16 Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee24 29Wine – En PrimeurUK Budget

May 2012 Vo l 27 No 4

Not For Sale

www.bri tcham.com

HONG KONGBritainIN

Quarter Century25 Years of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong6

Celebrating History - the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II24

4 Chairman’s Message

6 Quarter Century

8 Banks Going Social

10 Business Confi dence

12 Think Outside the Packaging

15 YCIS

16 Good, Bad, Ugly

18 Management Leads Lettings

20 HK Making Progress

22 Recycling

24 Diamond Jubilee

26 Lions Tour

29 En Primeur

32 SpaforLife

34 Member Get Member 2012

36 Member Discounts

38 Annual Ball

39 Best of British

40 News and New Appointments

41 Upcoming Events / Sterling Members

42 New Members

43 Shaken Not Stirred

En Primeur29

Contents

EditorSam Powney

DesignWinnie LiLilian YuKen Ng

Advertising ContactCharles Zimmerman

Project ManagementVincent Foe

Jointly Published by Speedfl ex Medianet Ltd andThe British Chamber ofCommerce in Hong Kong1/F, Hua Qin International Building340 Queen’s Road Central, Hong KongTel: 2542 2780Fax: 2542 3733Email: info@speedfl ex.com.hkEditorial: sam.powney@speedfl ex.com.hk Advertising: charles@speedfl ex.com.hk

British Chamber of Commerce SecretariatExecutive DirectorCJA Hammerbeck CB, CBE

General ManagerCynthia Wang

Marketing and Communications ManagerEmily Ferrary

Special Events ManagerBecky Roberts

Events ExecutiveMandy Cheng

Business Development ManagerDovenia Chow

Membership ExecutiveLucy Jenkins

AccountantMichelle Cheung

Executive AssistantJessie Yip

SecretaryYammie Yuen

Offi ce AssistantSam Chan

© All published material is copyright protected. Permission in writing from the Publishers must be obtained for the reproduction of the contents, whole or in part. The opinions expressed in this publication are

not necessarily the opinions of the Publishers. The Publishers assume no responsibility for investment or legal advice contained herein.

Room 1201, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, WanchaiTel: 2824 2211Fax: 2824 1333Website: www.britcham.com

Britain in Hong Kong

Kevin Taylor

Business in Hong Kong remains as strong

as it has been for many years now, although

the global markets continue to remain

on high alert, due principally to ongoing

headaches in Europe’s economy.

Last month we were privileged to hear

from Charles Li, the Chief Executive of

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, who gave

the Chamber some valuable insights into the HKEx’s

strategic visions for the future. We also heard from

HM Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, who

introduced what’s happening in Hong Kong to celebrate

two extraordinary London events, namely Her Majesty’s

Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics.

There will be a major event at the Hong Kong Club to

mark the Diamond Jubilee, jointly organised by the

British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, The Royal

Commonwealth Society, The Royal Geographical Society,

The Royal Over-seas League, The Royal Society of St.

George, St. Andrew’s Society, St. David’s Society, St

Patrick’s Society & The Oxford and Cambridge Society

of Hong Kong. There will be large screens set up where

you watch the Royal Thames fl otilla and the Buckingham

Palace Diamond Jubilee Concert in London.

Besides these global spectacles, there are also several

major events coming up fast in the Chamber calendar.

First and foremost, I look forward to seeing many of you

at the Standard Chartered Annual Ball, the Chamber’s

biggest event of the year. We’re now counting down the

days to what promises, as usual, to be a great deal of

fun. This year we’re following a medieval

theme, with guests arriving in Camelot–

inspired costumes. On a note to fellow

rugby fans, there will be a ‘One Year to Go’

lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel on the 1st

of June, in which a star-studded collection

of rugby greats will officially launch the

countdown to the Lions’ 125th anniversary

Tour. The tour will kick off in Hong Kong next year with

the Lions playing the revered Barbarians.

And fi nally, after two consecutive terms I will be stepping

aside as Chairman of the British Chamber to make way

for a new representative. This has been a responsibility

that I have thoroughly enjoyed, it has provided me

an opportunity to meet some of the most interesting

personalities, business & political leaders and hopefully in

all of this I have brought some value to the mission and

activities of the British Chamber.

I would like to place of record my sincere gratitude to

the team who have supported me and ensure the clock

continues ticking at Britcham. It has been my honour to

serve you all.

Good Luck,

Chairs of Specialist Committees

Business Policy UnitTim Peirson-SmithExecutive Counsel

China CommitteeDavid WattDTZ

Construction Industry GroupDerek SmythGammon Construction

Education CommitteeStephen EnoBaker & McKenzie

Environment CommitteeAnne KerrMott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited

Financial Services Interest GroupDebbie AnnellsAzure Tax Consulting

HR Advisory GroupBrian RenwickBoyden Search Global Executive

ICT IT CommitteeCraig ArmstrongStandard Chartered

Marketing & Communications CommitteeAdam O’ConorOgilvy & Mather Group

Real Estate CommitteeJeremy SheldonJones Lang LaSalle

Scottish Business GroupJohn BruceHill & Associates

Logistics CommitteeMark MillarM Power Associates

Small & Medium Enterprises CommitteeKate KellyK2PR

Women in Business CommitteeSheila DickinsonIpac Financial Planning Hong Kong Limited

YNetwork CommitteeAlison Asome

Business Angel ProgrammeNeil OrvayAsia Spa & Wellness Limited

MessageChairman’s

Guangzhou Subsidiary OfficeRm 1208-9, 12/F Hao Yun Commerical Plaza

376 Xin Gang Zhong Lu, Guangzhou, China

Tel: (020) 2129 9508

Fax: (020) 8956 2197

Hong Kong Office1st Floor, Hua Qin International Building

340 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2542 2780

Fax: (852) 2542 3733

For more information, please contact Charles Zimmerman on (852) 2542 2780 or at charles@speedflex.com.hkFor more information, please contact Charles Zimmerman on (852) 2542 2780 or at charles@speedflex.com.hk

SPEEDFLEX (GUANGZHOU) ADVERTISING LIMITED

Speedflex provides the full range of pre-press services in China

through its wholly owned subsidiary in Guangzhou

Guangzhou Subsidiary OfficeRm 1208-9, 12/F Hao Yun Commerical Plaza

376 Xin Gang Zhong Lu, Guangzhou, China

Tel: (020) 2129 9508

Fax: (020) 8956 2197

Hong Kong Office1st Floor, Hua Qin International Building

340 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2542 2780

Fax: (852) 2542 3733

It has been a long road since 1987. Twenty five years ago this May, a group of local businessmen, the ‘British

Bulldogs’ fi rst set up the British Chamber of Commerce

in Hong Kong as a forum and representative body for the

British trade bodies in Hong Kong. The essential purpose

has remained constant in the intervening years, but from

the Chamber’s original tight-knit group of acquaintances,

the membership has greatly grown and diversifi ed. ‘The

atmosphere is still very British as always,’ says Cynthia

Wang, who is the General Manager and the Chamber’s

longest-serving member of staff, ‘but our focus is no

longer just on British companies and the membership

is now much more diverse. That’s a great strength.’

The Chamber now represents five hundred corporate

members, including a thriving new category of SME

and start-up members, as well as over eleven hundred

individual members.

In contrast, the chamber’s first decade was fraught

with uncertainty, as the Chamber and British business

in general sought to re-examine and redefine its role

in China’s most economically developed city. The turn

of the 1990s and the lead-up to Hong Kong’s transfer

of sovereignty back to China saw the British Chamber

of Commerce in Hong Kong restricted by concerns

24 Sep 1982 Talks on Hong Kong sovereignty Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping meet in Beijing to discuss the future of Hong Kong.

25 May 1987 New chamber founded by the 'British Bulldogs' Offices based New chamber founded by the ‘British Bulldogs’.

1993 Brigadier Hammerbeck joins as the Chamber’s new Executive Director.

1994 Action plan launched for regeneration of the Chamber

1994 British Chamber launches the first Business Confidence

about future political and economic stability. Some of

those worries continued to haunt the city, and would

reappear in earnest during the relatively short but dark

period of the SARS outbreak in 2003. But from the mid-

1990s onwards, the Chamber actively re-engaged with

businesses and the government both in Hong Kong and

Beijing, and emerged post-handover as one of the city’s

most important business groups, whose members now

employ around twelve percent of Hong Kong’s working

population.

As it was for Hong Kong as a whole, the Handover

represented an unparalleled moment in the Chamber’s

history and one which would defi ne its destiny well into the

future. Christopher Hammerbeck, Executive Director for

the past eighteen years, remembers the tense negotiations

in Beijing, when he and other fi gures sought to guarantee

the interests of British businesses in Hong Kong after July

1997. Governor Chris Patten’s moves towards democracy

were unpopular among much of the business community

who feared that Sino-British relations could be seriously

jeopardised as a result. ‘At that time there were some

similarities between China’s economic challenges and the

situation which the British government had recently been

faced with. We sensed an opportunity.’ After many twists

Quarter CenturyQuarter Century25 Years of the British Chamber of Commerce inHong Kong

Sam Powney

C ove r S t o r y

1995 Office moves to the Tung Wai Building on Fleming Road.

1 Jul 1997 Handover of Hong Kong

2000 British Chamber moves to present location on Johnston Road

10 Nov 2001 China joins the WTO

29 Mar 2003 Hong Kong hit by the SARS virus

2004 Review and validation of Action Plan

2000 2012

and turns, he and several other figures had the chance

brief the Chinese State Economic and Trade Commission

on Britain’s experience of denationalising state industries.

‘I took representatives of several major industries and all

the major merchant banks along who had advised the

government on the ‘golden share’.

Tony Pollard from British Steel gave a convincing

presentation on British Steel’s successful handling of

downsizing and privatisation, but the response was not

encouraging. ‘We were driving back from the meeting,’

says Hammerbeck, ‘and I said ‘Tony, that was a fantastic

job you did.’ He suddenly turned on me, ‘If that was

success, what must failure be like in China?’ Nevertheless,

for four years afterwards we had a young cadre here on

the Chamber staff, paid for by CCPIT in Beijing. That made

a very clear statement that from the Chinese side that they

wanted British companies and British investment to stay,

and that the British Chamber of Commerce was important

to them. That was the tipping point. It got us going in a big

way; it did much to reassure our members and it enabled

us to establish a really strong China relationship.’

Those early days had a strong influence on everything

that was to come afterwards, setting a clear course

for the chamber – to maintain a strong relationship

with the government in Beijing, in London, and with

the administration in Hong Kong. Under Norman

Lyle’s chairmanship of the chamber i t was fe l t

that London’s interest in Hong Kong was waning,

prompting he and Christopher Hammerbeck to lobby

the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee as well

as Trade and Industry on the important opportunities

to be gained in the most open example of China’s

‘one country two systems’ policy. This direction has

also borne fruit, now very visible in Britain’s keen

awareness of Hong Kong’s potential as a springboard

for British SMEs.

Is there any difference between Britcham and the

other chambers of commerce in Hong Kong? ‘We are

the only Chamber which provides responses to Hong

Kong government consultations. But there’s a more

fundamental trait I think – that we have a very deep

tie to this place,’ Hammerbeck explains. ‘Our home

is Hong Kong. Some of our member companies were

founded here, and even of our expat members many

have been here for over 30 years.’ That sense of locality

and community is something the Chamber will no

doubt continue to draw on for many years to come.

Britain in Hong Kong 76

1. Does social networking help with hiring? 

A recruiter’s key role is to

fi nd the right candidate for

the right job at the right

time. Industry contacts and

expertise are traditionally

t h e b e s t m e t h o d s t o

identify a perfect match.

