Sai Kung April 2020

FA MI LY | H I R A M’ S H I G H WAY | P E TS | EAS T ER

April 2020

Veggie revolution

2084 reasons to try this new restaurant

Egg-cellent Easter camps

Off the grid Island hopping in Sai Kung

The really useful magazine April 2020

2 CONTRIBUTORS Meet the team 6 PEOPLE Sai Kungers out and about 8 THE PLANNER

33 PETS Your pet questions answered. Plus walkies

36 VINES Award-winning journalist and Sai Kung treasure, Stephen Vines weighs in on Hiram’s Highway developments

What’s not cancelled in April

12 NEWS

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What’s going on in your backyard?

15 POLICE BLOTTER Senior Inspector Ron Yung talks crime 16 FIVE MINUTES WITH..

Oliver Barg, Founder of SKINBUDDY 17 LOCAL Hiram’s Highway Improvement Project embarks on Stage Two

18 MUST HAVES THIS MONTH Work from home essentials 20 COVER STORY Explore Sai Kung’s plethora of islands 26 DINING

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Meet 2084’s James Bradshaw. Plus nibbles

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28 EDUCATION Egg-cellent Easter camps 30 SAI KUNG SECRETS The history behind Tiu Keng Leng Village 31 ZIM CITY Paul Zimmerman on keeping Jumbo Floating Restaurant afloat

12 TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO - ROBERT H SCHULLER

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editor’s letter

H

appy April!

With many of you spending more time at home, we hope this issue can give you some comfort and entertainment during this time.

Editorial

Managing editor Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.com Editor Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com

This month we explored some of Sai Kung’s most isolated places, only accessible by boat.

These islands will curb your wanderlust while keeping you safe, explore the great outdoors on page 20.

Editorial assistant Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com

Design Graphic Designer Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com

Getting your five-a-day has never been easier as the town welcomed its first fully vegetarian restaurant last month. We sat down with James Bradshaw to talk about his latest endeavor, 2084 on page 26.

Sales & Marketing

Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com

Feeling a bit fed up with the kids? (it’s okay your secret is safe with us). We’ve rounded up the best Easter camps for kids and teens to blow off some steam on page 28.

Partnership Manager Joey Ho, joey@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com

Digital

Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com

Happy Easter everyone, Treat yourself to an extra egg this year, you deserve it!

Publisher

Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com

things we love this month...

Brunchin’ with a view Located at the first floor of Hong Kong Museum of Art, Modern Australian Restaurant, Hue is offering a scrumptious Tattinger Sunday brunch. Enjoy a selection of starters to share, with a choice of mains and desserts to follow, from just $380. huedining.com.hk

Thanks to Denis Leung Yankee Tsang

Nabdeep Gill Eric Ho

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Egg-cellent eggs saikung.com

talk@hongkongliving.com

@saikungmag

facebook.com/SaiKungMagazine

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com

Stay strong Hong Kong You may have noticed that we’re at a reduced number of pages. These are tough times for everyone and just like other small businesses in Hong Kong, we are rationing.

Hopefully things will return to normal soon. For now, we’ve squeezed the same great content into this slightly smaller issue. We hope it fills you with positivity for this great city in which we live.

Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd.This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Hong Kong Living Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

Want to write for Sai Kung Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com 2 | SAIKUNG.COM

Credit: Graham Uden

To help you get in the Easter mood, La Maison Du Chocolat has released three adorable and delicious chocolate treats.

Follow three chicks on their journey to the Island of Grenada, Ghana and Vietnam, with three unique flavours to match. lamaisonduchocolat.hk

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contributors

Graham Uden

Stephen Vines

Ron Yung

British-born photographer Graham Uden arrived in Hong Kong in 1992. His work has involved being held up by AK-47 toting ex-Khmer Rouge soldiers in Cambodia and squatting metres from Taliban trenches in Afghanistan. Graham shot our wonderful cover as part of our Above Sai Kung book available at hongkongliving. com/shop. Check out more of his work at: grahamuden.com

Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and our monthly columnist, Stephen is a long-term Sai Kung resident who documents the everchanging issues affecting the town. This month he shares his thoughts on Higham’s Highways latest improvement project. Read his musings on page 36.

Senior Inspector Ron Yung joined the Sai Kung Police Force late last year and is happy to be in town. He gives us the lowdown on crime in the area over the past few weeks in our monthly police blotter on page 15.

Yankee Tsang

Nikita Agrawal

Dr Pauline Taylor

Graphic designer Yankee, previously worked in London and Berlin before moving to Hong Kong in 2014. When she isn’t designing magazines she loves collecting vinyl records and mixing music in her spare time.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Nikita can’t get enough of this vibrant city. From hiking with her family to finding new brunch spots, she’s always out and about. This month she ventured to Sai Kung to snap your smiling faces! Check out her pictures on page 6.

Pauline is a senior vet at Pets Central and specialises in small animal medicine. She graduated in Scotland and spent 10 years practicing in New Zealand before moving to Hong Kong with her various four-legged family members. Pauline has prepared a special column covering all you need to know on COVID 19-related pet queries on page 33. pets-central.com

Want to write for Sai Kung Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com SAIKUNG.COM | 5

people Snaps from Sai Kung

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say cheese

Catherine’s Puppies Drawing Competition

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Credit: Hunt Smith

planner

APRIL 6-9 & 14-17

Spring Break Adventure Camps

Treasure Island will be bringing their award winning camps to Sai Kung this Easter! Enjoy four days of kayaking, supping, hiking and more. $3,588.

