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Vivienne Chow

What does Hong Kong's middle class have in common with the world's most famous Chinese concert pianist? They're both unhappy with the price of property.
'I'm proud to be a Hong Kong resident ... but Hong Kong is very expensive,' says Lang Lang, the first person to become a resident through the Quality Migrant Scheme after its launch in 2006.
'I have a home in New York. I have a home in Beijing, but Hong Kong ... I'm still looking for my dream home in Hong Kong. It's more expensive than New York,' the 28-year-old says, giving his trademark dramatic gestures, though frowning. 
And frown he might, as he paraphrases the old Chinese saying that a foot of land is worth an inch of gold. 'In Hong Kong, a square foot is worth a diamond,' he says, to laughs from his entourage. 
Lang, with his spiky, jet-black hair and dressy shirt, looks more like a rock star than a classical pianist.
Certainly he is overqualified for the My Home Purchase Plan, the government's rent-to-buy scheme that accepts applicants with a household income of no more than HK$39,000 a month and assets of no more than HK$600,000. 
According to Bloomberg, the pianist famous for his dramatic stage performances switched from Universal Music Group to Sony Classical for HK$3 million this year. His shows have been best-sellers since he performed a Grieg piano concerto to a full house at New York's Carnegie Hall when he was 19. 
His recordings are popular, and in recent years he has been dabbling in movies, performing soundtracks for The Painted Veil and The Banquet. 
The baby-faced musician is also starring opposite Heather Graham in the 3-D family adventure The Flying Machine, for which he is also music director. The film is expected to be completed by the end of the year. 
And very soon even geeks will be hearing his music, as Lang has crossed the classical music boundary to record 12 tracks for the latest edition of Gran Turismo, the popular car-racing game. It turns out he's a fan of console games. 'But I'm not good, that's why I'm not addicted.'
He says he will be adopting such technology, including 3-D, from the mother company of his new record label to promote classical music. 
'I also have a few good gigs coming up,' Lang says with a proud expression.
But it doesn't alter the fact that every time Lang returns to Hong Kong, he has to stay at a hotel. Even when he was in town in the middle of this month - to attend a fund-raising dinner, perform with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and undertake charity work, including a showcase at the Elements mall - Lang stayed at the Langham Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. 
Not only does he have no home in the city, he does not have a Hong Kong passport yet. Even top overseas and mainland artists accepted for residency under the migrant scheme have to wait seven years like anyone else to be permanent residents.
'I'm a resident but not a citizen. It takes seven years to get a Hong Kong passport,' he says. 'A European country can give you a passport in two months. Hong Kong is hard.' 
According to the Immigration Department, by mid-October, 4,806 applications had been received since the migrant scheme was launched, and 1,734  approved. Besides Lang, internationally famous artists to have been accepted include pianist Li Yundi, actresses Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun, and actor Hu Jun.
Lang says the scheme is highly beneficial to the city. 'Hong Kong is already a great city with great talent. When these great artists come to Hong Kong, they just raise Hong Kong's profile further. In fact, Hong Kong gains more  than us,' he laughs. 
Lang, who holds a US green card, is willing to wait patiently for his permanent residency. 'Seven years pass quickly. I'm happy to stay here.'
Lang is demonstrating a growing commitment to the Hong Kong community. This month, he was appointed charity ambassador for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and conducted a master class with pupils at a Tung Wah school. Next year, his Lang Lang International Music Foundation will offer a scholarship to a Hong Kong music prodigy. 
He says there are more details to come. 'We've already got sponsors,' he says. Who will be awarded the scholarship? A prodigy like him? 'Similar.' 
The star rises from his chair, ready for a night of fun at a Halloween-themed event, and tosses off a playful goodbye remark: 'Don't take my comments too seriously.'



HK prices a sour note for Lang Lang