxers.
However, the skill of Wong Kin-Ching earned him the title of Best Boxer on the night.
Through the fundraising activities, the Chamber’s annual charity boxing event raised
HK$260,000 for Operation Breakthrough, thanks in part to some fantastic prize donations by
Hong Kong Yachting and Garuda Indonesia who donated a prize package for the Live Auction.
Breakthrough Boxing!Breakthrough Boxing!
The Chamber would like to thank Tanner De Witt for their title sponsorship of the event, Sportsperformance for bout sponsorship, AGS Four Winds for their logistics
support and Cathay Pacifi c for sponsoring fl ights for the boxers from Philippines.
Our thanks also to Hill & Associates for sponsoring the HK$5000 cash prize for the best boxer, Playmore for sponsoring T-shirts for the Boxing teams and Venture
photography for contributing a free photo shoot for the Breakthrough Boxing team, as well as table prizes and a silent auction prize experience.
Britcham and Tanner De Witt present:
www.br i tcham.com16
EVENTS
Breakthrough Boxing!
17November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
Organised by The British Chamber of
Commerce and Baker Tilly Hong Kong, September saw
the return of the highly successful Baker Tilly Hong Kong
Business Angels programme. After a strong response from
some of Hong Kong’s brightest budding entrepreneurs, the
vetting process saw the pool narrowed down to four groups
of entrepreneurs, who were chosen to present a ten minute
pitch detailing their business concepts to the panel of business investors at the Hong
Kong Club.
The Baker Tilly Hong Kong Business Angel programme continues to be one the city’s
best channels to interact with potential investors and help cultivate Hong Kong’s fl edgling
businesses. If you would like to participate in this programme and be considered for the next
round, which is taking place in March 2012, please visit our website angel.britcham.com or
email Emily Ferrary at [email protected], for more details.
Florian Bennhold, AllegroIQFor the rapidly growing number of piano students worldwide,
especially in China, AllegroIQ has developed their unique music
education product The Music Mate - an electronic piano tutor and
all in one solution that looks to transform the way people study
piano. With a digital interface that makes use of polyphonic pitch
detection, The Music Mate provides educational tools such as
recording, annotation and practice tools to make piano study fun for
students, while assessing and reporting the continued progress of
their education to parents and teachers.
“The vetting was professional and helpful. Even just being in the screening round generated
many good suggestions and helped us prepare better for the next pitch. The actual pitching
session was well organized and allowed for the investors to make their own decision about
which company they wanted to learn more about. I was pleased to see that the companies
came from very different sectors and that the focus was to allow direct interaction between
investors and companies and not on prizes that will help little with actual funding needs.”
“We got several leads out of the pitching session. All investors seemed willing and able
to invest in early stage companies. A programme like this can never be more than a fi rst
contact and everything else will depend on the further discussions with the investors. Our
expectations were fully met and being able to get exposure to the group of investors at
Baker Tilly was very valuable to us.”
“Providing strong vetting for both companies and investors to make sure that there is a high
chance of a deal in the end is a great service to both sides. There will be strong companies
among the participants so prepare well for each step. In order to make it in front of the
investors, make sure you have more than just a concept. Try to prepare by presenting the
pitch to as many people as possible. Do not expect a cheque at the end of the programme
– it is just the fi rst step to get funded and investors will want to see much more than just a
ten minute presentation.”
Ivan Ting, StartecAs the world looks to become greener, it has lead to stricter
emission standards for vehicles and a stronger demand for more
fuel effi cient and cleaner technologies. With a view to shift from the
traditional carburetor technology that is still prevalent in motorcycles
and scooters, Startec’s proprietary electronic fuel injection
technology for the motorcycle/scooter industry signifi cantly reduces
pollution, while also lowering fuel and maintenance costs.
“My Financial Advisor was introduced to the Baker Tilly Business Angel programme by a
previous presenter and suggested I apply for this programme. The programme is positive
and encouraging. I was happy to hear that the British Chamber and Baker Tilly are lending
their prestigious names to promote and support entrepreneurship in Hong Kong.”
“The experience was very enlightening. The feedback helped to focus on key issues and
see business challenges as investors would see them. The programme is very invaluable.
It made us more aware of how to deliver our message (style) and be more focused on the
content (substance).”
“Several angels have expressed interest in our idea and we are following up with them. I
strongly encourage other entrepreneurs to participate in this programme, but be sure your
business is ready for investors.”
