Ad Category Above Title [D:1440×400 M:1440×400]

gafencu Shop

gafencu  app

Ad Category Sidebar [D:300×300 M:300×300]

Ad Video Category Above Title


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2605/2605_GMHK_TerraceBoulud.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>There’s something about eating above the city, like you’ve officially upgraded from ‘person with a dining reservation’ to ‘main character with skyline access’. That’s exactly the vibe at Terrace Boulud, the contemporary brasserie perched on Landmark Prince’s rooftop in Central and brought to life by Michelin-multi-honoured French chef Daniel Boulud under the Mandarin Oriental umbrella.</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/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91116" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-Sole-Champagne-dover-sole-fennel-shiitake-champagne-clam-sauce-caviar-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sole Champagne &#8211; dover sole, fennel, shiitake, champagne clam sauce, caviar</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Terrace Boulud is built around a philosophy with actual structure – that rare ingredient in the world of fine dining that usually appears only when someone needs to justify the pricing. The menu follows four culinary muses: La Tradition, La Saison, Le Potager and Le Voyage. Translation? You’re being served French heritage; seasonality with precision; a deep respect for vegetables and produce; and global influences shaped by travel and discovery.</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/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91118" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-Loup-de-Mer-Poireau-Crispy-Sea-Bass-Leeks-Red-Wine-Sauce-3.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Loup de Mer Poireau &#8211; Crispy Sea Bass, Leeks, Red Wine Sauce</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Then, there’s a fifth muse: Hong Kong itself, expressed through a handful of DB x MO Dim Sum selections that place French technique in conversation with Cantonese tradition. That pairing could either become a confusing mash-up or a genius ‘why didn’t anyone do this earlier?’ moment. Luckily, it’s the second one.</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/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91119" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-Homard-Artichaut-Poached-Lobster-Artichoke-Yuzu-Gel-Thai-Basil.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Homard Artichaut &#8211; Poached Lobster, Artichoke, Yuzu Gel, Thai Basil.</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>You’ll find Hong Kong-inspired har gow (shrimp dumplings) with ginger and scallion XO dip listed alongside pork collar and truffle xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) that nod to Lyon – Boulud’s birthplace – and Shanghai. For those who like their food with a side of identity crisis, there’s also a New York riff, pastrami, cabbage and sweet mustard bao (steamed bun), reminding that cuisine travels too, accumulating stories along the way.</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/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91121" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4a-DB-x-MO-Dim-Sum-1-copy.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DB x MO Dim Sum</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Chef Boulud explains the adaptation isn’t about abandoning identity, it’s about negotiating respectfully. Then he adds the real key: experience. “Having spent five years in China with Maison Boulud, I developed a deep appreciation for the nuances of the region’s tastes and culinary culture.” That matters because when a chef says “local dialogue”, you want it to come from actual understanding, not just a marketing department with a flyer.</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/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91122" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Boeuf-Celeri-beef-tenderloin-braised-short-rib-celery-bordelaise-sauce-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Boeuf Celeri &#8211; beef tenderloin, braised short rib, celery, bordelaise sauce</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Among the à la carte anchors are pork, quail and foie gras Pâté en Croûte, veal cheek and sweetbread Vol-au-Vent, and Poulet, roasted chicken with truffle mash and morel, plus seafood offerings from the raw bar and grill. These are dishes that have earned their place in the French canon, and at Terrace Boulud, they don’t merely exist for nostalgia. They’re executed with confidence, balancing richness with clarity, and letting flavours speak instead of shouting.</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/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91123" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-Grilled-Octopus-Crispy-Potato-Aioli-Piquillos-Chorizo-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grilled Octopus, Crispy Potato Aioli Piquillos Chorizo</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>You can taste the French brasserie roots; you can also taste the ambition. But it all lands because the cooking remains seasonal and precise. The classics feel alive – as if they’re designed for people who actually want to enjoy their dinner, not just take photos of it while whispering “this is so cultured” under their breath.The chef also emphasises his sources of inspiration for a menu that feels curated, guided and flexible rather than a rigid spreadsheet trying to be sophisticated. That creative foundation keeps things coherent, even when the ideas evolve.</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/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-791x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91125" width="593" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-216x280.jpg 216w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-768x994.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-200x259.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-800x1035.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-Glace-A-Ltalienne-Pistachio-forest-berry-2-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="(max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Glace-A-L&#8217;talienne &#8211; Pistachio-forest-berry</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Opening a fine-dining establishment in Hong Kong comes with both opportunity and pressure. The clientele are discerning, the ingredients are incredible, and expectations are high, sometimes unreasonably so. Chef Boulud acknowledges that balancing act.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“The challenge lies in balancing our French culinary heritage with the creativity and flavours that Hong Kong diners expect, but that is exactly what makes this project so inspiring,” he states. This is the confidence you want from an overseas chef who is contributing to a cultural ecosystem rather than treating it like a backdrop.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Even the design dials into Chef Boulud’s ethos. Wood and carved murals reflecting lush countryside frame interior stretches of seating with the cityscape beckoning on the terrace outside. “It’s an ambience,” he says, “combining sophistication, warmth and a sense of journey, making every visit feel like a carefully curated experience.”</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/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91126" width="768" height="480" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-TB-Terrace.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Terrace Boulud Terrace</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Terrace Boulud is elegant, playful and deliberate. After a meal here, you depart with the feeling that you’ve been fed both a glorious dinner and a philosophy. Which, in this city, might be the most French thing of all.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p><em><strong>Terrace Boulud</strong></em>,<em> 25/F, Landmark Prince’s, 10 Chater Road, Central. <strong>Tel:</strong> 2522 0111. <strong>mandarinoriental.com</strong></em></p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p><em>Photos: Terrace Boulud</em></p>


French Ascent: Daniel Boulud’s high-up Hong Kong debut elevates brasserie classics with a Chinese twist or two


<p>Emerging from a diplomatic and artistic vision to build a bridge between France and Asia, the French May Arts Festival stands today as one of Hong Kong’s most influential annual cultural events. It was conceived in 1993 by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, together with Alliance Française de Hong Kong, as a month-long celebration of French creativity designed to deepen cultural exchange and mutual understanding.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>From the outset, French May was more than a programme of performances and exhibitions. It was a statement of intent, affirming that art could serve as a conduit between histories, geographies and identities. The atmosphere was intimate yet purposeful. Organisers sought not merely to entertain but to cultivate curiosity and sustained engagement.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Programming first centred upon classical music recitals, French cinema screenings and carefully curated art exhibitions. The aim was to introduce Hong Kong audiences to a broad spectrum of French artistic expression, from canonical masters to emerging contemporary voices. Then, as it returned each spring, the festival began establishing itself as a dependable fixture within the city’s cultural calendar, nurturing loyal audiences while building trust with local institutions and creative partners.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Even in its formative stage, French May’s ambition extended beyond presentation. The founders envisioned Hong Kong as a meeting point between European heritage and Asian dynamism, and the festival structure reflected this aspiration. Events were distributed across venues that symbolised the city’s evolving identity, including historic concert halls, modern galleries, university campuses and independent cinemas.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Through this citywide presence, French May embedded itself within Hong Kong’s creative ecosystem rather than remaining a visiting showcase. It gradually became part of the rhythm of urban cultural life, anticipated by artists and audiences alike.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="677" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-1024x677.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91107" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-423x280.jpg 423w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-768x508.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-1536x1016.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-2048x1354.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-5-800x529.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Masters of Paris</h3>



