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CONTENTS A P R I L / M AY 20 2 2
18
22
FEATURES 18
PERSONA
22
SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT
30
HOME CHEF
36
DESTINATIONS
Tung Chung clarinettist, composer and conductor Colin Touchin
Check out the leading Lantau schools – kindergarten, primary and secondary
Lite bites: Courgette fritters and vegan energy balls
Tin Hau temple hopping from Chek Lap Kok to Fan Lau Miu Wan
REGULARS
30
36
10
LANTAU INNOVATOR
12
EVENT ROUND-UP
16
ACROSS HK
AGENDA 06
ISLAND-WIDE NEWS
33
CLASSIFIEDS
34
LOCAL NUMBERS
ISL AND -WIDE NEWS
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LOCAL INFLUENCERS
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L ANTAU DESTINATIONS
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COMMUNIT Y SNAPS
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT
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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
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FREE YOUR MIND AT INSPIRATION LAKE
Local educators supporting students through the pandemic
The Grade 111-listed Tin Hau Temple at Fan Lau Miu Wan
TEMPLE HOPPING INTER-
TUNG CHUNG
SUPPLEMENT COLIN TOUCHIN myriemISLANDERS alnet , chun-kit Celebrate Tin Hau’s birthday!
PLUS A LITTLE XMAS F&B THE COMPOSER CONDUCTOR DISCUSSES A LIFE IN MUSIC FOLLOW US
36 ON THE COVER
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YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’
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EARTH DAY Wild activities to enjoy with your kids
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THE SILVERI HON G KON G – MGALLERY LIVES UP T O IT S N AME
THE SILVERI HONG KONG – MGALLERY OPEN FOR BUSINESS
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aunched in March, The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery perches high atop Citygate Outlets’ new extension, and it is Accor Hotel’s first MGallery by Sofitel in the city. The new five-star boutique hotel comprises 206 rooms and suites, an executive lounge with outdoor terrace, two meeting rooms, a 24-hour gym and a 25-metre outdoor swimming pool. Islanders will also be interested to note that the hotel’s modern bistro, The Enclave, and its deli/ coffee shop, Fresh, are open all day for dine-in or takeout. MGallery hotels typically combine a cutting-edge look with a design that’s steeped in the story and culture of their location, and the Lantau property is no exception. As interior designer and lighting designer of its lobby and other common areas, LWK + PARTNERS has created a series of refined, inspiring spaces that celebrate Lantau’s past, specifically its once rich silver mines. References to silver are achieved not only through the hotel’s gleaming glass cladding, but also in the interior’s recurring silver-moon design motif and imagery of silver talismans. The silver accents stand in contrast to the natural tones of wood and leather that are used throughout, as well as the verdant hills that surround the property. MGallery Hotel Collection is a brand to watch, with not one, but two hotels opening in Hong Kong this year. Following hot on the heels of The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery, AKI Hong Kong – MGallery is set to open in Wanchai in just a few months’ time. Upcoming MGallery destinations in Greater China include Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuxi Dangkou Ancient Town. For more on The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery, visit www.thesilveri-hongkong.com. [PHOTO BY Sarin Ale.]
ISLAND-WIDE NEWS |
PRE-LOVED FURNITURE IN MUI WO
S
econd-hand furniture supplier 2nd Chance’s Mui Wo store is jam-packed with pre-loved furnishings, accessories, artworks and collectibles, so much so that many pieces have overflowed into Baan Rao Thai Restaurant downstairs. The store is open daily from 11am to 7pm (closed Tuesdays) for browsing and purchasing, and you can also pick up select pieces from the restaurant should you spot something you like as you eat. 2nd Chance homes Hong Kong’s largest collection of pre-loved furnishings at its 10,000 square-foot warehouse store in Tuen Mun. Once its Lantau Closed Road Permit is issued, 2nd Chance aims to change all items at the Mui Wo store monthly, and provide a full delivery service. Until then, purchases are discounted for selfcollect customers. To find out more, visit www.2ndchance.com.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF 2nd Chance.]
A SECOND C HAN CE FOR FURNISHIN GS
21 DAYS IN HARMONY
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truggling to imagine how to quarantine for 21 days (or even seven) with a young child? Be inspired by Francisco Garcia and his 11-yearold son Francisco Alessandro, and make music. “My son and I were required to do the 21 days quarantine on our return from Spain,” Francisco explains. “So my wife, who had stayed in Hong Kong with our two-year-old daughter, prepared a mini music studio for us at our hotel with a few of my synthesisers, a drum machine and a microphone. After three days in the room, I was playing on the drum machine and I told my son to grab the mic and sing, which he did. What came out was amazing, so we continued our jam sessions and ended up creating a song, which we named 21 Days.” Have a listen on Spotify. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Francisco Garcia.]
MAKIN G S WEET MUSIC IN QUARANTINE
PLASTIC FOOTPRINT INVESTIGATION
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hat better way to mark Earth Day on April 23, than by taking part in Plastic Free Sea’s (PFS) Plastic Footprint Investigation. The challenge gives you a real understanding of the size of your plastic footprint, and therefore of the impact your lifestyle has on the planet. How does it work? Firstly, you have to commit to cleaning and keeping all the throw-away plastic you use for one week. On the eighth day, make a list of everything you’ve accumulated and record your findings with a photo. Share your results with PFS. Then the real challenge begins! Ask yourself: How can I use less plastic? What plastic habits can I change? Which company will I contact first to request that they reduce their packaging? To find out more and share your findings, head to www.plasticfreeseas.org. [PHOTO COURTESY OF PFS.] HOW MUCH PLASTIC DO YOU THROW AWAY EACH WEEK? LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 7
ISLAND-WIDE NEWS |
ONLINE FUN FOR LANTAU KIDS
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ooking for a way to keep the kids entertained while they’re still stuck at home? Sign them up to study magic @oceanpark, and performance @faust – classes are being held via Zoom in real time through April 15.
