Behind the Scenes

Explore your passions in Hong Kong

On the afternoon of Thursday, November 21, all conference participants will have the opportunity to participate in Behind the Scenes tours, special tours held around the city and curated by the Hong Kong Forum. Please refer to the descriptions below – you will be able to make your tour preference during the registration process. All tours will depart from the Grand Hyatt and are scheduled to return by 5:00 pm.

A Passion for Design

A Prison Reinvented: Tai Kwun

Tai Kwun, the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy, and Victoria Prison, was honored in 2019 with a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation for its transformation into an accessible, world-class center for arts, culture, and heritage. It was also the prison where Ho Chi Minh held from was 1931 to 1933. On your tour, you’ll be led by the Head of Operations to see parts not accessible to the public.

Please note this tour involves many stairs, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Architecture and Design at HK Palace Museum 

See a different side of the opening reception venue, the Hong Kong Palace Museum. You’ll be personally led by the internationally celebrated architect Rocco Yim, who designed the space. The museum is a place that aspires to become one of the world’s leading cultural institutions committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, while advancing dialogue among world civilizations through international partnerships.

Christie's

In September 2024, Christie’s will open the doors to its new Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson, the highly anticipated skyscraper in Central Hong Kong, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The 50,000 square feet headquarters will be a one-stop hub for art and luxury, housing a state-of-the-art saleroom, galleries, a dedicated client hub, and offices. It spans 4 levels from the 6^th to the 9^th floors of the building, with the interiors designed by architecture practice COLLECTIVE, founded by fellow IWF member Betty Ng.

The signature state-of-the-art galleries are innovatively designed to be easily transformed for any event, including museum-quality exhibitions, exclusive client engagements, private sales, and educational programmes. Featuring high ceilings and a pillarless floorplan, the galleries have the flexibility to spectacularly display a diverse range of art and luxury objects. Please join Betty for a tour of the interiors.

Contemporary Art and Architecture with William Lim

Enjoy an intimate discussion about art and architecture with William Lim, one of the leading architects in Hong Kong, as he opens the doors of his renowned studio, CL3, to IWF members. CL3 is known for its award-winning commercial and residential designs in both Hong Kong and around the globe, and William is also a well-known contemporary art collector. You’ll be able to view his art collection and walk away with a deep understanding of the architectural scene in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Modern Art and Architecture at M+

You’ll be led by a curator through M+, Asia's first global museum of contemporary visual culture. One of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world, M+ is often compared to London’s Tate Modern. It has a bold ambition to establish itself as a leading cultural institution with a distinctive and innovative voice for Asia’s twenty-first century. The tour will focus on both the architecture of the building and the Sigg Collection, a permanent collection of contemporary Chinese art that’s one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.

A Passion for Government

Tour of HK Legislative Council 

Commissioned in October 2011, the Legislative Council Complex is the first purpose-built facility for the Hong Kong legislature. The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact, amend, or repeal laws; examine and approve budgets, taxation, and public expenditure; and raise questions on the work of the government. You’ll be personally guided by Secretary General Dora Wai Pik-yiu.

A Passion for the Performing Arts

HK Ballet Rehearsal

A Passion for Healthcare

Cancer Care at the Proton Therapy Centre

Nestled within the serene surroundings of A Kung Ngam in Shau Kei Wan, the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (HKSH) Proton Therapy Centre is equipped with Hong Kong’s first proton therapy system, a unique and cutting-edge radiotherapy facility, marking a new milestone in the city’s cancer treatment.

You’ll tour the center, led personally by IWF Hong Kong Member Professor Ava Kwong and her husband, Dr. Walton Li, Medical Superintendent of HKSH.

Dementia Care at Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing (JCCPA)

JCCPA was the first NGO in Hong Kong offering one-stop specialized care for people who have dementia. In addition to providing holistic care services and research, it also offers professional training for caregivers and industry counterparts to advance the quality of care.

Operating on a self-funding model, JCCPA has redefined quality service for dementia patients by pioneering innovative programs to address the specific needs of those facing cognitive challenges. You’ll tour this pioneering facility with Florence Ho, General Manager of JCCPA. 

A Passion for History

Asia Society Hong Kong Centre (ASHK)

ASHK, an independent non-governmental educational organization established in 1990 by a group of Hong Kong community leaders, is situated at the Former Explosives Magazine of the Victoria Barracks, a site steeped in history, cultural significance, and natural beauty. It was built by the British Army in the mid-19th century for explosives and ammunition production and storage. Through conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse, the heritage site has been transformed into a cultural and intellectual hub. It combines heritage preservation with a distinct, modern aesthetic complete with world-class performance and conference facilities that offer a broad range of arts and culture, business and policy programs, and exhibitions to the community. Explore the site led by IWF Hong Kong Member Alice Mong, President of Asia Society HK.

A Passion for Sports

The Hong Kong Jockey Club: Racing Talent Training Centre and Equine Hospital

IWF Hong Kong Member Amy Chan, a former elite athlete and the Club’s Head of Racing Talent Training and Headmistress of the Apprentice Jockeys’ School, will guide you on an exclusive tour of the centre. In addition, we will make a special visit to the Equine Hospital, which is not usually open to the public.

Since 1972, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been training racing talent, with graduates going on to become widely recognized jockeys and horse trainers, winning accolades in Hong Kong and around the globe.

At the Equine Hospital, the Club’s dedicated team of clinical veterinary surgeons cares for over 1,200 thoroughbred racehorses, stabled at the Club’s Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong and Conghua Racecourse in Guangzhou. It also cares for a further 600 retired thoroughbreds and other horses at nine riding establishments in Hong Kong, including the Club’s three public riding schools.

A Passion for Textiles

Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT)

IWF Hong Kong Member Janice Wang, a third-generation apparel manufacturer, will lead you through the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT), located in The Mills, the former cotton-spinning mills of Nan Fung Textiles in Tsuen Wan. See firsthand how these historic mills have been conserved and adapted for modern use. CHAT invites everyone to experience the innovative spirit of Hong Kong’s textile industry and engage in new dialogues and inspirational journeys that interweave heritage, arts, and textile.

Please note this tour involves quite a bit of walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended.