Sai Kung August 2020

THE B E S T B E A C H E S, R E S TAURA N TS, S H OPS & MOR E

HOICE C ’ S AW R E

DS AR

RE AD

August 2020

YO

WE U V CO OTE UN D, TE D

2 02 0

CONTENT S — 07/ 20

18

COVER STORY Readers’ Choice Awards the results

2 CONTRIBUTORS

16 MUST HAVES THIS MONTH

6 PEOPLE

28 DINING

Meet the team

SaiKungers out and about

8 THE PLANNER

How to keep busy during social distancing. Plus virtual events

12 NEWS

What’s going on in your backyard?

14 FIVE MINUTES WITH

Gregory Smith, managing director at Rentokil

15 POLICE BLOTTER

Senior Inspector Ron Yung talks crime

35 IN THE GARDEN

William James Tutcher F.L.S. on what to plant this August

Back to school essentials

36 ASK DEBBY

Hong Kong Living Bar Awards.

Plus nibbles

District Councillor Debby Chan answers your questions

30 CHUI SUI CENTRAL

Award-winning author Nury Vittachi on international animal sounds

10

31 SAI KUNG SECRETS

Discover Green Egg Island

32 PETS

Dr Pauline answers your pet questions.

12

24

16

31

8

“The person that said winning isn’t everything, never won anything.” Mia Hamm

SAI KUNG | 1

editor’s letter With a third wave of Covid-19 upon us, it can feel like we have little to celebrate this year. But us Saikungers are resilient, whether there’s a snake on the path or a cow on the road, we find our way around life’s obstacles.

Over 1,300 of you voted in our Readers’ Choice Awards this year, your amazing responses show how passionate you are about the local businesses and people who make Sai Kung home. If I could choose I’d say we’re all winners, but find out who got your vote in our cover story (page 18).

If one awards ceremony wasn’t enough, we’ve been busy with our first-ever Hong Kong Living Bar Awards. From getting up on the dance floor in Dragon-i to sipping rooftop cocktails at Sevva, we reveal the best of Hong Kong’s nightlife (page 28).

This month we welcomed the Marine East Division to our monthly police blotter. With many residents retreating out onto the water to social distance they have seen an increase in waterside accidents (page 15).

Keep your head up and mask on, Saikungers.

Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Senior Staff Writer Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com Editorial Director Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.com Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com

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

Sales & Marketing

Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Partnership Manager Chrissie Ip, chrissie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com

Publisher

Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com

things we love this month...

Founding Director

Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com

Sai Kung goes international Our little town has taken a trip over the pond with a newly opened cafe in England. The owner George Lai grew up in the town and opened Sai Kung Cafe in Bristol’s Chinatown district. If you’re looking for a taste of home while you’re abroad, the cafe serves up dim sum, noodles and bubble tea. sai-kung-cafe. business.site

Swinging upside down on the beach With gyms and fitness centers closed, there’s no better time to join Bamboo Yoga’s picturesque beach aerial yoga sessions. Hike down from Sai Wan pavilion and enjoy a scenic yoga session with founder Aleksandra Milewicz. bamboo-yoga.com

Covid-19 update As Hong Kong Living goes to print we have done our best to keep our content as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but life under Covid-19 regulations means things tend to change, often from day-to-day. Please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and remember, stay safe.

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

hongkongliving.com

talk@hongkongliving.com

@hongkongliving

facebook.com/SaiKungMagazine

HONG KONG 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 talk@hongkongliving.com 2 | SAI KUNG

SAIKUNG.COM SAI KUNG | 3

4 | SAI KUNG

contributors

Thank you to our contributors

Cherry Lee Joining the Hong Kong Living team this month is third-year Hong Kong Baptist University student Cherry. She is passionate about writing and even swapped her university major from translation to journalism earlier this year. She explored Green Egg Island for this month’s Sai Kung secrets.

Debby Chan Debby Chan Ka Lam is the new District Councillor for Sai Kung Islands. She embraces the town’s diversity and strives for a more sustainable community.

This month, she answers some of your burning questions.

Gregory Smith The managing director at Rentokil Initial Hong Kong recently moved out here with his family from South Africa and helps manage the town’s pest problems. Read all about his experiences and advice for keeping pests at bay in our five minutes with.

Ron Yung 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.

Nury Vittachi Nury Vittachi is the award-winning Hong Kong-based author of more than 40 books, several of which have been published internationally in multiple languages. His journalism has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including The New York Times and Reader’s Digest.

You This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards broke records with over 1,300 of you voting for your favourite restaurants, beaches and businesses. We are proud to have such passionate and supportive readers, check out who won in our cover story.

