Sunday, 26 September 2021
Sunday, 12 September 2021
Prestige magazine's annual 40 under 40: 2021 edition is out now!
A return to fine form, the latest iteration of 40 under 40 by Prestige Hong Kong looks fantastic - and its reception has been overwhelming.
You can read my editor's page - and the entire book here at PrestigeOnline.com
A seed of an idea planted back in 2015 that's grown to become this phenomenon. In its latest iteration, all 40 people were interviewed, photographed, styled and featured. Many surprises unveiled - follow Prestige Hong Kong Instagram for updates - esp the insta' stories!
My two cents;
When compiling Prestige’s annual 40 Under 40 list of achievers, we followed some basic rules. First, to state the obvious, all the contenders have to be no more than 40 years old. Second, they need to have done something remarkable — and worth writing about — in the past 12 months (since last summer’s edition of 40 Under 40). And third, they have to be here in Hong Kong.
Now that last stipulation can be a bit of a doozy. The pervasive cloud of defeat and ennui during the pandemic got even the best of us. According to one newspaper op-ed: “As emigration from Hong Kong steadily gathers pace, a different picture emerges. This time, they won’t come back. A conservative triangulation of government data suggests that about 1,000 people a day are currently leaving Hong Kong permanently.”
Well, we’re here to present you with a somewhat different picture, a jigsaw comprising 40 different pieces — men and women who are choosing to stay in Hong Kong and construct something different, something better than before.
To start, our editors put forward more than 80 names for consideration, every one of which was mulled over at length…And eventually around half of them were culled. If they didn’t shift the needle forward, extend themselves in a noteworthy manner compared with previous years, then they found their chances evaporating.
Thus, on this year’s listing you’ll find a conspicuous absence of the usual suspects — in fact, 95 percent of the names in the following pages have never been featured before. The novelty lies in not only their faces, but their actions in trying to build a better society, environment or business — and in some cases even reaffirming our hope in humanity.
We found one lady who provided medical mobile units to the government to help the old, infirm and the disenfranchised in remote parts of Hong Kong as the pandemic raged. An heiress who gave up working on her accessories brand and instead committed to philanthropy. Women who left lucrative investment banking careers to deep dive into fixing the education system. And someone who sells luxury condos and flowers by day, but by night provides mental health solutions to those seeking help. You’ll find all these, and more.
So this emphatically isn’t the usual hierarchical roster of the holier-than-thou — for good measure, ahem, we even list our favourite bartender (if ever there was a year to have a stiff drink, this was surely it), plus soothing dulcet singers and exquisite chefs, and a few original designers and dreamy models. But the common thread you’ll find binding together this diverse group is project hope. Standing tall in the face of adversity, these fine young achievers have adopted an admirable stance as they look forward into the light and continue with their endeavours – whatever those may be.
Thursday, 21 January 2021
40 under 40: The young and the restless of Hong Kong: 2018
Writing and producing this book took half the life outta me. To create this with the monthly deadlines and features... I look back and go, dang, we did that.
Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Rest in Peace Lili Luo
When we were working on 40 under 40, Lili went out of her way to ensure that the team was taken care of and sent out her staff to collect food and coffee from Starbucks. She had everything hand delivered to the studio while we were taking portraits and she changed outfits. She made sure everyone, from makeup artist to photographer's assistant, the entire team was taken care of. Photographer Dino Busch and I were amazed by her generosity and she had long left the studio by the time we realised what she had done.
To see the news in the paper of her untimely death at the age of 34... Thankfully what sticks to memory is her laugh and expedience and kindness...
RIP Lili Luo. Our entire team has been thinking of you and keeping your name in our prayers this week.
Saturday, 24 August 2019
Hong Kong's 40 under 40.... 2019
Day 1 of kick-starting this. Grand additions - notable drops. If ya didn't do anything over the course of the last issue to the latest... um, bye. ;0)
Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Behind the scenes, outtake... final shot
The final shot that went to print - the lol-tastic outtake and the behind the scenes cast and crew. Was so much fun chatting with and doing a portrait of Julien-Loic Garin, head of Le French May in Hong Kong for Prestige Hong Kong's 40 under 40.
All portraits by Dino Busch, styled by Nina Ricardo. See the entire list and all the features at PrestigeOnline.com
Monday, 17 December 2018
Chris Tong and Bruce Tong: 40 under 40 by Prestige Hong Kong.
While the photographer changes props and lights for this spread, Bruce tells us about his first movie-making experience. “Watching Donnie was inspirational for us, as he works really, really hard and for really long hours without showing any signs of exhaustion,” he says. “When we got tired,” adds Chris, “we wouldn’t show it as we saw Donnie’s work ethic. It was important for us to continue as he led by example.”
Doing the circuit of celebrity-studded events, TV appearances, magazine shoots and the occasional catwalk show, the brothers — who are the youngest talents represented by Bullet Films Productions — are kept busy as they earn their spot under the arc lights. “It’s fun to attend the parties and shows, but when you’re on set, you really have to work hard for what you see on screen,” says Bruce, who’s also trained in wushu. “We enjoy doing action and stunts, and hope to do more of that.”
