A Publication of The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

The past few months have been volatile for markets. One of the

key uncertainties has been how smoothly will China’s economy

move from being the world’s factory to become a balanced, more

domestic consumer-driven economy and at what speed.

While the answers to this question are varied, what is clear are the

commercial opportunities which this transition presents to both

existing CanCham members and to businesses only now reaching

out from their Canadian base, many of whom attended the recent

‘Think Asia, Think Hong Kong’ Symposium held this June in Toronto.

While Canada has a well-deserved reputation as an efficient

producer of commodities and related upstream products, its

service-oriented economy has also encouraged the growth of

dynamic service businesses. Cavalia’s recent sold-out performances

in Hong Kong and Shanghai were testament to Canada’s unique

contribution to the entertainment business. This issue of

EXCHANGE features an interview with the entrepreneur behind the

spectacle, Norman Latourelle who spoke at the Chamber in May.

Canada’s potential for tourism, that other great service ‘export’ is

considerable. Discover for yourself by taking a trip from Vancouver

on the Rocky Mountaineer, a seven-time winner of the ‘World’s

Leading Travel Experience by Train’ – as chronicled in the pages

which follow.

Canadian technology is also making continued inroads

internationally. Closer to the start-up phase, Nanoleaf’s co-founder

Christian Yan shares his experience about ‘The Challenges and

Successes of Setting Up and Doing Business in Hong Kong’.

In late November, the Chamber’s Entrepreneur and Small Business

Committee will co-host with the Hong Kong Canada Business

Association (HKCBA), the ‘Second TransPacific Entrepreneurial

Conference’ with delegates attending from the eight chapters of

HKCBA across Canada and from Hong Kong. More information and

sign-up details are available via the Chamber’s website:

www.cancham.org.

The Chamber’s role generally is to provide a forum for connecting

businesses and opportunities. By participating in a strong,

connected ‘learning’ community, we stand better chances of

achieving sustained commercial and professional success. In this

issue of EXCHANGE, Wayne Lee, CIBC’s Head of Asia Pacific and a

member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Dr. Sarah

Borwein, a co-founder of The Central Health Group offer their

perspectives on succeeding in the demanding environment of Hong

Kong and well beyond.

Generally, EXCHANGE brings you information on happenings at the

Chamber and among our members. Read about methanol from

member, Methanex Corporation which is the world’s largest

methanol producer and supplier as well as the other Member

companies contributions.

Finally, we are also pleased to welcome all of our new members -

please join me in ensuring that they are integrated well into our

community.

We are a member-driven community, and your contribution to the

Chamber in varied forms, whether in business forums or community

and social events such as the upcoming ‘Terry Fox Run Hong Kong’

in early November and the ‘Sun Life Canadian Golf Tournament

2015’ later in the month is what makes our community both strong

and vigourous.

Enjoy EXCHANGE – send us your thoughts.

John R WittChairman

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

EXCHANGE

Chairman’s Message

2 Vol.15

“The Chamber’s role generally is to

provide a forum for connecting

business and opportunities.”

Gold Corporate Sponsors

Platinum Corporate Sponsors

CONTENTSVolume15 Oct 2015

02 Chairman’s Message

04 The Chamber

Committee Updates06 Young Professionals Committee: Securing Asia’s Future

Business and Education Combine to Grow Future Leaders

08 Technology Committee: It’s Really About People

09 Sustainable Development Committee: Our New Initiatives

10 China Business Committee: China Series 2015

Advocacy12 Hong Kong Competition Ordinance in a Nutshell – What is it

all about?

Adventures of Working Abroad in Hong Kong14 Interview with Dr. Sarah Borwein, Managing Partner, Central

Health Medical Practice

15 Interview with Wayne Lee, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Region, CIBC

Sharing Experience and Success: Leadership Column

16 Special Feature: Cavalia – The Entrepreneurial Journey of Normand Latourelle

Focus on Members22 Methanex Asia Pacific Ltd: Promoting Methanex as a Clean Fuel

24 PwC’s Strengthening Donor Communications Programme Shows Charities Why Measuring Social Impact Matters

26 WWF – Hong Kong: Fulfilling Our Corporate Social Responsibility – It Can Be Achieved!

28 Koehler Group: Shanghai Free-Trade Zone, Guangdong Free-Trade Zone and Hong Kong-Competitors or Allies?

Leisure30 Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer: World’s Top Rail Journey

Community32 Hong Kong, A Bridge for China to Investment Opportunities

in Canada – HKTDC

34 The Challenges and Successes of Setting Up and Doing Business in Hong Kong – Nanoleaf

Professional Development36 David Goldsmith: Believing and Achieving to Win in any

Economic Environment

40 Event Highlights

42 Welcome New Members

Claims, statements and assertions made by advertisers are the responsibility of the advertisers.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Speedflex disclaim all responsibility and liability in connection with the content of any advertisement appearing in this publication.

Canada Hong Kong Exchange is published in every four months. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the publishers. All published material is copyright protected. No parts of Canadian Hong Kong Exchange may be reprinted or reproduced without the written permission of the publishers.

Canada Hong Kong Exchange welcomes letters to the editor sent via email to canada@cancham.org. Submissions must include the author’s full name, address and daytime contact numbers. The Canada Hong Kong Exchange reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

Editorial Board

Madeleine Behan (Chair)

Philip Leung

Carol Chan

Sarah Wai (Editorial Assistant)

Advertising Contact

Carol Chan

(carol.chan@cancham.org)

Sarah Cheng

(sarah_cheng@cancham.org)

Project Management

Meipo Yeung

Design and Layout

Sarah Cheng

Sarah Wai

Winnie Li

Lilian Yu

Steve Mok

Fok Lui

Jointly Published by

The Canadian Chamber of

Commerce in Hong Kong

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32 Hollywood Road, Central,

Hong Kong

Tel: 2110 8700

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Volume 15, Oct 2015Published by

Executive Committee

John R Witt Chairman

Brian Lau Vice Chairman–Internal

Jennifer Chua Vice Chairman–External

Irene Chu Secretary

Mati Pouliot Treasurer

Adam Khemiri

Barrett Bingley

Chris Roberge

Don Roberts

Fabien Jeudy

Gina Hudel

Guy Cloutier

Hendrik Rosenthal

Henri Arslanian

Jean-Baptiste Roy

Lynn McDonald

Lawrence Nutting

Michael Nardella

Michael Yong-Haron

Richard Brown

Vanessa Ma

Victor Yang

Wai Ho Wong

Wayne Lee

Wendy Tong-Barnes

William Said

Governors’ Counol

Daisy Ho Head of Governors’ Council

J. Ian BurchettHonorary Head of Governors’ Council

Allan Matheson

Allan Zeman

Andrew Turczyniak

Bernard Pouliot

Bruce Hicks

David Armitage

David Kong

David M Nesbitt

David McMaster

Dr. Eliza C. H. Chan

Dr. Janet De Silva

Dr. Patrick Y.B. Fung

Dr. William Yip

Dr. William W.H. Doo

Elizabeth L. Thomson

Joe Ng

John Cheh

John W. Crawford

Lawrence Ho

Lincoln K.K. Leong

Michael Y.K. Chan

Patrick Lam

Raymond Chow

Richard Siemens

Robert Cook

Stephen Chu

Victor Apps

The Secretariat

Philip LeungPresidentemail : philip_leung@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8728

Carol ChanOperations & Finance Manageremail : carol_chan@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8708

Sarah WaiAdministrative Assistantemail : sarah_wai@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8700

Janice IpEvents Manageremail : janice.ip@cancham.orgphone : 3695 5021

Katrine ChengDeputy Events Manageremail : katrine_cheng@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8738

Sarah ChengCommunications Manageremail : sarah_cheng@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8711

Barbara MokMembership Service Manageremail : barbara_mok@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8718

Janice HonMembership Manageremail : janice_hon@cancham.orgphone : 2110 8722

EXCHANGE

The Chamber

4 Vol.15

In January this year, the Chamber and HKUST Business School collaborated for the first time to offer young professionals from the Chamber a seminar on the theme of developing leadership potential.

Professor Roger Levermore from the HKUST MBA program was one of the key drivers behind the initiative. Leading the MBA course on Responsible Leadership and Business Ethics, Professor Levermore welcomed the opportunity to inspire young professionals to become better leaders. In a brief interview, he described the importance and impact of the seminar.

Q: How did the collaboration between the Chamber and HKUST Business School come about?

A: The Young Professionals Committee at the Chamber launched a Mentorship Program not long ago. The MBA program at HKUST runs a similar initiative, in which alumni and senior students are paired with incoming students to offer advice and guidance to help them along their MBA journeys. Consequently, the Chamber invited us to support its event on leadership and issues related to mentor and mentee relationships.

