THE STONE HOUSE
HOME OF THE FCC: 1949 - 1951
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members,
This may sound like a curious question coming from the President of a press club, but recently I’ve found myself wondering, what is a journalist? For the sake of our Club’s membership, the answer is fairly simple. We look for the majority of a Member’s income to come from journalistic activity, and then where that work is published. Looking up “journalist” in a dictionary will find something along the lines of “a person who writes for newspapers, magazines, news websites or prepares news to be broadcast”.
It feels like it should be simple enough to define the role of a journalist but, as we have found throughout history, people, particularly those in positions of authority, will produce rather nebulous definitions of journalism. If we look to the United States, the current administration has embraced what they call “new media”, which includes a pool of clearly partisan publications and people many of us would opt to call “influencers”.
But the presence or lack of objectivity cannot help us define a journalist. As much as the media tries to produce news that is “unbiased” and “objective”, the reality is that objectivity is a relatively new phenomenon in journalism. Historically, publications have taken sides. What most of us as journalists now try to achieve is something that is as critical and objective as possible. This generally relies on what we hope is a media literate consumer who will read and watch news produced by multiple platforms. It also relies on the ability of multiple publications, staffed by diverse journalists, to produce news.
This diversity is often stifled, both intentionally and unintentionally. The latter is something that we, as an industry, need to more consciously address. The former is a bit more clear cut. While I can’t argue with the need to redefine journalism in the 21st century, the “new media” pool in The White House seems to clearly lack diverse thought. Likewise, when we look at the media situation in Gaza, we see foreign media shut out. That creates a reliance on local journalists who can both more readily be accused of bias by outsiders, and a stifling of information that international journalists may be able to report and share with their home consumers.
What concerns me, as a member of the press and the President of the FCC, is how we identify and react to bias. Medialiterate consumers should be able to look to multiple news sources to recognise bias in a way that makes them more critical and knowledgeable. But too often perceived, or real, bias is weaponised. It becomes an excuse, by all sides, to crush voices of opposition. What we are seeing in places like Nepal and Gaza is violent, intentional repression of the media.
We may differ slightly in our definitions of a journalist, but in my position, I will continue to stand for the right of all journalists to work without fear of repercussions. Journalists are civilians, and journalism is not a crime.
Best Regards,
Morgan M. Davis President president@fcchk.org
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong
2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2521 1511
Fax: (852) 2868 4092
Email: fcc@fcchk.org
Website: www.fcchk.org
The Board of Governors 2025-2026
President Morgan M. Davis
First Vice President Karen Koh
Second Vice President Tim Huxley
Correspondent Member Governors
Jennifer Jett, Kristie Lu Stout, Peter Parks, Paul Tait, Laura Westbrook, Lee Williamson, Jing Yang, William Zheng
Journalist Member Governors Zela Chin, Joe Pan
Associate Member Governors
Liu Kin-ming, Lynne Mulholland, Christopher Slaughter, Barbara Yu Larsson
Club Treasurer Tim Huxley
Club Secretary Liu Kin-ming
CONTRIBUTORS
John Batten
John Batten comments, broadcasts and writes on art, culture, urban planning, heritage and policy issues for Hong Kong newspapers and overseas magazines and is a former art critic and contributor for the South China Morning Post. He is also a director of the arts education group Rooftop Institute and currently President of AICAHK.
Brett Free
Brett has spent 45 years in strategic communications, news media, public relations and public service, including 15 years in directorate leadership roles in the HKSAR Government’s Information Services Department (ISD). He retired as ISD Deputy Director in early 2022. In this issue, he pays tribute to the late Kerry McGlynn, who chaired the selection panel that hired Brett in 1993.
Christina is a Malaysia-born, U.S. citizen who is fluent in financial journalism and corporate communications. She is the Founder of communications consultancy Toot and a founding member of Global Commtrepreneurs Network and Web3 Women.
Professional Committee
Conveners: Morgan M. Davis, Jennifer Jett, Karen Koh, Lee Williamson, William Zheng
Press Freedom Committee
Conveners: Morgan M. Davis, Karen Koh, Lee Williamson, Jing Yang, William Zheng
Constitutional Committee
Conveners: Liu Kin-ming, Peter Parks
Membership Committee
Conveners: Zela Chin, Jennifer Jett, Joe Pan
Communications Committee
Conveners: Zela Chin, Morgan M. Davis, Paul Tait
Finance Committee
Treasurer: Tim Huxley Conveners: Karen Koh, Lynne Mulholland
House/Food and Beverage Committee
Conveners: Lynne Mulholland, Barbara Yu Larsson
Building – Project and Maintenance Committee
Conveners: Liu Kin-ming, Christopher Slaughter
Wall Committee
Conveners: Kristie Lu Stout, Peter Parks
Charity Committee
Conveners: Morgan M. Davis, Laura Westbrook
Aaron is the FCC’s first Social Media Journalist Member, writing on various online outlets since 2020. He splits his time between news reporting and cricket commentating, as well as broadcasting in Hong Kong and internationally. His nightly Substack on Hong Kong news can be found at tripperhead.com
Hugo is originally from Chicago and joined the FCC just prior to graduating from HKU’s Master of Journalism programme. As the Club’s in-house journalist, he covers events for the website and social media, contributes to The Correspondent, and also helps organise and promote workshops for early/mid-career journalists.
Vera is the Marketing Manager at the FCC, bringing over a decade of experience in F&B and hospitality. to her role. With a background collaborating with celebrity and Michelin chefs, she enjoys storytelling and strives to create memorable experiences that resonate with diverse audiences through her focus on social media and communications.
Editor Ann Tsang Email: editor@fcchk.org
Publisher Artmazing! Noel de Guzman
Email: artmazingcompany@gmail.com
Cover Image Isabella Cammareri
Printing Elite Printing Tel: 2558 0119
Advertising Enquiries FCC Front Office: Tel: 2521 1511
The Correspondent ©2025 is published four times a year by The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of The Foreign Correspondents’ Club. All content contained within The Correspondent magazine may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without authorisation.
the President
News Update: Nick Ut’s Lawyer Takes Firm Stand
Meet The FCC President: Morgan M. Davis
The FCC has a new President at its helm – Morgan M. Davis, a seasoned journalist with a passion for fostering community, championing young journalists, and bringing fresh energy to the FCC. In this Q&A for The Correspondent Morgan discusses what inspired her to become a journalist, how she came to Hong Kong, her vision for the Club, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Set In Stone
Nestled amid the quiet, tree-lined Kotewall Road in Mid-Levels lies the Stone House, a historic edifice that has witnessed Hong Kong’s evolution over decades. The first home of the FCC in Hong Kong, from 1949 to 1951, with its distinctive architecture and storied past, the property was declared a Grade III listed historical building by the Historical Buildings and Structures Committee of the Antiques and Monuments Office in 1997. If its walls could talk, they would likely tell many stories.
Hong Kong’s skyline has always been a glittering symbol of excitement, relentless reinvention and an unsurpassed work ethic. Over the past decade, one particular company in the city has emerged as a parallel universe that similarly embraces these same adjectives - the Great Entertainment Group (GEG) - founded by FCC Member Michael Denmark.
Member Focus - Michael Denmark: The Great Entertainer Staff Spotlight: Katelyn Kan
We continue our Staff Spotlight series with Katelyn Kan, the FCC’s Senior Administration Officer and Board Secretary.
Speakers’ Corner
Mariel Hemingway: Finding Balance Through The Leica Lens
When Oskar Barnack first crafted the Leica I prototype in 1914, few could have predicted that this compact, portable camera would revolutionise photography. Fast-forward a century, and Leica stands as a coveted name that represents impeccable craftsmanship, innovation and artistry in the world of photography. As the brand celebrates its 100th anniversary, the company’s storied history intertwines with the legacy of one of its most famous users: the late Elliott Erwitt. Together, they epitomise the very serious relationship between a camera and the artist who wields it.
Frontlines and Fault Lines: The SOPA Excellence in Photography Award 2025 On The Wall
Obituary: George Mitchell
Obituary: Kerry McGlynn
Food For Thought In Vino Veritas
New On The Block
Reciprocal Club: The Royal Automobile Club of Australia Click!
Don’t Beat About The Busch
Aaron Busch
Hugo Novales
Vera Yung
Christina Pantin
PAYING RESPECT TO JOURNALIST VICTIMS
The FCC’s Press Freedom Committee held a commemorative name-reading event on 8 September to honour the journalists and media workers who have been killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Club President Morgan M. Davis began with an opening speech, stating that: “Journalists, regardless of nationality or creed, deserve to work without harassment or fear of death. Journalists are civilians.”
She then led a minute of silence to honour roughly 200 Israeli, Lebanese and Palestinian journalists who have been killed in the 23 months since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023.
After the minute of silence, Davis and members of the Press Freedom Committee read all the names aloud, commemorating the victims in what has become the deadliest conflict for the media documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
WALKING FOR KINDNESS
By Marketa Moore
On Saturday afternoon, 13 September, 2025, my son and I headed to the Tai Kok Tsui area, where many people facing severe life challenges live. According to Jeff Rotmeyer, Founder of ImpactHK, an organisation that has been serving people without homes for eight years, at least 300,000 people in Hong Kong live in very difficult and often undignified conditions. Jeff estimates that up to 20% of people in Hong Kong also lack food security.
Estimating the number of people without homes in Hong Kong is very difficult, but rough estimates suggest there are between 3,000 and 5,000. Their main problem is not just the lack of housing, but also social isolation. Nearly 90% of those living on the streets have no friends or family, and there is no-one to notify (after they pass away on the streets) about their final farewell. This apparently happens often.
Another issue is the social stigma and exclusion faced by the people living on the streets. However, Jeff refers to them as his friends. In just eight years, ImpactHK has established 11 facilities - from a kind of “clubhouse” (their first office)
HERE TO HELP
To assist our partner charities with their online presence and collaboration with Hong Kong’s various news and media outlets, the FCC’s Charity Committee held a workshop in September, covering three different media-related topics. FCC President Morgan M. Davis spoke to our partner charities about the best ways they can engage with the media, including through news releases and official interviews. Club Member Ben Marans also shared his photography expertise to demonstrate how visuals are an important element in terms of how charities convey their messages, while CNN’s Bryan Wood gave a talk on best practices for social media posts, particularly with reels and similar video formats.
to spaces with a gym, laundry, and kitchen (where 350 meals are prepared daily), to simple hostels into which Jeff’s friends and his organisation’s beneficiaries gradually move.
The goal is to help those who are interested in improving their situation, reintegrate into society, and find work and housing. The average age of the homeless people is 60, most of them men.
So what did we do on Saturday? Jeff came up with a idea to organise “Kindness Walks”. This is not “slum tourism” with gawking and selfies, but a meaningful activity where we had the chance to meet some of Jeff’s friends and distribute small snacks and water.
Our group of 15 was divided into teams of two to distribute bananas, boiled eggs, wet wipes and drinking water. My son and I were assigned water duty. He carried a 5-litre bottle of water, and I held the cups. The instructions were simple: walk in single file, greet politely, quickly offer what you had without unnecessary small talk, avoid lingering, and move on. Unnecessary conversation wasn’t
an issue in our group, because none spoke Cantonese. And of course, no photography. There were also a few other children around 10-years-old in our group and it was a valuable new learning experience for them, and in fact, for all of us. Although I was initially a bit skeptical, I think we ended up being useful. It seemed that people appreciated a small snack and water on a very hot day when the temperature was above 30 degrees.
During our mission, we obviously didn’t take photos, but I did capture something Jeff referred to as “hostile architecture” - the installation of new plastic or metal barriers across benches in the entire neighbourhood to prevent anyone from lying down, which must have cost taxpayers a pretty penny.
The fees for participation were donated to support ImpactHK’s continued work. The charity’s vision is for an inclusive Hong Kong where everyone has a safe place to call home.
BOOK SOCIETY INAUGURAL MEET-UP
The FCC’s Book Society had its first meet-up on 8 September, when participants gathered to discuss Fortune’s Bazaar: The Making of Hong Kong by author and FCC Member Vaudine England, who joined the conversation via Zoom to share her personal insights into the writing of her book.
Vaudine was a journalist for three decades in South East Asia and Hong Kong for the BBC, Reuters and the Far Eastern Economic Review, as well as several London-based newspapers. She is now a researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands and a research associate at the Hong Kong History Centre at Bristol University, bringing her journalistic skills to the Centre’s archives. Fortune’s Bazaar is her first book.
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!
We are pleased to announce that our popular Family Membership Promotion is back! Enjoy a 33% discount on entrance fees for your family members, applicable until midnight on 31 December 2025. In response to your requests, we have also expanded the programme to include your extended family members again this year, allowing your loved ones to enjoy being part of the FCC family. Also, please remind your friends that you don’t need to be a journalist to join Asia’s premier press club. For further information, please call 2844 2829, email membership@ fcchk.org, or talk directly to our Front Desk staff.
In other gift idea suggestions, check out the FCC’s e-shop or purchase merchandise direct from the Club at great prices. Caps, hoodies, notebooks, coffee mugs,
umbrellas, tote bags and more are among the items available. FCC executive diaries for 2026 are also now available to all Members at special prices. The diaries can also be personalised (please refer to the samples available at the Front Desk).
ERRATUM: The Correspondent wishes to apologise for the factual errors made in the July issue of the magazine in the article ‘Women In War:
A Retrospective By Nicole Tung’ on page 35. Nicole did not in fact win the Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club of America in 2022 or the 2022 John Chancellor Award For Excellence in Journalism from the Columbia School of Journalism. She did however, win a citation for excellence for The Olivier Rebbot Award 2021 from the OPCA for her work on ‘Syria War of Attrition’ in The Washington Post.
A photo of slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, as Pro-Palestinian protesters participate in a March for Humanity against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on 16 August, 2025, in New York City. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP
JOIN OUR SOCIETIES
The FCC Golf Society has been a social and sporting fixture at the Club for more than 40 years. Members play every month at one of the three public courses at Kau Sai Chau, with scores ranging from 75 to 115, reflecting the social nature of the society. Please contact Chairman Russ Julseth at russjulseth@netvigator.com to join in.
The Club’s active and long-established Bridge Society also welcomes new players. If you would like to participate, please ask the Front Desk for details of the next meet-up.
Our new Scrabble Society held its first session on 31 August. All levels of players are welcome, as are children ages 8 and above to either sit in or to play.
TUNE IN TO THE CORRESPONDENT: THE FCC PODCAST
Morgan M. Davis, President of the FCC, sat down recently with Jarrod Watt on an episode of The Correspondent podcast to discuss the priorities for her term - the FCC’s lease renewal, press freedom statements, the Club’s battle against bad coffee, and the long list of requests for guest speakers.
Davis also explains how the FCC publishes press freedom statements and why it’s important for the Club to speak up on issues affecting journalists in Hong Kong and abroad. Diving into her personal history with journalism, she also talks about the people who have influenced her both as a working journalist and as a journalism educatorfrom Gay Talese to Ira Glass, Ida B Welles, Upton Sinclair, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
Listen now via Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/ podcast/in-conversation-with-the-president-morgan-davis/ id1678892215?i=1000719493884
UT’S LAWYER TAKES FIRM STAND
It was announced in early September that Netflix has acquired Bao Nguyen’s controversial documentary The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo, a film that challenges the authorship of one of the most famous images ever taken of the Vietnam War, The Terror of War - also dubbed as ‘Napalm Girl ’ (see The Correspondent, July 2025 issue for details).
On 5 September, photographer Nick Ut’s lawyer Jim Hornstein issued a press release stating that his client “will take all necessary steps and action – in court if need be – to preserve his legacy and protect the integrity of his work”.
