December Issu by The British Chamber of Commerce

Dec ember 2 01 0 • V ol 25 • No 1 1

In This Issue

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Hong Kong’s Nepali Community

PAGE

George Osborne

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A Carbon Tale of Three Cities

By Sam Powney

With

all the excitement surrounding the

tai feng（颱風）meaning a ‘lifting wind’.

as the wind tumbled walls, roofs, windows,

C40 gathering in Hong Kong and in the run up

Over 90% of typhoons aff f ecting this region

shop signs. Motorcar parts ﬂew like pebbles.

to the international climate change conference

originate in the warm waters around the

Steel lampposts were bent almost at right

in Cancun, environmental concerns have

Philippine Sea, spinning their way landward

angles. A waist-high flood of stinking water

recently taken a firm hold of local media

in a range from almost directly east (initially

a n d m u d s e e p e d t u r g i d l y t h ro u g h t h e

attention. Coincidentally, on the 19th of

affecting the Philippines itself), north east

waterfront streets.’

November Hong Kong residents experienced

(affecting Vietnam, Hong Kong, the south

a most unusual natural phenomenon for this

China coast and Ta T iwan), north north-east

The year 1999 saw a spate of typhoons

area - a small but noticeable eart r hquake. But

(primarily affecting Japan), or due north

and bad weather which killed at least

environmental and meteorological experts

(aff f ecting only some remote Paciﬁc islands).

1,289 people across the region and cost

are more intrigued about patterns in Hong

But observers have recognised a westerly

an estimated US$4.5 billion (at current

Kong’s more prevalent natural occurrence -

shift in typhoon patterns over the past 40

value, nearly HK$45.8 billion). That year one

the typhoon. We are now at the end of the

years, meaning a greater frequency in more

alone, Ty T phoon Yo Y rk, killed two people in

traditional typhoon season, and can look

tropical waters, but considerably fewer in

Hong Kong, injured another 500 and cost

back at what has been an unusually mild

the South China Sea.

Hong Kong an estimated HK$83 million. But for several years now there has been a

year in terms of tropical storms. There were

PAGE Ceilidh

Plus

14 typhoons in the Paciﬁc this year which is,

The damage caused by typhoons in the past

noticeable lull. 2008 saw one torrential storm,

compared to an average of 26 to 27 annually

has been considerable; tropical cyclones

known as Ty T phoon Nuri, which caused

(since 1951), an unprecedented drop. In fact,

are known to kill more people and cause

considerable damage and again killed two

Hong Kong has enjoyed a period of relative

more insured losses than any other natural

people. But although a direct hit, it was

respite from typhoons for over a decade now,

disaster. The so-called ‘Great Ty T phoon’ of

not a particularly powerful typhoon and the

a fact that most residents will likely think of

1937 is sometimes considered Hong Kong’s

estimated ﬁnancial loss to Hong Kong from

with nothing but relief.

worst, killing some eleven thousand people

Nuri was, in comparison, only around 3% of

- instruments in the observatory, capable

that caused by T Typhoon York.

No-one is sure where the word ‘typhoon’

of registering winds up to 125 mph, simply

f i r s t a p p e a re d . I t m a y c o m e f ro m t h e

broke down. A contemporary Time Magazine

One person always on the lookout for

ancient Greek word ty t y p hon which means

report described the scene, ‘Hong Kong’s

typhoons is 28-year-old, Gloucestershire-born

‘smoking’, or it may derive from the Chinese

business section became a sordid shambles

‘typhoon hunter’ James Reynolds. Reynolds

• Lifestyle • News • Events

(Continued on page 2)

www.britcham.com

COVER STORY (Continued from cover)

as been covering typhoons and other extreme weather phenomena for the past five years and frequently contributes to CNN and other global news networks reports. Though based in Hong Kong, chasing dramatic storms has taken him to the Philippines, Ta T iwan, Okinawa, and Vietnam. ‘Ty T phoons should be approached with caution,’ says Reynolds. ‘The old adage is: Run from the water,r hide from the wind. That means staying well back from the coast and out of the path of ﬂying debris.’ While this year he has been concentrating more on the recent rash of volcanic eruptions in South East Asia, typhoons are something of a

Man photographs huge waves in T Taiwan from Super-typhoon r Jangmi, 2008

first love. ‘I first got interested aft f er witnessing a powerful typhoon firsthand in Ta T iwan in the summer of 2005. Having seen the efffect in Ta T ipei,

People walk through ﬂood waters after Typhoon Xangsane in Hoi An, Vietnam, 2006

I wanted to experience the centre of the typhoon - the eye of the storm as it’s called.’ But typhoons have an essential function besides providing dramatic photography and video. Reynolds explains the pattern of cyclones, ‘They redistribute warm air from tropical waters across to the milder mid-latitudes – places like Hong Kong. If there are too few cyclones there can be drought, as was seen in south China in 2004.’ There is also an oscillation of

People doused by rain from Typhoon T Krosa in Taiwan, T October 2007

weather patterns to take into account. ‘The colder Paciﬁc waters of a La Niña period cause hurricanes in the Atlantic but milder wet seasons here. La Niña tends to follow on after a warm water El Niño, which is responsible for ﬂooding on the east coast of South America. They tend to oscillate on roughly 6 year cycles, but it’s by no means predictable.’

As the art r icle in the SCMP points out, given their investment in wind power Chinese ofﬁ f cials A report in October from Na N ture r magazine indicated that surface winds in the northern

are r understandably re r luctant to contemplat a e the idea that a wind turbines are r re r sponsible for the

hemisphere (mid-latitudes) have dropped by 5 to 15 % in the past three decades. A recent

change in wind speeds. There r are r besides, many other possible re r asons behind the lull. Climat ae

article in the South China Morning Post (SCMP) suggested that the drop could even be due

change and building construction are perhaps more likely culprits. Hong Kong’s ‘wall efffect’

to the much vaunted green energy source - wind power turbines. SCMP journalist Stephen

of closely packed high-rises is rare r ly seen as a positive situat a ion, but it does shelter innerr city

Chen described the current model of wind turbine as ‘a highly eff f icient energy sucker’.

r sidents fro re r m the full fury r of typhoon forc r e winds. Before r the building boom of the seventies,

There is a theory that a large number of these turbines could affect f weather patterns by

Hong Ko K ng Island and Ko K wloon re r sidents took typhoon warnings much more r seriously, y where r as

draining a signiﬁcant amount of kinetic energy from passing winds. However unlikely this

nowaday a s severe r weat a her warnings see people, given the day a offf, queuing up outside cinemas.

may seem, it is true that wind turbines have become increasingly large. Far from the idyllic sails of Dutch country mills, modern wind turbines can be over 100 metres tall and the total

Then again, there may be no culprit at all. A favourite resort of climate change deniers is that

structure often weighs more than 100 tonnes.

long term shifts in global weather patterns are and always have been apparent. Scientists are at pains to explain that human carbon emissions can contribute to just such long

In contrast to Hong Kong’s solitary wind turbine on Lamma Island, mainland China has

term shifts. To T look at the shift in a more nuanced light, it could be misleading to assume

made wind power one of its core renewable energy focuses, and now has more wind

that every long term weather shift has a human origin just as it is foolish to attribute every

turbines than any other nation. China’s commitment to wind power has shot into the

immediate natural disaster to global warming. This was also the opinion of the authors of a

headlines recently in connection with its cap on exporting ‘rare earth’ minerals. Rare earths,

recent study carried out in the Pearl River Delta, gathering indications of typhoons over the

in which north-central China is especially abundant, are a vital ingredient in the manufacture

somewhat breathtaking span of 8000 years. Researchers from the South China University of

of modern wind turbines. Coincidentally, many of China’s wind farms are built in the very

T Technology (Guangzhou) and the University of Hong Kong studied the impact of typhoons

areas where the rare earths are mined. In particular, the autonomous region of Inner

in the delta by analysing offfshore boreholes, beach-dune barriers, historical records and (more

Mongolia is blessed both with the bulk of rare earth ﬁelds and with high winds across its

recent) instrumental documentation. They noted the signiﬁcant decline since the mid 1970s

corridors of grassland and desert. So extensive has been China’s building of wind turbines

and its likely relationship with the El Niño weather patterns (notably affecting f the southern

and such a plank of the government’s energy strategy, that the small but consistent drop in

Paciﬁc), but could not give a deﬁnite explanation as to its cause. It is without doubt an

wind forces is already giving Chinese leaders and scientists cause for concern.

unusual shift, though it is not without precedent r – there was apparently a lesser incidence of typhoons during the so-called ‘Little Ice Age’, characterised by bitter winters, that stretched from late medieval times to the mid nineteenth century (or, more relevant to this region, the Ming and Qing dynasties). Wind patterns are an area that scientists are especially wary of trying to account for or predict. Essentially, we still do not properly understand what causes winds to form, nor very often what determines their direction. Whatever the underlying cause may be, and even if it is purely due to chance, Hong Kong has recently been spared the full brunt of typhoon fury. Indeed, throughout the China region the winds have been unusually still.

F r up-to-date info Fo f rm r ation on ty t y p hoons aff f f e cting Hong Kong, visit the Hong Kong Observatory r website: www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm K i n d thanks Ki k to James Reyn y olds fo f r providing images. Fo F r more in i fo f rm r ation, visit the Strong winds as Typhoon Sinlaku hits Taiwan, September 2008

www.br itcham.com

website: www.typhoonfury.com. Tel: T 68044213

BUSINESS

A Quick Guide to Intellectual Property Rights in China By Simon Mair Simon Mair of the China IPR SME Helpdesk gives advice on that most challenging aspect of doing business in China – intellectual property rights.

The SME contacted the China IPR SME Helpdesk and asked for advice on how to address this issue.

What is IPR? Intellectual property rights are legally enforceable rights over the use of inventions or other creative works. They confer a right to exclude others from their use. Securing your IPR will help you to prevent and enforce against infringers proﬁting from your innovation or brand by passing it offf as their own. IP falls into the categories of re r gistrable and non-registrable IP rights. Registrable IP rights are territorial, which means they hav a e to be claimed and assert r ed in each country r individually. y Registered IP in another country r is not recognised in China; therefore, it is strongly recommended that you register your IP assets in China before entering the market.

Action Taken The helpdesk suggested the SME search through the online trademark search engine of the China Tr T ademark Office (CTMO) to learn more details about the filing. Through this action, the SME learned that the two filings included the same name and a near identical graphic design as the Italian company’s trademark. The helpdesk then informed the SME that it could file an opposition against the trademark, as the filing date was recent and therefore still within the trademark opposition window. They also recommended a strategy for trademark opposition action which the SME successfully implemented to negate the filing.

The best way to prevent IPR-related issues is to use a layered, holistic IPR protection strategy, y which includes protection both by registration of your registrable rights and other methods such as contractual protection (conﬁdentiality agreements, IP protection clauses in employee

Lessons Learned •

agreements) and internal security measures (limited access to cert r ain work areas, etc.).

China is a first-to-file jurisdiction. If you do not register your IP assets (i.e., trademarks, patents, design, domain names), Chinese competitors can and oft f en will register your rights in China, leading to the possibility of you buying

The main types of IP rights are:

back your own trademark or facing legal action or even seizure. Preventative registration is essential to any IPR strategy and strongly recommended before

Copyrights

entering the China market.

Copyright protection is provided for written, oral, musical, dramatic, choreographic, artistic, architectural, photographic, cinematographic, audio-visual, graphic works and computer software. While you do not need to register your copyright for protection, you may voluntarily register to prove ownership in China.

•

In this particular case, the Italian SME became aware of IPR infringements through the careful monitoring of competitor registration activities and immediately took action to protect its rights. If the SME discovered the infringement after the trademark opposition window had closed, it would

Trademarks A trademark is a sign that serv r es the speciﬁc and primary r purpose of identify f ing the goods or serv r ices of a producer,r thus allowing the consumers to distinguish goods or serv r ices of one producer from those of another.r Yo Y u can register either by ﬁling an

have had to proceed with a trademark invalidation procedure or buy back the trademark from the infringer, which are longer and more expensive processes. Monitoring and defensive action will oft f en prove much quicker and more efffective than enforcement proceedings.

application directly at the China Tr T ademark Ofﬁ f ce (domestic application) or by ﬁling an application at the World Intellectual Propert r y Organisation (international application). If you are making an international application, your trademark may have to be registered

Dos and Don’ts of IPR Strategy

in your home country r before requesting the ext x ension of the trademark to China.

Key points for protecting your company’s rights.