<p>As the festival matured, its scope expanded with confidence and clarity. Flowing beyond the confines of May, it became a two-month spectacle. Major exhibitions began arriving from renowned French museums and cultural institutions, showcasing significant works in painting, sculpture, photography and design. Audiences encountered masterpieces that might otherwise have required travel to Paris, Lyon or Marseille.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>This access reinforced Hong Kong’s position as an international arts hub while underscoring the festival’s commitment to excellence. With each ambitious exhibition, French May strengthened its reputation as a platform capable of presenting museum-quality experiences on a global scale.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The performing arts flourished alongside visual programming. Contemporary dance and theatre joined the established pillars of music and art, broadening the festival’s artistic vocabulary. Classical repertoire coexisted with avant-garde experimentation. A baroque ensemble might be followed by a boundary-pushing multimedia production.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>This juxtaposition reflected an understanding of culture as living and evolving rather than static and preserved. French May has long embraced heritage and innovation in equal measure, allowing audiences to encounter centuries-old traditions alongside bold contemporary interpretations.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Community Care</h3>



<p>Partnership became central to the festival’s enduring success. Collaborations with local museums, universities, orchestras, galleries and performance venues ensured deep integration into Hong Kong’s cultural fabric. These alliances transformed French May from a diplomatic initiative into a shared civic enterprise.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Educational initiatives further strengthened this role. Artist talks, masterclasses, workshops and school outreach programmes enabled students and emerging practitioners to engage directly with visiting creatives. For many young musicians and visual artists, these encounters provided formative moments of inspiration, mentorship and professional connection.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="567" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-1024x567.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91108" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-1024x567.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-506x280.jpg 506w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-768x425.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-1536x850.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-2048x1134.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-200x111.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-4-800x443.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The launch of French GourMay in 2009 marked another significant evolution. Recognising that culture extends beyond galleries and concert halls, organisers welcomed gastronomy as an expressive art form in its own right. Each year, a specific French region is highlighted, bringing its culinary traditions, wine heritage and artisanal craftsmanship to Hong Kong’s restaurants and dining rooms.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>For May 2026, the high-altitude tastes of Savoie in the French Alps can be sampled at selected spots all over town. Participating chefs collaborate on themed menus, while tastings and demonstrations invite the public to explore the sensory dimensions of French culture. Through food and wine, French May reinforces the idea that creativity permeates everyday life.</p>



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



<p>Over time, the festival gained substantial international recognition. Large-scale exhibitions and headline performances by acclaimed orchestras, ballet companies and contemporary ensembles attracted significant audiences. The annual programme frequently encompasses more than 100 events, reflecting both ambition and sustained demand. As Hong Kong strengthened its global arts profile, French May contributed meaningfully to that reputation, positioning the city as a crossroads where East and West engage in sustained artistic dialogue.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Recent editions have extended across spring and early summer, allowing deeper engagement across disciplines. Large exhibitions animate museum spaces, while theatres welcome international performers. Community participation continues to grow, and collaborations between French and Hong Kong artists have intensified. These co-productions underscore the festival’s evolution from presentation to partnership, and from invitation to genuine dialogue shaped by shared experience.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="662" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-1024x662.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91109" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-1024x662.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-433x280.jpg 433w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-768x496.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-1536x992.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-2048x1323.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-200x129.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-4-800x517.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Renaissance Now</h3>



<p>This year’s centrepiece exhibition exemplifies this trajectory. As French May 2026 adopts the theme Re/naissance, calling for creative renewal and rediscovery and new rushes of imagination, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has been curated as a visual hybrid. Meet Mona Lisa, an immersive digital journey by the Louvre and Grand Palais Immersif, is paired with a gallery of masterpieces, Portraying the Renaissance, where holographic storytelling and multi-sensory experiences enrich Leonardo da Vinci’s intricate drawings.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Music remains at the core of the programme. The multigenre mix assembled for 2026 includes Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra bassoon soloist Sophie Dervaux performing baroque and classical concertos with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong; jazz star Youn Sun Nah taking the stage with pianist Bojan Z; and French electronic icon DJ Snake unleashing his vibe at the Central Harbourfront.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Through such varied concerts, audiences experience the breadth of French musical identity, spanning centuries and stylistic movements, and discover unexpected connections between tradition and experimentation.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Dance and theatre provide equally daring narratives, affirming French May’s role as a forum for shared storytelling and cross-cultural resonance. Belgian choreographer Jan Martens challenges dance conventions with The Dog Days Are Over 2.0, while Hong Kong Dance Company and guest performer Ivana Wong bring a contemporary Chinese art master’s works to life for In Between – Wu Guanzhong’s Ink Odyssey. Fresh from France’s National Centre for Circus Arts, Cirque du Corbak unveils the acrobatic drama of Voûte in Tai Kwun.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="596" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-1024x596.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91110" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-1024x596.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-481x280.jpg 481w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-768x447.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-1536x894.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-2048x1192.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-200x116.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-5-800x466.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Bridge So Far</h3>



<p>Sustainability has emerged as a meaningful thread within recent programming. Environmentally conscious exhibition design, responsible sourcing within culinary events, and discussions on sustainable artistic practice reflect broader global priorities. By integrating ecological awareness into its presentation, the festival demonstrates responsiveness to contemporary concerns while maintaining artistic excellence.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Looking across its evolution, French May reveals a steady arc of ambition, resilience and partnership. What began as a diplomatic initiative has grown into a landmark multidisciplinary festival shaping Hong Kong’s international cultural identity. Its success lies not only in scale but in continuity, in the annual reaffirmation of dialogue between France and Hong Kong through art, education and shared celebration.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Today, French May stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic exchange. It fosters creative networks, inspires audiences, and strengthens cross-cultural understanding. By balancing heritage with innovation, and tradition with experimentation, it continues to redefine what a cultural festival can achieve. More than a celebration of French art, French May is a living bridge, built not of stone or steel, but of imagination, collaboration and enduring connection.</p>


Come Each May: Diplomatic coup turned cultural tour de force, the annual French festival deserves our applause


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2605/2605_GMHK_Fashion1.mp4"></video></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 1</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/2026/05/1-4-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91091" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-4-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Striped top and pants by Simon Miller</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>Striped top and pants by Simon Miller</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 2</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/2026/05/2-3-835x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91092" width="626" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-835x1024.jpg 835w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-228x280.jpg 228w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-768x942.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-1252x1536.jpg 1252w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-1670x2048.jpg 1670w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-200x245.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-3-800x981.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Flowy geometric print top and ruffled mini skirt by Elie Saab</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>Button down dress and printed cover up by Elie Saab</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 3</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/2026/05/3-3-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91093" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-3-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Yellow midi dress by Simon Miller</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>White top and yellow fringe skirt by Simon Miller</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 4</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/2026/05/4-4-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91094" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-4-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>Crop top and maxi skirt by Elie Saab</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 5</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/2026/05/5-3-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91095" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-3-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>Swimsuit and flowy maxi skirt by Elie Saab</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 6</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/2026/05/6-3-849x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91096" width="637" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-849x1024.jpg 849w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-232x280.jpg 232w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-768x927.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-1273x1536.jpg 1273w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-1697x2048.jpg 1697w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-200x241.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-3-800x965.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Woven top and skirt by Simon Miller</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>Green mini dress by Elie Saab</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 7</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/2026/05/7-3-847x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91097" width="635" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-847x1024.jpg 847w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-232x280.jpg 232w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-768x928.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-1271x1536.jpg 1271w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-1694x2048.jpg 1694w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-200x242.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-3-800x967.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Animal print bathing suit by Elie Saab</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>Striped midi dress by Simon Miller</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 8</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/2026/05/8-2-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91098" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-2-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>Maxi dress by Elie Saab</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 9</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/2026/05/9-2-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91099" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-2-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>(left)</p>



<p>Blue striped mini dress by Simon Miller</p>



<p>(right)</p>



<p>Blue striped jumpsuit by Simon Miller</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Look 10</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/2026/05/10-782x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91100" width="587" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-214x280.jpg 214w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-768x1006.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-1564x2048.jpg 1564w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-200x262.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-800x1048.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-scaled.jpg 1955w" sizes="(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px" /></figure></div>


<p>Yellow striped top and woven skirt by Simon Miller</p>


Swim & Swirl: Breezy cover-ups and statement swim silhouettes for saltwater days and golden-hour nights


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2605/2605_GMHK_CamilleSze.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Camille Sze arrives for our cover shoot like the universe is already in on the joke. She makes a face, half comedian, half reluctant model, and gestures toward the camera crew with the energy of someone who definitely wasn’t born for posing. “I know I can’t master this part,” she says, trying a confident stance. Pausing as if expecting her body to correct itself, she manages something between a runway strut and a confused Roomba. The crew laughs; Sze laughs louder.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>She doesn’t give up on the pose, though. She grins, adjusts her hands, and leans into her own “quirky” personality with a defiant intensity. Suddenly, the shots snap into place, each one a little better than the last. The President of K.S. Sze &amp; Sons models the way she treats jewellery: not as a performance, but as an interactive craft.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Unusually, Sze has selected two locations for our cover shoot, because if you’re going to tell the story of a woman who returned to her Hong Kong roots to lead a ‘star’ legacy jeweller, you can’t do it with one address. She demands city-wide, connection-forward bling in more than one language. So after wrapping up at Nuovo furniture showroom, she breezes into private members&#8217; club HKGTA Town Club with her entourage of makeup artists, stylists, assistants and K. S. Sze &amp; Sons staff – an entire moving constellation of people who know her rhythms and standards.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Switching a standard photo into a signature statement, she strikes a pose with a bracelet worn on her leg. “It’s my way of stepping into my parents’ and family’s decades-long legacy,” she explains. “It’s challenging, but it’s every moment worth it.” With this gesture, she demonstrates how her sense of humour becomes sincerity and her sincerity strategy. Sze has not only inherited the heritage, but she’s learning to wear it with comfort, impact and a future built into every jewel.</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/2026/05/1-3-745x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91076" width="559" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-745x1024.jpg 745w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-204x280.jpg 204w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-768x1055.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-1118x1536.jpg 1118w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-1490x2048.jpg 1490w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-200x275.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-800x1099.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3-scaled.jpg 1863w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Family First</h3>



<p>Before the 2023 passing of her father, Dr. Nien Dak Sze, Sze’s life carried the familiar rhythms of the US, where she was born and educated, and where her family name – though registered in New York as a limited liability company – is a less familiar brand. K.S. Sze &amp; Sons, known as ‘Gold Star Jewellery’ in Chinese, was founded in Shanghai in 1923 by her grandfather, landed in Hong Kong in 1949, and has enjoyed pride of place as a prestige jeweller in the Mandarin Oriental since 1963, before moving to Ice House Street just recently.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Despite being armed with over a decade of award-winning creative and strategic work for Fortune 500 brands, the Harvard University alumnus’s self-doubt shows as she relates her rise to head of the family business, presenting it not as destiny, but as uncertainty, then commitment. “I never asked [the family] if I was capable of taking on the role; it seemed like a rabbit hole of negativity none of us had time to consider,” she notes.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“What I did openly acknowledge was an urgent goal of appreciating and understanding the culture of Hong Kong.” She pauses, as the pivot in the narrative turns from pressure to purpose. “Not only does this matter as a business practice, but it matters to my personal growth, above all.&nbsp; Am I a tourist here in Hong Kong? Or, is it more accurate to say, I am finally home?”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>It’s a question that threads through everything Sze does, especially the way she handles the jewels themselves – treating her heritage not like a museum artefact but as something alive and will evolve if you let it.</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/2026/05/2-2-733x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91077" width="550" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-733x1024.jpg 733w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-200x279.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-768x1073.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-1100x1536.jpg 1100w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-1466x2048.jpg 1466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-800x1117.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-2-scaled.jpg 1833w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Second Century</h3>



<p>“It’s 2026, and it’s still here,” she says of the now fourth-generation jeweller. “Mission accomplished. But there are a lot of challenges ahead.” The ‘mission accomplished’ tone is not complacency; it’s earned endurance. But now the work changes; her aim is to transform the brand as it journeys to a second successful century.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>She’s deeply grateful to her mother, Cecilia Wong Sze, for “putting up with a lot of mistake-making”, a phrase so human it almost feels like a rare gemstone: polished honesty. “I see myself as a genuine work-in-progress,” she states, adding that beginners are bestowed a gift seasoned professionals sometimes lose: the willingness to ask, test and revise.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The mother’s experience has shaped the daughter’s confidence, not by silencing mistakes but by creating an environment where mistakes can become learning. “We are a team,” she says. “But let me be perfectly honest about a clear line of distinction: she is my mother, a trusted guide to listen and learn from. I am more than lucky… I am truly, truly blessed.” Cecilia provides the strategic elegance, while Camille is the relentless driver behind the transformation.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>While recognising that working closely with family comes with “pitfalls”, she also names the antidote: trust. She credits her staff as “the walls holding up the company’s earned trust. With that trust comes something indispensable: we create room for each other as a team to grow.”</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/2026/05/3-2-719x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91078" width="719" height="1024" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-719x1024.jpg 719w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-197x280.jpg 197w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-768x1093.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-1079x1536.jpg 1079w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-1439x2048.jpg 1439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-200x285.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-800x1139.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-2-scaled.jpg 1799w" sizes="(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Priceless Luxury</h3>