The press release reads as follows:
TRIBUTE
n 1960, the acclaimed journalist Gay Talese wrote a piece for Esquire magazine titled “New York Is A City of Things Unnoticed”, detailing his many observations of people and places based on his exploration of the city that never sleeps. Talese’s piece about New York inspired this special episode of The Correspondent podcast – based on historical research and observations of the architecture, the people and daily life in taxis, wet markets, and the streets of Hong Kong. In this episode, learn about the history behind famous landmarks and monuments around Hong Kong, unique taxi driver phrases, and much more. A CHAT WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT A
IListen to “Hong Kong is a City (A Tribute to the Fragrant Harbour and Gay Talese)” via Acast: https://shows.acast.com/ the-correspondent/episodes/6890c18bf3bc0460816e00c0
“Following the announcement of Netflix’s acquisition of the documentary The Stringer, we feel compelled to respond to a narrative that challenges Nick Ut’s authorship of one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century –without conclusive evidence and at the expense of truth. In recent months, a film has sought to cast doubt on Nick Ut’s authorship of The Terror of War – the photograph of nineyear-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running from a napalm attack on 8 June, 1972.
This claim is false. Nick Ut took that photograph. He was there, and he took Kim Phuc to safety after making the image. No-one else has the right to claim his work.
The truth is, Nick Ut has remained largely silent throughout this period, even as a vindictive and selfserving campaign – disguised as journalism – has gained momentum. This effort appears to have been deliberately timed to coincide with his invitation to Visa pour l’image, adding further distress at a moment that should have been one of recognition and dignity.
He is deeply upset by what has been said about him, his career, his work, his honour and his integrity.
The Associated Press, after extensive investigation, has reaffirmed that there is no credible evidence to challenge his authorship. Many witnesses who stood beside him that day continue to support what has always been known: that he took the famous picture.
The attacks against him are painful, but they cannot erase the truth. That photograph, which earned Nick the Pulitzer Prize and helped change public opinion on the Vietnam War, belongs to history. Its power comes not from controversy, but from the innocent child it portrays and the suffering it exposed.
“Knowing that a company like Netflix will give such allegations a global stage is painful,” Nick Ut said.
But today, as he stands here in Perpignan, he chooses not to dwell on falsehoods but to celebrate the values that unite us as photojournalists. “We are guardians of memory. We risk our lives to ensure that truth is not forgotten”.
Nick Ut wants to dedicate this recognition to Kim Phuc, whose courage and humanity continue to inspire everyone. And he also dedicates it to all photojournalists who persist in telling the truth, no matter how difficult or dangerous.
Nick Ut remains committed to defending the truth – not only for himself, but for the values that define responsible journalism.”
Leroy, Director General of Visa pour l’image also addressed the issue during this year’s event.
“For more than 50 years we had seen the photo of the girl running from the napalm attack in Trảng Bàng on 8 June, 1972. It was credited to a photographer with Associated Press by the name of Nick Ut, and he’s with us this evening.
Earlier this year a foundation set up by a photographers’ agency here in Perpignan decided to do a documentary on the picture that is now historic.
The documentary, which is not available so I haven’t seen it, presents various pieces of evidence suggesting that Nick did not take the photo, but that it was taken by another photographer there at the time. So 50 years after the event, that photographer is alleging that he is a victim of injustice. With all that, and while the crews working on the documentary admit – and I would like to stress this point – that they are not presenting incontrovertible evidence, an established and once respected institution of photojournalism decided to cancel one of Nick’s awards for the photo.
There were direct and indirect witnesses of the scene, and they continue to state in no uncertain terms that it was indeed Nick who took the photo. Reports of witnesses defending Nick were not included in the documentary, and the more I discover the working methods and means of investigation used for the documentary, the more surprised I am.
There have always been professional fault-finders, parading behind a façade of virtue, determined to slay targets to serve their chosen cause; they are perfectly entitled to do a documentary, and we would not attempt to silence them. But when an institution that is supposed to defend and advocate for the cause of photojournalists chooses to play the role of police attacking our profession, then it is a different story. Here at Visa pour l’Image, we are many different things: corny, classical, orthodox, grouchy, dramatic … Our critics are never short of vocabulary when it comes to describing us. But we are also fiercely determined to defend this profession that we love and was so greatly loved by Roger Thérond who helped me found the festival.” n
Nick Ut in Hong Kong in September 2025. Image: Ringo Chiu
Jean-François
Hosted by Jarrod Watt, The Correspondent podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Morgan M. Davis. Image: Ben Marans
MEET THE FCC PRESIDENT: A CONVERSATION WITH MORGAN M. DAVIS
The FCC has a new President at its helm – Morgan M. Davis, a seasoned journalist with a passion for fostering community, championing young journalists, and bringing fresh energy to the FCC. In this Q&A for The Correspondent, Morgan discusses what inspired her to become a journalist, how she came to Hong Kong, her vision for the Club, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Tell us a bit about your background. Where are you from, and how did you get into journalism?
I’m American by birth, but Welsh by ancestry. I was born in Morgan County in Jacksonville, Illinois. Many people assume that I was named after the county, but I was actually named after my grandfather.
I then grew up in Springfield, Illinois - home of Abraham Lincoln - which was a great place to live, though I always felt destined for life beyond a small town. My interest in journalism started when I was 12. I read a book called The Landry News by Andrew Clements about a high school student who created her own newspaper, and it inspired me to do the same at my grade school. That passion grew through high school and I went on to study journalism and political science at The George Washington University. After an internship and then a full-time position at the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., I realised I wanted to tell stories, not navigate bureaucracy. I went on to Columbia to do a Master’s in magazine journalism, and that set me on my professional path.
What brought you to Hong Kong?
I initially moved to Hong Kong in May 2016 with a startup that I was working for in New York. I had always wanted to live abroad, and while the original plan was for me to transfer to London, things didn’t pan out. Instead, Hong Kong became the destination, and I’ve never looked back. After six months with the startup, I joined Euromoney and later transitioned to my current role at International Financing Review (IFR).
What initially drew you to the FCC?
I became a Member in early 2017, not long after moving to Hong Kong. Naturally, I was introduced to other journalists, many of whom were Members. It seemed like the place to be, so I joined. The FCC has always been more than just a club - it’s a community that provides a platform for important conversations, offers a space for camaraderie and much more.
What inspired you to take on leadership roles within the FCC?
I started on the Communications Committee in 2019, initially helping with the magazine (The Correspondent). Over time, I realised how much I enjoyed contributing to the Club’s mission. Journalism has always been important to me, and while my day-to-day work might not always reflect
the reasons I got into the field, being involved with the FCC allows me to support the industry in meaningful ways.
Becoming Vice President last year felt like a natural progression, and when the opportunity to run for President came, I was ready to step up.
What is your vision for the FCC under your leadership?
One of my main goals is to make the Club more inclusive and reflective of our diverse membership base. For instance, events like Drag Bingo Night cater to younger and more diverse Members, and I want to continue fostering that kind of engagement. At the same time, I’m mindful of maintaining a balance; we can’t be everything to everyone, but we can ensure that all our Members feel seen and valued.
Another focus is amplifying our charitable and community efforts. The FCC is a part of Hong Kong, and we should have an active role in the city - whether that’s through partnerships with local organisations, hands-on volunteering, or hosting events that raise awareness for underserved communities.
What challenges do you think the FCC faces today?
We need to rethink how we approach events in a postCOVID world. Travel restrictions have limited the number of high-profile speakers passing through Hong Kong, so we have to be more creative and proactive in curating events.
I feel we also need to engage more with our growing base of local and mainland Chinese Members. I’d love to see more participation from them in both committees and events, and perhaps explore hosting Chinese-language events or inviting speakers who resonate with this demographic.
You’ve shown a strong interest in supporting young journalists. Why is this important to you?
Young journalists are the future of the industry, and I think it’s vital to provide them with opportunities and mentorship. The FCC has been working on initiatives like meet-and-greet events and workshops specifically for young journalists and I want to continue building on that momentum. Even if they can’t afford membership right now, we want them to feel part of the FCC community.
How has the journalism landscape changed since you started, and what advice would you give to young reporters today?
Journalism has changed dramatically, especially with the rise of digital media and AI. What I notice among younger
journalists is a hesitancy to engage in direct, on-the-ground reporting - what we used to call “shoe-leather reporting”. There’s a tendency to rely on press releases or let sources dictate the narrative. My advice to young reporters is to stay curious, dig deeper, and don’t shy away from asking tough questions.
You’ve also been proactive in charitable initiatives at the Club. What motivates you in this area?
I believe the FCC shouldn’t be an isolated bubble. We’re part of Hong Kong, and it’s important to give back to the community. Over the past couple of years, we’ve focused on hands-on volunteering and working with organisations that support ethnic minorities and underserved communities. It’s rewarding to see Members get involved and make a tangible impact.
What’s one thing you’d like all Members to know about the FCC?
The FCC is what you make of it. Whether you’re into wine nights, panel discussions on economics, or just a great meal, there’s something for everyone. I would like to encourage all Members to get involved, join committees, and share their ideas. This club thrives on the energy and enthusiasm of its Members.
Finally, if you could invite any three dream speakers to the FCC, who would they be?
Josh Gates, the explorer and TV host, would be fantastic. I’d also love to host Eric Larson, whose books are incredible, and Min Jin Lee, the author of Pachinko. I believe her insights into the Asian diaspora and storytelling would resonate deeply with our Members. n
IMAGE: BEN MARANS
SET IN STONE
Nestled amid the quiet, tree-lined Kotewall Road in Mid-Levels lies the Stone House, a historic edifice that has witnessed Hong Kong’s evolution over decades. The first home of the FCC in Hong Kong, from 1949 to 1951, with its distinctive architecture and storied past, the property was declared a Grade III Listed Historical Building on 11 November, 1997, by accord of the Historic Buildings and Structures Committee of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Hong Kong SAR. If its walls could talk, they would likely tell many stories.
By Ann Tsang
Images courtesy of Charles
(CJ) Wysocki
“The premises were too small for us. We only had two or three rooms to accommodate visiting correspondents and the bar was especially too small as more and more associate members joined.”
~ Chiao Chin-chen (former FCC barman)
Built in 1923, the Stone House at number 15 Kotewall Road was constructed when British colonial architecture flourished. Its granite façade, arched windows and spacious interiors reflected the practical yet elegant style of the period.
Around this time, the entire upper portion of Kotewall Road consisted of similar coach houses that provided living space for people employed by the wealthy families who had mansions on Conduit, Kotewall and Po Shan Roads, most notably the Kotewall family, who were the original owners of the Stone House.
Kotewall Road itself was named after Sir Robert Hormus Kotewall, who became a prominent Hong Kong businessman and community leader following a political career that began with his appointment in 1923 as an acting unofficial member of the Legislative Council.
The neighbourhood became a coveted one and was home to professionals and expatriates who sought respite from the bustling city below.
The Stone House was originally built with three storeys, but the top level was later demolished to make way for redevelopment of the present high-rise Hatton House that sits directly behind it. The house was in fact likely the coach house for the former Hatton House, the site of which was redeveloped in 1972 and has since retained its original name.
The Stone House was built in an interpretation of the Classical Revival style that was popular in the 1920s. The structure is a composition of reinforced concrete beams and slabs and six-foot thick, solid granite external walls. The front façade had three large door openings on the ground floor and three rectangular shaped windows on the upper level with bow-shaped heads and keystones. The walls were painted white, the doorways were flanked by simple classical columns and there is a dentil moulded projecting cornice - characterised by a series of small rectangular blocks at parapet level, which remains to this day. A semi-circular glazed canopy above the main door, planters, coach lamps and window boxes were later additions. The Portuguese tiles at the lower entrance to the building are known to have been a gift from Felipe de Albuquerque, then the Portuguese Consul General to Hong Kong.
The interior, covering a total of 3,128 square feet, had 17-foot-high ceilings and an elegant Regency style staircase.
Due to it being one of the earliest examples of the then “new” steel-reinforced construction technique, the Stone House was designated as a barracks for the Hong Kong military during World War II.
When the FCC relocated to Hong Kong from Shanghai in 1949, it initially didn’t have premises to move into, according to David Roads, who was with the Associated Press at the time and who later became President of the Club in 1966.
Barry Grindrod recounted the following story as told by Roads as part of a chapter in Witness on Asia , a book released by the FCC in 1997.
“We first set up officially in a small house at 15 Kotewall Road on the condition that we would keep our noise down to a mild roar. But we got away with murder, as far as noise was concerned, from 1949 to 1951,” Roads said.
At the time, the club was run by the legendary Liao Chienping, who stayed until 1977. He was soon joined by barman Chiao Chin-chen (known as Ronnie Chow), who retired from the Club in 1988. Other staff from Shanghai were also brought on board.
“One day there was a telephone call from the police on the border,” Roads recalled. “On the other side was Chang, the cook from the Shanghai club. He wanted to come over to work for us. He needed a sponsor. Stan Rich, then secretary [AP correspondent and President in 1965], went to the border to find not only Chang but also six other members of his family.”
They were small beginnings indeed, as former United Press correspondent Chang Kuo-sin recalled from his home in Oregon. Even though Chang, who was a Member in the Nanjing and Shanghai clubs, only came out of China in December 1949, he was, he said, considered a Founding Member of the club. At the time there were just 11 full Members. Most, if not all of them, had been Members of the FCC in Shanghai. This changed rapidly and Kotewell Road was soon bursting at the seams. Chang recalled: “The premises were too small for us. We only had two or three rooms to accommodate visiting correspondents and the bar was especially too small as more and more Associate Members joined.”
Graham Jenkins, who was a Board Member of the Club in the early 1950s, recalled a manager who had a tendency to over-imbibe. “We decided to fire him, but he went on a sitdown strike in his room. It went on for weeks and we had many meetings to try and come up with a solution on how to get him out,” Jenkins said. “At every meeting every Board Member would be reminded to remember, ‘not a word to the press’.” Eventually the manager disappeared into the blue one night never to be seen again.
Journalists at the FCC in the Stone House monitored the fall of the Kuomintang and the founding of the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong.
For much of the duration of the Korean War (1950–1953), correspondents also used the FCC as a strategic point for gathering intelligence and reporting from the region.
The Stone House provided a neutral and secure environment for reporters to verify facts and exchange stories about the challenges of reporting in an era of censorship and propaganda.
FEATURE
Th roughout its tenure at the Stone House, the FCC played what continues to be an important role in advocating for freedom of the press in Asia. The Club hosted debates, panel discussions, and events that often led to public statements that underscored the Club’s commitment to defending journalistic freedom worldwide.
The Stone House, as the FCC headquarters, became a venue for other more formal gatherings that brought together diplomats and other influential figures. These gatherings sometimes took the form of informal briefings by consular officials from various nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
While many of these meetings were held discreetly, they played a role in shaping how the world viewed the political and social developments in Asia at the time.
One of the most dramatic events in the history of the Stone House occurred well before its association with the FCC. On 18 July, 1935, a landslide devastated parts of Kotewall Road, destroying several buildings and claiming more than 40 lives.
Remarkably, the house survived, likely due to its solid construction. The tragedy however, underscored the vulnerability of Hong Kong’s hilly terrain to landslides, eventually leading to improved engineering and slope stabilisation efforts in subsequent decades.
When the FCC found its next home at 41A Conduit Road, a gentleman by the name of Yeung Tak-hang and his family moved into the Stone House. They lived upstairs while Mr
Yeung, an antique car fanatic, ran a car repair/restoration shop on the ground floor. Mr Yeung and his family inhabited the house for approximately 40 years until 1992, when it was purchased by an American expatriate lawyer, Charles Wysocki (see next page).
The Stone House became a Grade III Listed Historical Building on 11 November, 1997, by accord of the Historic Buildings and Structures Committee of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Hong Kong SAR.
In spite of this designation, according to an article in the South China Morning Post on 11 March, 2003 entitled “Wrecking ball is ruining HK’s soul academics warn”, conservationists highlighted three pre-World War II buildings they said “could face demolition because of a lack of safeguards”. These three buildings were the Jamia Mosque on Shelley Street, the First Church of Christ, Scientist on MacDonnell Road and the Stone House.
When Mr Wysocki sold the Stone House in 2005, he stated the following in his lovingly made sales brochure: “We hope that whoever buys the property will preserve it as part of our Hong Kong cultural and architectural heritage, and not destroy it to build box flats. Th is will be one of our considerations when we are vetting potential buyers. You can tell by the way someone looks at a house whether he or she will love it or not…”
All three buildings remain standing today.