Q: Who were the speakers at the seminar?

A: To make it more engaging, we ran it in panel format. We tapped into our school’s network and invited two of our senior MBA alumni, Paul Choi and Charles Renier, to join the panel. Paul is an Executive Director in the Human Capital Management division of Goldman Sachs Asia, and Charles is a mentor in the Chamber’s Mentorship Program. Perry Lam, an executive coach to CEOs and business leaders in Asia, was also a member of the panel, and I served as the facilitator.

Securing Asia’s FutureBusiness and Education Combine

to Grow Future Leaders

Asia has overtaken Europe as the world’s second

wealthiest region and will surpass North America next

year, according to the Boston Consulting Group’s 2015

Global Wealth Report. Facing rapid change and

blossoming opportunities in the region, the Canadian

Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (“the Chamber”)

and HKUST Business School share a common goal of

developing the next generation of global leaders to

transform Asia.HKUST MBA has been ranked in the world’s top 15 by the Financial Times for 6 consecutive years.

By HKUST

EXCHANGE

Committee Updates

6 Vol.15

Q: Leadership is a broad subject. What topics did you cover?

A: We asked the panel members to draw from their own experiences and share how they develop leadership skills in others, and the ways in which young professionals can better interact with their mentors. The seminar became even more interesting as we switched to discussions on executive presence, authentic and disruptive leadership and East/West perspectives on leadership.

Q: What are the greatest challenges in teaching the younger generation about leadership?

A: Leadership can be a very philosophical and theoretical subject. You can spend all day debating what leadership is, yet young professionals and MBA students are more concerned with the “how”. For instance, they want to know how to lead a cross-cultural team and how to make difficult leadership decisions, so we need to make the subject practical and applicable to them.

Another challenge is that the world is ever changing. Just because something might work here and now doesn’t mean it will work in another place at another time. Educators need to keep in close touch with the real business world and understand each generation to stay relevant.

Q: How do you ensure your teaching is relevant to students?

A: While developing my course on Responsible Leadership and Ethics, I did a lot of research on this hot topic by

actively engaging with the business community. To collect more ideas on the topics and projects that

should be included in the class, I spoke to more than 150 business professionals from all

walks of life at companies such as J.P. Morgan, the Link, Schneider, BASF, CLP and the Swire Group.

In each class, at least one speaker from the business sector is invited to share his or her experiences. I also make sure that the course covers as many practical leadership tips as possible. Students love the course and they become much more receptive to the idea of applied business ethics.

Professor Levermore’s MBA course on Responsible Leadership and Business Ethics has been shortlisted for a prestigious teaching award at HKUST this year.

Clarence Yang, Chief of Staff of BlackRock in Asia Pacific, was invited to share his leadership experience in one of Professor Levermore’s classes.

Asia is the new Wild West. We need ethical and capable leaders to steer the region in the right direction and avoid the mistakes of the past. With educators and the business community working hand in hand we are sure to develop talented and determined future leaders. Stay tuned to keep up to date with other activities offered by the Chamber and HKUST Business School. For the update from Young Professionals Committee, please visit www.canchamypc.com

Committee Updates

7

Technology Committee:

It’s Really About People

As the new Chair of the

Technology Committee at the

Canadian Chamber of Commerce,

I would like to formally thank our

out-going Co-Chairs Adam Khemiri

and Chris Lloyd for their

leadership over the past 4 and 2

years. Adam and Chris were

pivotal in establishing the format

and culture for our seminal

monthly event, TechW@TCH. They

also worked diligently to broaden

our contacts with the technology

community, both here in Hong

Kong and regionally. We hope to

continue to build on these

relationships, and forge new

ones, as we continue through this

year and on into 2016.

By Michael Kerr on behalf of Technology Committee

To do this, our plan is to focus not solely on the technologies themselves but the people

behind them. I know when I look back over my technology career, what I remember most

is the people, more so than the projects I worked on, the code I wrote or the systems I

implemented.

As our core mission, the Technology Committee is committed to organizing networking

and educational events that focus on technology-related subjects which will appeal to as

wide an audience as possible within the Chamber and our community as a whole. To do

that, we will emphasize the Chamber’s strengths, its presence as a respected and

professional organization, and its ability to access people you might otherwise not meet at

the typical technology events across the city, and we’ll do so in a relaxed and inviting

environment. To that end, we will be holding monthly roundtables to discuss jobs and

career paths in technology, how you can bring new ideas and thinking to your businesses

using the latest in social media, how technology affects our daily lives and how technology

is changing the modern workplace. For these roundtables, we will invite leaders within

different industries for an honest and open discussion with Chamber members about how

technology has enabled them to be successful in their careers. We will also invite leaders to

discuss tech-related strategies to help businesses from start-ups to well-established

enterprises increase their exposure and revenues. Our first event held in July was a lively

and well-attended discussion on “Growth Hacking” that included well-known digital

marketing expert, author and Chamber member Joshua Steimle and we hope to follow this

up with further great sessions.

We extend this invitation to join us as we move forward. Please reach out to me if you have

people you’d like to meet or technologies you’d like us to explore. We of course can be

reached via Twitter, email, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp.

EXCHANGE

Committee Updates

8 Vol.15

In October 2014, our annual Beach Clean Up event brought together 120 people to collect over 382 kilogrammes of trash and strengthened awareness amongst participants on the community’s role in keeping Hong Kong’s beaches beautiful.

Later in January 2015, the SDC arranged a visit to the last remaining Agarwood plantation in Hong Kong, to learn about how Agarwood is grown using sustainable farming techniques. In June, members were invited to an environmentally-responsible fish farm at Lau Fau Shan which showcased the farm’s various energy-efficient measures. A lunch hour seminar on “Water Quality Control in Hong Kong: From Source to Tap” was organized in the same month, where it brought together various experts from different sectors to share their views the subject.

One of the main roles of the SDC is to build awareness of various issues relating to the sustainable development of Hong Kong. The past half year has been an interesting and productive one:

• Jan 2014 – Waste Management Position Paper: The future of waste management in Hong Kong should be a top priority and some real practical initiatives, such as waste charging, are needed.

• Feb 2014 – Air Quality Position Paper: Clean air should be recognized as a public good and the Chamber supports the initiatives outlined in the Government’s Clean Air Plan as well as their implementation with definitive target dates.

• Jun 2014 – Response to the public consultation on the Future Fuel Mix for Electricity Generation: Decisions on Hong Kong’s future fuel mix are important and will shape the city’s future energy policy. Increasing local gas generation is a pragmatic and effective way to improve both local

and regional air quality but more reviews and analysis are needed on power imports from Southern China.

• Mar 2015 – Review of initiatives to improve air quality in Hong Kong: A review of the initiatives in the government’s Clean Air Plan, which the Chamber supports, was carried out with various transport-related recommendations submitted to the Secretary for Transport and Housing.

• Jun 2015 – Response to the public consultation on the Future Development of the Electricity Market: The community has benefited from a reliable and high-quality supply of electricity but future regulatory arrangements should focus more on cleaner energy sources, energy efficiency conservation and demand management.

Lastly, we are pleased to announce that the Committee, previously chaired by Hendrik Rosenthal, has been taken up by Joseph Law. Joseph is the Planning and Development Director at CLP Power Hong Kong. He brings with him a rich and diverse background in renewable energy development that affects Hong Kong. The Committee wishes to recognize and thank Hendrik for chairing the SDC for the past five years. Under his leadership, the SDC has steadily expanded its thoughtleadership and voice on sustainable development in Hong Kong’s community. He will continue to play a major role in the SDC and his experience and expertise will be greatly welcomed.

Your views are appreciated and you are always welcomed to join us at the next meeting of the SDC!

Water, waste, energy, Agarwood, clean beaches and air have been the issues of focus and activities for the Chamber’s Sustainable Development Committee (“SDC”) for the past years.

By Joseph Law on behalf of Sustainable Development CommitteeBy Joseph Law on behalf of Sustainable Development Commit

Sustainable Development Committee:Our New Initiatives

Committee Updates

9

The China Business Committee (“CBC”) is proud to have KPMG as the Title Sponsor of one of our significant series, the China Series. The 2014 series was structured to provide practical, near-term insights and assessments for business development in China – in an especially interactive setting. A slate of distinguished speakers and panelists at each presentation discussed the status of China’s efforts at economic reform, near-term prospects for trade and investment, and new business opportunities for Hong Kong-based companies in China. 

Based on the success of the China Series 2014, the Chamber initiated China Series 2015. It is the intention of the Chamber to draw on last year’s experience to build a greater profile in the 2015 series. 3 events were held, namely:

Fourth Plenum• China’s Fourth Plenary Session was concluded on October 23, 2014.

