Life on Lantau February/ March 2016

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

DISTRICT COUNCIL COMMUNIQUÉ

RANDY YU HO KWAN GETS POLITICAL

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

RINGING IN THE YEAR OF THE RED FIRE MONKEY

CALL OF THE WILD

HOW HIKING CAN FREE YOUR MIND

W Int in tic o the th ket plu Lon e Wo s to s T gin od see din he B es M s an ing eac ast d vou h H ers, ch ous ers e

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Check out our website for enrolment information

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FEB/ MAR 2016 FEATURES 16 DISPATCH Notes from wild Lantau, Hong Kong’s last frontier

26 PERSONA Meet Islands District

16

Councillor (South Lantau) Randy Yu Ho Kwan

30

SPOTLIGHT Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition – encouraging creative writing 35 HEALTH Why there’s no stigma in seeking psychological help

REGULARS 39

15 GIVEAWAYS Win fabulous prizes 29 LADA UPDATE News from Lantau Development Alliance

38 ASK THE EXPERT Sabrina Dumont on organising the TransLantau

39 SUCCESS STORY Zachary Williams of Body Awakening talks business

40 44

26

LANTAU FACES Community snaps INSIDER Chinese New Year customs

AGENDA 04 HOT OFF THE PRESS Up-to-theminute island news

06 LANTAU FOCUS What’s happening in the community

21 PULL-OUT GUIDE Kids’ activities: everything you need to know

41 CLASSIFIEDS Great deals,

employment, businesses and more

42 LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau

30

38

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

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DISTRICT COUNCIL COMMUNIQUÉ

RANDY YU HO KWAN GETS POLITICAL

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

RINGING IN THE YEAR OF THE RED FIRE MONKEY

CALL OF THE WILD

HOW HIKING CAN FREE YOUR MIND

Wi Int n tic the o th kets plu Long e Wo to s Th ine od see din e Be s Ma s an ing ac ste d vouc h Ho rs, he use rs

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

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LANTAU NEWS

By Tom Squires

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk ADVERTISING & SALES MANAGER Lissa Morris lissa@baymedia.com.hk

SOUTH LANTAU ROADS TO OPEN UP

ART DIRECTION Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Leah Ahmad Jason Pagliari DIGITAL COORDINATOR Carlos Magno carlos@baymedia.com.hk ACCOUNTS & OFFICE MANAGER Monika Carruthers accountant@baymedia.com.hk CONTRIBUTORS Sam Agars Lorraine Cook Sabrina Dumont Allen Ha Elizabeth Kerr Martin Lerigo Sharon Lesley Le Roux Zachary Williams Samantha Wong 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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Photo by Terry Chow

As of December last year, the number of tour coaches allowed on South Lantau roads rose from 30 to 40, and this month, 25 additional private cars will be permitted to enter on weekdays for leisure and recreational purposes. The move, which is the first phase of an overall plan to allow a total of 50 extra coaches and 50 private cars, is intended to promote tourism and the local economy, although it has not gone down well with the community.

In his Lantau Confidential blog, Robert Clark points out exactly why such a small allowance of vehicles is being treated as such a big deal. “While the extra tourist buses and cars will have a small numerical impact on the current 2,500 or so vehicles on the road daily, the real effect is symbolic: it is no longer a closed road. The Transport Department statement makes it clear this is merely the start. When it promises to review the timetable for the ‘second phase’ we can be sure that further phases will follow.”

Concerned residents held a public forum on December 19, organised by Save Lantau Alliance and supported by Lantau Buffalo Association, and followed up with a protest walk on December 20 from Pier 6 in Central to government headquarters in Admiralty.

Ho Loy, of Lantau Buffalo Association, is still hopeful the decision may be overturned.

“We feel quite abused as there was no public consultation,” she says. “We feel that at least the government should study a bit more and facilitate the area to make sure the relaxations do not damage the area.”

The main concerns for locals are the lack of parking, and the dangers congested roads cause for drivers, pedestrians and South Lantau’s resident buffalo and cattle.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

ALL HAIL NEW TAXIS

TURTLE DEAD IN FISHING NET In early January, Southeast A s i a d i re c t o r f o r S e a Shepherd, Discovery Bay resident Gary Stokes was called out to recover a dead green turtle, entangled in a fishing net near Pui O.

Photo by Terry Chow

On a positive note for South Lantau residents, 25 new taxis are expected to commence operation in the second quarter of 2016.

This is the first time since the opening of the new airport that the number of Lantau taxi licences has increased.

The Transport Department reveals on its website that, “Survey results and public feedback have shown that there is unmet demand in the current Lantau taxi service. Future developments on Lantau Island and the projected growth of the local population and visitors will further add to the demand for such service.”

Photo courtesy of Sea Shepherd Of the five species of sea turtle found in Hong Kong, only the green turtle breeds in local waters. “It was a big deal, and very sad,” Gary says. “The net was wrapped around the turtle’s neck, mouth and flippers and the cause of death was clear.”

“It’s important to raise awareness about the danger of these horrible fishing nets that not only catch and kill all living species in the water but also represent a danger to divers,” Gary adds.

“These nets are very cheap and fishermen leave them everywhere in the water.”

Gary suggests the best way to avoid similar incidents in the future would be for the government to outlaw the cheap, basically disposable mono-filament nets that are left so carelessly in Lantau waters.

LANDAC REPORT BAFFLES RESIDENTS The Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC), the government’s Lantau advisory committee, has thrown its support behind large-scale land reclamation on Lantau in its recently released first-term work report. The report, which has been the cause of much discussion amongst Lantau residents, endorses the East Lantau Metropolis (ELM).

The ELM, which is slated for development after 2030, would involve reclaiming land around Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau islands. Packed with commercial and residential high-rises, it would cater to up to 700,000 people and feature on an MTR line linking Lantau’s north coast with Mui Wo and Central. It is likely the MTR line would have to pass through the North Lantau Country Park. Conservation plans are only mentioned in passing in the report, and no mention is made about protecting Lantau’s threatened wetlands, its buffalo and cattle herds, or the shrinking Chinese White Dolphin population.

Lawmaker Albert Chan is a fierce critic of the proposals, and he made his thoughts heard during CY Leung’s 2016 Policy Address on January 13, at which the LanDAC report was presented. “I am a Lantau resident. Do you know what Lantau is? You are shameless. Don’t you dare touch Lantau.”

The 33-page report proposes splitting Lantau into the following four major development areas. Northern Lantau: near Tung Chung and the airport, focusing on economic and housing development. Western Lantau: around Sunny Bay, expanding Hong Kong Disneyland and creating extra leisure facilities, such as indoor surfing and skydiving. South Lantau: developing tourism oppurtinities, particularly in Mui Wo, Tai O and the Tung Chung River Valley. East Lantau: creating the ELM by reclaiming land.

Photo by Typhoonchaser, courtesy of https://commons.wikimedia.org

Turn to page 29 for the founding chairman of Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) Allen Ha’s thoughts on the LanDAC report – and to learn about the on-going public consultation campaign.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 5

LANTAU FOCUS

www.actionasiaevents.com

MSIG DOUBLE TRAIL RUN AND HIKE The MSIG Double saw two punishing trail running events over two days – the 5-kilometre MSIG Lantau VK on December 5, 2015, and the 16-, 27and 54-kilometre MSIG Lantau 50 on December 6, 2015. There was an impressive turn out by local runners, with South Lantau resident Zein Williams placing first in the 27-kilometre category. For full race results, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

6 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS LANTAU Find more photos of community events @ www.lifeonlantau.com

LARRY FEIGN BOOK SIGNING Mui Wo cartoonist and author Larry Feign held a book signing at The Book Shop in Mui Wo on December 12, 2015 to celebrate the publication of his latest s a t i r i c a l w o r k . A I E E YA A A !

Learn Chinese the Hard Way is a satirical dictionary which p o ke s f u n a t l i fe , love a n d culture clash in Hong Kong and China. It features cartoons and actual definitions in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, plus an introduction on how not to learn Chinese. Find out more at www.larryfeign.com/aieeyaaa.

PICNIC IN THE PARK

After months of hard work from the organisers and uncertainty for the community, the much-anticipated Picnic in the Park lit up two stages once again on January 30.

Festivalgoers from all over Lantau flocked to DB’s Siena Park to enjoy 11 hours of live music and festival fun.

