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Sam Kima is proud to have developed a rewarding career in the finance industry, a field he was encouraged to enter following advice from his father in the early 1990s. He comes across as modest and sincere, though delight in his achievements is evident on a wall of his office filled with certificates spotlighting his proficiency to trade in the markets.



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“I’m still thriving in this career after more than three decades, winning accolades, awards, spanning Asia to Europe,” he says, indicating a further shelf packed full of trophies highlighting his business success.



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Kima established Sam’s Investment Office in London in 2015, and also plays a huge role in sales and marketing as senior vice-president of First Gold. Jakarta-based PT Cyber Futures Indonesia, which specialises in forex, gold and derivative instruments, is another company that banks upon his expertise. He is also a professional senior analyst working under TraderHub Jakarta.



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His formative years undoubtedly gave him an international outlook highly suited to the world of finance. Born in Hong Kong and further raised in California, he went on to study at the London School of Economics. He now spends his time shuttling between Hong Kong and Indonesia as well as Europe and Los Angeles, which he describes as his second home. He converses with a slight American twang, and with his strong physical presence, he easily commands attention when he articulates sentences in a deep, booming voice.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Carnegie confidence</h3>



Perhaps this innate ability to fill a room with his presence stems from the Dale Carnegie training he undertook at the outset of his burgeoning career. It was a decision that helped him achieve a better life. “Dale Carnegie is super amazing,” he says. “It has considerably influenced me on how to deal with people, colleagues, friends and clients. It guides you to be a smarter person with integrity and morality.”


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He believes such training is all-important when developing a career in a people-centred occupation like finance, and credits the course with nurturing a whole raft of skills. “It develops communication, confidence, problem-solving, emotional intelligence and self-awareness,” he says.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Caring spirit</h3>



A sense of integrity is also fundamental to Kima’s attitude to work and his desire to partake in community service. For instance, every Tuesday he volunteers together with a group of influential community leaders to help serve food to more than 500 impoverished elderly people in Hong Kong. He believes these kinds of activities make someone a more positive person with other knock-on effects: “The better your character traits mesh with your career, the more productive and positive your job performance will be.”



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He also reveals that he is a passionate believer in self-care and investing in activities that nurture body and mind. “This is not in a selfish way,” he adds.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hungry for more</h3>



Kima likes to set and achieve goals, and his early banking career was spent mastering economic fundamentals like how technical charts play a big role in clients’ decision-making, and how various financial products, forex, gold and silver fluctuate according to data and news. He thrived on the adrenaline rush, constantly learning about the markets, and this made him hungry. “It is an amazing field and I loved what I experienced and was doing,” he recalls of the time.


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This hunger has stayed with him. One can sense he is constantly checking the newswires to sense the market direction. The day of our meeting was soon after the terrible events in Israel and he noted a flight to the dollar as investors sought security in an uncertain world.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The fear factor</h3>



Shifting assets to the security of gold is another phenomenon in turbulent times, especially when the fear of inflation is pervasive. “As inflation occurs, investors increasingly turn to gold as a hedge, driving demand and price upwards,” he explains.



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His team is part of a tightly interconnected network spanning Australia, Indonesia, the UK and Hong Kong in the rapidly developing investment brokerage field. Live analysis reports by their expert advisors on their state-of-the-art 24-hour trading platform can be the difference between clients making a profit or loss in the most lucrative forex and precious metals markets, according to Kima. He also states they can offer the most competitive spreads and that industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific region turn to his team for their wealth management and analysis reports.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Internet immediacy</h3>



He believes one of the main reasons why gold and forex investing is so easy – and attractive – is its accessibility. “Anyone with an internet connection and a computer or mobile device can access the market. Forex and gold brokers provide traders with trading platforms that allow them to buy and sell currencies, view charts and access real-time analysis and news,” he says.



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His services aim to reduce the time it takes for an order to be routed to the servers for execution, something known as latency. “The high liquidity of forex and gold means that transactions can be completed quickly and easily, and that spreads are often very tight – meaning the underlying market price won&#8217;t have to make a significant positive move in order for your trade to be profitable,” he says.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Get-rich-quick worry</h3>



As he sits in his office in front of a shelf crammed with a bust of Mao Zedong, beautiful Chinese figurines and a lovely model of a traditional sailing boat, he talks earnestly about the dangers of naive and small investors who do not do their homework before putting their savings into investment vehicles. He is acutely aware that the reputation of the financial sector has taken a battering over recent years, and passionately believes that credibility is all-important when dealing in finance. Indeed, he reveals that he did an interview warning of the dangers of cryptocurrency just prior to the great unravelling.


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He fears inexperienced investors post- Covid are exhibiting a dangerous get-rich-quick mentality, and perhaps with this concern in mind, he makes sure his investor clients first go through demo accounts to trade without using real money. “We must make sure that prospective clients are well educated about our markets and understand the fundamentals prior to putting funds in the real market,” he says.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top track record</h3>



For our photo shoot, he dons an assortment of strikingly coloured suits, and there is certainly the showman side to his persona. In a wistful moment, he yearns for the return of the big pre-Covid society bashes. But he knows what traits are most important: “You will not find one bad review on a search engine about the companies I am involved with,” he reveals with immense pride.



