Tatler Hong Kong – April 2026

Summary

Gigi Leung, photographed by Paul Tsang in a moody chiaroscuro studio portrait, fronts Tatler Hong Kong April 2026 issue 96 with a 10-page feature on the actress-singer's reinvention into dark thriller roles. The 136-page issue also carries OceanX founders Ray and Mark Dalio's deep-sea research mission, the first Vietnamese designer at Paris Couture Week, and a Hong Kong skate-culture investigation.

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Leung's cover story ("Drawn to the Darkness," p.96) follows her shift from romantic comedies to the psychological thriller "The Shadow Play," in which she plays a forensic psychologist. The OceanX feature ("Taking the Helm," p.104) is similar to the other regional editions but includes a Hong Kong angle—the OceanXplorer will dock at Kai Tak in August 2026 for a 3-day public exhibition. The Phan Huy profile ("Golden Boy," p.66) covers the first Vietnamese designer at Paris Haute Couture Week. Hong Kong skate culture ("Community is King," p.26) profiles Adriel Chan (whose grandfather founded Hang Lung) and Julius Siswojo (who founded the 8five2 shoe store) as unlikely skateboard ambassadors. Features also include Bridgerton star Katie Leung's new role (p.112), Krug champagne's composer collaboration (p.116), Villa Schiaparelli (p.120), and a supermarket-as-travel-trend feature (p.123).

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Regular departments include Editor's Note (p.18), Contributors (p.20), and One Last Thing (p.136). The Scene (p.26-46) covers 6 events. Style runs 32 pages with a couture fashion shoot at the Tai Kwun heritage complex (p.52), the Phan Huy profile (p.66), Watches Picks (p.74), and the RM 41-01 Tourbillon Soccer (p.79). Advertising density: 40 percent.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.96 · Drawn to the Darkness
Gigi Leung, 50, has starred in 40 films. Her first thriller role in "The Shadow Play" required 4 weeks of preparation with a forensic psychiatrist to embody the psychologist character. The film opens in Hong Kong on June 12, distributed by Media Asia. She now accepts one film per year, the role must scare her.

▸ Features

p.104 · Taking the Helm
OceanX founders Ray and Mark Dalio. The OceanXplorer will dock at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal from August 15-17, 2026, open to the public for 3 days with a VR deep-sea experience. Tickets free, registration via OceanX's website. The ship carries 60 crew and 6 underwater drones.

p.26 · Community is King
Adriel Chan, 34, grandson of Hang Lung founder Ronnie Chan, and Julius Siswojo, 42, founder of 8five2 skateshop. They co-host Hong Kong's annual "City Skate" event at Tamar Park, drawing 5,000 participants in 2025. Chan's grandfather funded the half-pipe installation. Their message: "Skateboarding is for everyone, not just teenagers."

p.112 · Mother Knows Best
Katie Leung, 38, on her role as the matriarch in Netflix's "The Walled City," a drama set in 1970s Kowloon Walled City. She learned Toisanese dialect for 3 months for the role. The series releases in September 2026.

▸ Style

p.52 · Shaped by the Sky
Shot at Tai Kwun's parade ground, the 10-page couture spread features fragile-and-strong silhouettes from Vivienne Tam, Dior and Robert Wun. Tai Kwun was built in 1864 as the Central Police Station; the parade ground is open daily 10am-11pm.

p.66 · Golden Boy
Phan Huy, 32, debuted at Paris Haute Couture Week spring-summer 2026. His 22-piece collection used Vietnamese lotus silk—each meter takes 4 months to produce. Prices from EUR 3,000 for ready-to-wear. He opens a Hong Kong pop-up at Lane Crawford in September 2026.

p.74 · Watches Picks
6 new releases: the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT (HKD 28,000), the Omega Speedmaster '57 Co-Axial (HKD 52,000), and the Hublot Big Bang Unico Gourmet (HKD 128,000—with a built-in 5-function kitchen timer).

▸ The Scene

p.30 · Gen.T Innovator
Jay Li, 29, wants to see more East Asian faces in basketball. His company "Basketball Without Borders Asia" runs 12 youth leagues across Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, engaging 3,000 players. He's in talks with the FIBA Asia office to make the programme official.

p.34 · Legacy and Vision
Puyi Optical's 25th anniversary: father-and-son team William and Calvin Chan now run 18 stores across Hong Kong and China. Their bespoke eyewear service starts at HKD 8,000 per frame. William started in 2001 with a single 400-square-foot store in Tsim Sha Tsui.

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Editor's Take

Gigi Leung's thriller pivot is a genuinely surprising career move—she's been playing rom-com sweethearts for 25 years, and the forensic-psychiatrist preparation shows she's taking the risk seriously. The OceanX Kai Tak docking news is a concrete Hong Kong angle that the other regional editions don't have—free public access to a deep-sea research vessel is a legitimately exciting event. Phan Huy's Lane Crawford pop-up (p.66) and the lotus silk production time (4 months per meter) add useful retail intelligence. But the "Shaped by the Sky" couture shoot at Tai Kwun is shot at yet another heritage site—Hong Kong fashion editors have photographed Tai Kwun so many times it's become a uniform, not a statement. The Puyi Optical anniversary (p.34) is a 4-page advertorial disguised as a Scene entry.

Strengths
• Gigi Leung's thriller pivot with forensic-psychiatrist preparation detail and release date
• OceanX Kai Tak public exhibition dates and free registration instructions
• Phan Huy's lotus silk production time and Lane Crawford pop-up schedule

Weaknesses
• Tai Kwun fashion location is overused in Hong Kong editorial photography
• Puyi Optical 25th anniversary is a 4-page advertorial in The Scene section

Verdict: Recommended — Leung's career pivot and the OceanX public exhibition make this worth buying; the Tai Kwun fashion shoot is a tired choice.