Europeans in Hong Kong recounts the remarkable history of Europeans and their contributions to the development of Hong Kong. The book covers individuals from five major countries: France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It blends historical context with personal narratives, featuring priests, businesspeople, and even a legendary disc jockey, among others. The book highlights various institutions—hospitals, schools, trading firms, and cultural organizations—that continue to thrive today.
From 1848 to 1897, the Sisters of St. Paul rescued and educated over 34,000 abandoned children, with 88% of them being girls. This effort laid the groundwork for a legacy of compassion and progress. Readers will meet inspiring figures such as Laure Raibaut, an art consultant in Cheung Chau, and Jacques Boissier, the founder of Classic Fine Foods. The book showcases how Europeans continue to influence Hong Kong’s vibrant life, encompassing various fields from technology and finance to art and humanitarian efforts.
The author, Mark O’Neill, will share stories of the Europeans who played significant roles in shaping Hong Kong. The book is available at Bookazine, Kelly & Walsh, Club Lusitano, Parentheses and on Amazon. It and others of Mark’s book will be sale at the venue.
The Speaker
Mark O’Neill was born in London, England and educated at Marlborough College and New College, Oxford. He worked in Washington, DC, Manchester and Belfast before coming to Hong Kong in 1978. He has lived in Asia ever since. He worked as a journalist for 30 years here, in Taiwan, India, the PRC and Japan, for Reuters, SCMP and many other publications. Since 2006, he has been writing books on Chinese, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau history and society. He has completed 18 so far in English. Eight have been translated into traditional Chinese and three into simplified Chinese. He speaks French, Mandarin and Cantonese and lives in Hong Kong with his wife.
More about Mark: https://www.mark-oneill.com
PROGRAMME
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Reception starts at 6:30 pm)
Admission: $175 for members, $220 for guests /non-members (Light refreshments are included in the admission fee)
Registration: Please email: membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe’s payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($175):
https://buy.stripe.com/9B64gA7Bq1S09X5c8h5EY2z
Non-member / Guest ($220):
https://buy.stripe.com/7sY3cw08Y68g1qz0pz5EY2A
Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 3 November 2025.