ItalianCham Vol.19

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Dear Members and Friends

It is an honour for me to be elected as the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all the members for entrusting me with this important responsibility. I am committed to serving the Chamber and its members to the best of my abilities.

Every year June marks the celebration of the Italian National Day (2 June), also known as Festa della Repubblica. This day’s celebration is not limited to Italy but also to Italian communities and diplomatic missions around the world.

2 June commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic and the institutional referendum held in 1946, by which the Italian people voted to replace the monarchy with a republic. The Italian National Day is a public holiday in Italy and it is celebrated with parades, concerts, fireworks, and other festivities throughout the whole country. The largest celebration takes place in Rome, where a military parade is held in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials.

The parade features members of the Italian armed forces, including the Carabinieri (one of the two main police forces in the country), the Navy, the Air Force and the Army, who march in formation along the iconic Via dei Fori Imperiali, the main road leading to the Colosseum. The parade also includes the Italian flag bearers, who carry the Tricolore, the national flag of Italy and the band of the Italian Army, which performs traditional and modern music. Apart from the military parade, there are also cultural events, such as exhibitions, concerts and food festivals, which take place all over Italy. These events showcase the country’s rich history, art and cuisine, and they provide an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate their national identity.

Davide De Rosa President

Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao

In Hong Kong and Macao, the Italian National Day is celebrated by our Chamber and by the Consulate General of Italy, with a series of events to commemorate the occasion and promote Italian culture and lifestyle. These events provide a great opportunity for the Hong Kong and Macao communities to learn more about Italy, its history, its traditions and its people.

One of the main events organized by the Consulate General of Italy is a concert followed by a reception, which is attended by business leaders, members of the Italian and local community and other guests who have an interest in Italy. The reception provides an opportunity for people to network and socialize, and it is usually accompanied by Italian food and wine.

This year, to celebrate the Italian National Day, the Italian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The Beat Asia, organised the Italian Week Hong Kong 2023. This week-long celebration showcased the vibrant aspects of Italian gastronomy, culture and hospitality.

In addition, on 1 June, our Chamber hosted the Italian National Day Celebration party at the Studio of one of our members, Boffi de Padova, in Causeway Bay. This special occasion brought together esteemed guests, including distinguished members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and influential figures from the Hong Kong community. The evening was a splendid celebration of Italy’s rich culture and timeless allure. Guests indulged in authentic Italian delicacies and classic cocktails. It was an unforgettable evening that truly captured the essence of Italian lifestyle.

As a Chamber with operations in Hong Kong and Macao, we encourage all our Members and Friends to learn more about the Italian National Day and the events organized by us and by the Consulate General of Italy. We believe that cultural awareness and sensitivity are important values for our Chamber and we encourage our Members and Friends to participate in events that promote cultural exchange and understanding.

I hope that this memo has provided you with a better understanding of the significance of Italian National Day in Hong Kong and Macao and the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in our Chamber.

Yours

... These events provide a great opportunity for the Hong Kong and Macao communities to learn more about Italy, its history, its traditions and its people.

We believe that cultural awareness and sensitivity are important values for our Chamber and we encourage our Members and Friends to participate in events that promote cultural exchange and understanding.

sincerely, Davide De Rosa

I wish you all a joyful Festa della Repubblica!

Chamber’s Patrons

New Executive Committee Members

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to announce that on March 27 2023, the new President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Company Secretary, and the newly appointed Executive Committee Members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao have been elected. With their expertise and dedication,

we are confident that we will continue to provide exceptional support to the Italian and local business communities in Hong Kong and Macao!

Mr Davide Michele De Rosa Partner Gianni & Origoni

Mr Francesco Vitali Tax Director Deloitte AP ICE Limited

Mr Alessandro Pedrinoni CEO Asia Pacific Fidinam

Mr Ho Chun Shing - Harry Ho Managing Director AOGB Professional Services Group

Company Secretary

Vice-President President Treasurer

Executive Committee Members

Honorary Members

Ms Francesca Busuito General Manager Asia Pacific Ludovico Martelli S.p.A.

Mr Giuliano G. Castellano Associate Professor of Law The University of Hong Kong

Ms Barbara Stella Cerioli General Legal Counsel - Asia Pacific Tod’s Hong Kong Limited

Mr Christian Foddis President Asia Pacific Ermenegildo Zegna

Mr Nicola Giglio Founder & CEO Belton China ltd

Mr Filippo Melchioni Managing Director Chief Operating Officer, APAC & Oceania - Managing Director Ferrari Group

Mr Luca Morlotti Managing Director FICEP Hong Kong Ltd

Mr Ivano Ferruccio Poma CEO China Red Star Real Estate Group

Mr Vittorio Trusso Sfrazzetto Managing Director APAC De Rigo Hong Kong Limited

Mr Carmelo Ficarra Consul General of Italy Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong

Ms Gioia Morena Gatti Trade Commissioner Italian Trade Commission

Ms Valentina Monzoni President Italian Women’s Association

Town Hall Meeting: ties between Italy and Hong Kong and Macao

On Tuesday, May 23, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao hosted the highly anticipated Town Hall Meeting, supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong. The event aimed to shed light on the current state of affairs in Hong Kong and Macao, focusing on the aftermath of the pandemic. The insightful discussions provided a holistic perspective on the business and social aspects of the relationship between Italy, Hong Kong and Macao.

One of the main highlights of the Town Hall Meeting was the in-depth analysis of the economic situation in Hong Kong and Macao. Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, provided valuable insights into the post-pandemic period and its impact on the local business environment. Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, especially

Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, especially in trade and investment between Italy and the two regions.

in trade and investment between Italy and the two regions. The Italian Trade Commissioner, Ms. Gioia Morena Gatti, shared her expertise at the event to help participants better understand doing business in Hong Kong and Macao. Ms. Gatti shared the relevant import data between Italy and the two regions and discussed the potential avenues for collaboration and cooperation between Italian and local businesses. To overcome the challenges posed by the current economic environment, she highlighted the importance of building strong networks and fostering partnerships.

The Town Hall Meeting featured three speakers with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This diversity of viewpoints enriched the discussions

and allowed for a well-rounded exploration of the ties between Italy, Hong Kong and Macao. Participants had the opportunity to engage in a dynamic dialogue, exchanging ideas and experiences with professionals from various sectors.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao expresses its sincere appreciation to the distinguished speakers for their invaluable inputs at the Town Hall Meeting. Their proficiency and perspectives enhanced the occasion and furnished attendees with a comprehensive comprehension of the prospects and obstacles in the area. The Chamber extends its gratitude to Sistema Italia and Generali Hong Kong for endorsing this event.

A Night of Authentic Delights and Timeless Allure

On Thursday, June 1, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao hosted the Italian National Day Celebration at Boffi | De Padova Studio, a captivating event commemorating the Italian National Day (Festa della Repubblica). This special occasion brought together distinguished members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and influential figures from the Hong Kong community. With a delightful array of authentic Italian delicacies, classic cocktails, and the presence of the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, the evening was a splendid celebration of Italy’s rich culture and timeless allure.

Chef Gianni from Giando Group treated the guests to an authentic Italian culinary experience. With his exceptional skills and passion for Italian cuisine, Chef Gianni presented a range of exquisite delicacies that delighted the palates of all attendees. From tantalising antipasti to delectable desserts, each bite offered a glimpse into the renowned flavours of Italy.

The celebration featured a selection of classic Italian cocktails meticulously crafted by the Campari Group to complement the sumptuous feast. The drinks were expertly prepared to capture the essence of Italy’s renowned cocktail culture, offering guests beautiful flavours. Sipping on these delightful drinks, guests experienced the distinctive charm of Italian mixology. Guests were delighted with a refreshing array of beverages, including Peroni and Kimbo Coffee’s sparkling coffee drinks, from Betabev, and BubbleMe.

Celebrating Italian National Day in Hong Kong:

No Italian celebration is complete without a touch of sweetness. Venchi, the renowned Italian chocolatier, provided a delightful finale to the evening with their Italian chocolate creations. Guests savoured the velvety textures and rich flavours, experiencing the craftsmanship and artistry that have made Venchi a beloved name in the world of chocolate.

In addition, the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong graced the celebration with his presence. His attendance showcased the strong bonds between Italy and Hong Kong and the importance of fostering cultural exchanges and partnerships between the two regions. The Consul General’s participation further emphasised the significance of Italian National Day and its role in promoting Italy’s rich heritage and traditions abroad.

The Italian National Day celebration provided an exceptional opportunity for attendees to mingle and network with distinguished members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and influential figures from the Hong Kong community. The event fostered connections and strengthened relationships between individuals passionate about Italian culture, cuisine, and business opportunities in Hong Kong and Macao.

The Italian National Day celebration organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao was a resounding success.

This remarkable evening was a testament to the enduring charm of Italy. It was heartening to see Italian culture being celebrated and cherished in the heart of Hong Kong.

Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy

Fast

Ascoli Asia is a young, dynamic, and fast-growing company owing its success to its winning attitude where customer need is always ahead of its strategy. Ascoli Asia can give solutions in incredibly fast timing through developing customised trims and technical solutions and supporting small and big brands with high reactivity in the development of their product.

Flexible

Ascoli ASIA holds in its DNA the centennial experience of its Italian mother company in the trims industry and can match the necessities of a wide range of fashion players from young new emerging designers to big established companies always granting the calibrated support and offering a targeted product and service.

Fashion oriented

We are fully integrated with the fashion system, and we share the same vision and sensitivity. We work with the major international brands acting as partners with our customers through all the aspects from product design and development, industrialization, logistic and corporate responsibility.

One of the things we love most about our job is the constant challenge we face every day to create new products for our customers. We must combine heritage inspiration, new materials, and technical solutions, in respect of sustainability and performance and of course all the above in a very tight timeline. Once everything is developed, we are very proud to see the products we manage to realise applied on garments in the catwalks of the fashion show and in the boutiques all over the world… and of course there is never a break time, it’s already time to rush for the next season creations! Another aspect we love very much is the relationship we build with our customers that goes behind the business; we can feel the perception of true partnership atmosphere working as a team towards the same goals.

Since the establishment in Hong Kong, we realised that we made the right choice as our presence has determined a big growth for Ascoli Group and this choice was well considered by all our customers having garment factories in China, Thailand, and Vietnam but most of them with HQ in Hong Kong. We greatly appreciate the support and the consideration we have amongst the Big Fashion Player Brand as they can find in Ascoli Asia a great partner not focused only on massive production but well receptive also for prototypes, sampling, and rarely small production with quite fast solutions.

About CAP4LAB

Cap4Lab is a Luxembourg-based company specialising in Salesforce integrations strategies and API development that has expanded its business reach from Europe to Asia with the opening of its first non-European office in Hong Kong. We specialise in providing solutions for advanced automation and data analytics. Our mission is to empower businesses with cutting-edge technology to help them optimise their operations and drive growth.

How would you describe your company in 3 words and why?

In three words, Cap4Lab can be described as innovative, reliable, and customer-centric. Innovative, because the Cap4 Lab is always on the cutting edge of new technologies. Our team of experts is constantly researching and developing new solutions to help businesses stay ahead of the competition. For example, businesses are now able to make data-driven choices more quickly than ever thanks to the innovative solutions created by our analysis of data from many sources in realtime. Reliable, because Cap4Lab has a proven track record of delivering high-quality solutions to its clients. We are committed to ensuring that our customers receive the best possible service, and we have a team of experts on hand to provide support whenever it is needed. This commitment to customer service has helped Cap4 Lab build a strong reputation in the industry on an international scale. Customer-centric, because Cap4Lab is dedicated to understanding the needs of its clients and providing solutions that are tailored to their specific requirements. We work closely with our customers to ensure that they are satisfied with the solutions that are provided, and we are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are successful.

What do you love most about your industry?

Cap4Lab values the adaptability and diversity that Salesforce integrations solutions and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provide. The integration solutions offered by our experts help to achieve the wildest digitalization transformations, regardless of the industry or the need. Therefore, the customization of each project according to the needs of the clients allows the experts to evolve on unique and varied missions with a single common objective: guarantee an optimal digital transformation and optimise the business with a 360 degree view for the clients.

