Past HK Society Events
The list below reflects the speaker’s role(s) at the time of the event.
The list below reflects the speaker’s role(s) at the time of the event.
The Peninsula London has most kindly offered us the private use of their wonderful bar, Little Blue, our personal favourite, for a Society get-together à la Lan Kwai Fong, including a 30-min tour of areas not otherwise open to the public; included in the evening is a bowl of iconic Peninsula noodles with a beer or soft drink.
Date: Tuesday 14th October
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Venue: Little Blue Bar, Peninsula, London
HK Society North-East Annual Dinner
The Society’s Annual North-East Dinner will take place on 9 October at a new venue for us, the Phoenix Restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Chinatown.
In a further new departure for us, alongside a delicious Chinese banquet there will be a wine tasting conducted by longstanding member and oenophile Robin Mackay, with tasting notes. There will also be a cash bar.
HK Society Gloucestershire Region Mid-Autumn Festival Lunch
Date: Wednesday 8 October 2025
Venue: The Royal Oak, Cheltenham
As is traditional, the next Gloucestershire regional lunch will be at The Royal Oak in Prestbury, Cheltenham – which has recently smartened up its Pavilion Room and as always, it will be good value, delicious and great fun.
Members only Seminar:
Why Hong Kong is not ‘just another Chinese city’ – the Common Law Advantage
Date: Monday 29th September 2025
Time: 18.30 drinks reception; 19.00-20.00 Seminar; 20.00-21.30 networking drinks
Venue: Mayer Brown International, London
This year marks eight decades since the end of the Second World War— a fitting moment to uncover a hidden chapter of history. We are therefore delighted that our Guest Speakers for this year’s Annual Dinner will be Angus Hui and John Mak, who are co-curators of the Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day Exhibition, which sheds light on a forgotten group of 24 Chinese naval officers who took part in the D-Day Landings and Operation Dragoon—the Allied invasion of Southern France. And we are also delighted to announce that Commodore Mike Beardall, Editor of the Royal Naval Review, has agreed to add his expertise as a historian and naval officer to the evening’s pre-dinner talk.
Date: Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Time: 6.30pm Lecture and welcome drink; 7.30pm Drink Reception (Cash Bar); 8.15pm 3 course dinner (wine included)
Venue: Whitehall, London
David Bellis, B.E.M., who runs the popular website gwulo.com, will be visiting Cheltenham to talk on some of his fascinating photos of old Hong Kong. Photos of a Hong Kong that has long since disappeared. David has recently been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to Heritage Preservation in Hong Kong in this New Year’s Honours List.
Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Time: 2:00 pm doors open. Talk starts 2:30pm
Venue: The Chapel, Cheltenham
We are delighted to be able to announce the details of this year's Scottish summer lunch which will take place in the fabulous setting of The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society’s Clubhouse. The highlight of the afternoon will be a short after-lunch talk by guest speaker, Simon Roberts. His focus will be his recent publication, Hong Kong Beat (see description of content below). An informative, as well as entertaining, presentation is promised!
Date: Friday 6th June 2025
Time: 12.30pm Cash Bar; 1.15pm Lunch
We are thrilled to have confirmed two very well-known China figures and authors for our Annual HK Book Fair - Michael Sheridan and Paul French who cover two different and fascinating people: Xi Jinping and Wallis Simpson, who will both take part in the ‘In Conversation with the Authors’ part of the evening.
Date: Tuesday 13th May 2025
Venue: Oriental Club, London
Timings: 18.00 - 20.30
We have on show not just one Asian art exhibition sale but three! We are absolutely thrilled that long-standing member and ‘Society treasure’ Colin Sheaf, former Deputy Chairman of Bonhams and acknowledged expert in Asian art and artefacts has most kindly agreed to take HK Society members through the most interesting exhibit items.
Date: Sunday 11th May 2025
Time: 2.15pm - 3.00pm
Spring Lunch to Welcome the Year of the Snake
According to the Chinese calendar, on 29 January the Dragon cedes pride of place to the wise and transformational Snake. However, not all changes are wise, and sometimes we would do well to embrace the tried and tested! Thus, what could be more appropriate than a return trip (for many of us) to the Golden Mountain Restaurant in Cheltenham – deemed a big success last year?
Date: Wed 26 March 2025
Venue: Golden Mountain Restaurant, Cheltenham
We are delighted to be able to invite HK Society members to a private viewing of highlights from the London Luxury: Handbags and Fashion auction, courtesy of Bonhams.
