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<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2608/2608_GMHK_ChiLam.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Having pulled up to JW Marriott in a grey Tesla, AI-powered logistics platform dynamo Chi Lam strides into the room in a uniform of white T-shirt and jeans, wrists accessorised by Chinese beads and a smartwatch flashing quietly with notifications, and leather loafers that say practical, but never sloppy. Our conversation with the commander of Spaceship begins where most logistics stories begin, at the edge of something complicated, and ends up at the opposite: simplicity.</p>



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<p>“We had to,” he says of the company’s decision to move its operations and technology presence from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. “It was just the right thing to do. It’s a strategic and practical decision.” Then he smiles, like he’s about to reveal a number that sounds too good to be true. “I’m not even exaggerating that it’s a 20-times saving with just our rent changes. It’s crazy, I know.”</p>



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<p>True to the logistics empire he is building, even big decisions have to make sense in the real world of cost, capacity, speed and stability.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91981" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ready for Take-off</h3>



<p>Lam frames Spaceship like a mission: make logistics easier to use and accessible to everyone, by using big data and AI to help business customers save shipping costs and time. Since launching in 2019, the one-stop international courier comparison and booking platform has soared. Internal numbers are impressive: more than 130,000 members who can “with just a few clicks” find global delivery services that fit their needs, and 2.5 million-plus items shipped.</p>



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<p>But his focus isn’t only growth; it’s growth that is scalable, repeatable and operationally sound. Looking forward, the company co-founder and CEO eyes the US and its opportunities as a major e-commerce market with complex multi-warehouse, multi-carrier needs. “That complexity fits Spaceship’s strengths,” he notes.</p>



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<p>Logistics is a business where competition and service expectations are unforgiving, though. “Customer-acquisition costs can be high and operational mistakes can become expensive very quickly,” he states. So Spaceship is validating with selected merchants and partners before scaling aggressively. Localisation, reliable partnerships and consistent service quality is the current flightpath.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-741x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91982" width="556" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-741x1024.jpg 741w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-203x280.jpg 203w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-768x1061.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-1112x1536.jpg 1112w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-1482x2048.jpg 1482w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-200x276.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-800x1105.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1-scaled.jpg 1853w" sizes="(max-width: 556px) 100vw, 556px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fuelled by Loss</h3>



<p>Before Spaceship had metrics, it had a personal foundation. Lam doesn’t romanticise his youth. He reveals that his understanding of work, responsibility and success changed dramatically when he was in secondary school. “My father passed away during that period, and from that moment, I felt that my role in the family had changed,” he shares. Success became something heavier and clearer than just achievement. “It became much more connected to responsibility. It meant being able to take care of the people around me.”</p>



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<p>He expounds: “Losing my father was one of the moments that changed the way I looked at the future. I realised early that I couldn’t simply wait for opportunities to appear. If I wanted to create a better future, I had to actively build it.”</p>



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<p>Lam chose to study nursing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Then life handed him another classroom: e-commerce. He founded cross-border e-commerce platform Kaiser Bloc in 2010, and added to his portfolio in 2017 by co-launching Shopkyo, a site focusing on Japanese goods.</p>



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<p>“I originally thought selling the product would be the hardest part. In reality, operations were often much more difficult. Logistics was one of the most painful and fragmented parts of the entire process,” he recalls. Spaceship was thus born – not from abstraction, but from lived frustration.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-784x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91983" width="588" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-784x1024.jpg 784w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-768x1003.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-1176x1536.jpg 1176w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-1568x2048.jpg 1568w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-200x261.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-800x1045.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1-scaled.jpg 1960w" sizes="(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Humanising the Mission</h3>



<p>His nursing degree shows in his emphasis on outcomes instead of only workflows. “Studying nursing taught me that behind every system, process and decision, there is a real human being,” he says. That human angle matters because logistics can look cold from the outside.</p>



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<p>“In logistics, people often focus on parcels, routes, prices and delivery times. But behind every shipment, there is a merchant serving a customer or an individual waiting for something important.</p>



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<p>A logistics delay may look like only a data point inside a system, but for a small merchant, it could mean an unhappy customer, a refund, a negative review, or the loss of future business.”</p>



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<p>He labels logistics as stressful because merchants often feel that they don’t have control or visibility once an order has been shipped. Spaceship’s goal is to deliver visibility, options, better service choice, earlier risk detection and confident responses.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-806x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91984" width="605" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-806x1024.jpg 806w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-220x280.jpg 220w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-768x976.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-1209x1536.jpg 1209w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-1611x2048.jpg 1611w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-200x254.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-800x1017.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1-scaled.jpg 2014w" sizes="(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Flying Beyond Fear</h3>



<p>Every business founder has a story about fear. Lam has a story about clarity. “During difficult periods, I believe the most important thing is to be transparent without creating unnecessary panic,” he says.</p>



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<p>There was a time their startup had roughly two months of capital left. “It was a very stressful situation. The company, the employees, the customers, and many families were depending on the decisions we made. We became much more disciplined about costs, priorities, revenue and execution. We focused on activities that could directly improve the business.”</p>



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<p>Today, he validates his earlier, smaller experiments. “Shopkyo taught me that perseverance is important, but perseverance alone is not enough,” he admits. He learned the difference between courage and stubbornness. “Continuing in the wrong direction for a long time is not necessarily courage. Sometimes it is simply an unwillingness to accept that an assumption was wrong. You can remain committed to solving a meaningful problem while changing the product, business model, or approach.”</p>



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<p>As a leader, he focuses less on titles and more on substance and readiness. “I don’t think responsibility comes from a job title. It comes from being willing to step forward when people need you, especially when the situation is difficult. I focus on whether someone has relevant experience, strong judgment and the willingness to be honest.”</p>



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<p>He adds: “Great leadership is often visible in small daily actions rather than major speeches. I don’t believe leadership means having all the answers. It means creating an environment where the team can find better answers together. All of those outcomes matter, but reducing uncertainty is one of the most meaningful impacts we can create.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-736x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91985" width="552" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-736x1024.jpg 736w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-201x280.jpg 201w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-768x1069.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-1104x1536.jpg 1104w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-1472x2048.jpg 1472w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-200x278.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-800x1113.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-scaled.jpg 1840w" sizes="(max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Automation Helps, Humans Lead</h3>



<p>Logistics is chaos dressed up as spreadsheets, and Lam, it seems, has always been the kind of person who hates that disguise. “We begin by accepting that logistics will never be a completely controlled environment,” he says. In Spaceship’s orbit, AI helps with prediction and consistency while humans handle context and accountability. “The objective isn’t to remove people from logistics; it’s to remove repetitive work and give people better information so they can make stronger decisions.”</p>



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<p>Echoing the kind of philosophy that would sound poetic if it weren’t also practical, he says: “Technology only creates value when it improves the real experience of the person using it. AI has made communication faster, but faster communication doesn’t automatically create deeper understanding.” It doesn’t replace trust-building. “Real connection still requires empathy, honesty, attention, and the willingness to understand another person’s situation.”</p>



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<p>Lam believes AI’s biggest value is connected decisions, not isolated improvements. It can analyse more variables than people can handle manually, a benefit that can be used to improve customer experience. Instead of ‘Your parcel is delayed’, the system should help explain why, what’s likely next, and what to do. “The biggest value of AI will be turning fragmented logistics data into useful decisions,” he concludes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clear Landing</h3>



