Southside July 2018

FAMILY | FOOD | TRAVEL | OUTDOORS

July 2018

INTO THE

BLUE how to buy a speed boat

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The really useful magazine July 2018

4 SNAPPED!

32 DINING

Southsider out and about

Healthy restaurant eating

6 THE PLANNER

36 EDUCATION

Check out what’s on

The Harbour School

14 MUST HAVE THIS MONTH

40 INTERVIEW

Ultra-cool summer stuff

Gay Games Hong Kong: Dennis Philipse

16 NEWS

44 SPORTS

What’s going on in your backyard

52 TRAVEL

Winter snorkelling in Silfra

22 FIVE MINUTES WITH...

58 ZIM CITY

Suzanne Younan, founder of Green Dragons HK

Empty the Tanks

Ask Dr. Pauline

64 MRS BACKFIRE

26 COVER STORY

Water crisis

60 PETS

24 LOCAL

40

Playing golf in Hong Kong

20 GIVEAWAYS Fab things to win

32

Cyberport ideas by the Buttinski

The A-Z of buying a speedboat

14

26 44

36 “TURN YOUR WOUNDS INTO WISDOM.” – OPRAH WINFREY

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editor’s letter

H

ello July! The summer break is now officially here. Airlines all around the world are probably overburdened with passengers trying to get the best out of their holidays. But for those of you who are lingering in Hong Kong, we have some fun ideas about how to stay busy and entertained over the summer. Kim Inglis of Golf in Hong Kong was happy to share his thoughts on the pros and cons of indoor vs. outdoor golfing.

If golfing is not your thing, maybe it’s boats?

In our cover-story column, we share everything you ever wanted to know – it’s an A-Z of buying a boat and getting a licence in Hong Kong!

And speaking of boats, I strongly recommend that you plan a trip to Iceland for an unusual snorkelling trip. In our travel column, Dimple Shah reports on her recent exciting trip to Silfra in Iceland. The images are breathtaking and out of this world!

Our 5-minute interviewee of the month is Susanne Younan, a passionate advocate for plastic reduction and clean beaches. I agree that we all need to act now to conserve our marine life. And finally, in our Backpage column this month, Mrs. Backfire shares her worries about Cyberport and offers some great ideas!

Editorial Managing editor Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.com Editor Vasavi Seethepali, vasavi@hongkongliving.com Contributing editor Carolynne Dear, carolynne@hongkongliving.com Sub-editor Kay Ross, kay@hongkongliving.com Editorial assistant Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com

Design

Graphic designer Sonia Khatwani, sonia@hongkongliving.com Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com

Sales & Marketing

Sales director Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Sales & Marketing executive Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Corrie Tang, corrie@hongkongliving.com Johnny Wong, johnny@hongkongliving.com

Accounting

Assistant Operations Manager Charles Lau, charles@hongkongliving.com

Digital

contributors

Digital co-ordinator Julianne Dionislo, julianne@hongkongliving.com

Publisher

Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com

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

Dimple Shah

Kim Inglis

Ifat Kafry Hindes

...arrived in Hong Kong 10 years ago and promptly decided to forego a lucrative career in banking and finance for the unquantifiable joys of writing. An avid consumer of words all her life, she has only recently officially assumed the mantle of producer of words and spinner of yarns. dimpleshahchronicles.com

...runs Delaney’s Golf at Cyberport Arcade and owns and operates several golf and travel websites. When not chasing little white balls around, he can usually be spotted with a camera around his neck in Sham Shui Po or Tai Mo Shan. Kim was born and raised in New Zealand, and lived in Bangkok, New York and Victoria, BC, before coming to Hong Kong in 2009.

…is an advocate for all things related to health and wellness. Born in Israel and raised initially in the Caribbean and then in Hong Kong, she is the founder of Hong Kong’s first entirely gluten-free restaurant and bakery, Choice Cooperative, and also Project Wellness, an all-round initiative to promote healthy eating and living.

Want to write for Southside Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com 2 | SOUTHSIDE.HK

Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Southside 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. Southside Magazine 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 the pubisher. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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people Snaps from Southside

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say cheese Snaps from Africa Day

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planner

THROUGHOUT JULY

Get to the beach

Summer is in full swing! Pack your favourite magazines, a picnic and your best swimwear and head down to your favourite beach! From Shek O to Sharp Island, we have an abundance of fabulous beaches. Check out our guide to Hong Kong’s best beaches at hongkongliving.com See you on the sand!

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planner JUL 7 - AUG 26 SummerFest 2018

Relax and have fun, with outdoor art and light installations, garden games and a kids’ playground. Free admission.

Central Harbourfront Event Space. summerfest-centralharbourfront.hk

THROUGHOUT JUL

National Ice-cream Month

The famous ice-cream shop from Boston, Emack & Bolio’s, is celebrating ice-cream all month long this July with a range of exciting events. Enjoy buy-one-get-one promotions for those with birthdays in July, an in-store quiz with the chance to win an ice-cream cake, and social media competitions to take part in and win some sweet prizes… literally!

Emack & Bolio’s, 26 Cochrane Street, Central

UNTIL JUL 15

JUL 5

The PSI Bar will be broadcasting the football games live from Russia, with a selection of burgers and specials inspired by qualified teams. The broadcasts will start from 6pm onwards. Le Meridien, 100 Cyberport Road, Aberdeen. starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien

Dutch DJ William Reberge, better known by his stage name, Headhunterz, is coming to Hong Kong for a night of EDM and hardstyle music. $270. Zentral, 4/F-5/F California Tower, Lan Kwai Fong, Central.

Summer football fever at Le Meridien

Headhunterz

JUL 1

21st anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR vs. annual July 1 march Enjoy the day off work and join in the celebrations, including parades, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural performances around the city. Or join the annual July 1 protest march! This year the starting point is at East Point Road, Causeway Bay.

JUL 4

American Independence Day Celebrate in true American style with a barbecue, beer and a beats party. 6pm. $388.

Lily & Bloom, 5-6F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central.

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JUL 6-8

Hong Kong Bakery Carnival The carnival will consist of bakery workshops, parent-child activities, food tastings and on-site demonstrations by master chefs.

Adults $80, children $40. Hall 5F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. hkticketing.com.hk/events/WCHKBAK0718

Pedder Building Gallery Tour

JUL 7

Explore the galleries in Hong Kong’s historic Pedder Building and learn more about modern and contemporary art. English tour 11am-1pm; Mandarin tour 2.30-4.30pm. $280, walk-ins $320. Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central.

planner JUL 9-15

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow Hong Kong Get a taste of Australia’s largest comedy festival! With stand-up, sketch and satire, this side-splitting mega-show is the highlight of the comedy calendar, not to be missed. Most shows start at 8.30pm. $280-$395. Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. hkfringeclub.com

JUL 9-12

HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer Check out all the latest wow-worthy looks.

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

people from some of the world’s biggest companies and most exciting startups. Regular tickets from US$680. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

JUL 9-12 RISE 2018

Three days of legendary networking with

JUL 10

Hong Kong International Guitar Symposium Opening Concert The Opening Concert will feature two leading guitar duos: Xu Tuo and Wang Ya Lun from Beijing and Italian duo SoloDuo. 8pm. $280.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai.

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planner JUL 14

ArlixMeet Teen Entrepreneurs Conference A conference run by teenagers and young people from around the world who are interested in learning about startups and entrepreneurship. Free. NakedHub, 7F Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan.

JUL 14

ARCH: En Route A Holistic Wellness Festival, featuring meditation, healing workshops and wellness brands. 11am-7pm. Free. Central Harbourfront Event Space. arch-enroute.com

JUL 14

Yoga & Brekkie Yoga with a difference. Flow to hip-hop beats with Natalie Soderstrom and Aleksandra Milewicz. Smoothie bowls provided by Off the Chain bowls. 9.45am-12noon. $300. The Hive, 33-35 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan.

JUL 27- 28

3rd Asia International Comedy Festival Featuring from some of the top comedians in Asia including Garron Chiu, Evans Musoka and Byron Murphy. 9pm. $300. 34 Elgin Street, Central. takeoutcomedy.com

UNTIL AUG 12

JUL 27-31

Chinese Opera Festival

Ani-Com and Games Fair The hottest event in the digital entertainment, comics, animation, video games and toys and collectibles arena. $35 tickets available onsite and in advance at 7-11 or Circle K convenience

Daily stage performances by some of the leading Chinese Opera companies, plus symposiums, Chinese Opera film screenings and exhibitions. At various venues, including The Grand Theatre at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong City Hall in Central. cof.gov.hk/2018/en/#1231

Ocean Park Summer Carnival Featuring animal-themed parades and amazing shows every hour and over 100 exotic Caribbean food and drink specialities. Ocean Park, Aberdeen. oceanpark.com.hk

UNT SEP I2L

stores. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. ani-com.hk

JUL 18-24

Hong Kong Book Fair A week-long event organised by the HK Trade Development Council, including publishers’ exhibits and plenty of books! Adults $25, children $10. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/index.html

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planner

BOOK NOW AUG 4

AUG 16

SEPT 22

He’s back! It’s been seven years since Bob Dylan’s last concert in Hong Kong, and tickets are sure to sell out fast. 8.30pm. $488-$1,288.

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com/events/ WCBOBDY0818

Sample gourmet treats from across the globe and watch live demonstrations by international experts, including Michelin-starred chefs. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, hktdc.com/hkfoodexpo

British singersongwriter Jessie J is coming to Hong Kong for the first time as part of her huge World Tour, to perform her highly anticipated fourth album, R.O.S.E. 8pm. Tickets from $698. Hall 10, Asia World Expo, asiaworld-expo.com/events/detail/ jessie-j-the-rose-tour-hong-kong

Bob Dylan Never-Ending Tour

Food Expo

Jessie J R.O.S.E. Tour

OCT 20

Mariah Carey World Tour Enjoy all of Mariah Carey’s greatest hits at her first-ever concert in Macau. 8pm. $480$1,780. Cotai Arena at the Venetian, Macau. cotaiticketing.com

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

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Quality, accessible care when you need it most

W

ith its state-of-the-art facilities and clinical experts, Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital (GHK) strives to provide high-quality and accessible healthcare services to the community. Entering service a year ago and now in full operation, GHK is the first private hospital in Hong Kong to provide around-the-clock outpatient and emergency services on Hong Kong Island, and the first to introduce the concept of fee transparency in private healthcare.