Patents

DO:

A pat a ent is a set of exclusive rights granted to the inventor of a technical solution of a pro r duct for a limited amount of time. There r are r thre r e difffere r nt types of pat a ents in China:

1. Identify f and prioritise your key IP assets. Know which ones are important for your business and how you can effectively f protect them. 2. Register your IP before entering the Chinese market. Yo Y u can deal with

1. Invention patents, which are granted for innovations in the ﬁeld of technology that are new and inventive over the prior art;

infringement more efﬁciently if you already have protection in the territory. 3. Consider putting into place protective measures for your know-how and other unregistrable and registrable rights, such as:

2. Utility models, which are granted for a new shape and / or structure of an object;

DON’T: 1. Presume that your IPR is automatically protected in China if you already have

3. Design patents, which are granted for the original shape, pattern, colour, or a combination thereof, of an obj b ect. Foreign companies without a registered ofﬁ f ce in China must ﬁle a patent or trademark application with the help of a local patent or trademark attorney. y

registrations in other countries 2. Assume that IPR is only conﬁned to products. Brochures, websites and other promotional materials can be infringed as well. 3. Presume that because the time to get a trademark granted in China is very long

An effective f IPR strategy is essential to the development and success of businesses everywhere, including China. It is best to prevent IPR issues before they arise by carefully guarding and registering your IP assets before entering any new markets.

(24-36 months), there is no real use in applying for a trademark in China. China uses the first-to-file system (as opposed to the first-to-use), which means that the party who files an application first is the one most likely to become the owner of the trademark. A Awareness of these issues is paramount.

Case Study: Trademark Registered by a Competitor

4. Rely on others to re r gister your IPR for you. Don’t leav a e this to your sourc r ing part r ner or manufa f cture r r; do it yourself with the help of a China-experienced IPR law awyer.r

Background In February 2009, an Italian SME in the ceramics industry discovered that its

T e China IPR SME Helpdesk is fu Th f nded by the European Commission. We W bsite:

trademark had been ﬁled in China by a Chinese company and a Chinese individual.

www.china-iprhelpdesk.com. w p p

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

The Magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Editors

It seems as if we have only just come back from summer holidays and already we ﬁnd ourselves in December with the holiday season fast approaching.

Ian Cruz Sam Powney

But before you race out to get all of your Christmas shopping done I would like to reﬂect on some of the successes the Chamber has had over the last

Design

I should start r by thanking our members for their terriﬁc support r throughout the year.r Our committees are producing some excellent outcomes, we are

Bill Mo Alan Wong W Ken Ng Man Lo

making a diffference to government policy in Hong Kong by thoughtful insight and excellent relations with the government, we have held 200 events during

year and also start to think about the coming year and the opportunities it holds in store for our community in Hong Kong.

the year and I would like to thank Christopher Hammerbeck and his excellent stafff for making the British Chamber’s year such a great success. That number is superb. It is over 4 events for each week of the year,r including speakers, education, networking and other maj a or events such as the SCB British Chamber Ball. And in addition, over HK$1 million was raised for charities which the British Chamber support r s throughout the year.r Well done every r one.

Advertising Contact

October and November hav a e been part r icularly memorable months; we were r honoure r d with the visit of HRH Prince Andre r w, The Duke of Yo Y rk who spoke at a

Charles Zimmerman

a luncheon organised by the Chamber whilst visiting Hong Kong in his capacity as The UK Special Repre r sentat a ive for Tr T ade and Investment. We W held a highly

Project Management

successful luncheon where r The Rt Hon George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke to the Chamber during a visit to Hong Kong before r trav a elling to

Vincent Foe V

Seoul for the G20 Summit. There r is no doubt the Chancellor gav a e us plenty of optimism re r garding re r lat a ions between the UK and Hong Kong and we can feel

Jointly Published by Speedflex fl Medianet Ltd and The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 1/F /F, Hu Hua Qi Qin In I te ternatitional Bui uilding 340 Queen’s ’ Road Central, Hong Kong Tel: 2542 2780 T Fax: 2542 3733 Email: info@speedflex.com.hk fl Editorial: Ian@speedflex.com.hk fl sam.powney@speedflex.com.hk fl Advertising: charles@speedflex.com.hk fl

very r conﬁdent of ties re r maining as stro r ng as ever.r Earlier in the same week we had an excellent bre r akf kfast meeting with The Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secre r tary r of Stat a e for Educat a ion. I was impre r ssed by how well briefed the Secre r tary r of Stat a e was re r garding our educat a ion system. Thro r w in the hugely successful British Chamber YNetwork Scottish Ceilidh ball, the Ta T nner De Witt Bre r akt k hro r ugh Boxing event and the Britcham, BT and KPMG Bledisloe Cup Wa W rm-up lunch, and it was a very r active fa f ll season for the Chamber.r In two weeks we were r joined by over 1000 of our members and their guests at a these events. On the pro r gramme fro r nt we hav a e seen the British Chamber Angels Pro r gramme connecting investors and business ideas, becoming the leader fo f r entre r pre r neurs in town. On the development of our youngsters, we are r cre r at a ing job opport r unities, we launched a pro r gramme with the Hong Ko K ng Vo V cat a ional Tr T aining Council support r ed by HSBC, China Light and Power,r At A os Origin and BT to give our Hong Ko K ng youngsters who perhaps hav a e not had the opport r unity to go to university the chance to join Multi Nat a ionals and pro r gre r ss. On the enviro r nment side, together with the Canadian Chamber and the British Consulat a e, we organised the highly successful ‘Carbon Ta T le of Thre r e Cities’ panel discussion, where r high level city re r pre r sentat a ives fro r m London, Hong Ko K ng and To T ro r nto set f rw fo r ard r the impre r ssive enviro r nmental pro r gre r ss that a their cities hav a e been making. To T mention some of the other aspects of our busy pro r gramme this year,r we also had a very r intere r sting sustainability showcase at a Hong Ko K ng Internat a ional Airport r and continued our dialogue with government on various consultat a ions. This is also the time of year to thank our supporters in London - I must say that the UK coalition government has supported the British Chamber in Hong Kong brilliantly since they came to ofﬁce. I would like to thank Sir Andrew Cain, the Head of the DTI for encouraging our politicians to think Hong

British Chamber of Commerce Secretariat

Kong; Baroness Dunn, Robert Guy and the Hong Kong Association in London for their sterling work promoting Hong Kong/UK relations and of course Sir Henry Keswick of Jardine’s for his excellent support for our Chamber from London. Finally if we had a British Chamber ‘Person of the Year’ Y award it would go to Andrew Seaton, our excellent Consulate General in Hong Kong for his unwavering support.

Executive Director CJA Hammerbeck CB, CBE

General Manager Cynthia Wang W

Marketing and Communications Manager Hilary r Thomas

During 2011 we will look forward to continuing to work on the issues of the day and promoting our Members’ business interests with the HKSAR Government in the best way. Prior to this issue the Chamber has been sending requests to Members to participate in our annual Business Conﬁdence Survey. The survey represents a vital communications link between our members businesses and the HKSAR Government. Areas that are highlighted for particular praise or concern will be raised with the relevant authorities by The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Your Y participation is not only greatly appreciated, but it sets the Chamber’s agenda with the government to focus on issues most important to you. This puts you in a position to help make the coming year a successful one focused on key areas of concern. On educat a ion, as every r one knows we hav a e been encouraging the HKSAR government, so fa f r without any success, to help a number of part r ies to open up

Special Events Manager

more r internat a ional standard primary r school places. We W are r a global internat a ional city, y and without adequat a e school places we will not fully achieve our potential.

Becky Roberts

This situat a ion is not acceptable. On the plus side, I was re r cently invited to Hong Lok Yu Y en Internat a ional School. What a a gre r at a surprise! It is an Internat a ional

Business Development Manager

school situat a ed in a beautiful are r a, only twenty minutes fro r m the East Harbour tunnel and with its own sport r s ﬁeld! Ruth Woodward and her teachers are r doing

Dovenia Chow

a gre r at a job, the childre r n are r happy and are r getting gre r at a educat a ion, and they still hav a e a few primary r school vacancies. Snap them up quick!

Membership Executive

On the economic front, although we see challenges in a number of economies such as Ireland, I am very optimistic for 2011 regarding the economy

Lucy Jenkins

going forward. Hong Kong will continue to beneﬁt global multinational companies investing in China, the emerging China multinationals globalising, and

Accountant Michelle Cheung

Executive Assistant Jessie Yi Yip

Secretary Yammie Yuen Y

Ofﬁce ﬁ Assistant

Hong Kong becoming a natural ﬁnancial hub for China. On the global front, the UK is starting to move forward. UK growth at 2% in the last six months is great to see - may it continue and, as the Chancellor of he Exchequer mentioned, when the US starts to grow again we will really start to see a brighter global economy ahead. It might take a while yet, but we are seeing improvement. Finally, our Chamber remains very well placed and highly active in the Hong Kong business scene, being involved in all of the matters that impact on our membership’s interests. I look forward to the Chamber continuing to develop into 2011. May I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Y Year. Best re r gards

Sam Chan Kevin Taylor T

Room 1201, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, Wanchai Tel: 2824 2211 Fax: 2824 1333 Website: www.britcham.com © Alll pub u lilished mate t ririal is i cop opyright pro r te t cte t d. d Pe P rm r is i sio i n i wr in writing fr from th t e Pu Publilisher ers must be obta t in i ed fo f r th t e repro re r du d ctition of th t e conte tents t , wh w ole l or in i part rt. Th T e op o in i io i ns expre ex r ssed in i th t is i pub u lilicatition are r not necessaririly th t e op o in i io i ns of th t e Pu Publilishers r . Th T e Pu Publilishers r assum u e no re r sp s onsib i ilility f r in fo i ve v stm t en e t or le legal adv dvice conta t in i ed her erein.

STAFF TURNOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A SPIRITED DEBATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 NEPALI COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 VISAS TO THE UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ANGEL INVESTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 GEORGE OSBORNE’S VISIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A CARBON TALE OF THREE CITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ECO EXPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

HIT CONTAINER PORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BAR REVIEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAWN BOWLS EVENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIAMONDS FOR CHRISTMAS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CEILIDH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW APPOINTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW MEMBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHAKEN NOT STIRRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 27

BUSINESS

Staff Turnover By Sam Powney It’s a headache for managers and a signiﬁcant expense for companies, but the pace of staff turnover appears to be accelerating. In recent months two reports have highlighted a vicious circle of low morale and high turnover. The Hudson Report is an established and highly respected publication, based on

The immediate challenge raised by reports like these is to ascertain the reason for the

in-depth research. Released quarterly, the report uncovers and analyses the hiring

current trend. Any shift can be looked at in terms of broad social change, but observers

expectations of Asian employers in China (Beijing and Shanghai), Hong Kong and

commonly ascribe the root cause to a change in the nature of companies (employers), a

Singapore over the coming quarter and provides insights into a range of human

change in the nature of employees, or a change in the nature of work itself.

resource issues currently impacting business and the broader Asian economy. A common line of thought is that a high turnover has a close re r lat a ion to company culture r ; in some The State of Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong 2010 Survey is an annual tracking

industries it is habitual. But even for the companies who are r concerned about accelerat a ing staf aff

survey of the work-life trends of Hong Kong’s working population. Speciﬁcally, the

turnover,r the re r sponsible dynamic may a be hard to isolat a e. Maj a or employers may a not see any

survey examines employees’ working and living patterns, their satisfaction with

discernible change in their work or pay a structure r , but the widening wealth gap can leav a e their

work and life, as well as the problems employees face in achieving a healthy work-

staf aff worse offf ﬁnancially than before r . For example, if a company’s ’ pay a packages do not keep

life balance and their desired solutions to overcome such challenges. The report

in line with pro r pert r y price rises, some of its employees may a be forc r ed to seek more r highly paid

is written by Community Business, a leading non proﬁt organisation specialising in

work even if they are r largely sat a isﬁed with their jobs.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Hong Kong. . There is a widespread belief that the post-80s generation are less content to remain The Hudson Report is broadly positive about the increased level of hiring since the

at a single job for long, and that they care more about the nature of their work than

economic recovery, but it also carries a warning that increasing turnover can belie a

previous generations. On the other hand, this could be more to do with age bracket than

company’s apparently robust hiring rate. High turnover can be a sign of the improvement

generational shift. When people have families to support, they must largely forego changing

in the economy. In an economic downturn, employees may be more concerned with job

jobs and taking time off f ; by and large the post-80s generation haven’t yet reached that

security and hold onto a job they are not necessarily content with, whereas in a more robust

stage. However, the Community Business report does show a signiﬁcant increase in the

economy, employees may feel that they have more options.

number of people who are not motivated solely by proﬁt and promotion. One can guess that the additional number who would willingly change jobs for a higher salary (or for a

Still, the cost of high turnover rate is considerable – an MIT Sloan report from last year

combination of factors) might be even more signiﬁcant.

estimated that, with direct and indirect costs, the price of replacement should be estimated as being about 150% of a stafff member’s remuneration package. That quantity may seem

