AmChamHK Dec 2017

Magazine of The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

2017 WOI Award Winners

Role Models of the 21st Century Beijing Doorknock: A Dialogue of Strengthening Ties Field of Dreams: HK’s Little League Baseball

December 2017

BOOK A SCHOOL TOUR

THINKING FOR TOMORROW Applications Open for 2018/2019 – Apply Today Spaces Limited

HOW DOES INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING WORK?

In schools we tend to group students into grade levels based on their age because this provides children the opportunity to be with others at a similar level of social and emotional development. However, that does not mean that all students within a class are at the same level across academic subjects. believe they can”. To start this process, students participate in Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments in English, Math and Science to establish a baseline. This shows where students are currently achieving. The assessment also helps teachers plans what students can achieve within a specified time period with proper guidance. Based on these benchmarks, teachers develop learning experiences tailored to students. There are also a number of other assessments that take place at the beginning of the year including Language options proficiency and literacy.

Students often fluctuate in abilities in subjects within a grade level, and they experience difference rates of growth. Thinking of our own experiences, we can all recall a moment in school where we found one subject challenging and another easy based on the material presented by our teachers. Often the harder subject becomes the “least favorite subject” and there are also times when enjoyable subjects become too easy. This is where individualized learning can help. By teaching students at appropriate levels, subjects that are “hard” become accessible. Students can demonstrate success and growth as teachers provide tasks that are achievable and encourage them to build confidence. To facilitate learning through individualized learning, the curriculum and teaching approach must be in line.

At Stamford American School, individualized learning is one of the core concepts to help every child “Achieve more than they

Does individualized learning sound impossible to achieve in a class of 24 students? It is not but does take a different approach to the teaching and learning than many of us grew up with, which was likely a more traditional teacher-centered model. One example of this is when learning writing skills at the Pre-Primary level, each child will have their own goals to achieve. For example, each student has a checklist for their work – some need to work on their spacing and details, while some on their handwriting and use of capitals – each student is on their own learning path.

In this model, support (and challenges) are given to all students, which encourages a high level of engagement and growing confidence. Although the planning and execution of this style of teaching is quite complex, the experienced and trained teachers at Stamford are up for the challenge.

“We are excited to see how the students at Stamford will ‘achieve more than they believe they can’ this year by providing them an education model and learning environment that allows them to do that.” - Karrie Dietz, Head of School Stamford American School is located on 25 Man Fuk Road, Ho Man Tin-only 22 minutes from the Central Pier by school bus.

Stamford is a through-train school that has combines American core standards and will offer an IB diploma program*.

*Subject to approval

Applications for 2018/2019 Open – Apply Now! SCHOOL CAMPUS

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

25 Man Fuk Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong +852 3467 4500

Suites 4005-4007, Level 40, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong +852 2500 8688

www.sais.edu.hk

Connect with us:

AmChamHK Publisher Tara Joseph Editor-in-Chief Kenny Lau Managing Editor Jennifer Khoo Advertising Sales Manager Tom Chan

AmChamHK is a magazine of news and views for management executives and members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Its contents are independent and do not necessarily reflect the views of officers, governors or members of the Chamber.

Advertising office 1904 Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Rd, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2530 6900 Fax: (852) 3753 1206 Email: amcham@amcham.org.hk Website: www.amcham.org.hk Printed by Ease Max Ltd 2A Sum Lung Industrial Building 11 Sun Yip St, Chai Wan, Hong Kong (Green Production Overseas Group) Designed by Overa Creative Tel: (852) 3596 8466 Email: ray.chau@overa.com.hk Website: www.overacreative.com ©The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, 2017 Library of Congress: LC 98-645652 Single copy price HK$50 Annual subscription HK$600/US$90

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COVER STORY

AmCham WOI award winners talk about their journey of career development, their commitment to the community, as well as their values of equality, diversity and inclusion

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CHINA BUSINESS AmCham leads a delegation to meet with Chinese enterprises and government officials in Beijing to discuss the future of HK-China business

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ASEAN FOCUS

Phnom Penh’s construction industry is booming as developers capture the growth opportunity of Belt & Road initiative; yet, not everybody is pleased with the city’s transformation

48

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Little League baseball has a proud history in Hong Kong, but the territory’s budding baseball stars play under challenging conditions AmChamHK 12 • 2017

DECEMBER 2017 Vol. 49 No.12

AMCHAM NEWS AND VIEWS

04 President’s Memo 07 New Business Contacts

34 68

Member Spotlight Mark Your Calendar

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

CHAMBER NEWS

08 10 12 14

14th AmCham WOI Conference & Awards

Minutes With…Pearly Mak 32 Five Director of Finance and Administration, Pearly

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When Life Gets in the Way: What to do with Personal Disruption

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Jung Chang: How I Became a Writer

Top Executives Weigh in on Disruption How Technology is Disrupting Consumers’ Lives Millennials: Is the Next Generation Already Disrupting the Workforce?

COVER STORY

Mak, reflects on her 13 years at the Chamber

CHINA BUSINESS

Annual Dialogue of Strengthening Ties 37 An AmCham leads a group to Beijing to meet with Chinese enterprises and government officials to discuss the future of HK-China business

TAXATION Tax Reform: The Impact on 40 U.S. Taxpayers and Corporations

George McCormick, a Hong Kong-based registered foreign lawyer at Withers, explains what the U.S. tax cuts mean for American individuals and businesses

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2017 WOI Award Winners: Role Models of the 21st Century

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Champion for the Advancement of Women

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Entrepreneur(s) of the Year

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Leading Woman on Boards Dorothy Chan, MTR

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SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lifetime Achievement

of Dreams (and Molehills) 48 Field Little League baseball has a proud history in Hong

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Master of the Arts

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Non-Profit Leader of the Year

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Professional of the Year

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Young Achiever of the Year

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Best Company for Women

Brian Henderson, Baker McKenzie

Shonee & Arti Mirchandani, Bookazine Limited

Vivien Chan, Vivien Chan & Co., Hong Kong Wing-sie Yip, Hong Kong Sinfonietta Eni Lestari Andayani Adi, International Migrants Alliance Randy Lai, McDonald’s Hong Kong Haley Meng, PwC Deloitte

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

ASEAN FOCUS

44 The Road to Nowhere?

Phnom Penh’s construction industry is booming; yet, not everybody is pleased with the city’s transformation

Kong, but the territory’s budding baseball stars play under challenging conditions

AMERICAN TOPICS

Time to Give Thanks 51 AAmCham hosts a Thanksgiving luncheon in honor of the U.S. traditional holiday

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

55 Guide to International Education 3

BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHAIRMAN

Walter Dias

VICE CHAIRMAN

Jack Lange

TREASURER

Owen Belman

GOVERNORS

Donald Austin Evan Auyang Sanjeev Chatrath Elaine Cheung Sean Chiao Diana David Sean Ferguson Mark Green Robert Grieves Matthew Hosford Clara Ingen-Housz

Michael Klibaner Simon Ogus Seth Peterson Catherine Simmons Anna-Marie Slot Eric Szweda Rick Truscott Jennifer Van Dale Jenny Wong Patrick Wu Lennard Yong

EX-OFFICIO GOVERNOR

Peter Levesque

PRESIDENT

Tara Joseph

CHAMBER COMMITTEES Apparel & Footwear Ball China Business Communications & Marketing Corporate Social Responsibility Education Energy Entrepreneurs/SME Environment Financial Services Food & Beverage Hospitality & Tourism Human Resources Infrastructure & Construction Innovation & Technology Insurance & Healthcare Intellectual Property Law Pharmaceutical Real Estate SelectUSA Senior HR Forum Taxation Trade & Investment Transportation & Logistics Women of Influence Young Professionals

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Gareth Brooks Sally Peng Elaine Cheung Rick Truscott Devin Ehrig Lili Zheng Oliver Rust Pat-Nie Woo Virginia Wilson Rick Truscott Cynthia Chow Jim Taylor Steven Chan Veronica Sze Mark Kemper Peter Liu Ian Chung Julie Brandt Leonie Valentine Rebecca Harrison Hanif Kanji Gabriela Kennedy Chiann Bao Jessica Bartlett Caroline Johnson Edward Farrelly Robert Johnston Terrance Philips Lili Zheng MaryAnn Vale Ivan Strunin Barrett Bingley Gavin Dow Jennifer Parks Anne O'Riordan David Boman Jamie Ford

PRESIDENT'S MEMO

Dear fellow members and friends, I have had an energizing first year at AmCham, taking up a new role in a chamber that is outstandingly active in both advocacy and networking. It has also been a real pleasure getting to know our diverse membership and our cohesive community of over 600 companies. Leading the largest international business chamber in Hong Kong is both an honor and a privilege, and I fully intend to work with our membership to ensure we are both active and communicative in the year ahead.

It is slightly dizzying to think of all the signature events AmCham has held in 2017, including a celebration of Hong Kong SAR’s 20th anniversary with Hong Kong’s new chief executive, our China conference on “China going global,” and our Women of Influence awards just to name a few. Yet, when I think back on all that I have heard and learned at the Chamber in 2017, the catch-all theme of “embracing disruption” inevitably stands out. Whether in politics, social trends, trade or finance our world is reeling from technological advancement and we must all adapt to it, embrace it, or risk losing our competitive edge.

Nowhere is the impact of technology more keenly felt than in Hong Kong, a free trading, wealthy and dynamic city that has visibly lagged behind in transforming to a digital economy. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has made clear her determination to bring the city up to speed, and AmCham is in full support of her mission to maintain Hong Kong as an important strategic hub for international business.

In 2018, the Chamber will host its first ever Smart City conference, bringing together thought leaders, business leaders and the HK community to secure Hong Kong’s development.

We are also holding a series of talks by C-level tech leaders to keep up-to-date with trends and peek into the future.

Last but not least, I would like to thank outgoing AmCham Chairman Walter Dias for his leadership and unwavering support of the Chamber over the past two years. As Managing Director of Greater China and Korea for United Airlines, Walter already has a demanding schedule. Yet, above and beyond his "day job," Walter has spared no effort in leading AmCham through an important period of change. He is no doubt delighted that the baton is being passed seamlessly to Jack Lange, Partner of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, who has been serving as AmCham Vice-Chairman.

Regards, Tara Joseph AmCham President

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

HR Digital Transformation Drive change or be changed 1

Don’t focus only on cost.

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Start small but address end-to-end processes.

3

It is not just about IT – ensure business involvement and ownership.

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Learning and development is key.

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Build governance early on.

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Manage the transition.

For more information, please contact: Peter Outridge Partner, People & Change Advisory Head of People & Change E: peter.outridge@kpmg.com

Jonathan Lo Partner, People & Change Advisory ASPAC HR Transformation Lead E: jonathan.lo@kpmg.com

© 2017 KPMG, a Hong Kong partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.

www.amcham.org.hk

AMCHAM Means Business

Members Directory

Over 500 pages in three major sections, including a complete guide to chamber services, corporate sponsors and AmCham Charitable Foundation. This directory lists about 1,400 members from about 700 companies and organizations.

ISBN 978-962-7422-68-6

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The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 1904 Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong.

Tel: (852) 2530 6900 Fax: (852) 3753 1208 Email: hchung@amcham.org.hk

New Business Contacts

View our other members at: www.amcham.org.hk/memberlist

The following people are new AmCham members: Ageas Insurance Company (Asia) Ltd American Airlines Inc American Club, The Baldwin Global Trade Consulting Limited Bauhinia Solutions Ltd Broadridge Asia Pacific Ltd

Campion College Consultancy Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd Chinese University of Hong Kong, The CIGNA Worldwide Life Insurance Company Limited Cushman & Wakefield DHL ISC (Hong Kong) Ltd DLA Piper Hong Kong Dow Chemical Pacific Ltd ElementZ Equinix HK Ltd EWORLD Insurance Brokers Limited Expedia, Inc FedEx Express FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited Gilead Sciences Hong Kong Limited Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital

Harvest Global Investments Limited Hewlett-Packard Hong Kong SAR Limited HK Express HNA Group (International) Co. Ltd. Hong Kong International School Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. Invest Hong Kong Jones Lang LaSalle Ltd (JLL) Kiabi Group KPMG

Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd Mattel Asia Pacific Sourcing Ltd Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd Mitsui & Co. (Hong Kong) Ltd. Nielsen Hong Kong Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd Philip Morris Asia Limited Rockwell Automation International Holdings LLC Royal Garden, The Shadow Factory Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co. Ltd. Soho Yard Event Management Ltd Studio X Tak Sang (Sze's) Company Ltd. The Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd The KG Group Top Master Concept Limited TUV Rheinland Hong Kong Ltd UPS Walmart Asia Regional Office Weichert Workforce Mobility Asia Pacific Ltd

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Gary Crist Shane Hodges Emma Cullen Daniel Baldwin Nicole Graham Harry Rana Ramesh Pulandaran Joseph Kovacs Oliver Otto David Becker Askin Leung Martin Campion Rupert Hogg Kinto Chan Angela Ng Patrick Graham John Siu Ted Willard Helen Colquhoun Jim McIlvenny Sandor Weyers Ravi Ravishankar Stanley Leung Abhiram Chowdhry Catherine So Choo Pin Ang Salil Chari Kevin O'Hearn Patricia Woodbury Beth Junell John Batchelor Michael Pascual Alexander Chiu Annie Kung Brenda Mak Shahneela Faruqui Ellie Chon Dirk Schraven Sebastien Gandon Gabriel Leung Jonathan Hutt Patrick Kwan Shuang Wang Ron Roukema Mark Kaczynski Stephen Phillips Mandy Wong Deepika Diwan Elisabeth Zitz Benson Lai Caroline Lacocque Jennifer Teng Gordon Cheung Daniel Spitzer Fred Sheu Soichi Nishimura Cherry Lau Nirupama Kannan Hyeja Kim Ozan Ibrisim Joseph Bartolomeo Jenny Chan Amit Chatterjee Viviane He Miao Wang Ernest Chan Roger De Leon Jochem Koehler Elena Filenko Joanna Hotung Raffaele Impagnatiello Bella Ho Joanna Faye Daniel Lee Lauren Zhao Dalad Tantiprasongchai Avrom Goldberg

