Britain in Hong Kong January-February 2024

C O N T E N T S 02

MESSAGE FROM CHAMBER CHAIR 05 2023 DELEGATION VISIT TO GBA 08 PERSPECTIVES Interview with Jonathan Cummings, President, APAC, Landor (WPP)

11 HONG KONG SHOULD CAPITALISE ON ITS ROLE AS A LEADING EXAMPLE IN DECARBONISATION Arup

16 EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATION Kellett School

19 THE MULTI-FACETED ROLE OF INSURERS AND THE CSO IN THE NET-ZERO TRANSITION JOURNEY Prof. Lapman Lee

25 WHY HONG KONG REMAINS AN IDEAL PLACE TO RESOLVE YOUR COMMERCIAL DISPUTES Withers

29 THE BUSINESS OF CRAFTING EXPERIENCES Regent Hong Kong

CHAIR'S MESSAGE Dear Members, A very Happy New Year to one and all!

The New Year is a popular time for reflecting on what has been achieved, and there were many great Chamber achievements in the last 12 months. It’s also a time to focus on the future, and there is much to be optimistic about as we look to the year ahead.

But first, a pause for reflection.

We recently published the Annual Year in Review of the Chamber events, which I hope you all enjoyed. I will not elaborate on the content, but I will draw attention to a couple of key activities that were important in overall terms for the Chamber. One of these was the BritCham Hong Kong Summit held on 26 October 2023 with theme “Hong Kong Rebound”.

An impressive array of speakers and panellists were curated for the event, and we heard deep insights into the challenges of the previous months when coming out of the COVID era, which were balanced with the exciting opportunities we see ahead. Some of the best conversations and outcomes were those discussions around the edges of the Summit, and as we step into 2024, we are planning for this year’s event. The Summit was held shortly after the Chief Executives Policy Address had been announced, and as usual, we made our Policy Address Submission to Government with suggestions and proposed actions for consideration. Thanks as ever to Jim Taylor, who leads the Business Policy Unit and Christy Ng, the Chamber’s Business Policy & Corporate Relations Manager, who directed and orchestrated inputs from what is a very broad business community. The suggestions made are, of course, being picked up at the policy level within the Government and by the Committees, so rest assured that the work does not end with the submission. We have started thinking about this year’s Policy Address, so if you have ideas or suggestions, we would like to hear from you via Paul, or Christy, or relevant Committees. _______

Another activity we were pleased to resurrect was the annual “door knock” in London in September.

We curated a BritCham Hong Kong week in London when we held events to share opportunities around the Northern Metropolis, met with business and government representatives both formally and informally, enjoyed the HK Dinner curtesy of HKTDC and the luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association, as well as a splendid launch of our Creative Industries Committee refresh in the 3/6” venue in Fortnum and Masons, Piccadilly. All very enjoyable, engaging, and informative events.

Planning is underway for this year’s similar event.

More details will be shared to encourage members who may be in London at the time of the event to engage and participate.

Since the first announcement of the Greater Bay Area plan from the Central Government in 2019, the Chamber has spent a lot of effort promoting alongside the Government the great opportunities imbedded in the region to wider businesses. We were particularly delighted that the Government had reopened the borders of Hong Kong in 2023. The Chamber was invited onto a GBA delegation by the _______

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March, and the Chamber also led a trip to Shenzhen and Guangzhou in November, bringing members to experience and see the new developments, and to meet and speak with people, government officials and businesses in the region. It was a memorable trip for both Paul, Christy, and members as we could finally see it in person instead of only “believing by hearing”. (See a more detailed report on page 5-6)

agenda of items and points of interest that often cut across many of the Committees. Watch this space for follow-up and please do provide feedback – remember it is your Chamber.

Before we get too far into the future, let’s pause to reflect on the work done by the chamber team. Led with great enthusiasm and aplomb by Paul McComb since 1 June 2023, the team has done a massive amount to pivot from mostly online activities to a mix of online and many in-person events. We keep in sharp focus the raison d’etre of the Chamber, which is to facilitate members to getting business “done”.

This is important, and as we observe the changing business landscape over the last few months, we need to think about how we can best serve the membership. To that end, we will be reaching out and asking these questions over the next few weeks and months, and we will also be sharing thoughts and ideas as to how members can be more engaged. We would love to hear from you with your thoughts. Any suggestions, please contact Paul in the first instance.

The year ahead will be essentially shaped by two halves. I will continue in the role of Chair in the first half with a new Chair taking over at the AGM which will be held once again in June. This will give the new Chair the chance to reflect on the appointment over the summer and to pick up with vivacity at the end of August. In the first half, we will be hosting a Symposium relating to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. This topic is often raised by Boards and in terms of governance, but are we achieving enough, is there more we can do, and are we clear about our goals and targets? These questions and many more will be raised and discussed by an expert panel on 22 February 2024. With the theme "Belonging by Design - A Journey of Inclusion", the BritCham DEIB Symposium will explore what it takes to proactively build a culture of belonging and inclusion, transcending boundaries, offering actionable insights on global DEIB perspectives, and harnessing the power of design thinking for realworld impact. A keynote address will be given by The Hon. Mrs. Regina Ip, Convenor of the NonOfficial Members of the Executive Council.

We are also looking at the many Committees and working groups we have established to determine whether we are focusing on the topics of most interest or relevance to the wider membership and to see whether there are any new or different Committees, etc., for members to get involved in or be inspired by. The Committee Chairs group will be led by Vice Chair Jeremy Sheldon, who will convene several meetings each year and work through an _____

In the first quarter of the year, there is a focus on Creative Industries, from the ongoing spectacular exhibitions at the Palace Museum, for example, the exhibition “Botticelli to Van Gogh” a visual feast on loan from the National Gallery, London, beautifully curated in a wonderful setting, to Art Basel and the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, and the Cultural Summit and more. Details will be shared, so watch this space. ____

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Last but not least, I would like to thank a special group within the Chamber, our future leaders. The Future Leaders Committee was the first committee meetingI attended at the start of my tenure as Chair.

The energy created, ideas shared, enthusiasm, and generosity of time and spirit shared give me great hope for the future of the Chamber as well as the success of the collective businesses. One of the compelling points they made was that they were all working in Hong Kong because they wanted to be.

