Unbowed

Even the most enthusiastic of sports fan must occasionally grow weary watching on as their favourite athletes are forever lauded. The very notion that people who run, jump, kick, throw or play catch for a living necessarily make ideal role models is, when all things are considered, something of a ridiculous proposition. And then you meet someone like Zahra Nemati. And you think again.

Nemati – 31, Iranian, wheelchair-bound, seldom spotted without wholly unfashionable glasses and a white hijab – is, at best, an unlikely icon. If anyone truly deserves the mantle of heroine and role model, though, it is surely her. For athletes, women in her own country and for people from all walks of life across the Muslim world, this multi-medal winning archer has become a potent symbol, an embodiment of just what can be achieved.

Four years ago, at the Paralympic Games in London, Nemati beat Italy’s Elisabetta Mijno in the women’s W1/W2 recurve final. Her victory made her the first Iranian woman ever to win either an Olympic or Paralympic gold medal. This month she will be in Rio to defend her Paralympic title. Before that, though, she will be competing in the Olympics. This will see her elevated to the exclusive ranks of those who have participated in both Games.

Exclusive is a key word here. Since the birth of the modern Games in 1896, only 14 athletes have qualified for both the Olympics and its Paralympic counterpart. Perhaps ominously for Nemati, her immediate predecessor was Oscar Pistorious.

Despite this, she seems undaunted by the twin challenges that await her. She says: “I was so excited and happy to get this opportunity. I will do my best to win in both events. I believe this will help to motivate all the archers in my country.”

If that wasn’t historic enough, her homeland gave Nemati the honour of leading out the Iranian team and carrying their flag at the Olympic opening ceremony – an astonishing mark of recognition from a country not widely known for its appreciation of female achievement.

She is acutely conscious of her status as a trailblazer. She says: “Some years ago, no one could predict that an Iranian woman will be able to star in an international arena. Many international events didn’t even allow Iranian women to wear a hijab. I am optimistic about Iranian women’s performance in sport, I see a bright future. I think we can be a role model for Islamic countries.”

Nemati’s prowess with a bow and arrow may now have received both national and international renown, but she has had to overcome many obstacles to reach her current level. Not the least of which was the terrible tragedy which led her to taking up archery in the first place.

As a teenager, Nemati excelled at taekwondo. She was a black belt and dreamt of Olympic success at the sport. But the devastating earthquake which struck the Iranian city of Bam in December 2003, killing 26,000 people and leaving another 30,000 severely injured, took those dreams away.

Nemati was in a car accident caused by the quake. It left her paralysed from the waist down and facing the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She recalls how she recovered from the blow, saying: “I had performed taekwondo from the age of 12 and I really loved it. But then I had the accident which paralysed me. I felt great disappointment when I found out that my legs were paralysed.

“But I decided to be powerful. My disappointment and deficiencies vanished because of my hopes. I said to myself, ‘I can’, and this was the starting point. For two years I underwent physiotherapy sessions to keep up my spirits. It helped me get back to life.”

Keen to return to sport, Nemati looked for an activity where the loss of movement in her legs would not be too much of a hindrance. She recalls: “I decided to do sport again. I said goodbye to taekwondo and hello to archery. I started to like it and the feeling prompted me to do it professionally. The pinnacle of my disappointment in taekwondo was the start of my happy days in archery. In fact, my medals in archery are the medals I wished for in taekwondo.”

” I hope my sporting success will motivate those with disabilities to fight for their dreams”

It was an inspired choice. Within six months, competing alongside able-bodied archers, Nemati had come third in the Iranian championships and been called up to the national team. At international level, she produced medal-winning performances in the prestigious Asian Grand Prix tournaments; and then in 2010, she made her first foray into the field of para-archery, smashing the world record in a tournament in the Czech Republic.

A year later, at the World Para-Archery Championships in Italy, she broke four world records and collected a silver medal in the wheelchair-bound women’s individual event, and a bronze and a gold in the team events.