210 Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung. treasureislandhk.com

APR 1 April Fool’s Day

APR 4 Women’s Five

FROM APR 5 The Great Carnival Fair

Pinch punch first of the month. Don’t get fooled!

Women have the option of running either a 5km or 10km race. womensfive.com

A family-friendly event featuring yoga, games and healthy cooking workshops. Every Sunday throughout April. 10am-8pm. Free. Central Harbourfront Event Space. Facebook: The Great Carnival Fair

APR 6-10 & APR 13-17 Spring Adventure Camps A week-long camp for adventurers in the city. Campers must be capable and confident swimmers with good fitness and stamina. $4,480. Treasure Island, Lantau. treasureislandhk.com

APR 3 Women’s Wild Swim Connect with the earth in one of Hong Kong’s secluded rock pools with Kembali. 9.30am12.35pm. $150. Tai Po Market Station, Tai Po. kembali.org

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APR 4 Ching Ming Festival Also referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day, the traditional Chinese festival celebrates ancestors.

what’s on APR 10 Easter Trail Race A 14km race starting and ending at Aberdeen Barbecue Site. $200. xterace.com

agriculture and gain hands-on farming experience. 2.30-5pm, $460, tools & equipment included. k11musea.com/happenings

24 hours to write and rehearse a play before performing to a live audience at Momentai.

Kiosk 1, Sai Kung Waterfront, Wai Man Road.

Facebook: Momentaila

APR 10 Good Friday

APR 25 16th Year Anniversary Party

Let the four day weekend commence!

Has it really been that long? Celebrate 16 years of The Underground with seven hours of live music. 7pm-1am. $200. Rula Live, G/F, 58-62 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong. undergroundhk.com

APR 11-12 Galo x Taipa Village Easter Festive Fun Celebrate Easter at our sister SAR with face painting, egg hunting, painting, orienteering and more. Price varies. taipavillagemacau.com

APR 13 Easter Monday Enjoy the egg-tra long weekend!

APR 18 Kayak & Run Deep Water Bay

APR 11 Urban Agriculture with Coffee Ground Composting Kids can learn the basic concepts of urban

Kayak through Middle Island and run over the hilltops in this multi sport race. 7.30am. Deep Water Bay. actionasiaevents.com

APR 24-25 24-Hour Theater Challenge Budding actors, writers, and directors will have

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planner

APR 25 3 Islands GreenRace Race across Lamma, Hong Kong Island and Lantau. Those wanting more can incorporate Tung Lung Chau island. 7.30am-6pm. $1,700.

Pier 4 Central Ferry. tgr.run

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APR 26 Earth Day Cleanup Hike

APR 27 Tin Hau Festival

A clean up with a view at Kam Shan Country Park. 11am-3pm. Free. Shek Lei Pui Reservoir Bus Stop. Facebook: GreenHourHK

A celebration of the birthday of The Chinese Goddess of the Sea.

book now

BOOK NOW MAY 9 HHYC Open Day

JUN 19 Big Band Night

Enjoy free sailing and watersports trials, activities and food stalls at Hebe Haven Yacht Club. Free. 10am-5pm. hhyc.org.hk

Enjoy a night of life music, performed by Hong Kong’s very own jazz band, Basic Notes. 8.30pm-10.30pm. Hong Kong Fringe

Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central.

Facebook: Basic Notes

AUG 30 Billie Eilish Where Do We Go? World Tour in Hong Kong The first artist born this millennium to achieve a No. 1 album and single. 8pm. $998. AsiaWorldExpo, Airport Expo Boulevard, Chek Lap Kok. livenation.hk

Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

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news With recent goings on in Hong Kong and around the world, local dad Chris Hanselman has organised a community support group, 4X4, for men of all ages. Sharing his inspiration behind the group, Chris states; “I decided to try to get the 4X4 going again because even before the Corona Virus, so many men are here alone when their wives and kids have left Hong Kong for the holidays. We men are very stubborn when it comes to health, but under these circumstances we as a community should do what is innate in all of us, help our neighbour.” The event will take place at Momentai every fourth Thursday of the month at 6.30pm. Pop along to enjoy happy hour drinks and chat to other local dads.

Quarantine centre update As of mid-March, Sai Kung’s three quarantine centres, Lady MacLehose Holiday Village, Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp and Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, were reduced from Tier 1 to Tier 2 status. This means that the centres will now house travellers from abroad who require a 14-day quarantine, while patients with more direct contact with the COVID-19 disease will be housed at the Fo Tan public housing quarantine site in Sha Tin.

Poisoned porpoises

Credit: Kuribo via Flickr

Dad’s chat

A recent study has found concentrations of the organic tin compound triphenyltin (TPT), a dangerous toxin banned in 2008, at recordhigh levels in local Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises. One finless porpoise reportedly harboured ten times the level of TPT compared to a sample of the species tested in 2003. The data has raised concerns that local seafood prepared for human consumption may be contaminated as well. HKU professor Kenneth Leung warns that high concentrations of TPT will have a negative health impact in humans and urges people to avoid bottomdwelling fish, which may have more exposure to the chemical.