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“Integrity, loyalty, reviews, honesty and track records are the main ingredients and reasons for investing with us,” he adds.



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Interview by: Neil Dolby Photographer: Jack Law Videographer: Jack Fontanilla

Financial Fair Play: Whether metals, forex or other financial products, investment guru Sam Kima values integrity above all

Cash was once king, but talk of a cashless society has been doing the rounds for decades. Recent global developments have brought that state of play even closer, casting a heavier pall on the usefulness of cash – banknotes and coins – in daily commercial activities.


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Among its lesser known consequences, the Covid-19 pandemic affected consumers’ payment habits– for some it instilled a fear of handling cash. Research into the impact of Covid on European payment habits by Cranfield University suggests the virus had a dual effect: not only did it push people to use cashless payments in shops, but it also increased online cashless transactions.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Covid cash crash</h3>



Andrea Moro, Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance at the Cranfield School of Management, who was part of the research team, believes the global pandemic accelerated pre-existing trends. “Concerns about Covid transmission via touching banknotes or coins that can be infected and the desire to reduce physical contact with others to the bare minimum reinforced and amplified a previous trend towards cashless transactions by increasing the use of cashless payment methods,” he says.



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Moro, who previously worked as a senior financial advisor at a consulting firm owned by a group of Italian banks, adds their research suggests the change away from cash payment is longterm or permanent. For many, there came a realisation that concerns about personal information being misappropriated or that “money can be stolen from their bank” were not grounded in fact. “In some way people discovered an alternative way for paying for their shopping and they liked it,” he says.


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Intriguingly, it was mainly members of the older generation whose payment habits shifted. Prior to Covid, this age group had demonstrated an affinity for traditional cash-based transactions; they were less prone to credit card usage and quite resistant to innovative payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. As Moro points out, younger people were already using cashless payments before the outbreak.



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In essence, reveals Moro, the pandemic consolidated the growing trend of cashless payments, which had begun in the ’80s and ’90s with the increased use of debit and credit cards and exploded with the introduction of mobile payment services. Recent data suggests 21 per cent of global retail purchases this year will take place online.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cashless drivers</h3>



The arrival of technology allowing for the implementation of transactions that are perceived to be secure is a key driver towards a cashless future, notes Moro. “The fact that even if someone steals my phone, they will not be able to use the payment system set up on the phone because of the password/finger protection, has reassured users who nowadays find this approach even more secure than cash,” he says.


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Moro favours the move to a cashless society: “It reduces costs, simplifies our life, speeds up transactions and makes them more secure and can also have a positive environmental effect.” He cites the risks of losing cash or receiving fake banknotes, and warns that cash has historically been used for illegal transactions where buyer and seller do not want the exchange to be trackable. 



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He links the desire to cling onto cash to those who struggle with technology or work jobs that are traditionally paid in cash.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">China e-payment push</h3>



In many places including China, which has been quicker than most to embrace electronic payment, digital platforms will undoubtedly continue to erode the percentage of cash-based transactions. According to Professor Jack Poon of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), a fintech expert who advises artificial intelligence and blockchain startups, the prerequisites of a cashless society are smartphone penetration, availability of wireless broadband networks (4G, 5G), and the inadequacy of existing payment infrastructure within the country.



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The demographic of the population also plays an important role. Younger generations, higher income groups and well-educated segments are more receptive to technology adoption than older generations, lower income groups and less educated segments, respectively.


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Developing economies like India are also showing a huge uptake in mobile cash payments to the benefit of many marginalised communities with platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) allowing for fast account-to-account transfer using fintech apps such as PhonePe or Google Pay. China’s Alipay and WeChat Pay models, where the consumer scans a QR Code and payment is debited directly from the balance or through an affiliated bank account or another form of payment (like a credit card), have proved extremely popular.



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Digital wallets are pervasive in China. “From a business standpoint, digital wallet providers are incentivised to acquire more customers because a larger customer base enables other forms of business models for additional revenue streams,” says Poon. Though by law, cash must be accepted as a legal tender in mainland China, he points out e-payment lowers the cost and risk of cash management, increases transaction efficiency and scales a business across multiple geographies (within a country) faster.



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Kent Matthews, professor of banking and finance at Cardiff University, says so much of officialdom in China leans on technology that is only natural that this would eventually extend down to transactions at street markets as well as shops.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hong Kong digital delay</h3>



Here in Hong Kong, the recent adoption of different forms of cashless payments is widely perceived to have been driven by their widespread implementation across the border. Certainly, the consumption voucher scheme has accelerated the use of digital payments by WeChat Pay, Alipay and Octopus.