Then came the Paralympic Games in London, where she simply swept aside the opposition, breaking the games record and scarcely dropping a set on the way to the individual gold medal. She also secured a bronze in the team event, in which Iran’s only defeat was to the eventual winners, South Korea. And it was little surprise when she claimed gold the next year at the World Para-Archery Championships in Thailand, beating China’s reigning world champion Yanhong Xiao in the final of the individual recurve W2 category.

Unusually, she attributes some of her astonishing and rapid success to her disability, saying: “I think a disabled limb forces you to rely on your other resources. As I can’t use my legs, I think archery is the sport that suits me best. While archery needs accurate sight, concentration is the key factor. It is this strength that wins me the medals.”

For many, she has done more than just overcome her own personal tragedy. She has also triumphed over the barriers to female success in her home country. Similarly, she has taken gold despite the superior facilities and training programmes enjoyed by athletes in more affluent nations. Taken together, this led to her winning yet another prestigious accolade – the 2013 SportAccord Spirit of Sport Award for Individual Achievement.

Presenting the award, the organisation, an umbrella body for the various international federations of Olympic sports, said her story had radically altered the perception of the disabled, while inspiring countless other women to take up sport. For her own part, Nemati dedicated the award to “my people, Iranian women and all Muslim females”.

Her success has certainly raised the profile of sportswomen in Iran, both able-bodied and disabled. It has also led to a marked increase in women participating in such sports as archery, both in Iran and throughout the wider Muslim world.

Speaking of Nemati, Sima Limoochi, the only Asian member of the International Paralympic Committee, said: “For women – and not just in Iran – it is very important to have role models like Zahra. She brought the idea of women participating in sport to the table of many different organisations in Iran, including the National Paralympic Committee, its national sport federations and even the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

“She has had a great response from the media and from people in Iran. She has become a role model for the whole country.”

Nemati is, however, wary at the prospect of being considered such an icon, saying: “I don’t think I can be considered a role mode. I just try to be the best I can. I only hope my success in international events will motivate those with disabilities to fight for their dreams. I hope that nobody in this world has to face disappointment, especially women and anyone with a disability. Disappointment should not characterise their lives.”

“If I have any purpose, it’s to send this message to all the disabled people in the world – never give up on anything you want to do on account of your disability. Everything is possible.”

One person who is somewhat less shy about proclaiming the significance of Nemati’s achievements is Roham Shahabi, her husband and teammate. He believes she has had a huge impact on those around her, as well as those who look up to her. He says: “Her success gives everyone a sense of pride.”

“Never give up on anything you want to do on account of your disability. Everything is possible”

Being an Iranian woman on an international stage is a huge accomplishment. Zahra truly is a role model for Iran and its women.

“All her efforts and achievements have been seen by a global audience, and this has motivated people, especially among women and those with disabilities.”

The support of her husband is something that Nemati is keen to stress, believing it has played a key role in her success. She says: “When an athlete triumphs, some ignore the fact there are many people behind the scenes. From the beginning, I have enjoyed the support of my husband and family. If I win gold at the Paralympics, I will dedicate it to them.”

Winning that gold, though, is not necessarily a given. For one thing, she’s no longer world champion, having missed out on the championships in Germany last year in order to concentrate on qualifying for the Olympics. It was a no-show that inevitably saw her slide down the sport’s ratings.

In Rio, she will face stiff competition. She not only has the new world champion to contend with – China’s Wu Chunyan, but also Russia’s Svetlana Barantseva, South Korea’s Lee Hwa-sook and her 2012 adversary, Elisabetta Mijno.

Nemati, though, believes that the threat extends well beyond these four. She says: “I think every participant is at their best. They’ve all won many medals and will all seek to shine at the Rio Games.

“Participating in the Olympics is a unique opportunity for every athlete. While my main rivals are typically from South Korea, China or the US, a virtually unknown archer could scoop medals if they have prepared well. I think of every athlete as a rival and I hope to beat them all.”

She is of course aware that, as the current holder of the gold medal, she will be under additional pressure. Acknowledging this, she says: “My past success will undoubtedly make it tougher for me. However, I am determined to shine in the upcoming events.