<p>Lam glances at his smartwatch from time to time during our shoot, like the device is another tool in an already thoughtfully built system. And when he talks about AI at Spaceship, it comes back to that same attitude – intelligence that improves real experiences, not intelligence for its own sake. For Chi Lam, the future of logistics isn’t just faster shipping; it’s clarity, predictability and better decisions made possible by technology.</p>



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<p>As we wrap, he lands on a principle that ties everything together: “At Spaceship, we want AI to make people more capable, not less responsible.”</p>



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<p>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa&nbsp;&nbsp; Photographer: Jack Law&nbsp;&nbsp; Videographer: Iris Ventura&nbsp;&nbsp; Venue: JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong</p>


Spaceship Odyssey: Chi Lam’s courier platform charts a clear course through logistics chaos


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chiikawa Artiverse</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91965" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-Untitled-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Staged in collaboration with Spiralcute International, this year’s sell-out exhibition – The World of Chiikawa’s Art – offers another insightful immersive journey into the beloved manga web series created by Nagano. It showcases the Japanese illustrator’s mastery while revealing that the titular character and his animal-inspired friends are ‘more than just cute’. Highlights include the innovative Chiikawa-Go-Round, transformed into the world’s first giant carousel art installation, alongside exclusive limited-edition souvenirs.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong> 1 August &#8211; 6 September</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>K11 Musea</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$170</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>k11musea.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cats</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91966" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-2048x1280.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-CATS-The-Musical-copy-2-800x500.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Igniting the stage with the unforgettable anthem of<em> Memory</em>, the <em>Cats</em> musical leaps to life in a dazzling world-class production. Amid a fantastical oversized set, inspired choreography and delightfully playful costumes, this beloved song-and-dance spectacular transforms the night into a whimsical feline adventure. Premiering in 1981, <em>Cats </em>was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sixth musical-theatre score and joins the likes of <em>The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph</em> and <em>the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Starlight Express </em>in a sparkling body of work. It is a theatrical triumph not to be missed.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>6 August &#8211; 6 September</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$388</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>westk.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chen Li in Concert</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91967" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-2.59.39 PM.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Chen Li transforms the Hong Kong stage into a cosmic playground for her ‘A Particle’ 10th Anniversary Tour concerts. The songstress navigates the universe of her musical journey, inviting fans into a kaleidoscope of emotion and innovation. Sound and light intertwine in a showcase of electrifying magic as the performance captures the essence of her evolution from experimental pioneer to iconic storyteller. The Hong Kong stopover is a dazzling tribute to creativity, resilience and the power of music.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>8 &amp; 9 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Hong Kong Coliseum</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$488</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>urbtix.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Food Expo 2026</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91968" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-jicivxqngkbzkwveyf1y.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Immerse yourself in a dazzling symphony of flavours at the HKTDC Food Expo, where the world’s culinary treasures converge in Hong Kong. This annual gathering draws hundreds of passionate exhibitors, transforming the venue into a global marketplace bursting with innovative food and beverage delights.  It&#8217;s a delicious celebration of creativity, connection and discovery.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>13 -17 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Convention and Exhibition Centre</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>Admission fee.</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>hktdc.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Louis Koo in Concert</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91969" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-Louis-Koo-My-First-Show.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The iconic Hong Kong actor steps into the spotlight like never before with a highly anticipated first solo concert.  Koo, who has always cherished his supporters, was touched by their passion, and the organisers swiftly announced additional dates in Macau. It has ignited the city, dominating conversations in bustling streets and on social media. This milestone promises an unforgettable fanfare of music, loyalty and stardom.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>21 -22 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Hong Kong Coliseum</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$480</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>urbtix.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wayne McGregor: On The Other Earth</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91970" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-Wayne-McGregor-On-The-Other-Earth.1j.pg_.jpg 1320w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>This post-cinematic choreographic work takes place inside an immersive NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) screen – a massive cylindrical 12K LED display featuring 26 million pixels, measuring eight meters in width and four meters in height. Graceful movements merge with stunning visual and auditory environments, producing intimate moments that blur the lines between body, technology, and creativity.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>Until 2 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: J</strong>C Contemporary, Tai Kwun</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$120</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>taikwun.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Summer Dining Rewards</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91971" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-kv-1-copy.jpg 1270w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Hong Kong foodies who hold a Hang Seng Bank credit card can savour the city like never before with the exciting $1 Foodie Upgrade +Fun Every Day campaign. The bank partners with Weekend Weekly magazine to bring irresistible HK$1 surprises to your table at more 400 popular dining outlets. From trendy light meals to comforting daily flavours, delicious discoveries are available in every district of Hong Kong.</p>



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<p>When: Until 16 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Various restaurants</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> Various spending.</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>cms.hangseng.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pandastic Summer Birthday Celebration</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91974" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/8-Pandastic-Summer-Birthday-Celebration.1-1.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Don’t miss the cutest birthday party in town as Ocean Park’s beloved giant panda twins, Jia Jia and De De, turn two. Expect joyful antics, delightful interactions and heartwarming moments at the Cute &amp; Cuddly Zone, Birthday Bun Tower, Splashy Birthday Camp and more. Gather your family and friends to shower these precious pandas with birthday love, cheers and pan-tastic blessings.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>Until 31 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Ocean Park</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$538</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>oceanpark.com.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Citrus Narrative</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91973" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/9-LPM-Summer.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>La Petite Maison restaurant captures this magic perfectly in a new seasonal dinner menu, The Citrus Narrative. The Central-located French-Riviera gem weaves Menton and Amalfi lemons and navel and blood oranges into every plate, set against the vibrant hues of Henri Matisse art. Begin with refreshing watermelon gazpacho, then choose from vine tomatoes paired with smoked stracciatella in aged balsamic or perhaps warm prawns kissed with lemon.</p>



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<p><strong>When:</strong> Until 6 September</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>La Petite Maison</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$598</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>lpmrestaurants.com</strong></p>


What’s on? Things to do this August in Hong Kong


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<p>This promise guides every decision we make and is a fundamental part of our organizational identity. Each day, we renew our commitment to ensuring that everyone can sleep well and live better, reflected in the care and expertise we invest in our products.</p>



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<p>Our core values—Excellence, Quality, Performance, and Regeneration—inform our design of solutions tailored to meet individual needs. This is why we named our collection &#8220;Personae.&#8221;</p>



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<p>At Dorelan, we are&nbsp;dedicated to enhancing the quality of sleep for everyone, now and in the&nbsp;future. We believe that quality rest is vital for a healthy life, and with&nbsp;passion and dedication, we create products and services that support each&nbsp;person&#8217;s journey toward genuine rest, rejuvenating both body and mind.</p>


