《LIFE+》Winter 2023 Issue Highlights

Introducing our new 《LIFE+》 Magazine

This issue holds a special place in my heart as it shines a spotlight on Tsuen Wan West, where our roots firmly lie. Since we established our headquarters there in 2009, it has witnessed our remarkable growth which, in turn, has fuelled the transformation of the district. We, as a placemaker, take pride in the dynamic relationship that thrives between us and this very place we call home. Tsuen Wan is a tapestry where the past intertwines with the present. Nina Park, our latest venture in the area, stands as a testament to this distinctive blend. The soon-to-open destination offers a contemporary presentation of prehistoric wood fossils, transporting visitors millions of years back in time while igniting their imagination for the future. It not only delves into the realms of history and geology but also embraces the arts and sciences. Join us on a guided tour, where our experienced docents will walk you through this edutainment attraction. If you yearn to explore more, do visit the Science Museum as we have loaned some of our fossil collections to its exhibition. Yet, Tsuen Wan’s narrative is not solely ours to tell. We have approached various parties, including three community leaders, a promising artist who grew up there, and an array of renowned Japanese retailers who have made the wise decision to open their shops there, to share their perspectives on the neighbourhood. We have also talked with curators and artists whose works have infused the public spaces with vibrancy. From the enchanting pop-up art installations this summer to the Yi Pei Square Playground and the massive portrait of an anonymous female factory worker, the district’s unique identity is not only preserved but also widely celebrated. Just recently, we brought together industry leaders at our Tsuen Wan premises for our annual Sustainability Conference, where we exchanged insights on pioneering an inclusive net-zero future in Hong Kong. Among them were two aspiring young advocates who are dedicated to collaborating with their peers locally and worldwide to propel sustainable development. Their voices matter. Please read on to know more about their views, and let’s work hand in hand to shape a better world for future generations. With Christmas fast approaching, I’d like to invite you to spread warmth during this festive season through community service. Via CCG Hearts, our newly launched membership rewards programme, you can enrol in a rich variety of volunteering activities organised by our NGO partners all year round. We all can make a positive impact on the community around us. The joy of giving is immeasurable. I hope you enjoy reading this issue of LIFE+. Donald Choi Executive Director and CEO of Chinachem Group

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Spotlight

Crossing over science and art in an urban oasis

Laughter fills the room during the conversation with Professor Chan Lung-sun, Honorary Professor of Earth Sciences Department at The University of Hong Kong, and award-winning architect Dr Chan Lai-kiu (nicknamed Q). “If you asked me which Functional Constituency I belong to, I’d say entertainment,” quips Prof Chan. “See the witty charm of this kidult!” grins Q.

Spotlight

Embracing Japanese culture in Tsuen Wan

In Hong Kong, the allure of Japan is so strong that some locals often joke that visiting the country feels like coming home. The widespread popularity of its culture has attracted countless Japanese retailers to the city, Tsuen Wan included. Aside from the existing Japanese lifestyle megastores, three renowned brands are soon to make their footholds in Nina Mall. How do the Japanese people view Tsuen Wan community?

Spotlight

Exploring Tsuen Wan through the eyes of an artist

Many artists are often inspired by their personal experiences when it comes to creativity. Local artist UUendy Lau (nicknamed UU), who has exhibited her art pieces at the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Design Centre, has been deeply influenced by her childhood and adolescence in Tsuen Wan as well. Though it seems to be a chaotic place for many people, UU believes that we can discover in this area a sense of good neighbourhood, inherited tradition, and peace in nature. Why not follow UU’s footsteps and get the feel of the nine noteworthy places of her choice in Tsuen Wan?

Spotlight

Vivid Tsuen Wan

What colour(s) you may associate with Tsuen Wan? For those who have recently visited there may say “multicolour”!

Spotlight

Play is for the people of Tsuen Wan

The heart of Tsuen Wan perpetually reverberates with technicolour activity.The hammering thud of cleaver through scarlet meat as delivery trolleys clatter by. Men perched around tables debating noisily, interrupted only by shouting waitresses clacking down bowls of steaming food, whilst silent septuagenarians forage for cardboard. Here, commerce dictates pace. But follow the signs for Yi Pei Square, step behind the façade of the bustling streets, and it is a technicolour oasis that greets you. The ground is blue like a cartoon ocean, and the urban soundtrack sparkles with the sound of children playing.

Spotlight

Creating identity through anonymity

Known today for its corporate skyscrapers and financial institutions, by contrast, Hong Kong is a city built on manual work, realised by the hands of individuals. Across the city, men and women toiled in noisy factory floors, their limbs moving relentlessly and mechanically, a foretelling of the machinery that would ultimately replace them. In Tsuen Wan, like so many areas of Hong Kong, textile manufacturing dominated for decades, with the sector employing almost half the city’s workforce by the end of the 1960’s. However, the economic diversification of the city led to the local industry’s demise, and in its wake, the buildings it occupied fell by the wayside.

Behind the Scenes

Storytellers who transport visitors through time

Exhibition visitors may get involved in quiet dialogues with the exhibits to fully grasp their significance. With the guidance from docents who act as facilitators, this experience can be enhanced.

Sustainability

Safeguard our planet by the young-gen

In their journeys through university, Carly and Jasmine, who studied the human mind and animal welfare respectively, traversed distinct paths until a shared passion for the Earth’s well-being brought them together two years ago.

Sustainability

The end, from the beginning

Asked to picture a drab meeting room, with a senior figure in museum education and management, explaining to you that there’s significant chance we’re staring at the end of the world; and you’d probably anticipate rather a sombre conversation. Not if you’ve got Lawrence Lee breaking the bad news.

Community

Nurturing future leaders in a historic site

People who have watched The Sparring Partner and A Guilty Conscience, two recent local blockbusters, would probably find the courtroom scenes filmed at the former Fanling Magistracy captivating. With over 60 years of history, the colonial building was closed in 2002, soon becoming a popular filming location. Since 2019, it has been given a second life through revitalisation efforts, and is now the headquarters of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) Leadership Institute.