As we approach our tenth anniversary year we will be interviewing some of the key people who helped launch and grow Hong Kong Scottish. We will be hearing about how the Club first started up and has evolved over the past 10 years – with some interesting stories along the way! This week we are chatting to our club’s current Chairman, Roy (Bananas) Kinnear.
1. What is your current and previous role?
Building a club like ours does not happen over night and I feel fortunate to have been involved from the start. I sat in the group that helped create us. I was appointed to our first ever Finance Committee and then became our second Finance Director. I was elected to the position of Chairman in 2018. I also represent the Club externally such as at meetings of The Hong Kong Rugby Union and more recently with our sister club, London Scottish.
2. What originally brought you to Hong Kong?
My desire to travel and see the world. I was born in Elgin in the North of Scotland and so to go anywhere you had to travel. I went to Aberdeen University (so I could watch Aberdeen Football Club) and once graduated I qualified as a Scottish Chartered Accountant.
In 1992 I was asked to move to Hong Kong with Price Waterhouse. This is when I first met many of our current board; Ken Morrison, Martin Murray and Dave Bruce. I arrived in Hong Kong from the Aberdeen (Scotland) office of Price Waterhouse. My new secretary was most surprised that the firm had put me up in The Excelsior Hotel for 3 weeks whilst hunting for an apartment.
After all, I had just come from Aberdeen, the south side of the Island…or so she thought.
3. What has kept you in Hong Kong?
This is my third stint in Hong Kong, so why do I keep coming back? Scotland is a wonderful place and I go back often. However, Hong Kong has a draw. It is the City, the people, the culture, the work ethic and the ‘get things done’ attitude.
One time I remember being at Heathrow on my way back to Hong Kong. I threw caution to the wind and upgraded myself to business on Cathay Pacific. I thought I was it. As we landed at Kai Tak I remember thinking I am home. Within the hour I met all my friends in Joe Bananas and from that day on I knew I belonged here.
4. As current Chairman, how were you involved with the founding of the club?
The chairman of a UK club approached me to help him identify suitable guests to invite to an event aimed at selling overseas memberships. One friend who was there, Peter Reed, recognised that there was interest in the room but thought it would be better to channel that interest to support Scottish rugby in Hong Kong. Robbie McRobbie agreed and suggested we help create a group who could work with Nomads to create a 6th Premiership team. This group worked for the next several months meeting in The Canny Man to make this happen. Jackie Hui, Craig Wilson, Stephen Dowse, John Bruce, Robbie McRobbie, myself and others crafted a plan. We approached Stewart Saunders to be our first Chairman and that was when momentum grew. Then followed our first General Manager, Dave Whiteford. More momentum. Hong Kong Scottish was born.
5. What were the biggest challenges you faced whilst introducing a new club to the Hong Kong Rugby scene?
Early in our development, we were hit by the late withdrawal of our then title sponsor. It was too late to find an alternative. A group of people met and monies were raised to enable the Club to survive whilst a new title sponsor could be found. That season we played as Operation Breakthrough Hong Kong Scottish. This was probably our first connection with community and charitable organisations. We have gone on to link with and support many such organisations but I think it all started there.
6. What attributes do HKS possess that make us unique as a club?
Apart from our people. Our brand of hospitality, our style of delivery to members and our ability to merge the playing side with the commercial side when appropriate. I like to think that every player knows someone from our Board and vice versa and that helps create a good club environment. This has been enhanced by the success of our women’s rugby team as well as our Netball and Football sections. We are unique because we have achieved this with no facilities to attract and retain members and players. We don’t have big budgets but we do have big hearts and big personalities. Most of all we have ambition. I could go on and on and apparently I do!
7. How have you seen the club evolve after the past ten years?
Through the years we have progressed in a way that 10 years ago I would not have believed. What was impossible then is now possibly possible. However we manage it in the same way as we would have done when we started. We have evolved. Men’s Rugby, Women’s Rugby, Netball and Football. The social side. Growth is challenging but also rewarding. People around the world want to know our story and in many cases want to be a part of it.
8. What is your most memorable moment or story you have from being involved in the club?
My first trip to Beef and Potatoes. It made me realise just how deep our club goes and the history we have been fortunate to inherit.
Furthermore, my trip to Marseilles for the World Cup Repechage; we had several players and coaching staff involved in the trip. I felt that our club players representing Hong Kong deserved recognition from someone from Hong Kong Scottish. Speaking French with the Chinese Consulate who I sat next to was an experience.
Finally the day the HKS office moved to five floors below my apartment was pretty memorable, although I am sure Sarah and Jenny might not see it that way.
9. What is the most legendary HKS event you have attended over the years and why?
Every HKS Event is legendary. Reaching the Grand Championship final and coming so close to winning it must go down as one of the best but also one of the most disappointing. Doddie Weir throwing rugby balls around in The Hong Kong Club.
Our Awards Dinners are right up there. Although not very comfortable, fracturing my coccyx at last year’s event was pretty memorable. and the memory lived on for some time!
10. Finally, how did the name Roy Bananas come about?
I joined the players at Joe Bananas one Sunday afternoon. It came out in conversation that I had been going to Joe Bananas since my arrival to Hong Kong in 1992. Indeed, one of my best friends was a VIP so we always jumped the queue. After one AGM on a junk, we went on to a bar near the ferry terminals for a drink. A call was then made to go to Joe Bananas. I was reluctant and so a chant went up “Roy Bananas, Roy Roy Bananas.” However, I declined. Those who created the call, know who they are!
Perhaps the two best names in Hong Kong entertainment. Roy and Bananas.
