Sai Kung Magazine July 2013

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The really useful magazineJULY 2013

“Not aLL those who waNder are Lost” – J.r.r. toLkieN

PeoPLe

4 snapped!Sai Kung’s social life.

the PLaNNer

6 happening in JulyIt’s all go.

Letters

8 have your sayClean our seas and Hong Kong Academy stands up for cows.

FiVe MiNUtes with

9 Veteran vetRob Gordon talks animals.

News

10 what’s going on?Seahorses, speeding, baby store and more.

iNterView

12 Make me an offer HK Magazine’s Stephen Freeman turns auctioneer.

ViNes iN sai kUNG

14 Blots on the landscape And the wily ways of the Heung Yee Kuk.

FeatUre

18 dad townHow to spend a men’s weekend.

eatiNG

20 take it away, boysMan-sized meals to go.

FaMiLY

24 seeing starsNights in the Astropark.

edUCatioN

28 home or away?Uni students debate: Hong Kong vs overseas.

heaLth & BeaUtY

30 dapper dadsGrooming for gents.

oUtdoors

32 typhoon seasonHong Kong’s worst storms, ever.

traVeL

34 on staycationTake a break at Auberge Discovery Bay.

hikes

36 Pick of the cropWalk the fields in Hok Tau.

Bird at MY wiNdow

37 the large-billed crow David Diskin on Hong Kong birds.

Pets

38 Go nuts! Sally Andersen gets desexy. Plus reasons dogs are man’s BFF.

MarketPLaCe

40 Your guide to shops and servicesCool stuff to buy and do.

CLassiFieds

46 Loads of random useful local stuff.

ULtiMate GUide

48 all you need to knowNumbers that make life easier.

oN PatroL

50 Fishing for gunsTim Sharpe calls in the divers.

Best place to drop anchor? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards for a chance to win prizes worth $50,000. Vote now at www.saikung.com

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peopledragon boat festivities.

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people say cheese

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Share your event photos with us at [email protected]. Get snapping!

sai kung Pink Ladies fundraiser.

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planner

JUL 7No speeding Protest Help protect the feral cattle – and the public – from speeding motorists by joining the No Speeding Protest march from Pak Tam Chung to Sai Kung. 11am at the Sai Kung Country Park gate, or join en route. Details on the No Speeding Protest Facebook page.

JUL 1hksar establishment dayPublic holiday – put your feet up or join the annual demo. No fireworks, folks. JUL 4

agua Plus Quiz NightTeams of six test the grey matter. 8pm, Agua Plus, 72 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2791 2030.

JUL 5- aUG 11international arts CarnivalFamily-friendly performances including dance, musical theatre, acrobatics, puppetry, physical comedy, with many events in English. Highlights include Architecture in Motion, Shadowland and B-Boying Gala Show. Schedule at www.hkiac.gov.hk. Tickets from Urbtix, 2734 9009, www.urbtix.hk.

JUL 6-aUG 11international Children’s Film Carnival Engaging children’s movies, including the award-winning The Blue Tiger, Cool Kids Don’t Cry, Stanley Ka Dabba, and even Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Hong Kong Film Archive, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Science Museum. Details at www.hkiac.gov.hk. Tickets from Urbtix, 2734 9009, www.urbtix.hk.

JUL 3, 17, 31Quiz NightsTesting times at Hebe One O One. 8.30pm, 112 Pak Sha Wan, 2332 5515.

JUL 7sha tin day FinaleThe final meeting of this year’s horseracing season, including the Champion Awards. Sha Tin Racecourse, www.hkjc.com.

JUL 1sesame street LiveElmo’s Super Heroes take the stage. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $150-$550 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

JUL 4american independence dayWave the red, white and blue.

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planner happening in july

JUL 17-23hong kong Book Fair Browse the annual exhibition for bookworms, with accompanying seminars, meet-the-author sessions and children’s events. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com.

we’re giving away tickets to the hong kong Book Fair. To enter, please send an email with your full name and mailing address

to [email protected] with the subject “Hong Kong Book Fair”.

JUL 8eek toy shop open dayCheck out the wooden toys at Easy English for Kids’ monthly Toy Shop, with free parking, tea and coffee, and outside play area. 10am-4pm. 28f Sai Keng Village, Sai Sha Road, Sai Kung, www.eek.com.hk.

JUL 8-11hong kong Fashion weekGet your fashion fix with runway shows and other events showcasing the spring/summer 2014 collections. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, 1830 668, [email protected].

JUL 13-14Lan kwai Fong Beer and Music Fest It’s party time. From 1pm, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, www.lankwaifong.com.

Book Now

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email [email protected].

aUG 13the smashing Pumpkins LiveIn town for one night only. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. Tickets $580-$780 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

aUG 15 Linkin Park Living things Live and rocking the AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $288-$888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

seP 25-29shakespeare’s Globe The Taming of the ShrewLondon’s Globe Theatre recreates an Elizabethan staging for Shakespeare’s comedy. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $265-$795 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

seP 29suede Live in hong kongReunited and in town to kick off the Asian leg of their world tour. AsiaWorld Expo, Lantau. Tickets $580-$780 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

aUG 23-25Michael Jackson the immortal Music by MJ, moves by Cirque du Soleil. AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $245-$1,288 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

JUL 14we Love Butterflies day Join Green Power’s efforts to protect Sai Kung’s 136 butterfly species by wearing a Butterfly Band; www.butterflyclub.greenpower.org.hk.

JUL 20Mirs Bay & eastern waters Boat tripTake a gander at Sai Kung’s feathered wildlife on a Hong Kong Bird Watching Society cruise, departing Ma Liu Shui New Pier at 8.30am and arriving at Sai Kung Old Pier at 4.30pm. Tickets $200 ($160 for members) from www.hkbws.org.hk, 9457 3196.

JUL 22the xx Live in hong kongAnd selling out fast. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $780 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

UNtiL JUL 28Chinese opera FestivalExperience different Chinese opera genres at venues across Hong Kong. Details and tickets from www.cof.gov.hk, 2268 7325.

Want tickets?

Find us on Facebookf sai kung Magazine

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headlineletters have your say

Please email your letters to [email protected]. We may edit for length.

There seem to be several ways of dealing with this problem. How about either a charge for the upkeep of the area levied on the main beneficiaries of the facility? Or providing a government-sponsored vessel for the regular collection of garbage, with the cost shared among users. Remember floating debris damages craft and can cause injuries.

We are all responsible. Saying, “Why should I do it? It’s not my rubbish” solves nothing. It does not hurt to pick up garbage and put it in the bin. Unfortunately, the ultimate solution is education, but this will be a long process. Meanwhile hiking and boating organisations would do well to instill some social responsibility into their active members. Hong Kong is rapidly running out of areas of outstanding beauty; the time to act is now. John Brennan

Clean the seaAfter the recent heavy rain there was an enormous amount of floating garbage in Shelter Cove, Hebe Haven, and adjacent beaches and bays. Ma Lam Wat village and Trio Beach, for example, were a disgusting sight. If we profess to be concerned about the environment, surely by combined efforts we can do something about the mess, and clean up these unique places.

The main users of the area are the Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Scouts and the Hong Kong Marina, as well as various other organisations, boat hirers, dragon boaters and shipyards. It would be in the interest of all parties to help maintain the beauty of the area where they conduct their seaborne activities.

I have yet to see any effort being made to collect floating debris – and expecting local politicians to take any action is apparently asking too much. We constantly hear about the various initiatives to attract more and more tourists to Sai Kung but what sort of impression will they get when being faced with tons of garbage?

hong kong academy replies Dear Felix and Harry at Clear Water Bay

School (Letters, June 2013)We understand the concerns that Hong

Kong Academy moving in to the Sai Kung community might bring regarding feral cattle. As a community, HKA has participated in many environmentally friendly activities and projects. We are rather interested in the

cows from what we saw during our trip to Lantau for camp. On Lantau it was amazing to see the way they naturally live in an environment with humans.

We agree that these cows make up an important part of Sai Kung’s beauty. In fact, last month we hung up posters around Sai Kung. These posters informed people how to handle themselves around cattle, and included a link to the Sai Kung Buffalo Watch website. HKA is an amazing community that will try to do no harm to Sai Kung’s natural beauty. We would love to participate as much as possible to help out the feral cows of Sai Kung. Clare ClaytonG6 hong kong academy

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i went into veterinary medicine as a way to “rebel” against my family. My dad was a surgeon, mum a theatre nurse and my sister a midwife. I had a degree in agriculture and went on to work on big animals. I had my own farm and vet practice in Zimbabwe until Mugabe’s land acquisition began and I lost my farm in April 2003.

ill. Your medical skills have to be very sharp here and this can sometimes lead to a moral conflict, knowing there are people in the world who need basic surgery and can’t afford it while terminally ill or geriatric pets in Hong Kong get so much money spent on them. Back in Zimbabwe people are financially limited and they aren’t going to spend lots of money on their pets when it could affect funding for their kids’ education, health or the new car they’ve been saving for.

still, it’s a great privilege to be working here. At the Animal Medical Centre Sai Kung (208 Fui Yiu Lane, Sai Kung, 2791 0308) we have lovely clients who are very loyal and supportive. It’s been an exciting learning curve and one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

Veteran veterinarianrob Gordon talks to rachael Price about being a vet in sai kung.

i’m originally from Zimbabwe. I first came to Hong Kong in the late 1980s as part of an ostrich-farming programme taking ostriches to China but we stopped coming after the handover in 1997. I never thought I’d live in Hong Kong but a fluke led me to take a job at veterinary practice when the person who originally had the place couldn’t make it.

obviously i don’t get to work on elephants or crocodiles any more. Pet culture in Hong Kong has only developed over the past 20 years. When I first came here there were very few vets.