At the plenum’s closing, the CCP Central Committee issued a communiqué on “comprehensively advancing ruling the country according to the law”. While the details of implementation remained scarce, the document presented a general overview of reforms to China’s legal system with four takeaways from the Fourth Plenum communiqué.

One Belt, One Road• Chinese President Xi Jinping first raised the idea of the Silk

Road Economic Belt two years ago. It would involve major infrastructure projects like railways, roads pipelines and power grids. This initiative called for the integration of the region into a cohesive economic area through building infrastructure, increasing cultural exchanges, and broadening trade.

Internet Plus• The Internet era has reshaped China’s traditional industries. With the

rapid rise of mobile Internet, almost 600 million users are now using mobile devices to get online. The next decade will see even more explosive growth, attracting China’s traditional sectors to encroach on the Internet economy. Conversely, Chinese Internet companies are seeking opportunities in the traditional economy. A combination of unforeseen magnitude is unfolding.

The panels of experts shared their views on the respective topics and our audience was able to learn through the presentation and interactive panels. The series is looking to host its last event of the series in winter and would like to encourage your participation.

Lastly, the Committee would like to announce that Mr. Winston Kan, Managing Director of the Strategic Executive Search Group, Asia, has officially taken charge of the Committee. The CBC would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Guy Cloutier for chairing the Committee for the past few years where he will continue to be the advisor of the CBC.

China Business Committee:China Series 2015

By SarahWai on behalf of China Business Committee

EXCHANGE

Committee Updates

10 Vol.15

| intelligent movement |

On 14 June 2012, the Competition Ordinance (Cap. 619) (the “Ordinance”) was passed by the Legislative Council but only

certain provisions have come into effect. The Government has gazetted to appoint 14 December 2015 as the commencement date for the full implementation of the Ordinance. So, what has been done in the past 3 years?

Background

We have the establishment of the Competition Commission which comprises 14 members with Ms. Anna Wu Hung Yuk as the Chairperson. The Competition Tribunal was also established with the appointment of Mr. Justice Godfrey Lam and Madam Justice Queeny Au-Yeung as the President and Deputy President respectively. Further, 6 Competition Guidelines have been prepared by the Commission, namely the Guidelines on the 3 Competition Rules and the Guidelines on Complaints, Investigations, Applications for Decisions and Block Exemption Orders. A set of draft Guidelines on Leniency Policy has recently been published by the Commission for public comments. The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide guidance on how the Commission intends to interpret the provisions of the Ordinance, although the Guidelines themselves do not have any legal binding effect.

What is the impact of the Ordinance? 

To answer this question, we have to understand the traditional ways of doing business in Hong Kong. Those business entities which particularly have strong sentimental values usually do business through “connection” and “information sharing”. After the full implementation of the Ordinance, these business entities are prohibited from engaging in conduct which has the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition in Hong Kong. There will be only one way of doing business, i.e. everybody has to make business decision according to the principle of autonomy. The Ordinance is applicable to all business entities and individuals

Hong Kong Competition Ordinance in a NutshellThe Competition Ordinance is coming

into effect on 14 December 2015. What is it all about?

By Zhong Lun Law Firm

EXCHANGE

Advocacy

12 Vol.15

engaging in economic activities, as defined in the Ordinance as “undertakings”.

Competition Rules

Three areas of anti-competitive conduct have been identified and they are now governed by the following competition rules:-

• The First Conduct Rule (the “FCR”) prohibits an undertaking from making or giving effect to agreements or decisions or engaging in concerted practices that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition in Hong Kong.

• The Second Conduct Rule (the “SCR”) prohibits abuse by an undertaking with a substantial degree of market power in a market engaging in conduct with an object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition in Hong Kong.

• The Merger Rule prohibits any merger by the telecommunications carrier licensees that has or is likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in Hong Kong.

The Commission also takes the view that cartel arrangements between undertakings that seek to fix prices, share markets, restrict output or rig bids fall within the definition of “Serious Anti-competitive Conduct”. Other conduct may also constitute Serious Anti-competitive Conduct.

Whilst FCR does not apply if the combined annual turnover of the undertakings does not exceed HK$200 million, the SCR does not apply to undertakings with an annual turnover of less than HK$40 million. This safe harbor rule does not apply to the Serious Anti-competitive Conduct, the effect of which is too serious to be exempt.

Investigation and Enforcement

The Ordinance has provided the Commission with extensive investigative powers, including the power to obtain documents and information from any person, to require any person to attend before the Commission for an interview, or to enter and search premises under a court warrant.

If the Commission has reasonable causes to believe that there has been a contravention of the Ordinance, it has the following powers before taking the case to the Tribunal:-

• to issue warning notices if the contravention of the FCR does not involve Serious Anti-competitive Conduct;

• to issue an infringement notice if it is a contravention of FCR involving serious anti-competitive conduct or a contravention of the SCR;

• to make a leniency agreement in exchange for an undertaking’s co-operation in an investigation; and

• to accept any commitment from an undertaking not to commence or continue an investigation/proceedings in the Tribunal.

Penalty

After any investigation, the Commission may make an application to the Tribunal for a pecuniary penalty to be imposed on any undertaking which is involved in the contravention of any competition rule. Such a pecuniary penalty is up to 10% of the turnover of the business of the undertaking for each year in which the contravention occurred, or, if the contravention occurred in more than 3 years, up to 10% of its turnover for the 3 years that saw the highest, second highest and third highest turnover. For any individual who has infringed a competition rule, the Tribunal may order him/her to pay a pecuniary penalty of an amount it considers appropriate.

An aggrieved person who has suffered loss or damage as a result of any contravention of a competition rule may bring a follow-on right of action against any undertaking who has contravened or been involved in the contravention.

Recommendations

As an anti-competitive conduct usually relates to established practices which have been accepted as the norms for companies to do business, companies must take immediate action to review and seek legal advice on any established arrangements which might infringe the Ordinance.

Depending on the size and risk profile of a company, internal compliance policies and procedures should be implemented to identify and reduce the risk of infringing the Ordinance; rectify any contravention; and create a culture of compliance within the organization.

Be careful if you plan on participating in trade association, informal meetings and social events with other competitors as such participations will also raise concern about an infringement of the Competition Rules.

With the Commission’s rights and powers of investigation under the Ordinance, particularly its power to search and enter premises under a court warrant, it is necessary for the companies to draw up compliance policies for their employees to follow.

Finally, every company should be aware of the Leniency Policy. According to the draft Guidelines, only those that are first to report anti-competitive conduct to the Commission can benefit from the full immunity from pecuniary penalty, with others that also co-operate with the Commission being promised a favorable treatment which is at the Commission’s discretion.

Advocacy

13

Did you ever dream of working in Hong Kong previously when you were in Canada?

I first moved to Hong Kong in 1998. I had never planned to move to Hong Kong and never really imagined I’d end up in Asia. I moved here mainly because of a job opportunity for my ex-husband. We knew a year before we moved to Hong Kong, and we did a site visit prior to moving. I didn’t have a great image of Hong Kong before my visit. During the stay, I visited Discovery Bay, which seemed like Fantasy Island for my three young children, and decided we could make Hong Kong work.

What is working for you living and working in Hong Kong? Which aspects of Hong Kong you enjoy most?

I love Hong Kong’s vibrancy and it’s East-meets-West mystique. And on a practical level, I have greatly appreciated the domestic help , as well as the fact that Hong Kong is a very safe city. These things made it possible for me to pursue my career. I must say, I have also appreciated not having to deal with Canadian winters.

What are the challenges upon your arrival? How have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was that it was hard for me to requalify as a doctor in Hong Kong. I did not work in my first few years in Hong Kong, and even went to work in Beijing for three years, where licensing was somewhat easier. Eventually, I decided I had to bite the bullet and go through the requalification process in Hong Kong.

Another challenge was that it was initially quite hard

to find school places for my children. My eldest was

lucky enough to get a last-minute spot in the

international school in Discovery Bay. But my other 2

children did not immediately get places, and we had

to send them to a village school further down Lantau

Island. For several months, my two six year-olds had

to take the ferry everyday at 7 am, and then a long

bus ride. That was an adjustment after car-pooling in

Toronto! Luckily, after a few months they did get into

Discovery Bay International School.

You have worked in Canada, Hong Kong and Beijing. How is Hong Kong compared to these places?

No question, Hong Kong is the best. It was hard work

requalifying in Hong Kong for sure, but this is the

place where I have felt most able to practice what I

hope is good quality medicine the way I want to.

There are challenges in every system, and the Hong

Kong medical system certainly has it’s problems, but

having worked in other systems makes me appreciate

what we have here.

What would you like to see Hong Kong do more as your “home”/“ideal city”?