Alison Yeung, Mary ChingCreated in Shanghai, Mary Ching is a global Chinese luxury footwear
and accessories brand. Drawing inspiration from Asian aesthetics,
European high fashion, and local materials and artisans, it looks
to create a vibrant fusion of "East meets West" that ensures a
distinctive style defi ned by elegance, opulence and vivacity.
“The challenge in raising capital as a start up in transition to a small
business is the amount. At this stage, it is too small for VC, PE or
the like. I suppose that is how the scheme had adopted the name ‘angel investing’. The
additional challenge is meeting the right people that understand your passion, vision and
are willing to share those views and values. It is an exercise I encourage all entrepreneurs to
partake in.”
“I think the programme is great. In Shanghai, Beijing and other Asia Pacific capitals I
think angel investment schemes are limited or I would call them in infancy. Therefore it is
refreshing to have discovered the Baker Tilly program. I hope the future will see more. I think
it is important to nurture creativity and entrepreneurs.”
“The selection process and feedback from the panel judges was invaluable and very
welcomed. One of the judges really spent considerable time in going through my
presentation, which I valued. The programme helps you question the fundamentals of your
business; what do you do, why do you do it, how you will do it, and what has been done. It
forces entrepreneurs to see the forest not the tree.”
Baker Tilly Hong Kong Business AngelsSeptember 2011
www.br i tcham.com18
EVENTS
In a ceremony at South Island School, Aberdeen on October 6th, the British Chamber of
Commerce’s Environment Committee in partnership with HSBC launched the ‘Growing
Together’ project. 20 schools (10 international and 10 local schools) have been selected
to take part in this one year pilot programme, during which students will work with
Microgardens and Bokashi composting systems to foster their awareness of environmental
and sustainability issues. The event was officiated by partners of the project, and was
attended by 80 guests, including representatives of the 20 participating schools.
At the event the school pairings were announced, a mechanism which is designed to
promote cultural exchange and knowledge sharing, as well as English language enrichment
for the local students. HSBC Climate Champions (employees who have gone through
intensive classroom and fi eld climate change training) were involved as facilitators of sharing
activities among the participating schools. There were also a series of demonstrations and
an explanation about the project concepts including an introduction to Microgardens and
Bokashi, as well as a show-and-tell for schools.
The Growing Together programme, which can easily be built into the teaching curriculum,
will demonstrate the proven benefits that a creative, hands-on, horticultural activity can
have on schools and students, as well as serving as a useful catalyst to diversify the range
of academic studies that are currently available in Hong Kong. It will also give students the
opportunity to appreciate the value of organic materials in growing local, sustainable and
non – toxic fresh produce. “Raising awareness of the growth cycles of plants, composting
and reducing food waste, through the educational curriculum, is the very essence of ‘Growing
Together’,” added Anne Kerr, the Chairlady of the Chamber’s Environment Committee.
Captains of IndustryThe MTR Story
On October 14th, the Chamber was privileged to hear from Sir C K Chow, Chief Executive Offi cer of
MTR Corporation, who prepares to retire as CEO at the end of this year. He shared the story of the
MTR, laying out the key strategies which have made Hong Kong’s MTR one of the most successful
modern railway systems. The MTR Corporation has a sworn duty of care to the people of Hong
Kong, as well as a responsibility to its investors since it became a listed company in 2000, and is
now currently deeply involved in the government’s major infrastructure projects. In terms of safety,
reliability, efficiency and profitability, the MTR is in a very enviable position compared with most
others around the world. Under Sir C K Chow’s watch, the MTR Corporation has expanded into
mainland China, Stockholm, Australia and the UK, with a notable improvement in the performance
of the London Underground network during the span of just a few years.
Sponsor
GrowingTogether
Sponsor
19November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
EVENTS
End of summer drinks at The Westminster TerraceApproach Bay, 6th October 2011
Novotel Century Hong Kong has recently announced the appointment of Jérôme
Stubert to the post of General Manager.
Jérôme brings with him an outstanding record in the hospitality industry and over
28 years of extensive experience in Accor France, Africa and Accor Asia. Prior to his
joining Novotel Century Hong Kong, Jérôme has held several senior positions including
Vice President Accor Ambassador Korea, Regional
GM operations East Java, General Manager of Novotel
Ambassador Gangnam, General Manager of Novotel
Bangna Bangkok Thailand, to name just a few.
Jérôme will oversee the management of the Novotel Century
Hong Kong, continue enhancement of Novotel as a strong
brand regionally and locally, and lead the team towards
the 20th Anniversary of the hotel. Commenting on his
appointment, he said “I am thrilled to join Novotel Century
Hong Kong at such an exciting time in celebration of the 20th anniversary and look forward to
working with the excellent team we have at the hotel.”