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

people

Snaps from Sai Kung

6 | SAI KUNG

say cheese

SAI KUNG | 7

planner

10 creative things to do at a distance

With Covid-19 restrictions back in place, here’s a few tips on how to while away the hours, without going stir crazy

10 Cook? Yes, cook

8 Workout

9 Party, virtually

7 Learn a language

Nothing says home-sweet-home better than a freshly cooked meal. Give the delivery guy a day off and get busy in the kitchen - if you have one. Otherwise just call Deliveroo, put it on a plate and pretend you cooked it.

Virtual parties with friends and family may go down as the hottest social activity of 2020.

Grab some wine and go online. Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Rooms… options aplenty.

8 | SAI KUNG

‘If you haven’t joined a YouTube yoga class in 2020, what are you waiting for? There’s literally tens of thousands of free instructional videos online. Otherwise go pro and sign up with a real fitness instructor.

Social distancing is the perfect time to pick up a new language, even if it’s just an excuse to have a conversation with a real person

6 Board games

Gather your family or friends (no more than two) and let the competition begin. Hong Kong Monopoly will even allow you to finally buy that house on The Peak you’ve always wanted.

Probably best to avoid polka dot in the sociallydistanced era.

stay home

5 More TV

If you haven’t already hoovered up every single Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon series, it seems you’re still in luck. Grab some mooncakes and settle in.

3 Salacious stories

With attention spans waning, short stories are all the rage and Kitchen Tiles from Blacksmith Books is worth the investment. Take your pick from 50 real life stories of gamblers, drinkers, masseuses and millionaires from the mean streets of a Sheung Wan bygone era.

4 Redecorate, again

Already washed your shoes, rearranged your closet, bleached your white shirts? Why not go big and redecorate your entire house. Get creative while you can.

1 Marie Kondo your life

If it doesn’t spark joy, it goes in the bin.

From clothes to paperwork, there’s no better time to reorganise.

2 Find your zen

If this Covid-19 business is getting a bit too much, find your happy place. Take some time out to heal your mind and soul through meditation. Breathe in, breathe out.

SAI KUNG | 9

planner

VIRTUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT AUGUST Online yoga session Join Cristina McLauchlan, founder of The Vibe Tribe, for a series of virtual workout sessions and online courses that can be done in the comfort of your home. linktr.ee/TheVibeTribe

more about the future of your money at this online event. 11.30-2.00pm. redefininghk. scmp.com

THROUGHOUT AUGUST Sweat with us, digitally

UNTIL DEC 31 Virtual challenge Test your abilities on a 7K or 15K virtual race around Shek O. Document your progress on Runner Reg’s app Strava, for a chance to get onto the leaderboard and earn a personally engraved Victorinox Finisher Medal. runnerreg.com

Lululemon goes digital. Dive into the sweat life and stay active with a series of online workouts from some of the city’s top wellness ambassadors. Free. lululemon.com.hk/en-hk

AUG 14 Speed date If online dating wasn’t enough, now we’ve got a video version - it was bound to happen, right?

No filter, no date. 8-9pm. Free. getfilteroff.com

SEP 8 Virtual banking Will traditional banking be no more? Learning

AUG 9

Skin of Nature Virtual Launch Preview Skin of Nature’s conscious activewear collection through a virtual underwater journey of images and sounds. Free. 6-7:30pm. skinofnature.co

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

10 | SAI KUNG

SAI KUNG | 11

news

New spate of dog poisonings in town Sai Kung has become the second target of suspected dog poisonings after one dog has died and multiple others are in critical condition. On July 23 Residents of Hing Keng Shek village noticed dog food pellets dropped along Hing Keng Shek Road. It is believed the pellets were soaked in something before they were placed. The case has been passed to the Wong Tai Sin Criminal Investigation Office and the pellets in question have been sent for examination. Catherine Lumsden, founder of local dog shelter Catherine’s Puppies stated in a Facebook post: “With Sai Kung being so populated with dogs, it’s likely all over, we have to assume so. Owners and visitors need to be extremely cautious right now.”

Lohas Mall set to open

Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park close once again As the Covid-19 situation worsens in the city, theme parks Disneyland and Ocean Park have closed once again, just a month of reopening their doors to the public. While the parks remain closed, both hotels will continue operation as normal.

Residents can enjoy shopping closer to home, as a new shopping centre in Lohas Park is set to open its first stores this August. The 480,000 square-foot mall will feature a supermarket,

restaurants, hair salons, a cinema, an indoor ice rink as well as new stores, with several brands making their debut in Hong Kong. All stores are expected to open at the end of the year.

Cookie Smiles launches the ‘Love 4 Luke’ campaign Cookie Smiles, a social enterprise launched

by Jo Soo-Tang and Agnes Chin, has launched the ‘Love 4 Luke’ campaign to support 12-year-old leukaemia patient Luke Inkin. Inkin is currently battling childhood leukaemia for the second time after a relapse. The nature of his diagnosis has changed from having cancer in only his

12 | SAI KUNG

bone marrow, to a more rare situation where the disease is in both his bone marrow and central nervous system.