Premium healthcare anchored in a global network A joint venture between Parkway Pantai and NWS Holdings Limited, GHK leverages international healthcare experience and expertise from Parkway Pantai and IHH Healthcare, the parent company of Parkway Pantai, which operate 50 hospitals worldwide. Riding on its global network, GHK is able to introduce international best practices and innovative technologies, including an automated medication dispensing system, a 24-hour automated core laboratory track system, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-MRI scanner (the second installation in Hong Kong) and a TRUEBEAM linear accelerator.

Clinical excellence and continuous improvements through a private-academic partnership As the hospital’s exclusive clinical partner, The University of Hong Kong overseas GHK’s clinical governance and drives clinical excellence and continuous improvement in service quality, safeguarding high standards of patient care.

Enforcement of a robust and comprehensive credentialed system ensures that medical practitioners at GHK have the necessary qualifications and experience and meet the highest professional standards.

A one-stop healthcare provider in the south of Hong Kong Island The 500-bed multidisciplinary specialty hospital is a “one-stop shop” that serves patients with a wide range of healthcare needs. GHK offers a full suite of services and facilities, including specialist outpatient clinics, a radiology service, a cardiovascular laboratory, a critical-care unit, a radiotherapy and oncology centre, an endoscopy centre, a chemotherapy centre, a dialysis centre, a health screening service and a rehabilitation centre.

Staffed by a team of Emergency Medicine specialists and General Practitioners concurrently, the 24-hour Outpatient and Emergency department provides immediate care for patients with common or critical medical conditions. With its patient-centric and efficient operation and setting, each patient has access to a consultation, an inpatient stay and surgery within 48 hours.

GHK differentiates itself from others with its

warm, healing ambience and its spacious twinbed, en-suite standard rooms, which ensure a restful stay with maximum comfort. Other options such as semi-private rooms, single rooms and suites are available to cater to patients’ preferences and the thresholds of their insurance plans.

Peace of mind through fee transparency and assurance GHK is a pioneer in promoting fee transparency and assurance in private healthcare. Before patients are admitted, all fees are clearly explained upfront to help them make informed decisions and manage costs. During their stay, patients are also advised of any additional charges incurred should additional services or treatments be required.

Price assurance is also made possible via GHK’s all-inclusive medical packages that offer a guarantee regarding the maximum price, covering all services related to the treatments for the medical condition, including intensive care and re-operation, within the predefined length of stay. GHK’s strong partnership with major insurers also enables minimal or no coverage shortfalls for most packages provided by the hospital.

CONTACT: 1 Nam Fung Path, Wong Chuk Hang, 3153 9000 gleneagles.hk In partnership with Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital

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must have this month

ULTRA-COOL SUMMER STUFF The feel good summer travel picks Philippe V’s WN7 in Gold Champagne S$400 at T Galleria by DFS, Lippo Sun Plaza, U 28 Canton Road, Kowloon philippev.com

Seedling The Hang-Glider Guy 209 from Minifab $ seedling.com.hk

Invisible KIDS Sun Protector Spray SPF50+++ 320 from Moraz Galilee $ Mannings, Shop B, G/F, 517 Sheffield Road, Causeway Bay moraz.hk

Stuck On You Personalised Sun Hat 199 from Minifab $ stuckonyou.hk

Teresa’s Turkish Towels Pineapple Towel 300 $ hkturkish.com

Aluminium The Bigger Carry-on USD$495 from Away awaytravel.com

Block heels from Piccadilly 380 from Simply Shoes $ Unit 12, 15/F., Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang simplyshoes.com

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all set for summer Glow Filter 410 from Lane Crawford $ lanecrawford.com

Berelax My Memory Foam Wellness Pillow HD-Blue $298 from Log on B1/F, Times Square, Causeway Bay logon.com.hk

Sunglasses Chestnut Folke $1,195 from Triwa TRIWA Mira Place 1 Popup Store, LG-B, G/F Mira Place 1, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon triwa.com

The Centerfold Garment Sleeve SD$65 from Away U awaytravel.com

Ottoman leather sandals in coral printed fabric $1,550 from La French Cut The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central lafrenchcut.com Fujifilm instax mini 9 in Flamingo Pink $850 from Log on B1/F, Times Square, Causeway Bay logon.com.hk

Watch Svalan Ebony Svalan Mesh 410 from Lane Crawford $ lanecrawford.com

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news

STINGRAYS INTERNATIONAL MEET 2018

The Stingrays Home International Meet, hosted by the Stingrays Swim Club, took place over the weekend of May 18-20 at the Hong Kong International School. With the participation of 396 swimmers from various local schools and clubs, and from overseas, the event marked a record in the club’s history. Local teams included the Mantas Swimming Club and the Ladies Recreation Club, while visiting teams

included the SBC Sea Lion Swim Club (The Philippines) and the Blue Swimming Club (Shanghai). The event was sponsored by Funzone, the American Club, Rocket Science Sports, Vitasoy Corp and others.

“Despite the hot weather, we pulled off one of our best Home Invitational Meets. Our army of parent volunteers helped run a smooth

programme. Swimmers and families had an enjoyable weekend watching some exciting races. We look forward to hosting this again, next year,” said the Stingrays head coach, Richard Pointon. Katharine Lim and Nicholas Lim achieved the highest points in their individual events.

PADDLE FOR THE PLANET

MORE MINIBUSES

On Saturday June 2, the Victoria Recreation Club in Deep Water Bay was packed with over 100 paddlers participating in Paddle for The Planet, 2018. The event took place simultaneously all around the world, including in Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden, South Africa and Qatar. The aim was to raise awareness about ocean plastic and how it is polluting our marine world. Paddlers set off around Deep Water

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Bay and collected a staggering amount of household trash, including chairs, plastic toys and hundreds of single-use plastic bottles. This year’s event set a record, raising more money than any other Paddle for The Planet event. All donations will support marine reserves around the world.

Bay area District Councillor Fergus Fung has recently been lobbying for a minibus line to serve the Repulse Bay area to enable residents to get to the Ocean Park MTR station, and the local operator of the minibus line has responded positively to the request. Mr. Fung reported: “They will add two extra minibuses for the 52 minibus line, to be operated during rush hours. These extra minibuses will turn around at the roundabout of Repulse Bay Road and South Bay Road. This will ensure passengers from Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay get access to the Ocean Park MTR station and Aberdeen easily and quickly.”

in your backyard

WINNERS OF THE HKAHF WOMEN OF HOPE, 2018

The fifth Women of Hope annual fundraising lunch, held on May 18, raised over $5 million for the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Fund (HKAHF), which supports Hong Kong’s underprivileged cancer patients. Over 400 guests attended the event to celebrate and honour the achievements of women in their respective fields in eight categories. The voting, open to the public, took place on an online platform.

The awardees were: Daphne King, Director of Alisan Fine Arts Winnie H.L. Cheung, Founder of UpPotential. com Emily Ngan, Founder and CEO of Kingston Children’s Centre Justine Kwok, Founder and Creative Director of BK Atelier Corina Larpin, Owner of Stefere Olga Roh, Owner of ROHMIR Dr. Ava Kwong, Chief of the Breast Surgery Division, Tung Wah Hospital Breast Centre Katherine Yip, Founding Partner of Pacific Alliance Group and VinaCapital Group

AFRICA DAY African Group Consuls General gathered at Africa Coffee & Tea in Wong Chuk Hang to celebrate Africa Day on May 25. The goal of this year’s celebrations was to promote the diversity and beauty of Africa with the African community and “Friends of Africa”. The event featured a number of activities, including a lucky draw, wine-tasting, a fashion show, live music and music by the in-house DJ. “We are honoured and excited to receive the endorsement of the African Group Consuls General and Honorary Consulates of Africa in Hong Kong to co-organise and host this year’s Africa Day celebration,” said a representative of Africa Coffee & Tea.

NEW SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS In response to residents’ concerns about fly-tipping at the rubbish collection point on Shouson Hill Road, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong has installed cameras, with the aim of curtailing the activity. In a trial scheme, two cameras have been installed: one on Shouson Hill Road and one in Ap Lei Chau.

NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT: FRATELLI Fratelli means “brothers” in Italian. Run by the same company that runs Amalfitana, Fratelli is a much-anticipated pasta eatery by the seaside at The Pulse in Repulse Bay. With quaint-yetchic design and a comfortable atmosphere, Fratelli offers a plethora of Italian delights.

Head chef Michel Degli Agosti has put together a menu centred around salads, antipasti and impressive Italian desserts such as panna cotta and coffee-flavoured tartufo. fratelli.hk

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GIVEAWAYS

win at hongkongliving.com

enter to win!