In addition, the proposed solutions allow a seamless adaptability to meet the needs of any customer. For example, APIs offer a common method for various software programs to connect with one another, enabling programmers to build new services or applications that work smoothly with current systems. One of the major benefits of the API business is the degree of interoperability, reusability of components, and flexibility, which significantly speed up development and save expenses.

We can conclude by saying that diversity and adaptability are values cherished and put forward by Cap4Lab both in the client and operational approaches.

What are the special relationships between Cap4Lab and Hong Kong?

Cap4Lab has been able to leverage its expertise in the areas of automation and data analytics solutions to help businesses in Hong Kong optimise their operations and drive growth. Hong Kong is a highly competitive market, and businesses need to be able to operate at the highest level to succeed. Cap4Lab has worked with several entities in Hong Kong to help them meet these challenges and thrive in this dynamic environment. This special relationship is fostered by our commitment to innovation. Hong Kong is a city that is always looking to the future, and Cap4Lab is no exception. We have invested to ensure that we are always at the forefront of new technologies. This commitment to innovation has helped Cap4Lab stay ahead of the curve and provide its customers with the best possible solutions. Because Hong Kong is a city that values quality and reliability, Cap4Lab has been able to deliver on these expectations. We have built a strong reputation for our dedication to customer satisfaction, and we have been able to develop long-lasting relationships with many of our clients.

Adventurous

PizzaExpress is not just about creating incredible, truly authentic Italian pizza. We are not afraid of a little experimentation, standing out from the crowd and being the slight rebel in the global PizzaExpress family! Not only will you find a menu packed with all manner of Italian-inspired dishes but we love to be first; be it offering plant-based meat alternatives, eco-friendly dining initiatives or locally-inspired collaborations – we want you to see it here first!

Flexible

The world of dining has seen so many changes over the last few years. Throughout these challenges PizzaExpress has been able to adapt swiftly and smartly, always putting customers’ needs first, to ensure a delicious, hot pizza (and more) is never far away. Expect exclusive innovations for food delivery, or pop into the restaurants for a sneaky Teatime Treat, a nutritious Rise & Shine breakfast to start the day or delicious Cicchetti paired with a comforting glass of wine to ease your way into the evening.

Passionate

If there’s one thing that you can be sure of at PizzaExpress it’s passion! We’re passionate about cooking up the best Italian cuisine, created by Pizzaiolos who will add energy and flair to any occasion (see our open kitchens for some spectacular dough moments), served with pizzazz in a lively, upbeat, and stylish environment. There is passion in everything we do!

What do you love most about your industry?

It’s a move-able feast. Literally! In a changing world, with new demands, shifting trends, evolving issues and unlimited opportunities, we have the chance to experiment and to make others happy with food.

It’s not just flavour that matters any more. Customers have varying and growing expectations and we need to appeal to many niches. Some are looking for green and sustainable, others are looking for healthy, others might want gluten-free etc. Many more are looking for exciting new innovations, and there are always

customers that just want to be comforted with classic dishes. We have the chance to appeal to all these trends, tastes and desires. What fun.

We want our food to put smiles on people’s faces. And it doesn’t just stop in the restaurant. We are also proud of how much we are able to support the community in Hong Kong, donating funds from some of our bestselling dishes, to children’s, health and planet-aware NGO’s, meaning that your dining choices are really helping to make a difference.

What are the special relationships between PizzaExpress and Hong Kong?

PizzaExpress first arrived in Hong Kong in 2001, a well-known pizza brand in the UK, but with little exposure in Hong Kong. Initially, the British expats in Hong Kong were delighted to savour a little taste of home, but it wasn’t long before the wider community came flocking to PizzaExpress to find out what truly authentic Italian pizzas were all about.

The love affair between PizzaExpress and Hong Kong began, and we were soon inspired to shake things up with the launch of our Peking Duck pizza (which immediately became one of our best-selling pizzas), and introducing more local ingredients, tastes and flavours. Over 20 stores and 20 years later, every Chinese New Year we are delighted to launch locallyinfluenced special dishes, such as the Fortune Gold

Seafood Pizza and Dough Balls Tang But Lat for this current Year of the Rabbit. Recent exclusive dining collaborations with Lung Kee, live music nights at our Empire Centre venue, and the year-round plethora of fresh seafood dishes on our latest menus, demonstrate that PizzaExpress’ commitment to Hong Kong dining and culture, fused with delightfully fresh, classic Italian ingredients, is definitely here to stay.

About Dylan Tan, Head of Food & Beverage

Dylan Tan joined PizzaExpress in 2019, responsible for product development in Hong Kong, and helping to support R&D for international markets, particularly in Asia. Originally from Malaysia, Dylan has been cooking up a storm all over Asia, before arriving in Hong Kong and putting his own twist on some classic PizzaExpress favourites.

Leading the Charge: How companies are driving Sustainable Innovation Forward

Sustainability has transformed into a crucial component of business success, surpassing mere ethical or regulatory concerns. As environmental awareness among consumers continues to grow, businesses that prioritise sustainability and innovation not only meet market demands but also gain competitive advantages.

One way businesses can incorporate sustainability is by adopting ecofriendly practices throughout their operations. This can include reducing energy consumption, minimising waste generation, and implementing recycling programs. Companies can also source sustainable materials and prioritise suppliers who adhere to responsible production standards. Such initiatives not only benefit the environment but can also lead to cost savings and improved brand reputation.

Innovation plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable progress, as it facilitates the creation of new eco-friendly products and services that are both profitable and sustainable. Moreover, integrating sustainable practices into business operations can unlock fresh opportunities for growth and development. BEE Incorporations is a prime example of a company that seamlessly combines sustainability and innovation. By bridging the gap between design and construction, we have developed state-of-the-art sustainable building solutions that benefit not only the environment but also the construction industry.

Our company has made notable advancements in building performance monitoring, a critical aspect of energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction. To measure and improve building performance, our team has created BEE Sense, an innovative software that monitors energy and water consumption, waste production, air and water quality, and even potential for virus transmission in real-time. With the advancement in sensor technology, it has become more affordable and easier than ever before to gather this data. Armed with this information, our customers can make informed decisions on how to enhance building performance over time, thereby extending the building’s lifespan.

As we embark on our journey towards a world where green infrastructure and sustainable architecture are commonplace, collaboration with like-minded companies and organisations is absolutely essential. One such example of collaborative efforts is the partnership with RESET. With our realtime data on energy, water, and air quality, building owners and decisionmakers can now achieve RESET Project Certification more easily and costeffectively. We remain committed to promoting sustainable practices and are always open to collaborations with organisations and individuals who share the same vision.

Another example of sustainability and innovation coming together is the rise of renewable energy technologies. Companies that invest in and develop renewable energy sources not only

One of the most significant challenges facing the sustainable built environment is the lack of awareness and understanding among stakeholders. Many individuals still do not grasp the importance of sustainability in the built environment and its impact on both the environment and human health. Stakeholders may resist adopting sustainable practices due to concerns regarding the associated costs and potential disruptions to established practices. Moreover, regulatory barriers such

contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also tap into a rapidly growing market. By embracing innovation and supporting clean energy alternatives, businesses can align their interests with those of consumers and investors who increasingly prioritise sustainability.

As the world faces growing environmental challenges and the demand for responsible practices continues to increase, businesses must adapt and incorporate sustainability into their core strategies. It is no longer enough for companies to focus solely on profitability, they must also consider their impact on the planet and society. This shift toward sustainability, coupled with a culture of innovation, can lead to long-term success and a positive legacy for businesses.

as building codes that do not require or incentivize the use of sustainable materials or energy-efficient systems can pose challenges.

Unfortunately, we still lack the necessary data to demonstrate the long-term benefits of sustainable practices, making it difficult to justify investments. Short-term thinking can often prioritise immediate benefits over long-term sustainability, which may result in decisions that are not in the best interests of society or the environment as a whole. Addressing these challenges will require a collaborative effort from various stakeholders, including policymakers, developers, architects, engineers, and consumers.

Involving customers in sustainable practices is crucial for fostering

collective responsibility and driving positive change. One of our elite clients in Shanghai, a hospitality company, recognizes the importance of customer involvement and has adopted an innovative approach to engage them in their sustainability efforts. One notable initiative is the Guestroom Energy Monitoring System, which enables guests to track their energy and water consumption. By providing transparency and control, the company empowers guests to make conscious choices regarding their energy usage. Furthermore, the resort incentivizes responsible consumption by rewarding guests who successfully manage their energy expenditure. This approach not only raises awareness about energy conservation but also encourages guests to actively participate in reducing their environmental footprint.

Sustainability, at its core, means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. By integrating sustainability into their business models, companies can create value for themselves and their stakeholders while minimising negative impacts on the planet.

Addressing the challenges and driving sustainable practices requires a comprehensive approach. It is crucial to increase awareness and understanding among stakeholders, emphasising the benefits of sustainability for the environment, human health, and long-term economic viability. Education and outreach programs can play a vital role in bridging the knowledge gap and inspiring individuals to embrace sustainable practices.

WEAVING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Amid the current global climate, where sustainability and innovation are paramount, companies are rising to the occasion, driving transformative change. At Frette, our commitment to weaving a sustainable future into our daily business drives us forward. As leaders in our industry, we recognize the weight of our responsibility to forge a responsible pathway. With a vision rooted in collaboration and inclusive partnerships, Frette endeavors to inspire positive change and fosters an environmentally conscious way to operate.

LEGACY OF INNOVATION

Throughout Frette’s illustrious history, it has been our unwavering commitment to innovation that has set us apart since our inception in 1860. Our ability to produce intricate patterns and extraordinarily crafted pieces has been driven by an indomitable spirit of innovation. Now, guided by that very spirit, we are embarking on a new journey, one that encompasses revolutionary product and manufacturing practices aimed at preserving our precious planet. Upholding our legacy of innovation is important to us, as we strive to create the highest quality products that continue to captivate discerning clients worldwide.

As sustainability gains prominence both internally and externally, we are wholeheartedly dedicated to exploring new avenues that preserve our environment. This entails a commitment to continuous learning, ongoing research and development, and the implementation of innovative manufacturing processes.

FRETTE PRESENTS ITS INAUGURAL CAPSULE COLLECTION OF ORGANIC & SUSTAINABLE BED LINENS

We firmly believe that by joining forces with our colleagues, partners and the wider industry, we can affect meaningful and enduring change that will leave a lasting impact on our world and the generations to come.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Through initiatives such as evolving our packaging practices and introducing sustainable collections, we have proudly launched a range of Sustainability and Innovation initiatives. These endeavors exemplify our steadfast dedication to preserving and nurturing the environment that sustains us.

Since 2021, Frette has undertaken a significant investment in the transformation of its product packaging, embracing 100% recyclable materials.

By eliminating non-recyclable components like zippers and snap closures, our new packaging incorporates recyclable plastic buttons and PVC materials.

We have taken meticulous care to ensure that the chemical components of these materials adhere to BPA-free certification standards and comply with CA65 Prop (Safe

RISING TO THE OCCASION

Recognizing that weaving sustainable practices and cultivating innovative collections is a meticulous endeavour that requires investment and an unwavering dedication to rise to the occasion. Embracing sustainability initiatives often presents the challenges of higher costs, but we face these obstacles with thorough testing and extensive research, diligently exploring materials and finessing our production processes.

Equally vital is our meticulous selection of partners and suppliers, subjected to audits internally by Frette’s Quality Assurance Team and externally by globally recognized certification and inspection agencies. Notably, our collaboration with esteemed suppliers such as Tintoria di

THE FABRIC OF THE FUTURE

As Frette sets its gaze towards the horizon, we remain committed to the constant evolution of our existing processes, while eagerly focusing on the introduction of future collections. Our ultimate ambition is to reach the goal to produce a 100% organic home collection by 2028, a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability.

In the forthcoming years, we find great excitement in the projects currently underway, including the development of a complemento to Naturalismo: a unique and innovative throw blanket, sustainably produced and organically dyed, scheduled for release in Spring / Summer 2024. The extended lead time necessary for bringing organic products to market is a testament to our commitment to sustainable craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail.

Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act). This commitment to sustainable packaging exemplifies Frette’s dedication to reducing environmental impact.

In 2022, Frette introduced its first 100% linen collection, meticulously crafted with linen fibers which use less water and resources during its lifetime than other materials. This collection remains in the Frette range of seasonless collections today due to its success and popularity amongst Frette clients.