Community Business’s focus on the balance between work and leisure time ties into the

unlikely, but it tries to include an estimation of that diff f icult to quantify f aspect, employee

wider debate in Hong Kong about working hours. The maj a ority of employees surveyed

morale. Moreover,r a large number of companies do not take into account that some stafff

(77.7%), including 83.3% of post 80s employees, experience negative impacts due to a lack

both join and leave within the year.r Furt r hermore, many of the companies plagued with the

of work-life balance, including prolonged fatigue and extreme tiredness (57.2%), insomnia

most dramatic turnover rates are precisely those that fail to properly account for stafff turnover

and poor diet due to work pressure (34.9%). “These issues take a toll on workers’ health,

between annual record-takings (ie. employees that join and leave within the year) r.

productivity and absenteeism, all of which impact the bottom line for businesses,” said Robin Bishop, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer, Community Business Community. “The ﬁndings of

Hudson: Nearly one third of companies say stafff turnover is above 10%.

our latest survey should serve as a wake-up call to employers in Hong Kong. If companies

Respondents report r ing a change in

do not begin responding to the needs and experiences of its employees, particularly

stafff turnover in the past six months

Average Staff Turnover Rate in the Last Six Months 6%

were asked about the average

difﬁculties in recruitment and retention of key talent,” Community Business launched Work33%

23%

turnover rate in their company

of these younger employees who are the future leaders of industry, they will face huge Life Balance Day in 2008 - a platform for companies to demonstrate their commitment to

1-5%

during that time. Overall, nearly

6-10% 11-20%

one-third (30%) of respondents say

21-40%

37%

that the turnover rate was more

41-60%

than 10%. The figures for certain

Another factor that may be impacting the increased turnover rate is the changing nature of work itself. There is an unease, especially in some Western economies, that the crisis may

Source: The Hudson Report. Hong Kong - Q4 2010

sectors are signiﬁcantly higher.r

work-life balance and to recognise it as a business issue.

reveal swathes of the broadly termed ‘services industry’ to be essentially unsustainable or frivolous. For example, website allure has allowed some start-ups to skip between largely

Community Business: Leaving Current Job for Better Work-Life Balance •

Almost four out of ten employees (39.0%) claim that they would consider leaving their

unrelated projects without ever developing a core expertise. Inevitably, this sort of centrally dysfunctional mindset has a heavy impact on employee morale.

current job for better work-life balance. This percentage represents a signiﬁcant increase from last year (30.1%) and likely reﬂects the improvement of the economic environment.

Morale and societal changes can be hard areas for companies to analyse and work with.

When Community Business isolated the responses of the post-80s generation, they

Nevertheless, stafff turnover does seem to be a very real and worsening trend. A renewed

found that up to 61.5% of post 80s respondents said they would consider leaving their

focus on engaging employee needs and motivations could save companies a good deal of

current employer for better work-life balance.

time, effort f and money.

Consider Leaving Current Job for Better Work-Life Balance (2010 and 2009) Response

•

2010

3 39.0

Y s Ye

30.0

2009 58.7 8

No Don’t Know/ Hard to Say

2.3 1.7

Hudson: http://hk.hudson.com Hudson Report: http://hk.hudson.com/node.asp?kwd=the-hudson-report

68.2

Community Business: www.communitybusiness.org 20

40 Percentage of Respondents

The State of W Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong 2010 Report: www.communitybusiness.org/images/cb/publications/2010/WLB%20eng%20R3.pdf D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

BUSINESS

A Spirited Debate By Ian Cruz The elimination of duty on wine and beer in early 2008 has made Hong Kong one of the world’s foremost wine hubs. But for spirits the excise duty remains at 100%, spurring the drinks industry to call for reforms.

It’s

been nearly two years since Financial Secretary John Tsang T eliminated duty on wine

In response, many industry insiders and pundits, including the Hong Kong Wine and Spirits

and beers in early 2008, with a view to help turn Hong Kong into a regional wine hub for the

Industry Coalition, are calling for the reform of Hong Kong’s excise duty arrangements for

emerging market on the mainland and for the entire region. With the emerging market for

spirits. While not arguing for a complete elimination of duty, the industry is calling for a

wine in Asia, it was a move that saw the government’s hopes come to fruition; Hong Kong

combined system using either the 100% ad valorem rate on product value, or a duty based

is now the second largest market in the world for wine auctions, just behind New York. Y It

on volume of alcohol in a bottle of spirits, paying $100 per litre of pure alcohol - depending

bolstered the industry and brought businesses, importers and merchants ﬂocking to Hong

on which is lower in each case.

Kong to ride this new wave of success. By international standards, the current excise duty in place in Hong Kong is extremely However, despite the emergence of a fruitful market for wine in Hong Kong after the

high. The proposed duty based on volume is common practice in other markets.

elimination of duty on wine and beers, the market for premium spirits, a signiﬁcant aspect

For example, in the UK, duty is levied on spirits at £22.64 (HK$280) per litre of pure

of the alcohol industry, doesn’t seem to garner the same kind of focus as wine. This is most

alcohol. Those calling for the reform argue that keeping duty to a more reasonable level

clearly evident through the existing excise duty of 100% that spirits are still subjected to

would ultimately beneﬁt consumers and the government, as well as the industry. With

here. Naturally, this has been a point of contention for many in the drinks industry.

consumers facing unfair punitive taxes for premium spirits, this ultimately drives them to acquire spirits from other markets with lower taxes, such as Macau or Shenzhen, stunting the potential growth for the market for premium spirits in Hong Kong. By implementing the reform, not only could it stimulate consumer spending for premium spirits locally, it would also be more transparent, easy to implement, and could reduce the administrative burden on the tax authorities. Currently, the market for spirits seems to be in a diff f icult situation. Though the drinks industry may believe that the divergence between wine and spirits needs to reduce in order to build a market for premium spirits (possibly entailing a slight rise in the tax on wines), the popular interest in wine makes that case harder to argue. Hong Kong’s wine industry has gone from strength to strength ever since eliminating duty with the value of wine imports, increasing 80% to HK$4 billion from 2008 to 2009, and is expected to rise to over HK$5 billion this year. As that market increases, and increases the divergence, it overshadows the market for premium spirits, making it seem less viable. In fact, a study conducted this year by France’s Vinexpo (wine trade and exhibition group) and the International Wine and Spirits Record stated that given the rising popularity of wine in Asia, the consumption of spirits is expected to decline across the region. However, despite the uphill battle, all is not bleak for spirit enthusiasts in Hong Kong. Undeniably, there is a small but emerging market for spirits in Hong Kong – most notably for single malt whiskies. Not only are they being more widely recognised for their quality as a drink, but the exclusive image of owning a rare single malt whisky is beginning to take hold of those looking to invest as well; much in the same way that wine did just a few years ago. This was evident from the overwhelming success of Hong Kong’s ﬁrst auction devoted to whisky, organised by Bonhams in November last year, which sold all its lots, with certain bottles going for up to over twenty or thirty thousand dollars. Following the success of last year’s event, Bonhams held another successful whisky auction just last month. Unfortunately, the government currently doesn’t have any plans to turn Hong Kong into a hub for premium spirits in the way that they did for wine. They still have not mentioned any intentions to cut tax on spirits, stating that making them cheaper could potentially lead to an increase in health problems if people drink harder liquors more frequently. The debate rages on, but for the time being it looks as though spirit enthusiasts will still have to pay that little bit more for their premium drinks, and continue the ﬁght for a tax reduction.

www.br itcham.com

REGULATION C OMMUNITY

HONG KONG’S NEPALI COMMUNITY By Nigel Collett Those of us who eat, drink and generally have a good time in Hong Kong’s various popular night spots will not have failed to notice that many of the smiling staff serving your drinks, or tactfully – if ﬁrmly– keeping drunken strangers out on the pavement, are Nepalis. This is something that may surprise newcomers to Hong Kong. Nigel Collett explains how they and the approximately 20,000 of their fellow Nepalis estimated to be in the city, came to become Hong Kong’s Nepali community.

the root of the Nepali community’s beginnings in Hong Kong is the Gurkha

In the mid-nineties, the employment that members of the Nepali community could ﬁnd in

component of the British Army Garrison of Hong Kong, which continued from the early

Hong Kong was limited by their skills and education. Most soldiers had been plucked out

sixties to the handover in 1997. Gurkhas are Nepalis who serve in the armed forces of their

of schooling at the age of 16 or 17, so few had any useful civilian qualiﬁcations. Initially,

own country, India, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, amongst other places.

men became construction workers and security guards, with the qualified becoming drivers, and the better-built and martial arts-trained becoming bodyguards. Their wives

When Nepalis ﬁrst came to Hong Kong with the British Army is lost in the mists of time.

were worse off with only cleaning or jobs in nursing homes, supermarkets or beauty

However, what can be taken as the beginning of Gurkha service in Hong Kong was the

parlours open to them.

end of British India in 1947, when eight Gurkha battalions became stationed in what was then Malaya; one of which was rotated through Hong Kong’s New Territories T on a two year

This remains a big problem for the Nepali in Hong Kong, and one which sadly perpetuates

tour. When the Malayan Emergency ended in 1958, four Gurkha battalions found a base in

itself. Nepali parents cannot affor f d to send their children to expensive schools and ﬁnd that

Hong Kong, which then became the home of all Gurkhas in the British Army, and remained

government schools have little provisions for ensuring that pupils of minorities get extra

so until 1995. Hidden away in Fanling in the New Territories, T over 8,000 Nepali soldiers and

tuition in Chinese. The result is the inability to read and write in the language that will get

their families created a Nepali community inside their barrack boundaries, complete with

them a job. Thus, a permanent underclass has been formed in Hong Kong and it is an issue

quarters resembling villages, schools, clinics, goldsmith shops and Hindu temples. Most of

that is in need of attention from the Hong Kong government.

the soldiers only had their families with them for three years out of the ﬁfteen they served as soldiers, but since Hong Kong was by far the safest place to have a baby, there was always

Not all is gloom though, and Hong Kong’s hospitality industry r has provided a way out of the

a race against time to have their baby born at the British Military Hospital (BMH) in Queen’s

trap for many young Nepali men and women who can put their characteristic charm and good

Park in Kowloon. Some families managed two children in the available time. All the babies

looks, and their usually ﬂuent English language skills, to good use in helping all of us enjoy our

born there had and retain the right to reside in the place of their birth.

evenings out. The more enterprising have become middle managers in some of the bigger international insurance and ﬁnance ﬁrms here. Others have taken the plunge and set up their

In ways it scarcely noticed, Hong Kong owed much of its security to Gurkhas for over

own businesses, from small shops and Gurkha restaurants serv r ing their own community, y to

three decades. Gurkha troops were moved to the Sino-Hong Kong frontier in 1967, initially

bigger enterprises like restaurants serv r ing the wider community in places like Staunton Street.

rescuing policemen who had been attacked by Red Guards in Sha Tau T Kok, then stayed to

Others still have formed their own successful construction and security companies.

prevent incursions and stabilise the border. They backed up the police in the riots across the territory that year. They were back on the frontier in 1975, staying there for the next

Hong Kong’s Nepali community is here to stay. It abounds with the characteristic talent

twenty years, preventing the vast inﬂux of illegal immigrants that threatened to swamp Hong

that has made Gurkhas so sought aft f er by the British Army for nearly two hundred years,

Kong. At the height of this problem in 1979, when there were ﬁve battalions deployed along

and has a huge amount to off f er Hong Kong. Many of the Nepalis working here make

the border, four of them Gurkha, 90,000 illegal immigrants were captured in a single year.

our lives enjoyable and secure. Next time you meet one of Hong Kong’s Nepalis, take a moment to reﬂect on the illustrious history which gave them their origins here, say hello

In the early nineties, when the fall of the Warsaw W Pact meant large reductions in the size

and ﬁnd out about them.

of the British Army, many of the Gurkhas made redundant built a second, civilian life in Hong Kong. From about 1995, an increasing numbers of soldiers who had been born here, settled back in Hong Kong and started to work in the security and construction industries.

The Gurkha International Group

Many brought their children and parents with them as dependents.

4th Floor Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel : +852 25064251 T

As the years passed, the children of these immigrants grew up, started to work here and

Direct line: +852 21084828

often married others from Nepal. Although Hong Kong closed its doors to contract and

Fax: +852 25062790

domestic Nepali workers in 2002, the population had by then stabilised at much the size it

Mobile : +852 6977 2798

is today, topping itself up by births and marriages.

Webpage : www.gurkha.com.hk W

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

VISAS

Visas to the UK Making travel easier By Annie Galea Unsure about applying for UK visas? Annie Galea from the UK Border Agency lays out the essentials.

Long

term visit visas, streamlined operations and cutting edge technology are

making the UK visa application process very smooth for Hong Kong applicants.