Clean up the air. I have to say, when I first moved here

in 1998, Hong Kong stank of diesel, because all the

taxis used diesel for fuel. Hong Kong has definitely

improved on this, but of course in other ways things

have deteriorated. I do usually tell people that one

way to worry less about the air quality is to live in

Beijing for a while. After that you will feel that Hong

Kong is not too bad. (wink wink) 

Interview with Dr.Sarah Borwein

By Sarah Wai, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Managing Partner, Central

Health Medical PracticeDr. Sarah Borwein

Dr Sarah Borwein is a Canadian-trained General Practitioner. She received her undergraduate degree from Queens University in

Canada and a Masters degree in Development Economics from Oxford University in England, before attending the University of Toronto

medical school. Sarah is a Managing Partner at

Central Health Medical Practice.

Sarah has lived in Hong Kong and Beijing for more than 16 years, where she has continued to develop

her special interest in tropical medicine and travel health. Sarah has 3 young adult children. When she is not pursuing her passion

for travel, she enjoys yoga, skiing, hiking, boating and

photography.

EXCHANGE

Adventures of Working Abroad in Hong Kong

14 Vol.15

Did you ever dream of working in Hong Kong previously when you were in Canada?

In the early part of my career, I thought a lot about

working in Hong Kong.  I love the energy of the city

and always felt it would be a great place to work.

Later, after settling in Toronto with our young

daughter, we were enjoying life there too, on a

personal level and professionally for me at CIBC.

The transfer to Hong Kong last year came as a

surprise then but we welcomed the opportunity.

What is working for you living and working in Hong Kong? Which aspects of Hong Kong you enjoy most?My favorite part about living in Hong Kong is the

people.  The Canadian community here has been very

supportive and welcoming which has made our

transition easier.

Also, I work with wonderful professionals who are

bright and driven, and bring diverse skillsets and

thinking to our team.  There is a lot of positive energy

in the office, and it is a great place to work.

On a personal level, we love that our daughter is

speaking more Chinese and experiencing the culture.

We’ve also had great family experiences travelling in

the region. My wife has also found rewarding work as

part-time university lecturer.

What are the challenges upon your arrival? How have you overcome them?

One early challenge was finding an international

school for our daughter as the opportunity to relocate

arose after the deadline for admissions.  Fortunately,

she was young enough to attend pre-school in the

interim.  She is now happily settled and has quite a

few good friends living close by.

Another challenge is time zones, especially when your

head office is based in North America.  I’ve had to get

used to conference calls that can run late at night our

time.

Have you worked in other countries before apart from Hong Kong? How is Hong Kong compared to these places?

I worked in New York early in my career with

CIBC.  In my view, the two cities share a lot of

similarities in terms of the people and energy.

What would you like to see Hong Kong do more as your “home”/“ideal city”?

For anyone living in a major city, affordable housing,

air quality and public transit are key factors in

quality of life.  The efforts underway here are

positive and continued progress will make this city

even greater.

My wife and I were both born in Hong Kong.  I went to

Canada for school at age 15 and after completing high school and university there,

started my career in Toronto.  My wife had immigrated to

Toronto with her family while she was in middle school. We transferred to Hong Kong in

August 2014.

Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Region, CIBC

Wayne Lee

Interview with Wayne Lee

Adventures of Working Abroad in Hong Kong

15

Cavalia, an equine theatrical production that

integrates acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, live

music and equestrian arts, took Hong

Kong by storm between March and May

of this year. Created by one of the

co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, it has

stunned audiences around the world.

An awe inspiring show featuring 40

horses, it showcases a journey

uniting man and horse. In case

you missed the big white tent

near the waterfront in Central,

its founder Normand Latourelle

was at the Canadian Chamber

of Commerce in Hong Kong to

share with us his story and

the story of how this Canadian-

at-heart production was brought

about.

By Maria Lopez, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong kong

e theatrical production that t

atics, dance, aerial stunts, lilive

trian arts, took Hong

etween March and May

ted by one of the

rque du Soleil, it has

es around the world.

show featuring 40

ases a journey

horse. In case

ig white tent

ont in Central,

and Latourelle

dian Chamber

Hong Kong to

story and

this Canadian-

on was brought

By MMaria Lopez, ian Chamber of Commerce inn Hong kong

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Sharing Experience and Success: Leadership Column

16 Vol.1516

At a very young age, Québec native Normand Latourelle understood that his passion was to make people dream. Very soon, he turned his talent into his trade as he co-founded Cirque du Soleil back in 1984 with partner Guy Laliberté. At the time, Montréal was undergoing a cultural revolution of sorts: a city trying to express its unique cultural identity in the middle of an English-speaking country. The province was also fundamental to the production’s inception: it provided Laliberté with grants early on so that the performers could go on with the show.

It was during the very heyday of Cirque du Soleil that Normand Latourelle decided to part ways with the project to spend more time with his family. He started creating shows in Montréal working with the government and got into the world of special effects production. He also started to explore using nature elements as he produced open air shows. It was at one of these shows where he noticed how the horses were stealing the attention. As he watched the audience, he realised that their eyes were following the horses, and that the animals were doing very little to capture their attention. Intrigued and fascinated by the aesthetics of the horses, he started to buy horses, in the hope of creating a brand new show.

Normand Latourelle knew very little about horses before Cavalia. It was his expertise from Cirque du Soleil as well as his newfound love for horses and big image production that allowed him to create a rich and sweet mix between different techniques in performing arts. Fast forward a couple of years, Cavalia has grown to be a production with 70 horses of over 11 different breeds, 45 performers and over 100 employees. Latourelle has also developed a new show, Odysseo, which has sold over 1.5 million tickets across North America.

Part of his success, he argues, is the guerrilla marketing strategy which has driven communications managers of his company crazy. One poster for the show infamously shows a horse on a simple one-coloured background and quotes from celebrities but the dates of the performances are nowhere to be found. The idea, according to Latourelle, is to elicit curiosity of the public on a more personal and memorable level.

In any case, Latourelle concedes that he has put in Cavalia everything that he has learnt throughout his life: the lights, the water, the music. But mostly, he has married the acrobatic world with the world of horses, a concept that he had to sell to bankers in order to get the project started. “When someone tells me it’s impossible, I tell them, you just haven’t done it before”, Latourelle explained. “This is the formula of how you can reach the imagination of whoever you address: you have to make the impossible possible”, he added. Cavalia has brought to Hong Kong a bridge between cultures, a bridge between Canada and the city we are lucky to call home.

Laliberté with grants early on so that the performon with the show.

It was during the very heyday of Cirque du SoleiNormand Latourelle decided to part ways with tspend more time with his family. He started creaMontréal working with the government and gotworld of special effects production. He also startusing nature elements as he produced open air at one of these shows where he noticed how thestealing the attention. As he watched the audienrealised that their eyes were following the horsesanimals were doing very little to capture their atIntrigued and fascinated by the aesthetics of the started to buy horses, in the hope of creating a bra

Sharing Experience and Success: Leadership Column

17

Methanex has been doing business with/in China for more than 20 years and has established long term relationships with customers and other key stakeholders. With China becoming the world’s largest methanol market and methanol being increasingly recognized as a competitive clean burning fuel, Methanex has been actively developing methanol based fuel applications with partners in China. As a Responsible Care® Company, Methanex has an active role in promoting methanol safe handling and product stewardship with customers, suppliers, terminal and storage partners, key government agencies and communities. The Responsible Care® Ethic and Principles for Sustainability is a United Nations recognized sustainability initiative adopted by the global chemical industry to enhance community safety, employee health and safety, environmental protection, product stewardship and social responsibility.

Information sharing – serving as the bridge for methanol fuel best practices in China and the rest of the world 

Methanex has been actively demonstrating the benefits of methanol fuels for the environment as a low cost clean burning fuel that can support China’s local energy resources.

Methanex actively participates in key industry conferences, sharing global progress and learning with methanol’s use as a clean fuel for automobiles, ships, homes and for power production. Methanex also works closely with stakeholders in China to take the lessons and experience of using methanol as a fuel in China to strengthen the work and use of methanol fuels in other countries outside China.

Methanex sponsors and engages with international experts to attend key industry forums in China to enhance information exchange and accelerate progress in China. In addition, Methanex introduced international customers to Chinese partners for business opportunities in fuel blending and methanol fuel related investments outside China to create win-win outcomes.

By Kelly Zhou, Methanex Asia Pacific Ltd

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Methanex is the world’s largest methanol producer and supplier and currently operates production sites in Canada, Chile, Egypt, New Zealand, the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. The company moved its commercial office for Asia Pacific from Auckland to Hong Kong in 2006 to get closer to the most dynamic market in the region.

