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<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/2308/2308_GMHK_Interview_Hanslo.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>The Lai Chi Kok docks in West Kowloon, sheltered by the protrusion of land that is Stonecutters Island, is not a popular destination for most locals. At the very end of a three-minute walk through a labyrinth of rebars, tower cranes, a manually built wooden bridge and all things industrial, sits a luxury yacht, visible enough through the help of orange and white flags. This is where Hans Lo has chosen to meet.</p>



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<p>“Yachting is a luxury business, but behind its glamour lies a lot of hard and physical work. Come right in,” says the yacht builder as he welcomes our team aboard.</p>



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<p>As a fifth-generation member of the Lo family, who began their craft in Shanghai in the late 19th century, then moved Cheoy Lee Shipyards to Hong Kong in 1936, Hans shares in the legacy of helming the oldest shipbuilders in Hong Kong. The Los were also among the forerunners of fibreglass yacht construction, collaborating with Lloyd’s Register to create regulations for GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) boat construction back in the 1960s, and building the then-largest fibreglass yacht, the 130-foot Shango II, in 1975.</p>



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<p>Cheoy Lee relocated its shipbuilding facility from Penny’s Bay to Zhuhai, China in 1996, and today is one of the producers of commercial vessels, considered the best in the world.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="512" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4358-copy_p.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76887" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4358-copy_p.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4358-copy_p-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4358-copy_p-200x133.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sweater, shirt, trousers and shoes by Ralph Lauren</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>A Queen’s University Civil Engineering alumnus, Hong Kong-born, Canadian-educated Lo confesses to starting at the bottom in the family shipyard – laying up fibreglass and helping with vacuum infusion on a few projects before moving on to other aspects of yacht building. He quickly grasped the process of a build, and over time took on a broader role; he became Deputy Director of CL Yachts – the pleasure-craft arm of the parent company – in 2019.</p>



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<p>Lo spent a large portion of his youth at the Cheoy Lee facility, returning during summer vacations after his family settled in Vancouver when he was seven years old. “Growing up, my family and I would go to bai san by boat, and as a kid, I thought that was just normal for everybody,” he says. “It was only later on that I realised the reason we were doing this is because our family builds ships. It’s very much a part of our life.”</p>



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<p>True to his great-great-grandfather’s visionary roots, Lo is not standing still; he is thinking grand-scale for CL Yachts. “In 10 years, I hope we’ve established ourselves in Hong Kong and Australia – our biggest targets right now in terms of yacht sales,” he says.</p>



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<p>His 10-year plan has already commenced. At their production facility, they are currently developing an innovative commercial project involving carbon fibre and hybrid technology for a more sustainable approach to the yacht industry – a move towards a greener carbon footprint.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stance and Ballast</h3>



<p>Now 40, the millennial engineer has grey hairs perfectly sprinkled through both sides of his crew cut; and he embraces them, saying: “Age is just a number and we should be proud of it. As we age, we collect learnings and these make us a better version of ourselves. I’d like to believe that I am in my prime working potential.”</p>



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<p>As we head out to sea for the photo shoot, he proudly shows us around their<a href="https://clyachts.com/range/clb65/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> flagship yacht CLB65,</a> hailing its development as CL Yachts&#8217; most significant career accomplishment to date. A striking departure from traditional motor yachts, the 19.7-metre craft has received prizes internationally for its creativity, adaptability and versatility. “What makes this project more special is that the interior design was conceptualised by my wife,” he notes.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="683" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4447-copy_p.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76888" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4447-copy_p.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4447-copy_p-205x280.jpg 205w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4447-copy_p-200x273.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jakcet by Zegna Trousers by Nanushka, courtesy of The Outnet Shoes by Ralph Lauren</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The balancing of work and family time has always been smooth sailing for Lo, who uses the fact that he is part of a family business to his advantage. For him, family and work can be the same thing. However, he is changing things up a little to be a better dad and husband than the generation before him. Showing us a recent photo of himself, his wife and their two-year-old, he shares that his father was like an astronaut during his formative years.</p>



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<p>“Being a father was tough in my dad&#8217;s generation. He needed to travel back and forth to Canada, and it made seeing us difficult. I want to be around for my son as much as I can. Being present is important in a young&#8217;s child life,” he reiterates.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wave Encounters</h3>



<p>Just as we are talking about alternative plans in life, Lo interrupts himself mid-sentence to rush to his yacht engineer, who has accidentally slipped down the stairs. As we make haste back to land, he says that every member of his team plays a crucial role in making the yacht-building business work. And so, to plan B we go – a two-hour photoshoot at the headquarters of CL Yachts where he discusses the nature of pleasure-boating in between outfit changes; with a laugh, he describes one ensemble as a boyband look.</p>



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<p>Luxury yachting is, by definition, extreme and extravagant; some would say over the top. However, as he points out, there is a whole industry that supports the yachting sector and employs hundreds of thousands of hardworking people worldwide. “For us, there&#8217;s luxury in practicality. When you&#8217;re aboard our boats, you&#8217;ll find easy access to everything you want to do. Our boats are true sea-going vessels,” he explains.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="750" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4533-copy_p.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76889" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4533-copy_p.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4533-copy_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4533-copy_p-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Knitwear, trousers and shoes by Zegna</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Surprisingly perhaps, and ironically, the peak of Covid brought a surge in sales. With people unable to travel and go places, many chose to invest in a yacht instead and discovered the joys of boating.</p>



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<p>“[The pandemic] was a huge obstacle that we all had to overcome. But that’s just life. There are always going to be hurdles in our way, and we are always going have to pick ourselves up, go with the flow and with the waves,” he says, with a gleeful wink as he utters the last word.</p>



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<p>After the indoor shoot, Lo and the entire crew jump back onto the yacht to continue with the original plan. After a few shots on deck, he entertains a phone call – a glance at what his everyday life looks like, call after call, meeting after meeting. But he emphasises the importance of taking a break, once in a while.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="512" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4662-copy_p.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76886" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4662-copy_p.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4662-copy_p-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACK4662-copy_p-200x133.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>“We picked a good day to do the shoot and interview, didn’t we?” he proclaims, as the light of the 5 pm sun glints off his sunglasses. “We’re always due to pause and take a step back so that we can gain a new perspective on things going on in our lives. Working hard, earning money and investing in your future – these are for survival. Enjoying the finer things in life is for living.”</p>



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<p>While Lo has work-family balance down pat, he is still juggling the pleasure of living in the moment and the necessity of planning for the future. Yet, deep in his soul, he believes life should be enjoyed as much as humanly possible. Armed with the knowledge that comes with experience, a strong family support group and another magazine cover for his beloved flagship, he is content to ride the tide to see which way the waves take him.</p>



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<p><em>Interview &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Fashion Stylist: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Makeup: Cyrus Tang Venue: Cheoy Lee Shipyards Boat: CLB65 Cover: Jacket and Pasnts by IRO, courtesy of The Outnet and shoes by Zegna Brands: Ralph Lauren, IRO, courtesy of The Outnet and Nanushka, courtesy of The Outnet</em></p>


For Hans Lo, CL Yachts’ Deputy Director, innovation makes sailing through life worthwhile


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/2307/2307_GMHK_Interview_Iancarroll.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Ian Carroll laughs when asked about the similarities between his two seemingly unrelated but highly successful enterprises – Carroll&amp;Chan, a purveyor of candles, and Soho Wines &amp; Spirits. After some reflection, he says: “Candles and wine – romance, what else?”</p>



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<p>In reality, there were different reasons for the inception of these companies. Having arrived in Hong Kong in 1999 with his wife, Liana, who was posted to the territory with the European Union diplomatic mission, Carroll needed a visa to extend his stay and so decided to set up a business. His wife had noticed there were few places to buy candles and suggested opening a candle shop. The Candle Company was launched in Central in 2002.</p>



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<p>Carroll had already succeeded in various entrepreneurial ventures. Born in Dublin, the amiable Irishman’s early business activities involved buying and selling various goods. During a buying trip to Hong Kong in the mid-’80s, he was blown away by the dizzying spectacle of traders and hawkers in Nathan Road selling watches and myriad electronic products and knew one day he would return.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Booking ahead</h3>



<p>His first major business success came during his time in Brussels, where Liana worked at the European Commission. Establishing one of the first online hotel reservation websites, he benefitted immensely from first-mover advantage and an element of good fortune.</p>



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<p>Speaking from the Carroll&amp;Chan candle store in Lyndhurst Terrace, he says, “I was lucky because I got an agreement with a couple of people in big hotel groups, and one of them had a hotel in Havana. Americans could not book Cuban hotels in America at the time, and because my website was European, I used to get Americans booking trips to Havana regularly.”</p>