Cookie Smiles is now selling Pink Confetti Snaps for $200 per pack to raise funds for the Inkins’ ongoing medical costs, support therapy and travel expenses. cookiesmiles.com.hk

in your backyard

New school year pushed back as Covid-19 rages on Many of Hong Kong’s international schools and kindergartens are just weeks away from reopening for the 2020/2021 school year.

But with the city battling a third wave of the coronavirus, it was announced that the new school year will be delayed. Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said that schools would begin classes no earlier than August 17. Reopening dates will be announced in time, depending on the development of the pandemic.

International brands close Central locations Ethical beauty brand Lush and clothing retailer Topshop are the latest to fall victim to increased financial pressures and tourism slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. Topshop will close it’s 14,000 square feet flagship store on Queen’s Road Central and bid farewell to Hong Kong when its lease expires in October. Lush, known for its fragrant handmade soaps and

bath bombs, has closed its five-storey store on Lyndhurst Terrace but it’s other Hong Kong based locations remain open. The drop in tourist numbers in recent months has led to a great impact on retailers in Hong Kong. Gap has also announced it will close five of its eight shops in the city, while Victoria’s Secret abruptly closed its Causeway Bay flagship store in June.

SAI KUNG | 13

five minutes with

Five minutes with

Gregory Smith

Managing Director of Rentokil Pest Control talks to Charmaine Ng about the types of pests found in Hong Kong Got a pest problem? There’s no one better to call than Rentokil Pest Control. Initiated in the 1920s in the United Kingdom, the company moved to Hong Kong in 1964 and has provided effective and reliable pest control to both commercial and residential customers ever since.

Now a household name, Rentokil has maintained its competitive advantage by being at the forefront of innovation, developing unique solutions that redefine how pest control is conducted.

We speak with Gregory Smith, Managing Director at Rentokil, who recently transferred to Hong Kong with his family. Having worked in South Africa and New Zealand, moving to Sai Kung was a no-brainer, especially since he has young children who enjoy the outdoors.

“Sai Kung is a great place to live,” says Smith. “But pests are especially challenging in this neighbourhood.” Whilst seasonal

14 | SAI KUNG

variation exists in pest activity, he tells us that this year, there has been an alarming explosion of mosquitos. In Sai Kung, the abundance of vegetation and water support their reproduction and development.

“Mosquitoes bring health concerns through their ability to transmit illness and virus.”

To deal with the mozzies, traditional pest control has been heavy-handed with the use of harsh toxic treatments to get rid of pests. Smith disagrees with this approach.

“At Rentokil, we fully believe in a holistic method,” he says. “All of our management solutions integrate pest behaviours and understanding to manage the cause of pest prevalence.” This means Rentokil’s experienced professionals make detailed inspections through exclusion, restriction, prevention and monitoring to create a robust management solution.

Although pest removal is Rentokil’s expertise, the company maintains the best

cure for a pest problem is prevention. To keep unwanted visitors out of the house, Smith suggests practising common sense with things like food and shelter. “If you can make efforts to reduce attracting pests, eliminate places for them to eat and shelter, this goes a long way to prevent unwanted inhabitants.”

Today, Rentokil’s big focuses are on green solutions, whether that is energy efficiency, nontoxic products or world-leading practices. It recently launched a digital innovation that gives its customers individual and tailored information, data, trends and recommendations through its online portal, available anytime, anywhere and live.

Rentokil has protected properties from pests across Hong Kong for 55 years.

You can call for a free quote at 5803 0052 or visit rentokil.com.hk

on patrol

Senior Inspector Ron Yung reports on recent cases in Sai Kung Enhanced traffic initiative From Friday to Sunday, police have upped their traffic patrols around the town and have cornered up the hard shoulder on Fuk Man Road to prevent illegal parking by the Bus Terminus.

Marine East Division Based in Tui Min Hoi, Marine East Division is the local base of the Marine Police and is responsible for maintaining a safe environment for all sea users.

Sneaking around At 8am on July 10, police received a call about five people acting suspiciously around High Island Reservoir. After they boarded a taxi heading towards Sai Kung Town, police intercepted and found that four of them were without valid identification documents with one person aiding them. All were arrested at the scene.

Not a warm welcome At 9:45pm on June 7, a house in Venice Villa was burgled. The family were out of the country and their domestic helper found the glass front door smashed, a metal wire fence cut open and jewellery missing. The case is still under investigation.

Swim with caution On the morning of July 9, a male aged 64 and female aged 67 were swimming at Pak Lap Wan Beach. After swimming 150 metres away from the shore, the female was spotted floating face down in the water. She was rescued by a witness who performed CPR before she was airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital she was certified dead that afternoon.

Breaking the bank At 1:43am on July 9, a 49-year-old male and his mother went to check his bank balance

at a local ATM on Man Nin Street. When he realised it was out of order, he began hitting and damaging the machine. His mother called the police, who arrived at the scene and arrested him for criminal destruction.

