Sai Kung Oct 2016

FAMILY | FOOD | HOME | SPORT | LIVING

October 2016

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HKGTA COMES TO SAI KUNG

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PAT CHUN’S HISTORY

PINEAPPLES IN PO LO CHE

Tikitiki Bowling Bar is proud to introduce Chef Peter Lim. Peter and his team, formerly of the Four Season Hotel, have taken over the culinary direction at Tikitiki and are bringing world class dining to Beach Bums & Cannibals.

Beach Bums & Cannibals

4/F, Centro, 1A Chui Tong Road, Sai Kung, N.T., Hong Kong

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tikitikibowlingbar tikitikibowlingbar tikitikihk

The really useful magazine October 2016

PEOPLE 4 Snapped!

Sai Kung’s social life.

THE PLANNER 8 Happening in October What’s on.

FAMILY 12 Halloween haul Fewer tricks, more treats.

NEWS 14 What’s going on?

In your backyard.

GIVEAWAYS 18 Free stuff Fab things to win.

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

20 Glen Yang Sai Kung’s basketball star.

NEWS FROM THE GREENS 21 Winning seats A greener Legislative Council for Hong Kong.

LOCAL 22 Trouble in paradise A proposed Visitor Centre for Hoi Ha. VILLAGE FOCUS 24 Welcome to Po Le Che The village (or lack) of pineapples.

FEATURE 26 Extreme sports Take it up a notch with these thrilling activities.

EATING 34 Seasoned treasures A look into Pat Chun’s past.

Plus nibbles.

SPORT 38 HKGTA arrives in Sai Kung Golf and tennis under one roof.

EDUCATION 42 West Island School We take a tour.

BIG DAY OUT 46 Tai Lam Chung Reservoir The lake of a thousand islands.

TRAVEL

PETS 58 Ask Dr. Anders “What should I do if I get bitten by a snake?”

HONG KONG CREATURES 58 The Oriental reed warbler A frequent flyer.

VINES IN SAI KUNG 64 You’ve been disconnected The latest news from Stephen Vines.

48 The best exotic Maeping Hotel One couple’s journey to build and run their own resort.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 54 Le Labo Design your own perfume.

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“YOU’RE ONLY GIVEN A LITTLE SPARK OF MADNESS. YOU MUSTN’T LOSE IT.” - ROBIN WILLIAMS

Find us on Facebook Sai Kung Magazine

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contributors

Eric Ho

Rebecca Simpson

Rory Mackay

Born and raised in the UK, Eric came to Hong Kong at the beginning of the year in search of new adventures and to better understand his Chinese roots. After a brief stint in the IT world he quickly joined Fast Media as the Editorial Assistant as he discovered his passion lied in listening and telling stories. Read about his visit to Po Le Che on page 24.

Rebecca arrived in Asia years ago for a dream PR role and delighted in spending much of her time flying around the region and getting paid to talk about beauty products. Now with two daughters, she works from their floating family home in Lantau, writing and living a new dream.

Find out about her trip to West Island School on page 42.

A new dad to twin girls, Rory grew up between Hong Kong and Scotland. He is no stranger to adventure and is always out and about.

Whether scaling munros in the Scottish Highlands, sailing to the North Pole or cycling solo across Africa, he loves to explore new places. Find out about his latest Hong Kong adventure on page 46.

Want to write for Sai Kung Magazine? Contact editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

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people Snaps from Sai Kung

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say cheese Snaps from Sai Kung

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people

VRC/KEEN Splash 2016

Escapade-SaiKung-Running-OUTLINED-FINAL.pdf

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people

Share your event photos with us at editorial@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!

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planner

OCT 23

Altra Terra: Sai Kung

A 13 or 25km trail running race with male and female, open and senior categories in Sai Kung West Country Park. The 13km race starts at Shek Hang, and 25km race starts in Hoi Ha at 9am. Registration fee is $200-250 depending on race, deadline on October 9. www.terramar.hk

OCT 1 National Day

OCT 1 CNCF Family Fun Movie Day

A public holiday celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. Catch the fireworks as they light up Victoria Harbour, starts at 9pm.

Raising funds for children in the care of The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

Cyberport’s outdoor podium is the stage for this fun family event. Expect lots of fun kids’ activities, stalls, food and drink - and an open air cinema. 1-7pm. Get your tickets at www.ticketflap.com

OCT 2 Sai Kung Markets With over 50 vendors selling a range of organic food, jewellery, fine wines and handmade

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products, the Sai Kung Markets will be held at Hong Kong Academy. From 11am-5pm.

For more information, www.saikungmarkets.com

OCT 2-4 ASI SUP Yoga Instructor/ Water Rescue training Hosted by SUP Yoga Hong Kong, which hopes to take up to two fully certified instructors from the course to join them for the 2017 season.

9am-4pm. $4,000 for ASI SUP Yoga Instructor training; $800 for ASI Water Rescue training.

To enrol, call 6355 5469 or 9322 6558, or email supyogahongkong@gmail.com

happening in October OCT 4, 18, 29 American School Hong Kong Campus Tour & Parent Information Session Tour ASHK’s newly renovated campus and gain insight into their curriculum and programmes.

Speakers include the school’s director and admissions director. 10-11am, register at ashk.edu.hk/online-registration

OCT 5 Fifty Shades of Pink In support of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Sai Kung Pink Ladies hosts a ladies long lunch with a personal styling presentation with special guest Eve Roth Lindsay.

Cielo Crowne Plaza Hotel, Tseung Kwan O, 11am-2pm. Tickets $500 and includes three course meal with a glass of wine and bubbly, courtesy of Winerack. To purchase tickets, email skpinkladies@yahoo.com

OCT 7-9 A Midsummer Night’s Dream

OCT 16 Central Rat Race

Watch one of Shakespeare’s classics brought to life through ballet. Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall.

Tickets $160-$420 from urbtix.hk

Don your best fancy dress and navigate an obstacle race through Hong Kong’s central business district. This event supports MINDSET, a charity which aims to make a difference in the area of mental health. www.centralratrace.com

OCT 8-9 2016 FIA FormulaE HKT Hong Kong ePrix Get ready as FormulaE hits Hong Kong for the very first time. The use of electric powered cars means the race is emission-free. Not only do you get to witness an international racing event, but also a supercharged line-up of worldclass musical acts. Meet the racers in person, experience interactive booths and enjoy a delicious selection of cuisine. Tickets from $150.

Hong Kong Central Harbourfront. www.ticketflap.com

OCT 8 Clean Half The extreme open water marathon swim starts at Stanley Main Beach, Tai Tam Bay and finishes at Deep Water Bay. Don’t miss the after party, complete with a barbeque and DJ. Main start time is 11am. openwaterasia.com

Join the monthly hare around the Sai Kung countryside. Child and dog-friendly. Starting at 4pm. Location to be confirmed. Details at sites.google.com/site/saikungsaturdayh3 or email gunpowderplod@gmail.com

OCT 8-16 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 Over 50 stars of women’s tennis descend upon Hong Kong as part of the Women’s Tennis Association tour. Returning for its third year, the tournament includes singles and doubles matches. Watch players battle it out for a grand prize of USD$250,000. The first three days of the schedule are free to the public on a first come, first served basis - tickets thereafter start at $160. Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. www.cityline.com

OCT 7 World Smile Day :)

OCT 22 Saturday Hash House Harriers

OCT 9 Chung Yeung Festival Also referred to as the Double Ninth Festival due to the date falling on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Lunar calendar. This is a day of remembrance where many people journey up the hills to visit graves. The following day is a national public holiday.

UNTIL OCT 13 International Piano Competition & Joy of Music Festival 2016 57 candidates from around the world compete for the top spot over four rounds of competition. The panel of judges includes world leading pianists and music critics. Tickets $50-$300 from urbtix.hk

OCT 16 New World Harbour Race 2016 Thousands of swimmers race across the open waters of Victoria Harbour. Spectators can watch from viewing platforms stationed at the start in Lei Yue Mun or the finish at Quarry Bay Park.

Free admission, 8.30am. More details at www.hkharbourrace.com

OCT 22 American Women’s Association of Hong Kong (AWA) 60th Anniversary Founded by 53 women with a budget of a few thousand dollars, AWA now boasts over 650 members from 35 countries. Through a combination of social and service activities, AWA gives over $1million to charity annually. Help to celebrate these accomplishments at the AWA’s 60th Anniversary Gala this year, which features a silent and live auction. Open to the public.

6.30-9pm, the Aberdeen Marina Club Ballroom.

Tickets at www.awa.org.hk

OCT 23 MSIG HK50 - Hong Kong Island Choose between a 24km or 50km trail run from The Peak Galleria to Wong Nai Chung Gap Road. Race begins at 7am and is only open to runners aged 18 or above. Entry fees vary from $380 to $660 depending on distance and time of registration so sign up as soon as possible. www.actionasiaevents.com

OCT 27-30 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival Enjoy world-class food, drink and entertainment right next to Victoria Harbour with a gorgeous view of the skyline. Over 400 wine and dine booths are available featuring delicious wine-

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planner pairing meals designed by master chefs. Central Harbourfront Event Space. Times vary from noon until 11.30pm.

OCT 29 Paws in the Park Put your best paw forward at this family fun day hosted by Sai Kung Stray Friends. The fundraiser will include food, refreshments, games and competitions. 11am-5pm, AFCD Nature Lions Education Park. Tickets are $100 and will be donated to the Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation and are available from saikungstrayfriendshk@gmail.com. For more info, contact Narelle on 9199 2340.

OCT 29 Leapfrog Halloween Party Put on your scariest costume and get ready for games, facepainting, BBQ, raffle and more at Leapfrog Kindergarten’s Halloween party. 2pm till late.

