Life on Lantau April/ May 2016 by Life on Lantau magazine

APRIL/ MAY 2016

SAVING THE PLANET

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ARK EDEN 10 YEARS ON

COMMUNITY DIVIDED

THE HONG KONG–ZHUHAI–MACAU BRIDGE

DASH FOR A BEER

CHARITY FUN RUN WITH BENEFITS ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Join your community online

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

An all new ESF International Kindergarten is coming to Tung Chung

Places available for K1 & K2 enrolment Enrol Online

Where Inquiry Begins Re

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With well-resourced classrooms, great access to current learning technologies and indoor and outdoor play areas, young children will be presented with multiple opportunities to learn, socialise and develop their skills. Through inquiry-based learning and play, we encourage childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural curiosity and creativity, develop their personal and social skills, inspire them with a life-long love of learning and the confidence to fulfil their potential.

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Our purpose-built, spacious kindergarten will provide the perfect environment for young learners. As the largest of the ESF Kindergartens, our space is being carefully planned to provide places of beauty that will support learning, stimulate imaginations, nurture children, families and staff, and truly inspire the wonderful memories of childhood.

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Start your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning journey with ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung

New! Tung Chung at The Visionary Tel: 3762 2411 Email: kinder@tc.esf.org.hk

opening for the 2016/2017 School Year Our other Kindergartens: Abacus at Clearwater Bay an IB World School

Tel: 2719 5712 Hillside on Stubbs Road an IB World School

To find out more about ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung please give us a call or send an email to kinder@tc.esf.org.hk.

Tel: 2540 0066 Tsing Yi

K1 & K2 Now Enroling

Tel: 2436 3355 Wu Kai Sha

an IB World School

Tel: 2435 5291

www.esfkindergartens.org.hk

APR/ MAY 2016 FEATURES 14 DISPATCH Under construction – the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge

24 PERSONA Meet cartoonist Larry

Feign as he embarks on a new path

SPOTLIGHT All aboard Ark Eden! It’s time to get eco-educated

33 HEALTH Overcoming stress – quick fixes and life-altering solutions

REGULARS 13 GIVEAWAYS Win fabulous prizes 23 ASK THE EXPERT Tips from Tung Chung Vet Centre

35 LADA UPDATE News from Lantau Development Alliance

36 40

LANTAU FACES Community snaps INSIDER Travel-led home decorating for island dwellers

AGENDA

HOT OFF THE PRESS Up-to-theminute island news

04 LANTAU FOCUS What’s happening in the community

19 PULL-OUT GUIDE Home essentials: everything you need to know

37 CLASSIFIEDS Great deals,

employment, businesses and more

38 LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau

APRIL/ MAY 2016

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SAVING THE PLANET

ARK EDEN 10 YEARS ON

COMMUNITY DIVIDED

THE HONG KONG–ZHUHAI–MACAU BRIDGE

DASH FOR A BEER

CHARITY FUN RUN WITH BENEFITS ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Join your community online

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

Photos by Terry Chow, www.lifeonlantau.com

IN MEMORY OF SAM KWOK

BELOVED ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

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Publishers in DB since 2002 APRIL 2016

SPORTS • LIVING • PETS • HIKING • DINING • HEALTH • COMMUNITY

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LANTAU NEWS By Sam Agars

Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk Managing editor Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk

SPACE FOR ALL?

ASSISTANT EDITOR & MAGAZINE COORDINATOR Sam Agars sam@baymedia.com.hk Advertising & sales manager Lissa Morris lissa@baymedia.com.hk Art direction Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk ILLUSTRATION Fred Boot PHOTOGRAPHERS Leah Ahmad Jason Pagliari Digital coordinator Carlos Magno carlos@baymedia.com.hk Accounts & office manager Monika Carruthers accountant@baymedia.com.hk Contributors Jane Clyde Lorraine Cook Elizabeth Kerr Anita Tomasov PRINTING Fantasy Printing Limited 7/F Tin Fung Industrial Mansion 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road Aberdeen, Hong Kong DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Life on Lantau are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.

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There’s lots going on with the Space for All Lantau Development Plan, which the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) launched in mid-January, bringing all its development plans for Lantau under one banner and introducing a three-month public engagement exercise. LanDAC has since held three public forums, on February 20 and 28 and March 13, as well as a number of briefing sessions and a range of ongoing roving exhibitions. Proposed developments include the North Lantau Corridor, featuring strategic economic and housing development, the North-eastern Lantau Node for leisure, entertainment and tourism and the East Lantau Metropolis. Residents have expressed their displeasure at the scale of the proposals and feel the public consultation process has not been arranged with their best interests at heart. “The public consultations have been put together at very short notice and the registration for them has been overly complicated,” says Living Islands Movement’s Martin Lerigo. Lantau residents started raising concerns about the way LanDAC is handling its Space for All public consultation process at the start of the year, with a January 31 protest in Mui Wo. LanDAC is asking residents to write to them with their opinion on the proposed developments, so head to www.landac.hk/en/contact-us to have your say. Read a report by the Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) on page 35. The LegCo secretariat has organised a public hearing of the LegCo Panel on Development on April 16, where members of the public can apply to speak on the proposed development strategy of Lantau. “You can go and make a three-minute submission in person to LegCo” Martin says. “Anyone can apply to do it and I think there would be quite a lot of Lantau residents interested in doing that.” Those interested should forward their written submissions to the clerk of the panel, with more information available at www.legco.gov.hk.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Tung Chung cinema to shut

www.arounddb.com

Lantau residents have not reacted kindly to the news that the UA Cinema complex at Citygate Outlets in Tung Chung is closing this month, and have launched a petition. To sign the petition, head to https://goo.gl/VRKPIa. The cinema is facing closure as part of Swire Properties’ plan to develop the site adjacent to Citygate Outlets into a commercial building for retail and hotel use. The new building will feature a start-of-the-art cinema, but Tung Chung is likely to be without a cinema for as long as two years. A number of outlets and the Food Republic food court are also set to close, with the new development to feature a host of dining and entertainment options. “The development is expected to be completed in late 2017/ early 2018,” a spokesperson for Swire Properties says. “In the long run, together with the development of the new retail complex at the adjacent site, we will introduce exciting F&B and entertainment concepts to serve the community and to enhance our consumers’ overall experience.” From April, the best options for those hoping to catch a flick include UA IMAX Theatre at Hong Kong International Airport and the Golden Harvest Cinema in Maritime Square, Tsing-Yi.