New Technology Due to cutting edge ‘remote printing g’ techn nology now in place in Hong Kong, no visiting visa applicants need to leave their passports when submitting their application. Instead,

Most Hong Kongers do not need a visa to travel to the UK if they are visiting for less than

upon collection of their documents they can simply bring in their passport for the visa to

six months and not undertaking employment. However, many others still do.

be placed inside.

Being such a multicultural city, many Hong Kong residents are nationals of countries who

James Sharp said, “We’ve been listening to the needs of our customers. Remote printing of

need a visa even if they are just going to the UK on a quick business trip. For example,

visas is a tremendous step forward as it allows us to speed up the processing of visas for

nationals of India, mainland China, South Africa, and the Philippines all require a visa to

our customers and ensure they are not left for extended periods without a passport.”

visit the UK.

Successful Applications The UK Border Agency recommends that people in this category consider applying for a Long T Term Visit Visa. These visas are available for up to 1, 2, 5 and 10 years. James Sharp, UK Border Agency’s Regional Director for Asia Paciﬁc says, “Long Te T rm Visas are a great option for Hong Kong residents requiring a visa who need to make regular trips to the UK either for business or to visit family.

Alongside the streamlined service the number of successful visa applications from Hong Kong residents has also signiﬁcantly improved. “Over 95% of visa applications received in Hong Kong are now issued. Customers are beginning to recognise the importance of meeting requirements and we urge everyone who needs to apply for a visa to make sure they are aware of exactly what they need to provide in support of their application”, said Mr. Sharp.

“They are cost effective f and allow you to travel at the drop of a hat as you do not have to apply for entry and give biometrics every time you wish to travel.”

Who needs a visa to travel to the UK? How do I apply?

•

Nationals of countries deemed to be ‘visa-nationals’ must apply for a visa for all travel to the UK– see UK Border Agency website for a full list.

Making a visa application to travel to the UK is a straight-forward process in Hong Kong.

http://www p w.ukvisas.gov g v.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals Applicants should visit the British Consulate General website, www.ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk for information on how to apply and visa requirements. All application forms need to be

•

All non-EEA passport holders planning on studying a course longer than 6 months need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa.

completed online. • Applicants then need to visit the Visa Application Centre at the British Consulate General

All non-EEA passport holders planning on working in the UK need to apply for either a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer T or Tier 5 visa depending on

to provide biometrics – ﬁngerprints and digital photographs – and submit their application.

their circumstances.

Their application is then sent to Manila in the Philippines for processing. •

to apply for an Employment, Domestic Worker, Less than 6 months visa, and

So how long does it take to actually get a visa?

those going with an employer settling in the UK must apply for an Employment,

Globally, the UK Border Agency aims to process all non-settlement visa applications within

Domestic Worker, over 6 months visa.

15 working days. However, in Hong Kong applications are being processed in a much quicker time of 5-7 working days even over the extremely busy summer period.

Domestic workers accompanying their employers on a visit to the UK need

•

BN(O) passport holders aged between 18 and 30 wanting an experience of life in the UK, can apply for a Tier 5 Youth Y Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa which allows

For business trav a ellers who hav a e a genuine urgent need to trav a el, and cannot wait 5-7 working

you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

day a s, we also offfer a fast-track serv r ice where we aim to process within 3 working day a s.

Anyone fitting the criteria for this service can request fast-tracking through the British

If you genuinely need to take advantage of the business fast track visa service, please email

Chamber, prior to submitting their application. Their application will be processed within

r Thomas at the British Chamber of Commerce: hilary@britcham.com Hilary

3 working days of them submitting biometrics providing there are no complications or

The UK Border Agency also advises applicants to visit www.ukba.homeofﬁce.gov.uk/visas

previous adverse travel history.

for the most up to date visa information.

www.br itcham.com

CHAMBER EVENTS

Britcham Wine Club Pictures from the Launch Event Join:

Membership is simply the cost of signing up for 1 case of wine.

Each member will select their own mixed case in any combination from our list of 9 premium wines from all over the world. These 12 bottles will then be delivered directly to your home or ofﬁce free of charge within a few days. Perfect to stock up on wine before the holidays or to use as gifts! All members will then be invited to an exclusive tasting event every 3 months where they can try r a new selection of wines and put together another mixed case. It’s a great way to discover new wines while networking with fellow members and there is no obligation so you can cancel your membership any time.

In addition, members will receive: •

Free tasting events to choose your wines

•

Sa avings of at least 20% offf the h normal price

•

Advice from your personal wine consultant

•

Opport Opp ortuni unity ty to net networ wo k with w fellow British Chamber mem member bers

•

10% 0% disc scountt on add additional wine purchases and Vint n ec win wine e frid fridgess

•

Free ee tas tastin ting g not notess and and ser servin vi g advice with every case

We havve two level elss you can sellect from depending on n yo you ur wine prefe eferences:: The e Ent nthus h ias ast (HK (H $1, 1,88 888 per qua q rter) – for the e wine beginn inner er who w is lookin king g to le earn n more abou boutt differ d f erent regi reg ons. The Connoisseur (HK K$3, $ 000 per qua q rter)) – for o the experi er enc en ed d drinke nker who ho ho enjoys higher qual a ity wines wines from pop popul ular vint intage ages.

Please e ema em il wineclub@britcham. m com or call 2147-2931 to receiv e e the full win wine list and d mak m e your selectio ma i ns!

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

BUSINESS

Baker Tilly Hong Kong Business Angel Programme October By Sam Powney

Late October

saw the return of the British Chamber’s Business Angel

investment events in Hong Kong. We ﬁrst learnt about the programme by referrals from

Programme breakfast at the Hong Kong Club. Nervous but excited after the six week

banking and finance professionals and have been recommended to participate in the

application and training process, the representatives of four young companies prepared to

programme by many other organisations and business associates.

deliver their presentation before the careful scrutiny of a panel of investors. Being thoroughly grilled on all aspects of our business in front of a group of highly This programme, now in its fourth year, brings together startup businesses and Angel

sophisticated investment professionals, we were challenged to re-think and refine our

investors to help encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in Hong Kong. For the

business model. From the ﬁrst round of selection by the Chamber panellists to the ﬁnal

October event, the Chamber received an unprecedented number of applications from small

round of pitching to investors, it has been a very well organised and guided process helping

businesses looking for funding which demonstrated the energy and creativity of Hong Kong

us to a successful delivery of our business plan.’

entrepreneurs. There were a number of very high quality candidates but only four could be picked by the committee to be shortlisted for the ﬁnal presentation in front of the investors. The final four businesses received coaching from the Chamber’s Angel Investment

Popcorn Media Network

committee as well as specialised presentation training thanks to Connect Communication

Popcorn Media is a young business which harnesses the power of new social media and

ensuring that when they went in front of the investors, they were ready to shine.

blogging for advertising. Their upbeat presentation was given by Pannee Ng, associate publisher of fashion and shopping blog Butterboom.com and Popcorn Media associate

On the day, they gave some very convincing displays and all possessed an admirable

publisher Casey Lau. They reinforced the necessity of reaching customers, especially

dedication to the 10-minute time limit. After their moment of truth, we spoke to each of the

younger generations, through the web-based media that appeal to them. Popcorn Media

candidates to hear more about their business idea and their thoughts on the process.

already runs three diverse websites, besides exploiting the potential of blogs and social networks. ‘There were some great comments and a good crowd,’ confirmed Lau, ‘The

Cottonwork Cottonwork is a Hong Kong-based company which tailors bespoke shirts for online orders

British Chamber was exceptionally helpful’.

from across the world. Kelvin Lam, Cottonwork’s director, presented his business model,

Paciﬁc Gene Tech

an innovative approach to the tailoring industry, and left the audience in no doubt about

Pacific Gene Te T ch is a biotechnology company which acquires and develops vaccine

the high quality of the shirts themselves. Lam had this to say, ‘The British Chamber of

technologies to address the escalating threat of emerging infectious diseases and other

Commerce’s Angel Programme was an exceptional learning experience and rare investor

pathogens. Their brief was distinct from the others in its specialism, but the potential

relation opportunity. The programme is clearly one of the most recognised venture

beneﬁts of new and cheaper vaccines was abundantly clear.

www.br itcham.com

Tim Collard, managing director of Paciﬁc Gene Tech T said of the preparation involved, ‘Time

founder Peter Williamson gave a full,

f ent exercise from our normal investor presentations, so quite constraints made this a differ

down-to-the-second presentation on

a bit of work went into it. It involved both drafting and practice sessions.’ He also reﬂected

their company and the growth of the

on the questions from the potential investors that followed the talk, ‘The questions were

post-production industry in East Asia.

useful. Both Louis Bowen and I pay quite a

They showed an impressive portfolio

bit of attention to questions because they

of television adverts for major brands,

often reveal how people perceive you and

including several from mainland

your business. Even a “stupid” question

China, to which Pixelbox had added

makes you wonder how you might have

the all-important visual effects. Later,

g i v e n a w ro n g i m p re s s i o n , a l t h o u g h I

Thorp and Williamson expressed their

hasten to say that we didn’t receive any on

satisfaction with their presentation and

this occasion!’

the networking opportunities affor f ded.

Pixelbox

As discussions continue between

Pixelbox is an HD post-production company for the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in high quality TV commercials. Pixelbox is another young company, composed mainly of designers in their twenties and thirties. Their Managing Director Chris Thorp and

the candidates and the investors, the Chamber wishes all participants the best for securing the deal that will allow all these exciting ventures to grow while bringing in a great ROI for the investors. The British Chamber would like to express its gratitude to Baker Tilly Hong Kong, without whose sponsorship and committed support this event could not happen. The Chamber also thanks the members of the Angel Investment Committee who have put a lot of time and energy into selecting the candidates and coaching them through the process.

The Chamber is looking to expand the programme next year so if you would like to participate in the Baker Tilly T Hong Kong Business Angel Programme as a candidate or a potential i vestor, in r please re r gis i ter yo y ur in i tere r st by conta t ctiting Hi Hilary r Th T omas, mark rketiting and communicatitons manager at th t e Chamber, r at Hilary@britcham.com r on 2824 1972 7 . Fo F r more r information, please visit www.britcham.com D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

CHANCELLOR’S VISIT

George Osborne Speaks to the Chamber By Sam Powney November saw the British Prime Minister and a raft of government and trade representatives come east for discussions with the Chinese leadership before going on to the G20 meeting in Seoul. The visit has been hailed as the highest proﬁle British delegation to China in history. While the Prime Minister stayed on in Beijing to wrap up talks with Chinese leaders, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne ﬂew down to Hong Kong.

a luncheon in the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the

government with building a strong foundation in Sino-British

Right Honourable George Osborne addressed the

r lat re a ions. ‘We W were r ,’ he said, ‘stre r ngthening a re r lat a ionship that a was

Chamber as part of what, he divulged, was his ﬁrst visit

alre r ady stro r ng’. He re r marked on the success of the British pav a ilion

to the city. Though an unusual venue for British Chamber

a the Shanghai Expo as a showcase for British business in China at

lunches, it turned out to be a very suitable one, with the

(it won the aw a ard for best pav a ilion). ‘But the truth is this: we should

view over the racecourse adding a bright atmosphere to

be doing a lot more r trade with China,’ he said. He and the Prime

the room. Mr. Osborne remarked that he had been eager

Minister had the day before made a commitment with Premier

to visit Happy Valley V for some time, though unfortunately

W n Jiabao seeking to double trade with China over the next We x ﬁve

time didn’t permit him to stay for the races.

years to US$100 billion.

Mr. Osborne began by congratulating Hong Kong on its

‘We are increasingly complementary economies,’ the chancellor

swift recovery from the economic crisis. He noted the

said, explaining that Britain’s position as the world’s second

import r ance of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to Britain’s business presence

largest exporter of services would allow it to play a key role in

in Asia, while stressing that his government is also very r receptive to the new inﬂux of mainland

transforming the lives of the Chinese middle classes.

and Hong Kong investment into Britain. He acknowledged hav a ing only been in Hong Ko K ng fo f r half a day ay, but he re r cognised the deep The Chancellor’s message was upbeat. He encouraged the audience not to succumb to

cultural and historical links k with Britain. Nevert r heless, he ex e pre r ssed that a it was since the handover

economic gloom, but rat a her to appre r ciat a e the considerable achievements that a hav a e been made

that a Hong Ko K ng has re r ally come into its own, say a ing, ‘I think Hong Ko K ng can be enormously

in the Basel III agre r ements and the pro r gre r ss that a he believed would be made at a the G20 meeting

pro r ud of what a has been achiev e ed here r in the last 13 years’. He went on to say a that a Britain and

in Seoul in the fo f llowing day a s. He was conﬁdent that a a signiﬁcant re r fo f rm of the IMF would be

Hong Ko K ng had much in common and were r staunch allies against the fo f rc r es of pro r tectionism. ‘We W

agre r ed upon and explained that a the basis of an agre r ement had alre r ady been laid down.

are r part r ners not rivals’, he re r peat a ed. ‘Actually I think that a London has a gre r at a ro r le as a part r ner of Hong Ko K ng in developing new As A ian business, including the internat a ionalisat a ion of the re r nminbi.’