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But according to one local banking professional, the territory still lags far behind other places in terms of becoming a cashless society. “There are a lot of limitations and regulations regarding the implementation and promotion of developing cashless transactions in Hong Kong,” he says.


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From his perspective as a banker, he believes the financial regulators in Hong Kong are conservative in implementing cashless methods because there is a lot of risk inherited, especially fraud and data leakage. “For most people in Hong Kong, cashless transactions are just for minor transactions like transportation, buying daily supplies and paying bills,” he says.



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There is an apparent unwillingness to change consumption behaviour, particularly among the older generation, fuelled in part by numerous recent fraud cases. Ada Chung Lai-ling, Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, recently voiced fears about online shopping platforms, citing evidence of data security incidents and phishing attacks.



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Despite the many challenges in Hong Kong, a fintech adoption survey conducted by PolyU revealed that 91% of the 2,000-plus respondents had adopted e-payment in Hong Kong.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Disruptive fintech</h3>



The credit card model of payment in the West is strongly built, according to Poon, and is unlikely to be dismantled. He does suggest there are multiple fintech companies trying to break into this ecosystem and fill the gaps “like payments among friends when you share a lunch meal, or the buy- now-pay-later (BNPL) disruption to the traditional card model”.


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He believes crypto is only an alternative to cash or e-payment in countries where the sovereign currency is experiencing significant devaluation.