Photo by Leah Ahmad

Photo by Leticia Lemos

JAZZ FAMILY FEST Jockey Club Sarah Roe School’s annual fundraiser at Grappa’s Cellar in Central saw over 40 musicians take to the stage January 22 and 23 for two nights of top entertainment. While the event was held to raise money for special needs children at the school, part of the proceeds went to local charities The Nesbitt Centre, The Rock Foundation and YES.

Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jazz Family Fest

YHKCC SPORTS SUCCESS YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) sports teams are to be congratulated on some significant rugby, football and basketball wins. At the 2015-16 HKSSF Inter-School Rugby Sevens Championships at King’s Park on December 5, 2015, the A/B Girls won the preliminary round of the All Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Competition; the A Boys came second in the Inter-School Rugby Championships (NT Region). On December 20, 2015, the school’s A grade football team took out the InterSchool HKSSF Football Competition (Tsuen Wan and Islands District) for the second year in a row. Most recently, YHKCC’s basketball teams won four trophies in the Islands District 3-on3 Basketball Competition on January 10.

Photos courtesy of YHKCC

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 7

LANTAU FOCUS

YHKCC INTERNATIONAL FUN FAIR The YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) International Fun Fair, on December 12, 2015, again combined the traditional school fair with a spectacular International Night. Some 4,000 visitors to the Tung Chung campus enjoyed fabulous ethnic food, a bazaar, game booths and a bouncy castle, plus a talent show.

LIS CHRISTMAS FAIR A good time was had by all at the Lantau International School (LIS) Christmas Fair on December 5, 2015. There were plenty of activities on offer and stalls to shop.

Photos by Leah Ahmad

Photos by Leah Ahmad

DANCING FOR JOY Students from Dance for Joy in Tung Chung opened SkyCity Marriott Hotel’s Christmas Tree Lighting event on December 1, 2015, with some special seasonal dance numbers. The Dance for Joy team also celebrated its annual Christmas Party on December 13, 2015 at the Caribbean Coast clubhouse. Guests enjoyed the children’s performances, which were drawn from various dance genres, including Jazz, Cheer Squad, Funky and Hip-Hop. Visit www.danceforjoyhk.com.

8 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

www.danceforjoyhk.com

ADVERTORIAL

WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY WITH A

SKYCITY MARRIOTT FEAST One of the hotel’s most celebrated take-home gourmet delights is its coconut pudding, retailing at HK$168 per box. A work of art, symbolising double happiness and good fortune, it features a pair of Chinese Carps, made of coconut pudding, sitting on a delicious glutinous rice pudding base.

Photos courtesy of Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

C

hinese New Year is the most cherished festival of the Chinese calendar and sharing the flavours of the holiday with family and friends at Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott is a truly magical experience. This February, the luxury five-star hotel invites guests to celebrate the festivities with a wide range of dining treats and takeaway gourmet gifts.

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant at the SkyCity Marriott is the perfect place to celebrate the New Year in style. This month, Chinese Executive Chef Ricky Wu is offering a series of classic, lucky menus to bring good fortune and prosperity in the 2016.

Specialties include fried glutinous rice with assorted preserved meat; pan-fried pork with lotus root and conpoy; and deep-fried shrimp puffs stuffed with goose liver. The most anticipated festive dish, Loh Hei Chinese Salmon Salad, returns as the centrepiece of a menu designed to herald a prosperous Year of The Monkey.

A wide range of other à la carte New Year specialty dishes are available from February 8 to 17, while 10-course set menus (HK$498 per person, minimum six people) and six-course set lunches (HK$268, minimum two people) are available until February 22.

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant opens for lunch from 12pm to 3pm from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 3pm Sundays and public holidays, and dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm daily.

Gift vouchers are available. To make a reservation, call 3969 2888; for more information, visit www.skycitymarriottmanho.com.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 9

LANTAU FOCUS

MEET UP, RUN AND LEARN

Photo courtesy of Action X

A group of runners brought together by Action X sportstore, in DB North Plaza, tackled the Tiger’s Head-DB Trail on January 16. The run was followed by talks from top local trail runners Scott Callaghan, Katia Kucher and Matt Moroz.

RESIDENT’S CHOICE AWARDS’ WINNER The Lantau community judged Discovery Bay’s 22° North the best restaurant in Lantau in the Around DB and Life on Lantau Resident’s Choice Awards 2015. The Beach House on Cheung Sha Beach came in second, DB’s Solera third, and Pui O’s Maverick’s fourth in what was the most successful competition yet – a big thank you to the 1,200 readers who voted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages, from December 2 to 4, 2015.

Photos by Life on Lantau

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25/03/2013 4:13 PM

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Free Delivery for order over $100

LANTAU FOCUS

ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY

YOUNG WRITER’S COMPETITION 2016

Through

March 14

Now in its fourth year, the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition (YWC) provides secondary school students living and/ or studying in Lantau with the chance to get published. This year, we are asking students to write a nonfiction account of 600 to 700 words highlighting a particular community concern. The deadline is March 14. To enter, check the YWC guidelines at www.arounddb.com.

Find more information and events @ www.lifeonlantau.com

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! Wishing all our loyal readers and advertisers a very happy and prosperous Year of the Monkey! To gen up on Chinese New Year customs, turn to page 44.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP Carol Keen is looking into forming a support group to allow Lantau residents with Parkinson’s disease to get together once a month. You can contact her at carol@the-keens.com. Carols’ Parkinson’s Quiz Night, held annually in DB in December, has raised a cool HK$300,000 for research charity Parkinson’s UK over the past four years.

y Februar

8

VALENTINE’S RACE Start: Nam Shan Picnic Area

Photo by Jason Pagliari

LAST STAND AGAINST SHEK KWU CHAU INCINERATOR Residents were stunned last November when the Court of Final Appeal gave the green light to the construction of a 3,000-tonne-a-day waste incinerator, just off the Lantau coast at Shek Kwu Chau. However, the fight to save our shores continues. Living Islands Movement (LIM) is looking into mounting a new Judicial Review, since the decision to grant the Environmental Permit for the incinerator was based on incorrect information, as uncovered by the Audit Commission. To get involved, visit www.livingislands.org.hk. To read more about the situation, visit http://goo.gl/Yah0ue.

12 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

Runners of all abilities can sign up for the Ultimate Direction Valentine’s Race, organised by Lantau Base Camp. Starting at 9.30am, it covers 13 kilometres and some tough, hilly terrain. To register before February 7 (HK$360 per team of two), visit www.lantaubasecamp.com.

y Februar

13

www.lantaubasecamp.com

LANTAU FOCUS

TO JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP or dive against

debris, in and around Lantau, visit https://m.facebook.com/ecomarine.hk.

Tung Chung

y Februar

27

www.lantaubuffalos.org

In the 4 x Tiger’s Head Challenge, organised by the Lantau Buffalos, athletes run up and over Tiger’s Head four times, covering all the different routes. This is a social event in which runners are required to be totally self-sufficient. To get involved and to register, visit www.lantaubuffalos.org.

SAVING THE WETLANDS A Judicial Review against dumping construction waste on the Pui O wetlands reached its Photo by Jason Pagliari preliminary hearing at the High Court on January 20. Justice Au, presiding, ruled that the application should proceed to a full hearing later this year. The case seeks to challenge the government’s position, that the Director of Environmental Protection has no discretion in granting permission for the dumping of construction waste on private land. Read more about this issue in the April/May edition of Life on Lantau . To get involved, contact Living Islands Movement (LIM) at www.livingislands.org.hk.

DASH FOR A BEER Start: Tong Fuk

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

KIMOS AND RESTO

TIGER’S HEAD CHALLENGE Start: Action X, DB North Plaza

TO ADOPT A PET through Protection

March 19

Registration opens on Feb ru a r y 1 fo r the eighth Lantau International Beer Dash on March 19.

Life on Lantau is a p ro u d s p o n s o r o f this hugely popular 5-kilometre fun Photo by Terry Chow run which sees participants dress up and drink a different international beer at every checkpoint. Entry costs HK$380 for an individual and HK$1,480 for a team of four. Limited spaces are available, so head to www.active.com to enrol.

D! HOT FIN

Under the same management at 8 Tung Chung Waterfront Road, Kimos specialises in Indian and Turkish cuisine, Resto in Italian. The pasta, pizza and ribs at Resto are hard to beat, as are Kimos’ curries and kebabs. Enjoy Photo by Life on Lantau free local delivery for orders over HK$100. Call Resto on 2886 3156, or visit www.resto.com.hk.

