AJ Halkes

Hong Kong is going “all in” on pedestrian safety with a sparkly new approach to road crossings By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hot on the heels of the flashing red ground-level lighting alerts, a new wave of pedestrian crossing upgrades is underway. Not only are we seeing old-school orange globe lights, but they now […]

Casa 218 on Gloucester Road had its opening party on Thursday; what a journey it has been. Hats off to the team! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law This opening showed classic Hong Kong spirit and can-do determination plus commitment from the owners and everyone involved to make it happen. It’s always a privilege to

At 1000 customers an hour McDonald’s Hong Kong flagship is set to become the busiest on the planet, F&B is coming back in the city! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Recently reopened after a massive refurbishment, the Admiralty Centre store has long been McDonald’s innovation and testing hub in Hong Kong, used for automation,

Can this SoHo F&B site succeed where so many have failed? Yes but it depends on a lot of factors. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law It’s been reported that Thai Pai Dong is taking over the corner site opposite Staunton’s, at the junction of the Mid-Levels Escalator and Staunton Street. One of my early

AI and Legal Advice: When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough it’s disaster! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Not too long ago, I saw disaster loom on asking ChatGPT questions specific to restaurant and liquor licensing practice in Hong Kong; the answers were BAD! The responses were specifically wrong in multiple ways, missing key issues,

Why Does Hong Kong Have Hundreds of Kilometres of Railings and Barriers? What Are They Actually For? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law I’ve never quite understood why Hong Kong insists on fencing off the public at every possible opportunity. Barriers line pavements, walkways, and especially where there might be the slightest chance of interaction

Two Official Languages Vs. One Language and Free Trade : Hong Kong is far more welcoming and open that most people realise. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law On the legal and practical front, Hong Kong operates with a high level of transparency in English as an official language that is deeply embedded in government

I’ve got a soft spot for Hong Kong’s lucky number plates and the upcoming May 25th auction has a LOT! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law If you’ve dreamed of giving your car (or future car!) a touch of personality, the Hong Kong government’s special number plate auction on May 25 is full of options.

Almost five new F&B outlets opening every day shows Hong Kong’s Resilience in the F&B Sector. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law 1,779 new licences were issued in a year (according to the SCMP), yet the focus of the paper was on a slight decline in totals. 4.88 F&B outlets opening in Hong Kong every

Tai Mo Shan Tourism — Has Hong Kong Thought It Through? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law I’m all for tourism and showcasing Hong Kong’s spectacular countryside, I’ve written about it often but has anyone truly thought through how to make tourism at Tai Mo Shan safe, enjoyable and sustainable? Let’s start with some questions: Have all

Ramen is the New Rice (box) for Hong Kong and Yoshinoya’s ramen tsunami is coming. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Yoshinoya, the beef & rice giant of the F&B world, is projecting their ramen business to fly up from 4% to 13% of total sales in just the next few years. We’re talking billions

China’s Private Economy Promotion Law (May 20, 2025) is huge news for small business protection! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law No one needs arbitrary fines and unjust charges let alone the targeting of ‘small guys’ by enforcement because they are soft-targets. This law tackles such economic pressures head-on, fostering a stable environment for SMEs.

Good Retail Space in Hong Kong: Going, Going – is it all Gone By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hong Kong’s retail and F&B scene is a tricky one to read. In a few short months, four prime F&B spaces on Aberdeen Street—once sitting empty—have been snapped up. One will house a cheese bar, introducing

Charging for Condiments and Fancy Water – Are Restaurants Crossing the Line? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law A friend recently found an unexpected charge on his bill at a dim sum restaurant—an extra fee for a small chili sauce condiment he never ordered. It wasn’t within the traditional “tea money” (“cha gaai” – is

Why do so many people not want to get to “yes” – and why might a German phrase help us do just that? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law When I began studying law at university, one of our earliest required readings was Getting to Yes by Fisher and Ury (1981), a book focused on

Super impressed by the MSc students in International Wine Management at Hong Kong PolyU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law https://lnkd.in/gPzA-si9 Spent a fun Sunday afternoon tackling bright and challenging questions from a highly curious group eager to explore Hong Kong’s future in wine, the F&B industry, and the