HOLDEN’S PLANS FOR TUNG CHUNG SOUTH Chow Ho Ding Holden, the Islands District Council member for Tung Chung South, has big plans for his constituency in both the short and long term, with his immediate focus on creating jobs. “[Legislative Council of Hong Kong member] Tang Ka-piu and I have together put forward a motion to the District Council Photo courtesy of Holden Chow and have therefore successfully launched a working group under the District Council to explore the opportunity of establishing an open-air market in Tung Chung, providing more consumer choices and job opportunities at the grassroots,” Holden says. Looking to the future, Holden supports the establishment of a multi-purpose municipal complex for Tung Chung and plans to work towards providing the most convenient public transport system for residents. “I shall continue to demand the MTR Tung Chung line is directly connected to the airport, plus the future Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge artificial island, so as to provide more convenience for our residents,” Holden says. To contact Holden, email holdenchow@hotmail.com.hk.

ESF TUNG CHUNG ENROLLING NOW ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten took possession of its new space in the Visionary in Tung Chung on March 1 – this will be the biggest of ESF’s five Hong Kong kindergartens when it opens in August. Now taking enrolments for K1, K2 and playgroup, the kindergarten has been custom-designed to best accommodate the three- to five-year-old children in its care. According to the kindergarten’s principal, Sandra Hite, the location for the new facility was a no-brainer. “Anyone that looks at the plans for Tung Chung knows it’s going to be growing exponentially,” she says. “Obviously in a city that’s growing, it’s really important to ensure that the youngest children have some choice in where they go to school.” ESF has been running monthly admission sessions to keep up with a high demand but is keen to let people know that there are still places left for this year and that the opening presents a rare opportunity. “It’s unusual for us to have any seats at all at this time of year,” Sandra says. “ESF kindergartens are such high-quality kindergartens and I think the Hong Kong community knows that reputation. Because of that we are always oversubscribed and our wait lists are quite long.”

Photos courtesy of ESF

To celebrate the impending opening, the kindergarten held a family day at its closest feeder school, Discovery College, Discovery Bay, on February 21 for those already enrolled. To apply for your child’s spot online, head to www.esf.org.hk. APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 3

LANTAU FOCUS

Find more photos of community events @ www.lifeonlantau.com

Photos by Terry Chow

DASH FOR A BEER The eighth Lantau International Beer Dash on March 19, which set off from Tong Fuk, saw participants dress up and drink a different international beer at every checkpoint. Life on Lantau is a proud sponsor of this hugely popular 5-kilometre fun run, along with Around DB , San Miguel, Home Solutions, The Beach House and Phoenix Wills. Funds raised went to Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), Herds Up and Lantau Buffalo Association. To see more great photos from the day, head to www.lifeonlantau.com.

4 LIFE ON LANTAU

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

LANTAU FOCUS

MINI-RUGBY FESTIVAL

Tung Chung Rugby Club’s (TCRC) first mini-rugby festival, for children U6 to U12, was held at the YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College on February 21. Joining the hosts were three other Hong Kong clubs: Flying Kukris, Monkeys RFC and USRC Tigers. On March 19, the TCRC U6 to U12 teams also participated in a successful Macau Tour. The TCRC kids are looking forward to hosting the Asia Pacific Dragons on April 3, and taking part for the first time, in the mini-rugby showcase at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens on April 8.

Photos courtesy of TCRC

ISLAND DANCERS AT CNY Kids from across Lantau (Mui Wo, Tung Chung and Discovery Bay), enrolled at DB-based dance school Island Dance, put on a great show during the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui on February 8.

Photos by David Feehan and Madhu Kashyap APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 5

LANTAU FOCUS

VALENTINE’S RACE Lantau Base Camp’s Ultimate Direction Valentine’s Race saw runners cover 13 kilometres on February 13, starting from the Nam Shan Picnic Area. Top Lantau runners Jeremy Ritcey and Valerie Lagarde, the overall winners, also took first place in the hotly contested Team of 2, mixed category.

BONAQUA LIFEPROOF ACTION SPRINT Lantau runner Zein Williams is hogging the limelight in this year’s Bonaqua Lifeproof Action Sprint series. Having won the Repulse Bay leg on February 14, she again finished first in the Discovery Bay edition on March 6. Incredibly this was Zein’s eighth (Action Asia event) gold medal in a row. Who will come out to challenge her on April 10 in the Sai Kung sprint? Congratulations also go to Hong Kong resident Vlad Ixel, who came first overall in the men’s division in DB.

www.actionasiaevents.com Photos by Claud Rolff and Anya Belcher

TRANSLANTAU Competitors in the Translantau, March 11 to 13, took on either the Ultra 100km (5,800 metres + elevation), or the sister races of 50km (2,700 metres + elevation) and the 25km (900 metres + elevation). Starting and finishing on Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo, 90% of the course is on the Lantau trails, covering two country parks. Battling very strong winds and dense fog conditions, Yoshikazu Hara of Japan and Hong Kong-based, New Zealander Marie McNaughton took the male and female 100km Translantau titles. For full race results, visit www.translantau.livetrail.net.

