LIFE+ Magazine Issue 2

Explore our stories 

Spotlight
Foreword
Public awareness of heritage conservation has increased dramatically in recent years. In addition to supporting the preservation of iconic landmarks, heritage conservation now also aims to repurpose these buildings and give them a new lease on life. At more than 80 years old, Hong Kong’s Central Market is a Grade III historic building. We are honoured to have signed an operational contract with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), making a commitment to transform this historic site into a vibrant hub that is approachable, energetic and gregarious.In addition to introducing local brands to promote creativity, we will be hosting a series of cultural and art events in the building including those from the French May Arts Festival. In doing so, we want to create a friendly, vibrant “Playground for All” to connect neighbours and blend old and new generations. Chinachem Group will also provide support to start-ups using the space while working with the URA to give back to society. In short, th
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Coffee with the CEO
The climb that INSPIRES
Lai Chi-wai, 38, is a former Hong Kong rock climber. He started rock climbing at the age of 17. He has won many Asian rock-climbing championships since 2000. He is known as “Asia’s Rock-Climbing King”. His best performance is ranked eighth globally. He is more well-remembered for winning the Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition in 2008. Unfortunately, he was left paralysed after a traffic accident while driving a motorcycle in 2011. Since then, Lai who has been using a wheelchair, has walked out of the trough of life with a strong will. In 2016, with the assistance of a team of volunteers, he climbed to the top of the Lion Rock in a wheelchair, using a rope to realise his dream. That day was also the fifth anniversary of the traffic accident. His story was filmed into a documentary called CRUX. His dramatic life was made into a movie called Lion Rock. The unprecedented climb of Nina Tower will also be featured in a documentary called Never Settle.
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Building A Liveable City

Spotlight

CENTRAL MARKET’S Restoration

The Central Market as we know it today is its fourth iteration. Built in 1939 in the Bauhaus style, the current architectural design emphasises the integration of form and function. Critically, it is one of the only remaining buildings of this style that has survived in Hong Kong. Central Market was in operation until 2003, after which it was rated as a Grade III historical building.

From 2009 to 2011, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) conducted extensive public engagements to discover what the public wanted regarding operational approaches of a revitalised Central Market Building. The first round of survey results suggested that more than 80% of respondents wanted inexpensive eateries of good quality and local flavours. Respondents also indicated that they wanted the architectural design to be preserved and enhanced, and that the interior space should be reconfigured to create a diversified and non-uniform leisure space for public enjoyment.

The opinions collected from the public engagement exercise were consolidated and issued as part of the requirements on how Central Market should be operated in the future. After a rigorous selection process, the URA has recently chosen Chinachem Group to manage and operate the city’s Central Market revitalization project for a term of ten years. By enhancing the building’s historical heritage to enshrine it in collective memory, Chinachem Group aims to create a cultural corridor between old and new neighbourhoods and evoke a sense of belonging and connection.
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Livelihood

The Heights of HOMEYNESS

University Heights boasts well-proportioned living spaces and is close to hiking trails, providing plenty of space for outdoor activities．

Calvin Chiu, his family and their pet dog are now living at the redeveloped University Heights. In his free time, he enjoys walking their child and pet to the nearby hiking trails to enjoy precious family moments and cultivate their child’s love for nature.

When Mr Chiu and his family were looking for a place to rent, he said they wanted to find a place with access to plenty of outdoor space, but not too far away from the city. The apartment ideally would be spacious and well proportioned. As it happens, University Heights was freshly on the market at that time, and its apartments offer exactly what the Chiu’s needed. There are also floor-to-ceiling windows, which flood the living spaces with abundant natural light during the day. When night falls, the apartment becomes an oasis of calm. Learn more
Neighbourhood

Liveable Place

For many parents and grandparents, there is no greater blessing than being able to live close to or alongside multiple generations of their family. In an urban location, however, it is very difficult to find a housing development or community that offers facilities and services that are friendly to all ages. As Hong Kong’s population continues to age, the demand for homes designed for high-quality senior living has risen. To cope with this trend, the government proposed a strategic plan called Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030. The plan emphasised the importance of building inclusive communities that care for the needs of all ages – especially retirees – so that they can enjoy a good quality of life during their golden years. Learn more

  • Innovation
    Delivering win-win outcomes

    Angel investors provide financial and operational support to start-ups by pushing them to set goals and deliver on milestones.

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  • Community
    iMap’s Window into HISTORY
    What lies below those footbridges connecting the modern shopping malls in Tsuen Wan? 

    Tsuen Wan, the first new town in Hong Kong, is a place where the old and new co-exist harmoniously. Soon, a mobile map of the district created by iDiscover will provide an interactive exploration of the town’s roots.
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  • People
    A new lease on FASHION
    Upcycling is profoundly affecting the fashion industry, including inspiring a pioneering project to restyle hotel uniforms.
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  • Dine & Wine
    Sweet Elegance
    Of all the choices available in an alluring dessert display, the Napoleon is famous for its refined sophistication. 

    This delicate French treat is made up of three golden layers of flaky puff pastry, sandwiching smooth custard and topped with fruit and icing. In Hong Kong, it is called the Napoleon Cake, but in France or other countries, it is best known by its French name, millefeuille, meaning “a thousand leaves”. 
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  • Arts and Fun
    Digitised Art and Legacy
    Both a technology of documentation and a form of art, digitisation is a contributor to art history. 

    The late local artist Ha Bik Chuen was a well-known sculptor, printmaker and ink-wash painter. For 50 years he also recorded local and overseas exhibitions by collecting their print materials and photographing the events. His private archive is both a record and a participant in local art history. 
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  • News Brief
    Nina Hospitality Redefines Guest Experience
    The rebranded Nina Hospitality promises the ultimate home-away-from-home experience, providing personalised services to create a relaxing and memorable stay.

    The Nina Hospitality service team treats each guest like a beloved family member. From preparing the medicine cabinet to small acts such as wrapping up wires in the room, the intimacy makes guests feel like it’s their second home.
     
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  • News Brief
    Partnership Accelerates Startup Development
    Chinachem Group has teamed up with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to launch two innovative programmes aimed at narrowing the commercialisation gap for local startups...
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  • News Brief
    Webinar on green and healthy living
    Green homes do more than reduce carbon footprints; they also elevate quality of life and even productivity. In April, Chinachem Group organised a webinar on green living for the residents of properties managed by Chinachem Group. Tim Lo, Assistant Manager and Head of System Development at BEAM Society Limited, explained that through the four major areas of energy, water, environmental quality and materials, how a green, healthy living environment even under the Covid situation could be created through saving energy, reducing waste at the source, and implementing hygiene practices.
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  • Flashback
    Breaking Bread Together
    When Hong Kong’s economy took off in the 1960s and 70s, many employers arranged free meals for their staff as an employee benefit. Eat-in lunchbreaks reduce the barriers between individuals and departments and cultivate a sense of belonging.

    Chinachem Group, as a company tradition, has offered free meals to staff members with dishes varying on a daily basis.
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Happening
Chinachem Group's 60 Years Of Progress Exhibition
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Chinachem Group, the Creating Paces with Heart – Chinachem Group’s 60th Years of Progress Exhibition showcases Chinachem Group’s transformation from its roots as well as Hong Kong’s changes since the 1960s through various interactive exhibits. Peek into the future of smart living, and prioritising sustainability alongside a display of historic photos and objects from Hong Kong’s industrial past and 3D trick art installations exhibited across NINA MALL I and II. The exhibition is now open to the public free of charge.
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