Jérôme Stubert
HSBC has recently announced the appointment of Henry Hou as HSBC’s Head of
Energy Solutions Sales, Greater China, Global Markets.
Based in Hong Kong, Henry is responsible for leading sales of energy risk management
products to corporate clients in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as
well as Vietnam. He will work closely with HSBC’s global products and relationship
teams to deliver holistic energy risk solutions for clients across the region.
Prior to joining HSBC, Henry was Head of Energy Marketing for Greater China at
Morgan Stanley, where he worked for over eight years. Before that, he served in a
number of roles at China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange for 11 years.
Henry reports jointly to Ivan Wong, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Sales,
Greater China, Global Markets and Hossein Zaimi, Managing Director, Head of FX and
Commodities, Asia-Pacifi c, Global Markets.
HSBC’s Energy Solutions Group was established as a major global initiative in the third
quarter of 2010.
Upcoming Events
Scottish Business Group Lunch with Brian Stevenson, Chairman, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Event date: Thu, 17/11/2011 - 12:30 - 14:15
The Chamber's Scottish Business Group has invited Brian Stevenson, Chairman of the Hong
Kong Jockey Club, to speak at this special lunch to update Chamber members on the Jockey
Club's diverse business interests and activities, and to hear his views on the challenges and
opportunities facing one of Hong Kong's oldest institutions.
Leading Diverse Executive Teams in Asia - Challenges and Solutions
Event date: Fri, 18/11/2011 - 08:00 - 09:15
Speaker: Douglas Gerber, CEO, FocusOne Ltd.
Most executive teams in Hong Kong and Asia are composed of a plethora of nationalities, each
bringing distinctive cultural elements. This coupled with more matrix reporting and geographic
diversity, create an environment of complexity for companies and business owners. The speaker
will explore this ever evolving topic with real life solutions which work.
Shaken Not Stirred Networking DrinksThe Space, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
Event date: Thu, 24/11/2011 - 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for our monthly networking drinks event! This month we're visiting The Space, where
you can admire artwork from the British duo Rob and Nick Carter's stunning 'Postcards from
Vegas' whilst enjoying a selection of wines provided by Goedhuis & Co.
The 12th Hong Kong ForumEvent date: Tue, 29/11/2011 - 08:00 - Wed, 30/11/2011 - 21:00
Speakers: Donald Tsang, Chief Executive, HKSAR, Margaret Leung,
Vice Chairman & Chief Executive, Hang Seng Bank, Bernard Chan, Chairman,
Council for Sustainable Environment.
Hosted by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Forum is the
annual fl agship event of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, a
unique global network of more than 11,000 members from 33 associations in 24 countries. Last
year's Hong Kong Forum attracted nearly 200 Federation members from around the world, all
of whom have strong interest in doing business with Hong Kong.
Reducing Foreign Exchange Impact on Your BusinessEvent date: Tue, 29/11/2011 - 08:00 - 09:15
Speaker: Duncan MacInnes, CEO, Xenfi n Capital Ltd.
The fl uctuations in the currency market can have a signifi cant impact on the bottom line of
your business revenues. Come and join us for a discussion on how to ensure the foreign
exchange costs that you are paying are best executed.
UK Bribery Act: Breakfast Briefi ngEvent date: Mon, 05/12/2011 - 09:00 - 11:00
Speaker: Andrew Seaton, Consul-General, British Consulate-General,
Richard Alderman, Director, Serious Fraud Offi cer UK
This presentation is designed to explain the major provisions of the new Act and the likely
impact on UK companies and business people operating abroad.
For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.britcham.com/events
Sponsored by
www.br i tcham.com20
NEW APPOINTMENTS/EVENTS
Harbour Plaza Hotels and Resorts is honoured with the 2011 Asian Excellence Brand AwardFor the second consecutive year Harbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts has been awarded
the prestigious Asian Excellence Brand Award. The award was presented by Yazhou
Zhoukan and honours those Asian brands which have risen to prominence at a time
of rapid development and fi erce contest for brand recognition. Harbour Plaza Hotels &
Resorts was chosen from among a range of consumer and business enterprises from
Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, with the most infl uential
brands from these fi ve countries receiving the honour.
Commenting on the award P.C. Koh, Director of Harbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts said,
“We are very pleased to be receiving this award again and proud that our commitment
to excellence and service has been recognised by our respected industry peers. As
one of the largest hotel chains in Hong Kong, we strive to set an example both in the
quality of our brand and the service we provide. This award affi rms that we are heading
in the right direction and spurs us on to not only continue but to break new ground in
improvement as an industry leader. “
Mercer and Miller Heiman form strategic alliance in Asia to help clients optimise sales performanceMercer, a leading global provider of consulting, outsourcing, and investment services, has
announced the expansion of its offerings in the Asia-Pacifi c region by entering into a strategic
alliance with Miller Heiman, a leading sales performance consulting and training fi rm.