Client expectations are higher here and people will go to great lengths to keep their pets alive even if they are very old or terminally

how could life be made easier for pet owners in sai kung? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards for the chance to win prizes worth $50,000. Vote at www.saikung.com.

five minutes with...

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top cop moves on

New berths for sai kung Pier

speeding protest

riding the dragon

seahorses in sai kung

news

Congratulations to Sai Kung’s senior policeman, Tim Sharpe, who has been promoted to Head of Administration at Kwai Chung Police Station. He will be missed not least for his “On Patrol” column in Sai Kung Magazine, which he has made an essential read; look for Sharpe’s last installment in next month’s issue. We wish him all the best in his new post.

Babies r Us near youHong Kong’s first stand-alone Babies R Us store has opened in Tseung Kwan O. The well-stocked shop is conveniently located in The Edge, directly opposite Tseung Kwan O MTR. New and expectant mums can find clothing, toiletries, travel gear, feeding equipment, toys and books all stocked in stroller-friendly aisles. It’s open daily from 11am-9pm. L1, The Edge, 9 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O, 2814 1822, www.babiesrus.com.hk.

Divers have tagged an endangered yellow seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) in the waters off Sai Kung. The seahorse was just 11.6cm long and a rare find; in 2012, just six yellow seahorses were successfully tagged in Hong Kong waters.

The divers were part of a local survey team for the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCFHK), which is studying the seahorses’ rates of survival, growth and habitat. The foundation is working closely with organisations and individuals in Sai Kung, sharing information in an effort to protect the population, which has been overfished worldwide for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Find out more at www.opcf.org.hk.

Following the deaths of several feral cattle in hit-and-run accidents in Sai Kung and on Lantau, Sai Kung residents are organising a No Speeding protest march from Pak Tam Chung to Sai Kung. But it’s not just about saving the cows, organisers insist.

“A lot of residents are really unhappy about the speeding. We’re afraid it will take an accident involving people for things to change,” says resident Carol Biddell.

As well as the march, the group has set up an online petition calling for stricter enforcement of speed limits on Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Sha Road and inside Sai Kung Country Park, areas popular with both the cows and boy racers, who can often be heard speeding in the wee hours.

“We’re hoping for speed limits to be enforced. Speed cameras and rumble bumps would be a good start,” Biddell says.

To get involved, sign the petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/nospeeding or join the march, which starts at 11am at Pak Tam Chung on July 7.

Government plans to extend Sai Kung Public Pier could help reduce overcrowding on weekends, when daytrippers throng the waterfront as they wait to board junks. The proposal would add an extra two berths to the pier, opposite Sai2, affecting an estimated 0.88 hectares of foreshore and seabed. Construction is due to start in December for completion by June 2015. Any objections should be sent in writing by August 14 to: Director of Lands, 20/F North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point.

Pet owners looking for a change of scene can parade their animals in the new pet garden in Tseung Kwan O. Located on Wan Po Road, it offers 12,000 sqm for your pets to run around, two pet areas, a pet shower and 35 parking spaces. Stage I Landfill, Wan Po Road, Tseung Kwan O.

A new China travel book by Sai Kung resident and ESF teacher Chris Taylor offers an upclose and personal perspective

that journeys beyond the cities and major attractions to visit all 33 provinces. Riding the Dragon: A Journey Through Every Chinese Province is Taylor’s first book and is based on his experiences in China over the past seven years. A history teacher at Sha Tin College, Taylor has previously written for the South China Morning Post. Pick up a copy at Dymocks Sai Kung or online at www.amazon.com.

Tim Sharpe receiving his promotion letter from acting Regional Commander, Nelson Lui.

New pet garden in tseung kwan o

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New season, new faces, more fun Meet the sai kung stingrays mini and youth rugby club, in the first of a new column by ray sting.

sponsored column

For those who have recently moved to Sai Kung or Clearwater Bay, or who have been living on Mars, let me introduce Hong Kong’s greatest mini rugby club: Sai Kung Stingrays.

If your idea of rugby is mud, blood and cauliflower ears, prepare for a new way to spend Sunday mornings.

From modest beginnings a decade ago, the club has grown from a handful of families to more than 600 mini and youth players ranging in age from four to 19 years.

The sea of blue, pink and white will once again sweep into Sai Kung from August. Everyone is welcome: boys and girls, any ability, any school, any experience or none at all.

Parents, get stuck in! The club is run entirely by passionate volunteers, coached and managed by dads and mums. Don’t be shy – the more parents that take part, the more the kids learn. We can even send you on coaching and referee courses.

Younger children from the age of five play in mini-rugby festivals against other clubs. Bigger kids compete in tournaments for hard-fought silverware. And we’re good!

Have a great summer, Stingrays – stay happy, healthy and injury-free. We’ll see you soon: same times, same place, new kit.

For details on training times, venues, kit, festivals, coaching age groups, registration and loads of photographs offering a feel for this awesome club, visit www.saikungstingrays.org.

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interview going going...

if people ask what is my life’s work, I would say HK Magazine and now Gresham’s auction house.

it began at my 50th birthday party. A friend was telling me his experiences selling things at auction. A huge chunk of what he owned he was unable to sell, and I realised there was a gap in the market in Hong Kong – between Christie’s and Sotheby’s at the high end and classified websites at the low end.

at Gresham’s, people can expect an experience that is interesting, informative and fun. We sell mostly in the middle market, between $1,000 and $100,000. We will sell traditional art and contemporary art, porcelain, silver, luxury goods, wine... all kinds of things.

we are happy to look at anything. If you are interested in consigning, we ask for photos by email and

senior Consultant editorJane Steer

[email protected]

deputy editorHannah Grogan

[email protected]

art directorSammy Ko

[email protected]

Graphic designerCarly Tonna

[email protected]

sales ManagerNobel Cho

[email protected]

sales executiveJackie Wilson

[email protected]

digital Media assistantSharon Wong

[email protected]

accounts ManagerConnie Lam

[email protected]

PublisherTom Hilditch

[email protected]

this month’s contributors Carolynne DearStephen Vines David Diskin Marie TeatherPete Spurrier

Sally AndersenTim SharpeHenry Hsiao Karen Chow

Rachael Price

PrinterGear Printing

Room 3B, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, (Derrick Industrial Building),

Wong Chuk Hang

Published byFast Media Limited

LG1, 222 Queens Road CentralHong Kong

Sai Kung Magazine is published by Fast Media 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. Fast Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not

necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

www.fastmedia.com.hk

a five-word description of each article and how much money you are looking for. Then we decide if we want to take it on. If someone has a very large collection, we would go visit. If we can’t sell an item, we return it.

i was born in america. I worked there until 1989, when I moved to Hong Kong. I started HK Magazine and a number of publications (sold recently to the South China Morning Post). And I was thinking about what to do next – it suddenly seemed like a natural segue. i attended my first auction at the age of 10. I have been interested ever since. Growing up I went to a lot of farm auctions. Grandma

GiVe Us a CaLL!editorial: 2776 2773

advertising: 2776 2772

died and they were selling the farm. Back in the 1970s everything that came out of the house was Victorian – older sometimes. Photo albums. Wonderful, wonderful things. They would lift up a box and say, “Here you go, for a dollar.”

in my 20s i was the director of a very small art museum. I had a small shop for a couple of years in Hong Kong selling antiques. So the interest has been there for a long time.

i like things. I like arranging things in alphabetical order.

we are going to do three or four auctions a month. We have a summer programme. The first (held on June 22) is an interiors sale; things for the home. Our second sale is more quirky, it’s our marketplace sale. That is A to Z. Everything comes out of the closet. Things that are unusual, rare and fun. Arts of Asia Sale – paintings, sculptures, maybe some Chinese silverware, objects from other countries in Asia. The fourth is our Summer Sale. There will be no minimum price on anything. That is fun and exciting. You never know what will happen. The fifth sale is Carpets, Rugs and Textiles.

we offer beautiful things for the home. Things people can’t get on the retail market.

i worked with debra Little, a wonderful designer. She did M on the Bund and has a shop called Deem. She designed this space.

we have the largest sales room of any auction house in Hong Kong. It’s a dedicated sales room so you can always come here. It is open all week. Parking is available next door. Free coffee and tea.

Gresham’s Ltd, 408 harbour industrial Centre, 10 Lee hing street, ap Lei Chau, 2552 1887, www.greshams.com.hk. on saturday sales days, it opens at 10am and the sale starts at 2pm.

SCAD Hong KongTeen Summer Workshops

Create. Learn. grow.

Summer is the perfect time to explore new avenues of artistic development. SCAD Hong Kong offers summer workshops designed for teens ages

14–19 who want to pursue art and design disciplines and work alongside their peers in SCAD’s

outstanding educational facilities. SCAD香港夏季課程現正招生-旨在為14-19歲的

青少年在SCAD香港的優秀教育設施下，享受一個創意無限的學習旅程。

Program date:

July 15 to Aug. 9Monday-Friday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

課程日期 :7月15日-8月9日上課時間:星期一至星期五

上午九時至至下四午時 (全日制課程)

RegiSTeR noW現正招生For more information, including workshop descriptions and registration booklet, visit scad.edu/hongkongsummer or call +852.2253.8044.

Participants attend morning and afternoon

workshops with a lunch break in between.

All workshops are taught in English.

上下午課堂之間設有午膳時間所有課程以英語教授

薩凡納藝術設計大學( 香港)夏季課程現正招生HK Magazine co-founder stephen Freeman leaves

publishing to open a mid-market auction house.

Make me an offer

Stephen Freeman with a portrait of his ancestor and auction-house namesake, Sir Thomas Gresham.

Pic

ture

: Han

nah

Gro

gan

It suddenly seemed like a natural segue.

