Sir David Tang Wang Cheung KBE
Entrepreneur, businessman and socialite
Sir David Tang, is a Hong Kong businessman and socialite best known as the founder of the Shanghai Tang chain, though he sold his entire interest in the company in 1998.
Known for his love of Cuban cigars, Sir David is also a cigar importer and the Honorary Consul of Cuba in Hong Kong. He is a columnist for Apple Daily; a selection of his articles for the paper has been published in book form in English as An Apple a Week, where his colourful upbringing, remarkably generous spirit and always challenging opinions can be enjoyed. Other interests include aviation and gold-mining.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours in recognition of his charity work.
Sir David was born in Hong Kong and attended The Perse School, Cambridge. He has two grown-up children from his first marriage, and lives in Hong Kong with his wife, Lucy.
At the beginning of 2007, Sir David was appointed as the Patron of The Pearl Awards and was instrumental in securing the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, at the ceremony in November 2007.
Here are some of his thoughts on doing business in China, as told at a conference HSBC held in 2006. (Source)
Do your homework
“We talk about China as if it is a mystical country, but nothing beats research. You’ve got to go there and live there for three months, six months, do whatever you need, but bring back some critical information.”
Advice for shoe-makers in China
“Chinese are very lazy; they want slip-on shoes.”
The migration of Chinese talent
“I opened a Chinese restaurant in the Dorchester Hotel. This created some problems with my stoves because when we cook Chinese food we have to turn up the heat. Under EU regulations, the maximum amount of heat generated by a stove for which we can have proper insurance cover boils a wok of water in 52 seconds.
“However, the kind of stove I need for my Chinese food is four times more ferocious and would boil water in 9.5 seconds. But we can’t put that in, even though other Chinese restaurants in the UK fudge the issue.
“So I was in a dilemma: should I serve my customer sub-standard Chinese food without that characteristic Chinese wok flavour? Or could I find another way?
“I sought the advice of a consultant, who told me: 'It’s very simple. The EU regulations only stipulate certain pre-approved designs. But it is open to new design as long as qualified inspectors certify that they are safe.'
“So, at a huge expense – £15,000 – I flew two guys first class all the way to the depths of southern China to where I’d had the stove made. And they designed a protective system so that it would fall within the EU regulations. They came back – and bingo – everything was approved.
“Now I asked the man in southern China: why don’t you tell people about your new design that’s used by China Tang in the Dorchester Hotel and approved by the inspectors? You could sell this design to every one of the thousands of Chinese restaurants in Europe.
“It’s just one tiny example of how Chinese expertise can be exported abroad.”
The Times Online have an article on a day in the life of Sir David Tang
Note : If you'd like to contact Sir David Tang Wang Cheung KBE, please follow the instructions at the bottom of the Enquiries page.
Comments (below) : (5) • Permalink
Updated on 03 February, 2008
Known for his love of Cuban cigars, Sir David is also a cigar importer and the Honorary Consul of Cuba in Hong Kong. He is a columnist for Apple Daily; a selection of his articles for the paper has been published in book form in English as An Apple a Week, where his colourful upbringing, remarkably generous spirit and always challenging opinions can be enjoyed. Other interests include aviation and gold-mining.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours in recognition of his charity work.
Sir David was born in Hong Kong and attended The Perse School, Cambridge. He has two grown-up children from his first marriage, and lives in Hong Kong with his wife, Lucy.
At the beginning of 2007, Sir David was appointed as the Patron of The Pearl Awards and was instrumental in securing the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, at the ceremony in November 2007.
Here are some of his thoughts on doing business in China, as told at a conference HSBC held in 2006. (Source)
Do your homework
“We talk about China as if it is a mystical country, but nothing beats research. You’ve got to go there and live there for three months, six months, do whatever you need, but bring back some critical information.”
Advice for shoe-makers in China
“Chinese are very lazy; they want slip-on shoes.”
The migration of Chinese talent
“I opened a Chinese restaurant in the Dorchester Hotel. This created some problems with my stoves because when we cook Chinese food we have to turn up the heat. Under EU regulations, the maximum amount of heat generated by a stove for which we can have proper insurance cover boils a wok of water in 52 seconds.