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From vintage cars to blockchain technology, Woo Hon Fai Group investment mastermind Darrin Woo steers smartly into the future
<figure id="attachment_65505" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65505" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65505" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money.jpg" alt="Woo Factor Gafencu interviews Darrin Woo four generations of family money" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65505" class="wp-caption-text">Darrin Woo wearing Chinese jacket by G.O.D.</figcaption></figure>
You helm the Woo Hon Fai Group. What’s the background of this company and how do you see its role today? 
Woo Hon Fai Group is a single-family office named after my grandfather, who was the founding chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a former president of the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society. Today, our office manages capital on behalf of more than 30 family members across four generations. As the eldest grandson, I am accountable to a big family, and I am currently the third-generation family member leading the office. Our core business, Lee Cheong Gold Dealers, started in 1950 and remains active today.
As managing director of WHF Group, what comes under your purview? 
My areas of responsibility are wide-ranging and divide broadly into two categories: managing financial and human capital. The former involves overseeing legacy investments (some of which date back over half a century), real-estate investments and core businesses, as well as sourcing, allocating and monitoring new and existing investment opportunities, including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital. Managing human capital encompasses developing and implementing succession planning strategies; identifying and retaining talent both inside and outside the family; managing our family businesses; and continuing our family legacy. Our office also provides concierge services to meet our family members’ daily needs. I lead a team whose roles include such responsibilities as corporate administration, accounting and finance, tax and estate planning, property management, investment management and domestic staff management.
<figure id="attachment_65503" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65503" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65503" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4.jpg" alt="Woo Factor Gafencu interviews Darrin Woo four generations of family money (4)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-4-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65503" class="wp-caption-text">Darrin Woo wearing Jacket, top and pants by Hugo Boss;&nbsp;Shoes by Mr P., courtesy of Mr Porter</figcaption></figure>
What are the benefits of being raised in a prominent family, and the drawbacks? 
Growing up in a prominent family meant we enjoyed great privileges. My grandfather entertained a lot and we got to meet other prominent families and develop multi-generational friendships. Hong Kong was, and to a certain extent still is, a city where who you know is just as important as what you know, I’m grateful for the exposure and my childhood experiences. 
I was born in San Francisco, did my schooling in Hong Kong, and went to university in the United Kingdom [studying town and country planning at University College London]. The message that with privilege comes responsibility and the paramount importance of giving back to society were inculcated throughout my formative years. Both my family and I have an active philanthropic programme that supports causes across the globe.
Can you elaborate on some of these? 
Our family’s philanthropy programme began with the founding of TIACC Woo Hon Fai Secondary School in 1987 in Tsuen Wan. One of the more notable – and meaningful – gifts in recent years was a US$15 million pledge by my late father [David Woo] to the University of California at Berkeley, which ensured the preservation of the old Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive building. This was renamed Woo Hon Fai Hall and today houses the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub, an incubator with 40,000 square feet of labs and office space for life-science research, innovation projects and start-ups. My father graduated from UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design in 1967, and was a resident architect for the firm that constructed the building. It is with great regret that he passed away last year, and he never got the chance to see Woo Hon Fai Hall in its present glory.
On a personal level, I recently supported a joint research studio between the University of Hong Kong and UC Berkeley, an innovative collaboration with an interesting comparative model to deliver design strategies for urban resilience and climate change in both Hong Kong and the San Francisco region.
<figure id="attachment_65502" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65502" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65502" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3.jpg" alt="Woo Factor Gafencu interviews Darrin Woo four generations of family money (3)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-3-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65502" class="wp-caption-text">Darrin Woo wearing top, pants and shoes by Mr P., courtesy of Mr Porter</figcaption></figure>
Aside from your work with the family business, you’re also involved in a new fintech startup. Tell us about this. 
Blockchain technology and digital assets have seen tremendous growth with the promise of reinventing the finance industry. While physical gold bullion trading has been around for thousands of years, professional investors today are becoming interested in digital assets like cryptocurrencies, and I believe this trend will continueto grow. A big part of my job is investing into and for the future. One recent investment I made is in Volmart, a pioneering hybrid risk manager using TradeFi, AI and blockchain technologies to offer investment solutions for private banks, asset managers and prime brokers.
If you had a spare million to invest right now, where would put that money? 
Capital preservation is my number-one priority. Real assets, financials, real estate and commodities offer superior risk-adjusted returns under the current inflationary environment and cycle of rising interest rates. I would buy gold bullion bars, not only because we are in the business, but I believe they are an important hedge against risks associated with financial systems and fiat currencies. The recent surge in gold prices amid the tension between Ukraine and Russia is proof that gold continues to be an effective hedge against geopolitical risks. The vintage-car market continues to perform well, too, and shows little correlation to the stock market. Even if your vintage-car investment isn’t financially profitable in the end, the joy you derive from driving one on the open road on a sunny afternoon is priceless.
<blockquote>
Even if your vintage-car investment isn’t financially profitable in the end, the joy you derive from driving one on the open road on a sunny afternoon is priceless
</blockquote>
How did you passion for collectible cars begin? 
It goes back as far as I can remember. As a child, I lived and breathed toy cars, from pushing Matchbox die-cast versions to assembling static models and building petrol-powered remote-controlled buggies. I was desperate to start driving during my teens, so I arranged lessons in advance and took my driving test on my 17th birthday, the first day I could legally drive in the UK. It was a first-time pass, of course! Vintage cars are my true passion – I admire their aesthetic beauty, quality craftmanship and pure driving experience. I am a member of the Classic Car Club of Hong Kong as well as the Royal Automobile Club in the UK. I like to share my experiences on my personal blog, Motor &amp; Co.
What are the standouts in your collection and your most cherished car memory? 
My collection includes a 1927 Bugatti Type 35B pre-war race car, 1957 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato, 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, 1983 BMW Alpina B9 and 1992 Lancia Hyena Zagato. I am fortunate to be the custodian of these highly collectible cars – many are limited editions and rarely available for sale. 
Just before Covid, I took an intercontinental road trip with my son, Marc – this is one of my most memorable car journeys. We started in a small town called Arese in Italy, and passed through Switzerland, Germany and France, crossing the Channel on a car ferry to the UK. The 1,500km drive took us through some of Europe’s most beautiful and most rugged countryside. We visited historic towns off the beaten track like Baden-Baden, Colmar, Reims, Rouen and Caen.
We met some great people along the way, and the highlight was a visit to Champagne house Taittinger, where we were greeted by Clovis Taittinger, a family friend who is at the helm of this legendary family business. 
Your wife, Bonnie Chan Woo, is a successful entrepreneur.
<figure id="attachment_65501" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65501" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65501" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2.jpg" alt="Woo Factor Gafencu interviews Darrin Woo four generations of family money (2)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Woo-Factor-Gafencu-interviews-Darrin-Woo-four-generations-of-family-money-2-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65501" class="wp-caption-text">Jacket, top and pants by Mr P., courtesy of Mr Porter</figcaption></figure>
How did the two of you meet? 
As clichéd as it sounds, we met on the plane when we were teenagers. Those were the days before email and WhatsApp, so we communicated the old-fashioned way through writing letters – we still have many of the original letters at home. Our relationship developed over 14 years before we officially got married in 2005.
How has Covid impacted your family’s jet-setting lifestyle? 
Last year, I spent nine months in the UK and the rest of it in Hong Kong, 42 days of which were in hotel quarantine. Bonnie, Marc and I were hardly ever in the same place due to our various travel engagements, but we are still very grateful for the time we had together and can’t complain.
Can you pass on a few tricks on how to cope with isolating and quarantining? 
That’s a difficult question to answer; different people have different tricks. Living in a confined space over long periods is both mentally and physically straining. I find having a room with a view and direct sunlight helpful. The ability to see activities in the outside world helps combat loneliness and exposure to sunlight elevates my mood. I keep busy with Zoom meetings during the day and relax in the evening watching Netflix and listening to podcasts and audio books.
<blockquote>
Living in a confined space over long periods is both mentally and physically straining. I find having a room with a view and direct sunlight helpful
</blockquote>
What are your top-three quarantine must-haves (apart from basic necessities). 
JIA Everywhere – delicious meals from the JIA group restaurants delivered right to your hotel; Muo Wireless Bluetooth Speaker by KEF – amazing sound in a sleek design; and Amazon Audible – A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is a great quarantine companion.
Thank you.
&nbsp;
(Interview by: Nikita Mishra Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma;&nbsp;Videographer: Jackie Chan Venue: Hutong Hong Kong Cover look: Suit by Ring Jacket and button-up shirt by Pye)
&nbsp;