Traffic tickets go electronic Electronically printed traffic penalty tickets were introduced in mid-March on a three-month trial scheme to eliminate human error. According to the police, up to 9,000 tickets are ruled invalid every year due to human factors. Officers

testing out the scheme are equipped with a mobile phone and a portable printer to be used when issuing a ticket at the scene. The scheme costs an anticipated $8 million, which includes the costs of mobile phones, portable printers, data transfer and a back-end system.

Art attack Start saving up, because the new date for the Affordable Art Fair has been announced. The eighth edition of the annual fair is now set to take place from August 20 to 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with most events originally scheduled for February and March, the fair was postponed due to the current coronavirus outbreak. For the latest updates, visit affordableartfair.com

One of Hong Kong’s public housing estates

Public housing for all couples Same-sex married couples looking for a place to live in Hong Kong are now able to apply for public housing. At the beginning of March, the High Court stated that a Housing Authority policy that prevents married same-sex couples from applying for public housing violated the Basic Law. The judicial review was brought up in 2018

by Nick Infinger and his husband, both permanent residents of Hong Kong. Their application for

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public housing as a family was rejected by the Housing Authority, who stated that the couple did not meet its definition of husband and wife, as defined under the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, ‘husband’ means ‘a married man’ and ‘wife’ means ‘a married woman’. Infinger’s application will now be reconsidered following the judgement – a triumph for equality and a step against discrimination.

in your backyard

The Peak Tram is back The refurbishment of the Peak Tram has been completed and our favourite mode of transport is back. To start this new chapter off with a bang, the Peak Tram has two special offers exclusively for Hong Kong citizens until April 19. The packages include buy-one-get-one

Borders closing At the end of the month, Hong Kong saw an alarming surge in coronavirus infections, both imported and spread locally. In response, as of March 24, the city has closed its borders to all international arrivals, following Singapore and Taiwan’s examples.

Suns out, buns out tickets for adults, children and senior citizens, with additional privileges at designated shops, restaurants and entertainment venues at The Peak Tower. All the more reason to take a ride on the city’s iconic red train! For more information, visit ticketing.thepeak.com.hk

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival falls on the fifth to the ninth days of the fourth lunar month, this year taking place from April 27-May 1. The festival usually incorporates Taoist ceremonies and music, parades, lion dances and a much-famed bun scrambling competition. This year, however, due to current health precautions, officials have decided to cancel parts of the festival. We may not get to see the bun scrambling competition, but we can still enjoy the bun tower displays and lion dances.

Non-residents would not be allowed into the city, transit passengers included, for a two-week period. Arrivals from mainland China, Macau or Taiwan will be allowed in, according to Carrie Lam in a press conference, provided they had not travelled anywhere else in the past 14 days and are subject to quarantine orders.

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on patrol

Senior Inspector Ron Yung reports on recent cases in Sai Kung

Ball drama At 2pm on February 20, a teenager was playing basketball at the court on Yi Chun Street, when he noticed someone touching his bag. When the teenager arrived home, he discovered $100 in cash was missing. The boy told his father and the case was reported to the police who tracked down and arrested the culprit.

Crack down on illegal parking The Sai Kung Police force has partnered up with The District Traffic Team to tackle illegal parking around the town. A total of five cars were towed away last month and parking tickets were distributed across Sai Kung and the country park.

Eyes on the road At noon on February 29, a private car collided with a taxi on Higham’s Highway. The taxi driver reported neck pain was taken to Tseung Kwan O Hospital in a continuous state.

Shh..

On the night of February 5, two neighbours in Nam Shan Village got into a dispute. One neighbour filed a noise complaint and put toothpicks into the victim’s keyhole. The

neighbour was arrested at the scene and the case is still under investigation.

Twist and shout A woman and six friends were hiking from Pak Tam Chung to Nam She Tsim on the afternoon of February 3. Upon reaching their destination, the woman fell and twisted her left wrist. She was airlifted to Ruttonjee hospital for treatment in a conscious state.

informed her employer about the incident and he reported it to the police. The case is still under investigation.

Beach blunder A 48-year-old male was was hiking to Tan Ka Wan Beach with two friends. Upon arrival, he tripped and twisted his leg, the man was airlifted to hospital.

Mask musings Half measures On the morning of February 16, a passenger boarded a minibus halfway along its route to Sai Kung. When she only paid half the fare, the driver and passenger got into a dispute.

When the passenger returned home, she

A total of four online deception cases involving the purchase of masks were reported in February. The masks, which were being sold on Facebook for up to $1,500 were never received. Police are currently looking into the case and advise residents to be aware of online scammers.

For more information, contact Sai Kung Police Station, 1 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 3661 1630

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five minutes with I started using face cream at the end of my 20’s. The earlier you start, the better you can defy your signs of aging. You can’t stop the aging process, but you can delay it.

Smartphone filters make you look great in photos, but a look in the mirror reveals the harsh reality.

My wife loves facial sheet masks, she swears by them and has one on every night.

I noticed there were no sheet masks that fit men’s faces, especially men with beards.

After a couple of drinks at The Picture House, the idea for SKINBUDDY® was born and we launched last September.

We created the first mask for bearded men. They are sized to fit larger male faces and feature a 2-in-1 section for their beard and neck area, with special ingredients for male skin.

Men like it simple, they want just one product instead of a different one for every time of day.