Introducing the Spring / Summer 2023 Naturalismo Collection, a testament to Frette’s continued commitment. This incomparable bed linen capsule marks a significant milestone as our first venture into crafting a 100% organic and sustainable set.

Meticulously crafted from luxurious cotton sateen, the organic set showcases a delicately striated weave, exemplifying elegance in nature. What sets this collection apart is the unique yarn-dyeing process, made of 100% organic dried poppy petals without the use of synthetic chemical agents. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainability extends to the finishing stage, where no synthetic chemical agents are used.

Although newly introduced to the market, the Naturalismo Collection has already garnered considerable success, resonating with discerning clients who value both exceptional quality and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

Quaregna has been instrumental in the development and creation of our distinguished Naturalismo collection. Our high supplier standards demand nothing less than the utmost level of excellence.

And lastly, communication stands as a cornerstone, both internally and externally, ensuring the success of our initiatives. From engaging with our knowledgeable boutique specialists to reaching out to our valued clients across the globe, effective and transparent communication is key. We believe in the transformative power of education and empowerment, equipping our teams with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability.

By weaving sustainability into the fabric of our utmost luxurious offerings, we honor our heritage and create products that resonate with discerning individuals who value both quality and our planet.

Empowering Communities and Businesses for a Sustainable Future:

An Interview with Walter Marin, Founder of Plug The Impact

As companies increasingly recognize the importance of sustainability in meeting the needs of stakeholders and addressing environmental challenges, there is a growing need for guidance on the sustainability journey. The landscape of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, carbon markets, and offsetting mechanisms can be confusing and overwhelming for many organisations. This is where experts like Walter Marin come in. With over a decade of experience in off-grid energy and a deep commitment to sustainability, Walter is uniquely positioned to help companies navigate the complex sustainability landscape and identify the most effective strategies for achieving their goals. Through Plug The Impact, Walter and his team provide a range of consultancy services and offsetting solutions that can help companies take meaningful action and make a positive impact on the planet.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into the off-grid energy field?

I started my career in the 90s working to design and manufacture highly efficient and compact power electronics to supply energy to industrial processes and robotics and in the last 2 decades to deliver energy solutions for rural communities. I worked on several projects in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, helping to bring electricity to remote communities that had no access to the grid. I quickly became passionate about the work and saw first-hand the transformative impact that access to energy can have on people’s lives. When I thought of funding Plug The Impact, I did so with a deep commitment to sustainability and a desire to make a positive impact in the world, which I believe I had already been doing for a number of years with my other two companies, Plug The Sun and Fast Power Trading Limited. But this new venture comes from a sense of urgency with regards to the climate crisis.

What led you to start Plug The Impact, and what does the company offer?

I strongly feel the urgent need to address climate change and other environmental challenges and saw an opportunity to deliver innovative and high-impact projects on a bigger scale. My main goal remains to promote sustainability and help companies reduce carbon footprint by delivering sustainable solutions that can offset greenhouse gas emissions and promote the social and economic development of rural communities.

What are some of the common challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the off-grid business, and how have they approached those challenges?

I think one of the major challenges everyone in this industry has faced at least once has to do with the fact that we implement projects in hard-toreach areas. These areas often lack basic infrastructure and can be difficult to access, which creates logistical challenges for us. We’ve had to develop unconventional solutions, such as using donkeys to deliver solar panels to remote locations. Another challenge we’ve all faced is relying on government funding to support our projects, because government funding can be a valuable source of support, but it can also be unpredictable and subject to political changes, especially in the countries where we operate.

This is actually why I have decided to diversify our funding sources and involve private capital in our projects. And this is also one of the main reasons why I created Plug The Impact. We believe that by involving private capital in our projects, we can create a more sustainable and resilient funding model that is less reliant on government support.

What are some of the challenges and opportunities for promoting sustainability in Hong Kong, both in terms of product development and business practices?

Waste management is a critical issue in the context of sustainability in Hong Kong. The excessive production and disposal of waste has a disastrous negative impact on the environment and public health. The city is trying to implement some measures, but progress is very very slow. On our side, we deliver zero-kerosene solutions that protect the environment and zero-defect products that minimise the impact of electronic waste. It might not seem much, but properly disposing of electronic waste is fundamental: batteries pose a significant environmental threat if not disposed of correctly, just think of the amount of discarded phone batteries that exist in the world. What happens to them? They constitute an immense source of pollution.

We are very committed to promoting the circular economy by developing a system to discard used lithium batteries properly, and we hope to inspire many other companies in Hong Kong to promote recycling strategies as well. We are working hard to ensure that all used batteries from our products are recycled in a responsible and sustainable manner, and even more, some batteries go through a process of maintenance and are reinstated into the market or used for other projects, promoting a circular and sustainable economy.

This sounds amazing, circular economy is a very hot topic now. Coming back to your services, what does Plug The Impact offer, and how can companies benefit from working with you?

In addition to creating and selling offsetting projects, Plug The Impact offers consultancy services for companies looking to begin their sustainability journey and achieve carbon neutrality through meaningful compensation solutions. These services include a variety of tools and strategies to help companies calculate their CO2 emissions, develop a mitigation strategy, identify the most suitable offsetting solution from our portfolio, and create a communication kit to share their sustainability efforts with stakeholders.

Sounds like a very ambitious plan. How do you build your network here in Hong Kong? It must be a difficult ground to navigate, since talks about sustainability are just getting started in this part of the world, compared to Europe or other markets.

Actually, collaboration is key for us, because we believe that without having a good network of companies and individuals that share our vision and our passion, as well as a bit of an urgency feeling for the climate problem, we will never meet the 2030 and 2050 targets. This is why we are constantly exploring new technologies, approaches, and partnerships to drive progress forward. Since the operations of Plug The Impact are still very small, we are always happy to collaborate with partners to offer more innovative and comprehensive solutions. In this sense, the Italian Chamber “Green and Circular Economy Committee” has been extremely helpful for us to expand our network and get in touch with different businesses that share our same goals.

What do you think about the future of sustainability in Hong Kong? Do you think the city is moving in the right direction?

I think the future of sustainability in Hong Kong looks pretty good. The city has realised the importance of sustainability and has implemented some great initiatives to promote sustainable practices in waste management, climate mitigation, energy saving etc. For example, the city has recognized the importance of reducing its carbon footprint and has implemented various initiatives to promote the use of renewable energy sources and reduce energy consumption. The government has set targets to increase the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and has implemented various policies to promote energy efficiency in buildings. In addition, businesses in Hong Kong are adopting sustainable practices such as using renewable energy sources and reducing energy consumption to reduce their environmental impact.

Of course, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but overall, I’m optimistic about the future of sustainability in Hong Kong. As long as we keep pushing for more sustainable practices and responsible waste management, I am sure we can meet our 2050 targets. At Plug The Impact, we plan to continue to dream big, innovate and expand our product offerings, and work closely with our partners and customers to achieve the best results. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll even be able to power our cities with nothing but solar energy, but probably not Hong Kong, unfortunately! But for now, we’ll focus on doing our part to create a more sustainable future for all. Thanks for having me, and let’s keep making a positive impact!

Sanlorenzo, Italian builder of bespoke yachts and superyachts over 24m recently unveiled the shipyard’s ten-year strategic plan, “Road to 2030”, which has a major focus on sustainability and innovation.

In 2023, Sanlorenzo became the Project Partner of the Blue Innovation Dock, a Boot Düsseldorf platform that brings together voices and projects dedicated to sustainability, which is an overarching priority for the future, not just within the yachting industry. Regarded as a pioneer in responsible development, Sanlorenzo, as a listed company, has shared this strategy with stakeholders, making it a formal commitment in the company’s non-financial statements that are publicly

(International Maritime Organisation, 2020), the introduction of innovations and technologies to reduce the environmental impact of yachts is becoming an increasingly central part of the Sanlorenzo Group’s Research and Development department’s business plan.

Through this partnership came the development and integration of combined reformer/fuel cell modules into the power supply system for hotellerie functions on yachts between 24 and 80 metres in length. It was also announced in September 2022 that Sanlorenzo would continue to advance this system for the specific requirements of the new 50Steel model, which the shipyard has revealed is all going according to plan.

The testing phase of the first reformer/fuel cell modules has begun, while the basic design of the methanol/water supply, power management, condensation and ventilation systems has just been completed. At present, the components of the complete system that will be installed on board the first 50Steel unit in the Sanlorenzo shipyard in La Spezia at the beginning of 2024 are under preparation. Concurrently, the project team is engaged in the Risk Assessment of the entire hotel power generation system together with Lloyd’s Register. Once completed, this innovative application will represent the first concrete step in the next generation of carbon-neutral power from new-generation fuels (e-methanol and bio-methanol) for the entire yachting industry.

Fleet of Sanlorenzo superyachts

At the same time, Sanlorenzo is already thinking about the next step in their sustainability plan: the development of a carbon-neutral power generation system, with a substantial increase in the power developed by the reformer/fuel cell modules. This will make low-speed, wide-range navigation possible in carbon neutrality conditions through the hybrid propulsion system, overcoming the current limitations of systems, which in zero-emission mode (main engines and generators off) can only rely on the modest energy capacity of the batteries. This second step will also require a technological leap in the yacht’s structure and plant configuration.

Sanlorenzo‘s R&D and technical department engineers, together with Lloyd’s Register, will tackle this challenge by focusing on the development of highcapacity structural tanks suitable for the new fuel. These will be compatible with the limited space available on board and will take into account the strict regulations currently applied to large methanol transport vessels. The ultimate goal for Sanlorenzo includes an even more ambitious third step: the design and construction of a superyacht powered solely by green methanol. The generation of the power needed to sail at maximum speed will therefore no longer be tied to diesel engines, but rather will be based on a combination of fuel cells and internal combustion engines powered by green methanol.

These are all the extraordinary advances that will enable Sanlorenzo to achieve their sustainability goals set for this decade, and we are in full support of their impressive efforts.

Bluegame, a brand of Sanlorenzo for yachts 1224m, in parallel, is developing other revolutionary projects embodying maximum sustainability: BGH and BGM65HH. The former will be launched in summer 2023 and the latter in summer 2025. BGH has been chosen by the New York Yacht Club as a “chase boat” to accompany American Magic during the 37th America’s Cup to be held in Barcelona in 2024. BGH will fly at 50 knots on foils propelled by an exclusively hydrogen-powered propulsion system, therefore with zero emissions exactly like the very fast racing boat it will accompany, but without the need for wind.

On the strength of this extraordinary achievement and as proof of its design capability in the use of hydrogen in propulsion, Bluegame, through its agreement with Volvo Penta, will install the new pilot IPS hybrid propulsion system, which will be combined with hydrogen fuel cells developed from the America’s Cup ‘chase boat’ project. The BGM65HH (hydrogen-hybrid) model, which is scheduled to be launched in 2026, will house this cutting-edge technology.

The Sanlorenzo Group, reassured by the progress of ongoing projects, is confident that its goals in the ‘Road to 2030’ strategy, although very ambitious, will be achieved.

For more enquiries on Sanlorenzo’s sustainability initiatives, or Sanlorenzo yachts, please get in touch with Sanlorenzo Asia dedicated team at sanlorenzo@simpsonmarine.com.

Sanlorenzo SP110

Bluegame BGM75

Innovation is a key ingredient for sustainable transition –but it’s not what you think

- When technological innovation is not innovative enough

By: Valerie Chiu

The word “innovation” often conjures up images of futuristic, sophisticated machines with cutting-edge technologies. The commonality between such high-sounding words as “hydrogen economy” and “carbon capture” is the impression that climate tech is something out of reach for an average individual, or even a company engaging in sustainable transition.

But focusing only on technological advancements ignores other important elements of the transition towards a low-carbon economy. Why? Because innovation within an organization can just be as impactful as breakthrough technologies. In essence, this means challenging and reinventing the ways a business operates, as well as being attuned to ever-changing market trends. And of course, that is more complex than it sounds.

Many corporates, including financial institutions, have announced their intention to achieve net-zero by 2050. More than 2,200 companies (with ~U$38 TRN, or a third, of market capitalization globally) have committed to setting science-based carbon reduction targets. At the same time, the market is hungry for transition – more customers are demanding low-carbon products, and investors are hunting for green investment opportunities. And on top of that greenwashing risks are growing whilst environmental regulations are becoming more stringent. In other words, we have both the carrot and stick for the transition.

