BRITNEY WONG AND THE HONG KONG HAPPINESS INDEX

While having dinner with friends yesterday who are in Hong Kong for Art Basel- visitors from overseas, one-time Hong Kong residents, and those of us still in the city to see what the future might hold, we started talking about a Happiness Index- a Hong Kong Happiness Index.

Three of the ladies with us- most definitely not tai tais nor those tittle Tatler faux faux people- somewhat surprisingly had the name Britney Wong on their lists.

Surprising because none of them are regular racegoers whereas 25 year old Britney Wong is a Hong Kong born apprentice jockey, is still fairly new to the racing tribe with a fair ways to go before becoming the finished article.

Having said this, to those of us who have seen her interviewed by the media, the young rider comes across being confident, positive and happy to admit that she’s learning and improving all the time in the competitive environment that is Hong Kong racing.

Being somewhat of a hard task master and having learned much during my time as an Executive in advertising and the entertainment industry, and with zero time for those who can’t walk their waffled talk, someone like Britney Wong is a very good role model for marketing the Hong Kong brand to the city’s younger community- and to mainstream audiences overseas.

Britney Wong winning a race can be promoted to be seen as Hong Kong being a global winner. 

There are many ways that this can be done without it looking contrived and a page out of an old school yearbook and one-trick pony communications.

This is where the city desperately needs help because there are very few, despite the titles, who can actually deliver what’s relevant to the media beyond the horse racing media. 

There are always those experienced in advertising, communications and marketing- and who know the difference between the three- and ready to reach that reach that mainstream audience and sponsorship marketing, but first need to be asked.

As for Britney Wong, who knows how far she might go in the racing game, but while in the here and now, not to have her being part of the Hong Kong Happiness Index would be looking a gift horse in the mouth with very possibly even global exposure.

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