AJ Halkes

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

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

Is the Hong Kong Government changing tack on Industrial Accidents? By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law Recent Hong Kong government moves in relation to a tragic workplace accident at a Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) property have seen a swift, yet seemingly unusual Police response to what at first glance looks like an industrial accident.

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.

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,

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

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.

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,

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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 )

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