Britain in Hong Kong (Dec/2013)

Britain

IN HONG KONG December 2013

Vol 28

No 10

www.britcham.com

Weather Vane

Not For Sale

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A Sign of the Times: Asia’s Wine Phenomenon

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Hong Kong Cleanup

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Top Hotel Restaurants

Britain in Hong Kong

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Contents

Should We Hire Local or Foreign CEOs – or Do Overseas Returnee CEOs Raise as the Best Option?

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Weather Vane

Top Hotel Restaurants

5 Chairman’s Message 6 Weather Vane 8 Turbulence at Altitude – Headwinds Impacting the Air Freight Sector 10 The Next Era of Mobile Communictions Mobile Goes Global: Is This Goodbye to Roaming?

12 Lightning Fast Start Up for Mercury FX 14 A Sign of the Times: Asia’s Wine Phenomenon 16 Should We Hire Local or Foreign CEOs – or Do Overseas Returnee CEOs Raise as the Best Option?

18 CSR Survey Results – English Language Proficiency in the Workplace

20 Head of the Table A YNetwork Evening with James Barrington, Director of Corporate Development, Cathay Pacific 22 Hong Kong Cleanup 24 Top Hotel Restaurants 26 Getting the Right Attention When Your Child Needs Specialised Schooling 27 Scottish Ceilidh 2014 29 Member Discounts 31 Member Get Member 2013 33 News & New Appointments 34 New Members & Sterling Members 35 Shaken Not Stirred

Britain in Hong Kong Editor Sam Powney Design Winnie Li Lilian Yu Ken Ng Advertising Contact Charles Zimmerman Project Management Vincent Foe

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Britain in Hong Kong

Chairman’s

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Message I have been travelling much more than usual recently: Austria, Germany, Turkey, the US and the UK in 5 months. Inevitably, moving from country to country concentrates the mind on the international flows of people, goods and money around the planet. And also on how wealth is created at the node points of those flows; something very visible in Istanbul today It is common to treat this as a post World War II phenomenon. Yet of course these three free flows are as old as civilization. Indeed, a hundred years ago, all three were more free than today. And with a bit more historical perspective, we remind ourselves that these “international” freedoms predate the concept of the nation.

A thousand years or so ago, the “English” had no concept of England, the “Germans” no concept of Germany, “Italians” of Italy. The “meme” of the nation is relatively recent, yet it has such a hold on the imagination that all sorts of errors are perpetrated in its name. Calculating national GDP and using it to guide “policy” is one such. Mercantilist policies that see one country’s gain as another’s loss is another. But the integration of markets and economic activity globally is so complete that carving out one set of transactions in one geographical area tells you very little.

“What has all this to do with Hong Kong business?” I hear you mumble impatiently. Well these musings reminded me that the source of Hong Kong’s wealth is entirely bound up with the free flows of these three elements over the past 170 years. The flows have come from different directions at different times but they drove wealth creation, and we interfere with them at our peril. Yet that is what Hong Kong is doing. Resisting the needed importation of labour. Protecting professional groups against competition from newcomers. Fiddling with taxes to discourage money flows, and so on.

We are in the season when the Administration asks for submissions, as it prepares for the Policy Address and the Budget.

The Chamber will be sending in its views around the time you read this letter. (We will post our letter on the Chamber web site so all members are briefed on the details.) But behind our detailed comments is a clear theme, which we have already urged the Government to consider. And this is that when they are designing and executing policies aimed as addressing the range of social problems that are perceived to need fixing, please remember that interfering with the free flow of people, goods and money risks imperiling the longer term prosperity of all Hong Kong people. It would be sadly ironic if policies designed with the best intentions to protect the welfare of Hongkongers ended up doing exactly the opposite.

Nick Sallnow-Smith

Chairs of Specialist Committees Business Angel Programme Neil Orvay Asia Spa & Wellness Limited

Environment Committee Anne Kerr Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited

Logistics Committee Mark Millar M Power Associates

Small & Medium Enterprises Committee Viktoria Kish International Study Programmes

Business Policy Unit Tim Peirson-Smith Executive Counsel

Financial Markets Committee Richard Winter Quam Limited

Marketing & Communications Committee Adam O’Conor Ogilvy & Mather Group

Strategic Supply Chain Forum Dominic Jephcott Vendigital Limited

China Committee Tim Summers

HR Advisory Group Brian Renwick Boyden Search Global Executive

Real Estate Committee Jeremy Sheldon Jones Lang LaSalle

Women in Business Committee Sheila Dickinson The Fry Group

ICT IT Committee Craig Armstrong Standard Chartered

Scottish Business Group John Bruce Hill & Associates

YNetwork Committee Rory Gammell Jones Lang LaSalle

Construction Industry Group Education Committee Stephen Eno Baker & McKenzie

C ove r S t o r y

Weather Vane

It is often said that in the darkest moments people are

(315 km/h/195 mph), Typhoon Haiyan was the most

capable of the greatest courage, and there were plenty

powerful storm ever to strike land. That landfall was made

of examples of this during Typhoon Haiyan which struck

in Eastern Samar, practically a direct hit on Guiuan. The

the Philippines last month. More than anyone else, the

town remains flattened but most of the population was

mayor of the town of Guiuan, Christopher Gonzalez, by

out of harm’s way during the typhoon.

continually urging all the city’s inhabitants to evacuate and by stressing the enormity of the approaching storm, is

Early November is an unusual time for a typhoon,

believed to have saved several thousand lives. Of Guiuan’s

especially one of the magnitude of Haiyan. This partly

population of 45,000, less than ninety people died and

explains the contrasting response in Tacloban City, where

slightly under a thousand were injured. According to the

2,116 people are believed to have died, many more were

Joint Typhoon Warning Centre’s unofficial estimate of its

injured, and where help was notoriously slow to arrive.

wind speed at the moment of landfall on November 7th

The area’s largest city is situated where the San Juanito Strait widens out into Cancabato Bay, which facilitated the destruction of the low lying part of the city by a wall of sea water that accompanied the storm.

In some ways, Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda as it is called within the Philippines, acted as a weather vane both by indicating local, regional and international sentiments and also in terms of finger pointing. China and the Vatican came under particular criticism for their initially small contributions, although in fact it took around a week before the international humanitarian response as a whole developed any momentum. Within the Philippines there were immediate recriminations over the slow response of the authorities in some areas; moreover, there were

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serious doubts voiced about the authorities’ distribution

accept a future where super-typhoons will become regular

of financial aid and their ability to contain law and order.

fixture.” This goes to the heart of the growing evidence

Initial reports about widespread looting were exaggerated

linking climate change with natural disasters. While the

however, with most ‘looters’ apparently being interested

Philippines was hit 24 times by typhoons this year, the

primarily in the food and clothing which they could not

scientific consensus is that emissions are not connected

otherwise get hold of. The more serious worry both then

to the frequency of tropical cyclones. However, according

and now is of disease breaking out in affected areas,

to Prof Myles Allen, of Oxford University, ‘…there are

particularly in a town like Catbalogan whose population

physical arguments and evidence that there is a risk of

more than doubled with the swell of refugees from nearby

more intense hurricanes.’

coastal areas. An estimated four million people have been made homeless by the typhoon. In the immediate aftermath, relief agencies could only hand out tarpaulins to many homeless families to use as a basic shelter.

In the end many countries sent humanitarian support as well as financial assistance, with the US navy and air-force playing a significant humanitarian role. Britain’s government has pledged support worth £50 million, with another £44 million so far coming in from public donations. International awareness of the emergency situation started with onthe-ground reporting from TV personality Anderson Cooper, and gathered pace in the next few days and weeks, particularly in the US due to the country’s long history of involvement in the Philippines.

In the long term, there are several aspects of Yolanda which are likely to be considered carefully by political and

The Warsaw conference ended unsatisfactorily with

business leaders. The first is the reinforced message that

familiar hostility and apportioning of blame between the

weather phenomena should never be underestimated,

rich and developing nations. In this case, prescience does

especially in the Asia Pacific region. More than any other

not seem to have spurred co-operation, but Haiyan may

country, the Philippines lies directly in the path of many

have helped to spread a sense of urgency about climate

typhoons blowing westwards from the Pacific Ocean, yet

change, a mood which is catching on in political circles.

coastal communities in Leyte and Samar islands seemed

When asked about Typhoon Haiyan, David Cameron

ill-prepared to evacuate their homes. Hong Kong’s

addressed the issue of climate change directly, “Scientists

Observatory is vigilant in warning people of approaching

are giving us a very certain message. Even if you’re less

hazards, but there are always risks; although Hong Kong

certain than the scientists, it makes sense to act both in

experienced a relatively mild storm, at least one person

terms of trying to prevent and mitigate.”

has been reported missing off the coast of Lantau during Typhoon Haiyan.