Stone, paper, scissors On the afternoon of July 12, a male aged 45 was hiking alone to Tung A Village. He attempted to jump over a stone which was two metres tall, injuring both his legs.

When police arrived the man was airlifted to Ruttonjee Hospital with two swollen legs in a conscious state.

Facebook phony A man brought 1,000 boxes of masks valued at $100,000 from a seller on Facebook. When the masks never arrived, the victim found the post and user had been deleted off the site and contacted the police. The case is still under investigation.

Join the Sai Kung neighbourhood watch scheme at sk-nws@ police.gov.hk

Slip and slide On July 3 a 47-year-old male injured his right shoulder after slipping on a boat.

The Marine Police arrived at the scene and escorted him to Po Toi O Pier where he was transported to Tseung Kwan O Hospital by ambulance.

Successful CPR rescue At 1pm on July 12 a male aged 77 was swimming with his family in Hap Mun Bay. After getting into difficulty the man started drowning and was rescued by a lifeguard who applied CPR with an Automated External Defibrillator. He was escorted to Marine East Division base where an ambulance was waiting. The man regained consciousness at Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

Sea safety Dos • Wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid • Assess your ability and physical condition before getting into the water Don’ts • Get in the water alone • Swim in waters with busy traffic, strong currents, poor visibility or in fishing areas

SAI KUNG | 15

must haves this month

“I Am Very Busy� notebook $117 from ban.do en.smallable.com

Smooth gel ink ballpoint pen

$8 each from Muji muji.com.hk

Quilted personal planner $590 from Kikki.k kikki-k.com

Premium bag green $423 from Mi-Pac en.smallable.com

SCHOOL'S IN Back to school essentials by Nicole Slater

Star 5 colour highlighter pen

$40 from Bookazine bookazine.com.hk

Stationery set

$59 from Depesche Ylvi & The Minimoomis petit-bazaar.com

16 | SAI KUNG

Heart leather kids bucket bag

$1,160 from Stella Mccartney Kids lanecrawford.com.hk

back to school A5 notebooks - jungle tiger

Printed charge it charger

$47 from A Little Lovely Company petit-bazaar.com

$169 from Typo cottonon.com

Mini metal water bottle $119 from Typo cottonon.com

Desk set

$119 from Typo cottonon.com

My first bag

$459 from Childhome petit-bazaar.com

Lazy jungle 13� laptop sleeve $423 from Wouf en.smallable.com

Bento lunchbox

$150 from Bamboa bamboahome.com Sampans at sunset $1,000 from Mazu Resortwear mazuresortwear.com

SAI KUNG | 17

cover story

Sai Kung Readers’ Choice Awards 2020 Over 1,300 of you voted for your favourite bars, restaurants, schools, beaches and more this year. Turn the page to find out who you picked as your winners. By Nicole Slater

18 | SAI KUNG

reader’s choice

Photo credit: Graham Uden

SAI KUNG 19

cover story

Dining BEST RESTAURANT

The Conservatory

Anthony’s Ranch

BATTLE OF THE BURGERS

It was a close call this year, but taking 26 percent of the votes, The Conservatory won best restaurant for the fourth year in a row.

Owned by Clearwater Bay-based couple Robert and Kim, the Mediterranean restaurant sits in the heart of the square and offers a long list of salads, tapas and the all-time crowd favourite risotto balls. enotecagroup.com/conservatory

19%

BEST WATERFRONT BAR

Bully Base

Momentai

11%

Burger Deli

Overlooking Sai Kung’s serene waterfront, Momentai is the perfect place for an evening tipple. The restaurant has a large open deck reminiscent of a Mediterranean seaside café and a bar boasting 18 taps serving a range of craft beers and ciders. momentai-la.com

Bones & Blades 30%

40%

BEST NEW BUSINESS 2084 Since opening its doors in February, 2084 has created quite the buzz as Sai Kung’s first plant-based restaurant. James Bradshaw’s new restaurant serves up a range of vegetarian alternatives to classic dishes including curries, ‘Pekingpeking’ wraps and more. 2084.casa

20 | SAI KUNG

readers’ choice

Health & wellness BEST FITNESS CENTRE

Outdoor Fitness Founded by Dayle Haigh-Smith in 2012, Outdoor Fitness takes advantage of Sai Kung’s natural surroundings with its hourlong fitness sessions. outdoorfitness.hk

We are proud to be voted Best Hair Salon in Sai Kung. We love what we do, it’s all about making people feel beautiful, happy and confident.