Tickets are $50 per person at the door (no advance tickets). 11 Pak Tam Chung Village, Sai Kung Country Park. For more info, contact Rachel on 2791 1540.

OCT 29 & DEC 3 Autumn-Winter Garage Sale The Garage Sale has been split into two separate dates, one in October and the second in December. The event will include a wide range of vendors offering new and secondhand goods with all proceeds going to charity. 9am2.30pm, LG3 car park, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay. Registration starts October 1 for the October garage sale and November 1 for the December sale.

OCT 30 Charity race on The Peak The 42nd Sedan Chair Race sees teams of eight runners and one lucky passenger race along the 2.1km route on Mount Kellett Road to raise money for a number of small local charities. Superheroes, smurfs and even Egyptian pharaohs have been seen making the arduous climb in previous years.

A family carnival atmosphere awaits the finishers with games, food and live music at Matilda Hospital for all the supporters. www.sedanchairace.com

OCT 31 Trick or Treat, it’s Halloween!

OCT 31-NOV 4 Box Of Hope A great charity which looks to provide useful and educational gifts to underprivileged children throughout Hong Kong and Asia. Wrap up an old shoebox, fill it with your choice of gifts and take it to one of the numerous drop off locations dotted around Hong Kong. There’s even a competition for the best box design, so get creative. www.boxofhope.org

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planner

BOOK NOW NOV 18-19 Beertopia

NOV 25-27 Clockenflap

DEC 8-JAN 8 Wicked

This year’s beer festival is expected to include over 500 different beers from around the world. Not a beer lover? Don’t worry - with over 20 restaurants, there’s plenty of food to choose from as well. Tickets start at $285 from beertopiahk.com

The annual music festival changes location to Central this year, after five years at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The line-up includes Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Rós, reggae Kiwi band Fat Freddy’s Drop and Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist José González.

Tickets start at $850 from www.clockenflap. com, concessions available.

The spellbinding musical, which has cast its magic on more than 50 million theatre goers worldwide, takes to the stage at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. Inspired

by L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, find out how the wicked witch of the west became so wonderfully wicked. Tickets from $445 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

DEC 14 Bill Bailey, Larks in Transit British comedian, musician and actor Bill Bailey performs his brand new show - Larks in Transit - in Hong Kong. Larks in Transit delves into Bill’s 20 years of life as a travelling comedian and all the shenanigans which happens along the way. 8pm at the Kitec Rotunda 3. Tickets from $488 at hkticketing.com

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk.

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family Wilton cookie cutter $12 each from Complete Deelite, 2/F, On Lan Centre, 11-15 On Lan Street, Central, 3167 7022, completedeelite.com

That’s Mr & Mrs Bones $139 from Swoon, www.swoonxoxo.com Monster masks $50 each from Seedling, www.seedling.com.hk

Boo Crew foil balloon $260 for bouquet from The Party Boutique, www.partyboutique.com.hk

Plastic pumpkin bucket Starting at $68 each from Matteo Party, 1 United Success Commercial Centre, 506-508 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, 2342 8887, www.matteoparty.com Monster-BOO Frankenstein infant/ toddler costume $398 from Let’s Party, www.letsparty.com.hk

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family

Design your own bat wings & ears $249 by Seedling from Lane Crawford, www.seedling.com.hk

Assorted halloween plates $60 each from EezyPeezyParties, eezypeezyparties.com

Skeleton J Halloween cookies $88 each from Du Sucre Bakery, G/F, Caravan Court, 141-145 Caine Road, Sheung Wan, 2522 4018, www.dusucrebakery.com Too-Cute-to-Spook $360 for a box of six from Sweet Secrets, G/F 35 Graham Street, Central, 2545 8886, www.sweetsecrets.com.hk

Bleeding zombie bowl $480 from Matteo Party, www.matteoparty.com

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news

Fifty Shades of Pink with Sai Kung Pink Ladies

The Sai Kung Pink Ladies will be holding their sixth event, ‘Fifty Shades of Pink’ Ladies Long Lunch in recognition of breast cancer awareness in October. There will be a fashion and style presentation by international fashion designer, Eve Roth Lindsay.

“I was immediately drawn to this event as the issue of breast cancer is very personal to

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me. My own mother, Grace, who is 93 now, has undergone two rounds with breast cancer. She is a real survivor and a positive champion in the fight against this terrible disease,” said Lindsay.

Remember to slip on your best wear as there will be prizes for best dressed as well as an event raffle. Their previous event ‘Sundowners by the Bay’ sold out and raised

$129,312 for the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. Tickets are $500 for a three course set menu and a complimentary glass of prosecco and wine with the meal.

For tickets email skpinkladies@yahoo.com

news

Veterinary service launches online shop 24/7 pet housecall service Homevet has launched a new online store, selling pet supplies, medication, food and supplements.

The online shop complements Homevet’s existing Veterinary Housecall Service, which has been in operation since 2013. Founder and Sai Kung resident, Dr. Matthew Murdoch said, “Launching the online shop is a natural step for us. We already deliver a lot of pet medication, food and products to the pets and customers we serve. By putting a few of these online it provides another easy way for people to restock the things they need. We also get asked a lot of questions about useful supplements or items for pets in Hong Kong and so a few of our favourites are here.” The online shop delivers across Hong Kong (excluding small outlying islands). Can’t find what you want?

Email pets@homevet.com.hk and they will try to add it.

For more information, visit www.homevet.com.hk Sai Kung resident and Founder of Homevet, Dr. Matthew Murdoch

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news

SKSF’s Paws in the Park event

Bring your family and doggy friends down to AFCD Nature Lions Education Park October 29th. A family fun day will be held by Sai Kung Stray Friends (SKSF) - a group of volunteers who rescue stray dogs and provide them safe shelter, food and medical care. SKSF are raising funds to keep the dog kennels

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running so that they can continue to provide shelter to approximately 100 rescued dogs.

There will be food and refreshments, as well as booth games and a treasure hunt. The event will start at 11am and finish 5pm with an admission donation of $100. For tickets email saikungstrayfriendshk@gmail.com.

Cooking classes for domestic helpers Private chef Jennifer Kaur will be launching a new series of cooking classes for domestic helpers.

“Many employers find that their helpers are good at basic cooking but have limited culinary range,” said Kaur, former Cathay Pacific Inflight Services Manager. “My classes teach helpers dishes with many influences, such as Mediterranean, traditional Malay, Capetown, northern Indian and so on.”

The cooking class costs $980 per head and will run for three hours, in which Jennifer will teach four dishes in this time. At the end of the class, helpers will be given a complete set of recipes and cooking instructions as well as taster samples they have learnt to cook. For a more complete course, Jennifer offers six lessons for a discounted price of $5,280.

The classes will be held at Jennifer’s Private Kitchen in Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung.

For more information email Jennifer at corecuisine2014@gmail.com or call 5416 0854.

news

Ain’t no mountain high enough On October 1, six ESF (English Schools Foundation) teachers will attempt to summit Mount Everest by climbing Hong Kong Island’s Mount Butler 44 times in a single ride. That’s a total distance of 227 kilometers and an elevation of 8,848 metres.

The teachers, five of whom work at West Island School and one of whom works at Kennedy Primary School, together form The Hong Kong Pistons Cycling Club. They are hoping to raise money for one of ESF’s newest community partner projects: United World School Cambodia (UWS). UWS build schools and support communities by providing a free basic education for children who would otherwise go without. The funds raised will go towards building a school in the remote regions of northern Cambodia.

Dreamed up by the guys at Hells 500, an Australia-based group of cyclists obsessed with climbing, Everesting is exactly what it sounds like: climb the total height of Everest in a single ride. The rules are that you can stop for breaks, but not sleep; no loops allowed; and all climbing must be done out-andback on a single route. Team member Daniel Betteridge, a maths teacher at West Island

School, said, “Sleep deprivation, boredom, sore bums, hydration, nutrition are some of the challenges I expect.” Good luck to the riders!

Donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ ChasingEverestHK

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giveaways

win at www.saikung.com

Escapade Sports

Chinadoll Kids

Back to school means back to sport! Whether it’s a new rugby kit, hockey stick or swimwear, Escapade Sports is a one-stop shop for all your sporting needs. Safety and comfort is their number one priority - make sure to ask their customer service team for expert advice. Two $500 vouchers are up for grabs.

Chinadoll Kids is Hong Kong’s newest player in the luxury kids’ clothing market.

They specialize in filling the gap between modern and traditional qipaos for children - the dresses are playful, modern, chic and comfortable with the luxury of brocade silks and the traditional touch of a hand sewn and beaded Mandarin collar to complete the look.

Each piece is unique with handsewn beading and is made from leftover brocade silks from various designer houses. We are giving away one dress worth $1,480 to a lucky winner.

www.escapade.com.hk Deadline: October 21

Simply Shoes

Thriller Live To celebrate the world’s King of Pop, Michael Jackson, the newly opened Parisian Macao is bringing West End production Thriller Live to Macau. Now in its eighth year, this electrifying show is sure to make you sing, attempt to moonwalk and struggle to stay in your seat for 90 whole minutes. We have a pair of A Reserve tickets, worth $480 each, along with roundtrip ferry tickets to give away!

Simply Shoes makes selecting the ideal shoe, well, simple. With a range of beautifully crafted shoes from Italy for your little ones and impeccably designed footwear from Brazil for ladies, they promise you will always be perfectly booted to grab the most out of Hong Kong’s vibrant lifestyle. We have 12 pairs of Italian children’s shoes and 12 pairs of the most comfortable women’s shoes that you have ever owned to give away.

www.chinadollkids.com Deadline: October 28

www.simplyshoes.com

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Subscribe to our e-newsletter to get all our giveaways delivered straight to your inbox: saikung.com/subscribe

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five minutes with...