SCAD Hong KongTeen Summer Workshops

Create. Learn. grow.

Summer is the perfect time to explore new avenues of artistic development. SCAD Hong Kong offers summer workshops designed for teens ages

14–19 who want to pursue art and design disciplines and work alongside their peers in SCAD’s

outstanding educational facilities. SCAD香港夏季課程現正招生-旨在為14-19歲的

青少年在SCAD香港的優秀教育設施下，享受一個創意無限的學習旅程。

Program date:

July 15 to Aug. 9Monday-Friday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

課程日期 :7月15日-8月9日上課時間:星期一至星期五

上午九時至至下四午時 (全日制課程)

RegiSTeR noW現正招生For more information, including workshop descriptions and registration booklet, visit scad.edu/hongkongsummer or call +852.2253.8044.

Participants attend morning and afternoon

workshops with a lunch break in between.

All workshops are taught in English.

上下午課堂之間設有午膳時間所有課程以英語教授

薩凡納藝術設計大學( 香港)夏季課程現正招生


vines in sai kung stephen says...

Blots on the landscape stephen Vines questions government spending and the wily ways of the heung Yee kuk.

Not in my backyardSai Kung residents in Tseung Kwan O scored a notable victory when the Legislative Council, in a rare moment of cross-party agreement, voted against plans to expand the area’s waste disposal landfill. It is not hard to appreciate why people don’t like smelly places on their doorstep, nor indeed do they welcome the truck traffic bringing the waste. However, what on earth are we going to do with all the waste Hong Kong generates if no one wants the residue anywhere near where they live?

The answer, of course, is to put it in someone else’s backyard. But where? Both landfills and waste incinerators, the other odour- and smoke-laden alternative for waste disposal, are shunned in every neighbourhood. And it is clear why some places are chosen over others for these schemes. You never, for example, hear about plans to locate these facilities on the sparsely populated Peak, where Hong Kong’s rich and powerful live. No prizes for guessing why not.

And there are no plans for tackling waste disposal in any other posh district, nor is there a serious plan to look at using the many uninhabited islands that dot our coastline. The government says transportation and connection costs would be excessive. But, wait a minute – is this the same government that is pouring billions into a white elephant superhighway with expensive bridges linking Macau and Zhuhai to Hong Kong? The dirty secret about this scheme is that it will be reserved for cross-border vehicle permit holders, which means very few people indeed. So if there’s enough money for this stupidity, surely there’s enough to develop bridges to uninhabited islands.

The other way of tackling the problem is to reduce waste, an entirely achievable objective that is being addressed in a typically half-cocked manner. We have seen the usual bout of useless government anti-waste campaigns and some half-hearted new waste-disposal measures, none of which amounts to much. In other societies, real carrot-and-stick initiatives have succeeded in reducing waste. Hong Kong needs to follow suit.

Pour more concrete into the country parksWhen is a country park not a country park? This question should be asked with some urgency when considering the fate of the Sai Kung East Country Park, where the government, rightly in this case, plans to incorporate Sai Wan village into the park zone.

Under the original country park ordinance, the government had powers to exclude certain areas within the park’s borders, meaning they were exempt from the restrictions on usage that apply elsewhere.

Most of these areas are either villages or land surrounding villages. In Sai Wan, the government’s proposal follows a landowner’s notorious attempts to clear land for property development (at least this is the supposition). If he had been successful it would have created a serious blot on the glorious Tai Long Wan coastline.

Stephen Vines is a journalist, broad-caster and entrepreneur. He is the former editor of the Eastern Express and Southeast Asia correspondent for The Observer.

It comes as no surprise to learn that Hong Kong’s number one countryside despoiler, the Heung Yee Kuk, is mobilising support to thwart the government’s plan. As usual it is couching its claims in terms of indigenous people’s rights and has the temerity to assert that it is defending the villagers’ way of life.

No one should be foolish enough to underestimate either the power or wily ways of the Kuk. After all, this is the body that has a long record of successfully “defending the rights” of villagers who have long since ceased to live in the villages where their way of life is supposedly being preserved. And the Kuk has never seen a property development it does not like, regardless of the extent to which it despoils the countryside.

Fortunately many Sai Kung residents are well aware of the Kuk’s game and are closely monitoring the situation but a strengthening of backbone for the bureaucrats will be needed to ensure that this will not be another victory for the despoilers.

This is far from the end of the story because there are other enclaves in the country parks, so called V-zones, where the Kuk and its allies are planning to apply for various types of construction on grounds that they are needed in areas adjacent to the exclusion zones. In other words they are trying to extend these enclaves. The current focus of attention is on Pak Lap village but other areas are vulnerable.

The Kuk has never seen a property development

it does not like.

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SunSmart ad13 SouthSide OP.pdf 1 21/5/13 11:43 AM


feature

while the family’s away, dad can play. here’s how to spend a men’s weekend.

sports fishingLive the Hemingway dream by battling a sailfish or barracuda on a bluewater fishing trip from Aberdeen. Haul your catch aboard for the regulation fisherman’s picture – and tall story about its true size. From April to October, Tail Chasers runs one-day sports fishing trips 10 to 40 miles out to sea aboard the Kidusi 46-foot fishing boat in search of wahoo, tuna, black marlin, barracuda and more. Suitable for all levels of experience, the trips are led by Captain Kim Stuart and cost $2,400 a head, or $22,000 for the whole boat and up to 10 anglers. Trips usually depart from Aberdeen Boat Club at 7.30am and include all fishing gear. For details, visit www.hongkongfishings.com.

squid fishingStrike a light, the squid are back. Seafood lovers can catch their own on night squid-fishing trips by sampan from Sai Kung harbour; negotiate with the waterfront touts. Alternatively, Saffron

Cruises offers catch-and-cook packages in Tseung Kwan O, where the largest numbers of squid are found. Once you’ve hauled in your catch, the captain will help clean and barbecue the squid for an onboard feast. Packages start from $6,000 for up to 30 people from 7pm-11pm. For details, visit www.saffron-cruises.com or call 2857 1311.

Squid fishing with Saffron Cruises.

Hauling in a sailfish off Hong Kong.


feature dad town

Beer festivalJuly 13 and 14 is beer o’clock at the Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Music Festival. Sample more than 200 chilled beers from Denmark, Holland, England, Japan and Korea, and munch on everything from satays to roasted oysters, German sausages to dim sum. Providing the soundtrack are dozens of music performances, with extra entertainment in the form of arm-wrestling, beer-drinking, and hotdog-eating contests. 1pm-late, Lan Kwai Fong.

driving Club There aren’t many places where drinking and driving is acceptable, but with a bar on the premises, Sideways Driving Club allows you to do just that without worrying about random breath tests. With a fleet of 13 racing-car simulators – each outfitted with its own screen, driving capsule and replica Formula 1 steering wheel – it’s the safe option for boy racers. Prices start from $200 (off-peak) for 30 minutes of driving rising to $1,200 (peak) for three hours. LG/F, 1-2 Chancery Lane, Central, www.sideways-driving-club.com, 2523 0983.

Challenge your mates to a karting race day in Zhuhai. Below: Sideways Driving Club’s F1 simulators.

drift-racing Ever wanted to “drift” a car like Steve McQueen in Bullitt – or, more sadly, like Vin Diesel in Fast & Furious – all squealing tyres, clouds of smoke and an overload of testosterone? It’s harder than it looks, apparently, but Zhuhai International Circuit in China has drivers lined up to show you how. Those with mainland-registered cars can mangle their own wheels on the racing circuit, while the rest of us can learn the skill in its “partner vehicles” in four different classes. While you’re there, take a spin on the 90cc Easy Kart (RMB50 for 10 minutes). Or challenge your mates to a karting race day, including warm-ups, practice laps, a 12-lap preliminary race and 15-lap final race (from RMB500/person). For details and reservations, visit www.zic.com.cn and click on Fans Club.


feature

Bungy jump Take a terrifying, but manly, dive off

the Macau Tower with the AJ Hackett bungy jump, the highest in the world. The

views are spectacular for those who can focus on the dizzying panorama of the Pearl River Delta

while plunging earthwards from 338 metres. Standard packages start from $2,488, or $3,188 with a photograph

and video set. Even better, AJ Hackett is offering a $200 cash coupon for all our readers. Details at www.ajhackett.com/macau,

+853 8988 8656.

helicopter tourSee Hong Kong from a whole new perspective on a helicopter trip around the harbour, the island or Kowloon and the New Territories. For the ultimate thrill, opt to ride without the doors and strap in and hold on tight. The Peninsula Flight Seeing Tour is $7,000 for 15 minutes, $14,000 for 30 minutes and $21,000 for 45 minutes. For details, visit www.peninsula.com or call 2696 6500.

Flight simulatorTake a trip down memory lane and land a plane at Kai Tak – or pretty much any other airport you choose – with Flight Experience. Its flight simulator in MegaBox, Kowloon Bay, is as close as most of us are likely to get to taking control of a Boeing 737-800 without actually getting a pilot’s license. Among the packages available are the Scenic Flight ($990 for 30 minutes) and the Multi City Flyer for two to three people ($1,990 for 60 minutes). For details, visit www.flightexperience.com.hk or call 2359 0000.

See Hong Kong by chopper.


feature

Golf Fore! Gather your mates for a stag golfing day or two. Fifteen minutes from Sai Kung by solar-powered ferry, Kau Sai Chau is Hong Kong’s only public golf course. Open to anyone with a handicap card, it has three challenging 18-hole courses (two designed by Gary Player) in beautiful island scenery, plus a 60-bay driving range, instructors and a clubhouse. For details, visit www.kscgolf.org.hk.