“However, the kind of stove I need for my Chinese food is four times more ferocious and would boil water in 9.5 seconds. But we can’t put that in, even though other Chinese restaurants in the UK fudge the issue.
“So I was in a dilemma: should I serve my customer sub-standard Chinese food without that characteristic Chinese wok flavour? Or could I find another way?
“I sought the advice of a consultant, who told me: 'It’s very simple. The EU regulations only stipulate certain pre-approved designs. But it is open to new design as long as qualified inspectors certify that they are safe.'
“So, at a huge expense – £15,000 – I flew two guys first class all the way to the depths of southern China to where I’d had the stove made. And they designed a protective system so that it would fall within the EU regulations. They came back – and bingo – everything was approved.
“Now I asked the man in southern China: why don’t you tell people about your new design that’s used by China Tang in the Dorchester Hotel and approved by the inspectors? You could sell this design to every one of the thousands of Chinese restaurants in Europe.
“It’s just one tiny example of how Chinese expertise can be exported abroad.”
The Times Online have an article on a day in the life of Sir David Tang
Note : If you'd like to contact Sir David Tang Wang Cheung KBE, please follow the instructions at the bottom of the Enquiries page.
Comments (below) : (5) • Permalink
Updated on 03 February, 2008
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Hi sir!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/06/08 at 07:35 PM
Dear Mr. Tang I saw a picture of your living room in the GG magazine. Because I am an antique clockmaker especially your bracket clock on the chimney attact my attention. If your clock isn`t working exactly I would be glad to invite you to my clientele. On my Homepage you can find further informations about me and my clock clinic. If you contact me I would also like to send you some examples of interesting bracket clocks which I repaired in the last time. Kind regards Siegmund Jeziorek
Posted by Siegmund Jeziorek on 20/07/08 at 06:02 PM
The fact that he has a great interest in Cuban cigars actually made his job even more pleasant.I always associate cigars with charismatic and successful people.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 13/08/08 at 02:02 PM
Mr Tang , i have just read on BBC.com how pessimism was worsening the recession , and i completely agree with you.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 18/02/09 at 12:26 AM
Dear Sir David I recently read your article “Heed the Chinese Ghosts of Morecambe Bay” in the Spectator and wondered if you were aware of the fantastic work done by the charity STOP(Trafficking UK). I have pasted the link to the STOP website below and would be absolutely delighted if you would like to contact me (using the email address provided) or STOP’s Chief Executive (using the email address on the STOP the website), with any views on this subject you would be happy to share, or any support you would be willing to give. Many thanks. http://www.stop-uk.org/ Regards Felicity Macdonald
Posted by Felicity Macdonald on 05/03/09 at 07:35 PM
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/06/08 at 07:35 PM
Dear Mr. Tang I saw a picture of your living room in the GG magazine. Because I am an antique clockmaker especially your bracket clock on the chimney attact my attention. If your clock isn`t working exactly I would be glad to invite you to my clientele. On my Homepage you can find further informations about me and my clock clinic. If you contact me I would also like to send you some examples of interesting bracket clocks which I repaired in the last time. Kind regards Siegmund Jeziorek
Posted by Siegmund Jeziorek on 20/07/08 at 06:02 PM
The fact that he has a great interest in Cuban cigars actually made his job even more pleasant.I always associate cigars with charismatic and successful people.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 13/08/08 at 02:02 PM
Mr Tang , i have just read on BBC.com how pessimism was worsening the recession , and i completely agree with you.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 18/02/09 at 12:26 AM
Dear Sir David I recently read your article “Heed the Chinese Ghosts of Morecambe Bay” in the Spectator and wondered if you were aware of the fantastic work done by the charity STOP(Trafficking UK). I have pasted the link to the STOP website below and would be absolutely delighted if you would like to contact me (using the email address provided) or STOP’s Chief Executive (using the email address on the STOP the website), with any views on this subject you would be happy to share, or any support you would be willing to give. Many thanks. http://www.stop-uk.org/ Regards Felicity Macdonald
Posted by Felicity Macdonald on 05/03/09 at 07:35 PM
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