The commitment to sustainable transition is there, but why is the overall economy not decarbonizing fast enough? At Blunomy, we see three systemic barriers to the sustainable transformation of our economy.

First, silos still exist between stakeholders (e.g., companies and investors), within organizations and their partners (e.g., along supply chains), and across disciplines (e.g., financial management vs. sustainability).

Second, the tools to measure success do not exist, meaning impact is not monetized and transition leaders are not rewarded.

Last but not least, current capital allocation is not optimized for transition. Early movers and emerging players should be recognized for their crosssectoral potential for decarbonization. At the same time, it is imperative to go beyond a “pure green” approach as renewable power alone is insufficient for an economy-wide transition. Embracing broader “brown-togreen” investment & financing strategies – addressing the largest portion of carbon emissions – will be pivotal in channeling more capital into the transition.

There is no doubt that all-inclusive transition is a challenge for businesses. Considerations include addressing all scopes of emissions, decarbonizing the entire supply chain via collaboration with partners, and having a robust governance framework that covers all organisational levels (especially top management). However, this also provides a golden opportunity for first movers to lead in the decarbonized world whilst the laggards risk losing revenue and market share.

Innovation within an organisation can just be as impactful as breakthrough technologies in transforming our economy.

at Blunomy, a strategic consulting firm based in Hong Kong

And when it comes to innovation, it is important to note that it does not necessarily mean creating something groundbreaking from scratch. In making sustainability integral to a business strategy, a company often finds numerous opportunities to decarbonize whilst honing its competitive edge. Climate actions that were not considered suddenly become meaningful from a business perspective. Therefore, a company that establishes global reverse supply chains to reuse packaging is no less innovative than a startup developing a novel carbon capture process.

Truly embedding sustainability within a company’s business model also brings additional benefits in mitigating transition risks. This is especially the case given the increasingly stringent regulatory environment, both in Hong Kong and around the world. In addition to the decarbonization targets laid out in the Climate Action Plan 2050, Hong Kong’s authorities announced that the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures-aligned (TCFD) reporting will be mandatory across “relevant sectors’’ by 2025. However, there are also opportunities for companies to go beyond mere compliance and leverage the TCFD framework to communicate their climate strategies and performances effectively, as well as benchmarking themselves against peers.

The Blunomy’s day-to-day job is to advise companies to take on business innovation. For example, we advised a global textile company in designing a new business model that involves decarbonization and the localization of its supply chain closer to its customer base. The company was looking to reduce waste whilst accelerating circularity in its supply chain. In the meantime, it also needs to align its practices with latest regulatory changes and changing customer preferences for carbon-free locally sourced products.

In this case, technology was neither the cause nor the solution to the problem – most textile recycling technologies already exist, but what remains is the insufficient infrastructure to access, collect and upcycle pre-used clothing. To overcome this systemic challenge, the company renovated its operating model by evaluating and re-defining its relationships with suppliers along the value chain. It engaged with each relevant stakeholder directly and provided pre-designed solutions for sustainable sourcing, allowing the company to reduce carbon emissions whilst having a social impact. The

company was then able to respond to customer demands and offered renting options for reusable clothing. All in all, the company successfully pioneered a circular business model characterised by collaboration, which could be replicated throughout the entire textile industry.

That being said, sustainability is not just relevant to large, publicly listed companies; all enterprises, whatever the size, type of business, or sector it operates in, have an environmental footprint that needs to be addressed. If anything, innovating from within would be a quicker process for small and medium-sized enterprises, given their agile nature. Nevertheless, forward-looking companies who are more open to novel ways of operating will be poised for the fast-changing macro environment, including evolving market demands. And that is exactly the dynamism we need in the face of the most pressing challenge of our time – climate change.

To learn more about what we do, please visit www.theblunomy.com.

There is a saying that it only takes one person to change a light bulb, but the light bulb has to want to change. Given that most decarbonization technologies are already available, the missing piece in this puzzle is the willingness to think and act differently. The source of innovation and thus the power to transform the economy comes from within – and that might just be the light we need to navigate the path forward.

We welcome your thoughts - please feel free to reach out to valerie.chiu@theblunomy.com if you wish to discuss the ideas mentioned in this article.

At Blunomy, we believe the best is yet to come and we make it happen by inventing new rules for a new economy.

Dorsett: sustainability through positive social impacts

Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand. With many regulations coming up it is important for companies to embrace change and act as responsible businesses. During the pandemic, Dorsett Hospitality International had time to reflect on our priorities, as well as our existing core values of Integrity, Inspiration, Innovation, and Initiative. To further affirm our commitment and shared purpose as a Group, we launched a new company tagline - “Invested in Positive Impacts”.

Our sustainability actions are also guided by our parent company Far East Consortium’s sustainability pillars of “Managing Environment Footprint, Employer of Choice, Cultivating Community and Placemaking.” Embracing sustainability should be part of every company’s

long-term strategy. Should companies not embrace these changes, they are at risk of being left behind in the eyes of their stakeholders. To further implement change, we have also established a dedicated sustainability team that acts as our second legal department to lead and strategize with different departments to engage with different stakeholders to actively execute and make changes. We have noticed that with the younger workforce and generation, we are looking for employers who are aligned with their own values especially in the ESG Front. KPMG UK1 recently conducted a study, which shows that 46% of employees want to work for a company that is demonstrating commitment to ESG while 1 in 5 workers will turn down job offers when a company’s ESG commitment is not in line with their own values.

As a hotel group, we are able to use our hotels as a platform for change – we have 46 hotels in operation, a total of 10,312 rooms in 23 cities – so imagine how many guests we engage with every day! In fact, 66% of travellers want authentic experiences representative of local cultures and 78% of global travellers intend to stay on a sustainable property at least once this year, based on a recent study by Booking.com. 2Travellers are now looking for longer stays and to be further immersed in the culture and community of the city. As a result, our fourth brand “Dao” - an aparthotel concept - was born. Inspired by the Chinese Word “道’ Dao”, it is our belief that every person, and every traveller, should be able to create their own path towards harmony. The brand will allow guests to ‘live your way, anywhere’ through the brand’s three attributes: Harmonious, Custom-Fit , and Social with a specific focus on sustainability. We have introduced a Dao plant library to inspire our guests to adopt a plant during their stay and learn how to care for it. This helps to improve their own mental well-being but also educates

them on the benefits of preserving nature. In London, our Dao by Dorsett West London and Hornsey Town Hall have also implemented Solar Panels to encourage the use of renewable energy.

By growing with your partners, you will be able to create long-lasting positive impact together. At Dorsett, we strongly believe in collaboration and have played an active part in accelerating several Hong Kong start-ups - especially throughout the pandemic – with companies such as Prenetics, a Hong Kong-founded major global diagnostics and genetic testing company aiming to make healthcare more accessible and Clara, an A.I enhanced mental health wellness companion app. While serving as quarantine hotels, we recognized across our guest experiences a longing for connection and offered complimentary use of the app for our guests. The app’s personalization through behavioural adaptability messaging saw a 75% increased improvement in our guest’s wellness scores. We have also introduced a building energy management software

1 https://kpmg.com/uk/en/home/media/press-releases/2023/01/climate-quitting-younger-workers-voting-esg.html

...it is our belief that every person, and every traveller, should be able to create their own path towards harmony.

called “Blue Sky Energy Technology”, to encourage behavioural change through technology. This software provides innovative solutions and data visualisation, enabling management teams to comprehend their property’s energy usage without technical knowledge. The platform goes beyond simply displaying the amount of energy used in a day and uses relatable examples such as cycles of smartphone charges to help guests and managers visualise their usage by linking their usage with loyalty programs to incentivize change. This combination of personal experience and innovative solutions inspires a natural behavioural change. Through this, we are able to use innovation to further achieve our sustainability goals while supporting innovation in our community. All DHI’s hotel rooms will be going paperless in-room this year with several of our properties launching check-in robots. This not only helps with labour shortages in our industry but also allows us to upskill traditional hotel roles while helping us save on paper wastage.

Aholistic sustainability strategy goes beyond environmental issues and it is important to include social sustainability in a company’s sustainability journey. Dorsett has always been strong in its social sustainability and where we have invested most of our efforts. From education to community involvement, we have most recently sponsored the Vocational Training Council’s Innovation Technology Co-Creation Center powered by Dorsett Hospitality International. Part of this sponsorship is a seed fund program which includes funding for student projects to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Within the first year of launching, we are proud to announce that three of the student group winners ranging from gold to silver awards have entered into Hong Kong Science Park.

We are also incredibly excited for our upcoming Dorsett Hotels flagship opening in Kai Tak, where the hotel will place sustainability as its main focus. At the moment, construction waste will be reduced by 30% with the target of being green certified.

There is a myth that sustainability is difficult. The most effective way to create change is to just start small as it has the potential to lead to a culture change within the company. We were especially proud of when we were early adopters of pivoting from single-use plastics in our quarantine experience by simply changing single-use plastic utensils with custom reusable utensils as it received waves of positive feedback with over 36,000 mentions online within the first week. With this momentum, we continued to push further and pushed our suppliers to make changes to the meal boxes to have less plastic usage giving our teams a sense of achievement. At the moment we are also preparing for our first “Positive Impacts Week’’ which will involve hotel-initiated activities to get our guests and associates to take part in changing their behaviours to appreciate the environment. We look forward to launching the various activities across our regions to inspire the community to take action.

It is important to not view sustainability as a trend but to see this as part of the long-term strategy of the company. We hope that we will continue to inspire the next generation and our partners to drive positive impact for a better future for the next generations.

A holistic sustainability strategy goes beyond environmental issues and it is important to include social sustainability in a company’s sustainability journey.

The world has never craved for more computing power than now. Every second, millions of computers process each and every one of our requests without a sign of submission. GPT3, the 175 billion parameter model capable of mimicking human performance, is as powerful as demanding: for each short conversation we are engaging with the AI, about half a litre of water is used to cool down its insatiable cores. We can only expect GPT4, with as much as 6 times more parameters, to be even more demanding than its predecessor. These Gargantuan AIs, called Large Language Models (LLM), will soon be the driving force of technology for the upcoming years, promising even more astonishing results at every new iteration, and with them a growing need for resources.

Giants will walk the earth again

Large Language Models are the protagonists of a new revolution that is taking the world by storm. Capable of emulating almost every written task, from creative writing to programming, they will soon make our world dependent on their assistance. But Artificial Intelligence does not stop at GPT3. On a daily basis, new products emulating the capability of the human brain promise brand new use cases. Not so long ago, another breakthrough AI has been released from Meta: their model Segment Anything (SAM) is capable of isolating any object in a picture, while AI art generators such as Midjourney and Stable Diffusion XL are showing how hyper-realistic art can be effortlessly crafted using a single line of text. However, to obtain better performance from any AI, the rule has always been to make them bigger, or, to be precise, make their brain bigger. Not so long ago, neural networks were made of structures called neurons, billions of them, an abstraction of the human brain cells. Nowadays, with the development of new architectures, we prefer to call them parameters. Essentially, models consisting of a larger number of parameters have a bigger brain because they can grasp more complexity, generally resulting in better performance. In the last year, we have seen all models becoming bigger, hence smarter. But, as it follows, with greater size, greater their resource consumption. Soon, all tech platforms, apps and websites will run on top of AI components, and their ever growing need of electricity will start leaving a mark on the environment, as more resources will be drained to guarantee better performance.

Less is More: Optimizing AI to Make it More Energy Efficient, Sustainable and Accessible

Going Smaller is the key

The future, however, is not as straightforward as we thought. Just at the beginning of April, an AI consisting of just 13 Billion parameters called Vicuna-13B, born from a collaboration of several researchers, was able to perform with a 90% quality compared to GPT4 (1 Trillion parameters). This means that we have already made the brain of the biggest AI in the world 100 times smaller, with just a 10% loss in terms of performance. This small, yet revolutionary, experiment only costed 300$ and has opened the door to sustainable LLM.

Vicuna-13B is not the only model that has been making news, lately. A set of compressed, yet incredibly powerful models have been spawning like clouds from nowhere; other examples of hyper-compressed LLM are LLama-7B and gpt-neox-20b. Though nobody can predict how small LLM will eventually get, it is not implausible to assume that in the future we will replicate the entire capabilities of a state-of-the-art Large Language Model with just 3 Billion Parameters or even less.

