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My childhood was quite a fortunate one. My family was involved in the Kai Tak Amusement Park. Every weekend, I got to ride the ferris wheel and roller coasters and watch movies for free. Paula Tsui and Liza Wang performed during New Years.
I studied communications, worked in a bank in Canada, and then came back to HK, and was the PR for LKF group. Then Pansy Ho asked me to join Occasions.
My boss is a powerful businesswoman and encourages me in soft and hard ways.
She once told me, “My father [Stanley Ho] is 88 and still feels like he doesn’t know enough people—he continued to go out to pass his name cards around, he didn’t stop. So I can’t stop either. If I can’t stop, how can you stop?”
Pansy is on the board of all the charities, so sometimes I have to do PR for them for free. I kind of think it helps me sleep better.
She also persuaded me to get an MBA. And I did one at HKU. I do believe that it’s an asset.
I’m good at memorizing phone numbers. I have some 2,700 names in my phone book. If I look for a Chan or a Ho, it’ll take me forever to scroll down to find the number. So I’d rather memorize it myself.
Most of my life and friends are work-related. It’s hard to identify what is my private life anymore.
Being a PR is a 24/7 job, and it takes one’s entire life to learn how to be a top PR.
What do I have to do? I have to face the clients, my boss, the socialites, the security, the celebrities, the journalists, the staff, F&B.
My motto… I’m quite harsh on myself. Do I have to say it? Being number two is still losing. I have to be number one. I think that’s what keeps me going.
And the China market. Who would’ve thought that the worldwide economy, especially the luxury sector, now relies on China?
Hong Kong seemed like a very pessimistic place when I was growing up. Margaret Thatcher fell down the stairs, and everyone wanted to emigrate.
What’s sad about Hong Kong is that the government won’t let us rent a little museum or even a beach for an event.
Look at Paris—they can throw a party at the Louvre. China is like that now. You can throw parties at heritage buildings.
Hongkongers are so spoiled. I hate it when people come in and ask me for goodie bags right away. Or when they ask, “where’s the champagne?” Hello, you’re not here for the giveaways or the champagne.
You can ask me that and I’ll know whether I should invite you to the next party.
I learn something new at every event. There’s always a new experience. And it’s not always glamorous.
Like the time Cartier held a gala dinner at the Four Seasons and Dior had a cocktail party by the Landmark fountain. I had to be on station at both events, it was an amber rainstorm, there were no cabs on the street. I ran back and forth from the Four Seasons to Landmark three, four times. In a tux.
Trying to get VIPs from the line into the party. My God, it’s like the Titanic.
Honesty is the best policy. It’s true, especially in this day and age with the net. How long can you hide it?
My 19-year-old intern said the most important lesson he learned from his experience was, “You must let people know what you’ve done.”
You have to go with the times. Facebook, Twitter, Weibo—it’s to show everyone what you’ve done. It’s not the time to be humble anymore.
You need to know when to unveil to the world.


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Francis Cheng

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Francis Cheng is majordomo of Occasions PR and gatekeeper to most of the city’s top society events, fashion shows, parties and product launches. He sits down with Johannes Pong at Café Landmark for iced mint mochas, scones, chicken rolls, and more dishing.
