International real estate consultant Nicholas Brooke finds a strong market for his professional services in Hong Kong’s large concentration of multinational companies

As consultant to one of Hong Kong's and Asia's largest international real estate advisors Insignia Brooke, Nicholas Brooke has seen some ups and downs in the property market since he arrived in the SAR in the 1980s. The self- styled "part property doctor, part marriage broker" was recently elected the first overseas president of the UK-based Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the world's largest grouping of property professionals from 80 countries. He says major challenges lie ahead with his appointment but one thing is for sure - as a man fuelled by a pioneering spirit, he is constantly fired up by the edgy "cut and thrust" feel of Hong Kong.  

"I arrived in Hong Kong having lived in the Gulf for six years looking after the portfolios of the ruling families and instantly felt a synergy with Hong Kong. I connected with this exciting place at once. I'm a bit of a gypsy, brought up in South America, lived in the UK and worked in the Middle East before landing here. 

I was with Swires initially and worked on the masterplan to build Pacific Place and Tai Koo Shing. Looking back, I think these real estate projects were ahead of their time and certainly have held their own over the years. Every time I pass them, I feel a sense of pride. Tai Koo Shing was an old dockyard but it is still a place most Hong Kong people aspire to live in. It is not just a vertical environment, it has depth and soul. Pacific Place was built on the site of the Victoria Barracks and we created a very successful retail and hotel mix.

In 1988 I started my own advisory business. Changing from a corporate environment to starting your own business is taxing but exciting. I have traditionally run my own business and have been in charge of my destiny. I realised very early on that there were major opportunities advising investors and occupants. So Brooke International was set up. We started with six staff. In 2000 the Insignia Financial Group needed a platform to expand in the region. We set up a joint-venture so now we are a Hong Kong-based global service provider with more than 6,000 people and 13 offices in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hub for multinationals

Hong Kong is a natural place to offer regional real estate advisory service as it is a hub for multinationals and business people looking for advice and partners. I see windows of opportunity everywhere and my inclination is to grasp them. I don't debate and rationalise too much. I'm a firm believer in gut feeling. Every single venture has been done over lunch or dinner and on a handshake with the details and documents hammered out later. I have only been "divorced" once from a partner but we knew the chemistry was wrong anyway.
 
I have been very lucky and Hong Kong has been good to me. That is why I try to repay what Hong Kong has given me by contributing my services in the past to the Town Planning Board and the Housing Authority and presently on the board for the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

It is a great honour for me and for Hong Kong that the first overseas president of RICS came from Hong Kong.  With 3,500 members, the SAR has the biggest membership base outside the UK. It also means Hong Kong's professional service is being recognised.

Major challenges lie ahead. RICS has a good quality international brand and for a long time I have been advocating that it should raise its profile by demonstrating that we can bring innovative thinking and discipline to the marketplace to better reflect local conditions. There are some fairly wild and unregulated markets out there.

China the target

Our prime target is China which at the moment has only 70 active members. RICS needs to grow the representation in China and in other emerging markets.

I have lived here for over 20 years and I still think Hong Kong has a lot to offer. The infrastructure is second to none in the world and the Mass Transit Railway  is very efficient. Where else can you lose yourself in tranquillity in a country park just five to 10 minutes from the city?

I will retire in Hong Kong as a lot still needs to be done. Look at Victoria Harbour and the land reclamation. Look at our valuable assets, the rural areas. We need to conserve and preserve them. With my professional expertise and experience I hope I can help shape the world we live in.

At the end of the day, I say it as I feel it." 

Related link:
Insignia Brooke  www.insignia-brooke.com