Promoting Methanol As Clean Fuel

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Responsible Care® initiatives – promoting the healthy development of the industry

At Methanex, Responsible Care® is the foundation of everything they do and is a key element of the company’s global culture. In China, Methanex has been communicating and engaging closely with key stakeholders to support product stewardship and protect the reputation of methanol by sharing best practices internationally and providing technical support when necessary.

Methanex has provided free Responsible Care® seminars and information sharing opportunities for government agencies, industry associations, customers, partners and universities. Given the majority of methanol is transported by truck in China, Methanex also organized truck safety seminars for logistics service providers to stress the significance of safe handling and transportation, and share best practices with the purpose of raising the overall industry awareness and standards.

Supporting the government with the drafting of documents and guidelines for the industry

Guidelines and standards are critical for the orderly development of an industry. Methanex has been providing technical and financial support and helping with the drafting of guidelines for the industry. Since early 2015, Methanex supported the drafting of guidelines for the design, construction, and operation of methanol fuel filling stations which have been published recently by China‘s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These guidelines will be an asset to the provinces involved in the pilot program and enhance the public’s confidence in methanol as a clean fuel. The guidelines will help harmonize best practices nationally leading to increased confidence and safer distribution of methanol motor fuels.

This year, Methanex has worked with the State Administration of Work Safety to produce its first ever Chinese Methanol Road Transport Safety Handbook, which has been handed out to around 700 participants at the 2nd

International Process Safety Management Conference held in Ningbo in September as well as relevant companies and organization for free.

The Chinese say “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. We believe every single effort that is made will make a difference in the end. This is what Methanex employees are doing in China and in other places, walking the talk and contributing to the healthy development of the industry as a responsible global leader.

f

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23

The training programme was launched in Hong Kong in 2013 with great success, and PwC has since provided sessions in Beijing and Shanghai, with local Corporate Responsibility teams in PwC Malaysia and PwC Singapore also replicating the programme.

Following the training seminars, a longer term mentoring programme provides selected NPO participants with an opportunity to work with PwC professionals to focus on areas of critical importance. The first of these mentoring cohorts in Hong Kong have now completed, and the results have been very encouraging.

Mentoring programme outcomes

In order to determine the real value delivered to NPOs, a detailed impact measurement project was carried out. PwC engaged an independent party to conduct in-depth feedback interviews with mentoring participants. NPO leaders reported they used what they learned in the programme to positively impact their organisation. The learnings included:

• Additional board members recruited, roles and responsibilities were clearly defined and there was an increase in member engagement

Over the past two years, the “Strengthening Donor Communications” training seminars held

by PwC China and Hong Kong have attracted leaders from about 250 non-profit organisations

(NPO). The free seminars provide skills in the areas of governance, risk management and

reporting which help NPOs earn trust from their donors and other stakeholders.

PwC’s Strengthening Donor Communications Programme Shows Charities Why Measuring Social Impact Matters

By Joanne Oswin, PwC

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24 Vol.15

• Annual reporting templates were developed, leading to clearer bookkeeping and transparent financial reports

• A vision and mission statement were defined, leading to clearer communication of identity and charitable status, fundraising strategies, goals and priorities.

• Frameworks for measuring and reporting outputs across initiatives were developed

• Fundraising was improved because of more concise communications, improved external profiling, access to broader networks and more targeted approaches for specific donors.

PwC mentors also indicated that the programme had a double benefit of providing positive results for the firm, such as increased competency and skills, improved internal and external networks and satisfaction.

Social impact measurement and reporting

In early 2015, PwC held another seminar focusing on impact measurement and reporting. Around 100 NPO leaders and ten corporate CSR practitioners attended this event.

This seminar combined training, discussion, workshops and best practice sharing from all participants, covering impact measurement in a holistic way.

Hannah Routh, Sustainability & Climate Change Director for PwC Hong Kong, presented the concept and tools of social impact measurement. As with previous programmes, a number of NPO participants are now engaged in mentoring relationships with PwC professionals, and we look forward to sharing the results as the programme continues to grow and evolve.

Quotes

“Our mentorship with PwC was hugely beneficial.  As a direct result, we now have a clear vision and mission. With these in place we are able to bring consistency to our strategy and communications. The mentorship also helped us to introduce annual reports about our work, and understand how to improve impact measurement.  It was a real boost to our organisation to have busy senior professionals taking time out to help guide us and be part of our work making a positive difference in the local community.” - Caroline Sprod, Executive Director, HandsOn Hong Kong, a non-profit organisation that helps charities meet their volunteer needs.

“It is encouraging to see such collaborative efforts across our region towards building trust in the NPO sector and help them improve governance and transparency.

Training on NPO governance and transparency has been replicated in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and PwC firms already have a strong history of supporting NPOs in this way in Taiwan, South Korea and Australia.

The firm’s community partners have given positive feedback on the seminars, and our volunteers have said that they’ve benefitted from the experience, too,” said Callum Douglas, PwC Corporate Responsibility Associate Director for Asia Pacific,

“Having played a part in founding a non-profit organisation myself, I understand how vital it is for the highest levels of oversight and transparency to be in place to ensure long term sustainability. This programme provides an opportunity for NPOs to build their capacity in areas which are core to PwC’s business, leading to a more trusted non-profit sector and a stronger society,” said Joanne Oswin, PwC Chief of Operations and Corporate Responsibility lead partner.

Callum Douglas

Joanne Oswin

Focus on Members

25

Why did your company choose WWF-Hong Kong as a partner?

As we know, WWF is a time-honoured conservation organization focusing on local education and conservation. We agree with WWF that youth education plays an important role in public engagement, they engage some 30,000 students each year to visit Mai Po Nature Reserve with funding from Education Bureau, the

Fulfilling Our Corporate Social Responsibility – It Can Be Achieved!

Recently, many terms have emerged related to environmental protection – “the green economy”, “sustainable development”, “green consumption” and more. The popularization of these terms implies that environmental protection is not only a civic responsibility for all of us; it also has revealed that there are many business opportunities for enterprises in the environmental field.

In modern society, it is increasingly important for organizations and companies to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR). For many organizations, conserving the natural environment is part of this responsibility. To help enterprises move their conservation agenda forward, it is essential to partner with a suitable, competent and highly-recognized non-profit institution.

What follows is an interview with Mr Wong, the Chief Executive Officer of a local enterprise. He shares his thoughts and experiences with choosing an environmental organization as a quality CSR partner.

Interviewer – WWF (WWF-Hong Kong)Interviewee – Mr Wong

students are able to acquire knowledge about local biodiversity and learning about the importance of conservation. We see WWF as a valuable partner that can provide enterprises a diversified platform, such as our Corporate Membership Programme – which helps us fulfil our corporate social responsibility and strengthen our corporate image.

This programme equips enterprises like ours with practical tools and guidelines to improve environmental performance via various

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conservation and carbon reduction measures. WWF also encourages us to formulate environmental protection policies and promote them to our stakeholders. The programme helps our employees take advantage of opportunities to experience nature and participate in conservation work, which in turn raises their conservation awareness and motivates other staff members to work together to conserve Hong Kong’s natural assets.

What is the most memorable activity you took part in with WWF?

It was definitely our visit to Mai Po Nature Reserve. The interpreter told us that we could discover about 400 bird species at Mai Po – over 75 per cent of the bird species found in Hong Kong. Of these, 35 species are of global conservation concern.Mai Po is often regarded as “Bird Paradise”, but a lesser-known fact is that it is also a biodiversity hotspot inhabited by creatures of all kinds, including reptiles, mammals, fish, crabs, amphibians and butterflies.

We have taken part in several visits to various WWF education centres, allowing our colleagues to enrich their conservation and environmental knowledge. These visits have had the added benefit of helping strengthen teamwork and staff communication in the workplace.

We are grateful to WWF for considerately limiting the maximum number of visitors in each team to 20 people, allowing the instructor to deliver conservation messages clearly and interactively with our colleagues, something which maximized learning for all participants.

Bird watching at Mai Po

Apart from the guided tour, what other activities have you taken part in?

We also carried out volunteer work at Mai Po. Some exotic species have entered Hong Kong – plants and creatures which have no natural enemies here. This means they grow uncontrollably, creating negative impacts on our wetlands. Our volunteers worked to cut back and restrain these species from mass propagation.

Volunteer work at Mai Po

Are there any other activities you intend to join?

To further increase our colleagues’ conservation knowledge; we have invited an expert from WWF to conduct a conservation seminar for us. One possible topic might be how to identify and select sustainable seafood. With the knowledge gained from the seminar, our colleagues will not only be able to consume sustainable seafood while on business dining, they will also be able to share this knowledge with their family and friends and together we will all be able to protect the Earth.

How does your company support carbon reduction?