Besides being another wake-up call about climate change, Typhoon Haiyan clearly illuminated that facet of

Another striking factor of Typhoon Haiyan was its

human nature which makes it hardest for people to

environmental significance. The UN’s 2013 Climate

address these events or to prepare for them and prevent

Change Conference was in session in Warsaw as the

their worst effects. Internationally and within the

disaster unfolded, which prompted the Philippines’ lead

Philippines, in political circles and in climate change

negotiator Yeb Saño to go on hunger strike until ‘a

bodies, blame and division flared up just as powerfully as

meaningful outcome’ was in sight. At the time of his

the impulse to help those affected by the disaster. Haiyan

emotional speech to the conference, his brother was

will not be the last typhoon to leave death and destruction

helping to rescue people trapped in the debris. He later

in its wake, but it can be an opportunity for human

told the press, “Even if we cannot attribute Typhoon

empathy to create an atmosphere of shared purpose and

Haiyan to climate change directly, my country refuses to

unity.

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Business

Turbulence at Altitude

– Headwinds Impacting the Air Freight Sector Mark Millar, MBA, FCILT, FCIM, GAICD, Logistics Committee Chairman

Challenges and Opportunities Air freight is fast and expensive – most relevant for high value products with short product life cycles where time to market is critical. The air freight sector globally carries over 10 trillion dollars’ worth of products, generating revenues of 78 billion dollars and employing 32 million people.

This two part article will explore the latest dynamics impacting the air cargo industry, with this first part focusing on the challenges – the Headwinds, whilst the next edition will explore the opportunities – the Tailwinds.

Turbulence at all altitudes Notwithstanding the turbulence generated by the vagaries of economic cycles and the resulting ups-and-downs of trade flows – the air freight sector has historically demonstrated robust resilience with decades of consistent growth averaging six per cent per annum. Since 2001 however, global air cargo volumes have expanded only 3.7 per cent pa on average and during 4 of the last 5 years, global demand for air cargo has declined.

As the primary sourcing location for many global supply chain ecosystems, the Asia region accounts for a substantial share of the total airfreight market, with intraAsia representing 16 per cent, whilst all Asia-related cargo (into, out-of and within Asia) makes up 55 per cent of the total global air cargo volume. But growth in Asia air freight

is also slowing, with growth this year of just over two per cent. The global slowing of demand is partially driven by economic challenges around the world, but also by some structural changes that are causing some significant headwinds.

Regional supply chains reducing transportation miles The world has moved beyond globalisation during which the western markets were the key drivers of the global economy.

The centre of economic gravity has shifted eastwards – we are now in The Asia Era. This is leading to some regionalisation of supply chains, resulting in less long-haul and more shorthaul carriage, thereby using less fuel, saving costs and reducing emissions. The largest and fastest growing trade flows are intra-Asia, where cargo transportation distances are much shorter than Asia-Europe or Asia-USA, thereby impacting total air cargo miles.

Reducing value differential over shorter distances Furthermore, the shorter the distance then the smaller the relative speed-advantage of air freight versus other modes of transport such as ocean freight or trucking. For transpacific cargo flows the differential is measured in weeks, for example transit time of 4-5 days by airfreight versus 3-4 weeks by ocean freight. With the shorter distances involved in much of the intra-Asia trade, substantially lower cost alternative modes of transport may take only a few days longer than the significantly more expensive air freight – for example 5-7 days by road or water, versus 2-3 days by air.

These shorter distances tend to shrink the value differential typically provided by air freight.

Britain in Hong Kong

Oil price fuels increase in operational costs Rising fuel prices have been another factor in reduction of air cargo traffic volumes, diverting air cargo to lower cost alternative modes of transport – road, rail and maritime – via which the cargo is proportionately less sensitive to fuel costs.

The price of jet fuel has tripled during the past eight years, and prices are likely to remain volatile as the threat of supply disruptions persists. Fuel now represents an airline’s single largest cost component, representing over 40% of total operational costs.

Supply demand imbalance exacerbated by the proliferation of belly capacity Significant developments in recent years have seen all major airlines investing in fleet expansion of passenger aircraft – taking advantage of technological advancements that reduce operating costs (and emissions) through fuel efficiencies, whilst expanding their fleets to accommodate the continuing increase in passenger volumes, in large part driven by the increasing prosperity of consumers in emerging and developing markets.

A significant proportion of these new planes are wide-body aircraft with large belly hold capacity, thereby substantially increasing the overall cargo capacity available within the passenger fleets. These aircraft are very fuel efficient, resulting in lower operating costs. The combination of passengers and cargo together on one wide body plane helps to balance out cost amortisations, making the passenger fleet a cost effective option for transporting general air cargo that is suitable for the belly hold – regular sized loads of standard goods.

Deploying these larger passenger airplanes – christened the ‘Invisible Freighters’ by Ram Menen of Emirates SkyCargo – and taking advantage of the superior economics and performance of the latest technology – is resulting in excess total cargo capacity in the market. The additional belly hold cargo capacity is more than the increase in cargo demand, resulting in the significant supply demand imbalance. One senior industry executive reported the utilisation of total global air cargo capacity – across all freighter and passenger aircraft – as being just 44 per cent.

The older and relatively uneconomical freighter aircraft are becoming under-utilised, with all-cargo airlines struggling for survival and many leading airlines reconfiguring their fleets. Air France recently announced that it will phase out its five B747-400 Extended Range Freighters saying that “the contribution of belly-hold cargo remains essential to the economics of long-haul passenger flights”, whilst confirming that 70% of their cargo traffic is now transported on its passenger flights. Cathay Pacific, who carry 1.7 million tons of freight per year – around half of which is

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carried in the belly hold of passenger planes – have cancelled orders for new B777-200 freighters whilst agreeing to sell four B747-8F freighter aircraft. Other developments this year include Japan Airlines abandoning their entire freighter fleet and Qantas cancelling 747 Freighter leasing plans.

Freighters still have an important role to play. Cargo volumes on many routes will continue to economically justify the use of freighters, whilst much air cargo is only suitable for main deck loading. Belly capacity, though increasingly plentiful, does have space restrictions that limit the size, weight and volume of cargo that can be carried, but it does seem that the era of the jumbo-freighter has peaked.

Hong Kong Specifics As the fulcrum of many global supply chains, Hong Kong is the world’s largest cargo airport, with annual throughput averaging four million tons of cargo in recent years. Hong Kong’s aviation sector represents eight per cent of GDP and employs over 250,000 people. Local challenges discussed at the recent Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference included infrastructure, labour supply and regulatory issues.

Specifically, the industry is united in calling for the third runway at Chep Lap Kok to proceed as soon as possible. In common with other industries such as construction, shipping and logistics, the air freight sector is suffering from labour shortages, with 6,000 unfilled job vacancies at the airport.

On the regulatory front, there are also opportunities to reduce red tape and streamline import-export processes whilst adopting improved technology platforms for e-freight, that will reduce paperwork and increase operational efficiencies.

The second part of this article – in the next edition of the magazine – will explore the opportunities that are generating tailwinds for the air freight sector.

Mark Millar provides value for clients with independent and informed perspectives on their supply chain strategies in Asia. His series of ‘Asia Supply Chain Insights’ presentations, consultations, seminars and corporate briefings help companies to improve their understanding of the complex landscapes, make better informed business decisions and increase the efficiency of their global supply chain ecosystems. Clients have engaged Mark as Speaker, MC, Moderator or Conference Chairman at more than 300 events in 20 countries. The Global Institute of Logistics recognise him as “One of the most Progressive People in World Logistics”.

London based business publisher Kogan Page have recently commissioned Mark to write the book entitled “Global Supply Chain Ecosystems”, due for publication in 2015. He serves as Chair of the Logistics Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. mark@markmillar.com

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Business

The Next Era of Mobile Communications Mobile Goes Global: Is This Goodbye to Roaming?

In a world where communication is ‘borderless’, staying connected on your phone when travelling abroad should be easier than ever. As communicating internationally becomes ‘seamless’, the way we use our mobile phones is still needlessly confined by physical country borders. The result? Frustrated travellers, lost productivity, and of course, a huge cost burden for businesses. But could that soon be a thing of the past?

Most people can think of a time when they’ve been left frustrated on an overseas trip. Frequent travellers know only too well what it feels like to wander around trying to connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots, asking for passwords from hotels, and having to be careful about how long they spend on the phone to family, or face coming home to extortionate phone bills. Unfortunately, it’s all too common a scenario.

And for businesses and enterprises, the headache is a much bigger one. Controlling the exorbitant costs associated with this ‘global roaming’ is one of the top challenges enterprises face in managing their mobile environments (AOTMP, 2013).

But could that all be about to change? The arrival of the world’s first global mobile operator Truphone to Hong Kong means that mobile communications looks as though it is finally joining the 21st century.