“All champions can lose their motivation, but my dreams are about more than just winning medals. I love this sport and that continues to inspire me. The main things that motivate me, though, are the expectations of the fans and their ever hopeful hearts.”

However she fares in Rio, though, Zahra Nemati’s achievements to date ensure she will never be seen as ever having

Lumiere Luminaries

Lumieres Hong Kong, a special happening organised by Association Culturelle France and sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, recently illuminated the city. The festival saw fantastic light sculptures cast onto a number of the city’s landmarks, including the Man Mo Temple and The Fringe Club. With international actress Carina Lau newly appointed as the festival’s ambassador, a bright future seems more than assured.

Click here to see Lumiere Luminaries on video

Curl’s Night Out

Dyson, the British brand known for its innovativen opted for Lan Kwai Fong’s Loft22 as the venue for the launch of its Supersonic hairdryer. Engineering Manager Pete Duckett, was on hand to introduce the product.

Click here to see Curl’s Night Out on video

Monster Fun

Celebrating both its exclusive distribution deal with Gentle Monster, the Korean designer eyewear company, and the launch of its first Hong Kong outlet dedicated to the brand, Puyi Optical recently invited a number of the city’s finest and most fun to attend a special celebratory opening event.

The exclusive bash took place at the brand’s new railway-themed Causeway Bay outlet, with Song Ji-Hyo, the celebrated Korean actress heading the guest list.

Click here to see Monster Fun on video

Rado Show

Swiss watch brand, Rado, kicked off the grand opening ceremony for its new Harbour City boutique with its Designing Lightness Exhibition, a showcase of the work of many of the world’s most renowned designers.

Click here to see Rado Show on video

Going Caracas

Prada recently invited a select number of the city’s leading fashionistas for a special preview of its expanded and completely refurbished Canton Road flagship store. Its new frontage has been conceived as a homage to the works of Carlos Cruz-Diez, the celebrated Franco-Venezuelan artist, with geometric patterns in black Marquina marble a conscious nod to a number of his most highly regarded pieces. Intermingled with this are a number of elements of Prada’s own unmistakable style.

Click here to see more on video

Tango in the Night

The recent Asia International Dance Championships, organised by DansinnHeavenly, one of Hong Kong’s leading dance studios, saw more than 800 keen professional dancers showcasing their skills at the HKCEC. The event brought together terpsichorean talent from across the globe, all lured by the US$100,000 prize money on offer. One of the highlights of the event was a performance by two award – winning Latin dancers – Anna Pao-Sohmen and Ivailo Tonchev.

Click here for more on video

Louey XIII

Nathan Louey is Private Client Director and Consultant for the “King of Cognacs”: Remy Martin, Louis XIII.

Click here to see Nathan Louey on video

While studying at Oxford Brookes, you spent a year at the Mandarin Oriental in London. How useful was that for you?
It was a challenging and fruitful year. I learnt a lot and gained some invaluable experience. Working in the management sector, I got to know all the different departments that contribute to the smooth running of a luxury hotel, everything from housekeeping to maintenance to F&B… I came to appreciate just how labour intensive a job it is. From there, it was a natural move into wine and spirits distribution with Telford International, one of the largest such businesses in Hong Kong.

How important for you is it to feel continually challenged?
Very important indeed. I think everyone needs to be challenged. When you become very complacent in one role, then you know it’s time to move your life on. You need to excel, you need to progress, and you need to find a new ambition, find new challenges and stay interested. You have to enjoy what you do. If you don’t enjoy it, then there is no point doing it.

Can you give us an insight into your future aspirations?
Like everybody else, I have to do something I enjoy. Accumulating wealth as a thing in its own right is never a good thing. As they say, you can’t take it with you. You have to enjoy what you have.

To that end, we make brandies that we know people will enjoy and, equally importantly, we know that will endure. It’s great to have a sense of heritage, something you get from some 100-year-old spirits. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it really is best to both work and play hard. That’s just how life should be.