Porcelain toy cars

Dinner for two

Up for grabs: 30 toy cars hand-painted by disabled children

Up for grabs: A dining voucher for two at A.O.C. Eat & Drink

From: The Society for the Relief of Disabled Children (SRDC) a local children’s charity whose mission is to provide medical, surgical, rehabilitation and educational services to disabled children in Hong Kong. They support the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital in the emerging areas of child health that are not readily available in the public healthcare system. srdc.org.hk

Tickets to the International Comedy Festival Up for grabs: Two pairs of tickets for the 3rd Asia International Comedy Festival From: TakeOut Comedy Club is the first full-time comedy club in Asia. The 3rd Asia International Comedy Festival features acts from some of Asia’s top comedians, including Garron Chiu, Evans Musoka and Byron Murphy. The shows are at 9pm on July 27 and 28. takeoutcomedy.com

From: A.O.C., which stands for the French term appellation d’origine contrôlée - serves up a variety of seafood, meat and cheese dishes perfect for sharing, by chef Stéphane Guillas. The seasonal summer menu includes small bites such as mussels and homemade farmhouse pork rillettes, and a butcher’s corner with a variety of meats. aoceatndrink.com

DOCK E30 speaker Up for grabs: A DOCK E30 speaker, valued at $4,500 From: CY Audio Visual Solutions. The company provide unique and innovative AV solutions for homes, schools and performance venues. With Airsound™, audiences can enjoy a balanced, undistorted stereo sound within a 160 degree angle coverage. The DOCK E30 speaker features a wireless charger and a docking groove. cyavs.com

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

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five minutes with Although I am fairly new to the sport, I have jumped in with both feet. Unlike the other sports I participate in, dragon-boating is a team sport. The atmosphere and dynamics of a team make for a more exciting experience.

“If you can’t do it well, then don’t do it at all” is my motto in life. I always throw myself into everything 100%. I’m quite hard on myself. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist. If I’m asked to do something I’ll do it to the best of my ability.

I am a creative person and I love to bake. A few years ago I had a baking business, where I baked children’s themed birthday cakes. I found it relaxing and fun. I also love to knit and crochet. Since moving to HK, I’ve become involved with a group called Impact Hong Kong, which helps the homeless. A sub-group was formed with wonderful, caring and talented ladies who crochet blankets, hats and gloves for the homeless. In the evenings I crochet blankets for a group called Knitting and Crochet Volunteers Charity HK.

SUZANNE YOUNAN The founder of Green Dragons HK talks to Vasavi Seethepalli about her passion I love the Southside. When I first moved to Hong Kong I lived at The Peak, but I always liked the idea of living closer to the beach. I’m not a person who can live in the hustle and bustle, and the Southside is the perfect escape.

I need to be near nature. I moved because of the proximity to the schools. We chose Deep Water Bay for the family fun factor, and it’s a beautiful place. Being close to the water fulfills all our needs as a family.

I love hiking in Hong Kong, and there are many hikes that I like. I have a large dog that needs exercising, so I’m on the country trails very often. I love walking from Lady Clementi’s Ride along the water catchments and into Aberdeen Country Park. I’m a nature-lover, so I appreciate the birds, the insects and sometimes even the reptiles!

I believe with the opening of the new hotel at Ocean Park, more people will come to the

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south side. This can be good for Southside residents. The hotel will give people the opportunity to stay for perhaps a long weekend rather than a day trip.

However, I see that the traffic between Deep Water Bay and Stanley can be a huge issue for residents. A single road in and out causes traffic backlogs. Even the slope maintenance causes a 90-minute delay for the 15-minute journey. I don’t have a solution for the traffic issues, because I see the road cannot be widened any further.

I love to go to Coconuts with my husband on a Friday night. Located on Deep Water Bay beach, it is my “go-to” place for a relaxed night out. Dining outside without aircon is a treat, even in the warmest weather.

I’m a Dragon-boater. I paddle with the AWA Globe Paddlers out of Stanley twice a week.

I’m a big advocate for REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. Plastic pollution is a huge problem in the world. Via Green Dragons Hong Kong, an organisation I founded in August 2017, I’m raising awareness about this issue in the dragonboating community. I have drastically changed my life with regards to reducing waste for myself and my family. It seems that minimal recycling takes place in Hong Kong, so I try my hardest to reduce it at the source. Recently we collaborated with WWF and The Jane Goodall Institute to screen the documentary A Plastic Ocean, which conveys a strong message about plastic waste.

I was also given the opportunity to speak at the Lamma 500 Dragon Boat Festival.

We recently organised an event in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute to involve the local restaurant community in Stanley, dragon-boaters and residents. We screened the movie Straw and held a Q&A session afterwards. Later, a micro-plastic beach clean-up. It was good for people to see just how the plastic breaks down into tiny pieces, and how easily the fish mistake this for food.

We were also involved with the dragon-boat community during the big Dragon Boat festival in June. We encouraged paddlers to bring their own reusable water bottles, and also asked the festival organisers to provide free water via refill stations. There’s still a long way to go, but the word is spreading.

To learn more about how you can help to reduce plastic pollution, visit FB/GreenDragonsHK/

A home away from home The thrill of a vacation minus the stress of travelling, in collaboration with Le Meridien Setting foot in the Le Meridien Cyberport reminds us of how fortunate we are that nature is so close to Hong Kong’s concrete jungle. A re-energising retreat, Le Meridien Cyberport promises a sense of harmony among its alluring exteriors to its ornate interiors suitable for any season. While they welcome you to their opulent hospitality, they offer three unique packages.

A relaxing escape There’s nothing better than relaxing in the serene environment at Le Meridien. Rejuvenate your senses with Le Meridien’s signature spa treatments at the Sense of Touch Spa.

• • •

• •

The SPAcation relaxation package includes: Two nights in a Smart Room Daily breakfast for two at Prompt restaurant One 60-minute Revive Massage for 2 OR a Sacred Nature Facial for 2 by Sense of Touch Retreat Access to the gym and outdoor swimming pool Complimentary shuttle-bus service between hotel and Hong Kong Station (both ways).

• • • •

You’ll need to book your package at least three days in advance, and a minimum two-night stay is required.

The “South Escape” staycation A stone’s throw from Nature, Le Meridien is nestled amidst stunning outdoor beauty. The breathtaking views of the South China Sea instill an immediate sense of calmness.

The South Escape package includes: 1 night’s accommodation in a Smart Room Breakfast buffet for 2 people at Prompt 2 signature eclairs as welcome goodies 1 bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival Complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access • Single-trip Tesla Model S drop off within Hong Kong Island

• • •

The family staycation package includes: 1 night’s accommodation in a Smart Room 1 complimentary extra bed with colourful bedsheets Kid-friendly in-room setup and surprise welcome amenities Breakfast buffet for three people at Prompt restaurant (2 adults and 1 child under 12 years old) Kids under 12 eat for free when they dine with adults at Prompt Late check-out until 2pm Complimentary shuttle-bus service between the hotel and Hong Kong Station (both ways).

• • • • •

Happy Child, Happy Life: At Le Meridien, you can make the most of your relaxing staycation by sending the kids out to enjoy all the facilities and activities on offer, just a hop, skip and jump away from your room.

All offers are valid until December 31, 2018.

2980 7788, reservations.LMC@lemeridien.com

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local

PROTESTERS ASK OCEAN PARK TO “EMPTY THE TANKS” In light of recent protests at the theme park, Vasavi Seethepalli heads out to learn more

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“E

do research, and provides valuable information to the public. An Ocean Park spokesperson commented: “Ocean Park fully respects the different views of stakeholders and interest groups. However, we think that some of the Empty the Tanks appeals about dolphins at Ocean Park are misinformed. And we would like to take this opportunity to reinforce Ocean Park’s long-standing position in offering the best care for our animal ambassadors, without ever losing sight of the vision to connect people with nature.”

The spokesperson continued: “Dolphins are important ambassadors that support the Park’s mission to inspire and educate the public.

Although there are different ways to convey the message, the opportunity to see animals up close in accredited facilities offers a respectful, safe and educational environment that can influence people’s perceptions, increase understanding and inspire action.”

Speaking on behalf of the Agriculture Fisheries Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong, which works closely with Ocean Park, a spokesperson said: “Any person who exhibits animals or birds in return for a fee paid by the public admitted to entering the venue for the exhibition must apply for an Exhibition Licence / a Temporary Exhibition Permit from the AFCD. We will continue to closely monitor all premises holding the above licence and ensure all facilities for the exhibited animals are in line with the latest international standards to protect animal welfare and health.”

What do you think? Is it morally right for humans to capture marine mammals and train them to entertain people? Does the educational and scientific value of that activity outweigh the rights of the animals? Can rehabilitated cetaceans be released back into the wild safely? Or are there other alternatives? Send your comments to editorial@hongkongliving. com Got a local story?

Have your say by emailing editorial@ hongkongliving.com

photo credit: dolphin family

mpty the Tanks” is a new slogan that has been creating waves at Ocean Park. The sixth annual “Empty The Tanks” protest took place there on May 12. The aim: to set free the cetaceans in captivity.

Shows at Ocean Park such as “Dolphin Encounter” and “Sea Lion Feeding”, featuring trained marine animals, are popular with many children and adults alike, but others disapprove of the practice. Many organisations campaign for animal rights because they believe that the animals are not for our entertainment but should be left in peace to enjoy their life in the ocean.

One local organisation that demonstrated in May was Empty the Tanks. The group’s Hong Kong chapter posted on its social media page: “We will continue to voice out for our friends inside the tanks until one day there is no-one suffering in captivity!” The group strongly believes in the conservation of marine mammals and is in favour of the mammals being released back into the wild.

“We campaign to educate the general public about what captivity means to cetaceans, and to reach the public all over the world positively and productively,” said Rachel Carbary, the founder of Empty the Tanks.

In the wake of the May 12 protest, the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society spokesperson stated: “Dolphins should not be kept in captivity for human entertainment as it is detrimental to them. They are exploited and have a shorter lifespan in captivity because they suffer from poor health and are mentally stressed. This year, the protest also objects to the allocation of $310 million from the Hong Kong Government to Ocean Park. The shows at Ocean Park have no educational value but send out a distorted idea of dolphins to the visitors.

The Park should stop enslaving the dolphins by phasing out dolphin shows and stopping the artificial breeding programme.”