Recently, recruiters are

actively looking to social

media and fi nding success, regardless of the type of

organization or industry they work in.

As a banking and financial services recruiter, I

personally prefer LinkedIn. It is a massive CV

database that recruiters can leverage in finding

people by target company and / or job expertise. For

other social media options, I fi nd it harder and unclear

to link the details on those platforms to the job

requirements we work on. LinkedIn is a great option

that streamlines search process to fi nd very relevant

and quality candidates.

For banks and fi nancial services companies, social

media is a great platform to attract the attention of

those individuals with the right functional interest,

ethical values, mindset, etc. that the company

would eventually look for in hiring a potential

candidate.

2. Does social networking help with branding?

Banks that are using socia l media to brand

themselves or to market a specific product or

service, have found success by integrating social

media tools into their exist ing campaigns or

creating new ones that capitalize on the spirit of the

community. Banks have recently realized a number

of marketing techniques using social medial tools.

Whether it’s by making the bank synonymous

with solid financial advice or by giving people the

power to do some good for the society in general,

banks that have been fi nding a range of marketing

techniques using social media tools have got solid

results.

3. Does soc ia l network ing he lp br ing

customers closer for banks?

Social media has become a great customer service

tool across many industries and banking is no

exception. But for banks that are more active in

engaging with their customers over social media

channels about their products, real-time search can

be helpful in addressing problems with customers

directly. Having a visible Twitter account can be a

quick and easy first step in the customer service

chain when people want to get specifi c information.

For example, Citibank has launched a Twitter

account @askciti that wil l deal with customer

complaints.

Banks Going SocialSwapna Reddy, Division Manager - Banking, Finance and Accounting, Links Recruitment Limited

B u s i n e s s

4. I n g e n e r a l , i f a n y, w h a t a re t h e

advantages that social networking

yields for banks? 

Customer centric: Banks use their websites as

an effective social media platform to provide

information and enable standard transactions

quickly and conveniently. Also, actively starting

blogs and participating in other social networking

sites work well too. Increased transparency,

trust, and convenience would (<<DELETE) allow

customers to compare, evaluate and discuss the

banks offerings. Direct feedback from customers

could potentially help banks to improve those

offerings.

Transparency and restore confidence: With a

controlled and closely managed approach to

social media, banks can use this as an option to

be transparent with their customers and better

future prospects.

Reduce costs: Shift ing communications to

the web will dramatically reduce the costs of

communicating with customers. Banks can

sell complex, high-margin products via online

channels, adding to their cost savings.

In the long run, the banks that engage well with

social media will ultimately win more customers

and increase profi ts.

For more information about Links Recruitment

Limited, please visit www.linksrecruitment.com or

contact their Hong Kong offi ce at (852) 2116 1020 or

email frontdesk@linksrecruitment.com.

Britain in Hong Kong 98

The results of the survey, carried out by the British Chamber of Commerce and marketing consultants TNS,

has revealed that the Chamber members’ optimism for the

coming 12 months has declined signifi cantly from 92 per

cent at the end of 2010 to 71 per cent at the start of 2012.

This drop is also below the 78 per cent reported in 2009.

However, the outlook beyond the immediate 12 months

then begins to increase with 88 per cent feeling positive

about the coming 2 years but then declines slightly with 87

per cent for the three year forecast and 85 per cent for the

fi ve year forecast.

Satisfaction with Hong Kong as a place for doing business

remains, as always, very high with 96 per cent of Chamber

members describing the business environment as ‘very’

or ‘somewhat’ satisfactory. This is largely driven by

factors such as geographical location, taxation system,

communications, free port status, infrastructure and

information technology. Whilst this is a slight decrease from

last year, the consistency of Hong Kong’s positive business

attributes is demonstrated in the relative stability of the

satisfaction ratings for many issues.

The performance of the Hong Kong Government has not

fared so well this year in the eyes of Britcham members

with a decrease in the scores in all four attributes: legal

and regulatory systems, stable government and political

system, civil service effi ciency and government leadership.

This is a sharp contrast to this time last year when the

same items showed an improvement on the previous year.

Similarly, the survey saw a decrease in members’

satisfaction with the government’s long-term strategy.

This year only 48 percent of members felt that the

government had the right strategy to maintain and

enhance the competitive advantages of SAR, a decrease

of 11 per cent from last year. A further decrease of 21 per

cent was seen with only 51 per cent of members feeling

satisfi ed with Government’s effort to simplify regulations

and reduce bureaucracy.

Language education still continues to cause concern

for Chamber members with only 50 per cent of those

surveyed feeling satisfi ed with the Government’s efforts to

provide bilingual and trilingual graduates and managers

to meet the present and future economic challenges of

Hong Kong.

On issues affecting Small and Medium Enterprises and

government initiatives, 56 per cent consider the re-

introduction of the training allowance as an important issue

which the government could help to address, whilst 63

per cent think the application of fair competition practices

with government departments to allow small companies to

compete for government contracts is an important issue.

83 per cent believe that either abolishing the provisional tax

payment based on the previous year’s profi ts or reversing

the percentage payable so that the amount is minimised is

important to their business.

The Hong Kong environment was once again the greatest

cause for concern. Satisfaction with the government’s

performance on environmental affairs has declined

significantly since 2010 with 94 per cent of members

feeling dissatisfi ed with the government’s effort to improve

air quality, and 77 per cent feeling the same about the

efforts being made to reduce water pollution in the harbour

and coastal areas of Hong Kong.

The British Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Confi dence Survey has revealed that its members

have a less positive outlook for the Hong Kong business environment in the coming 12 months compared to

last year.

British Chamber Sees Business Confi dence For Coming Twelve Months Down On Previous Year

B u s i n e s s

With regards to the quality of life in Hong Kong, similar

results were found to last year with 71 per cent of

members recognising the effort made by the Hong Kong

Government to encourage the expansion of international

schools to create more places as important to their

business competitiveness. Only 15 per cent of members,

however, have employees whose children are currently

waitlisted for schools in Hong Kong, a decrease of 10 per

cent from last year, whilst only 20 per cent of members

intend to bring employees to Hong Kong with their families,

including school age children, within the next 12 months.

This is down 24 per cent from last year.

Members’ satisfaction with the healthcare sector also

remained similar to last year with 40 per cent of members

feeling confi dent with the Government’s strategy to reform

it, whilst 45 per cent expect the projected aging population

to have an impact on their businesses, compared to 53 per

cent in 2010.

Finally, with regards to doing business in China, 74 per

cent of members expect to make an investment, or further

investments in the PRC which is an 8 per cent increase

from last year. However, 57 per cent of members agree

with reports that doing business in the PRC is becoming

increasingly diffi cult, the same fi gure as last year.

Christopher Hammerbeck, Executive Director of the

British Chamber of Commerce commented that “set

against a backdrop of continuing economic turmoil and

uncertainty in some of Hong Kong’s traditional markets the

decline in short term confi dence was to be expected. What

is encouraging is the fact that both medium term and long

term confi dence remains positive. The key issues for our

members remains the declining environment, especially

in terms of air quality, and the lack of primary school

places in international schools both of which the Hong

Kong Government seems not to recognise are harming

the competitiveness of Hong Kong when compared to

regional competitors such as Singapore. Given that Hong

Kong is on the verge of a change of administration the

surfacing of some frustrations with the performance of the

outgoing administration were perhaps to be expected. On

balance, however, the British business community remains

positive about the future, particularly as its activities are

underpinned by its fundamentals such as the rule of law

and the lack of corruption when compared with other

locations.”

Britain in Hong Kong 1110

Executive Summary

• The global trade of pirated goods is estimated to

reach up to US$1,770 billion by 2015.

• Electronic evidence recovery, data forensics and

intelligence analysis are sophisticated tools for

investigating counterfeit syndicates, and counterfeit-

packaging investigations provide an additional

strategy in the fi ght against fraud.

• Firms are more likely to have a significant impact

against counterfeit syndicates if they identify and

disable the most strategically important players in the

counterfeiting supply chain.

Over the past two decades of economic globalisation,

counterfeit manufacturers and traders have been actively

operating in the shadows. The small, independent

counterfeiting operations of the past have been replaced

by highly-organised international syndicates that can

reach distant markets around the world. In 2008, the

Think Outside the

Packaging New Frontiers in IP Protection

g ro w i n g g l o b a l t r a d e i n

pirated goods was estimated

to exceed US$650 bi l l ion

per year, with estimates that

th is t rade wi l l g row f rom

US$1,220-US$1,770 billion by

2015.1

Although the counterfeiters have been moving ahead,

many IP rights owners continue to fight counterfeit

and infringement problems through classic strategies,

focusing on standalone operations instead of evolving

with the times. Many companies still allocate budgets

for protecting IP rights, and measure results through

obsolete performance indicators that emphasise seizure

quantities, the value of goods denied entry into a market,

the total number of enforcement actions, prosecution

head-count, and others. Regardless, new counterfeiting

operations crop up as quickly as the old ones are raided

or prosecuted.

Robert L. Youill, Managing Director, FTI Consulting, Shanghai

B u s i n e s s

Small armies of commercial investigators and under-

experienced IP protection specialists seem to do little

to end the spot-and-seize anti-counterfeiting cycle.

Targets are drawn and milestones (usually based on

seizure quantity) are established. Criteria are then given

to service providers with reports coming in from the fi eld,

often supported by informants. Actions are taken, reports

are written and invoices are issued. At the end of each

year, reports are filed on the good effort that everyone

has put into cutting down the waves of fake goods. With

all of this going on, it's a shame that it barely scratches

the surface of the real problem.

The real source of the problem is with the key players

within the counterfeiting industry who move hundreds

of millions of dollars worth of product every year. These

are the critical 'choke' points that exist in the counterfeit-

product supply chain - those working in the shadows -

and they are best disabled through intelligence-based

investigations. In order to fi nd and leverage against these

choke points, forensic and analytical tools are used

to identify the best targets and the right enforcement

strategies. The ultimate goal is to hit at the root of the

problem and identify the most valuable stage of the illegal

production cycle.

For the IP rights owner, there's some good news, which

is that the tools already exist for powerfully disrupting the

supply chain. These include addressing:

• Key players

• Component suppliers

• Finished-product assembly and packaging points

• Exporter/importer supply chains

• Wholesale and retail distributors

• Internet-based operations

That said, for the past forty years, packaging suppliers

have been neglected and efforts have concentrated

on the finished-product assembly points. This came

from the misconception that packaging can be sourced

from all kinds of print shops, since packaging materials

are low-value components. However, in today's

syndicated counterfeiting supply chain, production and

manufacturing functions are outsourced to specialised

facilities, and product assembly, packaging, distribution,

warehousing, and selling have become replaceable links

in the chain.

Anti-counterfeit efforts have typically skipped printers, but

investigation and enforcement agencies are now much

more concerned with developing technical forensic and

analytical expertise to look at packaging.

As even the average consumer will have noticed,

sophisticated packaging and built-in security elements

are now common with high-end items. Genuine goods

are now packaged using materials that have multiple

security features. These give consumers added

confidence that the product is genuine. The latest

product packing designs also provide multiple indicators

that enforcement, judicial or customs organisations can

use to enforce security.

All too often, foods, beverages and pharmaceutical

products have been subject to product tampering, and

companies have developed sophisticated packaging

features to prevent such tampering.

The bad news is that counterfeiters are using the exact

same techniques for copying and printing their own

counterfeit packaging, and the number of specialised

packaging manufacturers has increased over the past

few years to cater to these needs.

Britain in Hong Kong 1312

major aspect of organised counterfeiting activity, and

signifi cantly chokes a key piece in the counterfeit goods

supply chain.