The stories vary slightly, but the points made about opportunities being given, reminded me of my Hong Kong journey, and arrival as a graduate to take up my first posting. Having the idea of sharing such stories on social media, the idea snowballed, and thanks to Invest HK, a set of professional videos was created showing five of our future leaders. I am so proud of each of them – and the many others who have not (yet) featured. The videos were first showcased at the Summit and are available here.

And so to the future – together in 2024. May it be an exceptionally successful year for all, in whichever way you measure success. Good health, happiness and prosperity for our business community and the Chamber that connects us.

Ir Dr Anne Kerr Chair The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

2023 DELEGATION VISIT TO GBA

In November 2023, the Chamber held its first Delegation Visit to Greater Bay Area. Our Executive Director Paul McComb and Business Policy & Corporate Relations Manager Christy Ng led a delegation to visit five cities in GBA including, Qianhai, Huangpu, Yuexiu, Huadu, and Tianhe, and meet with the business community and municipal government agencies.

Day 1 - Qianhai The Chamber’s delegation were delighted to visit Tencent, EY, Tuya Smart and Harrow International School. Everyone we met is focused on building a gateway to the Chinese market for foreign businesses or a route to international markets for Chinese enterprises. Beyond the border, there are endless possibilities!

Day 2 - Qianhai Our delegation attended the UK-Greater Bay Area Conference organised by the China-Britain Business Council in partnership with the Qianhai International Talent Hub. Four years on, the successful launch of the CBBC’s UK-GBA Conference demonstrated sustained interest in what the GBA offers to UK businesses, with over 200 local and international delegates in attendance.

It was enlightening to hear about the latest developments and major trends in the GBA firsthand, as well as the strategies leading British companies are adopting to seize investment and trade opportunities in the region. Our Executive Director was particularly interested in the discussions around the GBA’s importance in the global industrial and supply chains, with the cluster boasting competitive, regionalised supply chains with an industrial output of over 10 billion yuan.

Day 3 - Huangpu, Yuexiu, and Huadu The Chamber’s delegation visited Huangpu, Yuexiu, and Huadu to meet with municipal government agencies, as well as major businesses involved in developing Guangzhou’s industrial clusters, tourism economy, and voluntary carbon market.

As part of the visit, our delegation were thrilled to speak with Peter Helis, Chief Advisor and International Executive Representative at Invest Huangpu (Guangzhou), exchange views with the Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau, and engage in a closed-door dialogue with the China Emissions Exchange Guangzhou (CEEX). Between meetings, our delegation still found the time to tour around the Guangzhou International Bio Island and go indoor skiing at the Guangzhou Rongchuang Culture and Tourism City – what a blast!

The Chamber would like to thank Peter, Invest Huangpu (Guangzhou), Guangzhou MINO Automotive Equipment Co., Ltd. and the authorities for their warm welcome to our delegation during their visit to Guangzhou.

Day 4 - Tianhe As part of the Chamber’s four-day visit to the Greater Bay Area, our business delegation spent their last day in Tianhe, where they met with Andrew Green and his team at Stephenson Harwood - Wei Tu (China), and paid a visit to the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre, where they were briefed on the progress Guangdong has made in advancing development in the GBA. The Chamber’s GBA visit has brought nothing but excitement to our delegates. Many thanks to everyone who joined us at the delegation, and we look forward to exploring more opportunities beyond the border.

BRITCHAM'S STERLING MEMBERS

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS

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BUSINESS How's business?

WPP is the world’s largest creative transformation company, made up of agencies spanning the whole marketing and communications spectrum from media and advertising to brand consulting, design, PR and communications. The group has a strong presence in Hong Kong with over 1,500 super talented colleagues working for clients within the HKSAR and further afield across the region. I head up Landor, the brand consulting business within the group and the largest brand consulting and design agency in the world. The past few years have presented a number of challenges for everyone, but we’ve come through strongly and are well positioned for accelerated growth as Hong Kong rebounds. A significant shift for us was moving everyone into a single campus; a move from nine different locations across the city to one location with 7 floors all connected by an internal staircase and a high proportion of shared space making it a world class hub of creativity. We were thrilled that our achievements have been recognized through multiple awards, many of our businesses (including Landor) won awards for their respective sectors in the Greater China Agency of the Year Awards.

As the largest creative team in Hong Kong, we aim to play our full part in shaping a positive future for Hong Kong as a whole, for Hong Kong brands and for brands in Hong Kong.

What is the firm's vision and business strategy?

WPP, the world’s leading creative transformation company, is committed to leveraging the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. We work with the world’s leading brands across almost every sector as well as for NGOs, governments and a number of other types of organisation. In order to achieve our aim of continually increasing the positive impact we have, we are continually simplifying our organisation and shaping client teams from across different agencies to fully leverage the talent we have. As the largest creative team in the HKSAR, we are wholly focused on playing our full part in shaping a positive future for Hong Kong and the impact Hong Kong can have on the world.

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What are your plans for the firm this year?

What do you aim to achieve?

After a few challenging years for Hong Kong as a whole, we feel positive about the prospects in 2024.

Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector between China and the rest of the world has never been stronger, and we are seeing high levels of confidence across the business community. We have a strong, diverse talent base in Hong Kong, and through 2024, I expect to see that strengthen further as we look to help Hong Kong brands grow at home and across the world, and also international brands win in Hong Kong. Our focus in 2024 will be unlocking even more synergy from across the business in service of our clients and solidifying Hong Kong’s role as an international hub.

What, to your mind, has been the most crucial element in the success of your company over the years? What has the firm achieved?

Our business is a relatively simple one. We need the best talent, working powerfully together and hand-inhand with our ambitious clients to achieve extraordinary results. In recent years, the company, despite our large size and diversity of brands, has become far simpler and more collaborative. This has allowed us to develop stronger working relationships with our clients as well as ensuring we shape the best possible team for any job. That along with a relentless determination to create extraordinary strategic and creative work has driven the success of the past few years.

What's the most exciting business-related news you've heard recently?

There has not been a huge amount of exciting business news in recent times around the world! But I'm thrilled to see Chinese brands continue expanding across the world and setting new standards in product design amongst other things across multiple categories. Likewise, I'm excited that brands from elsewhere in the world continue to work _____ 09

to better understand how to best position themselves for Chinese audience in the face of ever-increasing domestic competition.

What are the challenges and opportunities you see in Asia/Hong Kong?