What are your interests beyond work?
For me, as I’ve said, it is all about enjoying life. It’s good to enjoy the occasional drink and to get to know great food. It’s also good to go on holiday and experience the world. You have to continually look to increase your knowledge and be mindful as everything evolves around you. Stay up to date. Keep vibrant. Be as joyful as possible. Happiness is all important.

Do you have a travel destination that is a particular favourite?
I travel to a lot of places, and some of them – such as Lake Como – are truly special. Although I do like the urban lifestyle, Lake Como is one of the few places that could woo me away.

Is there one bad piece of advice that you have been given that sticks in your memory?
There are probably a few pieces of bad advice that I have been given over the years – anything from suggested investments to mooted partnerships. In the end, you have to be wise enough to work out just what is good and what is bad. Take advice from everyone – your secretary, your friends and your staff – then analyse it yourself.

How practical are you? Can you, for instance, change a fuse?
I can. I wouldn’t necessarily be sure where I could buy one though.

What were your parents’ jobs?
Well, my father was a kind of stockbroker and worked for a securities firm. He also managed the family’s property interests. My mother was a housewife.

What is the scariest situation you have ever found yourself in?
It was one time when I was on safari in South Africa. It was quite a while back and we were in Sabi Sabi and Mala Mala Game Reserve. We were in an open jeep driven by a British driver, out on a night hunt – or a “night drive” as they call it. We were driving through the woods when, all of a sudden, we saw two eyes gleaming out of the dark. As we were on safari, we decided to drive right up to them. It turned out to be a leopard.

It started to track around us, slowly circling about our open(-topped) Land Rover. It was at this point, our guide told us he only had three bullets – one to protect him, one to protect the driver and one to protect the car itself. There was none to spare to protect the obviously more expendable passengers. Needless to say, we were a little worried. At this point, the jeep stalled. The driver struggled to start the engine. All the while, the leopard was circling around us, howling as it went. Our worry levels, understandably, went through the roof. Eventually, he managed to start the car and we moved off. Looking back, we survived and we managed to see one of Africa’s Big Five close up.

Do you have a tipple of choice? In your game, you surely do.
Other than Louis XIII, it would have to be a gin and tonic. I think a G and T is more of a day-to-day drink, whereas a Louis XIII should be reserved for a particularly successful day, a time you want to relax or even celebrate.

And is there a book you would particularly recommend?
Lately, I haven’t really read anything new, but I do like reading autobiographies. You can learn a lot from people’s histories. I particularly like reading about failures. You can learn a lot from that – often more than you can learn from reading about successes. Success is always about hard work, but the factors behind a failure are something you can learn from. For me, everything is about learning. It’s only by learning from your failures that you can come to appreciate just what you have achieved.

When was the last time you were really ill?
It was not all that long ago actually. I was sick back in April. I had a very bad flu. I don’t know what kind of flu it was, but I was really quite ill. Up until then, I had never been ill to the point that I couldn’t go to work. That was the first time. In all my years of being a student, being a kid and being a university student, I had never skipped a day of class or work until April. For the first time, I took a few days off because – literally – I didn’t have any energy. I couldn’t even walk. It was that bad.

What keeps you awake at night?
It’s usually CNBC or WhatsApp, with people from around the world texting me. When you are in Hong Kong and you are settling in for the night, people in the UK are still up and about, wanting to ask you questions. So, while it could be CNBC, WhastApp or even emails, it’s never stress. I can always sleep soundly. I guess I have never really done anything bad enough to merit me having sleepless nights.

Sometimes, though, if I think of something that I think could be important later, I get up and write it down straight away. I always go immediately back to bed then and soon fall asleep.

Do you have a favourite style of cuisine?
Generally, we drink as a way of helping us to appreciate food. We shouldn’t drink alone as that can be a sign of depression. You have to drink with friends generally or, at the very least, with a cigar as a way of alleviating any gloom. In terms of favouring a particular cuisine, well I don’t know. I like many different kinds of food. While I consider myself a very adventurous person, I wouldn’t go as far as to eat a scorpion or anything like that. I am adventurous, though, to the extent where I would try most things. Being in Hong Kong is fantastic for that – we are free to try a host of different things. A lot of people say “eat to live” but I live to eat. For me, that’s the best way of approaching it.

