HKBANC 42nd Anniversary Gala Recap

A Night of Celebration and Connection

The Hong Kong Business Association of Northern California (HKBANC) proudly celebrated its 42nd Anniversary Charity Gala in Burlingame, bringing together around 300 leaders from the business, cultural, and community sectors across the Bay Area. The evening was more than a gala — it was a meaningful gathering that honored achievement, strengthened connections, and celebrated the enduring impact of the Hong Kong community.

The HKBANC Board sincerely appreciates the unwavering support of all our sponsors, guests, community partners, and volunteers.

This year’s theme, “Hong Kong’s Got Talent: Celebrating Our Global Community,” highlighted the creativity, resilience, and global influence of Hong Kong people. Through this theme, the gala recognized not only individual excellence, but also the collective spirit of a community that continues to contribute across industries, cultures, and generations.

A Message from Leadership — Margaret Wong

HKBANC President Margaret Wong reflected on the organization’s longstanding mission since its founding in 1984 — to strengthen connections between Hong Kong and Northern California across business, culture, and academia.

She emphasized that this year’s theme was a tribute to the talent and spirit of the Hong Kong community, and a way to spotlight individuals whose achievements embody creativity, resilience, and global impact. Through honoring these leaders, the gala not only celebrates success, but also inspires deeper collaboration and stronger ties between the Bay Area and Hong Kong.

Honoring Distinguished Leaders

The evening paid tribute to five outstanding honorees whose achievements have left a lasting mark in business, hospitality, media, culture, and the community:

• Dr. Kenneth Fong, Chairman of Kenson Ventures

• Yue-Sai Kan, Emmy Award-winning television host and cultural icon

• Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO of East West Bank

• Peter Wong, Senior Hospitality Advisor

• Martin Yan, celebrity chef and television host

  
  

These honorees represent the excellence, generosity, and leadership that continue to elevate the Hong Kong and broader Chinese diaspora on the global stage.

A Bridge Between Hong Kong and Northern California

HKBANC reaffirmed its mission of serving as a bridge between Hong Kong and Northern California. Since its founding in 1984, the association has been dedicated to advancing economic, cultural, and academic exchange, while creating meaningful opportunities for businesses and professionals interested in the Greater China market.

The gala also reflected a shared commitment to deepening ties between Hong Kong and the Bay Area — especially in finance, technology, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Inspiring Words and Shared Values

Throughout the evening, speakers reflected on the values that define the Hong Kong community: resilience, drive, adaptability, and a strong commitment to giving back. Honoree Yue-Sai Kan shared her hope of carrying forward the spirit of hardworking and forward-thinking Hong Kong people, while creating positive impact in society and contributing to stronger understanding and connection across cultures.

The event also emphasized the importance of spotlighting role models and inspiring the next generation, especially young Hong Kong people, to step forward, tell their stories, and build a broader future.

An Evening Filled with Energy

In addition to the awards presentation, guests enjoyed a vibrant cocktail reception, live music, and a lively raffle program. Emmy Award-winning journalist Dion Lim served as emcee, bringing warmth and energy to the evening. Together, these moments created a joyful and memorable celebration of community, culture, and shared purpose.

Looking Ahead

As HKBANC marks 42 years of service and leadership, the gala served as both a celebration of the past and a vision for the future. With continued dedication to community-building, cross-cultural collaboration, and youth engagement, HKBANC looks forward to creating even more meaningful connections between Hong Kong and Northern California in the years to come.

香港北加州商會42周年慈善晚宴回顧

凝聚與慶祝之夜

香港北加州商會（HKBANC）於伯靈甘隆重舉行42周年慈善晚宴，吸引約300位來自灣區商界、文化界及社區的領袖與嘉賓共襄盛舉。這不僅是一場晚宴，更是一個凝聚人心、表彰成就、深化連結的重要時刻，展現香港社群長久以來在灣區的深遠影響力。

今年晚宴以 「香港達人秀：慶祝我們的全球社區」 為主題，聚焦香港人的創意、韌性與全球影響力。透過這個主題，活動不僅表揚各界傑出人士的卓越成就，也展現香港社群跨越產業、文化與世代的凝聚力與貢獻精神。

香港北加州商會董事會衷心感謝所有贊助商、來賓、社區夥伴及義工一直以來的鼎力支持。

主席致辭 — 王易虹

香港北加州商會主席 王易虹（Margaret Wong） 在致辭中回顧商會自1984年成立以來的使命，致力促進香港與北加州在經濟、文化及學術方面的交流合作。

她指出，今年晚宴主題旨在表彰香港社群的人才與精神，透過肯定各領域的傑出人士，展現香港人在全球舞台上的創意、韌性與影響力。同時，藉此進一步促進灣區與香港之間更緊密的合作與連結。

表彰傑出領袖

當晚隆重表彰五位來自不同領域的傑出人士，他們在商業、酒店業、媒體、文化及社區服務方面皆成就斐然：

• 方瑞賢博士（Dr. Kenneth Fong），Kenson Ventures 董事長

• 靳羽西（Yue-Sai Kan），艾美獎得主及知名電視主持人

• 吳建民（Dominic Ng），華美銀行董事長兼行政總裁

• 黃勵華（Peter Wong），酒店業資深顧問

• 甄文達（Martin Yan），知名廚師兼電視節目主持人

五位嘉賓以各自的專業成就、領導力與對社區的回饋，充分展現香港及華人社群在全球舞台上的卓越影響力。

連結香港與北加州的橋樑

香港北加州商會再次重申其橋樑角色。自1984年成立以來，商會一直致力促進香港與北加州在經濟、文化及學術領域的交流合作，並為關注大中華市場的企業與專業人士搭建寶貴的交流平台。此次晚宴亦彰顯了香港與灣區之間深化合作的共同願景，特別是在金融、科技、創新及文化交流等方面，雙方都具高度互補與合作潛力。

晚宴上，多位嘉賓分享了香港社群所代表的核心價值：堅韌不拔、勤奮進取、靈活應變，以及回饋社會的精神。獲獎嘉賓靳羽西表示，希望能將香港人努力不懈、勇於進取的精神發揚光大，為社會帶來更多正面影響，並為跨文化理解與交流注入更多力量。

活動同時強調樹立榜樣的重要性，期望透過表揚傑出人士，鼓勵新一代香港年輕人勇敢走出來、講述自己的故事，開拓更廣闊的未來。

除了頒獎典禮外，當晚亦設有雞尾酒會、現場音樂表演及抽獎環節，氣氛熱烈而溫馨。由艾美獎記者 Dion Lim 擔任司儀，為整晚活動注入活力與節奏，讓來賓在歡聚之中一同感受社區、文化與共同使命所帶來的力量。

展望未來

值此42周年之際，這場晚宴既是對過去成就的慶祝，也是對未來願景的展望。香港北加州商會將繼續秉持凝聚社群、推動跨文化交流及培育青年參與的使命，在未來締造更多香港與北加州之間深具意義的連結與合作。