Talent is key to the success of our business, and here in Hong Kong, as elsewhere in the world, we thrive from as diverse a talent base as we can develop. So continuing to attract and develop world class talent – within Hong Kong and from around the world is a continual challenge. The current perception of Hong Kong (largely incorrect) around the world is a challenge and so there is work to do to re-establish Hong Kong as a top destination for world class talent.

I’m excited by the opportunity that is presented by a focus from the Hong Kong government on sectors beyond Finance and Property, such as Innovation & Technology and the Creative Industries.

What's the future of your industry?

I firmly believe that the world can never have enough creativity in it! Our world has many problems to tackle and creativity will help solve a lot. Technology will, of course, play an ever more impactful role with generative AI tools developing at pace as well as the ever-increasing importance of robust, secure and innovative date strategies. But people will always be central to our industry and i foresee an exciting future for those who chose to develop their careers in the creative industries.

Personal How long have you been living in Hong Kong?

What is your most marked characteristic?

I am the eternal optimist!

I’ve been in Hong Kong for 15 years, moving here in late 2008 from London.

If you had a motto, what would it be?

What's your favourite place in Hong Kong?

Pay it forward.

I love being up in the hills with my dogs, or on the beach with my kids (i can’t seem to get the kids up in the hills!).

What would you say is the chief Hong Kong related issue that takes up a lot of your time at the moment?

Talent is key to our business, and so attracting, retaining and developing world class talent is a key priority for me alongside spending as much time as possible with our clients.

About WPP WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.

What's something you've learned recently that you didn't know before?

I’ve spent a lot of time in Australia this year and although i knew it was huge, i didn’t know until recently that it is wider than the moon!

What is your favourite (non-professional) occupation?

I have always loved sport. All sport. I’m a lifelong Arsenal fan, but my first love is cricket which i grew up playing in London and I still play here in Hong Kong. I served on the Board of CricketHK for six years working to grow the game here across the wider community. More recently I've also taken to participation in endurance sports including marathons and triathlons.

Jonathan Cummings President, APAC, Landor

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HONG KONG SHOULD CAPITALISE ON ITS ROLE AS A LEADING EXAMPLE IN DECARBONISATION

By Jasper Hilkhuijsen, Senior East Asia Sustainable Development Manager; Senior East Asia Innovation Manager, Arup The recent pre-COP28 ‘Race to Transition’ Asia event series has made it clear: Hong Kong is well positioned to lead in decarbonisation, yet significant work remains ahead.

Hong Kong boasts many enviable advantages, including its strong financial sector, widespread applications of advanced technology, high-quality infrastructure, and a supportive policy environment.

However, the city also faces many challenges in decarbonising its economy and society, such as a lack of public awareness, limited land and natural resources, and a dependence on imported energy and materials.

The following insights are largely drawn from the Hong Kong session of the series, which featured panel discussions on “Driving collective climate action across Asia” and “Scaling corporate transition towards a sustainable future”.

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A quest for guidance The global stocktake at COP28 revealed insufficient progress towards the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement, This necessitates adjustments to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to get back on track.

The Asia Pacific region, known for its rapid economic growth, is a major emitter accounting for half of the world’s carbon emissions. While multiple governments across the region have formulated climate action plans, they often lack the means and expertise to implement and, as mentioned, the plans might need to be revised to set more ambitious targets.

A quest for best practices and leadership can soon be anticipated, which will open an opportunity for Hong Kong to showcase itself as a regional, if not global, _________

leading example in decarbonisation. Hong Kong must therefore dare to showcase what has been done so far and what is yet to come.

regional partners. A first step could entail sharing ESG best practices to empower various stakeholders, including SMEs.

A supportive government is eminent

Companies need encouragement to go beyond compliance

In October 2021, the Government promulgated Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 which outlined major decarbonisation strategies as well as interim targets aimed at achieving carbon neutrality before 2050.

While this plan has room for improvement as highlighted in our post-COP26 publication, it does outline the ambitions of the Government and sectors to focus on. The plan has increasingly become a catalyst for the public and private sectors to have discussions, seek collaboration and appoint responsibilities.

Initially driven by compliance, ESG is evolving as companies are moving from mere reporting to tangible climate action and impact. In addition, facilitated by the Government and the finance sector, private companies are increasingly aware of not only the physical risks related to climate change but also transitional risks.

Companies that fail to transition to more sustainable and climate-ready business models will increasingly struggle to keep their businesses afloat.

The Government's commitment to collaboration is evidenced by CF Wong, the Commissioner for Climate Change in the Environment and Ecology Bureau, participating in the pre-COP28 event series and openly advocating for dialogue.

Leading the charge in Hong Kong’s private sector are CLP in green energy transition, HSBC in sustainable financing and investment, Cathay Pacific in green fuel adoption, Esquel Group in the circular economy, and various startups that are actively enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in the fields of Green-Tech, Food-Tech, Prop-Tech and Fin-Tech.

A much-needed shift from CSR to ESG Hong Kong’s financial regulators such as the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong are mandating climate risk disclosure for banks and listed companies. This is steering private companies from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), traditionally associated with profit making and occasional donations, to Environmental Social Governance (ESG), recognising a deeper responsibility in the decarbonisation effort.

Guidance transition

of

capital

to

low-carbon

Drawing upon its history as a global finance centre, proximity to Mainland China and extensive network, Hong Kong possesses the expertise to lead and shape global initiatives. Hong Kong’s dedication to advancing green and sustainable finance positions it as a key player in the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

To cement its leading role, Hong Kong has launched several initiatives to promote ESG practices, such as the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group, the Green Bond Grant Scheme, the Centre for Green and Sustainable Finance, and the ESG Knowledge Hub.

The finance sector plays a crucial role in enhancing market efficiency to enable capital to flow where it’s most needed at a lower cost, a process especially important for funding decarbonisation projects.

However, a major regional challenge is the limited availability of financially viable projects for investment.

While these are much appreciated, Hong Kong could further improve by enhancing the collaboration across the Government, the private sector, civil society and ____

To address this, emerging technologies must be better leveraged, so that more capital can flow to them. This will require adequate policy support as well as the ____ 12

creation of certain risk appetite pockets. The Hong Kong Green Building Council Climate Change Framework for the Built Environment serves as a holistic reference for the building sector to embrace decarbonisation and benchmark their carbon and energy performance. Such initiatives can further enable the finance sector to decide where capital is needed.