Ocean Park’s nature-themed online magic workshop series, Mali Mali @Home, sees kids aged five to eight learn from the park’s professional magicians. The series brings children four classes of magic tricks themed on terrestrial and aquatic animals, elements of nature and the reuse of domestic waste. Register at www.oceanpark.com.hk. Faust International Youth Theatre, meanwhile, is offering a variety of online courses and one-day workshops for kids aged four to 17. Classes are designed to give students an opportunity to delve into a specific aspect of performance, writing and/ or creative skill. Register at www.faustworld.com.
OCEAN PARK’S ECO-FRIENDLY MAGICIANS
STORYBOOK BY LANTAU SPEECH THERAPIST
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ui Wo-based speech therapist Imogen Dean’s first children’s storybook, Easy for You to Say, is a vibrant and engaging read which doubles as a speech-sound guide for parents and educators. While children discover a strange land full of chatty animal friends, parents track their children’s productions of the nonsense words, supported by an evidence-based guide at the back of the book. This guide explains which errors are developmentally appropriate for children at different stages between the ages of three and four years old.
IMOGEN’S BOOK DOUBLES AS A SPEECH-SOUND GUIDE
“My goal is to empower parents, caregivers and educators, and to ensure that children are given the best support for their developing communication.” Imogen says. Easy for You to Say is available at Bookazine and through the Imogen Dean Speech Language Pathology practice, visit www.imogendeanslp.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Imogen Dean.]
SUNSET PEAK: THE ALBUM
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lack Velvet Collective’s long-awaited first album, Sunset Peak, launched in February and is available now on Spotify. The band – core members long-time DB residents (and Picnic in the Park founders) Mark Rawson, Mark Basford and Jim Alba-Duignan – has been actively gigging in Hong Kong since 2020 and has built up a loyal following. Fans love the unique sound, which draws on British, Canadian and Irish folk music.
“Sunset Peak features songs both light and happy plus a few more reflective ones,” says Mark Rawson. “The lead track Take a Moment is a song of hope in difficult times; it’s a song of inspiration.” The Collective habitually collaborates with other leading Hong Kong-based musicians, and Take a Moment features Sarah Johnson of The 852, on vocals. It’s based on a traditional Irish tune with words by Mark. Catch the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKK8Lx0uNRk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Black Velvet Collective.] BLACK VELVET COLLECTIVE’S LONG-AWAITED FIRST ALBUM 8 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
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LANTAU INNOVATOR |
f o r u e n e r p e ! r h t n Ent o m e h t SOLOMON LEEDER Solomon Leeder opened Leeder Quay Wines in Mui Wo in December 2019. The store sells mostly wines and beers, and over time it has evolved into a community hub, a space where locals drop by to have a chat and pick up a bottle to enjoy at home. In December 2020, Solomon went into partnership and opened Leeder Quay Wine and Liquor Store, also in Mui Wo, concentrating on spirits, mixers and more exotic beverages. Prior to the wine venture, Solomon was a lawyer in the shipping industry. Here, he provides some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs.
10 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
LANTAU INNOVATOR |
Q What are the main characteristics that every successful entrepreneur needs?
Q Why did you decide to change careers and open the stores in Mui Wo?
For me, the overriding characteristic that distinguishes the most successful entrepreneurs is their long-term vision, that and their unwavering self-belief in seeing it through. In other words, a combination of inspiration and perspiration.
My wife and I have lived in South Lantau for the best part of 10 years, so we thought it would be a great idea to live and work in the same community. It’s very different to the normal Hong Kong routine of commuting to the city every day. We set out to provide a different kind of experience and hoped it would work!
Q What’s the single most important thing to consider when setting up a business? Would you use your own products or services? If not then it will be an uphill struggle, people are adept in reading body language and when you have doubts, they can see through you. Q Should you only start a business if you’re passionate about it? Passion definitely gives you extra motivation but ultimately the question you should be asking is can you tap into a sustainable market to keep you going? You also need to be psychologically prepared, and willing to park your ego at the door for a while. You will need to get your hands dirty and you will be made to look a bit silly while you are learning the ropes. Q What’s the key to entrepreneurial success? Keep trying new ideas and don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is mandatory if you want to grow and progress. Once a business is doing well, you can sustain the momentum by constantly looking ahead and keeping yourself (just a little) on edge. Being comfortable will ensure you go backwards. Q What’s the best piece of entrepreneurial advice you’ve ever been given? “If a job’s worth doing, get someone else to do it!” Q Are entrepreneurs high risk takers? For sure there is a correlation between risk and reward but I don’t think entrepreneurs must be by definition high risk takers. Eventually most will settle at a risk tolerance level that is comfortable for them. Q What types of legal contracts should every small business have? Having dealt with legal contracts for many years in my past life [as a lawyer in the shipping industry], I honestly believe that most of them are not worth the paper they are written on. For me, the most important quality when doing business with others is to build up trust and let them understand that you are in this together for the long term.
Q Do most of your customers shop online? That was how I started my business but for a product like wine it is difficult to sell without the key ingredient of human interaction. The online segment is growing but we are still largely reliant on bricks-and-mortar customers. Interaction with clients is key in my business so when hiring staff, I always look for happy people. A smile goes a long way to disarm hesitancy. Q What value-added services do you provide compared to the existing competition? We provide free tasting at our shop in a more casual atmosphere so customers tend to feel more relaxed and are more forthcoming in terms of what they are looking for. By listening to clients and figuring out where the demand is coming from, we are able to diversify. Q What is your Unique Selling Point? Over-delivering at every price point! (Actually, that’s my motto!) Q How do you reach your target audience? I’m still trying to find out how! Of course, there are the print and social media angles but I truly believe that if you do a good job then word will spread and more people will look you up. Q How do you operate in closed markets like the pandemic? I used to spend a lot of time travelling to all corners of the world to look for wines that would be interesting and a bit ‘off the beaten path’ compared to what other wine merchants were offering. That hasn’t happened for over two years now but luckily, I had built up a network of contacts prior to COVID so I have been reliant on them for ideas for new products. If COVID had struck a few years back I probably wouldn’t have started this business. Q Lastly, which entrepreneur do you most admire and why?