Date: Sunday 23rd March
Time: 15.00 – 16.00
Venue: Bonhams, London
Cost: Free for members
We are thrilled to announce that the Society’s Chinese New Year Dinner will be held at the world-renowned Hakkasan Chinese Restaurant, famous for its modern Cantonese cuisine and dramatic design.
Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
Venue: Hakkasan Hanway Place
Time: 6:30pm for 7.00pm
We are delighted to invite our members on behalf of our wonderful hosts, Mishcon de Reya, to a joint Chinese New Year celebration at their stunning offices in Africa House. For those unfamiliar with this Grade-II listed building and its history, it is an architectural jewel, both inside and out, and it is a rare privilege for us to share this with you.
Date: Thursday 20th February 2025
Time: 6.30-9.30pm
Venue: Africa House
In the run-up to The Year of The Snake, we are delighted that The Scottish Region of The Hong Kong Society, together with the Scotland-China Association, will host its first ever joint-venture, and we very much hope this will be the first of more such ventures!
Date: Tuesday 21 January 2025
Time: 7 p.m.: reception, with refreshments (Chinese tea and biscuits); 7.30 p.m.: presentation, followed by Q&A and discussion; 9 p.m.: close
Venue: The Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh
We are delighted to announce that the Peninsula London has offered additional dates for their Private Tour for HK Society members.
We are delighted to announce a third private tour of the stunning Peninsula London.
Date: Monday 11th November
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Peninsula London
We are delighted to announce a second private tour of the stunning Peninsula London.
Date: Thursday 7th November
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Peninsula London
We are delighted to announce this free guided tour of highlights of Sotheby’s upcoming auction of Chinese art and artefacts, led by Gordon Lo, Sotheby’s Head of Sale for Chinese Art.
Date: Saturday 2nd November
Time: 14.20 for 14.30 start
Venue: Sotheby’s
We are delighted to announce a private tour of the stunning Peninsula London.
Date: Wednesday 30th October
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Peninsula London
We are thrilled to announce that Thursday 10th October is the date for this year’s HK Society Annual Dinner and that former Society Chairman Clinton Leeks has accepted our invitation to be the Guest Speaker for the evening.
We are delighted to be able to let you know that the next Gloucestershire Region lunch – a slightly belated Mid-Autumn Festival celebration - will take place on Wednesday 2 October.
Date: Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Time: 12.30 - 2.30
THE HONG KONG SOCIETY, SCOTTISH REGION
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL LUNCH
TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2024
12.30 for 1 p.m.
THE EMPEROR RESTAURANT, Edinburgh
This annual seminar is designed to provide an up-to-date picture of the current business scene in Hong Kong and prospects for the year ahead.
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Time: Seminar 7pm – 8pm; Q&A 8pm; Reception 8.15pm – 9.30pm
Panel discussion on the effects of climate change and innovative solutions to combat the negative impact
Date: Thursday 13th June
Time: 6pm - 9pm
The HK Society is delighted to collaborate with the International Wine & Food Society (IWFS), established in 1933 (https://www.iwfs.capital/) on this exclusive opportunity to have the art and history of tea-tasting explained by renowned tea expert Will Battle to mark the launch of the publication of the 2024 IWFS Monograph – Tea, authored by Will.
Date: Saturday, 25 May 2024
Times: Morning session: 11 am – 1 pm or Afternoon Session: 3 pm – 5 pm
Location: Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Studio
After the success of our inaugural Book Fair, we are pleased to announce the date of our second Book Fair and that published author and ex-RHKP officer Simon Roberts (HK Beat) will be moderating this year.
Date: Thursday 9th May 2024
Time: From 5.30pm
Online Lecture with Nigel Johnson-Hill:
‘From Hell, With Love’ The untold story of a love that survived the horrors of the infamous Burma Railway.
Date: Tuesday 9th April
Time: From 5.45pm
The Scottish Region’s event, which will welcome (a little later than usual) The Year of The Dragon, will take place on Tuesday 12 March. This date has been arranged in order that those members who will attend the Society’s Chinese New Year dinner in London, at the end of February, may be able to add the Scottish celebration to their diaries!
Spring Lunch: Tuesday 12 March
The Emperor Restaurant (previously, Saigon Saigon)
Iconic British brand meets Oscar-winning HK art director Tim Yip (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame)
Date: Thursday 29th February 2024
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
We are delighted to announce that we have a date for our ever popular annual Chinese New Year Dinner.
Date: Wednesday 28th February 2024
Venue: China City
Time: 6:30pm Cash Bar, 7.00pm Dinner