Innovation is a must for rapid and at scale decarbonisation Hong Kong is advancing as a global hub for innovation and technology, supported by government initiatives such as InnoHK, the Innovation and Technology Fund and incubation programmes run by the Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, alongside numerous private sector efforts. This is reflected in Hong Kong’s 2023 ranking as second worldwide and first in Asia on the Emerging Ecosystems ranking. In recent years, the city has seen a surge in green innovations, ranging from smart buildings and sustainable materials to local energy solutions.

However, the city faces challenges in deploying these innovations due to the high costs and complexity of transforming infrastructures, limited land and resources, and low public engagement. Additionally, the lack of a comprehensive and consistent policy and regulatory framework causes uncertainties and risks for investors and innovators. ____ To overcome these, the Government should lead in developing a holistic and collaborative approach that incentivises stakeholder engagement, enhances public-private partnerships and fosters a culture of co-creation among citizens and communities.

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Green initiatives should apply to both old and new buildings As elaborated in the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, buildings are a major focus for decarbonisation, accounting for around 90% of the city’s electricity consumption and contributing 60% to its carbon emissions. The plan outlines strategies and targets for decarbonising various aspects of buildings, such as electricity, cooling, lighting and appliances.

The city has also introduced its own green building rating system in 2010, Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus, which covers the assessment of new and existing buildings, interiors, and neighbourhoods. Beyond passive energy saving strategies such as natural ventilation and lighting, Hong Kong encourages innovative green building technologies, such as smart meters, building information modelling, and district cooling systems.

The challenge remains with upgrading energyinefficient existing buildings. Retrofitting could significantly reduce embodied carbon and save upfront and operational costs. However, fragmentated homeownership, lack of awareness and financial hurdles need to be addressed to ensure a just transition. A possible solution is providing incentives and support for building owners and occupants to conduct energy audits, install energy saving devices and embrace green practices. _

Public transit and walkability are key to decarbonising the transport sector Hong Kong’s transport sector is also exemplary in decarbonisation. The city has a well-developed public transport network, covering over 90% of the daily passenger trips. It is implementing further measures to enhance its efficiency and environmental performance, such as rationalising bus routes, retrofitting emission reduction devices and introducing low-emission buses. In addition, the city continues to encourage a shift to public transport and active travel, such as walking and cycling, through improved infrastructure and awareness campaigns.

Hong Kong also has set an ambitious target to phase out conventional fuel private cars by 2035, and has introduced incentives and support for electric vehicle adoption, such as tax concessions, charging facilities and parking spaces. However, a challenge that remains is road congestion, especially during peak hours. This could be alleviated by implementing more traffic management measures such as electronic road pricing and congestion charging as is currently being tested.

The main competitive advantage of Hong Kong is its people

together to find solutions and create impacts. They are passionate and responsible, caring about the well-being of the society and the environment, and support the vision of a low-carbon and liveable city.

Asia’s World City If the city can keep the decarbonisation momentum, and if various stakeholders can step up their game by increasing the communication and collaboration on what is needed by whom and by when, Hong Kong will be able to not only achieve its own decarbonisation targets, but also emerge as a global leader in decarbonisation.

This leadership could spur business growth, drive innovation, generate jobs and improve Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s World City.

About Arup Arup is a global collective of designers, consultants and experts dedicated to sustainable development, and to using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world. As a firm, Arup has made a commitment to be a net zero organisation by 2030 and to contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What Hong Kong does not have in terms of natural resources, it certainly makes up with its people, especially when it comes to decarbonisation.

Jointly Hong Kong’s people possess the skills, knowledge, creativity, and resilience that have driven, and will continue to drive the city’s development and transformation. They are diverse and dynamic, coming from different backgrounds, cultures, and professions, and contributing to various sectors, such as energy, transport, finance, health, and construction. Hong Kong’s people also proved to be adaptable and collaborative, facing the challenges and opportunities of the changing world, and working ___

Jasper Hilkhuijsen Senior East Asia Sustainable Development Manager | Senior East Asia Innovation Manager Arup

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THIS JANUARY, BRITCHAM SUPPORTS: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION

EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATION

BY DIANA VERNON, PRINCIPAL & CEO, KELLETT SCHOOL

Offering opportunity is a central commitment of Kellett School, the British International School in Hong Kong, and one that extends beyond the school’s student body.

For a few years now we have been offering educational opportunities in the form of bursary places to children who otherwise would not be able to access a Kellett-quality education.

With generous donations from parents and Old Kellettonians (our alumni), as well as fundraising efforts by our students, we aim to offer two fully funded bursary places per year. We currently have seven bursary students, all of whom are thriving at Kellett.

As well as providing these children with a life-changing opportunity to attend Kellett School, we are also clear about the benefits of bursaries to the School. The Kellett community is diverse and we have long embraced the benefits of diversity in all its forms – recognising the rich learning for all members of the community in understanding a range of different perspectives. We also see sharing with others as being enriching for the whole Kellett community, not just in the range of viewpoints, but also in the act of giving that it exposes students and their families to.

As the School began working more closely with NGOs to find suitable bursary candidates, we learnt more about the challenges facing children living below the poverty line, becoming better informed and wanting to explore how we could use our resources to help more children.

After a COVID delay Kellett Outreach opened in September 2022, offering free classes for children living below the poverty line on Saturdays in School term time. Run by Kellett teachers, supported by volunteer students and other partners of the school, the mornings focus on delivering enriching academic opportunities, and the afternoons are packed with sport and expressive arts activities. The 100 or so children who now attend Outreach are bussed to the school, given breakfast and lunch, and educational resources to help their learning and to offer them broader inspiration.

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The range of activities on offer is deliberately wide-ranging, from yoga to cricket and drama, to give children a chance to develop a ‘love of learning’, a mantra at Kellett.

Similarly, the academic opportunities provided, in English and Maths for primary aged students, and everything from Geography to Innovation for secondary students, are fun, collaborative and engaging.

And it is paying off.

Despite coming to an additional day on a school site each weekend, the children consistently tell us it is their favourite day of the week.

Kellett’s Director of Outreach, Daniel Boyd, is seeing the confidence of the children growing each weekend, ‘For many of the children attending Outreach this might be the first time they have had swimming or public speaking sessions. We are opening their eyes to what they are capable of and as an educator there is nothing more rewarding.’

