Talking about
the Chinese market and what it means to wineries is very important. This is the
reason why I interviewed Mr. Henry Ho, one of the most important people in the
world of wine in Hong Kong. I could
write a lot of about the history of wine in China, but I would prefer that a
great poet talks about wine: Li Bai or Li Po. He is known as the immortal poet.
He was born in 701 and died in 762, during Tang dynasty. His poem is called
“Drinking alone by moonlight”
A cup of wine, under the flowering trees;
I drink alone, for no friend is near.
Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon,
For he, with my shadow, will make three men.
The moon, alas, is no drinker of wine;
Listless, my shadow creeps about at my side.
Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow as slave
I must make merry before the Spring is spent.
To the songs I sing the moon flickers her beams;
In the dance I weave my shadow tangles and breaks.
While we were sober, three shared the fun;
Now we are drunk, each goes his way.
May we long share our odd, inanimate feast,
And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky!
Li Po was famous for his drinking, but he was no simple-minded drunk. Here “drinking” is linked to longing for
absent friends.
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| Mr. Henry Ho |
First of all, thank you very much for the interview
The pleasure’s all mine.
What did it lead you to the wine
world?
Since the abolishment of the Wine tax in 2008 it
opened up a lot of opportunities for individuals to enter the wine industry,
and I was one of them. At that time I could see a bright future for the wine
industry not only locally but also the China and neighboring Asian markets.
How does your love for wine start?
Well I show passion to a lot of things in life, such as
sports, culinary arts, and wine.
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| HKWMCC - Henry Ho |
You are the Hong Kong Wine Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (HKWMCC) founder, how and why was this idea born?
The HKWMCC was established in 2010 by a
few individuals in the wine industry who decided that the wine industry needed
a coherent voice, to work together and also a platform to share information
among other members in the industry. We are a fully independent party.
Which is your function in Hong
Kong Wine Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (HKWMCC)
I am the founding President of the HKWMCC and I still am. I
have been working in the wine industry for several years and also been involved
in several wine companies here in Hong Kong and China. I plan to re-organize
the Chamber’s structure and hopefully an election for a new president will take
place next year.
 |
| Henry Ho |
And which is the aim of the Hong
Kong Wine Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (HKWMCC)?
The HKWMCC aims to unify all sectors of the wine industry in
Hong Kong. We seek to provide communication channels between our wine industry
and the government. The HKWMCC has a
major influence in the China Wine Market, representing Hong Kong in many
occasions.
Are you also a consultant?
Yes indeed I am, but not on wine but rather on wine
business and other academic fields.
What is the task you develop?
As mentioned, I am a consultant in the academic field.
I have been guest speaker at the the University of Hong Kong SPACE Wine MBA
Program. And now, I am the guest lecturer of the College of Wine Business at Shanghai
Jiao Tong University.
 |
| Henry Ho |
You have been jury in international
wine exhibitions, did you enjoy the experience?
Do you think it could be improved?
Yes it was definitely a wonderful experience for me.
You are certified by the Bordeaux
Wine School, what is it about?
I’ve actually acquired a certificate from course
hosted by the Bordeaux Wine School. Bordeaux
Wine School Certificate Program is two days lesson providing knowledge of wine,
region and something more about tasting. That program I was taught by Peter
Kwong who is the famous sommelier in Hong Kong.
 |
| Henry Ho |
Which is your opinion about Spanish
wines?
I remember one from
Mallorca which was much impressive to me. There is quite a lot value for money
Spanish wine. It is not difficult to look for.
And about South American ones?
Do you mean Argentina? Yes, I do like Argentina
Malbec.
Which country has more influence
today in the wine market?
Definitely the China market, with it’s volume and
potential.
And in the near future?
I would say China still for the next 10 years or more.
 |
| Henry Ho |
Which is your opinion about the wine
market in China?
There is still a lot to explore in the China wine market, as
there are second and third tier cities that are still underdeveloped in terms
of wine. What I can say is that the major top tier cities are getting closer
together to Hong Kong that we can see.
What do you think about the forgeries of wines and
which measures must be taken to avoid it?
Producing and selling fake wines is a lucrative
business, and it has always been difficult to control as we have faced difficulty
in the prosecution process when the owner of the property rights are reluctant
to step up confirm these cases.
 |
| Hong Kong Wine Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (HKWMCC) |
Thank you very much, Mr. Ho. In vino veritas, longae vitae!))
Henri Ho in few lines:
·
Founder
of Hong Kong Wine Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce
·
Member
of the Customs-Wine Industry Alliance
·
President
of EyeOrange Interactive
·
Vineyards,
Wineries, Castles property consultant from Franceelite Investment Limited
·
Member
of Vacational Training Council Working Committee of Manpower Survey of the Wine
Industry in Hong Kong
·
Vice-chairman
of the Canton-Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan Wine Industry Alliance, China National
Association for Liquor and Spirits Circulation
·
Director
of Tsantali (Asia) Limited
·
Guest lecturer at the University of Hong Kong SPACE
Wine MBA Program
·
Guest lecturer of College of Wine Business at the
Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
·
Advisor of Central Policy Unit, The Hong Kong
Government