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<p>He also struck gold with a hotel on the top of Machu Picchu.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="512" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76416" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-420x280.jpg 420w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Perseverance pays</h3>



<p>He sold this business after moving to Hong Kong. The candle shop also proved a huge success almost from the outset, though it was not without its early teething problem. Initially, it was challenging to get anyone to supply to his embryonic enterprise.</p>



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<p>Using a phone book, he literally turned up at companies in Kowloon and the New Territories that claimed to be candle manufacturers. No one wanted to know when they discovered he was selling the candles for the Hong Kong market. Then, finally, one supplier asked him if he was selling to the US market. “I said yes. They said – come in!” he recounts.</p>



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<p>Carroll later owned up to the lie, but the supplier still agreed to honour the deal and a 20-foot container lorry soon arrived outside the store’s original Lyndhurst Terrace address. Having no staff at the time, he started unloading the 100 boxes from the container himself whereupon the police showed up and told him to remove the vehicle as it was obstructing the street. The lorry driver drove off and they ended up unloading the candles at a factory in the New Territories – not exactly the most convenient location for his fledgling shop.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hive of activity</h3>



<p>Business boomed during the store’s first Christmas and as the years passed, he noticed customers were increasingly asking about the adverse effects of burning paraffin. In 2017, he decided to create his own candle brand, Carroll&amp;Chan, with a focus on natural and environmentally friendly products.</p>



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<p>Now all his candles are made from beeswax. “Beeswax is the only wax that is not actually made in a factory,” he says. “It is not processed; it is made by bees in the beehive. The beeswax is melted and made into a candle.</p>



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<p>“It is a natural product; it does not create soot when it burns. It burns brighter because it has a higher melting point, and because of the structure of the wax it burns longer, too.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="750" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76418" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4-187x280.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>Carroll enjoys educating people about environmental matters and highlights the fact that his fragrances are approved by the International Fragrance Association.</p>



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<p>He stresses how harmful other candles made in factories are to the environment: “The forests of Malaysia or the jungles of South America are burned down to grow oil palm trees or grow soy beans. For soy wax candles, the beans are taken to factories and mixed with chemicals and made into wax.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Asia affinity</h3>



<p>All of Carroll’s candles and most of his other products are made in a small workshop in Kwai Fong, though some are produced in the Netherlands for the European market.</p>



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<p>Carroll&amp;Chan has a shop in Amsterdam and there are plans to expand to the China and US markets. Carroll&amp;Chan fragrances and reed diffusers are inspired by the scents of Asia. The reeds are made from rattan, a natural product, and the oil flows up via the reeds and diffuses into the air. “They offer a flame-free experience of lemon grass or lavender or whatever scent you want,” he says.</p>



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<p>“Another important thing about the brand is that it is an Asian brand and inspired by Asia. Asia is home to so many beautifully fragrant flowers and spices.”</p>



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<p>The ‘Chan’ part of the brand name comes from the birth surnames of the Carrolls’ two children, who were adopted in Hong Kong.</p>



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<p>He is particularly fond of the scent of sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines. “It is a form of jasmine and produces an amazing smell,” he notes.</p>



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<p>Another favourite flower is white michelia, a type of magnolia cultivated in Southeast Asia. “I thought that would be a fantastic scent and we should start it, so I got a French perfume company to take that flower and develop a fragrance. It is very popular.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="512" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76417" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3-420x280.jpg 420w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wine growth</h3>



<p>Carroll’s wine business, which also dates back to 2002, grew out of a grocery store that had formed part of a deal to buy out a candle company in Staunton Street. Initially, he wanted to dispense with the grocery store but saw the opportunity to develop a wine business when he noticed customers were coming in for the wine.</p>



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<p>At the time there were few wine merchants in Hong Kong and it was not considered an attractive business. “It wasn’t difficult, but there was licensing and all sorts of paperwork required,” he says.</p>



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<p>In 2008, the government abolished the duty on imported liquor with an alcohol content under 30%. “So suddenly you could import wine, Martini [Bianco and Rosso], Baileys [Irish Cream]and beer without any paperwork. All you needed was an invoice. Everybody, I think, in Hong Kong who went to Spain, Italy or Portugal became a wine importer,” he recalls.</p>