As with bursary places, as well as the impact on the children attending, there are benefits for the school community. Kellett staff contributing to Outreach enjoy the challenges of engaging with different year groups and differentiated abilities, as well as the wellbeing benefits of giving back. Volunteer students are relishing hearing new perspectives, growing their confidence and learning about the joy of giving.

There are also benefits for the parents of the children attending Outreach, living in cramped accommodation, with limited resources for food and additional education, they are afforded some respite on Saturdays whilst their children participate in activities that are otherwise inaccessible to them. ____

Following the challenges of Covid the Kellett community rallied together in 2023, both to relish in the sense of unity, but also to collectively give back. We held our first ever ‘Giving Day’ centred around a dance learnt by every student and a Kellett Ball organised by our vibrant Parents’ Committee, collectively raising enough money to provide two bursary places. Two students who attended Outreach are now full-time students at Kellett.

Kellett has always enjoyed a strong community, and Covid undoubtedly challenged that, but we have since found joy and purpose in giving back and our community is more connected and unified than ever.

If your company is interested in supporting Kellett Outreach or funding bursary places at Kellett please contact development@kellettschool.com, and help us make empowerment through education more sustainable.

About Kellett School Kellett School was founded in 1976 as a not-for-profit association by like-minded parents, to provide a highquality British education to the English-speaking community in Hong Kong. Today, Kellett educates over 1400 students aged 4 to 18 in the English Curriculum, offering a truly outstanding education, evidenced by a BSO Inspection (2023), membership of HMC and IAPS, and exceptional examination results.

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By Prof. Lapman Lee, Professor of Practice (ESG, FinTech, Governance), Convenor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence; Managing Director of Triniton Advisors, a specialist ESG advisory firm; and a Vice Chair of the British Chamber Financial Markets Committee.

The ramifications of climate change Climate change is real, and the clear and present danger it poses indiscriminately dawned on the 7.5 million residents of Hong Kong in early September 2023, when heavy rainfall unseen since 1884 erupted, resulting in severe disruption and images of flooded streets in the Central business district surreal to Asia’s premier International Financial Centre to a submerged ground floor of a usually hustling and bustling Wong Tai Sin shopping mall.

It may be worthwhile to briefly touch upon the three types of climate change risk according to the Task Force

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on

Climate-related

Financial

Disclosures

(TCFD ) supplemental guidance to the insurance sector around 1) governance, 2) strategy, 3) risk management, 4) metrics and targets.

The first type of climate risk as described in the above

situation is called physical climate risk, and to be more precise acute physical climate risk or extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, typhoons, and wildfires. There is also chronic physical climate risk, which is due to changing climate conditions such as rising temperatures and sea level rises. Physical climate risk can cause direct damage to physical assets or property, resulting in lower asset values, increased insurance claims, and supply chain disruption.

The second type of climate risk, less well-known, is transition climate risk, which is the financial risk on a company’s assets due to the transition from a carbonreliant to a low-carbon or net-zero carbon economy.

Policy and regulatory changes (including carbon pricing), but also society’s behavior in terms of consumption and purchasing (including energy), and the pace and scalability of (green) technological innovations, are the key drivers impacting future climate transition pathways and scenarios.

_________________________ ____ 1

IFRS S2 climate-related disclosures supersede TCFD and are broadly consistent with TCFD.

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The third type of climate risk is called liability climate risk, which is the risk of regulatory enforcement and stakeholder litigation against actions of companies or failure to act. Liability climate risk can cause business disruption from litigation and decreased profitability from financial penalties.

Significant investment in sustainability initiatives and technology is required to fight climate change, where listed (and private) companies play an important role.

Not surprisingly, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX) set a 1 January, 2025 implementation date for listed companies for enhancements of its climaterelated disclosures under its ESG framework, which are informed by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2 climate-related disclosures published by the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB).

The crucial year 2024 allows issuers or listed companies to familiarize themselves with the new climate-related disclosure requirements related to governance enhancements, material risk and opportunity assessment, and a transition plan with proposed changes to business model, strategy, and resource allocation (including Chief Sustainability Officer) to address risks and opportunities.

The responsibility of the insurance sector Climate change or more specifically the fight against climate change risk requires a broad coalition of ecosystem partners, where insurers who hold a significant proportion of global assets and liabilities on their balance sheets in facilitating the net-zero transition2 are playing roles such as: _________________________ 2

According to the HKEX’s practical net-zero guide for business, a net-zero target means a country or company is pledging to reduce carbon emissions to as close to zero as possible and then using carbon removal or sequestration technologies to net out the remainder of their emissions.

1. Responsible and sustainable investor deciding what projects and which companies in what sectors receive funding with the insurance industry writing more than USD 7 trillion in premium globally and holding over USD 36 trillion in Assets under Management (AuM).

2. Responsible risk taker deciding what projects get insurance cover against what cost to make projects economically viable, which requires insurers to conduct due diligence and develop a thorough understanding what projects impact climate risk.

3. Responsible risk manager designing risk adaptation and developing risk mitigation strategies for companies and governments, leveraging the insurance sector’s in-depth understanding of risk management, scenario analysis, and talent pool of actuaries.

4. Responsible pioneer of GreenTech driving accelerated adoption of GreenTech (including green fintech and green Insurtech), where insurers as risk experts with vast amounts of data at its disposal are uniquely positioned to play a central role in partnership with academics, listed and private companies, policymakers and regulators, and technology start-ups.

Insurers also have a role as a responsible business and employer employing more than 90,000 employees in Hong Kong, which is more than one out of fifty employees in Hong Kong.

The role of the Chief Sustainability Officer

profit, people, planet (dubbed as the triple bottom line).

Climate change has received much attention due to policymakers and regulators’ intentional focus on the E or environmental of ESG, as arguably the more pressing issue and easier to grasp, but there is also the S for social and G for governance.

The daunting task of coming up with the job description (JD) to recruit a Chief Sustainability Officer for a company is not surprisingly difficult, where a onesize-fits-all approach is not fit for purpose.

The latest addition to the C suite stable is the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). The actual title may differ by insurer with variations in Asia such as Group Head of Sustainability, Group Director of ESG, Head of Group ESG. In Europe, the title (Group) Head of Sustainability is more widespread.

While both ESG and Sustainability are concerned with environmental, social, and governance factors, ESG is a term used by stakeholders such as institutional (and retail) investors, rating agencies, and regulators to evaluate the financial and non-financial performance of companies based on environmental, social, and governance factors.