Woo Factor Gafencu interviews Darrin Woo four generations of family money 600x337

Darrin Woo: On road trips, collectible cars and managing the Woo Hon Fai group

The Principality of Liechtenstein, nestled between Switzerland and Austria, is Europe’s fourth-smallest state, but it has managed to become one of the richest nations in the world.&nbsp; Celebrating its 300th anniversary this year, Liechtenstein occupies an area of only 160 sq km and has a population of 38,000 people, yet it has an impressive GDP per capita that is more than double that of the United States.
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The Princely Family of Liechtenstein, which reigns over the country, is one of the oldest noble houses in Europe. Having acquired the territory which would become Liechtenstein in 1719, the Princely Family has continuously presided over the country into modern times.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47642" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300.jpg" alt="LGT Liechtenstein turns 300" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Liechtenstein-turns-300-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Today, the Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy and, in addition to heading the country, the Princely Family pursues a wide range of interests, from owning the world’s largest private collection of major European artworks to wine production at its own vineyards.
Over the course of its 300-year history, Liechtenstein has transformed into a leading player on the global economic stage, standing out as one of only five debt-free states around the globe today. Despite its small size, the country’s focus on exports has made it an innovation hub, offering the perfect environment for creative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.
<figure id="attachment_47639" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47639" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47639" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620.jpg" alt="LGT Jan Coelenbier, detail from “A castle on the waterfront,” c. 1620 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jan-Coelenbier-detail-from-A-castle-on-the-waterfront-1620-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47639" class="wp-caption-text">Jan Coelenbier, detail from “A castle on the waterfront,” c. 1620 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna</figcaption></figure>
As the Principality of Liechtenstein celebrates its 300th anniversary year in jubilee, it is a timely moment to look back in admiration over its three solid centuries of rich cultural heritage and financial stability, as the nation warmly invites visitors to discover and explore its history and stunning natural scenery in person.
<figure id="attachment_47640" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47640" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47640" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein.jpg" alt="LGT - Vaduz Castle, the palace of the Prince of Liechtenstein" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LGT-Vaduz-Castle-the-palace-of-the-Prince-of-Liechtenstein-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47640" class="wp-caption-text">Vaduz Castle, the palace of the Prince of Liechtenstein</figcaption></figure>
Although Liechtenstein may be associated with its strengths in manufacturing, an attractive alpine climate, and collectable postage stamps, it is in the world of finance that the Principality truly shines. Known for its outstanding stability and security, the country’s financial system is a foundation for Liechtenstein’s success, attracting institutions with its professional, resourceful and business-friendly characteristics.
One secret behind the country’s financial acumen is the indomitable foresight and guidance of its hereditary rulers. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the success of LGT Group, the family office of the Princely House of Liechtenstein and the largest global Private Banking and Asset Management group to be owned by an entrepreneurial family.
<figure id="attachment_47638" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47638" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47638" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT.jpg" alt="H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, CEO LGT" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/H.S.H.-Prince-Max-von-und-zu-Liechtenstein-CEO-LGT-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47638" class="wp-caption-text">H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, CEO LGT</figcaption></figure>
Established in 1930, LGT takes inspiration from the Princely House, and its 30 generations of experience. Today, the bank remains very much a family-run enterprise, with Prince Philipp, younger brother of Prince Hans-Adam II, the nation’s ruler,&nbsp;&nbsp; currently its Chairman, and Prince Max, Prince Hans-Adam’s son, its CEO. The Princely Family’s ownership ensures that traditional values and virtues such as reliability, respect and integrity are firmly embedded in LGT’s corporate culture.
<figure id="attachment_47637" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47637" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47637" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836.jpg" alt="LGT Friedrich von Amerling, Portrait of Princess Marie Franziska von Liechtenstein (1834-1909) at the age of two (1836)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Friedrich-von-Amerling-Portrait-of-Princess-Marie-Franziska-von-Liechtenstein-1834-1909-at-the-age-of-two-1836-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47637" class="wp-caption-text">Friedrich von Amerling, “Portrait of Princess Marie Franziska von Liechtenstein (1834-1909) at the age of two,” 1836 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna</figcaption></figure>
As a testament to its success, LGT Group has grown from a small presence in Liechtenstein to 20 locations worldwide.&nbsp; LGT Private Banking, the private wealth management arm of LGT Group, adheres to traditional values while providing bespoke and innovative investment advice and wealth planning solutions to high and ultra-high net worth clients around the world.
<figure id="attachment_47643" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47643" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47643" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616.jpg" alt="LGT Peter Paul Rubens, “Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens,” c. 1616 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Peter-Paul-Rubens-Portrait-of-Clara-Serena-Rubens-1616-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47643" class="wp-caption-text">Peter Paul Rubens, “Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens,” c. 1616 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna</figcaption></figure>
With respect to Asia, LGT opened a small representative office in Hong Kong in 1986. Today, it has over 800 Asia based employees, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok and full booking platforms in Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2018, LGT was ranked among the Top 10 private banks in Asia, in the Asian Private Banker League Table. LGT’s evolution in Asia, like the history of Liechtenstein, is rooted in principles such as a long term commitment, vision and innovation &#8211; values worth sharing, 300 years ago, now, and for many more anniversaries to come.