For Kimos call 2886 3646, or visit www.kimos.com.hk.

TRANSLANTAU Start: Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo

to March 11

13

The TransLantau is now in its fifth year, with 90% of the course on the Lantau trails and covering two Photo courtesy of country parks. Solo or in teams Sabrina Dumont of two, participants take on either the Ultra 100km (5,800m+ elevation), or the sister races of 50km (2,700m+ elevation) and 25km (900m+ elevation). Registration closed after just two hours this year but you can show your support at the start or finish on Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo. To find out more, turn to page 38.

IRISH DANCE PREMIERSHIPS Auberge Discovery Bay A good turnout of Lantau dancers ( a g e d t h re e a n d u p ) f ro m t h e O’Connor Barton Irish Dance School TE is expected at the fourth Hong E DA H T Kong International Irish Dance E SAV Premierships on April 2, at Auberge Discovery Bay. There’ll be attendees from Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Doha, Israel, potentially the UK and of course, Hong Kong. O’Connor Barton Irish Dance School holds classes at Pause Studio, Mui Wo, and at BMSE Community Centre, DB North Plaza. To find out more, visit www.oconnor-bartonid.com.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 13

WIN TICKETS TO THE LONGINES MASTERS OF HONG KONG

GIVEAWAYS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

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 YOUR PRIZE: AsiaWorld-Expo is offering questions right here). You have until the one reader, four prestige tickets (valued 10th of the month to submit your answers. at HK$720 per ticket) to see the Longines To enter, email info@baymedia.com.hk, click on the competitions link at Masters of Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Expo www.arounddb.com, or scan the Hall 8 on February 20 at 6pm.

QR Code below. Don’t forget to give us your name and FIND THE ANSWER: From February 19 to 21, telephone number!

25 of the world’s best riders and their horses are set to light up AsiaWorld-Expo, competing in events such as the Longines Speed Challenge and the Longines Grand Prix. For more information and tickets (starting from HK$250), head to www.longinesmasters.com.

Name three fairy tales featured in Into the Woods .

Photo courtesy of Face Productions

WIN TICKETS TO SEE INTO THE WOODS YOUR PRIZE: Face Productions is offering two readers, four tickets (valued at HK$395 per ticket) to see Into the Woods at Hong Kong City Hall on February 7 at 7.30pm. Readers should note there is an early deadline – February 4 – for competition entries.

FIND THE ANSWER: Into the Woods, showing from February 4 to 7, intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales, including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood. Offering laugh’s aplenty, the show sees the Baker and his wife cross paths with a host of familiar childhood characters as they try to break the Witch’s spell. For tickets (starting from HK$295), head to www.urbtix.hk.

How many riders are competing in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong?

Photo courtesy of AsiaWorld-Expo

WIN THE BEACH HOUSE DINING VOUCHERS! YOUR PRIZE: The Beach House is giving one reader a HK$600 dining voucher and two readers, HK$300 dining vouchers.

FIND THE ANSWER: Straddling Lower Cheung Sha Beach, The Beach House offers the most relaxing of dining experiences. South Lantau’s go-to beachside dining destination, its menu makes use of the freshest local and organic produce, with an emphasis on sustainability. The Beach House is open from Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 9pm and on Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 9pm. You can make a booking by calling 2504 4788 or emailing reservations@ thebeachhousehk.com.

Where is The Beach House situated?

Photo courtesy of The Beach House

Congratulations to last issue’s winners Will Martindale and Gary Brown for tickets to see Cirque Adrenaline , Bernadette Paje and Connie Cottam for tickets to see Treasure Island and Bhakti Pradhan for the Christmas Craft Workshop.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 15

DISPATCH

INTO THE

WILD

Hiking reveals Lantau’s beating heart in all its barefaced beauty.

It also affords the enthusiast with the space and freedom to overcome physical and mental challenges and experience true camaraderie.

Martin Lerigo reports

M Photos by Jason Pagliari

any of you who read my Hit the Trails column in Life on Lantau have asked me what, in my view, is the big draw of hiking. It’s many things really but perhaps my starting point is the peace and quiet it affords, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Don’t get me wrong, the sheer dynamism and exuberance of Hong Kong were a major part of tempting me to live here. I remember first seeing Hong Kong in the James Bond film, Man with the Golden Gun – the amazing skyline, neon signs, bars and shops bursting with life looked totally exotic to a young kid back in southern England during the 1970s. I couldn’t wait to visit and sample the fragrant harbour, with its East meets West fusion of culture, cuisine and cosmopolitan sophistication. But what I found equally entrancing on arrival was another side of the then colony all together – its great natural beauty.

16 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

The other side of life By 1998, I found myself working here and throwing myself, headfirst, into all the experiences Hong Kong had to offer. I quickly grew to love the outdoor life – particularly the country parks and walking trails, so intelligently established by some of our forebears.

How I long to shake their hand for having the foresight to recognise that green spaces would come under so much pressure from the overbearing hand of development and commerce, an ever present and growing part of the Hong Kong story.

The countryside too features in the rich historical tapestry of Hong Kong’s success. While Hong Kong exploded into manufacturing in the 1960s, and its banking and insurance sectors burst into life shortly thereafter, the land has also played a major role in shaping its unique heart and soul. From the salt pans of Tai O to the farms

DISPATCH

On the trail to Sunset Peak from Nam Shan

established by Kadoorie, to the huge fleets of fishing boats at Aberdeen, Hong Kong owes much of its current commercial success to the land that helped sustain it in the past.

For me, this relationship is one that we neglect at our peril. The remaining green spaces are the lungs and nostrils that help us breathe, that let us get away from the razzmatazz of downtown, so that we enjoy it again when next we are there. Like Yin and Yang, both have their qualities and attractions, and they are best enjoyed in equilibrium. Take one away and Hong Kong loses its appeal.

Reasons to live curious We are most fortunate on Lantau to have easy access to some of the last hidden wildernesses of Hong Kong, the ones that to this day aren’t widely acknowledged or talked about. High mountains

and lush valleys, groves of banana trees nestled around deserted hamlets, sparkling mountain pools stretching out like the folds of a skirt – there are still places you can walk without sight nor sound of the dense conurbations just a few kilometres away.

From when I began hiking, I wanted to take on all the well-known Lantau trails but also wander off the beaten track and find the hidden pearls that lay hidden to all but the most inquisitive eyes. I hiked all over, soaking in the tall mountains, rolling glens, pristine beaches, waterfalls, brooks and glorious jungle canopies. To this day, I still find new things to draw my interest – hidden houses, old farmsteads, colourful doors and ornate railings left to the elements, boundary stones, relics from the Second World War and more besides.

I encourage all of you to ‘live curious’, as National Geographic FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 17

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DISPATCH

Unnamed country trail from Tong Fuk to Pak Kung Au

would say. Have a look along that path whose destination you always wondered about, seek out the view over that ridgeline you always thought about climbing up to, follow that stream to see if there are rock pools along its course.

A taste of freedom Hiking gives me time to reflect, as well as plan for things yet to come. Although I take my phone I seldom check emails or other messages, preferring instead to let the incoming alerts wait for my return to ‘reality’. For those few hours, when I am ‘with nature’, the pressures of modern life take a back seat and the more contemplative side of my mind can come to life.

Hiking provides you with the time and space to think about life’s journey and the steps ahead – successes, challenges, things you got right, things you won’t do again. There’s no need for an agenda, meeting notes, objectives, you can allow your mind to tick at its 18 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

own pace, moving from one thought to the next, without filters, channels or controls. Freewheeling, unfettered, unhindered, unblocked and free, this is when we can dream dreams, think the unthinkable, become champions of the world… just for a few hours, until we are ready to wend our way back into the world we left behind.

Academic studies have shown that we think more freely amongst nature – what we hear, smell, see and touch acts on the part of the brain that drives emotion and feeling. So not only is hiking ‘good’ for our bodies, it is also good for our brains. The increased blood flow and oxygen intake through our lungs also helps produce the endorphins that promote a sense of wellbeing and vitality. We may ache afterwards but whilst out on the trails, our bodies are strengthening and toning, just so long as we work within our limits.