Nevertheless, the ability to target specialised printers is

a process that never stops. This process must combine

traditional investigative field work, forensic examination

of packaging, intel l igence analysis, supply chain

identifi cation, and electronic data forensics. Ideally, these

investigations would come from a well-organised service

provider, one that delivers broad and selective targeting

through adequate resources and expertise.

FTI Consulting has developed strategies to support a

number of global companies with their brand protection

needs. In doing so, we have a strong track record of

identifying and shutting down counterfeiting syndicates in

markets around the globe.

1. Frontier Economics, Estimating the Global Economic

and Social Impacts of Counterfeiting and Piracy,

February 2011

For more information on FTI Consulting please visit or

contact Robert Youill on +86.21.5108.8002 or email

robert.youill@fticonsulting.com

The bad news is

that counterfeiters

are using the exact

same techniques for

copying and printing

their own counterfeit

packaging

Clearly, the classic mom and pop name-card printer

of the past can't deliver the level of sophistication

used for top-end products. Instead, today we have

specialised printing operators with substantial investment

in equipment stepping in to deliver the counterfeit

packaging. These sophisticated counterfeit packaging

operators are still willing to ignore trademark and other

IP laws due to the low enforcement threshold. In other

words, these sophisticated printers are willing to cross

the line because no one is there to ensure no one is

crossing that line. Therefore, printing factories that can

provide quality copies of sophisticated packaging have

become hubs of counterfeit packaging activity, providing

packaging for a variety of products in partnership with

illegal distribution and logistics centres.

Strategically striking at the root

In certain product areas, properly-designed and

executed investigations that focus on packaging

can deliver a cost-effective solution to the problem

of counterfeit goods. This approach deals with a

Bob Youill is a managing director of the Global Risk

and Investigations practice of FTI Consulting, and

he oversees the firm’s operations in Shanghai and

Guangzhou. Mr. Youill specialises in conducting

complex investigative assignments involving brand

integrity, fraud or corruption, business intelligence and

due diligence investigations, asset searching, and

other risk consulting services.

B u s i n e s s

An education feature brought to you by YCIS

The days when traditional textbook

and classroom learning were suffi cient to

prepare students to set out on their chosen career paths are fi rmly

behind us.

YCIS teaches students to master both Chinese and English

YCIS students participate in the unique World Classroom programme to experience diverse cultures

YCIS trains an elite

21st century

workforce

The world is changing rapidly and

so too are the needs of employers.

Alongside strong academic qualifi cations

and work skil ls, they are prioritising

attributes like linguistic abilities, cross-

cultural communications experience and

a broad knowledge of the world around

us. In short, they are looking for high-

calibre candidates with an international or

global mindset.

Global marketplace for young talent

The world is becoming a highly competitive

marketplace for sourcing young talent.

Students completing their education today

find themselves competing with their

peers from around the globe for the best

employment opportunities.

For educators these trends pose profound

challenges. They need to prepare the

younger generation to enable them to

have successful and fulfilling lives in the

21st century.

Yew Chung International School’s Director,

Dr. Betty Chan Po-king, summed up the

challenges faced by the education sector

in these words: “This new era requires

new ways of thinking, new approaches to

educating the young, a new concept of

world citizenship, a paradigm shift from

narrow thinking to world mindedness.”

Language profi ciency

Dual-language education, starting at

an early age, is one of the vital building

blocks. In YCIS’s context, this means that

teaching students to master both Chinese

and English.

By becoming fluent in two languages,

students absorb different perspectives,

traditions and values and become more

accepting of other languages and cultures.

Cross-cultural experience

On top of language skills, the younger

generations need that “extra something”

to enable them to form truly global

perspectives and prepare them to become

tomorrow’s community leaders.

Global mindedness can be fostered

through student exchanges. By visiting

and learning about different places they

can interact with their peers in other

locations and cultures, perform cross-

cultural community service, and really

develop their understanding about the

world around them.

Strong academic qualifi cations

The development of truly international

education through hol ist ic learning

and promoting bilingualism and global

mindedness offers many advantages,

but it does not diminish the necessity of

enabling students to achieve the best

academic standards they are capable of.

YCIS was one of the frontrunners in

Hong Kong to adopt the International

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme,

having offered the course noted for the

breadth of study it encompasses since

2000. The IB curriculum is also taught at

YCIS campuses in Mainland China and

the US.

In 2011, about 120 students in Hong

Kong, Beijing and Shanghai sat for the

IB Diploma examination. 19 per cent of

graduates received a score of 40 points

or above, compared to the worldwide

average of 5 per cent.

The students obtained 100 per cent

university placement with more than 500

placement offers from leading universities

worldwide, including University College

London, University of Warwick, University

of California, Berkeley and Stanford

University.

Future world citizens

YCIS strives to make a concerted effort

to educate students who will protect

and perpetuate the env i ronment ,

advance globalisation and make positive

contributions to human civilisation.

In all these ways – through language

proficiency, cross-cultural experience,

high academic standards, and developing

integrity and social consciousness – a truly

international education can form the key

attributes of our future world citizens.

Britain in Hong Kong 1514

It can be tempting to think of the annual Budget Report

as a bit of an irrelevance given that most of us are fairly

well removed from the UK tax system. Yet amidst all

of the post-Budget headline-making about Granny

Taxes and the like, there were a number of important

announcements which affect us here in Hong Kong.

The Good

First of all, the Budget confirmed that the Personal

Allowance would rise to GBP 8.105 on 6th April 2012

and sti l l further to GBP 9,205 on 6th Apri l 2013.

Although not a surprise, this is welcome news for

anyone who still has UK taxable sources of income.

Secondly, for those who have a stake in businesses

which suffer UK corporation tax, the news is even

better. A reduction in the headline rate of corporation

tax to 24% on 1st April 2012 makes the UK the lowest

cost corporate tax environment in the western world,

with a further reduction to 22% coming in from 1st April

Martin Rimmer, Head of Tax – Asia Pacifi c, The Fry Group

The Good, The Bad and The Downright Ugly

George Osborne’s Third Budget

B u s i n e s s

2014. In the scramble to position the UK for the best

possible economic recovery after the banking crisis, the

Government appears to have chosen corporation tax

reduction as the best means of enticing investment and

jobs into the UK, and to tell the world that the UK is,

once more, ‘open for business’.

Third, the Government has decided fi nally to do away

with the rather archaic concept of ordinary residence,

which no-one other than the legislators ever truly

understood anyway. This will help to make residence

issues clearer when the draft legislation for the long

awaited Statutory Residence Test is fi nally published….

apparently any day now. Watch this space!

Fourth, the Government has also decided to look at

increasing the inheritance tax exempt amount which

can pass from a UK domiciled person to their non-

UK domiciled spouse. At present this is GBP 55,000

in addition to the standard ‘Nil Rate Band’ of GBP

325,000. I have seen commentators already speculate

that GBP 55,000 could be raised to GBP 325,000,

which, if true, would amount to a generous inheritance

tax saving of GBP 108,000.

The Bad

For those who wish to purchase residential property

for GBP 2m or more, a new stamp duty land tax rate

of 7% will apply to all purchases of UK residential

accommodation – the new rate came into effect on

Budget Day.

George Osborne also announced plans for a new

‘General Anti-Avoidance Rule’ (GAAR), which potentially

has the power to put paid to a lot of perfectly legitimate

and reasonable tax planning. We will have to wait to

see exactly how the consultation is framed, but it could

become necessary for many to bring their tax planning

forward in anticipation of some awkward new legislation.

The Ugly

For an investor who is domiciled outside of the UK, it is

quite common to buy UK residential property through

an offshore company, as this provides complete

sheltering from Inheritance Tax. However, many also

use offshore companies as a means of transferring real

estate in a way which avoided a substantial amount of

stamp duty. In consequence, the Chancellor announced

an unprecedented rise in stamp duty on residential

property purchased by what he called ‘non-natural

persons’ (i.e. companies, unit funds and other special

purpose vehicles). From 21st March 2012, the new rate

of stamp duty is a staggering 15%.

And if this wasn’t bad enough, the Chancellor has

unveiled plans to consult on a new annual levy to

apply on the residential real estate held by offshore

companies, and a second consultation to look at

applying CGT on gains realised from the sale of

residential real estate by a non-resident company or

other ‘non-natural person’.

For private individuals hoping to avoid inheritance tax by

holding their properties through an offshore company

this is a bit of a disaster. However, inheritance tax can

still be avoided in large part by funding the property

using a mortgage, and taking life assurance written in

trust for the balance of any personal funds which are

used to purchase the property.

Expect to see a significant migration of residential

property out of non-UK structures within the next year

or so, though of course the question now is how to do

so in a way which avoids stamp duty. I think I may have

found a way of doing this.

Suffi ce it to say, as far as real estate investment in the

UK is concerned, there has never been a greater need

for proper personal tax planning advice – and that is of

course something that The Fry Group can provide.

If you would like to discuss how the budget affects you,

or request updates as they happen on any of these

subjects please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Britain in Hong Kong 1716

Property management is the forgotten essential to

long term property investment. Property managers ensure

that the valuable asset placed in their hands remains in a

condition comparable to the property that was purchased.

The main objectives of the property managers role are

1. To ensure that the landlord achieves a competitive

market rent for his investment, and therefore the

maximum yield

2. To ensure that the property is kept in good repair.

3. To ensure that the tenants are allowed to live in the

property with minimal disruption.

Achieving these objectives results from attention to detail:-

Property Visits:Regular visits to the property are essential to maintaining

a property and are the only way to ensure that the

tenants are not in breach of their obligations as set out in

their Tenancy Agreement. Property visits allow property

managers to identify areas of the property that require

attention so that potential issues are dealt with prior to

becoming extensive and therefore leading to expensive

works. Visits should be made once a quarter.

Mid Term Tenancy Negotiation:It is imperative that the managing agent has a system

in place to proactively deal with end of tenancies and

tenancy renewals. The agent should be contacting both

landlord and tenant prior to the final two months of the

tenancy to ascertain their intentions, thus, if the tenant

is not proposing to renew the tenancy, maximising the

viewing terms in the tenancy agreement – the standard

timeframe being the last two months of a tenancy.

If at this stage both tenant and landlord agree to renew

their contract it is likely that the landlord will be looking

for an increase of rent whilst the tenant looks for the rent

to remain as is, or in some cases be decreased. This is

where the property management team in conjunction

with the letting team should be able to provide the

information required to make an informed decision in

respect of the negotiations. They should be well versed

in current market rents that are being achieved in the

area and also have knowledge of what has happened

throughout the tenancy to lead a tenant to feel that a rent

increase is or isn’t justifi ed.

Clear and Concise Accounting:As with any investment the main

purpose is to maximise income and

capital growth. Effective accountants

or credit control teams are critical.

Ideal ly an in house dedicated

accountant who works closely with

the property managers on a day to

day basis ensures that there is a full

understanding of the management

process. This will enable them to

Management leads lettingsNeil West, Head of Lettings and

Management, Prime Portfolio

P ro p e r t y

identify and monitor forensically areas of costing that are

irregular or seem too repetitive, effective management

accounting should be proactive

The accountant will be able to provide a forecast of

expected income and expenditure so that there is always

a clear indication of likely movement within the account,

most will also factor in an estimated figure for any

unforeseen costs that may be incurred allowing you to feel

your investment is in competent hands.

Many managing agents will have client accounts on line,

enabling a landlord to review his fi nancial position at any

time. Prime Portfolio have this system in place.

Reputable managing agents will maintain client accounts

that are reconciled monthly, and are subject to an annual

review externally.