Mercer’s Human Capital Sales Performance practice helps clients optimise the energy and
economics of their sales effort. As part of this alliance, Mercer is now licensed to deliver
Miller Heiman’s leading programs and services across the Asia Pacifi c region, including
China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. In addition to Miller Heiman’s
proven sales methodology to clients, Mercer will leverage its capabilities to drive superior
business results through the execution and adoption of the methodology.
“An alliance with Miller Heiman in Asia provides us an unparalleled approach to truly
deliver end to end solutions to drive sales performance,” said Ralph Grimse, Mercer’s
Asia Pacific Sales Performance leader. “We believe that many of our clients will
see immediate ROI from Miller Heiman’s methodology through enablers such as
organisation structure, compensation and technology.”
Research fi nds young workers are more satisfi ed with their employers, yet are more likely to leaveYoung workers worldwide present an unusual paradox for employers: They are more likely
than the overall workforce to be satisfi ed with the organisations for which they work, yet
also more likely to be considering leaving them. These insights come from Mercer’s What’s
Working survey, conducted among 30,000 workers in 17 geographic markets during the
fourth quarter of 2010 through the second quarter of 2011. In Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore,
India and China were among the markets surveyed.
According to the survey findings, workers aged 34 and younger are more likely than their
older colleagues in all 17 markets to be pondering an exit from their employer. Yet despite this
propensity to leave, when asked about overall satisfaction with their organisations, younger
workers registered satisfaction scores higher than the overall workforce in most markets.
“This pattern of higher satisfaction among younger workers held true for many other key
issues addressed in our survey, including pay, performance management and careers,
making the desire to leave the organisation all the more at odds with traditional views of
loyalty, retention and engagement,” said Brenda Wilson, Mercer’s Asia Pacifi c Leader for
Talent Management Consulting, Human Capital.
Harbour Plaza Hotels and Resorts voted ‘Best Local Hotel Chain’ in Asia-Pacifi c RegionHarbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts received the award of ‘Best Local Hotel Chain’ for the
second year running. This prestigious bestowment is awarded by the Annual TTG Travel
Awards which is in its 22nd year. The award was presented at the 22nd Annual TTG Travel
Awards 2011 which took place in Bangkok on 6 October, 2011.
The winners were decided by unanimous voting of readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG
India, TTGmice and TTG-BTmice China. The TTG Travel Awards is a distinction that is
recognised among both trade and consumers and as such has established itself as the
benchmark of quality for the industry.
“We are exceptionally pleased to receive this award as it will be the second time running
that we have won. This indicates to us that our hard work has paid-off and it gives us the
motivation to continue improving upon what we have been striving for already. We are
grateful to all our travel partners and the travel industry itself for working alongside us and
for nominating our hotel group.” says P.C. Koh, Director of Harbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts.
MEMBER DISCOUNTS
To enjoy exclusive member discounts please log onto www.britcham.com, log in and click on membership discounts.If you have forgotten your login details please email [email protected] to request them.
Accor Compass Offi cesHong Kong
Skycity Marriott Hotel
Alfi e’s Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong The Mira Hong Kong
Allied Pickfords Dot Cod Pure Bar + Restaurant
B&W Group AsiaLimited Grand Hyatt
RenaissanceHarbour View HotelHong Kong
Berry Bros & Rudd Hyatt Regency Ta Da
British Airways JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong Virgin Atlantic
Carey Le Meridien Cyberport VisitBritain
For up to date event listings and information, check out www.britcham.com
21November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
NEWS
Business Policy UnitTim Peirson-SmithExecutive Counsel
China CommitteeDavid WattDTZ
Construction Industry GroupDerek SmythGammon Construction
Education CommitteeStephen EnoBaker & McKenzie
Environment CommitteeAnne KerrMott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited
Financial ServicesInterest GroupDebbie AnnellsAzure Tax Consulting
HR Advisory GroupBrian RenwickBoyden Search Global Executive
ICT IT CommitteeCraig ArmstrongStandard Chartered
Marketing & Communications CommitteeAdam O’ConorOgilvy & Mather Group
Real Estate CommitteeJeremy SheldonJones Lang LaSalle
Scottish Business GroupDr. Jim WalkerAsianomics Limited
Logistics CommitteeMark MillarM Power Associates
Small & Medium Enterprises CommitteeKate KellyK2PR
Women in Business CommitteeSheila DickinsonIpac Financial Planning Hong Kong Limited
YNetwork CommitteeFiona FoxonQuintessentially
Business Angel ProgrammeNeil OrvayAsia Spa & Wellness Limited
Tim Hay-EdiePilot Simple Software
Chairs of Specialist Committees
STERLING ADDITIONALZurich Financial Services
Tushar Jaruhar
Strategic Assistant to Regional
Chairman, APME
Tel 2977 0222
24-27/F, One Island East
18 Westlands Road, Island East
Hong Kong
Insurance
ADDITIONALBloomberg L.P.
