Cover Kam Shing Kwang (Photo: Supplied)
Kam Shing Kwang (Photo: Supplied)
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Upon her return to Hong Kong from Singapore, Kam Shing Kwang speaks to Tatler about overcoming her fear of contracting Covid-19, embracing uncertainty, and why periods of volatility are nothing to be afraid of
Truth Be Told is a series designed to bring hope to Hongkongers amid the uncertainty and isolation of the pandemic. Each week, we publish letters of encouragement and messages of positivity from the city’s most influential leaders in the realms of art, culture, business and sport. These deeply personal, first-person accounts from the community can be read as love letters to Hong Kong. In these trying times, the series inspires and serves as a reminder that we’re all in this together, and that we will bounce back stronger than ever.
Kam Shing Kwang is the Asia CEO of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, overseeing teams based in Hong Kong and Singapore. She is also the Greater China vice-chairman of investment banking at J.P. Morgan and an Asia's Most Influential honouree. This week, while in quarantine, she shares her thoughts on the pandemic, what it’s been like being away from her extended family, and proactive measures the bank has taken to support employees and clients alike.
April 7, 2022
I’m writing this entry as I start my quarantine in Hong Kong after visiting Singapore. Many colleagues asked me to stay in Singapore for longer as it’s still very much a work from home situation in Hong Kong. It was never my intention to be away during the height of the fifth wave but what we’ve learnt over the past two years is that uncertainty is a constant, and every place has their own timeline and unique set of circumstances.
After two years in Hong Kong, my aim was to finally travel to Singapore to catch up with my team in-person as Hong Kong was about to return to normality last December. As we have been reminded, new outbreaks have continued to disrupt even the best-laid plans.
I landed in Singapore with an immense fear of catching Covid-19 after being in a city with low cases. When Covid-19 numbers started to surge again shortly after landing in Singapore, my mindset changed to taking acceptable risks in order to be able to reunite with my two daughters.
Seeing the lion city’s recent reopening showed me light at the end of the tunnel and reassured me that Hong Kong will also come through. Family time is important to me and, like many people who call Hong Kong home, my family is scattered across the globe in China, Singapore and the US. For a long time I wasn’t able to see them in person. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy each other’s company. We video called each other and caught up more frequently than we would have pre-pandemic. Though spending time together in person is irreplaceable, we’ve learnt to take every opportunity to stay connected. We now connect at any time of day, no matter where we are. That way, we stay in constant touch and don’t feel we are missing a beat in each other’s lives.
While there has been a lot of attention on volatile [financial] markets following the recent outbreaks, my experience over two decades has proven that a period of volatility should always be expected. What remains most important is that necessary risk management processes are in place to carefully manage cycles of volatility, and this has always been at the core of what we do at J.P. Morgan. We’ve helped our clients weather unprecedented and historical crises, enabling them to come through each stronger and better.
Even as my own worries about contracting Covid-19 have become secondary, my primary concern is my team and their families. In Hong Kong, while everyone was working from home, we rolled out different initiatives to support our employees and their families as much as possible. From travel flexibility, workspace options and reimbursements, to mental health and wellbeing support with hotlines for employees and their families, to weekly calls to stay connected virtually (some people even invited their kids to join) and share their experience of Covid-19 and quarantine.
As much as the fifth wave has taken a toll on everyone, these initiatives not only helped us empathise with one another, but also normalised conversations around and sentiment towards contracting Covid-19. We continue to review where we can do more to support our team. It is essential to maintain an open dialogue both ways to remind them that we are here to support them no matter what.
It has been key to remind ourselves that we simply cannot compare ourselves to other markets. Each has their own situation with unique circumstances. All we can do is learn from their experiences.
Recent months have undoubtedly been difficult for everyone in Hong Kong. We have rolled out a number of community relief efforts too, concentrating on medical supplies for the elderly, PPE for frontline workers and food programmes for the vulnerable. Alongside these areas, we’ve matched employee donations as well. We’ve also guided clients who have enquired about scaling their philanthropic impact on the community.
While we’ve all seen the headlines about people leaving Hong Kong, it’s imperative to recognise that many people have committed to making Hong Kong their permanent home, with some professionals even making plans to come back. This movement of people is not a new phenomenon, and overcoming periods of uncertainty is anything but novel.
Hong Kong has always been a malleable and adaptable city. The reality is that this city has always seen an ever-changing pool of diverse talent, which has kept Hong Kong ahead of the curve. Likewise, people who have left will have added diversity in their careers and professional experience as well. Everyone and every place has their own timeline and specific circumstances. Over time, this community will help maintain existing and establish new connections within Hong Kong, as it always has before.” —Kam Shing Kwang
Kam Shing Kwang is an Asia’s Most Influential honouree from 2021. Discover the changemakers, industry titans, and powerful individuals who are making a positive impact on the region in the Asia’s Most Influential list from Tatler.
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