Sustainability is a broader philosophy or principle that encompasses responsible business practices with a more holistic view on the long-term consequences of ____

The Chief Sustainability Officer roles and responsibilities, at least for now, should be driven by the industry-specific material risks and opportunities related to sustainability and the individual company’s ambition (long-term strategy), accountability, (governance structure) and action plan (short-term strategy) and maturity of its current state people, process, data and technology capabilities with regards to sustainability.

There have been admirable attempts by consultancy firms to come up with different conceptual models to frame the different faces or facets of a Chief Sustainability Officer’s role. Let me take the opportunity to add my own model “Four Ps or Purposes of the Chief Sustainability Officer” based on their role’s key mandate, performance indicators, and purpose.

1. (Strategic) Planner - acts as evaluator of a company’s strengths and weaknesses, industry risks and opportunities (SWOT) with a focus on achieving a strategic edge in sustainability.

2. Promoter - acts as (brand) evangelist of external sustainability trends and developments relevant to the company and the company’s internal sustainability progress with a focus on attracting capital, revenue, and talent.

3. Project manager – acts as executor of the company’s sustainability transformation or transition plan with a focus on adapting the company’s business model, policies and processes, products and services.

4. Protector - acts as enforcer with a focus on achieving compliance with external regulatory and internal governance, risk management, and control (GRC) requirements.

In theory, the ideal Chief Sustainability Officer should be able to play all these roles. Not necessarily everything, everywhere, all at once, but at different stages of the sustainability transformation journey.

In practice, the Chief Sustainability Officer, who may not be familiar with the insurance industry to add a fresh outside perspective, brings his or her own strengths and weaknesses to the role and is often more comfortable with one or two of the roles. This may justify having different individuals from different functions fulfill different sustainability related roles, together becoming the ESG or Sustainability SWAT team.

Through my dialogue with Hong Kong CEOs and Group Chief Sustainability Officers of a number of leading insurers in Asia and Europe, I concluded that Group Chief Sustainability Officers in Asia often report directly or indirectly to the Group CFO, and in another case to the Group General Counsel.

In Europe, the Chief Sustainability Officers researched, report into the Board, Executive _________

Committee or Management Committee member sponsoring sustainability such as Chair of the Sustainability Board, Group Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer on the Management Committee, and Sustainability ExCo sponsor.

While the reporting line of the Chief Sustainability Officer may vary, the seniority and perception towards sustainability of the individual to whom the Chief Sustainability Officer reports into, determines the degree empowerment of and potential impact of the Chief Sustainability Officer.

The road ahead In insurance and other industry sectors, the stakeholder expectations continue to evolve and increase, not only on the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer, but also on the responsibilities of the Board, Executive, and Management Committees, CEOs, CFOs, Chief Risk Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, Chief Actuary, Chief Insurance Officer, etc.

To match the increasing expectations from stakeholders such as regulators, retail and institutional investors, insurance policyholders, and talent, there needs to be commensurate increase in expertise and experience in sustainability, where not all insurers have the required experts in-house.

Prof. Lapman Lee Professor of Practice (ESG, FinTech, Governance), Convenor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence; and Managing Director of Triniton Advisors, a specialist ESG advisory firm 22

THIS FEBRUARY, BRITCHAM SUPPORTS:

In recent years, there have been concerns over challenges facing the rule of law in Hong Kong. Some critics have questioned Hong Kong's status as a global deal-making and dispute resolution hub. In this article, we have put forward a number of considerations to dispel such misconceptions and explain why Hong Kong remains an ideal place to resolve commercial disputes.

Hong Kong has a rich common law heritage and a unique English-Chinese bilingual legal system. It is an ideal hub to resolve international disputes for foreign parties conducting business in or with parties based in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

This article touches on two key points of a dispute (commencement and enforcement) in showing why Hong Kong maintains its status as the frontrunner for where to resolve commercial disputes, in particular those with Chinese elements.

Commencing Proceedings in Hong Kong Litigation Hong Kong has maintained its common law system after its handover from the United Kingdom to China and is the only Chinese city with a common law jurisdiction. This provides international parties with the familiarity of a trusted legal system underpinned by two key touchstones of the common law system - judicial independence and certainty.

A party wishing to commence litigation in Hong Kong has to first identify the appropriate court. This would be based on the nature and amount of the claim. For commercial disputes, it would often be the District Court or the Court of First Instance of the High Court in which a party would commence an action.

Apart from a nominal filing fee for registering the “originating process” (setting out details of the claims and the amount of compensation being sought) with the court, the benefit for a litigant in Hong Kong is that no upfront court fees are required. This is in contrast to other jurisdictions, where courts would require payment of significant court fees proportional to the claim amount.

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Arbitration For parties who wish to commence an arbitration, there must be consent to submit a dispute to arbitration.

This can be found in a valid arbitration agreement in the underlying contract or other means such as an agreement between the parties after the execution of a contract. Parties must not only have an agreement to arbitrate but they must also agree to various other factors in relation to arbitration such as the legal seat of arbitration.

Hong Kong remains amongst the top seats of arbitration for parties worldwide. This is because Hong Kong is home to a number of the world's top arbitral institutions, prominent arbitrators and arbitration practitioners, and is the gateway to Mainland China. The increasing popularity of Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration is seen in recent statistics. 2022 alone saw 515 matters submitted the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre ("HKIAC") of which 344 were new arbitration filings with a combined amount in dispute of approximately US$5.5 billion. Of the arbitrations filed in 2022, 83% of all arbitrations and 93% of administered arbitrations were international with the vast majority of such arbitrations seated in Hong Kong.

It is well-established that Hong Kong is an arbitration-friendly jurisdiction. The Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) is extremely user-friendly and sets out a broad definition of what constitutes an arbitration agreement. Cap. 609 encompasses the Model Law and the provisions are set out largely in the sequence of an arbitration, making it easy for parties (domestic or foreign) to identify whether and to what extent the relevant articles under Cap. 609 applies in Hong Kong.

Enforcement of Judgments and Arbitral Awards Besides the ease of commencing litigation and arbitration, the ease of enforcing foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Hong Kong is also a key reason why it is still widely regarded as an ideal dispute resolution hub.

Enforcement of Court Judgments Foreign judgments may be enforced in Hong Kong either through a statutory registration scheme or under common law.