<p>Sze offers a sharp, practical definition of luxury – one that isn’t designed for social media: “The apex of luxury is not the sheen of marketing.” For her, luxury is comfort, atmosphere, and the feeling that jewellery lovers will be treated with dignity and patience. “Ownership standing guard on the premises is rare in the jewellery business,” she says.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Then she reframes the company’s business philosophy: clients are not trend-chasing consumers; they are collectors, appreciators, people who have risen with Hong Kong’s own jewellery evolution. They don’t want gimmicks; they want fit, adjustment, convenience and aftercare. “We don’t Google their status,” she says. “We don’t play games with their right to be served.” She calls her clients brilliant and their creativity priceless. Jewellery isn’t viewed as a product line, but a shared narrative.</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/2026/05/4-2-801x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91079" width="601" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-801x1024.jpg 801w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-219x280.jpg 219w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-768x982.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-1202x1536.jpg 1202w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-1602x2048.jpg 1602w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-200x256.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-800x1022.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-2-scaled.jpg 2003w" sizes="(max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sentimental Sustainability</h3>



<p>She describes stepping into her father’s shoes after his passing as a challenge, then a bond “post mortem”. She unpacked boxes, thousands of gems, read his handwritten notes and treasured his keepsakes. From that exploration came the Leftovers project, a personal search for ways to keep her father closer through the objects he helped shape. It has become popular with a wave of clientele who want to renew their own jewellery and remembrances.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“For every missing earring, there is an opportunity to create a charm or pendant,” she says. “For every heirloom buried at the bottom of a jewellery box, there is an opportunity for deeply meaningful transformation.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Under her leadership, the company has created custom pieces that transform these ‘leftovers’, including a diamond-encased David Yurman dog tag. Shattered jade doesn’t get thrown away; it gets treasured, reinterpreted and reimagined for clients. They even accept customer requests to repair beloved jewels from other brands, from Cartier to Mikimoto. To Sze and family, it’s an honour and a privilege to help savour love for jewellery.</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/2026/05/5-2-758x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91081" width="569" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-758x1024.jpg 758w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-207x280.jpg 207w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-768x1038.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-1137x1536.jpg 1137w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-1515x2048.jpg 1515w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-200x270.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-800x1081.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-2-scaled.jpg 1894w" sizes="(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Camille Cameo</h3>



<p>Today, she wears her father’s vintage Burberry necktie close to her heart, adorned with some of her latest creations. She stops for a moment during the interview, eyes focused somewhere between concentration and courage. Then barely audible, like a private thought meant for the universe alone, she whispers to herself: “Let’s do this, Dad. We got this.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Camille Sze doesn’t just represent K.S. Sze &amp; Sons, she inhabits it – humorously, bravely, and with the kind of conviction that only comes from learning to be at home in your own story. And when a century-old business becomes yours to transform, you don’t pose perfectly for the camera. You revise and adjust constantly, and while you keep the gems close, you step forward.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa&nbsp;&nbsp; Photographer: Jack Law&nbsp;&nbsp; Videographer: Iris Ventura &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hair styling: Annakay Simpson-Upadek&nbsp;&nbsp; Makeup: Jaime Smith&nbsp;&nbsp; Venues: Nuovo Collection Showroom &amp; HKGTA Town Club&nbsp;&nbsp; Jewelleries: K.S. Sze &amp; SONS Jewels, Friendship bracelets, earrings and anklet&nbsp;&nbsp; Wardrobe: Katerin Theys</p>


Soaring Star: Cast to the head of a century-old jewellery legacy, Camille Sze seizes the moment to shine


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tai Chi 40th Anniversary 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/2026/05/1-2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91057" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>One of Hong Kong’s most iconic musical buddies, Tai Chi is rocking the city to mark its joyful 40th anniversary in the music industry. After four decades of big beats and even bigger smiles, Patrick Lui, Joey Tang, Ernest Lau, Eddy Sing and Ricky Chu are ready to celebrate in style in their hometown with a spectacular concert – Tai Chi 40th Anniversary World Tour Live at Kai Tak. This is not just a show; it’s a happy reunion of memories, melodies and harmonies made for fans who’ve been there from day one in 1985 (and for newcomers ready to join).</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> &nbsp;2 May</p>



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



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



<p>For more information:&nbsp;<strong>hkt.hkticketing.com</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">25+ EEG Family 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/2026/05/2-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91056" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Emperor Entertainment Group casts the city’s music talents over the past quarter of a century for a one-in-a-life-time concert that will blow audiences’ minds. Backed by an epic HK$100 million-plus production budget, a powerhouse creative team of Andrew Lau, William Chang and Carl Wong, and a stage built for wonder, Kai Tak turns into a world-class amusement park of memories. Expect legendary voices, stunning new stars and cross-generational surprises that sing the past into the future. <strong></strong></p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 3 &amp; 4 May</p>



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



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



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bizet’s Carmen</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/2026/05/3-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91058" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Get ready to meet <em>Carmen</em>, but in 1970s Hong Kong, where the streets sizzle, new dreams pop up everywhere, and every corner feels like a turning point. Presented by Opera Hong Kong in collaboration with the French May Arts Festival, this fresh production directed by Jia Ding places Georges Bizet’s masterpiece against an electrifying era of rapid growth, cultural exchange and pure, unstoppable momentum. The story flutters through iconic locations, with the classic opera’s themes of passion, hope and destiny colliding with the city’s vibe of transformation. Curtain up – history sings its heart out!</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 7-10 May</p>



<p><strong>Where:</strong> Cultural Centre Grand Theatre</p>



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



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">DJ Snake Live</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/2026/05/4-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91060" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Victoria Harbour shore is about to become a giant dance floor, as DJ Snake headlines a massive outdoor night at Central Harbourfront Event Space. Get your groove on with DJ Fabsabs and DJ Steffunn’s Canto disco. Then sway to the sounds of three-time DMC China Champion DJ Wordy from Beijing and the Chengdu-bred support act, Higher Brothers, climaxed by DJ Snake’s French electronic flair.</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 8 May</p>



<p><strong>Where:</strong> Central Harbourfront Event Space</p>



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



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Laufey 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/2026/05/5-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91061" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Icelandic icon’s A Matter of Time Tour is landing in Hong Kong to deliver her unique brand of cosy energy: silky vocals, piano shimmer and songs that make even your heart check the calendar. Imagine a night where every note feels like a memory you didn’t know you missed – gentle, dreamy, and just a little bit unstoppable. this concert is your ticket to slow-dancing with destiny and crooning along like you own the moment.</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 12 May</p>