- Mojdeh Kazemi

BEST HAIR SALON Tala’s Hair & Beauty Centre Taking the top spot for the ninth year in a row is none other than Tala’s Hair & Beauty Centre. Mojdeh Kazemi’s friendly and professional salon is the perfect place for all your hair needs. talashair.com

BEST LOCAL SPORTS TEAM Sai Kung Stingrays The Sai Kung Stingrays have topped the charts for best local sports team for another year running. The team, with its iconic pink uniforms and an unquenchable passion for rugby, has been a staple amongst the Sai Kung community since it was founded in 2006. skstingrays.com

Momentai

Growing from a small group of parents with a handful of players to one of the largest mini rugby clubs in Hong Kong, we are proud to call Sai Kung our home.

- Michelle Jordan

BEST DAY SPA Sense of Touch Tseung Kwan O The luxury day spa in Tseung Kwan O has been voted the top spa once again. Pamper down at the 6,500 square feet space and treat yourself to one of its many luxury treatments – you deserve it. senseoftouch.com.hk

SAI KUNG 21

cover story

Education BEST PRE-SCHOOL Nord Anglia International Pre-School

BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL

Located on Tui Min Hoi waterfront, Nord Anglia International Pre-School is well known for its brightly lit classrooms and hands-on approach to teaching. With 55 schools across the world, it’s no surprise you voted for it as your favourite pre-school. nordangliaeducation.com

Clearwater Bay School Clearwater Bay School has taught the Sai Kung, Clearwater Bay and Tseung Kwan O community since 1992. Sitting atop of Clearwater Bay Road, the school’s secluded location offers plenty of room to play, learn and enjoy. cwbs.edu.hk

BEST EDUCATION CENTRE Bumble Bee Playgroup A fun and playful environment conveniently located in Po Tong Square. The playgroup helps teach children social and practical skills in a welcoming environment. playgroup.bumblebee.hk

BEST THROUGH SCHOOL Hong Kong Academy From small beginnings, Hong Kong Academy moved to its current campus in Sai Kung seven years ago. Despite its dazzling facilities including an auditorium, vertiginous climbing wall and flexible classrooms, the school maintains a friendly, welcoming fee. hkacademy.edu.hk

22 | SAI KUNG

readers’ choice

BEST AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY Stage Right! Youth Theatre Since 2011, Stage Right! has been teaching children how to be confident and joyful performers.

With shows such as James and the Giant Peach and Alice in Wonderland, parents can be sure their children will have a fun-filled experience. stagerighthk.com

SAI KUNG 23

cover story

Out & about HIKE OF THE YEAR Sharp Peak You like a challenge, voting Sai Kung’s most difficult hike, Sharp Peak as your hike of the year. Suitable only for experienced hikers, the climb is so strenuous that the AFCD recommends against hiking the trail altogether.

However, its splendid views of Tai Long Wan and its four beaches make it worth the climb.

Trio Beach 35%

BEST BEACH Half Moon Bay

Ham Tin

23%

Long Kee Wan 20%

24 | SAI KUNG

Millionaire’s Beach 15%

7%

readers’ choice

Home & Living BEST VET Pets Central Friendly neighbourhood veterinary Pets Central wins the award for Sai Kung’s Best Vet once again. With its specialist services and professional staff, it’s no surprise you pick them to take care of your furry friends. pets-central.com/hk

BEST PET RELOCATION COMPANY

Jade Villa Located up Chuk Yeung Road, Jade Villa is the perfect sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the town. With jungle style trees and little traffic, this secluded area offers privacy and room to run around.

Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay magazine Us again? Oh you shouldn’t have.

VILLAGE OF THE YEAR

BEST LOCAL MAGAZINE

If you could change one thing about Sai Kung it would be.....

No more traffic jams Stop illegal parking A proper patisserie More car parking

Ferndale Kennels and Cattery Exporting and importing pets across Hong Kong borders for over 20 years, Ferndale Kennels and Cattery knows what its doing, which is why you voted it the best. ferndalekennels.com

BEST PEST CONTROL Biocycle Helping Saikungers control their household insect problems with water-based, environmentally friendly insecticide for over 29 years, Biocycle has received numerous ecological awards and qualifications, including this year’s Readers’ Choice Award. biocycle.com.hk

SAI KUNG 25

cover story

26 | SAI KUNG

readers’ choice People of the year - we couldn’t choose just one...

Jacquiline Hamilton

Emma Coleman

Gavin Gleeson

Jessica Drechsler

Aphrodite Hair And Makeup

Nord Anglia International School

Hitthub Sai Kung

Bones & Blades

I am extremely humbled to be recognised in our community and that many see me as an inspiration. When we are authentic, that’s when the magic happens.

I feel very lucky to live in such a wonderful place and to work in such an incredible school. Sai Kung and NAIS really are special places to be.

As a newcomer, I feel very humble and appreciative that people believe enough in me. this great community I really enjoy being a part of and all who believe in what I do.

Thank you for this unexpected honour.

This truly belongs to the butchers, chefs, servers and team at our Central kitchen. Thank you Sai Kung.