What’s the best birthday present you have ever been given?
That would have to be feeling the love of your friends all around you. I would say it’s never anything materialistic, it would have to be something more heartfelt. Material things only offer short-term happiness. The very best present you can ever have is having all your best friends and family around you. It is the best way to celebrate your birthday.

Do you believe in aliens?
I believe there is someone out there, but I am not sure what. I have heard that, apparently, Obama is going to make some kind of statement about extra-terrestrial life before the end of the year.

Did you learn anything at school that has never proved useful?
My parents told me one thing – they said: “We can give you anything you want in this world, but nothing will be as long lasting as education.” Education is the best gift you can ever be given without a doubt. This is especially the case if you have a chance to go abroad and learn about other cultures. At the time, you might not realise how much you are benefitting, but further down the road it will all come into focus.

When was the last time you went to the cinema?
I tend to go every Saturday. That is pretty much a weekly ritual with me. I like to get really immersed in a film for two hours or and so, imagining I am James Bond or someone. It’s great to be so entertained that you don’t even think about checking your phone. The last film I saw was the latest X-Men, but I always enjoy my cinema at the end of the week.

What do you look for in an ideal partner?
Love, understanding, the chance to have a heart-to-heart, passion. They’re all things that are hard to find – especially in Hong Kong. When you live here and you are sort of well-known about town, it’s very hard for you to find that other half, that person who is just right for you. You never really know whether there is an agenda or not. When I am overseas, then I can really enjoy myself because no one knows who I am. I can be free and have fun.

Thank You

Hidy Hi

Hidy Ng is the founder and design director of Hidy N.G, a Hong Kong-based global fashion label.

Click here to see Hidy Ng on video

Let’s start at the beginning, what was your childhood like?
Fashion was my childhood. I remember, when I was just six-years-old, my mother would let me dress myself when we went out for dinner. Once I cried like crazy, because she handed me the wrong colour dress. I apologised and said: “This is not my colour. I am sorry mother, but I need a pink dress”. In the end, my father had to take me out to buy just the right pink outfit before we could go out for dinner.

When I was around 12 or 13, I took a class in tailor making, a paper pattern class. I quickly learnt how to make a dress for myself. I then started to wear pieces I had made, all designed and sewn by me. From that time, I fell in love with fashion. When I wasn’t yet sure that I wanted to become a designer, I knew I loved fashion and dressing up.

I have always been very feminine. When I was 16 or so, I already loved high heels, chic dresses and going out. Even today, my collections are still very feminine.

So, you always had an eye for colours and patterns?
All my inspiration comes from colour. I find colour very powerful and it continues to be me inspiration.

Do you remember the exact moment you realised you wanted to be a fashion designer?
My first job was in a fashion house as a colour coordinator. I did the colour correction and editing, and eventually worked my way up to fashion design. As a matter of fact, this is my second job. I have had my own fashion house for twenty years now. I was in my first job for four years.

Why do you think your designs are quite so popular among celebrities?
I believe my designs embellish their beauty, whilst also being practical, stylish and fashionable. Certain celebrities, when they see one of my pieces, immediately know that it comes courtesy of Hidy N.G. My designs have a unique character. While I would say some brands are feminine, we do stylish femininity. It is all about the combination of character, personality and art that we combine in each piece.

What words describe your brand aesthetic?
“Arty”, “timeless” and “confident” are the words I would choose. They apply equally to the ladies who love our brand. It is very important for those who wear our collections that they identify with the brand’s profile. I want people to feel like a star, confident and arty whenever they wear one of my designs.

I find that when people look at women who wear our pieces, they always think they look rather special. My intention as a designer is to make ladies even more beautiful and bring out their natural beauty. When designing, femininity and elegance are always my watchwords. I even see certain celebrities – notably Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn – as my muses.

Do such muses inspire every collection? Are they always in your mind?
They are a big inspiration. These ladies inspire my very spirit. When I am designing, I think, how should I approach this? How should it be delivered? Whether I find a celebrity or a muse, they are often one and the same.

You have also won quite a few awards. What do they mean to you?
I think awards are a form of encouragement. They motivate me to take the next step. They act as a form of incentive for me to – hopefully – achieve the next milestone in my life. It’s a reminder that I need to continue to work hard

How do you think Hong Kong now ranks as a fashion centre?
Hong Kong is very small and some people say it is just a follower. I don’t believe that is true.

My brand is quite international. We aren’t followers, we are part of a trend wave. We have our own character and a well-defined identity. Sadly, though, I don’t think Hong Kong is a hugely important fashion city. It is, however, a beautiful city.

What’s the strangest thing you ever eaten?
A bug in China. I don’t know the name of it. It’s a fried bug and was mixed with other ingredients but I was still able to recognise it when it was served. While it has a good taste, if you know what it is, it is far from appetising. I am told it was relatively healthy, But I am still not sure I would eat it again.

What is the scariest situation you have ever found yourself in?
I am scared about the competitive nature of the fashion industry. In early September, when I have a show to prepare for and I only have 10 percent of the collection completed and I only have one month left, then I’m scared.

What club/s are you currently a member of?
The golf club in Deep Water Bay in Hong Kong, but I haven’t been there for seven years. I did play golf regularly, for a while but Sundays are busy for me as I go to church for most of the day.

What other sports do you enjoy?
I love swimming, even though I don’t have much time for it at the moment. I still swim quite regularly when I can. I used to swim for up two hours in the sea in Sai Kung. I loved that. With my timetable, it is quite difficult to schedule now.

What keeps you awake at night?
I would say the pressure of work, but also when I am upset with someone and I am unable to forgive them. Then I pray and ask god to give me the strength to forgive. And then I try to move on.

What’s the best birthday present you have ever been given?
Flowers. I remember, several years ago, I got 100 roses from my then husband. It was very special and quite a surprise. He placed all the roses in the kitchen area at breakfast time. He woke up very early in the morning, around 7 o’clock, and told me he had to go to work early that day. When I got up and went to the pantry, I was totally surprised.

What do you look for in an ideal partner?
I think my ideal partner would need to have a high IQ. I am not blessed with a particularly high IQ, so I need someone who can understand and tolerate me. They can’t be too emotional either because I am an emotional person. I need someone who is intelligent and patient. I tend to find that people who have a high IQ are also, generally, quite patient.

When was the last time you were sick?
Three weeks ago. I had the flu, which was quite horrible. I am fine now. My most serious illness was about 15 years ago. I had a problem with my thyroids. I was on prescription medication for about four years. Finally, I realised that the medicine was not helping me and my problems had more to do with my lifestyle.

I then learned to take things gently. Before that, I wanted everything done immediately. I learned that when I took things more slowly, it had a direct impact on my recovery. Nowadays, I take it easy. Before I was a perfectionist, I always asked for 90 percent or 100 percent. Now I can accept 70 percent. I think this is a good attitude for everyone to adopt. When you are young, though, you think everything has to be perfect.

When was the last time you got lost?
I am feeling a little lost right now, especially on the business side of things. The industry is going through a difficult time. Is it time for a change? What do I need to do to succeed in the future? What should I really be doing with my life? I am currently questioning my future, everything really. But I don’t think I am alone in thinking this. It is the same for a lot of people at the moment. The world moves too fast nowadays, especially from an economic perspective.

In fact, sometimes I think I would like to be a farmer. Nowadays when you eat something, you always have to question whether it has been genetically modified or not. People are changing everything. I prefer things to be natural. Many things are no longer in their original form. More often than not, things have been synthetically re-created.

My first art pieces were called Is it from God? God is perfect, while man is not. Now everything has changed, largely because of human intervention. When you go to the supermarket and buy tomatoes they are tasteless because we have modified them to be more economical to produce.

Who do you think is the greatest person to have ever lived?
I think that would have to be my mother. She was a source of great inspiration for me. Actually, my mother and I have a very similar personality and she influenced me a lot. She loved me and I loved her, which is very important. I didn’t enjoy a good relationship with her when I was young but, when I moved out, we built a different relationship. I now understood that a mother’s love is forever.