Hong Kong : The Global Test Kitchen for McDonald’s By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Not many people realise that Hong Kong has long been Ground Zero for some of McDonald’s latest innovations. From upscale dining to pioneering digital touch screen ordering systems, experimental salad bars and even table service; the McDonald’s outlet beneath my

Who Gets the Most “Gushing Praise”—And Why Is It So Rare? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Reading about Qatar Airways receiving “the most gushing praise” got me thinking—when was the last time I felt that way about a retail or consumer experience? One place immediately came to mind: Momotaro Jeans in Tokyo. (https://momotaro-jeans.com )

HK$22.8M “only”—and you’re in the Hong Kong F&B property market, right in the heart of Central on Old Bailey Street. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law I’m a big fan of Dr. Edwin Lee and his YouTube insights into Hong Kong’s shop, retail and real estate market. His almost real-time analysis of transactions is always

For all of us who have felt lost in an IKEA maze — there’s now another way to probably feel the same in Hong Kong By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law For all of us who have felt lost in an IKEA maze, there’s now another way to probably feel the same in Hong Kong,

Chicken On The Run ends a 23 year “run” in mid-levels Hong Kong – is take-away leaving us for good? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law After a 23-year run, beloved local takeaway shop Chicken on the Run, at Princess Terrace on the mid-levels escalator, has closed. No clear explanation why, no big farewell party—and

Delivering Food & Profit: What Happened with Deliveroo, and Why Is the Landscape Changing? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Deliveroo’s exit from Hong Kong—more of a customer and vendor transfer than a full shutdown—signals a shift in the food delivery space. The brand has essentially raised the white flag, as it has in Taiwan,

“Mister Softee” is dead—Hong Kong’s mobile ice cream king made it to 98. Let’s have more like Mr. Ho! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Back in 1970, Mr. Ho King Yuen launched Hong Kong’s iconic mobile ice cream vans; he reportedly passed recently. His business became a beloved part of Hong Kong’s streetscape. Yet,

It was never a good idea—so why not kill it? The HK Taxi app by Uber is officially dead. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law The headlines about Uber shutting down the HKTaxi app are long overdue. I never quite understood how Uber planned to maximize the acquisition of a taxi-related app in 2021. It

A graphic echo of the snake in my Chinese New Year bike ride – Greetings to you all! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law I hope the Chinese New Year brings significant improvements for everyone – from reducing tension to building a more stable, vibrant, and viable home and life, wherever we are. Maybe I’m

Why should you know 17 yr old Daniel YIP Hon-man? Because he just did an amazing thing … for Hong Kong! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hong Kong winning and making an impression has to be applauded, and the spectacular win by our junior cycling road race champion in the Asian Cycling Championships was

Imagine if Hong Kong could capture the magic of London’s Clerkenwell back-in-the-day—could this be the start? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Of course, we’re a bit short of quirky old semi-industrial buildings or vibrant areas bustling with reinvigoration like London has enjoyed; however, let’s see what happens at 181 Restaurant, K11 Musea as HK Fortnum &

Is Trump moving to Hong Kong for our countryside? New visa rules make it easier! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hold on—let’s avoid confusing Trumps. It’s been reported in the SCMP – 28th Dec 2024, that Judd Trump, the world’s #1 snooker player, might be taking up residency in Hong Kong. This aligns with a growing wave

Tsui Wah is Back in Lan Kwai Fong – Will the Historic Magic return? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law After a five-year gap Tsui Wah in Lan Kwai Fong has reopened. Once the ultimate go-to place for post-drinks, post-clubbing, post-anything respite; Tsui Wah embodied the essence of Hong Kong’s vibrant, 24/7 food and nightlife culture. But

Joe Bananas and others rock on – so is Hong Kong nightlife really not as vibrant as “Gang Piao” claim? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law That’s what a recent survey suggests, with some “Gang Piao” (“Hong Kong Drifters”) feeling a bit underwhelmed. But is that the case? Hong Kong’s nightlife, like many global cities,