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<p>Running two successful enterprises is time-consuming, so Carroll recently brought in a local business partner, who mostly handles the wine store. Soho Wines &amp; Spirits is handily located near the Central-Mid-levels escalator and stocks a carefully curated selection of wine. He does not claim to be a wine expert – at first he imported wines that were inappropriate for the Hong Kong market. Now he has the good judgment to let others make the decisions.</p>



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<p><em>Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction: Joseff Musa Fashion Stylist: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Make Up: Heti Tsang Venue: <a href="https://carrollandchan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carroll&amp;Chan</a></em></p>


A Fine Romance: Candles and wine come hand in hand for Ian Carroll through his two successful shops in Central


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<p>John Lennon famously said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” This piece of wisdom from a former member of the Fab Four could be a perfect summation of how Arti Mirchandani’s life and career in books have unfolded. Coming from the entrepreneurial family behind <a href="https://bookazine.com.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hong Kong retailer Bookazine</a>, her youthful passion was art, not books, and this love of visual creativity drove her to study art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University).</p>



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<p>Her parents, Mohan and Nisha Mirchandani started the family business in 1985 with a bookstore in the Hopewell Centre at a time when there were no “big” English-language bookshops in Hong Kong. Mohan had previously moved to Hong Kong from Nepal to work with his uncle and they started off as distributors of books and magazines, initially selling to street hawkers and chain stores.</p>



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<p>Young Arti was never much of a reader even though her father would come home with boxes full of books. “He would sigh and say, ‘I am the king of books, and my daughter doesn’t read!’” she relates with a laugh.</p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The art of teaching</h3>



<p>Before heading to Melbourne to study, she worked as an assistant teacher at the Peak School. She mainly tutored a boy who had meningitis as a newborn leaving him about two academic years behind his peers. “While it was a very challenging role, it was also incredibly rewarding when we had little breakthroughs and I felt really good leaving work every day like I had achieved something,” she recalls.</p>



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<p>This sense of fulfilment was a light-bulb moment for her first choice of career. “That is when I decided that combining my two passions – art and kids – would be the ideal job for me. I wanted to become an art teacher.”</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Early ambition shelved</h3>



<p>With nine months to kill before starting a teaching certificate in the UK, she joined the family business “with no real role”. Her father made her start at the bottom, unpacking boxes of books, shelving them and even dusting the shelves. “He told me in order to be successful, you have to learn the A-Z of your business – so as to not be afraid to get my hands dirty. What he meant by that was, ‘Don’t think just because you are the boss’s daughter, you don’t need to do all aspects of the job!’”</p>



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<p>Checking invoices, arranging books in beautiful displays, interacting with customers, taking orders, working behind the till, and tallying up the cash at the end of the day were all part and parcel of her learning process.</p>



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<p>“It was hard work, but it was the experience I needed in order to gain the respect of my staff today. When I ask them to do something, they can’t say to me, ‘Oh, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about’!” After three months, she started to enjoy working in the bookstore and dropped any idea of teaching.</p>



<p class="has-text-color" style="color:#ba1414">Also Read: <a href="https://igafencu.com/articles/indra-banga-one-hong-kongs-foremost-philanthropists-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indra Banga on being one of Hong Kong’s foremost philanthropists</a></p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Storybook magic</h3>



<p>It was only upon joining the family business that Mirchandani truly discovered the magic of stories and books. She has a special affinity for children’s books, saying: “I think this comes from my love of kids and my teaching experience. I have always loved the illustrations and fun rhyming text. I used to love watching children’s faces light up or hearing them giggle when we read books to them at school. How can you not love something that brings that much joy?”</p>



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<p>As she sits in front of crammed shelves in a corner of Bookazine’s flagship store in Landmark Prince’s, she speaks enthusiastically about her role as a buyer of books, toys and gifts. “It’s like going shopping everyday….with a corporate card. I do really enjoy seeing all the new products before they hit the market; I get very excited like a kid in a toy store. I also love watching my customers’ reactions when the products hit our stores.”</p>



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<p>Bookazine has seven shops in Hong Kong and has been in Prince’s Building for more than 30 years. The company hosts most of its book launches there and the space is also used to showcase local authors and designers.</p>



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<p>She particularly enjoys receiving proof copies of new books ahead of their release – that feeling of having access to privileged information. “It’s like we belong to a very exclusive club; it’s also just really nice to be able to read a book right away after the publisher has just told you a story. You do not have to wait a couple of months to find out how it ends.”</p>



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<p class="has-text-color" style="color:#ba1414">Also Read: <a href="https://igafencu.com/articles/7-must-read-books-about-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seven must-read books about Hong Kong</a></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sharing the passion</h3>