Hong Kong has long-standing reciprocal agreements for the recognition and enforcement of court judgments with 15 countries (7 of which are within the Commonwealth) under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 319). This means that a Hong Kong monetary judgment can be registered, then recognised and directly enforceable in these designated jurisdictions and vice versa.

A party may also enforce a foreign judgment outside of the 15 reciprocal jurisdictions in Hong Kong by common law. Should the foreign judgment itself forms the basis of a cause of action, the judgment is regarded as a debt between the parties. A party simply needs to show, subject to the relevant laws and procedural rules, that the Hong Kong judgment is a money judgment for a definite sum, is final and conclusive as to the underlying disputes between the parties, and not subject to further appeals in Hong Kong.

Such common law enforcement mechanism is also possible for judgments from civil law jurisdictions. _ 26

Enforcement of arbitral awards With respect to enforcement of arbitral awards, Hong Kong's pro-arbitration stance is further strengthened with the judiciary's continued demonstration of its pro-arbitration and non-interventionist approaches. Only in the most exceptional cases would the courts of Hong Kong refuse recognition of an arbitral awards (whether it is made in or outside of Hong Kong).

The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“New York Convention”) is a key instrument in international arbitration. As of February 2021, 166 countries have agreed to recognize and enforce arbitration awards made in other signatory countries subject to limited conditions. The New York Convention applies to Hong Kong by virtue of the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609). Therefore, so long as certain conditions are met, Hong Kong will enforce arbitral awards as if they were local Hong Kong court judgments.

The grounds for refusing enforcement of an arbitral award in Hong Kong (and other New York Convention countries) are very limited. These grounds mainly relate to procedural fairness, jurisdictional issues, and issues of public policy. Unlike the appeals system in national courts, substantive issues such as questions of facts and law determined in an award cannot be challenged or used as grounds for refusing enforcement.

Even in the unlikely event that an arbitral award made in Hong Kong needs to be enforced in a non-New York Convention jurisdiction, enforcement may still be possible.

Hong Kong's Mutual Arrangements with Mainland China Given its status as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and as a separate jurisdiction from Mainland China, Hong Kong is in the unique position of being the only jurisdiction outside of Mainland China to have a number of mutual arrangements with Mainland China for judicial assistance covering various aspects of civil and commercial disputes. These include reciprocal recognition and enforcement of court judgments and arbitral awards as well as mutual assistance for court-ordered interim measures in aid of arbitral proceedings in the respective jurisdictions. Some features and benefits of these mutual arrangements are only provided to Hong Kong by Mainland China and are currently not available to any other jurisdictions worldwide. This solidifies the distinctive position of Hong Kong as the ideal place to resolve Chinese-related commercial disputes.

The Mainland Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 645) and the Mainland Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Rules (Cap. 645A) are poised to take effect on 29 January 2024. Together, they give effect to the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which provides a more streamlined and comprehensive mechanism for registration and enforcement of Mainland judgments in civil and commercial matters in Hong Kong.

In addition, under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR ("Arrangement"), a party to arbitral ____ 27

proceedings seated in Hong Kong and administered by one (1) of the seven (7) qualified arbitral and dispute resolution institutions and permanent offices under Article 2(1) of the Arrangement can apply for interim measures such as preservation of assets and evidence form the Mainland courts any time before the arbitral award is rendered. This is the first arrangement that Mainland China has signed with another jurisdiction concerning mutual assistance in interim measures in aid of arbitration, which was previously not available in Mainland China. This mechanism has been a proven tool to assist parties in ensuring assets in Mainland China are not dissipated or transferred before the end of the arbitration.

Conclusion Hong Kong's unique status under the "One Country, Two Systems" regime, recognized common law legal system and exclusive judicial mutual arrangements with Mainland China makes it the ideal place for parties to resolve international disputes, particularly in light of the increase in cross-border trade and investment between the East and West.

For further information on how Withers can help ensure the inclusion of a proper dispute resolution mechanism in cross-border transactions and/or resolution of international commercial disputes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

About Withers Withers is one of the world’s first international law firms dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their businesses, families and advisers. With over 220 partners and more than 1,500 employees in 17 offices across Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean, Withers has unparalleled expertise in helping businesses and individuals across all major financial centres around the world.

Sherlin Tung Partner at Withers

Gary Leung Special counsel at Withers

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THE BUSINESS OF CRAFTING EXPERIENCES

BY REGENT HONG KONG

What luxury travellers are seeking in 2024 and how an iconic Hong Kong hotel reenvisions the guest experience What is trending for luxury travel in 2024 and what kind of experiences are most sought after?

As per the 2024 Virtuoso® Luxe Report “travelers are increasingly demonstrating a committed sense of adventure and urgency for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in far-flung locations.” The annual Luxe Report highlights consumer preferences and upcoming trends in high-end luxury travel. For this year’s report and travel predictions, global luxury and experiential travel network Virtuoso surveyed its travel agency members and advisors across more than 50 countries.

In the report, Japan is at the top of reemerging destinations. Travellers also want to rediscover Southeast Asia, with Thailand and Vietnam on many ‘must-see’ lists in 2024. With this renewed global interest in Asia, hopefully Hong Kong will also reap the benefits as both an in-demand hub and stop on multi-destination travels in the region.

A focus for many is the value of time and the significance of how and with whom we spend it. Amongst the top trends and motivations in luxury travel for 2024 are celebration travel, family travel (with immediate family) and multigenerational travel. Despite inflation and global unrest, clients of Virtuoso travel advisors still plan to pursue their travel aspirations and are willing to pay for new experiences, with more than half of advisors surveyed expecting travel demand and spend per trip to increase this year.

Accordingly to a recent Deloitte article on the future of luxury travel, “Despite the rise of online research and travel bookings, high-end travellers are turning to luxury travel agents for unique and hassle-free travel experiences. Customer demand for one stop solutions is also leading to cross-brand alliances… enabling unique and comprehensive experiences.”

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“Luxury travellers place a much higher value on experiences today, and hotels are essentially competing with destination management companies and tour operators in this regard,” shares Peter J. Bates, Founder and President of Strategic Vision, a New York based global marketing and communications firm for leaders in luxury lifestyle, travel, and hospitality. He adds, “Travelers may also be less willing to spend extravagantly on F&B and other hotel services. Today’s luxury consumer has a different mindset; their expectations have changed. Hoteliers are wise to expand their product offering by curating experiences for guests to capture more of that spend…No longer just booking great restaurants and arranging transfers, today’s concierge must be creative and prepared to work with hotel guests to develop memorable moments.”

Meanwhile in a recent Forbes “Travel Trends 2024 Report”, a top travel trend is deep and meaningful travel – connecting with local communities, learning about local cultures and harnessing authentic experiences. While another trend relates to ways advances in technology and artificial intelligence can aid the hospitality sector.

While there is no substitute for personalised service for a truly meaningful guest experience, technology and AI can play an effective role for guests and staff in interactions requiring a less human touch, such as expediting various housekeeping requests.

So, what are luxury hotels in Hong Kong doing to address these trends and bring experiential travel to life?

While Peninsula Hong Kong ‘reimagines the timeless glamour of travel in modern Asia’ with its holiday train car and helicopter Fly & Dine experiences, and Rosewood Hong Kong offers ‘wellcations’ at Asaya Spa for its health-conscious guests, we take a deep dive into the operation of the newly relaunched Regent Hong Kong to discover how it is curating immersive experiences that connect to the destination and meet the expectations of its discerning guests.

Having reemerged from the biggest transformation in its history, the reimagined Regent Hong Kong, is redefining how a heritage hotel with generations of collective memories, especially in the local community, resonates with the modern luxury traveller.

In an interview with CNN, Regent Hong Kong’s Managing Director Michel Chertouh shared “We are very proud of our legacy, but we aren’t hostage to it. We are moving into the hospitality of today and tomorrow.”

The hotel’s November 8. 2023 Grand Opening marked a major milestone in that direction for Regent Hotels and Resorts, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts Luxury and Lifestyle portfolio, which aims to firmly re-establish the Regent brand at the forefront of modern luxury. Its goal – to once again be a pioneer in ultra-luxury hospitality, as Regent Hong Kong was when it first opened in 1980.

The physical transformation of the flagship property by Hong Kong-born design visionary Chi Wing Lo has seen the hotel reimagined as a tranquil haven on the harbour with a design that celebrates the “Beauty of Contrast” with serene interiors juxtaposing the spectacular harbourviews. It is an oasis where guests can recharge and feel revitalised, removed from the frenzied pace of city life, enveloped in an ambience of discreet luxury with immersive experiences. But besides the striking new design, how does the Regent Hong Kong team bring this vision to life?

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As per Michel Chertouh, “One key ingredient is attention to every detail and touch point – from design to service – in a discreet manner.”

It starts with Regent brand hallmarks which include Personal Havens – intimate spaces in guestrooms and dotted throughout the property from The Lobby Lounge to Regent Club and the Pool Terrace, where guests can savour precious moments crafted by Regent Experience Agents.

Pre-arrival, guests are contacted by their Regent Experience Agent, one single point of contact who handles all logistics, special arrangements and requests, including curating bespoke Hong Kong experiences in the hotel and around the city. Guests can choose their preferred communication platform. There is also a RegentChat App. Meanwhile the hotel‘s Regent Service Centre, a 24/7 call centre for internal and external guests, works behind the scenes to ensure a seamless experience. In guestrooms, there is no keypad on the phone. It connects directly to the Regent Service Centre for one-stop assistance.

Heading the Regent Service Centre is Joyce Lai, a veteran of the hotel since the original Regent days. Joyce shares, “We are a seamless liaison connecting guest enquiries with our Regent Experience Agents. We use a variety of technology platforms to help us manage restaurant reservations, guest history, in-room dining, track guest enquiries and much more. As a Regent flagship property, we are the first to launch this one-stop Regent Service Centre.”

She adds, “I remind my team that service is created by people, and what makes Regent Hong Kong successful is its people. With empathy, we try to understand our guest’s perspective; and with the help of innovative technology (behind the scenes), we aim to serve our guests better and offer a very personalised level of service. We go that extra step and notice even the smallest details.”

But how do you teach the art of five-star service and “crafting experiences” to a new generation of young hoteliers? The hotel has extensive in-house training programmes and online learning opportunities available for all employees. The team also undergoes training of rigorous service standards with the goal of regaining its Forbes Five Stars, following the hotel’s major transformation and rebranding. Michel Chertouh shares, “Our service philosophy is ‘on your terms’. There is a natural flow and a sense of calmness that radiates through the entire guest experience.”

At the hotel’s Dining Destination, each restaurant has been reimagined based on three key pillars – reinvented, innovative and immersive. Every aspect of the culinary journey is curated. At The Steak House, in addition to the bespoke selection of the world’s finest beef, guests have a choice of chef quality Nesmuk knives; and the mustard is made from scratch. At the two MICHELIN star Lai Ching Heen, a tea sommelier introduces a curated menu of the finest Chinese tea leaves to compliment Executive Chef Lau Yiu Fai's refined Cantonese dishes, elevating the overall dining experience. At Qura, the hotel’s new destination bar, a menu of rare spirits has taken two years to curate, as has the eclectic décor, reflecting the exotic collectables of a worldly connoisseur.

As per Michel, “Each experience is one of discovery – showcasing artistry, craftsmanship and a touch of decadence, with inspiration from Hong Kong’s rich heritage and culture.” The ambience envelops you in discreet luxury with mesmerising views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.

Guests-in-residence in harbourview rooms feel a unique connection to Victoria Harbour from windowfront daybeds and oasis baths overlooking the city skyline, enhanced by experiences from a curated Bar & Bath Menu. The exclusive Regent Club is a luxurious residential retreat with indulgent breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktail experiences. As the sun sets, “Day-to-Evening Rituals” are mesmerising experiences – the lights dim to magnify the harbourview, the playlist changes, staff emerge in chic evening uniforms.” This is Regent Hong Kong at its most magical time.

More than a place to stay, it’s a destination for discovery and immersive experiences.

It’s a serene haven that uplifts your soul as you gaze over one of the world’s most mesmerising views. It’s all about how it makes you feel, which is priceless.

About Regent Hong Kong The reimagined Regent Hong Kong is a majestic haven on Victoria Harbour with 497 guestrooms (including 129 suites), designed by Chi Wing Lo as Personal Havens of serenity. Experience mesmerising harbourviews, decadent dining at six exceptional venues, events that create lasting impressions and personalised service on your terms. Discover more at https://hongkong.regenthotels.com/

Carole L. Klein Freelance writer / Marketing Communications & PR Consultant

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