CEO Asia Managing Director, Asia Pacific Sales Assistant General Manager Managing Director Director Senior Sales Director Managing Director, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific Senior Sales Director Head of Marketing, Asia Pacific Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific General Manager, North Asia, Global Technology Operations & Regional Director, Asia Pacific Senior Advisor Chief Executive Officer General Manager, Corporate Affairs Associate Dean, Global Engagement and External Relations CEO, Asia Pacific Managing Director, Hong Kong Head of Customer Service, Asia Pacific Consultant President, Asia Pacific CEO Vice President, Marketing, Asia Pacific Managing Director Vice President, Hotels.com General Manager, North East Asia Director Public Policy, Asia Pacific VP, Marketing, Asia Pacific SVP, Sales, Asia Pacific Managing Director Senior Managing Director, Forensic & Litigation Consulting Senior Managing Director, Corporate Finance & Restructuring Director, Government Affairs, Asia Chief Operating Officer Head of Business Development Senior Manager, Business Development Consultant, Business Development Director of Nursing Chief Executive Officer Director Business Development Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hong Kong Commercial Director CIO CEO Interim Head of School Vice President, Global Finance and Administration Director - General of Investment Promotion Head of International Residential Property Services, Hong Kong Regional Merchandising Director Director, National Markets Programme Assistant Manager, Infrastructure Advisory Associate Director, Advisory, Risk Consulting Director, Advisory, Risk Consulting Chief Operating Officer Senior Vice President Mattel Operations Asia & Global Quality National Technology Officer Chairman & Managing Director Senior Director, Media, Nielsen Hong Kong Senior Director, FMCG Vertical, Nielsen Hong Kong Innovative Health BU Lead Hong Kong & Macau Regional Director Government Affairs and Corporate Communications Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific Acting General Manager Partner Senior Executive Senior Manager Director Business Development Manager Director Assistant Vice President Founder & CEO Administration Administration General Manager Managing Director Managing Director, UPS Hong Kong and Macau Vice President, Strategy - Asia Regional Vice President/Managing Director APAC

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

14th Annual Women of Influence Conference & Awards Disruption…what it is, where it is coming from and how to embrace it

“

The AmCham WOI Conference 2017 – dedicated to the theme of ‘disruption’ – was a resounding success. The quality of speakers from Hong Kong and across the globe was truly amazing, and the energy and enthusiasm from the audience was truly palpable. I believe that every attendee walked away with some words of wisdom from the day. And I have personally created a list of my learnings and spent some time reflecting on them each week.

There are so many incredibly hard-working people behind the scenes at an event like this. It was truly an honor and a pleasure to work with my committee co-chair, Jennifer Parks, and such a talented, diligent and passionate group of leaders.

”

– Anne O’Riordan, Co-chair, AmCham Women of Influence Committee

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AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Conference sponsors, speakers, panelists and award winners pose for a photo Title Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsors:

Official Social Media Partner:

Official Newswire Partner:

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Supporting Organization:

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Top Executives in Hong Kong Weigh in on Disruption

Left to right: Tara Joseph, Sanjeev Chatrath, Brian Henderson, Lâle Kesebi, David Thomas, Shirley Xie

Panelists • Sanjeev Chatrath, Managing Director, Region Head, Asia, Financial & Risk, Thomson Reuters & AmCham Governor • Brian Henderson, Chief Operating Officer, Baker & McKenzie • Lâle Kesebi, Chief Communications Officer / Head, Strategic Engagement, Li & Fung • David Thomas, Senior Vice President, HR Asia, Manulife Financial Asia Ltd. • Shirley Xie, Consulting Leader, PwC China and Hong Kong • Tara Joseph, President, The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (Moderator)

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AmChamHK 12 • 2017

What’s disrupting your companies and your industries and what are you doing about it?

Chatrath: Disruption has always been there. The difference today is the speed at which it has been happening. The same cannot be said for gender disruption. All the more pressing given the following statistics: for every new job that’s created by technology in a male-dominated area, 3 traditional jobs are taken out, and for every new job that’s created in a female-dominated area, 5 jobs are taken out.

Xie: A lot of the talk on innovation revolves around technology, but technology is just a tool. If you look at Uber and AirBnB, it’s not the technology that is innovative but the ideas behind it. So how do you find people with innovative ideas but also the skills to market them to a mass audience? It takes a certain kind of person, what I call a “super connector.” These super connectors have innovative ideas, but they also have a business mindset, an understanding of technology and people, can think outside the box and can connect various things. I think a lot of women fall into this category.

Henderson: As Charles Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest of the species or the most intelligent that

survive, but the most adaptable.” One of our challenges is that law firms are actually relatively small, with limited budgets for investing in tech. We get pressure from clients who want everything done quicker and cheaper; pressure from our people who want different lifestyles and career tracks, who want to use technology in the way they use it at home. Tech is even changing the practice. Right now in China you can now submit documents to a judge online and attend a hearing via video call.

Our research has revealed that a lot of our female partners are the most connected and in fact driving the most growth - they do that intuitively. From this we have gleaned much insight on how to grow our business model. We have no choice but to adapt, as clients and staff will vote with their feet.

Kesebi: The shift to online buying is having a knock-on effect within the supply chain. What used to be a 9-month lead time to produce a good in a factory is shrinking to 5 days. In the future it will shrink to minutes with the commercialization of 3D printing.

On embracing disruption Chatrath: Surround yourself with people smarter than you. It isn’t necessarily getting harder to find the best talent, but we make it harder for ourselves because there are biases that exist at every level of the organization.

Xie: I don’t believe in such a thing as the “best” talent.

There is a place for everybody. In the past, in Asia, there has been a culture of “you can’t fail.”

But going forward we need to let people be who they are, especially if they are going to be the workforce of the future. We can’t be fighting to change people into Type As. There’s nothing wrong with a Type B personality – they do as exceedingly well as a Type A when put in the right environment. You need different personas to bring an ecosystem together.

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Thomas: We need to avoid complacency, especially organizations that have been successful for a while.

We should be prioritizing inclusion and diversity in the workforce now because one day there will be no choice.

Culture is important, as is the ability to bring a genuine self to work. Embracing the individual is necessary for retention in 2018 as the best talent has choices.

Kesebi: Everyone in the organization is an innovator, every human being has a great idea and will participate when aligned with a much bigger idea than themselves that they want to be a part of. The key is knowing what that is, knowing what that success looks like and then enabling the workforce to find their way towards that.

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How Technology is Disrupting Consumers’ Lives Technology-driven changes in consumer behaviour are forcing businesses to adapt or fall behind. Leaders in telecoms, publishing, software tech and finance share how this disruption has impacted their industries

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s General Manager of Microsoft in Hong Kong and Macau, Cally Chan is in a good position to remark on innovation and technology trends in the Greater China region.

“China’s approach to innovation is ‘growth first, regulate later.’ In Hong Kong, we regulate before allowing growth. It is difficult to comment on which approach is better because the maturity of both locations is different,” she says.

Chan acknowledges the general feeling of pessimism around Hong Kong’s future progression and tries to reassure us with a couple of motivating statistics.

“Data from 2016 shows that market capitalization in Hong Kong is 10 times its GDP. Around 66 percent is from Chinese enterprises. Hong Kong is also the world’s second largest recipient of FDI. Cross-border e-commerce between HK and China is forecast to grow to US$14 trillion by 2018, that’s 130 percent up from 2015,” she says.

The data speaks loud and clear: China views Hong Kong as a valuable gateway to growth and foreign investment.

“HK still has a role to play, it’s just a matter of whether it can equip itself fast enough to capture the opportunities. We aren’t quite there, but the ship hasn’t left the harbour yet. There is still time if we act fast.”

Impact to operations If anyone knows how technology can disrupt an entire

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industry it’s Elsie Cheung. As Chief Operating Officer of the South China Morning Post newspaper, Cheung saw the changes coming a mile away.

“Publishers everywhere face an uphill battle against the wave of digital. We are all struggling with a decline in print revenue and how to make it up from the digital economy.”

Changing consumer behaviour is not only forcing publishers to rethink their type of content but also their advertising sales strategy.

“Social media platforms and new-age news sites like Buzzfeed are already using data technology to filter out the most relevant content for users based on their past views and browsing behaviour. An abundant supply of web traffic ensures that the digital space remains an appealing option for advertisers.”

Behaviour monitoring technology is helpful in guiding the viewer to similar and relevant content, but there is a risk of creating what’s called an “echo chamber.” The onus is on the consumer to seek out multiple sources of information.

Changing culture Cat Rust, Head of Innovation Technologies, WM Greater China, UBS, feels that Hong Kong’s potential for innovation is being stunted by its culture and a fear of failure.

The city has everything it needs to be a leader in innovation tech – world-class academic and research capabilities, dedicated science & tech spaces and

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

platforms – yet Hong Kong only sits at 27th place globally for its innovation output.

“Change needs to take place not just in our organizations but in our culture. This is difficult in Hong Kong where people have made all their money in property and stocks. You are asking them to take a big risk to invest in technology.”

It comes down to what is an acceptable level of risk, how to create culture of experimentation that its ok to fail but always learning things along the way.

Left to right: Cat Rust, Elsie Cheung, Cally Chan, Leonie Valentine (moderator), Ian Stone

In an organization for example, change starts with the hiring process and embracing diversity of thought. Rust asks, “How can you change when you’re hiring the exact same type of person?”

Government intervention With a 27-year career in telecoms, including a post as Independent Non-Executive Director at Tencent Holdings Limited since 2004, Ian Stone has had a front row seat to the rise of technology.

“The 1990s was a decade of disruption for telecoms.

Mobile phones went viral, the Octopus card and Netvigator broadband were introduced, not to mention the handover to China, the Asian financial crisis and the dot-com bubble,” he says.

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

But businesses and ideas won’t grow past a certain point without support at the highest levels of society. From his extensive career in the telecoms and internet technology industries, Stone has gleaned that successful tech adoption is driven by investment in telecoms infrastructure and support from governments.

“Today the smartphone is fundamental to most things.

It has revolutionized consumer behaviour everywhere from browsing to cashless payment, and nowhere more so than in China. This must in part be attributed to government and regulators.

“Sure, everything is regulated in China - certainly anything new Alibaba or Tencent come up with is regulated - but it’s a positive, enabling action.”

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Millennials: Is the Next Generation Already Disrupting the Workforce?

Millennials today are synonymous with disruption in the workplace. Both praised and blamed for change, the spotlight is firmly on the next generation. Panelists who identify on both sides of the gap exchange perspectives

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assie Mak could be described as a typical Hong Kong millennial. Following a traditional Chinese upbringing and the practical advice of her parents, she began a career in finance shortly after graduating.

During those years she harbored a growing fascination for the digital world and startups, never imagining that one day she would become an entrepreneur.

Today, Mak is the founder of several successful ventures, her most recent being Off Menu, a website

that gives members exclusive access to secret dishes and drinks at Hong Kong’s most popular bars and restaurants.

But, she admits, the journey wasn’t an easy one. The first, biggest hurdle was convincing her family. Then came the steep learning curve of the startup world, especially managing the human aspect of the business.

“It is always a challenge to hire good people and keep them motivated. In my experience, this means not micromanaging and trusting them to deliver,” she says.

Making an impact Brenda Haitema made a similar leap when she left her cushy corporate job to work in supply chain operations at Thread International, a startup that transforms trash from Haiti into fabric for responsible fashion.

What lured her over was the opportunity to make a difference, not just out in the world but in her immediate surroundings, with her colleagues and superiors.

“It is easier to do this in a startup

Left to right: Gregor Miller, Cassie Mak, Brenda Haitema, George Chen, Elaine Cheung (moderator)

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AmChamHK 12 • 2017

environment than in a heritage company where there is a long history of how things are meant to be done. Plus, I want to feel good about I’m doing on a daily basis,” she says.

about their CV but whether they share the same vision as us.

Haitema understands moving to a startup isn’t an option for everyone, but believes that new thinking and working styles can be just as easily introduced in a traditional company. The key is starting small.

“Unfortunately, Hong Kong’s education system isn’t designed to encourage entrepreneurial thinking. For far too long, it has focused on teaching the more ‘traditional’ subjects to set graduates up for a traditional career. But if everybody is a doctor or a lawyer, what about the rest of society?” Chen asks.

“Begin with pilot programs to create an environment with a startup feel. All it takes is a few small wins before other people begin to take notice. This is how change is implemented,” she says.

No excuses Millennials may have a reputation as serial job hoppers, but are they inherently to blame, or is this behavior a response to something lacking within companies?

Staying on top of things in a flexible startup-like work environment can be challenging at times, so there needs to be a level of trust that your team will meet their goals in their own ways.

Gregor Miller, founder and Managing Director of Visions Learning, thinks the latter. “People who aren’t being developed simply won’t stay, and it’s not just a millennial thing.”

“As a manager, you must have very clear deliverables from your team of what needs to be accomplished by X deadline.”

Big companies in particular find it difficult instigating change, especially in Hong Kong where job hopping is rife, and many employers have the mindset that it’s not worth developing people who will move on in few years’ time anyway.