Or tee off in the footsteps of Tiger Woods on the World Cup Course designed by Jack Nicklaus at ritzy Mission Hills, across the border in Guangdong. It has 12 18-hole courses as well as five-star hotels, spas and fine-dining restaurants in two sister resorts in Shenzhen and Dongguan. It is currently offering a two-day, one-night package including accommodation, a round of golf and a 90-minute spa treatment for RMB2,388 per person (RMB3,088 weekends and public holidays), based on two sharing. For details and reservations, visit www.missionhillschina.com.

toys for boys

robstepA hit with Justin Bieber and the Shenzhen Immigration Department alike, the Robstep two-wheel personal transporter moves the way you want it. Operate it by simply leaning your body back and forward to control its speed. Available online, from www.robstep.hk.

V2 BoatFun but practical, this little speedboat is a great way to explore Hong Kong’s waters. Designed to maximise the space available for family and friends, the V2 also features a shower system, CD/MP3 player and waterproof speakers. Available in several colours. For more details, visit www.v2boats.net.

Putting on Kau Sai Chau.

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www.robstep.hktel +852 9122 2126 email [email protected]

Contact us for a free try-out at your home.

Online purchase is available at www.robstep.hk


eatingFor the boys karen Chow tucks into man-sized takeaways.

a personal chefEver wondered what it’s like to have your own chef? Find out by ordering from Hong Kong Personal Chef Tom Burney. He will prepare fresh, homecooked meals from the finest imported ingredients and deliver them to your door, ready to re-heat. Dishes are $110 each

and include classics such as lasagna, coq au vin, fish pie, Moroccan lamb tagine, roast chicken, Thai beef curry, chicken tikka masala and a whole lot more. Barbecue menus are also available. Orders of more than $500 are delivered free. For dishes and details, visit www.hongkongpersonalchef.com, 6227 5730.

Curry on the goJoJo Cuisine was recommended in the 2013 Michelin Guide to Hong Kong and Macau, but locals have long been in the know about this Hong Kong institution, which has been serving great Indian food in its Wan Chai location since 1985. The Sai Kung branch is located above Bacco with an extensive menu that includes all our favourites – rogan josh, chicken balti, saag paneer –

as well as more unusual dishes such as Goan speciality prawn with cinnamon and garlic and mud-pot cooked lamb from Andra Pradesh. Spend more than $350 on a delivery order and they’ll even throw in a free bottle of wine. 21 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung, 2547 7477, www.jojofood.com.

Soy salmon by Hong Kong Personal Chef’s Tom Burney (left).


eating going butch

a fresh take on bar food Agua Plus has ditched the microwave and deep-fat fryer under the regime of its new US chef, Eric Soltes. His new menu emphasises fresh, house-made food, including handcrafted pasta and bar classics. Soltes described his signature ravioli in delicious detail: fresh pasta filled with cheese sauce and a whole quail’s egg yolk cooked to soft perfection so that it oozes out as you cut into it. Also look for baked potatoes with a choice of up to eight toppings from sour cream and chives to curry and fresh wraps filled with chicken and cheese, spicy Thai beef salad and roast peppers and cheese. 72 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2791 2030.

some like it hot May’s Sawaddee Thailand treads a fine line between chilli heat and chilli burn. The chef

has a deft hand with the spices, producing delicately balanced and wonderfully flavoursome dishes. The menu features all the authentic Thai favourites, including barbecue pork neck, chunky satays, lip-tinglingly spicy tom yum kung and a prawn and lemongrass salad to die for. The best deals are on the lunch sets, including homemade soup and a soft drink. Delivery available. Shop 5, 16 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, 2791 6399.

Meals to go

Fish & chipsChip in Fish and Chips 9761 5091Camden town 9279 3839Pizza & italianFirenze 2792 0898italiano’s restaurant & Bar 2792 9528Paisano’s Pizzeria 2791 4445Pepperonis 2791 1738Pizza hut 2194 4193deli goods d’oli 9843 3341the dutch 2792 1036 Chinese Beach Cuisine 2792 4990 Loaf on 2792 9966Chuen kee 2792 6938indianJoJo indian Cuisine 2574 7477 aJ’s sri Lankan 2792 2555thai May’s sawaddee thailand 2791 0522thai thai 2 kitchen 2719 8798

what is your favourite restaurant in sai kung? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards for a chance to win prizes worth $50,000. Vote now at www.saikung.com


sponsored column

ingredients | serves 4500g good-quality beef (preferably tenderloin, or use flank, sirloin or ribeye)6 cups torn salad greens1 cup torn fresh herb leaves (mint, coriander, Thai basil, or a combination)1/4 cup minced red onion1 medium cucumber, peeled if skin is tough, seeded and diced1 tbsp soy sauceFor the dressing:Juice of 2 limes2 tbsp fish sauce1 tbsp sesame oil2 garlic cloves, minced3 small hot red chillies finely sliced1/2 tsp sugarLemongrass stalks, cut into ½-inch lengths

When John Cougar Mellencamp sang, “Hurts so good / Come on baby, make it hurt so good”, he may have been referring to love or to spicy Thai beef salad. Never has anything tasted so good while causing so much pain. Of course, you can tone down the chilli and just enjoy the other delicious savoury flavours, but that takes away some of the fun.

thai beef saladsouth stream seafoods mixes pleasure and pain in this classic southeast asian dish.

Call south stream seafoods on 2555 6200 or visit www.south-stream-seafoods.com

Method

1 Make the dressing by mixing lime juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sliced chilli (remove seeds for less heat), sugar and lemongrass.

2 Use half the dressing to marinate the meat for at least two hours in the fridge, turning the meat a couple of times.

3 On a very hot barbecue or grill, cook the marinated beef to medium – nicely charred on the outside and pink in the middle. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

4 Toss the salad greens with the herbs, onion and cucumber. In another bowl, combine the rest of the dressing with the soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of water. Toss the greens in half of this mixture and arrange on a platter.

5 Thinly slice the beef, reserving any juice to combine with the remaining dressing, and lay sliced beef over the salad. Drizzle with the dressing and serve.

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familySummer is one of the best times of the year for stargazers, especially during the full moon. But given the level of light pollution in Hong Kong, stars can be elusive on even the clearest night. For the best views of Orion, the Big Dipper and other constellations, head to the Hong Kong Space Museum’s Astropark in the darkest reaches of Sai Kung Country Park.

what to expect? Opened in January 2010, the Astropark is an astronomical “theme park” within West Sea Cofferdam, next to Chong Hing Water Sports Centre at High Island Reservoir. It features Chinese and Western astronomical instruments, both ancient and modern, including telescopic binoculars, sundials and a star dome with an electronic display of the night sky, all available for public use.

written in the starshannah Grogan gazes skywards at sai kung’s astropark.


familythe sky in Julywhat to take? Amateur stargazers

don’t need to take anything other than a picnic and a starmap downloaded from the Astropark website. Keen astronomers with their own telescopes can use the electricity provided. Make a night of it and camp in the adjacent field; book through the water-sports centre (2792 6810).

when to go? It’s a beautiful setting, so arrive in time for sunset. The park is open 24 hours and non-campers don’t need to book.

good heavens

how to get there? Take a taxi from the country park gate at Pak Tam Chung to the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre (about $50; for taxis, try 2729 1199), turning right off Sai Kung Man Yee Road immediately after the High Island Reservoir West Dam. The water-sports centre also runs a shuttle bus from Sai Kung town, which is available for campers. To book, call 2792 6810.

For details and starmaps, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk.

From left: inside the electronic star dome; entrance; the telescopic binoculars.

Jul 8 New MoonThe darkest night of the month and a good time to see faint objects such as galaxies.

Jul 21-23 Conjunction of Mars and JupiterThe planets line up within one degree in Gemini.

Jul 22Full moonWatch the sky and landscape light up under the magic of the full moon.

Jul 27delta aquarids Meteor showerPeak viewing for meteors radiating out from the Aquarius constellation. Best viewed from midnight on July 27 and morning of July 28.

Best coffee?Favourite hike?

It’s simple and only takes 10 minutes!

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Best bar?

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Best restaurant?

Best-kept village?

School fees, what are your views?

Favourite shop?

Best beauty treatment?

Best pizza?

organic food package from south stream seafoods Valued at $3,500.

dinner for four at hebe one o oneValued at $2,200.

Gift voucher from sabai day spa sai kungValued at $1,000.

three-course intraceuticals treatment at the PeninsulaValued at $5,940.

Melo Vitality spa Package at hyatt regency, sha tinValued at $3,500.

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home or away?when it comes to university, students must choose: hong kong vs overseas.

education should I stay or should I go?

savannah BettsUniversity of Newcastle, UK “I want to be an actress and a musician, and Hong Kong has a limited performance scene for English-speaking artists. University has been lots of fun. I’ve met some amazing people on my course. I’m quite annoyed, though, by how they segregate international students’ housing in some universities. I think it would be so much more fun if international students had a chance to live with home-status students from Britain.”

Felix kongUniversity of Sunderland via RDI Institute of Business and Management“Studying partly by distance means this is a faster road for me to higher education. After I graduate, I will continue

my studies and take a Masters in England. Although I am studying in Hong Kong, I am getting a British university degree,

which is exactly the same as a local student at the University of Sunderland.”

tomohiro GoBerklee College of Music, Boston, USA

“I was involved in many different musical activities through my school life and when I

started to compose music at the age of 15, I thought of becoming a musician. I researched which

music school would be the best for me to study music and Berklee College of Music was the school

that I chose. I had to take liberal arts classes in order to get a degree – it was very strange for me since I only wanted to study music not math, science and those subjects that we studied back in high school.”

erin MichelleUniversity of Queensland, Australia “Australia is where my family is originally from. Although Hong Kong is my home, there was always the intention of moving to Australia someday and it was my parents’ wish for me to get an education at an Australian university. I think I needed the change of environment too – learning to live away from my parents and experience the lifestyle in another country.”

