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52 years old, artistic director

Benny Chia, founder and artistic director of the non-profit Hong Kong Fringe Club arts organisation, doesn't consider himself a hero. “It's fun, but I wonder, 'why me?'” Chia says with a chuckle. “I think of a hero as someone who's made great sacrifices. I guess this is a case of an alternative hero.”

Chia understates his ground-breaking role on Hong Kong's arts scene. He founded The Fringe Club in 1982 and acquired the building in 1984 – the dilapidated structure was once the city's old Dairy Farm depot. With patience and sensitivity, he oversaw the rehabilitation of the Lower Albert Road site, such that in 2001 the building won a Hong Kong Heritage Award.

Throughout The Fringe Club's history, Chia's welcoming attitude has made it a popular venue for local and international artists to exhibit their works and perform live. For his outstanding contributions to Hong Kong, the government last year awarded him a Bronze Bauhinia Star.

Chia believes there's never been a more interesting time to be an artist in Hong Kong than now. “We went from an English colony to a Chinese city. The place is undergoing a change of mindset,” he explains. “The government now finally sees that for Hong Kong to be a truly international city, the arts need to be supported.”

Amid the change, Chia says that one hallmark of The Fringe Club remains constant: “We are a completely open forum. We don't do any censorship. We represent a choice, a multiplicity, a lifestyle. To be a catalyst for discourses in the city is very exciting.”

Asked who his heroes are, Chia says simply: “Anyone who makes Hong Kong culturally vibrant is my hero, people who believe in what they do and develop something from nothing.” Bong Miquiabas