Photos by Alexis Grand Trail

6 LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

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LANTAU FOCUS

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ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY Find more information and events @ www.lifeonlantau.com

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VOTE FOR THE MOST INSPIRING WOMAN IN LANTAU Thanks to everyone who responded to our International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Competition, March 8 to 10, in which we asked readers to nominate the most inspiring woman in Lantau. The finalists are Pui O resident Okka Scherer, who homes more than 100 abandoned dogs, and Pui O resident Kinzie (her full name), the founder of Hong Kong Heartbeat, who encourages people to be more mindful, to support one another and reconnect with nature. Last but not least is Mui Wo resident Jacqui Green of Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), who has been rescuing and re-homing various animals on Lantau, DB and Peng Chau for 20-plus years.

HOMEOPATHY TALKS BY PUI O RESIDENT

Integrated Medicine Institute, 25 DB North Plaza 13 & May April

You can vote for the ultimate winner, from the three resident-nominated finalists, on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages, or by emailing us at info@baymedia.com.hk, from April 8 to 10.

April 9 &

16 Photo courtesy of IMI www.lantaubasecamp.com

STAIRMASTER SERIES Lantau and Stanley

HOKA Stairmaster Lantau, organised by Lantau Base Camp, this year comprises two races. The 20-kilometre course on April 9 takes runners over both Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak twice. The HOKA Stairmaster Twins on April 16 covers 10 kilometres, with runners tackling both Twins and the hundreds of stairs leading to Stanley Gap Road just above Stanley. To register by April 6, visit http://events.lantaubasecamp.com.

CREATIVE WRITING FOR ADULTS Pause Studio, Mui Wo

On April 13, Pui O resident Mina Weight is hosting a talk on The Benefits of Homeopathy for Mums-to-be and Newborn Babies, focused on healthy remedies to have on hand at home. Mina is also presenting Homeopathy for Travel and Family Holidays on May 25. A registered homeopath with the Society of Homeopaths (UK), Mina has experience in treating whole families, from infants to the elderly, with many different symptoms. To find out more, visit www. imi.com.hk.

April 15, 22 & 29

Mui Wo resident Sharon Lesley Le Roux is now offering creative writing workshops for adults. At Scribblers, students are invited to learn about characterisation, plotting and the importance of writing not just what they know but who they are. To sign up for a course, email scribblershk@yahoo.com, to find out more, visit www.scribblershk.com. Sharon also runs creative writing classes for kids and young adults at The Story Studio, with workshops in Mui Wo, Tung Chung and Discovery Bay. Visit www.thestorystudiohk.com. 8â&#x20AC;&#x192; LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

Photo courtesy of Sharon Lesley Le Roux

LANTAU FOCUS

TO JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP or dive

TO ADOPT A PET through Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), call Jacqui Green on 9197 4371, for Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS), call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.

against debris, in and around Lantau, visit www.ecomarinehongkong.org.

YOUNG WRITER’S COMPETITION ONLINE VOTE April 16-19

TRAILWAGGER Mui Wo to DB

l 16

Apri

Photo by Terry Chow

Congratulations to the writers of the top three stories in the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition (YWC): Ryan Harling (YHKCC), Maria Andreeva (DBIS) and Katrina Lowe (DC). You can vote for your favourite to win on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages from April 16 to 19. The winning story will be published in the June issue of Life on Lantau . A special shout-out also goes to the three runners-up: Xander Ito Low (YHKCC), Alix Leonard (DC) and Marcus Cheng (WIS). Well done to all the talented young writers who took part.

FASHION REVOLUTION DAY Tung Chung resident Sonia R e n a u t i s e n co u ra g i n g u s all to do our bit to demand transparency in the fashion industry. To get involved, simply post a photo of a favourite piece April 24 of clothing (inside out, with the https://osocio.org label showing) on Instagram (@ brandname), and hashtag it #whomademyclothes to ask the brand, ‘Who made my clothes?’ To find out more, visit www.fashionrevolution.org, or contact Redress, the Hong Kong NGO dedicated to reducing waste in the fashion industry, at info@redress.com.hk.

Photo courtesy of William Sargent

Register now for Hong Kong’s first ever Trailwagger, combining Lantau’s majestic trails and the local community’s love of dogs over 8 kilometres. Beginning in Mui Wo, the race will culminate with a beer and burger in DB. All proceeds go to Animals Asia, and Life on Lantau is one of the media sponsors, alongside Around DB . To find out more, and to secure a spot for you and your four-legged friend, email info@trailwaggerhk.com.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY May 10

to all the amazing and dedicated mothers in the Lantau community.

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY

May 14

Ngong Ping 360 Celebrate the Buddha’s birthday by attending the Grand Buddha Bathing Ceremony in the Hall of the Great Hero at Po Lin Monastery. Don’t miss the outdoor entertainment, including Shaolin Kung Fu, acrobatics and fa ce - c h a n g i n g p e r fo r m a n ce s . Admission is free. To find out more, call 2985 5248.

www.wikimedia.org

APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 9

LANTAU FOCUS

HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY MAVERICKS

SAVE THE DATE

Photo by Josh Clery

Founded by South Lantau entrepreneurs Adrienne Ng, Jay Foss Cole and Matt Saul, Mavericks has quickly become a Lantau institution. To celebrate two successful years, the restaurant is rolling out a load of new dishes in its usual casual, beachie style. Mavericks is situated on beautiful Pui O Beach, adjacent to sister-company Treasure Island, which is owned by Adrienne and offers watersports for kids and adults, as well as corporate team-building events. To make a booking, call 5662 8552; if you are a local, email your Lantau home address to localsonly@mavericks.hk to get great discounts.

SNAKE DAY WITH WILLIAM SARGENT Hemingway’s, DB Plaza Pui O resident William Sargent, a driving force behind Trailwagger and Barclays MoonTrekker, is probably best known as the Lantau Snake Man. William will be sharing his love of local snakes at a talk at Hemingway’s on June 4. You can purchase tickets (HK$100 for adults, HK$50 for kids under 12) in advance at Hemingway’s, from May 1.