Jaimes MckeeHong Kong University“Hong Kong is my home and I always plan to use it as my

base. I have made good contacts that together with the knowledge I have

acquired and the university’s reputation, hopefully will help me get jobs in Hong Kong in the future. It also allowed me to continue playing professional football in the Hong Kong league. I now represent Hong Kong and captain my local side, these are all invaluable experiences.”

warren James henricusHong Kong University of Science and Technology“When we were looking around for universities, my parents and I looked at the world rankings. HKUST was at the

top in Asia, especially for engineering. The course is very challenging academically as everyone is very driven here and

the competition is intense. But there is also a great sense of camaraderie. The international students and local students work together well. We study pretty hard, but we also go out and chill. It’s important to strike a balance. It’s a great place to study and there are great opportunities here. With the rise of China, and Asia as a whole, this is the place to be and to work. As for post-graduate, I intend to go overseas.”

hayley VetteUniversity of Sydney, Australia “After living in Hong Kong for 12 years I consider the city my home. However, planning a career in the diplomatic core, I realised I related more to Hong Kong than I did the country of my nationality, a problem many ‘third-culture kids’ face. My parents recommended I get in touch

with my Australian roots. I feel this move has truly granted me the growing experience of having to leave

home and start over in a new place. As an Australian citizen, it seemed the obvious

choice. I graduated with an HSC (Higher School Certificate) from an Australian high-school system, and financially it was a viable option.”

Melissa albarusSCAD Hong Kong (Savannah College of Art and Design) “Originally I wanted to go to Germany but when my sister, Kira, started studying at SCAD and bringing home all her

different projects I couldn’t help thinking: ‘Hey, I want to do that.’ And I’m not sure I was quite committed enough to

leaving; the idea was great, but I really love Hong Kong. With our university being based in Sham Shui Po, we are constantly finding new and interesting places in areas we’ve never been before. I’m glad I stayed because it feels like I’ve got to know my home a lot more in the past three years, good and bad. Also we’ve finally committed ourselves to learning Cantonese, which was about time.” Vs ov

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sponsored column

Selecting the right preschool for your child can be a daunting task and many parents in Hong Kong have the additional consideration of whether to choose a bilingual learning environment.

Parents sometimes worry that bilingual children never really master either language, but these concerns are unfounded. Research shows children can learn to read in two languages at the same time, to the benefit of performance in both languages. Bilingualism has also been linked to many cognitive advantages, and there is no question that speaking more than one language is an advantage in today’s globalised world.

As you consider your school decision think about how your child learns and the type of learning environment in which they thrive. Gather information, visit schools, talk to other parents – then follow your heart.

start early: There is no “critical period” for language acquisition but there is an advantageous period for learning a new language. It is easier and quicker for a three-

year-old to reach an age-appropriate command of a new language than it is for a 13-year-old.

expect age-appropriate language acquisition: Allow two years to acquire age-appropriate language skills when starting at a young age. A teenager will require three to five years. Basic social competence comes quickly but the later a child enters bilingual education the more time it will take to reach native expression and vocabulary levels.

Plan long term: Bilingual education works best if you are planning to keep your child at a bilingual school for at least three years.

Create friendships: Student populations in bilingual schools are more stable, since parents who are planning to stay long-term in Hong Kong tend to choose a bilingual school.

support homework: Naturally there will be more homework, particularly for Chinese languages when characters are introduced. Nonetheless, a bilingual education provides an interesting and valuable challenge for any child that shows typical cognitive and language development.

Choosing a bilingual educationGetting the best from a bilingual education comes from understanding your child and your expectations.

ITS School Placements provides an education consulting service that works with families and

employers to find the right schools for individual children in Hong Kong, from nursery to secondary schools. ITS also offers research, policy and advisory services for corporations. For more details, contact [email protected] or 3188 3940.


health & beauty

sense of touchThe Sai Kung branch of this award-winning day spa offers a number of treatments specially designed for men, including massages, facials, manicure ($210 for 50 minutes) and pedicure ($220 for 60 minutes). Other treatments include the Iron Man, a two-hour detox massage and Dermalogica facial, and the Murad Men’s Facial. 77 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung, 2791 2278.

dapper papas rachael Price seeks hong kong’s finest gentlemen’s grooming.

sabai day spaMen-only treatments at Sabai include back waxing ($290), manicure ($350 for 60 minutes) and a variety of massages, from a hand or arm massage to the 90-minute intensive sports massage ($850) – great after a workout or long-haul flight. 2/F, 10D Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2791 2259.

the strand With an entire floor dedicated to men’s grooming, The Strand offers barber services – haircut and finish ($350), beard trimming ($350), neckline tidying ($200) – as well as treatments such as scalp massage ($200 for 20 minutes), jet-lag eye treatment ($490 for 30 minutes) and tension-relieving back treatments ($490 for 40 minutes). Packages include Mission Impossible: a facial, haircut and finish, scalp treatment, and shoulder and neck massage ($1,780 for 145 minutes). Take your boy along for the Double Act father-and-son haircuts ($700 for two). 18 Cochrane Street, Central, 2850 7686, www.thestrandhk.com.

MEETING LOCATIONS

Sai Kung/Clearwater Bay

Wednesdays 6pm – 7pm

The Bay Practice 1/F Razor Hill Dairy Farm Shopping Centre

Clearwater Bay Road

Be sure to visit www.weightwatchers.com.hk to confirm our Summer schedule!

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weight-loss plan that gives you the smarts and strength to take on every day! We teach people to lose weight

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reader offer

Throughout July, Sense of Touch is offering special deals to Sai Kung Magazine readers. Book an Urban Cleanse Facial and receive a hydrating O2 oxygen skin infusion worth $550. Or upgrade a deep-tissue or de-stress massage from 60 minutes to 90 minutes and receive a $100 treatment voucher for your next visit. 77 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung, 2791 2278.

health & beauty

Best beauty treatment in sai kung? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards for a chance to win prizes worth $50,000. Vote now at www.saikung.com

Gentlemen’s tonic The first international branch of this Mayfair barber opened two years ago in the basement of The Landmark. It’s a dapper spot – think sharp suit rather than tweed jacket – with calm but contemporary furnishings and old-fashioned barbershop services. As well as a menu of haircuts and wet shaves, it offers eyebrow shaping ($225), foot treatment ($625 for 60 minutes), Thai massage ($825 for 60 minutes) and reflexology ($400 for 30 minutes). Or opt for a full male makeover with The Rubio package: haircut and finish, wet shave, express facial, hand treatment and Swedish massage ($2,100 for 165 minutes). The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 2525 2455. Gentlemen’s Tonic.

tala’s hair & Beauty Throughout July, Tala’s is offering a 10 per cent discount on all men’s grooming and beauty services, including haircuts (from $150), beard trimming, manicures and pedicures, facials ($340) and full back wax ($320). Treat yourself to a full-body massage ($500) or a neck, shoulder and back massage ($290).

Check out the full menu of services online. 56 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2335 1694, www.talashair.com.

Pedder Building Store 5/F Pedder Building,12 Pedder Street, Central T: 2522 7112

Horizon Plaza Store 21/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau T: 2552 5000

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Sale starts12th Julyup to 50% off


It’s almost a year since Typhoon Vicente lashed Hong Kong with winds of up to 256 km/h.The biggest of last summer’s tropical cyclones caused Typhoon Signal 10 to be raised for the first time in 13 years, but as a severe typhoon it was by no means the worst to slam into the territory. That honour goes to Typhoon Wanda, a super typhoon that hit Hong Kong in 1962 with winds gusting up to 284 km/h and a five-metre storm surge that left 183 people dead and 72,000 homeless.

With this year’s rainy season well and truly underway – as I write, rain is pouring down the office windows and the gutters are overflowing – it’s only a matter of time before the first typhoon of the season sweeps into town.

Hong Kong is affected by the northwest Pacific Ocean, which witnesses the world’s most numerous and intense tropical cyclones. These typically affect the territory from June to November when conditions are right: sea surface temperatures above 26 deg C, atmospheric instability and high humidity. They occur in three categories: super typhoons have maximum sustained winds above 185 km/h; severe typhoons, such as Vicente, have winds of 150 km/h-184 km/h; and typhoons of 118 km/h-149 km/h. Since 1946, just four super typhoons have hit

outdoors

Tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific are typically

named after animals, flowers or astrological signs.

hong kong’s greatest typhoons

• Unnamed typhoon, 1906: 15,000 people die.

• the Great typhoon, 1937: 11,000 people die, and wind speeds are later estimated at 240 km/h.

• typhoon wanda, 1962: 183 people die, 72,000 made homeless, 2,000 boats destroyed.

• typhoon rose, 1971: 110 people die, including 88 who were killed when the Hong Kong-Macau ferry Fat Shan sinks. In 1972, a hillside made unstable by Rose collapses on Po Shan Road, Mid Levels, destroying two tower blocks, killing 67 people and injuring 20.

• typhoon ellen, 1983: 10 people die, and the City of Lobito tanker is washed onto the beach at Cheung Chau. A tornado touches down in San Tin destroying several huts.

• typhoon York, 1999: The no.10 signal is raised for 11 hours, the longest on record. Two people die, including a windsurfer off Cheung Chau, 500 are injured, 4,000 trees are uprooted.

• typhoon Vicente, 2012: 138 people are injured, 8,800 trees are uprooted. Trees falling across railway lines force the MTR to close, trapping hundreds of commuters on trains and platforms.

Hong Kong: Wanda, Ruby (1964), Rose (1971) and Hope (1979).