In 2001, British inventor James Tagg, was growing tired of the poor mobile signal at his home on a farm in Kent, UK. He began to question why he should have to hunt for a signal in the 21st century, and as such, Truphone was created. Today, the company has transformed into the world’s first, and only, global mobile operator. The goal? To make it a whole lot simpler and cost-effective for businesses and travellers to stay connected with the people they need to, wherever they are in the world. Simple.

How did we get here?

International call and data charges are a universal problem for businesses. According to a report from CCMI nearly 70% of Fortune 1000 are suffering increasing international charges, many of which have a formal mandate in place to reduce costs, and modify staff’s user behaviour. But in a

Britain in Hong Kong

world where access to data is a way of life, what happens when you make it more difficult for people to get online or pick up the phone while abroad? They complain that they’re losing productivity. Tagg believes that international mobile business communications is currently broken, and it is companies are hurting. He says “We don’t believe picking up the phone should be limited by a physical country border.

This belief drives everything we do. Internet has made us global citizens, so why should mobile communications be any different? Our dream is to change that’.”

A patented technology developed by Tagg, has made this dream a possibility. By centralising multiple international numbers onto one SIM card, people can call overseas numbers at local rates, and when they land in another country, within what they’re calling the ‘Truphone Zone’, they can instantly talk and surf like a local. And even outside of the ‘Truphone Zone’, users experience preferential rates.

But how is this different from traveller SIMs? In the last few years a number of traveller SIMs have hit the market. And while second SIMs undoubtedly provide a short-term fix for those looking to cut costs, is this a sustainable solution?

Truphone’s Head of Marketing, Elvis Yan says it’s not: “Mobile communication is about spontaneity. That’s why it was invented. If you have to swap your SIM every time you travel, or when you need to call your colleague in the US or Australia, you lose that spontaneity. What we’ve come up with is an enterprise-grade network with a fully-rounded service and customer care. Businesses can add people from different countries onto one bundle all united with a single, multi-currency bill. No other network is doing this.”

Why reconsidering how you use your mobile abroad can benefit Hong Kong businesses?

As a major financial hub, which attracts multinational corporations looking to expand the reach of their business beyond its borders, Hong Kong is home to thousands of executives with international communication needs. As such, businesses in the SAR, from start-ups to MNCs, face

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a doubled-edged challenge: keep staff connected and productive, and keep costs down.

Yan continues, “Productivity is the bread and butter of an effective business, so finding a mobile solution which allows staff to do business as usual, no matter where they are in the world, is vital. But that solution needn’t be a huge cost burden to the business. Simply taking another look at how your staff is using their phones abroad and finding a plan that is tailored for you can save huge amounts in a matter of minutes.”

For more information please visit www.truphone.com.hk

Truphone is a global mobile network provider for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 50 organisations – including three of the world’s top five financial institutions. Calls, texts and data used within the ‘Truphone Zone’ (UK, USA, Australia, the Netherlands and Hong Kong, with more on the way) come out of your bundle. Outside of the ‘Truphone Zone’ companies receive preferential rates.

Shared global bundles are available to use across your business and all customers have access to 24/7 customer service, in multiple languages.

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Business

Lightning Fast Start Up for Mercury FX Harriet Pearson, Marketing Communications Manager, Compass Offices

Over

the past few years, Hong Kong has become a hotbed for start-ups and smaller businesses looking to expand their reach within Asia. Yet with Hong Kong’s ever-increasing real estate prices and fixed-term leases, many new Hong Kong businesses are moving away from traditional office space and instead looking to Serviced Offices as an alternative.

We recently spoke to Frazer MacRae, Managing Partner of currency payments company Mercury FX, who told us about his experience of starting a new business in Hong Kong and why a Serviced Office was the perfect choice for him.

Mercury FX was established in London in 2007 to provide its clients with wholesale foreign exchange and payment services as a cost effective and service orientated alternative to the retail banks.

‘We decided to bring Mercury FX to Hong Kong in conjunction with my long-standing city friend and now business partner Alastair Constance. Having worked on the foreign exchange derivatives desks at investment banks for the past 10 years, six of which were in Hong Kong, I grew tired of looking out of the window at opportunity. With the newly incorporated Mercury FX Hong Kong, I set out to provide some value to a growing Asian client base of both corporates and individuals.’

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Finding a sense of orientation amongst an overload of information was time consuming to sift through and was one of biggest issues when we started up in Hong Kong.

‘Finding a knowledgeable and trusted network of business associates takes time to find and was difficult initially however it is well worth the investment and has certainly paid off now.’

A Serviced Office enabled us to have a strategically important prestige office location in a cost effective way, whilst providing all the services we wanted.

‘The ethos at Compass very much seemed to compliment that of Mercury FX, to provide what clients need at prices that give value. One of the biggest draws of Compass is the flexibility they provide, as a new business our needs and priorities change almost daily, a fact they appreciated and were more than happy to accommodate. Compass made things very easy which enabled our business to concentrate on its core values.’

Mercury FX Hong Kong had been a vision for some time but officially started operation in April 2013.

‘To run a successful business in Asia you truly need to appreciate Asia. What Hong Kong offers is that unique blend of East and West which when utilised in harmony with each other provides all the ingredients of success in the region. Hong Kong is a dynamic city with strong growth prospects coupled strategically with its gateway to opportunities in mainland China.

The Hong Kong government seem to have got the mix just right to encourage new business growth with support in start-up programmes and favourable business rates whilst allowing market forces to develop naturally, they make doing business here easy which gives it a distinct advantage over other locations.’

Compass was able to facilitate many of the business set up aspects that enabled Mercury FX to hit the ground running.

‘They helped with incorporation, company secretary facilities and set up local banking facilities. Many of the other companies resident in Compass Offices were able to provide services that we were after too, we found recruitment expertise, accounting and advertising firms all in the same building we could leverage off so the diversity within Compass has benefits for us also.’

My advice for companies looking to start-up in Hong Kong would be to research your market and clients.

‘Make life easy for yourself by spending time on the things that are important and get people to assist with those that are less so.’

To find out more about Mercury FX, please visit their website: www.mercury-fx.com For more information about Compass Offices, please visit their website: www.compassoffices.com

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Business

A Sign of the Times: Asia’s Wine Phenomenon Christabel Lemke, Asia Director, Decanter

Ask any wine producer where they think their main growth potential might be globally and inevitably Asia will come up. Other markets have not lost their importance, but Asia is commonly viewed as the unexploited market, and a possible solution to the impact the recession has had on traditional wine markets. In reality the situation is more complex and, as many importers and producers with market experience will tell you, wine in Asia is a constantly changing phenomenon.

Wine imports, drinking and availability are undoubtedly on the up, but Asia’s wine markets are still in relative infancy.

Hong Kong, Singapore, and urban Japan are often considered to boast more established wine cultures; with more availability and relatively affordable prices, wine is seen more as an everyday pleasure than a special occasion luxury. Cheaper prices due to duty and tax reduction and greater availability through the globalisation of international companies have brought about a more mature cultural perception of wine. Alongside this, the disposable income of the flourishing wealthy middle-classes in these regions has provided the spending power to support the growth in demand.

The impact of Hong Kong’s 2008 decision to remove wine duty can undoubtedly be seen as turning point in Hong Kong’s wine history; a fact supported by the HKTDC’s decision to publically acknowledge the man responsible, Hon John Tsang Chun-Wah, GBM, JP, by asking him to open the recent Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair. In mainland China, Thailand, and Indonesia, high taxes are still a strong prohibiting factor to fast-paced expansion.

With over 40% tax charged on wines imported into mainland China, a mirror move by the government to

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an early age, learnt from their own experiences of family, work, and socialising. Regions, grape varieties and language barriers cause further hurdles in an already complicated, and to some extent academic, industry. The emergence and fast growth of wine schools across Asia are strong signals that there is both an appetite and necessity for more knowledge. Many international sommeliers and domestic-grown talent are forging successful careers all over Asia, often with international hotel brands. reduce or remove duty is often speculated, with Shanghai frequently touted as the first Chinese city to change its

The traditional Western practice of food and wine matching

regulations.

is frequently challenged in the Asian market. Some believe that food and wine belong together in Asia, others that

Wine drinking, as the UK market would recognise it, is not

pairing has no place where the family style of eating throws

a traditional part of Asian culture. Eminent Chinese wine

flavours and textures together in a way that no one wine

personalities will tell you that people have been drinking

can match. There is no straightforward answer to this, but

wine in China for over 2000 years, but they will also readily

there is anecdotal evidence of young, wealthy Chinese

admit that enjoying imported wines is a fairly new concept.

enjoying wines for pleasure, without food, in bars across

Many people are also unaware that China produces one

China’s major cities.

of the world’s largest volumes of wine. The vast majority stays in the local market, meaning that any pre-existing

Another area of concern, particularly at the high-end of the

wine drinking habits have been overwhelming focused on

market, is counterfeit wine. Recent reports have speculated

the domestic product, as is the case in other Asian wine-

on the size of the problem and possible solutions, including

producing regions.

increased understanding of and exposure to the real wines, as well as encouraging those affected to speak out, a

Government spending also has an impact. The recent

behaviour that goes against traditional Asian values of

cautiousness around luxury spending in China has affected

‘saving face’.

imported wine sales bought for banqueting or as gifts. While some bemoan the slow-down, these spending statistics

Despite the hurdles, Asia and in particular mainland China

can skew the real picture of what is being enjoyed by wine

remain key target markets for global wine producers.

lovers. In the long-term these changing trends could prove

Having just returned from trade fairs in Hong Kong and

positive.