Modern life is so physically comfortable that climbing a steep hill or descending a rocky gully is, for many of us, as arduous as it’s

DISPATCH

Nei Lak Shan Trail looking over to the airport and cable car

View towards Ham Tin and Pui O from the South Lantau Country Trail

ever going to get. Hiking, getting into the wild, provides us with the opportunity not only to appreciate nature but also to test our mettle against it. The human spirit is raised by meeting a challenge and overcoming hardship, even if they are of our own choosing.

A pleasure to share Hiking is also the most sociable of pastimes, being indifferent to age, gender, culture or social background. Hong Kong has seen an explosion of hiking groups over the last 30 years, taking in all ages and ability ranges. In fact, it is an amazing leveller, often bringing together people from totally disparate walks of life, who would not normally mix.

Walking in groups can be great fun. People feel just as comfortable whether talking or moving along quietly together; there are no awkward pauses, and continuous conversation isn’t expected.

Many people find they have conversations whilst hiking that they

Lantau Peak Trail

do not have when partaking in other social activities. Possibly the sense of joint purpose and endeavour brings out the camaraderie in us all.

Living in Lantau, we have so much natural beauty around us but who knows how long this will last. If we all give our best efforts to ensure it is looked after then hopefully future generations can enjoy what we are so lucky to have.

FIND IT • HKhiking.com, www.hkhiking.com • Hong Kong Hikers, www.hongkonghikers.org • Hong Kong Hiking Meetup, www.meetup.com • TrailWatch, www.trailwatch.hk FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 19

PULL-OUT GUIDE

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES

www.wikimedia.org

SPORT! DANCE! DRAMA! WELLNESS! EDUCATION!

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 21

MARILES DE GUZMAN, DB

9264 8597, dance4joyhk@gmail.com, www.danceforjoyhk.com Dance for Joy HK offers fun and engaging dance and fitness classes for adults and kids from 2.5 years and up. There is Kids POP, Hip-Hop, Cheer Squad and more! Dance parties for birthdays and other special events are also available.

www.deguzman305.zumba.com Mariles is a certified Yoga instructor who loves to teach Zumba classes. At her Zumba Fitness programme, every class feels like a party! You don’t even have to know how to dance. Just move your body and follow her lead.

DMR SCHOOL OF BALLET, DB

CANTERA SOCCER SCHOOL, TUNG CHUNG

2987 4338, info@dmr-hk.com, www.dmr-hk.com Children aged 3 and up and teenagers have the opportunity to learn to dance in a professional and enjoyable environment with DMR School of Ballet. The full schedule covers a wide variety of styles, from Ballet and Tap to Modern and Jazz.

54107688, office@lacanterasoccerschool.com, www.lacanterasoccerschool.com Cantera Soccer School aims to consistently create an enjoyable professional atmosphere where players can learn, develop and nurture their skill and talent.

SPORT

DANCE

DANCE FOR JOY HK, TUNG CHUNG

DANCE

PULL-OUT GUIDE

EDGE’N POINTE DANCE CENTRE, TUNG CHUNG

DB PIRATES, DB

6688 2167, admin@edgenpointe.com, www.edgenpointe.com Edge’n Pointe offers quality kids’ classes in Ballet (using the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum), Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Kindermusik.

2571 8248, admin2@dbpirates.com, www.dbpirates.com DB Pirates is Lantau’s largest not for profit sports club. It offers both boys and girls mini and youth rugby, as well as men’s and ladies’ senior rugby, youth and senior netball, mini and youth hockey, dragon boating and even boot camps.

EMBODY, DB

DISCOVERY AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB, DB

6624 8712, susan@email.com, www.embody.hk Embody is providing Zumba Hip-Hop classes for 6 to 11-year-olds every Tuesday at 5.20pm and Wednesday at 5pm. Kids enjoy the international music and lively dance moves.

discoveryasc@gmail.com, www.dbswimclub.com Discovery Amateur Swimming Club is a parent-run club, holding swim races for children aged 6 years and up. Each week, swimmers can compete in up to three races of different strokes.

Find more clubs and activities @ www.arounddb.com 22 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

PULL-OUT GUIDE

FUNFIT, DB

VIKINGS FOOTBALL CLUB, DB

6302 6327, info@funfit.hk Funfit is an active learning programme for kids aged 6 months to 3 years, which helps develop balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination and much more!

9533 2600, vikingshk@outlook.com, www.vikings.hk Run by an English Football Association qualified coach, Vikings FC provides professional soccer coaching for kids aged 18 months to 8 years.

SPORT

TREASURE ISLAND, SOUTH LANTAU 2546 3543, surf@treasureislandhk.com, www.treasureislandhk.com An adventure camp (for 8 to 15-year-olds) with outdoor sport activities, conducted at different locations on Lantau.

HARRY WRIGHT INTERNATIONAL, DB

SPORT

2575 6279, swimming@harrywright.com.hk, www.harrywright.com.hk Established in 1975, Harry Wright International is the premier swim school in Hong Kong and offers a successful programme of swimming lessons and training for children.

YD TAEKWONDO KOREA, TUNG CHUNG 2337 9992, inform1@ydtkdkorea.com, www.ydtkdkorea.com/wp YDTK aims to help students, aged 4 to adult, improve their self control and build confidence. Free trial lessons are offered for newcomers.

MGK WING CHUN & MMA KUNG FU, DB 9303 2996, www.marcguyon.hk MGK Wing Chun & MMA Kung Fu is a class specially designed to teach kids useful martial arts and self-defense techniques. It also helps them develop key skills such as coordination, balance and the ability to focus, as well as core values of Kung Fu, such as respect, teamwork, partner work, self-control and a healthy lifestyle.

THE HIT ROOM, DB 6621 7410, info@thehitroom.com.hk, www.thehitroom.com.hk Focusing on key motor skills such as coordination, strength and agility, The HIT Room kids’ programmes aim to make getting fit fun. Kids are taught the importance of making healthy choices and to take a disciplined approach to how they treat their bodies.

HK DRAGONS FOOTBALL CLUB, DB, TUNG CHUNG & MUI WO 2987 4274, office@dragons.hk, www.dragons.hk HK Dragons is Lantau’s premier football coaching company. It welcomes all players aged 3 to 21 for challenging, fun and interactive lessons.

ENTERTAINMENT

EPICLAND, DB 2441 0098, marketing@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com EpicLand – the city’s largest indoor playground – covers a full 14,000 square feet. Activities on offer include giant slides, an air-trek obstacle course, climbing walls, laser tag, trampolining, mini-golf, a ballistics area and a toddlers-only soft play zone.

RYZE ULTIMATE TRAMPOLINE PARK, QUARRY BAY 2337 8191, jump@ryze.info, www.ryzehongkong.com Spread over 7,000 square feet of indoor space, Ryze offers up a custom mix of trampolines and aerial sports attractions, including foam pits, slack lines and hanging bags. Fun for all ages, it also provides fitness classes and specialises in birthday parties, sleepovers and corporate events.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 23

EDUCATION

PULL-OUT GUIDE

SAKURA KIDS, TUNG CHUNG 6674 6194, sakura.kids.hk@gmail.com Sakura Kids offers Japanese lessons for kids with native Japanese teachers, who use flash cards, games, arts and crafts, storytelling, songs and dance. Trial lessons are available.

2547 9114, info@FaustWorld.com, www.faustworld.com During term time, Faust offers drama and theatrical education through weekly workshops. It also has week-long holiday programmes that develop selfconfidence and teamwork in a fun-filled learning environment, for ages 3 to 18.

EMBODY, DB

udition.

PERFORMERS STUDIO, DB 9225 6775, emma.performersstudio@yahoo.com The Performers Studio is offering brand-new Professional Performing Arts Courses for students aged 7 to 14 years in DB North Plaza. Students receive performancebased training from industry professionals, perform every term and take part in a full-scale production every year. Workshops are offered all over Hong Kong.

WELLNESS

DRAMA

FAUST INTERNATIONAL, DB

CODING SCHOOL, DB

MINDFULNESS MATTERS, DB & LANTAU

6274 6117, info@tmrwdigital.com, www.codingkidshk.com Kids learn the rules of coding, how the internet works, and how to make simple, beautiful websites! Classes are for kids aged 12 and up, and adults.

9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com The 8- to 10-week group mindfulness programme teaches kids, aged 8 to 15, skills to stop and calm down, to pay attention and concentrate more fully and to notice what’s going on in their minds and bodies.