Q How much time do you need to make a business a success?
Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank. He’s an entrepreneur with a moral compass who did great work in alleviating poverty.
As long as it takes! I don’t really have a fixed window in terms of return on investment. As long as the business is sustainable and I still believe in what I am doing then I will soldier on. In the same way, I don’t look at there being an endgame to what I am doing, but rather a gradual evolution to wherever this venture will take me.
Leeder Quay Wines, Shop S2 Mui Wo Cooked Food Market, Mui Wo Pier Rd, 7074 0208, cto.leederquay@gmail.com, www.leederquay.com, www.instagram.com/leederquay, www.facebook.com/leederquay.
LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 11
EVENT ROUND-UP |
! t u o b A & t u O
WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO!
SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES! P HO T OS BY Tal S h ah ar, D u ey Tam & Kar en Ho lt P hoto gr a phy
T
he theme of International Women’s Day 2022 was Break the Bias: March 8 was a day to celebrate women’s achievements and increase visibility, while calling out inequality. Over the past few years, we’ve been proud to be part of that movement – featuring some of the amazing women in Lantau, and highlighting how their collective efforts make our world a better place.
12 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
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Excellent bike service, delivery service from Discovery Bay, Tung Chung and Hong Kong Island available COMING SOON TO SAI KUNG IN MAY
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COMMUNITY SNAPS FAMILIAR FACES FROM ACROSS LANTAU
PH O T O S BY Tal S ha ha r www. ma g ni f i cent-hk g.co m
14 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
ACROSS HONG KONG |
CHING MING FESTIVAL One of the most important festivals in Chinese culture takes place in April. Here’s a look at the myth, folklore and activities surrounding it P HO T O S COUR T E S Y o f Pexe l s
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hing Ming Festival – also known as Grave Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival – is the day, and often the only day in the year, when Chinese families visit the graves and tombs of their ancestors. It falls on the fourth or fifth day of the third lunar month (April 5, 2022), and has been a public holiday since the Tang dynasty. In fact, to understand the origins of Ching Ming Festival, you need to look back around 2,500 years to the Zhou dynasty, when emperors and noblemen performed rituals throughout the year to venerate their dead, hoping for prosperity, peace and abundant harvest in return. At this time, ancestor veneration was the preserve of the ruling elite because it was so costly. However, things changed in the Tang dynasty when Emperor Xuanzong (713 to 756 CE) decided to limit these lavish rituals to a single day, establishing the Ching Ming Festival tradition. Emperor Xuanzong also made Ching Ming Festival a national holiday and decreed that all subjects commemorate it in a simple way by visiting and cleaning the tombs of their ancestors. And the tradition continues. These days at Ching Ming Festival, when visiting graves, families tidy the headstones, clear away grass and weeds, light incense and make burnt offerings. Items burned include (fake) money and these days, paper replicas of laptops, mobile phones, airconditioners, refrigerators and even luxury cars and designer clothing – anything that the ancestor may find useful in the afterlife. Food offerings are also made at the gravesides and these too involve various time-honoured rituals. Typically, three bowls, filled with pastries, chicken and pork, are placed at a headstone along with three wine glasses and three sets of chopsticks. The head of the family then takes a glass of wine and blows on it three times before pouring the wine on the grave. The same procedure is repeated by each member of the family three times. Following this, the family shares the food in honour of the deceased. Ching Ming Festival is first and foremost a day to honour ancestors but it’s also a time for families to get together to eat and also traditionally, to fly kites. Again, there’s plenty of superstition and symbolism regarding this activity. Instead of pulling back the kite after it has flown high, it’s important to cut the string and release it – by releasing a kite, you let go of any bad luck, disease or negative energy you have accumulated over the past year.
16 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
ACROSS HONG KONG |
HILL FIRE PREVENTION Look back just 20 years or so and the hill fires caused by the grave cleaning associated with Ching Ming Festival were a serious environmental problem. Thankfully now, due to growing environmental awareness and strict government controls the situation has eased. Every year, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) reminds all those paying tribute to ancestors at graveyards in the countryside to exercise caution and prevent hill fires. Environmentalists across Hong Kong, including Jenny Quinton of Ark Eden in Mui Wo, have also campaigned tirelessly to encourage grave sweepers to take due care when lighting candles and making burnt offerings. “Awareness is growing, so we are seeing fewer fires,” Jenny says. “But still people go up with candles and incense and they leave them burning, with potentially catastrophic results. It’s very easy to start a fire.” In order to help prevent accidents, the AFCD has issued a series of guidelines for grave sweepers to follow: ‘Remove weeds around the graves with tools and never burn weeds. Burning should only be done inside a container or iron bucket. Never leave burning offerings unattended. Make sure all kindling is put out before leaving.’ These days during Ching Ming Festival, metal containers, in which to burn offerings, are handed out to grave sweepers in the country parks. The AFCD also employs additional country park wardens to step up patrols at hill-fire blackspots. It is now an offence under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance to leave kindling in the countryside or burn offerings without considering fire risks. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of HK$25,000 and one year’s imprisonment. “Hill fires are far less frequent,” Jenny concludes. “Many more systems have been put in place, including fire-beater racks and fire breaks on the hillsides; the situation is so different now to what it was 20 years ago. If we didn’t have the government authorities helping, none of this would have happened.”
A TIME T O FLY KITES, MAKE FOOD OFFERIN GS AND BURN FAKE MONEY! LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 17
PERSONA |
MAGIC WAND Tung Chung clarinettist, composer and conductor Colin Touchin discusses a life in music with Elizabeth Kerr P H O T OS CO U R T E S Y O F C o l i n To u ch i n
T
he theme to Jurassic Park, argues Lantau resident Colin Touchin, is not very good.