By making Large Language Models so compressed, we have allowed some of them to even fit in a personal computer,

Where is the future leading us?

According to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the age of large language models has already come to an end. In terms of diminishing returns, it is likely we will not see the benefits of producing even larger models, but rather optimising the ones we already have, making them smaller and less hungry for computing power. The assumption that larger is better, theoretically, ends at a certain number of parameters. Even the making of an artificial brain consisting of 100 Trillion parameters will not translate into any significant performance improvement.

Companies, researchers and users are working together in an effort to make these models not only cheaper and more accurate, but also safer and with the right degree of moderation to prevent the spread of misinformation and discrimination. The efforts to build the next generation of LLMs will be focused on size optimization, bias reduction, and data transparency.

something that would have appeared impossible just a couple of months ago. With almost the same level of performance, LLM can now consume more than a reasonable amount of electricity. With similar enthusiasm, programmers are making computer languages run much faster, saving huge costs, but also leaving less marks on the environment. It appears that optimization is the key to make tech a sustainable industry. These innovations will mark the worldwide adoption of LLMs that will eventually get much cheaper and affordable for all businesses and applications.

Conclusion

With AI becoming a part of our ordinary life, we will witness a revolution comparable in magnitude to the discovery of electricity, and soon we will be forgetting all the inconveniences of the past. The challenges for integrating this technology in our world will lie on the efforts to make it affordable, safe and sustainable.

Take a Coffee Break

and learn about the

Origin of Dragon Boat Festival:

The Story of Qu Yuan

The undeserved exile

Qu Yuan (340–278 BC) was a patriotic poet and a loyal official of the state of Chu during the Warring States Period. He was the number one advisor of the Kingdom of Chu, and dedicated his whole life to assisting the king to build the State of Chu stronger.

He advised the King to ally with the State of Qi (one of the seven warring states: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin) to fight against the most powerful State of Qin. However, he was slandered by jealous officials and accused of treason, and the King dismissed and exiled him.

During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of enduring poems showing his love and passion for his country, some of which are still very famous in China.

In 278 BC, the Qin State conquered the capital of Chu. On hearing of the defeat, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Qu Yuan in great despair committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (a branch of Yangtze River) as a gesture of dying along with his motherland.

The rest is legend…

When they heard of Qu Yuan’s death, the local people were very sad, and rowed out on the river to search for his body, but were unable to find him. To preserve his body, the locals paddled their boats up and down the river, hitting the water with their paddles and beating drums to scare evil spirits away. They threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body. An old Chinese doctor poured realgar wine into the river to poison the monsters and to protect Qu Yuan.

Resulting traditions

Since then, people in the Miluo River area (about 50 km north of Changsha in central China’s Hunan Province) have followed similar practices to commemorate Qu Yuan on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Gradually, rowing boats developed into dragon boat racing, the lumps of rice became sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) traditionally eaten during the festival, and realgar wine is now drunk in commemoration of the great patriot Qu Yuan.

My name is Valentina Monzoni, I was born in Italy and have been living with my family in the Greater Bay Area since 2017, first in one of the most populous and vibrant cities of Mainland China, the capital of Guangdong Province, namely Guangzhou and also known as Canton.

In 2019 I moved to Hong Kong where I later incorporated my own Consultancy Firm aimed to support small-medium size enterprises to enter into the Far East markets.

Since time is precious I only agree to kick off new projects which fascinate me, for instance working with Italian Artists or innovative companies.

Recently I have created my own women’s clothing brand with the mission to offer every woman the opportunity to have a unique and customised experience by choosing materials, prints and colours.

With the main objective of supporting the Italian community in Hong Kong, I have also been working as a teacher at ‘Scuola Italiana Manzoni’.

On my 5th year in Hong Kong and after being an IWA member for 2 years, I feel it is now the time to take a more active part in the organisation by coordinating new events in order to extend our greatest support in aid of charity associations.

I am deeply honoured to be elected the new IWA President and to succeed Alessandra Bettiol who, despite the Pandemic, has managed to achieve wonderful results in the last three years with the precious and fundamental help of the Committee.

PART OF THE IWA COMMITTEE 2023/24

Only this year 1 Million HKD were donated to numerous local charities including Dante Alighieri Society Limited, Home of Love, Dignity, Regione Pime, Christian Action, Mission Jubilee, Hanuman, The Society for Relief of Disabled Children, Children’s Medical Foundation, Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Missione Possibile, Mother’s Choice, Rainlily, Saint Barnabas’, Home of Love, Operation Santa Claus, Team for Animals, HerFound, Branches of Hope, Integrated Brilliant Education, Pathfinders, Regione Pime Padre Mella.

This shows that with love, kindness, passion and teamwork between the committee and IWA members who support the various initiatives proposed, anything is possible!

As we always try to offer new chances to gather and raise funds for local Charities, I am personally proud of one of the last events promoted by IWA’s previous Committee, in March. Our member and counsellor Lucia, hosted a fun night of live music, dancing and fashion, in favour of Hong Kong’s Refugees. Thanks to the commitment and generosity of all the members who joined to help and make the event so successful, the evening raised a total of 108,000 HKD, that IWA donated to Padre Franco Mella, in support of his numerous charity activities, like his school for Refugees.

In recognition of Padre Mella’s great work over the years, IWA’s Committee during its recent Annual General Meeting on May 22nd, has decided to assign him the title of Honorary Member to reward his immeasurable commitment and help to the less fortunate in Hong Kong.

During the same AGM, a new board has been elected and I am very excited to work side by side with such a special group of women, and for this reason I want to introduce you to the New IWA Committee 2023-2024.

Vice President:

Treasurer:

Giorgia Dalla Pieta’

Secretary:

Rui Wang

Adviser:

Elisabetta Beghi, Manuela Dall’Asen, Olivia Waung, Alessandra Faggian

PADRE MELLA RECEIVES FROM ALESSANDRA BETTIOL THE HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Federica Betteto and Federica Fulginiti

I am fully committed to bringing new ideas as well as listening with empathy in order to actively contribute to the success of this amazing organisation.

Is dividend income distribution from foreign companies to Hong Kong still non-taxable?

Hong Kong’s attractive tax regime has long made it a global financial hub and a preferred destination for businesses and investors, especially the territorial concept to tax only profits with source in Hong Kong and the exemption on certain income, such as dividend income.

Until recently, dividend received from companies outside Hong Kong was considered as offshore-sourced and not taxable in Hong Kong, whilst dividend received from companies which are chargeable to Hong Kong tax is exempted from Hong Kong Profits Tax.

However, in order to align with global measures to combat cross-border tax evasion, the Hong Kong government refined

Is dividend income a covered income?

Under the refined FSIE regime, dividend income received from companies outside Hong Kong is one of the covered incomes.

Who are Covered Taxpayers?

The FSIE regime applies to Hong Kong companies that are constituent entities of a Multinational Enterprise (MNE). Individual taxpayers, standalone local companies with no operation outside Hong Kong in the form of permanent establishments, as well as local groups without overseas constituent entities, all fall outside the scope of the refined FSIE regime. Similarly, “Excluded Entities”, i.e. MNEs benefitting from existing preferential tax regimes of Hong Kong are not affected by the new FSIE regulation.

Hong Kong’s Foreign-Sourced Income Exemption (“FSIE”) regime for passive income, which came into operation on January 1, 2023.

Under the new FSIE regime, certain foreign-sourced income accrued (“Covered Income”) to a member of an MNE group (MNE entity) (“Covered Taxpayers”) carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong is to be regarded as arising in or derived from Hong Kong and chargeable to Hong Kong Profits Tax at the standard tax rate of 16.5%, when it is received in Hong Kong, unless the Covered Taxpayers can meet the exception requirements (“Exception Requirements”).

Received in Hong Kong?

Dividend income is deemed to be received in Hong Kong if and when such income is:

Remitted to, transmitted or brought into Hong Kong; or Used to satisfy any debt incurred in respect of a trade, profession or business carried on in Hong Kong; or Used to buy movable property, and the property is brought into Hong Kong. The income is regarded as being received at the time when the movable property is brought into Hong Kong.

An illustrative example is set out below:

Yan Hong, Head of Tax Fidinam (Hong Kong) Limited

For dividend distribution 1 (received in Hong Kong bank account), it will be deemed as received in Hong Kong and without fulfilling the exception rules (described below), the dividend income will be deemed as sourced in Hong Kong and taxable under the FSIE regime.

For dividend distribution 2 (received in Singapore bank account), it will be considered as not received in Hong Kong. The dividend income will not be deemed sourced in Hong Kong and thus not taxable under the FSIE regime.

Do any exception rules apply?

Assuming all are the same as above, except the dividend distribution 2 is further distributed to the Hong Kong bank account of the individual shareholder of the Hong Kong holding company. In this circumstance, the dividend income will be deemed as received in Hong Kong and without fulfilling the exception rules (described below), the dividend income will be deemed as sourced in Hong Kong and taxable under the FSIE regime.

For dividend income, if the entity can meet one of the following exceptions, it can still be exempted under the FSIE regime:

Economic Substance Requirement

This will generally imply having an office and an adequate number of qualified employees, as well as incurring an adequate amount of operating expenditures – all in Hong Kong.

As no minimum threshold is defined, each situation will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the relevant activities carried out by the entity to derive such passive income. As such, a pure equity holding company (a company which primarily acquires and holds shares or equitable interests in companies and only earns dividends) will be able to undergo a reduced substantial activities test. Those relevant activities will only include holding and managing its equity participation, and complying to

Participation Requirement

The participation requirement provides an alternative to the economic substance requirement to facilitate an MNE entity which receives foreign-sourced dividends to claim tax exemption, if:

1. the MNE entity is a Hong Kong resident person, or where it is a non-Hong Kong resident person, it has a permanent establishment in Hong Kong to which the foreign-sourced dividend is attributable; and

the corporate law filing requirements in Hong Kong.

Other types of entities could only claim for exemption if demonstrating that all strategic decisions, management and risk factors are assumed locally in Hong Kong.

Outsourcing of the economic activities will be permitted, given that the taxpayer manages to demonstrate adequate monitoring of the outsourced activities conducted in Hong Kong.

MNE entities can consider outsourcing specified economic activities (all or part of it) to satisfy the Economic Substance Requirement. This applies to both pure equity-holding entities and non-pure equity-holding entities.

2. the MNE entity has continuously held not less than 5% of equity interests in the investee entity concerned for a period of not less than 12 months immediately before the foreign-sourced dividend accrues.

Several anti-abuse rules shall restrain the scope of the participation requirement in order to avoid schemes circumventing the refined FSIE regime.

Extensive reporting is a must when your Hong Kong company receives foreign-sourced dividends, regardless of whether it is exempted from FSIE or not.

Dealing with dividend distribution from overseas can be complex under the refined FSIE regime. Therefore, companies must review their operations and potentially make changes, while maintaining the relevant supporting documents properly.

To avoid potential fines or overpaying taxes, it is highly recommended to engage a professional service provider like Fidinam. Our experts know the ins and outs of the FSIE regime and help you stay compliant. With Fidinam by your side, you can focus on growing your business in Hong Kong’s dynamic environment.

Compliance requirement

Crown Worldwide Group – The need for agility and sustainability in global relocation industry

Instability and the strength of Hong Kong

Relocation and immigration policies around the world have never witnessed as much turmoil as they have in recent years. Covid, Brexit, the war in Ukraine and high rates of inflation are just some of the political and economic issues which have driven immigration policy change. Barely a year ago, travel restrictions and quarantine requirements hampered the cross-border movement of people and goods. Logistics sector faces substantial headwinds in the aftermath of the pandemic. Additionally, ever-shifting societal changes are carving out new immigration approaches around the globe.

Hong Kong with its well-maintained transportation infrastructure and excellent geographic spot shares a strategic role in the Greater Bay Area initiative to create an economic hub linking Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong cities. This is expected to drive more business, trade and talent flows in

From agility to sustainability

While the pandemic gave rise to significant changes, with new approaches to remote working, an increased focus on employees’ wellbeing and significant turmoil in immigration regulations, relocation companies were called upon to react creatively to the onslaught of challenges their customers faced. At times it seemed like instability had become the new normal. Industry players could pat themselves on the back for the creative and innovative ways in which they responded.