Shanghai where many producers were exhibiting for the first time, it is clear that the appetite for Asia has not slowed.

Education is crucially important; there is still a lack of

New producers are flocking to Asia with mixed success

knowledge in many areas that Europe and America take

and experiences. Whatever the future holds for Asia and

for granted. At the first Decanter Asia Wine Awards, event

wine, one thing is for certain, it is still a young market and

staff had to be taught to open bottles, a ‘skill’ we

the developing story of wine in Asia is one worth

automatically assume youngsters in the UK will have from

watching.

15

Business

Should We Hire Local or Foreign CEOs

– or Do Overseas Returnee CEOs Raise as the Best Option?

Michelle Poon, Managing Director, Bó Lè Associates Hong Kong

Companies can hire their CEOs from three existing talent pools: local CEOs, foreign CEOs or overseas returnee CEOs – local CEOs are raised and educated in the host country, foreign CEOs are expatriates and overseas returnee CEOs are educated overseas but wish to return to their home country to work. Much consideration is put into the process of hiring a new CEO as he or she has to be strategic yet tactical, tough yet emotionally sensitive and decisive yet inclusive. Research has found that nine critical attributes help differentiate a good CEO: being forward thinking, biased toward thoughtful action, optimistic, constructively tough minded, an efficient reader of people, taking calculated risks, having measured

Considerations Local knowledge Understanding of Global Markets Overseas Exposure Diversity Awareness Familiarity with Western Business Practices Familiarity with Local Cultural Practices Western Education Language Benefits Package: Housing Allowance & Schooling for Children

emotions, being pragmatically inclusive and willing to trust.

Once a CEO is hired, companies assume that it is up to his or her ability to adapt, perform and deliver. However, most companies overlook resources to assimilate the CEO into the company, and as a result the CEO is simply air dropped into the organisation with high stakes. One can only imagine the amount of stress CEOs have to go through, and when these are compounded with cultural differences, the company will most likely suffer. Therefore, companies must be cautious of where they begin their CEO search. Below is a chart depicting the different considerations companies should evaluate before making this important decision.

Local CEOs √

Foreign CEOs √ √ √

√ √ √ √

Overseas Returnee CEOs √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

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Due to the rise of BRIC and other developing economies as well as globalisation in general, we have seen a trend of multinational companies expanding all over the world.

Hence, companies wish to appoint executives who are familiar with the parent company’s background and practices yet knowledgeable about local cultural practices to ensure smooth operations as they lead the company forward. As a result, overseas returnees are considered most suitable for these roles.

While local CEOs usually have lower salary requirements and are able to work effectively with local employees, they often lack knowledge with Western business practices and their English skills might not be ideal. At the same time, while foreign CEOs are familiar with Western business practices as well as the parent organisation, their local language skills and their knowledge of local culture is often limited. Also, foreign CEOs often require full expatriate packages that include housing allowances and schooling for children.

Judging by these criteria, overseas returnees offer the best of both worlds because not only do they know their home country well, they are also often familiar with Western business practices through their Western education or work experience abroad. In addition, hiring overseas returnees eliminates fundamental problems such as finding housing and obtaining work visas. Good examples of successful overseas returnee CEOs include Oh Hyun Kwon, CEO of Samsung electronics who obtained his PhD. at Stanford University as well as Daniel Saw, former CEO of Lee Kum Kee who went to Harvard Business School and is now the Campbell Soup Company’s President of Asia.

Even though most candidates who are considered for the position of CEO are expected to have personal attributes such as flexibility, adaptability, confidence, good leadership, overseas returnees are usually deemed more mature at these different aspects. The reason is that overseas returnee CEOs appear to be most flexible in terms of

cultural understanding – with sufficient experience abroad, these individuals are more receptive at embracing change, better at taking an objective stance and less likely to be ethnocentric, which contributes to the corporate culture and helps build a more concrete employer brand. In addition, their overseas experience has allowed them to have a better perspective of the world and has greatly increased their exposure with regards to interacting with people of diverse backgrounds. Last but not least, companies are beginning to heavily value work experience in emerging markets, especially China because it is often said that executives who have excelled in China are most likely to succeed in other countries as well. Therefore, overseas returnee CEOs with China experience is becoming the best option for companies looking to hire a new CEO. For more information about executive search firm Bó Lè Associates, please visit www.bo-le.com

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Business

CSR Survey Results – English Language Proficiency in the Workplace “Critical for Business Success in Hong Kong” BritCham CSR Steering Group

Our recent survey on English Language Proficiency in the Workplace reaffirmed the importance of English language to business in Hong Kong, but provided little evidence of there being any major concerns right now.

3. Only around one quarter of participants feel Hong Kong’s English proficiency is worse than other countries in the region Do you feel Hong Kong has a better or worse standard of business English compared to other countries in the region?

Over 60 companies responded across a range of MNC, mid-cap and SME member firms, with the vast majority indicating English as the primary language used in the workplace.

Better Worse About the same

Key Findings

1. English is key to commercial success

4. The majority of respondents seem fairly satisfied with current levels of English proficiency

How important is English language proficiency to your company’s competitive success?

On a sale of 1 - 5, what do you consider to be the current quality of oral and written English in the workplace in Hong Kong?

Critical Important Nice to have Not important

1. Poor 2. Reasonable 3. Fit for purpose 4. Very good 5. Excellent

“Our business requires daily communications across the region and around the globe – English is the key”

5. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest challenges relate to written English at more junior levels On a sale of 1 - 5, do you consider that the level of English of your employees meets the needs of your company at the following level: a) Administrative & junior staff (oral)

“Our stakeholders expect to see high quality documents and communications” 2. Majority see English as a Critical Success Factor for on-going trade & investment in HK

1. Not at all 2. Partly 3. To a reasonable degree 4. largely 5. Completely

On a sale of 1 - 5, do you consider that the level of English of your employees meets the needs of your company at the following level: a) Administrative & junior staff (written)

Is English language proficiency a deciding factor in maintaining and further investing in your office in Hong Kong going forward?

1. Not at all 2. Partly 3. To a reasonable degree 4. largely 5. Completely

Yes No

Britain in Hong Kong

6. …and proficiency levels are highest at the more senior levels On a sale of 1 - 5, do you consider that the level of English of your employees meets the needs of your company at the following level: c) Senior Management (oral) 1. Not at all 2. Partly 3. To a reasonable degree 4. largely 5. Completely

On a sale of 1 - 5, do you consider that the level of English of your employees meets the needs of your company at the following level: c) Senior Management (written) 1. Not at all 2. Partly 3. To a reasonable degree 4. largely 5. Completely

7. Over half of respondents expect to pay more for talent with higher skill levels If you employed someone who was fluent in English, both oral and written, would you expect to pay them more, less or the same as others who weren’t fluent in English?

More Less About the same

“Since English is our company’s business language, we are willing to pay up to 50% more for the required level of proficiency” “English skill is basic and mandatory. If somebody doesn’t have it, then we don’t hire them” “If local hires’ English is less than fluent, they will be less able to involve themselves in all levels of our business and it will impact their career advancement”

In summary, whilst English language proficiency is clearly an important ingredient for commercial success, there appears to be no “burning platform” amongst members requiring urgent address.

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Moving Ahead Participants envisage a blend of solutions to address the challenge of capability development in Hong Kong.

What do you think would be the best way(s) to improve the use or quality of English in the workplace?

Individual capability assessments Face-to-face training Online training Blended face-to-face and online

“We encourage/fund participation in agreed-upon outside courses” “English lessons; the company can pay for lessons as part of continuous self-improvement” “We don’t employ people with poor English – we don’t have the budget to retrain staff who do not have the necessary skills to start with”

There is a variety of solutions available to members when considering how best to measure current levels of English language proficiency and invest in further skill development.

The British Council in Hong Kong (www.britishcouncil.org/ hongkong), for example, offers an online testing tool which enables employers to assess skill levels relative to international benchmarks, as well as various online and face to face training modules for employees.

The CSR Steering Group would like to extend our thanks to all members who took the time to complete the survey. In light of the results the group has decided it will not be pursuing the topic in earnest next year.