SAI KUNG 27

dining

BOTTOMS UP

Celebrate the winners of the Hong Kong Living Bar Awards. By Melaine Cox. Bar of the Year The Old Man

Our sister magazine Hong Kong Living lauched the first Hong Kong Living Bar Awards this month, celebrating the city’s most outstanding venues and the extraordinary talent that brings them to life night after night.

Here are some of the highlights, for the full list of winners visit hongkongliving.com

The Old Man needs no introduction. A stylish, intimate, Ernest Hemingway–inspired bar tucked away in Soho, serves up some of the most scholarly devotion to liqueurs and a steely focus on service. A scholarly devotion to liqueurs and a steely focus on service has led to, a series of accolades under their belt since the opening in 2017 by Agung Prabowo, Roman Ghale and James Tamang in the summer of 2017, it is no wonder our readers chose The Old Man as their favourite bar of the year.

Photo: The Old Man

Bartender of the Year Lorenzo Antinori, Four Seasons

28 | SAI KUNG

As the Beverage Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Beverage Ambassador, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific, Antinori attributes humble beginnings with a hard work mentality that brought him to the cities of Asia, as his recipe for success. fourseasons.com

Nightclub of the Year Dragon-i Arguably Hong Kong’s most iconic and longstanding night club, Dragon-i is the place to see and be seen, rubbing elbows with celebrities, models and the glitterati alike.

With a discerning door policy that reflects its celebrity-heavy clientele, Dragon-i parties are unparalleled to none other in Hong Kong thanks to some of biggest celebrities on the planet gracing owner Gilbert Yeung’s notorious guest list of friends that include Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Paris Hilton. dragon-i.com.hk

bar awards Best Hotel Bar Darkside, Rosewood Hong Kong

Our readers have a taste for the finer things in life with the crowning glory of the glitzy Rosewood Hong Kong, Darkside taking top picks for Best Hotel Bar. Darkside offers one of the best bar experiences in town, complete with sultry live jazz performances and glimpses of the stunning Victoria Harbour. The name of the game here is dark, rare aged spirits. The bar stocks vintage cognac aged from oak barrels and a selection of rum, whisky and calvados that span back to the early 19th Century. rosewoodhotels.com

Nibbles Dim Sum Library two Aqua Restaurant Group has opened its second Dim Sum Library restaurant nestled within Elements Mall. Guests will find a host of new dishes at the West Kowloon location including pan-fried Sichuan cod bao, lobster dumpling with Tianqi herbs and pan-fried Chinese yam cake. What’s more, the Cantonese restaurant is celebrating the opening of its second outpost with four new xiao long bao flavours.

Available until September 20, the limited edition flavours include Sichuan chilli, beef brisket, Singaporean-inspired bak kut teh and kombu and bonita. Shop 1028B, Water, Elements, 1 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. dimsumlibrary.com.hk

Best Rooftop Bar Terrible Baby Terrible Baby is so much more than your standard hotel bar. It has become the go-to destination in Kowloon to catch live music, international DJ’s and an enticing repertoire of sustainable cocktails with unique names such as “let’s go for one bruh” and “Ginie, not in the bottle” playing homage to its vibrant neighbourhood in Jordan. This is the bar to checkout for those who wish to have a refreshing change of scenery from their usual waterholes in the city. With a performing space, rooftop garden, and music room on the fourth floor of Eaton Hong Kong, this rooftop bar lives up to its quirky name translated from the French phrase ‘enfant terrible’, an expression used in the world of creative arts to describe a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox or avant-garde. terriblebaby.com

selection of ales and lagers from around the world. Tucked away on Graham Street, this pub is the place to go for British fair since its opening over 15 years ago. theglobe.com.hk

Best Interior Design Iron Fairies Straight out of a (literal) storybook, designer Ashley Sutton’s joint venture with Dining Concepts “The Iron Fairies” transports us to a fantastical world. Step out of Hollywood Road and into Iron Fairies for a journey to fantasy land far far away where 10,000 butterflies on thin copper rods swing from the ceiling and thousands of small iron fairies are scattered around the tables. Expect live jazz and swing bands served alongside creative cocktails by mixologist Joseph Boroski. diningconcepts.com

Best Pub The Globe Hong Kong original gastropub is a definite crowd pleaser. Taking the Best Pub award with its great service, value for buck and perhaps serving the best pie in Hong Kong. The Globe is Hong Kong’s response to the many gastropubs in London with a warming environment and wholesome pub grub menu alongside a wide

St. Barts takeaway The Clearwater Bay based restaurant is offering a special takeaway promotion this month from 6-9:30pm. Diners can enjoy 10 percent off any order over $440 or 20 percent off when they spend $600. For those who spend over $800 a bottle of wine will be thrown in for free. Shop 1 on G/F, Retail Block of Mount Pavilia 663, Clearwater Bay Road. casteloconcepts.com

War-time cocktails at Red Sugar

Thai Dao summer specials Beachside restaurant Thai Dao has released some limited edition summer specials, including Lobsters Tom Yum Soup and Thaistyle Grilled pork. Wash it all down with a refreshing milk foam peach tea. G/F, 9 Sha Ha Village, Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung.