Dominic Sizer
Account Management, North East Asia
Tel 5196 6026
27/F, Cheung Kong Centre
2 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Hong Kong
Financial Services
British Consulate-General
Sam Mackay
Senior Consulate General
Tel 2901 3999
1 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty
Hong Kong
Government
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Stuart Fulton
Senior Manager -
Special Acquisition Services
Tel 2852 6595
35/F, One Pacifi c Place, 88 Queensway
Admiralty, Hong Kong
Accounting
Ernst & Young
David Haigh
Partner - Advisory Services
Tel 2849 9103
18/F, Two International Finance Centre
8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong
Legal
Jones Lang LaSalle Limited
John Mortensen
Regional Director - Greater China
Tel 6791 4436
6th Floor, Three Pacifi c Place
1 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong
Property / Real Estate Services
Simmons & Simmons
Nigel Sharman
Associate
Tel 2583 8266
Fax 2810 5040
simmons-simmons.com
35/F, Cheung Kong Center
2 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Hong Kong
Legal
YNETWORKCB Richard Ellis Ltd
Debbie Lai
Client Relationships and
Business Development
Tel 2820 2901
4/F, Three Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
Property / Real Estate Services
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Nicolas Malkin
Manager
Tel 2238 7648
35/F, One Pacifi c Place, 88 Queensway
Admiralty, Hong Kong
Accounting
INDIVIDUALClare Bottomley
Tel 9505 5960
Unit 3301-2A, 33/F, The Centrium
60 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong
Beth Sherwood
Tel 2214 2691
Unit 1602-05, Asian House
1 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
Hong Kong
CORPORATEAdvantage Professional
Brad Miller
Managing Director
Tel 3975 2655
Fax 3975 2800
9/F, Central Building, 1-3 Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong
Recruitment
Corney and Barrow Ltd
Cecily Burchett-Chambers
Sales Manager
Tel 3152 3265
6/F, Unit D, 9 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
Wines & Spirits
Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel
Nicholas Tse
General Manager
Tel 3696 2938
Fax 3696 2288
1 Sky City Road East
Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau
Hong Kong
Hospitality
Nord Anglia Education
Philippe Lagger
Corporate Development Director
Tel 3757 9874
Nexxus Building, Level 15
41 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong
Education
Travelport / Galileo Asia LLC
Simon Nowroz
President & Managing Director,
Asia Pacifi c
Tel 2821 2288
Fax 2821 2299
10/F, Golden Centre, 188 Des Voeux Road,
Central, Hong Kong
Travel
www.br i tcham.com22
NEW MEMBERS
Derek Ip (Santa Fe Moving Services), Liz Hamerton (Secretarial Offi ce Services)
Terry Ng (Interglobe), Michelle Woo (Offshore Incorporations Limited)
Freya Simpson Giles (Giles Publications), Joanne Wong (Encore Professional Services)
Paul Jeffels (Flight Centre), Troy De Haas (Flight Centre), Alistair Drew (Visions Brand Limited)
Ben Lester (Elite Capital Solutions), Pacôme Ravelli, Brad Miller (Advantage Professional)
Josi Mazaraki (Graduate Foundations Limited), Viki Kish (International Study Programs), Paul Hart (Advantage Professional)
Nick Todhunter (Prime Portfolio), Erica Lau (Sage Education)
Richard Poulter (Maxim Recruitment), Sarah Jordan (JP Media), Melanie Pennell (JP Media)
Bong Miquiabas (Giles Publications), Ally Lung (Civil Aviation Department, HK Government)
Peter Hodges (Standard Chartered), Dovenia Chow (The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong), Leigh Mackeurtan (Concise Media Design), Lucy Jenkins (The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)
Sarah Jordan (JP Media), Gregory Seitz (AGS Four Winds)
Shaken Not StirredOctober 27, Tonic
23November 2011 • Vol 26 • No 10
EVENTS