A shared vision George Chen, Head of Public Policy at HK & Taiwan Facebook, can attest the need for mutual trust in the workplace. A focus on outcomes and setting common goals is what drives success at his company.

“At Facebook, everyone is focused on building a product that contributes to society. Where you are when you are working towards that goal isn’t really relevant,” he says.

This is the kind of entrepreneurial mindset that the company looks for in new recruits. Each year, the social media giant receives hundreds of thousands of job applications. But Chen is careful to hire the right people and the recruitment process is a long one. “It’s not just

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

But businesses fighting for the same people will need to get creative in order to retain them. Miller, who coaches executives for a living, suggests tailoring opportunities to different types of worker. For instance, opportunities for secondment are more likely to appeal to millennial workers.

Whatever the strategy, adapting to change is inevitable if businesses are to stay relevant in their customers‘ eyes. This is the reality, with or without millennials.

“Millennials have given us another excuse to change. So don’t make them the ‘why,’ make the customers and the purpose of the organization the ‘why.’”

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When Life Gets in the Way: What to do with Personal Disruption Sometimes, the suffering of others puts our own struggles into perspective. Four Hong Kong women share their heart-breaking, life-changing experiences

F

rom a young age, Patricia Ho was afflicted with a burning desire to “see things set right.” This conviction led her on the path to law school where upon graduation, she would be forced to choose between a stable, financially secure career at a Magic Circle law firm or to follow her heart into human rights law.

She took the road less travelled, eventually becoming a human rights lawyer at Daly, Ho & Associates.

She is doing what she loves now, but her work isn’t without its struggles. While a noble pursuit, human rights isn’t the most lucrative area of the law. Ho is married to a Christian pastor and together they have two children. As the main breadwinner in her family, Ho often struggles with the uncomfortable idea that prioritizing her career fulfilment might be selfish.

“It is a struggle to stay true to why I chose this path to begin with. But I fight to stay on it through the concern of family and friends over my financial stability and ability to support myself and my family.”

Learning to trust Lieny Jang didn’t realize how hard she would find readjusting to the workplace after being a stay-at-home mum for some time. An engineer by profession now working in Marketing, Commercial & Residential Solutions at Emerson Asia-Pacific, Jang was always a capable and self-sufficient employee.

As a new mother, she was no different. Extremely hands-on in raising her children, Jang grew used to seeing to their every need on her own. For her, the biggest challenge of going back to work was not being able to keep an eye on her children 24/7.

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Her biggest lesson? Learning to delegate.

“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned to share parenting responsibilities with my husband and to trust my support system – parents, tutors – to look out for my kids when I can’t be there.”

Being your own best friend Phyllis Marwah has endured divorce, the death of a child and a cancer scare. A veteran of heartbreak and suffering, she could’ve let these excruciating experiences define her but instead chose patience, kindness and love.

Compassionate from a young age, Marwah moved to Hong Kong over 30 years ago and co-founded Mother’s Choice, an orphanage and home for unmarried mothers. For many years, she and her ex-husband worked purposefully to support this downtrodden segment of the local community.

So when her youngest son tragically passed away, Marwah felt lost. “Growing up I was always taught to do what is right, but I was never taught about what to do when bad things happen,” she says.

Thanks to the unwavering love and support of her family, Marwah withstood the cruel blow life had dealt her, coming out stronger and wiser on the other side. If suffering has taught her anything, it’s the importance of relationships and the value of self-care. As she regularly tells her childrenabout relationships: “Garner them, feed them, take the time for them – they are what will get you through. Take care of yourself. Be as encouraging and forgiving with yourself as you would with your best friend.”

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Defining moments Social worker Fermi Wong is no stranger to hardship or hard work.

At just 11 years old, she immigrated to Hong Kong from Mainland China with her family where they had a less-than-ideal transition.

Living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet in the slum community around them, Wong’s family of seven depended on her, her sibling and her mother, the three of them the only ones capable of work. The rest of her family, including her father, suffered from mental disabilities.

Left to right: Fermi Wong, Phyllis Marwah, Lieny Jang, Patricia Ho, Shalini Mahtani (moderator)

Life was hard, and school wasn’t any better. Bullied and discriminated against for being poor and an outsider, Wong became unhappy, regularly questioning what was wrong with her family. As a Christian, she questioned her faith.

mission wasn’t received well by the Chinese community.

“I was inspired by the young people who lost their lives fighting for a meaningful cause. That was the day I started examining my life and seriously contemplating the kind of person I wanted to be.”

“Back then society was extremely conservative. Not much was known about South Asians and there was no NGO serving the specific needs of ethnic minorities. I was always met with heated opposition from colleagues, who suggested that as Chinese people we should serve the local Chinese first, then, if there was time and energy left, new arrivals from Mainland China. Ethnic minorities were of the lowest priority."

Wong found her calling in social work and went on to found Hong Kong Unison, the first not-for-profit organization in Hong Kong to fight for the rights of the local non-Chinese population. Unfortunately, her

Forged by adversity, Wong hasn’t let the pushback stop her fighting for the equal rights of all Hong Kong citizens.

She persists, driven by a personal conviction that “Suffering is necessary, but misery is optional.”

The future looked bleak until the democracy protests of June 4, 1989 changed her life forever.

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Jung Chang: How I Became a Writer Jung Chang, best-selling author of Wild Swans, captivates conference attendees with her incredible life story

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fter a heartfelt thank you on the WOI conference stage, Jung Chang starts right from the beginning.

"When I was a child I loved to write. I liked to stare at the clouds in the sky trying to imagine what was going on behind them," she says poetically.

But for a child growing up in Mao’s China, the dream of becoming a writer was one that needed to remain “firmly imprisoned in the subconscious.”

During the Cultural Revolution, books were burned and writers were persecuted. Even writing for oneself could be dangerous. “Mao had said that the more books you read the more stupid you become. That was the guideline for health and education in those years,” she says.

Chang recalls her first literary venture on her 16th birthday which ended as quickly as it began. “I was writing my first poem in bed when I heard a loud banging on the door.

“My father's persecutors had come to raid our flat and I knew that if they saw my poem my family would get into trouble. So I quickly tore up my poem and rushed to the toilet to flush it away,” she says exasperated.

In the years that followed, Chang was exiled to the edge of the Himalayas where she worked a number of backbreaking jobs (“Peasant, barefoot doctor, steel worker, electrician”) that should’ve crushed any desire she had to write out of her. But childhood dreams die hard.

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Jung Chang holds up her late grandmother's lotus shoe

I became part of the first group to leave China for an education in Britain,” she says, smiling with pride.

“As I spread manure in the paddy fields and checked the top of electricity poles, I never stopped writing in my head. I just couldn't put pen to paper,” she says.

Another significant first would come her way when, in 1982, Chang completed a PhD in linguistics from the University of York in England, becoming the first person from Communist China to get a doctorate from a British university.

A turning point Mao died in the fall of 1976. As China began to change, so did Chang’s life. “For the first time in 1978, scholarships for going abroad were awarded on an academic basis, and

Determined that the audience understand the magnitude of this achievement, she says, “I never saw a foreigner until I was 23, when as an English language student my classmates and I were sent to a port somewhere near

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Hong Kong to practice our English with the foreign sailors.”

Surely now Chang’s literary career could begin? “Coming from an isolated China to London was like being in an incredible a new world where I could write whatever, whenever. But by then my desire to write had left me, because writing required looking inward and backward into a past which I wanted to forget all about,” she says.

Though the horror of Mao’s tyranny was over, the painful memories had an iron grip on Chang. “My father spoke publicly against the Cultural Revolution and was arrested, tortured, driven insane and exiled to a camp where he died prematurely as a result. My grandmother, who was really the person that brought us up, also died in the Cultural Revolution, and their deaths were painful spots in my heart that I didn't want to revisit.”

Fulfilling a lifelong dream It was only after Chang’s mother came from China to stay with her in London ten years later that she once again felt the familiar pinch of her childhood ambition. “For the first time in our lives she told me the stories of her life, of my grandmother and of her relationship with my father.

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“And as I listened to my mother I kept saying to myself ‘I want to write all this down!’ Then I realized: I wanted to be a writer, I always wanted to be a writer. And it felt like my mother was helping me to fulfill this unspoken dream by telling me these stories,” she says, with a hint of emotion in her voice.

By the time Chang’s mother left London six months later, she had left Chang with 60 hours of tape recorded memoirs. And Wild Swans was born.

“Just before the book was about to be published I started to agonize over how it would be received as all writers probably do. Then my mother wrote me a letter saying the book might not do well, but she was not worried because she could feel that writing it had brought us closer together. She said I had made her a happy woman and that was enough,” she says.

So without the pressure of worrying about how the book might do, Wild Swans was published.

The award-winning book, which portrays over 100 years of Chinese history through the lives of three generations of women – Chang’s grandmother, Chang’s mother and Chang – has been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.

“My mother, who only wanted understanding from her daughter, now has understanding from tens of millions of readers all over the world. And I, at last, have become a writer.”

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COVER STORY

The 2017

Award Winners

Front row, from left: Randy Lai, Vivien Chan, Vivian Jiang (on behalf of Deloitte), Eni Lestari Back row, from left: Haley Meng, Dorothy Chan, Shonee Mirchandani, Brian Henderson, Arti Mirchandani, Wing-sie Yip

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Champion for the Advancement of Women

Brian Henderson, Chief Operating Officer, Baker McKenzie

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rian Henderson is a strong supporter of gender equality, diversity and inclusion and a key driver of numerous initiatives to cultivate female leadership as a member of his firm’s management committee. He is a leader by example and a champion “with sensitivity and persistence, always emphasizing the business case for gender diversity.

“Gender diversity was never on the agenda back then, but it is now. People are starting to figure out how to address the issues more effectively,” Henderson says. “Leading companies are starting to facilitate open dialogues between men and women with a view to increasing understanding and changing behaviors.

“Gender equality is becoming everyone’s issue, not just a women’s issue. But many men still don’t understand how privileged they are and see the focus on women as a threat to men,” he stresses. “It’s not a zero-sum game; men benefit at work, at home and in society when women are able to fulfil their full potential.

“As a business leader, I can see that advancing all of our talent drives better outcomes for our people, our clients and our business. All the research supports the business case for diversity, but the evidence is too often ignored or discounted.”

Many companies have unconscious bias training, flexible working and parental leave policies and mentoring programs; however, not many “dig into the data” to understand where and why women are falling behind, Henderson points out. “When men are permitted to ignore diversity issues, women don’t feel safe articulating the challenges they face, and research shows that their careers suffer if they do.”

More importantly, gender equality is only possible if men and women come together to resolve the issues that continue to hold women back, he believes. “Men can help in many simple ways: acknowledging their

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contributions, calling other men out for talking over women or ‘stealing’ their ideas, mentoring and sponsoring women proactively, and introducing them to their networks.

“We also need to insist on gender diverse interview and assessment panels, show zero tolerance for casual sexism, not penalize women who take maternity leave or need a flexible working arrangement, not hold key meetings early in the morning or late in the evening, etc.,” he adds. “Being an ally is a series of everyday, intentional actions, not a badge.”

Advocates of gender diversity, particularly men, feel strongly about the issue because they are inspired by others in their lives. In Henderson’s case, it is his family: his wife who is 100 percent committed to her goals; his daughter who is a fearless millennial focused on improving the environment as an architect; and his mother who worked fearlessly in “the hardest part of troubled Belfast.”

Henderson also has male role models: his father who taught him respect for women and zero tolerance for anything else; and his son who is the embodiment of a gentle, kind, loving millennial man. But what sparked his engagement with gender diversity was a discussion with Su-Mei Thompson, then-CEO of The Women’s Foundation and “a classmate from university days.

“Su-Mei encouraged me to work with her to establish the ‘Male Allies’ and mentored me through that process for which I am very grateful. Getting more than 40 senior male executives to join the initiative is something I am very proud of,” he says.

“These men are driving change in their organizations; many of them are also advocates of change in the wider community. The support and safe environment we provide to each other in sharing our challenges is invaluable.”

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Entrepreneur(s) of the Year Shonee & Arti Mirchandani, Owners, Bookazine Limited

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honee and Arti Mirchandani are sisters having grown up around books. Not only their parents but also their family in New York, Singapore and India all work in the business of bookstores. Their family gatherings are always about bestsellers and publishers, and they spent their summer holidays working in the shops where they had access to all the new books even before they were released.

“Our vision is to be Hong Kong’s most customer-focused retailer, where customers can find and discover new, fun and innovative products from all around the world,” Shonee points out. “And we see it as our responsibility to champion local writers and artists.”

Bookazine is a chain of retail stores with dedicated space and resources to promoting local talent through displays and events, social media marketing as well as distribution to other bookstores and retail outlets in Hong Kong. Importantly, they are one of the few platforms and often the first place to take a chance on new products.

“As a business run by two women, we also make it a point to support women entrepreneurs – many of whom are mums starting their own companies. We are proud that many women entrepreneurs, ranging from artists merchandising their paintings to stationery & gifts brands and chocolatiers, have launched their businesses with us.”

Prior to joining the family business, Arti was a graphic designer at Hong Kong Tatler before becoming an assistant teacher at The Peak School. “I was really passionate about painting; my plan was to study art and get a teaching degree as I found teaching so rewarding.

But I only got halfway.”

Upon returning to Hong Kong, after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and before applying for a

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teaching certificate, she decided to join her father in the family business. Sadly, Mr. Mirchandani passed away a year and a half after both Arti and Shonee joined him, and Arti never thought about teaching again.

Shonee worked for multiple firms, including White & Case, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Credit Suisse, as a paralegal overseas. She later took a Legal Practice Course to qualify as a solicitor. Having been away from Hong Kong for a while and looking to spend some quality time with her family, she decided to take a timeout to help with the family business. Some 15 years later, she is still committed to growing the business.

