Remembering Stanley
Sally Lo, founder of the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, pays tribute to Macau gaming legend Stanley Ho and reflects on how the godfather of gambling impacted her life. From dance lessons to his love for astrology, Lo shares memories of the billionaire she was lucky enough to know:
“I first met Stanley at a reception at The Mandarin hotel in the mid 1980s. My first impression was of a very distinguished and charming gentleman with a twinkle in his eye. From that time on, we met at numerous social occasions. I was very touched whenever he would ask about my family and he always remembered our previous conversations.
When I started the Hong Kong Cancer Fund in 1987 he expressed his wish to support us. One of our first projects was the opening of the Cancer Patient Resource Centre at the Queen Mary Hospital. Since then, he and his family have been some of the most loyal and generous patrons and have contributed to our extensive network of support services in the hospitals and in the community.
I have a very soft spot for Stanley: he had a warm personality and was very approachable, kind, good humoured and always smiling. He was also a very humble man. He was very discreet and kept his philanthropy to himself. I’m really going to miss his kindness and concern for others and the fact that he was very in tune with the needs of his community.
It’s no secret he loved ballroom dancing (and he loved to party). He
“I’ve lost a friend and I will always have a special place in my memory for him”
would come to our galas and surprise everyone with an elegant dance to open the evening. It makes me smile just thinking about it. I remember once he even offered to give me dance lessons when I told him I had two left feet.
He once shared with me his interest in astronomy and years later I came across a satellite dish in Tai Tam with his name on it. It was, of course, the 5,300 sq ft Stanley Ho Astronomical Observatory built by his alma mater, Queen’s College, to nurture students’ interest in stargazing.
The thing about Stanley is that after you left him, you were always filled with admiration for him. I’ve lost a friend and I will always have a special place in my memory for him.”
The apparel industry is facing perhaps its greatest reckoning since the invention of ready-to-wear, as designers and retailers rethink everything from how they produce and show collections to how they intend to sell luxury goods in a post-pandemic world. But one thing that’s unlikely to ever really go away is the joy that comes from using fashion as a form of self-expression, even in recent times when that might mean dressing just for oneself at home. We put Tiffany Hsu, Eleanor Lam, Tina Leung and Calvin Wang to the test.
Mytheresa fashion buying director @handinfire
“I originally wanted to be a designer; at 16 I saw a picture of John Galliano’s collection and that was the turning point in my love for fashion. I think once you are captivated by the industry, you soon find out what fits you best and which department really excites you”
Fashion stylist and blogger @tinaleung
“There are no rules. Fashion can empower you, it can delight you, it can identify you. Whatever it is, always make sure to have fun with it along the way”
From left: Leung wears Proenza Schouler coat, Shushu Tong gloves. Peter Do outfit. Opposite page: Hsu wears Bottega Veneta dress, shoes