How’s that for a hot take? The instantly recognisable strings from one of the biggest box office hits of all time are mundane and repetitive, and not a strong musical construction according to the composer and City Chamber Orchestra Hong Kong (CCOHK) conductor. Admittedly that’s unfair clickbait from a rambling conversation about music, its history, its place in the world and in the SAR, but it’s also an indicator of how Colin’s musical brain works. “How do you get better than dinosaurs?” Colin explains with a laugh that titanic composer John Williams’ score doesn’t have to be ‘good’ in this context. It just has to be right. “The music simply has to have a catch and find the perfect motifs that carry you all the way through. Williams absolutely knows what he’s doing. He’s one of the best.” Colin pauses. “I think he might agree with me on this one.”
A MUSICAL BENT At the risk of sounding trite, Colin, who just turned 69, comes through the computer monitor as jolly, approachable, and every bit as precise as when he’s conducting the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir (HKWMVC), one of his many ensembles. All business, with a side of irreverence that never loses respect for the music he’s been writing and conducting since he was just 12. Born in Liverpool – “apparently not far from the house where John Lennon lived, but I don’t think there’s a plaque” – Colin relocated to Manchester aged two, with his musically supportive parents. “There was a piano in the house. I was sent off to do lessons aged eight or nine, though I can’t say I really enjoyed it. Now I’m glad I did it of course. It led me to composing.” 18 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
PERSONA |
COLIN WITH THE HKWMVC IN BAL A, WALES ON A 40TH ANNIVERSARY T OUR
ON GOOGLE C HAT WITH ELIZABETH KERR L AS T MONTH
More crucial was discovering the recorder on his eighth birthday. “A friend brought along a plastic recorder, and I was taken with this much more than my guests.” He recalls sitting in a corner with it for the whole party. Despite his fondness for music, Colin eventually did the right thing and applied to study politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) at Oxford, never thinking he’d be able to study his first love at that level. Fortunately, Oxford denied him entry to PPE and suggested… Music. In 1974 he started the first Oxford Wind Orchestra before heading back to Manchester to complete teacher training. He landed at the University of Warwick in 1989, and like his admission to Oxford he got the gig when Warwick’s first choice dithered over his decision. Colin was the Director of Music at the University of Warwick for 15 years.
ON THE BATON Ask Colin who his influences are and he begins with a knowing nod. The short answer is none, and all. “I know why you asked, and I’m not going to hedge, but I’m inspired by so many composers I wouldn’t want to put them in any sort of order,” he says. As a composer, he reasons, he wants less to sound like anyone so much as have an impact; to inspire praise for a mood a piece evokes, or to create something as intuitive as Williams did. “I’d love to have people say those things about my music. I’m very broad in what I like to write but I like to write for people and for groups.” Needless to say, when Colin expresses a musical opinion, he knows what he’s about. He likes all kinds of music, but doesn’t think much of rap or country. Before the
pitchforks come out it should be noted this is Colin the educator talking. “I don’t feel they stretch music very far,” he says, giving props to performer skills and rap’s impact, and country’s distinct form. “But [rap] isn’t really developing music, as such… Country doesn’t have much potential for growth.” For Colin, music has its red lines. “You could make that argument for many styles of music depending on the limitations of harmony or melody or rhythm,” he argues. “You’re unlikely to hear modern jazz harmony in pop music. You wouldn’t use certain language in a children’s book. Language is limited by its purpose and the same is true for music. That said, we are imitators and we stand on giants’ shoulders. Beethoven is likely never to be duplicated.”
HONG KONG MAESTRO Colin started his relationship with Hong Kong back in the halcyon pre-millennial days. Annual student recruiting trips for Warwick started in 1996 and found him crossing paths with the likes of CCOHK founder Leanne Nicholls (he’s conducted The Snowman & The Bear with them), Lindsey McAlister at Youth Arts Foundation (then Festival), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Music Office, and Hong Kong Tak Ming Philharmonic Winds (TMW), with whom he did adjudications, summer camps and guest conducting among other things. The CCOHK performed his original Sinfonietta no. 4 (look for the CCOHK on YouTube). Colin’s credits go on and on, from leading and establishing youth orchestras and festivals worldwide to broadcasting on BBC Radio 3 and RTHK Radio 4 (notably his wind band composition Eclipse), and providing musical education in LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 19
PERSONA |
over 20 countries. He founded the UK’s National Youth Recorder Orchestras (his first love, remember) and is Chief Conductor of the Lufthansa Orchestra in Frankfurt. Colin’s ultimate Hong Kong connection came when he met his wife Alicia, a jewellery industry pro, in 2008, in her hometown of Coventry, and hit it off. Being of Polish descent, she asked what Colin was up to for Christmas early in their relationship. “I said I was conducting the City Chamber Orchestra on live television in Hong Kong, and she was rather disappointed,” Colin describes. Christmas is a big deal in Poland so Alicia took the plunge and opted to ask forgiveness rather than permission: A short time later she called with news that she’d bought a plane ticket to Hong Kong. “That was a bit of a statement, on her part. But she realised Hong Kong was an important part of my life, and if she came and liked it, or didn’t, we’d know early on.” Long story short, a trek to the Big Buddha and a bus ride around Lantau did the trick. “This is where we’re going to live,” she said. The couple settled in Caribbean Coast six years ago. Since he’s lived in Hong Kong full time, Colin’s been active with the CCOHK, TMW, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Readers may also know him as the guiding hand of the HKWMVC and Grace Notes (the a cappella women’s choir), and as the voice of In Touch with Music on RTHK Radio 4, where he recommends chamber, choir and wind band releases. “Apparently ‘in touch with music with Colin Touchin’ is quite an effective pun in Chinese,” he says with a chuckle and a shrug. “I didn’t choose it.”
POST-OMICRON PLANS Rehearsals have gone back to being tricky, online affairs, but at least in the case of the HKWMVC the digital meetings scratch an itch. “Sometimes they want to get together to sing just for the sake of singing,” Colin notes. “Part of the evening is always just for chatting, for social time, to feel in contact with each other.” With live rehearsals unlikely to resume for a little while at least, Colin is taking a sudden trip to Warsaw to attend to some personal business. But that doesn’t mean he’s not working on other projects. He’s writing new music, of course, and with hopes of Omicron finally abating, he’s planning new concerts with his various orchestras and choirs. The HKWMVC, in particular, is keen to hit the road and make good on plans that were scuppered over the last two years. Colin’s also close to finalising a pair of “ground-breaking initiatives,” but he can’t tell us much because they’re still in discussion... Watch this space. Or rather, listen here.