Bookazine is more than just a business – it supports a variety of community initiatives, including those designed to encourage kids to read and write. Among them are the “Golden Dragon Books Awards,” “Kids4Kids” initiatives, “HK Young Writers Awards,” “Mind Over Matter” interschool quiz, “The Standard Story Writers Competition” as well as in-store programs such as the “Summer Reading Challenge & Bookmark Competition.”

The Children’s Bookfest was also launched two years ago to bring the community together for a fun family day of story time, arts and crafts, treasure hunt, costume parade where the children dress up as their favorite book character. Parents and their kids can choose to spend time in an outdoor library sitting under the sun and reading a book in the beautiful surroundings of The Repulse Bay. Best of all, everything is free.

“Apart from the fact that studies prove that early reading significantly improves a child’s academic success, reading has such a wealth of benefits,” Shonee explains. “It can improve a child’s self-esteem, build independence and confidence, provide exposure to the world and increase cultural awareness. It enhances a child’s imagination and it’s so much fun to read.”

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Leading Woman on Boards Dorothy Chan, Independent Non-Executive Director, MTR

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orothy Chan graduated from the University of Hong Kong – where she also earned a master’s degree and a PhD – and subsequently joined the Hong Kong government as a civil servant at a time when Hong Kong’s public transport system looked nothing like what it is today.

When she retired as Deputy Commissioner for Transport in 2002, Hong Kong became a model city with a world-class rail system, a comprehensive network of bus services, and a vibrant, mobile logistics sector.

“I didn’t get into a career in transport by choice as I was assigned to the Transport Department in my first posting, and I stayed in the department ever since,” Chan says. “Most graduates in the 1970s would not choose to work in transport, but I was fortunate to gain a head start in a field where there was a lack of talents.

“My passion for transport grew when I was posted to work briefly for three months in the United Kingdom. I met many professionals and witnessed the advanced London rail system when Hong Kong had none,” she says. “I became interested in the subject, and as the first batch of local breed transport professionals we learned through trial and error.”

During a 40-year career of devising public policy in a male-dominated field, it was never an easy task to persuade industry stakeholders – among them are minibus, taxi, bus and truck drivers who often struggle to make a living. “They need to feel that you are part of them, and it is the feeling of inadequacy that motivates me to always try to excel through learning.”

Over the years, many of them have emerged as successful operators – and some have eventually become owners of large fleets of vehicles and even a listed company. “The reward is immeasurable when you get to meet their family and children and learn of their

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achievement,” Chan says. “The willingness to listen, work together and learn through mistakes is very important.”

Today, Chan is an independent non-executive director of MTR and of AMS Public Transport Limited. She is also Deputy Director of HKU SPACE and an adjunct professor at Polytechnic University, in addition to a variety of other community services ranging from social welfare and environmental protection to technology, research and development.

“My mother took part in numerous charitable activities while looking after her family. In some ways, my commitment to learning and serving others is inherited from my mother,” she says. “It broadens my horizon when I get to meet people from different fields, and it gives me the impetus to serve further.”

As the first Asian female International President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in 2013, Chan founded “Women in Logistics and Transport” (WiLAT), a women chapter of CILT in 18 countries with 1,600 members.

“Our vision is to be the most sought after for advocacy, professionalism and empowerment of women in supply chain, logistics and transport.

“During my visit to Lagos, Nigeria in 2014, WiLAT Uganda brought up a problem on transport for women in most African countries,” she says. “That is, bicycles which are their main form of transportation were largely a monopoly for men. Since then, we’ve helped women acquire bicycles and introduced bicycle repair training through which women can also earn an income.

“Our capability should be duly recognized,” Chan believes. “For women who are just starting their careers, they should be guided by their interest, be prepared to make tough decisions between family and career, but they should also stand up for their rights to work.”

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Lifetime Achievement Vivien Chan, Founding Senior Partner, Vivien Chan & Co., Hong Kong

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ivien Chan is the eldest of four siblings and comes from a very traditional Chinese family. “There were a lot of gender disparity issues, and it was accepted as the norm during my formative years in the 1960s and 1970s,” she recalls. “I did not think, all that time, it was right, and I knew even then it had to change some day.

“Gender equality is a human right of the most basic category,” Chan believes. “However, we shouldn’t promote female gender opportunities to the detriment of the other gender. Being overt about creating specific opportunities for a particular gender isn’t necessarily helpful. Instead, we should create a level playing field for all genders.

“In many ways, it is more challenging for young women now than in my days,” she says. “While they may have more opportunities, more is also expected of them. My advice is simple: take it in your stride. There is no reason to feel pressured to succeed by a certain age or to achieve more than your peers. Put in your best in everything you do and enjoy the journey.”

At the age of 16, Chan was sent to a boarding school in England; she later earned an LLB from Reading University and a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) from King’s College London. Today, she is qualified as a solicitor in England, Wales, Hong Kong, NSW (Australia) and Singapore. She is also a China Notarial Attesting Officer, a CEITAC Arbitrator and a SHIAC Arbitrator.

“Upon returning home, I joined an international law firm – which in the early 1980s was quite a novel thing to do. I trained and practiced as a corporate lawyer for many years, going into China long before it was vogue to do so. Then came marriage and my first child, Annamae.

The long hours meant Annamae thought I was the adopted friend and her nanny was the mum.

“This was not what I thought motherhood should be,

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and I started a law firm in 1985 to have more flexible hours,” Chan explains. “Family is always of first and foremost. One can have many careers, but your own wellbeing and your family are all you need most at the end of the day, and most precious.”

Because of her drive for achievement, Chan also started a property investment and development business some years later. “I enjoyed the challenges the business put me through as to my vision and business acumen, the latter I think I inadvertently cultivated during my many years of running the law practice.

“Success in the real estate business is geared on good timing. It is of immense satisfaction when one gets the timing right,” she points out.

“The rewarding aspect is the recognition of the common denominator of what it takes to run a successful business, despite how dissimilar the two businesses are in nature and audience.”

As Chair of the Estate Agents Authority between 2008 and 2014, a statutory governing body, Chan focused on getting the trade into good shape and mandated the use of the saleable area instead of gross area for secondary residential sales. “What I’m most proud of is my participation in the drafting and subsequent new firsthand residential sales legislation.”

Chan is a believer in giving back to society and an advocate for the welfare of children and mothers. As founder of Hong Kong Adventure Corps, a youth training charity, she has provided for thousands of teenagers; as vice chairman of HK UNICEF, she has for years promoted breast-feeding at hospitals and public places and lobbied to protect children.

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Master of the Arts Wing-sie Yip, Music Director, Hong Kong Sinfonietta

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orn into a family of musicians, Wing-sie Yip is a “highly respected and influential figure in Asia’s orchestral music scene.” Her father is a composer, conductor and an educator; her mother was a piano teacher before she retired. Yip graduated from the Royal College of Music in London and obtained her Master’s Degree from Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, USA. “Music influence was definitely very strong at home,” Yip recalls. She started piano lessons taught by her mother at the age of four, and picked up the violin when she was ten. When her father founded the Hong Kong Children’s Choir in 1969, she naturally became part of it – and had learned a great deal through all the rehearsals, performances and overseas tours for eight years before leaving for college in the United Kingdom and the United States.

“As a violinist I had always enjoyed playing in an orchestra, but I was also captivated by what a conductor could do.” Yip says. “The many different kinds of sound and timbre are so fascinating that I wanted to be the one standing on the podium to orchestrate those sounds. My dream was to be a conductor.

“That’s why I took up conducting as a minor subject when I was studying violin performance and later obtained my master’s degree in violin performance and orchestral conducting,” she explains. “I was also able to further my orchestral conducting studies at the Tanglewood Music Center in Boston and had the opportunity to learn from great maestros like Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa and Gustav Meier.”

In 1985, Yip won the 35th Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors. Subsequently, she returned to the city as Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s resident conductor (1986-2000). Since

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2002, Yip has been Music Director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta following her earlier role as Principal Conductor and Music Director of Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.

“Ever since I became a conductor, my dream has been to direct my own orchestra and curate the musical programs as I have envisioned,” she says. “My dream is also to bring good music to everyone in Hong Kong.

Looking ahead, I’d like to create more opportunity for our next generation of performers in Hong Kong to show their artistry.

“That’s because I believe classical music as an abstract art allows people room for imagination and to express themselves,” she explains. “It provides people a channel to look for beauty and harmony and to experience tension and emotion. Simply put, it enriches our lives.”

The orchestral scene in Hong Kong has made tremendous progress over the past 30 years, Yip says, noting the growing influence of the city’s Philharmonic Orchestra and Sinfonietta since 1974 and 1999, respectively. “Classical music lovers are blessed with more choices today than ever. I hope this will also inspire more young people to pursue a career in playing for an orchestra.

“More importantly, Hong Kong has given me a lot of opportunity to grow as a conductor after my studies abroad,” she adds. “In fact, I learned the art of conducting an orchestra in a professional setting through the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and I’ve been able to contribute more at the Hong Kong Sinfonietta through my training of the ensemble and design of programs.

“Although some classical musicians can earn a decent living by teaching, it is by no means easy for performers.

The key to building a successful career in the world of arts is to make sure you are genuinely passionate about the arts. If you love and enjoy every moment of the challenge, you are in the right business.”

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Non-Profit Leader of the Year Eni Lestari Andayani Adi, Chair, International Migrants Alliance

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rowing up in East Java of Indonesia, Eni Lestari Andayani Adi had always dreamed of becoming a social worker and helping the poor in her home country where people “are very productive but lack access to resources and higher education. Often, their abilities are not recognized because of their low social status.

“My parents who were small vendors in a wet market selling vegetables tried their best to bring their children to school because they believed in education,” she says.

“My mother is my role model that women must be independent and self-reliant. When I was young, I organized informal tutorial sessions for poor children in my neighborhood and tried to help them in whatever ways I could with their studies.”

However, because of the worsening economic crisis in Indonesia, Eni was unable to continue her studies at university. In 1999 when her family business went bankrupt and became heavily indebted, she decided to leave the country to be a migrant domestic worker in Hong Kong.

“Underprivileged women like myself are unable to pursue education because of economic incapacity. Many women end up being drop-outs, unemployed, migrant workers, or housewives,” she notes. “But, reflecting from my own experience and those of others, I witnessed how talented, brave, enthusiastic, creative and innovative marginalized women are.”

The migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong are very productive and innovative, she points out. “They can create arts, design costumes, compose songs, make videos, enrol them in courses and classes, do different sports, and many others. The only thing lacking is an opportunity due to the very fact that they are poor, and in Hong Kong, they are restricted.”

As a grassroot migrant who endured exploitation during her first arrival in Hong Kong, Eni founded the Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers (ATKI-HK) to

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share her valuable experiences with other Indonesian workers. “I want all migrants to be able to protect their own rights so that they don’t need to get abused.

“And I want to tell my fellow women migrants to go beyond their financial limitations, overcome their feeling of disempowerment, and continue to develop their knowledge and skills. What’s more important is the unity and solidarity among ourselves; helping others means helping ourselves too.”

Poverty and lack of proper employment are the most serious hardships facing Indonesian migrant workers back in their home country. Many have no choice but to stay abroad to make a living. While in Hong Kong, they face problems of violation by employment agencies, harsh working condition from long working hours, improper accommodation, and even lack of food.

As chair of International Migrants Alliance, Eni is here to make sure migrant domestic workers know their basic rights and be able to bargain with their employers; she is here to connect them with well-meaning and experienced service providers; she is here to garner support from regional and international institutions, including the United Nations.

“So far, I can see many achievements, such as more attention to our problems, especially when the case of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, an Indonesian domestic worker who was tortured by employer, occurred in 2014. People now understand modern day slavery still exists, and more Hong Kong people are involved in combating such practice.

“We want to be recognized as human beings with dignity and equality by employers, communities and governments,” she emphasizes. “We wish to be seen and heard, not marginalized and excluded. That’s the reason why we work to empower and organize our community in Hong Kong and around the world to make our voices heard.”

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Professional of the Year Randy Lai, CEO, McDonald’s Hong Kong

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s CEO of McDonald’s Hong Kong, Randy Lai is responsible for some 240 restaurants, 15,000 employees and more than one million customers in the city every day. A native of Hong Kong, Lai has had a career and “grown together with” one of most well-known global brands since 1998, taking up various managerial roles across the region and even serving as a frontline employee for a year.

“Not only did I gain deep insights into the day-to-day operation of our restaurants, I was also able to understand the challenges our frontline workforce encountered daily,” Lai says. “We rely on our employees to deliver the best McDonald’s experience to our customers. The key to success is to make sure our employees feel fully engaged and recognized, and that their good work is being valued.

“Our founder Ray Kroc once said, ‘We’re not just a hamburger company serving people; we’re a people company serving hamburgers,’” she adds. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned the importance of retaining talents and treating them well.

We are keen on investing in our people and learning about what they need in an open and transparent way. They are indeed the company’s most valuable assets.”

Today, in Hong Kong, female employees make up over 60 percent of both McDonald’s frontline workforce and its senior leadership team. “We are proud to play a critical role not only in driving inclusiveness with initiatives to help women at our workplace, but also providing career opportunities to a diversity of talents, including the young generation, career builders and mature workforce,” Lai says.

McDonald’s Hong Kong is a workplace where women and men receive the same amount of opportunities to develop their careers, and many women have been empowered to reach their career goals and fulfil their potentials. In 2010, for instance, “Women’s Leadership

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Network” was established to promote the concept of “women supporting women” within the company.