Publisher

Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Editorial Editor Annie Wong annie@fastmedia.com.hk Contributing Editor Shreena Patel shreena@fastmedia.com.hk Carolynne Dear carolynne@fastmedia.com.hk Callum Wiggins callum@fastmedia.com.hk Editorial Assistant Eric Ho eric@fastmedia.com.hk

Design

Senior Graphic Designer Cindy Suen cindy@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Designer Anna Schulteisz anna@fastmedia.com.hk

Thanks to

Belinda Bamford David Armstrong Dr. Anders Kulhavy Esther Chan Jaki Faulkner Rebecca Simpson Robyn Ma Rory Mackay Sérgio Marçal Stephanie Brown Stephen Vines Paul Zimmerman

Published by

Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Photo by Flyboard HK

Glen Yang Robyn Ma talks to the 19-year-old Hong Kong Basketball League champion.

I was born in Vancouver but came to Hong Kong when I was five. I lived in Sai Kung for 11 years before moving to Calgary.

Basketball was one of the main reasons I decided to move. I felt like the competition level here wasn’t as high as I wanted it to be and I wanted to play basketball at a higher level.

My childhood in Sai Kung was great, it’s a good place to grow up. Everyone here is really friendly. Most of my friends lived around here and Marina Cove so it was really easy for us to hangout in Sai Kung and play basketball.

Sai Kung is relaxed and different from the rest of Hong Kong. The area hasn’t really changed in the last five years which is nice to see. However, there’s always a traffic jam but apart from that there’s really nothing to complain about.

I fell in love with basketball since day one. At first I played by myself but later found my trainer, Lap Fong, to help me train. He started training me since I was 10 and he’s shown me different parts of the game. When I’m back in Hong Kong for the summer, we train everyday so that I can get ready for the next season.

I play for the South China Athletic Association Basketball Team and we recently won the Hong Kong Basketball League.

When I go back to school in Canada, I play for my University team called the Mount Royal University Basketball Team. Since the seasons don’t overlap, I can play in Hong Kong as soon as I finish school in Canada.

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shooting for the stars

My goal is to play basketball professionally. The plan is that once I finish university, I’ll try and play in the United States. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll try to find another professional league in Canada but playing in the U.S. is definitely my main goal. There isn’t a specific team that I want to play for. I just want to get to the highest level I can and stay focused on my goal.

in the basketball world, I’m not.

A lot of kids get into a sport and get broken down by their coaches so they start to think they’re not good enough. My advice to anyone who wants to get into basketball is to make sure you’re having fun. If you want to pursue a career in sport or get to a higher level, stay committed and make sure you’re enjoying yourself.

My height is not the main reason why I’m a good basketball player. I’m actually considered one of the shortest players in my team in Canada. I’m considered tall in Hong Kong but

Don’t feel limited if your sport is not big in Hong Kong. Stay patient and make sure you don’t give up on your dreams just because you don’t have what you need at that moment.

news from the greens

a greener Hong Kong

Winning seats

Paul Zimmerman details the events that emerged from LegCo 2016.

The new Legislative Council we all just elected is a whole lot greener, and more focused on sustainable development, than the last one. The founder of Land Justice League, Chu Hoi Dick, was voted in with the highest number of votes any legislator has ever won in Hong Kong.

Chu knows Hong Kong’s planning, land and development very well. He also knows the games played by government, landowners and developers.

I first met him on the barricades during the struggles in 2005 over the demolition of the former Star Ferry Piers and Queen’s Pier. Tanya Chan who has helped with planning issues including safeguarding the historic Lugard Road, the West Wing of the former Government Offices, and others is back. Ted Hui, as a Central and Western District Councillor, knows a thing or two about the planning process, as he has been and still is, helping the Kennedy Town community rescue Cadogan Park. Wu Chi Wai who’s always been supportive of sustainable

transport issues retained his seat. On the other side of the Chamber - the functional constituencies - the young planners, surveyors and (landscape) architects made sure the seat was wrestled away from the pro-development side, to the erudite

They are likely to be receptive and will have an open ear.

academic Edward Yiu. His ideology is close to that of Chu Hoi Dick, and has been heavily involved in rescuing the remains of the former Dairy Farm near Chi Fu which are being readied by the Housing Department for the extension of the Wah Fu housing estate.

Some of the young new arrivals have expressed support for sustainable development concepts in their platforms. They are likely to be receptive, and will have an open ear, for members of the community and concern groups who seek to lobby them on land, planning and housing issues. Not all is roses though. The Heung Yee Kuk has seen Kenneth Lau taking over the seat of his father Lau Wong Fat. And Junius Ho, a Heung Yee Kuk lawyer, won a directly elected geographic seat. That in addition to the usual pro-development cabal among the functional constituents and the DAB. With our new and outspoken ‘green’ legislators, I’m confident there is now more than ever an opportunity to push for ‘sustainable city’, ‘clean city’ and ‘safeguarding our biodiversity’ agendas.

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

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local

for better or worse?

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The exisiting barbecue site where the visitor centre is proposed to be built.

Trouble in paradise

Proposals for a visitor centre in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park elicits environmental impact and road safety issues, Eric Ho reports.

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he construction of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park Visitor Centre (VC) looks to be approaching as 51 trees have already been marked for felling.

Although proposed back in 2004 by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), planning had already begun back in the early 1990s; the purpose of the visitor centre is to “promote public awareness on marine conservation, enhance understanding on the objectives and functions of marine parks, and act as a relief loading and unloading area for coaches”.

The proposal for a VC to be built at an existing barbecue site has been met with growing concerns from Hoi Ha residents and environmental groups who believe the plans are poorly designed. Nicola Newbery, Chairwoman of Friends of Hoi Ha (FOHH) says the Government has not properly addressed the

environmental impact and road safety issues when proposing the plans for a VC. “A simplistic, badly thought-out and unnecessary visitor centre will end up as an environmental disaster, destroying the landscape and causing a road safety hazard”, she claims.

The wealth of visitors taking a day trip to Hoi Ha Wan adds to the problem. There are no legal parking spaces, which means visitors park on the pavement blocking the pavement which forces pedestrians to walk on the road just to reach the village of Hoi Ha. If the current proposal goes ahead then visitors will need to walk 300m down a conceivably busy road.

Worried about the safety of visitors, FOHH devised a solution by re-opening old abandoned footpaths. Conveniently both footpaths start at the barbecue site: one leads to the village of Hoi Ha whereas the other joins onto AFCD’s existing Guided Eco-

Tour Trail leading to the Marine Park. “[The footpaths] could be easily re-opened to allow a safe, picturesque and interesting education alternative route,” says Newbery.

FOHH are also highlighting the issue with coaches, which have been seen to dangerously navigate around a roundabout with pedestrians nearby, “the police suggested that the size of coaches be restricted but this has been ignored; they suggested back in 2002 that coach arrival times should be staggered at 30-minute intervals - that has been ignored too”, says Newbery. Currently there are only 10 coach permits a day but coaches have found a loophole by booking for Wong Shek Pier but are detouring to Hoi Ha. Newbery goes on to add, “The VC has been planned without examining the practicalities and infrastructure requirements of the scheme, and with no regard to

modern concepts of education outside of the classroom which should utilise the Marine Park as an outdoor classroom”.

Newbery isn’t entirely against the idea of a visitor centre though, “We would fully support a modest, properly landscaped facility for tourists and, in particular, for educational groups, at the barbecue site, but only as a briefing point before the visitors are led into the real world through a network of safe and well signposted trails and boardwalks down to the village and beaches, with educational material strategically placed describing real points of interest – not in front of photos or cardboard cut-outs in a museum.”

A spokesperson from AFCD argued that their plans for a VC does have support. “Several rounds of consultations involving Hoi Ha residents, education sector and visitors of the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park have been conducted since 2011. The Marine Parks Committee under the Country and Marine Parks Board has also been consulted in 2014 with members generally supporting the proposal.”

The spokesperson said they are still in the preliminary design stage for the visitor centre and are taking into consideration the concerns raised. “We are aware of the views and suggestions made by concerned groups and local residents. We will further meet with

the relevant parties to listen to their views. We are also mindful of the need to strike a balance between the views and needs of different stakeholders and to minimise the potential impacts of the proposed works on the ecology and landscape of the area.”

Despite the early disagreement on the plans for the VC, a recent visit to Hoi Ha by senior Government officials, accompanied

by FOHH, indicate that things are starting to move forward. “We walked FOHH’s proposed

Nature Trails with them and discussed AFCD’s proposal for a VC which has now gone back to the drawing board and is being redesigned by the Architectural Services Department” said Newbery.

Liaisons between AFCD and the Home Affairs Department have now begun for the construction and maintenance of the footpaths as well as the concerning safety of Hoi Ha Road.

10 coach permits are given out per day in the area.

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village focus

Welcome to Po Lo Che Eric Ho visits a blissfully green village teeming with wildlife.

S

ituated on a hillside slope near Ma On Shan, Po Lo Che is a peaceful village not far from the bustling Sai Kung sea front. Po Lo Che refers to the surrounding area of Po Lo Che Road which encompases Tai Ping village, Man Sau Sun Tsuen, Po Lo Che Sun Tsuen as well as other villages. Po Lo Che has a unique name as "Po Lo" directly translated from Cantonese is ‘pineapple’ and "Che" means ‘land near the mountain’.

Many years ago, residents in the area were known to grow pineapples here - hence the name - but over time the custom slowly diminished and if you were to venture to Po Lo Che today you will be hard pressed to find a single pineapple plant.

Despite the disappearance of pineapples, Po Lo Che is still thriving with vegetation. Village houses and residential flats are dotted in the midst of greenery - a far cry from the concrete jungles Hong Kong is so famous for.