The shift towards a multi-polar world was, Mr. Osborne said, one that should be celebrated. He drew attention to the make-up of the G20 itself, and while he acknowledged that it was

A the end, questions from the audience invited Mr.r Osborne’s opinion on the US economy, At y

not a perfect forum, he believes that it has a good balance, both geographically and in

bankers’ bonuses, London’s role in the

terms of development. He then went on to make observations in three areas; the G20, the

coming internationalisation of the renminbi,

UK’s relationship with China, and Britain-Hong Kong ties.

and the lifespan on the G20. He replied that the US economy, y as the largest in the world,

He highlighted the positive steps being taken to redress the imbalances in the IMF, F a process

should never be ruled out and that he had

which now has much stronger commitment from European countries than it used to. In Beijing

faith in its resilience. He justiﬁed the capping

the Chinese and British leadership had agreed on a commitment to furt r her the Doha round on

of bonuses as part r of a global move to make

world trade, recognising the year 2011 as a window of opport r unity for doing that. Meanwhile,

finance more accountable, and reiterated

the Basel III agreements on capital liquidity levels have found remarkably rapid consensus.

that London remains an exceptional place to do business. He explained that with

‘We have a good, strong relationship with China,’ said Mr.r Osborne. He noted that he had

London’s economic experience a time

already been to China twice during his brief time in ofﬁ f ce, and credited the previous British

zone that fitted reasonably well, it is well placed to play an important part in the internationalisation of China’s currency. y This would not, he stressed, be at the expense of Hong Kong but rather London could offfer something extra to Hong Kong’s key role. He responded that while international groupings are shifting in nature, the G20 has a good balance. Mr.r Osborne’s view is that the level of currencies is not the central issue, but rather that the import r ant task is to get surplus and deﬁcit currencies to work in harmony. y

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ENVIRONMENT

Cities Lead the Way A Carbon Tale of Three Cities By Sam Powney Over 30 representatives of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) met in Hong Kong in early November for a workshop on climate change and the handover of their chairmanship from Toronto to New York. There is a growing momentum of cities banding together to discuss climate change, sharing their experiences and future goals.

the 2nd of November representatives from Hong Kong, London and To T ronto met

green and prosperous city but it has had to deal with an unusually high level of ﬂooding

at a panel discussion entitled ‘A Carbon Ta T le of Three Cities’, jointly organised by the

in the last ﬁve years. Miller detailed To T ronto’s initiatives with green roofs, deep lake water

British Chamber, the British Consulate-General and the Canadian Chamber. The three

cooling, the world’s ﬁrst urban wind turbine, and incorporating green features into public

cities have each taken proactive and in

spaces. He pointed to the level of public consensus in To T ronto on the need to deal with

The C40

some cases pioneering steps in tackling

climate change, saying “Broadly speaking we are trying to achieve Ky K oto-plus. And we

The Large Cities Climate Leadership Group

climate change. As cities they have made

know we can, because within our own operations we are 40% below our 1990 levels

was formed in 2005 after a meeting of

considerably more headway than many

in emissions”.

delegations from 18 cities at the World Cities

national governments, and each has had

Leadership Climate Change Summit, organised

a longstanding involvement in the Large

by then London Mayor Ken Livingstone. The

Cities Climate Change Group.

group’s secretariat is based in London and

T ronto has an adaptation and mitigation strategy to deal with To To T ronto’s environmental situation and a concrete sustainable energy strategy. “We have the plan and the funding to meet our goals,” said Miller. “We see all these developments in terms of an environmental,

its summits are held biannually. The 2011

The speakers were To T ronto’s Mayor and

economic and social perspective”. He concluded by showing how all To T ronto’s measures

summit will be held in São Paulo.

Chair of the C40 David Miller, Secretary

would tie in to attracting private funding and creating more jobs.

for the Environment of Hong Kong Edward Yau, Y London Assembly member and former London Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron,

The last two speakers described London’s progress in recent years. London is the largest

and Advisor on the Environment for the Mayor of London and Director of Environment &

of the three cities and although new planning and logistics appear forbidding, since the

Capital Projects, London Development Agency Martin Powell. The discussion centred on

new millennium it has taken a determinedly positive role both in achieving efﬁciency and in

the eff f orts, experiences and future goals of Hong Kong, To T ronto and London, and was

leading discussion.

moderated by CY Leung - Patron Chair of CCBF (Climate Change Business Forum). British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau Andrew Seaton provided the introduction.

London’s former Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron drew attention to London’s committed climate change policies which led to the greatest improvement in the shortest time yet

Edward Ya Y u was the ﬁrst panellist to speak, and he isolated the common ethos which unites

seen in a city. She continued along the theme of integrated planning, detailing London’s

London, Hong Kong and To T ronto - the proactive attitude that they have taken towards

efforts f in instituting the congestion charge, its successful focus on bus travel and cycling,

tackling climate change. He made the analogy of driving a car, explaining that in order to

and its retrofitting measures. London is

navigate successfully, you must have a destination in mind and a clear map of how to get

one of the very few cities to introduce a

Green retroﬁt: Adapting and redesigning

there. “We have a common mission

congestion charge, a measure that has

buildings to reduce their carbon footprint.

towards this destination - becoming a

Hong Kong’s emissions

significantly reduced congestion and

This means increasing efﬁciency and includes

low carbon city.” Hong Kong’s new target

Hong Kong produces 42 million tonnes of

helped businesses that rely on city-wide

cladding entire buildings in insulation. The

is to reduce carbon intensity by 50-60%

greenhouse gas emission.

mobility. London is expanding its public

insulation material is relatively inexpensive and

by 2020. In actual terms, this would

That’s an average of about 6 tonnes per person.

transport and has major plans to retroﬁt a

its application creates local jobs.

achieve an average per capita emissions

The world average is 7 tonnes per person per

large number of the city’s buildings.

reduction from 6 tonnes down to 3.6-4.5

year (UN ﬁgures).

tonnes per year.

Scientists suggest that if we are serious about

Martin Powell provided a more detailed look at London’s innovations in urban planning and

tackling climate change, we would need to

energy policy. An eye-catching new feature has been the public ‘Boris bikes’ which the new

come down to 2 tonnes per person per year.

mayor, Boris Johnson has introduced into London streets. Powell focused on London’s

Ya u e x p l a i n e d t h a t ro u g h l y 6 0 % o f Hong Kong’s emissions were emitted

air and water pollution, explaining that the city ﬁrst passed the Clean Air Act in 1956 as

from or consumed by buildings. Therefore, retrofitting existing buildings and planning

a reaction to the then high number of deaths resulting from poor air quality. Another of

environmentally-friendly new ones is the main focus of Hong Kong’s environmental eff f orts.

the London council’s maj a or successes has been their online ‘heat map’, which allowed

Hong Kong’s waste problem is another immediate issue that he highlighted and one that

individual businesses to see how and where they could best become involved.

he has dealt with extensively himself. Lastly, he pointed to the interconnected relationship that Hong Kong has with the entire south China region. “We must build a common mission

Due to the diversity of strategy and implementation that each city had showcased, there

with the Pearl River Delta region. To T gether, this region should become the greenest part of

was a good deal of interest from the ﬂoor about the details of speciﬁc policies. Partly,

the nation.”

this diversity stems from the particular conditions of each city. Hong Kong already has a relatively efﬁcient transport system but is looking at ways to adapt its energy sources and

The second speaker was Mayor Miller, who introduced To T ronto’s long involvement in the

waste management. Moreover, Hong Kong is clearly in a key position to show mainland

battle against climate change. The very ﬁrst world conference on the change in climate was

cities the way forward. To T ronto has long been a green leader, but is feeling the eff f ects

held in T Toronto, the start of a process that led to the Kyoto protocols of 1997.

of climate change in the very immediate form of frequent flooding. Finally, London is focusing on ways to involve the greatest number of people possible in its rapid drive to

Miller reiterated that “Nations talk; cities act. Cities can, must and do lead the fight

reduce carbon emissions. The spread of innovations like public bicycle sharing systems

against climate change”, adding that the best solutions for ﬁghting climate change are

demonstrates that cities are natural leaders in achieving global information sharing and in

always good for the economy and business as well as for the environment. To T ronto is a

ﬁnding proactive consensus. D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

ENVIRONMENT

By John Woodruffe The Eco Expo, Asia’s leading environmental protection fair, is an international trading platform showcasing the latest innovations in environmental protection industries from around the world. John Woodruffe, the UK’s Deputy Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, reports on a time of heightened environmental awareness here.

The

ﬁrst week of November

invited 5 expert speakers to give presentations on various aspects of the environment. 2

was certainly a very busy time for

people represented companies that were exhibiting another, Colin Hygate, exhibited last

the environment sector in Hong

year and, as a result of this, is in the process of setting up a company here. The other

Kong. The Eco Expo, Hong Kong’s

2 speakers were Peter Head, Director of Arup, and Dr Anne Kerr, Director, Environment

a n n u a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l s h o w,

Division, Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd and, of course, Britcham’s Environment

coincided smoothly with the arrival

Committee Chair.

of a host of events and high level visitors from London who were

P e t e r ’s p r e s e n t a t i o n

here with the C40.

covered an overview of the UK’s carbon strategy,

UK Trade & Investment again took out a pavilion at the show, which attracted eight

and asked whether we can

British companies. One of these was, pleasingly, a member of our Britcham Environment

move towards a sustainable

Committee. All the exhibitors reported that although the quantity of visitors was not

way of living and what

as numerous as previous years, the quality was excellent. So much so that when we

business opportunities

interviewed the exhibitors, at the end of the show, we had some very positive responses

t h i s w o u l d c re a t e . H e

about coming back next year. They also forecast a sum of several million pounds in sales

also mentioned some of

between them - that now has to be turned into hard currency of course.

the UK incentives such as UK landfill tax, introduced

What was impressive was not only the large number of Hong Kong and mainland China

to drive recycling, and the help available for EV purchases. Anne’s talk centred on Green

environmental companies with their own stands, but also a good number of visitors from the

Buildings - what they are and how we can plan to achieve them - and the Low Carbon

mainland keen on seeing the latest environmental technologies. This all goes to prove that

Era, including building energy efﬁciency, offsetting f and waste management. The talks were

this important sector is really picking up here. There were also many visitors from elsewhere

well received by a sizeable audience who had the opportunity to question the panellists at

and several of our exhibitors proudly showed the name cards of potential agents from as far

the end.

aﬁeld as Brazil, South Africa and Romania. It was also good to welcome a couple of The organisers, HK Tr T ade Development Council, (TDC), also arranged for networking

members of the aforementioned Britcham

lunches at which our

Environment Committee to the stand -

exhibitors were able to

thank you for your support r!

mingle with a host of other companies along with

We will be back next year, hopefully

visiting delegates from

with a bigger pavilion and even more

the C40.

UK companies showcasing their technologies here. This is a dynamic

Lastly TDC also gave us

region and one increasingly crucial to progress on environmental issues.

half a day’s free use of a seminar room, of which we t o o k f u l l a d v a n t a g e . We

www.br itcham.com

F r fu Fo f rt rther de d ta t ilils, ple l ase vi visit th t e Ec E o Ex Expo we w bsite t : www.hktdc.com/fair/ecoexpoasia-en.

ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable Strategy Differentiates Future Leaders in Corporate Real Estate from the Rest By Steve Chan, Head of Engineering and Operations Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle

Sustainability

is increasingly considered an immediate and critical

issue in corporate real estate (CRE), and its importance has not only survived through the

obsolete and thus high-risk, which makes ﬁnancing difﬁcult. All these factors will snowball into a “non-sustainability discount”.

global economic downturn, but has even pressed on to become an important agenda in the board room. It is no longer a choice matter: companies without a rigorously formulated

On top of ﬁnancial considerations, companies will soon be subject to various regulatory

sustainability strategy are likely to be outclassed, and may eventually suffer f a ﬁnancial cost.

requirements: the Hong Kong Government intends to legislate for the mandatory compliance with the region’s energy audits; in Singapore, new buildings and renovations

An occupier sustainability survey conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle and CoreNet Global

must maintain a certain level of environmental performance; and in Japan, energy

in late 2009, at a time when the global economic downturn was deepening, revealed that

consumption reports are required from half of the country’s commercial properties.

instead of slowing down, sustainability has become a critical business issue for 70% of CRE executives, showing an upward trend over the past three years. While an initial cost may be unavoidable, 74% of CRE executives see the benefits in the long run and are willing to spend on retrofitting their owned offi f ce space with energy-effi f cient installations. When it comes to the rental market, however, only 37% are ready to fork out a premium for a sustainable leased space, and 21% will pay extra only if it can be offset f by cost savings.