Photo by Terry Chow

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Recently renovated property in heart of Mui Wo. 2 beds, 1 bath. Wooden flooring throughout. Partly open kitchen with new appliances. Great value! Perfect for commuters!

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Win a Sense of Touch facial treatment

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

GIVEAWAYS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes! Life on Lantau competitions are incredibly easy to enter (you’ll even find the answers to our questions right here). You have until the 10th of the month to submit your answers. To enter, email info@baymedia.com.hk, click on the competitions link at www.arounddb.com, or scan the QR Code below. Don’t forget to give us your name and telephone number! FIND THE ANSWER: Sense of Touch facials

YOUR PRIZE: Sense of Touch Group is offering two readers an 80-minute Signature Fresh Collagen Infusion Facial, each worth HK$1,180, and two readers a 60-minute Hydrating Recovery Facial, each worth HK$820, at any of its four spa locations, including Tung Chung.

deliver fresh, pure collagen together with other active ingredients to every layer of the skin using triple liposome technology. These treatments minimise fine lines and combat signs of ageing, transforming skin from the inside out. Visit www.sotlabs.com, or www.senseoftouch.com.hk to find out more.

What is the technology behind these facials?

Where are Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike from?

Photo courtesy of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike

Win tickets to DJ Revolution Presents Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike YOUR PRIZE: AsiaWorld-Expo is offering two readers, two free-standing tickets (worth HK$900 each) to DJ Revolution Presents Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike at AsiaWorld-Expo on May 20 at 8pm.

Photo courtesy of Sense of Touch Group

FIND THE ANSWER: Hong Kong-based entertainment company Sigma Production brings you Belgian DJ duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. This major, one-night-only event is the latest offering from the company’s DJ Revolution series, which aims to promote electronic, dance-music culture by bringing the most celebrated international producers and artists to the city.

Win meats for your BBQ from Leo’s Fine Food YOUR PRIZE: Leo’s Fine Food is offering three readers a 3-kilogramme BBQ combo, to feed four to six people, each worth HK$273. FIND THE ANSWER: Founded by a Swiss master butcher in 1985, Leo’s Fine Food supplies high-quality food and beverages, sourced worldwide. Its 3-kilogramme BBQ combo includes marinated chicken wings mid-joint (500 grams), marinated pork neck steak (500 grams), beef and chicken skewers (500 grams each) and raw German Bratwurst and Toulouse sausages (500 grams each). Leo’s offers free delivery throughout Lantau for orders over HK$1,000. Shop online at www.leosfinefood.hk.

When was Leo’s Fine Food established? www.leosfinefood.hk

Congratulations to last issue’s winners

Sue Potts for tickets to the Longines Masters of Hong Kong; Rakesh Vazirani and Sandra Wyatt for tickets to see Into the Woods ; and Ron Kaluta, Colin Sercombe, and Juanita Pitt for The Beach House dining vouchers.

APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 13

DISPATCH

Photos by Jason Pagliari and courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

COMMUNITY DIVIDER

Whether you view it as a blot on the landscape or Lantauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entry into a brave new world, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is an incredible feat of engineering. Sam Agars reports

overing a total of 50 kilometres and boasting a phenomenal single span of 29.6 kilometres, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HKZMB) is as impressive as it is controversial. It is expected the bridge will provide a huge economic boost for the Greater Pearl River Delta Region, including Hong Kong. However, there are concerns about just what impact the construction, and the resulting influx of visitors, will have on Lantau and those who live here.

A modern marvel Construction started on the bridge, which will connect Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai, in 2009 and at this stage is due for completion 14â&#x20AC;&#x192; LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

in late 2018. However, the completion date has already been moved back, and according to www.hzmb.hk, the Guangdong National Development and Reform Commission has stated that even a 2020 finish might be tough to achieve. The HKZMB project includes the main 29.6-kilometre single span, one of the longest in the world, a 6.7-kilometre underwater tunnel to allow ships to pass, boundary crossing facilities on reclaimed land at either end and also a link road at each end. At the Hong Kong end, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TMCLKL) will also form part of the project, providing a direct link between the New Territories and the HKZMB, the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility (HKBCF), the airport and Lantau. The main bridge section

DISPATCH

The HKZMB is slated for completion in late 2018 – construction started in 2009

will include three cable-stayed spans and the bridge and tunnel sections will feature dual three-lane roads designed for a speed of 100 kilometres.

“Two of the bridges go into the (North Lantau) expressway, one goes east and one goes west, and the other two go into the Cheung Tung Road going east and west,” Ted says.

“The type of bridge that we have is a pre-cast concrete bridge that’s made up of pre-cast concrete segments that are about 4-metres long,” says Ted Lawton, a DB resident, who is currently working on the viaduct that links Lantau and the HKBCF.

According to Ted, the 200-metre spans required to ensure there is room for the boats to come through are unusually long. “For a concrete bridge of this type, 200 metres is getting towards the limit of what’s possible,” Ted says. “Any longer than that and you have to go to a cable-stayed bridge.”

The marine viaduct will feature four bridges, all connecting Lantau with the HKBCF, that cross over the Tung Chung Navigation Channel. All of the ferries which travel between the airport and the mainland use this channel.

The HKBCF, meanwhile, is one of the most unique parts of the entire project. According to www.hzmb.hk, rather than the conventional dredging method that causes environmental damage, APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 15



DISPATCH

Residents fear the HKZMB will bring hoards of visitors to Lantau

a reclamation method that has never been used before in Hong Kong is being employed. This sees steel circular cells filled with inert material used to form a seawall. That said, the HKBCF has been the cause of much of the project’s delays due to the fact that parts of the island, including the sea wall, have shifted unexpectedly, with reports of up to 6 metres of movement. “There are problems with the reclamation,” admits Ted. “Obviously that’s affecting the whole project.”