Void periods:Inevitably there will be void

periods between most

tenancies, although from

a landlords perspective

these can be looked

upon as loss of income,

a small period of vacancy

can be impor tan t i n

ensuring that the property

is in perfect order prior

to a new tenant taking possession. Many tenant-landlord

or tenant-agent relationships break down within the first

week due to a rush to avoid a vacant period, therefore not

allowing enough time for the managing agent to carry out

necessary repairs and cleaning. Accepting a small void

period between tenancies can be the difference between

having a happy and quiet tenant to having a tenant that

looks to fi nd other areas within the property that may have

been neglected.

Many other key services:In addition to the above key areas there are many other

aspects that are crucial, to avoid paying for services that

are you are not liable for. Transferring utilities to the tenants

using correct meter readings and assessing tenants

repair requests (is it a job that a tenant should reasonably

undertake themselves e.g. changing light bulbs during

a tenancy) are just two examples of this. Your managing

agent should constantly be assessing their contractor’s

charges and also challenging them to provide the best

possible prices for landlords. Ensuring that the property

complies with the ever changing safety regulations is also

crucial, the managing agent must have Gas Safe and

NICEIC approved contractors on their panel.

Importance of maintaining your investment:It is important to be aware that at a certain stage of owning

a property that further capital investment will be needed.

Experience shows that those landlords who are receptive

to their agents views on how to maximise the marketability

of the property, i.e. upgrading furniture, décor, boilers etc

when advised to do so, will be the those that maximise

rental income and eventually capital value when they wish

to release the investment. Monetary prudence is important

but go too far in neglecting investment and your property

will fall very quickly away from the very high standards of

a prime market where some of the very best properties in

the world are located.

Value your managing agent:The importance of the

managing agent is often

underrated as he fulfils

a critical function in the

life of any residential

property investment,

a landlord has to have

complete trust in their

ability to look after a

property as if it were

their own, it is his job to

ensure that the full potential of the investment is realised in

an effi cient and economic manner and that the maximum

capital return is achieved on sale. A Landlord ignores the

advice of a good managing agent at his peril!

Here at Prime Portfolio we have assembled a team that

ensures the aforementioned essential aspects of managing

a property investment have a dedicated team member

for each purpose. Prime Portfolio currently employs two

property managers, a lettings negotiator an in-house

accountant and a tenancy administrator.

Neil West manages the Lettings and Management team at

Prime Portfolio, a Mayfair based agent that specialises in

offering the complete service from purchase, refurbishment

and marketing, letting and management through to

eventual sale of the property.

To arrange a meeting please call Neil West (UK office)

+44 7786160989 or Nick Todhunter (HK off ice)

+852 60230894

Britain in Hong Kong 1918

Asia is home to eleven

of the world’s top 15 ports,

handl ing over 175 mi l l ion

twenty foot containers (teu) per

annum. In South China, the

Pearl River Delta (PRD) region

has the largest concentration

– with Hong Kong, Shenzhen

and Guangzhou together

accounting for 12% of global

container movements.

Despite economic and competitive pressures, Hong

Kong port still managed over 3% volume growth in 2011,

handling 24.4 million twenty foot containers (teu) and

maintaining its third place on the global container port

rankings – after Shanghai and Singapore – with Shenzhen

a close fourth with 22.5 million teu.

In Hong Kong, we are also seeing increasing momentum

in green port initiatives, which will benefit not just the

stakeholders in the ocean freight sector, but also the

community at large.

Health Warning on Port Activities

According to the industry paper ‘Creating a Green port

Culture in Asia’ from Turnkey Group, Asia based ports are

lagging behind the leading ports in Europe and USA in the

area of ‘sustainability’. Specifi cally, many ports around Asia

need to increase the level of environmental considerations

for development and deployment of sustainability initiatives

– otherwise port emissions will increasingly compromise

the health of the general public.

The Turnkey report includes a study which found that

inhalation of toxic fumes from ship and port emissions

results in some 60,000 deaths worldwide per year,

with over 37,000 of those in Asia. Countries with high

population density levels in the vicinity of their ports are

likely to suffer the most and therefore this becomes a topic

of critical importance for the South China port cluster,

where we have a highly concentrated urban population of

over 32 million people.

The low grade, heavy bunker fuel currently used in modern

container ships contains 2,000 times the sulphur content

of a modern automobile. Indeed, research has shown

Mark Millar, Logistics Committee Chairman

HK makingprogress towards becoming a

GREENER PORT

E nv i ro n m e n t

Fair Winds Charter

The Fair Winds Charter is a significant shipping industry

initiative in Hong Kong – a voluntary agreement facilitated

by the public-policy think tank Civic Exchange and the

Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, undertaken by

leading shipping lines, for a two year period from January

2010. Under the charter, seventeen global shipping lines

voluntarily agreed to switch to fuel with sulphur content of

0.5 percent or less whilst berthed in Hong Kong. Regular

marine fuel used by container ships typically has sulphur

content of between 2.8% and 4.5%.

The charter was launched with the voluntary commitment

to use the more-expensive lower sulphur fuel, in parallel

with six specifi c calls to action, not least of which was for

government to work with their Guangdong counterparts

to develop a unifi ed regional low sulphur mandate for all

ports in the Pearl River Delta.

In the October 2011 Policy Address, the HKSAR

government committed to explore such a regional initiative

and to also explore establishing an Emission Control Area

in PRD waters. In the USA for example, their Emission

Control Area – being implemented this year – stipulates

that as vessels come within 200 miles of the North

American coastline, they have to switch to fuel with less

than 1% sulphur content, to be further reduced to 0.1%

by year 2015.

The Pearl River Delta discussions have been ongoing

for some time and expectations are that the Shenzhen,

Guangzhou and Hong Kong authorities will announce fi rm

plans later this year.

In the meantime, Hong Kong government has recently

confirmed assistance for the participating shipping lines

that are burning low sulphur fuel whilst in Hong Kong port.

Financial assistance will come in the form of rebates on

port charges and should subsidise between 30-50% of the

additional cost of switching to low sulphur fuel. The rebate

program projected to cost HKD 260 million over three years

has been approved as part of the fi nancial secretary’s recent

budget proposals and will be implemented this summer.

This is great encouragement for the shipping lines involved

in the Fair Winds Charter. They are incurring additional

costs between USD 600,000 to $1.5 million per year for

the low sulphur fuel – a substantial additional burden in

financially challenging times for an industry that incurred

global losses in excess of five billion US dollars last

year. However, there are also some concerns that the

subsidies may not be high enough to encourage the non-

participating shipping lines to join the scheme.

The two year voluntary agreement will expire at the end of

this year. The industry is waiting to see how many shipping

lines continue the voluntary agreement – and how much

progress will be made by government in developing

regional mandates for low sulphur fuel and emission

control areas. We strongly advocate implementing an even

playing fi eld for all the shipping lines – and one that is for

the betterment of our community as a whole.

Mark Millar MBA, PMHKLA, FCILT, GAICD

Mark Millar is Managing Partner

of M Power Associates, providing

s u p p l y c h a i n a n d l o g i s t i c s

consulting, advisory and recruitment

services that empower superior

performance. With over 25 years global business

experience, Mark is acknowledged as an industry

thought leader – clients have engaged him as Speaker,

Moderator or Conference Chairman at more than

200 functions in 20 countries. Mark serves as Chair

of the Logistics Committee at the British Chamber.

mark@markmillar.com

that one giant container ship can emit almost the same

amount of cancer and asthma-causing chemicals as 50

million cars.

Britain in Hong Kong 2120Britain in Hong Kong 21

Isn’t it fun to fondle your newest phone, computer or cool gadget? While you enjoy unwrapping and checking

all the latest features, your old devices will find itself

neglected and collect dust in one dark corner of your

home or offi ce. What to do with it then? What happens to

those rapidly aging devices of our modern life?

BritCham member James Pearson is advisor to Li Tong

Group and gave us the opportunity to take a close-up look

at the process that deals with unwanted computers and

accessories. About 15 members were curious enough to

venture out to Yuen Long to fi nd out more.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) estimates

that about one fifth of the over 6 million computers and

computer accessories used in Hong Kong are replaced

annually. Many of them get to the second hand market,

but enough still end up in landfills. Each year, over

One Man’s Waste is

Another’s TreasureTreasureWiebke Hein, Environment Committee

67,000 tonnes of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic

Equipment) are generated in Hong Kong alone. Now think

about the production lines just across the border. What

happens when a new phone or computer is launched to

replace the older model? Where do all the old models in

the warehouses or shops disappear to?

Many computer components contain hazardous

materials and they are harmful to the environment if not

recycled properly. In 2003 the EPD started with a pilot

program for recycling waste computers and accessories

in which nearly 150,000 of those have been recovered

and processed. Thus, in 2008 the Computer Recycling

Program has been launched.

In his presentation, James explained to us the “Reverse

Supply Chain Management” and how it not only avoids

E nv i ro n m e n t

waste and helps treat harmful substances, but allows

harvesting of valuable materials and components along

the way. James stressed that there are a lot of untapped

business opportunities along the second half of the

lifecycle of such products. Whereas most people call it

sloppily “waste” you can actually create value by reusing it,

separating it and making it easy for other people to use it

again for their needs. Some pieces that are still in working

condition can be data wiped and donated to charities.

Some components such as fans or speakers could be

reused for other products. And if you break it down into its

basic materials like aluminum, iron, plastic or copper you

can create a source of reusable material that can be fed

again into the value chain. This can even partly replace the

extraction of more raw materials.

First we took a look at the EcoPark facility that deals

mainly with products collected by the Computer Recycling

Program. It is impressive how they deal with this wide

array of different products ranging from large printers to

computer power cords. James explained how they need

to account for all incoming pieces and how they have to

document carefully . None of the items can appear on

the grey market or else the scheme would be discredited.

It was interesting to see how fast you can take apart

a printer but how much time and effort it takes to deal

properly with certain types of CRT/LCD monitors and

screens that are deemed chemical waste due to the

mercury content.

But when it comes to the business side it is of course

much better value to have large quantities of the same

item to deal with. So, corporate customers that want

to dispose of older or faulty models in greater numbers

naturally present the better business case. To serve

multinationals that need to pass audits and scrutiny Li

Tong is well placed to recycle e-waste and to document

it correctly. To the untrained eye it is painful to see the

shredder doing its work on motherboards, or to imagine

the piles of new displays becoming glass, iron, and

other materials again. But it is easy to imagine that more

companies can live on providing specialized recycling for

certain products, because value is waiting to be unlocked

in those large boxes of unwanted items.

Disposal and raw material make up to 20% of a product’s

carbon footprint, so it is a great place to start reducing

the emissions by using remanufactured parts or recycled

materials and by harvesting the product at the end of its

cycle for other usage.

So, we learnt there are no more excuses to pile up

unwanted computers and parts, find out what parts are

collected and where. You can even get your office or

housing estate to join the scheme. If you don’t want it, let

other people source value in it! www.wastereduction.gov.

hk

A big thank you to the BritCham team and to Li Tong for

organizing this inspiring tour.

Britain in Hong Kong 2322Britain in Hong Kong 23

June 2012 marks the 60 th

anniversary of the accession of

Queen Elizabeth II to the throne and

the eagerly anticipated international

celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.

In the United Kingdom, communities

al l around the country wi l l be

celebrating over an extended bank

holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June.

London is meanwhile busy preparing

a number of events spread over the

four day weekend.