Offering a different viewpoint, many organisations argue that marine mammals are held in captivity for worthwhile educational and scientific purposes. They believe it gives marine parks the opportunity to study the animals and

empty the tanks

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cover story

THE A TO Z OF BUYING A SPEEDBOAT Win friends and influence people with our how-to guide

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ith 236 islands to play on, Hong Kong is loaded with idyllic destinations, from the Geopark and long swathes of golden sand in Sai Kung to the green-turtle nesting site at Sham Wan, Lamma. One of the best ways to get out there and explore is aboard your very own speedboat. Load the kids, a couple of friends and a cool box filled with drinks and off you go. Here’s our A-to-Z guide to buying a speedboat of your very own.

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A

Awesome. Hold that thought. Make the most of this moment. They say the two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.

B

Breaking down. In case of emergency, contact the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre by telephone on 2233 7999. Alternatively, call the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on V.H.F. (channel 12,

buying a speedboat

C

14, 67) or by telephone at 2233 7801.

Consortium. Buy a boat with friends and bond over beach picnics, sunsets and boat repairs. Make sure one member of your group is money-rich and time-poor (that shouldn’t be you!) and another is handy with a toolbox. Pay for dings and dents individually, but if the boat sinks you all go down together. Consortiums often run on gentlemen’s agreements, but you could have a contract that covers who owns what, how the boat will be managed and the amount of time on board. But we feel this just takes the fun out of it.

D

Decision made. You’re going to buy a boat, now let’s get down to the nitty gritty: the cost.

E

Expense. How much is it going to cost?

When budgeting, factor in costs such as mooring, fuel, maintenance and insurance.

“The price range for day boats differs vastly” says David Walder, Sales Manager at Simpson Marine. “Flyers range from 40,000 euros (including delivery to Hong Kong) for a Flyer 5.5 (the smallest in the range) with one 100hp outboard engine to around 120,000 euros for a Flyer 8.8 with twin 200hp outboards.”

“Beneteau Motorboats offer ranges such as Antares and Barracuda, which are slightly more expensive but have a proper cabin, air-conditioning and more storage. These boats are equipped for an overnight stay option. The Antares 7 with 150hp outboard would be around 75,000 euros, whereas the Barracuda 9 with twin 250hp outboards would be around 170,000 euros,” adds David.

“Should the buyer prefer to go for a second-hand option, we can find boats of different budgets and sizes, already in Hong Kong, from as low as US$30,000.”

F

Fuelling up. Remember to do it before you set off.

G

Go. Where to go: For dolphins…

Head to Tai O fishing village for a glimpse of pink dolphins For diverse marine life…

Cruise over to Starfish Bay in Wu Kai Sha For breathtaking land formations…

Circle around the Hong Kong Global Geopark For an island getaway…

Go to Tung Lung Chau in Sai Kung For an unforgettable sunset…

Head over to Tai Mei Tuk for sunsets straight out of an oil painting

Tying the knot The Cleat Hitch knot is commonly used to tie a boat to a static dock. To tie one, take one full turn around the base of the cleat (the T-shaped piece of metal on a boat to which ropes are attached). Then take a figure-eight turn around one horn of the cleat and then the other. Finally, pass the line under itself and pull it tight.

SOUTHSIDE.HK | 27

cover story

H I

Hebe Haven. (See ‘Y’ for our guide to yacht clubs.)

J

Junks. You’ll never be trapped on one again. Accept the invite. Rock up on your boat and leave with the coolest people.

K

Knots. A Knot is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. The term originated in the 19th century, when knots in a rope were used to measure the speed of a vessel. If you’re looking for something to give you an adrenaline rush, consider how many knots per hour your boat can travel.

L

Licence. Before you can drive your speedboat, you will need the relevant licence: a Pleasure Vessel Certificate of Competency. See over the page for our guide to getting a boat licence.

M

Mooring. On- and off-the-water space in Hong Kong is precious and finding a mooring can be the trickiest part of buying a speedboat. The Government has halted the transfer of mooring ownership in some marinas, resulting

Insurance. In Hong Kong it’s mandatory to have a third-party insurance coverage for your boat. Without this you will not be able to change the ownership of your boat or renew the yearly licence.

in price increases and long waiting lists. Renting a mooring or a hard stand (storage out of the water, often in multistorey racks) from a marina — Clearwater Bay Marina, Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Hong Kong Marina or the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club – is your best bet, although you will usually have to join the club first.

N

Naming your boat.

“Seas the day” or “Ship happens”? Naming your boat is not a task to take lightly, so think carefully about how you want to be perceived on the water.

O

Outfits. Stock up on stylish, functional staples but don’t try too hard. Decent boat shoes are a must, and remember that whatever you do to your hair will be ruined after just a few minutes.

P

Popular. No doubt owning a boat will increase your popularity amongst your friends.

Upcoming boat shows in Asia July 7-8 Indonesia Yacht Show, Jakarta yachtsexpoasia.com November 2-5 China (Xiamen) International Boat Show xmboatshow.com November 22-25 Inaugural International Cruise and Yachting Festival, Kai Tak, Hong Kong icyfhk.com Looking ahead April 11-14, 2019 Singapore Yacht Show singaporeyachtshow.com

Problems = expense. Ask why the boat is for sale, why it is the price it is and how many owners it has had.

R

Registration. Yes, more paperwork.

During a change of ownership, the boat must be de-registered from the previous owner and then re-registered in your name. Register your boat with the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Government. For more information, see “Licensing a pleasure vessel” at gov.hk

S

Simpson. Mike Simpson is the Don of the yacht world and founder of Asia’s longest-established yacht dealership, Simpson Marine. Thirty-five years ago

Q

Question everything.

Get answers before you sign on the dotted line. You need to have a good idea of the boat’s history and be aware of any problems that your boat may have.

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buying a speedboat How to get a speedboat licence in Hong Kong Before you can drive your speedboat on Hong Kong waters, you’ll need to obtain the relevant certificate, the Hong Kong Pleasure Vessel Operators Certificate of Competence (PVOCC). There are two grades to this certificate: Grade I and Grade 2.

Grade 2 entitles you to operate a pleasure vessel of 15 metres or less, with an unspecified engine power. The course is made up of two parts: Part A, which is Master, and Part B, engineering. Both are required to obtain the certificate.

Grade 1 entitles you to operate any pleasure vessel in Hong Kong waters. You must have held a Grade 2 certificate for at least 12 months before attempting Grade 1.

Where to take the course Many brokers and marinas offer classes to get you up to speed. If exams are not your thing (and there’s a fairly high failure rate), freelance captains can be hired for around $800 a day.

The Hong Kong Sailing Federation Courses are held three times a year, in April, August and November. Part A, the Master section, is held early in the month, and Part B, the engineering section, is held towards the end of the month. The price is $5,400 for ten lectures across a month.

Aberdeen Boat Club The Aberdeen Boat Club offers courses three times a year, in April, August and November. Again, the course is split into the two sections of the exam, with Part A being held early in the month and Part B towards the end.

This course is cheaper, with both parts in total costing $3,400 for members and $4,000 for non-members.

Fewer people take this course, so if not enough people sign up it might be cancelled.

Kong Sailing Federation recommends certain optometrists, however a test by any optometrist will do.

The exam The Marine Department Seafarers’ Certification Section in Central holds regular exams for both master and engineer certificates. The test, lasting one hour 50 minutes, is a multiple-choice paper, in English. It is usually taken on the computer, but can also be handwritten. For more information, visit mardep.gov.hk

Eye test The final requirement for owning a boat is to undergo an eye test, preferably before you take the course. The Hong

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cover story

Simpson built a yacht in Taiwan with a dream of sailing it around the world.

When he reached Singapore, someone made an offer on the boat. He accepted, sold the boat and flew back to Taiwan to start again. When the boat was almost ready, the same thing happened again.

He realised that perhaps there was a business for him, within a few weeks he had sold a third yacht, and Simpson Marine was in business. Mike is still at the helm of his company and commutes to work daily by boat from his home in Lamma. With over 300 listings of boats in Asia, Simpson Marine sells new and second-hand yachts across Asia from its base in Aberdeen, Hong Kong and 12 regional offices in Asia.

T

Typhoons. Typhoon season in Hong Kong runs from May to October. Keep up to date with notifications from the Hong Kong Observatory. The yacht clubs provide information on how to minimise damage during a typhoon. Most

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X

X-tra-ordinary. Enjoy this extraordinary experience — only a tiny percent of people on the planet will ever get to do it.

Y

Yacht clubs. Hong Kong has some great ones: Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) Founded in 1890, this is one of the largest yacht clubs in the world and the only Hong Kong club that kept the “Royal” in its title after the handover.

It has clubhouses in Kellett Island (Causeway Bay), Middle Island and Shelter Cove. rhkyc.org.hk The Aberdeen Boat Club One of Hong Kong’s main recreational boating and sailing clubs. Facilities for yacht, speedboat and cruiser owners as well as two club houses with jetty and pontoon moorings. 20 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen. abclubhk.com

Rumour has it that there’s a guy in Wan Chai who can help you pass your licence.

Stay tuned online at hongkongliving.com and we’ll update you on this shortly!

Aberdeen Marina Club Founded in 1984, Aberdeen Marina Club is one of Southside’s newest and most polished clubs. It offers both dry and wet berths as well as boat maintenance and servicing. aberdeenmarinaclub.com

importantly, check your insurance policy for special terms regarding “named wind storms” and check that your mooring location is included in the policy.

U

Use. Why do you want a boat? This can be the most difficult question for firsttime buyers. Do you want to fish, relax or party?

V W

Visitors. Without a doubt you’ll blow their minds.

Worth it? It sounds like hassle, but when you take the wheel, with the wind in your hair and a gin and tonic on ice in your hand, it’s worth every second and cent it cost to get there.

Hebe Haven Yacht Club In the bay of Pak Sha Wan in Sai Kung, Hebe Haven has good facilities, 240 swing moorings and hardstanding. It also offers repair services. 10.5 Miles, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung. hhyc.org.hk

Z

Zero. Looking to buy a speedboat? You should have zero worries after reading this guide.

