Cover Inside Tatler Ball 2024 (Photo: Humphrey Ng/Tatler Hong Kong)
Inside Tatler Ball 2024 (Photo: Humphrey Ng/Tatler Hong Kong)
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Tatler Ball has long been one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive black-tie soirées, kicking off the gala season and bringing together the city’s most notable figures. This year, the highly anticipated Tatler Ball made its way to the newly opened Grand Ballroom of the Hopewell Hotel
On November 29, the Tatler Ball 2024 took place at the newly unveiled Grand Ballroom of the Hopewell Hotel in Wan Chai. This year’s ball, themed Ride with the Wind, was a tribute to Hong Kong’s resilience, unity and perseverance—qualities that continue to define its indomitable spirit.
Welcoming 300 of Asia’s most distinguished figures, the evening celebrated individuals who embody Hong Kong’s creativity and pride. Among the luminaries in attendance were global conservation icon Dr Jane Goodall, actor and philanthropist Louis Koo, trailblazing fashion designer Robert Wun, Olympic champion Li Xiaopeng, and a host of celebrated athletes, cultural leaders and visionaries.
The festivities began with an elegant cocktail reception, where guests were greeted by the soulful tunes of DJ Crystal So and a captivating performance by MarSix, who blended the traditional melodies of the pipa with contemporary beats. Guests truly embraced the theme of Ride with the Wind, arriving dressed to the nines in stunning outfits—think wing-shaped dresses and flowing gowns.
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Lady Ivy Wu Kwok and Sir Gordon Wu (Photo: David Cheng/Tatler Hong Kong)
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Among the fashion icons in attendance were Adrienne Ho, Tina Leung and Prabal Gurung, who had flown in from the US. They mingled with old friends, while athlete Stephanie Au posed for photos and reunited with fellow Olympians like Camille Cheng and Cedric Ho.
As the cocktail hour came to a close, guests including Allan Zeman and Sir Gordon Wu, founder of Hopewell Holdings, were ushered into the dimly lit ballroom, which featured sphere seating and a striking 360-stage at its centre. The surrounding drapes were beautifully adorned with projections that enhanced the ambience. Here, they indulged in an exquisite five-course dinner by Larry Ng, executive chef of the Hopewell Hotel’s Chinese kitchen, and ArChan Chan, head chef of Ho Lee Fook, operated by Black Sheep Restaurants. The dishes included an exquisite starter of crispy roasted suckling pig, barbecued pork, pineapple puff, wafer-thin beef in Sichuan peppercorn sauce and scallop and celtuce with numbing spring onion oil, as well as a steamed deep-sea Patagonian toothfish with chicken oil and Huadiao wine sauce, served with baby pea shoots, with crispy seaweed on top. Each course was a celebration of culinary artistry, perfectly complementing the evening's elegant theme and the spirit of Hong Kong.
Lindsay Jang and Maxy Levy (Photo: Chester Lam/Tatler Hong Kong)
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Tamara Lamunière, president of Tatler Asia, welcomed guests with a speech about unshakeable faith and resilience: “Tonight’s theme is about riding the wind of change. Change: We all say we are open to it, until it shows up unannounced, disrupts our routine and leaves us scrambling to make sense of it. Especially for us here in Hong Kong who have and continue to experience so much of it. Tonight, we invite you to look at change not as something to fear, but as force that pushes us to grow, evolve and unlock possibilities that we’ve never imagined. As the poet Rumi once said: ‘Try not to resist the changes that come your way; instead let life live through you. Do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?’ Rumi’s words remind us of something important. Though [change] can often feel like chaos, it is sometimes the start of something extraordinary and transformative. Resilience is a choice we make every single day and the people in this room have the choice and the power to shape not only your own lives but the lives of others. Tonight is a beautiful example that as individuals we are strong, but together we are stronger. Tonight, let’s honour the unstoppable pride of Hong Kong.” Her words were followed by thunderous applause.
Jeff Rotmeyer (Photo: Hugo Fok/Tatler Hong Kong)
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At the heart of the evening were the Tatler Impact Awards, which celebrate exceptional individuals in humanity, style, culture and sports. The awards showcase Tatler’s dedication to amplifying the extraordinary achievements of Asia’s Most Influential individuals and beyond and underscores its role as a champion of leadership, innovation and culture.
Introduced to the stage by Tatler’s head of VIP content and community Tara Sobti, who was the emcee for the evening, Sean Fitzpatrick, Tatler Asia’s chief experience officer, addressed the crowd with a speech ahead of the awards ceremony, which took place throughout the evening.
The Tatler Impact Award for Humanity was presented by Lamunière to Goodall, a global icon for conservation, whose groundbreaking work continues to inspire generations.
The Tatler Impact Award for Style was presented to Wun by acclaimed fashion designer Vivienne Tam, in honour of his pioneering achievements in fashion; Wun was the first Hong Kong designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week. His vision came to life as four models in his creations graced the stage, adding a touch of elegance to the awards presentation.
The Tatler Impact Award for Culture was given to Henry Steiner, the “father of Hong Kong design”, in recognition of his indelible mark on the region’s creative landscape.
Inside the venue (Photo: Humphrey Ng/Tatler Hong Kong)
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The Tatler Impact Award for Sports honoured eight outstanding Paralympians for their excellence and contributions to Hong Kong sport: badminton player Daniel Chan Ho-yuen; swimmers Chan Yui-lam and Jasmine Ng Cheuk Yan; and boccia players Annie Cheung, Ho Yuen-kei, Leung Yuk-wing, John Loung and King Tse Tak-wah. Introduced to the stage by Tatler Hong Kong’s editor-in-chief Ahy Choi, the athletes were presented with the awards by gymnastics legend Li, who expressed heartfelt admiration for their unwavering dedication and triumphs. The Paralympians spoke of resilience and the importance of supporting diversity in sport in their acceptance speeches; their incredible stories of determination had the crowd clapping and cheering in unison.
The evening reached its pinnacle with the presentation of the Diamond Award, given to actor and producer Louis Koo for his contributions to the entertainment industry, as well as his work as a philanthropist. The award was presented by Kimbee Chan, CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings and founder and creative director of Happy Yarn. Before introducing Koo to the stage, Chan recalled the early days of her friendship with the actor—while she was a young reporter—and told the crowd how they had grown together over the years, with his contributions to film and society making him truly deserving of the award, while Koo spoke of the importance of supporting the Hong Kong film industry in his speech.
Breathtaking performances added to the evening’s magic. Aerialists Joyce Lai and Etienne Ferrère delivered a mesmerising routine. At the afterparty, guests mingled while sipping bespoke cocktails featuring Martell cognac and Perrier-Jouët champagne, courtesy of Tatler’s sponsors. DJ Fu kept the energy alive with an eclectic mix of beats that had guests dancing well into the night.
The Tatler Ball 2024 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors HSBC, Chopard, BMW, Guerlain, Perrier-Jouët and Martell, all of whom share Tatler’s commitment to excellence and community impact.
As the evening came to a close, guests departed carrying forward the spirit of celebration and inspiration that defined this unforgettable night.
To support the Jane Goodall Institute Hong Kong visit the links below:
auction.janegoodall.org.hk & legacy.simplygiving.com