REMINISCENCES OF THE STONE HOUSE
By Charles (CJ) Wysocki
When I came to Hong Kong from New York as a lawyer in 1989, I almost immediately started looking for older properties to buy and renovate.
I fi rst located a penthouse apartment on Bonham Road that I worked on every weekend. I could do pretty much everything except electrics and plumbing, so I would do it bit by bit, painting and scraping, over weekends. I did the same with various other apartments.
When I was living in a rented apartment in May Tower, my company was paying HK$35,000 a month, considered far too much for a single man, so I was asked to fi nd a cheaper place. I did so, at Hatton Court on Hatton Road, just above the Stone House. Having made the acquaintance of a quirky property agent, Solomon Fung, I became fascinated by this colonial-style building on Kotewall Road and asked Solomon to enquire as to whether it might be for sale. When I peeked through a gap in the large wooden doors, I saw a place that had amazing bones - stone walls, very high ceilings and a long spiral staircase - wonderful features that I certainly hadn’t seen in any other Hong Kong apartments at the time.
Solomon was in fact able to convince the owner that he should sell. Mr Yeung and his family had resided in the house for four decades, while he ran a car restoration business on the ground floor, although it looked like he didn’t really do much work anymore, as evidenced by a solitary old RollsRoyce Silver Ghost bearing the license plate ‘HK3’ that was sitting outside seemingly awaiting rescue.
The Stone House is located just below the area where the Kotewall family once had their garden, complete with a fountain. In the early days there was no swimming pool on the roof; that was a later addition by the family who had the apartment at Hatton House adjacent to the garden. They were on the building committee and had somehow gained full rights to the garden which presumably at one time had been a communal area for all the building owners. Apparently, this family had also had their eye on the Stone House, but were unable to arrange a purchase. So enraged were they after we completed our purchase that the lady of the family (a fiery Scot) came and knocked on our door, insisting that no one was permitted to live in the space and so she would report us to the police. I pointed out to her that in fact perhaps an invisible Chinese family had lived in the house for 40 years and that we had taken legal advice from Hong Kong’s top property lawyer on the habitability of the property.
In a nutshell, the age of the building meant that its deed pre-dated the imposition of user provisions in Hong Kong, therefore making it impossible for anyone to challenge its usage, as long as it didn’t violate any public policies. In other words, residential/commercial usage could not be questioned - unless it involved unlawful activity such as prostitution, gambling, and the like. In the end, our neighbour didn’t call the police, although she did on several other occasions try to stop us from allowing the fi lming of music videos and the movie Xin Bu Liao Qing at the house.
Whenever the police arrived, the house would be fi lled with fi lm crews and celebrities, but they were always reluctant to shut down production when it was clear that all the sound was contained and disturbance to the neighbourhood was
non-existent. They also didn’t object to hanging around for a while with the stars of the productions.
At the time of closing the purchase of the house, we used every single cent of cash we had, so we borrowed about US$30,000 from a friend in New York and the owner also agreed to our proposal that he “take back paper”, i.e. he would cancel the official mortgage and lend us the fi nal HK$700,000 of the purchase price at 5% interest over a fiveyear period.
My wife Gloria and I started to very slowly renovate the house. We created the large metal doors, installed mezzanine bedrooms, a full stainless-steel kitchen, floor-to-ceiling doors, a 17-foot-high stone spiral staircase and, upstairs, iron staircases leading to a lofted bedroom and dressing room. The whole project took several years and needless to say, the place became not only our home, but a party location, even during the renovation. In addition, we reclaimed some space outside the Hatton Road entrance, installed a lovely old-style mailbox, a weather-worn marble outdoor table, and planted some bougainvillea. Every morning we’d have breakfast out there trying to dodge the droppings of the resident colony of yellow-crested cockatoos that inhabited the neighbourhood.
When the house became a Grade III Listed Historical Building (after I brought it to the attention of the Antiquities and Monuments office), it was listed in various historical walking tours of the city, including the Central and Western Heritage Trail Guidebook , published in 2000 by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. At one point, according to government records, the beloved Stone House was slated for redevelopment into a 10-storey residential building, but still today, the old lady continues to stand the test of time. n
MEMBER FOCUS
MICHAEL DENMARK: THE GREAT ENTERTAINER
Hong Kong’s skyline has always been a glittering symbol of excitement, relentless reinvention and an unsurpassed work ethic. Over the past decade one particular company in the city has emerged as a parallel universe that similarly embraces these same adjectives - the Great Entertainment Group (GEG). Over the last decade, under the leadership of its Founder, FCC Member Michael Denmark, the Group has redefined entertainment in Hong Kong, from the fun-filled AIA Carnival to the towering Observation Wheel on the harbourfront, and beyond.
The latest chapter in Michael Denmark’s colourful life journey began not with a vision for adrenalin-inducing carnival rides or flashing lights, but with a personal battle against a debilitating illness - Transverse Myelitis – a neurological disorder that results in an inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord. “I was disabled for a year,” says Denmark, adding that he was extremely fortunate to recover. “That experience changed how I viewed life; so I decided to focus on doing things I loved, with people I liked.”
This focus gave birth to the Great Entertainment Group, of which Denmark is the Founder and Chairman.
The AIA Carnival is no ordinary funfair. Drawing on years of experience in media, sponsorship and live entertainment, Denmark and his team decided to reinvent the traditional carnival for today’s audience. “What we did was take the nuts and bolts of a carnival and elevate it,” he explains. “We laid out the red carpet, literally, and brought in brands to create an enhanced experience.”
The carnival has evolved into a melting pot of cultures, brands and generations, and, over the years, it has grown to host more than 100 sponsors and 400 community partners, welcoming millions of visitors annually. “We turned it into an experience that’s not just about rides and games, but about creating memories and connections,” says Denmark.
But success didn’t come just like that. The logistics of organising a 70-day event with six months of planning, managing cash flow for more than a million visitors, and ensuring safety standards were daunting. “The responsibility of entertaining so many people, while at the same time ensuring their safety was overwhelming at times,” Denmark admits. “But seeing the smiles on visitors’ faces makes it all worth it.”
The Observation Wheel was a natural evolution of the carnival’s early success. Initially intended as a temporary attraction, it became a permanent fixture. “When the tender came out, I took it to our partners,” recalls Denmark. “We saw an opportunity to bring the brand to life in a unique way.”
Under the GEG’s stewardship, the Wheel transformed from being a relatively costly tourist attraction into a thriving hub of activity. Ticket prices were slashed from HK$100 to HK$20, and the volume of annual visitors skyrocketed from 100,000 to 2.5 million. “It has evolved into a form of a Hong Kong town square,” notes Denmark, emphasising its role as a community space.
In early July 2018, the Observation Wheel officially welcomed its one millionth visitor as plans for the secondphase development of the site – including the surrounding
AIA Vitality Park – were announced. These included extensive landscaping, enhanced food and beverage facilities, live entertainment and the installation of LED screens. In 2025, the Wheel welcomed its 10 millionth visitor.
In November 2020, in the dark depths of the pandemic, GEG made things even more interesting by launching the pioneering Hong Kong Observation Wheel AR App, which took the visitor experience to the next level through neverbefore-seen AR technology. Through visual recreations of Hong Kong in the 1890s and 1960s, the App allowed visitors to immerse in the nostalgia of the city’s bygone days as they rode on the Wheel, with audio available in a choice of English, Traditional Chinese or Simplified Chinese.
The AIA Vitality Park at the base of the Observation Wheel was launched in 2021 as a year-round wellness hub, offering free events catering to all ages, from fitness and yoga to kickboxing and many more activities. “It’s about giving back to the community,” enthuses Denmark. “We want people to live healthier, happier, longer and better lives.”
During the pandemic, the Group’s ingenuity and creativity prevailed. With traditional entertainment options closed, it launched an outdoor cinema - The Groundscreating a lifeline for local residents craving safe, communal entertainment experiences. “We provided one of the only forms of entertainment for two years,” reflects Denmark, adding that it was “a tough but rewarding time.”
From navigating typhoon seasons to overcoming the dangers of Hong Kong’s protests and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Entertainment Group’s journey hasn’t all been smooth sailing. “Every year brings new challenges,” says Denmark. “But we’ve built a culture of good old Hong Kong resilience. When faced with adversity, we stand together and find solutions.”
The numbers tell an impressive story: more than six million carnival tickets and a quarter of a million circus admissions across a decade of growth. The Community Stage, conceived by Denmark’s wife Tina, this year alone welcomed 336 community partners, hosting 500 performances that shone the spotlight on more than 5,000 local performers.
“The Community Stage represents our greatest achievement,” reflects the company’s founder. “These aren’t just numbers - they represent dreams realised, talents discovered and communities connected. When you see a young performer take their first bow or watch families discover new cultural traditions together, you understand that some things simply can’t be measured by ticket sales.”
This commitment to community has transformed the Great Entertainment Group from being an events company into something more enduring: a platform for Hong Kong’s professional performers and for those who dream of being on stage, opportunity.
Denmark has always been humble and attributes much of the company’s success to his team’s camaraderie. “We joke about being like those soldiers in war movies - on our third or fourth tour of duty - battle-hardened but deeply committed,” he says. “It’s the adrenaline that keeps us going, but also the sense of responsibility to our audiences and our partners.”
This year, the GEG co-produced Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza in Hong Kong, the world-famous show’s first return to the city in seven years. For Denmark, it had a personal significance. “30 years ago, I watched a Cirque du Soleil show in Victoria Park and I was blown away. So to then be producing it in 2025 was quite surreal.”
Kooza was a resounding success, with ticket sales up 46 percent compared to Cirque’s last run. “It was a perfect storm of factors,” says Denmark. “The increase in visitors from the Mainland, the power of social media, and the incredible support from partners like the Hong Kong Tourism Board and TVB.”
Looking ahead, the GEG continues on its quest to bring smiles to people’s faces. The strategic integration of the existing harbourfront space with Henderson Land’s ambitious development plans promising to reshape the area into something truly extraordinary.
The upcoming Central Harbourfront Site 3 - an innovative mixed-use development adjacent to the Observation
Wheel - opens unprecedented possibilities. “Our five-year collaboration will weave together these complementary spaces, creating a unified destination where art, culture and wellness converge will offer expanded venues for cultural programming and community events, all accessible to residents and visitors alike.”
The timing couldn’t be better. As Hong Kong jockeys to re-position itself as a tourism destination, the harbourfront transformation looks set to capture both local imagination and international attention. What emerges will be more than the sum of its parts: a dynamic entertainment hub that is destined to be a significant part of shaping the city’s future.
Plans are also underway to bring major international musicals and other large-scale productions to the city as Hong Kong continues to claw its way back to a semblance of its former self in terms of tourism and inbound travel.
Denmark dreams of creating a Hong Kong Concours d’Elegance to celebrate classic and modern cars, as well as a photography festival highlighting Hong Kong’s unique narratives. “This city is the most photogenic in the world,” he says. “We want to celebrate its beauty and stories.”
For Denmark, the ultimate reward lies in the smiles of his audience. “That’s the currency,” he says. “It’s really that straightforward.” n
Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza
Aerial view of the AIA Carnival
KATELYN KAN
SEN IOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICER AND BOARD SECRETARY
Shifting from the front desk to behind the scenes, Katelyn is one of the Club’s long-serving employees, who takes care of the documentation and processes that keep the key services of the FCC running smoothly. We continue our Staff Spotlight series with her story and reflections on her history with the Club.
By Christina Pantin Portrait by Lakshmi Harilela/Love True Light
How did you feel when you received a long-service award?
I’ve been with the Club for 11 years, and at our staff party in 2024, myself and three other colleagues received a 10-year long-service award which I’m very proud of. It felt amazing when the four of us stood on stage to receive the accolade. It was so meaningful for me to see the photo, and we’re still all working together at the FCC now. I hope to see their stories in upcoming issues to give our Members the opportunity to find out more about them.
Have you always worked in administration?
Before joining the Club, I worked in the forex department of an investment company, in the bankruptcy section of a law firm and in the company secretarial department at a CPA company. I saw an advertisement for a role at the FCC and first joined as a marketing and membership executive. I did speaker bookings and Club promotional events, all general counter services and handled membership tasks for two years.
What has kept you working at the FCC?
I studied business management and took some courses in PR and event management. The FCC hosts a great variety of events throughout the year, which was something that attracted me to work here. I also like the stability.
Tell us about your favourite moments at work?
I participated in the Charity Ball held at the HKCEC twice and annual events at the Club, which have been very impressive. Over 11 years, there have been many precious moments. Even when I have felt down, I have been uplifted by Members who have given me encouragement and talked to me like a friend. That’s another reason I have stayed here.
What does your typical day at work involve?
My admin tasks include handling consignments, health club and pool cue lockers, ads in the FCC magazine, gym equipment maintenance, the Club’s magazine and newspaper subscriptions, statutory filings for the Company Registry, bank signatories, licence renewal, retainer contracts, Club notices and monitoring Members’ comments. I also coordinate the annual flu injections for Members and provide support with routine security guard tasks. As Board Secretary, I handle the annual Board elections processes, as well as the Board and committee meetings and operations.
How do you like to spend your leisure time?
I love music, movies, illustrations (my name comes from an illustrated character called “Kate”), meditation and also travelling. I’ve been to France, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea and Spain. I have found through my travels that local people are very kind and helpful, especially when you get lost.
Once when I was starting to go down a long staircase with a 28-inch bag in the Paris Métro, someone picked up one of my luggage handles and helped me to carry it. Another time, I got stuck in the middle of an automatic ticket gate and a stranger just helped me without saying a word. I really appreciated these acts of kindness.
In April this year, I went to Spain with my friends when there were unexpected massive power outages that caused severe disruptions to transportation, communications and public services. There was no electricity or WiFi and it was difficult to get a taxi. But the people remained very relaxed and not particularly anxious. They continued to enjoy the sunshine on the beach and went shopping, but just bought food they needed for that night. It actually turned out to be quite peaceful.
I discovered meditation when I sustained a foot injury on the first day during one of my travels. My friend taught me about it and it really helped me to relax my body and mind so I was able to complete my journey calmly. n
UNDERSTANDING SOUTHEAST ASIA’S SCAM FARMS
By Hugo Novales SPEAKERS’ CORNER
On 3 January this year, Chinese actor Wang Xing went missing after taking a trip to Bangkok for what he believed would be a casting call for a new film.
He was picked up at the airport and unexpectedly driven approximately 500 kilometres away to Mae Sot, a city located on Thailand’s border with Myanmar. He simultaneously lost contact with his girlfriend back in China, who two days later notified the authorities about Wang’s disappearance.
In a joint operation between Chinese and Thai law enforcement, Wang was rescued two days later in Mywaddy, a small border town in Myanmar that has become synonymous with the notorious “scam farms” that have spread across Southeast Asia.
These farms are not new, but they are growing, and regular citizens from all walks of life are their targets.
“We are literally living in an epidemic of scams,” said Cezary Podkul, an experienced investigative reporter, the author of the upcoming book The Big Trace and the organiser and moderator of an FCC Club Lunch to discuss why Southeast Asia has become a hotbed for the scam industry.
The speaker panel featured two on-the-ground experts, Ling Li and Ivan Franceschini, who alongside researcher Mark Bo, recently published SCAM: Inside Southeast Asia’s Cybercrime Compounds, a compilation of their research on the factors fuelling the online scam underworld.
While on a research trip in Phnom Penh with the University of Liverpool, a 21-year-old Li first learned about Cambodia’s scam compounds from the Chinese scholars and business professionals living there. She was initially examining the country’s efforts to combat the slavery of women, but became more intrigued by a dark industry that she previously never knew existed. From there, she began not only researching, but getting directly involved with rescuing victims from prison-like compounds.
When asked about why she continues on her rescue missions, Li stated that it was the victims’ stories that have
kept her going, citing a particular experience with a 16-yearold girl who was duped into travelling to Cambodia for work and became trapped in a compound where she became pregnant. When Li rescued her, the Cambodian authorities detained the young mother and her newborn baby for months due to lack of identification. Experiences such as these are evidence that Li’s work can be life-saving.
