Five Inspiring Women in Hong Kong Every Girl Should Know About

by Quincy Leung

Everyone needs a role model to look up to. We need someone that can motivate us to discover our potential and be the best we can and so I have compiled a list of women who have been a defining influence in shaping Hong Kong and made us prouder to be girls. After reading about these inspirational women, I hope that you will feel empowered and realise that you have the potential to make a positive change in the world.

Chuang Shuk Kwan

Head of Communicable Disease Branch of the Department of Health in Hong Kong, Dr. Chuang Shuk-Kwan has become the face of Hong Kong’s fight against Covid-19. Since January, Kwan has been hosting the government’s daily COVID-19 press briefings and updating the public on the latest developments with calmness and clarity. No matter how bleak the situation seems, Kwan maintains her composure, reassuring people that there is no need for panic as long as the public is cooperative. Rarely taking days off, Kwan manages media conferences while taking care of her kids and sick husband who recently passed away due to a brain tumour. Kwan has spearheaded Hong Kong’s successful response to the pandemic, earning the respect and admiration of the public. With a calm yet confident attitude, Kwan is a perfect example of how to cope with challenging and stressful situations.

Vivian Kong

Ranked number one in the world for Women's Epee and also the first fencer from Hong Kong to win a World Cup title, Vivian Kong is the leading fencer in Hong Kong. Optimistic and humble, the 25-year old Stanford graduate credits her success to the people who helped her along the way, always maintaining that her and her team made history together. However, Vivian’s journey was not all smooth sailing. In 2017, she tore her left ACL at a training camp right before the World Championships in Leipzig and had to fly back home for surgery. In 2019, during the World Championships in Budapest, she slipped and tore her ACL on her right knee and required immediate surgery. Despite having to take time off to recover, Kong is grateful for the two injuries and uses them as motivation to work harder. Showing resilience and gratitude in the face of adversity, Kong exhibits a strong mindset that all girls can learn from.

Nancy Ip

A world renowned neuroscientist, Professor Nancy Ip is a role model for young women to pursue a career in science and break boundaries. Not only does she hold many distinguished positions at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, she is also a member of many academies, such as the World Academy of Sciences. As if this was not impressive enough, she has accumulated a notable list of awards and achievements, including Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the highest academic honour accorded to Chinese scientists, and the L’Oreal-Unesco “For Women in Science” Award. Professor Ip holds 44 patents and has published over 260 scientific papers in prominent journals with over 18,000 Science Citation Index citations, making her the top 100 highly cited researchers in neuroscience. Her contributions in neural development has led to the identification of drug leads for brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and there is no doubt that she is a true inspiration to the next generation of female scientists. 

Gigi Chao

Gigi Chao was thrust into the spotlight in 2012 when her father, a property tycoon, publicly announced a 500 million—later doubled to one billion—dollar dowry to any man who wold marry his lesbian daughter. Turning down over 17,000 suitors, Chao did not let anyone put a price on her love. Gigi still speaks highly of her father, believing that his intentions stemmed from love but since then she has become the city’s strongest advocate for gay rights, co-founding the NGO Hong Kong Marriage Equality to eliminate discrimination and bring marriage equality for same-sex couples in Hong Kong. Refusing to let the incident bring her down, Chao is instead trying to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for same sex couples in Hong Kong, a gracious response deserving of admiration and respect from all girls around the world. 

Ines Gafsi

Last but not least, Inspiring Girls Hong Kong’s Country Chair, Ines Gafsi, is a powerhouse woman passionate about empowering other women. Along with Anna Wong, she co-founded Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide, an international organisation that helps entrepreneurial women hone their skills, scale up their business, and reach their full potential. She has served as a speaker at the SCMP’s Game Changers, AmCham Women of Influence awards and was voted “Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong'' by Hong Kong Tatler. While she is a leading female entrepreneur, Gafsi is humble and down-to-earth, serving as an inspiration to all young girls and women alike.