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dining

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF

Ifat Kafry Hindes discovers nutritious dishes that won’t blow your budget

E

ating out is one of life’s great pleasures. But alas, meals at most restaurants in Hong Kong are not very healthy, or not healthy enough.

They tend to be packed with processed food, sprinkled with MSG or too greasy.

And restaurants that specialise in serving healthy dishes often blow your budget out of the water. I can’t help wondering whether it’s possible to eat restaurant meals in Hong Kong that are healthy, tasty and reasonably priced. So I recently set myself the task of debunking the myth that we can only eat healthily in certain types of restaurants, and within a certain budget. The results of my research are encouraging.

knew I was writing about healthy restaurant eating, I was told that there were only two healthy items on the menu. That was so not true! I found many items that were bursting with nutrition, thanks in part to chef Frank Lebiez, who understands the importance of using fresh, healthy ingredients.

Highlights: Mozzarella Burrata with Cherry Tomatoes ($148); Quinoa Salad filled with butternut squash, pine nuts, avocados, raisins and pomegranate ($108); Chicken Butterfly with mustard, breadcrumbs and garlic butter ($188).

Verdict: Every bite was so heavenly that even now I’m still craving that lunch. The welcoming, homely feel was a big plus.

Metropolitain

Flamingo Bloom

Aspen Court, 46 High Street, Sai Ying Pun If you have a smaller budget, head to the French bistro Metropolitain, which I visited recently with some friends. Once the staff

G/F, Shop B, World Trust Tower, 50 Stanley Street, Central This place recently launched a new healthy range of summer drinks. There’s

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an awesome selection of traditional Chinese tea house specialities, modernised with a special twist. The menu is again great for those on a budget.

Highlights: Neua Pad Med Mamuang, which is stir-fried beef with cashew nut, dried shiitake mushroom, fresh mushroom, mixed bell pepper, onion and carrot ($168); Shrimp Red Pumpkin Curry shrimp

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dining

Sisombath 4/F Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central The menu at Sisombath, a Laotian noodle and snack restaurant in the heart of Central, was created by chef Justin Chan, who has a background in nutrition and understands the nutritional value of every dish.

Highlights: The broth of the Lao Vegan Soup, made with the freshest veggies and loaded in nutrients ($68); the special crepe (it instantly become one of my favourites) ($68); Steamed Rice Spring Rolls made with an in-house sauce ($38).

Verdict: I love how the chef has made healthy eating so affordable. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see him – he’s friendly and always up for a chat!

Café Siam 21 D’Aguilar Street, Central I’ve always looked at Thai cuisine as being

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quite healthy, with a variety of options. Café Siam, one of the city’s most established Thai restaurants, was on my list of healthy restaurants that I was eager to visit.

Highlights: Café Siam recently launched its “Nutrilicious” menu, created by wellknown nutritional advisor Kim Murphy together with its chefs. Whilst the menu is not organic, it’s definitely healthier than most, with less sugar and salt and no deep frying. The most notable thing about the spread was the bright colours.

As the adage goes, “Eat your colours.”

Highlights: Dishes here are cooked with organic ingredients where possible. The Cucumber Pickles were perfect ($68); the Har Gao ($65) was made to perfection; the King Prawn topped with homemade fermented XO sauce and broccoli was divine ($280).

A bonus point was the main dining room, which transported us back to another time.

This adventure definitely won’t be the last in my mission, as I continue to document the surprising and littleknown healthier eats around town.

Madame Fu Shop 3, 3/F, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central Created by Kee Club’s Christian Rhomberg, Madame Fu is located in the cool new Tai Kwun complex.

Sometimes healthy is not just in the food but also in the mind. So with a glass of vino in hand, Rhomberg and I relaxed and enjoyed a fascinating conversation about the vision behind this place as we ate traditional Chinese cuisine.

Photo credit Nate Jin @urbaneneat

red curry (with no fish sauce. Bravo!) ($128); Rice Paper Roll with fresh mango, shrimp, mixed green and mint ($98).

Verdict: What I liked most was that they add grapes instead of teaspoons of sugar to add extra sweetness as needed. Also, they use paper straws!

SOUTHSIDE.HK | 35

education

THE HARBOUR SCHOOL GROVE CAMPUS The school that’s worth five stars

H

ong Kong parents can be forgiven if they’ve become a little numb to the hype of school jargon. In a city where education gets top billing and money is regularly poured into new schools, it’s not unusual to hear about state-of-the-art facilities and award-winning designs. This element of educational one-upmanship serves to raise parental expectations to the point where things that, under normal circumstances or in different countries, would be impressive can seem like standard practice here.

So it was quite a surprise to visit a school and be genuinely and completely blown away by almost every element.

The Harbour School (THS) is one of those rare educational Hong Kong beasts that no one seems to have anything bad to say about.

Started 10 years ago in a commercial building in Kennedy Town, it has now grown to three campuses catering for different age groups, enabling a through school system as students

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progress from one to campus to the next. The Village is still located in Kennedy Town, while the Grove and the Garden can be found in Ap Lei Chau.

The Grove, THS’s primary school for grades 1-6, officially opened in 2017, though there are still elements of the campus that are yet to be finished – the swimming pool, for example, is on track to be completed for the start of the 2020 school year. But for all intents and purposes, THS is fully functioning and is resetting the benchmark for schooling in Hong Kong.

Hands-on schooling It is hard not to be impressed by something as professional as their Marine Science Center and the two marine biologists who run

it. Full of weird and wonderful creatures native to Hong Kong waters – horseshoe crabs, sea cucumbers, clown fish... – it is used in tandem with science lessons to enhance the students’ understanding and give real-life examples to studies. Once the Marine Science Center has played its part, classes then move to The Black

grove campus

Dolphin, a 50-foot yacht moored in Aberdeen Harbour that acts as the school’s “on-thewater” classroom. This is inquiry-based learning at its truest.

All this is driven by the Head of School, Dr. Jadis Blurton, who might be the most passionate educator to ever touch the shores of Hong Kong. A clinical psychologist by

training, she is so completely invested in the students and their progression that at times she resembles something more akin to a devoted mother rather than a principal. She is as informed as she is involved and clearly breathes THS day and night.

With her psychologist’s hat on, her aim from the start was to create a small,

progressive school that enhances critical thinking, teamwork and emotional wellbeing.

“I envisioned a haven for learning, one that provides an education that is enjoyable and intellectually lively for its students and that recognises every child for his or her uniqueness and welcomes and encourages the diversity.”

This is a clearly a big statement and an

SOUTHSIDE.HK | 37

education even bigger challenge. But she is true to her word: the demographic of the students is such that 20% have some form of SEN (Special Educational Needs) and 20% are in the gifted category (a phrase that, encouragingly, Blurton concedes that she dislikes – “Everyone is gifted at something.”).

Under the umbrella of THS comes another organisation, The Children’s Institute (TCI), which is focused solely on the school’s SEN pupils, giving them the chance to be included in mainstream classes where appropriate whilst also getting the individual attention they need.

Learning the interesting way From a learning perspective, THS states that its teachers are “not lecturers but facilitators”. Evidently so: this is certainly a place where you’re unlikely to see students sitting at desks behind closed classroom doors staring at a teacher. Instead, the classroom floors can all have their doors and walls pushed back to allow collaboration between rooms. During our visit there were pockets of students in various spaces, some sitting on the floor, others on chairs, all working away on joint tasks.

Blurton says: “We value mental health and recognise that the tasks and personalities

Principal’s Office – Jadis Blurton What’s your Hong Kong story?

I came here 22 years ago with my husband, who was given a job at Hong Kong University. I am a Child and Family Psychologist, so I started a private practice that evolved into the Jadis Blurton Family Development Center. I worked with kids, families and schools here in Hong Kong as well as other places in Asia for about 12 years before I was asked to take over THS. Gives us a brief synopsis of your career I started my first school when I was seven years old – The Two Horseshoe School – and have been interested in progressive education since then. I became a certified Montessori teacher before returning to university to get an MA in Special Education and then an MA and Ph.D. in Developmental Child Psychology. I taught university classes for some time before becoming a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I also have six children of my own, all with very different strengths and personalities, so I have had experience as a parent, a psychologist and an educator.

What is THS’s greatest strength?

THS’s greatest strength consists of the

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necessary for the 21st century are not enhanced by making students depressed and anxious or by having them sit facing forward, listening to lectures and taking tests.”

This is not a formal school that stands on parade, perfectly polished. The focus is on the children’s happiness and inclusion; it does not matter if a shirt is untucked or a few books are

people who populate it – kids, teachers and families. It is a happy, positive and creative learning community filled with excitement and thought. It is always changing, progressing and evolving, and never standing still or doing things by rote. We all feel encouraged to think of new ideas and approaches and the air is filled with a vibrancy that one doesn’t find in many schools.

What is a memorable book you’ve read recently?

My favourite book over the past couple of years has been Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, which is an excellent analysis of the history of education, the current difficulties and what the future will bring.

What is in the future for THS? We will continue to develop programming within our regular classes and our three “Centers of Excellence”. If we add a fourth Center of Excellence, it will be in the Arts. With Hong Kong as our base and model school, we may also expand THS into other countries.

Which country is next on your list for travels?

Ooh, can I talk about my last trip instead? I just got back from a 10-day trip to Kenya

out of place. Instead, pupils are continually given the breadth to bring their own interests and curiosities into the classroom to see how they can adapt them to real life.

The theory in practice As an example, Grade 5 students take part in the school’s Global Issues Conference,

with several of the THS High School kids, because they are building a Learning Center/School for a public children’s hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Many of the children treated there have long-term illnesses or injuries such as cancer or burns, so they needed a school that they could attend while hospitalised. The THS students had designed the school, and fundraised the entire amount to build and decorate it. Ground was broken a few weeks ago, and the Learning Center will be completed by August. facebook.com/ MerakiGiving As an educator, what would be your advice to Hong Kong parents when choosing a school?