“It’s just inhuman for me to see this; I feel like we have to do something, even though it’s constantly heartbreaking to hear their stories. There have been many times that I have wanted to give up, but I do have the strong support of a team.”
Franceschini recalled his 2019 visit to the Cambodian coastal town of Sihanoukville. He had been there years before and noted how the small town that was once ideal for backpackers searching for the quieter side of Cambodia had transformed drastically.
The Cambodian government’s 2017 plan to turn Sihanoukville into a “new Macau” was overturned in August 2019 due to a rise in crime and illicit foreign investment, mostly from mainland China. Franceschini called this move “completely unexpected” and noted that since the city’s gambling industry was curtailed, it has left behind an underground infrastructure for online scam centres to take over.
When Franceschini first saw one of these — a massive building repurposed from the casino days — it stirred his interest in discovering what might lie within.
Franceschini and Li explained the details of the more common types of scams: investment scams — when a fraudster claims to have a good investment deal; and romance scams — when a fake dating profile gains the trust of a victim before being asked for money to deal with an unexpected emergency.
The cybercrime compounds across Southeast Asia utilise a hybrid of both these of these in order to gain the victim’s trust from a variety of angles before claiming to have a good job, an investment opportunity, or some other form of
financial deal, which lures the victims to a location where they are then kidnapped and moved to a scam farm. The victims then become a part of the system, and are forced to scam other new victims online using technology including AI.
“The scammers are creative; they’re expert at getting your trust … it’s terrifying how good they are,” noted Franceschini.
Li emphasised that scammers target literally everyone and have specific procedures to fool people regardless of job, gender, age or social status, adding that “everyone sitting here could be a target”.
The Chinese government has been criticised for its “softer” approach to fighting the “scamdemic” (as described by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) given
that most of this crime happens in neighbouring countries and not within its own borders. This has led some American NGOs to infer that China only wants to get involved for its own benefit, whether it be politically or financially.
“I find this idea of China being the mastermind behind the compounds to gain influence or to undermine the West quite unconvincing,” said Franceschini, adding that the central reason for these scams migrating to Southeast Asia is in fact due to China’s heavy crackdown on organised crime.
“It’s controversial and tt’s complicated, but if we point the fingers only at China, we are missing the real point here.”
To watch the full discussion, please visit the FCC’s YouTube channel.
ADDRESSING LITERACY IN HONG KONG
By Hugo Novales
According to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study of 2021, only 16% of parents in Hong Kong read with their children - far below the international average of 42%. Only 32% of Hong Kong’s youth say they are confident with their reading skills (still below the 43% international average) and just 14% of the city’s parents actually enjoy reading.
To discuss how Hong Kong can improve its literacy rates and foster a love for reading in both children and adults, the FCC held a Club Lunch panel featuring Christine Choi, Director of Elephant Community Press; Matthew Coulson, Executive Director of Kids4Kids; and Manoj Dhar, CoFounder and CEO of Integrated Brilliant Education (IBEL).
Asked about how they define literacy and how children can become more interested in reading, the panel agreed that modern technology - particularly TV, smartphones, and video games - pose a challenge to developing children’s interest in reading. However, they also advised that parents should provide opportunities for their children to improve their literacy by reading books featuring topics that interest them.
Coulson found that by allowing children to pick any age-appropriate books that appeal to them will help them to develop a positive relationship with reading that they will then carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Choi has a different approach to engaging children with reading. At Elephant Community Press, she leads creative
writing workshops for kids. By having children not just read storybooks, but also encouraging them to write their own stories, Choi has seen the development of a greater interest and proficiency in reading. “If kids can see why writing and reading [are] useful to them and how adults around them use them in real life, then there’s meaning for them [about] why they should learn to read,” she noted.
Dhar also encouraged parents to become more involved with their children’s education. From his experience at IBEL, he has noticed the tendency of many parents to leave the most critical components of child-raising to their domestic helpers, including reading. He also noted the local education system’s preference to assign homework and promote memorisation versus learning through an enjoyable process. While it may be difficult to overhaul Hong Kong’s entire educational system, Dhar remained firm that parents should ultimately be responsible for their children’s educational success, noting that parents “have to remember that the moment they’ve given birth to a child, it’s a lifelong responsibility.”
The panel also discussed AI’s impact on reading and writing, the lack of bookshops in Hong Kong, and other cultural barriers that impact literacy in Hong Kong. n
To watch the full discussion, please visit the FCC’s YouTube channel.
L-R: Ivan Franceschini, Ling Li, Cezary Podkul
Matthew Coulson
Christine Choi Manoj Dhar
IMAGE: FCCHK
MARIEL HEMINGWAY: FINDING BALANCE
As the granddaughter of one of the 20th century’s best-known authors, Mariel Hemingway was always destined to somehow be in the spotlight, even if only by virtue of her surname. Her work in Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan’ earned her an Oscar nomination at the tender age of 17. She has since made more than 30 films and numerous television series. Now 63, Hemingway is a mother of two grown daughters, a best-selling author, a healthy lifestyle devotee, and a staunch mental health and suicide prevention advocate. To mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October, The Correspondent looks back over Hemingway’s career and how she has coped with being exposed to mental illness, suicide, addiction and depression.
By Ann Tsang
Many of us have seen her on the big screen in Manhattan, Lipstick, Personal Best, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and on the small screen in various roles. But today, Mariel Hemingway lives a very, very different life.
Following the 2014 release of the Emmy-nominated documentary Running From Crazy, which focused on the seven suicides in the Hemingway family, and was coexecutive produced by Hemingway and Oprah Winfrey, Hemingway decided to fully focus on the subject of mental health and suicide prevention.
This decision resulted in the publication of two books, authored by Hemingway, namely, Out Came The Sun, aimed at adults, and Invisible Girl , written predominantly for teenagers.
Out Came The Sun is a moving, compelling memoir about growing up and escaping the tragic legacy of mental illness, suicide, addiction and depression in one of America’s most famous families: the Hemingways. The author reveals in candid detail the story of her troubled childhood.
Hemingway’s grandfather killed himself four months before she was born. It was the fourth suicide in his immediate family. Then barely out of grade school, a young Mariel nursed her mother through cancer and her father through his unhappy marriage. At age 13, her sister Margaux, a model and actress, recommended Mariel for a supporting role alongside her in the screen drama Lipstick. The teenage Hemingway had never acted before, but nevertheless accepted the part and appeared alongside her sister.
It was possibly one of the best decisions of her early life. Woody Allen saw the movie and shortly after called to ask her to read for a part in his latest project - a part he had specifically written for her. As Tracy in Manhattan Hemingway earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in what is still regarded by some as one of the 20th century’s best films.
Hemingway continued acting, but tragedy also continued to plague her life. She survived her sister Margaux’s chemical abuse and death and, in late 2000, her father passed away from bypass surgery complications. Just a few days later, her husband Stephen Crisman was diagnosed with cancer. Hemingway herself also went through bouts of everything from eating disorders to over-exercising to low self-esteem. Something had to change.
She channelled her energy into writing and published her first book, Finding My Balance: A Memoir With Yoga, in 2003. “It wasn’t that I thought my story was that fantastic
and different from anyone else’s or particularly Hollywoodlike,” she says. “On the contrary. What I knew was that I had dealt with a lot of major issues and I did so through trying to be the healthiest person that I could be. I was first drawn to healthy living as a means of survival and I felt the need to share that with other people who were in the same position or who were even moderately healthy. I really feel passionate about empowering people.”
Calmly sipping on her tea, Hemingway recalls that she found her spiritual side more than 25 years ago. “I don’t take myself terribly seriously, which is why I can be incredibly honest about my life. “My problems weren’t and aren’t so different to those of anyone else. Everyone experiences pain and a certain level of dysfunction at some point in their lives and we need a way out of that.”
In both Out Came The Sun and Invisible Girl, Hemingway describes her childhood as chaotic and she reveals that part of the reason she decided to write two books about mental health was to be able to reach a younger audience that isn’t normally served. “My publisher suggested that we should help young people, and I was excited as I have always wanted to reach out to that age group, because that was when I myself was the most scared. That was when life made the least sense to me.”
Hemingway is also passionate about health and wellbeing.
“When my husband was first diagnosed with terminal cancer, I was in the middle of writing my first book and I realised that the principles by which I had lived should be shared with others. It was beyond survival; it was about an overall lifestyle. Sometimes we eat out of boredom, fear and not feeling loved, and I wanted to try to encourage people to think differently,” she explains, “I’m very enthusiastic about championing my cause.”
Currently in development as a TV series at the Village Roadshow Entertainment Group with Mariel as a coproducer is Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, the author’s autobiographical novel as a young writer in Paris in the 1920s, where he lived with his first wife Hadley Richardson and encountered the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein.
“A Moveable Feast has been my favourite book since my father took me to Paris when I was 11,” says Hemingway.
“While reading the book together, he showed me where Papa lived, ate, wrote and dreamed of becoming a great writer.
His deep love of my grandmother Hadley and his growing passion for art was an inspiring time at the beginning of
his career. I want to reveal the coming-of-age story that has captivated readers and burgeoning writers for decades.”
Scribner published A Moveable Feast in 1964, three years after Hemingway’s death. The memoir is based on notebooks he filled in Paris in the 1920s which were rediscovered several years before his death.
Hemingway’s other great passion is her family, and she
speaks fondly of her two children, the elder of whom, Dree, has followed in her mother’s footsteps as a model and actress.
“I tell her that she should never have to compromise herself and she shouldn’t have to please people, because at the end of the day people are only trying to please themselves. I never regret my experiences, as they all lead to who you are now and the person you become.” n
THROUGH THE LEICA LENS
When Oskar Barnack first crafted the Leica I prototype in 1914, few could have predicted that this compact, portable camera would revolutionise photography. Fast-forward a century, and Leica stands as a coveted name that represents impeccable craftsmanship, innovation, and artistry in the world of photography. As the brand celebrates its 100th anniversary, the company’s storied history intertwines with the legacy of one of its most famous users: the late Elliott Erwitt. Together, they epitomise the very serious relationship between a camera and the artist who wields it.
By
Ann Tsang
Images: Elliott Erwitt
‘California Kiss’, Santa Monica, 1955
Leica’s journey began with a bold idea: Oskar Barnack’s notion to shrink the camera format and use 35mm film, originally intended for cinema, to create still images. The idea proved to be groundbreaking, allowing photographers to break free from bulky equipment and the relief of unimagined portability.
With the release of the Leica I in 1925, the brand laid the foundation for modern photojournalism.
Leica cameras quickly became synonymous with dependability and quality. War correspondents, street photographers and documentarians alike adopted Leica as their camera of choice. The company’s philosophy of “Das Wesentliche ” (“the essentials”) has remained constant for a century, focusing on simplicity and function over unnecessary complexity.
Among the countless renowned photographers who have been faithful to Leica, the late Elliott Erwitt holds a unique place in its history. A Magnum photographer, Erwitt is still celebrated for his ability to find humour, irony and poignancy in everyday life. His black-and-white images, often featuring dogs, human interactions, and quiet moments of absurdity, have become cultural icons.
Erwitt’s relationship with Leica began in the 1950s, a period when he was establishing himself as one of the world’s finest visual storytellers. His Leica M3, a model noted particularly for its precision and durability, became an extension of his vision. “It’s the ideal tool,” Erwitt once said. “It doesn’t intrude; it allows you to be invisible.”
With a career that spanned over seven decades, Erwitt’s photographic collection includes some of the most eradefining images of the 20th century. His body of work includes editorial, commercial and personal images, but regardless of the genre, each photograph reveals his humour, emotional connection and an often whimsical approach. His lenses captured historic moments and key figures, from Richard Nixon meeting Nikita Khrushchev in Moscow in 1959 to a grief-stricken Jackie Kennedy at her husband’s funeral.
Erwitt also chronicled the 1960s Civil Rights movement, snapped Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable on the set of their movie ‘The Misfits’ and photographed countless politicians and presidents in their prime. Each image represents a seminal moment in the marriage of Erwitt’s eye and Leica’s engineering.
‘Umbrella Jump’, 1989. Elliott Erwitt/MAGNUM PHOTOS
Born in Paris in 1928 to Russian parents, Erwitt spent his childhood in Milan before immigrating to the United States via France, in 1939. His first two years in the U.S. were spent in New York, and he subsequently took up residence in Hollywood.
Upon moving to New York City and trying to start his career in photography, Erwitt had the good fortune to meet Robert Capa, the founding member of the Magnum Photo Agency, Edward Steichen, the curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art and Roy Stryker, the photography manager of the Farm Security Administration. All three played an essential part in his career and served as mentors. During 1949, Erwitt returned to Europe, travelling and photographing predominantly in Italy and France. Drafted in 1951, his two-year U.S. military service saw him being posted to Germany and France. “Even when I was in the army I worked in the darkroom. Before that I had to find a way to live, so I started taking pictures at school, at events, even pictures of my dentist! It was always for gainful employment,” he once told an interviewer.
Upon completing his military service in 1953, Erwitt was
invited by Robert Capa to join Magnum, and 15 years later he was elected President of the company, a title he held for three years.
Moving into the 1960s, Erwitt recalled that “there was more opportunity for good work to be seen”, due to the proliferation of high quality magazines and publications.
As a freelance photographer, Erwitt’s portfolio evolved into a combination of editorial, commercial and very personal photos. His subjects included luminaries and celebrities of the day, the political and the glamorous, as well as the most seemingly ordinary and modest subjects. He was driven more by the opportunity to take a great picture than the potential glory, or indeed money, that an image might bring.
Erwitt also earned fame for his unconventional pictures of dogs. “Essentially the dog pictures work on two levels,” he explained. “Dogs are simply funny when you catch them in certain situations, but they also have human qualities, and I think my pictures have an anthropomorphic appeal. My dog pictures are not about dogs, they are about the human condition, but people can take them however they like.”
In the 1980s, Erwitt turned his professional focus to movies. He produced, filmed and directed a number of documentaries for HBO, while maintaining and practising his first love of still photography. Although he said he would have liked to have continued to make films, Erwitt’s true passion was for the print medium and he had more than 20 books published, including ‘Personal Best ’ (2018), a curated selection of his own favourite works.
“Publishing books somehow justifies your existence,” he said. “At one point I thought I’d like to go fishing, so I got the whole outfit and the equipment, but I didn’t enjoy it one bit. If you do something, you should do it well, or you shouldn’t do it at all.”
In 2009, under the assumed persona of André S. Solidor, Erwitt released a satirical spoof of contemporary art photography. As described on the publisher’s website, this was “Solidor’s best masterpiece to date, featuring an exuberantly eclectic selection of topics - smoking fish heads, pneumatic mannequins in incongruous poses, not to mention some up-close and personal shots of Solidor himself. Plus for all
you Post-Modernist groupies out there, there’s context and commentary galore.” The book is solid evidence of Erwitt’s extremely dry sense of humour.
Leica and Erwitt shared a philosophy that continues to transcend time. Both focused on the essentials - Leica in its design and Erwitt in his composition. Leica cameras are built to endure, with many photographers still using models from decades past. Similarly, Erwitt’s images remain timeless, speaking to universal truths about humanity with wit and subtlety.
Leica enabled Erwitt to work discreetly, capturing candid moments that resulted in his evocative images. Just a month before his death at the age of 95 in November 2023, he was bestowed with the Leica Hall of Fame Award for his life’s work. As he once observed: “When photography is good, it’s pretty interesting, and when it is very good, it is irrational and even magical… nothing to do with the photographers’ conscious will or desire. When the photograph happens, it comes easily, as a gift that should not be questioned or analysed”. n
‘New York City, 1974 (Dog Legs)’. Elliott Erwitt/MAGNUM PHOTOS
Self Portrait, New York City. USA. 1999. Elliott Erwitt/MAGNUM PHOTOS
FRONTLINES AND FAULT LINES
THE SOPA EXCELLENCE IN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
By Lee Williamson
What makes a picture stand out from the hundreds that newsroom photo editors review every day? How can the complexity of a conflict be conveyed through only a few images? And in the heat of the moment, how can a photojournalist successfully balance accurate reportage with the craft of creating a striking image?