Moving forward, Crown’s relocation and logistics teams recognise that how we design, deliver, and innovate our

the region. Though high costs of living and doing business in Hong Kong are prompting talents and companies to move to cheaper locations in Asia, Hong Kong still retains advantages for knowledge-intensive sectors like finance, logistics and professional services.

service must support our and our client’s sustainability objectives. We have also taken the learnings from our corporate work and made sustainability the focal point of discussions with our clients to co-create discussions that identify key areas of focus and attention as well as barriers to progress.

Knowing that a responsible business is the right thing to be, Crown has embarked on a journey and is transforming accordingly. Having looked at what our different stakeholders want from us and where we can have the most positive impact, we created a vision of what responsible business means to Crown. This led us to identify our sustainability strategy comprising three core sustainability pillars: climate and environment, people and business, and partners and community.

This demonstrates and focuses our ambition to become a more responsible business. It shows our willingness to make a positive difference to our employees, clients, wider communities, and our environment.

Crown Workspace offers a tailored approach to commercial moving

exXtra – Crown’s valet storage solution – helps to create more space for you

Crown Relocations makes your private and corporate relocation simpler

Crown Worldwide Group in the UK and Ireland (Crown UK&I) has announced a 38% cut in its Scope One and Two C02 emissions from 2019. The reduction has been driven by switching the vast majority of Crown Worldwide Group’s UK sites to 100% renewable energy, with solar panels now installed at warehouse facilities in Ruislip, Leeds, Peterborough, and Fareham. Crown UK&I has a net zero target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040 relative to a 2019 baseline with interim targets of 45% reduction by 2025 and 65% by 2030. We are reducing our emissions annually in line with these targets.

In 2022, the company kickstarted the journey to becoming a carbon literate organisation. Apart from the sustainability iLearn courses, we rolled out training through the Carbon Literacy Project, focused on giving participants science-based knowledge on carbon and climate change. 122 employees across the Crown Worldwide Group are now certified as carbon literate.

Back in Hong Kong, we have upgraded our warehouses with LED lighting and motion sensor lights and office temperature are set to 25°C to reduce energy; business units have launched recycling service to collect recyclables from clients, and valet storage service is introduced to encourage public to store and reuse their belongings instead of disposing them. Collaterals are printed with FSC certified paper and we are also actively partnering with a number of organisations to support local sustainability programs. Crown Worldwide Group Hong Kong has been recognized for our commitment to social responsibility by winning the ESG Achievement Awards 2023 organised by Master Insight. The Award recognizes companies that have demonstrated excellence in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

As a kick off, you may wish to review how sustainability aims are governed and audited, whether you are considering your own goals or those of your supplier. This will give you a framework of targets

and issues to address. In addition to external governance, having a centrally organised committee dedicated to achieving your sustainability goals will ensure progress and engender accountability.

Crown Worldwide Group is also on a journey – guided by the same three pillars and simple, progressive approach – to evolve and build on its strong CSR legacy across the rest of the world.

Renewing resilience: Adapting to global business trends

At times it seemed like instability had become the new normal. From dealing with the pandemic, to being on top of ever-changing legislation or operational issues, along with actively and creatively solving problems, the ability to think outside the box and deal with uncertainty is vital to anyone coming into this industry.

This torrent of challenges has forced Crown Worldwide Group to adjust continuously. What has shone through as a result: our resilience. This resilience will be useful in the year ahead, it will also offer opportunities to innovate, be agile and adapt to customer behaviour.

And if resilience is one core strength the world has shown in recent years, ‘caring’ is almost certainly another. ‘Giving back’ and ‘Caring’ – one of Crown’s core values – were among the founding principles of the company, and we have undertaken to support a whole host of worthy causes. Recognise the positive impact we can have, beyond our business operations, to support charities and those in need, and empower our

employees to volunteer their skills and passions to give back to our communities. All our employees are given two paid days off a year to volunteer for a charity close to their heart. We are working to make more of this initiative and to ensure it has a genuine impact.

Crown Worldwide Group is a privately owned logistics company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Hong Kong. Committed to making it simpler to live, work and do business anywhere in the world.

The Group manages a broad portfolio of complementary brands, including; Crown Workspace, Crown World Mobility, Crown Relocations, Crown Records Management, Crown Fine Art, Crown Logistics, exXtra and Crown Wine Cellars. Discover Crown. www.crownworldwide.com

For media enquiry, please contact:

Greater China

Ms. Hazel Chan

Regional Marketing Manager - North Asia

Crown Worldwide (HK) Limited

Crown Worldwide Building, 9-11 Yuen On Street

Siu Lek Yuen, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.

Telephone: +852 2636 8450

Email: hazelchan@crownww.com

About Crown Worldwide Group

Hong Kong tree planting activity at Pak Tam Chung in April 2023

Fully electric vans at Crown UK

The global luxury logistics industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing unprecedented challenges and disruptions. After initial uncertainties, companies have demonstrated resilience and adaptability, supporting customers to navigate “the new normal” and seizing opportunities for growth and innovation. Ferrari Group shares some insights from this truly challenging period.

Ferrari Group: innovative thinking in challenging times

The Pandemic: The Ferrari Group’s Experience In Hong Kong

Filippo Melchionni, Ferrari Logistics (Asia) Ltd. Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer APAC & Oceania, explains the Ferrari Group activities during the pandemic, and shares his takeaways from the experience:

“Since the early onset of the Covid emergency, major attention was given to safeguarding our employees’ health, always following local guidelines throughout the whole Ferrari Network. Adhering to the Hong Kong Government’s guidelines about the pandemic, Ferrari Group immediately set up systems to divide departments into smaller working units, in order to safeguard employees’ health as well as guaranteeing business continuity. Work-from-home was implemented wherever possible, to reduce numbers in buildings, and digital coordination of all workflows was put in place with the help of our amazing IT teams. Drivers were among the most affected by changes in their workflow: extra care was put into coordinating with authorities, in order to gather constantly up-to-date information and understand which areas and buildings could be served and which were in lockdown.

Throughout the Ferrari Group Network, airfreight services were severely affected of course, and the usual connections through major cargo hubs worldwide were down. Ferrari Group went to great lengths to quickly coordinate VAL freight forwarding through new and different European and Asian hubs, and in the meantime organized and upkept several land transports lines, which allowed us to serve customers continuously by being flexible, adaptable and fast-acting.

In Hong Kong, the B2C segment grew greatly during the pandemic itself: brands had lost their presence on the high street since boutiques were shut down, and luxury goods sales shifted to online retail outlets for many brands. Ferrari Group in Hong Kong helped several luxury brands set up tailor-made B2C services, working with the brand’s marketing and sales team, in order to have Ferrari staff actually deliver luxury goods at home for private customers. Ferrari staff, while making the delivery in specially designed uniforms, played a fundamental role in retaining a “white gloves” type of experience, a relaxing and safe mood, reminiscent of the service that – in normal conditions – customers would experience inside the brand’s flagship boutiques.

Overall, we can definitely state that, locally in Hong Kong but also as a group, Covid represented a moment of growth for us. It was an unexpected journey for us and for our clients. I believe that the increased flexibility and understanding that we expressed towards our clients was greatly appreciated, and allowed for growth despite the hard times.

If we found ourselves in a very difficult moment, temporarily losing

revenue streams from services like airfreight and shows/events, our clients were in an even worse place: the fact that we always tried to stay open and serve them, internalizing within Ferrari certain services that brands were not able to deliver due to lack of manpower (for example value-added activities like warehousing and quality control), led us to gain a competitive advantage and to keep a growth trend.

In some instances, we actually were able to create alternatives for our customers, helping them to keep working. For example, certain customers were used to doing trunk shows, travelling globally with their own goods: during the pandemic, we were able to set up for them remote viewing stations within our premises, in dedicated meeting rooms; customers shipped their goods to Ferrari in Hong Kong, goods were insured under our insurance coverage, and Ferrari staff would manage the viewing remotely under live camera, acting as a remote showroom – we helped our customers to staying open despite major difficulties, and further gained their trust. This result is extremely important to me: as we have always stated, at Ferrari Group we build relationships. Our customers’ trust was well positioned in us, and I hope it will be the same for the future.”

Digital Transformation Challenges: From Disruption To Resilience

At the start of the pandemic, many companies experienced IT infrastructure issues when confronted with the need for remote work, highlighting a gap between companies that had already started a digital transformation process versus those that had not. Embracing digitalization became paramount, with increased investments in technology and automation. Ferrari Group, thanks to its Network structure and the in-house ICT

department, had the necessary infrastructure and planning in place, therefore quickly implemented some necessary adjustments to enable quick changes in operations globally. Our digital transformation process continued throughout the pandemic, allowing for further integrations with partners and clients on several platforms and in different countries.

Our Network: A Collaborative Effort For The New Normal

Seamless communications, interconnections between employees, information exchange and sharing are all aspects of daily work that have become extremely important during the pandemic and have gained a prominent place in the digital transformation processes. During the pandemic, Ferrari Group continued to enable seamless integration and end-to-end service visibility, despite the difficulties and daily changes

Sustainability Drives Positive Change

During the pandemic, the adoption of sustainable practices and green logistics emerged as a key driver for growth, aligning with the global sustainability agenda. Ferrari Group complies with the highest ethical standards when it conducts business globally. While adapting to local realities and priorities, and upholding and respecting distinctive identities, the entire Group shares a common vision of social responsibility and business ethics. In this regard, Covid certainly has brought about a deeper understanding of the fleeting character of our life on this planet, and a renewed attention towards the quality of life and the sustainability impact of our activities. As an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact, and improving our environmental performance continually over the long term. Ferrari Group has set up a purchasing center in Hong Kong, whose goal is to centralize sourcing for major packaging items that are used throughout the Ferrari Group Network globally, with the aim of making all items as environmentally friendly as possible, reducing our impact and our carbon footprint and preserving the environment for future generations.

in global operations, through proactive communication and collaboration with suppliers and customers. For Ferrari Group, interconnections have always been at the core of our business: our cooperation within our Network, through subsidiaries and strategic partners, represents one of our competitive strengths.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the luxury logistics industry, challenging its resilience and adaptability. However, the industry’s response has been remarkable, with companies swiftly implementing strategies to navigate the storm. As we move towards a post-pandemic era, service providers such as Ferrari Group have a unique opportunity for growth and innovation. By embracing digitalization, prioritizing resilience, and forging strategic collaborations, the industry is poised to emerge stronger, more agile, and ready to meet the evolving demands of a rapidly changing world.

W

Luxury

Services:

GLOBAL DOOR-TO-DOOR & DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION

ADVANCED IN HOUSE ICT PLATFORM & SUPPORT

HIGH-LEVEL GLOBAL EXHIBITION & PRIVATE EVENTS SUPPORT

CUSTOMS DOCUMENTATION HANDLING & BROKERAGE COUNSULTANCY

COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE SERVICES

WAREHOUSING, DISTRIBUTION & TECHNICAL QUALITY

The StartmeupHK Festival is an annual event that brings together founders, investors, and innovators from around the world to Hong Kong, to learn, connect and collaborate. The festival is curated by InvestHK, a government department that aims to attract and support companies in their set up in the city, with events organised by prominent organisations.

This year, guided by the theme A Future Unlimited, the festival will be held in Hong Kong from 8-17 November, featuring eight main events with discussions around pertinent topics such as Web3, HealthTech, PropTech, gaming, fintech and sustainability, and exciting activities like pitching competitions, startup-investor matchings, roundtable discussions and more. The event promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

The festival is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to showcase their ideas, products, and services. It also provides a platform for investors to meet and connect with potential investment opportunities. With a range of events, keynote speakers, pitching, and business matching, there is something for everyone at the StartmeupHK Festival 2023.

Navigating the Innovation Ocean Powered by Jumpstart

Get ready for an electrifying day of innovation and entrepreneurship at Ocean Park. Speakers from around the world will be coming together to cover groundbreaking topics such as AI, web3, metaverse, healthcare, finance, logistics, and e-commerce. With meaningful panels, a treasure hunt, investor matching, youth pitching, and a Shark Tank-style pitch contest, there will be thrills and excitement at every turn.