20 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
❝ There was a piano in the house. I was sent off to do lessons aged eight or nine, though I can’t say I really enjoyed it. Now I’m glad I did it of course. It led me to composing - Colin Touchin
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
22 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
ON ISLAND EDUCATION CHECK OUT THE LEADING LANTAU SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY RIGHT THROUGH TO SECONDARY P H O T OS COUR TES Y OF ESF Tun g C h un g In ter n at i on al Ki n der g ar ten , Lan t au In ter n at i on al Sch ool, S il ver mi n e Ba y Sch ool & YMC A of Hon g Kon g C h r i s t i an C ol l ege
I
n this supplement, we’ve focused on four of the top schools on the island: ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten, Lantau International School, Silvermine Bay School and YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC). The aim is twofold: to provide a useful overview of each school (philosophy, curriculum, extra-curricular activities, campus facilities), and to celebrate the ongoing dedication shown by local educators in supporting children and parents through the pandemic. If the government’s decision to ease social distancing measures goes as planned, primary schools, international schools and kindergartens across Hong Kong will reopen for in-person lessons on April 19, and local secondary schools will follow suit on April 22. No doubt the school principals interviewed in this article are looking forward to welcoming students back to the classroom but, as they have also highlighted, distance learning has been a worthwhile learning curve. “Online learning is so challenging and it takes so much effort from the children, parents, grandparents, helpers and of course the teachers to keep the energy going. I have been so proud of how the children have adapted and the quality of the work that is being produced,” opens James Lambert, Principal of Lantau International School. In navigating such challenging times, Will Tong, Principal at Silvermine Bay School, highlights the importance of listening, making adjustments and being flexible. “I’m really grateful we have a great team of teachers who are going above and beyond to help students and support each other. We do a lot of sharing sessions; we are learning from each other. For surviving COVID, it’s important that we are willing to listen to each other and to parents.” Likewise, Allison Banbury, Principal at ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten, says how important it has been to build upon strong partnerships between educators and parents. “During COVID times, we need parents’ support more than ever, particularly with distance learning. We’ve encouraged parents to contribute their ideas and give us feedback. This also means we can identify where parents need additional support, and we can understand what they are going through.” YHKCC, as a direct subsidy secondary school, will reopen on April 22, and the students have been on ‘early summer break’ since January. With distance learning on hold, Principal Diana Lo has made it a priority to ensure that students’ education is ongoing. “Even during the holidays, our students communicate with teachers, and they produce independent programmes and self-directive learning programmes together with parents. Our students have revision buddies, and support each other through Zoom.” LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 23
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
ESF TUNG CHUNG IS A PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AGED TWO TO FIVE YEARS. IT HOUSES EIGHT SPACIOUS CLASSROOMS PLUS SEVERAL ADDITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS INCLUDING A LIBRARY, CHILDREN’S KITCHEN, PHYSICAL AREA AND OUTDOOR GARDEN
E
SF Tung Chung International Kindergarten is an IB World School that follows the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Children, aged two to five years, attend either five morning (8.30am to 11.30am) or five afternoon (1pm to 4pm) sessions per week. There are two streams: English and Bilingual. “At ESF Tung Chung, we believe children have a voice and can contribute to their own learning. We are committed to developing a curriculum that honours their interests and ideas and values them as competent learners,” opens Principal Allison Banbury. “As a team of exceptional teachers, we are passionate about developing learning and teaching opportunities that stimulate and challenge.
“We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. This approach requires children to be seen as competent, resourceful, curious, imaginative and inventive. Teachers are seen as reflective, coconstructive practitioners, who bring out the best in every child through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds. They ensure children have the space and time to develop their interests, passions and knowledge.” Central to the PYP is that children are respectful of themselves, their communities, the world and others. As such, ESF Tung Chung students are encouraged to take responsibility and take action – to behave in a way that supports the wider community. “Projects, like Box of Hope, are built into the school curriculum,” says Allison. “We feel it’s important to recognise children’s need to solve problems, and fundraising helps them understand that there are people in the world who they can help. “As a school, we are very conscious of our responsibilities towards educating children to be global citizens of the 21st century, who are confident, knowledgeable and caring,” Allison adds. “We want our students to be actively engaged and connected with others, this brings joy to learning both in the classroom and outside it.” Getting students outdoors and interacting with their peers, while learning about the environment is a priority at ESF Tung Chung. “One teacher is Forest School-trained, and she works with the team to provide outdoor learning adventures (maths-, science- and art-based) at Bermuda Park in Tung Chung,” says Allison. “We are delighted that some of our parents have signed up to enjoy these experiences with their kids. “At ESF Tung Chung, we truly value working in partnership with parents and carers,” Allison adds. “We seek to develop a supportive learning community in which we can all contribute to the success of our children.”
THERE ARE T WO STREAMS: ENGLISH AND BILINGUAL
For more on ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten, call 3742 3500, email admissions@tck.edu.hk or visit www.tck.edu.hk. 24 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
Allison is quick to assure parents that all children who move on to an ESF primary school or college will continue to build upon the foundations laid in kindergarten. “All ESF primary schools follow the PYP so we can make sure the transition is smooth for our students across all areas of the curriculum. We meet with the ESF primary schools regularly to ensure there is a smooth progression for students moving from K2 to Year 1. We also talk to the ESF teachers to prepare them to meet each child’s individual needs.” ESF Tung Chung is launching a pre-nursery provision for twoyear-olds in August with a specifically designed ESF curriculum.