Sleep Well, Live Better


<p>In a city that never sleeps, a rare celestial glow lit up the stage earlier this month. WestK Performing Arts delivered the Hong Kong premiere of <em>Lunar Halo</em> by Taiwan’s legendary Cloud Gate Dance Theatre at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre on 10 and 11 July 2026. For those fortunate enough to witness it, this was contemporary dance at its most mesmerising.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91936" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cheng-Ethan-Wang-Tsung-lung-Jam-Wu.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ethan Wang, Jam Wu, Cheng Tsung-lung</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Blending raw, untamed human movement with breathtaking digital wizardry, <em>Lunar Halo</em> felt less like a performance and more like stepping into a living dream. Choreographed by Cheng Tsung-lung in his first Hong Kong presentation since becoming Cloud Gate’s Artistic Director, the work drew inspiration from the enchanting natural phenomenon of a lunar halo, that silvery ring around the moon caused by ice crystals refracting light. In ancient Chinese lore, such a halo signals impending change. On stage, that metaphor became a powerful meditation on our increasingly tech-driven world.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91937" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_4-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Fourteen dancers transformed into a primal, enigmatic tribe; crouching, swaying, flinging, and hurling their bodies with visceral intensity. Stark solos gave way to charged duets and ecstatic group sequences that pulsed with desire, struggle, intimacy, and rebirth. Towering LED screens and a mirrored stage amplified every gesture into sweeping, surreal landscapes. The collision of flesh-and-blood physicality with cold digital projections created a hypnotic tension that mirrored our own era’s uneasy dance between body and machine.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91938" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_5-800x534.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>What truly elevated <em>Lunar Halo</em> was its dream-team creative lineup. The original score by Icelandic post-rock icons <strong>Sigur Rós</strong> blended ethereal melodies, minimalist textures, and traditional Taiwanese instruments into a haunting soundscape that felt both sacred and unsettling. Visual design by award-winning paper-cut artist Jam Wu and World Stage Design Award winner Ethan Wang conjured a liminal world where dancers’ bodies morphed into mountains, rivers, and otherworldly visions.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91939" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_2-800x534.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Since its 2019 premiere, <em>Lunar Halo</em> has earned global acclaim, including selection by <em>The Telegraph</em> as one of the “Best Dance Performances of 2023.” Hong Kong audiences finally experienced this landmark work after Cloud Gate’s seven-year absence, and the response was electric. Critics and viewers alike hailed it as “a dark, exquisite, deeply unsettling dream.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-1024x710.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91940" width="768" height="533" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-404x280.jpg 404w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-768x532.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-1536x1065.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-2048x1420.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-200x139.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_-800x555.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Presented in partnership with Rolex through its Perpetual Arts Initiative, <em>Lunar Halo</em> perfectly aligned with WestK’s mission to bring world-class, thought-provoking performances to Hong Kong. As Paul Tam, Executive Director of Performing Arts at West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, noted: “<em>Lunar Halo</em> interweaves movement, image and music to create a contemporary stage setting that is both poetic and charged with tension.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91941" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cloud-Gate_Lunar-Halo_Venue-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>This was more than contemporary dance; it was a multisensory journey that challenged how we perceive reality in the digital age. Audiences left moved, mesmerised, and pondering long after the final lights faded.</p>


Lunar Halo: Moonlighting as Hong Kong’s Most Spellbinding Dance Experience


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<p>Martin Liu arrives at his Wong Chuk Hang office, where golf bags are stacked neatly and shelves lined with an array of familiar paraphernalia: clubs that look professionally polished, mini training tools that belong in a budding golf star’s dream, and equipment that seems to hum with possibility.</p>



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<p>The founder of Chip Chip Golf Academy appears a little under the weather today – as evidenced by his husky voice – but the passion in his eyes moves faster than his throat. He leans forward and, with the patient warmth of someone who has taught countless eager juniors, begins sharing the joys of golf and how the sport shaped his perspective from a very early age.</p>



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<p>“I started playing and learning about golf when I was only two years old,” he says. “Do you play?” he inquires of our team. When the majority of the crew admit they don’t play often enough, he doesn’t tease for long. Instead, he challenges us the way only a golf mentor would, by igniting ambition through friendly one-upmanship.</p>



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<p>“There’s no age limit or starting point in life and in sport. Perhaps you can enrol your son when he turns one,” he says, laughing lightly, like the idea was obvious, like his sport was built for beginnings, not gatekeeping.</p>



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<p>And in that moment, it becomes clear: Liu’s energy doesn’t need a fully rested voice to resonate. It comes from deeper places: research, resilience, people development, storytelling, and a business mindset sharpened through years of growth strategy.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-754x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91847" width="566" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-754x1024.jpg 754w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-206x280.jpg 206w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-768x1042.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-1132x1536.jpg 1132w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-1509x2048.jpg 1509w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-200x271.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-800x1086.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2574-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 1886w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chip Off the Old Block</h3>



<p>Golf for Liu wasn’t introduced with a club brochure. It was handed down through proximity: being around professionals, learning by absorption, and feeling the culture of the sport early enough to make it personal.</p>



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<p>“My father [Daniel Liu] was a former professional golfer,” he shares. “Looking back, I realise golf gave me much more than a sport. It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to stay composed under pressure at a very young age. As I sometimes say, ‘Golf raises you before it rewards you.’”</p>



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<p>Even as a child, Liu was doing something many adults struggle to do: reflecting. Not just dreaming, but choosing. He explains: “Being immersed in that environment gave me an early understanding of both the beauty and the demands of the game. It was certainly an advantage to learn within that world, but it also prompted me to reflect early on about what kind of path I wanted to create for myself, both within and beyond golf.”</p>



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<p>In Hong Kong, golf can feel like a well-kept secret; popular, respected, yet still not equally accessible. Young Liu found a way through it by moving with his family and learning through sacrifice.</p>



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<p>“My parents operated a golf merchandise and consulting business across the border in China,&nbsp; working closely with clubs and training facilities, so we spent most weekends and school holidays travelling there for training. Those journeys taught me adaptability and commitment at an early age, while also giving me invaluable exposure to competitive golf beyond Hong Kong.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-764x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91848" width="573" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-764x1024.jpg 764w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-209x280.jpg 209w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-768x1029.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-1147x1536.jpg 1147w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-1529x2048.jpg 1529w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-200x268.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-800x1072.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-IMG_2400-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 1911w" sizes="(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Green Approach</h3>



<p>Liu’s career is a route built from experiments. He studied business at The George Washington University in the US capital – where he captained the golf team – and over the span of a decade teed off as a financial analyst, swung into business management for film and video production companies, and ventured onto the greens of venture capital. He founded Chip Chip Golf three years ago. On paper, his CV might look scattered; in practice, it sounds like a continuous education.</p>



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<p>“Despite the contrast of working for a multinational corporation with 300,000 employees to a four-person media production start-up, the one consistent lesson across every industry was the importance of creating tangible value,” he states.</p>



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<p>His pivot away from corporate life was instinctive once he realised what kind of environment he truly thrived in. “I found myself reconnecting with golf through my involvement with the Golf Association of Hong Kong, China, particularly through the Junior and International Development Committee, which plays a key role in shaping the city’s next generation of athletes, and later as captain of the Hong Kong men’s national golf team.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fun First, Skills Second</h3>



<p>When people imagine golf academies, they might expect performance metrics and pressure-driven progression. Liu built the Chip Chip Golf programme, which teaches juniors aged two to 14, with a different ordering of priorities. “Our philosophy is simple: fun comes first, skills come second,” he explains. “Too often, youth sport becomes overly focused on performance too early. We believe children first need to enjoy the process. Children do not stay in sport because they are talented; they stay because they fall in love with it.”</p>



