Singaporeans of Victoria – Richard Leong
Born and bred in Singapore, Richard was educated in the United States where upon graduation he was headhunted to join Singapore Airlines. Richard’s legacy in SIA has been his work on the airline’s inflight services and food menu, something that has made the carrier one of the best in the world.
Since moving to Melbourne and establishing China-Tique in 1985, Richard has garnered vast experience in retail and the import-export business. Chinatique was one of the first of its kind supplying wholesale and retail Asian homewares and antique Chinese lamps and vases in Melbourne and working with interior designers to furnish homes, as well as hotels including Crown and Hyatt. Many of Richard’s pieces have been featured over the years in interior design magazines like ‘Home Beautiful’ resulting in another branch that opened in Queensland to meet demand in the other states. After 30 years and with two grown up working children, Richard will finally be switching off the lights and closing the doors of Chinatique for the last time as he looks forward to retirement in 2016.