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
LANTAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
IS A PRIVATE, APOLITICAL SCHOOL KNOWN FOR PROVIDING THE GREENEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG. IT OPERATES 13 CLASSES FROM RECEPTION CLASS TO PRIMARY 6 ACROSS THREE CAMPUSES IN CHEUNG SHA, TONG FUK AND PUI O
W
ith campuses in relatively remote South Lantau villages, Lantau International School (L.I.S.) prides itself on putting children first and being the ‘greenest school’ in Hong Kong. “At L.I.S., children receive a well-rounded education of the highest academic standard that combines both classroom (in low-rise buildings only) and outdoor learning (such as PE classes on the beach), allowing them to flourish socially and academically,” opens Principal James Lambert. “All our campuses provide ready access to a green environment and a beach where we often swim and take outdoor lessons. We stress the importance of caring for nature with our children.” In addition to its outdoorsy, eco-friendly focus, L.I.S. is known for its small class sizes – the student-to-teacher ratio does not exceed 24:1 – which ensures that students get individualised attention both in the classroom and when studying online. “The amount of one-to-one attention our students get from their teachers is maximised. In turn, this environment supports learning and enables teachers to teach the curriculum as efficiently as possible,” James explains.
right for their needs, not necessarily the one dictated by their age,” says James. As for inclusivity, L.I.S. is a private, secular, apolitical and unaffiliated school with students from over 30 nationalities. “We stand for tolerance and respect,” says James. “We take a firm stance on bullying and this may lead in extreme cases to suspension from the school.” And supportive? “In conjunction with parents, L.I.S. does its utmost to accommodate all students’ needs where it has the competency to do so,” James explains. “Our teachers provide students with regular homework and offer a range of extra-curricular activities and summer camps. Furthermore, L.I.S. prides itself in having affordable fees relative to other international schools. We may also provide financial assistance upon request on a case-by-case basis for parents who are undergoing hardship.”
L.I.S. provides a unique balance between a primary education in English following the British curriculum and extensive Mandarin classes. Its teachers are either native English or native Mandarin speakers. The author of a popular children’s book, James is proud to reveal that the school library holds over 5,000 books including 3,000 in the lower primary campus (Tong Fuk) and 2,000 in the upper primary campus (Pui O). “Educational research shows that there is a positive correlation between the ability to read and doing well academically,” he says. “While all our classrooms are equipped with an interactive board (ActivBoard) and we provide every student from Primary 4 to 6 with a computer in the classroom for educational use as and when appropriate, we focus on learning through reading and writing on paper from Reception Class to Primary 3. We believe this is the best way to develop children’s learning and core motor skills, awareness of the environment and memory.” L.I.S. stands for Lantau International School but also Learning. Inclusive. Supportive. With regards to learning, L.I.S. focuses on essential academic skills including literacy (listening, speaking, reading and writing), mathematics and science. “We further believe that children should be in the class level that is
THE S TUDENT - T O- TEAC HER RATIO DOES N O T EXCEED 24:1
For more on Lantau International School, call 2980 3676/ 2984 0302, email admin@lis.edu.hk or visit www.lis.edu.hk. LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 25
LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
SILVERMINE BAY SCHOOL IS A PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, OVERLOOKING SILVERMINE BAY. IT BOASTS A SPRAWLING, TWO-LEVEL 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT CAMPUS ON MUI WO FERRY PIER ROAD, COMPLETE WITH AN INDEPENDENT, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES CENTRE
S
"
ilvermine Bay School follows a modified English National Curriculum, ensuring that our curriculum is relevant for children growing up in Hong Kong, while also emphasising the multicultural diversity of the world we live in,” opens school Principal and owner Will Tong. “Similarly, our Reception Class follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, combined with supplementary resources to bring relevancy to our students of the place in which they live, and prepare them for the rigours of our full primary curriculum.” Since founding the school in 2019, Will has made placing students at first-choice secondary schools a priority. “Over the past three years, we have a record of at least 50% of
our graduates getting accepted to YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC),” he says. “YHKCC has become very competitive, but we have built up a good connection with the principal and we now have a joint sports day. For many families who live in South Lantau, YHKCC is their first choice of secondary school because they have a stream for the British Curriculum. I know the school’s expectations and the level students need to meet.” A clear emphasis on writing (supported by a big writing programme) and maths (supported by an evidence-based maths programme) helps prepare Silvermine Bay School students for English-medium secondary school. Will is also quick to highlight his school’s strong coding programme, which students start in Year 2. “Children need to start coding young; these are skills they need for secondary school and beyond. Our coding programme helps kids become creators rather than just consumers, and we have done over 100 coding projects over the past couple of years.” Silvermine Bay School is also first and foremost a community school, something that’s important to Will who grew up in Mui Wo. “We have a good relationship with the local library, and the recycling centre is just downstairs. We encourage recycling and students make compost for a local farm, so they can see how their food waste helps things grow. We take new students on tours around Mui Wo to explore and connect; we recently visited the fire station. All this helps students learn about the environment.” In this way, students’ personal, social and emotional education is prioritised, as is their wellbeing. “We try to help the kids to be happy. They need support to build their character, and they’ve needed additional support to stay positive during the pandemic. “We celebrate students’ accomplishments and achievements in a very specific way,” Will adds. “We don’t, for instance, use the word ‘smart’ – the word ‘smart’ can encourage students to become lazy and not open to moving forward. We encourage achievement through fun and meaningful learning.”
AT LEAST 50% OF GRADUATES GO ON TO YHKCC
For more on Silvermine Bay School, call 2984 0006, email office@silverminebayschool.edu.hk or visit www.silverminebayschool.edu.hk. 26 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
Finding each student’s character strengths is another important goal at Silvermine Bay School. “We asked a designer to create a unique animal representation of each of the 24 character strengths, which is widely used in school,” says Will. “We use the animals to get students involved and asking questions; they learn to identify different character strengths within themselves and others. It’s so important for students to see what they are good at, and not just academically.”