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<p>His ethos echoes the sport itself: you miss, you recover, you return. That principle becomes a life lesson. “While we place great emphasis on developing strong technical fundamentals, we believe the golfer’s mindset is equally important, perhaps even more so in the long run.”</p>



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<p>It’s an environment in which juniors learn how to cope with disappointment. “We teach our students that setbacks are not something to fear or avoid, but something to navigate with confidence and perspective. Life, much like golf, rarely unfolds perfectly. The ability to remain calm, adapt positively and recover gracefully is a skill that extends far beyond the fairway.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-785x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91849" width="589" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-785x1024.jpg 785w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-215x280.jpg 215w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-768x1002.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-1177x1536.jpg 1177w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-1570x2048.jpg 1570w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-200x261.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-800x1044.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2544-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 1962w" sizes="(max-width: 589px) 100vw, 589px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fairway for All</h3>



<p>Liu’s aim is to make the sport more welcoming and inclusive for families who may never have previously considered golf. “One of the most common misconceptions is that golf is an exclusive sport reserved only for the wealthy or those with access to private-club memberships. The sport itself is far more approachable than many people realise,” he says.</p>



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<p>“We guide children from their very first swing all the way through to playing on-course and competing in tournaments, all within an environment centred around learning, friendship and enjoyment.”</p>



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<p>His experience as Hong Kong team captain gave him a macro view: what’s improving, what still needs system-level strengthening, and where belief must be rebuilt. “We now have players winning at the highest levels internationally, and golf has earned Tier A elite-sport status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. Golf teaches accountability fast, because there’s nobody else to blame. That’s why character development isn’t optional; it’s built into the sport.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Game for Life</h3>



<p>Liu’s ultimate goal is to cultivate lifelong relationships with the sport, so children feel empowered long after the lesson ends. “Ultimately, I hope every child who comes through our programme develops a positive and lasting relationship with golf,” he says. “If we helped cultivate genuine passion, confidence and enjoyment through the experience, I would consider that a success.”</p>



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<p>Although Liu feels below par today, this is a man who keeps showing up. As we conclude our chat and move on to the photo shoot, he offers our crew some energy drinks. “I think I might need these the most,” he quips. Martin Liu may sound croaky, but he has certainly found his voice in life. </p>



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<p>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Photographer: Jack Law&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Videographer: Iris Ventura&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


Tee Off @ Two: Chip Chip Golf founder Martin Liu on starting young and acquiring the resilience to finish strong


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2607/2607_GMHK_ManHoChineseRestaurant.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>The moment we enter Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, a wash of calm elegance engulfs us, hushing any idle chatter. While this aura of refinement raises the tone of the dining room, we lower ours. The fountain near the entrance, decorated with lotus sculptures, is straight out of a classical Chinese garden. Quietly auspicious, it’s almost like it’s there to deliver a blessing before the first dim-sum rolls by.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91787" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Main-Entrance.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Man Ho &#8211; Main Entrance</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Then the space opens up. Cue huge wood-framed moon gates, cloisonné panels depicting spring and autumn, and chandeliers constructed from thousands of morning-glory glasses cascading in tinted Champagne gold.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-1024x674.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91789" width="768" height="506" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-426x280.jpg 426w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-768x505.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-1536x1010.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-2048x1347.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Egg-with-Lobster-Dried-Fish-Roe-and-Saffron-800x526.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Steamed Egg with Lobster, Dried Fish Roe and Saffron</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The fine-dining quality of the Cantonese food matches the theatrics. Jayson Tang, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong’s Executive Chinese Chef, says his philosophy is “refining the rustic, perfecting the delicate”. This is visible in everything the kitchen does – from the way ingredients are treated like royalty to how humble dim-sum concepts become dainty masterpieces without losing their soul.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91788" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1a-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Pan-Fried-Crab-Claw-with-Spring-Onions-in-Ginger-Foam.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pan-Fried Crab Claw with Spring Onions in Ginger Foam</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“Each morning, I personally inspect all incoming produce [and] if anything falls short of our standards, I would rather remove the dish from the menu than compromise on quality,” notes the chef, explaining how this ethos controls the whole process, from start to finish.</p>



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<p>First to arrive at our table is Steamed Minced Garoupa and Shrimp Dumpling, a goldfish-shaped marvel. It looks playful, but it doesn’t taste like a gimmick. The garoupa is marinated in homemade Japanese soy sauce, then carefully blended with mushrooms, scallion whites and sesame oil. When it’s wrapped in its starchy skin and hits the steamer, you get that clean, plush seafood sweetness – soft, fragrant and unmistakably Cantonese in spirit.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91782" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Steamed-Minced-Garoupa-and-Shrimp-Dumpling.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Minced Garoupa and Shrimp Dumpling</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Then comes the house signature Barbecued Pork using mui tau (pork collar) marinated in homemade honey sauce and roasted three times. The result is tender, succulent and deeply fragrant.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91783" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Signature-Barbecued-Pork.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Signature Barbecued Pork</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Sweet-savoury balance lands like a confident handshake. If you go for Shredded Duck Meat Soup with Shredded Fish Maw, Chicken and Fungus, a modern take on the winter-warming snake-soup tradition, you’ll understand why diners regularly return. It’s fragrant, layered and soothing without being boring. The shreds of duck meat, chicken, fish maw, mushrooms, bamboo pith and fungus create a broth that tastes composed, like every ingredient has its own job and shows up to work on time.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91793" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Shredded-Duck-Meat-Soup.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shredded Duck Meat Soup</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“Above all, a dish must first be exceptionally delicious,” says Chef Tang, describing how he tells the story of his cuisine through technique. Yes, narrative matters, but only if the flavour earns the right to speak.</p>



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<p>His seafood specialties, on the other hand, are fancy but also seriously engineered. Braised New Zealand Abalone is an example of patience becoming pleasure. It’s wild, sustainably caught, cleaned, braised for three days, then dry-braised with abalone sauce for smoky umami depth.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91784" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Baked-Whole-Dried-South-African-Abalone-Puff.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Baked Whole Dried South African Abalone</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>And then there’s Deep-Fried Fish Maw Stuffed with Shrimp Mousse in Chicken and Rice Stock with Caviar. Crispy outside, luxurious inside. The caviar’s briny pearls swim in a Chinese broth, giving you a warm, savoury hit that feels daring without tasting confused.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91785" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/5-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Deep-fried-Fish-Maw-Stuffed-with-Shrimp-Mousse.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Deep-fried Fish Maw Stuffed with Shrimp Mousse</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Chef Tang explains his logic about integrating Western ingredients like caviar into Chinese technique: “Caviar is typically served chilled, but I chose to pair it with a hot Chinese rice-congee stock. The heat coaxes out the rich fish oils and intensifies the caviar’s umami notes.” That’s not luck – that’s culinary nerve.</p>



