My recent visit to Greenwich Peninsula was mesmerising. Everywhere I went, I saw a film.

As I have written else where, that the reason why there have not been many UK-China co-production films since the signing of the Treaty is because of a lack of good scripts. Since the launch of UK-China Film Collab, I have been mentoring young creatives to cultivate new story ideas. These include publishing a report which contains 50 film ideas based on true stories and events (Jackson, 2022), as well as a new report exploring 5 film ideas based on local literary IPs from Birmingham (Nelson, 2023). In the meantime, myself and our members continue to search for more stories that can potentially be made into an effective film, factual or fiction.

Then, I discovered Greenwich Peninsula. Visiting the development reminds me of Hong Kong, my hometown, in particular how the complex combines living, leisure, office and community spaces. I saw a very different demographic in the area, from the crowd that I normally see in Central London. They are energetic, driven, creative, and dynamic. This is the future, I thought – a new London, as the development’s marketing champions.

Greenwich Peninsula is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, I have always been interested in urban regeneration in this country, something the UK is particularly good at. The commitment is what drives this country forward and brings hopes to the next generations.

But above all, the behind the scene story is what inspires me the most, in which I see a film, a film that is much needed in current challenging times.

This will be a new take inspired by Peter Chan’s American Dreams in China (2013) and those old TVB classics about the business world – Hong Kong dreams in London. Of course, the international dreams that happen in the UK are oftentimes different from those in America. IN some ways, they include more commitment in social enterprise, inspired by the the culture.

 

Greenwich Peninsula

Greenwich Peninsula is fast becoming the capital’s most boldly modern landscape. There are over 17,000 new homes, 12,000 new jobs and 48 acres of open public space emerging over the coming years. A community of thousands of pioneers live in new riverside homes, it includes a cutting-edge Design District. This is new London, a new destination for modern urban living.

The Design District sits alongside a new food destination Canteen, offering a mix of international food and drink, The Basketball Court, a rooftop area to play whilst soaking up some of London’s most iconic views, NOW Gallery, the Peninsula’s progressive on-site art gallery, which has welcomed many innovative exhibitions and collaborators over the years such as Camille Walala and Molly Goddard, The Tide, London’s first elevated park and public art trail, with several significant sculptures by world-renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, and Bureau, London’s new members’ club for the creative industries and the city’s first On/Off Office, catering to the new world of flexible working routines within businesses.

Who is the Knight Dragon?

Certainly not those you see on the covers of The Economist over the years.

Knight Dragon is an entrepreneurial urban re-generator and property developer. It creates places, builds properties and invests in related projects that bring new ideas and set new standards for urban living. The team uses creativity and collaboration to innovate. Backed by Dr Henry Cheng, Chairman of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd, and led by entrepreneur Sammy Lee, Knight Dragon has a solid foundation and a global outlook. Its flagship project is Greenwich Peninsula in London, one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, where the team is delivering a new district that encapsulates Knight Dragon’s approach and expertise in creative place-making

 

It All Started with the Hong Kong Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Knight Dragon’s Founder and Vice-chairman Sammy Lee’s enterprises have spanned multiple industries from property and hotels to aviation ventures and film. He develops property globally, using his creative vision to disrupt the traditional property industry and identify opportunities to unlock value. After training as a lawyer in England, Sammy founded his own law firm in Hong Kong. In 2003 Sammy formed an independent film company financing, producing and distributing feature films including Oscar-winner Monster. He has completed projects across the world; in London he developed the Chancery Court Hotel in 2003, paving the way for the five-star Rosewood. This move became a catalyst for the revitalisation of the area of London now known as Midtown. Similarly, working closely with Dr. Henry Cheng, Sammy was the first to introduce to London the lifestyle-led development The Knightsbridge. This service-led concept won Residential Development of the Year in 2006 and took the prime West End lifestyle to another level.

In 2012 he worked with Dr Henry Cheng to acquire Greenwich Peninsula, where their shared entrepreneurial spirit has already enabled the delivery of 1 million sq ft and cemented the future of this major cultural urban transformation.

 

Logline

Two Hong Kong entrepreneurs transform the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London with their devotion, creativity and vision in the time of turbulence.

Please do consider this as a proposal.