PLAYTIME KIDS, DB

CHRIS COELHO PHOTOGRAPHY, TUNG CHUNG & DB

9054 0565, playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com, www.playtimekidsdb.com Playtime Kids is a well-established playgroup for children aged 6 months to 4 years. Run by a Montessori-trained teacher with lots of experience, Playtime Kids offers a supporting, stimulating and loving environment for little ones to learn in.

Classes are held in Cherish Court.

9258 0971, chriscoelhophotography@gmail.com, www.chriscoelhophotography.com Photographing expecting mothers, newborns, children and families, Chris treasures the opportunity to capture “moments of happiness – unforgettable instants that can be saved for a lifetime”.

THE STORY STUDIO, MUI WO, TUNG CHUNG & DB 6341 3989, thestorystudiohk@yahoo.com, www.thestorystudiohk.com The Story Studio specialises in writing workshops for creative kids who love writing stories. The workshops are also ideal for parents who would like their kids to improve their writing skills and explore their own, unique creativity.

24 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

EXTRAS

EDUCATION

6624 8712, susan@email.com, www.embody.hk Embody is providing Yoga classes for 3 to 11-year-olds every Tuesday and Friday, with a certified YogaKids instructor. The sessions develop discipline, increase focus and concentration, build balance and flexibility, promote calmness and ease stress.

IGGY ARTIST, TUNG CHUNG 6748 4378, iggyA@gmail.com, www.IggyArtist.com Iggy Artist arranges educational and fun art parties for up to 25 children at a very good price. Simply book the venue (anywhere in Hong Kong) and Iggy Artist provides all the paints, art materials and equipment needed. Iggy also offers oneon-one art lessons and group art lessons, as well as team events.

Small shipping needs?

We offer air and sea shipments all over the world for small volumes.

E: info@baggagexs.com C: (852) 3167 4000 W: www.baggagexs.com

PERSONA

PEOPLE’S

CHOICE

Photos by Terry Chow

Freshly elected Islands District Council Member (South Lantau), Randy Yu Hon Kwan is ready to tackle infrastructure, disharmony and a cynical constituency. Elizabeth Kerr reports

26 LIFE ON LANTAU

Islands District Council Member (South Lantau), Randy Yu Hon Kwan at the council office in Central FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

PERSONA

W

hatever you do, don’t call Randy Yu Hon Kwan a politician. The two-term appointee and first-time (landslide) electee to Islands District Council, Randy sees himself as a community worker rather than a type to press palms for a living. Sitting in the boardroom of the council office in Central – a purely serviceable space that is actually buzzy with the business of governing – Randy is disarming; he makes it difficult to be cynical. Approachable, unflappable, quick to let loose a boyish laugh, urbane and shockingly clear-eyed with regards to government, Randy is the type of realist who could restore even the most sceptical Hongkonger’s faith in legislators.

Not one to talk in sound bites, Randy, 53, is a fan of accessibility. “I hate doing 1 5 - m i n u te i n te r v i ew s .

Making a statement for questions is not how I would like to explain things. I’m not a politician,” he begins.

On sustainable development A surveyor by trade, Randy’s life took a turn toward public service with a Buddhist awakening of sorts following a trip to Tibet in 2003.

Deciding to “practise what I preach,” he went into development on a community and sustainability side, and left behind a cushy corner office job for the glamour of social responsibility. “I saw people living in poverty that were happy, and here I was, earning a lot of money and unhappy,” he recalls. “I didn’t know why. So I came back and decided to do something I like, not quantity surveying.”

His first position was with Sino Land figuring out how development could complement e n v i ro n m e n t a l p ro t e c t i o n and heritage conservation, something he argues more and more developers aim for.

For all the fears of developer irresponsibility, without them nothing would get done, like the Tai O Heritage Hotel, the PMQ and Central Police Station projects.

Born and raised in Tai O, Randy still refers to himself as a “Lantau boy,” even though he doesn’t live here full time. Despite the distance, Randy believes it’s one of the elements that helped him win the Islands District Council election in November – that, and eight years of job experience. “It’s not like working i n L o n d o n a n d re p re s e n t i n g Birmingham after 20 years,” he says.

“Lantau is a special constituency and it’s not just about where you live. Eight years ago I could have been challenged on that, but I was lucky enough to be appointed for those two terms and that really helped.”

The elephant in the room, of course, is the lingering p e rc e p t i o n a m o n g J o e Public that developers are really holding Hong Kong’s re i n s a n d g ove r n m e n t i s beholden to powerful land barons. Real estate interests are well represented in LegCo and the Lantau Development Advisory Committee. As a former Sino manager and current community relations general manager for Henderson Land (which has no land interests on Lantau), Randy is in a prime position to dodge questions about conflict of interest.

But he doesn’t. How does anyone inspire confidence in a suspicious public, facing record home prices?

In a way, Randy has never really left Lantau. He was a major player in the restoration of the Tai O Heritage Hotel and its sustainability plan, and he has a healthy appreciation for what makes Lantau unique, as well as what makes it frustrating. “I think I stand a better chance of striking a balance and bringing harmony to the place,” he says. “This was the right time to run.” And Randy is gracious in victory. Suggest that he hammered his opponents on election day (he won over half the votes) and he balks at such an antagonistic image.

“That’s a very big question. I can’t give you a perfect answer,” he starts. Randy doesn’t blame the public for its distrust and is well aware of documented conflict of interest and the corruption that gave rise to it. Development must and will happen anyway, it’s a matter of doing it right. “People attack big corporates because they have connections. It’s the reason they’re big. They know the way to get things done and they react quickly. On the other side of the coin, if they really put their minds to it they get results… The good is that developers tend to make things happen rather than waiting FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 27

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PERSONA

on government. The bad is that the public sees them as trying to get another $10 per square foot.”

Election campaign promises Allaying those fears will be part of Randy’s job as council member, but his constituency – Mui Wo, South Lantau, Tai O and rural Tung Chung – has bigger fish to fry. Of his election platform focusing on social welfare, community facilities, sustainable development, heritage conservation and amity among Lantau’s diverse communities he notes: “Four years is not a very long time, and obviously I’ll try to achieve it all. But reality has taught me I might not be able to. Which is a good excuse for another term,” he adds with a guffaw. In the immediate future, Randy is looking to address communications (fibre-optic infrastructure) and dental services for the elderly.

Another contentious issue on Randy’s agenda is widening the South Lantau Road in order to bring it up to modern standards – not to accommodate more cars. “I’m not saying don’t do it, but do it alongside the Highways Department and local stakeholders,” he says. “I’ve got people accusing me of advocating a four-lane highway. No. I don’t want another Festival Walk in Cheung Sha.” The South Lantau Road was originally a construction road, and

as well as having an inadequate road base, it is 6.8 metres wide compared to a now standard 7.3. The road as it is can’t hold doubledecker buses (an easy way to reduce traffic) and it is unsafe.

When he’s not advocating for better roads, Randy can be found with his nine-year-old son, three-year-old twins and fashion designer wife. “When I’m not working I spend all my time with them. I can honestly say Sunday is my hardest working day.” He makes a crack about just needing a nice cup of tea by 9pm, but it’s obvious he loves it – and that his family keeps him grounded.

Randy’s combination of realism and idealism will serve him and Lantau residents well for the next four years. Perhaps one day, he could throw his hat in the ring to be Hong Kong’s first elected Chief Executive. Is he interested? Randy laughs again – heartily – and then finally says, “That sounds like something between a fairy tale and a nightmare.” Or community service.

You can contact Randy Yu Hon Kwan at idcyhk@yahoo.com.hk.

LADA UPDATE

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W

We have an expert team providing professional services and the best prices in town

www.lantau-da.com.hk

ith a New Year comes a fresh start and, as the founding chairman of Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA), it is my pleasure to wish island residents a prosperous 2016.

Contact Mr Sultan Mehmood 2623 0499 or 6341 0346

The New Year marks the start of a new chapter in Lantau’s development. In mid-January, the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) submitted its first-term work report to the government, proposing the development of an economic and housing corridor in North Lantau. The report states that the predominant part of Lantau would be conserved, with leisure and tourism facilities added at various key locations. A public consultation campaign is currently on-going, and everyone is welcome to voice their view of the report.

Since the establishment of Tung Chung New Town in the late 90s, residents and commercial and district-representative bodies have been urging for more employment opportunities, improved community facilities and enhanced connectivity both within Lantau and with downtown Hong Kong. The Lantau development proposals aim at balancing and addressing these requests. The plan is to transform Lantau into a more desirable location for living and employment, while addressing the social and economic needs of Hong Kong at large.