Significant growth potential for sustainable corporate real estate in Asia-Pacific Nearly 90% of respondents in the occupier sustainability survey take into account green building certifications and energy labels when making location decisions and administering their portfolio. Ratings such as LEED of the US Green Building Council recognise

Obviously there is a gap to bridge between what companies are willing to spend and what developers and landlords are willing to offer f , and the key lies in demonstrating the beneﬁts and threats for one to go with or against the trend of green buildings.

Going green brings long-term beneﬁts Incorporating sustainability factors leads to long-lasting benefits. In cities where CRE is already of very high quality in terms of infrastructure and management, going green is a

measurable green building design and maintenance and provide a reliable mechanism for benchmarking; and mandatory ratings for new developments and refurbishments, such as GreenMark in Singapore, are likely to be welcomed by occupiers in many Asian markets. Whereas in the United States and the United Kingdom there are 4,000 and 3,000 certiﬁed green buildings respectively, in Asia, this number is dramatically lower, representing a great potential for development. In China, 2010 saw 70 buildings certified, and another 300 registered for certiﬁcation; the trend is set to rise in Hong Kong and Singapore.

differ f entiator that sets one apart from the rest. With the limited supply of green buildings in Asia – this is at least the impression of occupiers – green building represents an opportunity to capitalise on the void in the market.

Sustainable corporat a e re r al estat a e is taking the centre r stage in As A ia, and those not going gre r en will only be outclassed. As A CRE executives expand their inﬂuence in sustainability issues, they are r the ones to drive the change. The initial costs, unat a tractive as they may a ﬁrst appear,r will eventually

For occupiers, creating a sustainable workplace oft f en means a better work environment, which

pay a offf and translat a e into gre r at a er beneﬁts that a will make a mark on a company’s ’ history ry.

in turn brings lower absenteeism among employees, greater attraction to talents and therefore higher retention, and fewer sick-building-syndrome symptoms. These non-financial benefits help raise productivity and in the end turn into direct financial benefits for the company. y In fact, many occupiers are already targeting the ‘low-hanging fruits’: workplace energy efficiency and waste recycling programs are widely implemented. With energy cost being the most important portfolio metric for 37% of the respondents to the occupier sustainability survey, cost saving through sustainable initiatives is a major attraction. Owners and landlords will benefit from the trend that green buildings lease quicker and attract and retain quality tenants more easily. New opportunities await as developers and landlords go on to provide professional support on charting sustainability performance data or helping companies with detailed calculations of project ROI; and owners will be able to generate additional income in the form of tradable carbon credits.

Those without a sustainability strategy risk being outclassed As new buildings are being built to a high green standard and more existing buildings are being refurbished, those not meeting sustainability performance criteria may be labeled D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

LOGISTICS

Tour of Hongkong International By Dovenia Chow

tour of the Hongkong Internat a ional Te T rminals

(HIT) at Kwai Ts T ing Port was arranged by the

internal trucks and electric power for their rubberr tyred gantry r cranes, which means reduced air pollution, noise pollution and lowering energy usage.

Chamber’s Logistics Committee on the 9th November, 2010. While this might not be a well-

The next stop on the tour was a visit to HIT’s control centre where Jo ohn described how

known attraction in Hong Kong, we were assured

the staff f at HIT managed the logistics of the stacking, moving and plan nning of containers

by John Harries, the Port r Development Dire r ctor and

in the yard through sophisticated computer software that enabled vissualisation through

guide, that a it is indeed popular and that a they run as

graphic representation. Alongside this they use a ship planning syste em that calculates

many as 3 tours a day a ; even Pre r mier Wen Jia Bao

optimal sequences for discharging and loading vessels, ensuring ship sttability and efﬁcient

and Margare r t That a cher hav a e enjoyed a visit.

operations. John stressed that efﬁciency is key in staying competitive within the industry, especially when the South China ports are now developing rapidly and competing against

The visit started with John giving us a review of the development and operations of Kwai

Hong Kong for business.

T ing Port, next to an impressive and intricate model of the layout of the area. He gave Ts those of us not in the logistics industry some background and history of how the port

The tour ended with a coach ride of the terminal berths and storage yard facilities which

developed. Hong Kong has a rich maritime tradition dating from the mid 19th century, but

were just fascinating to see in action. The rows upon rows of contain ners stacked neatly

it was not until 1970 that construction of the ﬁrst three terminals of Hong Kong’s purpose-

waiting to be transported seem to go on forever in every direction while a swarm of activity

built container terminal in Kwai Chung began.

bustles around them. Watching W the crane operators load and unload the container ships by aligning the crane with the container purely by eye was very impressive; the process is swift

John explained that containerisation has cut vessel turnaround times dramatically and

and accurate though the operators sit 75 metres above.

the container yards developed new systems for loading, disembarking and transporting containers. Through the innovative use of systems and technology the Kwai Chung

The Port of Hong Kong is a 24-hour, non-stop operation and to be in amongst the stacks

container terminal operators led the world in space usage and productivity.

of containers and cranes watching the never-ending activity really brought home how important the innovative and cutting-edge technologies are. These highly efﬁcient systems

With the coming of China’s open-door economic policies, the Hong Kong port rode the

keep Hong Kong at the forefront of the international shipping community.

waves of containerisation and Chinese economic growth. It expanded signiﬁcantly, adding T rminals 4, 6, 7 and 8, while throughput at both Kwai Chung and HIT reached new Te

One of the participants on the tour summed it up:

peaks. Since the eighties, Hong Kong has been one of the world’s leading and largest

“As a regular visitor to Hong Kong (and overseas member of the Chambe er) it is always good

container ports. To T day, with over 80 international shipping lines providing 460 weekly

to go behind the scenes and see what helps to make the place tick. I’ve often looked down

container services to more than 170 ports worldwide, Hong Kong’s port continues to grow

on the port on the way from the airport and wondered what exactly went on down there

in international trans-shipment cargo

amongst the cranes, so it was great to have the opportunity to ﬁnd out.

volumes and remains in the top five container ports in the world.

It really was a most impressive operation, and it was particularly inte eresting to see the control room at the heart of everything, in a business where time is of the essence.

HIT is also a leader on the environmental

What also struck me was the way in which HIT has used its knowh how in logistics to

front and has gone to great lengths to

expand from Hong Kong around the world, including Felixstowe and other ports in the

conserve the area around the port to

UK. Of course, networking is very much on the agenda for the cham mber and I was in

reduce its environmental footprint. HIT is

good company with Mark Millar and the other chamber members an nd staff f during the

the ﬁrst port r operator in Hong Kong to

visit.” - Alan Durham, Director, International Tr T ade, Coventry & Warw wickshire Chamber

switch to ultra-low sulphur diesel for its

of Commerce

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Terminals

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

LIFESTYLE

Britcham Bar Crawl By Hilary Thomas Well the festive season is upon us and as we all know the advent of advent heralds not just an onslaught of Christmas music in our lifts but also a wonderful excuse to eat, drink and be merry on the streets of Hong Kong. Whether you’re spending Christmas here or heading home to Europe earmuffs-a-ready, we will all have at least one night to worry down a Christmas beverage with our Hong Kong family. But where to go? Hong Kong is so alive with night-life that it can be easy to fall into a rut when it comes to favoured drinking spots; but with Christmas coming up and a brand new year on the horizon, it’s time to treat yourself to somewhere new. No need to panic, with a notepad and pencil in hand, the Britcham team have done all the hard work for you – here is our pick of some of the best bars Hong Kong side, for all drinking preferences.

For the out-off-towner

Le Me eridiien, Cyberport Forr tho those who have nott yet been out ut west to o Cyberporrt an nd ha nd ad the e ple p asurre of o popp ping in n to Le Me Meridien I wou uld d urge you ou u to do o so. so o. Le Merridi i ien e iss no not jus ustt anoth ther ‘niice’ e bus busin iness hotel b sse ble s d by the gods of of taupe, it iss pr p op operly pe ly funkyy. Hig H gh h ce cei e lin ngss and mod mo ern sculpt lptur uress car c ve e out its recepti ptio on and nd lead you to o Bar Ba Um mami – a mod o ern Jap apane ane ese se res estaur aurant a ce entred d ar a oun und d an n iisl slland a bar th hat looks out onto o a quaint little pat atio o complete with h golldﬁ dﬁsh. Their coc cockktail kt lis listt is d ine del de eated into boy an and d girl sectio ions. ns Not No to be boxed ed in, I triried e one e off eac ch. Lry Lry-ch - ee Saketail was a compelling ble blend of lychee ly ees, schnapps, sak ake an and shochu (for gi girls) and Oh-rroho She Sh e-Shih hih wa as a blokkey con nco coction of swe s et pickled ginger, sak ake an and shochu. Overal ra l the he gir girlls coc cockta ktails kta ils are sweet and light, the boys coc cockta ktails ilss are punchier with a bit more of a buzz. Knock Kno ck th them m both b h back ba with a plate t off fresh f esh su sush shi and and your your ni night ght wi w ll sta st rt in n great grreat st style yle. W le at Le Mer Whi Wh Meridien, if you’re loo okin king g for for som someth eth hing ing a bit bi m morre chi chiille lle ed, d, h hea ead upsstairs tai airs to the PSI PSI ba barr.. This bar This pla place ce br breat eathes he ess e relax axation n and iss decked out ut with dis discrete comput puter er sta statio tions, com mfy cha chairs i s and d a darrk bar ba area. ea Lit Litera erally juttin ng out off thi thiss space is a glas spa ass-w s-walled room om m full of bean bags ags an nd low low tab tables that can b be hi hirred out for private e fu unct nc ction ct io ion ons too. oo oo 100 C Cyberp port Road, Hong on Ko ong Tel: 2980 778 T 88

For the elegant quaffer

Blue Bar at The Four Seasons, Centra al Step Ste p in nto the the dim mlyy liti Blue Bar at th he Fourr S he Sea eason so s, let et the he drea amyy jaz jazzz wash was wa ash ove overr you you and allow you yourse selflff to b se be e led to oa corner ner tab table by by an n exqu xquis isite itelly turne ed-o out wai w ter er and you ou imm mmedia atelyy fee el lik ikke a bet bettter cla class of pe erson so . The Th he Fou Four Season on ns exu udess a certa cer ain n SW W1 style le and hass a drinks nks llis ist and foo ood d menu to o mat matc ch h. Wha Wh hat was tha h t waitter? ? Yes I wou w uld d ra ratther enjo oy oy a cha hampa mpag mpa gne coc gne c ckta ail and a fois grras sandwi sandwi wich. ch. With h a liv ivve band d pla ayin ng eve eve veryy nig night ht ove o r the e qui u ett hu um of conv onversa sat attion on, on Blu ue Bar ar iss a pe perfec fectt sp spo po ot for an ap ape perit riittif ri tif at the h beg be inn ning of a dat da d ate, or ass a pl pla p ace e to o imp impress ss tha at sup superr-i - po -im ortant cl ort client en e ent nt. The driinks The nks lis listt iss ext exte ex en ive ensiv ens ive, th t e food the foo ood iss me m lt-i mel t-in--the-thee mou emou outh th h delliciious ous ou us and a the he a amb mb bien e ce ce is is charmi rm ng. ng Com Come e in, in rela elax, ord de er so so om metthing ng fa ancy a an nd d dri drin nk in n styl yle e. 8 Fina ance Stree reet, t, Ce C tra Cen ra al, Hong Kon ng Tel el: 319 96 888 96 88

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For thhe nostalgia junkies

Jimmy’s Kitchen, Central Forgive me. I’m afraid I’m one of those horribly uninform med exp pats that a ha ad nevver been to Jim mmy’s ’ Kitch hen before. In fact,, so great was my ignora ance that I actua ally co onfused Jim mmy’s Kitch hen with Sammy’’ss kitchen. Imagine myy surprise th hen when expe ecting a somewhat shambolic Chinese restaurant, I walk ked into a classic we este ern-sstyle pub complete e with sepia ph hotog graphss and a ninetyy year heritage. Jimmy’s ’ Kitchen, the brainchild of a US S arm my ofﬁ f cer in 192 20s Shanghai and orig gina ally serv r ing burge erss to vissiting g serv r icem man,, came to Hong g Ko ong in 1928 and has been passsed down frrom ffa ather to son ever since e. No ow owned by Epicure r an n Group p bu ut retaining its orriginal spirit, Jimmy’s is offfering the sam me sim mple pub farre e and the same atmosspherre e it did when it wass men-o only in the 40s. Try the theirirr rran ange of B Briitis itissh bee b rs on tap and relaxx in n the TV TV-fr V fr free e haven of their bassement bar enjo enj njoying oying the th h genial atmosphere and nd the e gr great eat ser eat ea ervic er vice. vic e. If you you’r ’rre fee e lin in ng par pa tic ticula u rly swi ula wish ish sh, try ry a gla g ss of their Ford Cop oppol op pola po a Mal a bec al bec, it’ll burst you y r hea ead d ope open. n Jimmy’s is one of tho ose e ins n tit ns tituti itutions ons tha th t fee th f ls lik like e it’ it s go got it righ ht In ht. n a Hong Kong where e eve en the e bes e t formul m ass have a short shelf h lf lif life, e it’ss go d to be some goo mewh whe he ere whic which h feel ee s lik ike ke itt wi w ll be ar aroun ound for many, many ye ears ar to o come me. e I’m m just gllad the h y let girls in these days. he G F, South G/F S China Buil uilding, 1-3 Wyndh Wyndham am Str treet, Central, Hong Kong Tel: 2526 5294 T

