Local

Bishop Hill reservoir restored

The public called for reservation of the century-old underground reservoir in Sham Shui Po. Katrina Lau reports

A Romanesque underground reservoir was discovered late last year, while undergoing a demolition project by the Water Supplies Department. The reservoir, known as Bishop Hill’s current site, was planned to be taken down and repurposed for water supply usage.

Located near Shek Kip Mei in Sham Shui Po, the Bishop Hill service reservoir was first recorded in 1904. The cavernous chamber features a 4,300 square feet underground area with hundreds of brick pillars, water pipes and stylistic arches.

The dismantling of the reservoir didn’t catch any attention until images online sparked publicity. Citizens alerted district councillors while hikers and photographers flocked to the site for photos.

The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors along with several members of the Antiquities Advisory Board urged officials to engage the public on preservation plans and recover the demolished parts. Inside the building site, metal fences and pieces of broken brick were found.

Most did not know what the reservoir looked like underneath the surface and the latest images on social media unveiled the fascinating architecture and preservation sentiments. Both the public and local historians voiced their concern for the latest unearthed relic, stating that Bishop Hill reservoir is a one-of-a-kind discovery.

While reservoirs in Hong Kong were built after World War II, a water pipe in the cistern was found to be labelled ‘1909’, marking the reservoir as a pre-war artefact.

Amidst the public’s objections, the Water Supplies Department has called off the demolition. Meanwhile, officials have also started recovering structures. The Antiquities and Monuments Office has sent staff to the site for preliminary inspection and assessment in order to explore preservation plans.

Paul Chu Hoi-shan, an architect and member of the Antiquities Advisory Board, says “it’s a positive thing that people are concerned about antiquities and monuments in our city. Such valuable monuments should not be left unseen and destructed untold.”

Conservationists and heritage-minded citizens hope that the government will come up with a transparent plan to preserve the monumental site. As further stabilisation work is needed before the site can be opened to the public. The department warns citizens to not trespass due to safety reasons.

Going gaga over our winners

You voted, we counted. Presenting the first-ever Parent & Baby Awards, celebrating the brands and people who make parenting a breeze, as Gemma Shaw discovers

Life as a new parent is overwhelming. Honestly, I didn’t understand the full extent of this statement until I actually became a parent. What to buy, what to not buy, when to wean, how to get them to sleep… There are a million different questions that new parents ask themselves, and a million different answers. That’s why we’ve created Hong Kong’s very first Parent & Baby Awards with the aim of celebrating the brands that make parenting a little bit easier. The following pages celebrate the winners of 16 categories voted for online by our readers.

Best sustainable brand

Retykle

This much-loved online store founded by Hong Kong expat Sarah Garner focuses on buying and selling high-end, second hand children’s clothing from top brands including Bonpoint, Jacadi and Ralph Lauren. After having her first child, Sarah recognised that raising little tykes can be costly and hard on the environment. She opened Asia’s first online trading platform for parents to buy and sell children’s clothes. Shoppers can enjoy up to 90 percent off original clothing prices. Retykle now has a permanent store in Wong Chuk Hang.

retykle.com

Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong

Located in Wong Chuk Hang, Gleneagles offers an incredibly modern and spacious environment for expectant and postpartum mothers to relax and recover. The hospital is well-known for its high-quality, accessible healthcare services as well as transparent pricing. For example, throughout 2020, Gleneagles offered a very popular cappedfee package to provide a solution for parents who didn’t want to take the public route during the pandemic. Gleneagles is also the only private hospital in Hong Kong to join the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative which promotes and supports breastfeeding.

gleneagles.hk

Best familyfriendly club

Maggie & Rose

Dreamt up by Maggie Bolger and Rose Astor back in London in 2006, Maggie & Rose is a modern family private members’ club which offers a unique and creative space for children to play, in surroundings that appeal to grown ups too. Since its opening, Maggie & Rose has grown to include two Hong Kong locations – Repulse Bay and Causeway Bay. Kids are spoilt for choice with an outdoor play area, movie room, soft play and creative classes which include cooking with real chefs, listening to jazz and getting messy on canvases.

hk.maggieandrose.com

Best nursery furniture brand

Indigo Kids

Home furnishing retailer and interior design service provider Indigo Living has been leading the way in interior trends across Asia and the Middle East for the last 30 years. It’s dedicated children’s line, Indigo Kids offers a range of high-quality, safe, fun and educational furniture, accessories, décor and gifts for children’s bedrooms. indigo-living.com

Mustela

With 70 years of skincare experience, mums know they are in safe hands with Mustela. The brand uses natural ingredients such as avocado, olives and plum oil to create its unique range of creams and oils. With a focus on pregnant women and babies, Mustela offers a range of everyday essentials, from nipple cream to shower gel to cater to you and your child’s every need. mustela.hk

Best baby food brand

Piccolo

British baby food brand Piccolo engages a diverse team of midwives, fitness experts, writers and researches to ensure that their products are always ahead of the game. While the team are huge supporters of home cooking, they realise that there are days when preparing food on-the-go simply isn’t possible, that’s where these organic, nutritionist-approved, super tasty meals and snacks come in. Find them online at Baby Central.