FOOTBALL CAMPS:

While the development proposals are being considered, efforts are on-going to improve living standards for the community. One example is the S64X bus route, which runs between Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung and the north end of Chek Lap Kok every morning.

With the addition of a stop at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), this direct bus service, launched on January 1, reduces the commute for residents working at commercial facilities in and around Hong Kong International Airport. Before the S64X, it took almost an hour to get to AWE from Yat Tung Estate, now the trip takes around 20 minutes.

TERM 2 FOOTBALL 4TH JAN - 24th March

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Ages U6+ 9 am -12 noon.

TERM 3 FOOTBALL 11th April - 24th June 2016

EASTER CAMP DB- NORTH PLAZA. th st Week 1: 28 March -1 April. th th Week 2: 4 April – 8 April.

Ages U4 & U5 - 9 am -10 am.

Ages U6+ 9 am -12 noon.

Little Dragons U4+ Morning Classes in DB & TC 9 – 10am

TC – YMCA Christian College. th st Week 1: 29 March to 1 April.

Ages U4 & U5 - 10 am-11 am Ages U6+ 10am to 1pm

After a three-month trial, the Transport Department will consider whether the frequency of this service (or the number of stops) should be further increased.

MUI WO Football Pitch th th Week 2: 4 April – 8 April.

Ages U4 & U5 - 10 am-11 am Ages U6+ 10am to 1pm

The extended S64X bus service is only one of many enhancements planned for 2016. In the coming year, residents, employers and the government will be called upon to prepare Lantau for the transformation ahead.

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FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 29

SPOTLIGHT

ON WRITING

By Martin Lerigo

In the lead up to the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition, Sharon Lesley Le Roux discusses the importance of encouraging children to write creatively

Photos by Kim Bracken

A

lmost from the moment we utter our first words, we begin telling stories. As social creatures, we have an inherent need to cast our experiences as narrative in order to connect with one another. From the Prehistoric Age, when our ancestors ground stone into powder, mixed it with animal fat and painted images on cave walls to chronicle their lives, to today’s Information Age, when we tweet, blog, post and line our experiences as they happen, we are constantly sharing ourselves, adding to the collective knowledge of who we are.

As soon as our children are old enough to write, we can encourage them to write their stories.

30 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

An act of self-exploration The act of creative writing is, first and foremost, an act of selfexploration; we only ever write who we are. When creating a character, children turn to their own feelings, beliefs and values – and examine them. They begin to think about a protagonist’s needs, wants, troubles and secrets, and are compelled to consider what it means to be an individual, be it a child or parent, friend or enemy, member of a community, or outcast. Stories with a cast of characters require their authors to be observers of the world, seeing it from different viewpoints, considering what it means to walk in the shoes of others. In doing so, creative writing

SPOTLIGHT We can argue that story writing is an equally important ‘act of resistance’. Writing a story allows our children time to disengage and slow down. It offers the quiet space necessary to recognise and explore feelings and thoughts that might otherwise remain hidden. Even when what is written isn’t shared – in the privacy of a journal, for example – our children get to express themselves in their own, one-to-one space.

As children, we are happy, enthusiastic and curious. Author Christopher Moore says: “Children see magic because they look for it.” As we grow, however, we are socialised into the busy ways of the modern world, becoming serious, analytical, unimaginative and, at times, stressed. Psychotherapists Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey believe, for good mental health, we need to balance analytical and creative thought. They believe a direct correlation exists between the decline in our mental health and our propensity to use analytical thinking more as we grow older, and our creative thinking less.

Writing a story is an act of creation, one of the things we do best.

We’ve evolved further than other species because of our ability to envision that which is not – and create it. We don’t measure progress in terms of the achievements we see, hear, smell, taste and feel around us – an award-winning skyscraper, a top chef’s signature dish – without admiring the creativity of the individuals who bring those things into existence. Creativity is all around us.

Before we design and build bridges, hospitals and high-rises, we first visualise them. Before we release the next version of iMac, Tablet and Smartphone, we first innovate.

Children learn from the writing strengths and weaknesses of others, as well as their own

engenders empathy, known to increase pro-social behaviour.

Creative writing is pleasurable. Second-to-none on the planet in their ability to imagine and fantasise, children love telling stories!

When we encourage them to do so, we’re saying it’s ok to spend time in their own heads, that there’s a world to discover in there.

Often we don’t know what we’ll find until we begin writing. Having begun, we often find something unexpected, something wondrous and vibrant. The author’s pen is a colourful quill; it uses the full palette of the imagination. And, in a world in which grown-ups get to make the rules and children don’t, story writing gives children a voice, carte blanche to paint new visions of this, our world, their world.

Promoting good mental health The act of writing creatively as children helps promote good mental health in the years that follow. Our world is busy, fast and noisy.

David L. Ulin, author of The Lost Art of Reading: Why Books Matter in a Distracted Time believes: “Reading is an act of resistance in a landscape of distraction. We regain the world by withdrawing from it just a little, by stepping back from the noise.”

J.K. Rowling believes: “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” Creative writing encourages visualisation, critical thinking and orderly thought. Children who learn to plot sequences of events in their stories evolve into organised thinkers, and effective communicators. Today’s employers actively encourage employees to be creative thinkers in the workplace: to generate streams of ideas to improve the company product or service; to not only spot problems, but to conceive of, and recommend, solutions.

Creativity and communication How can we parents encourage our children to write creatively? We can read to them. In doing so, we introduce them to the concept of fiction. By asking them about illustrations – What’s happening?

Why, do you think? What’s going to happen next? – we engage them, invite them to imagine. Later, when children are reading for themselves, we can be read to, and ask more questions. We can help our children to see books, not only as forms of entertainment, but as models, examples of storytelling done well.

Children who aren’t writing yet can scrapbook – stick, draw and paint – their experiences and fantasies; things they’ve done; things they’d like to do (if such things were possible). This can later transition into written journals.

Once children are writing, and are able to construct the rudiments of a story, we can help them to brainstorm ideas, asking about FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 31

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SPOTLIGHT the things that fascinate them – what are the best super-powers, mythical creatures, magic spells? – and encouraging them to take an idea and write it.

Later still, we can encourage our children to write with others, and share what they’ve written. In a group environment, children learn from the writing strengths and weaknesses of others, as well as their own. They get to practice their craft regularly, push at their creative boundaries, and receive constructive feedback.

This page: Students at The Story Studio with founder Sharon Lesley Le Roux

We can encourage them to enter writing competitions. The 2016 Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition offers our children the voice to express real concerns about things they see happening around them. The experience of competing allows them the opportunity to further develop their expressive talents and strive for personal excellence. Such competitions allow them to contribute, to bring to the mix observations and viewpoints that, without them, might never be realised.

And, we can encourage them to dream, to fantasise. A healthy imagination is an essential human tool; a survival aid, it allows us to visualise and prepare for possible events and outcomes. Children who write what they imagine become organised, critical thinkers, creative inventors and innovators, and confident communicators.

Ultimately, creative writing is a journey of self-exploration.

Setting out to write, few children will end up making it their living.

They will, however, begin a fascinating journey; a life in which they are constantly learning about, and finding value in, who they are, both as individuals and members of society.

What parents are saying about The Story Studio “I am delighted that my daughters are not only increasing their vocabular y and stretching their imaginations but that they are happy to do so!” Tracey Cuthbertson, Tong Fuk. “I love looking at Grace’s stories each week! She has just finished her short story for school and I can already see an improvement in her vocabulary. Not only did she make a plan but she actually used a thesaurus to increase her vocabulary. She wrote down some different descriptive words that she could have on hand to insert as she started writing. She found at least six other ways of saying ‘said’ within her story, which is groundbreaking.” Sally Broadbent, Discovery Bay. “This workshop is exactly what I had hoped it would be. Sharon has created an environment where the kids feel secure and are given the confidence to explore their ideas freely. The classes are full of laughter! It’s a brilliant balance of the fun of creative writing, whilst instilling correct grammar and punctuation skills. My daughter looks forward to this workshop every week. Her teacher commented on how great her writing has become recently,” Kim Bracken, Mui Wo.

32 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

Sharon Lesley Le Roux runs creative writing classes for kids and young adults at The Story Studio, with workshops in Mui Wo, Tung Chung and Discovery Bay. You can contact her on 6341 3989, email thestorystudiohk@yahoo.com, or visit www.thestorystudiohk.com.

