The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee, wore a tie and badge designed by teachers and students of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) when he delivered "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" and the 2026 Policy Address on September 16. It was the second time that THEi has designed the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, said the collaboration carries practical industry value, leading students beyond traditional academic frameworks to transform creativity into official accessories and honing their practical skills under rigorous standards.
The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee, wore a tie and badge designed by teachers and students of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) when he delivered "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" and the 2026 Policy Address on September 16. Photo by Bastille Post
From left to right: Ms. Janet Chan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at ThEi, Ms. Rainbow Lee, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, Ms. Jenny Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Architecture at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
The THEi design team said the tie's design centres on the Northern Metropolis as its core concept, meaning bringing together global talent from diverse fields. The diamond pattern on the tie highlights the theme of "convergence," while the yarn-woven texture represents the rapid development of innovation and technology in the Northern Metropolis. The star design symbolises Hong Kong shining brightly on the international stage. The tie is made of high-density silk-woven cotton, with dense stitching that refracts different lustres, fully demonstrating the unique three-dimensional quality of silk fabric.
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The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee, wore a tie and badge designed by teachers and students of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) when he delivered "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" and the 2026 Policy Address on September 16. Photo by Bastille Post
From left to right: Ms. Janet Chan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at ThEi, Ms. Rainbow Lee, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, Ms. Jenny Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Architecture at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
The tie's design centres on the Northern Metropolis as its core concept, meaning bringing together global talent from diverse fields. Photo by Bastille Post
The scarf features emerald green and light green as its main colours, paired with purple and pink. Photo by Bastille Post
The badge design is in the same vein as the tie's theme, featuring a diamond design with metallic lines outlining a star inside, using the blue color of the cover page of "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan", with a gradient design creating a three-dimensional effect. Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Rainbow Lee, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
It was the second time that THEi has designed the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Janet Chan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
From left to right: Ms. Rainbow Lee and Ms. Janet Chan, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Jenny Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Architecture at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
It was the second time that THEi has designed the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. Photo by Bastille Post
Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
The tie's design centres on the Northern Metropolis as its core concept, meaning bringing together global talent from diverse fields. Photo by Bastille Post
The scarf features emerald green and light green as its main colours, paired with purple and pink. The twisted design represents the talent and technology brought by the Northern Metropolis, merging like a knot. The team said green represents vitality, energy, and life; purple and pink reference current popular tones, and the team also noted that officials typically wear light purple or light pink scarves, making the pairing based on this observation. The scarf uses double-sided printing on silk fabric, with quality reflected in fine digital printing techniques, premium material selection, and delicate hand-rolled edges.
The scarf features emerald green and light green as its main colours, paired with purple and pink. Photo by Bastille Post
The badge design is in the same vein as the tie's theme, featuring a diamond design with metallic lines outlining a star inside, using the blue color of the cover page of "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan", with a gradient design creating a three-dimensional effect. Ms. Rainbow Lee, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, said she felt the design "matched very well" when she saw the Chief Executive wearing the tie on television to deliver the address. "When I watched on TV, I saw the background was blue, and the table in front was green, and (with the design) it achieved a mutually enhancing, consistent effect." She added that the design challenge lay in expressing abstract concepts through concrete patterns. "You have to find specific shapes, such as using diamonds and lines to represent innovation and technology, talent and so on," she said, adding that colour proportions and texture presentation also required repeated consideration to ensure the overall visual effect was complementary.
The badge design is in the same vein as the tie's theme, featuring a diamond design with metallic lines outlining a star inside, using the blue color of the cover page of "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan", with a gradient design creating a three-dimensional effect. Photo by Bastille Post
This was Rainbow's second time participating in the project to design the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. She said the rewards of participating in an official project far exceeded those of ordinary school assignments. Facing strict production procedures, the material application and craft skills she learned at school became key to solving problems. Being able to participate for two consecutive years, this valuable practical experience not only clarified her career direction, but also greatly enhanced her confidence in pursuing a career in fashion. She also encouraged the THEi students to bravely seize practical opportunities and meet industry challenges.
Ms. Rainbow Lee, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
It was the second time that THEi has designed the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Janet Chan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme, participated for the first time and felt both honoured and nervous, as she had never been involved in such a major project. Carrying a sense of mission, she produced a perfect design with the team's help. Janet noted that tie-making is a complex craft, and designs that are too complex cannot be woven, so the design had to be adjusted in light of reality; scarves also had to take ergonomics into account, with layering effects, so whether the desired elements could be displayed also had to be considered.
Ms. Janet Chan, a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
Janet also mentioned that she usually works more with evening gowns and wedding attire and rarely with uniform design. This project sparked her interest in pursuing uniform or cultural and creative design in the future, greatly boosting her creative confidence. She hoped to continue using professional design to tell "Hong Kong stories" to the public.
From left to right: Ms. Rainbow Lee and Ms. Janet Chan, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Jenny Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Architecture at THEi, was the project supervisor. She said the most important thing in leading a team is to have a holistic view, understand each student's strengths, and assign them to different aspects of the design. Through continuous discussion and improvement, the best result was ultimately presented. She was quite satisfied with the design outcome, especially the badge design. "It is Hong Kong's first five-year plan and is representative. The small badge displays a three-dimensional quality, and with the colour and shape pairing, it leaves a deep impression."
Ms. Jenny Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Architecture at THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
She added that this creation was a highly groundbreaking teaching and learning experience. "From early-stage concept exchange and repeated revisions of drawings to the final product landing, we strictly controlled industrial standards and creative aesthetics, successfully opening a channel between the classroom and top-tier industry projects, forging design professionals with high-level practical capabilities for the industry."
It was the second time that THEi has designed the ties and scarves for the Chief Executive and his team. Photo by Bastille Post
Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, said the collaboration carries practical industry value, leading students beyond traditional academic frameworks to transform creativity into official accessories and hone practical skills under rigorous standards. THEi will continue to utilize the valuable experience of these flagship projects to guide a new generation of young professionals to integrate their personal professional aesthetics into the HKSAR Government's overall development.
Professor Alan Lau, President of THEi, Photo by Bastille Post