An economic boost According to www.hzmb.hk, the bridge will cut down road travel distance from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and Macau from 160 kilometres to 30 kilometres, turning what was roughly a four-and-a-half hour trip into a trip of approximately 40 minutes. The idea is that Hong Kong’s position as a logistics centre will be strengthened, economic integration between Hong Kong and the Greater Pearl River Delta Region will increase, the tourism industry will be boosted and jobs will be created. Closer to home, the bridge is set to have a huge impact on Lantau as a whole. The government has expressed the belief that the bridge, along with the resultant North Lantau Corridor that includes the HKBCF and other planned developments, will create hundreds of 16 LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

thousands of jobs and transform Lantau into an internal transport, logistics and trade hub in the Greater Pearl River Delta Region. “HKZMB will bring fundamental change to Lantau’s function and development potential,” says Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) chairman, Allen Ha. “The island will take on great value as a bridgehead economy.” Allen is confident that local families will benefit from the employment boost and says that conservation and green tourism are still the focus for the majority of Lantau. “The needs for development and conservation will be balanced,” he adds. “With the increased job opportunities for different members of the Lantau community, and the predominant part of Lantau’s natural beauty and cultural assets being preserved, the future Lantau will be ideal for living, leisure and employment.”

The fallout While the government has made clear the economic benefits it expects to see from the HKZMB once it is completed, just how the bridge will affect the quality of life of Lantau residents is a relative unknown. Residents are worried overcrowding will be an issue and that development will destroy the Lantau we know and love.

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“Apart from the fact that the natural habitat of the Chinese White Dolphin has been desecrated and the North Lantau Country Park has been blighted by the bridge, I think short term there will be minimal impact on South Lantau,” notes Living Islands Movement’s vice-chairman Louise Preston. She believes that the detrimental effects of the HKZMB will initially be restricted to North Lantau. “It will lead to increased air pollution in Tung Chung, and Tung Chung is already one of the worst spots for air pollution in Hong Kong,” Louise says. “There will probably also be increased congestion on the North Lantau Expressway. I don’t think it will affect South Lantau in the short term unless there are tourism bus links so that people come in on a bus from Macau or Zhuhai and then jump on another bus in Tung Chung to South Lantau.” Suggesting that increased queues in Tung Chung for South Lantau buses may be the only tangible impact the HKZMB has on South Lantau’s residents to start with, Louise warns that it has the potential to do much more damage down the track. “In the long term, I think that the bridge is incredibly sinister as far as boosting the rationale for the East Lantau Metropolis with the various transport links to Hong Kong Island,” she says. It has been touted that Tung Chung will become overrun by tourists coming down from the mainland, with Citygate Outlets 18 LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

likely to be a popular destination. Islands District Council member for Tung Chung South, Chow Ho Ding Holden, however, is hopeful that correct development of the HKBCF will alleviate this problem. “One of the opinions we have submitted to the government is to earmark a specific area on the artificial island to launch a shopping area designed for mainland tourists,” he says. “They can simply pay a visit there and purchase all the daily necessities they need. That way they won’t have to go to Tung Chung city centre and compete with the local residents.” For now, Holden is focusing on the increased convenience to Tung Chung residents, as well as Lantau residents in general, that the HKZMB will bring – allowing them easy access to the New Territories, Macau and the mainland.

FIND IT • Chow Ho Ding Holden, holdenchow@hotmail.com.hk • Allen Ha, info@lantau-da.com.hk • Living Islands Movement, www.livingislands.org.hk

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he weather will soon be warming up and the increased humidity can cause minor skin irritations, commonly experienced by our dogs, to escalate into a major problem. It’s essential to monitor your pet closely and take action if he is itching or biting his skin more than usual. The more dogs itch, the more they irritate their skin, and the worse the problem becomes. Fleas multiply, or in some cases a yeast or bacterial infection can take hold and spread. This cycle needs to be broken or, better, prevented from starting. Signs that your dog’s skin irritation is getting out of control include hair loss and flaky or greasy skin. Pay particular attention to the skin between the toes, in the elbow folds, around the ears and under the neck. Grey, wrinkled, thickened skin – ‘elephant skin’ – is usually a sign of a yeast infection. Watch out too for an increased ‘doggie’ smell that lingers even after a bath.

Things to action: • Follow a regular flea-control regime • Condition your dog after every shampoo to keep his skin moist • Have your dog’s ear fur removed • Find the trigger. If the itching comes on suddenly, think about what may have caused it. Did you give your dog a new treat or food in the last 12 to 24 hours? Did you go on a new walk, giving him access to any new plants? If despite all your best efforts, your dog is itchy, smelly and miserable, take him to the vet. Before treatment starts, your vet will likely take a sample of ear material or skin to identify if the infection is yeast or bacterial in origin. Once the infection is under control, with your vet’s help, you can start to work out what caused the allergy. Note that in some cases, where a definite diagnosis can’t be found, your dog will need to stay on long-term, anti-itch medication.

To contact Anita, or book an appointment at Tung Chung Vet Centre, call 2328 7282.

APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 23

Photo by Terry Chow

PERSONA

24 LIFE ON LANTAU

Larry Feign at home in Wang Tong Village APRIL/ MAY 2016

PERSONA

FANS OF

FEIGN

Larry Feign has spent a lifetime making us laugh at – and reconsider – ourselves, through his thoughtful and thought-provoking, satirical cartoons. Here he reflects on a career and a new path as a writer. Elizabeth Kerr reports

artoonist and humour writer Larry Feign is proud to call himself an immigrant. An astute observer of human nature and culture collision, his immigrant status is just one of the threads that’s informed his work since the 1980s. Thirty-plus years in Hong Kong (25 of those in Wang Tong Village, Mui Wo), more than half his life, makes Lantau home and Larry a Hongkonger no matter what anyone says. He has a point. “A white person in Asia is an expat forever. An Asian person in North America is an immigrant. So people ask me where’s home and I say Hong Kong, they say, ‘No, where’s really home?’” he begins, waxing not quite philosophically, but thoughtfully. “If I asked a Chinese person in Toronto that and they said Mississauga and I said, ‘No, where’s really home?’ they’d be offended. My brotherin-law is in Toronto and he’s proudly Canadian. Of course he has family here and comes back to visit but home is Toronto. It’s an interesting conundrum.”