<p><strong>Where:</strong> AsiaWorld-Arena, Chek Lap Kok</p>



<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$699</p>



<p>For more information: <strong>livenation.hk</strong><em></em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Affordable Art Fair</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/2026/05/6-2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91062" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/6-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Expect a colourful treasure hunt featuring works by local and international artists, brought here by more than 100 leading galleries to be offered at accessible prices, ranging from HK$1,000 up to a maximum of $100,000. Galleries from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond join the fun – many are regulars at the fair that has grown to encompass some 15 cities worldwide since the 1999 inaugural event in London.</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 14-17 May</p>



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



<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$175</p>



<p>For more information: <strong>affordableartfare.com</strong><em></em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Whisky 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/2026/05/7-2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91063" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/7-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>This annual celebration of whisky pours out the excitement over a wonderful wet weekend through a line-up of global brands, rare editions and seriously fun tastings that will have your palate doing happy backflips. The Hong Kong Whisky Festival is your passport to the fascinating world of whisky. You can toast to great discoveries and savour limited-edition bottles that feel like little liquid legends.</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 16 &amp; 17 May</p>



<p><strong>Where:</strong> InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui East.</p>



<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$188</p>



<p>For more information: hongkong.intercontinental.com</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Comic Con</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/2026/05/8-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91064" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/8-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Gear up to cosy up with blockbuster studios, major entertainment IPs, and global celebrity sparkle. Hollywood and Western cinema, Asian cinema, gaming, collectibles and star-studded moments that will make your camera icon sweaty. Expect packed press conferences, epic one-on-ones with Mads Mikkelsen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Leung and more, and fans in full cosplay power.</p>



<p><strong>When:</strong> 29-31 May</p>



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



<p><strong>How much:</strong> From HK$150</p>



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">French GourMay</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/2026/05/9-1-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91065" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-448x280.jpg 448w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1-800x500.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/9-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>This major Food &amp; Wine Festival is proudly organised annually under the French May Arts Festival umbrella. Now in its 17th edition, French GourMay is zooming its spotlight on the French Alps, unveiling Savoie – a region small in size, big on personality, and bursting with charm.</p>



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



<p><strong>Where:</strong> More than 150 partner restaurants, retailers and learning centres roll out special offers for the city’s foodies.</p>



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



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


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


<p>When it comes to making waves in the world of luxury yachting, Ferretti Group has truly set the tide rolling at the stunning Hainan Clearwater Bay. Last February 2 to 8, 2026, this elite Italian marque made an unforgettable splash at the Clearwater Bay International Yacht Show, partnering with its exclusive mainland China dealer, Speedo Marine, to showcase a fleet that’s as breathtaking as the bay itself. Against the backdrop of the new marina development, Ferretti’s sleek vessels gleamed like diamonds on the water, turning heads and raising eyebrows among luxury connoisseurs and maritime aficionados alike.&nbsp;</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/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90818" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-Weixin-Image_20260224152700-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>But the real wave of excitement hit on February 23, when guests, owners, and VIPs gathered at the waterfront for a double celebration that was nothing short of extraordinary, with anticipation as the world premiere of the stunning Ferretti Yachts 580 and the Wallywhy200 in its exclusive Loro Piana limited edition took centre stage.</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/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90819" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-Weixin-Image_20260226232741_424_41-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Adding to the thrill, Speedo Marine unveiled its brand-new showroom, an elegant space that promises to be the epicentre of luxury yachting in the region. But Ferretti’s wave of cultural engagement didn’t stop there. From February 23 to 25, the company’s commitment to artistry and tradition was on full display at the Tan Dun New Year Concert held at the Clearwater Bay Maritime Art Center. Imagine a night where music and maritime elegance melded seamlessly, Tan Dun’s compositions flowing like the gentle undulations of the sea, each note illuminating the night like the shimmering wake behind a yacht gliding through crystal-clear waters.&nbsp;</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/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-1024x661.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90820" width="768" height="496" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-1024x661.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-433x280.jpg 433w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-768x496.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-1536x992.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-2048x1323.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-200x129.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-Weixin-Image_20260224152426-800x517.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Meanwhile, the Riva Brand Exhibition took visitors on a voyage through 184 years of Italian nautical excellence. From historic shipyards that crafted legendary vessels to silver-screen icons that immortalized the Riva name, the exhibit was a treasure trove of stories, craftsmanship, and timeless design. Visitors embarked on an immersive journey, discovering the evolution of a brand that has defined the essence of elegance on water for nearly two centuries.&nbsp;</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/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-1024x675.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90821" width="768" height="506" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-1024x675.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-425x280.jpg 425w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-768x506.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-2048x1349.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-Weixin-Image_20260226150221_417_41-800x527.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>For yacht owners and connoisseurs alike, it was a wave of memories and moments that will ripple through the years to come. With its blend of cutting-edge design, rich heritage, and cultural finesse, Ferretti’s 2026 event season proved that when it comes to making a splash, they’re always riding the crest of the wave.&nbsp;</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/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-1024x669.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90822" width="768" height="502" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-428x280.jpg 428w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-768x502.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-1536x1004.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-2048x1339.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-200x131.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-Weixin-Image_20260224152354-800x523.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Ready to set sail on your next adventure? Dive into the world of Ferretti and experience the ultimate in luxury and elegance, where every wave whispers a story.</p>


Waves of Elegance at Ferretti’s Previlege Day: Riding the crest of culture and luxury at Hainan Clearwater Bay


<p><em>Rolex and the Asian Film Awards Academy bring you the Jia Zhangke Masterclass, where everyday life becomes blockbuster cinema.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260417180714_1080P.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Some collaborations are built to last, like a well-wound film reel bound for greatness. The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) is proud to announce its partnership with Rolex as the Exclusive Timepiece of the 19th Asian Film Awards, uniting two powerhouses to celebrate the rich heritage and bold evolution of Asian cinema.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Last 15th March, the spotlight stage was focused on the Asian Film Awards – Jia Zhangke Masterclass, presented in partnership with Rolex through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative. Think of it as a cinematic “director’s cut” of philosophy, craft, and the kind of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">When Ordinary Becomes Iconic</h3>



<p>Jia Zhangke doesn’t just make films; he makes <em>meaning</em>. Growing up in a small town, he developed an instinct for the way society shifts around real people, in real time. His stories are subtle, quietly emphatic, and devastatingly human.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>In this masterclass, Jia shared the guiding principles behind his distinctive approach to filmmaking, exploring how cinema can:</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<ul>
<li>mirror reality with precision,</li>



<li>and accumulate deeper meaning over time,</li>



<li>turning local experiences into global resonance.</li>
</ul>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>This is for aspiring filmmakers, cinema lovers, and anyone who’s ever wondered how an ordinary moment becomes a scene you can’t forget.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Art of Passing the Torch</h3>