The judges for The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards, widely regarded as Asia’s most prestigious journalism accolades, ponder these questions and more when selecting the finalists and winners of its Excellence in Photography Award, which “honours work that demonstrates high standards of feature photography”.
All nine finalists for this year’s award were presented as a group exhibition on the Van Es Wall in September— a showcase of powerful visual storytelling that captured resilience, loss and human dignity across the region.
From climate crises to political upheavals, the works reflect the breadth and depth of contemporary photojournalism.
In SOPA’s Global group, Adam Ferguson’s portraits of the Rohingya, published by The New York Times reveal both
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE (GLOBAL)
Tormentors
conscription and trauma, his subjects confront the camera with haunting dignity. Shot in Vermeer-like light, the images transcend the chaos of overcrowded camps to reveal individual humanity and survival against genocide. Ferguson’s deep connections with his subjects transform faceless tragedy into powerful testimonies of endurance.
2025
suffering and strength with the quiet intensity of oil paintings, while Navesh Chitrakar’s series ‘Mad Honey’, for Reuters offers a rare glimpse into a vanishing tradition in Nepal.
In the Regional/Local group, Iqbal Lubis exposed the human toll of Indonesia’s nickel industrialisation in work published by Bollo.id while Richard Reyes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer captured the grief of typhoon survivors in a striking image that the SOPA judges described as being “reminiscent of a Baroque painting”.
In the Chinese-language group, Initium Media charted the aftermath of Taiwan’s Hualien earthquake with poignant detail, “capturing the relentless power of nature”, and The Reporter “conveys intense emotions, reflecting the anxiety and helplessness of the crowd” in its images capturing Taiwan’s parliamentary turmoil. These works remind us why photojournalism matters — not just in terms of documenting events, but in connecting us viscerally with the lived experience behind the headlines.
AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE (REGIONAL/LOCAL)
The Apocalypse Has Arrived Photographer: Iqbal Lubis, bollo.id
Iqbal Lubis’s stark images expose nickel mining’s toll in South Sulawesi: toxic dust-choked skies, scarred landscapes, and communities grappling with respiratory illnesses. The photographs convey despair as locals endure pollutioninduced health crises and environmental ruin. This visual indictment of corporate and governmental neglect ignited public outcry and demands for accountability.
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE (CHINESE)
Hualien Earthquake: Disaster and Rebirth Photographer: Chan Cheuk Fai, Initium Media
Following Taiwan’s deadliest quake in 25 years, these images capture collapsed skyscrapers, landslides engulfing Taroko Gorge, and displaced residents sheltering in tents. Amid 1,000+ aftershocks, the lens finds hope: animal rescues, community aid, and rebuilding efforts - a testament to human fragility and solidarity.
Haji Sampara Daeng Lili, a resident of Borongloe village, stares at the Nickel Smelter industry in the Bantaeng Industrial Estate (KIBA), South Sulawesi, Indonesia (8/03/2024). Daeng Lili is one of the many farmers whose paddy fields were damaged by smelter factory waste; for the first time he felt the loss of growing rice on his land of about 6 ha, which failed to harvest every year since the existence of KIBA.
Above: Somira’s teenage son Robi Alam was taken by the Arakan Army with three friends while fishing near the Myanmar border.
Above: From left: Azizrahman, Anamul Hason, Mohammed Ismail, and Abdel Hossain. The four were lured with a promise of work and then kidnapped.
Change, but Not the Torment Photographer: Adam Ferguson, The New York Times
Adam Ferguson’s intimate portraits illuminate the resilience of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s sprawling camps. Amid gang violence, forced
Above: The Fuh Kai Hotel leans after a magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck on April 23, following the 2024 Hualien earthquake main quake. Fortunately, the hotel was under renovation at the time, and no injuries were reported. Most of Hualien’s urban area had returned to normal by then.
Above: A woman rescued from a mountain area after the earthquake embraces family members who had been anxiously waiting below.
Above: April 4, 2024, Hualien, landslides triggered by the earthquake block roads with debris, rocks, and mud, severely impacting transportation and rescue efforts.
Above: Sanda’s house stands on borrowed land owned by his family, right behind the smelter industry. Her small plot of land was sold to PT Hengseng for Rp70 million. He then used the money to buy land in a village far from the company’s activities.
ON THE WALL: NOVEMBER 2025
GARETH BROWN: BODIES IN MOTION, BODIES AT REST
Gareth Brown sowed the first seeds of his Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest photography project almost two decades ago, initially using the images to demonstrate to his commercial clients the style of image they might get if they commissioned him.
Once he became more established, he continued to pursue the concept – that of using the art of dance to bring additional depth to locations in Hong Kong that he found to be particularly interesting, based on factors such as culture, history or simply their photogenicity. In the photographer’s words, “a vanity project became a sanity project”.
“For as long as I can remember, photography has been my way of finding balance in life, and my upcoming exhibition at the FCC is a culmination of that journey. The project was born out of my fascination with dance and the unparalleled beauty of Hong Kong. As a commercial photographer, I’ve spent years creating imagery within strict brand guidelines, but I personally craved something more instinctive, a creative outlet free from boundaries.”
According to Brown, the concept is relatively simple: the location comes first. Hong Kong, with its rich culture, history and breathtaking landscapes, serves as the canvas. The dancers - professionals and amateurs alike - bring the backdrop to life - applying brushstrokes of movement and emotion. “For me, dance is the most visually exhilarating of the performance arts, and this project has allowed me to combine that passion with my love for the city I have called home for almost 30 years.”
Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest has evolved over the years and, while selected shots from the series have been shown in group exhibitions, Brown’s exhibition at the FCC is his first major showcase of the project. “I’m thrilled to finally share it with a wider audience. For me, this photographic odyssey is about finding beauty in chaos, capturing the spirit of Hong Kong, and celebrating the universal language of dance,” he says. “It’s my way of pausing, listening, and creating something that speaks to both the artist and the viewer. I hope it inspires others to do the same.” n
PHILIP NEWSOME: VISIONS OF HONG KONG
I arrived in Hong Kong in September 1986 to take up a position at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong. It seemed only natural to start taking photographs of my new surroundings - the skies were blue, the clouds were white and fluffy and the streets were awash with colour. I was once told that the best way to improve any photograph was to wait 30 years and I think this very much applies to the earlier images in this collection. Have almost two decades really passed since the old Star Ferry building was demolished? The rickshaws in the concourse that we all took for granted have been consigned to the scrap heap of development. The car ferry too.
The Walled City’s days were always numbered of course. I spent many a Saturday afternoon wandering through its maze of alleyways and stairwells, fascinated by the illegal dentists who operated along its fringes and the endless procession of jets flying overhead into Kai Tak.
It was also quite something to watch IM Pei’s Bank of China Tower under construction, rising majestically as the most obvious representation of the future of Hong Kong.
The later images come from a period when my time in Hong Kong was coming to an end and I realised that much of the old Hong Kong outside of Central and Tsim Sha Tsui was still there, looking pretty much the same as it had done on that warm autumn day in 1986. The cardboard collectors are just the same as they were 40 years ago, although the bamboo carriers may soon be a thing of the past.
Of late I have become more adventurous in my photography. Back in the days of film, it seemed quite frivolous to experiment with low shutter speeds and excess blur. These days however, I am fascinated by what is rather pretentiously labelled ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) and how it perfectly captures the vibrancy and motion of Hong Kong’s streets. When I was shooting on film, perfect focus and exposure was always the goal but, as the great Henri Cartier-Bresson famously observed: “Sharpness is a bourgeois concept”, implying that the story, emotion and captured moment are more important than technical flaws like slight blurriness or lack of perfect sharpness. That’s my excuse anyway! n
Kowloon Walled City
Rickshaw, Star Ferry Dentist, Temple Street
Bank of China Tower under construction
Shek Lo Red Room ft. Pan Ling Juan
Sheung Luk Stream ft. Nora Cho, Grace Pang, Carmen Leung, Michelle Pang and Chan Hoi Lam
Pun Uk ft. Sudhee Liao
Sai Wan Swimming Shed ft. Marloes Van Houten
REMEMBERING GEORGE MITCHELL
By Christopher Slaughter
George Mitchell — traveller, photographer, FCC stalwart and dear friend — passed away after a remarkable life behind the lens. His journey stretched from Denver to Nagoya, from Seoul to Hong Kong, with detours through India, Iran, Nepal, and just about anywhere else curiosity (and a good assignment) took him.
George’s wanderlust began in the early 1970s when he left his home in Denver, Colorado, and hit the “hippie trail”, travelling overland across Europe to Istanbul, Iran, India and Nepal. That taste for the road never left him. By 1976 he found himself in Nagoya, Japan, where he decided that a short visit wouldn’t be enough. He returned to Denver for just long enough to pack up his belongings before moving back to Japan, where he spent two years studying the language, travelling widely, and launching his professional career as a photographer. His first assignments were modest spreads for small Japanese magazines — but the eye was already there.
Then, as he liked to say, he “followed the work”.
Korea was alive with energy, and George threw himself into the hustle and bustle, building a career over 10 years that culminated in photographing the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Magazine and editorial work gradually gave way to higher-paying corporate assignments for industrial chaebols like Samsung and Hyundai, as well as banks and hotels, but the spirit of adventure never left his pictures.
Mark Erder recalls first meeting him in 1982 through Marvin Farkas, when he passed through Hong Kong from Seoul. “In those days, he was rail-thin, a tall, skinny dude who looked like trouble.” Mark reckons George and Marvin bonded over their raunchy pasts — but although Marvin published not one but TWO books about his exploits, George was vaguely more discreet in choosing the audience with whom he shared his reminiscences. Despite that comparative discretion, Basil Pao still christened him “Dirty George” (not
his personal favourite as far as nicknames went), in no small part because of his love of often rather graphic and decidedly off-colour jokes. We won’t be reprinting any of his favourites here – taking advice from Peter Parks: “Just remember, it’s a family magazine. Bless you, George.”
When some of his key contacts moved from Korea to Hong Kong, George followed, and soon made the city his base from which to travel across Asia for assignments.
Magazines such as Billion and Far East Travel Digest filled his portfolio, alongside continuing work for Deutsche Bank, Hilton, Shangri-La, and other corporate clients.
After years of renting, in 2003 George bought the flat he had once nearly been evicted from — and finally, he had a permanent home in Asia.
Around the same time, he was spending more and more of his professional life in Vietnam. “It was the new Korea for me,” he explained. “Every day something new was happening in banking, hotels and other projects.”
It was in Saigon that he met Thu Vu, the woman who would become his assistant, his business partner, and finally, his wife. In 2010, George was on assignment at the New World Hotel in the city then known as Saigon and asked Thu’s cousin, who worked at the hotel, to introduce him to a potential assistant. Thu was working as a graphic designer, but quickly moved into helping George on location for photoshoots. The two began travelling together from day one, and as Thu recalls: “although I started mostly doing computer work, retouching, and Photoshop, George quickly trained me to be his assistant for location shooting. Much of the work was in China, but also in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Macau, Vietnam, all over.” The partnership worked on many levels, and within three years they were married.
Although he was a frequent visitor and a guest of other Members for decades, George resisted joining the FCC in his own right — “too much of a distraction from the work”, he joked. But when he eventually did join in 2017, he dove in wholeheartedly, and could regularly be found around the bar, pulling out a little digital camera for impromptu snapshots of Members. A collection of those photos formed his Van Es Wall exhibition Faces of the Club, which was shown in January 2024.
His photography colleagues are united in praise for George. Neil Farrin remembers him not just as a character, but as one of the most meticulous photographers he had ever met. “From a professional perspective, George’s technical mastery was extraordinary, and his knowledge and ability were incredibly impressive.” Graham Uden concurs, describing George as “…a wise old man, especially when it came to discussing how to light a hotel room using 15 strobes!” Basil Pao also celebrates his work ethic, describing him as “one of the hardest-working professionals around”.
Childhood days George in the ‘90s George with his brothers (date unknown)
Hong Kong Handover, 1997 Basil Pao, George, Robin Moyer Bella Dobie and George, Bryant Park, New York
Julia Birch, Will Giles, Bill Areson, Marly, Robin Moyer, John Ma, Bob Davis, Mark Erder, George, George Russell, Anthony Ong, Robin Lynam, Gavin Greenwood
Chris Corke, Bob Davis, George Bob Davis, George, Robin Moyer, Mark Erder.
George, Kees Metselaar George, Carsten Schael, Elaine
Steve Vidler, Thu, George, Neil Farrin, Emily Farrin, Sumi,Derek Davies
Graham Barkus, George.
George’s birthday 2024 with his niece and nephew
Annie Van Es, Christopher Slaughter, Andy Chworowsky, Gilbert “Tiger” Cheng, George
OBITUARY: GEORGE MITCHELL
George was equally passionate about defending the value of his craft. When a client considered hiring budget photographers for hotel shoots, he fired back a typically unvarnished message: “They are trained for a few days and then sent out to shoot luxury hotels. They are the Nigerian phone scammers of the photo industry!”
In recent years, prior to his cancer diagnosis, George had begun suffering from macular degeneration. He worked around his vision issues by lining up shots and lighting and then directing Thu and other trusted assistants who saw through the completion of projects. Not long ago, when Farrin asked how work was progressing, his reply was pure George: “Still working. Slowed a bit, but still at it. A bit lazy to bang on doors. If they call, just like an old hooker, I’m ready to go.”
Over the years, George became a fixture at the “ferry beers” gatherings intended to send Gavin Greenwood and Julia Birch back to Cheung Chau after drinks at the Club. These began as impromptu joint stumblings-down-the-hill, but then became regular dockside sessions featuring such other Club luminaries as Erder, Bella Dobie, Robin Moyer, Graham Barkus and Annie Van Es. George would usually arrive at the pier with two or three bottles of wine. He would regale everyone with how good the wine was — and even more proudly, how cheap it was. George had a contact who kept him supplied with bargain plonk, and nothing delighted him more than sharing the story (and the bottles). These gettogethers continued through the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative to meeting at the Club.
Generosity was one of George’s hallmarks. He was the kind of man who pressed Ghirardelli chocolates into a waiter’s hand, or carried Tootsie Rolls in his pocket “just to share”. He’d show up at a party with a giant pot of food — courtesy of Thu — always above and beyond whatever he had been asked to bring. He would offer their place in Saigon to friends without hesitation. Sometimes he gave quietly, almost in secret, and at other times flamboyantly. Either way, it came from the same source - he loved to please people. When asked when he had started this habit, George just shrugged and said “been doing it forever”.
And yet, generous as he was, he was also perpetually hunting for a bargain, forever extolling the virtues of a good deal. “He’d have been great in the Diamond District in New York,” laughs Erder, “or haggling with the Hasidim at B&H Photography.” Uden remembers his somewhat eccentric investment advice, delivered with mock sagacity: “Buy, buy, buy…car parking spaces!” (George’s carpark portfolio might not have ever actually been an “empire” as he laughingly described it, but he did at one point own no fewer than seven spaces across Hong Kong).
But there was another side to George: a man of deep loyalty and generosity. During the COVID years, alongside Marly, Chris Corke, and others, George quietly ensured that photographer and FCC legend Bob Davis was cared for. He would accompany Bob on ferry rides from Lamma to Central for medical appointments, pick up his prescriptions, and make sure he got home safely. He never once suggested he was too busy. Even as his own health faltered, George continued to ask after Bob’s welfare.
George’s illness was unexpected, and his condition was only identified because he had been receiving treatment for macular degeneration and a hernia back home in Denver. His cancer was discovered while doing the pre-operation physical for the hernia. He was diagnosed with Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (LCNEC), a rare, highly aggressive type of lung cancer. Initially given just a year to live, George fought through almost constant radiation treatments and chemotherapy rounds for more than two years. By the summer, his doctors had told him they would not give him any further chemotherapy treatments – he had already had an extraordinary 29 sessions.