We joined WWF’s Low-carbon Office Operation Programme (LOOP). As we are a WWF corporate member, the first year’s participation fee was waived. The LOOP provides us with a platform to take charge of our monthly carbon emissions figures. With WWF’s professional staff sharing carbon reduction ideas with us, after a few months our electricity bill decreased. Our colleagues are happy with the results of the programme so far and are ready to contribute further to protect our natural environment.

If you are interested in joining our conversation family, becoming a corporate member or cooperating with us on any level, please contact Mr Ma at 2161 9658 or visit www.wwf.org.hk/cmp for more details.

© WWF – Hong Kong

© WWF – Hong Kong

© WWF – Hong Kong

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27

Shanghai Free - Trade Zone, Guangdong Free - Trade Zone and Hong Kong - Competitors or Allies?

By Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Koehler Group

In September 2013 China opened its first “Pilot” Free-Trade Zone (“PFTZ”) in Shanghai and in March 2015 other cities replicated the concept and opened their own areas to promote foreign direct investment (“FDI”).

One day before the announcement of the Shanghai PFTZ expansion, the State Council of China also passed the framework for a Guangdong

PFTZ merging the Qianhai New Area with Guangzhou’s Nansha New Area and Zhuhai’s Hengqin New Area with a combined 116 square kilometers of industrial space.

The PFTZs: Regulations are not always in line with reality

The main advantages of the PFTZ can be summarized as follows:

• Shorter and easier establishment processes of Foreign Invested Enterprises (“FIEs”) due to a centralized single application procedure

• The promotion of Renminbi (“RMB”) convertibility with unrestricted currency exchange in the future

• Special custom clearance processes enabling logistics companies to declare customs on goods at a later stage

• New tax policies which allow companies to choose to pay import taxes on either the finished goods or on the single components, which can be a huge difference in China

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However the PFTZs are not (yet) widely accepted among foreign investors. Of the first 10,000 companies registered in the Shanghai PFTZ, only 661 were foreign invested companies. One of the main reasons for reluctance is the negative list, which even though was reduced in 2015, still limits or prohibits foreign investment into certain industries. Examples are finished cars (only up to 50% foreign ownership allowed), and tobacco sale (prohibited for foreign investment). Furthermore, the regulations are not working as advantageous as they look in theory. For example, the application process in the PFTZ is in reality not as fast as one would expect for Small-Medium Sized Enterprises (“SMEs”).

One of the biggest disadvantages of the Shanghai PFTZ is that it is located far from city center, making it difficult to attract expats and high-qualified locals. This has however now been compensated with the expansion of adding Shanghai’s main financial district Lujiazui and other designated areas to the PFTZ.

Considering all of above: Are the FTZs posing a threat to Hong Kong’s position as gateway to China?

Hong Kong is widely known as the gateway to China and as an easier entry point. As the former British colony, Hong Kong offers an easily understandable low tax regime, a western business atmosphere including common fluency in English and generally high skilled personnel. China also has a comprehensive Double Taxation Agreements (“DTA”) in place with Hong Kong and finally Hong Kong has the world’s freest economy and port.

Furthermore Hong Kong continues to be the offshore center. For almost a decade, Hong Kong has been the only place allowed to conduct offshore RMB business. With increasing internationalization of RMB, it now faces fierce competition to maintain its role as the top RMB hub. Within the country, the Central Government has earmarked the PFTZ as testing grounds to realize free convertibility of the RMB, which has however still not been realized fully.

However even if the RMB were to become a fully convertible currency and the Shanghai and Guangdong PFTZ grew into a thriving financial services hub, most analysts believe that both foreign companies entering the Chinese market and Chinese companies expanding offshore would still prefer the reassurance of Hong Kong’s strong legal framework, transparent markets and financial know-how. Financial centers become international hubs only when investors perceive they

provide a level playing field. This requires transparency, an independent legal system, and a willingness to adopt international norms. None of this is in place today in China. With an increase in business in the Guangdong PFTZ, business in Hong Kong will most likely increase and benefit from it. The Guangdong PFTZ can expect more foreign investment due to Hong Kong’s safer business environment being close by, as companies which would otherwise not take the step into China are possibly going via Hong Kong.

This mutual beneficial relationship between the Guangdong PFTZ and Hong Kong is not shared by the Shanghai PFTZ. Shanghai is a strong competitor for Hong Kong and is attempting to take over the position as China’s main point of entry for foreign investment. This has also shown immediate effect on the Guangdong PFTZ. There were reports that some companies that had planned to invest in the Guangdong PFTZ are reassessing their options in favor of Shanghai.

Focus on Members

29

Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer, World’s Top Rail JourneyThe World Travel Awards named it “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train”, and ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’. Not once, but eight times. Travel+Leisure magazine called it “One of the World’s Best Life-Changing Trips”. Condé Nast Traveler dubbed it “One of the Top Five Trains in the World”. If awestruck guests on Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer can even find words strong enough to express their delight in the journey, they will often call it the “Trip of a Lifetime”.

of its kind in the world can offer stellar service second to none. Chef-cooked gourmet meals highlight the sweet and savoury foods of Western Canada, simply

prepared to bring out their best flavours. The camaraderie of a shared experience makes it easy to socialize with tour companions and new-found friends on board. All luxury-train

No wonder travellers with the spirit of adventure love the experience. With 25

years of hosting guests from around the globe, the largest privately owned company

By Mark Richardson, Rocky Mountaineer

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trips strive to provide a high level of comfort and quality, but none can offer the scenery or service that makes Rocky Mountaineer unique.

From April to October, the sleek blue train travels by daylight through Western Canada’s vast and beautiful wilderness. Photo ops are everywhere; from roaring waterfalls and yawning canyons that will never be seen by motorists, to deep fjords and towering peaks populated only by wildlife

The Rocky Mountaineer is the best way to see the spectacular Rocky Mountains, which straddle the Continental Divide and connect the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Guests on Canadian Rockies routes travel in style, whether they choose GoldLeaf, or SilverLeaf or RedLeaf Service. (RedLeaf is available on some routes.) Overnight hotel

accommodations range from luxurious to mid-range, depending on the service chosen.

First Passage to the West runs between cosmopolitan Vancouver and Calgary, or postcard-perfect Lake Louise, or the attractive mountain town of Banff. It’s the only passenger-rail service on the historic Canadian Pacific track.

Journey Through the Clouds takes a more northerly route to and from Vancouver and Jasper, a charming outdoor-adventure town in the largest Canadian Rockies national park.

Even the short Whistler Sea to Sky Climb, a morning run from Vancouver with optional afternoon return, packs in the superb sights of Howe Sound, old-growth forest and snow-capped Coastal Range peaks. For 2016, the Whistler route has been added to the Rainforest to Gold Rush route (below), so day trips on the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb will not be available after this 2015 season.

Rainforest to Gold Rush, between from Vancouver via the resort village of Whistler to the outdoor-adventure towns of Jasper and Whistler, packs in the superb sights of Howe Sound and snow-capped Coastal Range peaks. It offers the contrasts of North America’s largest temperate rainforest, the desert-like Fraser Canyon, and the grassy ranchlands of the historic Cariboo gold-rush region.

Guests can begin or end their three-day Coastal Passage rail journey Rockies trip with an extension to that embraces one of two routes through the Canadian Rockies, and visits Vancouver, BC, Seattle, U.S.A., due south of Vancouver, via the Coastal Passage train route that hugs the rugged Pacific shoreline, and Seattle, USA. The train winds through deep forests, crosses raging rivers, traverses semi-arid deserts and navigates trestles and tunnels through towering mountain ranges. Along the rugged Pacific shoreline, it hugs

fertile arable land and passes the glaciated volcanic cone of Mount Baker and other Cascade Range peaks.

Hugely popular among Rocky Mountaineer guests have the option to take an Alaska cruise from Seattle or Vancouver. Award-winning Holland America ships ply the Inside Passage along the British Columbia west coast and into glacier-studded Alaska waters. Daily stops allow excursions, from mild to wild, in the small and lively port towns on America’s last frontier.

Many guests incorporate their train trip into a vacation package. Rocky Mountaineer also offers several no fewer than 45 dozen other vacation packages that can include trains, car rental, accommodation, coach and heli tours, meals and transfers, all tailored to individual wishes. Length of the package can range from a few days in Western Canada, to over two weeks travelling from Halifax to Vancouver. One epic circle trips that allows guests to loop around through the Rockies, beginning and ending the journey in Vancouver.

Call it life-changing, call it the trip of a lifetime, or call it your next vacation — and decide for yourself.

Hugely popular among Rocky Mountaineer guests is the option to take an Alaska cruise. Award-winning Holland America ships ply the Inside Passage along the British Columbia west coast and into glacier-studded Alaska waters. Daily stops allow excursions, from mild to wild, in the small and lively port towns on America’s last frontier.