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<p>Our final dish is Roasted Goose with Aged Dried Radish. The radish is aged in stages: three, 12 and 25 years, then stir-fried with shallots, preserved plums and tangerine peel. It tastes complex and naturally sweet in a way that makes you pause mid-conversation. That’s what timeless means at Man Ho.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-1024x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91786" width="768" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-430x280.jpg 430w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-768x500.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-200x130.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish-800x521.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6-JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Roasted-Goose-with-Aged-Dried-Radish.jpg 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roasted Goose with Aged Dried Radish</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The JW Marriott’s Chinese restaurant is Michelin-level for a reason: it’s not just refined. It’s consistent, it’s disciplined, and it treats flavour like a craft that deserves respect. You come for one dinner, then you catch yourself planning the next one before the bill arrives. And good luck leaving the table without ordering an extra something “just to try”. This place will make you try, and then make you addicted.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91791" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JW-Marriott-Hotel-HK-Man-Ho-Handcrafted-Dim-Sum-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Handcrafted Dim Sum</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Text: Joseff Musa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Photos: JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong</p>


Chinese Blessing: Man Ho daringly perfects the delicate in an auspicious classical setting


<p>High above the humid swirl of Victoria Harbour in the early 20th century, Hong Kong society built its most exclusive world. Before the Japanese occupied the British territory in December 1941, Victoria Peak and its surroundings formed an elevated theatre of privilege, where governors, taipans, industrialists and philanthropists constructed residences that served as declarations of status.</p>



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<p>With their deep verandas, colonnaded façades and manicured lawns, these houses embodied the architecture of empire and ambition. To be invited uphill was to be admitted into a carefully curated circle; to reside there was to belong unmistakably to the ruling constellation of colonial Hong Kong.</p>



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<p>The Peak Reservation Ordinance of 1904 codified this exclusivity by effectively restricting residency to European expatriates, save for rare exemptions granted only to the most influential Chinese. Geography and legislation worked together. The steep ascent up to 1,811 feet above sea level acted as a natural barrier, while social conventions reinforced separation.</p>



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<p>Below the bustle of Central’s mercantile energy stretched a quieter domain of garden parties, diplomatic dinners and summer retreats. Each arrival at a gated drive along the narrow roads that circled the Peak carried significance, a subtle announcement that one had crossed into rarified territory.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="687" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1024x687.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91771" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-417x280.jpg 417w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-768x515.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-1536x1030.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-2048x1374.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-200x134.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-800x537.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top of the World</h3>



<p>Serving as the Governor’s summer residence, Mountain Lodge at the summit of Victoria Peak crowned this hierarchy. Completed in 1900 to replace the previous official bungalow, it offered respite from the tropical heat and a Mount Austin Road vantage point that symbolised oversight of the colony itself. Photographs show a gracious residence framed by clipped hedges and panoramic views, hosting garden receptions that gathered the highest ranks of officialdom.</p>



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<p>Such houses were central to the choreography of colonial power and seasonal ceremony. One of the highest homes was The Eyrie, built on Mount Austin Road in 1877. Its owner, Emanuel Raphael Belilios, a Sephardic Jew born in Calcutta, chaired such august commercial institutions as Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Something of an eccentric, Belilios is said to have ridden from his Peak home to his office on a camel.</p>



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<p>Mount Austin Road was known for its refined villas, many of which have since yielded to luxury apartment towers. In their prime, these residences reflected a restrained British aesthetic: pale façades, pitched roofs and deep eaves shading corridors from monsoon rains. Tennis lawns and croquet grounds provided leisure within private boundaries. On clear evenings, distant ship horns drifted upward from the harbour below, a reminder of the commerce underwriting such elevated ease.</p>



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<p>Coombe Road, Guildford Road and Barker Road were likewise lined with large detached houses, each set back behind hedges or stone walls. Their architecture favoured generous verandas supported by classical columns, high ceilings to encourage ventilation, and broad windows framing harbour views.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="657" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1024x657.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91772" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1024x657.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-436x280.jpg 436w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-768x493.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-1536x986.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-2048x1315.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-200x128.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-800x514.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chinese Ascent</h3>



<p>Ho Tung Gardens on Peak Road offered another variation on elite living. Designed in Chinese Renaissance style, its blend of Chinese architectural motifs with Western structural forms reflected the layered identity of Sir Robert Ho Tung, the patriarch of one of Hong Kong’s most prominent Eurasian families, who purchased the property in the 1920s.</p>



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<p>In an era when the Peak’s residency rules underscored division, Ho Tung’s presence signalled both exceptional status and gradual transformation within an evolving colonial society. The estate’s landscaped grounds hosted social functions that bridged communities often separated by race and regulation. Ho Tung Gardens remained in the family for three generations. The mansion was demolished in 2013 and redeveloped into luxury townhouses after a failed attempt to preserve it as a historic monument.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="674" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1024x674.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91773" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-426x280.jpg 426w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-768x505.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-1536x1010.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-2048x1347.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3-800x526.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Grandeur Down &amp; Around</h3>



<p>Downhill from the Peak, though still elevated at 500 feet above Central on Conduit Road in Mid-Levels, Marble Hall was a statement that Hong Kong’s mercantile elite could rival the aristocratic splendour of London or Calcutta. It was built in 1901 for Sir Catchick Paul Chater, a businessman of Armenian descent who was instrumental in the founding of Hongkong Land and Wharf. This testament to Edwardian grandeur boasted marble columns imported from Europe, sweeping staircases and reception rooms designed for spectacle. Within its walls hung art collections and treasures acquired through global networks of trade.</p>



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<p>Other enclaves on Hong Kong Island developed their own society rhythms. Stubbs Road, perched above Happy Valley, attracted merchant families who desired prestige without total isolation. Houses here often displayed a subtle blend of European and regional influences, with tiled roofs and shaded balconies adapted to the climate.</p>



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<p>On the southside, Repulse Bay emerged as a coastal counterpart to the heights. Before high-rise redevelopment, the shoreline was dotted with villas that offered sea breezes, Riviera ambience and carefully orchestrated hospitality. Invitations embossed on heavy cream paper summoned guests to charity galas, diplomatic receptions or intimate suppers. Silverware gleamed and floral arrangements were sourced from carefully tended gardens. The original Repulse Bay Hotel, built in 1920, functioned as both a seasonal residence and social hub, hosting dances and formal dinners that drew the colony’s glittering set.</p>



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<p>Hong Kong’s pre-Second World War mansions shared certain architectural hallmarks. Verandas wrapped around façades to temper sun and rain, allowing residents to inhabit transitional spaces between indoors and out. High ceilings facilitated air circulation before the advent of modern air-conditioning. Materials were selected for durability against humidity: granite foundations, plastered brick walls, hardwood floors polished to a muted sheen. Gardens framed approach roads and offered vistas that emphasised elevation. The houses were not fortresses but statements of cultivated permanence and social assurance.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="689" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1024x689.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91774" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-416x280.jpg 416w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-768x517.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-2048x1379.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-200x135.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4-800x538.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rise of the High-Rise</h3>



<p>The Japanese occupation disrupted this world irrevocably. Many residences were requisitioned, damaged or abandoned. After the war, demographic shifts and land scarcity accelerated redevelopment. By the 1960s and 1970s, economic imperatives favoured high-rise apartments over sprawling villas. Marble Hall burned down in 1946; Mountain Lodge was demolished in the same year; and numerous Guildford Road mansions yielded to towers promising greater density and profit. What had once been private domains became collective addresses, and gardens gave way to podium decks and parking levels.</p>