The Hong Kong Observatory has been issuing typhoon warnings since 1884, reporting on tropical cyclones within the South China Sea and around Guam and Manila for shipping. The first warning system was a combination of red or black drums, balls and cones, hoisted at Tsim Sha Tsui police station (visible to boats in the harbour), and later rolled out to 42 signal stations across Hong Kong. Red symbols meant the typhoon

was more than 300 miles (480 km) from Hong Kong; black meant it was less than 300 miles away.

The old system has been refined to today’s five-level system: Typhoon Signals 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10. With the advent of radio, television and the internet, the signal stations have closed. The last, on Cheung Chau, was decommissioned in 2002. Even the term “hoist” has been changed officially to “issue”, although local media tends to prefer the old term.

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City of Lobito beaches in Typhoon ellen, 1983.

Po Shan Road, 1972.

A landslide destroys tower blocks in Po Shan Road, 1972.

City of Lobito on Cheung Chau beach.

weathering the stormsCarolynne dear shelters from hong kong’s crazy weather.


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There are many advantages to having your UK Pension in Hong Kong rather than the UK or other jurisdictions.

• ConsolidateyourPensionsinonearrangement• Greaterinvestmentchoiceandfreedom• NoUKincome,capitalgainsorinheritancetax• Nocompulsiontopurchaseanannuity• No55%memberpaymentcharge• Passthewholefundtoyourfamilywhenyoudie

To explore this further call David Bojan on (852) 2511 8337, skype bojanhk or e-mail [email protected]

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HDS AD-1.indd 1 18/6/13 1:21 PM

outdoors it’s raining again...

Black rain The rainstorm warning system was introduced following a tragic landslip at Baguio Villas in Pok Fu Lam in May, 1992. It had been raining heavily for two days when an old masonry retaining wall collapsed, allowing the saturated soil to flow down a steep gully before crashing into Lower Baguio. A young boy and a government engineer (who, ironically, had been sent to check blocked drains) were killed when tonnes of mud slammed into blocks 43 and 44, swamping apartments as high as the third floor.

Statistically, June has the highest level of rainstorm warnings; none have been issued in January, February or December. Which is probably why old hands never hire a junk in May or June.

For details on typhoons, rainstorms and other weather warnings, please visit the hong kong observatory website at www.hko.gov.hk.

Flooding in Typhoon Vicente.

A junk washed up in Sai Kung after

Vicente.A landslide in

Aberdeen, 1995.

travel ?????????


on staycation Carolynne dear takes a break at the new auberge discovery Bay.

Discovery Bay is lovely first thing in the morning. Sitting at Zac’s with a skinny latte in hand, the sun shining and watching a couple of kayakers gently lapping the bay, it’s easy to tap into that lazy, hazy holiday feeling. Why jet off to Southeast Asia when there is so much to enjoy right on our doorsteps?

Thanks to a new breed of out-of-town hotels, a Hong Kong “staycation” no longer has to mean a city break. Instead, local residents can explore the territory’s further-flung parts from the comfort of a luxury hotel. The latest to open is the Auberge Discovery Bay.

Since March, the hotel has been in its initial soft launch period, with the official grand opening scheduled later this year. It’s located right on the waterfront in the Discovery Bay North Plaza, a short (complimentary) bus ride from the Main Plaza and ferry terminal. The architects have made full use of the natural light with huge panes of glass framing views across the South China Sea to Hong Kong Island.

In Café bord de Mer (“café by the sea” for non-Francophones), floor-to-ceiling glass windows front the shimmering ocean. The buffet breakfast features all the usual favourites: Asian and Western dishes, cereals, cold cuts, sashimi, a patisserie and a waffle station. The café is also open for lunches, afternoon teas and dinner. There is a separate, pirate-inspired children’s menu and the Bounty Kids’ Club is scheduled to open soon for dinky diners who

travel

would rather not linger over coffee. Eventually the landscaped outdoor area is to be a terrace for guests who prefer alfresco seating.

Next to the café is the Bounty Bar, so-named because eventually The Bounty tall ship will be moored permanently at the purpose-built pier outside. (Fear not, Bounty fans, the ship will still be available for hire for days out or parties.)

Auberge boasts 325 rooms and suites with either a mountain or sea view. Design features include a glass wall between the bathroom and bedroom in the mountain-view rooms, ensuring stunning views from the tub and a naturally lit bathroom. And if gazing at those emerald hills inspires you to strap on your hiking boots, the hotel can provide a walking guide.

The ocean-side rooms are spectacular with both the beds and the bathrooms positioned perfectly to look

out over the ocean. Each en suite includes floor-to-ceiling windows and a walk-in stone spa bath; the hotel’s Spa Botanica (a debut in Hong Kong for this Singaporean favourite) can prepare a bath in your room with luxurious products poured into and scattered across the bathwater.

And once the hotel opens officially, expect other fun activities in the form of bike rental, cooking classes and exercise classes. Guests will also be able to use the nearby Discovery Bay Golf Club.

There is also a stunning, pillar-free ballroom, conference rooms, a barbecue terrace and even a spectacular waterfront wedding chapel that appears to float in its own little pool. With a sun-dappled outdoor pool, complete with sunloungers and that gorgeous view, and nearby Discovery Bay beach for those who like to feel the sand between their toes, a hotel break at the Auberge would be hard to beat. Who needs Thailand?

For details visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com.

Who needs Thailand?

View of the pool deck. Below: Café bord de Mer.

travel ?????????


hong kong holidays

travel homes from home

sha tin getaways The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin is offering mini staycations for families this summer. Available until the end of August, the Family Summer Getaway costs from $1,480 a night and includes complimentary breakfast for two (children under six eat for free), ice-cold drinks from the Pool Bar and a mini-manicure or 60-minute activity session at Camp Hyatt (for four- to 12-year-olds). For details visit www.hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com.

tai o treasure According to Condé Nast Traveller, Lantau’s Tai O Heritage Hotel is one of the Best New Hotels of 2013. This beautifully renovated colonial building was once the only police station serving the outlying islands, and a base for battling pirates. It is now a stunning boutique hotel in the picturesque stilted fishing village of Tai O. Book in for bed, breakfast and dinner for two – and reserve a spot on the romantic Sunset Boat Tour. Until the end of July, the hotel is offering the “I love Tai O” tea set including local specialties husband rolls and wife cakes, and the hotel’s signature begonia cheesecake. The tea sets are available on Saturdays and Sundays, 2.30pm-5pm. For details visit www.taioheritagehotel.com.

Tai o Heritage Hotel.

Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin.


hikes

Much of the northeast New Territories was once farmland, but in recent years the fastest-growing crop has been three-storey village houses. Some areas are now returning to farming, only this time organic. This easy, 90-minute walk passes through fertile fields and then doubles back along a hillside for pleasant green views.

From Fanling station, leave by Exit A and turn left to find the green minibus terminus. Minibus 52B travels quickly out of Fanling, past the old Luen Wo market and then turns onto a narrow road, which takes you far inland to valleys hidden within the spurs of the Pat Sin Leng Country Park.

Stay on until the last stop, Hok Tau Wai, to make sure you don’t get off at the wrong place. A wai is a traditional walled village, though Hok Tau’s walls are long gone and its only barriers to entry today are the green hills that surround it.

Turn around and walk the short way back to the road, turn left and then immediately right onto the trail; there’s a wooden marker pointing the way. Instantly, you’ll find yourself among fields, with crops being cultivated on either side of the path. Some farms allow visitors to pick their own strawberries or herbs, and patches of land are rented out to city families to grow their own vegetables, fruit or sunflowers. People are usually out enjoying themselves in the open air, tending their crops, hiking or cycling through the valley, and the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed.

People are out enjoying themselves, tending their crops, hiking and cycling.

Follow the path as it meanders among the farms, across a stream and into a wood. After half an hour, take the signposted path uphill on stony steps and along a forested ridge that borders the northern side of the valley. During the climb, look out to the south: the combination of green fields, tiny villages and sharp peaks is reminiscent of the Guilin area of China. Below is Hok Tau Wai, where the walk started.

Soon after, a viewing board points out

Pick of the crop Pete spurrier gets agricultural on the hok tau Country trail.

some landmarks in the other direction; north is Robin’s Nest, the last Hong Kong mountain before the border. The route now slopes gently downhill on a beautiful leafy trail beneath young trees. Keep an eye out for little bronze skinks that dart across the path.

Before long, the path meets the road again, opposite a barbecue area. Turn left to walk the short way back to the village and the green minibus stop – a collection of mismatched chairs arranged by the roadside.


hikes down on the farm

Pete Spurrier is the author of The Leisurely Hiker’s Guide to Hong Kong and The Serious Hiker’s Guide to Hong Kong (FormAsia).

Hok Tau Country Trail

Trail Entrance

The walk is flat for the first half and then involves a gentle climb. walking time: 90 minutes.

the large-billed crow

With its all-black plumage and cawing call, the large-billed crow is a typical representative of the genus Corvus. It ranges across Asia from Afghanistan north to the Russian Far East and as far south as the Sunda Islands, Indonesia. The variety that occurs in Hong Kong is C. m. colonorum, which can be found in central and southern China, Hainan, Taiwan and north Indochina.

It is common and widespread in the territory and regularly seen or heard in the country parks on Hong Kong Island. This has not always been the case. Until the 1930s the species was unknown in Hong Kong, but

aka Corvus macrorhynchus

david diskin is a writer and photographer based in the New territories. his latest book is Hong Kong Nature Walks: Kowloon, Hong Kong & Outlying Islands. details at www.accipiterpress.com.

after the first documented sighting in Sha Tau Kok in 1934 records slowly increased as the species spread southwards.

When breeding, the large-billed crow is a rather solitary bird. Both sexes build a platform of sticks and twigs, lined with a cup of softer material such as wool and hair, in a tree fork or pylon seven to 10 metres above the ground. The female lays three to six eggs and incubates them for about 18 days, after which both sexes feed the chicks. The fledglings leave the nest after a month and will probably join a communal roost of other family parties.

