Bouncing Back
It came as sad news when Sir David Tang wrote to me back in June explaining most apologetically that he would have to step down as our September cover star because of a major health hiccup. On behalf of the Hong Kong Tatler team, I sent our best wishes for his speedy recovery and hoped he would be well enough to appear on a cover next year. So you can imagine my amazement when, less than two months after his urgent treatment, I’m standing among the silk pyjamas and photo frames in Tang Tang Tang Tang watching the ebullient entrepreneur captivate our photographer with his charmingly eccentric antics. In one shot he growls and claws like a tiger, in another he struts in a fluffy bathrobe, but you can’t beat the expression on David’s face as he devours a mountain of noodles alongside his daughter Victoria and slightly less ravenous wife Lucy (pictured above). His remarkably rapid recovery is testament to the indomitable spirit of this famous bon vivant. Features editor Melissa Twigg spent the afternoon at his home getting the full story on his plans for a Chinese retail empire (p.316).
Also showing a good dose of flamboyant spirit is the next generation of Hong Kong society. Our very own lady in red—photographer Crazy Rogue—has captured bright young things such as Ariel Ho-kjaer, Jordan Abram and Alison Lee like you’ve never seen them before (p.326). Generational change is also on the way with 3D printing, reports Adam Hay-nicholls in Dress Code (p.360). Once the multimillion-dollar domain of factories, printers will soon feature in boutiques and run off perfectly fitting garments and accessories on demand.
In a more serious vein, it’s been yet another summer of skies frequently blighted by smog. Features writer Madeleine Ross looks behind the haze for the causes of Hong Kong’s toxic atmosphere and discovers Change is in the Air (p.336). In the meantime, if you’re looking to escape and need some inspiration, check out our guide to Morocco’s most exclusive hideaways ( Moorish Dreams p.348) and Esther Wong’s review of the newly opened Shangri-la Hotel, Lhasa (p.390), which has its own oxygen lounge to help guests adjust to the rarefied atmosphere at 3,650 metres.
Finally—and perhaps most importantly—if you haven’t yet shopped for your designer togs for this month’s Hong Kong Tatler Ball (p.94), we’ve got more than 200 pages of fashion, accessories and beauty news and advice for you in this issue, so get cracking.