Throughout all of this lengthy and difficult treatment, Thu was by George’s side. She cared for him throughout all of his medical procedures, bringing him to and from the hospital. She kept track of all his medications and cooked for him in the small hotel suite they rented in Denver – his favourite Asian dishes, in addition to regular thick steaks of prime beef.
I was fortunate to be able to visit George and Thu several times – and share a steak dinner – during a trip to Denver this summer. (In fact, it was at George’s prompting that reciprocal arrangements were set up between the FCC and the Denver Press Club.) Other Hong Kong friends also managed to get to Colorado to see him in person, including Mark Erder and Bella Dobie, Bruce Aitken, and Brendan Inns. Many more were in regular contact with him via WhatsApp and over Zoom, and as his days came to a close, George admitted that what he missed most was just hanging out with his friends around the Main Bar at the FCC. Graham Barkus took the lead in arranging a Zoom call, and for an hour George, from his bed, was surrounded by the familiar banter of several friends from across the globe. “It felt,” Neil Farrin recalls, “like we were all back at the FCC bar again.”
Meanwhile, George had begun preparing for his inevitable end, negotiating with the Greek Orthodox Church he had attended as a boy, to have the same funeral rites as his mother (who died in 2023) and his brother (who died in 2022). However, his lifelong and intense claustrophobia made it impossible for him to consider being buried in a coffin, and he insisted on cremation – an unacceptable alternative for the Orthodox Church.
And even though his rapidly accelerating illness might have dimmed George’s spark, his cheeky sense of humour never failed. When discussing hospice care, Graham Uden remembers George quipping that he didn’t want to talk about “when” he would die — he wanted to talk about “where” he was going to die. The hospice nurses asked why he was so fixated on the location, and he replied “because once I know, then I won’t go there!”
George Mitchell’s life was one of movement, humour, friendship and generosity. He leaves behind countless stories, a staggering archive of photographs, and a community of friends who will never forget his laughter, his bargains, and the ever-present twinkle in his eye. n
A retrospective of George Mitchell’s work will be presented in the December 2025 Van Es Wall exhibition.
OBITUARY: KERRY MCGLYNN
VALE “THE MAESTRO” KERRY McGLYNN –GURU, MENTOR, FRIEND AND KING OF COOL
By Brett Free
If ever a man was in his element – in his “zone” – it was Kerry McGlynn at the Main Bar of the FCC during the Friday Night Swill.
This is not what defined “Maestro McGlynn” as a person – far from it. But this is where Kerry brought to bear, on a regular basis, all the elements that made him such a “Master of the Dark Arts”, where government PR, off-record chats and background briefings “between us girls” met the hard-nosed, cynical coalface of Hong Kong’s local and international press corps.
Kerry often quipped that he worked for the “Ministry of Truth”. This always elicited loud guffaws, as well as a nod and a wink from those who got the joke. This was Kerry’s clever way of disarming those he met – a self-deprecating nod to the fine line that ex-hacks like himself had to walk to fulfil the role of a “government spokesman” while engaging the media in a meaningful way.
And it worked. After all, someone who took the mickey out of himself wasn’t your bog-standard government spinmeister – he was more like “one of us”, an ex-journo who understood the media and knew he had to earn their trust and respect. And that he did in large measure.
Kerry’s Friday night forays epitomised his reputation as a bloke that everyone seemed to know or wanted to meet and was genuinely happy to see.
Within seconds of entering the Club, Kerry was talking to someone. Sometimes in the foyer, or on the steps leading to the bar. The Snug was a fertile ground for engagement –though for just a “quiet” word or two. In the Main Bar – left, right and centre – Kerry had spotted someone, or someone had spotted Kerry, and there ensued a quick chat, a bit of
banter, a “call me” or “talk to you later”, and plenty of laughs. Everyone loved Kerry’s laugh, it was contagious.
For those waiting for him at the bar, Kerry’s arrival was always noticed, but the big question was: When would he finally arrive? It was often 15 or 20 minutes before “K”, “K-ster” or “Kerrance” as he was known to different friends, had run the gauntlet of correspondents, contacts, confidantes and acquaintances before plonking down his card, opening a tab, and starting a session with a cleansing Prosecco before settling down to his regular Pinot Grigio (Members pour), and then holding court for the rest of the night.
Front desk staff always greeted “Mr McGlynn” with a smile and a warm welcome, as did staff all over the Club as well as his regular haunts such as the Hong Kong Cricket Club. Kerry didn’t just say hello – he knew most staff by name, asked how they were, what they were doing, and how their families were going.
This genuine warmth and interest in people was a trait that endeared Kerry to all he met – from the “small potatoes” to the “grown ups” he advised in government and, later, business circles.
His silky-smooth voice would put people at ease, whether a young colleague needing calm reassurance, or a loh baan or taipan seeking advice on a thorny communications conundrum.
To those who worked with him, Kerry was indeed the “guru”, the Prince of PR, the King of Cool and the Sultan of Suave to boot. He was approachable, inquisitive, widely read, and possessed a razor-sharp news sense. He was humble, kind, empathetic, accommodating and fair – he looked out for the little guys and gals – but was also a tough task master
L-R: Kerry McGlynn, Chris Patten, Lucy McGlynn, Jenny McGlynn
when it came to the standards required to perform at a high level in the PR world. Rarely critical or negative, Kerry led by example, set the bar high and then did what he could to lift his team.
He always provided honest, unvarnished advice, even if those he was briefing didn’t want to hear it. When Kerry spoke, people listened – not because they had to, but because they wanted to hear what he had to say.
Kerry’s work ethic, sense of a “fair go” and strong desire to chart his own course were shaped by his upbringing in a large, working-class Irish Catholic family in Sydney’s tough inner west. He dropped out of school aged 15 and eventually scored a job as a copy boy on the Daily Mirror. He landed a prized cadetship on his 17th birthday in 1958.
Kerry cut his teeth in the highly competitive Sydney media scene at a time when journos worked hard and played even harder. In his heart, he was always a newspaper man. In 1963, aged just 22, he upped stumps and headed to the U.K. to work on Fleet Street for Australian Consolidated Press. It was in the U.K. that he met the love of his life, Jenny. Realising that she was “the one”, they married in Bournemouth in 1965. They returned to Sydney in 1968, where Kerry worked for Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph
Kerry joined the Government Information Services (GIS) as a direct recruit Senior Information Officer in 1974. After just six years, he was posted to the London Office in 1980 for a two-and-a-half-year stint to help raise Hong Kong’s profile ahead of the Handover negotiations. This was the prime overseas posting in those days because of the link it played between Whitehall and the Hong Kong Government. At the end of 1982 he returned to Hong Kong to work in the-then Public Relations Division responsible for monitoring local and international news coverage on Hong Kong and providing a pithy summary of key issues and coverage to government leaders at “morning prayers” every day at 8:00 am.
Within a decade of starting at GIS, Kerry was promoted to Assistant Director in February 1984 – a stellar rise considering the norm in those days was at least five years in each rank of Senior, Principal and Chief Information Officer before being considered for testing as a Directorate Officer. As ever, Kerry was ahead of the game.
Kerry defied the norms again in 1987 when appointed head of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (NYETO). These overseas postings were and still are jealously guarded by the Administrative Officer (AO) grade, so Kerry’s highly unusual posting did not go unnoticed. He seized the opportunity and challenge to represent the “New York of the East” in the Big Apple itself. His proactive approach and engagement of media, political and business contacts in New York and beyond – coupled with his natural charm and love of Hong Kong – was a benchmark for such postings.
The last Governor’s arrival in July 1992 heralded a seismic shift in the way the U.K. chose to handle the transition to 1997 – and opened the door for Kerry to assume a role that would coalesce all he had learned in his 37 years of journalism and government PR.
Kerry’s appointment as Chris Patten’s Press Secretary in 1993 gave full play to his potential and knowledge as a trusted and vital member of the Governor’s “inner circle” of political aides and advisers, the likes of which Hong Kong had never seen. Kerry was in his element and thrived – not without its stresses and strains. But this is where he was always meant to be and wanted to be, in the thick of the action.
Patten’s modus operandi as a seasoned politician ensured that Kerry, his main connection to the media, was in the loop on all matters big and small. This trust and access enabled Kerry to speak with authority to local and foreign press – and contribute strategically in meetings with the government’s top echelons. Kerry remained close friends with Patten and his wife Lavender after 1997, and rumour has it that Patten even adopted Kerry’s signature fashion quirk of wearing non-matching socks.
After Patten’s departure, Kerry returned to the Information Services Department as DDO – Deputy Director (Overseas) – responsible for Hong Kong’s international media, promotion, marketing and engagement with international stakeholders such as chambers of commerce, the HKTDC and the HKTB.
It is a mark of his foresight that while still at Government House – with all that was going on in the run up to 1 July, 1997 – Kerry turned his mind to how Hong Kong might be positioned and promoted after the reversion of sovereignty. This was the genesis of BrandHK, but the Asian financial crisis in 1998 put it on the back burner for a few years. “Asia’s World City” was eventually launched with considerable fanfare in May 2001.
Kerry also commissioned workshops at the HKCEC for hundreds of senior officials to help them understand the thinking behind BrandHK, and reinforce the notion that everyone had a role to play in Hong Kong’s positioning as Asia’s World City. Again, another first.
Post-97, Kerry’s talent and skills as a storyteller and speech writer were put to good use by Anson Chan and Donald Tsang, the two most senior officials embodying the continuity and stability that Hong Kong needed on the international stage at the time. As the key transition leaders for the HKSAR, both Anson and Donald knew well how Kerry operated, and sought his input and counsel.
“Kerry has done sterling service to Hong Kong during his time with ISD and afterwards,” former Chief Executive Donald Tsang told The Correspondent, the FCC magazine.
“I always treasured his wise counsel and will never forget his unwavering support when we travelled overseas together to promote and fend for Hong Kong.”
Kerry retired from the ISD in January 2002, returning to Sydney with wife Jenny to reunite with his daughters Kate and Lucy and their families. Sadly, Jenny was bravely battling cancer at the time and passed away in October 2004, leaving a massive hole in the lives and hearts of Kerry and his daughters.
Kerry wholeheartedly supported Jenny’s work to establish the Life Education Activity Programme (LEAP) in Hong Kong, which since its launch in 1994 has provided healthy living education to more than two million school children. In honour of his wife, and to continue contributing to Hong Kong, Kerry continued serving on the LEAP board and was even sending out fundraising appeals the day before he died.
After Jenny’s passing, Kerry returned to Hong Kong to provide strategic communications advice to the government in the run up to and staging of the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in December 2005.
He was then snapped up by Cathay Pacific as a special adviser to the CEO, after which he became a special adviser to the CEO of Swire Properties. CLP also made good use of his PR talent and writing skills. It was during this time that
he courted the second love of his life, “LV”, whose infectious laugh and caring nature endeared her to all of K’s friends. Kerry drew a line under his time in Hong Kong in October 2016 – 42 years after first setting foot in the city. Back in Sydney, he spent plenty of time with his family, grandchildren and friends, and set up home in the inner-west suburb of Balmain. He remained remarkably well informed on Hong Kong affairs.
Kerry was not without some health challenges, but he did not share this news widely. He just preferred to “get on with it”. He battled and beat lung cancer, losing a third of a lung in the process. This impaired his lung function, which was a contributing factor in his diagnosis a few years ago with incurable pulmonary hypertension.
Kerry bravely fought this scourge for as long as he could but succumbed on 11 September, 2025 with his daughters and LV by his side. True to form as an ex-hack with a penchant for explaining the who, what, where, when and why, Kerry prepared his own death notice to be posted on Facebook. He chose a photo which is quintessential Kerry – quietly confident, impeccably dressed and with just a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. This announcement came as a huge shock to most of his friends who had no idea that he had been so ill.
“Not the way I intended to go but, as they say, life’s a bitch and then you die. I love you all.” We love you too, mate. n
Chris Patten and Kerry
Jenny and Kerry
Kerry surrounded by his loving family in Sydney on the day he passed away
A SPECTRUM OF SICHUAN FLAVOURS
Discover the depth and artistry of Sichuan cuisine with Guest Chef Chan Kai Tak at the FCC this autumn.
By Vera Yung Images: Lakshmi Harilela @Love True Light
This autumn, the FCC brings the bold, vibrant flavours of Sichuan straight to your table from 30 September to 31 October. Our Sichuan promotion features both classic and contemporary dishes curated by Guest Chef Chan Kai Tak. On 15 October, an exclusive Guest Chef Dinner offers a rare opportunity to taste Chef Chan’s personally crafted menu, showcasing the depth of Sichuan cuisine.
Many people think Sichuan cuisine is all about spicy heat, but that’s only part of the story. Authentic Sichuan cooking is a combination of spicy, savoury, fresh and fragrant flavours. Its roots can be traced back to the Shu Kingdom during the Warring States period, with its culinary foundations being laid during the Qin and Han Dynasties. By the Song Dynasty, Sichuan cuisine had become an independent entity and was later enriched by the introduction of chilli peppers during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, giving rise to the bold, numbing-spicy flavours it is famous for today.
The evolution of Sichuan cuisine was also shaped by three major waves of migration in Chinese history during the Qin, late Eastern Han, and the late Tang Dynasties. Migrants from the Central Plains brought new ingredients, cooking techniques and cultural practices, enriching the local culinary landscape and laying the foundations for Sichuan’s diversity of flavours and styles.
Sichuan cuisine emphasises the principle of “each dish having its own style - a hundred dishes, a hundred flavours”. Traditional cuisine actually features 24 distinct flavour profiles, and interestingly, about 70 percent of Sichuan dishes are actually not spicy.
Beyond its signature spice, Sichuan cuisine has a long tradition of pickling, curing and fermentation. The region’s humid climate and abundant salt have encouraged preserving meats and vegetables since the Han Dynasty. Central to this is the broad bean chilli paste from Pixian, whose monthslong fermentation imparts deep umami, heat and aroma, shaping the rich flavours of classic Sichuan dishes.
Sichuan cuisine can be broadly divided into three main schools: Upper River, Lower River, and Small River. The Upper River School, represented by Chengdu’s official cuisine, is known for its exquisite preparation and refined flavours. As the cultural and administrative centre of Sichuan, Chengdu attracted nobles and scholars, giving rise to dishes that emphasise balance. Classics include Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, and Lantern Shadow Crispy Beef. The Lower River School, represented by Chongqing cuisine, is known for its hearty and fiery flavours, well-suited to the region’s humid climate. Influenced by the robust tastes of dockworkers in particular, this style embraces a more rustic approach, often referred to as Jianghu cuisine, with signature dishes like Braised Fish with Pickled Vegetables, Lazi Chicken and Chongqing Hot Pot.
The Small River School, originating from Zigong, reflects the heritage of the salt merchants who founded it. This style is more extravagant and inventive, with dishes that are as visually striking as they are flavourful, with one of the best examples being Braised Beef in Red Chilli Broth.
The FCC’s Sichuan Promotion showcases both the heritage and innovation of Sichuan cuisine, with Chef Chan presenting a menu that offers classic favourites with creative twists. From refined Chengdu dishes to bold Chongqing flavours and inventive Zigong specialties, Members can experience the full gamut of Sichuan’s culinary artistry.
MEET GUEST CHEF CHAN KAI TAK
Guiding this journey is Chef Chan Kai Tak, a distinguished master with more than 50 years of culinary experience. Born into a family with a rich Sichuan cooking heritage and a history of making broad bean chilli paste, Chef Chan joined the Chinese Bank restaurant in 1969 and later led kitchens in both Hong Kong and abroad. In 2004, he was awarded the prestigious Chef Rotisseur title by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, an honour recognising top chefs throughout the world. Chef Chan’s creations have delighted diners worldwide, most notably members of the British Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, making him a true ambassador of Sichuan cuisine.
Twice retired, in 2018 and 2020, Chef Chan remains devoted to his craft, mentoring the next generation and ensuring this treasured culinary heritage is preserved.
During the Guest Chef Dinner on 15 October, Chef Chan will present a menu that reflects his personal vision of Sichuan cooking - one that honours tradition while highlighting his own creative interpretations of certain dishes.