Greatest numbers have been counted in winter. The highest count to date was of 200 at Tai Lam Chung in January 2008. It is possible that numbers are supplemented in winter by birds moving into the territory from the north.

bird at my window

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pets

Sally Andersen is the founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, a charity that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes unwanted or abandoned dogs.

Go nuts sally andersen on why dogs need to be neutered.

I was about 10 years old when we got our first family dog, a Welsh border collie born to a working sheepdog. He was a beautiful boy and we all loved him, but none of us, parents included, had any idea about keeping dogs and neither did the vet who lived right next door.

He was a traditional farm vet who could probably tell you all you needed to know about cows, sheep and pigs, but when it came to domestic pets he was useless. Of course, we didn’t know that at the time so didn’t find it strange that our collie was never so much as wormed, let alone neutered. Whisky died while off on one of his many lady-chasing escapades, hit by a car as he crossed a busy road.

Our next family dog was one of a litter born to a black Labrador we were looking after for someone while he was away. The birth was a surprise at the time, but given what I know now, it shouldn’t have been. There were 10 puppies in that litter, half black and half golden, and again it was a car that ended our young dog’s life.

The first dog I ever owned as an adult I inherited when I moved in with my boyfriend. I was in my 20s and the dog was a cocker spaniel, but it didn’t take long for her and the local “lads” to get together and produce a litter of mixed breeds.

By now you’d have thought the message about desexing would have got through, but when I rescued my first Hong Kong dog, a handsome chow chow cross breed, it was only when a vet suggested neutering to try to control Bruno’s love of fighting that I had it done.

Fast forward to the present and I’m shocked I could have been so ignorant for so long. It’s true that the concept of routinely desexing pets is fairly new, but even though I experienced the grief of dogs lost and the

burden of unwanted puppies first hand, it took too long for the penny to drop.

So if you do nothing else, desex your dog. If you don’t you are part of the problem of too many unwanted litters being born, whatever gender your dog is because it takes both sexes to make puppies and “accidents” happen all the time. The official number of dogs destroyed annually by the Hong Kong Government hovers at about 10,000. And that number doesn’t include puppies and adults that die through disease and starvation, or those that are disposed of privately. Apart from anything else, by not letting your dog reproduce you are giving other unwanted puppies the chance of a home and life over death.

It took too long for the penny to drop.

Go knowingwww.crownrelo.com/hongkong

Being there, or being ‘there’Crown’s people are always with you. Preparing you before you go, and helping you settle‐in when you arrive.

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pets desexy

During exam periods, some elite universities in Britain and the US provide “dog corners”, where stressed-out students can play with puppies. It’s proving popular and effective. It’s just one way dogs are good for us. Here are a few more... 1. it’s good for the heart. Playing with dogs for a few minutes has a profound effect on human

health. Studies show that petting an animal helps to lower an individual’s blood pressure, cholesterol level and heart rate. This could have long-term benefits for the cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart disease.2. it’s good for the mind. Playing with animals reduces stress; they are particularly calming for Alzheimer’s patients, who are susceptible

to bursts of anxiety. The presence of pets raises the levels of serotonin and dopamine hormones, which regulate learning, sleep and pleasure.3. it’s good for the community. Pets bring people together. Dog corners in universities attract students in all fields of study, helping them to become more sociable and integrated within their communities. In Hong Kong, dog owners often build friendships with other dog owners they meet on daily walks.4. we’re supposed to. Recent archaeological discoveries and DNA research suggest dogs and humans have parallel evolutionary tracks. Both have been hunters. Both have travelled in packs. Both have become gentler, smarter creatures. Because we have been living in the same environments and eating the same food for tens of thousands of years, dogs and humans share certain physical and psychological characteristics, including similar food digestion and vulnerabilities to the same diseases. Dogs interpret human gestures more acutely than other animals, including our chimpanzee relatives. Some dogs can even read small eye movements. Likewise, humans treat and care for dogs like infant children.

Mankind’s BFF henry hsiao lists the benefits of keeping a dog.

THE PET MOVERS

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I am a British university student studying engineering, seeking tutoring jobs in the Sai Kung area. I have a brilliant understanding in maths and English, and am available to tutor primary school students between June 15th and July 20th. Please contact by email: [email protected].

ViaNNe MUsiC woNderLaNd PriVate PiaNo LessoNs @ YoUr hoMewww.mymusicwonderland.com Experienced tutor offers an inspired & creative lesson for kids, especially aged 2+. STUDENT ANNUAL RECITAL/ EXAMINATIONTrial Lesson, Tel:6014 - 9389 / [email protected].

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Brand new detached house to letA five bedroom new house 2100 sq.ft to let. Within walking distance to Sai Kung Town and SK Academic International School. Spacious living room with open kitchen. Two ensuites. Maid’s quarter. Solar energy. Mountain and sea view. Two parking spaces. No agent’s fee. Rent HK$52,000 pcm. [email protected] 27914682.

Need a hoLidaY? PhUket ViLLa For reNt! Luxury 5 beds villa with swimming pool located in Surin area. Walking distance to beaches. Reasonable rates! Website: www.phuketvilla4rent.com Email the owner: [email protected].

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MUsiC tUitioN at hoMe: Individual lessons for piano repertoire / music theory / piano accompaniment and aural practice for other instruments’ exams / competitions. English / Chinese instruction. Holder of LTCL with Distinction of Trinity College London. Years of teaching experience. Member of professional charity choir. Please call 9336 8059 for details.

Jesse taekwondo & hapkidoKorea Kukkiwon Black-belt 5th Dan International Instructor. Provide One-on-One personal training, Group training & Family classes.http://www.supra.com.hk/jessetkdMaster Chow 9467-7787.

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accountancy and Consultancy servicesWe provide quality and reliable accounting and consultancy services. We have good experiences working for EXPAT and handle their Taxation matters. Reasonable Quote! Email: [email protected] Tel: 852 3622 1364

Professional PhotographerLet highly accomplished photographer, Gary Craig, provide you with the perfect gift for family and friends. You are invited to a family photoshoot on Sunday 7th July at a picturesque location on Sai Sha Road. Visit www.facebook.com/Ikongphotos. Email: [email protected].

Piano Lesson @ hoMe in English/Cantonese by professional and qualified teachers. Annual Recital in Cityhall. trial lessons available. Visit www.grandpiano.hk for details.

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Galle, sri LankaSuperb 4b/r Villas, Rent and SaleClose to beach & Galle FortPrivate Pool, Fully Staffedwww.watura.comOwner: Sue 9754 5967.


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sai kUNG straY FrieNds doG oF the MoNth JULY: “Bella”Aged: 3 years, Female, Desexed, Fully Vaccinated. We call her Beautiful Bella. She is so intelligent and just a real good dog! Bella is outgoing, loves walks and riding in the car. Bella behaves well at all times. Bella is a mixed breed with some Collie gene which is not good for her to be in the direct sun. Bella is ideally suited for indoors, sitting on the lounge and we can ensure she will be a loving companion. Bella is very affectionate. We hope an adopter will come forward soon for Bella as she needs to be in a home situation not kennel shelter. Adoption trial welcome. Visit Bella Monday - Sunday 12.30pm – 4.00pm at our Adoption Centre Ph. 2335.1126 No. 151 Tai Lam Wu, Sai Kung. Call Narelle 9199.2340 or Catherine 6799.7530.

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the ultimate guide to sai kung

a-Nails2792 1099 | www.a-nails.com.hk

Bronze Mobile spray tanning6234 8594 [email protected]

Nuan [email protected] www.nuancashmere.com

Philips sonicare2619 9663 | www.philips.com.hk

sense of touch 2791 2278 | [email protected]

tala’s hair & Beauty Centre2335 1694 | [email protected]

Zone@sai kung reflexology Center2886 8804 / 9779 0761 | [email protected]

Fashion & Beauty

air Chinawww.airchina.hk

Crown relocations2636 8388 | [email protected]/hongkong

expert-transport & relocations warehouse2566 4799 | www.expertmover.hk

hebe haven Yacht Club2719 0926 | [email protected] www.hhyc.org.hk

kwong hing Motors Ltd2791 4949 | www.khmwhk.com

sai kung Motors2792 2998 | www.saikungmotors.com.hk

Transport & Travel Services

animal Behaviour Vet Practice 9618 2475 | [email protected] www.petbehaviourhk.com

animal emergency Centre2915 7979 | [email protected]

Best Friends Veterinary hospital2792 8555

homevet9860 5522 | [email protected]

Ferndale kennel 2792 4642 | [email protected]

Vet2Pet6999 1003 | [email protected]

Pets & Vets

Box Design2573 3323 [email protected]

Best United eng. Ltd. / Lawnings, roll shutter & insect screen2344 9028 | [email protected] www.bestunited.com.hk

Brooks thompson Ltd2851 3665 | [email protected]

Chez Uno2791 9662 / 2723 8990 | www.chezuno.com

indo handyman2578 1865 | [email protected]

JCaw Consultants2524 9988 | [email protected]

Lift Lifestyle international Ltd3907 0386 | [email protected] www.liftlifestyle.com

Marco electrician, Plumber, house painting, air Conditioning6190 8051 | [email protected]

Patio Mart2555 8988 | [email protected]

the Fabulous towel Co Ltdwww.fabuloustowelco.com

the handyman hk9268 0514 / 9871 5508 [email protected]

wicka designs Limited2422 0885 | [email protected]

wofu deco2768 8428 | [email protected]

Home

Babies r Us2287 1788 | hk@[email protected]