In comparison to Sai Kung town, you will find fewer people walking the streets here and almost no tourists disrupting the tranquility. “I’ve lived in Po Lo Che for almost my entire life and it’s slowly becoming busier and busier. It’s nice to get away from all the noise in Sai Kung town - especially on the weekend,” says Ho Chi Keung, a resident of Po Lo Che for the last 28 years.

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The peaceful atmosphere coupled with the sloping terrain of Po Lo Che makes it a great place to go for morning or afternoon walks.

A recommended route would be to walk down Tan Cheung Road, past Po Lo Che Garden for a picturesque view of Sai Kung town and its outlying islands. Feeling up for more of a challenge? Head up Pak Kong Au Road which takes you on a path linking up to Stage Four of the renowned MacLehose Trail.

Located so close to nature, Po Lo Che also has a variety of wildlife living close by. “As we’re surrounded by trees and bushes we get a lot of insects, although they’re usually harmless,” said Ho. “We also get a lot of wild boars walking around Po Lo Che, they go through our bins all the time. The small ones may look cute but they can be dangerous and you shouldn’t approach them if you see one”. In an effort to keep the boars away, Ho has dangled old CD’s around the entrance of his house, “I learnt this from my mum, sunlight bounces off the CD and scares the wild boars from coming closer".

“Po Lo Che road was once a military track which went to different military works such as firing ranges and trenches. The road actually veers off from the original path which means some of the original track can still be found today - but it is now mostly overgrown footpaths,” says

Guy Shirra, Vice Chairman of Friends of Sai Kung.

For a relatively quiet area of Sai Kung, it is difficult to imagine that Po Lo Che used to have soldiers passing through all the time.

Want to have your village featured?

Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

How to get to Po Lo Che • Take a taxi from Sai Kung Town, costs around $20.

• Take No.3 minibus from Sai Kung Town, alight at Po Lo Che Garden, costs $3.1.

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feature

Taking it to the extreme From paragliding to open water swimming, outdoor junkies are spoilt for choice this Autumn. Shreena Patel and Annie Wong get expert advice on where and how to get started.

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the great outdoors

Paragliding Yuen Kit is a policeman by day but has been paragliding for 15 years during which he’s been tangled up with an eagle, injured his hip and broken his foot. He teaches lessons throughout Hong Kong.

Kit’s top five tips for paragliding: 1. Have a flight plan.

2. Check your equipment before flying: the essentials are a compass (GPS is better), helmet, gloves, harness and elbow protection.

3. Before you fly, learn how to control the wing above your head on the ground.

4. Don’t be a hero: judge carefully whether to fly and where to land. Don’t take risks.

5. If you are in any doubt about flying, pick up your wing and walk back.

photo by Graham Uden

Where do you like to fly?

On any given day, flying conditions vary across Hong Kong - I choose my location depending on the conditions. In the New Territories, I prefer to fly in Ma On Shan.

Otherwise Lantau is also a nice area to fly over.

The full course with Kit, which includes P1 (flying with other experienced flyers) and P2 (flying solo) is usually around $12,000. It can take anywhere from three months to a year to complete.

For more information, visit www.hongkongpilot.com, 91831885.

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photo by Kuno Mejina

feature

Mountain biking Owner of Crosscountry HK Steve Coward has been living and mountain biking (MTB) in Hong Kong for 19 years.

Three great trails Beginner: Tai Lam Chung Reservoir trail. The 13km loop starts at the Tai Lam Correctional Institution and gets harder towards the end, but you can leave at around the 10 kilometre mark and head to the Gold Coast for lunch.

Barely any of the 20 kilometre loop from Mui Wo is flat but it has some great coastal views.

Gear The minimum is a correctly fitting helmet. Gloves will protect your hands in the event of a spill. Leg and elbow pads are optional in entry level trails but should be worn when tackling faster downhill trails. Stores I visit regularly are Friendly Bicycle Shop (Mui Wo Waterfront), Sky Blue Bikes (Sheung Wan) and Flying Ball (Lai Chi Kok).

Intermediate: start in the same park up the hill at the Route Twisk entrance, either taking the Ho Pui Trail or the fast track option: MacLehose Road Stage Nine.

Expert: Chi Ma Wan Peninsula on Lantau Island.

Steve’s top pick for mountain biking High Junk Peak in Sai Kung is a worthy trail.

It’s more of an intermediate level trail and fairly short at that.

Most riders I know living in and around Sai Kung usually head out to Tai Lam Country Park which is home to the largest amount of MTB trails in the territory.

There’s a lot more variety - some easy trails, some really challenging. Around the bottom end is the Reservoir Trail which is fairly flat and beginner-friendly whilst deep within the park you have purpose-built, more challenging trails such as Ho Pui and Tsin Fu Tsai North.

Crosscountry HK offers skills training and guided rides using its own fleet of bikes. Typically, prices start at $1,150 for the first rider with additional riders coming in at $600. www.mtbhk.com, 6300 1980.

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Steve’s top five tips for MTB 1. Build your fitness. The fitter you are, the faster you can respond to changing terrain.

2. Start by riding on quiet roads uphill. Look ahead, between three metres and as far down the trail as you can see. This will give you more time to respond to hazards.

3. Be prepared. Tell someone your route and how long you’ll be gone. Know the basics, like how to fix a flat tyre and mend a broken chain.

4. Check your bike before every ride, covering essentials like tyres, brakes and steering.

5. A bike is only as good as its operator. Work on your skills and fitness long before upgrading. Nothing is more satisfying than passing a rider on a $70,000+ bike when you’re on a $2,000 secondhand steed!

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feature

Trail running Passionate trail runner and former Associate Editor for AsiaTrail magazine Nic Tinworth gives some helpful hints for those looking to put their best foot forward.

What do you like about trail running?

There is something soothing about being outdoors on the trails alone, free from the madness of the city and daily grind of life. It’s back to basics: one foot in front of the other. Repeat.

Three great trails Beginner: ‘Snake Alley’ aka Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path. A flattish contour path that starts off at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park and winds its way above Repulse Bay. Great views and not too technical. Just watch out for snakes.

Intermediate: Dragon’s Back. Be prepared to meet half of Hong Kong at the weekend.

Hong Kong Trail Section 8 goes up and over the Dragon (great for views and more technical climbs), but the contour path around the side is a great, flat run if you want to build speed.

Expert: The Twins. Not much ‘trail’ but technical and intense. Start at Parkview and finish in Stanley, or turn around when you hit the road for the infamous ‘Double Twins’.

Gear For shoes, go to a specialist trail running store like GoneRunning (www.gonerunning.hk) in Wan Chai or Action X in Sheung Wan for good advice. I also advise running with food and a hydration pack.

To connect to trail runners and discover new trails, join the HK Trail Runners meetup group, www.meetup.com/HKTrailRunners or join the Trail Running HK Facebook group.

Nic’s top five tips for trail running 1. Look straight ahead, about 10 feet ahead so you can see upcoming terrain.

2. Lift your feet slightly higher than normal to prevent tripping over roots and rocks.

3. Be courteous. Stay to the right; call out when passing if approaching people from behind.

4. Get a good pair of shoes. Shoes made for trail running have better support, stronger grip and last longer than regular road running shoes.

5. Play it safe. Tell someone where you are going and take a phone. Note the trail markers you pass so you can tell someone exactly where you are if you get hurt.

Surf SUP Tio Ching is a surf coach with Surf Hong Kong.

One-on-one lessons costs $800. Group lessons start from $350 per person for a group of eight or more. Equipment included, any additional equipment can be rented at an extra cost.

For more information, visit www.ateamedventures.com, 3482 3912.

Where are the best surfing spots in Sai Kung?

Tai Long Sai Wan located in the country park is great. The waves are long and gentle in the area. If you’re lucky, you can get a taste of a small tube. Plus it makes it more enjoyable to surf with beautiful scenery around you.

What about gear?

Different seasons call for different gear. You should always wear sunscreen when surfing.

During summer, a rash guard is useful. In winter, a full suit is needed as the water temperature can be quite cold. I recommend going to X-Game, East Swell and Island Wake to pick up some surfing gear.

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Tio’s top tips for surfing 1. Make sure you know the surfing spots in the area or ask experts before diving in.

2. Use and wear the right equipment for the right wave conditions. Eg: using a longer board for smaller waves.

3. To avoid disappointment and for your safety, check weather reports.

Recognise rips and currents.

4. Check your leash before surfing 5. Stay out of impact zones.

feature

Flyboarding One for fans of Back to the Future. It’s not quite a hoverboard, but pretty close. Ivan Lee, instructor at Flyboard HK, explains all.

What is flyboarding?

The flyboard, much like a snowboard or a wakeboard, is connected to a jet ski by a long hose. The water propulsion that usually powers the jet ski is diverted through the hose to the flyboard, lifting the rider out of the water. You can “steer” the board with your feet and by shifting your weight.

With experience, you can do fun manoeuvers.

The flyboard “captain” (on the jet ski) controls the

propulsion, which controls your height. Professional flyboarders can fly over 40 feet above the water.

Flyboard HK has a team of qualified instructors and offers introductory piloting courses for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced level training.

A 60-minute session ranges from $1,300-$1,500 depending on your choice of experience (Flyboard, Jetblade and Hoverboard). Lessons take place in Deep Water Bay. For more information, visit www.flyboard.com. hk, 9761 1232.

Seasoned swimmer Ian Polson runs the Open Water Swimmers of Hong Kong, a friendly group of swimming enthusiasts. Swimmers are split into three groups based on ability; newcomers must be able to swim two kilometres non-stop.

There is no joining fee but all swimmers must use a safety buoy (provided). On public holidays the group holds “adventures swims” in different locations. www.openwaterswimmershongkong.com Where are the best places to swim?