The series of initiatives has resulted in numerous awards and accolades over the years recognizing the company’s efforts in supporting female employees and nurturing female leaders. In 2011, McDonald’s Hong Kong won “Best Company for Women” at AmCham’s WOI Awards; by 2017, it has been named “Best Employer” six times by HR consultancy firm Aon Hewitt, in addition to the title of “Best Employer for Women” in 2013.

A good balance between work and family is one of the greatest career challenges for women, Lai points out. “As much as we’d like to excel in our careers, we do want to fulfil our family responsibilities at the same time. Considering the dual roles that many women are expected to fulfil, it’s important for employers to be compassionate and show genuine care for women.”

As such, new moms in the restaurant management team of McDonald’s Hong Kong are given eight extra weeks of full-paid maternity leave on top of Hong Kong’s statutory requirements. For customers, the company supports the government’s “Breastfeeding Friendly Restaurant” initiative with the installation of “Priority Seats” and “Baby Care” rooms – complete with changing mat, sofa chair, anti-bacterial liquid soap and sink – at selected locations.

“Personally, I am always thankful for having an excellent and supportive team at McDonald’s Hong Kong. The respect and trust we have among colleagues propel everyone to continue moving forward on our career paths,” Lai says. “Therefore, do try to build mutual support with your co-workers and let teamwork give you strength on your road to success.

“More importantly, never underestimate your ability – you can always do better than you think. Be imaginative, bold and courageous. Success will be just around the corner.”

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Young Achiever of the Year Haley Meng, Business Development Manager, PwC

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Chinese-American born in Boston to entrepreneurial, self-made parents, Haley Meng is strongly shaped by their experiences during the Cultural Revolution. “I think because they grew up with so little opportunity, they were always trying to give me all the opportunity to try different things. I became mediocre/decent at a lot of sports, but I grew up always trying.

“My parents always worked hard. My dad after immigrating to the US, not knowing English, opened a successful discotheque in New York, and went on to start his own PC business in the 1980s,” Meng says. “He still has a newspaper clipping of an interview when he had made his first US$1 million. I think this go-getter attitude was a big part of my upbringing.”

Coming to Hong Kong, however, was never a part of her plan. “Being Chinese and growing up in a mostly white, privileged town for me was at times confusing – I wanted to fit in, but I still ate chicken feet at home,” she explains. “It wasn’t until college that I embraced that part of my heritage when my Mandarin teacher came along – she invested in me in ways that enabled me to do much more than I thought I could and got me hooked on China.

“Without her, I don’t think I would in Hong Kong today.

And Hong Kong is the perfect breeding ground for people who have a passion to keep improving and learning. It’s a place where ideas and contacts constantly clash, click and bounce off each other. I think that’s why it’s such a dynamic city – and people tend to be generous in sharing experiences and knowledge.”

In the United States, Meng is considered a “double minority” – being a Chinese and a woman. “I think as a woman in most places there are people who will discount your opinion and diminish your voice because of their gender biases and stereotypes,” she says. “It can

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be hard if you’re outnumbered – but we have to stay strong and make our voices heard.

“And if you can’t change your environment, then find the one that will support your voice. We don’t have to change everyone’s mind to make an impact,” she adds. “But I’ve learned the importance of relationships in getting anything done. Things can move very slowly or very fast given the right impetus, timing and luck.”

In early 2015, Meng founded a social platform focused on cross-cultural communication through weekly events ranging from food excursions and panel talks to workshops and city adventures. “At WE Club, which stands for West meets East Club (and ‘us’), we help people engage with Hong Kong, connect across cultures, and grow personally.

“The West part of ‘WE’ relates to my personal being, and the East part reflects my co-founder, Candy, who is from Guangzhou,” she describes. “Candy and I started WE Club to connect people across cultures. Today, we’re known as one of the most active communities bringing new experiences, inspirational speakers and opportunities to learn to our members.”

Meng’s advice for young women looking to build a successful career: don’t be afraid to just go and get it, ask for that promotion, look for people who will support you, keep building relationships, and believe in your own future. “It’s just a big journey. We’re all learning, and people are always changing, learning, and growing.

“Since moving to Hong Kong, I’ve become more extroverted and found new things I’m passionate about and new ways to feed my passion. I want to forever keep this optimist’s and explorer’s mindset.”

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Best Company for Women Deloitte (Represented by Vivian Jiang, Deputy CEO, Deloitte China)

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ith a workforce of more than 50 percent women, Deloitte is committed to cultivating women leaders who can serve as empathetic role models for fellow female employees. “Gender equality is important because it is a universal value – one that enables us to connect and understand different kinds of needs as leaders and as aspiring leaders-to-be,” notes Vivian Jiang, Deputy CEO, Deloitte China.

“Upholding women leadership is a key priority for us to attract and retain talents who share our values of equality, diversity and inclusion,” she says. “We help our female colleagues balance their needs both at the workplace and at home, and we ensure that their careers are not compromised by these challenges.”

When employees are required to travel for extended periods of time or work at remote client sites for weeks or months on an assignment, finding a balance between work and family is never easy, especially among mothers of young children. “It is difficult to do both well at the same time, let alone doing so without experiencing exhaustion or feeling burned out,” Jiang points out.

“While Hong Kong is a place that prizes gender equality, women are sometimes passed over for a certain job type or promotion for reasons of pregnancy or extended leave,” she says. “We’re very aware of the pressure. That’s why we’ve introduced ‘Flexitime’ to allow mothers to leave work early, built designated nursing facilities across all 21 Deloitte China offices, and launched a joint mentoring program for women with HSBC and Walmart.”

The Network of Executive Women (NEW) is a platform for female employees to share their experiences, voice out thoughts and support each other on a one-on-one coaching basis. It is “a space for Deloitte women of

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different generations to empower and feel empowered by one another through discussions on female leadership, impact, ambitions and strengths,” Jiang says.

“The impact of these initiatives is evident in the way our female employees carry themselves with confidence and commitment at work. It is also reflected in the fact that women make up almost half of our managerial and above posts at Deloitte Hong Kong, and a lower attrition rate among women than among men by five percent within our organization.”

On a macro level, Deloitte China adopts a diversity and inclusion principle underlying a corporate culture of inclusiveness of people regardless of gender, race or background. “We evaluate individuals based on their ability, strengths and values, as well as the contribution to the firm and the impact for our clients,” Jiang stresses.

“Their professional capability is not determined by gender.”

Moreover, women can voice out their concerns relating to childcare, personal and family issues through a 24/7 hotline, sessions of face-to-face consultation and collaborative workshops of the Employee Assistant Program (EAP). The “Pass the Torch,” a student mentorship program launched in 2009, allows for a better perspective of the challenges facing women from a young age.

“For women starting out on their career journey, we encourage them to find mentors and friends in both the professional and personal spheres of their lives,” Jiang advises.

“Professionally, they should feel free to seek female role models who have gone through similar challenges and are willing and able to provide sound advice.

“Employees can no doubt strengthen their confidence in the workplace from a mentor-mentee relationship, and they can share their concerns and thoughts with fellow female colleagues,” she believes.

“Forging bonds and lending an empathetic ear with each other would allow women to see that they are not alone in the sundry challenges they face at work.”

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A day to remember...

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CHAMBER NEWS

Pearly Mak Director of Finance and Administration Pearly Mak reflects on her 13 years at AmCham

What do you do at AmCham?

I oversee finance and accounting, as well as HR and administrative matters at the Chamber and its related organizations APCAC and the AmCham Charitable Foundation.

How did you end up here?

After graduating from Hong Kong Baptist University I

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trained as a professional accountant at KPMG. Starting my career at a Big 4 accounting firm was both exciting and challenging. In my three years there I learnt a lot about business from exposure to companies of all sizes in different industries.

In the years that followed, I held accounting roles at a multinational pharmaceutical company and a local NGO before deciding to start my own tutorial center business.

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Running my own business for two years was satisfying but not easy. I came out of that experience equipped with a head for business and marketing as well as interpersonal skills that help me in my career to this day.

In early 2005, I decided to sell my business and reenter the workforce. Fortunately, I saw an ad in the South China Morning Post that AmCham was hiring an Accounting Manager and I joined in May that year.

“You learn a lot about what’s happening in the world when you’re constantly meeting and working with different people. ” - Pearly Mak Director, Finance & Administration

I cannot believe this is my 13th year at AmCham! It feels like just yesterday that I was waiting at the reception area for an interview with our President at the time, Mr. Jack Maisano. Time flies.

What do you look forward to most at work every day?

The best part of my job is definitely the people.

Honestly, accounting and office administrative work can never be interesting but the people I encounter can be. I have worked with over 10 different AmCham Treasurers in the past 12 years, all of them brilliant leaders with unique views and styles.

As head of HR, I am always meeting with job applicants for junior to director-level positions. You learn a lot about what’s happening in the world when you’re constantly meeting and working with different people.

and organized personality fits the nature of this job very well.

If you could do any job in the world besides your own, what would you be doing?

When I am not working, I spend most of my time with family and friends. I like sharing about my experiences at work, and about the people I work with. When I am alone I enjoy reading, listening to music and watching ballet performances.

I doubt there is any job in the world I could do better than one in finance and accounting. My detail-oriented

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How do you maintain a work-life balance?

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Where is home and how long have you been in Hong Kong?

During my childhood and teenage years, I lived in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Chicago. After graduating from university, I moved back to Hong Kong and have lived here for 27 years since. Hong Kong is home.

What do you like most about life here?

The dynamism and international flair. Plus, since Hong Kong is a hub for Asia and the world, it’s extremely accessible and convenient to travel anywhere, anytime.

Describe yourself in three words.

Family-oriented, Fun, Foodie.

If I wasn’t a business leader, I would be…

A sake sommelier.

Name: Carina Chorengel Job title: Senior Vice President – Brands and Marketing, Asia Pacific Company: Hyatt Hotels Industry: Hospitality AmCham member since: June 2017

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First ever job?

Corporate Leadership Trainee at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Favourite quote?

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou Where can we find you outside of the office?

Spending time with family and good friends.

Name something on your bucket list.

To go on a safari with the family.

Which AmCham event are we likely to find you at next?

Probably one of the business forums.

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TOTAL

WORKFORCE

MANAGEMENT

CHINA BUSINESS

Beijing Doorknock 2017:

An Annual Dialogue of Strengthening Ties

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n November 20-21, AmCham led a group of 23 people to Beijing to meet with Chinese enterprises and officials from China’s Central Government Ministries, the HKSAR Government Beijing Office and U.S. Embassy.

This year’s visit was led by Chairman Walter Dias, Vice-Chairman Jack Lange, President Tara Joseph and Past Chairmen James Sun and Steven DeKrey.

In light of the recent 19th China Party Congress, President Trump's visit to China and the APEC Summit in Vietnam, key topics on the agenda included:

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• The impact of the 19th Party Congress on businesses in China • Next phase of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) • HK's role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) • China’s policy on emerging financial technologies, latest updates on financial reform and RMB internationalization • Inbound investments into China and outbound investments of Chinese enterprise • U.S.-China trade and investment relations

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A Summary of Meetings Ding Guorong, front row, 3rd from left Key personnel: Ding Guorong, Executive Vice President, Silk Road Fund Meeting focus: Role of the Silk Road Fund in BRI

Mandy Wong, far right; Arthur Lam, 3rd from right Key personnel: Mandy Wong, Assistant Director and Arthur Lam, Principal Trade Officer; The Office of the HKSARG in Beijing (BJO) Meeting focus: Hong Kong’s role in GBA development

Luncheon meeting with Chen Zhou, Vice Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)

Li Bo, front row, 6th from right Key personnel: Li Bo, Director General of Monetary Policy Department, People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Meeting focus: Financial elements of 19th Party Congress report, especially the “Two pillar-system” framework

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Chen Zhi Tuan, front row, 3rd from right Key personnel: Chen Zhi Tuan, Deputy Director General of Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs (MOFCOM) Meeting focus: Overview and impact of the 19th Party Congress report; Updates on BRI, GBA and CEPA

Davis Wang, CEO of Mobike William Zarit, Chairman of AmCham China, speaks at a networking dinner

Lin NianXiu, front row, 5th from left Key personnel: Lin NianXiu, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Meeting focus: Progress on the implementation strategy and timetable of GBA and BRI

China brief to AmCham by Jacob Parker, Vice President, China Operations, the US-China Business Council Meeting focus: China’s 19th Party Congress report outcome and Implications for Business; Business Environment in China

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TAXATION

U.S. Tax Reform: The Impact on Taxpayers and Corporations President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill signifying the largest tax cuts in U.S. history in hope of boosting economic growth.

George McCormick, a Hong Kong-based registered foreign lawyer at Withers specializing in U.S. tax, trust, and estate planning, explains what it all means for American individuals and businesses

By Kenny Lau

What are the U.S. tax cuts all about?

Discussions have taken place in Congress for years about reforming the tax code, simplifying it, and reducing tax rates; yet, there had been no dramatic changes in the past several years. The framework released on September 27 was the first significant step to dramatically reform the U.S. tax code.

The House of Representatives then passed H.R. 1 (“Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) on November 16 while the Senate passed its version of tax reform with some similarities but also noticeable differences on December 2.

Significantly, both chambers of Congress have now passed this legislation of tax reform, and President Donald Trump has subsequently signed the bill into law.

What are the implications for U.S. taxpayers?

For individuals, one of the goals of tax reform was to simplify the tax code and make filing easier. As an example, in the House’s version of the legislation, the

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number of income tax brackets would be lowered from 7 to 4 brackets while the amount of income tax deductions would be reduced. Ultimately, the number of tax brackets will remain the same, but the highest rate will be lowered from 39.6 percent to 37 percent.