However the Chamber naturally remains supportive of on-going efforts to maintain and further enhance English language proficiency in HK, as part of the wider journey to develop HK’s international competitiveness on the world stage. Comments and queries are welcomed on these survey results, this article and potential ways the Chamber could assist members further in this area going forward. Please email phillippa@britcham.com for further information.

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Business

Head of the Table

A YNetwork Evening with James Barrington, Director of Corporate Development, Cathay Pacific Niall Archibald, Project Manager, Kroll

On Wednesday 20

November a select group of Hong

YNetwork with the vision of bringing young business

Kong’s bright young executives gathered in the

people eager for career advice together with successful

sumptuous surroundings of Café Gray for the final Head

senior executives in Hong Kong. The dinners are intended

of the Table dinner of 2013 hosted by James Barrington,

as informal occasions where ideas can be shared and

Director of Corporate Development, Cathay Pacific. The

discussed among the group in a relaxed setting and

Head of the Table series is organised by the chamber’s

where new connections can be made.

th

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Head of the Table with James Barrington lived up to and

James also delivered some of the anticipated tips from

surpassed this vision in every respect and was a fantastically

the top and advised, perhaps contrary to perceived

enjoyable opportunity for the group to hear some anecdotes

wisdom, never to make yourself indispensible in your role

from a varied and fascinating career that began with a

but rather always to ensure that your subordinates are

schoolboy squash match against Eton College…. this was

capable of taking over your responsibilities; a key

the group’s first glimpse into James’ philosophy of

component in ensuring that promotion is possible. James

recognising an opportunity when it is presented and

also noted the importance of showcasing those under

grasping it with vigour wherever it may lead.

you to senior management and to the wider company; their successes and value will only ever reflect well on

James joined the Swire group in 1982 and has worked

your management and leadership. When asked about

with the company in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Canada.

the correct balance of being known as a generalist or as

Within Cathay Pacific, James has previously been General

a specialist James noted that a reputation for saying yes

Manager Cargo and Director Sales and Marketing before

to opportunities and delivering results in diverse areas

moving to Director Corporate Development in 2010. He

was undoubtedly a strength, there is also considerable

is also a Director of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited

value in having an area or subject that is regarded as

and AHK Air Hong Kong Limited.

‘yours’ and that you are known as the authority on.

While the assembled group was keen to hear the secret

Such insights, supported and illustrated by humorous

of success James was also himself eager to hear views

anecdotes, were digested by the group alongside some

from among the group on the qualities of leadership and

delicious wagyu beef and a selection of Cathay’s first

working practices that were perceived to be the route to

class wines. The latter was a particularly thoughtful

great things. This sparked a lively debate on subjects

consideration for those still generally more accustomed

such as when it is right to be more selfish and self-

to the seats closer to the back of aircraft!

promoting in our careers and whether we should always aim to continually develop our professional skills and knowledge or should spend some periods at a lower intensity of effort.

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Environment

Hong Kong Cleanup Emily Chan Events & Marketing Assistant, British Chamber of Commerce

On Friday 1

st

November the team at the British Chamber

of Commerce spent an afternoon outside the office taking part in the Annual Hong Kong Cleanup Challenge, organised by Ecovision Asia. Coastal Cleanup is one part of the challenge and has been part of the Chamber’s corporate social responsibility commitment and a regular event on the Chamber’s calendar for some years. Hong Kong Cleanup is currently in its 13th and biggest year and we were proud to support this successful campaign again.

In previous years, Waterfall Bay in Wah Fu had been the Chamber’s customary location as the amount of rubbish there was always astonishing. However, since it was the last day of the cleanup challenge Waterfall Bay, most beaches had already been cleaned by other participating corporate teams. We were left with few options and it was decided that we would clean up the beach in Deep Water Bay.

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We first enjoyed a delicious lunch in the beautiful setting of Deep Water Bay but what followed was the surprise that there was very little rubbish to pick up on the beach that day. After we recorded and measured what we found, little as it may have been, we made our way to Sandy Bay in Pokfulam which was an option enthusiastically recommended by the organiser. Those of us who had not heard of the place before were slightly surprised to find that the beach in “Sandy” Bay is in fact quite inaccessible and rocky. Coupled with the fact that it is not a public beach managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, it is no surprise that we found it covered with waste and marine debris. members who took part in the Hong Kong Cleanup and As our schedule had been delayed, we got started with the

encourage other members to sign up for the challenge next

litter picking fairly quickly. Numerous plastic bottles, food

year. It is an amazing and very accessible opportunity for

packaging, cans and pieces of polystyrene were collected

companies to give something back to the community and

and recorded. More interesting finds included an old credit

for your co-workers to get to know each other and spend

card which belonged to a Japanese person and our

time outside the office.

imagination led some of us to wild and mysterious speculations as to how it got there! After a tiring afternoon we had cleaned up a total of 10.35kg of rubbish.

Considering that we were a team of eight this year and it

The Hong Kong Cleanup is a challenge that is open to

was the last day of the challenge, we were pleased with

everyone and different groups such as companies,

the amount we recorded. For those of us who had never

schools and families. It ran from 21st September to 1st

done the beach cleanup before, it wasn’t until we arrived

November this year. The event aimed to make a difference

in Sandy Bay beach that we were confronted for the first

to the serious waste issue in Hong Kong, and the world,

time by the real situation of the shorelines in Hong Kong.

through action and awareness. In addition to coastal

While the familiar Repulse Bay and Stanley beaches are

cleanup, the challenge expanded to cleaning country

kept relatively clean, the condition of a number of non-

parks and urban areas last year. The 2013 Hong Kong

gazetted beaches such as Sandy Bay is a completely different story. With the awareness raised through this popular event, we hope that there will be less rubbish to clean up next year, not because we dislike getting sweaty and dirty for a worthwhile cause but because we hope to see a genuine improvement in the coastal environment.

As a gesture of Ecovision’s appreciation for everyone’s commitment and hard work, on Monday 18 November Ecovision held an award ceremony and thank you party at Shore Restaurant and Bar in Central, to celebrate the results of the 2013 Cleanup. Hong Kong Cleanup once again saw a record-breaking number of participants and amount of trash collected. In just six weeks over 45,000 participants collected over 1 million kg of waste! This year the party also raised funds and clothing to go towards relief efforts in the Philippines to help victims of typhoon Haiyan. The British Chamber team would like to commend our

Cleanup was sponsored by Nomura, Ecozine.com, Oriental Press Group and Dopper.

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Lifestyle

Top Hotel Restaurants

Nikki Pang, Regional Marketing Manager, Lightfoot Travel

With hundreds of hotel options to choose from, why not plan your accommodation around everyone’s favourite topic of conversation in Asia – food. We’ve come up with the ultimate foodie bucket list for stays in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.

Café Gray Deluxe at the Upper House – Hong Kong Walking down the candlelit hallway into Café Gray Deluxe, it is immediately obvious that the crowd here is genuinely having a good time. The food is excellent, the wine list superb, and the service some of the best in the city. The crab bisque is one of our favourite starters – rich, creamy and poured piping hot from a sterling silver teapot into your bowl. The coq au vin is also exquisite, and don’t forget to end the evening with a digestif overlooking Hong Kong’s iconic harbour in the renowned Cafe Gray Bar.

COMO Shambhala – Bali, Indonesia At COMO Shambhala’s healthy restaurant Glow, the eclectic menu serves the freshest Asian ingredients with an Aussie flare brought by Head Chef Chris Miller. Mirroring COMO’s philosophy of nurturing your body, the menu emphasises gluten free and low-sugar dishes. But don’t worry about leaving hungry; this restaurant has healthy yet filling cuisine down to a tee. The menu can be tailored to suit your nutritional needs, and with its open kitchen policy, you can watch your delicious soba noodles or spicy lemon dressings being whipped up right in front of you. A Lightfoot favourite is the Zucchini Carpaccio with Crab – it’s totally fresh and keeps your sugars in balance for the rest of the day.

Dedon Island – Siargao Island, Philippines Nestled amongst cabanas in this treasure island-style resort, the restaurant at Dedon Island is low-key, rustic and impeccably attended to. Brian the chef serves up food family-style – the day’s menu is posted on a chalk board in the restaurant.

The lobster and tuna steak are to die for, and Brian’s western take on Chicken Adobo is rightly a favourite. Using herbs and meat from their farm and gardens, there’s a strong self-sufficiency vibe (they even make their own ice cream). Lastly, don’t forget to sit back and soak up your pristine surroundings as you dine – a forest of mangroves on one side and the ocean on the other.

Kahanda Kanda – Koggala, Sri Lanka Using only the freshest ingredients picked from their own gardens, the chef produces simple, fusion dishes as well as classic Sri Lankan fare.

Despite its excellent food, the setting is what has earned it a place in this international Hall of Fame. Set in an ambalama (rest pavilion) within a tea plantation, it looks down over the jungle towards Koggala Lake.