A LA CARTE MENU HIGHLIGHTS
Lantern Shadow Beef 岩鹽燈映牛肉
This famous dish dates back to the Tang Dynasty. The poet Yuan Zhen once ate slices of beef in a tavern — so thin that light could shine through them, like shadows in a lantern show. Inspired by this, he named it ‘Lantern Shadow Beef’. Each slice is so tender it melts in the mouth and a pinch of Himalayan rock salt beautifully brings out the beef’s natural umami.
Sobering Spicy Rice Vinegar Fish Soup with Fennel and Fried Dough Sticks 魚羮佐茴香油條
The sour and spicy flavour of this soup comes mainly from pepper and vinegar, both of which help stimulate the appetite and create an excellent balance of taste. This soup is also known to help with hangovers so is often referred to as “hangover soup”.
Zigong Boiled Sliced Beef 自貢水煮牛肉
Originating in the Northern Song Dynasty in Zigong, labourers sliced the beef of retired draft cattle and boiled it with chilli and Sichuan peppercorns to create a tender and flavourful dish. Later refined by chefs, the beef is cooked directly in a spicy broth, showcasing the signature numbing and spicy flavours of Sichuan cuisine.
Classic Style Kung Pao Chicken 官府經典-宫保雞丁
This is a classic Sichuan dish named after Ding Baozhen, a Qing Dynasty official titled Gong Bao (the Crown Prince’s Tutor). He loved to serve this spicy diced chicken at banquets, and after it was brought to Sichuan, local chefs refined it to make the famous dish we know today.
Mapo Tofu 源遠百年-麻婆豆腐
A traditional Sichuan dish created during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty by Madam Chen Liu, owner of the Chen Xingsheng restaurant in Chengdu. Nicknamed “mapo” (pockmarked old lady), she lent her name to the dish which became a celebrated local specialty. Featuring tender tofu in a bright red sauce with fragrant minced beef, it embodies the bold flavours of Sichuan cuisine..
CELEBRATE DIWALI AT BERT’S
The FCC will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, with a bountiful buffet served at Bert’s on 28 October. Chef Kumar and his Indian cuisine team will present a selection of appetiser-style dishes, assorted tandoori favourites, four different types of curry with naan, and an array of sweet treats for dessert. Make your reservations early to avoid disappointment.
Priced at $428 per person.
Zigong Boiled Sliced Beef
Twice-Cooked Sliced Pork 回鍋肉
This classic is hailed as “the number one dish of Sichuan cuisine” and nicknamed “guomenxiang ” (“Doorway Fragrance”). With the creation of Pixian doubanjiang, a savoury, subtly spicy and umami-packed sauce, in 1749, its flavour was elevated, securing its place as an authentic symbol of Sichuan cuisine.
Traditional Homemade Crispy Sticky Rice Cakes with Brown Sugar Syrup 脆皮古法紅糖糍粑
Dating back to the Three Kingdoms period, this dish was first used as an offering in ancestor worship, symbolising good fortune and togetherness. Made with glutinous rice and coated in brown sugar, it is sweet, soft and fragrant. When tossed into the wok, the loud popping sound earned it the nickname “Three Big Cannon Shots”.
Sommelier wine pairings are also available from the Xige Winery in the Dove Mountain area of Ningxia.
Appetiser: Xige N18 White Blend 2022
Soup: Xige N18 Red Blend 2021
Main Course: Xige N28 Malbec 2023
Priced at $168 per person for three glasses
Chef Chan Kai Tak
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON IN STYLE AT THE FCC
The holiday season is fast approaching, and the FCC’s culinary and events team is pulling out all the stops to make this year’s festivities memorable for our Members and their guests. Known for delivering some of the most eagerly anticipated celebrations in town, the Club’s festive calendar promises joy, indulgence, and cherished moments for all.
The festivities begin with the serving of mulled wine from 1 December followed by a Festive Wine Buffet Dinner on 8 December.
The Club’s ever-popular Christmas Bazaar will be open on 9 and 10 December for festive gift shopping with food and drinks on offer to help the process along.
Bring your little ones to our fun-filled Kids’ Christmas Day on 14 December, and the magic continues on 17 December with the FCC’s much-loved Christmas Choir Performance, where a repertoire of timeless festive classics will fill the Club with holiday cheer.
On Christmas Eve, indulge in a sumptuous five-course dinner served in the Main Dining Room, priced at $788 per person. Vegetarian options are available, ensuring everyone can partake in this elegant celebration.
The highlight of course, is the Christmas Day buffet, a lavish feast featuring an array of delicacies. Begin with an assortment of appetisers, sashimi, sushi, and poached seafood on ice, before visiting the carving station for roast prime rib of beef and traditional U.S. butterball turkey with stuffing. A selection of main courses and decadent desserts await, complemented by a live-action counter serving panfried French toast with apple compote. Priced at $688 for adults and $298 for children, this buffet is irresistible! Winter Sangria will also be available priced at $50 per glass.
For those hosting celebrations at home or the office, the FCC’s Christmas takeaway package ensures effortless entertaining. An array of festive favourites includes:
• Honey-glazed U.K. Bone-in Ham with sauces
• Roast Butterball Turkey with chestnut stuffing, cranberry, and giblet sauce
• Classic desserts like mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas logs
Priced at $4,200 for 10 pax.
Collection of orders will be at Bert’s from 8 - 30 December between 11:00 am and 9:00 pm, with key conditions to note:
• A minimum of three working days’ notice (excluding weekends and public holidays) is required for all orders.
• Orders will be accepted from 1 - 26 December 2025, and items are subject to availability.
• Pickups are available at Bert’s from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm between 8 - 30 December.
• Orders must be placed by phone at 2592 1510 or by email at membersorder@fcchk.org. All orders will be confirmed with a reference number, so please contact us if you don’t receive confirmation within two days.
• Once confirmed, orders cannot be cancelled.
Finally, ring in the New Year with flair at our annual New Year’s Eve Gala Countdown Party on 31 December. Book now to secure your place and make this festive season one to remember! n
IN VINO VERITAS
CLASSIC COCKTAILS
Throughout the month of December as the holiday mood takes over, the FCC will serve up a selection of classic cocktails for your sipping pleasure and a hint of nostalgia.
Bellini
Peach, Prosecco HK$58
The Bellini was indisputably created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice. Cipriani wanted to craft a refreshing and elegant drink that captured the beauty of Venetian culture and the vibrant flavours of local produce. He chose white peach purée as the cocktail’s foundation, blending it with Italy’s sparkling wine, Prosecco. The Bellini’s signature blush-pink hue was inspired by the works of the Venetian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini, whose art often featured soft, luminous tones. This connection also gave the drink its name.
The Bellini quickly gained popularity, especially among celebrities and writers who frequented Harry’s Bar, including Ernest Hemingway.
The Boulevardier
Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Campari HK$58
The Boulevardier first appeared during Prohibition and was known as the signature drink of writer Erskine Gwynne, an American-born writer who founded a monthly magazine in Paris, The Boulevardier, which was published between 1927 and 1932.
Gwynne, the son of a famous polo player and a nephew of the Vanderbilts, was a frequenter of the bars of Paris, so much so that a drink was reportedly created for him and named after his magazine, which was fashioned after The New Yorker
During Prohibition, some of America’s finest mixologists found themselves fleeing the hotels and cafés of New York, with many landing in bars in Paris. This was the case for Harry MacElhone, who had been working at The Plaza and then took a job tending the bar at Tod Sloan’s New York Bar in Paris. In 1923 he acquired the bar and changed its name to Harry’s New York Bar. Perhaps one of the world’s most famous watering holes at the time, it is also said to be the birthplace of The Sidecar. Those in the know will argue that The Ritz Paris was where the concoction originated.
Singapore Sling Gin, Cherry Liqueur, Benedictine, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine HK$46
The Singapore Sling was created in the early 20th century at the Long Bar of Raffles Hotel in Singapore by Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender. Societal norms discouraged women from consuming alcohol openly, so he crafted a drink that would appear to be socially acceptable. It was designed to look like a fruit juice, with its vibrant pink hue achieved through a blend of cherry brandy, grenadine, and fresh pineapple juice. Gin formed the drink’s base.
The ingenious creation rapidly gained worldwide fame, becoming synonymous with Singapore’s colonial-era charm.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
Dark Rum, Fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Beer HK$$46
The invention of this cocktail is assumed to be closely tied to Gosling Brothers Ltd., a Bermudian family that began producing Gosling’s Black Seal Rum in the mid-19th century. The actual drink dates back to when British sailors stationed in Bermuda introduced ginger beer as a remedy for seasickness. The spicy, effervescent ginger beer and the rich, dark rum quickly became popular among both sailors and locals alike.
Legend also has it that the name ‘Dark and Stormy’ was coined by a particular sailor who compared the dark rum floating atop the ginger beer to storm clouds on the horizon.
UNCORK THE BEST OF THE NEW WORLD
Discover the vibrant world of New World wines with the FCC’s exclusive promotion showcasing standout bottles from Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. From the bold 2020 Bodega Chakana Malbec to the elegant Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc, each wine offers its own unique characteristics and personality. Available from now until 16 November.
2020 Bodega Chakana Estate Selection Malbec Mendoza, Argentina
“The 2020 Malbec Chakana Estate Selection (from Paraje Altamira & Gualtallary, Uco Valley) was a third aged in used barrels and a third in foudres. A mild purple hue. the nose presents gentle notes of fresh plum, violets and hints of thyme over a pleasant bed of oak. Indulgent with slightly reactive tannins, the flow is juicy and fairly compact.”
Vinous, 93 Points
Glass $68 / Bottle $340
Shaw + Smith Riesling 2024
Adelaide Hills, Australia
“Fresh and vibrant aromas of orange blossoms, jasmine flowers, lime zest and river stones. The palate is mediumbodied with focused acidity and a generous mouthfeel, giving notes of lemon balm, grapefruit pith, flint and mandarin pith. Its 4 g/L of residual sugar add a nice balance and texture.”
Ryan Montgomery, JamesSuckling.com, 95 Points
Glass $90 / Bottle $450
Journey’s End Fruit Orchestra Chenin Blanc Viognier
2020
Western Cape, South Africa
Pale yellow with a green tint in colour. The nose has pronounced tropical aromas of pineapple, passionfruit, apricot and some white peach. Hints of floral notes also linger in the glass. An easy drinking, medium bodied wine with a balanced zesty acidity and a waxy sweet lingering finish.
Glass $50/ Bottle $250
Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage 2023
Stellenbosch, South Africa
A deep purple red in colour. A bright, enticing nose of cherries, red and black plums, maraschino cherries, cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is packed with ripe cherries, black plums, mulberries, orange zest, blackberries, liquorice, cedar and layers of baking spices. Medium-bodied with juicy fruit, refreshing, balanced acidity, fine grained tannins and a long satisfying finish.
Glass $78 / Bottle $390
Nikola Estate Shiraz 2023
Ferguson Valley, Western Australia
This voluptuous wine is generous, yet soft and refined Its sophistication is apparent from its spicy savoury notes that merge with ripe plum and a little stewed rhubarb. This Shiraz has a creamy vanillin oak influence with the fine tannins and subtle oak perfectly harmonised.
Glass $58 / Bottle $290
Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand
An elegant light straw appearance with an intense, vibrant sub-tropical fruit bouquet with capsicum, snow pea and passionfruit aromas. The palate is fresh, vibrant and juicy with sub-tropical flavours. A lovely length and a lively, soft finish.
Glass $58 / Bottle $290
The Sidecar
Cognac, Orange Liqueur, Fresh Lemon Juice HK$68
NEW ON THE BLOCK
The FCC extends a warm welcome its new Members who come from a wide range of sectors, further adding to the diversity of the Club. Here’s a summary of who they are and what they do.
ASSOCIATE
BEN BENNETT
Head of Investment Strategy, Asia, L&G – Asset Management
I arrived in Hong Kong in the depths of COVID five years ago and took the opportunity to really get to know the place. I transferred from London with Legal & General, focusing on investment strategy, particularly related to bond markets. I’ve been doing this for more than 25 years now with a few battle scars, especially from my time at Lehman Brothers back in 2008. Please look me up on LinkedIn and follow my market musings. On a personal level, I married Diane last year and force her to accompany me to various sporting events around the world.
ASSOCIATE
DANIEL FUNG, JR
Business and Compliance Risk Analyst, CBH Asia
Though I grew up in Hong Kong, I have spent most of the past decade studying and working in the U.S. Having recently moved back here for a new job, I have slowly but surely become reacquainted with my childhood home. I work for CBH Asia, where I am a business analyst. Through my work I find myself thoroughly immersed in the fast-paced action of Hong Kong’s finance world, which is both dynamic and exciting. When not at work I frequently explore the nature and cultural side of Hong Kong and during weekends I can be found either on a hiking trail or attending a performance at the Cultural Centre. I am grateful to be a new Member of the FCC and look forward to getting acquainted with the other Members.
ASSOCIATE
ROBERT HART
Vice President, Human Resources, Burberry
I have lived in Hong Kong for 10 years and it’s home. I recently joined the FCC, encouraged by other Members and buoyed by the memories of several enjoyable evenings within its walls over the years. I work in Quarry Bay and lead the pan-Asia HR team for Burberry, where I have worked for 13 years. The convenience and connectivity of Hong Kong enable me to enjoy frequent travel for both work and pleasure. My interests include geopolitics and history. Being a new Member, I am looking forward to my induction and to joining future events at the Club as well as the convivial atmosphere of a casual evening.
ASSOCIATE
DAVID MEREDITH
Importer of Australian F&B, Tasmania Limited
I have loved Hong Kong since arriving from Australia in 1984, when much time was spent at the FCC Bar, at the expense of friends, discussing the many changes that were occurring during those years, over beers and curry. Back then I was in advertising, an exciting time of expansion for the communications business in Asia. Ten years ago with the industry moving into the digital age, I shifted my focus to food and now import Australian produce. I have such great memories of my time at the Club that I have finally committed to membership. I intend to spend many more years in Hong Kong and at the Club.
ASSOCIATE
MAREN MOXOM
Group Chief Financial Officer, Wallem Group
I am the Group Chief Financial Officer of the Wallem Group, a privately held maritime services company with a 120-year legacy and operations in 19 countries. Born and raised in Texas, I hold an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree from Oxford University. An American national with a global mindset, I have built my career across the maritime, manufacturing and engineering sectors, holding senior roles at Schneider Electric, Stanley Black & Decker, and Raytheon. I bring deep expertise in transformation, strategic planning and financial leadership, supported by a Six Sigma Expert Certification.
I moved to Hong Kong in 2012 with my British husband, Nathaniel Moxom, Prior to that, we lived in Paris and the U.K. - experiences that shaped my appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration. Together we are raising three children aged 13, 8 and 7. Outside work, I serve as a board director for KC Maritime and am active in WISTA Hong Kong, the Women’s Directorship Programme, and The Women’s Foundation. I enjoy hiking, staying active, and I have a passion for discovering new restaurants and travelling to new destinations.
ASSOCIATE
STEPHEN PARK-SMITH, MBA MA BA (HONS)
Real Estate and Financial Consultant, Global Vision Property
I am a former diplomat who has worked in the region for over 20 years – in China, Japan and South Korea. A China economic analyst, I now work in real estate and financial planning. I moved back to Hong Kong in April this year and am enjoying meeting friends and making new ones.