<p>Mohan Mirchandani established Bookazine to share his love of reading with a vision to become a family-friendly community bookstore. “My father wanted it to be a place where families came and everyone left feeling happy or inspired. I think we have achieved this, or so I have been told,” says the daughter fondly.</p>



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<p>His death aged just 58 taught her that life is very fragile and to be grateful for every day, to live for the moment and never plan too far ahead.</p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Customers (and daughter) know best</h3>



<p>Mirchandani is at ease throughout the interview, articulate and well-spoken. It is no surprise that she loves interacting with customers in the store, citing it as one of her favourite aspects of the job.</p>



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<p>Many customers have been loyal for 38 years and she feels immense gratitude for their support and invaluable feedback. Her daughter has also been a useful barometer of the latest toy trends, helping her increase the toy offering at Bookazine. “Even though she is aged 14 now, I still ask her opinion on some new trending toys and plush. She has got a real knack for knowing what will do well – except now she asks me if I will pay her!”</p>



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



<p>Like with most family businesses, relationships can become strained. Her mother, Nisha, is the company chair, while her sister, Shonee, is also part of the management team. “Sometimes it’s really hard, and definitely in the early days we used to clash a lot,” she says candidly. A copy of Spare by Prince Harry is prominently displayed on a nearby shelf.</p>



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<p>However, business matters now run smoothly within the family, possibly due to maturity or finding the right rhythm to make it work. “I am very close to my family; they are my pillars of support and I feel very lucky to be able to work with them.”</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Reading the future</h3>



<p>Mirchandani remains confident in the future of their business. She no longer feels that e-books pose the existential threat to traditional bookstores that appeared to be the case when they entered the market. Fortunately for them at Bookazine, the initial drop in book sales did not last long as people returned to reading in the traditional print.</p>



<p>“There is something quite special about flipping the page or the smell of books,” she says. “And then with some bigger online bookstores, the threat is that they can be quite competitive on pricing and things like that. But, you know, at the end of the day, I think everyone needs a good bookstore. I can&#8217;t imagine a world without bookstores.”</p>



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<p><em>Photographer: Jack Law Art Director: Joseff Musa Fashion Stylist: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Make Up: Owen Ko Venue: Bookazine, Landmark Prince’s</em></p>


Off the Book: Passion for books shelved teaching aspirations of Bookazine owner Arti Mirchandani


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<p>Yve Chan is a man with a deep-rooted value system honed by growing up in a town in China filled with craftsmen who made their living from jade. These artisans painstakingly cut jade in their small workshops and then every morning at 3 am went to the local market set up by his father to sell their wares. Years later, when Chan established a jewellery business in Hong Kong, he named it Dawn Jewellery in tribute to his father and this heritage.</p>


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<p>What struck him was how these craftsmen would communicate jade through the telling of traditional stories, and he knew from a young age he wanted to be involved in this industry. His early career in Hong Kong saw him working for a major US advertising agency, Leo Burnett, but his interest in craftsmanship and the desire to “realise the creativity” was too strong. He soon quit advertising and went to the UK to achieve the necessary qualifications.</p>



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<p>Chan shone during a jewellery and silversmithing course at Birmingham City University. He received the Assay Office London Technology Award from The Goldsmiths’ Company and was a Silver Award winner at International Jewellery London’s Special Award for Fine Jewellery. He further studied at the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles to achieve his certificate as a gemologist.</p>



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<p>A thoughtful man in his late 30s with a passion for his craft, Chan says these years have defined the rest of his life. Sitting in his Causeway Bay workshop and retail gallery, he flashes back to his final year in the UK when it dawned on him that he was actually quite good at his chosen craft. “At that moment I realised this is maybe my lifelong career,” he says. In another fond memory, he also notes that his time as a coxswain in a university rowing team forged his team spirit.</p>



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<p>Following his return to Hong Kong, he gained valuable experience working in product development for a large retailer before setting up Dawn Jewellery in 2014. He originally just sold jadeite jewellery but soon gained international partners for his Tsim Sha Tsui flagship store following exhibitions at international shows. Dawn specialises in bridal jewellery, selling an array of wedding rings and exquisite pearl and diamond creations, and holds workshops in the craft.</p>



