Not a bizarre visit to Hong Kong
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
While Hong Kong wants to tell the world business is as usual, global business leaders who could survive the unique 0+3 self-quarantine arrangement would likely be praised and awarded.
Ahead of the widely-watched Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit next week, Gucci Chief Executive Officer Marco Bizzarri dropped by Hong Kong last week for his first visit in three years.
The Italian honcho met with 300 staff and visited three major flagship stores in Landmark, Harbour City and K11 Musea.
Apparently Hong Kong has a special place in Gucci, which set up its first store in Hong Kong in 1974, its first Asian venture. Now the luxury franchise has 12 stores after nearly half a century of efforts.
And for Bizzarri, who used to work in Hong Kong in the 90s, he could not have picked a better time for his visit. Although he did not meet any press, his presence meant a lot of publicity for Hong Kong.
Especially he trumps rival Prada, which is also listed in Hong Kong and Milan.
Global business leaders, celebrities, sports stars and alike are not coming to Hong Kong due to the stringent travel restrictions such as PCR test, mandatory all-day mask and leavehomesafe tracking on top of the gathering ban arrangement.
As such, tickets for the usually hot Rugby Sevens tournament to be held next weekend are still on sale.
Spare a thought for the financial heavyweights such as those in charge of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, KKR, Citigroup and the like. They would have to deliver their speeches on the summit theme “Navigating beyond uncertainty” with their masks on and observe social distancing measures.
Do count all the good words – such as resilient, vibrant, international financial centre - they would have to say about Hong Kong and China, where it experienced a confidence crunch this week after the 20th Party Congress.
They can definitely learn from snooker king Ronnie O’Sullivan, who won the Snookers Hong Kong Masters 2022 and was pictured to be hiking in the beautiful autumn season in Hong Kong.
Welcome to Hong Kong, guys!
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