How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?      

I manage legal aspects during periods of instability or crises in the same way as I manage legal aspects at any other time: calmly, efficiently, and with a focus on the overall objectives of the business. One of the most important things to remember as a lawyer is that your advice does not exist in a vacuum. When we are asked to give our advice, or draft a document, or send a letter, we must understand why that advice has been sought and what purpose your role serves in achieving the overall objective of the business. Aligning legal strategy with the business strategy is crucial. And when that business strategy is ensuring the organisation’s resilience, the legal strategy must include two main things: (a) managing risk; and (b) delivering efficiency and cost savings.    

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?      

Safety. Everyone at Gammon is passionate about this and it is infectious. I did not start this job with a passion for safety, but I very quickly developed it because the focus on safety is prevalent in everything we do. If there is one thing that concerns me every day, it is the safety of workers on our building sites. This concern is not just about the legal ramifications of accidents, although of course these can be significant. It is because management has a collective responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure everyone working on a construction site, whether in Hong Kong or overseas, comes home at the end of the day.   

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently (these can be legal, political, economy or business-based)?      

Hong Kong is going through a period of transformation. The city will always remain an important global financial hub, but its future is very closely linked now to the future of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which is a project to bring Hong Kong and Macau closer together with several other cities in Guangdong. The construction industry plays a crucial role in this regard, including assisting the Government in developing the Northern Metropolis, which will be an important interconnector between Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and the wider GBA region. The Northern Metropolis and the GBA are two of the main trends to watch out for in Hong Kong. Another trend to watch out for is the Government’s focus on the development of new homes. Hong Kong is investing heavily in the construction of new homes to try and relieve pressure on families and individuals who cannot currently afford a home for themselves. This investment is happening at a time when house prices are falling due to unrelated economic changes, necessitating a careful balance. A fourth trend to watch out for is environmental sustainability. Hong Kong has made significant steps in this area in recent years in certain areas, but we can expect a lot more investments in sustainable alternatives to polluting materials, vehicles, and working methods in the future, as well as a greater emphasis on environmental protection going forward.