There are two areas where people age the most, their hands and neck. Women can cover their blemishes with make-up, but men can’t hide their imperfections.

The female cosmetic market is already highly saturated, but the male cosmetic market is the fastest-growing in the industry.

Hong Kong is a great place for startups, the government has a lot of supporting funds for small businesses.

Five minutes with

Oliver Barg

Nicole Slater meets Sai Kung resident and founder of SKINBUDDY®, the first sheet mask for bearded and nonbearded men I used to work for Bacardi in Hamburg, Germany before a friend offered me a job in Hong Kong in 2005.

My plan was to move here for one year. I had an apartment in Nam Wai. At the time, the rent was only $5,000!

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Before I knew it, I was calling Hong Kong home. But I couldn’t stand living surrounded by skyscrapers and noise, so Sai Kung became my sanctuary.

A skincare routine is like brushing your teeth, if you start early and frequently you don’t have to go to the dentist as much!

Scan the QR code to enter our Facebook giveaway for a chance to win a supply of SKINBUDDY® sheet masks! For more information visit skinbuddy.com

Credit: Graham Uden

local

Life is a highway (development project)

Pak Sha Wan from above

Nicole Slater reports on Stage Two of the Hiram’s Highway Improvement Project

O

ver the past four years (or what feels like forever for Saikungers), Hiram’s Highway has been undergoing the first stage of the Hiram’s Highway Improvement Project. This stage of the project has seen the addition of a bridge and two lanes leading from Ho Chung to Marina Cove.

With completion of Stage One expected by the end of this year, the Highways Department have begun working on Stage Two which will involve the widening of Po Tung Road from Marina Cove to the heart of Sai Kung Town. A 4.9km dual two-lane carriageway will include three roundabouts, noise barriers and 40 additional parking spaces. The road improvement is expected to reduce travel time to Sai Kung via East Kowloon and Tsung Kwan O by 20-25 minutes.

Local community group, Friends of Sai Kung (FSK) released an official statement addressing their concerns over the project. In the statement, the group stresses the need for a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the area and states; “The dualling of the highway through the centre of Sai Kung is a poor design which takes no account of the requirements of pedestrians, properties, businesses and trees which align this section of the road. FSK objects to the dualling of the existing road from Yau Ma Po Street to Fuk Man Road and proposes that this section is maintained as a single carriageway road.”

With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many people are flocking to the town to hike and enjoy the fresh air. If the 2003 SARS outbreak is anything to go by, Sai Kung will also see an influx of new residents wanting to escape

the compactness of the city. This will result in more traffic congestion in and out of the town, especially during the weekend.

At the beginning of March many local residents, including Sai Kung District Councillor Zoe Leung signed a petition objecting to the dual two-lane carriageway.

At the time of publication, there is no official start date for the project.

The Highways Department has stated that 30 heritage sights including Tin Hau Temple, Hip Tim Temple, Pak Sha Wan Kwan Yam Temple and Sai Kung Town Pai Lau, will not be affected by the project.

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must haves this month

Essenza Plus $1,788 from Nespresso nespresso.com

Metal retractable ballpoint pen 3 pack poppy red $115 from Kikki.K kikki-k.com

A6 stitch notebook 5 pack $115 from Kikki.K kikki-k.com

Mio mug roma $50 from Francfranc hk.francfranc.net

WORK FROM

‘Fuzzette’ crisscross slides $990 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk

Wild fig fragrance sticks $440 from Rituals rituals.com

HOME Be your most productive self with these desk accessories, snacks and more.

By Nicole Slater Pistachio and clotted cream biscuits $198 from Fortnum & Mason fortnumandmason. com

Aair Lite air purifier quartz pink $4,800 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk

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work from home

Royal Blend tea $198 from Fortnum & Mason fortnumandmason.com

Rare beauty silk top andshort set $1,048 from Intimissimi hk.intimissimi.com

Sidus desk bureau $3,290 from Indigo Living Indigo-living.com

Big Boss SOHO $19,980 from Tequila Kola tequilakola.com

HK ekyline elastic band notebook $128 from MoMA design school momastore.hk

Image desk with two drawers $8,990 from Indigo Living indigo-living.com

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cover story

Island hopping Nicole Slater discovers Sai Kung’s hidden gems, most of them just a short Sampan ride away 20 | SAIKUNG.COM

Credit: Graham Uden

island escape

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cover story

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island escape

W

ith 70 unique islands across Sai Kung, getting off the grid has never been easier. We’ve rounded up some of the territories most untouched locations for you to explore this spring.

Kau Sai Chau As the sixth largest island in Hong Kong, Kau Sai Chau is home to the city’s only public golf course, which consists of three 18-hole courses and a clubhouse overlooking a picturesque landscape.

Besides being a great place to practice your swing, the southern tip of the island is home to a small fishing hamlet and a prehistoric rock carving sits on the northwestern coast. Hop on the ferry, which runs every 20 minutes from Sai Kung Public Pier for $75, round trip.

Tap Mun Also referred to as Grass Island, Tap Mun offers a slice of the English countryside in the middle of Hong Kong, with a large open meadow overlooking the South China Sea. This secluded location is the perfect getaway from city life, offering just a few seafood restaurants and temples around the pier. Hop on a ferry from Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier (near the University MTR station) or Wong Shek Pier, to get to this secluded spot.

