There’s an air of quiet circumspection around Laurinda Ho, the invisible shield of someone used to being watched. And who could blame her? One of the 17 children of Stanley Ho, his youngest daughter with third wife Ina Chan, Laurinda has spent most of her life witnessing the faces of various family members splattered across the tabloids. Her father, after all, is the “king of gambling” and is one of the richest men in the world.
“I actually didn’t know I was famous,” she says. “I grew up thinking our family was like any other until I was around eight years old when I went to a ballet performance with my mother and saw the entrance surrounded by paparazzi taking our photos. That’s when I got an inkling that we might be different.”
Today, with a bachelor’s degree in economics under her belt, a certificate from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a master’s in professional accountancy well under way at the University of London, and with stints working at Ernst & Young in London and on projects in the family’s hospitality business, she exudes the calm air of a seasoned professional capable of holding her own. Though soft-spoken in front of strangers, she’s not afraid to make her opinion known, something she feels women should do more often.
“I love and look up to [English actress and activist] Emma Watson because she’s around my age and she’s a strong feminist who gives women a voice and sticks by her values,” says Laurinda, who is an executive director of the Australian subsidiary of Hong Kong’s UNIR Group, UNIR Management, which manages an investment portfolio of hospitality, realty, leisure, retail and transport businesses. “I think it’s important, especially for girls, to not just blindly follow what others say, or believe what others believe.”
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE LAST WORD
Every issue, we ask our cover star a round of quickfire questions that give us a little more insight into their personalities. This month: Takashi Murakami
GOING WITH THE FLOW
How does one approach the ancient philosophy of feng shui in a modern way? Three leading Hong Kong-based designers share their thoughts on this revered art of placement and how to introduce its principles into our spaces
SCENE MAKER
Italian architect Antonio Citterio reflects on his enduring collaboration with Maxalto and how far the furniture brand has come since its early beginnings
MODERN FAMILY
Kourtney Kardashian's California sanctuary by famed designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is where elegance meets comfort
A TO Z COSMETIC TREATMENTS
From Botox to glass skin facials, here are the most talked-about cosmetic treatments to know
CHANGING THE GAME
Our world is ever-changing, and so is the way we experience it. Tatler explores how the travel industry is adapting to the needs and values of a new generation
ACTS OF SERVICE
Go on, then. Ask Vea and Wing's chef-owner Vicky Cheng what his love language is
THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
More women are taking back their birthing experience and their power by challenging the institutionalised norms surrounding childbirth, honouring the healing process and leaning on the magic of sisterhood
THE RIGHT INGRDIENTS
Oscar nominee Tran Anh Hung, who won Best Director at Cannes last year, evolves the language of cinema to present the simple beauty of Vietnam
THIRST TRAP
Marilyn Minter takes an exclusive self-portrait for Tatler and reminds the world why raw, honest, non-conforming beauty is the most compelling kind