The drive to eliminate tax deductions could have the effect of reducing certain individuals’ tax liability but

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Also, another popular deduction, for mortgage interest paid, will be diminished in effect as well. In the end, it could have been worse, from a taxpayer’s perspective, given that previous iterations of legislation would have eliminated the state and local tax deduction and further minimized the mortgage interest deduction.

“Unfortunately, for American expats, this round of tax reform is complete, and U.S. citizens will continue to be taxed on a worldwide basis while U.S. corporations will move to a new system that will largely exempt their overseas earnings from U.S. taxation.”

To what extent does it affect federal estate income tax liability?

Notably, the federal estate tax will be significantly altered. The current US$5 million unified credit against estate and gift tax will be increased to US$10 million per person, although this credit amount will revert to US$5 million after 2025. In the House’s original bill, it would have eliminated the estate tax, but differences with the Senate’s legislation eventually resulted in a compromise that maintains the estate tax for wealthy individuals.

Relatedly, “basis step-up” will be kept – which means that property inherited will continue to receive a cost basis in the hands of the recipient based on the value at the date of inheritance. This provides a substantial income tax benefit for recipients of inherited property as any built-in gain of an asset is essentially wiped away on the owner’s death.

Given the much larger estate tax exemption, it will be interesting to see if states such as New York, which impose their own estate tax, will follow suit and increase their estate tax exemption or maintain it at current levels. This would be highly relevant for residents and purchasers of properties in those states.

could also have the result of increasing it for others.

Under the finalized legislation, some deductions were modified or eliminated in the name of simplicity and for revenue raising to pay for rate cuts elsewhere.

One example of a modified deduction is the “state and local tax deduction” used by many taxpayers in states such as New York and California to deduct state and local taxes paid on their federal income tax returns.

Under the final version of the bill, deductions for state and local taxes will be capped at US$10,000 a year.

This will certainly impact high-earners and those who pay high property taxes in those states.

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It is worth noting that many of the changes in the legislation for individuals are subject to a “sunset” clause and will phase out after 2025.

What about the impact at the corporate level?

Corporations and businesses will see dramatic changes as well. First and foremost, the highest rate of U.S. federal corporate income tax will be reduced from 35 percent to 21 percent. Also, U.S. corporations will move to a somewhat territorial-based tax system that would effectively exempt U.S. tax dividends on earnings from foreign subsidiaries.

For owners of “pass-through” businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability

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companies, there will be a new deduction equal to 20 percent of their business income for a given year. As owners of pass-through entities pay tax on income earned annually by their businesses, this could lower the tax rate for a business owner from a rate of 37 percent to below 30 percent.

How will U.S. businesses benefit in terms of offshore earnings?

An important provision in this law provides that U.S. corporations will very generally not be subject to U.S. corporate income tax on future offshore earnings. This will allow them to expand and invest using that income that has not been taxed by the United States (although it may have been taxed by a foreign country).

It will not be a completely tax-free ride, though, for U.S. corporations with overseas business activities. For example, the new law will levy a one-off tax on previously earned offshore income. The tax will be applied on income invested in most types of assets, like cash, at a 15.5 percent tax rate, although income that has been invested in illiquid assets would be subject to a tax of 8 percent.

How are U.S. citizens working/living abroad affected?

As U.S. citizens are subject to U.S. federal income tax reporting on a worldwide basis, most of the changes for individual tax reform will affect U.S. citizens living abroad. Although there have been proposals publicly floated to exempt U.S. citizens working and living abroad from annual U.S. tax reporting, those plans were not included in the final legislation.

Citizenship-based taxation is uncompetitive for the plain reason that the United States is one of the few countries in the entire world that taxes on a citizenship basis. It is also the only developed country to do so.

Although the U.S. attracts many highly-skilled immigrants, its citizenship-based tax system (and taxing Green Card holders on a worldwide basis) could discourage some immigrants from moving to the United States.

Unfortunately, for American expats, this round of tax reform is complete, and U.S. citizens will continue to be taxed on a worldwide basis while U.S. corporations will move to a new system that will largely exempt their overseas earnings from U.S. taxation.

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What are the potential impact on international (non-U.S.) investors?

The reductions in income tax rates are important because Asian corporations and investors are subject to tax on income derived from U.S. sources, including rent and gains from the sale of U.S. property. As of now, gains on property sales are taxed at higher rates for corporations than for individuals and pass-through entities like partnerships.

Going forward, investors in U.S. real estate, whether individuals, corporations or partnerships, will likely see lower rates of tax and greater return on their investment.

In fact, the reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate may make investing in the U.S. through a corporation more appealing, which historically has not been the case.

Importantly, Asian individual investors should remember that unlike U.S. taxpayers, non-U.S. taxpayers only have a US$60,000 U.S. estate tax exemption – which means they should take into consideration the U.S. estate tax (and ways of minimizing the tax) when investing in U.S. real estate. However, for international investors, the estate tax exemption for them was not changed in this legislation.

Overall, how does it all compare to President Reagan’s trickle-down economics?

There are similarities in the sense that this reform could lead to higher income earners seeing the most direct benefit. This may be intentional like trickle-down economics and somewhat unintentional in the sense that experts often say that the top one percent of income earners pay a substantial amount of the income taxes collected.

For example, for 2014 the Tax Policy Center stated that the top one percent paid nearly 45 percent of the individual income taxes collected. Any reduction in tax rates or alteration of tax brackets may disproportionately benefit this group, whether intended or not.

There are certainly differences, though, when this legislation is compared to the results of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. In some respects, it appears to make that effort more progressive than this one. For example, in 1986 there was little change to the estate tax, limitations were created to eliminate tax shelters, and capital gains were taxed the same as ordinary income.

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ASEAN FOCUS

ThetoRoad Nowhere Phnom Penh’s construction industry is buoyant, driven skywards by developers maximizing the benefits of the Belt and Road initiative.

But not everybody is pleased with the city’s transformation

By Jennifer Khoo

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urn anywhere in downtown Phnom Penh and a new high-rise greets the eye. Dotting the city are construction sites and cranes, scaffolding and shade wrap in green. This new skyline protrudes above the shophouses and colonial buildings that form the low-rise cityscape of Cambodia’s capital city.

The sprouting high-rises are mostly funded by the Chinese investment that has followed the Belt and Road initiative. Designed to improve economic ties between mainland China and its neighbors, the Belt and Road calls for developed infrastructure in countries around the region. In Cambodia, the drive for better infrastructure is propelling an explosive expansion of the local construction industry.

Billions in building As of 2014, construction officially overtook agriculture and tourism as the second-largest driver of economic growth in Cambodia. A remarkable fact, considering that 80 percent of Cambodians live in the countryside and that the Southeast Asian nation boasts one of the biggest tourist drawing cards anywhere on Earth: the archaeological treasure of Angkor Wat.

“In 2016, the Cambodian government approved several construction projects worth a total value of US$8.5 billion, more than double the value of those approved in 2015.”

Since then, construction has continued to grow at a rapid rate. In 2016, the Cambodian government approved several construction projects worth a total value of US$8.5 billion, more than double the value of those approved in 2015.

Downtown Phnom Penh

Photo: Thinkstock

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Myanmar

Southern Economic Corridor

Thailand Vietnam

Poipet Dawei

Bangkok

Cambodia

Phnom Penh Bavet

Ho Chi Minh City

Vung Tau

These projects, intended to boost the country’s capacity for international trade, include a deep-sea port in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, and the Southern Economic Corridor, an extensive road system linking Phnom Penh to border crossings with Thailand and Vietnam.

Beyond their means The projects enabled by Belt and Road investment extend beyond ports and highways. New hotels, offices, factories and leisure facilities are also in the pipeline across the country.

The flurry of building activity has also created more jobs, especially in Phnom Penh. Construction in the capital employs about 50,000 people a day, according to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.

Despite the benefits, there are concerns that the influx of investment is not being directed to where it is needed most. One particular concern is Phnom Penh’s shortage of suitable – affordable – housing for Cambodians.

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To a casual observer, the capital’s upscale condos might indicate healthy economic development. The Belt and Road vision is that better infrastructure, including better housing, will attract foreign investors.

To a middle-class Cambodian, the construction of affordable housing would be a better use of Chinese money. Most of the luxury housing is meant for wealthy foreigners and prices Cambodians out of the market.

Sihanoukville Port

Prosperity’s pinch point Developers may have been right to tap the high end of the market when Phnom Penh had only a few luxury homes to offer, but times have changed, and supply now outstrips demand.

The city’s population is forecast to grow by at least 50 percent between now and 2030, meaning demand for affordable housing can only increase. There are cultural issues too. Cambodians are used to community living and it remains to be seen if living apart in conspicuous comfort will be accepted widely.

But Chinese developers, long deaf to criticism of their environmentally unfriendly construction practices, seem unlikely to be moved by an argument based on the social needs of communities where they pursue their projects.

Cambodians are excited to see their nation prosper at long last, but it’s a tricky situation to be in. Collectively, they must weigh up how to balance their needs against the influence of investment flowing from the Belt and Road Initiative, and how to call for the right balance to be struck, without being seen to bite the hand that feeds them.

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Photo: Kinnla

“To a middle-class Cambodian, the construction of affordable housing would be a better use of Chinese money. Most of the luxury housing is meant for wealthy foreigners and prices Cambodians out of the market.”

It may be that developers operating in Cambodia will get the message and alter their strategy of building high-end homes once they see their inventory go unsold and unoccupied. With luck, the market will deliver the message sooner rather than later.

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SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Field of Dreams (and molehills):

Little League Baseball in Hong Kong Little League baseball has a proud history in Hong Kong, but the territory’s budding baseball stars play under challenging conditions

By Paula Sailes

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n a drizzly Sunday morning on a makeshift baseball pitch near Lion Rock, two groups of teenagers are playing their hearts out for the chance to be Hong Kong Little League Juniors Champions 2017.

Among the enthusiastic supporters is Owen Belman, CEO of Aon Risk Solutions North Asia, AmCham Treasurer and President of Hong Kong Little League.

Owen comes from the U.S., but today his son is playing for a Japanese team, which also includes two local teenagers, one Korean American and one Taiwanese American. They are playing a local team from Sha Tin that won the championship last year.

“Watch out for this kid,” he tells us as a teenager steps up to the plate, “this is the best player in the league right here.”

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The teams in the league reflect Hong Kong’s multicultural environment. There are the Korean and Japanese Baseball Clubs, the Tai Tam Baseball Club which represents the western community, and four local Hong Kong clubs from Ho Man Tin, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin and Aberdeen.

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“The parents get used to a lot of different cuisines,” one father jokingly tells me, as a bag of teppanyaki beef jerky is passed through the crowd.

Little League has a surprisingly long history in Hong Kong. The organization was founded in 1972, back when the territory was still a sleepy British colony. Since then it has grown to include more than 450 children between the ages of 7 and 15. Its goal is to introduce baseball to kids of all nationalities and to teach them the value of fair play and hard work through sport.

Baseball is extremely popular across Asia. Travel through Taiwan or Korea and you’ll be struck by both the number and the quality of their fields. Korea has reportedly spent 10 million U.S. dollars on a state-of-the-art facility outside Seoul which will host the regional Little League tournament for the next five years.

Owen Belman

While Hong Kong’s adult baseball players are well catered for, the territory’s Little League facilities leave much to be desired. The field known as Lion Rock 2, where the Juniors championship is taking place, is owned by the Water Supplies Department and sits on top of a reservoir. To describe its surface as uneven would be an understatement.

“It’s pretty bad,” Owen explains, "my wife is from Minnesota and we have a house there. Within a three-mile area there are two fantastic complexes which each have six to eight immaculate fields, they are very flat and they are maintained. The fields here have a lot of grass growing where it's supposed to be dirt, they are fundamentally not level so when the ball is hit it can bounce all over the place.”

Hong Kong Little League’s board is in the process of raising funds to level and grade the fields at Lions Rock and Ho Man Tin West, to re-sod the infield and

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outfield and put baseball dirt in the infield cutouts. Raising the money is only half the battle. All improvements need approval from the Water Supplies Department.

Peter Tung is in charge of the fundraising efforts. As a parent and volunteer he wears many hats: most recently, chief molehill flattener.

“The space is beautiful and it’s a great location. The only thing is that because we aren’t able to use fertilizers on the grass, a lot of animals, rodents, moles have dug in beneath the subsurface and made the grass really bumpy so obviously that’s quite dangerous. You need a flat area to make sure you have true roll on the baseball.”

Upgrading the facilities would make a tremendous

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difference to the league and to the children that play in it. Better facilities would mean fewer rainouts and more practice hours which could translate into an expansion of the league itself.

Owen is hopeful that negotiations with the Water Supplies Department will prove productive and that the proposed improvements to the fields will be complete by August 2018.

“It’s a shame that such a marvelous, international city as Hong Kong does not offer baseball fields meeting international standards for these kids to play on, and we hope to work with the Hong Kong government and Water Supplies Department to change this reality. It is impressive to me the number of local kids that are passionate about baseball - I just wish we could give them a world-class experience.”

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AMERICAN TOPICS

A trio of jazz musicians give a great performance for the audience.

AmCham President Tara Joseph, right, makes a toast with U.S. Consul General Kurt Tong at the Thanksgiving Luncheon.

AmCham Chairman Walter Dias delivers his remarks in celebration of an American tradition.

A Time to Give Thanks AmCham hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon in honor of the Hong Kong government officials who have supported the Chamber in 2017. It was a festive evening of traditional Thanksgiving cuisine, fine wines and relaxed conversation.

Thank you to everyone who came!