Remember that your children will be living in a world and workplace that is very different than the ones in the 19th and 20th centuries, so they need to develop skills and attitudes that are also different. It has never been more important for children to develop their passions and to find their “element”, so celebrate those interests and find a school that does the same. More and more, universities are looking for students who do or think in novel, passionate or interesting ways rather than “excellent sheep”. Employers certainly are.

grove campus in an immersive project that feeds off the knowledge and skills that they have been learning in the classroom.

When the pool opens, it will also play a part in some STEAM projects as the school plans to hold competitive underwater robotics activities. On that note, you probably don’t need to be told that the pool will not be a standard, giant rectangle for lane swimming.

Instead, it’s designed to mimic the form of a lagoon so that it can be used for snorkelling, SCUBA diving and the aforementioned subaqua robot wars.

What’s next?

and at the most recent one, a 10-year-old pupil discussed homelessness. Following his talk, he wrote to 15 university departments of architecture to suggest they provide a module in which their students learn to design homes for the homeless. At the time of writing, he had already received responses from MIT, Columbia and UCL.

Aside from The Black Dolphin and the Marine Science Center, the school has one other “Center of Excellence”: the Foundry.

This is home to the STEAM programme, where design, robotics and engineering all come together, both within the curriculum and in enrichment programmes. Students spend at least one full week here every term,

So while there are elements of THS that are a work in progress, this is less to do with the school not being ready and more to do with the fact that its aim is to continually develop, move with the times and adapt to what its students need it to provide.

Of this Blurton says: “In many ways it is impossible to imagine THS’s future because it is impossible to imagine what the challenges and capabilities of the future will be, but we hope that THS will continue to evolve to meet those challenges and capabilities in ways that we cannot yet fathom.”

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interview

HONG KONG SET TO HOST

THE GAY GAMES IN 2022

Jules Hannaford, Lamma Island resident and host of “Hong Kong Confidential” podcast, speaks with Dennis Philipse, Chairman of the Hong Kong Gay Games 2022

40 | SOUTHSIDE.HK

interivew

Meet the King of Coding

Local parent and tech entrepreneur John Huen explains why he believes more families need to get their kids coding, in collaboration with Koding Kingdom John Huen, CEO of Koding Kingdom, is very passionate about computer coding and providing the highest quality tech education for all children, including his own.

“As a father, I believe that every child from all walks of life should have the opportunity to learn coding,” says the father of two, speaking from his company’s HQ in Cyberport, with almost religious zeal.

While many people in Hong Kong probably spend more time communicating with digital devices than directly with their fellow human beings, most of us most cannot speak the language of the computer.

“The way society is moving, not knowing how to code will be like not knowing how to read and no-one wants their child to grow up illiterate,” says Huen.

The former high-flying corporate CEO and University of Oxford scholar, decided to practise what he preached and in 2013, he quit his glowing career in the computer gaming industry, to start up Koding Kingdom, from scratch.

Five years on, the company is a trusted kidscoding partner for both parents and university academics, with three teaching centres across Hong Kong and partnerships with some of the biggest names in tech education, including Microsoft, ESF, HKU, Minecraft, Roblox and ID Tech.

“It’s been hard work but extremely rewarding,” says Huen.

Since its inception, Huen and his team at Koding Kingdom have provided coding courses for more than 20,000 students from the ages 5-15. They organised a world record-breaking, mass youth coding jam, commissioned by the HKSAR and Cyberport, and introduced Silicon Valley-style tech camps, hosted at local universities. Huen also found time to launch Hong Kong’s only not-for-profit NGO, promoting kids coding, called Let’s Code.

“Coding is also about being creative and having fun so we teach kids to design their own games with Minecraft or design and programme their own robots,” he says.

Koding Kingdom currently has hundreds of students engaged on programmes and is approaching the busiest period of the year when their one-week (two hours per-day) summer holiday coding camps are extremely popular.

Huen points to the large employment sectors which are increasingly based online and says the success of the fastest growing firms like Alibaba, Google and Tencent, are built on digital knowhow.

“Talent supply remains the number one challenge facing these digital tech businesses,”

he says and while he concedes coding and tech education is gaining wider recognition with parents, he thinks there is still a long way to go.

“Some schools are already introducing coding lessons but we are not yet close to the tipping point where parents fully embrace it,” he says.

“There’s nothing wrong with kids attending music, language or sports classes, but coding is now the fifth core skill.”

CONTACT: The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road, Aberdeen, 3706 8909 kodingkingdom.com

SOUTHSIDE.HK | 41

T

interview

his year’s Gay Games are fast approaching, set to take place in Paris next month from August 4 to 12. We have reason to follow closely, with Hong Kong recently being announced as the subsequent host in November 2022.

As the first Asian country to host the games, the winning bid was the result of a lot of hard work from the bid team led by Dennis Philipse. “It started with me and a dream - many hadn’t heard of the Gay Games before so it was initially difficult to build support,” says Philipse.

The games, which originated in San Francisco in 1982, were founded by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympian who wanted to encourage the LGBT community to participate in worldwide competitive sports. “I remember attending the games in Amsterdam in 1988,” says Philipse.

“I thought how great it would be to host the games in Hong Kong. I reached out to the federation and said “Hello, I’m from Hong Kong. How can we bring the games to Asia for the first time?”

A bidding process ensued, with Philipse and his team competing against 17 other cities. “We had to submit a registration fee and a proposal that detailed sports,

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locations, facilities, a marketing and finance plan and letters of support from government officials and potential sponsors.”

As part of the shortlist process Philipse had to organise a site visit inspection of all of the proposed 40 venues in Hong Kong. These include Victoria Park for tennis, Kowloon Park for swimming and Shing Mun River and Stanley beach for dragon boating. There will also be a community event at PMQ.

Hong Kong was shortlisted together with Washington DC and Guadalajara in Mexico, “I didn’t expect Hong Kong to be shortlisted, let alone to win,” says Philipse.

“We’ve been lucky and had a lot of support. Cathay Pacific mentioned LGBT in their internal magazine for the first time and provided tickets for 15 participants for our trip to Paris to present our bid. In Paris we delivered a presentation, along with the other shortlisted locations. The Deputy Mayor of

gay games hk Paris announced that we won at City Hall.”

Philipse talks of a previous Gay Games he attended in 2014. “A member of my team, Yannick, participated. He met a Japanese athlete who had medals around his neck. Unfortunately, the Japanese athlete wasn’t able to take the medals home to show his friends and family as they were unaware of his sexuality and thought he was away on a business trip.”

That athlete has now told his family he’s out and he will participate in the games next month in Paris.

The Gay Games are organised by the LGBTQIA community but are open for everybody to participate, whatever your sexual orientation, age, ability, gender, disability and physical level. You also don’t have to be a Hong Kong resident. Just sign up with your details, then pay the registration fees and select your sports.

Hong Kong offers visa-free access to many countries, so this will make it easier for people to participate. “There are around 25 countries within a five-hour flight of Hong Kong so we are hoping that the games in November 2022 will bring people from many different countries together. In past Gay Games, around 65 countries were involved,” says Philipse.

“Hong Kong has a lot of elderly people, actually the highest amount of elderly people in the world, so it would be great to involve this generation. In 2014, a 98-year-old grandmother named Ida Hilli won a gold medal in the 100-metre race. I read only last week that she is now 102 and still running.”

“Our goal is to celebrate diversity and connect people in the spirit of a

better understanding of sports and each other,” adds Philipse. To find out more visit gaygameshk2022.com Jules Hannaford’s interview, Episode 43 “The Gay Games” with Dennis Philipse is part of a series “Hong Kong Confidential” available to download anywhere you find your podcasts.

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sports

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golf in hong kong

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

PLAYING GOLF IN HONG KONG Kim Inglis of Golf in Hong Kong scores a hole in one with these tips

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sports

Kau Sai Chau

U

nfortunately, playing golf in Hong Kong hasn’t become any easier or cheaper over the years, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon. However it’s not all bad, and there are plenty of ways and places to help you get started or get you back into the game, whether or not you’re willing to brave the Hong

Kong summer heat and humidity.

Outdoors, the choices are slim, as you’ll need to venture to a land far, far away (Kowloon or Sai Kung). The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course is the only proper golf course you can take lessons at, but for most of us that’s rather a long way to go for a lesson.

There are driving ranges in Tai Po, Ma On

Shan and Tuen Mun and a new Tennis and Golf facility in Sai Kung, but let’s be honest, not many of us living in Southside are going to want to make that trip.

On the Island, you can join the South China Athletic Association in Causeway Bay and take a lesson when they convert their soccer pitch into a driving range, but that’s only available during limited hours so it’s

Most unusual golf terms Angle of Approach: The angle at which a clubhead reaches the ball during the swing.

Outside Agent: Golf fans, observers, forecaddies and referees.

Plugged lie: When a ball is half-buried in mud or sand.

Whiff: An embarrassing swing, where a full swing is thrust forward but misses making contact.

Interlocking grip: A secure grip, where the little finger of one hand is interlocked with the index finger of the other.

Knockdown shot: In times of strong wind, a knockdown shot helps to keep the aim low while allowing the ball to drive through the wind.

Casual water: The doesn’t mean ground that is wet or muddy; rather, it refers to when a puddle is gathered on the course but is not visible.

Shek O Golf Club

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sports

Hong Kong Golf Club

not ideal. Once you’re ready for the course, then comes the hard part of choosing where to play. Actually, it’s not that hard because there are only a few choices.

There aren’t that many places to play golf at a proper golf course in Hong Kong and most clubs will ask to see an official handicap card before you can play, which is rather unfortunate because you need 10 scores from a golf course in order to get a handicap. This means you’ll either need to play outside Hong Kong to get

your 10 scores or get your best photoshop skills into action. Alternatively, join one of the many golf societies in Hong Kong as they can help you get a handicap card.

Once you’ve got that sorted, you can take your pick from the following courses.