The complete list of 40 under 40 is available with the December 2018 issue of Prestige Hong Kong.
Monday, 3 December 2018
Hong Kong's 40 under 40 by Prestige
The Young and the Restless
Welcome to 40 under 40, our annual compendium of Hong Kong’s most audacious young talents from the worlds of art, commerce, sport, entertainment, fashion and philanthropy. For the fifth consecutive year, the editorial team convened in the summer to draw up a list of candidates – all under 40 years old, of course – and edit it down to the 40 individuals who passed muster. This entailed some hard and at times brutal decisions, whittling out some top-brass names, until we were happy with our inventory of the city’s more youthful achievers. Newspapers were perused, social media were put under the microscope, and sometimes we just relied on good old-fashioned word of mouth. Finally, the 40 personalities that made the cut were interviewed and photographed and their profiles arranged alphabetically within five categories: Change Makers, Creatives, Visionaries, Movers and Shakers, and Titans.
Over a seemingly endless period, we locked down every person you see in the ensuing pages, dragging them to the tangled and begrimed studios in Chai Wan Industry City for an exclusive portrait session. Some didn’t have the luxury of time to make their way there, so our motley behind-the-scenes-crew made their way to their various residences, restaurants, and galleries, or we found unpeopled streets and corners for a guerrilla-style shoot. This led to the odd scuttle when authorities came inquiring about permits as we beat a retreat, all quick footwork and sheepish grins.
If there’s one thing our fab 40 share, it’s that they are all led by a singular vision, savoir-faire and diligence. They sacrificed, they built, they gained and lost, they fell and they chose to rise again. Some built with wisdom and flair on inherited riches, others were gifted with extraordinary talents that they exploited with almost preternatural skill.
As you go through the publication, you’ll see that this year’s roster of young achievers has a generous addition of new faces that we are thrilled to shine a light on, be it outstanding sportsmen and women, aspiring philanthropists, restaurateurs or tech wizards. The usual suspects are ably represented: business people, property tycoons in-the-making, influencers and second-gen surnames who have added a new edge to family-owned corporations.
Lest I forget, we must credit the wonderful team that created this stunning portfolio of images. Everybody in this invaluable tome was photographed by Dino Busch, styled by Nina Ricardo and benefited from the hair and make-up skills of Gloomy Kwok (and his able crew; Bella, Iris and Sandy). Their patience and generosity of spirit did not go unnoticed.
So here it is, dear reader, a small window into the lives of the young ladies and gents who are helping Hong Kong remain a matchless agency of change and growth.
P.Ramakrishnan
Editor
2018 Edition
The entire list and gallery up at PrestigeOnline.com
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Prestige Hong Kong: 40 under 40: 2016: The Young Men and Women who are Changing the Game in Hong Kong
Jamie Lee
Lee is part of the fitness wave that’s taking Hong Kong by storm. After discovering Crossfit, a high-intensity workout discipline, while in Los Angeles, Lee became addicted to the training method. In 2010 he returned to Hong Kong from California and earned an MBA at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Two years later he teamed up with long-time pal David Chang to found Crossfit affiliate Crossfit 852, which has grown to be a successful community of like-minded and fit athletes.Ivan Pun
Under the aegis of Pun + Projects, 31-year-old Ivan Pun’s company operates three restaurants, as well as the contemporary Burmese furniture brand Paribawga. He also founded the TS 1 pop-up in downtown Yangon to support local artists (the hunt for a new location is on for the next instalment). With two more restaurants in the making and the launch of Myanmar Made, a curated store to promote indigenous arts and crafts, in September, he has a diary filled to capacity.Josephine Chiu
Youngest daughter of Chairman and CEO of Far East Consortium David Chiu, Josephine Chiu has a business management degree from King’s College, London. Initially, she was involved in the world of finance, with stints at Crédit Lyonnais, UBS, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, but soon family ties lured her into the fold and she’s now firmly established in the consortium’s hospitality and property ventures. Although there are several projects in the pipeline (including five Ritz-Carlton hotels), currently she’s working on upgrading the flagship Cosmopolitan Hotel in Hong Kong. Chiu believes in giving back and sits on the boards of several prominent charities and local scholarship schemes.Stephanie Shek
FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS Until Chan
STYLING Sheena Khemaney
MAKE-UP Vic Lai, April Fan and Jasmine Chan at Hong Kong Makeup Artist
HAIR Gloomy Kwok at Hong Kong Makeup Artist and Wilson Wong
Jonathan Cheung
Antonia da Cruz
Arthur de Villepin
Yen Kuok
Queenie Rosita Law
Poman Lo
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Tina Leung, portrait by Olivier Yoan |
Tina Leung
Zac Purton
Lois Tien
Olivier Yoan
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Prestige Hong Kong: 40 under 40 (2017)
The Prestige roster of young movers and shakers this year has a generous addition of new names that we are thrilled to shine the light on – be it serious art collectors, documentary filmmakers, aspiring philanthropists, sportsmen and women, restaurateurs or writers. Of course, the usual suspects are ably represented: business people, property tycoons-in-the-making and second-gen surnames who have added a new tangent to their family activities.
FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS: Until Chan
STYLING: Florent Thiebault
HAIR AND MAKE-UP: Wendy Lee
Olivia Dawn
For musically minded Olivia Dawn, the world is a stage. A Juilliard bachelor and Berklee double-master graduate, Dawn is known for her powerful vocals and incredible talent on the violin. The string player has worked with top musicians and emerging artists in the industry, performing innovative live sets across the globe, and has now been named as the official music curator for W Hong Kong. The multi-talented instrumentalist tells us, “I’m passionate about music, about thinking outside the box, always chasing dreams. I don’t think you should give up on anything, so I don’t.”
Justin Cheung
Amanda Lau
Arthur Lam
Thirty-two-year-old Arthur Lam is the name to know in the clean-power space. He co-founded the energy management company Synergy in 2009 with the aim of offering businesses the technology and solutions to save energy and money, all the while reducing their carbon emissions. Synergy is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and earlier this year it was named Most Promising Public Listed Company by Forbes China, proving its potential significance in this fast-growing market. When Lam isn’t working, you’re likely to find him out in the open air, often golfing, playing tennis or scuba diving.
Plus these other awesome peeps - feature is written by the entire Editorial staff. I just have my bits and blobs here - the rest you can read at PrestigeOnline.com
Harris Chan
Fashion is in Harris Chan’s DNA. His parents founded women’s label Moiselle in 1997 and the success of the brand now sits squarely on Chan’s entrepreneurial shoulders. The young designer regularly invites his Insta-star circle to sit front-row at his shows, dressed in Moiselle – naturally. Of note this year was the runway show that took over Duddell Street and quickly turned into the hottest ticket in town. Chan remains committed to giving back to the community; he’s been involved with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, as well as being co-chair of the amfAR charity ball in 2016.Jonathan Cheung
Inexhaustibly stylish and always on trend, Jonathan Cheung is co-founder of Buzz Agency, which over the last few years has monopolised the hottest events and parties in the city. Every major fashion house and brand has his calling card, as his personal and professional guest-list is second to none. Born and bred in Hong Kong, he studied at Parsons School of Design in New York and then went on to earn a graduate degree at the University College London’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. Like all local billionaires and budding billionaires, Cheung has a major hand in real-estate projects, including ones at ITC Properties, and in several family investments around the globe.Edwin Chuang
Orlando Ho
Queenie Rosita Law
Sean Lee-Davies
Loui Lim
The handsome young man wears more than one cap: director of Dream Cruises, and vice president of Branding & Brand Marketing and Communications for Genting Cruise Lines (a portfolio of cruise ships that spans the globe). Having conquered the seven seas, his ambitions have taken flight this year – he recently launched Hong Kong-based Crystal AirCruises, one of the world’s largest private jets for charter and custom itineraries, which is based in Hong Kong. With a background in investment banking, a BA in architecture and a Master’s degree in business management, his personal portfolio also includes modelling in photo shoots.
Joanna Lui
Since we last met Joanna Lui (daughter of resort and casino mogul Francis Lui), the founder of luxury-lifestyle cafe Cha Bei has been a very busy bee. Not only does she oversee Lifestyle Curation Services at Galaxy Entertainment Group and hold the title of Executive Director of the GEG Foundation, but she’s also launched another ambitious project, Dean & Deluca, bringing the wares of the New York-based purveyor of fine food to Hong Kong and Macau. A graduate of Tufts University in the United States, she worked in hospitality before joining the family fold at Galaxy Macau. To top it all, she got married earlier this year; as we go to print, she and her husband are expecting their first child.Edward Muller
Ivan Pun
Lucia Tait-Tolani
Lois Tien
As brand manager of the flirty and feminine women's-wear label Anagram, Lois Tien looks after the success of her three family-owned boutiques in Hong Kong, with a fourth store in Macau. The daughter of Michael, founder of the G2000 empire that revolutionised women’s work-wear wardrobes, Tien is closing 2017 on a high: she’s set to open a fifth store, at Causeway Bay’s shopping destination Lee Garden One, before the end of the year.
Rex Tso
Rosemary Vandenbroucke
Published November 2017, Prestige Hong Kong.
Thursday, 3 December 2015
40 under 40! The Movers and Shakers of young Hong Kong
Earlier this year Prestige Hong Kong did a feature and shoot with some of Hong Kong's top movers and shakers under 40.
Among a whole list of them, I had the joy and privilege to submit a list of notable names; people I've worked with in the past, interviewed, met on multiple occasions. There were 40 people, but a special shout out to rugby player Jonny Rees, race car driver Dan Wells, dancer Faye Leung, documentary maker Sean Lee Davies and designer Harrison Wong. All of whom are seen here in pics.
Portraits by Until Chan.
Creative direction and styling by my fav stylist Tasha Ling, assisted by Amber Choy!
All jewels and watches by Tiffany & co. Shot on location at URA Japanese Delicacy!