The fi rst engagement of the Diamond

Jubilee will take place on Saturday 2

June, with Her Majesty The Queen

attending the Epsom Derby. The following day over 1,000

boats will muster on the river in preparation for The Queen

to lead one of the largest fl otillas ever seen on the River

Thames. The armed forces, fi re, police, rescue and other

services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance

of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and

other boats of note. The flotilla itself will be bolstered

with passenger boats carrying up to 30,000 flag-waving

members of the public placed centre stage (or rather mid-

river) in this fl oating celebration, and the spectacle will be

further enhanced with music barges

and boats spouting geysers. The

Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

will celebrates Her Majesty’s 60

years of service by magnificently

bringing the Thames to life, recalling

both its royal heritage and its heyday

as a working, bustling river.

The Diamond Jubilee festival will

also be taking place on Sunday 3

June in London’s Battersea Park,

which will offer a great vantage

point for members of the public to

view the pageant. The festival will

celebrate design, music, art, film,

fashion and food from the past 60 years. On Monday 4

June a concert, organized by the BBC, has been arranged

at Buckingham Palace. The concert will be attended by

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of

the Royal Family and it will be broadcast live on BBC One,

Radio 2, and on big screens in Hyde Park, St James’s

Park and The Mall. Meanwhile, a network of over 4000

Beacons will be lit by communities around the world to

commemorate The Queen’s 60 year reign over the UK and

as head of the Commonwealth.

Celebrating History -

the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II

L i f e s t y l e

On the final day of the celebrations, Tuesday 5 June,

the Queen and other members of the Royal Family will

attend a national service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s

Cathedral. A ‘Diamond Choir’ of children from around

the UK will sing a specially composed song and the

service will include a prayer written by the Chapter of

St Paul’s Cathedral in honour of the Diamond Jubilee.

Later in the day, the Royal Family will travel from

Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace by carriage,

along a processional route, where, shortly after their

arrival, they will appear on the balcony to watch an RAF

fl y-past take place.

What’s happening in Hong Kong!

The Quintessentially Foundation celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with

a Charity Concert to give back to the community

On Sunday 27 May the Quintessentially Foundation is celebrating the 60th anniversary

of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne, with a charity concert free for the

Hong Kong public, in collaboration with British Airways, Ryder Diamonds and the

SAR Philharmonic Orchestra. All donations to the Quintessentially Foundation

will go to support their four local charity partners in Hong Kong: The Autism

Partnership School, Mother’s Choice, The Women’s Foundation and the Christina

Noble Children’s Foundation. The SAR Philharmonic Orchestra along with Richard

Bramping, principal cellist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, will present

a thrilling programme of Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, the Sibelius

Symphony No.2 in D major, and the quintessentially British Pomp and Circumstance

March No.1 by Elgar. Reserve your tickets at rsvphk@quintessentially.com or

+852 2540 8595.

The British Chamber celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II at The Hong Kong Club

On the evening of Tuesday 5 June The British Chamber of Commerce, The Royal Commonwealth Society, The

Royal Geographical Society, The Royal Over-seas League, The Royal Society of St. George, St. Andrew’s Society,

St. David’s Society, St Patrick’s Society & The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Hong Kong will be celebrating the

Diamond Jubilee with a cocktail reception at the Hong Kong Club. Drinks and canapés will be served at 8pm in the

Garden Lounge which will have a large screen showing the Royal Thames fl otilla and Buckingham Palace Diamond

Jubilee Concert. At 9pm a toast will be made by Andrew Seaton, HM Consul-General to Hong Kong, followed by a live

screening of the Royal Procession from the City to Buckingham Palace.

A Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

St John’s Cathedral will be holding a special service of thanksgiving, to mark the Diamond Jubilee, at lunchtime on

Tuesday 5 June. Please keep an eye on our website, www.britcham.com, for more information.

A Diamond Jubilee ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’, alongside Royal works of art at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 year reign, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong will be arranging a

quintessentially British Diamond Jubilee ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’ in the Clipper Lounge, which guests can enjoy whilst

admiring 27 works of art by HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH Queen Victoria and Prince Albert along with photographs

by Lord Snowdon, in conjunction with the Belgravia Gallery in London. To complement the lithographs, photographs

and etchings by members of the Royal Family, Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky, who cooked for HM The Queen and

HRH Prince Philip’s 50th anniversary dinner, will offer a truly Royal British Afternoon Tea. The Royal Afternoon Tea

will be served on fi ne bone china and will cost HKD288 for one person and HKD488 for two people. Should guests

wish, they can make this a sparkling affair with a ‘Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea’ where a glass of “R” de Ruinart

Champagne will be included at HKD488 for one or HKD888 for two. The Royal Afternoon Tea will be served in the

Clipper Lounge between 3 and 6 pm from 27 May until 10 June 2012. All prices are subject to 10% service charge.

For reservations or further information please call +852 2825 4007 or email mohkg-clipperlounge@mohg.com.

Britain in Hong Kong 2524

The British & Irish Lions, a team selected from the

elite Rugby Union players from the four fi ercest of rivals

(England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) join forces to go

on Tour every four years, playing 10 matches all around

Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. Underpinned

behind The Lions’ players are the very values which

reunite them together as a team: Pride, Exclusivity,

Passion, Responsibility, Pioneering and Friendship.

The Lions name was coined during the inter-war period,

when the emblem on the players' jersey and lapel badges

gave them their alternative title. Formed of the best players

of rival teams, The British & Irish Lions only have a few

weeks to work together as an elite team. Bonding that

quickly on the pitch necessitates true professionalism and

skills…this is what makes The Lions special. They play for

the love of the game, together as one unit.

The British & Irish Lions 125 years of rugby history

L i f e s t y l e

T h e L i o n s h a v e a n

interesting background,

the f i rst tour in 1988

w a s a c o m m e r c i a l

venture made without

official backing, but the

s ix subsequent v is i ts

that took place prior to

1910 enjoyed a growing

degree of support from

the authorities, although

o n l y o n e o f t h e s e

included representatives

of all four nations.

Brian O’Driscoll’s iconic

try during the 1st test

match in 2001 when

The Lions last toured

Australia left the 12,000

Lions fans in the Gabba

crowd delirious marking

the beg inn ing o f the

infamous sea of red.

The Lions’ last Tour, in

2009 to South Afr ica

was a tough assignment

fo r Pau l O 'Conne l l ' s

team as they had to

face the reigning World

Cup and Tr i -Na t ions

c h a m p i o n s . T h e 1 0

match tour turned into

an outstanding success

both on and off the fi eld

as The Lions rekindled

their magic and pushed

John Smit's Springboks all the way in one of the

greatest Test series of the professional era.

The Lions won six and drew one of their provincial

matches, but went down 2-1 in a pulsating Test

campaign. Having fallen behind 2-0 with defeats in

Durban and Pretoria, the latter to a last second penalty

from his own half by Morne Steyn, The Lions battled

back to win the fi nal Test in Johannesburg 28-9.

To launch the historic 125th year anniversary Tour to

Australia on 1st June 2013, The Lions will make history

as they play their fi rst ever match in Hong Kong against

the Barbarians.

Hong Kong is a logical stop-off point for The Lions on

their way to Australia and is home to a huge rugby-

loving ex-pat community. The Lions will be playing

the Barbarians; an extremely exciting match for the

very large British, Irish, Australian and South African

population in Hong Kong.

To commemorate the 125th year anniversary of The

Lions a series of events will take place in the buildup to

the Tour in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia, starting

with a one-off “Year To Go” lunch at the Four Seasons

on the 1st June 2012.

Tour Manager for The Lions Andy Irvine and Team

Manager for the Barbarians Derek Quinnell, will give

an exclusive insight into both The Lions and the

Barbarians respectively. A high-quality auction will take

place followed by a few words by Chairman and Lions

legend Gerald Davies and John Eales, one of Australia’s

greatest ever players.

Cost of the lunch is HK$ 1,995 per person and tables

can be for 10 or 12.

To b o o k a t a b l e p l e a s e e m a i l M a b e l L a u :

mabel@communiquehk.com or call +852 2850 5990.

Britain in Hong Kong 2726

TH E BRITI SH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND

ST ANDARD CHARTERED BANKANNUAL BALL 2012

♥

Friday 8th June 2012Grand Ballroom, The Grand Hyatt

7:30pm - LateDress Code: Themed Fancy Dress – Camelot Chic

WWW.BRITCHAM.COM/SIR-DANCE-A-LOTFOR FURTH ER INFO PLEA SE CONTACT BECKY@BRITCHAM.COM

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

DATE: Wednesday 23rd May, 2012

TIME: 6.30pm – 11.30pm

VENUE: Astro Pitch & Dining Room Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley

The Jones Lang LaSalle 5-A-Side Corporate Football Tournament!

In Association with the YNetwork of the

British Chamber of Commerce

For many of you budding wine enthusiasts out there

I am guessing, like me, you are still trying to grasp the

hundreds of names, terms, vintages and jargon that

are associated with drinking and / or investing in wine.

I do tend to find that in general, personal experience

lends itself greatly in helping to understand a complex

subject. So imagine my delight when, on my continued

thirst for knowledge, I was invited to experience a day of

En Primeur tasting with the Goedhuis & Co team. They,

themselves, had fl own in from London and Hong Kong to

spend a week in Bordeaux tasting hundreds of wines a

day (which, if one day is to go by, is not an easy feat!) so

that they can report back to their clients what wines will

be worth buying, when the campaign starts in May.

So what is En Primeur?

Every September, the grapes are harvested and go

through the first and second round of fermentations,

after which they are left to stabilise and mature for

around 6 months. The acidity in the wine then becomes

palatable as the wine starts to take shape. After this,

the wine will spend 12 – 24 months in the barrel while

it ages. Hence every April, wine merchants, critics,

journalists, brokers and traders will fly in from around

the world to Bordeaux for a frenzied month of tastings,

negotiations and preparation for the campaign. Some

of the tastings will be hosted by various chateaux

chosen by the UGC (Union des Grands Crus) and others

by private appointment only.

It was exciting for me to be a part of this experience

since I am a mere beginner, and barely know what to

look for when tasting wine. Needless to say I was more

than a little daunted by being surrounded by industry

experts but found that they were extremely helpful in

educating me in the ways of the trade, and little by

little I started to understand what to look for in order to

determine whether a wine has great potential or not.

So what are you supposed to look for? James Low,

Associate Director for Goedhuis & Co explained, “You

need to look for a good balance of acidity, tannins and

fruitiness. If you like the fruits and fl avours, that’s great,

but if there is balance it shows the wine is well made.”

So, armed with this information, I followed the team to

the fi rst tasting of the day at 9am at Chateau Lagrange,

on Bordeaux Left Bank (where the rest of the tastings

were taking place that day). This is an event organised

by the UGC so Chateau Lagrange was hosting around

20 other chateaux to come and showcase their best

wines to hundreds of industry people who would drop in

throughout the day.

En Primeur for Beginners

How to taste?

With a glass in hand and a tasting notebook in the

other, we started to work our way around the room.

As I watched the experts go through the motions, I

noted that first you need to look at the colour of the

wine against a white background, and at such a young

Dovenia Chow

Britain in Hong Kong 29L i f e s t y l e 28

stage the wine tends to be almost purple. You then

have the fi rst approach of the nose BEFORE you swirl

the glass to get a fi rst impression, then swirl and check

again. Swirling the wine will allow oxygen into the wine

which opens up the aromas so you can detect more

specific notes. Finally you taste by swirling it around

your mouth, suck in some air so it bubbles the wine to

open it up, then swirl it around your mouth some more.

Lastly you spit out the wine or you will never make it to

the end of the day!

You should be able to detect acidity on the sides and

underneath of your tongue, whereas the dryness of

the tannins will pull your cheeks in. The mouth should

confirm the aromas that you previously distinguished,

but the mouth will identify the density of the wine.