All southside beaches are great for open water swimming, though parts of Deep Water Bay seem to accumulate large amounts of floating rubbish due to tidal flow.

Open water swimming

What about gear?

Escapade Sports in Clearwater Bay has everything you need to get right into open water swimming, including safety buoys.

Ivan’s top five tips for flyboarding 1. ALWAYS listen to your instructor and follow their instructions.

2. Make sure your body and mind are relaxed.

3. Maintain the right posture to help you keep your balance.

4. Make slow adjustments with your feet and then wait for the board to move.

Little movements are exaggerated by the board, so move slowly into the turns.

5. Don’t look down. Look to the horizon.

Looking down will often mess up your balance.

What’s your advice to swimmers in Hong Kong?

When you swim in the open sea you must take nature as you find it. My advice is: 1. Never swim outside the shark net alone.

2. Always use a safety buoy to make yourself visible to any water craft.

3. Choose a route that will not clash with other activities such as sailing or rowing events.

4. Know your limitations and do not try to exceed them.

5. Be aware of tidal flow and hidden rocks.

6. Talk to experienced swimmers.

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feature

This is Sparta!

Spartan Race, the biggest mass obstacle course to hit Hong Kong, makes its debut on November 5 and 6 at Kam Tin Country Park in Yuen Long.

Featuring both an elite and open races, the Spartan Race has already seen more than eight million people worldwide tackle the gruelling courses.

While the elite races will see competitive athletes battle it out for prize money, the open races welcome participants of all abilities to challenge themselves and take on over 20 obstacles during the 6km course. Swinging ropes, spear throwing and crawling through muddy trenches are just a few of the obstacles for potential Spartans to overcome.

Participants for the open races can sign up for the morning, early or late afternoon race.

Tickets for the open race start from $790. Full details of the Hong Kong Spartan Race can be found at www.spartanrace.com.hk

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feature

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eating

Seasoned treasures

Trevor Ng at Pat Chun’s Mongkok branch

Annie Wong speaks to Trevor Ng, the Managing Director of soy sauce and vinegar maker Pat Chun.

How did the story of Pat Chun start?

Pat Chun was founded by my grandfather Ng Wai Sum in 1932. My great grandfather was a chef in Shun De, which was considered as the culinary capital of Guangdong Province.

My grandfather inherited a wealth of culinary knowledge from his dad but not enough money to open a restaurant or food factory, so my grandfather started brewing sauces and selling traditional snacks.

When did you join Pat Chun?

I was previously an engineer, designing energy efficient buildings around the world, including CIC ZCB - the first zero carbon building in Hong Kong. Pat Chun has been passed down three generations and I joined the family business three years ago when my father decided to retire. He joined the company in 1996. I hadn’t given it much thought until my dad told me he wanted to retire and asked me to consider taking over the family business.

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How has the business grown?

While we have become quite well known over the years, we still consider ourselves a niche specialty brewer. The market is dominated by big brands where products are heavily marketed and often “enhanced” with artificial flavours and colours. We target a particular gap in the sauce and condiment market.

What contributes to the success of the business?

I believe Pat Chun is successful because we make products that we want to use. We make artisanal sauces that are hand crafted through traditional fermentation.

What is your favourite part of working at Pat Chun?

Tasting sauces! Especially freshly filtered soy sauce. There is something about tasting the sauce on the roof under the dry autumn sun surrounded by the aroma of the beans.

What is the process of making sauces from start to finish?

It depends on the type of sauces we’re brewing - different sauces are made at different times of the year. We are one of the very few breweries that adhere to traditional seasonal fermentation - where we make use of the local climate and seasonal availability of ingredients to brew sauces. Take soy sauce for example, the fermentation takes about nine months from start to finish. The process starts in Spring, when we take advantage of the warm and humid climate to cultivate aspergillus moulds on the soy beans. After we have a good colony of moulds on the surface of the soybeans, they are transferred into large vats, the intense heat in the summer enables the breakdown of soybean proteins into amino acids.

Finally, the soy sauce is moved into ceramic containers on the roof of the factory, where the dry autumn sunshine ages the soy sauce

keeping up with the times

Pat Chun brewery in Kwai Chung in the 60s

Opening ceremony of a Pat Chun shop with Cantonese movie star Fung Bobo in 1960

giving it a rounded fragrance.

Brewing vinegar also follows a similar seasonal rhythm. We brew rice wine in the cooler winter months, and spend the summer months fermenting the rice wine into rice vinegar.

Soy sauce fermentation

Caption

Where are Pat Chun’s sauces made?

Our factory was originally in Kwai Chung, then we moved to Sai Kung and now we’re in Tseung Kwan O. We needed a customised brewery to continue with our specialised production. Our current factory in Tseung Kwan O allows us to follow traditional brewing and cooking techniques as well as keeping hygiene and efficiency factors in check.

Where are the ingredients sourced?

They are sourced from all around the world.

The idea is to find the best available in the market - we found Sakura shrimps in Japan, which took over six months of research, tasting, testing and analysing before we settled with what we currently use.

What is Pat Chun’s best seller?

Vinegars. Of all the fermented processes, vinegar brewing is perhaps the most demanding.

Which dishes utilise Pat Chun’s sauces?

We are perhaps most famous for our sweet vinegar which is used in cooking a pork knuckle and ginger stew. In Chinese culture,

Pat Chun shop in 1950

Traditional vinegar fermentation in 2016

new mothers are fed this dish to replenish nutrients that are lost during pregnancy as it is rich in calcium and protein. The stew is also distributed as a gift in celebration of the arrival of a newborn. Tradition and history give this delicacy a cultural significance that extends far beyond mere nourishment.

Are there any new projects for Pat Chun?

Yes. We aim to launch the Pat Chun Saucy Food Truck at the beginning of next year.

The food truck will showcase our traditional Hong Kong craft - heritage sauces and its relation to the city’s culinary past combined with the contemporary dining scene. This is done through demonstrating traditional and new usage of Chinese sauces - from quick bites to substantial take-out meals, desserts and drinks.

Are you working on any new sauces?

We’re always coming up with new sauces.

We value our customer’s suggestions, staff ideas, and our chef’s experience.

For more information, visit www.patchun.com

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eating

Nibbles

Cali-Mex set to open in the Square In response to this year’s Sai Kung Readers’ Choice Awards for Mexican food to be brought to Sai Kung, Cali-Mex will be opening in mid October. The Sai Kung branch will offer more spacious and comfortable seating and full table service. The menu will see new additions such as “off the grill” items which includes grilled rib eye steak, Australian chicken breast, and fish fillet, served with a choice of hand cut fries, salad or rice as a side. Plus the branch will have a bar area with a full cocktail, wine and spirit list.

22 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, cali-mex.com

November 5 in which he will share his tips on how to select and prepare the best hairy crab.

Lower Level, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, 2313 2323, www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

Hairy crab season Yan Toh Heen, InterContinental’s 2-Michelin star Cantonese restaurant, will celebrate hairy crab season with a special eight course menu.

The Shanghai Hairy Crab Feast Menu ($2,488 per person) will be available from October 14 till December 10. Dishes include crispy taro dumplings with seafood and hairy crabmeat roe and baked rice with hairy crabmeat and hairy crab roe. Special guest, Chef Wang Ho will present a hairy crab cooking class on

Japanese at The Peak Brought to you by the Epicurean Group, Fujiyama Mama has opened at The Peak. With beautiful views of Victoria Harbour, diners will be spoiled for choice with Fujiyama Mama’s Japanese western fusion cuisine. Using imported ingredients from Japan, the menu features a range of sashimi, sushi, salad and snacks, as well as staples like donburi, miso soup, curry and noodles. Desserts include yuzu cheesecake and green tea crème brûlée. Shop 4, Level 2, The Peak Tower, The Peak, 2870 0800, info@fujiyamamama.rocks

recipe

Cafe Deco reopens Cafe Deco has finally reopened on the twentieth floor of The ONE. The seafood grill restaurant’s new location offers great views across the harbour and of its former home, The Peak.

The 190-seat art deco interior includes an open oyster bar, lobster tank, tandoori oven and cocktail bar. In addition to signature dishes, diners can enjoy treats from the newly launched Patisserie - desserts, specialty cakes and gourmet gelato flavours, prepared by FAUCHON. 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, 2849 5111/2849 5188.

Fujiyama Mama at The Peak

forks at the ready

Roselle gala salad

Jacqueline Faulkner creates a salad with Roselle leaves.

A

super star in the Hibiscus family, Roselle takes very little effort to cultivate and maintain.

It bears beautiful dark red calyces, which have been made into soothing evening teas for centuries in Egypt.

Whilst we need to wait another month for its fruit to appear, we are making the most of this super plant’s leaves, with a cool refreshing salad. Many people are unaware that you can use Roselle leaves raw, and that it contains many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure. It is used widely in Myanmar and other parts of East Asia, as it grows abundantly and is easy to care for. Like its stunning calyces, the leaves and young shoots have a pleasantly tart yet fruity taste.

The Roselle leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as greens either on their own or with other leafy vegetables and meat.

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It’s a delicate and sweet salad, bursting with vitamins and fibre.

Method • Finely shred Roselle leaves.

• Cube your apples into small pieces and mix together.

• Sprinkle over pink salt • Grate the zest of a lime or lemon to give the salad a crisp bite

Ingredients • A generous handful of Roselle leaves • Lemon or lime zest (save the juice to add extra zing at the end right before you serve) • Two crunchy Pink Gala apples • Pink Himalayan salt (use Rose Pink Salt for an extra subtle layer of flavour) • Additional fresh mint if desired and grated radish

Jacqueline Faulkner is Community Manager at Hong Kong Permaclub which aims to improve and promote environmental sustainability, clean food and a healthy sustainable lifestyle in Hong Kong. For more information visit www.facebook.com/permaclub or email: info@permaclub.org

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sport

HKGTA arrives in Sai Kung Eric Ho takes a swing with the team behind the Academy.