Kai Sai Chau is the only public golf course in Hong Kong (it has three 18-hole golf courses: East, South and North). If you manage to get out there on a fine, clear day, the views are pretty tough too, but it’s a whole-day experience and requires an

How to become a better golfer According to an article published on PGA website, there are a few tips to help you get better.

Exercise: Regular exercise will give you that extra power.

A few swings: Practise a few swings at home without the ball, paying attention to your position.

Visit a professional: Frequent visits to a professional golf instructor will help you brush-up on your technique.

Work on your putting: A flat surface anywhere is enough to practise your putting.

Top 6 Golf Apps (iTunes)

Clear Water Bay

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Diable Golf Handicap Tracker Category: Handicap Tracker V1 Golf App Category: Swing Analysis Randa.org Category: Rules of Golf GolfMatch Category: Golf Community Golf Clash Category: Game Golflogix Category: Scorekeeping

bigsports day out

awful amount of patience, water and spare golf balls. As a golf day out, Kau Sai Chau is fantastic. However this is not the place to be rushing to and fro in between meetings.

And it is not ideal for beginners (I once took a beginner here on the East Course and he proceeded to lose nine balls on the first hole, two of which were probably the ones between his legs!), and the rounds can last over six hours on a bad day. You will first need to register, then call their automated tee time reservation system to

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get a tee time, which is a mission in itself.

The next-best option is the Hong Kong Golf Club, which is currently fighting off demands to have some of its land developed into public housing. It’s private, and you have a better chance of your landlord saying they’re going to decrease your rent than becoming a member here.

However they do allow visitors to play on weekdays for a reasonable price. One caddie must be used between two people, and tee times are usually relatively easy

to come by. To book, register at their website then go ahead and book online.

Again, you’ll need to show a handicap card when you arrive. The Hong Kong Golf Club also has a nice, short Par 3 course at Deep Water Bay. It’s also membersonly, but they allow visitors on weekdays and it’s the best way for a beginner to have their first on-course experience.

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club and Discovery Bay Golf Club are both private and quite expensive, but again you can

golf in hong xxx kong

Kau Sai Chau

play on weekdays at selected times. These are shorter courses with pretty spectacular views that are tough to beat anywhere in the world. Shek O is strictly membersonly, but if you know someone it’s one of the best private-club experiences you’ll come across and a fun little course for all levels, with beautiful views across the Tathong Channel facing Clearwater Bay and the south-eastern parts of Kowloon.

If you’re starting out and want to try golf without being drenched in sweat, head

to Southside’s only indoor golf centre, Delaney’s Golf Lounge in Cyberport Arcade.

This centre opens late July and specialises in beginners and kids golf programmes.

The Lounge provides golf clubs and is open to the public. You can play 18 holes over a beer, lunch or dinner as there are a couple of kid-friendly restaurants (El Charro and Delaney’s) right next door.

Other golf centres that offer instruction and 18 (or more) holes of indoor golf include GreenLive in Lai Chi Kok, UPPGolf in the

Shun Tak Centre, GolfTec in the Bank of America Tower and Eagle Golf in Wanchai.

All of these are good alternatives during the hottest of hot summer days. The one downside of most of these indoor golf centres is that by the time you spend hours there, it costs almost as much as going to a proper golf course outdoors. But the comfort and convenience of being indoors probably make the cost worthwhile.

For more information, swing by golfinhongkong.com

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travel

SUBLIME SERENITY:

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snorkelling in silfra

Dimple Shah explores Iceland

A

Dimple keeping her head above water

lthough Iceland has long been the baby brother in the Scandinavian family of nations, it first truly caught my imagination during the infamous eruption of the unpronounceably named Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010, which disrupted flight schedules worldwide.

Suddenly this tiny nation of fewer than 350,000 people was thrust into the limelight as people became aware of the many ways it is ahead of its time: Iceland was the first country with a democratically elected female prime minister and an openly homosexual member of parliament, and was the first to give prison terms to bankers after the 2008 financial meltdown – it’s a nation with many firsts that its citizens are justly proud of.

It is now front and centre on many a bucket list, hosting over two million visitors last year. And tourism is no longer restricted to the warmer summer months – more and more people are travelling to Iceland to come face-to-face with frozen waterfalls, icebergfilled lagoons and the soft light that makes the destination a photographer’s paradise in winter. The centre remains inaccessible during the winter months, but the ring road that goes around the island is usually open.

And while whales and puffins are best seen in the summer months, visiting Iceland in the winter brings other opportunities such as ice-caving, skiing and, for the lucky few, the Northern Lights. Many if not all of these activities can be found in most countries around the Arctic circle, but there is a singular experience that is possible only in Iceland.

Roughly an hour’s drive east of Reykjavik, the country’s colourful and quaint capital city, lies one of Iceland’s most important cultural and heritage sites. Thingvellir is the location of the ancient parliament of the Viking settlement called the Althing, established in 938, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The surrounding area is designated as the

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travel Thingvellir National Park, and along with its incredible natural beauty and historical significance, it is home to the Silfra fissure, the only place on Earth where you can swim or dive between two continents.

Most of the rifts between the tectonic plates that form the Earth’s crust tend to be deep under the oceans, but at Silfra, due to Iceland’s tumultuous geological history, the rift is at the surface. This provides easy access to even novice snorkellers and divers for a unique snorkelling or diving experience between the North American and European tectonic plates.

The local Icelandic tourism company Dive Is offers the activity all year round. This activity is possible because the company provides specially designed gear and diving clothes so you can enter the water in belowfreezing temperatures in relative comfort.

Even though I had read excellent reviews online, I was still a little worried about how the cold would affect me. However it seemed like a shame to be there and not give it a try,

so I decided to bench my apprehensions and signed up for the snorkelling experience.

When you first arrive at the site, you walk to an outdoor staging area where you meet with your group and your guide. Then you’re told to strip down to your thermal underwear – your clothes and shoes are stored in the vans until you return. All this takes place in about five-degree weather, with snow blanketing the ground for as far as the eye can see. The winter sun is barely above the horizon and casts a pale, pinkish-purple light. This is spellbinding, but you are more concerned with getting into the heavily padded neoprene suits. It takes time and technique to struggle into the suits, and the company has people on hand to help you, especially with the tricky hood that goes over your head. The attached gloves are taped tightly around the wrists to ensure water doesn’t seep in, but we were warned that some seepage is expected and unavoidable. Then come the life jackets, masks, snorkels and booties, after which you

waddle for about 200 metres, looking like the Michelin Man as you head for the cliff face.

At the entry point to the fissure, you stop to put on one final item: the flippers.

Immediately, walking becomes a graceless exercise, and not only do you have to walk to the edge, but you must descend about 30 feet down a metal ladder screwed into the hillside to enter the water. As soon as you do, your unseemly gait and uncoordinated movements disappear and you feel a sense of wonder. You are now in the rift, and because of the buoyancy provided by the padded suit, you’re bobbing gently between two continents.

Two things will immediately become apparent: first, you feel quite warm in your suit, and second, water does seep into the arms, especially if you move your arms around enough. So as you wait for the rest of the group to enter the water, you should practise moving your arms in an efficient way. This comes in handy once you start swimming,

Thingvellir National Park

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snorkelling in silfra

especially if you want to take underwater photos.

Once the group is in, you follow the guide. A gentle current flows through the fissure and it’s easy to drift along with it. If you get tired at any time you can swim to one side or the other and anchor yourself against the cliff there. If you do so on your left, you’ll be resting against North America, and if on the right, against Europe. How cool is that?!

But the best is yet to come. It’s when you put your head underwater that you first see precisely where you are swimming.

Below you, the floor drops away into a narrow chasm, flooded with an eerie blue light. The water is very clear, so visibility is excellent – you can see far ahead and deep below you. You feel the cold of the water on your face; it is likely to be around -2 to -4 degrees Celsius, but the vistas are so arresting that the cold does not make an impression.

What does register is the peaceful, quiet blue-green world, with no sign of life – no fish, no coral, just some algae growing on the brown and grey rocks. The rift is narrow enough in some places that if you were diving you could reach one hand out and touch North America and reach the other hand out and touch Europe at the same time.

As you swim further down the fissure, the rift below you suddenly widens into an enormous underground cavern that seems to go on forever below you. Locals call this “The Cathedral”, and it’s not difficult to see why. There is an architectural grandeur about the formation, and being suspended above the vast, deep, bluetinged space is a humbling feeling. It’s an excellent spot to take some underwater photos. Your guide will also be taking pictures of the group and will email them to you after the excursion.

At some point, you’ll raise your head out of the cold water that has been numbing your face, and when you do, it’s a marvel that the view on the surface hasn’t changed. The same snowy landscape, the same golden-pink sky, but now you know the landscape hides a grand

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travel secret. The sudden move might cause water to flood your snorkel and mask, but unlike your other snorkelling adventures of the past, you don’t have to resort to the tiresome job of removing the water. This is pure glacial melt, so you can swallow it – it will be the most refreshing drink you’ve ever had.

Your guide will now invite you to manipulate the buoyancy device on your suit to remove all the air so you can attempt to free dive. Even with the air expelled, this is still very hard to do because of the padding of the suits, but it’s fun trying. As you continue to drift forward with the current, you’ll notice it is getting more and more shallow and you can now see the sandy bottom, signalling that you’ve entered the Thingvallavatn lake. You need to take care here and stick to your left, otherwise the current will carry you out to the middle of the lake, making for a long and tiring swim back.

After about an hour in the water, you spy the ladder that will bring you out of the fissure and back to dry land. Then it’s everything in reverse: remove the fins, waddle to the staging area, remove the suit and put your

own dry, warm clothes and shoes back on. By this time, the cold is setting into your bones, and the warm layers and the hot chocolate are very welcome.

Everyone is relaxed and smiling, happy with a one-of-akind experience that beggars description. You should ideally end the excursion with a visit to the Thingvellir site, which has restrooms, a cafe, a gift shop, and a viewing point that provides an excellent overview of the surrounding landscape and the Silfra fissure.

