LOCAL

Southside gets artsy

‘Invigorating Island South’ is set to transform the neighbourhood into an arts and tourism destination. By Charmaine Ng

Over the past few years, Southside has slowly gained a reputation as one of Hong Kong’s most captivating creative districts. Filled with art galleries, trendy eateries and boutique hotels, Wong Chuk Hang, for example, has become a destination for art lovers from all over the city.

Years on, it seems the government has finally caught on to the merits of the up-andcoming district. During her annual address at the Legislative Council in late November, chief executive Carrie Lam announced that the Southern District will be ‘invigorated’ into an arts hub and tourist spot.

Led by the government, the new project is named ‘Invigorating Island South’ and includes the reopening of Ocean Park; the revitalisation of Jumbo Floating Restaurant; the construction of a new water sports facility at the Shek O and perhaps most excitingly – for us at Hong Kong Living, at least – the launch of a new water theme park.

For Ocean Park, the government looks to enhance its educational and conservation investments. With an aim to develop marine tourism and provide easy commuting, a water taxi shuttle service between Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and Shek O will also be launched.

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old Jumbo Floating Restaurant will be donated to Ocean Park at no cost. While it is not clear what is in store for the iconic restaurant yet, we’ve heard that it will be run by an NGO on a self-financing basis.

Last, but definitely not least, Wong Chuk Hang and Aberdeen will continue to transform into an arts and culture hub. The government has proposed to lend a hand in its development, fast-tracking the repurposing and redevelopment of old industrial buildings in the two neighbourhoods. The new spaces will serve as studios for emerging artists and creative businesses. 2020 has been tumultuous for all of us Southsiders – first the closing of Ocean Park, then the shuttering of Jumbo Floating Restaurant. But the new year has brought about new hope and it seems that the future for the Southern District still shines as bright as ever.

Invest in style this 2021

Jewellery designer and investments advisor, Mina Miyagawa shares her tricks and tips for a successful year ahead. By Charmaine Ng

When we think of investment, our mind tends to veer in the direction of real estate and stocks. But not for Mina Miyagawa, a jewellery designer, investment advisor and appraiser in Hong Kong, who grew up surrounded by stones. As her parents owned a gemstone cutting factory, Miyagawa took an interest in jewellery early on. Because of her family background, she spent her formative years observing different types of natural stones and looking into their potential for investment.

In her twenties, while her friends were buying into property and stocks, Miyagawa turned towards individual coloured diamonds – much to the chagrin of everyone around her. But years on, the value of these stones has surged significantly, making her efforts well rewarded. During this time, Miyagawa also kickstarted her career as a jewellery designer, opening up her eponymous brand.

“In Hong Kong, jewellery investment is in its beginning stage,” she tells Hong Kong Living. “People here are used to buying jewellery as gifts. In other regions, however, jewellery investment is very common. This may be because you don’t need to pay so much to invest as there are gemstones which only require a relatively low budget to get started with.”

Having been in the business since 1995, Miyagawa has seen how the jewellery industry has changed. Decades ago, people were only looking for mass-produced jewellery in shopping malls. At the same time, it seemed like round white diamonds were the only choice for engagement rings. There wasn’t much variety in the market because people were unfamiliar with the different options out there.

The change only came about in recent years, as more and more people looked towards celebrities such as the British royal family for inspiration. Slowly, public interest has

edged away from simply white diamonds to coloured gemstones like aquamarine.

“The ratio of coloured diamonds to white diamonds is 1:100,000,” says Miyagawa, when asked about the types of jewels that are popular today. “So, instead of white diamonds, I always suggest my customers go for coloured diamonds. And in terms of colours, pink diamonds are the primary choice. I say this because the argyle mine in Australia, which produces 90 percent of pink diamonds in the world, is going close this year. So, the value of fancy intense pink diamonds is expected to increase by 443 percent in near future.”

For those who want to dip into the world of jewellery investment, Miyagawa has a few words of advice. “Different jewels have a different criteria, so do your research carefully,” she says. “For example, if you are looking for a piece of aquamarine, a Santa Maria grade is the most investable; if you are looking at a piece of emerald, the origin is of top priority, with emerald from Colombia being the best.”

About Mina Miyagawa

At her shop, which offers jewellery from all around the world, Miyagawa doles out advice to her customers, suggesting to them which pieces to buy according to their budget and market trends. Not only does her brand offer investable jewels, but it has also branched out to custom-made jewellery and kept the heritage of hand-drawn designs.

“Our factory has mastered various setting skills like invisible setting and millegrain setting – skills that are fading out in Hong Kong. We offer services for customers to customise a new ring or renew old jewellery or setting items. And, while hand-drawn designs are no longer common in Hong Kong and replaced by computer design, we still design by hand, engaging our customers every step of the way.”

If you are looking to invest in yourself, Miyagawa welcomes you to book an online consultation or drop in for a meeting at her shop in IFC. Find out more about the brand’s services at minajw.com