That struggle over the meaning of home, identity, ethnicity and some peculiar double standards – as well as the day-to-day hilarity inherent in life in Hong Kong – helped shape Larry’s daily comic strip and most of his art, including the 1986 bestseller Aieeyaaa!, since he first landed here in 1985. His cartoons have appeared in numerous publications around the world and received several international awards, including three from Amnesty International.

Wang Tong Village and back A native of Orange County, California, renowned for its real housewives and angsty teens, Larry refers to himself as one in a long line of “wandering Jews”. A natural cartoonist – something his teachers called ‘doodling’ – Larry’s wandering led him to a graduate programme in linguistics in Honolulu and two life-altering encounters. The first with a brash Hawaiian, who demanded he draw caricatures on Waikiki Beach, led to the second… meeting his wife, Cathy, a native Hongkonger, who was selling souvenirs in the same area. That’s a story with a magical-realist twist.

“This guy, Jeff, found me my calling, and he found me the love of my life,” Larry says with a smile. “I tried to find him when [we] went back to Honolulu for our anniversary and no one knew who I was talking about. It’s the weirdest thing ever. I can’t find him. He’s my guardian angel and he put me on the right track. That’s how I got into cartooning.” Larry is, of course, best known for his popular The World of Lily Wong comic strip and his summary and sudden sacking from the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The strip’s cancellation became a free-speech cause célèbre around the world, made the SCMP look bad and got Larry blacklisted from cartooning in 2001, often forcing him to work anonymously. Nonetheless, Larry wouldn’t change anything. He and Cathy, a psychologist, and their two Hong Kong-raised children gave up on Hong Kong twice in the past and failed both times. “I couldn’t handle [living in the US] and in under a year we were back here,” he recalls. The family later spent two years in London and never really felt settled there. “I found a lot of the stereotypes about ‘stiff upper lips’ true”, he says. “So when I had an opportunity to come back, I asked the kids, ‘Do you want to move back to Lantau?’, not Hong Kong, Lantau, both said yes.”

Lily Wong and local culture Through much of it there was Lily Wong. Larry’s first cartooning gig in Hong Kong was with The Standard, back when it was a paid journal, where the strip stood out for its Western aesthetic and knack for understanding – and incorporating – the local culture. He was poached by the SCMP in 1987 and shepherded the strip into status as the second comic strip ever to go online (after Dilbert ). When the city’s first internet provider asked Larry to put Lily Wong online to generate traffic his response was, “What’s the internet?” Lily also became a landmark for being Hong Kong’s first online retail sale – by an order for the book from Finland. APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 25

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PERSONA

Lily Wong made waves not just for its political satire but for its sincere, informed observations about life in Hong Kong. Larry’s position as someone who straddled the fence between native residents and drop-ins never left him at a loss for material. When SCMP fame came calling, he found himself with access to a whole new world as a now-welcome guest to shindigs on The Peak and its ilk. It was a goldmine that exposed him to all manner of misconceptions about both Chinese locals and Westerners. “The expat crowd had these hilarious misconceptions and bigoted attitudes. Not all, but enough to keep me going,” he says. “[Conversely], I’d ride on a bus and get pointed and stared at. It was a great source for gags. I found a lot of great material by being in between those two worlds.” Things have changed. Larry cites a newfound identity for Hongkongers and less connection with the transience that defined the city for so long. “Up until recently, there was a total lack of community identity, and that was one of the interesting aspects of it,” he says. “The Chinese didn’t think of it as home. Expats didn’t think of it as home. It was just a stop off for everybody. I found that kind of disturbing and that’s changed. 1997 focused that and created much more identification with the place, and that culminated in the Umbrella Movement. It showed that young people do have an identity and they don’t just care about money.”

Aieeyaaa! and beyond Free agent Larry’s most recent artistic experiment was animating an Israeli television pilot (which sadly didn’t go to series) and updating Aieeyaaa!. Published in December last year, AIEEYAAA! Learn Chinese the Hard Way is a satirical dictionary which pokes fun at life, love and culture clash in Hong Kong and China. It features definitions in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, an introduction on how not to learn Chinese and, of course, wickedly funny cartoons. Larry is also dipping into prose, and has one book he’s not talking about (yet) with a New York agent. A second is being polished. But one certainty is his retirement from cartooning – for reasons that transcend the form simply becoming a dinosaur. “The corporatisation of print journalism — where they don’t want anything controversial,” have killed it as Larry sees it. “If you look at papers in North America, the cartoon makes jokes about headlines, but they’re not controversial. They’re very safe.” Lily Wong at least remains a testament to one of the territory’s greatest strengths – and the reason Larry kept coming back. “Hong Kong people can laugh at themselves.” What more could a cartoonist want?