For the hard-core Lan Kwai Fongeer

Bar Georg ge Lan Kwai Fong c a n be a t o ug g hii e . O v e rwhelm m e d with c h o i c e , i t c a n b e a b e w i l d e r i n g propossition. Wh hen in doub bt, head to Bar George referred to by its management as ‘the pub with attitude’.. Indeed, Bar George is the quintessenttial LK KF bar. As opposed to o its rather ﬂy-by-night neighbours, Bar Geoge iss burrsting with regulars who know our host M i n n i e , t he e g e n e r a l m anag g er, by n a m e . D r i n k e r s c a n p e o p le w a t c h a t t h e f r o n t b a r, g e t c o zy in th h e i n t i m att e m id d d le e b a r, orr h e a d t o t h e d a nc c e f lo o o r a t t he e b ack for a bit off a b o o g i e o n ce e the drinks kick in.. Bar George is also a classic sp pot for watc ching s p o r t s w i t h a h u ge ra a ng g e o f t e l e viss ion screens. This b arr, with its g rea a t att m o s p h ere a n d f rie e n d l y s t a f f , is an n o f t ovv e r l o oke ed w a te e r i n g h o le o n t h e m ostt f a m ouss street in Hong g Kong – no F r i d a y n i g h t d rin n k w o u l d b e co o mplete withou u t a vii s i t t o t h i s LKF staple. 38-44 D’’A Aguiilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong Tel: 2521 220 02

For the Contiinental

Piel De Toro, Wanchai Nestled under Uno Mas on Lockhart Road sits an unassuming Wanchai gem. Piel De Toro is a fantastic little Spanish bar serving all the classics. Grab a tinto de verano or a sangria here and indulge your most wistful holiday memories. Regardless of your experience of the real thing, Piel De Torro will slake even the most authentic Spaniards thirst. Indeed, as the ofﬁcial bar of the Spanish Chamber, they no doubt have their work cut out. We chose a medley of Spanish drinks and washed down a lovely selection of ‘proper’ tapas with it – slices of toast with anchovies, Spanish omelette and chorizo. Don’t wear your posh frock for this one, brightly coloured high plastic chairs and a light and airy bar area make for an informal and fun night out. It even puts on Flamenco nights - Viva Espana! G/F, 62 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel: 2528 0997

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

EVENTS T h e B r i t i s h a n d A u s t r a l i a n C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e

Battle of the Bowls! S p o n s o re d b y N a t i o n a l A u s t r a l i a B a n k

The

Hong Kong Hong Ho Ko Cricket Club was host to the ﬁrst, in wha at ho hopes to be

a series, of the British Chamber YNetwo work rk and Australian n Chambe er YEN Y N Bat atttle of the Bowls! Four teams of Briits and d four teams of Au ussies came tog getther on a November evening, and battled d it out to be crowned best law a n bowling g co ountry ry. Plentty of fun and laughter was had by all, but the competition got quite ﬁe erc r e at a one point - law a n bowls is not alway a s as placid as one would think! Finally, y aft f er four intense games the Battle of the Bowls overall best team and country r was given to Australia, with the team BTH crown ned as proud winnerss. The Brits were not far behind however,r becoming runn ners up p wiith the LAS team. Specia Spe ciall tha thanks nks must go to National Australia Bank for sp ponsorin ng the eve evenin ning g. The night g was a gr g eat success and trulyy enjjoyed y d by all,, we could not have had such a superb event without their support. We look forwarrd to plann ning many more British Chamber YNetwork events next year. If you would lik like to know more about these events and how to get involved with the YNe YNetwork, pleas ple e contact Lucy Jenkins: lucy@britcham.com.

www.br itcham.com

CHRISTMAS

Diamonds

are a man’s best friend

In the lead up to Christmas, gifts are back on the agenda. Katie Brown of Ryder Diamonds recommends the beauty of diamonds to put a smile on a woman’s face. Once again Christmas is around the corner and we will all be hunting for the perfect gift for our loved ones. Whilst men have a reputation of being incredibly hard to buy for (often just buying things they want when they see them), women are quite the opposite, usually with a wishlist of luxury, girly items which their day to day lives don’t allow them to indulge in. Don’t be fooled into believing that your girlfriend or wife is one of the few who is immune to such frivolities. She would not actually much rather be given a Nintendo DS for Christmas, something coincidentally that you’ve wanted for ages. Nor would she prefer a handy gadget for the kitchen - unless you want to be cooking your own dinner for the next few months! Start to take note of conversations where your other half admires so-and-so’s earrings, or a magazine left deliberately open on your side of the bed featuring the latest designer lingerie. Once you’re tuned in, you’ll be amazed at how many hints she will leave for you in the run up to Christmas! I’m sure I could count on one hand the number of women in Hong Kong who wouldn’t be over the moon to receive some diamonds for Christmas. What could possibly be more luxurious and make them feel more special than a nice pair of diamond stud earrings, or a stunning tennis bracelet? Certainly not a new blender! This is why Ryder Diamonds has launched their ﬁrst ever ready-to-wear collection of classic diamond jewellery. Says Sally Ryder, founder of Ryder Diamonds, ‘Whilst our core business is still bespoke ﬁne diamond jewellery, we do get husbands and boyfriends rushing in at the last minute to choose a gift for their other half and they need something they can buy on the spot’.

Ryder Diamonds Tel: 2805 2589

Email: info@ryderdiamonds.com

Make an appointment for a private viewing for Ryder’s new collection of classic diamonds or visit the website www.ryderdiamonds.com.

British Business in China 2011 Get Exposed! Prom P Pr rom omo otte yo your you ur brand rra and nd accrro osss G Grre ea ate ter ter Chin Ch hin na in n the he 201 011 B Brrit itis ish sh C Ch ha am mb be ers rs of of Co C omm mer errce ce Ch ce hiina na Dir irec ectto ory ry

www. www. ww w.br .br brit itcham cham ch am.c .com com m

The British Business in China Directory r is the definitive source of information on the leading British business professionals in the China market. With comprehensive, up-to-date details of over 2,000 businesses operating in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the directory r is an invaluable reference for anyone wishing to expand their networks in the region. The 2011 British Business in China Directory r provides a unique opport r unity to promote your brand to the prestigious British Chambers of Commerce members, providing brand exposure to decision makers and industry r figures throughout China while enjoying the seal of approval associated with British Chamber of Commerce aff f iliation.

British Chamber members enjoy a number of substantial discounts. Please contact:charles@speedflex.com.hk to discuss your requirements before January 1st 2011.

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

EVENTS

The Standard Life & British Chamber YNetwork Scottish Ceilidh The

Aberdeen Marina Club playyed hostt once aga ain to our highly antticipated Scottish Ceilidh!

As evver there e was the exceptional pipe band and highland d dancers, as well as the captivatin ng Hagg giss Addrress led by John Bruce. The night then proceed ded with h delicious fare and of course the whisky! After the food ca ame what all the guests had been waiting for, the dancing! A huge thank you must go to Iain Carmichael and his band who even said that this year’s event was the best Ceilidh they had ever playe ed att! Stand darrd Life (Asia a) Limited were our title sponsors again this year, so a huge thank you to them for all of their support and cooperation, the night was such a success and we couldn’tt have done it without them. Special thanks must also go to Choyce Recruitment who sponsored a bottle of whissky per table and a delicious cupca ake forr every guest. Other special thanks must go to all those who donated prizes for the lucky draw; we had an outsta anding selection this year, and all th he winn ners were thrilled. A big thank you to Pure Fitness and Pure Yoga for the 6-m month complimentary contrac ct, an amazing top prize. Othe er special mention must go to Flight Centre for donating 2 retur n tickets to Phuket; Marks & Spencer for donating 12 bottles of wine; to Dance Trin nity for donating 2 free entries to Salsa for Beginners; the Conrad for donating a dinne er for 2 att Brassiere on the Eighth; to the Hong Kong Ballet for providing 2 ticketts to The Nutcrac cker; and la astly to Red Packet for donating a Simplyy Pam mpered and Simplyy Tasty packet gift experie ence. Finally, a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, t h a n k yo o u t o a l l th h e g u estt s f o r don n a t i n g so g e n e ro u slyy, w e m a n a g e d t o r a i s e H K $ 2 4 , 1 5 9 f o r A r t s f o r D isabled Associa ation, which iss greatly apprec ciated. Tha anks to o everyo one again for making this yea ar’ss Ceilidh anotther fantastic success and we lo ook forward to seeing g you all next year!

For or mo ore e inform inf nfform or ati a on at n abo bout utt the u he ev h event ve en ent n or an anyy upco upco pc comin ming i g YNet N wor orrk even en nttss please please ple se e co ont nta ta act ct lucy@britcham.com..

www.br itcham.com

D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1

NEW APPOINTMENTS / MEMBER BENEFITS

International law ﬁrm Mallesons has recently announced the appointment of Denis Brock as a partner in the Hong Kong off f ice. Denis specialises in n commercial, corporate and regulatory ry, litigation and arb bitration.

Denis Brock

Denis is Hong Kong's most experienced and respected commercial litigator and he comes to Ma allesons with a distinguished career in litigation and disputte resolution in both Asia and the UK. He was most rece ently a part r ner in the dispute resolution practice of Cliffford Chance in London. He practiced from that firm's off f ice in Hong Kong for 14 years, during 9 of which he headed the litigation and dispute resolution practice in n Asia.

His experie ence over the years has included minority shareholder litigation,, professional negligence claims, banking litigation, fraud investigations and PRC-related disp putes. He also advises on risk management and insurance policies.

InterContinenttal Grand Stanford Hong Kong is also pleased to announce the app pointment of Vicky Au as Director of Revenue Management. Vicky has ove er 20 years of working experience in the hospitality indu ustry, primarily in the Sales and Revenue discipline. In her new role, she will work closely with the Sales and d Revenue team in developing pricing structures and revenue strategies. She has worked with several major international brands in Hong Kong such as the Peninsula Hotels Group and Marriott International. A native of H ong Kong, Vicky graduated from a Hospitality M anagement program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and obtained a MBA degree from Universityy of Surrey, UK.

Vicky Au

Lastly, InterCo ontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong is pleased to announce the appointment a of Cecilia Won ng as Director of Communications.

InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong is pleased to announce the appointment of Joanna Kan as Director of Sales and Marketing. Joanna wass educated in the United States and holds an Associate of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Managemen nt. She brings with her more than 22 years of sales exp perience in the hospitality industry ry, and has been part r off the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for over 13 years. She was part r of the pre-opening team at Crowne Pla aza Hong Kong Causeway Bay, y where she held the possition of Director of Sales and Marketing. She Joanna Kan has also wo orked in other local hotel propert r ies and has cemented so olid relationships with regional corporate accounts and tour and trav a el operators.

Cecilia returnss to the hotel after her departure in 2006 as Public Relations Man nager. In her new role, she will be working closely with the local and international media, and overseeing the promotion nal and communication strategies to ensure InterContinental Gran nd Stanford Hong Kong co ontinues to develop its position as a ﬁve star luxurious hotel. “Cecilia’s returrn will bring a refreshing approach to the hotel. Her extensive expe erience and previous familiarisation with the property make her a strong appointment that will drive the bra and’s image in the coming years to new heights,” sa aid General Manager, Peter Pollmeier. Educated in Australia, Cecilia holds a Master of Commerce degree in Finance and a B achelor of Science degree in Statistics and Mathem matics from University of New South Wales. W With overr 9 years of marketing and public relations experience, Cecilia has developed solid relationships with both the local and international media.

General Ma anager, Peter Pollmeier said, "As InterContinental Grand Stanford d Hong Kong continues to o develop its position as a ﬁve star hotel of choice for the busin ness travelers, Joanna’s so olid sales experience and extensive network in hospitality industryy make her a strong appo ointment. She will continue to lead the Sales and Marketing team to t expand the hotel busine ess and promote the brand awareness in both domestic and overse eas markets."