Liechtenstein at 300: How the tiny European state became a global economic power

Marie-Louise Jungels, the Luxembourg-born founder of Continuum Capital, talks to us about the city’s banking potential, starting her own financial firm and her upcoming book.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43415 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_A_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Tell us a little bit about your early years…
I was born in Luxembourg, a tiny country in Western Europe. I have one sister and, by and large, my childhood was pretty normal. I grew up in a very rural, cosy environment – one that would be seen as rather provincial nowadays. Growing up, I primarily spoke Luxembourgish and German, my mother’s native tongue. I also studied French and English. It may seem like a lot, but many of my countrymen are quadrilingual, as we’re right at the crossroads of so many major cultures.
And then how did your education pan out?
I completed my primary and secondary schooling in Luxembourg, but I had to go abroad to attend university, the reason being that, back then, Luxembourg had such a small population – about 375,000 people – that it didn’t really have any high-level tertiary education institutions to speak of. Ultimately, I ended up collecting several finance and economics-related diplomas from universities in France, Belgium and the US.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43418 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_C_opt-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Was finance always your one calling?
Honestly, growing up, I would never have guessed I’d end up as a banker. I was far more interested in the arts, so much so that I seriously thought about becoming an artist at one stage. But my father who advised me that something a little more financially lucrative might be wiser in the long run. After toying with the idea of becoming a scientist or a doctor, I finally settled on economics and finance, because they seemed to offer the broadest opportunities.
&nbsp;What brought you to Hong Kong?
After completing my studies, I was somewhat at crossroads in terms of what to do next. The obvious thing would have been to return to Luxembourg to work. The not-so-obvious choice, though, was to explore the wider world. I had never been to Hong Kong – or even to Asia – before and I wanted to see what could be achieved here. So I enrolled in a PhD programme in Economics at HKU, but ultimately decided to forego getting another degree in favour of gaining some real-life experience, preferably somewhere I could put all my theoretical knowledge into practice.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43420 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_D_opt-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Having come to that decision, was it hard to find work?
It was a bit of a struggle to land my first job, largely because I was an economist interested in corporate strategy at the time, whereas Hong Kong finance companies were far more focused on immediate results rather than long-term planning. Eventually, I stumbled into private banking and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. What kept me in that sector was that I found a niche for myself – I loved managing client portfolios and met many amazing people while I was in that role. Gradually, I started to become more involved in bond portfolio management.
What led you to launch Continuum Capital, your own business?
It was down to a mix of several different factors. Firstly, I’d been working as a bond portfolio management specialist for many years and, while I enjoyed the challenges of working in a bank, I felt that it was somewhat restricting in terms of what I wanted to achieve for my clients.
In 2012, after the Global Financial Crisis, I was working for Merrill Lynch. Given the traumatic upheaval the company was going through, I thought it might be a good time to branch out on my own. Ultimately, though, it was my clients – many of whom I’d built strong relationships with over the years – who gave me the confidence to start Continuum Capital.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43423 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/700x466-people1_B-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Tell us a little more about your business and about what makes it special…
Basically, it’s an independent asset management firm. We specialise in managing clients’ bond portfolios, working closely with them to meet their individual requirements and specifications. The company’s aim is to help preserve their wealth while building exponential financial gains over time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In terms of your future plans is there anything that is particularly exciting you at the moment?
Actually, I&#8217;m currently writing a book, one that looks to explode the myth that finance has to be complicated – an impression that many in the industry seem keen to maintain. I’m writing it in a way will be accessible to everyone and will enable them to gain a solid working understanding of how the different aspects the industry all inter-relate. Sadly, the world of banking is not very transparent at the moment, something that I hope my book will help change.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43424 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/466x700-people1_E_opt-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Finally, what advice would you give any other female entrepreneurs looking to start her own business?
Well, it takes a lot of courage to start your own company, but – having said that – I would encourage everyone to give it a try. Irrespective of your field, keep a firm grip on your finances. Above all, you must be tenacious. While there will be hurdles and unexpected setback, much the same can be said of everything else in life. Above all, always keep a calm head and ensure you are well-prepared for every eventuality – no matter how positive or how negative.
&nbsp;Thank you.
<div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video"><video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-43383-3" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1903/1903_GMHK_Interview_MalouJungels.mp4?_=3" /><a href="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1903/1903_GMHK_Interview_MalouJungels.mp4">https://www.igafencu.com/video/1903/1903_GMHK_Interview_MalouJungels.mp4</a></video></div>

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup 
Photos: Jack Law 
Art Direction &amp; Styling: San Wong 
Venue: Andante Lifestyle Store 
Video: Kingsley Lau