Title Sponsor:

Charitable Foundation Trustee Jon Zinke, left, presents Peter Nip with AmCham’s 2017 Ira Dan Kaye Community Service Award for his commitment to helping the underprivileged in Hong Kong.

Wine Sponsor:

Premium Table Sponsors:

Corporate Table Sponsors:

Plymouth Sponsors:

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Pilgrim Sponsors:

Lucky Draw Prize Sponsors:

In-Kind Sponsor:

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



Guide to



INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

American School Hong Kong (ASHK) 6 Ma Chung Road, Tai Po, New Territories

School Profile

American School Hong Kong (ASHK) is a KG to Grade 12 non-profit, college preparatory school opened in August 2016 in Tai Po. ASHK provides a challenging American and International education program that empowers students to become independent critical thinkers and responsible global citizens who excel in their studies and future careers.

ASHK is operated by Esol Education, the world’s largest operator of international American schools, with 40 years of experience in establishing and operating high standard international schools worldwide. Currently, more than 10,000 students attend Esol’s nine schools across three continents. Graduates from the Esol Education are now attending leading universities, including Stanford, MIT, Yale, Columbia and the London School of Economics.

Curriculum Features

• US Common Core with IB Diploma Program • STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Focus • Holistic education taught by qualified North American teachers • Daily Chinese Program with Traditional/ Simplified Chinese Writing

Facilities

ASHK offers modern classrooms with the latest teaching technology, laboratories, athletic facilities, gymnasium, media center, music room, art studios, children playground and cafeteria.

IT

All classrooms are fitted out to a high standard with the latest interactive and digital facilities served by high speed broadband and a robust wireless network.

Accreditations

Esol Education International schools and the Esol Educationsponsored American School Hong Kong benefit from accreditation and affiliations with: • The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) • East Asia Regional Conference of Schools (EARCOS) • Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)

Admissions

Currently a rolling admissions policy has been adopted. All children are welcome to apply.

After School Activities

• Learn to Play programs are available for the younger children.

ASHK will enter competitive teams in the ISSFHK in a variety of sports for 10-year old students and upward • Student Leadership, Clubs, Community Service programs are available • Stanford Academic Summer Program • Global program partnering with ASHK’s sister schools in Esol Education Tel: (852) 3919 4111 Email: admissions@ashk.edu.hk

www.ashk.edu.hk

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Canadian International School of Hong Kong 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen

School Profile For over 25 years, Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) has been known as Hong Kong’s innovative school. The first to introduce a 1-to-1 laptop programme over a decade ago, CDNIS continues its drive at providing future ready learning even further with Project Innovate.

This ambitious whole-school initiative ensures students have the skills, dispositions, and mindsets needed to succeed in today’s fast-changing world. Deployed within the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, Project Innovate supports high academic standards, language proficiency, and an involvement in the wider community. Technology plays a key role as students as young as Grade 1 not only learn how to code, but they also utilize 3D printers, laser cutters, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

As one of only five IB through-train schools in Hong Kong, CDNIS students also take the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. These two diplomas provide students with tremendous opportunities to secure university places with no additional academic burden. CDNIS students also achieve some of the highest IB results in the world with two members of the Class of 2017 achieving a perfect 45 score.

All CDNIS students, from Pre Reception to Grade 12, share life on one campus and are encouraged to maintain a balance between academics and extra-curricular opportunities. The school provides an incredibly diverse selection of extra-curricular activities for a school of its size as students can select to participate in more than 70 activities, service groups, clubs, performing groups or school teams.

Tel: (852) 2525 7088 Email: admissions@cdnis.edu.hk

www.cdnis.edu.hk

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

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English Schools Foundation 25/F, 1063 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

School Profile

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is the largest provider of English-medium international education in Hong Kong. Our 22 schools and comprehensive programme of extra-curricular activities bring out the best in every student through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds. Our strategic intent is to be the key driver of best practice in teaching and learning. Our model of education is on the cutting-edge of global innovation producing excellent outcomes for our students.

We have five secondary schools, nine primary schools and a school for students with special educational needs across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Two “all through” Private Independent Schools and five kindergartens are operated

by ESF’s affiliated company, ESF Educational Services Limited (ESL), which also offers English language classes and sports activities.

Vision and Mission

Our vision is for every student to be the best that they can be.

Our mission is to inspire creativity and nurture the global citizens and leaders of the future.

We do this by creating joyful learning environments, led by a community of exceptional teachers who bring out the best in every child through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds.

Admissions

For parents wishing their children to enter K1, Year 1 and Year 7, Central Application is open from 1 to 30 September of the year before they want their children to enter the school.

Dual applications are permitted to ESF and the two private independent schools (PIS). Applications to Discovery College and Renaissance College are through separate application processes, detailed on each of the college's websites.

School zoning (www.esf.edu.hk/esf-zones/) applies to ESF primary and secondary schools based on residential address at the time of application. ESF International Kindergartens, Discovery College and Renaissance College remain zone free.

Application to enter all year groups can be made at any time during the year. Applicants will be added to the waiting lists.

Curriculum

Preschool (K1 & K2) & Primary (Years 1 to 6) Secondary (Years 7 to 11)

Secondary (Years 12 to 13)

IB Primary Years Programme Secondary Schools: A broad range of GCSE* and International GCSE courses IB Middle Years Programme IB Diploma Programme Applied Learning Pathway

*The full name of GCSE is the General Certificate of Secondary Education

Kindergartens

Secondary Schools

Primary Schools

Private Independent Schools (All-through Schools)

ESF Abacus International Kindergarten ESF Hillside International Kindergarten ESF Tsing Yi International Kindergarten ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten ESF Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten Beacon Hill School www.beaconhill.edu.hk Bradbury School www.bradbury.edu.hk Clearwater Bay School www.cwbs.edu.hk Glenealy School www.glenealy.edu.hk Kennedy School www.kennedy.edu.hk Kowloon Junior School www.kjs.edu.hk Peak School www.ps.edu.hk Quarry Bay School www.qbs.edu.hk Sha Tin Junior School www.sjs.edu.hk

Island School www.island.edu.hk King George V School www.kgv.edu.hk Sha Tin College www.shatincollege.edu.hk South Island School www.sis.edu.hk West Island School www.wis.edu.hk

Discovery College www.discovery.edu.hk Renaissance College www.rchk.edu.hk

Special School

Jockey Club Sarah Roe School www.jcsrs.edu.hk

ESF After School Programmes

ESF Sports ESF Language & Learning ESF Early Learners www.esf.org.hk

Individual and Corporate Nomination Rights provide a fast-track route for children into ESF schools, providing they meet the entry requirements.

Tel: (852) 2574 2351 Fax: (852) 2818 5690 Email: info@esfcentre.edu.hk

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Harrow International School Hong Kong 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong

School Profile Harrow International School Hong Kong is a leading school in Hong Kong and Asia, combining the best of a British education in a vibrant international setting.

It is the first international boarding and day school in Hong Kong, providing an all-round, all-through education from Early Years until Year 13, with a combined roll of 1261 pupils.

Located in a magnificent crescent-shaped building with custom-built facilities near the Gold Coast, Tuen Mun, the School integrates elements of educational philosophy, practice and traditions from Harrow School in the UK into the diverse international community of Hong Kong to provide a highly distinctive education.

Joining Harrow Hong Kong provides an opportunity for pupils to achieve excellence, enjoy a range of extra-curricular activities, and acquire the skills and qualities required to become future leaders in a rapidly changing world.

The School is proud of its examination record, with 67% achieving A*/A grades at A-Level in 2017. These results, along with our inspiring teaching, leadership programme and focus on an all-round education, enable Harrow Hong Kong pupils to realise their potential and enter top universities across the globe.

Studying at Harrow Hong Kong is an enriching, exciting and empowering experience. We invite you to come and visit us and see our community at work.

School Structure and Curricula

The Early Years (K1 and K2) follows the English-based ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ Curriculum.

The Pre-Prep School (Year 1 to Year 5) follows the English-based ‘National Curriculum of England (2014)’.

The Prep School (Year 6 to Year 8) offers a skills-based curriculum based on the National Curriculum, which is designed to manage the transition from the environment in the Pre-Prep School to the more subject-specific environment in the Senior School.

The Senior School (Year 9 to Year 11) curriculum is based on IGCSE courses studied over three years.

The Sixth Form (Year 12 to Year 13) curriculum is based on A-Level courses studied over two years, together with the Extended Project Qualification and the School’s own Harrow International Perspectives course.

Leadership for a better world

Tel: (852) 2824 9099 Fax: (852) 2824 9928 Email: info@harrowschool.hk @Harrow_HK

www.harrowschool.hk AmChamHK 12 • 2017

A varied extra-curricular programme is an essential part of a Harrow education and, distinctively in Hong Kong a significant part of it is integrated into the School day for all pupils from Year 1 to Year 13.

Activity option choices and a number of core activities take place within the timetable, as well as in enrichment time after 5.15pm for boarders. These programmes, together with the School’s bespoke pastoral education programme, aim to encourage pupils to attain excellence in those activities in which they show talent while engaging over time in a broad range of activities that enable them to develop the skills associated with six key themes: service, charity, teamwork, creative expression, leadership and challenge.

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Hong Kong Academy 33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong

School Profile HKA is an IBO World School offering the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes for approximately 650 learners from ages 3 to 18. HKA’s students and faculty come from more than 40 countries, with no one country representing a majority. HKA believes that we are all learners and that we learn best in a diverse community that is grounded in mutual respect. Learning with friends who come from different parts of the world and different cultures develops open-mindedness and nurtures the development of thoughtful global citizens.

The school’s globally-sourced curriculum draws from researched-based, best practice and offers a rigorous and inclusive education that supports students in their individual pathways to excellence. Approximately 15% of the student body receives some form of learner support.

HKA’s mission statement emphasises the school’s core values: a rigorous international education, pathways to individual excellence, a dynamic community of learners, educational leadership and a captivating learning environment.

HKA is an independent, non-profit school governed by a volunteer Board comprised of current and former parents. In addition to being an IB World School, HKA is accredited by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS).

Tel: (852) 2655 1111 Email: admissions@hkacademy.edu.hk

www.hkacademy.edu.hk

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Hong Kong International School (HKIS) 1 Red Hill Road, Tai Tam, Hong Kong

School Profile

Hong Kong International School is a leading private co-educational college preparatory school for students from Reception One (pre-kindergarten) to Grade 12.

Since 1966, HKIS has provided an American-style education grounded in the Christian faith. We encourage student achievement in an inspiring environment, and our programs reflect the rich multi-cultural and international character of our student body. We are committed to delivering exceptional teaching, and continually evolve our programs and facilities to enhance our student experience. HKIS offers a warm and inclusive learning environment for over 2,700 students of 40 nationalities and diverse religious backgrounds.

HKIS is an East Asia Regional Council of Schools member and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Over 25 Advanced Placement subjects are available to High School students.

HKIS provides educational excellence with a difference, emphasizing compassion and community service across all grades. HKIS courses challenge and inspire students to be lifelong learners and global citizens. Our graduates attend the top universities around the world, with close to 85% attending American institutions. HKIS seeks students who will not only benefit from the educational experiences we provide but will also actively contribute to our school community.

Tel: (852) 3149 7001 Email: admissions@hkis.edu.hk

www.hkis.edu.hk

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

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GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Mindful Wing Chun 8/F On Lan Centre, 11-15 On Lan Street, Central 2 minutes walk from Central MTR Exit D1

School Profile First established in June 2008, Mindful Wing Chun continues to provide quality, genuine Kung Fu classes taught by our team of experienced and passionate instructors. We aim to continue the legacy of the late great Grandmaster Ip Man and our greatly missed Grandmaster, Chu Shong Tin.

Every class is finished off with a 5-minute mediation helping the children to maintain the mind and body connection that we so often move away from in our later years. We forget how much of the world we experience with our bodies, how much we learn from them and how much our analytical ‘thinking’ side takes over.

Deeply appreciating that today’s children are the next great Sifu’s of this art, our classes are geared towards inspiring and motivating our students to further the development and progression of Wing Chun, one of Grandmaster Chu’s last wishes.

Self awareness leads to confidence, compassion, control and choices.

Who knew you could get all this from one amazing Kung Fu system!

Many are surprised to witness the classes in action as Mindful Wing Chun is not your typical martial arts school! Our curriculum has been specifically designed to encourage the development of the individual, leading children to a greater sense of self-awareness, confidence and intrinsic gratification.

How do the children achieve this? The techniques are taught with an emphasis on ‘mindful movement’, performing it with control, relaxation and consideration; not the end result of hitting a pad as hard as they possibly can! This eventually leads to great power but one that can be expressed safely and precisely.

The newly added ‘Life Skills’ section encourages the children to talk about their feelings, experiences, dreams, problems and successes in an open safe and supportive situation. To express your self without the fear of ridicule can never be underestimated.

Tel: (852) 6620 7050 Email: info@mindfulwingchun.com.hk www.instagram.com/mindful_wingchun/ www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010764875645

www.mindfulwingchun.com.hk

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Nord Anglia International School Pre-schools: Tai Tam and Sai Kung

Primary and Secondary School: Lam Tin

Features

School Profile Nord Anglia International School, is part of a global family of 47 premium international schools located in 18 countries across China, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Southeast Asia. In total, Nord Anglia Education teachers and school staff look after more than 45,000 students globally.

NAIS follows the English National Curriculum, starting with the EYFS Framework, before moving onto IGCSEs and IB Diploma. With a focus on individualised learning, the school’s rigorous curricula ensure that students have a creative and challenging learning experience. NAIS is committed to educational excellence and students across the Nord Anglia Education (NAE) family produce final year results well above the world average with over 91% going on to their university of choice.