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SPOTLIGHT

EARTH RESCUE VESSEL Ark Eden is becoming a world-renowned environmental education resource. Founder Jenny Quinton discusses 10 incredible years at the helm, and reveals what’s next. Jane Clyde reports

“C

hildren often ask me what Ark Eden means and I say, ‘It means Earth Rescue Vessel’,” founder Jenny Quinton opens. “It’s the idea of saving and restoring everything that is beautiful. When adults ask me I am a bit more longwinded and I say, ‘Ark Eden is dedicated to the ethics and principles of permaculture and restoring a connection and respect for the natural environment through practical educational programmes and restorative projects that provide sustainable local and global solutions’.” Unless you’ve attended a permaculture course there or dropped your kids off for an eco-day, it is in fact quite difficult to envision what Ark Eden is really like. Importantly, it’s located in a secluded valley in the foothills of Mui Wo – far from the madding crowd. Activities are run between two restored farmhouses that are connected by gardens and fields. The surrounding hillsides have been planted with thousands of native trees. “Our long-term goal has always been to try to preserve the island’s ecological, geographical, historical and cultural heritage

28 LIFE ON LANTAU

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by following a sustainable lifestyle and by providing inspiring educational and eco-tourism opportunities for children, adults, residents and tourists,” says Jenny. “Ark Eden presents Lantau as a living, world-class, natural environmental wonder and suggests how its natural assets can be used to benefit education, local communities, Hong Kong residents and overseas visitors – all of us.” What Jenny enjoys most about her work is making people happy. “Nature heals people,” she says. “Helping nature heal also makes people very happy. I love it when children don’t want to leave. I love watching the older students that we work with grow into caring, capable young people who go out there and make a difference. And I love watching adults embrace the need for a radically different lifestyle, focused on creating a truly sustainable future.”

Where it started Jenny has lived in Lantau, in the same valley in fact, since she first moved to Hong Kong from the UK in 1989. “I stayed here

SPOTLIGHT

Eco-camps are a lot of fun

because I fell in love with Lantau,” she says. “Lantau is not only an incredibly beautiful island but she has a huge spiritual heart. And things always keep happening or nearly happening to Lantau – airports, fires, roads, super-prisons, concept plans. So from when I first moved here I spent a lot of the time on the frontline trying to stop things happening, or repair things that had already happened, or just making a great big fuss to stop bad things happening again.” Interestingly enough, Jenny’s wakeup call to environmental issues came when her house nearly burned down because of a hill fire caused by Grave-sweeping Festival visitors. “Actually my house nearly burned down four times over eight years,” she says with a smile. “The valley was then a ‘black valley’ – there were no trees. So I joined about four green groups, started planting trees and began madly creating an environmental curriculum in the English Schools Foundation (ESF) primary school where I worked.” Jenny chaired the ESF Environment Group for nine years, and they still maintain close ties. She also continues to support local and

regional green groups, including the Lantau Buffalo Association, Green Lantau Association and Living Islands Movement.

Environmental education resource So where did the idea for Ark Eden come from? “In 2004, the terrible Lantau Concept (read Concrete) Plan was released and a group of us (Neil Mclaughlin, an architect, Paul Melsom, a horticulturalist and myself), who were sick of fighting government plans, got together and created an alternative plan for Lantau. We called it the Ark Eden Blueprint for Lantau,” Jenny explains. “Neil was sick with cancer and before he passed away, I promised, by accident really, that I would ‘do’ Ark Eden, not really knowing what ‘doing’ Ark Eden would mean.” Three weeks after Neil’s death, Jenny resigned from her job. “This was not completely sensible as I was a single mum with two children, with very high school fees to pay,” she says. Regardless, Ark Eden was up and running in 2006, initially with an outdoor curriculum for students because that was what Jenny knew how to do. APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 29



SPOTLIGHT

“We farmed, planted trees and examined buffalo poo,” she says. “We cleaned beaches, made compost and visited beautiful places around Lantau. At the same time we took action – wrote lots of letters to the government – and learnt about sustainable solutions.” Within a few years, community, religious and corporate groups started showing an interest in Ark Eden and its expansion began, with Jenny’s team organising the planting of more trees, restoring old buildings and doing more advocacy work. Over the years, the line-up of activities on offer has steadily increased, and it now includes permaculture courses, service projects, outdoor camps, conferences, eco days, nature connection and wellness workshops, work experience, corporate social responsibility projects and leadership training.

Jenny Quinton with beloved dog Belle

“Presently over 7,000 people of all ages engage in Ark Eden projects each year and we are most certainly growing,” Jenny says. While adult programmes are readily available, educating children is Ark Eden’s main focus. During the school year, environmental workshops and eco-tours are offered for both local and international school students. And in the summer, it runs ecoadventure camps that are geared towards reconnecting children with the wild. Activities include hiking, swimming, climbing up river gorges and learning about the animals and plants on Lantau. Next year, Jenny plans to launch a series of large-scale, eco-service permaculture camps in order to educate thousands more children.

The Ark Eden Blueprint Plan for Lantau

Adult students building a fish pond

Ark Eden celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and there’s a lot going on but not enough to satisfy Jenny. “I get frustrated that Ark Eden is doing too slowly what it was set up to do – save Lantau,” she says. “The problem sort of went away for a bit but now it is back due to the monster Lantau Development Plan. We have a long bridge and a proposed third airport runway to supposedly justify developing beautiful Lantau. But it makes no sense. Hong Kong is one of the world’s 35 biodiversity hotspots, and Lantau is one of our last remaining places of wild beauty and important ecology. The plans for Lantau literally keep me awake at night.” In permaculture the problem is seen as the solution, and with this in mind, Jenny says: “A coordinated alternative plan, that can also address the government’s intentions, is really needed to protect the island. We need more time! And we need the involvement of green groups, experts and the community – people who have a long-term vision beyond the realms of concrete and money. I know rewriting parts of the Ark Eden Blueprint for Lantau could be helpful for this plan. Let’s have more outdoor, low-impact, environmental education workshops for the thousands of students and adults presently entombed in Hong Kong. “I think if we all share one important project in our lives then that is to raise capable people,” Jenny adds. “We have an opportunity to nurture our future generations, and act as an example to the rest of the world. We should do it.” 30 LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

Sustainable horticulture workshops for families

FIND IT • Ark Eden, www.arkedenonlantau.com • Green Lantau Association, www.greenlantau.org • Lantau Buffalo Association, https://lantaubuffalo.wordpress.com • Living Islands Movement, www.livingislands.org.hk

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Tel: 852 2636 8388 hongkong@crownrelo.com