Continuum Capital founder Marie-Louise Jungels on demystifying the world of finance

AI company ImageDeep was the latest to open its Asia-Pacific office in Hong Kong, citing the city’s strategic global position and involvement in the Greater Bay initiative as its reasons for expanding into the 852. The decision came as a surprise to some, as while there is a long history of financial firms expanding into Hong Kong, tech companies have increasingly been reaching for Singapore instead. ImageDeep’s move has thrown up the age old debate: Hong Kong vs Singapore, which of these two Asian mega-cities has the edge for modern businesses?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40457 size-full" title="Hong Kong vs Singapore" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5.jpg" alt="Hong Kong vs Singapore" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-5-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Fairs fair, both are extremely attractive to western businesses and remain the two most popular options for Western businesses wanting to get a piece of the ever-growing Asian market. Both being port towns Hong Kong and Singapore already have a great geographical advantage and their international airports, tap into a vast yet quickly navigated network of nearby countries and educated multilingual workforce mean businesses are spoilt for choice when it comes to hiring time. The government allows foreigners to own all of their shares, there is no mandate to have a native director on the company&#8217;s board and taxes are low with multiple exemptions available.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40613" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12.jpg" alt="Hong Kong vs Singapore" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-12-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Hong Kong’s well-founded history of financial success, far reaching travel links and low low tax rates have been attractive to overseas entrepreneurs for decades. Singapore has easier access to the growing Indian and Sri Lankan markets and boast their super clean streets, mega high living standards and highly engineered public transport system as an absolute win over Hong Kong, where pollution has long been a problem. But what Singapore sees as its greatest strength might just be its downfall when it comes to incoming Westerners. Many expats living in Hong Kong revel in the varied landscape and diversity in people and they think Singapore a little bit too homogenised. While the two can boast strong legal systems which protect the business interests of foreign business owners a few think the Singaporean system might be a little too eager. Hong Kong’s procedures might take a little longer but it’s generally agreed that this is in the interest of making sure everything is done in the most just manner possible.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40456 size-full" title="Hong Kong vs Singapore" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7.jpg" alt="Hong Kong vs Singapore" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-7-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
For the sake of diplomacy we’ll continue to call it a toss-up. For some Singapore’s spotless streets are utter paradise and for others the rolling mountains and gleaming spires of Hong Kong spell an irresistible adventure.
Text: Alice Duncan

Honkers or Singers? Which Asian megacity is more appealing to foreign businesses?

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-29192" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1-9.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Where should we be putting our money during this period of record highs? Gafencu’s investment advisor Emrys Gould gives his two cents’ worth
Equity markets around the world are at record highs. The Hang Seng index is poised break the 29 000 barrier, and is at its highest in 10 years.&nbsp; If we look east from Hong Kong, the Nikkei is pushing 21 year highs and the S&amp;P is continuing to flirt with record highs. If we look west, the FTSE in the UK and the Dax in Germany are also at record highs.
What should investors do? At times like this many of us start getting a little edgy, “what goes up must come down” and all of that.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-29193" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-7.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
A fall’s going to come, they always do, the only question is when. The indications are it might be soon(ish). Central banks are starting to unwind the quantitative easing which pushed markets to such highs, the Fed is reasonably likely to hike rates again in December, and, linked to all of this the US dollar is set to start rising again. As it does, liquidity would be likely to flow out of emerging markets and back to the US, hurting valuations.
The big question of course, is when is this going to happen. The Fed has been raising rates all year, and we’ve not seen a correction yet.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-29194" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3-7.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
If you know the answer, then what to do with your money is fairly easy. Hold plenty of cash, and if you really back yourself, then in Hong Kong since March of this year there have been a few reverse ETFs in the marketplace. These offer returns inverse to the performance of the Hang Seng index, so buy them just before the market plunges, and you’re in the money.
However, knowing when a market has reached its peak is notoriously near impossible to predict.&nbsp; Even if you’re absolutely convinced you’re right, the old saw attributed to John Maynard Keynes comes to mind: “the market can remain irrational for a lot longer than you can remain solvent.”
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So what do you do if you’ve just received a lump of cash and want to invest it? There is no point putting it in a bank when interest rates are as they are, and equity markets probably still have a few months more ooomf in them which you wouldn’t want to miss. There are some bond funds out there which should do OK when big investors start getting risk averse, but no one would describe them as exciting. Gold? Well maybe, but it’s not that big a jump from buying a sizeable chunk of gold, to buying tinned food and fortifying a shed in the woods, and we’re not there yet.
The answer is probably to keep buying equities. It’s a cliché, but in the US, if you invested in the S&amp;P 500 at its peak in 2008, and held on to everything you owned, you’d be back in profit by 2013, and well ahead by now. The same isn’t quite as true in Hong Kong, and since we’re not quite at a peak yet, then the thing to do is to keep buying. The question is what.
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If you’re Warren Buffet, then keep doing what you’ve been doing: finding companies whose strong fundamentals aren’t reflected in their price, and investing in them for the long term. But for those of us who have had less success at picking individual stocks, it is rather more a case of finding sectors or areas that might outperform the market as it peaks.&nbsp;
There are a few options. One thing to consider if you think that rising interest rates are going to put an end to a stock market boom are those few sectors that do well in a rising rate environment.
Banks would be one option, as when rates go up, they can get higher returns on any deposits they have sitting around in savings accounts that they haven’t been able to lend out more profitably. This is particularly true for the big Hong Kong banks. HSBC and Bank of China Hong Kong have vast lazy balance sheets, and higher interest rates go straight to their bottom line. The case is different for those mid and small sized mainland banks who have invested more than 100 per cent of their deposits in whatever bit of the Chinese shadow banking system is in fashion at the moment, but a peaking market isn’t the only reason to steer clear of those.
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What about the stocks to avoid? Research by China Constriction Bank International Securities found that tech companies in Asia like Japan have fallen by an average of 25 per cent in the six month period either side of a market peak. The big Hong Kong listed tech companies (really we mean Tencent) might be all right with most analysts still saying buy, but the handful of smaller Chinese tech firms that Charles Li and the Hong Kong exchange managed to lure to Hong Kong rather than the Nasdaq are worth steering clear of.
Other poor performers by CCBIS’ analysis were materials and industrials, which also dropped by high single digits. The best performers, along with financials were energy and real estate stocks.
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Energy certainly sounds like a reasonable bet at the moment when it comes to companies listed in Hong Kong with the Belt and Road Initiative likely to provide long term support for both new and old mainland energy firms. The Chinese authorities’ hope to be a green energy superpower continues to be a secular boost for newer forms of energy.
CCBIS’ advice seems sensible. Holding financials, energy and real estate as the market peaks looks like a reasonable thing to do.
Text: Emrys Gould
For the full article, please check out Gafencu’s November issue or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gafencu.android&amp;hl=en">Play Store</a> or Apple <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gafencu/id541555130?mt=8">App Store</a>