<p>For more than half a century, Rolex has supported creative visionaries and partnered with cultural institutions to help artistic heritage travel from past to present to future. That commitment lives at the heart of the Perpetual Arts Initiative, a global framework celebrating arts across fields like architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Similarly, AFAA is dedicated to nurturing rising talent, encouraging growth through patience, experience, and exchange. Together, Rolex and AFAA aren’t just celebrating filmmakers. They’re ensuring the craft keeps moving forward.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Built on Legacy and a Little Bit of Magic</h3>



<p>Jia Zhangke’s career began in the 1990s, earning international recognition for his independent, realistic storytelling, offering audiences a window into the lives of ordinary citizens navigating a changing nation. He believes cinema is both art and technology, and that it must be passed on from generation to generation.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>To that end, Jia has actively nurtured emerging filmmakers, including a two-year Rolex mentoring collaboration (2023–2024) with emerging Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel, and he officially became a Rolex Testimonee in 2024.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>And if you’re thinking, “why does this matter?”—it’s because the future of Asian cinema doesn’t arrive by accident. It arrives through mentorship, dialogue, and a commitment to craft.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rolex’s Director’s Notes Style</h3>



<p>Rolex Greater China CEO Maxim Lamarre shared that Rolex is proud to partner with AFAA to present this significant Masterclass, highlighting Rolex’s dedication to excellence, the transmission of artistic heritage, and the future development of filmmaking in Asia.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>AFAA Chairman Dr. Wilfred Wong added that the Asian Film Awards has become a key international platform connecting filmmakers and audiences across Asia, and that this collaboration marks the start of something meaningful.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>And AFAA Executive Director Josie Lin said Jia represents the spirit of excellence and integrity that Rolex recognizes, with the Academy sharing the same commitment to discovering outstanding talent across Asia and expanding platforms for exchange.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Facts You’ll Want to Keep Paused on Screen</h3>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<ul>
<li>Rolex is the Exclusive Timepiece of the 19th Asian Film Awards.</li>



<li>Rolex and AFAA present the Asian Film Awards – Jia Zhangke Masterclass on 15 March (in partnership through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative)</li>



<li>Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative supports and celebrates artists and institutions that uphold cultural legacy and cultivate rising talent.</li>
</ul>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Because Cinema isn’t just watched, it’s passed on. So grab your metaphorical popcorn, cue the opening scene, and get ready for a masterclass that doesn’t merely teach filmmaking, it celebrates the heartbeat behind it.</p>


Lights. Camera. Perpetual Excellence!


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2026/2604/2604_GMHK_ChristineDeschemin.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Christine Deschemin’s calm, sun-lit abode in Repulse Bay is the ideal environment to discuss stressors and sleeping patterns. As we admire her lush-green mountain and sea views, the CEO of Renewed Edge Hypnotherapy Centre suddenly digresses with a laugh: “And right over there lives one of the richest tycoons in Hong Kong. And over there is a celebrity.” It’s actually an apt introduction: her approach to mental health, the panorama is both grounding and expansive – rooted in science, open to possibility.</p>



<div style="height:14px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Deschemin’s CV reads like a page-turning novel that begins with aeronautical blueprints and ends with guided breathing tracks. Earning a Master of Science degree from École Polytechnique and an MBA from Harvard Business School gave her razor-sharp analytical tools and business savvy. But early on, she discovered that systems thinking could be applied to a system far more intricate than a rocket: the human mind. Childhood inquisitiveness, questions about flight mechanics and an interest in human behaviour grew into a career that blends engineering precision with clinical compassion.</p>



<div style="height:14px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“I grew up in an environment that celebrated curiosity and problem-solving,” shares the French national, who came to Hong Kong in 2012 as a wealth manager. After years of optimising aeronautics and making decisions in high-pressure banking environments, she realised that the most consequential system to improve was human wellbeing. The pivot felt less like an escape and more like an upgrade: same rigour, but new, and profoundly human, payoff.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="680" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-680x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90907" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-768x1156.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-1020x1536.jpg 1020w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-1360x2048.jpg 1360w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-200x301.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-800x1204.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0631-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 1700w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fencer, Financier, Founder</h3>



<p>The certified hypnotherapist is no stranger to pressure. As a former competitive fencer, she learned to size up the opposition, react in milliseconds, and keep composure under duress. “In épée, you’re constantly reading your opponent and adjusting tactics,” she says. Those instincts proved invaluable when launching her hypnotherapy centre a decade ago, and the digital suite that followed. Entrepreneurship, she argues, is a tactical sport: preparation, repetition, discipline and the willingness to learn from every touché.</p>



<div style="height:14px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>In 2020, Deschemin released the UpNow app to bring self-hypnosis to anyone with a smartphone. The app’s self-hypnosis downloads were developed to make mental health affordable and portable, an idea that felt urgent as the Covid pandemic frayed sleep and increased anxiety worldwide.</p>



<div style="height:14px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>An early testimonial still moves her: a woman in her 60s, living far away, who reported sleeping again after using the app. “What struck me most was her gratitude for having access to efficacious interventions at an affordable cost,” she recalls. The story is evidence of what she terms her core mission: democratising access to quality care so suffering no longer depends on postcodes or bank accounts.</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/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-822x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90909" width="617" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-822x1024.jpg 822w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-225x280.jpg 225w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-768x957.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-1233x1536.jpg 1233w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-1644x2048.jpg 1644w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-200x249.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0636-copy_edit-800x997.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Where Science Meets Soul</h3>



<p>Precision empathy is the secret sauce. Her work is deliberately multidisciplinary; hypnotherapy, psychology and digital therapeutics are strands woven into a single rope. “École Polytechnique taught me to think in systems and demand mathematical precision,” she explains. While at Harvard, she learnt how to scale solutions. The result: evidence-based programs that feel humane, not mechanical.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Her hypnotherapy downloads were created and voiced by clinicians and crafted using techniques with strong clinical roots (including elements of neuro-linguistic programming and mindfulness). Rejecting the binary that pits scientific rigour against compassion, she champions “precision empathy”, using data to determine what works, then delivering it in ways that respect people’s lives, cultures and constraints.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Asia presents unique challenges to the hypnotherapist: stigma, a performance-driven culture, and uneven access to care. She addresses stigma by reframing mental health as performance optimisation rather than weakness. Digital delivery lowers cost barriers and preserves privacy, which is critical in communities where face-saving matters.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>She’s optimistic about culturally adapted models. “Digital therapeutics allow us to reach populations who would never walk into a therapist’s office but will engage with an app,” she says. Her strategic aim is to create programs that feel both culturally relevant and clinically reliable. Small downloads can realise big life changes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stories That Count</h3>



