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My Life

My Life
The latest news, analysis and opinion on My Life. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Philip Tinari, an American writer, critic, art curator and expert in Chinese contemporary art, was recently appointed as deputy director and head of art at Tai Kwun Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Art

Philip Tinari on his global journey through art and culture

After 20 years in Beijing, Tai Kwun’s new deputy director and head of art talks about why Hong Kong is now the place to be.

Get to Know

Jane Houng: musician, author – and mother of a murdered child

Books and literature

He thought his life was a failure. Then he wrote it down.

Macau

He planned to only stay in Macau for a year. Now he runs the literary festival

The Mozambique-born journalist once chose Stanley Ho for his magazine’s cover instead of Gong Li, and later bought the Portuguese Bookshop.

Ricardo Pinto. Photo: Carlos Pimentel
Interview

Barrister by day, jazz singer by night – and that’s only half the story

The British barrister tells of his years in the Gurkhas, long career in law, and singing at Ned Kelly’s in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Architecture and design

‘Architects are always jumping in water that’s over our heads’

Billie Tsien, founding partner of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, tells of designing the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre and the Obama Presidential Centre.

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Hong Kong

The Peninsula’s first female GM on burnout and the joy of reinvention

A colleague once told her she’d never make it at The Peninsula, ‘an old boys’ club’ – now she’s executive director of Hong Kong Design Centre, which runs Business of Design Week.

Rainy Chan has been executive director at Hong Kong Design Centre for almost a year. Photo: Alexander Mak
Art

T-shirts, TV fame and now a village art takeover: Dominic Johnson-Hill’s wild ride

The entrepreneur behind irreverent brand Plastered 8 talks about serendipity, celebrity, and leaving his colourful mark on Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's music scene

He plays music with his elbows and brings skateboard tricks into his performances

Steve Hui Ngo-shan reflects on his journey from teen raver to Hong Kong’s leading sound artist. He even writes operas.

Art

This writer went from dishing dirt in Manila to curating art in Hong Kong

Once infamous for her tell-all novels, Kitty Go has channelled her boldness into meaningful art and impact projects across Asia.

Art collector Kitty Go in her home office in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels. Photo: Eugene Chan
Hong Kong

His Parsi great-grandfather chose Hong Kong in 1880. 6 generations followed

Jimmy Minoo Master went from importing Indian textiles to running a Swiss asset firm. Now he plays golf and runs a family charity.

Jimmy Minoo Master was born in St Paul’s Hospital in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay in 1955 into the city’s then growing Parsi community. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Art

He finger-painted until it bored him. Then came the fire

The Filipino designer on his sold-out exhibitions in the 1990s, a terrifying incident with a gas canister, and his daily Hong Kong hikes.

Books and literature

Can a psychic reading change your life? He thinks so

Angus Donald’s reporting took him from Hong Kong to Kabul. When he finally slowed down, he found love because of a psychic.

Hong Kong's music scene

Andrew Tuason on his music career alongside Cantopop’s biggest stars

The record producer, composer and band leader discusses learning his craft from his father and working with Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau.

Andrew Tuason in his Hong Kong studio during rehearsals for his upcoming tour in San Francisco. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Hong Kong police

An ex-policeman recounts fighting triads, kidnappers and counterfeiters

The cop-turned-security consultant on a life of fighting crime in Hong Kong – from investigating tycoon Teddy Wang’s death to dealing with corporate crime.

Liverpudlian Steve Vickers, founder and CEO of Steve Vickers & Associates, has spent his life fighting crime in Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Hong Kong

How social worker Jeffrey Andrews went from gangs to grass-roots leadership

The third-generation Hongkonger discusses being easy prey for triads, the ‘subtle bias’ of locals, and why Chungking Mansions isn’t ‘a scary horror house’.

videocam
Hong Kong

This botanical artist’s journey from the ‘garden of England’ to Lantau

British artist and teacher Sally Grace Bunker once spent 7 years creating watercolours of 100 indigenous trees for the University of Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong

The audition tape she hid under her bed launched this radio DJ’s career

‘I learned English from the Backstreet Boys because I was going to marry one of them,’ says Alyson Hau of her preteen self – years later, she introduced them on stage.

Radio DJ and presenter Alyson Hau Ka-ming. Photo: Eugene Chan
Books and literature

What tailoring and book publishing have in common

Hong Kong art book publisher Mary Chan on her decades-long publishing journey, from journalism and art, to advertising and books.

Hong Kong

Film producer Jessica Kam-Engle talks Disney, John Woo and more

The Hong Kong-born head of CreAsia Studio discusses why she left a booming Silicon Valley and returned to Asia.

Cantonese

From a corner shop to cabaret star: Rick Lau reflects on his journey

A clairvoyant told him he was destined for the stage, so he changed his whole career trajectory, but even growing up in Hong Kong, he was inspired by Barry Manilow.

Cabaret show performer Rick Lau grew up in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan
Hong Kong

From Ireland to Kowloon: one educator’s 70-year journey

Brother Patrick Tierney, veteran of La Salle’s Hong Kong Catholic schools, discusses his devotion to education, his fondness for football and Bruce Lee.

Brother Patrick Tierney at La Salle College. Photo: Eugene Chan
Conservation

Gary Ades speaks on animal conservation and ecology in Hong Kong

Gary Ades, the head of fauna conservation at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, on the evolution of animal welfare and conservation in Hong Kong.

Doing Good

He held Hong Kong’s elites to account. Now he’s running out of time

Corporate governance activist and newly awarded MBE David Webb reflects on his decades of advocacy, his cancer diagnosis and the legacy he hopes to leave.

Hong Kong culture

Rowena Cortes on her life, and working with Elton John and Leslie Cheung

The Filipino-Hong Kong singer and actress talks about cutting her first record at age 5, working with stars, and getting married in front of 3,500 people.

Rowena Cortes, Filipino Hong Kong singer, photographed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Hong Kong celebrities and icons

The magical, musical, mildly chaotic world of Harry Wong

From passing props to his father, children’s TV host Uncle Calvin, to conducting orchestras in tutus, this Hong Kong radio host has always believed in the power of joyful chaos.

Harry Wong is affectionately known as “Harry Gor Gor” or “Brother Harry”. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
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