Asia Healthcare Innovation Summit by Brinc

The Asia Healthcare Innovation Summit brings together Asia’s healthcare ecosystem of startups, professionals, and investors to exchange knowledge, inspire one another, and help drive innovation. The goal of the summit is to become Asia’s leading healthcare innovation platform that highlights the region’s latest innovations while connecting key industry stakeholders.

Startup World Cup Asia Finale 2023 by Pegasus Tech Ventures (China)

Startup World Cup (SWC) is a flagship event hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures, which brings together the CEOs of the world’s leading companies, venture capitalists, large corporations, and world-renowned companies. The winner from Startup World Cup Asia Finale will not only be able to win HK$30,000, but will also travel to San Francisco, USA to compete for the global championship at SWC Grand Finale to win a US$1 million investment award.

Here are the highlights of the 8 main events that you can look forward to at the StartmeupHK Festival 2023:

St. Gallen Symposium Hong Kong – GBA Forum 2023 by St. Gallen Symposium

The St. Gallen Symposium Hong Kong - GBA Forum is the first Swiss - Hong Kong flagship forum hosted by the 52-years-old Swiss global platform “St. Gallen Symposium” from Switzerland, for young sustainability technology entrepreneurs, impact investors and business leaders to network, exchange dialogues and explore collaborations through cross-generational dialogue with the linkage of Europe and Asia markets through Hong Kong - Swiss startup and venture capital communities.

1.5°C Summit – The Defining Decade for Impact with Tech by Eureka Nova

A one-of-a-kind tech summit on climate change focused on the actions needed to be taken in order to drastically reduce emissions before the next decade. Leading experts, entrepreneurs and stakeholders working towards reducing the impacts of climate change come together to share their insights on how technology can transform industries and create a more sustainable future.

Real Estate Asia Beyond 2023 by Asia PropTech

Real Estate Asia Beyond 2023 brings together global innovators in real estate. Comprising panel sessions and small interactive sessions on AI use cases, ESG, nanotech, construction innovations, data analytics, operational efficiency, capital markets for scale-ups, and exit avenues for investors.

Game On! 2023 by MaGESpire

A hybrid conference celebrating the essence of Gaming, Art, Music and Entertainment (GAME) industries by bringing together passionate gamers, artists, developers, investors and fans across both web3 and web2. If you are a hardcore Gaming fan or Art/Music enthusiast or an Entertainment aficionado keen to learn more about how new technologies are transforming this space, then you must join us!

StartMeetUp Powered by JUMPSTARTER

StartMeetUp is part of Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund’s wider Tech by the Harbour event, a large-scale multivenue startup competition, conference, and art showcase along HK’s harbor front in Tsim Sha Tsui. The StartMeetUp section will comprise of hundreds of investor- and business-matched meetings.

Overall, the StartmeupHK Festival 2023 promises to be a must-attend event for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. With a range of events and activities, there is something for everyone at the festival. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to raise funding, an investor looking for the next big thing, or simply someone interested in learning more about the startup ecosystem in Hong Kong, the StartmeupHK Festival 2023 is the place to be. So mark your calendars, and get ready for an exciting and innovative week in Hong Kong!

For more details, please visit: https://www.startmeup.hk/ startmeuphk-festival-2023/

Aperitivo Time with Delphine Kong

Buongiorno! I’m Delphine Kong, and I’m honoured to be writing for this exclusive column on Aperitivo Time. As an aperitivo advocate based in Hong Kong, I had the pleasure of being a part of the recently concluded Italian Week Hong Kong 2023 and the Aperitivo Festival in Milan. With the excitement and energy still fresh in my mind, I’m thrilled to explore the world of aperitivo with you and share my insights into promoting the Italian drinking culture in this vibrant city.

But first, let’s talk about how aperitivo is perceived in Hong Kong. In Italy, aperitivo is a popular tradition that combines light bites, drinks, and good company. Similarly, in Hong Kong, we have our own beloved tradition of “Yum Cha,” where families gather to eat “Dim Sum” and drink tea at Cantonese restaurants during breakfast or lunch. Just like the Italian aperitivo ritual, it’s not just about drinking alcohol or tea, but about the experience, occasion, and socializing with people. It’s about enjoying a moment with friends or family.

By sharing this commonality with the city, we’re seeing a growing interest in aperitivo among young adults in Hong Kong. This is also because low ABV aperitivo cocktails like Aperol Spritz are

perfect for Hong Kong’s vibrant and social culture. By cultivating a deeper appreciation for the art of aperitivo, we can create a more vibrant and inclusive drinking culture in Hong Kong.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Aperitivo Festival in Milan, where I was able to immerse myself in the authentic Italian drinking culture first-hand. I found it fascinating how food and aperitivo always go hand in hand in Italy. They have this Italian Style “Happy Hour” called “Aperitivo Time”, where they serve unlimited light bites with drinks as long as you buy an aperitivo. This experience got me thinking about how we can bring this part of aperitivo culture to Hong Kong and make it resonate with locals? I love to experiment with different local delicacies to provide the perfect canvas for creativity. For example, I’ve paired Aperol Spritz with local street food, such as egg waffles and fish balls, to create a playful and engaging experience. It was a great way to showcase how aperitivo can be adapted to suit different palates and cultures.

To cater to the sweet and sour, fruity and floral palate that is preferred by most of Hong Kongers, I have created a range of Spritz variations that incorporate local ingredients such as lychee and passion fruit. These drinks have become quite popular among locals because they are perfect for Hong Kong’s hot and humid climate. They complement the city’s vibrant and colourful food scene. Recently, I had the opportunity to showcase the “Passion Fruit Spritz” on stage during the APERITIVO AROUND THE WORLD talk session at Aperitivo Festival in Milan. I had the honour to join other foreign mixologist in sharing the aperitivo experience in our respective region. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the great success of this drink. Our Italian counterparts enjoyed it just as much as Hong Kong people, and I even received requests for recipe from the audience.

To further enhance the Hong Kong style aperitivo experience, I have also brought local food like five spice pork cubes from Hong Kong to pair with this drink, which has also received great feedback. I have found that the key to successful pairings is to find a balance between the flavours of the food and the aperitivo drink. The food should complement the drink without overpowering it, and vice versa. It’s a delicate balance, but when done right, it can create a truly memorable experience. By pairing aperitivo with local food, we can create a more immersive and engaging experience that appeals to the local palate. It also helps to introduce people to new flavours and expand their culinary horizons. It was a great way to demonstrate how aperitivo can be adapted to suit different palates and cultures while still staying true to the essence of this beloved Italian tradition.

Aperitivo culture has indeed become a global phenomenon, and it’s fascinating to see how it has been embraced and transcends borders and cultural differences. Whether you are in Hong Kong or Milan, you can enjoy aperitivo in your own unique way and yet still share the same love for this Italian tradition. Through my work as an aperitivo enthusiast, I have had the pleasure promoting this beloved ritual and creating unique aperitivo experiences that cater to the Hong Kongers.

What makes aperitivo culture so special is its ability to bring people together and create lasting memories. Let’s continue to explore the world of aperitivo and discover new ways to adapt and share this tradition with people from different cultures. Cheers to the art of aperitivo and the joy it brings to our lives!

Musica sulle Bocche - Enzo Favata

On 16 April this year, the Hong Kong audience had the chance to enjoy a performance by three Italian musicians, Enzo Favata, Simone Graziano, and Marco Frattini, who proposed a style of jazz music quite different from the most popular genres.

The concert, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute Hong Kong, was held at the Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), one of the city’s most creative cultural institutions. Even during the difficult years of the pandemic, HKAC kept pursuing its mission to offer local audiences the best of international culture.

The leader of the trio, Enzo Favata, has been described as “one of the most active and well-known Sardinian musicians on the Italian and international music scene”.

Born in Alghero in 1956, he is a saxophonist (soprano and sopranino saxophone) but also a player of various ethnic wind instruments, particularly from Sardinia. Favata began his activity in 1983 in the field of traditional jazz, but a few years later his constant creative research led him to explore and experiment with other musical languages and cultures. This is how the Jana Project took shape, an original and innovative musical offer that combines jazz improvisation with international ethnic music, where acoustic instruments interact with the latest electronic music technologies.

It is important to remember that the project’s name refers directly to Sardinian folk tradition, where ‘Janas’ are beautiful tiny fairies dressed in red who live in caves, from which they only come out at night.

The first CD bearing the title of this project, “Jana (The Sound Bridge)” that Favata introduced at the “Barcelona Jazz Festival”, dates to 1992. Since then, his career has been marked by continuous success and tireless experimentation, leading him to dialogues and collaborations with the best

international musicians: Dino Saluzzi, Enrico Rava, Miroslav Vitous, Mulatu Astake, Trilok Gurtu, Sainkho Namtchylak, Lester Bowie, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and many others.

Despite Favata’s passion for distant worlds and travels, both physical and musical, Sardinia remains his constant reference point. And it was in Sardinia, in 1997, that the Jana Project Association was founded, to create events inspired by the encounters with musical genres from all over the world. Among these, the most important is the ‘Musica sulle Bocche’ festival, inaugurated in 2001 and now in its 23rd edition.

Enzo Favata - Jazz musician

Stefano Fossati Director, Italian Cultural Institute Hong Kong & Macau

The name of the Festival derives from the Italian toponym ‘Bocche di Bonifacio’ (Strait of Bonifacio), as the sea strait between Corsica and the northern tip of Sardinia is known. The concerts are held in the municipalities of this area.

With thirty-five concerts in last year’s edition alone, the Festival offers a rich and varied programme, and it accomplished to involve places known to international tourism, such as La Maddalena or Alghero, as well as almost unknown villages –albeit rich in cultural traditions – such as Tergu and Martis, which have only a few hundred inhabitants each.

It can be said that the festival has also the specific social aim of preventing the depopulation of small towns, by promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. In the villages where the concerts take place, for example, the audience can drink water from the public fountains for free, thus reducing the waste from bottled water.

Sardinia is a major destination for international tourists, attracted by its natural beauty. Precisely because of this, its natural resources run the risk of being exploited by a market that does not always care for the environment.

Aware of this issue, Enzo Favata decided to include “Musica sulle Bocche” in the “Jazz Takes The Green” network, which brings together more than 30 eco-sustainable Italian jazz festivals that aim at organising large public events while paying particular attention to respect for the environment. The objective of these concerts is to reduce the consumption of natural resources, implement sustainable mobility, responsibly manage waste, eliminate the use of plastic, use stage sets created with eco-friendly materials, and so on.

This year, ‘Musica sulle Bocche’ will take place from 3 to 21 August, which is also the best time to visit Sardinia. Unfortunately, it is also a month when it is most difficult to find hotel accommodation and a plane or ferry ticket unless one books months in advance. So, if you want to go to Sardinia in August, hurry up and book your trip and hotel now.

For more information: www.musicasullebocche.it

Pistachio: delicious green gold.

Having delectably mastered the role of star in the multifarious world of ice creams, and of sidekick for other dishes both sweet and savoury, as the cold closes in the pistachio also revisits its beloved snack persona to grace aperitifs or after-dinner moments.

What we eat is the seed, known in China as ‘the smiling nut’ thanks to its half-opened shell, of Pistacia vera L., of the family Anacardiaceae: among the oldest known cultivated trees, originating in ancient Persia. It is a dioecious (having separate male and female specimens), anemophilous (windpollinated) plant which bears fruit every two years; what agronomists call the ‘off year’ allows the plants to develop fruits and flowers more vigorously the following year.

Abundant sources attest to the pistachio’s millennia of history as an elite product, from Jacob’s precious gift of pistachios to Joseph to the legendary plantations for exclusive use by the Queen of Sheba and Nebu-chadnezzar. Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia, XIlI.10 and XV.24) recounts that the pistachio was brought to Rome in 39 AD by Lucius Vitellius, governor of Syria, becoming an ingredient in refined recipes including the rich and prized gustacium, containing pistachios, apricots, walnuts, hazelnuts, dates, eggs, capers and olives, and served with pieces of flatbread spread with moretum (herbed garlic cheese) or allec (a by-prod-uct of garum).

Pistachios were later cited as a refined food by the Greek physician Anthimus (De Observatione Ciborum, 6™* century AD): “Pistacia vero et ipsa bona et apta sunt’; by Bishop Antonio de Guevara (Episto-las Familiares, 1539) in his chronicle of meals given to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V:”They serve him peacocks, partridges, capons, blancmange, pistachios of divers kinds”; and by Messisbugo (Libro Novo, 1566) as among the condiments’ with which the sumptuous dinners of the Este family were liberally strewn: pies, flaky pastries, fried pastries, fritters and green vegetable omelettes.