And of course there’s George Cooper, the hotel owner and fantastic host, who is quite a character both in Sri Lanka and in the London interior design world. He makes you feel like a personal friend, has impeccable taste and a knack for predicting your needs before you do.

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Kamimura at Shiki Niseko – Niseko, Japan The recently relocated Kamimura at the brand new Shiki Niseko is by far the best fine-dining establishment in the resort. It has a very intimate setting with only a handful of tables, and booking is essential. A favourite of ours was the seared Hokkaido scallop with kaibashira cream. Seared to perfection it melted in our mouths, and knowing that the little morsel was in the sea less than 24 hours earlier made it that much more delicious.

Appellation at The Louise – Barossa Valley, Australia The cuisine at Appellation unashamedly reflects the local growing seasons as Head Chef Mark McNamara heads to Barossa farmer’s market daily to pick up provisions for that evening. Renowned for his passion and genuine enjoyment at mingling with his diners, this is a family-run affair and his children and wife are all involved. The food is specially designed around the local Penfold’s wines and the waiter will ask you, genuinely, if you would like your freshly collected rainwater still or sparkling!

Nahm at the Metropolitan Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand Run by Australian-born chef David Thompson, this is a modern Thai restaurant in the heart of Bangkok. With its cool and tranquil interior, Nahm is not as touristy as one might expect and has that hidden-hotspot, celebrity feel. Go for the set menu comprised of intricate dishes, and as much (or as little) spice as you can handle. They have great combos of fish, meat and vegetables, Asian desserts, and to top it off, the staff know the dishes they serve inside out – a huge plus when trying a new restaurant.

Table No.1 at The Waterhouse – Shanghai, China Table No. 1 is the first independent restaurant by Michelin-starred chef James Atherton who formerly worked under the notorious Gordon Ramsay. The aim here is to merge world-class food with a more casual, sociable dining experience, and the perfect place to dine is with friends at a communal table. We recommend going here for a tapas-style dinner as the décor is harsh by day, but very romantic at night. Kick off with a Dirty Lychee Martini followed by the beautifully presented Tuna Tartar and Avocado starter. The juicy and generous-sized Beef Sirloin is a must, served with a pile of smoked spring onions on a wooden board and completed with a perfectly charred exterior.

The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais – Franschhoek, South Africa It’s impossible to pick out a favourite dish from Chef Margot Janse’s adventurous, African-inspired menu as it changes every day. With the perfect balance between friendly and professional service and an outstanding use of local ingredients, this is a true taste of Africa – think venison, waterblommetjies, buchu and baobab, and many other unpronounceable yet delightfully exciting dishes. If it’s on the menu during your visit, try the coconut dome with honeybush, baobab and caramel – truly superb.

Bespoke travel company Lightfoot Travel (www.lightfoottravel.com) is an Asia-based tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays, honeymoons, short breaks, boutique accommodation and private villas in Asia and beyond. For more information please call +852 2815 0068 or email info@lightfoottravel.com

Education

Getting the Right Attention

When Your Child Needs Specialised Schooling Maria Brusuelas

What do you do when you realise your child has learning difficulties? Does the school provide enough support and can your child succeed in the current system he/she is in?

This is a known problem amongst Hong Kong parents and children and I hope my story can help those families out there who are struggling to find other options.

Seth was always a very high maintenance child. Although he was a sweet little boy, many people did not understand why he acted the way he did. It was only after our second son was born that I realised that maybe he wasn’t ‘just’ being a boy but that maybe there was something there which needed to be looked at.

We moved to Hong Kong in 2005 and Seth joined Year 2 in an International School that same year. It was soon after he started school that I began to investigate the possibility of my son having ADHD or Tourette Syndrome (because he had facial ticks).

Unfortunately at the time the school convinced me that he was ‘just a boy’ and that there was nothing to fear.

However, the fear arose again a couple years later in Year 6 when the school felt that there might be something there and we should possibly look into having him checked.

How will the school support him when they don’t have that sort of facility?

Many parents in Hong Kong already know the education system is competitive and that not every child is meant for the independent systems which most international schools here in Hong Kong have. So what is available to us?

Here are a few pieces of advice: First of all be very clear with the school.

Constantly remind them that your child needs extra support and that if they cannot provide it then the school needs to be honest with you and possibly help you to find a more suitable school for them.

In our case, the school was not able to provide the consistency and support in which he needed. Luckily, I had heard of a non-profit group in Hong Kong called F.O.C.U.S. This organisation offers support to parents of children who have ADHD, ADD and autism. It was a godsend. They hold many parent-and children workshops and once a year they hold a Boarding School Fair. The best thing about this fair in particular is that the schools which attend the fair have the facilities to support these children.

When Year 7 rolled around, as parents we felt that it was too late. He was falling apart at the seams and his attitude towards school was changing dramatically.

The thought of sending our son to boarding school wasn’t anything that came naturally. The one thing that did help us was the fact that so many of our son’s friends were leaving for boarding school, and whenever they returned the feedback from him was that one day he might want to go too.

How do we support him? How do we help him to understand he is different?

That day came sooner than later. I attended the F.O.C.U.S boarding

school fair, and then my husband and I attended the Parent Evening session together. We took our son to meet them the next day. The schools which take part are from the East Coast in the United States, mostly from the New England area.

It was a huge relief when leaving the fair in November 2010 our son asks “When can I go?” We had never pressured him into it, so this was a very difficult moment for us. Do we really want do this? How can we stand having him living so far away?

The positives outweighed the negatives.

We took away around eight brochures and chose three to visit in the spring.

Seth was very excited and so were we.

All three schools had confirmed they had the support which Seth needed and they also had a structured curriculum which is ideal for all children but is most important for hyperactive children like our son.

All three schools had small class sizes, the school with the largest classes being 14 students, over 300 acres of land, amazing sports and music facilities and the freshest air you could breathe.

The application process went just as smoothly, and only a few months later we had chosen the school for Seth. He started in 7th grade at a boarding school in Conntecticut in September 2010 and we haven’t looked back, nor have we had any regrets.

Our son went from being miserable at school and having no goals to getting A’s and B’s, and he is now talking about his future at university. His school has allowed him to grow into a confident young man who knows he has a bright future ahead of him.

Hands down it is the most selfless thing we have ever done as parents, and I couldn’t recommend it more to any parents out there who are looking into the same options. http://www.focus.org.hk

Britain in Hong Kong

Events

The Jardine Matheson Group & British Chamber YNetwork

Scottish Ceilidh 2014 This year’s Young Executives’ Scottish Ceilidh was definitely the best yet, and enjoyed immensely by over 250 guests.

The evening included a performance from the brilliant pipe band and highland dancers, as well as the Haggis Address led by John Bruce. The night then followed with the delicious fare put on by the Aberdeen Marina Club, and of course the whisky, accompanied by some old school treats including Highland Toffee, Wham Bars and Scottish shortbread! During the dinner guests took advantage of the photo booth, a new and extremely well received addition to the evening, the photos proved to be hilarious! After the food came the dancing, this, as ever, was hugely enjoyable. A huge thank you must go to Iain Carmichael and his band that were outstanding again this year.

Jardine Matheson Group were our title sponsors for the third year running, so a huge thank you to them for all of their continued support and cooperation, the night was a huge success and we couldn’t have done it without them. Special thanks must also go to Truphone who were our entertainment sponsors as well as Virgin Atlantic – Little Red, who sponsored our videographer and our top prize in the lucky draw; return flights Hong Kong to Edinburgh!

Other thanks go to Edrington Hong Kong who sponsored a bottle of The Glenrothes whisky per table! As well as to those who donated prizes for the lucky draw; Cellarmaster wines for sponsoring 6 bottles of Pommery Champagne; Colourliving for sponsoring a beautiful Allessi flower vase; The Candle Company for their lovely home fragrance set, and Red Packet for their Simply Tasty gift.

Finally, and most importantly, thank you to all the guests for donating so generously, we managed to raise over HK$26,000 for MINDSET, which is hugely appreciated.

Thanks to everyone again for making this year’s Ceilidh another fantastic success and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

For more information about the event or any upcoming YNetwork events please contact lucy@britcham.com.

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27

Events

m d

ember iscounts

Britain in Hong Kong

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There are many great benefits of being a member of The British Chamber of Commerce.

One of those is the Member Discounts programme which is an exclusive package of discounts that range from discounted car rental, reduced hotel accommodation, airfares and even relocation costs.