Shelter island It may be small (0.55 km, to be exact), but this little land has quite a controversial background. First appearing on the map in 1866, Shelter Island became part of the Port Shelter Firing Range for the British military in 1950, before becoming a hiding den for drugs lords in 1970. After 40 years of peace,

the island was back in the headlines in 2011 when a mortar shell was discovered along the beach. While Shelter Island hasn’t seen much action in recent years, it is a popular diving site with a unique sea cave, just watch out for shells! rhkyc.org.hk/SampanFerryTimeTable

Sharp Island Located next to Sai Kung town, this picturesque island is home to two white sandy beaches and some of the cleanest water in Hong Kong, making it the perfect place to take a dip. As part of the Geopark, the island boasts volcanic rock formations that have been referred to as “pineapple bun rocks’ ‘ due to their similar appearance to the iconic Hong Kong snack. Sampans and Kaitos are available from Sai Kung Public Ferry Pier and leave every 30 minutes until 5.30 pm. The 15-minute ride costs around $30 return (subject to demand).

Bluff island Dating back to the Jurassic Period, Bluff Island is made up of dramatic rock formations molded from underground magma 146 million years ago, these unique rocks have people comparing its resemblance to a turtle from above. The island is also home to one of Hong Kong’s biggest sea caves Sha Tong Hau Cave, making it a popular location for divers to explore. Hire a private boat or kayak to the island from Sha Kiu Tau.

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island escape

Tung Lung Chau Located just off the tip of the Clearwater Bay Peninsula, Tung Lung Chau was once home to Emperor Duanzong of the Southern Song Dynasty. While the island is now uninhabited,

it offers some of the best rock climbing spots in Hong Kong, including the Technical Wall and Sea Gully Wall. Catch the weekend Coral Sea Ferry number 8 service from Sam Ka Tsuen to Tung Lung Chau.

High Island Now connected to the Sai Kung Country Park via a man-made road, this 8.511 km High Island was once a thriving fishing village.

The island is now famous for its world-class hexagonal rock columns which stand up to 30 metres tall and date back 140 million years.

Enjoy all this island has to offer by walking the High Island Geo Trail from East Dam to Biu Tsim Kok.

Top tip Head over to Sai Kung Public Pier to inform the boat vendors where you want to go.

They will usually be able to arrange a boat trip that suits your requirements.

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dining

New kid on the block

James Bradshaw recently caused a veggie stir with the opening of 2084, Nicole Slater reports interior of Classified so once they left it was the perfect opportunity!

Why vegetarian?

After going vegetarian myself last year, I was convinced that a plant-based restaurant was the next step for Casa Group. There’s no reason to swap any dish with animal products except to save a few pennies, but I believe plant-based alternatives will become cheaper soon.

How do you appeal to both meat eaters and vegetarians?

We’ve had customers come in and trick their friends into believing they’re eating meat, many people can’t tell that our food is plantbased!

Where do you like to eat in Sai Kung?

Personally I don’t eat out much in Sai Kung because there are so few options. I like the impossible burger at Cena and I’ve eaten more falafel wraps from Zeugma than I care to admit.

But when it comes to plant-based options, nowhere really stands out for me. I find the food puts more emphasis on appearing healthy, rather than actually being healthy.

What’s the latest on outdoor seating?

Outdoor seating is a bit easier now, the new councillor, Zoe is more liberal, she wants to see a more progressive Hong Kong. I’m also hoping that our carbon neutral approach will help our application for outdoor seating.

And dogs outside restaurants?

What’s the inspiration behind 2084?

What’s your history in the restaurant business?

2084 was born from an idea that my Casa cofounder Nathan Fleck and I had years ago. In naming the new concept, we wanted to portray a more optimistic future (as opposed to that portrayed in George Orwell’s novel, 1984).

I co-founded Casa, a popular bar in Hoi Pong Square in 2013, once the lease was up there, we opened Cena, a Latino-style cafe in the square. Since selling Cena last year, I wanted to start something new. I’ve always loved the

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Dogs outside restaurants were banned entirely some time ago. I don’t agree with this rule, and most people ignore it anyway. The only people who get penalised are the ones who are reported - often by competitors or neighbours.

For some fabulous veggie fare, check out the newly opened 2084 at 5 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung. 2084.casa

nibbles

Dining news Seafood & steak The Grill at the Grand Hyatt have replaced their weekend buffet brunch with a fresh seafood and steak lunch set. Dine al fresco at the poolside restaurant and tuck into Atlantic lobster, snow crab leg, line-caught tuna tataki on ice, before choosing a main from their wide variety of meat cuts, while jamming to DJ Surge. 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. hongkong.grand.hyattrestaurants.com

United we dine To encourage Hongkongers to dine out again, restaurants across the city including Aqua, Duddell’s and Beef & Liberty will be offering exclusive menus, and a chance to win fabulous prizes until April 30. For the full list of restaurants and menus visit unitedwedine.hk

Prohibition hits Hong Kong as chief executive Carrie Lam introduced her plan to impose a temporary ban on the sales of alcohol across the city’s 86,000 restaurants, bars and nightclubs in a bid to curb a surge in coronavirus cases. Now is the time if you’ve been wanting to do a detox.