<p>Beyond metrics, Deschemin is motivated by stories: the executive who reclaimed sleep, the athlete who regained focus, the midlife woman who found relief during menopause. These aren’t anecdotes to her; they’re a north star. The note from the woman who hadn’t slept in weeks during the Covid crisis demonstrated that accessible interventions can restore everyday life in ways often dismissed by conventional healthcare.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Running a company is like managing a team bout in fencing. She brings a governance-minded clarity to growth, and board roles taught her the balance between risk and innovation. She empowers colleagues with autonomy and clear resources, fostering a culture of competence and trust. “I give people challenging goals and the tools to achieve them, then get out of their way,” she says. The result is a virtuous cycle where empowered teams iterate quickly and responsibly.</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/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-822x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90910" width="617" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-822x1024.jpg 822w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-225x280.jpg 225w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-768x957.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-1233x1536.jpg 1233w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-1644x2048.jpg 1644w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-200x249.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0693-copy_edit-800x997.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Practical Zen</h3>



<p>Deschemin is candid about the personal cost of her healthcare entrepreneurship: it’s easy to neglect one’s own well-being. So, she has daily non-negotiables, including sufficient sleep and long walks in Hong Kong’s hills. Nature is her reset button: a place to process, plan and replenish. These rituals keep her grounded so she can keep giving, because she notes, “you cannot pour from an empty cup”.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Looking ahead, she wants to offer a suite of evidence-based digital therapeutics for menopause, anxiety, sleep, gastrointestinal conditions and stress-related disorders. Her five-to-10-year goal is to integrate these programs into healthcare systems and insurers’ coverage, so evidence-based digital therapies are standard care rather than fringe options. “Success is impact at scale, and for me that means millions finding relief where none existed before,” she says.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clear View, Clearer Mind</h3>



<p>As our visit ends, Deschemin gestures toward the bay and the mountain. The view is more than scenic, it’s metaphorical. “When your vantage point is clear, you make better decisions,” she says. The same goes for mental health: a clearer inner view, less cluttered by stress and distorted thinking, allows people to act with agency and grace. The vista from her house is a daily reminder that perspective matters. Whether you’re facing a tycoon’s mansion or the turbulence of burnout, a clean line of sight makes the way forward easier to see.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The compassionate hypnotherapist would likely appreciate the subtlety of the pun that she’s built a career helping people get their minds ‘up now’. From rocket science to guided relaxation, she’s proving that a clear view – of the horizon and the mind – makes all the difference.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



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


Mind Master: From rockets to relaxation, Renewed Edge Hypnotherapy Centre’s Christine Deschemin charts a new path in wellbeing


<p>This year, Parfums MDCI, the independent perfumery house renowned for its dedication to craftsmanship, turns a glorious 20 with the unveiling of Vétyver Messager, a new woody aromatic masterpiece that encapsulates vitality and springtime joy. For two decades, MDCI has been forging a path of originality, collaborating with world-class perfumers and creating limited-edition jewels of scent, each bottle a tiny work of art.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Founded by Claude Marchal, MDCI’s journey is rooted in a passion for quality over quantity. “When I started, the term ‘niche’ didn’t even exist,” Claude reflects. “We focused on slow, artisanal French craftsmanship, sourcing rare materials, and creating fragrances with true personality. Our goal has always been to craft beautiful bottles and perfumes that are wearable, timeless, and emotionally resonant.” Over the years, the house has released 24 distinctive fragrances, each meticulously handcrafted and refined, embodying the French tradition of perfumery as a luxurious art form.</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/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90739" width="768" height="514" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-419x280.jpg 419w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-2048x1369.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-200x134.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WechatIMG2137-800x535.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>“It’s a return to the essentials with a modern twist,” Claude explains. “Vetiver is a versatile note, capable of many interpretations, and in this fragrance, it’s infused with aromatic clarity that evokes vitali ty and optimism. It fills the gap in our vetiver line and captures the spirit of spring.” The fragrance’s green jade-like beads on its bottle symbolize freshness and renewal, echoing the lush vitality of nature.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>In the world of MDCI, fragrances are divided into the Classic and the Painter and Perfumer collections. The Classic line features elegant tassels—red with blue beads for men, white with pearl beads for women—each detail imbued with significance. Vétyver Messager’s green beads pay homage to the brand’s dedication to meaningful artistry, a testament to its heritage.</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/2026/03/09-790x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90740" width="593" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-790x1024.jpg 790w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-216x280.jpg 216w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-768x995.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-1185x1536.jpg 1185w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-1580x2048.jpg 1580w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-200x259.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-800x1037.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/09-scaled.jpg 1975w" sizes="(max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px" /></figure></div>


<p>The house’s dedication to beauty rituals extends to MDCI Beauté, launched in collaboration with Limoges’ renowned porcelain artisans. These limited-edition porcelain coffrets, inspired by the French Grand Siècle and painted with motifs reminiscent of François Boucher and Honoré Fragonard, elevate the act of self-care into an art form. Decorated with gold accents and delicate floral motifs, each piece is a collectible treasure—an exquisite vessel for your skincare routine.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Claude Marchal emphasizes, “Beauty is a ritual. It’s about slowing down and appreciating the exquisite details—touching a porcelain box, feeling its weight, and savoring the moment.” The luxurious boxes, crafted in limited, numbered editions, turn everyday self-care into a cherished ceremony, blending timeless art with modern elegance.</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/2026/03/VM20-1024x708.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90741" width="768" height="531" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20-1024x708.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20-405x280.jpg 405w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20-768x531.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20-200x138.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20-800x553.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VM20.jpg 1138w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>When asked about success, Claude responds, “It’s about legacy and staying true to our values. When a fragrance helps someone through a pivotal moment, that’s success. Happiness, for me, is found in simple joys—nature, quiet moments, and sharing love.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Perfume, Claude believes, is a powerful vessel of memory. “A scent can transport you through time,” he says. “It’s a dialogue with the soul.” Whether it’s the nostalgic sweetness of Vêpres Siciliennes or the evocative familiarity of Le Barbier de Tanger, MDCI’s fragrances are designed to leave indelible impressions.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Shop Location</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>CAUSEWAY BAY</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Shop 28, G/F, 11-19 Great George Street, Fashion Walk</p>



<p>info@scentedniche.com     Tel: 2608 2206</p>



<div style="height:25px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>TSIM SHA TSUI</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Shop 210A, Level 2, 18 Salisbury Road, K11 Musea</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>info_k11musea@scentedniche.com.    Tel: 2608 2205</p>


A Scent-sational Celebration: Parfums MDCI’s 20 Years of fragrant art; crafting memories, one bottle at a time