For more information, please refer to www.rockymountaineer.com or call your travel agent.

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31

HONG KONG

CHIN

A

China’s overseas direct investment flows surged a staggering 37.5% per year between 2002 and 2014, and China has now become the world’s third-largest investor economy.

Businesses worldwide are already taking advantage of this trend. However, these cross-border investment partnerships face a number of challenges, the navigation of which would be best handled by Hong Kong’s world-class community of specialised services professionals. “From due diligence and risk assessments to valuation services, legal advisory and more, Hong Kong provides a full spectrum of services to support the investment process and facilitate international partnerships,” says Ms Koo.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the mainland’s total outbound investment amounted to over US$880 billion as at the end of 2014, with about 60 percent being directed to, or channelled throughHong Kong. In fact, China’s cumulative direct investment into Canada has already reached C$25 billion, making it the sixth-largest source of foreign direct investment into Canada, and there is certainly room for growth.

Ms Koo is particularly keen to highlight Guangdong, the southern province adjacent to Hong Kong that features the highest level of outbound investment among all mainland provinces. At the heart of its strength is light manufacturing, which accounts for over half of the province’s total industrial output. Ms Koo suggests that “Canada’s clean manufacturing and environmental technologies are natural partners for thriving Guangdong enterprises looking to improve their competitiveness.”

“Hong Kong is the perfect platform for Canadian companies given our close proximity to Guangdong and our large Canadian community,” she added. This was made clear by the positive responses to a previous HKTDC mission to Canada under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce.“Hong Kong’s effectiveness as a business centre convinced Canadian investors that we are a crucial stepping stone in reaching opportunities in China.”

Chinese businesses are entering another phase of global expansion. “China’s 12th Five-Year Plan

encouraged mainland enterprises to start ‘going out’,” says Jenny Koo, Director of Service

Promotion at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. “By seeking investment and business

opportunities overseas, these enterprises will upgrade and transform their capabilities and

enhance their competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.”

By Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Hong Kong: Bridging China to Investment Opportunities in Canada

To promote Hong Kong as Asia’s central business district, the first stop for overseas companies entering the Asian market, and the global gateway to China, the HKTDC organised“Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” in Toronto in June 2015, which was attended by 1,500 business people.

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HONG KONG

CA

NA

DA

Efforts to build more ties have not let up. This June, the HKTDC brought another delegation of Hong Kong services professionals and Guangdong corporate investors to Toronto to explore tripartite investment partnership opportunities with Canadian technologies.

“The collaboration did not end after the mission though,” says Ms Koo. “It led to lasting communications on business possibilities, with new partnerships already in the pipeline.” In one case, a Guangdong furniture manufacturer has already set up further meetings with a Canadian houseware retailer to build on their discussion in Toronto.

These collaborations are following the footsteps of earlier Hong Kong-Canada-China successes. The HKTDC’s mission to North America in 2013 produced a perfect illustration of this kind of tripartite collaboration when a Hong Kong legal firm represented a Guangdong machinery and equipment manufacturer in executing a joint venture agreement on waste management with a Canadian company. “The end result was that everybody benefitted and achieved what they could not have done by themselves” says Ms Koo.

These Guangdong investors, along with others from across the mainland, have been invited to join the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong next January. As part of more than 2,600 worldwide financial and business leaders in attendance, these investors will take part in the Deal Flow Matchmaking Session for in-depth discussions with potential business partners from around the world.

“Since 2011, the HKTDC has organised more than 100 activities to help international businesses capitalise on the increasing outflows from the mainland via the Hong Kong services platform,” says Ms Koo. These activities included joint investment missions, research projects, training sessions as well as seminars that culminated in more than 3,000 business-matching meetings between over 5,300 mainland investors, 1,500 Hong Kong services professionals and 4,000 overseas companies.

Encouraged by these results, Ms Koo reiterates the HKTDC’s efforts as establishing Hong Kong as the bridgehead for mainland enterprises’ outward investment ventures. “By continuing to serve as a source of market intelligence and business connections for mainland investors and overseas project owners, we will equip Hong Kong services professionals and overseas companies with the knowhow and tools they need to seize this rapidly growing opportunity.”

Signing of an agreement between a Guangdong machinery and equipment manufacturer and a Canadian environmental technology company. The partnership was facilitated by Hong Kong branch office of an international law firm. The Guangdong investor and the Hong Kong lawyer joined HKTDC’s mission to North America in 2013.

The delegation visits Cymat, a Toronto-based materials technology with the worldwide rights to manufacture stabilized aluminum foam products.

Guangdong investors, Hong Kong service professionals and Canadian project owners in a tripartite business matching meeting.Guangd in tor Hong K rvi fessional nd Canadi ject

Deal Flow Matchmaking session held during the Asian Financial Forum attracted more than 1,000 companies over the years. The last edition featured 12 Canadian investment project owners, high net-worth individuals and professional services providers.

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The Challenges and Successes of Setting Up and Doing Business in Hong Kong – Nanoleaf

By Christian Yan,Nanoleafchristian@nanoleaf.me

Nanoleaf is a green technology company that pushes limits in energy-efficiency by developing super-efficient LED products in order to make an impact to the world. Our goal is to transform how lighting is integrated in people’s lives by adding software and connectivity to our uniquely designed hardware.

Our HQ is located in Toronto and the three founders are all from the University of Toronto. The Hong Kong office is the main business entity that handles all our manufacturing, export, and trading matters.

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Why did you choose Hong Kong?

Prospering SMEs is what fuels Hong Kong’s economy and why

it’s such a great place to live and do business. Hong Kong has

a very transparent legal system and a dual-language policy,

which are reasons why many foreign companies choose Hong

Kong as the “gateway” into China.

The USD-pegged local currency is also great for companies

that mainly deal with foreign customers or customers who

simply wish to trade in USD. There must be a reason why

many manufacturers even from China have opened companies

and bank accounts in Hong Kong.

We also received generous support from organizations such as

InvestHK, HKTDC, and the HKPC – all here to support new

founded companies and startups in Hong Kong. Nanoleaf also

received subsidies from the SME Marketing Fund (of more

than 25,000 USD) supported by the Hong Kong government,

which lowered our exhibitions expense this year.

Nanoleaf was incorporated in 2012 but the founders have

been visiting Hong Kong many years before for trade show

visits and product development.

Have you personally lived in the City? How do you like living and working here.

I have been living in Hong Kong for nine years and obtained

my permanent residence after seven years of being on a work

visa. I always thought of Hong Kong as the New York City of

Asia – a city full of energy and opportunity. The city definitely

forces you to have a fast-paced lifestyle (with long work hours)

and this may not suit everyone as a place to live. If you are

someone the loves nightlife, then this is the place for you.

What I love about Hong Kong is that you can get food and

wine from anywhere in the world and on the same day, you

can also experience very local culture dining too. Many people

may believe that Hong Kong is a small place with limited

activities but it’s actually the opposite. It was after my second

year living in Hong Kong that I finally started to experience all

the outdoor activities such as wakeboarding, boating, scuba

diving, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and biking. What

more can you ask for?

What advice would you give entrepreneurs trying to establish a business in Hong Kong?

First and foremost, you’ve picked the right place! Hong Kong

is the perfect place to build your company base if your

customers or suppliers are around the Asia-pacific region.

There are tons of accounting firms, law firms, marketing

agencies, and logistics companies that are tailored towards

working with startup SMEs and will offer reasonable pricing.

You do not to worry that language will be a barrier – English

will get you a long way both in business and in your personal

life. Try to get involved in the business community and

participate in events hosted by various chamber associations.

You will never experience shortage of a happy hour

networking events in Hong Kong.

Office and living rent is hefty cost and must be considered in

your budget. However, there are plenty of co-working spaces

for startups to take advantage of, as well as newly renovated

offices in what use to be old industrial buildings.

The low (business) profit tax is another favorable factor to

doing business here, one that no company ever complains

about.

What is the startup community like in Hong Kong?

When I first came into Hong Kong, no one talked about

startups, we just called them “SMEs”. Now you hear about

new “startups” everyday. The community has definitely grown

since five years ago. The government has also set forth many

programs throughout various organizations to spawn and

support new startups, both foreign and domestic. Keep an eye

out for incubator programs that match your needs.

The number of shared offices and co-working spaces have

increased dramatically, which means that there are plenty of

startup talks, training sessions, conferences, and networking

events for founders to attend. Many startups that have shown

sales traction in North America now have setup base in Hong

Kong to prepare for their launch into Hong Kong, China, or

SEA countries.