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game, set, match

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H

sport

oping to take the sporting lifestyle in Hong Kong to the next level, the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA) soft launched at the end of September. The Academy spans a total of 76,200 sq meters, bringing together world-class golf and tennis facilities under one roof - a first in Hong Kong.

Accommodating the golf facilities and spearheading the coaching is the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf, a well-known academy in the USA. The Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf will provide bespoke training for juniors and adults in individual or group programmes.

“It’s a learning centre here, not a driving range. It’s all about learning”, said Billy Martin, Director of Golf at HKGTA. The star attraction for golf is the six-hole short course combined with 75 hitting stations spread over three floors. The course is carefully designed utilising slopes, sand pits and a water pond to create varying terrain - making it suitable for players of any ability. Each bay has its own automatic-feed golf ball system and lights allowing play even when the sun goes down.

The Academy also houses three coaching studios, each one kitted with high-tech equipment to track weight distribution, speed of the ball and other useful data for a more educational and in depth look at a player’s movements. There is also a nine-hole putting

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green and bunker for players to perfect their putting and chipping skills.

Stationed next door in the Sports House you will find the Academy’s tennis facilities; in total there are seven standard outdoor courts - two of which are of International Tennis Federation (ITF) standard, one indoor court also ITF standard, two children’s court and a padel court. As with the golf coaching studios, the tennis courts have been fitted with cameras for analysis giving coaches and players a visual way to further improve their game.

The padel court at HKGTA will be the very first padel court to exist in Hong Kong.

Whilst new to many around the world, padel has become a popular sport in Spain and has overtaken tennis as the second most popular sport.

HKGTA have brought in the Bruguera Tennis Academy - a Spanish system and another well known name in the sporting industry - to coach tennis. “We feel it is just as important to teach the feeling of tennis as it is to learn the techniques”, said Bastien Liveriou, Tennis Director at HKGTA. In addition, members who want to train late or those travelling in from abroad can rest assured that HKGTA will have accommodation within the grounds. Rooms will start from $2,000 per night, with the longest stay being a week. If you are travelling as a group from overseas this may be extended.

At soft launch only the golf and tennis facilities will be open but a gym, pool, botanical walk, butterfly garden, children’s play area and restaurants will all be coming once HKGTA officially launches in the first week of December.

Memberships will start at $80,000 per year with a two year minimum contract. If that’s still not enough golf and tennis, you can opt in for the lifetime membership for a cool $1 million.

For more information, visit www.hkgta.com

Coaches Billy Martin Director of Golf Billy has spent over 30 years teaching and coaching players around the globe from the US, Korea, Japan and China. His love for golf alongside his bubbly character is a perfect reflection of his coaching philosophy, ‘mastering the fundamentals but also to enjoy and have fun’.

Bastien Liveriou Director of Tennis Before relocating to Hong Kong, Bastien worked alongside Luis Bruguera touring with ATP, WTA and ITF players. Bastien has 12 years of sports management experience under his belt and before joining Bruguera he was the Director of the Justine Henin Tennis Academy in Beijing.

game, set, match

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education

Westside story

Rebecca Simpson finds out more about West Island School’s modern assessment approach.

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W

est Island School (WIS) is renowned in Hong Kong - its strong academic and sporting record stretches back over twenty years. This year, it welcomes a new a new head-of-school, Chris Sammons, who replaces popular former principal, Jane Foxglove.

The school was originally founded in 1991, at which time it housed its initial 80-odd students in the old military hospital on Borrett Road, Mid-levels. In 1994, it moved into its current purpose-built campus on Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam, with the steep slopes of Mount Davis to one side and the East Lamma Channel to the other.

Currently, WIS is an ESF secondary school, providing an enquiry based education for children aged 11-19 years old. The school offers students IGSCE (year 10) and IB Diploma (year 13) qualifications upon graduation. Like many Hong Kong schools, WIS has a waiting list for all year levels, but in positive news, the list does see active movement and those seeking places are usually accommodated in good time.

Sammons, fresh from the UK, has inherited a legacy of excellence - West Island School boasts an impressive average IB score that is six points ahead of the world average those of us parents who are mathematically challenged will need two hands to count the number of perfect IB scorers the school has produced each year.

Lesser men would be nervous, but he seems energised rather than intimidated while he speaks about his new role, gazing out beyond the Pok Fu Lam cemetery and across the water. He may have big shoes to fill, but this new challenge comes with an impressive view, so it’s not all bad.

“My vision for West Island School is for it to become world leading,” he muses. “There’s no magic to that, it’s about relationships between staff and students, about high quality pastoral care, about the high aspiration and having the best-trained teachers in the world who can enable students to take on their own learning.”

The IB results are impressive. But it’s the university acceptance rate that really speaks to the power of the school’s approach - 98% of WIS students are accepted into their first university choice.

education “That achievement comes from really knowing our learners well, and building on the relationships we have with them so they can perform to their best,” explains Sammons. He also credits the team at the school’s dedicated careers centre.

My vision for West Island School is for it to become world leading.

All schools would claim to have a relationship with each student, so what makes the WIS approach so unique and effective?

It’s a combination of getting to know students before they enter the school system, and the intimate in-school tutor group system that ensures each student is given ample personal time with a single, dedicated teacher throughout each school year.

“We get to know the learners even before they join us,” explains Sammons. “That’s about relationships with the primary schools (most learners come from Kennedy School), understanding them in Year Six, knowing where their skills and talents are.”

Once the school year has started, each child is afforded personal time with a dedicated teacher on a regular basis. This happens in two formats – daily in the student’s tutor group, a small session of up to 16 students that starts each school day. And, in regular 1:1 sessions with their tutor who then becomes a single

point of contact for that student.

Principal Sammons shares, “There’s a daily conversation being had with each student about the things they need to do and even about what happened overnight. Are they prepared for the day?” This is supported by a 1:1 program in which young people will have three or four individual, structured conversations with their tutor on a Monday afternoon. “It’s a thorough conversation that takes over an hour. The tutor will talk about their learning, where their strengths are, talk about any difficulties. They also receive information from subject teachers.”

From this ongoing, structured monitoring, each student is challenged with his or her own “high challenge, easy access learning path”, ensuring their needs are being met and their best results are being achieved. WIS also offers a learning centre for additional learning support to those who need special resources. The school has resources for over 20 students with moderate learning difficulties.

A modern assessment approach Those parents who shudder at the thought of tests will be happy to know that school assessments have evolved since we were at school. WIS is no exception, they’ve moved well away from the formal assessment structure once embraced by schools and now offer ongoing, individual assessments for each learner.

“The school has moved away from this sense of being assessed at the end of term, each of the faculties assess the child when it needs to be done,” explains Sammons. While this might seem unconventional to some parents, he assures that WIS parents are

Individual relationships matter It’s important to note that perfect IB scores aren’t the be-all-and-end-all of university acceptance. There’s a wind of change affecting foreign student applications – perfect grades, while always influential, are becoming less important to selectors.

So, how does WIS achieve results like this?

The short answer is: relationships.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 43

education

School Report

Established: 1991 Number of students: 1220 Class size: Year 7-9: 25-30, GCSE 16 and Post 16: 3-12 Curriculum: 1WIS Diploma Year 7-9, iGCSE Year 10-11, IB Year 12-13 Fees 2016/2017: $115,700 Year 7-11 and $121,500 Year 12-13 (Paid over 10 months) Non refundable capital levy: For a student joining in Year 7: $26,000 For a student joining in Year 12: $7,500 Address: West Island School, 250 Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam Tel: 2819 1962

very well informed. “As a parent, you have an ongoing report that happens via our website throughout the whole year.”

This ongoing information builds into a significant portfolio of information about each child, “At the end of the year, you might have up to forty pieces of information that have come to you. It’s a much more formative conversation that’s happening,” he concludes.

Fuelling the thinking economy with science, design and technology “It’s the most exciting time for education and technology. Technology is now empowering education, particularly Google Drive, Google Classroom and Google Apps.” Says Principal Sammons. The collaborative nature of these technologies, he explains, allows teachers to set tasks, then monitor children as they build up their knowledge. In this way, students own their learning, while teachers can interrupt or extend that learning at the right moment.

“There’s been a huge investment in technology,” says Sammons, sharing the school has sighted a sweet spot for the future curriculum where technology, the arts and ICT computing meet, in a space where design concepts of the future can be explored. Many of the science and tech facilities at WIS have

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with a unique policy that mandates students to participate in an arts subject for their IB studies (with some student exceptions). “We expect our students to choose a subject in the arts. Other schools don’t expect that, but we do. It’s of central importance to the curriculum”.

He cites a UK study that shows the vast majority (80%) of arts graduates go on to leadership positions in business, “It’s about development of creative skills and effective communication,” he says.

been given a refresh this summer, ready to inspire an eager new generation of WIS students.

Embracing the arts “The arts also have a very long tradition at West Island School. We have a performance group called Circle in the Water. Drama delivers some of the best results in the school, we believe the arts has a central importance – they develop confidence, communications skills, but most importantly it’s about the creativity.”

Sammons believes strongly in the power of a liberal arts education for success, explaining that WIS is one of few schools

Strength in sport WIS is also renowned for its sporting success. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool that hosts a 7am WIS swimming club session frequented by visiting alumni; three outdoor facilities; and a dance studio. Neighbouring Hong Kong University generously allows WIS students access to its sporting facilities.