Delicious deals from Sai Kung’s favourite smokehouse and sports bar:

Big breakfasts From Tuesday to Sunday, diners can enjoy a hearty breakfast menu featuring the mammoth skillet, with bacon, sausages, mushrooms, potato wedges, onion rings, pulled pork, tomato, ranch beans, eggs and sourdough toast.

Available from 9-11.30am.

Duddell’s garden terrace

All boozed out

Dining deals at The Ranch

Monday madness Cure those Monday blues with a delicious cheeseburger and fries deal for only $78.

Steak Thursdays

Italiano Thursday Can’t travel? No worries - Piccolos is taking diners on a journey to the Med this spring with special offers on Italian cuisine. Every Thursday, tuck into pastas, pizzas and risottos from $268 for two dishes. No.20, Wan King Path, Sai Kung. casteloconcepts.com

End the week on a high with a juicy New Zealand ribeye for just $198.

Long lunch For those work-from-home weekdays, treat yourself to a long lunch with The Ranch’s set lunch menu, starting from just $78.

Kids eat free on Children’s Day Dining Concepts is celebrating Children’s Day with a special family lunch. On April 4, head to any of the restaurant group’s selected venues, including Alto, Bizou and Spiga, where your kids can dine free of charge. The offer is valid for a maximum of two kids under the age of 12, when accompanied by two paying adults. diningconcepts.com

Non-alcoholic spirits as good as the real thing Australian brand Lyre has debuted their impressive range of alcohol-free spirits and liquors in Hong Kong. With two thirds of millennials looking to minimise their alcohol consumption, join the sober curious movement with this comprehensive selection of nonalcoholic alternatives that will engage your senses just like the original alcoholic version. The range includes Dry London Spirit, American Malt, Italian Spritz and more. lyres.com.au

Follow The Ranch on Facebook for other promotions including Lads Night, Ladies Night and live music.

Facebook: The Ranch Sai Kung Alto

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Credit: Ark Eden

education

Easter camps

Mandarins ensures that children will enjoy learning and improving their language skills! minimandarins.com

These camps for kids and teens are still going ahead this spring break. By Charmaine Ng Minisport A great way to get the children active this spring, Minisport’s coaching style at camps encourages children to engage in dynamic activities that develop skills and build confidence across basketball, football, tennis, rugby and team-building games. Open to ages one-and-a-half to seven years old, groups are capped at 10 students per coach to ensure that each child receives close attention. Camps are held at West Island School, Tseung Kwan O, Victoria Park and KGV Memorial Park. minisport.hk

Mini Mandarins Every Easter, Mini Mandarins provides educational camps designed for children

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Hong Kong Institute of Languages to participate in fun activities and discover their interest in the Mandarin language in the process. Children are exposed to Mandarin immersed role-play at the centre’s Causeway Bay and Central campuses. Through cooking, arts and crafts, storytelling and science, Mini

This Easter, catch up on your child or teen’s schoolwork or learn a new language with the Hong Kong Institute of Languages’ flexible learning modes: private lessons, semi-private lessons, home tutoring classes and online lessons. The Institute has been teaching languages to families for 35 years and aims to

easter camps improve children’s’ language skills in a safe, fun, engaging and effective way through stimulating learning activities. hklanguages.com

Ark Eden Awaken the adventurous and curious side of your child with Ark Eden’s Easter camp.

This camp is set in the beautiful Mui Wo valley of Lantau Island where children get to learn in the natural playground and outdoor classroom. Expect nature exploration, problemsolving, bush crafts, imaginative games, overnight camping and more. Children aged five to 11 are welcome to join the adventure. arkedenonlantau.org

ActiveKids Welcoming children aged three to 17, ActiveKids has a variety of scientific camps to choose from and is a great choice for children who love to solve puzzles. The school has been suspended until April 20 in light of recent health events, so ActiveKids has decided to do run camps online and for science and chess only. activekidshk.com

YWCA Centre of Learning and Life Enhancement Challenge the mind, brain and body in one of the 100 Easter camps available from the YWCA International Kids Club. Opportunities range from learning tennis to playing junior scientist.

With hundreds of options to choose from, YWCA has one of the most comprehensive lists around. This year, the centre has cancelled their camps but will hold a series of activities online on their Facebook Page and Instagram. Look out for a variety of fun games for children to beat the boredom and keep learning at home! clle.ywca.org.hk

Baumhaus Baumhaus offers an indoor, age-specific Easter camp designed to encourage a productive and enjoyable learning experience for kids, from newborns to six year olds. It’s a flexible programme, starting at $800 for 30-day playroom access plus four Kindermusik classes.

The camps are available at Baumhaus’ Wan Chai location. baumhaus.com.hk

Treasure Island At Treasure Island children can embark on an epic adventure around Pui O Beach this Easter. Kids will develop outdoor leadership skills such as trip preparation, equipment

and material checks and group organisation.

Kayaking, gorging, raft building and hiking are just some of the exciting activities on offer. treasureislandhk.com

FloatPlus This Easter, FloatPlus is encouraging children to get out of the house and into the pool for a swim session. Weekly swim camps are available for ages three to 15 at the heated Repulse Bay Club pool. They offer small class sizes run by friendly coaches and guests are welcome to join in the afternoons on weekdays and Saturday mornings. floatplus.hk

Flex Studio From April to June, Flex Studio is offering a variety of programmes for children and teens at its One Island South location. Aerial fitness and teen pilates classes focus on helping children stay active in a safe environment and are suitable for both beginner and advanced students as they are split according to skill level. flexhk.com

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sai kung secrets

Tiu Keng Leng Village

Nicole Slater dives into the history of the forgotten village that became Tseung Kwan O

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ocated in the northeast of the Sai Kung district, Tiu Keng Leng (Diu Keng Leng in Chinese) has a long and colourful history. Indeed, there is more to this area than meets the eye.