What does the future hold for Hidy N.G.?
For now, I am focusing on producing art. Last year I created my first art pieces. I plan to do a few art pieces per year and eventually hold an exhibition. While fashion is a form of art, the abstract art pieces I create are much more personal. For example, in fashion, I need to sell what I create, whereas my art tells a much more personal story.

I use the skills I learned in the fashion industry when it comes to creating my art pieces. Last year I made them all by hand, using printing, sewing and textiles to produce my first pieces. While I might keep some for myself, if someone is interested in buying them, they are for sale. In any case, I definitely look forward to exhibiting them.

Thank you.

Chak Mate

Ronald Chak is the managing director of Chak’s Investment and the organiser of the Hong Kong International Antiques Fair.

Click here to see Ronald Chak on video

How did you first become involved with investing in rare Chinese antiques?

My parents opened Chak’s Company in 1988. It specialised in Chinese ceramics, works of art and rare antiques. For my own part, as I was fairly good at working with figures, I decided I was destined for a career in economics and went off to study it at the University of Boston, later transferring to the University of Maryland. When I graduated, I then took on a job with the Bank of Communications.

As everybody knows, the finance markets pretty much went crazy between 2008 and 2010. At the time, I had very good relationships with a number of my clients and was eager to help them limit their exposure and potential losses. For the bank, though, it was a case of making the brokers do what was best for the bank rather than looking out for the clients. This policy soon eroded the relationships I’d worked so hard to build. Realising I was no longer in charge of my own destiny, I decided to go and work with my parents.

To date, I have learned an enormous amount about the industry through my folks. Now, I act very much in an advisory capacity, assuring clients that items are authentic and realistically priced. Here the relationships are far easier to maintain because the trust factor is there. If they don’t trust me, they won’t buy. It’s that simple. As I specialise in Ming and Ching dynasty porcelain, I travel quite regularly, visiting the US, the UK, France and Japan, as well as many of the major mainland cities.

Crying – a sign of weakness or a mark of strength?

I would have to say strength. You need courage to express your true feelings. Having had two children, I am now much more emotional than I used to be.

Who is your favourite film star?

Will Smith. I think he is a greater actor. I loved him in Independence Day. He seems like a very nice guy. I also like Matt Damon. They both seem very down-to-earth. everyone who’s worked with them seems to have good things to say about them. Without meaning any disrespect, they don’t have superstar good looks, but make up for it in terms of character. People can relate to them far more easily and they really show their human sides.

What’s the scariest situation you’ve ever been in?

That was something that happened recently. My daughter hit her head on the side of her bed and she needed to have stitches near her eye. If that happened to me, I wouldn’t really bother that much. I have had stitches before. When it came to her, though, I didn’t know what to do. She is my little girl, my little angel. Looking back, it seems far more dramatic than it really was. At the time, it seemed desperate. Anyway once I calmed down, I took her to hospital and arranged a plastic surgeon to do the stitches. There was a lot of guilt going on and also all those “what ifs…”

Can you play chess?

Yes, I can and I am quite good. I learned at high school. My tutor taught me how to play and, within two months, I was beating him on a regular basis. I really like Chinese chess too. In both games, you have to think several moves ahead. I find that both fun and interesting. It’s a sort of brain teasing exercise. Maybe that’s the reason I don’t like mah-jong.

Is there a brand would you never wear or own?

For me, that would probably be Versace. I like items that are plainer and a bit more subtle. Their stuff is too flamboyant. It has too many fancy colours and is too patterned. While I am sure it suits other people’s tastes – and maybe they can pull it off better – it doesn’t work for me. It just isn’t my style.

What is you least favourite form of transport?

I love cars. I own a Lamborghini and Mercedes. I also love motorcycles, but my parents were always against them. I suppose I think that yachts are really quite boring, but then I do quite like speed boats. I suppose I am addicted to speed.

What is your astrological sign?