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<p><strong>Telling international stories</strong><br>Chan reveals that one of the first major partners for his platform was a famous wedding ring maker from Germany with a history spanning 150 years This had been one of his “idol” companies from his time as a student in the UK.</p>



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<p>“I think we both realised that we share the same thoughts towards craftsmanship, towards business models, towards what is going on in the market,” he says. “We were at a good point to introduce them to Hong Kong.”</p>



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<p>“They are very picky in choosing the retailer, because there can be a lot of very big retailers, but they are not necessarily able to talk through the philosophy of the brand. I think we are good storytellers. So, one by one I am inviting these artists to tell their stories,” says Chan, who now has more than 20 partners from across the world.</p>



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<p><strong>True value of craftsmanship</strong><br>From the outset of Dawn Jewellery, Chan has wanted his clients to appreciate the true meaning of the products they purchase and the artisanship involved. “When we asked what sort of elements of this brand you like, I realised most of the audience could not tell me,” he says.</p>



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<p>His desire is for customers to grasp a product’s intrinsic value; he encourages them to touch the jewellery and examine very carefully what they are looking for, stirring an appreciation of the elements added and how many hours have been spent to make such a ring.</p>



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<p>A Japanese partner makes jewellery using traditional mokume-gane techniques that have their roots in samurai weaponry; a German partner applies machinery techniques to perfect their rings and make them stronger. “This is the value; this is the story,” he says, outlining the ethos of Dawn Jewellery. “Each of the craftsmen, when they make things, each mark left – it means something, either perfections or aesthetic judgment.”</p>



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<p><em>Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction: Joseff Musa Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Make Up: Owen Ko Venue: Sunsmith workshop</em></p>



<p><em>Read the full interview in the May 2023 issue (pg: 100). Available on the Gafencu app on Android and Apple.</em></p>


All about Yve: Through Dawn Jewellery, Yve Chan unites a passion for craftsmanship and connecting cultures


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<p>Live, laugh, and love – three things that, according to Olivia Kung, make the world go around and a better place. As the daughter of a former Chief Investigator of the Operations Department Independent Commission Against Corruption, her fate was somewhat determined at the age of five when she put on her father’s barrister’s gown one night. She laughs from her gut, the way you would with family, as she recalls this significant moment in her childhood, and delivers the verdict that it made her into the woman she is now.</p>


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<p>“I wish I had that power over my child,” says Kung, reflecting upon her father’s influence in shaping her life. “But things are just different now, aren’t they? People in 2023 create their own path, for better or for worse, defying the ‘norms’ the society or what their family might believe in. The determination of my teenage son really inspires me to do more and be the best version of myself.”</p>



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<p>The walls of her office at Wellington Legal, where she is a partner and sits on the board of founders, are filled with watercolour paintings by her son, juxtaposing with the grey and glass walls of the skyscrapers within the heart of Central. With decades of legal experience under her belt, Kung has litigated expertly in a wide variety of areas including complex property ownership disputes, fraud cases, debt recovery and bankruptcy as well as personal injury claims. It’s no surprise that these cases, which she has successfully defended, attracted media attention.</p>



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<p>The many charms of her life, of course, have not arrived without solid background work. Before the day of our interview and photo shoot, she did her due diligence on the magazine, the lawyer’s instinct for discovery taking hold. It was, however, the entertainment industry that gave her the confidence and wit, as well as the time-management skills, needed to present legal cases – growing up she had juggled academic studies with extra-curricular activities in showbusiness.</p>



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<p>“I did acting and hosting stints at RTHK for their children’s TV programs. I am not sure how I managed it, but I did,” she says. “Sometimes, life really surprises us.”</p>


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<p><strong>Her honour</strong><br>Questions of destiny and volition have trailed Kung through her life. At a young age, she already knew how to distinguish a great lawyer – by their creativity. With an eye for making connections and an ear for deft persuasion, it is a quality that she has been judged to possess.</p>



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<p>“As a lawyer, I think it’s crucial to act not only by the book but also with a heart and mind for justice. Common sense, though not so common these days, has to be played in order to win a case,” she emphasises.</p>