Cariad apparel Company Limited3689 9416 | [email protected]

eek toy shop3487 3053

hazel Ltd53161456 | [email protected]

robset3622 [email protected] | www.robstep.hk

rumple and Friendswww.rumpleandfriends.com

tiny Footprints2552 2466 | www.tinyfootprints.com

Toys, Accessories & Kids’ Parties

Bumps to Babes2552 5000 (Ap Lei Chau Main Store) 2522 7112 (Pedder Building Branch) www.bumpstobabes.com

South Stream SeafoodsUnits 202-204, Lai Sun Yuen Long Centre, 27 Wang Yip St East, Yuen Long, N.T. Hong Kong | 2555 6200 [email protected] www.south-stream-seafoods.com

Colour Brown Coffee2791 7128 | shop.colourbrown.com.hk

hebe one o one 2335 5515 | [email protected] www.hebe101.com

Natural springs2484 1388 | www.naturalsprings.hk

Paisano’s Pizzeria2791 4445 | www.paisanos.com.hk

Food & Beverage

LEE PARKER Golf Coaching9126 1413 | [email protected]

asia Pacific soccer schools2385 9677 | www.apsoccerhk.com

Blue sky sports Club2791 0806 | [email protected]

Cambridge weight Plan hong kong9618 1777 / 9045 5942 www.cambridgeweightplan.hk

everfine Membership services Limited2174 7880 | [email protected] www.evergolf.com.hk

impact Fitness6385 0304 | www.impactfitness.com.hk

imran Cricket academy2575 3400/ 9745 [email protected]

outdoor Fitness9043 4674 | [email protected]

outward Bound hong [email protected]

Pilates Plus9756 1659 | [email protected]

the Country Club at hong Lok Yuen2657 8899 | [email protected]

sai kung stingrays www.saikungstingrays.org

weight watchers2813 0814 | [email protected]

Social, Sports & Equipment

hong kong Book Fair 2013 | July 17 - 23Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre31 288 288 | 1830 670 www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com

Events


the ultimate guide to sai kung directory

GET lISTEDcall 2776 2772email [email protected]

explorer Motor Yachts (hk) Ltd9261 0785 | [email protected]

kenny tang5307 3228 | [email protected]

V2boats9122 2126 | [email protected] www.v2boats.hk

Boating

Biocycle3575 2575 | [email protected] www.biocycle.com.hk

Christian environmental health2370 9236 | [email protected] www.ceh.com.hk

Clover auto service2790 1810

Federal elite Consultants Ltd.3568 4691 | [email protected]

island Property Consultancy Ltd6256 4353

king kong Ping [email protected]

Nature’s harvest2723 3126 | www.naturesharvest.com.hk

Perfect Party hong kong6770 5591 | [email protected]

Professional wills Limited2561 9031 | www.profwills.com

relosmart2561 3030 | [email protected]

roomplus2331 7331 / 2331 7333 | www.roomplus.com.hk

sameButdifferent silver6626 5424 | [email protected]

sum hing Carton Box [email protected] | www.boxx.hk

Other Services

anastassia’s art house2104 3303/ 2812 [email protected] [email protected]

anfield [email protected] | www.anfield.edu.hk

antsmart Learning Centre / Playgroup, Math2335 1261 | [email protected]

Bricks 4 kidz2791 0007 | [email protected]

Concordia international school2789 9890 | [email protected] www.cihs.edu.hk

Craft hour6757 2564 | [email protected] www.crafthourasia.com

easy english for kids Limited3487 3053 | www.eek.com.hk

esF educational services Ltd9131 6745 | [email protected] www.esf.org.hk

Focus on Film3975 1020 | www.focusonfilmhk.com

German swiss international school2961 4008 | www.gsis.edu.hk

hong kong academy2655 1111 | www.hkacademy.edu.hk

hong kong international tennis academy 9048 2810 | [email protected] www.hkita.com

international College hong kong hong Lok Yuen 2658 6935 | [email protected]

its3188 3946 | [email protected]

Jumpstart Mandarin Learning Centre2791 4838 | [email protected] www.jumpstartmlc.com

kellet [email protected]

Leapfrog kindergarten2791 1540 / 6413 8247 [email protected]

Les Petits Lascars2526 8892 / 2526 8666 www.lespetitslascars.com

Lighthouse Playroom2791 2918 | [email protected]

Mills international Preschool2717 6336 | www.millsinternational.com.hk

Panda Pottery6439 2387 / 6041 9613www.pandapottery.com

Playball hong [email protected] | www.playballhk.com

Education Education

Quest study skills2690 9117 | www.queststudyskills.com

sai kung tutors 5321 4400 | [email protected] www.saikungtutors.com

savannah College of art and design2253 8044 | www.scad.edu/hongkongsummer

skiP2791 7354 | www.skip.edu.hk

sunshine house international Pre school2358 3803 | www.sunshinehouse.com.hk

the edge Learning Center2783 7100 / 2972 [email protected] www.theedge.com.hk

Financial Planning [email protected] | www.fpehk.com

hFs asset Management Limited2511 8337 | [email protected] | www.hfs.com.hk

kwiksure3113 2112 | [email protected]

Financial Services

Chunky onion Productions Ltd.3188 1874 | [email protected]

The Reading Room (Sai Kung)5 Tai Po Tsai, Clearwater Bay Road, Sai Kung, New Territories | 9199 5900 [email protected]

Multimedia

hyatt regency hong kong, shatin www.hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com

repulse Bay Company Ltd2292 2878 | www.therepulsebay.com

Vegas suites3963 7888 | www.vegasuites.com.hk

Hong Kong Gold Coast Residences1 Castle Peak Road, Castle Peak Bay, N.T., HK | 2457 0789 [email protected] www.goldcoast.com.hk

Tam Amodio PropertiesHong Kong +852 5190 [email protected]

Real-Estate & Hotels

annerley — Maternity and early Childhood Professionalswww.annerley.com.hk

New territories Podiatry6255 0088 | [email protected]

resurrection Church 2358 3232 | www.resurrection.org.hk

wellness & Birth, Pre & Postnatal home Care9022 1779 | [email protected]

Community & Health


on patrol top cop

A drowning tragedy resulted in some unexpected police action recently. To my surprise, a sizeable community of local divers don wetsuits and snorkels to go spearfishing off Sai Kung pier in the witching hours. I have no idea if they do this for sport or for food but, given the less-than-crystalline waters, I hope it’s the former.

Two local lads were in the water when one got into difficulties and, although his buddy tried to save him, he went under. Emergency services were called and the diver was pulled out of the water but could not be saved.

While comforting his grief-stricken dive buddy, we learned their high-velocity spearguns were lost in the depths. These guns can be lethal at short range and are required to be licensed by police, kept in locked cabinets and regularly inspected.

With two guns missing, I was in quandary. The water was like pea soup and, as the surviving diver couldn’t remember where the guns had been dropped, the search area was the size of a football pitch. Like the Fire Services Department, the police has a diving team on standby for a multitude of tasks, including life saving, searching for stolen property and retrieving bodies. Within an hour, a team of divers in speedboats arrived to carry out the search.

I went along as it was the first time I have had the opportunity to call them out. Their activities attracted many rubbernecks and in my uniform I was a magnet for the curious. Given I didn’t want to advertise that two weapons had gone AWOL and the diving team’s demand for anonymity,

I resorted to white lies: “Um, I don’t really know who they are. Possibly some diving club...”

After an extensive search, the guys found the harpoon guns, one of which still had a fish speared to it. The divers also brought up debris: the odd tin can, bicycle wheel and even a message in a bottle from a lovesick teenager whose wishes didn’t get too far.

On a somber note, the drowning victim was in his 20s, reportedly fit, a good swimmer and had been spearfishing numerous times. He was wearing suitable gear, played it safe by swimming with a partner and conditions were near perfect. He may have had a simple case of cramp and drowned in less than seven feet of water, just metres from the pier. Life is precious as well as fleeting, take care of it.

abandoned cars are unsightly and can be dangerous, especially to youngsters who use them as play equipment. We are often requested to deal with abandoned cars and, while this type of incident is out of our jurisdiction, we are happy to help set the wheels in motion (no pun intended).

It is drawn-out process. First we need to know if the car is occupying public or private land, so the Lands Department is contacted for a land search. If the land is private nothing

tim sharpe was the Police dVC for sai kung until his recent promotion to become the head of administration at kwai Chung Police station.

submit your shotHere at the Sai Kung Magazine office, we love receiving beautiful pictures of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay from our readers. Each month we publish our favourite. To enter, simply email your best shots of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay, along with a brief description, to [email protected].

this month’s winner: annette steadson took this stormy picture in sai kung Country Park.

photo competiton shoot for it

can be done, other than to locate the owner and request they get rid of it or ask your village representative to remove it (good luck!). If it’s on public land, the Transport Department is informed. It has its own rules with regard to the disposal of vehicles and it takes time.

One resident of Jade Villa had an abandoned vehicle outside his front door for three years. The tyres were flat, the vehicle was covered in moss, and he had to park his own car elsewhere. Rashly I promised I would deal with the issue personally and have it removed within the week. I collared the Transport Department official responsible but was met with an apologetic response that the car was on the waiting list for removal. Three months later, it’s still there and every time I pass it, I cringe. The wheels of government turn slowly (there I go again), but they do turn and this blot on the landscape will be removed.

Finally, thanks for the kudos we have received following the arrest of the cat burglar described in last month’s issue. People have been stopping me in the street and phoning out of the blue to congratulate us. I have forwarded all these compliments to the officers concerned and they are chuffed to bits. Keep those eyes peeled.

Fishing for guns tim sharpe comes clean about recent police action off sai kung pier.

Um, I don’t really know who they

are. Possibly some diving club...

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Sai Kung Magazine July 2013

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Transcript of Sai Kung Magazine July 2013