What do you say to a ballroom full of people wearing leaves and flowers in their hair, headlamps, hydration backpacks of the type normally seen on Hong Kong’s trails, Hawaiian-themed attire, safari hats and even a cowgirl outfit? There were more conservative ball gowns and tuxedos as well, but the joyful expressiveness of some partygoers matched the overall “great outdoors” theme of AmCham Hong Kong’s 2024 ball.

Among Hong Kong’s glories are its wild places, often just minutes away from its densely packed residential and commercial towers. Over 350 guests celebrated “The Great Outdoors of Hong Kong” on October 5 at the Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, itself perched on the edge of another of Hong Kong’s great natural resources, its 723 kilometers of coastline with their access to some of the world’s best hiking, sailing and water sports.

Visual effects were designed by famed producer Victor Wong, with leafy archways and table decorations including “Lion Rock” lamps designed by Wong using 3-D printing and a classic representation of the iconic peak. Guests had their pictures taken behind a cutout photograph of Lion Rock, Hong Kong’s symbol of aspiration and resilience.

Big night for the AmCham Charitable Foundation

Live and silent auctions as well as power pledges generated over HK$600,000 for the AmCham Charitable Foundation, 30% more than at the 2023 AmCham Ball. The annual ball traditionally plays a key role in fund-raising for the AmCham Charitable Foundation to provide needed support for the under-privileged in Hong Kong.  Joseph Armas, chairman of the board of trustees of the Charitable Foundation, inaugurated the live auction mid-way through dinner, which (naturally) included a vegan option.

This year, a portion of the funds were earmarked for non-governmental organizations specializing in nature conservation. These included the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, which had representatives at the event answering questions and handing out postcards featuring green turtles and pink dolphins, among its many programs supporting Hong Kong biodiversity as well as conservation of specific animal and marine populations in mainland China. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was also among the NGOs with representatives present to talk about their work sponsoring conservation in Hong Kong, both on land and at sea.

Chairman Siebengartner shares his love of Hong Kong’s wild places

Kicking off the evening was Geoff Siebengartner, outgoing AmCham HK Chairman and J.P. Morgan Head of Government Relations and Corporate responsibility: “Hong Kong is rare among the world’s major cities, and a big reason for that is its incredible natural environment. We live in a city where amazingly 75% is not for development, and is instead for country parks, for wetlands and for reservoirs.  And the result, as you all know, is that in 30 minutes you can go from the excitement of Central to the Peak or to the beaches of Shek O, and in an hour, you can be pretty lost in the wilderness or on a secluded island.”

He added: “We also need to remember that all of this nature is fragile, and sustainability is essential to preserving the outdoor environment for future generations, not to mention the increasingly apparent effects of climate change, which we’ve seen just in the last few weeks with typhoons and hurricanes, both here and in the United States.”

Keynote speakers were Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and Edward Stokes, founder of the Hong Kong Photo Heritage Program and well-known nature photographer.

Keynote speakers reflect on the value of Hong Kong’s wild places to the lifestyles, the economy and public spirit

In his address, Secretary Yau, the former CEO of Greater Bay Airlines and Cathay and Cathay Dragon, said: “The natural landscapes of Hong Kong, from the mountains to the sea, wetlands and beaches and further to the outlying islands, are treasures that both the Hong Kong people and the American community in Hong Kong cherish. They offer a refreshing counterpoint to our bustling urban landscape.”

“The theme reflects not only our shared appreciation for Hong Kong’s natural beauty, but also symbolizes the open and extensive nature of the relationship between Hong Kong and the United States. Our two communities have established very close, bilateral business and trade relations, and also a long history of deep-rooted cultural and people-to-people ties. We have a lot of core values in common, from the rule of law to the free flow of capital, goods and talent, and open and free markets.”

Secretary Yau noted that the US enjoyed its second-largest trade surplus with Hong Kong in 2023, after the Netherlands, of $23.6 billion, out of two-way trade of $60.3 billion. Hong Kong has 214 regional headquarters of US companies, 419 US company regional offices and 640 local US company offices based on a recent survey. “We may have differences at times, but we should never lose sight of our shared interests,” he concluded.

Edward Stokes, the author and photographer behind Hong Kong Nature Landscapes (Hong Kong University Press, 2010) reminded the audience of the phenomenal changes in Hong Kong in the last 80 years, with its massive population growth, repeated economic transformations, progress – often, against the odds, and buildings spreading ever farther and higher.

“Yet remarkably, Hong Kong’s natural resources today are richer than before, with more protected countryside, native habitats and species rebounding, and its increasingly diverse ecological and recreational assets. Above all, 40% of the land area of the land area is protected in country parks. So tonight, let’s explore green, natural and wild Hong Kong,” Stokes said.

AmCham HK Chairman Siebengartner gave closing remarks and then guests “danced into the wild” until late in the evening. Table prizes including everything from Victor Wong’s Lion Rock lamps to Invent and Wander – The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos, to Lee Kum Kee abalone and Saga watches.

Heavy lifting – the Ball Committee and sponsors

In addition to dedicating part of the money raised for the AmCham Hong Kong Charitable Foundation for NGOs that dedicate themselves to preserving Hong Kong’s natural beauty, the organizers minimized the use of non-recyclable materials and food waste from the event.

The Ball committee was headed by Grégory Franc de Ferrière, head of products at Logitech Headsets. The hard working committee members included David Butts, president, Asia Pacific, of Techtronic Industries; Jen Flowers, group and ASP head of Customer Intelligence and Partnerships, wealth and personal banking, HSBC; Mary McHale, director of strategic accounts, APAC, Equinix; Brett Stephenson, public affairs lead, UPS; Catherine Tsoi, AmCham HK board of governors; Michelle Wei, director of public policy for Greater China, Meta; Justin Yeung, senior executive, sustainability and communications, Techtronic Industries; and Cathy Yu, vice president, HSBC and AmCham Future Leaders 2023.

Key sponsors for the Lucky Draw included United Airlines, with two round-trip tickets from Hong Kong to a US destination; Maxwell’s Clothiers, with a bespoke tailored suit; the Hong Kong China Tennis Association, with tickets for the ATP Men’s Open 2025; Nespresso, with a Vertuo Next Household Coffee Machine; Ikigai, with two 10-class yoga packages with all-studio access; Café Deco, an exclusive wine pairing dinner at Watermark for a maximum of 12 guests; and Sino Golf, with a Callaway putter.

Exclusive VIP table sponsors included Colgate-Palmolive, Estée Lauder Companies, J.P. Morgan, Ocean Garden Macau, Techtronic Industries, Milwaukee Tool, a division of Techtronic Industries and Hong Kong International School. VIP table sponsors included Jardine Schindler and Uber. Golden Gate Wine was the exclusive wine sponsor.

Photos: AmCham HK

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