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<p>For the self-confessed goal-getter, a diminutive frame belies a commanding presence. The Queen Mary University of London School of Law alumnus completed her Legal Practice Course at the University of Exeter and attained qualifications to be a solicitor in England, Wales and Hong Kong. Prior to Wellington Legal, she worked for several top-tier firms in the UK, a leading local practice in Hong Kong and as in-house counsel for a listed financial company.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="901" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8997-pp-scaled-e1683085349263-901x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73995"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Marcus double-breasted wool-blend felt blazer by Sandro (courtesy of The Outnet), One-shoulder stretch jersey top by Helmut Lang (courtesy of The Outnet), Le Sylvie cropped highrise straight-leg jeans by Frame (courtesy of The Outnet)</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p><strong>No objection</strong><br>While as poised as you might expect from an established lawyer, Kung defies other stereotypical traits that are applied to the legal profession; she is neither solemn nor uptight. After a few clicks for the test shots and a quick pointer on how to pose, she is nailing the photoshoot, lounging in a lazyboy in the middle of the bustling city traffic.</p>



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<p>“I taught myself to be adaptive to any kind of situation. Whatever background you may have, school you graduated from or clan you belong to, it is important to adapt to the situation you are put into,” she says. “We must never say no easily and be done with it. We find the solution there possibly is, no matter how small or big, and we take that and make it work.”</p>



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<p>Undeniably, this flexibility guides her as a lawyer, as does her capability to be fair and rational. Dignity is another word she often brings up. She says she has been defending a person’s right to dignity from day one and she still holds herself to that standard.</p>



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<p>“Dignity can also mean having the right balance in every aspect of our lives. It’s not just about self-love anymore. It’s about making the most out of the situation we’re put into. I don’t function merely from 9 am to 5 pm. I am working 24/7. As a lawyer, as a mom, as a daughter, as a friend.”</p>


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<p><strong>Love before money</strong><br>She expounds on the idea of “happiness” many times, too. It isn’t surprising language from the girl who worked in the entertainment industry, was raised by a well-off family and grew up as an only child. “I always tell my son to love what you do and do what you love. And this may also apply to everyone. Once you become good at it, then money will come in. Consider money as just a bonus. Happiness should always come first,” she says.</p>



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<p>“Career choice is extremely important,” she continues. “If you pick something you hate, you&#8217;ll be spending so many hours torturing yourself, no matter how much a company would pay you. It’s the one thing in life that I think is the biggest determinant of happiness.</p>



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<p>“I don’t really aim to leave a legacy once my time here on Earth is passed, but I hope I make people around me happy because I actually enjoy helping people. I help people because it makes me happy. It’s as simple as that.”</p>


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<p><strong>By her own rules</strong><br>So what’s next for Kung? Optimism is the fuel driving every legal fight she has been in and will be involved in, and she is cooking up something exciting, yet again, in the coming months. “I cannot disclose it just yet, but it’s something that I am very passionate about. In life, you have to put in passion and dedication in order to achieve happiness and reach your full potential,” says the woman who is habitually positive about life – to the point that she is able to laugh even at the biggest of problems.</p>



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<p>This time, though, she confesses that she might be setting up herself for criticism given the size of her ambition. Yet, there would be more people in life setting lofty targets for themselves if they had been taught to know what they believe and how to fight for it from when they first learned to speak.</p>



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<p>Ultimately, the next chapters of her life are reading just the way she and her parents have planned, with a few tweaks and additions along the way. If there’s anything we know about attorney Olivia Kung, it is that when it comes to happiness, she will fight.</p>



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<p><em>(Interview &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Makeup: Joenny Lau Venue: Wellington Legal Cover look: Janie one-shoulder cape-effect sequined crepe mini dress by Safiyaa, courtesy of Net-A-Porter</em>)</p>


Tag: success story 2

For Hans Lo, CL Yachts’ Deputy Director, innovation makes sailing through life worthwhile

A Fine Romance: Candles and wine come hand in hand for Ian Carroll through his two successful shops in Central

Off the Book: Passion for books shelved teaching aspirations of Bookazine owner Arti Mirchandani

All about Yve: Through Dawn Jewellery, Yve Chan unites a passion for craftsmanship and connecting cultures

Brief Encounter: Wellington Legal partner Olivia Kung is a law unto herself

Tag: success story 2

Blog Section

For Hans Lo, CL Yachts’ Deputy Director, innovation makes sailing through life worthwhile

A Fine Romance: Candles and wine come hand in hand for Ian Carroll through his two successful shops in Central

Off the Book: Passion for books shelved teaching aspirations of Bookazine owner Arti Mirchandani

All about Yve: Through Dawn Jewellery, Yve Chan unites a passion for craftsmanship and connecting cultures

Brief Encounter: Wellington Legal partner Olivia Kung is a law unto herself