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LANTAU SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT |
YMCA OF HONG KONG CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
IS A DIRECT SUBSIDY SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH ENGLISH AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION. IT’S LOCATED IN TUNG CHUNG ON A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS WITH SUPERB FACILITIES, AND OFFERS AN INTERNATIONAL-STYLE EDUCATION BASED ON CHRISTIAN VALUES
Y
MCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) was established in September 2003, which makes the next school year, 2022/23, its 20th anniversary. “Connecting with the community is our goal this year despite COVID restrictions, and we are preparing new programmes and a series of celebrations,” opens Principal Diana Lo. “The foundation of this learning community is the partnership among teachers, parents, students and alumni, and we hope we can use creative means to bring everyone together.” YHKCC is the only English-medium school in the Islands District, and all subjects are taught in English (except second languages). Currently the school has 36 classes across six year groups, with an average class size of 25 students. YHKCC offers both the Hong Kong Curriculum (leading to the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) and an international curriculum (IGCSE/ GCE A-levels). Both curricula are internationally recognised and more than 70% of students pursue higher education after they graduate.
At YHKCC the education provided is based on Christian beliefs and values, and about half of the students are practising Christians. “We accept students with different backgrounds and from different religions, or students who have no religion. But all students need to understand and respect Christianity, and take part in devotional worship sessions,” Diana explains. “As a Christian school, we emphasise ‘values education’ based on the Christian faith. I believe that a young person’s values shape who they become, so instilling the YHKCC’s five core values in our students is vitally important in preparation for the future. In addition to striving for academic excellence, we also wish our graduates to be worthy citizens who act with integrity, are responsible, serve one another in love, respect themselves and others, and build a community that cares.”
“In the past, we have had a higher percentage of students graduating to study overseas, last year due to the pandemic it was 23%,” Diana says. “We also saw a slight increase in the number of students choosing to take a gap year to gain life experience or work experience.” Over 40% of YHKCC teachers are from overseas, and the school has over 70% international students from more than 45 countries. Most students at YHKCC are able to speak at least three languages. “Our students’ education is enriched by this cultural diversity which gives a great preparation for life in today’s globalised world,” Diana says. “Our aim is to enable our students to become confident and happy global citizens, who value and respect one another’s cultures. “A particular strength of our school is the whole-person development of students,” Diana adds. “We use student-centred teaching approaches to actively engage students in developing their understanding, and we believe that academics, extracurricular activities and life skills are all important parts of a young person’s growth and education.” Intent on providing all-round educational opportunities, YHKCC offers over 40 extra-curricular activities for students to discover and develop their talents and interests outside academia. “We pride ourselves in our diverse student body, who are talented in sports, music, visual and performing arts, and showcase their talents confidently,” Diana says. 28 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
YHKCC PRIORITISES WHOLE-PERSON DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS
For more on YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, call 2988 8123, email info@yhkcc.edu.hk or visit www.yhkcc.edu.hk.
DESTINATIONS HOME CHEF | |
LIFE ON ON LLANTAU ANTAU || APRIL APRIL // MAY MAY 2022 2022 30 LIFE
DESTINATIONS HOME CHEF |
The brilliance of these sweet and savoury bites is threefold – they’re nutritious, delicious and incredibly easy to make P HO T OS COUR TES Y OF Adobe S t oc k
COURGETTE AND FETA FRITTERS Ser ves 1
• • • • • • •
810G COURGETTES, GRATED 3 EGGS 250G FETA, CRUMBLED 120G PLAIN FLOUR 1½TSP BAKING POWDER 30G MINT LEAVES, CHOPPED 30G FLAT-LEAF PARSLEY LEAVES, CHOPPED
Place the grated courgettes in a flat layer on sheets of paper towel. Cover with another layer of paper towel and press to remove the excess water. Place the courgettes, eggs, feta, flour, baking powder, mint and parsley in a bowl. Season well and mix to combine. Heat a little oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the mixture to the pan and flatten with a spatula. Repeat and cook, in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes each side or until golden. Serve immediately with tomato salad and tzatziki.
LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 31
DESTINATIONS HOME CHEF | |
COCONUT AND CHOCOLATE ENERGY BALLS Ser ves 4 • • • • • • •
150G WHOLE ALMONDS 140G RAW ALMONDS 15 DATES, PITTED 30G UNSWEETENED SHREDDED COCONUT 50G UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER 1TSP VANILLA 40G MINI CHOCOLATE CHIPS
Place the almonds in a food processor and blitz to create a fine almond meal. (Don’t blend the almond meal too long or it will turn into nut butter.) Add the remaining ingredients and blitz to combine. Next, scoop a heaped tablespoon of dough into your hands and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in additional shredded coconut (optional) and place it on a baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve used up all the dough. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes and then transfer the balls to a freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
32 LIFE LIFE ON ON LLANTAU ANTAU || APRIL APRIL // MAY MAY 2022 2022
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LOCAL NUMBERS TUNG CHUNG EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station
2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999
HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman New Look Design Shun Yu Engineering So Nice Technologies
2109 2330 9343 3718 9783 5840 2988 1488 6206 3497
HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel Sheraton Tung Chung
3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888 2535 0000
Tung Chung Crescent Management Office
LEARNING CENTRES Clement Art School 9757 9157 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8070 Discovery Mind Primary School 2915 0666 Greenfield International Kindergarten 2162 5538 Han Xuan Language Education Centre 2666 5905 KidznJoy 6273 7347 Little Stars Playgroup 6479 0390 Sakura Kid’s Preschool 6674 6194 Salala Kid’s House 2611 9193 Soundwaves English Education Centre 2164 7210 Sun Island Education Foundation 2420 1068 Sunshine House International Preschool 2109 3873 Tung Chung Catholic School 2121 0884 YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College 2988 8123 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Hospital North Lantau Physiotherapy Quality Health Medical Quality Health Physiotherapy Raffles Medical Raffles Medical Emergency Skyline Physiotherapy
2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 3467 7000 2194 0020 2403 6623 2403 6328 2261 2626 2261 0999 2194 4038
