“To Be Here, It’s Good” is a brand new interview series brought to you by the Youth Development Commission, in connection with the “Youth Development Blueprint” of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau. The series not only depicts the appearance of Hong Kong as a city but also reveals the stories of the non-locally born citizens who have already regarded Hong Kong as their “home away from home”. Starting from “852”, the international area code of Hong Kong, the series invites foreigners who have been living in Hong Kong for various durations to share their stories. Each of them came to Hong Kong for a different reason. How did they adapt to Hong Kong and, deal with the difficulties? What does Hong Kong look like in their eyes? And how did they discover the uniqueness of Hong Kong? |
La vie vibrante featuring Mathieu Lahalle
"My name is Mathieu. And I arrived in Hong Kong in 2012."
I’m Mathieu. I used to work here as a banker, after a career in the banking industry in Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong. It’s a corporate world, with a lot of office time, colleagues, but no outside world. And I really want to face my customers, my guests. To meet the people, to see the smiles on the faces of people that I serve and I contribute. This feeling is something that I couldn't have in the banking industry.
"Changing from a corporate world to a business, entrepreneur is a big step when you're 30 years old. It's not an easy thing to do."
I feel that at Hong Kong has the best opportunities to start, to grow and develop a business. The local government is really motivating people, even foreigners, to kick-start a business. Starting a company in Hong Kong and growing your own business in Hong Kong can be done without speaking a word of Cantonese at the start. It's very different compared with other Asian major cities like Shanghai or Tokyo. People in Hong Kong are moving fast. Businesses are moving fast and decisions are taken fast. You can start your company within a few days. It's quite unique. It's really good to do business here.
My life in Hong Kong in the past 10 years is actually in a very different stage like many people can experience. Super hardworking in the banking industry and switching from the bank to the restaurant industry, and to your own business makes me even more hardworking.
"When you start your own business, the feeling you have at the very beginning is that there are no holidays. There are no vacations. There is no need for that because you're just living your life."
Monday, Sunday, whatever the day. So this is the pace and the rhythm that you would have when you start a business. It's just non-stop and you're happy with that and you find the energy with that. As the years go and you open new branches. And you strengthen the teams. Have management teams and raise your teams. You can also step back. Find a better life balance. Raise a family and raise your kids.
"And have a family life as well as a business and entrepreneur life in Hong Kong. And I find this life balance in my early 40s."
Youth Development Commission |