CORRESPONDENT
PRIME SARMIENTO
Multi-Platform Journalist and Content Creator
I’m a multi-platform journalist and content creator with a deep focus on Southeast Asia’s business, economy, and governance. From climate change and culture to politics and the arts, I cover the stories that often go underreported - because Southeast Asia deserves a louder voice on the global stage. I am Filipina, born and raised in Manila, and like the millions of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, I decided to leave my home country in 2005 to follow my dream to become a foreign correspondent. I worked in the newsrooms of Manila, Singapore and Brunei for over 20 years before finally heading to Hong Kong in 2018 and recently becoming a permanent resident. I spend a lot of my free time belly dancing, collecting crystals, travelling, reading and writing travel memoirs.
www.linkedin.com/in/primesarmiento thecrystaltita
I also occasionally blog at https://primesarmiento.com
ASSOCIATE
CLARENCE SEQUEIRA
Managing Director, EverCrest Capital Limited
My family and I have made Hong Kong our home. Having been here for almost three decades, one cannot but always appreciate Hong Kong. During this time I have worked in the world of private banking with reputable institutions, wherein I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with many families from across sectors and within the Asian region. I reached a point where I knew I had to forge a different path for myself, one that had more meaning and at the same time one that allows me to be close to my clients and continue to support them by working for them and with them, rather than working for institutions. EverCrest Capital Limited works independently under the External Asset Management (EAM) multi-family office. The EAM model seeks to eliminate the inherent conflicts of interest in terms of how private banks operate with their clients. For me, it has always been my client’s interests first, so the path of EAM is perfect!
ASSOCIATE
FRANCES TEEHAN
Freelance Communications Consultant and Writer
Hi! I’m Frances and I’ve been living in Hong Kong for just over a year now. Since moving here from England with my husband, Sam, we’ve enjoyed the whirlwind experience of expat life, exploring everything that Hong Kong has to offer. For the past 12 years, I have worked in PR and strategic communications for some of the U.K.’s leading cultural institutions, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Somerset House. Recently, I’ve ventured into the freelance world, focusing on communications campaigns and writing. My guidebook for Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, was published in September 2025. I write about life in Hong Kong, books, travel and more on my Substack, WrittenFM. I’d love to connect with fellow Members. I enjoy trying out the latest bar and restaurant openings, challenging myself with new hikes, getting my culture fix through exhibitions, playing netball, and of course, meeting friends at the FCC.
@francesteehan
www.linkedin.com/in/francesteehan
https://open.substack.com/pub/fmbroadcast
ASSOCIATE
CHRIS WELLS
Capital Markets Advisor
I am an investment banker from the U.K., and until now I have not lived in Hong Kong, though I have enjoyed visiting many times, the first occasion being in 1984. I got my first job as a stockbroker because my employers were impressed that I was obtaining free theatre tickets by writing reviews of West End plays for the Imperial College magazine. My career as a journalist ended there - as short as Hugh Grant’s in the film Notting Hill! I am looking forward to being in Hong Kong while maintaining a presence in Japan, where I run an independent advisory business. I love Hong Kong – always have – and would like to do more pan-Asian work. I have a strong interest in all things maritime, including this Fragrant Harbour, and as a child, my father used to describe Hong Kong to me from his service here in 1952, when he assured me that Kowloon’s dock was made of bamboo.
ABSENT MEMBERS
FULL NAME COMPANY POSITION CATEGORY
Mark Stephen Carr Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. Managing Director Associate
Kieran Michael Cash SCMP Production Editor Correspondent
Steven G Catechi AMAC Asia Ltd. Chairman Correspondent
Yuk Mui Chang Retired Associate
Shuk Kuen Lee Lee Ing Global Ltd. Managing Director Associate
Amy Beth Gunia Time Reporter Correspondent
David Edward Haynes Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions Regional Director Associate
James Peter Richard Hill SEC Newgate Managing Partner Associate
Miranda Jane Houng N/A Journalist
Sean Patrick Joseph Kennedy RTHK Sub-Editor Correspondent
Adam King N/A Associate
Pui Yee Carol Lai Freelance Correspondent
William James Langley FT Breaking News Reporter Correspondent
Craig B Lindsay China Alpha Fund Mgmt. (HK) Ltd. CEO Associate
Ka Lai Lok Freelance Journalist
Wah Shing Lui W.S. Lui & Co. CPA Proprietor Associate
Brendan Patrick McGloin The Risk Advisory Group Director Associate
Alexander Frew McMillan Dragonfly Media Freelance Reporter Correspondent
Sung Kei Michael Ng Metropolitan Capital Co. Ltd. Managing Director of Finance Associate
Mark Renton Moelis & Company Managing Director Associate
Colin James Ruffell N/A Associate
Pooja Sawhney MSP Associates Ltd Director Associate
Kit Line Linder Tom Kingfisher Insurance Brokers Ltd. Director Associate
Mei Ling Fionie Wong Self-Employed Associate
Polly Ting Wa Yu Director Associate
REACTIVATED
Li Meng De Bakker Freelance Correspondent
Adrian Gornall Astris Advisory Japan Head of Investment Advisory Associate
Yee Man Lee BNP Parisbas Regional Head of Professional Ethics & Investigations, APAC Compliance Associate
Haresh Shamdasani Shelsham Trading Company Ltd. Managing Director Associate
Wijnandus Adrianus Van Hoeven N/A Associate
Jason Hughes Wincuinas The Economist Senior Editor Correspondent
STATUS CHANGE
Howard Georges Associate to Silver Associate Associate
Kerry F. McGlynn Deceased on 11 September 2025 Associate
PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
CARSTENSCHAEL.COM – Award-winning Photographer. People - Corporate - Stills - Food - Architecture - Transport
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THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AUSTRALIA
By Scott Veitch
Sydney Harbour is one of the wonders of the world, instantly recognisable with its iconic Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the ferries, and the shining skyscrapers. The Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA) is a short walk from Circular Quay and very close to all of them. Housed in a large, stately old building, the Club’s many public rooms and well-kept roof terrace offer a variety of views of this sparkling city. The Club has a welcoming and friendly environment, so you’ll enjoy a visit even if you’re not planning to stay in Sydney.
The entrance is in the impressive façade on Macquarie Street in the CBD, where the concierge directs you through to the vast, pillared lounge. A corner bar supplies the necessary refreshments and the comfortable armchairs and sofas make for easy conversation amongst members and guests. We visited on a weekend in winter and it was quiet in the lounge, but busier in the upstairs restaurant. We were told the Club is liveliest during the week when locals and visitors from out of town on business make use of the extensive facilities. The dining room serves a great selection of excellent food and wine, and the staff are very helpful. Our table had a wonderful view of the Harbour Bridge.
Throughout its rooms, the artwork, prints and literature recall the history of the Club and its proud role in influencing motoring policy in Australia. Since the RACA was founded in 1903, it has been around for more than half of Australia’s existence and this wider history is reflected in the Club itself. There is also a fine reading room, a gym, a billiards room with three full size tables, and other pleasant spaces where you can work or relax in peace. Information about the accommodation and other amenities, as well as a brief history of Club itself, are all set out in its excellent website.
This is a grand old club in an unbeatable location. Whether or not you know Sydney, and whether or not you know about cars, it’s well worth taking advantage of the FCC’s reciprocal membership arrangement with the RACA. n
Royal Automobile Club of Australia
89 Macquarie Street, Sydney
NSW 2000
Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 8273 2300 Website: raca.com.au
SLÀINTE MHATH!
In late June, the Club had the pleasure of hosting its first ever Irish Whiskey and Gin Tasting Dinner, offering a fascinating journey through the world of fine Irish spirits.
The evening began with remarks from Board Member and Northern Ireland native Lynne Mulholland who always manages to set the tone for an entertaining evening.
The Deputy Consul General of Ireland for Hong Kong & Macau, Sadbh O’Reilly graced the Club with her presence, underscoring the cultural significance of Irish whiskey, an embodiment of rich history and tradition, that is enjoying a growing following in Asia.
The evening also brought a guest appearance by Gareth McAllister, the Co-Founder with his wife Michelle of Ireland’s first eco-distillery, the Ahascragh Distillery in County Galway.
BOUQUETS OF CHARDONNAY
The Club’s Chardonnay Dinner was a highly convivial evening that celebrated the art of winemaking and the camaraderie of the FCC’s appreciative community.
Elisa Ros from Links Concept and Anthony Chan from EMW Fine Wines, led participants through a diverse tasting of four Chardonnays from around the world: a Craggy Range 2023 from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand; a Burgundian Louis Latour 2023 Chardonnay: a handpicked, whole bunch pressed and wild fermented Stella Bella from Margaret River, Australia; and a Legacy Peak Chardonnay from the increasingly popular wine-growing region of Ningxia, China.
If you missed this event and are curious about these Chardonnays, we’re offering home delivery for each one. Please visit: https://www.fcchk.org/event/chardonnay-winehome-delivery-form/
A Chemical Engineer with 30 years’ of experience in the chemical and process industries, Gareth was most recently based in Hong Kong as President, Asia Pacific, of LORD Corporation, a technology and manufacturing company. He has now turned his passion for Irish whiskey into a thriving family business and he knowledgeably guided Members and their guests through the art of tasting and the discovery of unique characteristics within the whiskeys, as well as sharing some of the stories behind each offering.
Members savoured a selection of some of Ireland’s finest, including UAIS and Clan Colla (7 YO and 11 YO), each showcasing the distinct flavours and craftsmanship for which these golden spirits are celebrated.
BUEN APETITO!
On 13 August, the FCC celebrated the cuisine of Spain in style through the culinary artistry of Guest Chef Edgard Sanuy Barahona, who oversees the guest experience at Hong Kong tapas restaurants Pica Pica and Bàrbar, as well as at newcomers Aire and Pintxos. Guests were welcomed with Sangria as the dinner began with opening remarks from the Club President, Morgan M. Davis, followed by a special address from María Suárez Fernández, Vice Consul of the Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong.
Chef Edgard also took the spotlight, explaining that his cooking style is all about capturing the soul of Spanish cooking and its emphasis on pristine ingredients, vibrant
AND ALL THAT JAZZ
On 16 August, Tokyo-based jazz pianist Yuki Makita brought her soulful, lyrical style to Bert’s for an unforgettable evening of live jazz. Recognised for her artistry, versatility and emotional depth, Makita is an established presence in Japan’s jazz scene, Yuki and her band played to a packed audience of the FCC’s most dedicated jazz enthusiasts.
In case you missed it, Yuki will return by popular demand on 25 October for what promises to be another captivating performance. Book your spot early!
simplicity, and conviviality. Throughout the dinner, he also mingled with our Members, discussing his culinary journey and sharing stories and insights about his creations.
Just some of the dishes on the four-course menu were Spanish Bluefin Tuna Balfegó with Lettuce Wraps, Gazpacho with Quail Egg and Poached Shrimp, and Spanish Lamb Neck with Charred Piquillo Peppers and Spring Onions.
The energy was as vibrant as the cuisine and Members savoured delicious dishes, wine and engaging conversations.
Thank you to everyone who made this event such a memorable evening.
WELCOMING OUR NEW MEMBERS
In early September, we held a warm and welcoming New Member Induction Ceremony to celebrate the joining of our new Members. The event began with a welcome speech from FCC President, Morgan M. Davis, who talked about the Club’s rich history, heritage, events and facilities.
Our Induction Ceremonies give new Members the opportunity to meet fellow newcomers, as well as our Board Members and staff, underscoring the strong sense of community that exists at the FCC. New Members also received insights into the various Club Committees they can join.
We are excited to see you around the Club and warmly welcome you to the FCC family.
BATTLE OF THE TABLOID EXPERTS
On 1 September, the Main Dining Room served as the venue for a fiercely competitive Tabloid Quiz in support of a training and events programme for young journalists. Hosted by quizmaster Morgan M. Davis, ably assisted by scorekeeper Olivia Parker, 11 teams battled it out over dinner in what was a close race to the end. The nameless team denoted by a “thoughtful” emoji eventually triumphed by just two points over the “Quiz In The Trunk” team, closely followed by the topically named “Xing Din Xing Trading Company”. A big thanks to all who participated in what was billed as “a less-erudite-than usual quiz evening” and we look forward to the next one!
YOUNG JOURNALISTS CONVERGE
On 22 September, young journalists were invited to a meet-and-greet session at the Club as part of the FCC’s ongoing initiatives to support newcomers to the industry and early-career journalists. Correspondent Member Governor Jennifer Jett gave a speech to those who braved the pre-typhoon weather to attend. Members of the Board as well as Correspondent and Journalist Members mingled and chatted with everyone, answered questions, and shared their experiences of being part of the FCC community.
A TASTE OF GERMANY
From 1-27 September, the FCC brought a taste of Germany to Members courtesy of Chef/Owner Peter Find of Heimat, Hong Kong’s only Modern German restaurant that is MICHELIN-recommended. Chef Peter drew from his almost four decades of experience to present a diverse cross-section of regional German fine fare from Berlin to Bavaria and more. His unique take on traditional dishes together with his original inspired culinary creations takes German cuisine to a new contemporary level. Chef Peter has been honoured as Global Chef of the Year by The Ritz-Carlton Group and Chef of the Year by The Hotelier Awards China.
On 9 September, Chef Peter hosted a wonderful Guest Chef four-course dinner with dishes including Smoked Ocean Trout with Frankfurter 7 Herbs Sauce, Quail Egg and Salted Crumble; Seabass Filet with White Cabbage and Bacon; and Freshly baked Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream. Wine pairings featured Schloss Reinharthausen Riesling Sekt Brut NV (Rheingau); Prinz von Hessen Riesling Trocken Hessenstein (Rheingau); and Weingut Dr. Wehrheim Spätburgunder (Pfalz).
An enjoyable evening was had by all.
THE GREAT CLIMATE DEBATE
Ok, let’s get controversial. Apparently. After the U.S. President’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September claiming climate change was “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world”, merely hours before Hong Kong was slapped by Super Typhoon Ragasa like Chris Rock by Will Smith, this topic became a hot potato.
Before we continue, I always like to be upfront about things. By now dear readers, you are probably aware I am no climate scientist. Or any form of scientist. In fact, I skipped my high school chemistry fi nal exam to go to the beach. It all worked out fi ne in the end, I guess.
That said, the weather is indeed very funky. September saw a tropical storm drench the city, then two days later the largest typhoon of the year. I obviously realise that it’s typhoon season, but did we really need two in four days? Seems unfair.
Super Typhoon Ragasa was the fourth super typhoon to hit the city at T10 strength in eight years. Those of us who have been here long enough remember the other names, but I’ll refresh you anyway - Hato in 2017. 2018’s Mangkhut, and in 2023 it was Saola.
Four super typhoons in eight years. One every two years on average. Do you want to know how many super typhoons at T10 strength we had between 1946 and 2016? Also four. In 70 YEARS!
While I was awful at science, I was rather good at mathematics in high school (topped my class, got me into university – feel free to congratulate me on this next time I’m at the FCC). Four super typhoons in 70 years, then four in eight years is bad. The numbers speak for themselves.
Then there is Tseung Kwan O. A place we all know exists in Hong Kong, but unless you live there, you probably couldn’t point it out on a map. TKO has had over three metres of rain
this year. By 16 August, it had claimed the top spot as the wettest place in all of China. Not really a selling point to get you to move there and fi nd out where it is, but facts are facts.
Again, I don’t truly understand the science of it all, but I like to think of the Earth as a big old human body. When it comes to humans, doctors yell and scream that you shouldn’t drink too much, shouldn’t smoke, shouldn’t eat junk food (shouldn’t have fun… I’m paraphrasing). But if this is true, then doing the same to the Earth’s atmosphere makes sense. I’m old enough to remember the great ozone hole conundrum of the 20th century. Scientists said hydrofluorocarbons were to blame, and we all banned them. Bingo bongo, problem mostly fi xed.
But as we creep ever closer to the “Idiocracy” prophecy (if you haven’t watched it, please do. It’s like Nostradamus himself wrote the script), it appears we are mere decades away from watering plants with Gatorade. Or maybe because we’re in Asia it’ll be Pocari Sweat.
Want more stats? I’ll give you more stats as I told you I’m a numbers nerd. August saw the most Black Rainstorm Warnings ever issued. Not just the most in one month. More than in any year.
And by 5 August this year we already had more rainstorm warnings than any other year on record.
So, it’s hard to know who to believe. A 79-year-old nepo baby who thinks wind turbines kills birds and the noise causes cancer, or the scientists?
But as I wade waist-deep in storm surge and we clean up from yet another super typhoon, I’m leaning towards the latter. Controversial I know. n
Aaron can be found online on Twitter/Threads/Instagram at @ tripperhead, and the free nightly Hong Kong news Substack at tripperhead.substack.com
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