Every six months we invite members to prepare a tailor-made offer to all the members of the British Chamber. You can find these benefits listed below and for more details please visit our website www.britcham.com

ood & Beverage & Accommodation Accor

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Members will receive 10% discount on top of the lowest rates that Accor’s Asian hotels are offering on the day. This applies to over 1600 Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Thalassa & Orbis hotels worldwide. You will also receive 5% discount on top of the best unrestricted rates for hotels including ibis (in specific countries), All Seasons & Hôtel Barrière. For more information please contact Regina Yip on 2868 1171 or email regina.yip@accor.com

15% discount on food and beverage at The Grill and 10% discount on treatments upon spending HK$1,000 at Plateau Spa. To make a reservation please contact The Grill on 2584 7722 or the Plateau Spa on 2584 7688

Alfie’s Members of the British Chamber of Commerce can benefit from a 10% discount at this chic restaurant in Central. To make a reservation please call 2530 4422 or email booking.alfies@ keeclub.com

Berry Bros. & Rudd Members can benefit from a 10% discount on all retail prices as well as receiving invitations to free tastings and other wine events during promotional period. For more information please call 2907 2112

Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Members will receive a 20% discount on food only in MoMo Café. To make a reservation please call 3717 8888

Dot Cod All members of the British Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong will receive a 15% discount on the bill. For more information please call 2810 6988 or email dotcod@hkcc.org

Hong Kong Skycity Marriott Hotel Members will receive a 10% discount on the total bill at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, SkyCity Bistro, Velocity Bar & Grill, and The Lounge (Promotion does not apply to alcoholic beverages). To make a reservation please call 3969 1888

Le Méridien Cyberport Members can book a Smart Room at the special rate of HKD1,600 including a daily eye-opening buffet breakfast (subject to availability). You will also receive 20% discount at 5 of the hip restaurants and bars that the hotel has to offer.

Furthermore, when you book the 21-day long room package at HKD23,100 you will receive a ‘Round Trip Limousine Service’. For more details please call 2980 7785

Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Members will receive a 10% discount on the total bill at award-winning Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, all day dining at Cafe Renaissance, Scala Italian Restaurant and the Lobby Lounge.

To make a reservation please call 2802 8888

W Hong Kong Members will receive 15% off the lunch buffet in Kitchen and dinner in Sing Yin Monday to Friday, and 10% off in all venues at all other times. For more information or to make a reservation please call 3717 2222

ifestyle & Travel British Airways

sense of touch

As a member of the British Chamber of Commerce you can enjoy exclusive offers from British Airways. For more information please visit: www.britcham.com/memberdiscount/ british-airways

Britcham members will receive 20% off all treatments on their first visit upon a total spend of $1,000, 10% off facials and massages in all subsequent visit as well as a $1,000 treatment coupon when purchasing a $10,000 cash package. For more information please call 2201 4547

Colourliving As a member of the British Chamber of Commerce, you can enjoy a 10% discount on all normal price merchandise when shopping at Colourliving in Wanchai. Please call 2510 2666 or visit www.colourliving.com

Virgin Atlantic Airways

VisitBritain British Chamber members can get 5% on all purchases from VisitBritain’s online shop by entering the code TR7DE67! at the checkout.

Please visit www.visitbritaindirect.com/world for further details.

Special offers are available exclusively for members of the British Chamber of Commerce.

Please call 2532 6060 for more details or to make a reservation

usiness Services BSI

Regus

Members can enjoy 20% off for British Standards Online (BSOL) subscription and all types of training courses run by the BSI Training Academy. For more details, please visit http://www.bsigroup.hl/.

Britcham members will receive a complimentary six-month Businessworld Gold card that gets you access to 1,200 business lounges in prime central city business locations in Asia and around the world. For more information or to accept this offer please visit www.regus.hk/localpartnership and enter the activation code APHKBCC in the Promotional Code box.

Compass Offices Compass Offices are offering all Britcham members a free, no obligation 1 month Virtual Office Address Package to help you get set up in Hong Kong as well as 50% off meeting room rental. Please email hksales@compassoffice.com or call +852 3796 7188 to find out more.

The Executive centre Members can enjoy a complimentary Serviced Office for 1 month, 50% off for Virtual Office subscription and up to 20% off meeting room and video conference bookings. Please contact +852 2293 2299 or email hongkong@executivecentre. com for more details.

The Hive The Hive is offering one additional month’s membership at no extra charge for any member who signs up for 6 months. For further details, please visit www.thehive.com.hk

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MEMBER GET MEMBER

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0

1

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Make a successful referral to the British Chamber of Commerce and enjoy a fantastic meal for two!

If you happen to refer the most new members to the Chamber, you will win a stunning prize: a complimentary brunch for four at Cafe Deco Bar & Grill, courtesy of Cafe Deco Group.

Cellarmaster Wines The British Chamber is delighted to announce the launch of the 2013 ‘Member get Member’ Campaign which will run from April 2013 – March 2014. As part of this new scheme we are pleased to announce that any new member who signs up through this referral programme will receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne Pommer y, cour tesy of Cellarmaster Wines.

In addition, if you successfully introduce a company to us that results in them joining the Chamber, you will receive a fantastic dinner for two courtesy of a top restaurant in Hong Kong.

Cafe Deco Bar & Grill Sunday Brunch For the most amazing views of Hong Kong, Cafe Deco Bar & Grill is a great brunch option. Indulge in a wide variety of delicious specials whilst overlooking the Peak’s spectacular view every Sunday and public holiday from 11am to 3pm at Cafe Deco Bar & Grill. Guests can pay $468, which includes free-flowing Clair diamant blanc de blanc N.V., Nugan 3rd Generation semillion & Chardonnay, Chateau Fontaubert Bordeaux and soda.

For kids aged between 3 and 11 years old brunch costs $238. This brunch features Canadian sustainable sea urchin specials for customers to feast upon and a kids’ entertainer to keep the little ones occupied.

So what are you waiting for? Spread the word throughout your network to enjoy a complimentary meal for two at one of these fantastic member restaurants: The Bostonian, The Langham, Hong Kong This well-established restaurant has been a Hong Kong favourite for well over a decade.

Located at the lower lobby level of The Langham, Hong Kong, The Bostonian has an excellent reputation for its superb steaks, and more recently its fully sustainable seafood menu. Featured by one of Hong Kong’s influential restaurant bibles, “The Hong Kong Best Restaurant Guide” since 2000 and recommended by The Michelin guide, the Bostonian is a hallmark for impeccable service and exceptional food. Guests can indulge in a tantalising array of fresh seafood from around the world at the “Raw Bar”, including home-made smoked salmon, prawns, crabs and freshly shucked oysters. The enticing menu also includes gourmet favourites such as maine crab cakes, sautéed foie gras, clam chowder, as well as separate menus for the restaurant’s specialties – the Boston lobster galore, seafood sharing platters and Bostonian grill.

cafe TOO, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong The innovative cafe TOO brings casual dining to a higher level of creativity. Their ten cooking theatres, each featuring a different culinary style, are showcases for the best of international cuisine as well as stages for their chefs’ engaging performances.

Café Renaissance, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong Café Renaissance is the perfect place for all day dining. Located on the Mezzanine floor, the 210-seat all-day dining café serves a wide variety of dishes from all over the world. Café Renaissance serves wholesome breakfasts, chef crafted lunches and dinner buffets plus à la carte menu daily and brunch on weekends, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In addition to the great array of fresh seafood delights using the freshest ingredients, guests can also enjoy a tantalising array of international favourites and local specialties from live cooking stations.

To enter: • Consider who among your contacts might be interested in joining the Chamber • Email phillippa@britcham.com with the name and contact details of your suggested company • If appropriate, contact your suggested company and let them know that the Chamber will be in touch • The Chamber will follow up with each suggestion directly • If your referral is successful, the Chamber will contact you with details of how to book your dinner Terms & Conditions • You must be a member of the British Chamber to be eligible for this offer • The dining vouchers will only be provided if your referral results in a new member for the Chamber • This offer is valid for all members whose referral results in a new Corporate, Overseas or Startup member of the Chamber. It does not apply to Additional members or additional YNetwork members • The Chamber will allocate the restaurant vouchers. Members will not be able to choose which restaurant they visit and must adhere to the terms and conditions

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News Hotel Pennington by Rhombus is Now Open Rhombus International Hotels Group is opening its fifth hotel in Hong Kong – Hotel Pennington by Rhombus. Prominently situated in the centre of bustling Causeway Bay, Hotel Pennington by Rhombus offers easy access to famed attractions, including Times Square, SOGO, Lee Gardens, Hysan Place, Victoria Park, Happy Valley Racecourse and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with only a 4 minute walk from the MTR Causeway Bay Station.

The hotel makes exploring Asia’s dynamic city convenient for leisure and business travellers alike, while providing an array of hi-tech and sophisticated inroom facilities. For further details, please visit: www.hotelopennington.com.hk.