“Look for sweetness and fruit after the wine leaves the

mouth; it shows balance,” said David Roberts, Master

of Wine for Goedhuis & Co. “You don’t want tart acidity

or dryness otherwise it doesn’t hold up the rest of the

wine. Even in weak vintages, if the wine is balanced, it

will give pleasure and enjoyment. If a wine is unbalanced

when young, it will never balance.”

The Chateaux

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of tastings at various

chateaux. We visited Chateau Camensac and Chateau

Marquis de Terme, both UGC tastings, before lunch. By

now the experts must have tasted over 60 wines from

all over the left bank and were sporting rather black

teeth and l ips . The three

tast ings a f te r lunch were

private tastings. At Chateau

d’Issan the tasting was run by

Emmanuel Cruse, the owner

of the estate who is also the

President of the Association of

Medoc. Following this was a

tasting at the beautiful Château

Palmer.

Lastly, I had the privilege to visit

the famous Chateau Margaux

and was fortunate enough to meet Paul Pontallier, the

Director and chief winemaker of the Chateau who ran

the tasting for us. Even for a novice like myself I could

tell the wines we tasted were ones to look out for, the

Pavillon Blanc de Margaux was simply delicious! Even

the experts, at this stage, were swallowing the wine.

The very last tasting of the day was at Chateau Kirwan,

another UGC tasting for Sauternes specifically, which

took us to 5:30pm, a full day’s work.

L i f e s t y l e

It is interesting to note that each chateau we visited had

its own character and atmosphere. Some were subdued

and elegant, others like Chateau Margaux had an almost

reverent feel, whereas Chateau Marquis de Terme was

more modern and funky with coloured lighting.

To round off this amazingly

educational day, I asked

Goedhuis & Co’s Master

of Wine (and another in progress) to give me their

thoughts on the 2011 vintage. Here is what they had

to say:

David Roberts, MW: “This vintage shows how advanced

viticulture and wine making has come in the last 10 years.

2011 has been diffi cult because of the weather but rejecting

the bad fruits would just not have been possible 10 years

ago to allow producers to produce the quality of wine we

have this year. There are some good wines in this vintage.”

Robin Kick (MW in progress): “2011 is a perplexing

year as there is not one overall style - some wines are

classic and well-balanced while others are intense and

powerful. Interestingly as well, some châteaux felt like they

swapped styles. Pantet-Canet is notably elegant for a

Pauilac while Rauzan Ségla is impressively authoritative for

a Margaux. If you like lush fruits then it is not a vintage for

you. It is classic ++. Most châteaux recorded the highest

tannins ever and many wines will need times.”

Of course, as many wine experts will confi rm, in order to

further your knowledge of wine, you must keep tasting

and drinking. Great advice and one that I am already

taking to heart!

Bordeaux Left Bank – This area used to be

under the sea and the soil composition is sandy,

gravelly with seaweed and limestone. This type

of soil is rich with good drainage, and hence why

wine from this area are well fed and elegant. The

grapes on the left bank are Cabernet Sauvignon

& Merlot for reds and Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc

for whites.

Bordeaux Right Bank – This area is hillier and

has clay in the soil, which means it is colder and

harder to grow vines as clay is harder to warm

by the sun. Therefore the grapes in this area are

Merlot and Cabernet Franc as they ripen earlier

than Cabernet Sauvignon. The white grapes are

the same as the left bank. The right bank hardly

produces any white wine.

Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of

1855 – The French Chamber of Commerce &

English traders ranked the wines in Bordeaux

according to a chateau’s reputation and trading

price, which at that time was directly related to

quality. The wines were ranked in importance

from first growths (e.g. Chateaux Margaux) to

fi fth growths (crus).

Master of Wine – There are only 298 Masters of

Wine in the world, and an incredibly diffi cult title to

achieve. You must pass a rigorous examination

to demonstrate thorough knowledge of al l

aspects of wine and an ability to communicate

that knowledge clearly.

Wine Defi nitions

aspects of wine and an abilityy to communicate

thtthatat k knonoonno llwlwlwwlwledededede gegegege c c ccleleleearaaarlyylylyyy...

Interesting Fact: Roses are usually planted at

the beginning and end of each row of vines as

an early detection system for disease. Some

say that in olden days the roses were planted

because the horses would get stung by the

thorns and so would not knock the rows over.

Britain in Hong Kong 3130

Since the era of Cleopatra, women have been

searching for the secret of ageless skin. From milk

baths and egg masks to collagen cream and acid peels,

the evolution of skincare still has us searching for a

miracle. The consumer market today is saturated with

numerous variations of body lotions, eye creams, face

moisturizers and masks; but despite Madison Avenue’s

best efforts and budgets developing clever ad campaigns

and compelling claims, we continue to ask the same

question: What really works?

A dedicated pioneer in the

sk incare indust ry, Dr. Des

Fernandes has devoted his

life to answering that question

with a product that works. He

discovered the age-reversing

secret of Vitamin A in the 1970s

when he noticed the long term

rejuvenating effects of his very own crafted Vitamin A

topical on his patients. Throughout 4 decades as the

leading Cape Town plastic surgeon and researcher and

developer, he has engineered a Vitamin A skincare line

clinically proven to achieve age reversing results on the

skin. Dr. Des Fernandes is now recognized as the top

6th plastic surgeon in the world and the creator of the

innovative cosmeceutical brand, Environ.

SpaforLife Introduces Advanced Skincare to Hong Kong

Environ integrates the highest quality of vitamin A with

Vitamin B, C, E, peptides and antioxidants, producing

anti-aging and even age- reversing results. Vitamin A is

an essential anti-aging agent to our skin because it is the

only known substance to correct our skin cells at the DNA

level. The natural ageing process of skin begins around

the age of 12 years, and it is related to the concomitant

depletion of Vitamin A in the skin. When vitamin A begins

to abandon the body, we become more susceptible to age

related deficiencies such as sun damage, wrinkling and

pigmentation. However, the application of topical Vitamin

A to the skin will replete this natural loss and hence will

slow or even reverse the ageing process.

Vitamin A products have become increasingly popular

with the resurgence of Retin A and retinol creams.

However, we fail to recognize not all Vitamin A derivatives

are created equal. Vitamin A comprises several forms.

Most commonly, the skincare industry presents Retinoids

which include acid (Retinoic Acid), alcohol (Retinol) and

fat (ester) form of vitamin A. Dr. Des Fernandes identifi ed

both retinoic acid and retinol as harsh agents to the

skin. These derivatives, though effective, produce photo

sensitivity, redness and severe stripping of the skin.

Conversely, the ester form of Vitamin A established in

Environ proves unequivocally effective, excluding photo

sensitivity, skin fl akiness and less redness.

There are many Vitamin A products on the market, so

what makes Environ stand out? Apart from Environ’s high

quality of ingredients and the exclusion of preservatives,

clinic y p

skin. Dr. Des Fernandes is now recognize

6th plastic surgeon in the world and the creator of the

innovative cosmeceutical brand, Environ.

Environ proves unequ

sensitivity, skin fl akiness and less redness.

There are many Vitamin A products on the

what makes Environ stand out? Apart from En

quality of ingredients and the exclusion of pr

Nicky Inge,Director of Business Development, Spaforlife

L i f e s t y l e

colorants and fragrances, Dr. Des Fernandes recognizes

the biggest challenge to the skincare industry is product

penetration. Age related skin defi ciencies are rooted far

below the skins surface, where the majority of products

cannot penetrate. Dr. Des Fernandes has achieved

a d a i l y u s a b l e

l ine of vitamin A

products in which

the molecules can

penetrate deeply into the cellular layers of the skin. Most

products may repair the appearance of the skin to some

degree; Environ works from within to transform skin cells

back to a youthful state while simultaneously combating

free radicals and UV damage.

Dr. Des Fernandes didn’t stop at creating an effective

product. He meticulously engineered tools to enhance

and accelerate Environ results, given Environ’s ethos is

largely based upon product penetration. The Ionzyme

DF machine used in some of Environ’s world renowned

facials, incorporates light ultrasound and a pulsed

current to deliver Environ vitamins deep into the skins

surface and skin cell membranes. This machine may

be the most advanced penetrate-enhancing machines

available in today’s market, and is of course invented

by Dr. Des Fernandes himself. If you don't have time

for a DF facial, Dr. Des created the Environ Roll CIT for

home use. This hand-held device painlessly perforates

the skin allowing 100x's greater penetration of Environ

products into the superfi cial layer of the dermis. Environ

also incorporates a “cool-peel” system in their

treatment range. These 3 different peels are specifi c to

pigmentation, wrinkles and acne management . Unlike

mainstream peels that are invasive and leave the skin

impaired, Environ peels are effective without requiring

any down time. You can simply have a peel during

lunch hour and go back to work.

Environ product and treatments are located at the Elemis

Day Spa in Central, the Beautiful Skin Centre in Pacifi c

Place and the Victorian Spa at the Disneyland Resort. If

you are interested in more information regarding Environ

or the future Environ event in June, please send an email

to Nicky at nicky.inge@schinac.com.

Britain in Hong Kong 3332

To enter:

• Consider who among your contacts might be interested in joining the Chamber

• Email dovenia@britcham.com with the name and contact details of your suggested company

• If appropriate, contact your suggested company and let them know that the Chamber will be in touch

• The Chamber will follow up with each suggestion directly

• If your referral is successful, the Chamber will contact you with details of how to book your dinner. Your name will also go into

the prize draw which will be drawn in March 2013.

Make a successful referral to the

British Chamber of Commerce

and enjoy a fantastic meal for two!

AND if you happen to refer the most new members to the Chamber, you are in for a real

treat for you and your friends! A complimentary dinner for four at Sakesan, the newest

Robatayakibar, courtesy of Cafe Deco Group.

Sakesan

Sakesan is the newest Robatayakibar in the heart of the bustling Soho area. It offers a range of

exquisite dishes fresh from their robata grill, as well as other Japanese culinary delights, all rendered

with a modern twist. Designed by Fiona Bagaman and Mirei Lim, Sakesan uses different wood

and stone tones with fl ashes of black and gold to create a serene, relaxed and cool space. Funky,

colourful sake barrels wrap the bar

area and frame the individual dining

booths and an illuminated Japanese urban scene gives the bar a warm

glow as well as striking visuals. Signature dishes include homemade

steamed tofu, salmon miso, lobster dumplings and SAKESAN black

cod. There is also a cool bar featuring a top range of sakes, shochus

and awamoris with a superb range of cocktails made with these classic

Japanese ingredients. To compliment this they also offer a selection of

some of the fi nest, most thirst quenching beers to emerge from Japan.

The British Chamber is delighted to announce the launch of the

2012 ‘Member Get Member’ campaign which will run from April

2012 to March 2013. If you successfully introduce a company

that results in them becoming a member of the Chamber, you

will receive a fantastic dinner for two courtesy of one of our top

member restaurants in Hong Kong.

Not only that, all referring members will be entered into a prize

draw to win a $2,000 voucher to go towards your holiday provided

by Flight Centre!