Investment Tips: Where should investors put their money?

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Christina Gaw is the managing principal and head of global capital markets at Gaw Capital Partners. She’s also a board member of the Women’s Foundation and treasurer of the Hong Kong Ballet.
Where is Gaw Capital primarily doing business? 
The company currently has about US$15 billion under its management, and about half of that is in the Asia-Pacific region. The other half is evenly split between Europe and the US.
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You formerly worked with Goldman Sachs and UBS. In your experience, how is working in a private company different to an international institution?
I spent nearly 16 years altogether at Goldman Sachs and UBS, which taught me a great deal about corporate governance. With big companies there’s a lot more hierarchy to contend with. Private companies, on the other hand, have the advantage of being flexible and less structured, allowing creativity to be displayed and embraced foremost.
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What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken? Did it pay off?
After working at Goldman Sachs for nine years, I received an offer to work at UBS – a huge decision at the time. I ultimately went for it, and looking back, it was a wise career move because it allowed me to work for two very good but different institutions.
When faced with uncertainty, one thing I take comfort in is my faith. I’m a Christian and I pray any time I have to make big changes in my life. Once I have the prayers going, I can enjoy some peace of mind and trust that everything will work out if I welcome change. That’s why I tend to embrace risk in a positive way.
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Considering that you work with your two brothers, how do you compare to them in terms of skills and styles of management?
My two older brothers and I are all very different, but our skill sets complement each other. Goodwin, my oldest brother, is a talented entrepreneur. In his role as chairman of Gaw Capital, he generates new ideas – sometimes a tad too many ideas, in my opinion, because I have to execute them [laughs].
Kenny is an extremely bright mathematician who has a keen eye for details, which complements Goodwin’s ideas and intuition in real estate.
As for me, I’m the fundraiser. My strength lies in interpersonal skills, and I think I’m very good at articulating what the other side of the table is thinking about. Being diligent in understanding investors’ needs is very important.
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Do you have any role models you look up to?
My grandmother! My mum’s mother is 100 years old and she’s very healthy and energetic. She had her own textile business and moved here from Shanghai. Imagine being a business owner in those days and then having to start all over again in Hong Kong after the Cultural Revolution. It’s a tremendous example of tenacity and determination.
What hopes or dreams do you have for your children in terms of career?
I go to work happy and excited every day because I truly love what I do, which just so happens to be finance-related, but for my children it could be something completely different.
At this point, I want to give them the confidence to nurture their interests and talents. When I talk to young students, I always advise them to show energy and enthusiasm, engage others through networking and cultivate a sense of entrepreneurship. Not everyone wants to create a business, but you’ve got to have ownership of your work. To me, that’s entrepreneurship.
Thank you.
Text: Emily Petsko
For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu&#8217;s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gafencu.android&amp;hl=en">Play Store</a> or Apple <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gafencu/id541555130?mt=8">App Store</a>

Tag: finance