REALTORS HomeSolutions 3483 5003 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Caribbean Coast Clubhouse Caribbean Coast Management Office Coastal Skyline Clubhouse Coastal Skyline Management Office Seaview Crescent Clubhouse Seaview Crescent Management Office Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse 34 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
2109 9277 2109 9288 2179 6678 2179 6621 3473 8700 3473 8833 2403 6770
2109 1222
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY A Tavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Cabana Breeze 2777 8980, 2777 8982 Cafe lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021 Essence, Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Funky Monkey 2427 1111 Handi Indian Restaurant 2988 8674 Jasmine Tung Chung 2162 8018 La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788 La Vista 2368 6866 Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0023 Maison Du Mezze 2330 0131 Melody Thai 2988 8129 Mint & Basil 2762 8077 Moccato Coffee Shop 3602 8838 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2116 8149 My Thai 2907 6918 Nha trang Vietnamese Cuisine 2234 9199 Olea, Novotel Citygate 3602 8818 Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500 Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0025 The New Chapter 2907 6988 The Tavern 2907 6822 Yue, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0028 Upper Deck 2757 8889 RETAIL FTC Apparel 2428 2566 Lantau Balloons 9733 5483 SPORT & RECREATION 4 Dimensions+ 9446 6013 Aqua Gym 2914 0658 Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 B & S Art Gallery 2493 8895 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 ESF Sports 2711 1280 Fitness in Motion 9744 4736 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 KipMovin 6180 3256 Lantau yacht Club 2987 9691 MGK Fight club 9303 2996 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Rugbytots 5307 6677 Sparrow Soccer School 6051 8196 Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 Tung Chung Rugby Club 6079 0825 Tung Chung Sports Centre 2109 2421 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Bon’s Mobile Pet Grooming Royal Pets (Pet Sitting) Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre
9099 9959 6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282
WELLBEING & BEAUTY OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Tung Chung Nail Ninjas
2286 6266 969 21888 9551 6468
LOCAL NUMBERS |
SOUTH LANTAU EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police Mui Wo Fire Department
36611696 2984 1570
HOME & REPAIRS New Look Design 9783 5840 Unitek 9156 0360 HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel
6810 0111 2985 8383
LEARNING CENTRES Ashville International Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Silvermine Bay School
2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2980 3676 3689 6709 2984 0006
MEDICAL North Lantau Hospital
3467 7000
REALTORS Findley Leung HomeSolutions
2984 8334 3483 5003
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Bathers 2504 4788
Cafe Isara Caffe Paradiso China Bear Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar Kebab Korner La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Le Jardin de Sophie Long Island Mucho Gusto Pause Cafe Robert’s Market Solo Café The Gallery The Kitchen The Stoep @ High Tide The Water Buffalo Treasure Island Beach Club
2470 1966 2984 0498 2984 9720 3484 3095 6429 3507 2984 8933 5465 5511 2997 9070 2320 2001 6422 5009 5267 5549 9193 2937 9153 7453 2980 2582 5991 6292 2980 2699 2109 3331 5236 7013
REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Hon Kee Transportation 2984 8494 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RETAIL Lantau Base Camp Garden Plus
Greenstyle Organic & Healthcare Lantau Grocer Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. Quay House Value Vigilantes VIBE Book & Music Shop
9802 0553 2702 0050 2984 8346 2882 8710 6132 9120 9088 2370
SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports Mui Wo Sports Centre Pause by the River Treasure Island Beach Club
2980 3222 2984 2334 9708 0187 2546 3543
VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS SPCA Mui Wo
2984 0060
WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance Spa Puretouch Thai Palin Massage Thai Sa Baai
9708 0187 2984 2488 2984 0088 9062 0148 5228 6552
5463 6060 6547 2233
DISCOVERY BAY EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 DB Fire & Ambulance DB Lost & Found DB Management
2987 7502 3651 2345 2238 3601
HOME & REPAIRS Good Luck Engineering May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Well Supreme Laundry
2987 1313 2987 0222 2987 0789 2987 5151
HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay
2295 8288
LEARNING CENTRES DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Primary School 2914 2202 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Discovery Montessori School 2987 1201 Epic Adventurers 2441 0098 Eye Level Education Learning Centre 9366 0000 HKILA 2416 3198 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Mathnasium 2628 3362 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 Sunshine House International Preschool 2987 8143 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008
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LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022 35
DESTINATIONS |
TIN HAU TEMPLE HOPPING PH O T O S BY S a r i n A l e & c o u r t e s y o f W ik ipedia
T
in Hau, the Empress of Heaven, is first and foremost a sea deity and protector of sailors and, no surprise, her temples crop up all over the island from Tai O to Chek Lap Kok. While some, like the temple on Chi Ma Wan Road (Lantau Trail Stage 12), were built in the Ming dynasty, most are Qing-built; all have been regularly restored and refurbished over the years, and many are listed, including the impressive, Grade 111, cliff-side temple at Fan Lau Miu Wan. Tin Hau Festival falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month (April 27 in 2022), so that’s the perfect day to pay her a visit. The temples in Lantau come in all shapes and sizes though they are typically small and low-key like the goddess herself. Statues of two Guardian Gods – Thousand Li Eyes and Favourable Wind Ears – stand on either side of the main altar. The Tin Hau statue is usually draped in red clothing. Fisherfolk worship Tin Hau as a bringer of calm seas and a plentiful catch, the rest of us simply look to her to protect our families. So, what’s the story there? Well, according to folklore, Tin Hau started out as a mortal named Mòniáng, born around 960 CE on the island of Meizhou in Fujian Province. One morning, her father and brothers went out to fish with the local fleet and a typhoon struck. Fortunately for them, Mòniáng immediately fell into a trance and astralprojected out to sea to rescue them. As she was bringing them back, her mother woke her, causing her to drop one of her brothers. The next day, only her father and all but one of her brothers returned, all of the other fishermen were lost at sea. Mòniáng was so revered in life for her shamanism that after her death at age 27, the islanders continued to ask her for help, believing she had ascended to heaven to take her place among the immortals. Over time, more and more reports of the goddess intervening during crises at sea began to circulate among the fishing communities of Fujian and Guangdong. As her fame increased, her temples began to spring up all over Southern China and beyond.
36 LIFE ON L ANTAU | APRIL / MAY 2022
L ANTAU HOMES MORE THAN 10 TIN HAU TEMPLES
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