MEMBER GETMEMBER GETMEMBER MEMBER 20122012

Terms & Conditions

• You must be a member of the British Chamber to be eligible for this offer

• The dining vouchers will only be provided if your referral results in a new member for the Chamber

• This offer is valid for all members whose referral results in a new Corporate, Overseas or Startup member of the Chamber. It

does not apply to Additional members or additional YNetwork members

• The Chamber will allocate the restaurant vouchers. Members will not be able to choose which restaurant they visit and must

adhere to the terms and conditions

The Bostonian, The Langham, Hong Kong

This well-established restaurant has been a Hong Kong favourite

for well over a decade. Located at the lower lobby level of

The Langham, Hong Kong, The Bostonian has an excellent

reputation for its superb steaks, and more recently its fully sustainable seafood menu. Featured

by one of Hong Kong’s infl uential restaurant bibles, “The Hong Kong Best Restaurant Guide”

since 2000 and recommended by The Michelin guide, the Bostonian is a hallmark for impeccable

service and exceptional food. Guests can indulge in a tantalising array of fresh seafood from

around the world at the “Raw Bar”, including home-made smoked salmon, prawns, crabs and

freshly shucked oysters. The enticing menu also includes gourmet favourites such as Maine

crab cakes, sautéed foie gras, clam chowder, as well as separate menus for the restaurant’s

specialties – the Boston lobster galore, seafood sharing platters and Bostonian grill.

KITCHEN, W Hong Kong

Kitchen is a modern bistro with a capacity of 200,

reflective of W’s signature stylish and fun design. Upon arrival to KITCHEN, the

mad hatter’s tea party in “Alice in Wonderland” brings guests to a world of fantasy.

Cats play and jump around the stacks of plates, inviting guests to join their games

too. KITCHEN’s modern interpretation of timeless classics and equally innovative

original masterpieces fi ll a menu that’s designed to tantalize and satisfy even the

most discerning gourmands. Guest can indulge in the fun world of kitchen, while relaxing in the pleasant and interactive dining

experience, sampling the delicate cuisine on offer from all over the world.

Lobby Lounge, Conrad Hong Kong

Featu r ing the spectacu la r v iews

of the Hong Kong skyl ine and l ive

entertainment, the Lobby Lounge is the ideal venue for private

meetings or relaxed gatherings with friends. From salad bar to noodle

station, and delectable hot dishes to exquisite desserts, the Southeast

Asian themed supper buffet showcases an impressive range of more

than 50 scrumptious all-time favourites.

So what are you waiting for? Spread the word throughout your network to enjoy

a complimentary meal for two at one of these fantastic member restaurants:

Café TOO, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

The innovative cafe TOO brings casual dining

to a higher level of creativity. Their ten cooking

theatres, each featuring a different culinary style, are

showcases for the best of international cuisine as well as stages for their

chefs' engaging performances.

T

Café Renaissance, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong

Café Renaissance is the perfect place for all day dining. Located on the

Mezzanine fl oor, the 210-seat all-day dining café serves a wide variety

of dishes from all over the world. Café Renaissance serves wholesome

breakfasts, chef crafted lunches and dinner buffets plus à la carte menu daily and brunch

on weekends, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In addition to the great array of fresh

seafood delights using the freshest ingredients, guests can also enjoy a tantalizing array of

international favourites and local specialties from live cooking stations.

Britain in Hong Kong 3534

Member DiscountsFood and Beverage and Accommodation

Accor | Members will receive 10% discount on top of the lowest rates that Accor’s Asian

hotels are offering on the day (5% off hotels outside Asia Pacifi c). This applies to over 1600

Sofi tel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure & All Seasons hotels worldwide. For more information

please contact Regina Yip on 2868 1171 or email regina.yip@accor.com

Alfi e’s | Members of the British Chamber of Commerce can benefi t from a 10% discount at

this chic restaurant in Hong Kong.

Berry Bros. & Rudd | Members can benefi t from a 10% discount on all retail prices as well

as receiving invitations to free tastings and other wine events during promotional period.

Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong | Members will receive a 10% discount on food only in

MoMo Café. To make a reservation please call 3717 8888.

Dot Cod | All Members of the British Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong will receive

a 10% discount on the bill. For more information please call 2810 6988 or email

dotcod@hkcc.org

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong | 15% discount on food and beverage at The Grill and 10%

discount on all a la carte treatments and spa merchandises at Plateau Spa. To make a

reservation please contact the Grill on 2584 7722 or the Plateau Spa on 2584 7688

Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui | 10% discount at The Chinese Restaurant,

Hugo’s, Cafe and Chin Chin Bar (except during happy hour). To make a reservation please

call 2311 1234

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong | Members will receive a 10% discount on the total bill at

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, JW’s California, Marriott Cafe, The Lounge, Riedel Room @

Q88, and the Fish Bar & Grill. To make a reservation please call 2810 8366.

Le Méridien Cyberport | Members can book a Smart Room at the special rate of

HKD1,600 including a daily eye-opening buffet breakfast (subject to availability). You will

also receive 20% discount at 5 of the hip restaurants and bars that the hotel has to offer.

Furthermore, when you book the 21-day long room package at HKD23,100 you will receive

a ‘Round Trip Limousine Service’. For more details please call 2980 7785.

Hong Kong Skycity Marriott Hotel | Members will receive a 10% discount on the total

bill at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, SkyCity Bistro, Velocity Bar & Grill, and The Lounge

(Promotion does not apply to alcoholic beverages). To make a reservation please call

3969 1888.

Renaissance Harbour View Hotel | Members will receive a 10% discount on the total

bill at Michelin Star Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, all day dining at Cafe Renaissance, Scala

Italian Restaurant and the Lobby Lounge. To make a reservation please call 2802 8888.

The Mira Hong Kong | Members will be given special room rates, a complimentary

upgrade and fantastic discounted rates on the Spa suite package (subject to

availability). For more information please contact Connie Kwan on 2315 5666 or email

connie.kwan@themirahotel.com

W Hong Kong | Members will receive fantastic offers at Kitchen and Sing Ying. Dine at

either of these restaurants and receive complimentary discount vouchers to use at your

next meal. For more information or to make a reservation please call 3717 2222.

There are many great benefits of being a member of The British Chamber of Commerce. One of those is the

Member Benefits program which is an exclusive package of discounts that range from discounted car rental,

reduced hotel accommodation, airfares and even relocation costs.

Every six months we invite members to prepare a tailor made offer to all the members of the British Chamber. You

can fi nd these benefi ts listed below and for more details please visit our website www.britcham.com

Home

Allied Pickfords Hong Kong | For any Home Search completed by SIRVA Relocation,

members will receive a FREE local move. Please call 2823 2077 or email homesearch@

sirva.com

Bowers & Wilkins | B & W are offering members a 10% discount on all listed price

items in the B&W Showrooms in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central. For more information

please call 3472 9388 or 2869 9916

Colourliving | As a member of the British Chamber of Commerce, you can enjoy a 10%

discount on all normal price merchandise when shopping at colourliving in Wanchai.

Please call 2510 2666 or visit www.colourliving.com

Travel & others

Avis | Members can receive up to 20% discount off standard rates on car rental

bookings. To make a booking please call 28822927 or visit www.avis.com.hk

British Airways | As a member of the British Chamber of Commerce you can enjoy

an exclusive offer from British Airways. To make a booking please visit www.britcham.

com/memberdiscount/british-airways

Carey | As the world’s fi nest chauffeured services company Carey are pleased to offer

Britcham members a 10% discount on the base rate of any service, anywhere in the

world. For more information please call the international reservations team on +800

0123 4578 or email international.support@carey.com

Compass Offi ces | Compass Offi ces, a premium serviced offi ce provider, are offering

members a one month free Serviced Offi ce space or three months free with a Virtual

Office Package. For more information please call 3796 7188 or email hksales@

compassoffi ces.com

Flight Centre | Members will receive HKD150 off the fi rst booking made as well as a

complimentary Airport Express ticket per booking. For all holiday and fl ight enquiries

please call Paul Jeffels on 2830 2793 or email paul.jeffels@fl ightcentre.com.hk

Virgin Atlantic Airways | Special offers to London are available exclusively for

members of the British Chamber of Commerce. Please call 2532 6060 for more details

or to make a reservation.

VisitBritain | British Chamber members can enjoy a 5% discount on all purchases from

the VisitBritain online shop. Please call 3515 7815 or visit www.visitbritaindirect.com

for further information.

Terms and Conditions apply. All member discounts are subject to availability. If you are interested in providing a tailored

offer to our members or for more information please contact Emily Ferrary on 2824 1972 or email emily@britcham.com

Britain in Hong Kong 3736

With thanks to our sponsors:Title Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Other Sponsors and Supporters:

Many thanks to the following companies who donated prizes for the Annual Ball 2012

TH E BRITI SH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND

ST ANDARD CHARTERED BANKANNUAL BALL 2012

♥

Friday 8th June 2012Grand Ballroom, The Grand Hyatt

7:30pm - LateDress Code: Themed Fancy Dress – Camelot Chic

The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai takes great pleasure in announcing the offi cial launch of the British Business Awards 2012 and invites applications.

The British Business Awards are an awards programme organised by the British Chambers of Commerce in China

to recognise and promote excellence in innovation enterprise and endeavour, in the British business community in

China. Established in 2008, the awards programme is now held every two years.

Through eight categories, the Awards will showcase organisations and individuals who are achieving outstanding

results and who demonstrate the highest level of commitment to Sino-British trade and investment relations in a

variety of disciplines in China. The Awards will also recognise the excellent accomplishments of Chinese businesses

operating in the UK.

The British Business Awards are open to all majority British Owned companies or organisations operating in China*,

Chinese* Alumni of a British Higher Education Institution as well as Chinese* companies or organisations with a

presence in the UK.

*mainland China/ Chinese nationals only

Applications are now open and the British Business Awards invites all eligible individuals and organisations to enter.

Five fi nalists in each of the eight categories will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and announced at

a Finalists Event in late June. The highlight event of the Awards, a Gala Awards Dinner will take place on the 8th

November, when the winners will be announced.

Application deadline is 18th May 2012.

More information is available at www.britishbusinessawards.cn

or contact admin@britishbusinessawards.cn

The British Business Awards 2012 Awards Categories and sponsors:

We are looking for the Best of British.

Is that you?

Clifford Chance announces fi ve new counsel, including lateral hire for Asia Pacifi c

Leading international law fi rm Clifford Chance today announces the hire of real estate and

fi nance specialist Keerati Kanjanawenich to our Bangkok offi ce. He is joined by four senior

lawyers who have been promoted to counsel in Asia Pacifi c, effective 1 May.

Previously, Keerati was head of legal and compliance at Double A and National Power Supply

in Bangkok. He has also worked for Linklaters, Norton Rose and in-house for Lehman Brothers

and Nomura. Keerati has gained a wealth of transactional experience throughout his career and

will be able to provide specialised advice on Thai law. Keerati graduated with fi rst class honours

from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and completed two LLMs, one from

Georgetown University in 1997 and the other from New York University in 1998.

The other new counsel are the following:

Yusuke ABE, Counsel, Finance, Tokyo

Alan GIBSON, Counsel, Corporate, Perth

Kabir SINGH, Counsel, L&DR, Singapore

Paul WEE Ei Don, Counsel, Finance, Beijing

“I’m delighted to announce this new group of counsel for Asia Pacifi c,” said Peter Charlton,

Clifford Chance’s Regional Managing Partner, Asia Pacific. “They all have excellent legal

practice experience and will bring strong, talented leadership to their new roles.

Senior New Arborist Joins aec Team

aec, Hong Kong’s largest independent ecological

consultancy, has announced the appointment

of i ts newest senior arborist, Mr. Anthony

D. Pickering Tony.

The demand for professional arborists has been

steadily growing in Hong Kong, and in response

aec has invested much effort in strengthening

their arboricultural talent. Tony, who has worked

for 30 years in the arboricultural industry for

30 years and has been a member o f the

Arboricultural Association for 20 years, serving

the public, private and educational sectors in the

UK and US. He has worked for Europe’s largest

gardeining fi rm and one of the largest arboriculture

companies in the US. aec sought out Tony in the

UK after finding a lack of adequately qualified

arborists in Hong Kong.