WIS has proudly brought home the city’s coveted BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl prize, a series of sports accolades bestowed to students and schools by the Hong Kong School Sports Federation. WIS footballing families are now very excited that the school has welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ronaldo Football Academy, the first one to come to Hong Kong.

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WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 45

big day out

Relaxed lakeside vibes at Tai Lam Chung Rory Mackay heads to the lake of a thousand islands.

T

he western New Territories is not an area famed for its natural wonders, but it has a few hidden gems worth uncovering.

If you fancy exploring a natural world that most folks don’t know about within Hong Kong, then a day trip out to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir might be in order. Located in the hills between Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, it is a region as unknown as it is remote. However, the area is easily accessible via public transport and totally worth the effort to reach. Life moves at a different pace at Tai Lam Chung, the locals are as relaxed as they come in Hong Kong.

It rubs off quickly and once here, you certainly won’t be in a rush to leave. The area has an abundance of family friendly walks.

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The more intrepid can venture to the higher peaks of Tai Lam and Tai Mo Shan Country Parks.

The simplest way in (other than driving) is to head into the western New Territories on the MTR West Rail Line, disembarking at Tuen Mun Station. From there, ride the number 43 minibus, which departs roughly every 20 minutes, or catch a taxi to ‘So Kwun Wat Tsuen’. Hop off the bus at the end of its route and continue along the sealed road in a northerly direction. It’s easy going.

Passing through tranquil surroundings and a few small farms, you soon climb up to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. Built in 1957, the Reservoir is often referred to as “the lake of a thousand islands”. Once an open valley with many small

hills, now flooded it has created a stunning freshwater archipelago that sets it apart from all other reservoirs in Hong Kong. This lake became the focal point of Tai Lam Country Park upon the park’s creation in 1979 and the shores serve as a good starting point for many different walking routes. The easiest of these circumnavigates the reservoir and provides a scenic stroll, suitable for families. Simply follow MacLehose Trail Stage 10 and walk a return route to So Kwun Wat, or finish in the nearby village of Tai Lam Chung Tsuen.

For those who fancy more of a challenge, then there are various trails up and over the surrounding hillsides offering superb vistas over Tai Lam Country Park and across the sea to Lantau in the south. Additionally, there are a

big day out

few watercourses flowing into the reservoir that feature small waterfalls, worth checking out.

Walking around the lake can take anywhere from one hour to an entire day depending on your route. This flexibility makes it a suitable place to visit in the warmer months of late summer and early autumn. If visiting later in autumn, keep an eye out for the lovely red and orange shades of the many maple trees in the area. Once a part of Hong Kong that suffered from a lot of erosion, the last five decades have seen the area transformed amid mass afforestation.

Return travel is fairly simple, more or less the same way as when you came in from So Kwun Wat. Unless you complete the route all the way around the lake - in which case you can

find transport at Tai Lam Chung village to Tuen Mun or the HK Gold Coast.

This far-flung corner of Hong Kong has an incredible amount on offer for those who enjoy venturing into the wild; a day trip here serves up an insight into Hong Kong’s past and the full scope of her landscape. Escaping to Tai Lam Chung provides a peaceful retreat for those wishing to find space for reflection or satisfy a burning urge of wanderlust.

Rory Mackay runs adventure company Wild Hong Kong. For details, visit www.wildhongkong.com

Tai Lam Chung Reservoir is a region as unknown as it is remote.

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travel

The best exotic Maeping Hotel

David Armstrong recounts his journey to build a hotel and restaurant in northern Thailand.

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travel

I

t was a little idea that grew. When my then-girlfriend Nichapa told me, eight years ago, her dream was to build and run a small restaurant by the river in her northern Thailand hometown of Kamphaeng Phet, it made sense.

Nichapa, who is now my wife (my Australian wife Deb died in 2001), is an excellent and innovative cook. And I was coming to the end of my full-time career, having worked in media in Australia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

It also made sense to build a home alongside the business. And a small resort, to feed customers into the restaurant.

In my mind’s eye, it would be like a Western motel with a restaurant attached, and a holiday home.

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travel

After: Maeping Mango Riverside Resort lies on a gentle bend in the Ping River.

Before work started.

We finally opened last November: a large restaurant with additional outdoor seating in a riverside garden; a hotel (properly registered) with 10 large rooms; and a two-storey, four bedroom house.

It is all spread over 0.65ha of land by the Ping River in historic Kamphaeng Phet, a town 350 km north west of Bangkok with a World Heritage listing for its ancient temples - one of Thailand’s little gems.

The project grew because we had a lot of time to think about it, to talk about it and to plan.

I had come to Bangkok in 2005, having been group editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post, to run Post Publishing, the Bangkok Post company. That job would end in 2008 but I spent the next two years as a consultant to Post Publishing and the two after that as chairman of Post Media, the Phnom Penh Post company.

That meant we did not get started on the design and building work until 2013.

We had bought the land in 2008. It is on a gentle bend in the Ping River, which flows from Chiang Mai towards Bangkok. One of the

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features is a giant mango tree that some people say is over 200 years old.

The tree is a local landmark and held by many living nearby to house the spirits that protect the land and those who live on it.

They rub it with powder and try to make out numbers to use when buying lottery tickets.

They seem to have a reasonable strike rate.

The location and the tree gave us the name for the project: Maeping Mango Riverside Resort.

The land is at the end of a small lane that is officially a public road but originally was just a bush track. To get up and down it in the wet season, we sold Nichapa’s hatchback and bought a pick-up truck.

We had the land cleared and leveled. In the process we had to remove a number of trees, we used the wood to build tables for the resort.

In 2013 we called in a design team and gave them a brief, inspired by the blend of Thai and European styles seen in Bangkok and Hua Hin in the reigns of Kings Rama V and Rama VI (100 years or so ago).

The hotel design is based on the aide-decamp’s home at Maruekhathaiyawan Palace (the Summer Palace, by the beach in Hua Hin) built

by King Rama VI in 1923. Like the palace, it is built on piers.

Building started late in 2013. We rented a room in a small resort and Nichapa lived there much of the time so she could supervise the project. I still had things to do in Bangkok and spent about half my time in Kamphaeng Phet.

The start of building was accompanied by a colourful ceremony to call on the spirits that dwell on the land to protect all who would live on it.

They rub it with powder and try to make out numbers to use when buying lottery tickets.

travel

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 51

For the first few months things went well.

The builders by and large were experienced, competent and helpful and the construction manager knew his job.

But after about nine months, he suddenly withdrew – for reasons that remain unclear to me. We also lost a few workers as we thought the former manager was responsible for paying them that month.

It was our biggest setback but Nichapa overcame it: she became the full-time project manager, drawing on her training as an accountant and her experience as a logistics officer with two international IT companies.

From the start she had been in charge of purchasing materials such as roof tiles and bathroom fittings and was a familiar figure in home ware stores in Bangkok, Kamphaeng Phet and nearby Nakhon Sawan. Now she bought everything: if the workers wanted a box of nails or a can of paint, she bought it.

She hired work teams, briefed them and supervised their work. She made sure they were all paid on time. She designed bathrooms and built-ins. She oversaw the paving of the old bush track, complete with street lighting.

And she turned a bare clay field into a beautiful garden, with trees in the outdoor dining area draped in sparkling coloured lights.

My role was to discuss the ideas with Nichapa, then let her implement them.

Sometimes I made helpful suggestions, such as “The garden must be beautiful” or “We should have coloured lights in the trees.”

There were glitches, of course. One concerned roof tiles. The tiles are of a style used 100 years ago and are difficult for current-day tilers to install. Nichapa solved the problem by tracking down an expert in Kanchanaburi province, 120km west of Bangkok.

We discovered the biggest glitch when a company from Bangkok was putting in the restaurant kitchen. The electricity cable that ran across the resort to the kitchen was of a domestic specification, not commercial. That mistake cost an extra THB130,000.

And there was one problem I simply did not expect. Maeping Mango is on the edge of a small town halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and surrounded by farmland, yet we were struck by a plague of street-pecker pigeons. A little like London.

They like to roost on the tallest building around. In our neighbourhood, this is our house.

They were making quite a mess on the roof.

We called in a company that ran an electric wire around the edges of the roofing, to give the birds a slight but not-so-pleasant shock when they landed. That was an extra THB80,000.

We had originally hoped to open in time for Songkran festival in April last year but as we were doing it all ourselves we decided to take everything slowly and carefully. We put off the

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The giant mango tree.

David and Nichapa.

opening until Loy Krathong, the romantic festival celebrated every November – this also gave the garden a full wet season to settle in and grow.

before Loy Krathong. The initial response to the restaurant was overwhelming, so much so that the kitchen could not keep up with it for the first few days. Now it is running smoothly and the restaurant business is good. The hotel business is slower but we have not been pushing it. As we came to realise, the restaurant – the original idea – was destined to be the bigger business.

My plan had been to spend half my time at Maeping Mango and half in Bangkok. Since then, I have grown eight years older and communications have become eight years better.

So I spend most of my time in Kamphaeng Phet, acting a little like a chairman to Nichapa as chief executive, to use a corporate analogy.

I have breakfast on the veranda, watching the river flow by and the sun rise over the treetops. At night, I sit at a table by the river and eat some of the best Thai food available anywhere.

The idea that seemed to make sense in 2008 makes even more sense now.

There was one problem I simply did not expect.

Many people ask if we came in on budget.

The answer is: which budget? We had three – the official one according to the quotes; an unofficial one, adjusted for where we thought the quotes were too optimistic; and a third one, where we tried to estimate costs we could not know precisely, mainly those related to outfitting the rooms and the restaurant. We came in close to the third budget.

We opened on November 24, the day

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health & beauty

Fragarttarnatction

Esther Chan spends an intoxicating afternoon at Le Labo’s boutique perfumery.

I Marco is mixing my fragrance!!!