I personally think that Hong Kong is the number one place to

be for IoT and technology hardware companies, who all have

an advantage sourcing products from across the border in

Shenzhen. You wouldn’t believe how many Kickstarter and

Indegogo technology projects were funded all right here in

Hong Kong. We were one of them!

Community

35

In good economic times, it is easier for leaders to appear to be good decision makers. And in challenging economic times, those same decision makers don’t always fare as well. The good news is that with a couple of surprisingly simple actions, you can improve your ability to lead regardless of the economy. And as changes continue to make their way through Asian or more specifically global economies, maintaining or even improving your decision-making abilities at a time when others are being “conservative” will give you great advantages, because the reality is that every economic climate holds an abundance of opportunities for those who know how to tap into them.

Believing and Achieving to Win in Any Economic Environment

Basically, there are two actions you can take immediately: Believe

and Achieve.

Believe with the Right Mindset

First, you have to believe that there are opportunities for the taking.

Don’t discount the power in this seemingly rudimentary approach,

because in evolving economies, while all decision makers recognize

that many obvious opportunities of yesterday are dwindling, only a

handful have the confidence in their ability to generate new

opportunities or to seize existing ones.

The right mindset is this: While you’re telling others that you’re

optimistic, you might internally have unexpressed doubts that you

can actually successfully navigate your organization through this

time. Those leaders who are genuinely optimistic have an advantage

over those who are not.

Achieve with the Right Skillset

Your existing skillset, which has gotten you to where you are today,

involves many moving parts and is individual to you. Draw upon it

to create new opportunities.

Next, immediately add a new “leadership tool” to your skillset; it’s

called the Enterprise Thinking (ET) Attract-Secure-Maintain

Checklist. This tool will enable you to assess your current revenue

model and to make appropriate improvements to it.

Here’s how it works. Every revenue model is made up of three basic

activity components: Activities that attract prospective buyers,

activities that secure sales, and activities that maintain customers or

By David Goldsmith, Goldsmith Organization

EXCHANGE

Professional Development

36 Vol.15

• Attract: Data mine psychographically on local,

regional, national, and international scales to draw

in prospects with the greatest buying ability,

including current and prospective buyers: stronger

currencies, less-affected industries, more robust

economies, etc.

• Secure: Offer ease and convenience as order

winners when your offerings differ little from

competitors. Think amazon.com’s One-Click feature

that enables buyers to lock in on a sale within

seconds. You want to empower, not encumber your

buyers.

• Maintain: Court your buyers beyond the first sale

to stay relevant as the choice vendor and prevent

too much room for competitors to win over your

customers. Consider this, your client/customer is

never really yours. It’s an illusion that can fade

quickly.

Though seemingly simplistic, believing that

opportunities exist and attracting the best and right

opportunities through an improved revenue model are

two sure ways to drive your organization forward in any

economy.

clients as repeat buyers. Every revenue model is in a constant need of

some improvement in the following three areas:

• Attract: How are you attracting buyers through all avenues of your

sales pipeline: marketing, PR, provisional merchandising on display

windows, website, networking activities, word-of-mouth referrals,

etc.

• Secure: What mechanisms do you have in place to secure buyers?

Upgrade, replace, or add onto these mechanisms to avoid

preventable order losers: long cashier lines, out-of-stock items, poor

quality, service-related errors, etc.

• Maintain: Why do your customers/clients keep coming back to

you, sale after sale? Consider educational seminars/videos and

conferences, newsletters, promotions, relationship-building

activities like sharing sales leads or helping clients build their

businesses.

Now, as you assess how well your current revenue model functions,

consider additional ways that you can identify or create opportunities to

further Attract-Secure-Maintain business, thus generating more and

better revenue streams:

David Goldsmith is Co-founder and President of New

York, Hong Kong based Goldsmith Organization, and

Buzd, LLC a San Francisco based patent

development company, Head of

Strategy for Innosect a Silicon Valley

innovation analytics and advisory

company, an award-winning author

of Paid to THINK, engaging

keynote speaker, patent

holding inventor, former

12-year professor at New

York University, serial

entrepreneur, advisor to

tech startups, and

groundbreaking business

thought leader.

based patent

ead of

con Valley

dvisory

ing author

ng

Professional Development

37

Oil’s Well That Ends Well? How Oil Prices Will Impact Asia’s Economy

Venue Sponsor: Clifton

Given the precipitous and dramatic decline in oil prices recently, this event took the opportunity to identify the key drivers behind the price decline and identify those who stand to gain, and lose, from the economic re-balancing.

The speakers brought the audience deeper into this topical, and decidedly Canadian, issue. This event was supported by Brookfield Financial. 

How Not to get Hacked: A Conversation with a Cryptography and Cybersecurity Expert

Dr. Cédric Jeannot discussed with the audience on the latest technology and tools available for individuals and financial services firms to prevent the leak of their privacy data and information.

Water Quality Control in Hong Kong: From Source to Tap

Ir. Cary Chan from Swire Properties Ltd, Ms. Debra Tan from China Water Risk, Mr. Kelvin Kwok from Water Supplies Department and Mr. Jason Sylvester from Velocity Solutions Ltd provided members an overview of the Hong Kong drinking water supply from its multiple sources to the measures taken to ensure its purity at your tap. The speakers also shared their idea on the topic of “High Stakes: Asia’s Water, Climate & Energy Challenges”.

Jun 19, 2015 Clifton

Jun 3, 2015 CanCham Boardroom

Jun 8, 2015 CanCham Boardroom

Event Highlights

39

CanChamHK Women’s Network Presents:

A Midsummer Night’s Networking Cocktail

Venue Sponsor: Arts Future Gallery; Sparkling Wine Sponsor: Wine’s Link limited; Fruit Sampling Sponsor: Frutodor

Thanks to the support of the sponsors, the Women’s Network had successfully organized a Midsummer Night’s Networking cocktail where like-minded businesswomen and women entrepreneurs spent the night in sharing business ideas and experiences, connecting businesswomen and women entrepreneurs to be inspired, engaged and connected with each other with Canadian sparkling wines, Canadian blueberries and cherries.

Canadian Consulate General’s Talking Economics Series: Rising interest rates: When, Where and What impact on Real Estate Pricing?

The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong has proud to launch a “Talking Economics” speakers series to help showcase Canada’s expertise and excellence in the economic, financial and business sectors to influential audiences in Hong Kong and Mainland China. This event was co-organized with CanChamHK’s Property Committee.

Jun 22, 2015 Canadian Consulate General Office

Baker Tilly HK & Air Canada Present: Exit Strategy: “How do I manage an Exit for my Business?”

Venue Sponsor: Quam Limited

Mr. Adrian Bradbury from Quam Captial Ltd, Mr. Sandeep Sekhri from Dining Concepts Holdings, Mr. John Levack from Electra Partners Asia Ltd and Mr. Brian Lau from Shaw Kwei & Partners had an interactive panel discussion on exit strategy for M&A, IPO, and more. This event was jointly organized by the Entrepreneur and Small Business Committee and Young Professionals Committee.

Aug 29, 2015 Santa Fe Junk

Young Professionals Committee Presents: Santa Fe Junk Trip

Junk Sponsor: Santa Fe, Beer Sponsor: San Miguel

YPC hosted their annual junk trip in late August to welcome YP members back to work. Our participants enjoyed a day out in the ocean with San Miguel beer.

Jun 25, 2015 Quam Office

Aug 21, 2015 Arts Future Gallery

EXCHANGE

Event Highlights

40 Vol.15

Québec: the Creative Economy

Mr. Jacques Daoust, Minister of the Economy, Innovation, and Exports Government of Québec, visited Hong Kong in September and hosted a conference where he introduced Québec’s strengths and its major economic projects such as Québec’s maritime strategy and Plan Nord to our audience.

Valuing Mineral Resources: Methods and Pitfalls

With Mining business being one of the most developed industries in Canada, Mr. Jeremy Peters from Snowden Group presented his view in appropriate valuation techniques and their application, and how to spot an inappropriately prepared Valuation. This event was co-organized by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, China Branch and the Natural Resources Committee.

Strategic Executive Search Presents: Leadership Series 3 with Mr. John Rice, Vice-Chairman, General Electric (GE)

Mr. John Rice, Vice Chairman of General Electric, discussed with our participants on how company leveraged its considerable strengths to enable a growth strategy based on creating sustainable economic value. He also mentioned the next industrial era and GE’s evolution into a ‘digital industrial company’ answering the needs of customers across key sectors including aviation, energy, healthcare and transportation

Sep 22, 2015 The Pool House, Grand Hyatt

Sep 15, 2015 CanChamHK Boardroom

Sep 16, 2015 Club Lusitano

Event Highlights

41

EXCHANGE

Welcome New Members

42 Vol.15

Welcome New Members

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