AJ Halkes

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

Hong Kong may soon lift import duties on spirits! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law “my girl” – AJ Halkes 1977 With Christie’s high-profile expansion at The Henderson in Central, joining the ranks of Sotheby’s Asia Flagship (Sotheby’s Maison in core central) and Phillips (West Kowloon Cultural District), it’s clear the global art powerhouses see

Why supersize where “mini” is better? It makes sense for health, well-being, and longevity—and is cheaper By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law In Hong Kong, it’s become common to ask for “less rice” with our meals, we recognise not everyone needs oversized portions or excessive calories. Larger portions may offer “value,” but they’re not always

When Stalled Negotiations – Stall Progress! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Walking through one of Hong Kong’s older neighborhoods, I stumbled upon a sight that’s all too familiar—an area where property development has ground to a halt. It seems that, once again, negotiations to expand development across multiple sites may have hit a wall.

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,

Hong Kong may soon lift import duties on spirits! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Recent reports suggest Hong Kong may soon lift import duties on spirits, just as it did for wine in 2008, a small shot in the arm for struggling F&B and retail hopefully. In the UK “drink up fast and go

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 &

Retail turnover rent in Hong Kong for stability and mutual benefit By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Faced with an on-going bumpy COVID recovery for the F&B industry and on-going retail uncertainly in Hong Kong “turnover rent” with minimal base rent is the ideal way to create a win-win for landlords and business operators alike

If you have knowledge to sell yet buyers are scarce what do you do with it? This was the case for many during Covid as businesses suffered, budgets crumbled, bank accounts drained and specialist advisors to what were now failing or closed businesses found themselves out of work. In some countries there was financial support

Living in a textured Hong Kong is everything — it’s worth valuing and preserving. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Much of the city’s innate vibrancy has been pushed aside by relentless development. Yet, in the older districts, you still stumble upon scenes that remain virtually unchanged for decades. I was struck recently by the

Are you having coffee in a flower shop, or buying flowers in a coffee shop : I’m confused. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law In food & beverage, it’s said people aren’t just buying the product; they’re buying the environment. Nothing highlights this better than Pacific Place, Hong Kong, that has just introduced : yet

Improving Restaurant Licensing : A Call for Collaborative Solutions not penalties. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Having played a pivotal role in creating the Provisional Restaurant Licensing system in Hong Kong, we aimed at streamlining the lengthy process of obtaining food (and beverage) licenses; I’d have hoped decades later it would be smooth sailing

You’ve got to be in it to win it—and that means more than just unlocking your front door. By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Are you thinking of opening a retail spot, especially in the food & beverage world? If you believe building it and flinging the doors open will bring the crowds, think again.

The Art of Dining… or Should I Say, Dining for the Art? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Food and beverage spaces have evolved — today, it’s about food styling and photo ops not just eating and drinking! I’ve been fascinated to hear from clients about customers who come in less to taste and more

Is the Hong Kong Jockey Club Reinventing the Ultimate Sports Bar Experience and what’s next? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Walking down Stanley Street in Central recently, I noticed a remarkable transformation: a Jockey Club off-course betting outlet now resembling a sports bar or local restaurant chain more than a traditional gambling venue. The revitalisation, complete with

Should Hong Kong have mandatory training and certification before people are allowed to go to work? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Yet another workplace injury took place in Yau Mai Tei on Saturday, November 11th, that has again brought into focus construction site safety issues.  The process for selection of riggers involved in dealing

Hong Kong having a Northern Metropolis is long overdue By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hong Kong has lagged behind in regional integration for too long – it’s time to catch up. My journey with Hong Kong began in the 1970s, working in Sha Tau Kok, experiencing the daily tensions and joys of the border.

Why can’t Hong Kong embrace e-bikes right now for a cleaner, more efficient city? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law I’ve just got back from racing in Niseko and know that pure pedal power isn’t the only way to cover distances and the way Japan has used the e-bike for many years is truly impressive.

The O’Sullivan Factor: Shining a Light on Hong Kong’s Appeal : as a place to call home By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Seven-time world snooker champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan, has recently landed in Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme — a move that underscores the advantages Hong Kong offers to international sports figures

Upstairs F&B – It can work in Hong Kong By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law For many people operating food and beverage premises upstairs in Hong Kong has been a no-go; and the focus has always been modern buildings if that was going to happen. However, with prices having fallen dramatically for all upstairs premises

Hong Kong is exporting social media content via heritage images : is street art next and will it help food & beverage business? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Tai Kwun Jockey Club renovation heritage “selfie Central” Hong Kong With serious heritage having been preserved at the Tai Kwun complex in central Hong Kong, and

Nothing to whine about By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Hong Kong has been putting itself on the world map for wine since the government removed taxes in 2008 creating a free port but this has not always translated to cheaper high quality wines in restaurants and at retail wine still isn’t that cheap. Some

Is Hong Kong’s Watson’s making an Eco-Friendly Move with new reduced packaging or is it still a just a plastic bottle? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Well done to Watson’s Water in Hong Kong if it is taking a tiny step toward sustainability with a change to their iconic Freeman LAU designed water bottle

“People aren’t drinking” is a lie! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Richkat Brewing is shaking things up in Hong Kong, adding two craft beer outlets to what’s reported to be 100+ already in the Chinese mainland market! This expansionist China-based craft beer brand is making bold moves with their new shops in the city

Hong Kong has an open real-estate market again… finally! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Property offerings have sold out swiftly following lifting of residential property cooling measures : as Mr Paul Chan Mo-Po said: “The economy is recovering now… no matter if it is corporations or residents, they need to strengthen their fundamentals and

Is “Light Refreshment” now a viable low cost food business to build in Hong Kong? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law New approaches mean a wider range of foods can now be offered in Hong Kong to unlock revenue Quietly the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong streamlined the scope of what activities

Do Hong Kong Food Safety laws have a bean curd loophole or is the Liu Ma Kee case a compliance issue? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Recently a local seller (Liu Ma Kee : established over a century ago and apparently now suddenly shut) was in the news for importing fermented bean curd. This

Hong Kong is back! By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law When it comes to boosting of Hong Kong this seems all too rare these days in the media, and it should not that way, issue number 2, 2024 of MONOCLE certainly will help re-set things. It was great to see an internationally distributed magazine showcase

Fed up with landlords? Renting like Pure Fitness, does it make sense to rent anymore? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Just a few days ago, news emerged that a shop in Yau Ma Tei was sold, with the buyer possibly being the end user. Even if not confirmed it raises an important question: In