Cecilia Wong

MEMBER DISCOUNTS To enjoy exclusive member discounts please log onto www.britcham.com, log in and click on membership discounts. If you have forgotten your login details please email info@britcham.com to request them. Accor

British Airways

Lloyds TSB Paciﬁc Limited

AGS Four Winds Internat a ional Movers Lt Ld

Compass Ofﬁces

Marketsensus

Alﬁe’s ’

Dot Cod

The Mira Hong Kong

Altaya

Grand Hyatt

Pure Fitness

Andara

Hyatt Regency

Regus

A Avis

IPAC P

Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong

B&W Group Asia Limited

The Langham Hong Kong

Virgin Atlantic

Berry Bros & Rudd

Le Meridien Cyberport

VisitBritain

For up to date event listings and information, check out www.britcham.com 24

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NEWS

Kellett School recognised as providing an ‘outstanding’ education for children overseas

HKMRFU and HSBC help Hong Kong youngsters enter record books

This past November,r Kellett School, the British International School in Hong Kong, became

The Hong Kong Mini Rugby Football Union (HKMRFU) and HSBC helped 2,610 very

the ﬁrst British Internat a ional school to be re r cognised by the UK Depart r ment for Educat a ion as

excited youngsters enter the Guinness World Records book by organising the world’s

pro r viding an ‘outstanding’ educat a ion for childre r n overseas. This news follows the school’s ’ re r cent

largest mini rugby tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club and Happy Va V lley Sports

inspection by Penta Internat a ional which determined Kellett School to be an ‘excellent school’.

Ground. 2,610 boys and girls, aged between 4 and 12 took part in the event which broke the previous World Record by 1,778.

OFSTED, which stands for Ofﬁ f ce for Standards in Education, Children’s Serv r ices and Skills, inspects all stat a e maintained schools and most independent schools in England. An ‘outstanding’

The event was officially declared a Guinness World Record by Adjudicator Stuart

verdict is the highest possible rating. Penta International is one of the premier independent

Claxton, with former Australian rugby player Matt Burke and Gavin Hastings, former

providers of educational and management consultancy, y monitoring, training and inspection

British & Irish Lions and Scotland player, joining in with the tournament.

serv r ices. Based on the South coast of England, it supports schools, colleges, businesses, governments and charities aro r und the world. It is one of six British accre r dited agencies that a specialises in re r view, monitoring and inspection of schools overseas.

The HKMRFU HSBC Mini Rugby To T urnament is another illustration of HSBC’s global investment in the growth and development of rugby. Earlier this month the bank announced the ﬁrst ever series sponsorship of the HSBC Sevens World Series, as well

The inspection re r port r aw a arded the highest grades possible to the School for overall leadership

as the renewal of their Principal Partnership of the British & Irish Lions, who will play a

and management, efffectiveness and quality of pro r vision and achievement & standards.

historic ﬁrst match in Hong Kong on their way to Australia in 2013.

3C Synergy construction re r cruiters expand operat a ions to Hong Ko K ng The infrastructure, construction and property specialist recruitment firm, 3C Synergy has expanded operations and opened an office in Hong Kong. Building on their success within South East Asia, where the head-office is based in Singapore, the philanthropic boutique recruitment firm will support contractors, consultancies and service providers across infrastructure, and build projects in Hong Kong and mainland China. “We are regarded as one of the few specialist recruiters for the built environment in Asia, and our network of contacts in the region allows us to support the multitude of projects in the region,” said Managing Director, Dee Allan. The only recruitment company in Asia to be recognised as a Chartered Building Consultancy by the Chartered Institute of Building, 3C Synergy will recruit for technical positions, ranging from graduate to director level. They will also continue to support and spread the message of ‘buy one, give one’ as a ‘business partner’ of B1G1. Here they take a lead role in helping to restore the landscape in T Tanjung Puting National Park – Borneo, and provide funding for the ‘Therapy for the Daughters of Cambodia’ initiative.

NEW MEMBERS Chairs of Specialist Committees Business Policy Unit Tim Peirson-Smith Executive Counsel China David W Watt DTZ Construction Derek Smyth Gammon Construction Education Stephen Eno Baker & McKenzie Environment Anne Kerr Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited Financial Services Interest Group Debbie Annells Azure T Tax Consulting HR Advisory Group Brian Renwick Boy oyden Searc r h Glo l bal Ex Executitve v ICT Kevin T Taylor BT Marketing & Communications Adam O’Conor Ogilvy & Mather Group Real Estate Jeremy Sheldon Jones Lang LaSalle Scottish Business Group Dr. Jim W Walker Asianomics Limited Logistics Mark Millar M Power Associates Small & Medium Enterprises Kate Kelly Women in Business Lisa Bowman DG3 Asia Limited

ADDITIONAL

CORPORATE

OVERSEAS

Towers Watson

Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co. Ltd

Business Bootcamp

Mark Saunders Managing Director HK & Risk Consulting Practice Leader, Asia T l Te 2593 4588 Fax 2525 9706 mark.saunders@towerswatson.com 29/F, F Sun Hung Kai Centre 30 Harbour Road, Wa W n Chai, Hong Kong Consultancy

Mark Clift Chief Operating Ofﬁcer T Tel 3166 3821 Fax 3166 3119 markclift@cyberport.hk Unit 1102 to 04, Cyber 2 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam Hong Kong Business Services

PricewaterhouseCoopers David McDonald Financial Services, T Transfer Pricing T l Te 2289 3707 Fax 2521 3382 david.mcdonald@hk.pwc.com 21/F, F Edinburgh Tower 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Accounting

The Laurus Group Limited Nick Green Managing Director 2521 3456 TT e Tl Fax 2521 4456 nick@thelaurusgroup.com 6/FFF, Onfem TT Tower, 29 Wyndham Street Central, Hong Kong Executive Search

DTZ Kate Medlicott Associate Director, Research T l Te 2250 8864 Fax 2730 1441 kate.medlicott@dtz.com 16/F, F Jardine House One Connaught Place, Central, Hong Ko K ng Property / Real Estate Services

Platinum Wines Limited

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Fast Track Hong Kong Ltd

Joe Mellish Senior Manager T l Te 2852 5856 joemellish@deloitte.com 35/F, F One Paciﬁc Place, 88 Queensway Admiralty, Hong Kong Accounting

Dan Parr Director TT e Tl 6136 2175 dan.parr@fasttrackagencyyy.com 23/FFF, Shun Ho TT T owerrr, 24 Ice House Street Central, Hong Kong PR & Marketing

Rickesh Kishnani Senior Wine Broker TT e Tl 2521 4431 rickesh@platinum-wines.com Suites 1601, Queen’s Palace 74 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Wines & Spirits

Paul Merrifield International Manager T Tel +44 777 296 5207 paul.merrifield@lighterlife.com fi Cavendish House, Parkway Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex CM19 5QF, F United Kingdom Medical / Healthcare

Multitone Electronics PLC Henry Fung Non-Executive Director T Tel 2897 1111 henryklf@championtechnology r y.com Multitone House Shortwood Copse Lane, Kempshott Basingstoke, RG23 7NL, United Kingdom Computer / T Technology / IT

Mogers LLP Mark Sage Head of Expat Services T Tel +44 1225 750 072 Fax +44 1225 445 208 marksage@mogers.co.uk 24, Queen Square, Bath, BAI 2HY United Kingdom Legal

Viktoria Kish Managing Director T Tel +420 604 950 942 Fax +420 245 005 527 kish@studyprograms.com NA Zderaze 15, 120 00 Prague 2 Czech Republic Education

Andrea Howl Managing Director T l Te 2852 1950 andhowl@deloitte.com 35/F, F One Paciﬁc Place, 88 Queensway Admiralty, Hong Kong Accounting

Deacons Vivian Poon Consultant - Intellectual Property T l Te 2825 9750 vivian.poon@deacons.com.hk 5/F, F Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road Central, Hong Kong Legal

Business Angel Programme Neil Orvay Asia Spa & W Wellness Limited

YNETWORK

Tim Hay-Edie Simple Pilot Software

Sebastien Long Implementation Manager Business Re-Organisation T l Te 2951 3102 Fax 2951 3381 sebastienlong@hsbc.com.hk 8/F, F HSBC Building, Mong Kok 673, Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon Hong Kong Banking

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LighterLife UK Ltd

International Study Programs Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

OVERSEAS ADDITIONAL Labuan IBFC Inc. Sdn. Bhd.

YNetwork Fiona Foxon

Denis Campbell Director T Tel +44 1656 890 123 d nis de i .camp m belll@busin i ess-bootc t amp m .com P.O Box 70, Cowbridge, Wales P United Kingdom Consultancy

HSBC

INDIVIDUAL Nicholas Pirie Tel T 2719 5658 nicholaspirie@dragonch.com C.O: Dragon Chambers, 501, Lippo Centre, T Tower 2, Queensway Hong Kong

James Mailer Ofﬁce Manager T Tel 2527 2318 Fax 2520 2938 jim@labuanibfc.my Suite 2B-11-3, Level 11, Block 2B Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Government

SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

Shaken Not Stirred October 2010 Jonathan Ma acey (R (Rich ch hmond Asset Manage gemen ment) t), Brian Br Muirr ( chm (Ri c ond Asset ett Ma anag ageme ement) nt), t) Dav vid Dow well (S (Stra ra ate te ic teg c Acc ce ess es ss) s)

Phil hililippe Pey eyron n (Co (C C llilliers Internat natio ational), Ma Mat attt T Taylor or Harp (G (G Gua ua ang an gzhou Na Nan nsh nsh nsha IIn ntern r ati t onal Lo ogistics Deve v lo opment) t , Pa P ul Bo dy Bol y (Bo Boldy ld Assoc ciat iates) es)

Christop op pherr Wi W lki Wilki kiinso on (AGS Fou ur Win nds), s)), Gloriana na Yeung g (T The Upperho Th rh use)

Da avid Do owelll (Strate ( egic A Ac cce cess), Ha arri rie et Ung nger (Th ng Th horp rp Alberga) a), Cara A Atha (Zu Z ric Zu ich) h) Hi H lary ry Thom T omas as (Th (The Brit itiish ish Chamb mber of Com o mmerce ce in n Hon Ho g Kong), ong T Tom m F low Fal owﬁ ﬁeld (Ugl Ugli), i), An Andy y Mat Ma her (I (Inci nc siv ive e Me ia), Fion Med iona a Asht A hton on n (In (Incisive e Media dia))

Chri ristopher Wi Wilkinson (AGS Four Wi Winds), Ma M alcol olm m Pr Pratt rat (Unigro roup up pW Worl rlld dw wide), Lucyy Jenk en ins in ns (T (The he Britis tish Cha tis ham ha am mber of of Com ommer me ce in mer i Hon Ho ong g Kong), ), Hil Hilar i ry Thom om mas (The (Th e Brit Brrit ittish Cham am mber off C Com om o mer me erce ce e in n Hon Ho ong g Kong) Christin Lam (Th The Uppe p rh rhou use), ),, Melody d Ch hung ((T The Upperrhouse) e), Glorriiana Yeung (The T Up The pper perh house) e),, Vivan e) nH Ho o (The Upperh hou ouse)

Gordon McInto t sh h (Elite Cap a ita t l So oluti tions s)), Neal Davies (Elite t Ca apital Solu l ti tions), Bri rian Muiir (Richm mon nd Asset Managementt)

Jonathan n Csany any yii-Fri rit itz (Flight Centre), T Tali alina ali na Irw rwin rw n (Fl (F ig (Flig gh Cent ght ntr tre) re) Bina Deegan gan,, Tom m Dee De ga an an (Simmons & Sim imm imm mmons) ons

Jenny ny y Pa Pang (Gi Giles les Pu Publi blica ations), Heenu u Nih Nihala alani ni (Gi ( les les Pub blica lications ons s), Fre Freya ya Sim Simp pson Giles pson G (Gi Giiles l Pu Publi blilic catio cat ions) Fran an nk van Bemm mel el (Re Re egus), Guy yF Fraserr (MDS) ( )

Jo Lod dd der (Absolu lute Rea al Esta t te te), Grrego ory Pa Payne ((P Paynes Solilicitors) Ma alco lcolm lm P Pra Pr att (U (U ig (Un igrroup Worldwiide) W de)), Luc ucy cyy Je enkiins s ((T (Th T The Britis sh Cha ham ham a ber ber be e off Comm merce me ce in Hon on ng Kong ng g)

Tim Dic Diickinson n ((How o ? in Hon ow2 Hong Ko Kong)), Pa l Bold P Pau dy (Boldy d Associ ciate ci tes) s) Ga Gayb yble Tsang,, Brian Bri Mui M r ((Ri (Rich Rc ch hmond Asse set se et Managem ment) me

Lizz Ham Li merto rton n (Strrateg gic Of gic Oﬁ ﬁce Solution ns), Paul Kidm idman (Headstro rong) ro D ec ember 2 0 1 0 • V o l 2 5 • N o 1 1