Travel back in time with Red Sugar’s new cocktail menu ‘Our Little Time’, which showcases a collection of concoctions inspired by the post-war era of Hong Kong. Kerry Hotel’s popular rooftop bar has launched 11 new cocktails, all presenting key elements from the 60s to 80s. The terrace bar, overlooking the Victoria Harbour, has also just launched a new Sundown Sessions available every Saturday and Sunday for two hours of free-flow bevvies and tapas. Level 7, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom. shangri-la.com

SAI KUNG 29

chui sui central

The land where frogs quack Animal sounds around the world are a minefield for a travelling author IT WAS ONE of the weirdest bits of news I ever had to break. “Something unusual is infesting the earth under our apartment block,” I told my neighbour. “I think it’s a herd of cows.” Below our building and the field nearby could be heard the unmistakable “mooooo” of large cattle. It went on for days.

Yet none of my encyclopedias, nor that trusty compiler of oddities, the Internet, had any information on “burrowing cows”. The closest I could get was “ground beef”.

The mystery was eventually solved by Georgina Noyce, a columnist who writes about animals. She told me that the Asiatic painted frog does not go ribbit like many frogs, but makes a moo noise like a cow.

Echoing underground drains amplify their voices to make them sound loud and terrifying, like karaoke machines do for my banker friend Julian, who used to live upstairs from me until I told him I would take out a court order against his rendition of Achy Breaky Heart.

I once had to speak at a school in mainland China, and began an extremely long story with plot-points which hinged on animal noises. In the tale, a chicken makes its normal buk-buk-buk noise, which is heard by the characters as “book, book, book”. A frog makes its usual ribbit-ribbit-ribbit noise, which is heard as “read it, read it, read it”.

I was well into the tale when I realised that the 900 kids listening to me had no idea what I was talking about. With horror I recalled that the sound chickens make is not perceived in China as “buk-buk-buk”, but “gordok, gordok, gordok”. Worse still, in that area, frogs quack like ducks. I once sat next to a busy frog pond in Guangzhou which sounded like a convention of Donald Duck impersonators.

(Frogs in Germany also quack.)

Animal sounds are minefields for a travelling storyteller. In the Philippines, roosters go “tiktilaooo”, in Mexico, “kikiriki”, and in Portugal, “coco-ro-coco”. The prize for Most Accurate goes to Indonesia, where the sound is described as “kukuruyuuu”. And Least Accurate? English speakers (this is not a joke) believe roosters wake up every morning and say "cock a doodle doo".

30 | SAI KUNG

But Indonesians lose their crown for accuracy when it comes to frogs, which they hear as saying “Tekotek, tekotek”. Huh? English speakers redeem themselves when they describe pig-speech as “oink, oink”.

Compare that to the Japanese rendering of pig grunts as “boo-boo, boo-boo”. No way.

Dogspeak is a highly contentious matter.

Indonesian hounds go: “Guk, guk, guk!” while Filipino ones say: “Aw, aw, aw!” European ones say “Wau, wau,wau ” but American ones go “Woof-woof”. I think I would give the prize for accuracy to the Chinese, who claim dogs say, “Houh, houg, houg” and the least accurate to the British, who believe, incredibly, that hounds go: “Bow wow”.

On my travels, I came across two books on this subject. Everywhere the Cow Says Moo! by Ellen Slusky Weinstein was charming but inaccurate. Bengali cows go “hamba” and Dutch cows say “boeh”, according to a funwith-words book called The Meaning of Tingo

by Adam Jacot de Boinod.

Are there animals which say the same thing around the world? Yes. Almost everywhere I’ve travelled, the sound a cat makes is described as “meow” or something similar (“miau” in German, “ming” in Tagalog).

Oddly, the speakers of Nahuatl, a language in Mexico, hear meow as “tlatzomia” but I think that can be classified under the heading ‘Just Plain weird’. I blame it on the tequila.

Anyway, back to the scene at the school in China. So there I was, in mid-sentence, realising that the story I was telling would make absolutely no sense to my audience. I had no idea what to do. So I simply continued, leaping around and doing animal impressions, extending the story as far as I could. The children roared with laughter. The teacher told me afterwards: "The first time you came, you told them a story. That was okay. But this time you just talked like a crazy man, made no sense. I think they like this better."

Nury Vittachi can be contacted at nury@ vittachi.com or through his Facebook page

sai kung secrets

Green Egg Island Cherry Lee discovers a hidden paradise in Sai Kung's waters With no pier or other facilities, the island is relatively small but its clear waters and unique range of sealife make it perfect the place for scuba diving and snorkelling. For those who want a little more time, Green Egg is a great camping spot, just be sure to bring your own tent and plenty of water.