I am a Sagittarius – late November. I actually know very little about the Zodiac signs, so don’t know whether I am typical of my star sign or not. People who do know about these things say that I am quite typical and often guess my sign from my character. I don’t know.

What was your best ever birthday present?

On my 18^th birthday, my uncle gave me a Rolex watch. I still have it to this day. It was my first ever Rolex and it seems to increase in value as it gets older. It was a Rolex GMT Master II in blue and red. I still cherish it. My dad, though, has never bought me any birthday presents. He is a very traditional sort of person and always says that men should never celebrate birthdays. I am not sure that is specifically a Chinese thing or whether it’s just my dad who feels that birthdays are just proof that you’re growing older and shouldn’t be celebrated.

Have you ever had a near death experience?

Yes, I have. Twice, actually. Once I was in Hawaii on vocation and I went sky diving and my parachute did not open fully. It was a very windy day, but suddenly the instructor saw a clearing in the cloud cover so we went. We dropped and I pulled the rip cord and a gust of wind made the parachute “candle stick.” I had to untwist the chute in mid-air, but I was down to about 4,000 feet before I could fully deploy. It should have been 8,000 feet. I ended up landing on a highway as I’d been blown off-course. The interesting thing was that I saw seven rainbows during that day’s jumping. When you see a rainbow from the ground they are, of course, arches. When seen from the sky, though, they are circles. I don’t sky dive any more – that scare did it for me. I am still a bit of an adrenaline junkie, though, and would love to do a bungee jump.

My second “experience” was also in Hawaii and came when I tried my hand at free diving. People had warned me not to swim outside the reef but, of course, I didn’t really take too much notice. I saw a very large rock fish and followed it as it swam out to sea. All of a sudden, I saw a host of other people with scuba gear around me. It was then that I realised that I was way past the reef. As I came to the surface, I kept on being hit by very heavy waves. These knocked my goggles off and I was soon swallowing water. As I tried to make my way closer to the reef to get something to anchor me, I kept on being pulled further out to sea. Eventually, I was able to get back to the reef and finally to the beach, but it was a very scary episode.

Can you change a fuse?

Yes, I can. I am usually quite a hands-on type of person. I enjoying fixing things and also seeing how they work.

Do you have a favourite Chinese saying?

I am always saying mo. man tai or “no problem” when I am talking to people. While it’s not my favourite saying, I seem to like it.

Sunrises or sunsets?

Sunrises. While I am not really a morning type person, for me sunrise is like a symbol of the beginning of something – a type of renewal. Sunsets signify the ending of something and that is always a little but depressing.

Is there anywhere you have never been but that you would love to visit?

Italy. I studied art history and Italy is so full of beautiful old buildings and sculptures. I think I would find it fascinating and have hankered after travelling there for a very long time. My best friend at college was Italian and has often urged me to visit. I also love Italian food. It is so delicious, but very fattening.

Do you believe in aliens?

I think the universe is huge and I can’t believe that we are the only form of intelligent life across its enormous expanse. Statistically, I fell that aliens must exist. There are so many billions of galaxies in our own universe and we are also told that ours is not the only universe. The chances are, then, that other forms of life have to exist.

Is there a word you use too often?

M’hai ah or “really.” It seems like I don’t actually believe what people are telling me. It’s not really that but I do often feel that people are exaggerating a bit. I suppose I say that as a way of double checking on what’s being said – like saying “you’re kidding.” In my field people are always trying to building things up to impress everyone.

What was your most extravagant purchase to date?

I suppose that would have to be my Lambo. It’s an Aventador RB700

Do you like fancy dress parties?

No, not really. I don’t really go to parties. I suppose I am not much of a party animal. I may have to get into fancy dress when my little daughter gets a little bit older.

Can you tell us a secret?

I am very bad at keeping them and so have nothing new to tell.

When did you last tell a white lie?

Two days ago. A good friend and client called, me supposedly seeking my advice. He always seems to know best about things and I realised that he was actually just seeking confirmation. I didn’t agree with what he was saying, but just said yes, yes, yes to keep him happy and get him off the line. I didn’t want to start an argument when I knew he’d already made up his mind.

Thank You