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<p>Yet memory persists. Archival photographs capture women in summer dresses posing against balustrades, governors descending garden steps, and lantern-lit terraces overlooking a harbour still free of towering skylines. Surviving structures such as Government House on Upper Albert Road and Flagstaff House in Hong Kong Park offer tangible reminders of that earlier era. Even where buildings have vanished, street names and estate boundaries echo their presence, preserving faint cartographies of former privilege within the contemporary city.</p>



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<p>To examine Hong Kong’s pre-war society residences is to glimpse a city negotiating identity at a crossroads of empire and commerce. They defined a chapter in which architecture, climate and class converged dramatically above the harbour. These houses were built by British administrators and international merchants, but they were also shaped by Chinese, Eurasian and Jewish families whose fortunes were then intertwined with colonial frameworks. Within their walls, alliances formed and hierarchies were rehearsed.</p>



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<p>Today, luxury on the Peak is measured in panoramic glazing and guarded driveways, yet the mythology of the old houses endures. The idea of elevation as a metaphor for power remains potent. Their verandas may have fallen silent, but their imprint lingers in the collective imagination of a city perpetually balancing memory and reinvention, aware that its grandest homes once stood as symbols of certainty on the edge of change.</p>


Mansions in the Clouds: Inside the grand mansions that opened the door to high society in colonial Hong Kong


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<p>At 9 am on the dot, Professor Anna C.Y. Chan is already almost done with her hair and makeup – and only ‘almost’ because she’s expertly multitasking like someone who has spent a lifetime training her body to listen before it speaks. While her stylist makes final adjustments, the HKAPA honcho is on a conference call. As we arrive, she gestures towards her ears, wireless buds snug in place, and without breaking rhythm, flashes us a warm smile. She quickly ends the call, stands and proceeds to shake hands with the entire crew.</p>



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<p>Chan confesses that she doesn’t really like shopping unless it’s for homeware. But, with a quick laugh, she confirms that she has “a full rack of designer clothes and shoes ready for today”. She then clarifies the deeper reason behind her wardrobe choices. Almost all of her clothes are from local designers.</p>



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<p>For the 35-year veteran of Hong Kong performing arts, dressing is not about labels; it’s a quiet public service. “This is my way of showing support to the local art and creative sector,” she says. “Art is a very vast industry. It can be anywhere, really.”</p>



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<p>Inside the naturally well-lit office of the Director of the HKAPA (The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts), the walls display taste and curiosity. Books are stacked and arranged, with fashion volumes such as Chanel and Dior near performing-arts tomes, including Why They Dance: Narrations of Hong Kong Dance, and photography books by Annie Leibovitz alongside family portraits.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-820x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91745" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-768x959.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-1230x1536.jpg 1230w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9-800x999.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-9.jpg 1345w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dance as Body Language</h3>



<p>When Chan converses, she doesn’t speak like someone who manages art; she talks like someone who has lived inside it and then later built the structures that allow others to live there, too. “Becoming an artist is not only about skill but also about resilience, vision and meaningful contribution,” summarises the former professional dancer.</p>



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<p>Young Anna studied at an Anglo-Chinese Catholic school, where music, drama and visual arts weren’t optional extras but part of the curriculum. “When I began ballet in the 1980s, I quickly realised it wasn’t only about technique,” she says. “Ballet teaches etiquette, posture, presence, and how to carry oneself with awareness and respect. Through it, I discovered that the body could become a language beyond words. Dance isn’t merely a performance; it’s communication and lifelong education in humanity.”</p>



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<p>Her family had a strong business mindset, teaching responsibility, strategic thinking, resilience and long-term vision, but there was also a person who raised the bar. Her pivotal mentor, Hong Kong ballet pioneer Jean M. Wong, instilled technical excellence and uncompromising artistic integrity. As a teenager performing in community settings, Chan saw how dance could connect sectors of society and share beauty and cultural values beyond the stage. At the Royal Ballet School in London, teachers refined her standards and exposed her to international rigour.</p>



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<p>Working professionally in London while pursuing postgraduate studies deepened her engagement with dance not just as performance, but also as research, scholarship and cultural discourse. Later, colleagues and mentors at the HKAPA and the West Kowloon Cultural District, where she was the inaugural Head of Dance, broadened her scholarly and global outlook.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-820x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91746" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-768x959.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-1230x1536.jpg 1230w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6-800x999.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-6.jpg 1345w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Director Shift</h3>



<p>Chan’s career pathway unfolded seamlessly: performer to educator to producer to arts administrator to cultural leader, each role expanding the others. “Those layered experiences across different landscapes strengthened my adaptability and expanded my vision beyond any one aesthetic. Even now, they continue to shape my commitment to performing-arts education that is culturally grounded, intellectually rigorous and forward-looking,” she affirms.</p>



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<p>The transition from an artist to an institute director could have required a total reinvention. But Chan sees it differently: “What I had to relearn was scale and scope. Leadership demanded strategic planning, governance awareness, financial responsibility and long-term thinking. It became less about delivering excellence personally, and more about creating the systems and conditions that allow others to thrive.”</p>



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<p>A natural performer, Chan quickly adapts to our cover shoot. She tries dance-inspired stances – clean lines, graceful timing – then suddenly shifts into some fun, wacky angles, before effortlessly switching back into more elegant expressions. From Plaudits to Passing on Passion</p>



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<p>After decades of awards, publications and leadership, she speaks with gratitude first. “I feel deeply fortunate, because not everyone gets to pursue a career driven by passion,” she explains. “In earlier stages [of my career], success might have looked like achievements and milestones. But now my greatest fulfilment comes from witnessing the growth and success of others: students, colleagues, collaborators.”</p>



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<p>However, she agrees that leadership can be isolating, especially when navigating complex decisions and carrying responsibility that ultimately rests on one’s shoulders. “I draw strength from strong bonds with my colleagues, students and stakeholders, because accountability may be personal, but the mission is shared,” she notes. “Resilience isn’t about standing alone. It’s about remaining connected to people, to values, to the larger vision collectively shaped.”</p>



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<p>We discuss initiatives like the Jockey Club Dance Well project, which offers dance to people living with Parkinson’s. “It reshaped how I understand embodiment and dignity,” she enthuses. “Participants aren’t framed as patients receiving therapy. They’re approached as dancers creating art. That shift in identity is where true dignity resides.</p>



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<p>&nbsp;“The arts are for all,” she champions firmly. “Access to performing arts education and participation can’t remain elite or concentrated. It must be citywide, reaching every district and community.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-820x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91747" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-768x959.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-1230x1536.jpg 1230w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5-800x999.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-5.jpg 1345w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Contributing to Society</h3>



<p>As a government-funded academy, the HKAPA’s responsibility as framed by Chan is twofold: uphold artistic integrity and ensure the work contributes meaningfully to society. “Protecting artistic freedom begins with rigorous standards, encouraging critical thinking, and creating space for creative exploration in Hong Kong and the region,” she says.</p>



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<p>In her view, artistic freedom and public value aren’t in tension; they align through purpose, quality and service. “Sustainable funding structures and fair commissioning policies matter so artists can focus on creation rather than constant survival. Institutions must also invest in research, documentation and development of new work rooted in local context, so artists aren’t only presenting but generating original ideas.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-820x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91748" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-768x959.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-1230x1536.jpg 1230w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2-800x999.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-2.jpg 1345w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Arts in the AI Era</h3>