Now a modern high-rise residential district on the purple line, the once abandoned area was home to an urban legend. The legend states that its unique name, Diu Keng Leng which translates to “hanging the neck hill”, was named after retired Canadian official Albert Herbert Rennie. The cause of Albert’s troubled death in 1908 remains unknown to this day, however there are a couple of theories. The first was that he hung himself after his business failed, the second was that he fell into the sea at Lei Yue Mun. Many years after the death on June 26 1950, the area was turned into a refugee

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village after around 7,000 refugees fled by ferry from the People’s Republic of China.

The village was home to former Kuomintang officials and supporters, who escaped the mainland to avoid persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.

While the refugee village was self-sufficient and even had its own schooling system, the area was slum-like. So in 1961, the Hong Kong government declared Tiu Keng Leng a part of the Resettlement Department, allowing the area to develop facilities and infrastructure. During that time that village was referred to as Little Taiwan, due to its residents’ strong ties to the Taiwanese government.

Before the handover in 1997, the original Tiu Keng Leng Village was cleared and residents were evicted to make room for developing the

Tseung Kwan O New Town (TKO).

Today the area is home to around 372,000 residents and includes Tsui Lam, Po Lam, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O Town Centre, Tiu Keng Leng and Siu Chik Sha. Know of a Sai Kung secret?

Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

Keep Jumbo Kingdom afloat

With demolition plans afoot, Paul Zimmerman weighs in

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n image of a half-submerged ‘Jumbo Restaurant’ went viral after Melco International Development Limited announced it would suspend operations. It became symbolic for our economic challenges and changing social environment.

With the tourists gone the business was no longer viable. And the restaurant on top of several barges had unfortunately long forgotten the local market with its single-minded focus on the tourist dollars.

Floating restaurants appeared in the typhoon shelter shortly after World War II. The first Sea Palace ( ) was sold and towed to Australia. The Tai Pak Floating Restaurant was established in 1952. In 2000, another restaurant was taken to Manila Bay. The recent iteration of floating restaurants in Aberdeen Harbour, the Jumbo Kingdom, was established after the devastating fire in 1971. It became operational in October 1976 and was renovated in 2003.

The sinking image and lack of local patronage does not reflect local sentiments though. To have the colourful float disappear is a loss, not just as a tourist attraction. The residents of Ap Lei

Chau, Tin Wan and Aberdeen are dependent on Aberdeen Harbour and the jobs it has provided for many generations. The floating restaurant is a character defining structure, an icon.

The district council is keen to see it kept afloat and functioning whether as a restaurant or museum telling the story of Aberdeen (in Cantonese “Old Hong Kong”). There is not just the restaurant. Other key elements are at Shum Wan Pier Drive: The three floating piers, a park and a ‘themed’ shelter over the taxi stand.

The first responses from the government were disappointing: It is not a heritage building, it is not older than 50 years, it is a commercial enterprise. They showed their lack of interest by replying to the District Council in writing only without attending the meeting to discuss the opportunity to salvage some or all. Although the taxi stand was already removed – a condition from the lands department when returning a piece of land - Councillors are reaching out directly to Melco urging them to hold all demolition for six months. We have asked the Lands Department to withdraw their requirement on Melco to demolish the structures at the pier side. We hope this time

Credit: Graham Uden

zim city

The restaurant in its glory days

can be used to form a rescue team between the government and others to explore what can be saved and reused.

Aberdeen Harbour has been a busy destination with lots of colour for well over 150 years.

Floating restaurants have dominated the views of the harbour for half of that time. The local economy is taking a serious bruising. Shall we let the restaurant sink? Can we use the barges as a museum? Can we reuse the piers and park for boats to land and take people to other destinations? How do we pay for the upkeep and management? All ideas are welcome. info@paulzimmerman.hk

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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woof

Ask a vet..

Dr Pauline Taylor answers your pet questions during COVID 19 Can my dog become infected with COVID-19?

Pet parents, and the public in general, are concerned about the involvement of pets with COVID-19. At the time of writing, several pets of COVID-19 positive humans are now under quarantine and testing at AFCD. However, so far scientists have found no evidence that mammalian pet animals (including dogs and cats) could become a source of infection to other animals or humans.

My advice is to remain calm and follow good hygiene practices in your home. Change your pet’s bedding more often, wipe leads and accessories with a disinfectant daily and use an antiseptic wipe on your dog’s paws and coat after a walk. Brush your pet more often to remove loose hairs and other debris and disinfect the grooming tools and floor brushes afterwards. If you feel your pet is ‘off colour’, call your vet for advice.

Since working from home, I’ve noticed that my dog sleeps a lot. Is this normal?

Yes, adult dogs sleep or nap between 12 and 14 hours a day on average and pups up to 18 hours a day. Dogs are only ‘active’ for about 20 percent of their day. Boredom and lack of environmental enrichment will lead dogs to sleep more. In your case, you probably haven’t had the opportunity to spend as much time with your dog up until now which is why you are only just noticing. If your dog is still

Got a question for Dr. Pauline?

Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

keen to go walkies, play with a toy, interact with you and jumps up for feeding time then they are probably behaving in a normal fashion.

Can you recommend some pet-friendly home cleaning products?

The simplest and easiest disinfectant is a bleach solution.

Concentrated bleach that you buy in the supermarket or pharmacy is diluted with water. This can be liberally used around the home on floors and hard surfaces. It dries quickly and applications can be repeated regularly using floor mops or cloths. Carefully read the content ingredients on the label of the disinfectant brands you purchase.

Common sense should be used at all times. Do not let your pet lick or drink these solutions nor walk over the floors when they are wet.

A good resource to check is the American government website; Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. epa.gov

Dr. Pauline Taylor Pets Central veterinarian answers your questions.

Walkies

Rex the dog hops aboard a ferry to Lamma Treat your dog to a full day out with a trip to Lamma Island. The Lamma Island Family Trail offers a tour around the island

complete with serene views and plenty of rest stops for you and your furry friend.

From Sok Kwu Wan, follow the signs for

the trail, where you’ll hike across the mountains and end up at Hung Shing Ye Beach.

The trail takes around 45 minutes and can also be done in the opposite direction depending on which ferry port you alight at. If a day trip is not quite long enough, you and your pooch can stay overnight at the dog-friendly Concerto Inn. Dogs are allowed in the ordinary class First Ferries at an extra cost providing they are wearing a leash and muzzle.

How to get there: Take a ferry from Central Pier 4 to either Sok Kwu Wan or Yung Shue Wan. The journey takes around 45 minutes.

Have a favourite walk?

Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

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marketplace

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To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772

marketplace

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stephen says... needed to meet some uncertain future demand, it is required to cater for current realities.

Environmental campaigners always like to say that building bigger and better roads is no solution because they always end up encouraging more car usage and create greater congestion. In Hong Kong, where private car ownership is very low and where public transportation is very good, this argument has less traction.

Tempting as it is to engage in virtue signalling on this matter, reality lurks rather too forcibly in the foreground.

Get real – we need a dual carriageway Hiram’s Highway Stephen Vines reports on the Hiram’s Highway Improvement Project

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here is, apparently, a growing and somewhat belated backlash against the second stage of the Hiram’s Highway road widening project with Friends of Sai Kung taking a leading role in opposition. However it is very much open to question whether this opposition is widely shared.

Despite the fact that aspects of this project are problematic more or less everyone I know in the area is desperate for an improvement to the single road linking Sai Kung town with the rest of Hong Kong.

If the opposition has its way the dual carriageway, now under construction, will stop before it gets to Sai Kung town. In other words the current traffic gridlock at peak times and the vulnerability to total gridlock as a result of breakdowns and accidents, will continue indefinitely and be concentrated at the point where it causes maximum inconvenience. This being so how many Sai Kung people are realistically going to support the idea of maintaining a single lane road? A dual carriageway is a response to a problem which has no good solutions, only a number of less bad ones. Friends of Sai Kung also want the Highways Department to build a 1km underpass through

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Pak Wai and Pak Sha Wan. It’s a splendid idea but a mightily expensive one and, by the by, where will the ventilation outlets be placed in this confined area? This is no small matter for residents of these villages.

That said Friends of Sai Kung make a number of valid points about the processes surrounding this major construction programme. They point out how the government has dodged its responsibility to conduct a proper Environmental Impact Assessment and cast doubt on official willingness to fess up to how much of the natural environment will be destroyed and what measures will be taken to reinstate trees and other forms of fauna and flora.

There are also some solid suggestions for better public transportation and the installation of park and ride schemes although, lamentably, no proposals for where they are to be located.

The bottom line is that Sai Kung needs a better road and no amount of fancy talk or virtue signalling can disguise the fact in order to provide a better road, tough decisions have to be made that could be painful for the environment. This dual carriageway on Hiram’s Highway is not

Still waiting for the link that really matters Talking of public transportation the very long awaited Shatin to Central train link, way behind schedule and way above budget, is slowly coming to fruition. The Hing Keng section to Kai Tak, with Diamond Hill as an interconnecting station, opened in February. The rest of the project is supposed to trundle into service by the end of next year. Sai Kung residents are likely to find the first phase opening only marginally useful but once the whole project is up and running journeys to Hong Kong island will become quicker and more convenient. This all assumes no more MRTC cockups – something that cannot be taken for granted.

More people – more litter As the coronavirus crisis relentlessly trundles on, the country parks are attracting more and more people seeking escape and fresh air. This is clearly a good thing, even though I sometimes found myself queuing on crowded parts of park trails – yes, how weird is that? It is very clear that many of the people on the trails have not previously been out in the wonderful Sai Kung countryside and some of them seem to find interactions with nature rather troublesome. But that’s not the problem, what is really depressing is that so many of them seem to think that the countryside is a vast litter bin as the amount of rubbish littering the trails is increasing in a most worrying manner. How to stop this happening?

There is probably no easy solution but, although I am no fan of busybody signage, I kind of feel that there is a need for more signs encouraging people not to leave their debris all over the place.

Other than that I may have to set my dogs on offenders…just kidding, I think.

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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