New Appointments

NewsClifford Chance advises CVC on US$105 million investment in Venturepharma Group in ChinaLeading international law fi rm Clifford Chance has acted for funds advised by CVC Asia Pacifi c Limited on its US$105 million investment in convertible

bonds issued by Venturepharma Group in China.

Beijing partner Terence Foo who led the core team said, “We were delighted to partner with CVC on yet another successful investment in China. This

deal highlights the strong interest by private equity in China’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, which is set to become one of the largest markets

in the world in the coming few years.”

Venturepharma is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company that has a broad product portfolio in a number of fast growing therapeutic areas,

particularly Central Nerve System (CNS) and Anti-Allergy. CVC’s investment will be used to fund the growth expansion of the Company and further

strengthen its R&D, manufacturing and sales functions.

Wellness Program is the New Weapon to Combat Rising Costs of Employee Healthcare and to Improve Productivity and Performance As the number of unhealthy, high-risk employees continues to rise in Asia Pacifi c, employers are beginning to feel the impact of corresponding

signifi cant increases in their direct and indirect health costs. Across the region, 35% of the 899 companies that participated in a recent Mercer

Marsh Benefi ts survey spent over 6% of their annual payroll on health benefi ts in 2011, with 10% of those spending in excess of 15%.

Alarmingly, 59% of responding employers expect their health benefi ts spend to rise in 2012, and senior management is growing increasingly

anxious about their employees’ health. 81% of companies reported that they are concerned about their employees’ health and worry how this

may impact their ongoing success and competitiveness.

The good news is that many companies in the region are looking to enhance their health programs in the next two years through an expanded use

of health risk assessments (47%), and interventions including stress management (46%) and chronic disease management (43%), as indicated by

survey respondents. “We’ve seen a huge spike in requests to help organisations obtain greater value from their benefi ts spend in 2012, with many

fi nally acknowledge that unhealthy employee behaviours are driving their health benefi ts costs,” said Rosaline Chow Koo, Mercer’s Asia Pacifi c

Employee Health and Benefi ts Leader for Mercer.

Jones Lang LaSalle Scoops 12 Awards at The International Property Awards Asia Pacifi c 2012-13Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), the global fi nancial and professional services fi rm specialising in real estate, has been honoured at the International

Property Awards Asia Pacifi c, in association with HSBC, held in Kuala Lumpur on 27 April 2012. The fi rm won a total of 12 awards; the fi ve star

‘Best Property Consultancy’ award in nine countries across the region, and highly commended awards in a further three countries.

Jones Lang LaSalle secured the fi ve star award in the following countries: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore,

South Korea and Taiwan.  The fi rm was also named Highly Commended Property Consultancy in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand. 

Upcoming Events

Sterling Banner

Business Luncheon in Honour of Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, UK

Event date: Wed, 30/05/2012 - 11:45 - 14:00

Venue: Bauhinia Room, The Hong Kong Convention Centre 

Speaker: Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, UK

Please join the British Chamber of Commerce and the HKTDC for a business luncheon

in honour of Lord Green, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

Following on from the HKTDC Hong Kong promotion, “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong”,

in London last September, this luncheon will be an excellent occasion to hear from Lord

Green about the UK’s strategy for economic growth, as well as to explore partnership

opportunities between the two economies. 

Shaken Not Stirred Networking Drinks

Event date: Thu, 31/05/2012 - 18:30 - 20:30

Venue: Dickens Bar, The Excelsior, Causeway Bay

Join us for our monthly networking drinks at the all-new Dickens Bar. The newly

renovated Dickens Bar promises new standards of British fl air!

Offi cial British & Irish Lions ‘One Year To Go’ Lunch

Event date: Fri, 01/06/2012 - 12:00 - 16:00

Speaker: Andy Irvine, Gerald Davies, Derek Quinnell, John Eales

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Celebrate the two greatest rugby teams in the world at a one-off “Year To Go” lunch

to honour the British &  Irish Lions against the Barbarians in Hong Kong. On Friday 1

June 2012 a star-studded collection of rugby greats will offi cially launch the countdown

to the Lions’ 125th anniversary Tour that will begin in Hong Kong against the revered

Barbarians exactly a year later.

A Celebration Of The Diamond Jubilee Of HM Queen Elizabeth II

Event date: Tue, 05/06/2012 - 20:00 - 23:00

Venue: Garden Lounge, The Hong Kong Club 

The British Chamber of Commerce, The Royal Commonwealth Society, The Royal

Geographical Society, The Royal Over-seas League, The Royal Society of St.

George, St. Andrew’s Society, St. David’s Society,  St Patrick’s Society & The Oxford

and Cambridge Society of Hong Kong request the pleasure of your company at a

celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

We Collect and deliver your carFREE OF CHARGE

(subject to distance)We provide good, quick repair service at

reasonable prices

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Our Business Hours8am-6pm, Mon-Sat & Public Holiday

Our 24hrs. Emergency Towing Agent“Firstone Towing Services” 8203 3411

Please call us at 2565 6166 or Fax: 2856 1047E-mail Address: fookie@netvigator.com

Our competitive Labour charges: From

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Engine Decoke & Grind Valves $ 1,500

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Alternator Overhaul $ 400

Starter Motor Overhaul $ 400

FOOKIE MOTORS CO. LTD.Shop 7, G/F, Paramount Bldg.,12 Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

Thank you for your continued support

The British Chamber’s Sterling Members

The British Chamber of Commerce and Standard Chartered Bank Annual Ball 2012

Event date: Fri, 08/06/2012 - 19:30 - 23:59 Venue: Grand Ballroom, The Grand Hyatt

The Chamber’s biggest yearly event - the Annual

Ball is not to be missed!

Britain in Hong Kong 4140

New Members

YNETWORKEvercore PartnersChalk Yin WanAssociateTel 3653 4333chalkyin.wan@evercore.com14/F, Two Exchange Square, Hong KongFinancial Services

Deutsche BankEric Hui  Assistant Vice PresidentTel 9663 7662mkhui81@hotmail.com55/F, Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queen’s Road Central, Hong KongInvestment Banking

HSBC Bank International LimitedChristopher LiddardPremier Relationship ManagerTel 2822 3274christopherliddard@hsbc.com.hkLevel 6, HSBC Main Building, 1 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong KongBanking

HSBC Bank International LimitedJack GuestPremier Relationship ManagerTel 2822 3274jackguest@hsbc.com.hkLevel 6, HSBC Main Building, 1 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong KongBanking

INDIVIDUALJohn LawrenceTel 2169 2000jdljohnpols@gmail.com11/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

STERLINGDeloitte Touche TohmatsuAlan GlenPrincipalTel 2852 1673aglen@deloitte.com.hk35/F, One Pacifi c Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong KongAccounting

STARTUPRHC AsiaRosie HalfheadOwnerTel 9680 8657rosie.halfhead@gmail.comFlat A, 22/F, King’s Court, 62D, Robinson Road, Hong KongConsultancy

Karma Technologies LimitedJeff Smith Managing DirectorTel +44 (0) 20 7193 1131jeff.smith@karmatechnologies.co.uk9B, Amtel Building, 148 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong KongGraphic Design

CORPORATEFIL Investment Management (Hong Kong) LimitedKerry ChingManaging Director HKTel 2629 2886kerry.ching@fi l.com56/F, One Island East, 18 Westlands Road, Hong KongFinancial Services

Links Recruitment LimitedJohn EyresManaging DirectorTel 3915 0234john.eyres@linksrecruitment.com12/F, 8 Wyndham Street, Central Hong Kong

Hong Kong Airlines LimitedAlbert ChanGeneral Manager - Hong Kong SalesTel 3923 7399albert.chan@hongkongexpress.com28/F, Bank of East Asia, Harbour View Centre, 56 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong KongAviation & Aerospace

Regal Hongkong HotelGlen Farmer General ManagerTel 2837 1678rhk.gm@regalhotel.com88, Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong KongHospitality

ADDITIONALFIL Investment Management (Hong Kong) LimitedKP LukHead of HK Institutional BusinessTel 2629 2855kimping.luk@fi l.com56/F, One Island East, 18 Westlands Road, Hong KongFinancial Services

Jo LauferKellett School Association LtdDeputy Principal DesignateTel 2551 8234jlaufer@kellettschool.com2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pokfulam, Hong KongEducation

Belenda RyanKellett School Association LtdDevelopment DirectorTel 2551 8234bryan@kellettschool.com2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pokfulam, Hong KongEducation

Nicola SawyerKellett School Association LtdCommunications Offi cerTel 2551 8234nsawyer@kellettschool.com2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pokfulam, Hong KongEducation

UniGroup Worldwide – Hong Kong LimitedEdwin SunSales ManagerTel 2418 4333edwin_sun@unigroupworldwide.comUnits 2612-2616, Level 26, Metroplaza Tower 1, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung,Hong KongRelocation & Transportation

Hong Lok Yuen International SchoolRoy F. WhiteHead of School - ICHKTel 2655 9018rwhite@ichk.edu.hk20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong KongEducation

HudsonTony PownallGeneral ManagerTel 2528 1191tony.pownall@hudson.comUnit 1501-07, 15/F, Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong KongRecruitment

HSBCEdmund TangHead of Business Finance, Global Banking ASPTel 6891 0692edmundtang@hsbc.com.hkHSBC Main Building, 1 Queen’s Road Central, Hong KongBanking

Discovery Bay Resort SpaMarianna TangDirector of Sales & MarketingTel 6317 3560marianna.tang@dbh.hkri.comHotel Pre-opening Offi ce: Unit LG12-17, 92 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong KongHospitality

Jane MorganKetchumVice PresidentTel 3141 8013jane.morgan@knprhk.com33/F, Two Chinachem Exchange Square, 338 King’s Road, North Point, Hong KongPR & Marketing

KCS Hong Kong LimitedBill FongDirector, Fund Administration Services DivisionTel 3589 8824bill.fong@kcs.com8/F, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong KongBusiness Services

CB Richard Ellis LtdEdward FarrellyDirector, Head of Hong Kong ResearchTel 2820 2882edward.farrelly@cbre.com.hk4/F, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong KongProperty / Real Estate Services

CB Richard Ellis LtdGerry KiplingExecutive Director, Asset Services – HK, Macau & TaiwanTel 2820 1570gerry.kipling@cbre.com.hk4/F, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong KongProperty / Real Estate Services

Shaken Not StirredSponsored By

Mar 28 2012, Jack Wills, Causeway Bay

Taffany Leung (BT), Paul Kidman (Headstrong)

Dennis Ly (Risk Management), David Day (British Council), Meredith Yeung (Westpac Banking Corporation)

Cammie Leung (Tanner de Witt), Kit Ping Au-Yeung (Coats North-East Asia)

James Carss (Hudson), Gary Lam (Hudson)

Emily Ferrary (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong), Stephanie Gubser (First), Alison Asome (Hart Giles)

Donald B. Ma (rogenSi), Terry Ng (Interglobe Corporate Solutions Ltd)

Lucy Payne (Consultant), Matthew Waldron (HSBC)

Will Sweeney (Concise Group), Liz Hamerton (Secretarial Offi ce Services)

Gregory Seitz (AGS Four Winds), Donny De Silva (Hudson)

Lucy Jenkins and Dovenia Chow (British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong)

Francesca Cooke (Lauren Richards), Sally Ann Klap (Sheraton)

Alfred Aung (Architex Interiors), Michelle Woo (TMF Group)

David Stanton (AEC), Leigh Mackeurtan (Concise Group), Andrea Demy (AGS Four Winds)

Alex Silcox (Kleio), Dominic McCarthy (Quintessentially)

Merry Fei, Robert Eldred

Britain in Hong Kong 4342