This is just one of the 263 islands surrounding Hong Kong. It’s untouched state offers a unique experience from the rest of the city, but it’s important that we protect these diverse ecosystems. Please take your rubbish back with you when leaving and tread with caution.

Blue Sky Sports Club offers half day eco tours to and from the island which includes lunch, gear rental and a tour guide.

Alternatively you can hike from Lung Ha Wan, which will take around three hours and include a five minute swim.

Located in the Eastern side of Tai Leng Tung, Green Egg Island, originally called Lan Pai is a paradise for people wanting a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The island gets a unique name from its resemblance to a green poached egg from

above. With a small grassy hill and pebbly beach surrounding it, many visitors have compared this island to the Maldives.

Know of a Sai Kung secret? Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

Other islands around Sai Kung

Photo: PixsoulHK

Tap Mun Island

Bluff island Shelter island

Sharp Island

SAI KUNG | 31

pets

Ask a vet..

Dr Pauline answers your pet questions this summer What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer?

With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: 1. Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects.

2. Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car.

3. Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot.

4. Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out.

5. Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin.

32 | SAI KUNG

6. BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the body, and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine.

How long can dogs lay in the sun before it's dangerous?   Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their inbuilt temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C).

Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally.

If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should

naturally move out of the sun's rays.

Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day, if ever.

Dr. Pauline Taylor Pets Central veterinarian answers your questions.

marketplace

marketplace

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

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

SAI KUNG | 33

marketplace

34 | SAI KUNG

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

marketplace

What to plant in August August weather facts Average high temperature: 32.2°C Average low temperature: 26.7°C Average rainfall: 432 mm (17”) Average rainfall days: 16.9 days Average sunshine hours: 6.1 hours

With the midsummer month’s dream forthcoming, August represents a meager cooldown from July’s peak sizzling weather, granted it’s still a tad too hot for most.

With social distancing measures in place, there is no better time to tend to our gardens and enjoy the fresh air from the comfort of our own home.

The key practice this month is to inspect your plants or any diseased foliage for any plant diseases carried over by the heat and humidity then dispose of it properly. Like the month before, remember to use disinfectant fluid to protect your seedlings from pests. Monitor weeds as they compete with your plants for nutrients and water, and dig over all vacant ground in your garden to ensure good conditions for sowing seeds in the next few months.

Seeds of the following may be sown: mustard and cress, Chinese spinach, lettuce, sweet corn, Chinese green and white cabbage, celery, tomatoes and carrots. Short beans sown last month will also require staking.

From the hottest to the wettest month of the year, August carries over sudden showers and occasional typhoons shutting everything down. However, as the saying goes, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain’. May this month reward you with a budding backdrop of captivating crops and flowers for your garden.

By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens.

Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.

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

SAI KUNG | 35

council chat

Ask Debby

District Councillor for Sai Kung islands, Debby Chan answers your questions

Roadwork traffic around Sai Kung All councillors responsible for the Sai Kung rural area have put transport on the top of their to-do lists. We have proposed to limit the development of rural Sai Kung, rearrange parking lots, improve public transport services and implement minor road improvements. Even though the motions are agreed by the council, we are still awaiting a response from respective official professionals at the Transport Department and Highway Department.

Environmental issues Although the Hong Kong government has established a blueprint to reduce carbon emissions, it has not yet landed on district level. This year, I am co-operating with Baptist University and Greenpeace on a pilot project to reduce household energy consumption during the summer months.

We will encourage the community to join the project and if anyone would like a device to help monitor their energy consumption please get in touch.

Solar panels and green energy sources We are trying to push the government and public institutions to install more solar panels on facilities such as school rooftops and bus stops. For the Feed-in Tariff Scheme, we have not received any updates for Sai Kung yet, we need to sort out what major factors hinder the general use of solar panels before pushing the project forward.

activity. The everchanging instinct of this place makes every corner a surprise. Besides that, I love rock climbing to keep myself active, there are so many great walls around the city and up on the mountains.

Got a council question for Debby? Email us at editorial@hongkongliving.com

What is on your agenda for August?

With another outbreak of Covid-19 in Hong Kong, all meetings and activities have been suspended in order for us to focus on keeping the community safe and healthy. Please stay safe and wear your mask in public.

How can we make Sai Kung better?

Sai Kung is a very mixed community, with traditional chinese residents and migrant expats living together in a cosy little town.

For a better Sai Kung the key is to blend both cultures together with public events and festivals.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Wandering around Hong Kong is my favourite

36 SAI KUNG |

Debby Chan Ka Lam is the District Councillor for Sai Kung Islands, striving for a more sustainable community.

SAI KUNG. 37