<p>When asked what she tries to pass on to the next generation, Chan returns to a human message: seeing dance as a platform for cultural dialogue and community engagement. As a performer, she learned discipline, integrity and humility. But the world her students enter is different now, shaped increasingly by AI, rapid technological change and shifting professional landscapes.</p>



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<p>“Beyond professional rigour and ethical responsibility, I want students to develop digital literacy and critical thinking,” she asserts. “They should be able to work alongside technology without losing artistic voice.”</p>



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<p>She also emphasises adaptability, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a strong moral compass, especially around authorship, data ethics and cultural sensitivity. “Remaining curious, always, is essential,” she adds. “Ultimately, I hope to equip them to sustain careers in the performing arts and also become cultural leaders who navigate an AI-driven society while preserving the humanity at the heart of the arts.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-820x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91749" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-768x959.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-1230x1536.jpg 1230w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2-800x999.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-2.jpg 1345w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Picture Perfect</h3>



<p>Towards the end of our photo session, Chan requests to pose against a giant mural created by HKAPA students. “This is my way of supporting the arts, my students and the academy,” she says. Then, with a gentle reminder that underscores her leadership philosophy, she adds: “At the end of the day, this is not about me. This is about promoting and supporting the art scene we have here in Hong Kong.”</p>



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<p>As the crew packs up, it’s hard not to see the through-line of our audience with Professor Anna C.Y. Chan – technique, integrity, curiosity and community, working together like choreography.</p>



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<p>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa&nbsp;&nbsp; Photographer: Jack Law&nbsp;&nbsp; Videographer: Iris Ventura</p>


Stage Whisperer: HKAPA Director, Anna C.Y. Chan is instilling integrity and intellectual rigour into citywide performing arts


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HK Phil Season Finale</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91715" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-we.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Youthful Finnish maestro Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, bringing the 2025-26 season to an end on a volley of high notes. The final concert is headlined by A Sea Symphony, British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ expansive 1909 work inspired by Walt Whitman’s mystical American poetry on the themes of exploration and humanity. It also embraces an orchestral work from Finland, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s introspective Pollux (2018), drawing from the mythological Gemini twins.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>3-4 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Hong Kong Cultural Centre</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$380</p>



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<p>For more information:<strong>&nbsp;Hkphil.org</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Code of The Dynasty</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91716" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-DDMGA0E.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><em>The Code of The Dynasty</em>, scripted by Ma Nan and produced by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, is an adaptation of Ye Wenbiao’s popular series of novels. The writer, in turn, was inspired by the grand panorama of <em>Along the River During Qingming Festival</em>, a painting by Song dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan, with his words breathing new life into a bustling city scene. The tale’s daring protagonist, Zhao Buyou, digs into hidden mysteries behind lantern-lit streets where scheming officials trade secrets.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>3-5 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Hong Kong Cultural Centre</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$280</p>



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<p>For more information:&nbsp;<strong>ccf.gov.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Volleyball Nations League</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91725" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3-Volleyball-Nations-League-Hong-Kong-2026-copy-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Get ready for a smashing showdown&nbsp; in Pool 8 of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League 2026. Showcasing an array of global talent, the 12 matches of tournament promise to be intense battles of skill and determination. Fans are in for a world-class volleyball experience filled with adrenaline, skill and passion. Witness actions as these powerhouses of the women’s game compete for glory.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>8-12 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Kai Tak Arena.</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$200.</p>



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<p>For more information:&nbsp;<strong>kaitaksportspark.com.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jesus Christ Superstar</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91726" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.2-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Experience the electrifying revival of the legendary rock musical from the early ’70s. Its Hong Kong run offers local audiences their first live glimpse of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic masterpiece, with an unforgettable score. Reimagined by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie, the show delivers a powerful retelling of the biblical story through song and spectacle. This mesmerising rock opera explores love, betrayal and faith, captivating audiences with its heavenly music and stirring visuals.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>8 July-1 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Hong Kong Cultural Centre</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>From HK$588</p>



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<p>For more information:&nbsp;<strong> jcs-hk.</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sammi Cheng in Concert</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="889" height="553" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91719" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1.jpg 889w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1-450x280.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1-768x478.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1-200x124.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/5-Mi-Sammi-Cheng-.1-800x498.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px" /></figure>



<p>No surprise that the veteran pop icon’s grand finale of her Asia tour, You &amp; Mi Sammi Cheng Live, is a sell-out, despite the addition of a third night. Cheng continues to captivate fans with her dynamic artistry. Those lucky enough to be there will experience three unforgettable evenings, as the superstar redefines live entertainment and brings her extraordinary journey to a thrilling close in Hong Kong.</p>



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<p><strong>When: 1</strong>0-12 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Kai Tak Stadium</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$880</p>



<p>For more information: <strong>kaitaksportspark.com.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">International Arts Carnival</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91720" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-709226886_1526982436105017_5095534831070557573_n.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The International Arts Carnival 2026 delivers joyful performing arts experiences that expand young minds and ignite imagination both on stage and beyond. Starchitects, sets the scene – a vibrant explosion of acrobatic theatre encompassing colour, dance and digital effects. Complementing the stage productions are captivating exhibitions, interactive workshops, online programmes and delightful outreach.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>10 July-6 August</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Various venues</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>Various prices</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>hkiac.gov.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Racing Season Finale</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91724" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7-Season-Finale-1-800x500.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The 2025-26 horse-racing season concludes with dashes of excitement and celebration! Visitors are able to take advantage of exclusive offers as they soak up the vibrant atmosphere, while members of the Jockey Club’s Racing Club can head to the Happy Valley Racecourse Sports Bar on the 15th for an exclusive party. Here, at this final gathering before the summer break, interactive games, entertainment and prizes will compete with the thoroughbreds for attention.</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>12 &amp; 15 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where: </strong>Sha Tin Racecourse / Happy Valley Racecourse</p>



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<p><strong>How much: </strong>HK$10</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>hkjc.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ian Chan in Concert</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91722" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/8-01KSCTREGWFA8B7J999RC4F89P-copy.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Through powerful performances and heartfelt songs, Growth: Live 2026 explores the courage to let go of lingering sorrows and rediscover one’s purest, most resilient self. Chan invites his legions of fans to reflect, heal and celebrate personal growth during this deeply moving concert series. Three additional shows were added to the itinerary – including one on 1 August. </p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>23-26 &amp; 28-31 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Kai Tak Arena.</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$680</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>kaitaksportspark.com.hk</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lotus Festival</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91723" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Tarmo-Peltokoski-Conducts-A-Sea-Symphony.2.jpg 1728w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Immerse yourself in serenity at Po Lin Monastery for the final two days of the 2026 Hong Kong Lotus Festival. Thousands of lotuses and water lilies in hundreds of breathtaking varieties bloom in a spectacular display across the monastery grounds for this enchanting summer celebration. The lotus is an emblem of Buddhism. Hurry now to Lantau to discover the flower’s quiet beauty and symbolic elegance, and let the lotus inspire your soul this summer!</p>