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22/2/2016 4:01:46 PM

HEALTH

Photos courtesy of www.wikihow.com

UNDER PRESSURE

Stress is now so commonplace that for many of us it has become a way of life. But when stress becomes overwhelming, it can damage your health, mood, relationships and quality of life. Lorraine Cook presents some quick fixes and life-altering solutions

very week I think, well, things should be a bit less stressed this week, but then somehow, the days are once again filled with activities, meetings, tasks, appointments and demands. I don’t seem to be able to make any changes because everything just has to be fitted in. I don’t know how to feel and function better. Help! ‘Crazy busy!’ is the reply we most often seem to give these days when someone asks us how we’re doing. Fortunately, this is not always a complaint as quite often, the busyness is filled with all sorts of good things – but there’s just too many of them and it’s all too much. The result is a chronic feeling of being stressed – feeling anxious about being able to get everything done, and mentally exhausted as we try to cram everything in.

Effects of stress overload It probably doesn’t feel like it, but your body’s reaction to stress was actually meant to be adaptive. For example, when our ancestors saw a bear about to attack, their bodies would move to a state where they were best able to handle the situation. Heart rate increased, digestion slowed, senses were heightened and more blood was pumped to the muscles and less to the organs, enabling them to fight or flee the bear. These same responses exist today if we are suddenly faced with a moment where an immediate reaction is required, like grabbing a child out of the path of an oncoming vehicle, perhaps. Most importantly, once these sorts of situations have been handled, APRIL/ MAY 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 33

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HEALTH our systems are meant to go back to normal. In short, our bodies are only designed to be in this heightened state for a relatively brief period of time before returning to calm. Nowadays, however, our stressors are not so manageable – basically, our lives are full of ‘bears’. We worry relentlessly about our health, our finances, our jobs and our families, so our bodies are constantly in this heightened fight-or-flight state. Within a short time this results in troubling complaints, like sleep issues, stomach upsets, headaches and muscle tension. Ultimately, long-term health issues can develop, adding new stressors to the situation. Things just don’t get better, unless you make some changes.

Quick fixes Meditation, even for a short period of time, can calm your mind and by extension your stressed-out system. Meditation is an approach to training the mind, comparable to the way fitness is an approach to training the body. Simply put, you train your mind to give you some peace and quiet. One of the easiest ways to begin meditating is by focusing on your breathing or repeating a single word or mantra. You then refocus your awareness each time you notice your mind wandering. Rather than pursuing random thoughts and worries, you simply let them go. Through this process, you find yourself better able to cope, having freed yourself of worries if even for a short time.

time in your schedule for exercise, that difference between priority and practice should be addressed. Like most things that are worth doing, making some of these changes won’t be easy, especially if you have to cut back on activities you really enjoy, at least for a while. But finding that you can now cope with your schedule (and even enjoy it), without feeling stressed all the time, will make you glad you did. Lorraine Cook (M.A. Psych) is a counselling psychologist at The Development Practice in DB North Plaza. If you feel you need help to work through what is causing your stress, or find out what you can do to make things better, email Lorraine at growingupgreat@gmail.com, or visit www.childfamilydevelopmenthk.com.

No. 1 stress-relief technique To immediately interrupt your body’s stress response, try ‘4-7-8 breathing’. Unlike normal, unconscious breathing, this technique has you breathing in for a count of 4, holding for a count of 7, and slowly releasing your breath to a count of 8. Taking a few minutes to practise 4-7-8 breathing will immediately change how you are feeling, and you can do it anytime anywhere.

Exercise of any sort helps to relax your mind and release tension. Yoga is especially effective, as it combines beneficial breathing techniques with poses that release tension and create calm. Attending a regular class ensures you have this prioritised in your life, but just having a few favourite poses to do throughout the day is going to help. Eating healthily and sleeping on a regular schedule ensures that you are less vulnerable to anxiety. You may have to resort to drastic measures to make this happen – like quitting Facebook and turning off all electronic devices a few hours before you plan to sleep. Give yourself time to unwind before bed, so you can get the rest you need.

Life strategies While the above are going to be effective solutions in the short term, if your life is a cycle of coping and hoping (that it’s going to get better) then it’s time to make some changes. Sadly, when life is at its most stressful, this is the last thing that most of us feel able to do – there just isn’t time to stop and really think. In the busyness, it can be difficult to figure out which areas of your life aren’t working, and what you can do to change that. The aim is to make different choices, so that life doesn’t feel so out of control all the time. As a first step, sit yourself down and look at your schedule to see if it reflects your priorities and values. For example, if being healthy is important to you, but you’ve allowed no 34 LIFE ON LANTAU

APRIL/ MAY 2016

Through meditation, you can train your mind to give you some peace and quiet

LADA UPDATE

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN EXPANDING LANTAU’S HORIZONS Contributed by Lantau Development Alliance

www.lantau-da.com.hk

n mid-January, the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) submitted a work report to the government, putting forward proposals on how best to balance environmental conservation and economic development on Lantau, while meeting Hong Kong’s sustainable development needs. A threemonth public engagement exercise has since been launched to collect views from members of the public. Representatives of the Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) have also joined the exercise to contribute ideas. To facilitate public engagement and to encourage residents to put forth their views by the end of this month, the government is holding a series of exhibitions and presentations in different districts. Three public forums, held in February and March, saw all sides of the debate represented. While some residents were looking forward to Lantau’s development, other attendees conveyed their concerns about the environment and increase in traffic. Many different expectations were expressed. Government officials attending the forum emphasised that Lantau’s development is linked to the long-term economic and social development of Hong Kong. They made it clear that the government has no pre-established position, and that further study will be conducted based on opinions collected. Members of the public are being encouraged to submit their opinions through public consultation activities, so that a blueprint can be drawn up. Government representatives also acknowledged the importance of additional transport facilities to the development of Lantau, and revealed that the government will conduct a study on traffic policies for the island.