Mandarin is taught throughout. The school’s class sizes range from 20 per class (in Lower and Upper Kindergarten) to 24 per class (in Primary and Secondary).

Hours

Lower Kindergarten Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:30am Afternoon Session: 12:15 – 2:45pm Years 1 – 6: 7:45am – 2:45pm

Curriculum

English National Curriculum

Upper Kindergarten 8:30am – 2:45pm

Years 7 – 9: 7:45am – 3:30pm

Transport

School bus service available

The school’s Global Campus allows students to connect with more than 45,000 pupils from Nord Anglia Education's schools around the world.

Nord Anglia Education also has an exclusive collaboration with The Juilliard School to give students a unique opportunity to learn about music through iconic works and regular connections with practicing musicians. In addition, the school has collaborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to bring a new approach to learning the interdisciplinary subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM). Furthermore, Nord Anglia’s collaboration with UNICEF and the World’s Largest Lesson initiative enables students to take a leading role in the global discussion about key issues affecting our world.

IT

Interactive whiteboards, iPads, Computing Suite

Principal

Mr. Brian Cooklin

*Fees:

Nursery Mornings Session: HK$ 105,000 Nursery Afternoon Session: HK$ 75,000 Lower Kindergarten: HK$ 136,500 Upper Kindergarten, Year 1-6: HK$ 150,325 per year Year 7-10: HK$ 167,685 per year

Admission

Apply today via email at admissions@nais.hk or complete an online application form on our website at www.nais.hk/apply

Extra-curricular activities

Our ECAs include Mandarin, Spanish, Arts, Crafts, Sewing, Minecraft, Robotics and Lego. Our sports ECAs include Football, Badminton, Basketball, Hockey, Swimming and Cross-country, to name a few.

Facilities

Flexible teaching spaces and a variety of different outdoor settings for learning, sports and leisure including a 25-metre swimming pool, large multi-purpose hall, specialist classrooms for Music, Art, Drama, Computer Studies and Science, cafeteria, a library and an activity area for each year group. Please note facilities will vary across campuses.

Tel: (852) 3958 1428 Fax: (852) 3958 1499 Email: admissions@nais.hk

www.nais.hk AmChamHK 12 • 2017

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GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Stamford American School – Hong Kong School Profile Stamford American School - Hong Kong is a world-class international school that opened September 4th, 2017 that offers a unique approach to education that helps your child achieve more than they believe they can. We offer a rigorous standards-based American education for children aged 5 to 18 years old, with a choice to graduate with either the International Baccalaureate Diploma* or American High School Diploma.

We opened the doors of our Hong Kong campus on September 4th, 2017, following the huge success at Stamford American International School in Singapore, which today has over 3,000 students from 70 nationalities and 90% of graduates accepted to their 1st choice university or college.

Stamford American School -Hong Kong is part of Cognita, a global leader in independent education with over 65 schools worldwide.

Stamford American draws upon Cognita's wide-ranging international breadth and expertise of educators to share best practice and deliver the highest quality education.

Address

School Campus Suites 4005-4007,Level 40, Two Exchange Square 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong

Curriculum

Stamford offers an interdisciplinary approach-a standards-based curriculum developed from the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) and Common Core Plus frameworks, culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12.

We have a strong focus on a problem-based STEMinn (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Innovation) which is integrated into our curriculum to to prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow. We personalize learning and measure success with continual standardized MAP® assessments in Reading, Math and Science. We offer a strong foreign language program with bilingual (English/Mandarin) or daily options in Chinese and Spanish.

Stamford allows every child to achieve more than they believe they can by offering a well-rounded athletics and the arts curriculum and further development in our after school co-curricular activities. We inspire children with our highly-qualified faculty and Global Mentor program where our students have the opportunity to interact with world class achievers.

We are committed to preparing our students for future success in any part of the world to continue to live, learn, and work.

Admissions Office 25 Man Fuk Rd, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2500 8688 Email: admissions@sais.edu.hk

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American International School 125 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon

School Profile Founded in 1986, AIS is a private and independent school serving both local and international families in Hong Kong. AIS nurtures confident, caring and well-rounded students from early childhood through to high school. Fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the academic program is college preparatory in design and fully aligned with recognized US educational standards. Each year, majority of Grade 11 and 12 students receive AP Scholars recognition from the US College Board.

AIS graduates earn admission to the most prestigious universities and colleges in the United States and worldwide.

Facilities

Global learning and vegetable gardens, indoor and outdoor sportsgrounds and basketball courts, library, performing arts hall and swimming pool are built on campus. Teaching and learning programs utilise individualised technology and cyber learning community with interactive whiteboards installed in all classrooms.

School Hours

Early Childhood 1 8:00am – 11:00am & 12:00pm – 3:00pm Early Childhood 2 to Grade 12 8:00am – 3:00pm

The “Expected Schoolwide Learning Results” form the holistic educational program at AIS, guiding every student towards becoming well-rounded individuals, empowered thinkers, effective communicators and global citizens.

Curriculum

US Standards-based curriculum including Advanced Placement courses in high school Tel: (852) 2336 3812 Email: admissions@ais.edu.hk

www.ais.edu.hk

@aishongkong

Australian International School Hong Kong 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong

School Profile Situated in Kowloon Tong, Australian International School Hong Kong (AISHK) is a non-profit, co-educational day school for students from Reception to Year 12. A warm community and premier learning environment, AISHK currently welcomes more than 1,100 students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Operating on an Australian school year (late January to mid-December), AISHK is the only school in Hong Kong to utilise the Australian curriculum. AISHK offers senior students the option to undertake either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (NSW HSC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), creating a seamless transition to all universities in Australia and around the world.

Our Positive Education program complements the school’s rigorous academic focus while enabling students to develop personality and character, celebrate excellence, develop confidence, and maintain genuine and meaningful friendships.

Tel: (852) 2304 6078 Fax: (852) 2304 6077 Email: admissions@aishk.edu.hk

www.aishk.edu.hk AmChamHK 12 • 2017

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GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Discovery Montessori Schools Group School Profile Discovery Montessori Schools (DMS) Group holds 3 beautiful European designed Montessori International schools in Hong Kong. The two DMS Preschools in Central and Discovery Bay offer an International Montessori Education to children aged 1-6yrs.

The DMA Primary School in Discovery Bay offers an International Curriculum that combines the IB PYP Program and the Montessori Elementary Program following AMI guidelines, for children aged 6-12yrs. DMS schools are reputable International Bilingual (English and Mandarin) Montessori Schools that provide an authentic Montessori learning environment for children aged from one to twelve years old. DMS strives to help children reach their highest potential, inspire and nurture the individuality of children, encourage children to explore and learn independently in a creative and enriched prepared environment. The schools foster a strong academic foundation for a lifetime of learning in the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics & Geometry, Biology, Geography, Science and History. DMS schools hold 600 International students from over 30 nations, with a low teacher-to-child ratio.

Curriculum

Montessori Early Childhood (1-6Y) and Elementary (6-12Y) Education, International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP (3-12Y)

Faculty of Staffs

Qualified AMI/AMS/MCI Montessori Teachers with > 10 years teaching experience on average, from over 12 countries.

Predominantly trained in the USA, Britain, Canada and Australia.

Accreditation

DMS schools are members of the Montessori Schools Association In the UK, and an IB PYP Candidate School.

Tel: (852) 2850 8006 Email: enquiry@dms.edu.hk

www.dms.edu.hk

Kellett School,

The British International School in Hong Kong Pok Fu Lam Campus – 2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong Kowloon Bay Campus – 7 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

School Profile Kellett School was founded in 1976 as a not-for-profit Association by like-minded parents, in order to provide a high-quality British education to the English-speaking community in Hong Kong. Today, Kellett is a full through-train school, educating over 1300 students from 4 to 18 years. Following the English National Curriculum, Kellett offers a truly ‘outstanding’ education, as confirmed during a recent whole school BSO (British Schools Overseas) Inspection as well as exceptional public examination results. A broad curriculum, coupled with a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, ensures that all Kellett students from Reception through to I/GCSEs and A-levels achieve their own personal bests.

Tel: (852) 3120 0700 Email: admissions@kellettschool.com Pok Fu Lam Campus Fax: 2875 0262 Kowloon Bay Campus Fax: 2305 2292 Principal: Ann Mc Donald @KellettSchool

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AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Kingston International School 113 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

School Profile Kingston International School is a leader in bilingual education (English and Putonghua) catering for students from Playgroup through Primary 6 with the through-train option of attending International College Hong Kong (ICHK).

Since 1996 Kingston has been providing quality bilingual education in a small school setting. In March 2004, we became the first Authorized IBPYP school in Hong Kong. Our high teacher-to-student ratio and small class numbers provide the ideal environment for inquiry-based learning. Our program is taught in English and Putonghua by fully qualified, experienced teachers.

The Kingston community feels like an extended family in which multi-cultural collaboration has resulted in a distinct and successful approach to bilingualism. Kingston students are renowned for their ability to be expressive communicators in both English and Putonghua.

To book a school tour or make further Inquiries: Email: enquiry@kingston.edu.hk Call: (852) 2337 9031

www.kingston.edu.hk

Renaissance College 5 Hang Ming Street, Ma On Shan, New Territories

School Profile Renaissance College is a member of the English Schools Foundation (ESF). ESF is the largest provider of English medium international education in Hong Kong. Our vision is for every student to be the best that they can be. Our mission is to inspire creativity and nurture global citizens and leaders of the future. We do this by creating joyful learning environments, led by a community of exceptional teachers who bring out the best in every child through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds.

Facilities

The purpose-built campus provides the context for students to excel.

State-of-the-art facilities include the Performing Arts Centre, ICT Centre, Black Box theatre, 25-metre indoor swimming pool, music rooms, library, science laboratories, gymnasiums, climbing wall, outdoor basketball courts, an outdoor sports field and cafeterias.

Curriculum

Renaissance College Hong Kong (RCHK) is a world-class coeducational independent school and an IB World School. It was the first school in Asia to offer all four of the IB programmes: PYP, MYP, DP and CP. Students are educated from Year 1 to Year 13 on one site, guided and encouraged by a team of experienced international educators. Our student body comprises 39 nationalities, with 20 languages represented. English is the medium of instruction, with Mandarin taught at every level. Technology is integrated college-wide throughout the curriculum. Creativity, activity, service (CAS) are also integral to college life. Students participate in a myriad of artistic, musical, sporting and service activities conducted on-site and off-campus.

AmChamHK 12 • 2017

Tel: (852) 3556 3556 Fax: (852) 3556 3446 Email: admissions@rchk.edu.hk

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Chairman’s Inauguration and Jan 19 AmCham’s Key 2018 Priorities Please join us as AmCham’s incoming Chairman, Mr. Jack Lange, identifies, highlights and addresses the pressing issues impacting the business communities in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific. Most importantly, he will share insights on AmCham’s key priorities for 2018.

As our Special Guests at this luncheon, AmCham will host the U.S. Consul General Kurt Tong, and more than 20 Foreign Service Officers at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong from the political and economic section, foreign commercial service, public affairs, regional security, consular section, and foreign agricultural sections to thank them for another year of close cooperation with the Chamber’s Board, Committees, and members on their priority issues plus a wide range of other programmatic and advocacy activities.

Jack Lange served as AmCham Vice-Chairman in 2017, and has served on the American Chamber’s Board of Governors since 2014. He is a partner in the Corporate Department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, based in the firm’s office in Hong Kong.

Venue: The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel 25/F Niccolo Room, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, HK

Time: 12:00pm - 02:00pm

Fees: Member: HK$800 Non-member: HK$950

Everything You Always Wanted to Jan 24 Know about B2B Content Marketing Nowadays every company needs to publish great content, especially those hoping to sell their B2B expertise to a discerning audience. But in a world of wannabe "thought leaders," how do you make your content stand out? What does "thought leadership" even mean?

You will learn from this workshop: • Strategies for convincing stakeholders of the value of content marketing • Approaches for crafting a successful B2B content marketing campaign, from idea creation to execution to reaching the correct audience and measuring success • Identifying common mistakes and how to avoid them David Line joined New Narrative as a partner in 2015 from The Economist Intelligence Unit where he was an Editor for over 10 years. As Global Lead for Financial Services Research, he led major international and regional content campaigns on capital markets and corporate finance trends.

Lorraine Cushnie joined New Narrative as a partner in 2017 after 15 years as a journalist and editor covering financial and professional markets in Europe and Asia. Most recently she was Managing Editor for Euromoney Institutional Investor banking and capital markets group in Asia.

For information, see website: www.amcham.org.hk Tel: (852) 2530 6919 Email: nyu@amcham.org.hk

Venue: The American Chamber of Commerce in HK 1904 Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road, Central, HK

Time: 12:00pm - 01:45pm

Fees: Member: HK$390 Non-member: HK$550

Climate Turbulence: What Businesses and Jan 25 Investors Can’t Afford to Ignore (Part 1) Recent catastrophic weather events around the world have been in the headlines and are top of mind for business leaders. Storms have already destroyed billions of dollars of value, and curtailed income streams going forward. This does not bode well for a future with more climate-induced weather in the forecast.

With climate change disrupting business operations, supply chains, customers, and overall business continuity, how do investors, asset managers, insurers and other financial players assess and manage risk? How should companies respond?

This event is aimed at financial services institutions who want to learn more about this emerging risk category, as well as companies who would like to plan for climate-related inquiries from investors and others.

Venue: The American Chamber of Commerce in HK 1904 Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road, Central, HK

Time: 12:00pm - 01:45pm

Fees: Member: HK$390 Non-member: HK$550