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watched intently as little by little my bottle transformed into a fully-fledged Le Labo perfume. My mood lifted as my sense of smell was stimulated. My visit to the perfumery was, by any account, an enchanting experience.

Le Labo’s Star Street store in Wan Chai has a refreshingly simple interior design where natural wood fixtures and fittings and leather chairs give the impression of a modest laboratory or apothecary from days of old.

Founded in 2006 in New York, Le Labo has become renowned around the world for its collection of handmade perfumes. Each step of making a bottle goes through what the brand calls the “soulful power of thoughtful hands”.

I got the chance to witness the ‘thoughtful hands’ in action on my afternoon visit.

health & beauty

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 55

health & beauty The experimental nature of Le The various bottles have very simple Labo sparked my interest in trying labels to derive their contents my hand at making my own the perfumes are named jasmine flower perfume. While I was slightly ylang ylang after their principal disappointed to learn that essence with a customers are not able to number illustrating request a bespoke formula, the number of I quickly understood ingredients. Le Labo why – experts spend has also designed years testing ingredients nine perfumes and developing scent that make up its “City combinations to find Exclusive” collection. These winning formulas. And it fragrances are only available in the must be said: not being able Le Labo store of that country and not at any to create your own original perfume certainly of its other stores worldwide. doesn’t mean you can’t On my visit, Le Labo’s Brand Ambassador, have fun!

Marco, showed me how to make a bottle of signature scent Rose 31. From an almightily stocked fridge, Marco uses a pipette to extract the right amount of essence from each bottle to a large flask, one drop at a time. The weighing of each scent was precise and an exact measure of water and alcohol followed before the container was sealed and spun lila iris - an essential step to ensure the ingredients red rose settle properly. Et voilà, a perfect bottle of Rose The 31 is born. This “souls”, a cute word for the store’s so-called “formulate-toperfumers, encourage customers order” perfume takes five days to put aside any assumptions for all of its ingredients to blend and preferences and “play with before use, but the wait seems the juices”, which essentially well worth it given the fragrance means having a good sniff of has a three year use-by date. sandalwood orange flower every bottle and taking in the I was amazed by the unique scents. complexity of each scent and The perfumes in Le Labo’s classic ingredient that I tested. The top each customer can request a personalised label collection are built around main ingredients and base notes could differ substantially, and a printed on the spot with the production date, including bergamot, rose, vetiver, neroli, orange perfume tester strip from six hours earlier gave location and even a specific name and short blossom, patchouli, iris, ambrette, jasmine, a noticeably deeper and elegant aroma. message. On my visit, a customer purchased labdanum, agarwood, While customers are not able to a bottle of Vetiver 46 as an anniversary present sandalwood, ylang make their own concoctions, with a thoughtful personalised label. ylang and lily.

As impressed as I was by Le Labo’s unique perfumes, I was also heartened by the human touch offered by the team. Witnessing the handwritten cards personally prepared by the “souls” added to each customer’s purchase, it’s gratifying to see that some good old fashioned customer care hasn’t completely been lost in our busy city.

my favourrite flowe

lily flower 56 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

health & beauty

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pets & creatures

Oriental reed CREATU warbler RES

ASK...

aka Acrocephalus orientalis.

DR.ANDERS Pets Central veterinarian Dr. Anders Kulhavy answers your questions.

Q: “I enjoy hiking with my dog. What should I do if we are out hiking and he gets bitten by a snake?”

- Natalia, Pok Fu Lam

Each year, many migratory birds winter in Hong Kong from midOctober to the following February.

One such bird is the oriental reed warbler. This large-sized reed warbler (20cm on average) is common in reed marshes and shrublands and lives on a diet of insects and small invertebrates.

Unlike most other reed warblers, it is not secretive or hard to see. Its song combines warbling phrases and guttural, croaking notes.

Hong Kong’s oldest reedbed bird on record is an Oriental reed warbler.

Spotted at the Mai Po Nature Reserve last October, the bird had completed its eleventh migration

58 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

between breeding sites in Northern China and Japan and wintering grounds in South East Asia.

The total distance is equivalent to travelling around Earth twice.

The Mai Po Nature Reserve is a crucial way station for migratory birds. Over 380 bird species have been spotted there since the WWF took over its management in 1983.

To visit, sign up for a guided tour at www.wwf.org.hk/en/ getinvolved/gomaipo.

Where to find them in Hong Kong: only found in Mai Po from autumn to spring.

A: Hong Kong has several types of poisonous snakes (vipers, cobras, kraits, corals) and many that aren’t poisonous, so try to snap a photo if you can do so safely. This will help determine if antivenom is needed and, if so, what type.

First aid would be aimed at controlling pain but that may be hard to do while out hiking.

Carry your pet to avoid further circulation of the venom and keep him or her hydrated with water if possible. Neither tourniquets, nor trying to “suck out” the venom are recommended.

The most important thing to do is get to the nearest vet clinic as soon as possible. Even if antivenom isn’t available they can start IV fluids and pain control to keep your pet comfortable until further care.

Antivenom is not necessary in all snake bite cases. It depends on the snake, the volume of venom (some are dry bites) and the symptoms.

Some snakebites cause local pain, inflammation and tissue destruction; others cause abnormalities in blood clotting; some contain a neurotoxin which is highly lethal.

The amount of time between toxin exposure and receiving antitoxin is probably the most important factor, so don’t delay receiving treatment. Lack of pain and swelling doesn’t mean it wasn’t a venomous bite.

Don’t take any chances with a snake bite, seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Got a question for Dr. Kulhavy? Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

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WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 63

vines in sai kung

stephen says...

You’ve been disconnected

The use of the English language, Small House Policy scandals, and ongoing troubles with PCCW, writes Stephen Vines.

Nam Ping Wai village site has been apart of a string of Small House Policy scandals

The voters who were ignored during the LegCo election The 2016 LegCo election is done and dusted but I am loath to let it pass without noting that most candidates standing in the NT East Constituency, which embraces Sai Kung, made little or no effort to communicate with non-Chinese reading voters.

So, just for the record, let me first of all thank the candidates who made an effort to communicate. The most comprehensive effort was made by the Civic Party’s Alvin Yeung and Sumly Chan, who were respectively running in the local and super district seats; more or less all their campaign material was bi-lingual. The Democratic Party’s Lam Cheuk-ting and James To made a minor effort in this respect but it was less than that of former Democrat Gary Fan, now a NeoDemocrat. The Labour Party, which has a strong record for working with non-indigenous communities, did little to keep them informed of Fernando Cheung and Kwok Wing-kin’s election platform.

But what of Hong Kong’s biggest and best funded party, the DAB? Its candidates, Holden Chow and Elizabeth Quat, offered a few headlines in English but nothing more. The irrepressible Long Hair or Leung Kwok-hung, provided a quote in English from the black radical Eugene Debs for us to feast on but offered no other clues as to his platform. Eunice Yung, from the New People’s Party supplied a bit of light relief by telling voters she had been ‘listening tentatively to the needs of different people’, maybe that’s why so many different

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people decided not to vote for her. The Liberal Party’s Dominic Lee, who is mainly in the progovernment camp, made a more substantive effort to explain where he stood, while People’s Power Raymond Chan told us to look up his website for a bit of English.

As for the rest of the candidates, the effort to use the Hong Kong SAR’s other official language in their campaign literature and posters obviously involved far too much effort, a stricture that, surprisingly applied to a candidate such as Christine Fong, who has, in the past, made an effort.

A record 22 candidate lists vied for nine seats in our constituency, 13 of them made zero effort to use English to explain their positions in the government-published ‘Introduction to Candidates’, however two candidates, Raymond Chan of People’s Power and Leung Chung-hang of Youngspiration, made up the deficit of an absence of English in their campaign material by publishing bi-lingual statements in this booklet.

Five of the eight candidates in the area’s so-called super constituency only addressed Chinese reading voters, this included James To from the Democratic Party as well as Wong Kwok-hing from the large HKFTU trade union group.

I am not suggesting that the lack of English usage should be a primary reason for supporting or not supporting a candidate but politics is supposed to be about the business of communication and so maybe the courtesy of communication could also be spread to minority communities.

Maybe it’s a reprieve for Sai Kung, maybe not There is good news and bad news from Paul Chan, the secretary responsible for development and planning (don’t laugh). Last month he gave a blitz of interviews in which he made it clear that the government was going to do absolutely nothing about the scandal of the Small House Policy, mainly because fixing it was too hard and because, in his own words, ‘time is on our side’. That translates as meaning he is crossing his fingers, hoping for divine intervention. So, that’s the bad news.

The good news is that he does not have the Sai Kung district in his sights for one of those ghastly government development programmes.

Unfortunately we are not home and dry here because the government continues to target parts of the district for despoliation.

No other close contenders for the Worst Service Company in Sai Kung award Last month I wrote about how my PCCW service breaks down on average every six weeks. It now appears that this lack of service is just not enough for the company that regards Sai Kung as a captive market where it not only provides substandard internet connections but also cares little whether the system actually works because the suckers, a.k.a. the customers, are forced to pay whether or not they receive a service. Last month following an outage it took just a week before the broadband lines went AWOL. That meant going through the entirely useless ‘customer service’ procedure of pressing many buttons on the telephone followed by waiting, waiting and more waiting. Then there are promises that someone will call back, this, of course, does not happen so you start the process all over again.

When a technician finally arrived (a mere two days and four hours late) he announced that my line had limited capacity, making it hard to run internet broadband and the NOW TV service at the same time. His solution: talk to a PCCW salesman, presumably not the person who sold me these services without mentioning that they could not be delivered.

Stephen Vines is a journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur.

He is the former editor of the Eastern Express and Southeast Asia correspondent for The Observer.

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