When Gigi thinks of her favourite place in Hong Kong, she immediately thinks of her alma mater, Maryknoll Convent School, which she attended for 11 years from primary school to secondary. As a place that teems with memories for her, the school also had an outsized influence in shaping the person she is today. The school, which has stood in Kowloon Tong for the past 94 years, has witnessed the breakneck development of Hong Kong and entrenched itself in the collective memories of the city’s inhabitants thanks to its distinctive red brick architecture.
“Although the school’s facilities have already changed greatly, the essence of the campus is still the same,” says Gigi. “Every time I come back, I’m in awe of the strength of the school spirit, and the students’ conduct and discipline. Regardless of what kind of person you become after you enter society and start working, returning to Maryknoll always reminds you of the importance of upholding the image of a gentlewoman.”
Amidst Maryknoll’s grounds is a place that hasn’t changed a bit since Gigi was a 7-year-old girl: the square tower that rises out of the school’s main building. At the photoshoot, Gigi specifically requested to be photographed in front of it, to stunning effect. She recounts how the tower and its surrounding red brick buildings would welcome her to the school every morning, their distinctive silhouettes impressed in her young mind from an early age.
Now in her early 40s, Gigi can say she is content with her place in life, as a mother, a wife, and a successful singer and actress. In terms of music, she has plans to release more records as well as to involve herself more in the production side of things. She has also taken on many middle-aged film roles and hopes to continue acting into old age. At home, Gigi voices her concern for her daughter, who isn’t able to learn Cantonese at her international school. Gigi has resolved to teach her the language herself, in which we can see her unchanging love for the rich culture of this city.
Photography: anothermountainman
Styling: Lois Leung
Hair artist: Pius Yiu
Makeup artist: Dephine Chan
Wardrobe: Dior
Editor
Peter WongCredit
Translator: Gavin Yeung
