Ong Chin Huat, 33, is the social editor of Hong Kong Tatler, which is planning to expand to China. Mr Ong is preparing himself to spot new faces in the social scene after the handover. He predicts more and more mainland people will soon take part in social and charitable events in the territory. Born in Malaysia, Mr Ong graduated from the London School of Economics with a law degree before joining Tatler six years ago.
What does the handover mean to you? In terms of my work, I'm really looking forward to it. I think we'll see a lot of new faces coming to the social and charity scene. I think it will be very exciting. Personally, I'm also looking forward to it. A lot of things have been held back and people haven't started new things because of June 1997. But once it's over, there'll no longer be a deadline ahead. There will be a lot of partying going on around the handover date. My diary is fully booked. On one day, I have five parties to go to.
What new faces do you expect? There will be more mainland people on the scene. The businessmen and their spouses. People who run their red-chip companies, who are based in Hong Kong. There will be new blood, new ideas.
What changes do you expect? I think immediately there won't be dramatic changes. It will be a gradual change. Ever since I joined the Hong Kong Tatler, I was the first Chinese person working in their editorial department. There were a lot of expat faces. But in the past five years, it has changed a lot and has become very Chinese. I think they're making plans to go into China, but not yet. It's now in English only. It's been changing, it's still changing and it will continue to change. Chris Patten is the patron of many charities. When he leaves, the new patron will be either Tung Chee-hwa, Zhou Nan or Zhang Junsheng [both senior Xinhua officials]. Whoever is the new patron will bring a lot of people who work with him. To be able to speak Mandarin will be a definite asset. It's a matter of respect.