Young Writer’s Competition 2016 Now in its fourth year, the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writer’s Competition (YWC) provides secondary school students living and/ or studying in Lantau with the chance to get published. The challenge, this year, is for students to write a nonfiction account of 600 to 700 words highlighting a particular community concern. Stories need to be submitted by March 14. To enter, check the YWC guidelines at www.arounddb.com.

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GIVING LIFE SHOULDN’T BE SO DEADLY Ramatoulaye, who lives in Burkina Faso, was about to give birth to her fourth child, but the boatman was nowhere to be found. Unable to get to the health centre across the river, she gave birth alone on the river banks.

Maternal health is a human right — join Amnesty International to defend human rights for women like Ramatoulaye.

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

© Anna Kari

HEALTH

GOOD COUNSEL

Something is bothering your child or holding him back.

You’ve tried talking to him, but can’t get anywhere.

Lorraine Cook suggests it’s time to seek professional help

E Illustrations courtesy of www.wikihow.com

veryone goes through ‘bumps’ in life, and as painful as it is to see your child not his ‘happy self’, often these challenges are key moments of growth and maturity, where resilience becomes a part of his character and personality. Research is finding that parental efforts to fix everything for children, to prevent them from ever being sad, disappointed, or hurt, is actually harmful to their long-term success. Despite our desire as parents to do everything we can to make our children happy, such actions are not always best in the long run.

However, when a ‘bad day’ becomes a ‘bad week’ or a ‘bad month’, or you realise that you can’t remember when your child was last really happy and content, you are wise to look for assistance, just as you would if your child has a physical pain that won’t go away.

There are many professionals available to help, but where to begin?

Accepting your need for help The hardest step is often the first one – deciding that you need help with the situation. Unlike physical problems, where we tend to easily accept tests, examinations, medications and referrals to other professionals (like a physiotherapist, perhaps), when issues

are emotional or behavioural, where concerns might be about troubling moods, unexplained anger, lingering sadness, difficulty with social relationships and more, then we tend to be less inclined to seek help.

The reasons for this vary. Some parents worry what others will think of their inability to cope with their child’s issues. What’s more, friends often brush our concerns aside. It’s not uncommon to be told that it’s nothing, or normal, or just a stage. People often advise us that we should ‘just get over it’, or they remind us that others have it so much worse. None of these platitudes are at all helpful – they actually make things worse, because now there is often guilt (for not being grateful for what you have) and shame (that you don’t recognise it).

Even close friends, who are kind and trying to be helpful, are typically unprepared to offer the sort of assistance that a professional can, as friendship and therapy are very different relationships.

If you fear judgement from friends, family or community, it’s important to know that confidentiality is a keystone tenet for those that work in this area, so others will not hear about you from them.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 35



HEALTH

In addition, should you decide to talk with friends about seeking help, you may find that many have also had to reach out in this way, or have known someone in their family or close friendship group who has.

The struggle is that an unfortunate loop of secrecy can exist, where individuals are reluctant to tell others that they have sought help (out of fear for how this information might be judged), but it is this same secrecy and fear in others that prompts them to do the same.

Another common concern is that of labelling. Parents are sometimes hesitant to have their child see a therapist as they are afraid he might be labelled in some way and that this will make things worse. Sometimes, however, a diagnosis is fundamental to determining best strategies. Dyslexia is a good example of this, as knowing what is limiting your child’s ability to read leads to specific actions that will help.

Importantly too, there is a growing trend across the helping disciplines to move away from labelling individuals, (for example, labelling a sad child as depressed). Instead, therapists focus on a variety of strategies to help make things better.

Finding a good fit for your family So how to choose who to see, especially when there are so many options — psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, counsellor or life coach? And then, as you look further, there are further categories, sub-categories and approaches, all of which can help you to make a choice if you understand the differences, but which simply add to the confusion if you don’t.

Hong Kong offers a wide variety of professionals available to help.

As a group, they offer a range of educational qualifications and training, varying years of experience, and countless techniques and strategies. Be aware, however, that professionals here have often earned their credentials in different educational systems around the world, and similar sounding designations from one country can mean something quite different in another. At the same time, each therapist will take a slightly different approach, even if they have the same qualifications, training, or years of experience.

Probably the greatest distinction is between psychiatrists and others in this field. Despite popular myth (think Lucy in the Peanuts comic strip – The Doctor is in!), taking your child to see a psychiatrist is not usually the first step unless your situation is critical. Psychiatrists are specially trained medical doctors, who are able to prescribe medication. Most require a referral from another professional, whereas others in this category typically do not.

Ultimately, there is no way to declare one constellation of education, experience and approach as being definitively ‘better’ than another. The important thing is to find what works best for you and your child – it’s a matter of finding a good fit between your family and your expert. Therapy is a dynamic process.

Taking the first step can be the hardest but, for most families, even after one session, there is a bit more clarity, a bit more calm, and the beginning of hope that things are going to get better. If you are concerned about your child, it is definitely a step worth considering.

Lorraine Cook (M.A. Psych) is a counselling psychologist at The Development Practice in DB North Plaza. You can email her at growingupgreat@gmail.com, or visit www.childfamilydevelopmenthk.com.

36 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

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ORGANISING THE TRANSLANTAU

By Sabrina Dumont

M

y husband Clement and I have been organising the TransLantau trail run for the past four years. This year, we expect close to 2,000 athletes (30% from overseas) to compete in the event, March 11 to 13. Participants choose between three distances: 100, 50 and 25 kilometres.

With 90% of the course on trails and covering two country parks, runners get to push their limits as they feast their eyes on Lantau’s undulating hills and breath-taking coastline.

All in all, the TransLantau takes almost a year to organise. Firstly we look to the government for support. Six different permits are required from different departments according to location, for instance, beach and catch water, as well as villages and private land.

After dealing with the red tape, we consider sponsorship, all of which is local. In exchange for prizes, we have to guarantee exposure for our sponsors’ brands among the trail running community. With sponsorship in place, proceeds can go to charity.

Athletes’ safety is of course paramount, and not only are first-aid posts positioned throughout the course but we have to ensure that 38 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

evacuation is possible in case of an emergency. The safety and medical aspect alone takes months of preparation.

Runners are required to be semi self-sufficient, but we still need to purchase a myriad of essential items. These include everything from course markers and drop-bag tents to race bibs. Additionally, of course, we have to purchase all the food, water (over 6,000 litres) and electrolytes distributed at the refreshment posts and checkpoints.

Mandatory equipment for runners needs to be specified (everything from water and survival blankets to whistles and mobile phones), as do numerous race-day rules. For instance, runners must stay on the way-marked paths, even to sleep, and there are penalties for littering. Add to this all the ‘little’ details that athletes need to be informed about, like start times, where to shower and in the case of overseas runners, where to stay.

By the time race day dawns, we have established a partnership with a minimum of 200 volunteers, who assist runners during the event itself. An event like this couldn’t happen without them. We can never thank them enough as their support and effort is priceless.

For more information on the TransLantau, visit www.translantau.com.

SUCCESS STORY

Photo courtesy of Zachary Williams

ZACHARY WILLIAMS: BODY AWAKENING

I

own and run a medical supply company called China World China, working with European and US medical distributors, but that’s now a side line. The idea of a home cleansing kit came to me in 2001; my wife, Jessica, and I turned this into a business in 2012, by founding Body Awakening.

The aim is to make quality detoxification products and programmes accessible to busy people, who might not have the time to book into a cleansing resort for a week. We run the whole business, believe it or not, from Mui Wo. It’s the benefit of the age we live in. Technology is such that we are able to manage our warehouse, Shanghai sales office, supply chain, retail partners, and certification and test labs all from an office that is less than five minutes from the beach.

Being based in Lantau gives us the space to focus on what really matters to our customers and our company, without getting sucked into the hustle that can exist in the business centres in Hong Kong.

Lantau helps keep everything in perspective.

Being a business owner is great! It allows for a healthy level of creativity and freedom. Jessica is a certified nutritional practitioner, and we have developed a range of supplements, which complement our cleansing and detox programmes. As a company we believe in the body’s innate ability to heal itself, when given the right tools, and the mind’s natural desire to be happy, healthy and full of energy.

The trick in business is to keep expanding and developing. I’m inspired by the entrepreneur skateboarder Tony Hawk. Over the last 25 years, he has built a business and a brand (Birdhouse Skateboards) from a passion. I have always been inspired by small independent companies that expand one day at a time rather than relying on leverage, loans and venture capital.