By Giancarlo Burri Padua Academician

Galen (De Naturalibus Facultatibus, 2nd century AD) mentions the curative property of pistachios, “most useful to the liver and its blockages”, as does Michele Savonarola (Libreto de tutte le cosse che se magnano, 1452) in his dietary advice to Duke Borso d’Este:

This goodly nutrient soothes

Nowadays the pistachio is also credited with an excellent nutritional profile and interesting health benefits. It is quite calorie-dense (562 kcal/100g), consisting of slightly under 50% fats, but those are mostly ‘good’ fats, such as monounsaturates (principally oleic acid: the same as in olive oil) and poly-unsaturates, mainly linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid,

Pistachio ice cream

the liver, aids the chest and lungs and likewise comforts the kidneys, and certainly few other fruits are to be so lauded

which combats blood cholesterol. For the record, only 43% of Italians know that a 30g portion of pistachios contains 50 pistachios, and a mere 27% know that such a portion has only 160 calories.

Pistachios are rich in minerals, including potassium, calcium and especially phosphorus (whose contribution to glucose tolerance contributes to preventing type 2 diabetes), and B vitamins.

Interestingly, pistachios are high in two carotenoids which rarely occur in dried fruit: lutein and zeaxanthin, associated with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration.

26 February is World Pistachio Day, when the non-profit association American Pistachio Growers releases its figures on worldwide pistachio production and consumption. According to their latest statistics, Italians eat pistachios throughout the day, with a peak during their afternoon break.

47% of respondents enjoy them with drinks alongside olives and crisps during happy hour.

Surprisingly, the statistics reveal enduring appreciation for Italy’s modest crop (around 1% of world production against 50% from the USA, followed by Iran and Turkey), chiefly because homegrown pistachios are used in different ways from imported pistachios, mostly destined for the ice cream and sweet industry.

Italy produces three pistachio varieties, all highly prized: the Sicilian pistachios from Bronte (Catania) and Raffadali (Agrigento and Caltanissetta), both ennobled by PDO status, and those from Stigliano (Matera).

The ‘Green Pistachios of Bronte’, known as frastuca in Sicilian dialect, are harvested every two years on the sciara, the volcanic earth, around Mount Etna. Oblong and slightly flattened, they have a purplish, woody shell, and their fruit’s emerald hue is caused by its high chlorophyll content. Highly aromatic and tending towards sweetness (hence it is neither salted nor toasted), it is sold in dried form, whether in its shell or out, peeled or not.

Substantially similar is the Raffadali Pistachio, whose greater sweetness is imparted by the calcareous earth where it grows.

Stigliano Pistachios have a delicate flavour and aroma, which make them suitable for widespread culinary use; they are mostly used in pastry and ice cream production.

www.facebook.com/accademiaitalianadellacucinahongkong

The Accademia Italiana della Cucina has been present in Hong Kong since 2012. The Delegation is headed by Savio Pesavento and welcomes new members, individuals who are passionate about food and knowledgeable about Italian cuisine.

Let us enjoy these jewels of our food heritage.

Sustainability has become a hot topic in recent years, and for a good reason. As the world becomes more aware of the impact that our lifestyles have on the environment, people are starting to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and live a more sustainable life. Italy is no exception, and there are many Italian influencers who are using their platforms to promote sustainability. In this blog post, we will take a look at five Italian influencers who are leading the change towards a more sustainable future.

Practise Italian while learning about sustainability with these 6 GREEN

INFLUENCERS MADE IN ITALY

Cucina Botanica: transforming Italian classics into delicious plant-based meals

With two best-selling recipe books and the thriving Youtube Channel “Cucina Botanica”, Carlotta Perego shares with their followers delicious vegan recipes as well as tips for reducing waste and living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. She is also a strong advocate for reducing our carbon footprint by eating more plant-based meals and reducing our consumption of animal products. Her message is clear: we can all make a difference by making small changes in our daily lives. She believes that the food we eat plays a big role in our impact on the environment and invites her followers to eat more plant-based meals as a way to reduce their carbon footprint. But she doesn’t stop there. Cucina Botanica also shares tips for reducing waste in the kitchen, such as using reusable containers and buying in bulk to reduce packaging waste.

Learn how to make the perfect vegan tiramisu:

Friendly Shop: making sustainability more accessible

Friendly Shop is the first shop in Italy specialised in eco-sustainable and zero waste products. Its co-founders, Cate and Tesla, a married couple living in Padova, decided to start their business with the goal of making sustainable living more accessible and affordable for everyone. In their physical and online shop, they sell a wide range of products, including reusable bags, water bottles, and bamboo toothbrushes. But Friendly Shop’s impact goes beyond just selling eco-friendly products. They also use their platform to educate their followers on the importance of sustainability and provide tips for reducing waste and living a more sustainable lifestyle.

Check out their shop:

Carotilla: your point of reference for sustainable fashion

Through her blog and social media channels, Camilla Mendini offers alternative solutions to fast fashion brands and recommends products and services that share its same values, namely ethics and transparency. Camilla believes that the fashion industry has a big role to play in the fight against climate change, thus she encourages her followers to buy less and buy better quality, and to choose sustainable and ethical fashion options that are made with the environment in mind. She also shares tips for repurposing and upcycling old clothing, to reduce waste and extend the life of our clothes.

Get inspired by Camilla’s fashion tips and outfits:

Alex Bellini - environmental activist

Alex Bellini is an Italian adventurer and environmental activist who is passionate about raising awareness about the impact of climate change. He has completed several extreme expeditions, including rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, and crossing the Arctic on foot. Through his expeditions, Alex has seen first-hand the impact that climate change is having on our planet.

Alex uses his platform to share his experiences and raise awareness about the impact of climate change. He believes

that we all have a responsibility to take action to protect the planet and encourages his followers to make small changes in their daily lives to reduce their carbon footprint. He also advocates for governments and businesses to take action to address climate change and protect the environment.

Follow his adventures:

Elisa Nicoli was born in Bolzano, Italy. In 2005 she took her degree in communication sciences. Since 2006 she has worked hard trying her best to become the more self-sufficient she could. In her view: you already have everything you need. Elisa once said ‘’self-sufficiency is more than just trying to produce everything yourself. It’s about community”. What she practically does is try to reuse waste as much as she can. For her, no matter what, throwing away it’s the very last option. Scrolling down her Instagram profile is an experience that really can open up your mind: from used coffee powder turned into a body scrub to vegetables peels dried and grinded into powders that can be reused to spice up food.

Try one of her DIYs:

In the intricate jungle that nowadays the internet is, sometimes getting to meaningful contents and resources can be as hard as looking for a needle in a haystack. This has to be the case of the Junker app which despite its usefulness is still largely unknown. As its name suggests we’re talking about trash: the great cancer of our planet earth. As you might know, waste management is an extremely complex thing. In order to make it easier, Noemi De Santis created the Junker app. By using this app, users see how to sort all types of packaging correctly just by scanning the product’s barcode. The app identifies the product and provides information for disposal which is in line with local rules on waste sorting. The app is available in Italy and in some municipalities in Switzerland and has been translated into 10 languages so that even tourists and foreign workers can use it just by changing their location.

Check out the app:

From plant-based cooking to sustainable fashion to extreme expeditions, there are many Italian influencers who are using their platforms to promote sustainability. By following their example and making small changes in our daily lives, we can all make a big difference in creating a more sustainable future. Whether it’s choosing plant-based meals, buying second-hand clothing, or reducing our waste, we all have a role to play in protecting the planet.

Alex Bellini: fighting plastic consumption

Eco Narratrice: sustainable skincare and cleaning products

Junker App: recycling for dummies

Chinese Opera Festival 2023

The Chinese Opera Festival (COF) strives to curate quality operatic programmes for the audience, promoting traditional Chinese opera artistry and culture.

The Festival will delight theatre-goers with an array of nine programmes highlighting different genres of traditional Chinese opera, including Peking, Wu, Sichuan, Kunqu, Cantonese, Han, Qu and Yue. Each performance will showcase the unique characteristics and splendour of Chinese operatic art in all its glory. The grand finale of the Festival will be a series of performances of traditional Cantonese Opera, which will take place at a large bamboo theatre constructed at Victoria Park. The Festival also offers a range of activities including talks, meet-the-artists sessions, exhibitions and Chinese opera film screenings.

HONG KONG BOOK FAIR

Hong Kong Book Fair is an international book fair and has established itself as a platform for cultural exchange, not just for Hong Kong but the globe as a whole. The exhibition is divided into several themed zones representing various sectors in the world of publishing and ensuring that the Hong Kong Book Fair keeps up with trends in the industry. New zones include multimedia, featuring ebooks, online publishing, audio-visual learning aids and educational software. Other zones will focus on books related to the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, teenagers, children and religion. Hong Kong Book Fair is held annually and in conjunction with the Hongkong Publishing Copyright Fair.

Hong Kong Palace Museum Opening Exhibitions Harbour Chill Carnival

Hong Kong Palace Museum Opening Exhibitions are jointly curated by Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum. More than 900 pieces of priceless treasure from the Palace Museum will be put on display on rotation. Some of the pieces are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time. 13 precious art objects loaned from the Louvre Museum in Paris are also showcased!

In the thematic exhibitions, a wide range of topics are covered, such as architecture, art collections, cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries in the Ming and Qing dynasties, court life and culture, the museum’s role in intangible cultural heritage transmission, Chinese art collections and multimedia installations from Hong Kong artists.

The special exhibition showcases 220 sets of gold ornaments spanning over three millennia from the world-renowned Mengdiexuan Collection.

Harbour Chill Carnival, a large-scale land and sea carnival, is coming to Victoria Harbour this summer! For five weekends from 8 July 2023, the Wan Chai harbourfront area will play host to the summery carnival, featuring live music shows on a water stage, a variety of performing arts programmes from different countries, thrilling X-game performances, and a special edition of ‘A Symphony of Lights’ light and music show. Round up your friends and family and come for the endless fun, exhilarating energy and an unforgettable summer by the Victoria Harbour!

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

West Kowloon Cultural District Wan Chai Harbourfront Area

International Arts

Carnival 2023

The International Arts Carnival (IAC) will be back to its full strength this summer, showcasing an exciting range of performances that cover dance, music, theatre and acrobatics, all infused with interactive, art-tech and multimedia elements from both local and overseas artists. Spectacular programmes include a new ballet theatre called Sam and Her Amazing Book of Dinosaurs, co-produced by the renowned British design studio 59 Productions and the Hong Kong Ballet. The Orthemis Orchestra from Spain will also be returning with Disconcerto, an unconventional concert that blends humour with classical music; as well as Living Creatures, an immersive dance theatre experience designed for newborns up to 24-month-olds. Enjoy all the performances and participate in parent-child workshops, backstage guided tours and online programmes for a fun-filled summer!

Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) 2023

Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, also known as the Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival, is one of China’s biggest holidays. The festival is a joyous celebration with family reunions, mooncakes, parades, and lanterns. In 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 29th. Mid-Autumn Festival is also a popular observance in many other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, but with different names. The festival date in these countries is the same as in China.

National Day Fireworks

One of Hong Kong’s three biggest fireworks displays—the others being New Year’s Eve in the Western calendar and Chinese New Year in the lunar calendar—the National Day celebrations are a huge event, taking place over Victoria Harbour.

National Day is held every year on October 1, marking the formation of the People’s Republic of China, back in 1949. This holiday has been celebrated in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British rule, and also in neighbouring territory Macau.

National Day horse races are also a big event at the Sha Tin Racecourse, with lots of entertainment and cultural performances at the racetrack. But the star of the show is the evening fireworks display at Victoria Harbour.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

The highly anticipated Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival will make its grand return to the Central Harbourfront this October. Set against the breathtaking Victoria Harbour skyline, the four-day event offers a sensational outdoor wine and dine experience. Wineries and breweries from around the world will bring you a vibrant selection of liquor assortments, while local culinary masters serve up their delectable creations and signature dishes. There’s more: head to the Tasting Theatre to take part in tasting and cooking workshops, and enjoy captivating live entertainment on stage as you sip on a glass of wine.