Asian Studies Alumni Spotlight with Tony Tsang

Interested in what you can do with a degree in Asian Studies? In our Alumni Spotlight Interview Series, we ask our alumni about their career paths, how they became interested in Asian Studies and for any advice they would give to current students. This interview features Tony Tsang UBC Asian Studies BA 2009. Tsang is currently a Hong Kong Representative on a venture in education. 

Who are you and what are you currently doing?

My name is Tony Tsang and I am currently residing in Hong Kong where I am working on a venture in education. Prior to that I was last working as a legal/compliance manager at Coutts, a private wealth division for investment bank Royal Bank of Scotland.

How did you start working abroad?

My career path has been a winding one. As a Liberal Arts graduate, I was worried about the typical question “how will my degree fit into the job market” but I was lucky enough to meet some experienced investment banking professionals in Hong Kong thanks to a referral I received from a Professor at my graduate school. I eventually become lasting friends with one of them, who also referred me to a consulting assignment at Hedge Fund Ellliott Advisors for researching industries in China.

As a researcher, times were hard as equity/industry research analyst posts were exhausted due to the post-2008 effect. I then eagerly applied elsewhere, in which process I noted all prior internship experiences. Later I began working as a case manager in a boutique legal/compliance consultancy, providing research and mock inspection reports to foreign fund houses. That was how I progressed in the legal/compliance field.

How is working and living abroad as a foreigner?

I do not view myself as a foreigner as I am not entirely so. It is more appropriate to say that I am an overseas returnee who has lived abroad (having originally been born here in Hong Kong). Having immersed with the expatriate community though, I do understand the strengths and weaknesses of being a foreigner in HK.

Hong Kong is highly westernized so foreigners coming across have found it rather easy to live it (compared to cultural shocks confronted elsewhere in Asia). Everything is billingual. To be frank I was not using any written Chinese for my prior work! A selected number of expats may find their skills and backgrounds highly sought-after here (but that is generally limited).

Hong Kong is an exceptionally tough market as foreigners from everywhere are trying to get a piece of it (especially with our past involvement with Europe and the US). The major deficiency is, actually, knowing no Mandarin or Cantonese when foreigners apply for jobs in Hong Kong. For the financial markets foreign banks have been trying to reduce operations in the territory as the pipeline from China for Initial Public Offiering, which has been how companies raise their share capital by offering sales of their shares, has come to a halt (also because of the ongoing crisis).

The reward is really the chance to live in one of the few places on earth where East and West is so well harmonized. Hong Kong is both exotic and familiar for foreigners. It is a very vibrant and cosmopolitan community.

Any advice for alumni that are hoping to go abroad?

I strongly urge all alumni, especially fresh grads or those without the language, to think twice before coming. Housing is exceptionally expensive as most graduate pay is low (somewhat true even for certain investment banking jobs). Foreigners are simply not entitled to expat packages anymore; that is long gone even for many experienced candidates. If alumni really do want to venture here, they should research the job market carefully so they do not come here entirely fresh. Try to make contacts as much as you can before coming.

Also please save aside funds for your daily allowance and return trips. This should be the most important item on your agenda.

Can you recommend your favorite location in your region? 

My Favourite location would be the countryside in Hong Kong. It is a true wilderness with virtually no traffic or inhabitants. I particularly enjoy Sai Kung. Otherwise Mongkok is a culturally rebellious downtown for youths that does not seem to draw comparison elsewhere in the world. Causeway Bay is an energized shopping mecca and central Kowloon (ie. King’s Park, Kadoorie Hill) offers some forested sanctuary from the bustling city.