Snorkelling at Silfra, whether in the warmer summer months or during the frigid winter, is a stunning addition to any Iceland itinerary. Not only will you appreciate the geological importance of

the site, but the beauty and serenity of what you see are guaranteed to remain in your memory long after you leave.

For more information on diving and snorkelling at Silfra, contact Dive Is at dive.is Spots tend to fill up very fast, so booking in advance is highly recommended.

Getting ready to enter the icy water

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zim city

HONG KONG’S WATER CRISIS

What will the city do without water?

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very day we see headlines screaming aspirations of being a smart city. And how I wish we could be collectively really smart about the way we run the city. Because the reality is often that we are not a very smart city.

This became clear again recently when the media reported on our empty reservoirs in May, after an unusually long dry spell, with images of dry cracked mud rather than water. Subtropical Hong Kong gets an average of 2,400mm of rain a year, with about one tenth of that coming in May. But for 2018, less than 170mm had fallen on the city for the first five months, under half the normal average for this period.

Instead of responding with calls for better water conservation, the Government and its advisors were out in force, claiming that there was no need to worry and that we have ample water. Next of course it started to rain, and all worries about water were quickly forgotten.

That is a pity, because access to water should be a serious concern for all of us in Hong Kong. Typhoons, rainstorms and humidity, causing mould to grow on shoes and walls during the summer, contribute to our “illusion of plenty” (I’m referring to

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the title of a report on Hong Kong’s water supply by ADM Capital and Civic Exchange, a local think tank of which I’m a Director).

The report explains that our water policy and pricing agreement have led to wastefulness. About one-third of our water supply is lost through leaky pipes and other problems. This loss is roughly equivalent to our entire local water catchment.

The report also sets out how Hong Kong has one of the world’s highest percapita uses of water. Hong Kong’s average domestic water consumption per person per day is 21% higher than the global average. Meanwhile, domestic water bills remain low, because they are subsidised.

But the problem is deeper than price.

Besides water gathered via local catchments that run through our country parks, about 80% of Hong Kong’s freshwater comes from Guangdong Province, specifically the Dongjiang, or “East River”. The “DongShen Agreement” with Guangdong Investment Ltd., which is majority-owned by the provincial government, gives Hong Kong rights to 820 million cubic metres of water per year.

But we are not the only ones depending on this source. The East River also supplies

seven booming mainland Chinese cities, where the demand for water is rising quickly.

This at a time when concerns over future water supply are growing. Scientists at the Hong Kong Observatory are forecasting that besides higher sea levels, global warming will result in a drop in annual rainfall and fewer rainy days. However, they say the rainfall will be more extreme when it does rain – again feeding our illusion of plenty. With demand rising throughout the region, and the dwindling supply of fresh water coming down the rivers, we are also faced with concerns about the water quality and pollution from the increased economic activity throughout the catchment area of the Pearl River Delta.

For Hong Kong to be a “watersmart city”, we need to recognise and acknowledge these mega-trends we are facing and get ourselves ready. The fall in reservoir yields and groundwater tables during the first quarter this year was a warning we need to heed. Our water should be priced at market value or replacement cost, assuming we produce it ourselves in Hong Kong. Desalination plants, increased water storage and the recycling of grey water do not come cheap. We need a new culture of water conservation and annual targets for a reduction in water consumption. We need public awareness about the actual scarcity of water. We need to flush out all our illusions of plenty and make our city water-smart. civic-exchange.org/report/water2017/

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

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woof

Ask a vet...

Dr. Pauline Pets Central veterinarian Dr. Pauline Taylor answers your questions.

Is it bad for animals to drink swimming-pool water?

I’m not an expert in swimming-pool water, but common sense tells me it’s not good for your animals to drink water laden with the various chemicals that keep the pool water clean for humans. I suggest you get a suitable container and fill it daily with fresh tap water for your animals to drink, and don’t allow them access to drink from your pool.

How do I introduce a new animal to my current pet?

Without knowing more about your current and potential new animal, it’s difficult to give you specific advice. The simple answer for any introduction is to proceed carefully and slowly, and with supervision at all times. Expect on average at least two weeks of anxiety from your current pet before it will welcome a newcomer into its domain.

Why is my cat moulting so much?

Creatures throughout the animal kingdom undergo the process of moulting: the replacement of their horns, hair, skin or feathers.

Most mammals shed their hair in autumn to grow a thicker layer of protection for the winter, and vice versa for the summer. Living in hot and humid Hong Kong, most cats do not require a thick coat so they shed it more often.

Can my turtle overheat?

Yes it can, and it can die in a too-hot environment. However, like other reptiles, turtles, which are often referred to as cold-blooded, generally maintain a body temperature that is comparable to their surrounding environment. Unlike most mammals, they cannot internally regulate their body temperature; instead they use an adipose-tissue-based specialised system that in some species of turtle can amazingly control their core temperatures to +/- 18°C of the environmental temperature.

What are common skin conditions for animals in the heat?

Actually they are much the same as for humans. Overheating leads to dehydration and general itchiness and even sunburn, friction burns, thermal burns (from water in hoses left in the sun), hot spots (moist bacterial areas on the skin), an increase in parasitic diseases (especially from fleas and ticks that bite, irritate and spread disease), blocked sweat glands, pre-cancerous dry skin patches called actinic keratosis, or worse, fully blown skin cancers.

Got a question for Dr. Pauline?

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marketplace

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column

THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF MRS BACKFIRE THE BUTTINSKI

Opinion, rants and random outbursts. by Mrs. Backfire

D

ear, dear Cyberport: What are we going to do with you?

You know I write this out of love and concern and a desire for you to be the best you that you can be. You are a million square feet of office space.

You offer plentiful retail opportunities, a hotel and several acres of seafront parkland.

And yet there’s something a bit “hopeless lummox” about you. Despite a choice location and plenty of natural advantages, you still fail to impress. You are, quite frankly, an underachiever. You’re also a classic crony no-bid, a Hong Kong property development disguised as “tech incubator”, a squilliondollar sweetheart deal for the Li family.

Now we could debate your entirely sketchy origins until the cows that used to live nearby come home, but that would be counter-productive. You’re here and, like the 30-year-old gamer who won’t leave his parents’ basement, you’re not going away.

I’m here too. And this week, since my kids have barred me from decluttering their closets, I’m going to turn my organisational skills and general meddling tendencies towards a wish list of sorts for you. Some might call it pointless, an exercise in futility.

Maybe so. But I love makeovers (cue the ’80s music!), and I feel that you, Cyberport, could be so much more than you are now.

Shall we begin?

The bottom line, sweetheart, is: You suffer from an identity crisis. What are you? High-end retail? Cutting-edge office park? Or an actual useful neighbourhood mall like Chi Fu? In your scant 15 years of existence, you’ve lived more lives than that actress on Orphan Black. Wedding-prep destination! Furniture haven! Cigar specialist!

Cigars? Really?

Please, please, no tears. Hey! My apologies, Cyberport – can I call you Cy? – I’m not always the most sensitive. Let’s turn to the positives here, I mean, your restrooms are nice.

Second, you have two captive markets: the weekday office crowd and the hundreds of families who live within a kilometre’s walk.

So many people who need to eat, shop, eat, entertain themselves and eat. How are you serving them? You’re dynamite at those techie meet-and-greets that the digi-crowd seems to love. Your movie theatre works. Your grocery

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store does a brisk business. And for quick, cheap lunches you do alright. Your food court, though soulless and fairly limited, is packed at lunchtime. Bonus points for the friendly staff who work there. And gold stars for Sushi Tapas – my favorite dining destination in Cyberport – and Delaney’s, the hardest-working restaurant around, stuck in an odd, uninspiring location.

And let’s not forget McDonald’s, because you can always, ALWAYS count on McD’s.

But answer me this, Cy: Why, blessed with a gorgeous seafront location, did you not take advantage of the view? What’s on the west side of your Arcade? You know, where the pretty sunsets are? A row of pleasant open-air dining spots à la The Pulse? A groovy coffee shop or fresh family seafood? Nothing, nada, zip.

Delaney’s has done its best with the one outdoor patio on offer, but honestly, what you experience over there is mainly the roar and hum of your facility’s compressors and a view of a lot of vents, walls and that asinine digi-playground.

Has your architect not heard of Grand Designs? I couldn’t read a set of blueprints to save my life, but even I know that You Site Your House to Take Advantage of the View.

Toughen up now, Cy, the truth hurts.

And nothing pains me more than the completely idiotic driveway-drop-off situation you’ve gotten yourself in to. With no temporary parking spots in front of McD’s, cars sandwich themselves at either end – unsafely I might add – while conehappy security guards chase off folks who are just trying to buy stamps! Cy, come on, you do not need FOUR driveway lanes plus the roadway minibus stops. Establish the required emergency vehicle access and bring in some 15-minute metered parking spots. Tell Fusion to unload their trucks behind the building, inside the bus terminus, like a normal business would, where there is plenty of space.

You see, it’s not that hard.

Five years ago, the South China Morning Post was calling you a “white elephant” and writing articles headlined “Cyberport is still a joke 10 years later”.

Well, Cy, your butt-of-the-joke days are over! Have a look at the following top-ten suggestions and tell me you aren’t excited by the possibilities! Tell me you’ll consider some

changes and I’ll even waive my consultation fee: 1. Food trucks by the dog park 2. An actual playground there too 3. Mannings or Watsons 4. M&S Food Hall, now 5. Ice cream after the movies!

6. A Southside-themed Film Fest 7. A hang-out spot with good pizza for our hard-working students 8. Burger joint burger joint burger joint 9. More shady spots everywhere 10. PUBLIC ART Be your best, Cy ;) and keep me posted.

Mrs. Backfire is - in the words of John Hughes - a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal (well, just that one time and I do regret it). You can see me as you want to see me ;)

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