mylittlepiccolo.com

Best online retailer

Baby Central

Baby Central was created by two mums who wanted to spend more time with their babies and less time running around the shops. The online store stocks everything you’ll need for a baby under one roof. As well as clothing from brands such as Aden + Anais, Love To Dream and Baby Hero, the store stocks books, toys from brands such as Lamaze, maternity wear and a huge range of feeding supplies. For orders over $450, Baby Central offers same day or next day delivery along with free local shipping to many areas in Hong Kong.

babycentral.com.hk

Best sleeping product

Naked Lab

After her daughter Pia was diagnosed with eczema in 2018, Hong Kong-based founder of Naked Lab, Joyce Lau went on the hunt for organic bedding to help ease her daughter’s skin irritation. Following an unsuccessful search, she decided to take matters into her own hands and hence Naked Lab was born. The company specialises in creating the softest vegan bamboo silk sheets and bedding sets for adults and children. Having welcomed her baby boy last month, this award could not have come at a better time. Congratulations Joyce. nakedlab.me

COVER STORY

Best baby fashion brand

Raph & Remy

After spotting a gap in the market for high quality, sustainable baby products, this Singaporeanbased husband and wife duo decided to create their own brand offering personalised premium bamboo baby essentials and gifts including swaddles, headbands and bibs. The brand is extremely environmentally conscious working with leading eco-friendly textile manufacturers in Asia and using only organically grown bamboo. In 2019, Raph & Remy partnered with global charity The Red Pencil Humanitarian Mission to help provide art therapy to low-income families.

raphandremy.com

Out-and-About Gift Set

Best innovative product

Cotton Pigs

After having her daughter, travel junkie and avid hiker Stephanie Zhu began searching for ways to pack light with a baby-in-tow. She looked for multipurpose, minimalist outfits for her daughter that looked cute. Taking matters into her own hands, Zhu soon created a line of fun, versatile, reservable baby clothing made from the softest organic cotton in hand-picked adorable prints.

With urban parents in mind, the brand has grown and caters to a worldwide market looking for a stylish-yet-minimalist approach to dressing their children. Sizes currently cater for newborn to 48 months. cottonpigs.com

Ergobaby Carrier Omni 360 Baby Carrier

With humidity in Hong Kong high most of the year, parents need a carrier that is lightweight, breathable and comfortable. Ergobaby’s Carrier Omni 360 Baby Carrier ticks all these boxes and more, this all-in-one, newborn ready carrier offers all carry positions and is suitable for babies from newborn to 48 months. ergobaby.com

Best baby stroller

Silver Cross

In 1877, Silver Cross’ founder William Wilson invented the world’s first baby carriage. Today, Silver Cross is Britain’s oldest nursery brand and continues to lead the way in nursery furniture and pram design, using traditional methods of supreme quality and craftsmanship. Visit Silver Cross’ flagship store in K11 Musea to browse their range of modern prams, car seats, furniture, babywear and bedding and see the world’s oldest surviving baby carriage, crafted by William Wilson in 1878. silvercrossbaby.com

Best playmat

Momomi

As a mother of two and a design and brand consultant, Gigi Ng knows a thing or two about entertaining children in style. Her Momomi Soft Touch Tatami Mat has been popular among parents around the world since its launch three years ago. Taking inspiration from the Japanese tatami mat, Ng was able to create a stylish and sophisticated multipurpose playmat. Through close collaboration with local communities, each mat is ethically produced and provides a sustainable income for female artisans.

momomijapan.com

COVER STORY Best for newborn essentials

Bimbo Concept

With a background in fashion, Bimbo Concept founder Elaine So-Girardi noticed that Hong Kong was lacking in high quality children’s stores after the birth of her two children. She launched Bimbo Concept in 2018 to fill this void and bring curation of design and high quality products to families with children. Each item is hand selected to ensure it meets the ‘Bimbo Concept’ standard of style, quality and sustainability and a focus on minimal Scandinavian aesthetic. The website is packed with gorgeous, inspiring content and the brand now has three permanent stores in Repulse Bay, Stanley and at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui.

bimboconcept.com

Best baby accessory

Ben & Ellie Nappy Change Clutch

Co-founded in 2019 by new mothers Jess DeAngelis and Julie Rout, inspiration hit when they started reflecting on the shortfalls of the countless baby change mats and baby bags they’d tried. Made by mums for mums, their vegan leather nappy change clutch is one of the most stylish and functional baby products on the market. Jess and Julie understand that a lot changes when you have a baby, but you don’t stop being a woman when you become a mum.

benandelliebaby.com

the hospital. Matilda community midwives offer support to parents and their babies once they are home, guiding parents, offering advice on mum and baby wellbeing, supporting breastfeeding and providing an important link, when needed, to paediatricians, obstetricians and other healthcare professionals.

matilda.org

Best postnatal support

Matilda International Hospital

Matilda nurses and midwives are renowned for their excellent care and tailored approach and this doesn’t stop once mum and baby leave