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<p><strong>When: </strong>Until 2 July</p>



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<p><strong>Where:</strong> Ngong Ping Plateau, Lantau Island</p>



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<p><strong>How much:</strong> Free admission</p>



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<p>For more information: <strong>buddhaland.org.hk</strong></p>


What’s on? Things to do this July in Hong Kong


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<p>It’s a miserable grey, rainy Friday afternoon in May. Inside Prince and the Peacock Indian restaurant, though, the vibe is different. Rich colours hit like a soft punch to the soul. Then Tania Mohan walks in, armed with so much poise and purpose that the room appears to glow. She spreads out her choice of shoot outfits with the calm authority of someone who’s done so much and seen too many ‘maybe’ ideas come and go. The founder of luxury fashion and homeware brand Tabla is not just styling, she’s curating – like a one-woman editorial board.</p>



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<p>“Proper representation is important,” she tells us, leaning into the point the way some people lean into compliments. “Nowadays, a lot of people are trying to be someone else without recognising it. It’s the trend. We have to embrace our individuality because no one can ever top that. Not even trends. Because trends come and go.”</p>



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<p>Mohan doesn’t sound like someone chasing fashion. She sounds like someone defending it. Like fashion is a court case, and she’s showing exhibits to the jury. And – plot twist – she’s literally qualified to do that.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-731x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91609" width="548" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-731x1024.jpg 731w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-200x280.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-768x1075.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-1462x2048.jpg 1462w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-800x1120.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1-3-scaled.jpg 1828w" sizes="(max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dressed for Destiny</h3>



<p>Born and raised in Hong Kong to an affluent family of Indian heritage, she has retail in her DNA – Mohan’s department stores operated during the 1950s. Her upbringing ensured that she absorbed luxury the way some people absorb weather patterns: constantly, without even realising you’re learning.</p>



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<p>“Growing up, that early exposure gave me an instinctive understanding of quality and fabrics, while my mother’s exquisite taste filled our homes with a deep sense of aesthetic luxury,” she says. “The city’s incredible energy, combined with my family’s heritage, taught me to view fashion as a complete, curated lifestyle – an approach that defines my creative direction for Tabla today.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sparkle and Structure</h3>



<p>This creativity was honed early in her career. In the 1990s, she joined Hong Kong Standard as fashion editor and stylist. She’s also a barrister-at-law. When asked how law fits into a life built around luxury, her answer is clever, like she’s already drafting your argument before you finish the question.</p>



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<p>“I don’t think my love affair with the law will ever truly go away, and I am fortunate to still utilise my legal training through consulting work today,” she defends. “As a barrister, you learn to investigate every angle thoroughly, and I now apply that exact same investigative discipline to my creative process. When a specific historical era or traditional embroidery technique catches my attention, my instinct is to dive into the archives and uncover its full story.”</p>



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<p>She expounds: “Having studied law since I was 16, those years of discipline have become an invaluable asset in running my own business. Rather than a total departure, my legal background provides the structural foundation that supports my creative freedom, giving me a unique edge as the creative director of Tabla.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-743x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91613" width="557" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-743x1024.jpg 743w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-203x280.jpg 203w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-768x1059.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-1114x1536.jpg 1114w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-1485x2048.jpg 1485w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-200x276.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-800x1103.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2-5-scaled.jpg 1857w" sizes="(max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tabla Setting</h3>



<p>The brand began in Hong Kong in 1999 with an Indian-inspired luxury focus in a chic boutique in Prince’s Building. It went international in 2015, when she opened in Knightsbridge, London, an area she knew well from her law-student days.</p>



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<p>“I was at a major crossroads in my life when the opportunity for Tabla appeared, and I simply dove into it with the reckless abandon of someone who found exactly what they were looking for,” she recalls. “I measured its success by the sheer momentum of the journey itself. Finding an opportunity that resonated so deeply with my passions proved instantly that the leap was worth it.”</p>



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<p>Mohan frames Tabla’s style as an organic dialogue: ‘Made in India’ but filtered through her Hong Kong lens. She reels off specific examples, such as plates pairing pagodas with peacocks, and clothing highlighting Parsi Gara embroidery, a craft born from vibrant 19th-century maritime silk routes connecting China and India.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Asian Persuasion</h3>



<p>She credits the emergence of cross-cultural branding – especially as championed by David Tang at Shanghai Tang – as a defining moment in fashion. “David was a true visionary,” she says. “I used to tell him that my ultimate goal was to create the Indian Shanghai Tang, and I very much stand by that ambition today. His legacy taught me that reframing heritage isn&#8217;t about changing the craft itself, but about elevating it onto the global stage with the pride and grandeur it deserves.”</p>



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<p>Nowadays, the ‘Asian luxury’ conversation isn’t just aesthetic, it’s political, cultural and historical. It’s about who gets credit, who gets called inspired, and who gets called original. She explains: “To me, Asian luxury is deeply rooted in the old-school, homegrown traditions of unmatched craftsmanship, rich materials and exquisite hand-worked detailing. About 10 years ago, at a luxury conference in India hosted by a European company, I championed the rise of ‘Made in Asia’, only to be dismissed by an executive who insisted the world wasn’t ready.</p>



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<p>I was astounded by that ignorance, knowing how much Western luxury has always relied on Indian embroidery and Asian craftsmanship behind the scenes. Today, I can say with pure conviction that the Asian invasion in luxury retail is fully upon us, reclaiming that narrative proudly.”</p>



<p>Then she drops a line that makes the room seem like it just got louder: “Over the next decade, the world will watch amazing homegrown designers emerge from this region to lead global trends – because when the dragon and the elephant dance, the whole world watches.”</p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Styles and Shifts</h3>



<p>Expectations have evolved for Tabla since its pre-Millennium birth. Consolidating online, the brand now embodies more discernment, less ‘whatever’. “Today’s clients expect more than just a premium product; they seek a genuine craft story, a sense of heritage, and an authentic, personal connection to what they wear and bring into their homes,” she affirms.</p>



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<p>“I have always envisioned the Tabla shopping experience as a jewel box – a treasure trove filled with unique, beautifully crafted pieces that resonate with this modern desire for authentic luxury.”</p>



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<p>Reflecting on the longevity of her brand, she says: “Celebrating 25 years has proven to me that persistence is born out of pure, unadulterated belief. Someone once called me the most tenacious person they know – and while some days I ask myself why I have spent so much time on this, my retail lineage, my passion, and the specific niche we hold are what drive me forward.</p>



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<p>It is easy to look at brands that scale rapidly and feel discouraged, but I didn’t come this far just to come this far. I still have so many stories to tell, embroideries to explore, and pieces to create while staying fiercely true to Tabla’s artisan heritage.”</p>



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<p>That’s the foundation of a luxury brand that endures, because the truth is, anyone can dress you, but only a few can define you.</p>



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<p>“I’ve done a lot of things [then thought], what the hell am I thinking right?” she laughs. “But now I’m focusing on Tabla and the importance of bringing forward my culture to the world, and who knows what the future may bring.” And true enough, real glam isn’t a trend; it’s a point of view.</p>



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<p>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa     Photographer: Jack Law     Videographer: Iris Ventura     Venue: Prince and the Peacock</p>


Tag: hong kong