For more information on Body Awakening call 8192 7636, email info@bodyawakening.net, or visit www.bodyawakening.net.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 39

LANTAU FACES

COMMUNITY SNAPS

Email your photos for Lantau Faces to info@baymedia.com.hk. Life on Lantau accepts no liability for the photos sent

Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.arounddb.com

Photos by Leah Ahmad 40  LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

LIFE ON LANTAU CLASSIFIEDS HEALTH & BEAUTY

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TUNG CHUNG EMERGENCY – FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE – 999 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Tung Chung Fire Station 2988 8733 Tung Chung Police Station 3661 1694 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot 2988 8282 COMMUNITY SERVICES Public Library 2109 3011 Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 COMPUTER REPAIRS Bobby Mirchandani 9425 3812 EDUCATION Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Education Centre 3141 7319 Discovery Mind Play Centre & Kindergarten 2987 8070 Discovery Mind Primary School 2915 0666 Greenfield International Kindergarten 2162 5538 Han Xuan Language Education Centre 2666 5905 Salala Kids’ House 2611 9193 Soundwaves English Education Centre 9045 2914 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 FOOD & RESTAURANTS Essence Restaurant - Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Handi Indian Restaurant 2988 8674 McDonald’s Delivery 2338 2338 Melody Thai 2988 8129 Moccato Coffee Shop 3602 8838 Olea Restaurant - NovotelCitygate 3602 8818 Pizza Hut 2330 0000 Resto Restaurant 2886 3156 Velocity Bar and Grill - Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 2583 HEALTH & BEAUTY Hairdresser - Ricky 9882 9741 Max Beauty 2162 5752 MTM Spa 2923 6060 Om Spa 2286 6266 Quan Spa 3969 2188 Radha’s Place 5374 7133 Tung Chung Facial & Nails 9669 9433 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths

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42 LIFE ON LANTAU

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016

TUNG CHUNG MEDICAL Bayside Dental 2185 6550 Essential Health Family Clinic 2109 9396 Human Health Medical Centre 2109 2288 Quality HealthCare Medical 2403 6623 Quality HealthCare Physiotherapy 2403 6328 Raffles Medical 2261 2626 Raffles Medical Emergency

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EDUCATION Buddhist Fat Ho College 2985 5150 Dramatic English (DEI) Kindergarten 2109 9886 Lantau International Kindergarten 2984 0302 Lantau International School 2980 3676 Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons 5197 4647 Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten 3689 6709 Mindfulness Matters 9048 5425 Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten 2984 0006 Peak Communication 9422 1347 The Story Studio 6341 3989 FOOD & RESTAURANTS Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 Como Lake 2984 0009 Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar 3484 3095 High Tide 2980 3002 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Maverick’s 5662 8552 Natural Plus 2984 2233 T Party Cakes 9276 5734 Tai O Solo Café 9153 7453 The Gallery 2980 2582 The Kitchen 5991 6292 The Stoep 2980 2699 HEALTH & BEAUTY Dietitian - Patricia Castle 5690 0366 Spa Ambiance 2984 2488 Spa Puretouch 2984 0088 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN New Look Design 9783 5840 Unitek 9156 0360 HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Espace Elastique B&B Tai O Heritage Hotel

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HEALTH & BEAUTY A Mother’s Touch 2851 9654 Afflatus Hair Workshop 2987 0283 MOW Grooming and Skin Care 2499 8826 M Spa 2987 0614 Nailed It! 2987 2266 Strand and Science HairSpa 2886 3820 The Centre for Pregnancy & Newborn 6256 0406

MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health and Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 IMI (Integrated Medicine Institute) 2537 1087 Island Health 2987 7575 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 RETAIL Bookazine Dymocks P-Solution

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FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 LIFE ON LANTAU 43

INSIDER

T

his Chinese New Year (CNY) begins on the new moon of February 8.

It’s the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, and the time when we habitually open our doors to friends and loved ones. Since we are about to enter the Year of the Red Fire Monkey, denoting 12 months of high-octane activity and change, there’s plenty to celebrate.

When visiting friends, don’t forget to bring them a bag of oranges or tangerines with leaves intact – this will promote good relations in the coming year. You will also want to hand out dollar-filled lai see packets to people who do stuff for you, including younger co-workers, helpers and doormen.

Tradition also dictates that you lay out a candy tray over the holidays, filled with candied melons for good health, and red melon seeds symbolising happiness. It should also contain dried lychees and desiccated coconut to promote strong family ties, kumquats for prosperity, and peanuts for long life.

Customs worth keeping

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

The traditional way to decorate at Lunar New Year is to hang auspicious red paper scrolls, emblazoned with the Chinese characters for good fortune, wealth and the coming of spring. Place these scrolls upside down on your front door, where they will bid guests a warm welcome and signify good times ahead.

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

Since the colour red represents luck, prosperity and happiness, it’s a perennially popular decorating choice at CNY, so be sure to style up your home with a few bold Shanghai-red accents. This is easily done with well-chosen, inexpensive home accessories, like scatter cushions, table napkins and candles. Note that red monkey figurines are likely to sell like hot cakes this year, as are red flowers of every variety.

As with almost all activities at CNY, there is enormous symbolism in the use of flowering plants. Potted plants (rather than cut blooms) are the number one essential, since they represent new life. When choosing plants, ask your florist which ones are likely to bloom on February 8, as this way you’ll be guaranteed 12 months of good luck.

44 LIFE ON LANTAU

Usher in health, wealth and happiness at Chinese New Year with festive finery and flowers.

Samantha Wong finds out how

The Chinese language opens up endless opportunities for punning, and this is demonstrated in the flowers that are most sought-after at CNY. For instance, people rush to buy miniature kumquat plants (Gam Gat Sue) with their little golden fruits.

This is because the word Sue rhymes with the Cantonese word for luck (Fŭ) and the Cantonese word for gold is Gam.

DECEMBER 2015/ JANUARY 2016

Peach blossom is considered the most auspicious of all plants at this time of year. Its significance lies in the symbolic importance of the peach, which, in Chinese culture, signifies long life, and is regarded as the strongest defence against evil. Red peonies (the flower of riches and honour) are also an essential buy, since they are believed to usher in prosperity. Happy holidays!

AROUND DB AND LIFE ON LANTAU YOUNG WRITER’S COMPETITION 2016 ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS LIVING AND/ OR STUDYING IN LANTAU ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER

Here’s your chance to prove and improve your writing skills, express your ideas and get published! From the articles submitted, our three mentors will each select a winning story and work on improving it with the author. The three finished articles will then be posted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook page for an online vote.

You are • A secondary school student living and/ or studying in Lantau

The article is • A nonfiction account of 600 to 700 words, highlighting something that’s happening in your community that you are concerned about • Authors submit their name, age, year group and school (the mentors will be given the age of the writers only)

How it works

Last year’s YWC winners: Maria Andreeva,

• March 14: Deadline for submission to info@baymedia.com.hk Janica Bergas and Ruhi Kumar • March 15 to 20: The mentors select three winning entries • March 21 to April 15: Each mentor meets with one winning writer to provide advice on improving the article. The writer reworks the piece and resubmits it to his/ her mentor, who checks it and passes it to our team for online posting • April 16, 8am: The three winning articles are posted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook page for readers to vote online • April 19, 6pm: Online voting ends • April 20: The results of Young Writer’s Competition (YWC) 2016 are posted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook page and www.arounddb.com

What you get • • • • •

The winning article is published in the May issue of Around DB and the June issue of Life on Lantau All three finalists are profiled in the May issue of Around DB and the June issue of Life on Lantau HK$1,000, HK$500 and HK$400 EpicLand day passes for the three finalists Gourmet goodie bags from Meatsnacks Group for the three finalists and three runners up Prize giving at EpicLand, the main competition sponsor

About the mentors Peter Sherwood and Elizabeth Kerr are delighted to be reprising their role as YWC mentors, and this year we are delighted to welcome Martin Lerigo on board to round out the mentoring team. All three mentors are writers and journalists of long-standing and, of course, Around DB and Life on Lantau contributors. Elizabeth, Peter and Martin are thrilled to have this opportunity to share their insights and help our young readers get published for the first time.

Be sure to check the YWC guidelines @ www.arounddb.com, or the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook page, and submit your article by March 14 to info@baymedia.com.hk