<p>The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens did not start as a spectacle at kick-off in Happy Valley half a century ago. It began, as many enduring cultural institutions do, almost accidentally. Back then, the sport existed on the margins. Rugby was played largely within the expatriate community, sustained by club culture and social networks that operated somewhat apart from the city’s mainstream consciousness. In this context, the tournament’s role in bringing the city and people from around the world together over an oval ball for an exhilarating long weekend is a remarkable feat.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Hong Kong was a very different city in the mid-1970s; smaller, rougher at the edges, and still negotiating its identity as an international hub, it was defined more by transit and trade than by lifestyle. Skyscrapers had not yet fully asserted the skyline’s authority, and while finance was growing, it had not yet become the city’s dominant narrative. The prevailing mood was industrious rather than expressive.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>When the idea of hosting a Rugby Sevens tournament was first proposed during discussions between the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and then sponsors Rothmans and Cathay Pacific, it carried none of the ambition or theatrical scale that would later define it. There was no sweeping cultural blueprint, no strategic ambition to manufacture a global brand.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The shortened format of Sevens – seven players per side for rapid matches – appealed for practical reasons. It allowed multiple games to be staged across a single weekend, making travel worthwhile for visiting teams. It was efficient, compact and manageable. In a city that valued efficiency above excess, that practicality was sufficient justification.</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/2026/04/1-2-1024x625.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90829" width="768" height="469" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-1024x625.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-459x280.jpg 459w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-768x469.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-1536x937.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-2048x1250.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-200x122.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2-800x488.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rugby Roar</h3>



<p>Yet that modest premise proved quietly transformative. When the first Hong Kong Sevens took place in 1976, featuring teams from across Asia and the Pacific, it did more than fill a sporting gap. It positioned the city as a regional meeting point at a time when global connectivity had not yet entered everyday vocabulary. Hong Kong’s economic role as an intermediary between continents found a cultural parallel inside the stadium. Teams arrived from different countries; supporters followed; flags appeared in the stands. For a few days, the city’s outward-facing identity condensed into a shared physical space.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>What distinguished the tournament in its early years was not only the quality of play but the atmosphere that began to form around it. The shortened format generated momentum. Matches were brief, intense and closely scheduled, leaving little room for inertia. The pace encouraged constant engagement, with spectators becoming animated participants. The crowd responded collectively to sudden tries and dramatic turnovers. Laughter, chanting and applause moved in waves.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Since the Sevens grew organically, it feels fundamentally different from other large-scale gatherings. Its character formed through repetition – staged on the same weekend, year after year – and through the steady layering of memory. Attendees learned the rhythm of the event almost instinctively. They knew when anticipation would peak and when energy would dip, and this shared familiarity reduced the distance between strangers.</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/2026/04/2-2-1024x531.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90830" width="768" height="398" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-1024x531.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-540x280.jpg 540w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-768x399.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-1536x797.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-2048x1063.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-200x104.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-800x415.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Success and Fancy Dress</h3>



<p>As Hong Kong established itself as a financial powerhouse and global crossroads in the 1980s and 1990s, the Sevens evolved alongside it. The tournament broadened its international reach and migrated venues – from the Football Club, where 3,000 spectators watched the debut one-day event, to the 28,000-capacity Government Stadium in 1982, which was modernised in the 1990s and renamed the Hong Kong Stadium, to the spanking new 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium last year. The Sevens embedded itself into the city’s annual calendar, becoming a fixed point in an environment otherwise defined by constant acceleration.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The tournament culture was shaped more by the people who attended than by official programming. Traditions accumulated gradually. Attending in fancy dress emerged not as orchestrated fashion statements but as spontaneous gestures among groups of friends. One year’s joke became the next year’s expectation. The humour was playful, and the visual chaos in the stands signalled collective belonging rather than curated identity.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>This ethos was already cemented by 1997 when the tournament achieved global recognition – this was the year Hong Kong hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens, and its success was instrumental in the launch of the World Sevens Series in 1999. Loud, irreverent and communal, the emphasis rested on a raucous collective mood – epitomised by the alcohol-fuelled party atmosphere of Hong Kong Stadium’s South Stand – rather than individual performance.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>People were absorbed into a larger current of energy. Expertise in rugby was welcome but unnecessary. Enthusiasm was the only requirement, and the crowd functioned as a temporary community, unified by rhythm rather than background.</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/2026/04/3-2-1024x636.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90831" width="768" height="477" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-1024x636.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-450x280.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-768x477.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-200x124.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2-800x497.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-2.jpg 1855w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communal Party</h3>



<p>Until this day, exuberance coexists with inclusivity during the Sevens weekend. Families share sections with longtime supporters and first-time visitors. Colleagues temporarily suspend workplace hierarchies. Conversations unfold without formal introduction. Groups select shared costume themes that transform them into collective characters. The result is an egalitarian spectacle in which participation matters more than polish. The stands resemble a living collage, constantly shifting yet unified.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Beyond the stadium, the city subtly reconfigures itself. Bars and restaurants function as informal meeting points, encounters between strangers occur with unusual ease, and the streets feel even more vibrant. The tempo of daily life adjusts, if only briefly. The Sevens reframes Hong Kong’s intensity, and energy becomes celebratory rather than transactional.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>While the tournament does not promise reinvention or transformation, it permits suspension of boundaries between economic status and cultural divide, between locals and expatriates, between residents and visitors. In a city known for discipline and efficiency, collective exuberance carries symbolic weight. The permission to relax, to cheer loudly and dress absurdly feels restorative – and because that permission is shared, it rarely tips into bad behaviour or mayhem.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Although social media captures fragments of the weekend, the memory of the Sevens resides in sensation: tired legs from standing, hoarse voices from chanting, sun-warmed skin or soaked to the skin – monsoon-like downpours are not uncommon on the tournament weekend – and the faint disorientation of Monday morning. These embodied traces anchor recollection more powerfully than photographs.</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/2026/04/4-2-1024x652.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-90832" width="768" height="489" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-1024x652.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-440x280.jpg 440w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-768x489.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-1536x978.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-200x127.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2-800x509.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4-2.jpg 1863w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inclusive Scores</h3>



<p>As the Hong Kong Sevens has matured over 50 years, it has absorbed social change without abandoning its foundations. Women’s rugby has gained deserved prominence, and youth engagement has expanded. Local representation has deepened, reflecting Hong Kong’s evolving demographics. These developments extend the tournament’s inclusive spirit.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>By Sunday evening, as final matches conclude and the crowd thins, the release subsides gently. Costumes are folded away until next year. Bars quieten, and the city resumes its habitual tempo. Yet a subtle recalibration lingers. The Sevens endures because it offers continuity within change. It is not spectacle engineered for consumption, but ritual sustained by return.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>From 17-19 April this year, Hong Kong will gather once again over multiple rugby matches, heralding recognition of shared history, shared space and shared release. The Sevens is not about the self; it champions collective presence and community – and that enduring simplicity remains its quiet distinction and lasting relevance.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>For many residents, particularly those who have witnessed Hong Kong’s rapid economic and political transformations, the Sevens acts as a temporal anchor. The city has weathered cycles of prosperity and uncertainty, demographic change and shifting global relationships. Neighbourhoods have been reshaped; industries have risen and receded. Through these fluctuations, the Sevens has remained. Its recurrence provides continuity in a landscape often defined by impermanence.</p>


Tag: hong kong