Hemisphere Freight Services Limited Become 19th Sterling Member of the British Chamber The British Chamber is delighted to announce that Hemisphere Freight Services Limited has become its 19 th Sterling Member. Hemisphere Freight Services are a young, independent company offering personalised and professional service in all aspects of air freight and sea freight forwarding, including import and export operations, domestic shipping services, customs clearance and order tracking from our offices in Auckland and Sydney. They are relatively unique in acting as an NVOCC offering LCL consolidation services for Australia and New Zealand, to and from major global markets including Far East and South East Asia, Europe, Great Britain, United States, and the Pacific Islands. For more information visit www. hemifreight.com

We collect and deliver your car FREE OF CHARGE (subject to distance) We provide good, quick repair service at reasonable prices

Our competitive Labour charges:

From

Lubrication Service

$ 190

Tune Up Engine

$ 720

Engine Decoke & Grind Valves

$ 2,000

Engine Overhaul

$ 5,000

Brake System Overhaul

$ 1,000

Clutch Mechanical Overhaul

$ 1,500

Air Condition Freon Recharge

$ 400

Alternator Overhaul

$ 600

Starter Motor Overhaul

$ 600

ALL REPAIRS WITH THREE MONTHS GUARANTEE

Our Business Hours 8am-6pm, Mon-Sat & Public Holiday Our 24hrs. Emergency Towing Agent “We Tow Towing” 6128 0999 Please call us at 2565 6166 or Fax: 2856 1047 E-mail Address: fookie@netvigator.com

FOOKIE MOTORS CO. LTD. Shop 7, G/F, Paramount Bldg., 12 Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

Deloitte China, with the support of United Nations Development Programme, launches a series of Sustainability Awards In an initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”), Deloitte is inviting multinational companies with a strong sustainability performance in China to nominate themselves for the Deloitte China Sustainability Awards. The Awards aims to encourage and reward best-practice corporate sustainability among multinationals in China. You can find information on how to apply for these prestigious Awards on the Deloitte website www.deloitte.com. Nominations close on 1st January 2014. Please contact sustainabilityawards@deloitte.com if you have any enquiries.

Fresh off the press: a history of Hong Kong’s Rugby Sevens The Book: A Celebration of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Week, depicts the history of a Hong Kong landmark event and a spectacle that draws hundreds of thousands of people from around the world on a pilgrimage to the Hong Kong Stadium every March.

‘The Book’ pays homage to the biggest names, the hardest hits, and the wildest parties that the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Week has hosted since its humble beginnings in 1976. Hundreds of iconic photographs and a feast of Sevens facts and information tell the tale of the city’s biggest sporting attraction and all of the features which make it such a phenomenal success. The perfect Christmas present, Members can purchase a copy of ‘The Book’ for just HK $360. Email jonny.rees@carinat.com for more information.

New Appointments International law firm Clifford Chance has appointed arbitration specialist Dr. Romesh Weeramantry as a foreign legal consultant in its Hong Kong office. His arrival is part of the ongoing expansion of the firm’s Asia Pacific arbitration practice, which included the recent addition of Dr. Sam Luttrell in Perth.

“Romesh will be a great addition to our team. He is highly regarded amongst his peers within the international arbitration community, including for his expertise in bilateral investment treaty disputes” said Cameron Hassall, Partner and Head of Arbitration for Greater China.

Romesh has over 20 years of experience working as a barrister and an international disputes lawyer.

He has a broad range of experience covering international arbitration and public international law at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal (The Hague), the United Nations Compensation Commission (Geneva) and at a leading Swiss law firm. As an independent consultant, his client work has involved preparing legal opinions and memoranda for international organisations, including the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He has also trained government officials from a number of countries on arbitration and foreign investment law. Romesh holds a BA/LLB from Monash University, an LLM from King’s College London and a PhD from the Queen Mary School of International Arbitration, University of London. He is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria, Australia. Romesh published Treaty Interpretation in Investment Arbitration (Oxford UP) in 2012 and co-authored International Commercial Arbitration: An Asia-Pacific Perspective (Cambridge UP) in 2011 and co-edited The Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance: Commentary and Annotations (Sweet & Maxwell) in 2011 and.

Since 2013, he also serves as co-General Editor of the Asian Dispute Review and the Hong Kong White Book: Arbitration and ADR Volume.

New Members CORPORATE

ADDITIONAL

STARTUP

BNP Paribas Investment Partners Asia Ltd. Tan Feng Cheng Managing Director, Head Asia Institutional, Business Development Tel 2533 0008 tanfeng.cheng@asia.bnpparibas.com 30/F, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong Asset Management

BOCI Asia Limited Andrew Niles Executive Director Head of International Clients Tel 3988 3865 andrewj.niles@bocigroup.com 26/F, Bank of China Building, 1 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong Investment Banking

Trapezium Limited Ken Crombie CEO Tel 2824 8300 kencrombie@trapezium.com One International Finance Centre, 20/F, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, Hong Kong Consultancy

Foster and Partners (Hong Kong) Ltd Richard Hawkins Partner Tel 3543 7300 hongkong@fosterandpartners.com 3001, Tower 2, Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong Architecture/Interior & Urban Design Cliftons Ltd David Adams General Manager — Hong Kong Tel 2159 9904 david.adams@cliftons.com Level 5, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong Business Services

INDIVIDUAL Jack Clipsham Tel 67704250 clipsj@talktalk.net Flat 5B, Tower 5, Pacific View, 38 Tai Tam Road, Hong Kong

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Belle Morton Associate Director, Strategy & Operations Tel 2852 6393 bmorton@deloitte.com.hk 35/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong Accounting

Dias Sophia Dias President sophia@dias.ind.in 4/F, 42 B, Chater Hall, 1 Conduit Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Fashion & Jewellery

OVERSEAS

ICF GHK Andrew Amerasekera Managing Consultant Tel 2829 6428 andrew.amerasekera@ghkint.com 19/F, Heng Shan Centre, 145 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong Consultancy Foster and Partners (Hong Kong) Ltd Michael Ng Partner Tel 3543 7300 mng@fosterandpartners.com 3001, Tower 2, Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong Architecture/Interior & Urban Design

First Class Traveller Stephen Cleeve Director Tel +4420896 06119 steve@firstclasstraveller.com 4/F, 136-142 Bramley Road, North Kensington, London, W10 6SR, United Kingdom Travel Services Bureau Van Dijk Johnny Sim General Manager Tel +65 6496 9006 johnny.sim@bvdinfo.com 1 Fusionopolis Walk, #11-04 South Tower, Solaris, 138628, Singapore Banking

The British Chamber’s Sterling Members

Thank you for your continued support

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Shaken Not Stirred 24th October 2013, Privé

Lisa Gamreklidze (Imagination), Keith Lee (JAC Recruitment), Patrick Yiu (Asia Plantation Hong Kong)

Anthony Hope (White Crane Group), Katharyn Plews (Flight Centre), Victoria Coplans (HSBC), Dr. Irina Smolina (Andrew Moore and Associates)

Emily Chan, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Jenkins and Phillippa Cook (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)

Lorraine Marwood (Redworks, Ogilvy), Stephanie Dixon and Jo Chapman (Flight Centre)

Kim Plaggenburg (Press Room Group), Andy Young (The Pawn), Tom Watkins and Emma Black (Press Room Group)

Rob England (en World), Belinda Lee (Executives’ Global Network Hong Kong), Dr. John Wong (Executives’ Global Network)

Stephanie Rose (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong), William Chan (Oilver James Associates)

Viola Zhang (JAC Recruitment), William Chan (Oliver James Associates)

Nick Zieber (JAC Recruitment), Mark Lamb (Fragrance Du Bois)

Tony Leigh (Bullion Management Group), Martyn Ludlow and Jim Mackie (Forth Capital)

35

Shaken Not Stirred Sponsored By

th

7 November 2013, Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Hong Kong

Karine Koh (WRG Live), Luca Muraro (Gruppo Pozzi), Andrew Savill (WRG Live)

Martyn Ludlow (Forth Capital), Marc Meldrum (Expat Insurance), Mark Savelli (KMB)

Shaun Summers (Village Holdings Ltd), Stephanie Rose and Phillippa Cook (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)

Gemma Hughes (Travelport), Ken Tashima (Sandler Training), Dennis Chan (Henley Business School)

Peter Chan (The Peninsula Hong Kong), Lloyd Smith (Taylor Brunswick Group)

Amit Singh (ANZ), Janet White and Gemma Hughes (Travelport)

Jason White (Financial Partners Limited), Gregory Seitz (AGS Four Winds)

Tim Peirson-Smith (Executive Counsel), Lisa Gamreklidz (Imagination Asia)

Ken Tashima (Sandler Training), Emily Chan (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)

Gemma Hughes (Travelport), Christopher Chanel Olding (Eastern Enterprise Club), Michael Olding (Handelsbanken), Edita Tsang (The Hammerbeck (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Fry Group), Cecilia Leung (International Solution Group), Jesse Lee (Mott MacDonald) Kong)

Gregory Seitz (AGS Four Winds), Ceri Silk (Glow)

Karine Koh (WRG Live), Christopher Hammerbeck (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)

Francine Cheng (Haworth), Michelle Tsui (Haworth), Keira Lam (FCS Interior Design)