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FEATURES 12
Profile The core members of Black Velvet Collective discuss Sunset Peak
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Community Charities helping Hong Kong’s most vulnerable through Omicron
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Parenting Eco-friendly activities for kids to enjoy on Earth Day
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When Fiona Kennedy Altoft, Head of Visual Arts at Discovery College, isn’t busy teaching art, she’s busy creating it – and you can view her stunning collections online. Fiona’s currently focused on painting portraits of the people closest to her. “Some people make an impact on your life; painting them is a form of making a new connection with them,” she says. “Studying their faces in my studio brings back memories and makes me mindful to stay in touch.” For more on the artist and to view her work, head to www.fionakennedyaltoft.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Fiona Kennedy Altoft.]
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Do you know how much plastic you use and throw away each day? Each week? Each year? In Hong Kong the average person throws out 1.39kg of waste every day – that is over 500kg a year or 2 tonnes for a family of four.
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There is no doubt that we all have to reduce our plastic footprint. So, what better way to mark Earth Day on April 23, than by taking part in Plastic Free Sea’s (PFS) Plastic Footprint Investigation. The online challenge gives you a real understanding of the size of your plastic footprint, and therefore of the impact your lifestyle has on the planet.
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DB’s One World Spirit Association is putting on a series of classical movie appreciation webinars in April, led by Professor Stephen Sze Man Hung. Catch François Truffaut’s Four Hundred Blows (1959) on April 7, Yazujiro Ozu’s Floating Weeds (1959) on April 14, and Max Ophuls’ Lola Montez (1955) on April 21. The series is provided in conjunction with the German Chamber of Commerce; proceeds go to Hong Kong’s underprivileged via Po Leung Kuk charity. To register, head to https://fb.me/e/3wsJe1OL3.
How does it work? Firstly, you have to commit to cleaning and keeping all the throw-away plastic you use for one week. On the eighth day, lay out all the plastic on the floor and categorise it by what it’s used for. Tally the types of plastic you have used – straws, drink bottles, bags, food trays etc. Record the amount with a photo and make a list of everything you’ve collected. Share your results online with PFS. Then the real challenge begins! Ask yourself: How can I use less plastic? What plastic habits can I change? Can I use reusables more? Can I buy some of the products without the packaging? Which company will I email first to request that they reduce their packaging? What you discover through the Plastic Footprint Investigation can be life-changing, so you’re advised to take the challenge again in six months’ time to see how much your habits have improved. To find out more and share your findings online, head to www.plasticfreeseas.org. [PHOTO COURTESY OF PFS.]
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ENJOY THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS @HKAF LEARN TO PERFORM @FAUST
Through April 15, Faust International Youth Theatre is offering a variety of online courses and one-day workshops for students who are still stuck at home. Programmes are available for kids aged four to 17, with workshops designed to give students an opportunity to delve into a specific aspect of performance, writing and/ or creative skill. All classes are led through Zoom by specialists in their field. Register at www.faustworld.com.
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ONLINE IN APRIL!
This year Hong Kong Arts Festival is marking its 50th anniversary with an exciting selection of online programmes, ranging from operas and ballets to live-streamed theatrical performances. In a free online family concert, April 11 to 25, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra presents Saint-Saëns’ delightful The Carnival of the Animals and Haas’ Little I-Am-Me, a musical treat for the whole family. Register at www.hk.artsfestival.org.
STUDY MAGIC @OCEANPARK
Ocean Park is calling on kids aged five to eight to join its nature-themed online magic workshop series, Mali Mali @ Home, running through April 15. The specially designed series brings children four classes of magic tricks themed on terrestrial and aquatic animals, elements of nature and the reuse of domestic waste. Children learn from the park’s professional magicians and interact with them via Zoom in real time. Register at www.oceanpark.com.hk.
approach enables us to effectively explain math concepts and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps students thrive and learn,” says Chris Symmes, owner of Mathnasium DB. Through Mathnasium@home, children get the personalised instruction they need to accelerate their math skills and take on the rest of the school year with confidence. Instructors assess each child’s learning needs, and follow-up with a customised learning plan to teach the concepts the student needs to master. Instructors continually check progress along the way to make sure each student truly understands and retains the concepts taught. Homework help and test preparation are also part of the programme.
MASTER MATH @MATHNASIUM
At Mathnasium DB live face-to-face instruction is offered both in-centre and online to students aged three to 18. Students looking to transition to online learning can be assured that they will be taught by the same teachers that work in the DB North Plaza centre. What’s more, the instructors use the same teaching method (the Mathnasium Method™) to strengthen math and critical thinking skills and build confidence – right from home. “Our specially trained math instructors teach children how to understand math in an individual setting; our unique
“The goal is not just to improve grades and scores but to teach children how to think critically, solve problems and work independently,” Chris says. “Our expert instructors teach math in a way that makes sense to students, so they understand it, master it, and enjoy it. “We’re passionate about math – and we want to make your child feel that way too. Whether your child struggles in math or needs a greater challenge, our proven approach makes believers out of even the most sceptical parents and children.” To find out more, WhatsApp 2628 3362, or visit www.mathnasium.com.hk/discoverybay. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Chris Symmes.] AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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! t u o b A ut & YOU'VE BEEN UP TO! OWHAT
EVENT ROUND-UP
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SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES!
PHOTOS BY www.evoqueportraits.com, www.richardgordonphotography.com & What The Fox Studio
The theme of International Women’s Day 2022 was Break the Bias: March 8 was a day to celebrate women’s achievements and increase visibility, while calling out inequality. Over the past few years, we’ve been proud to be part of that movement – featuring some of the amazing women in Discovery Bay, and highlighting how their collective efforts make our world a better place.
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! k oo l r e s o l c a th or W FESTIVAL DAYS
Celebrations may be somewhat subdued this year but two of the most important festivals in Chinese culture take place in April. Here’s a look at the myth, folklore and activities surrounding them PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
CHING MING FESTIVAL Ching Ming – also known as Grave Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival – is the day, and often the only day in the year, when Chinese families visit the graves and tombs of their ancestors. Ching Ming falls on the fourth or fifth day of the third lunar month (April 5, 2022), and has been a public holiday since the Tang dynasty. When visiting the graves, families tidy the headstones, clear grass and weeds, light incense and make burnt offerings. Items burned include (fake) money and these days, paper replicas of laptops, mobile phones, air-conditioners, refrigerators and even luxury cars – anything that the ancestor may find useful in the afterlife. Food offerings are also made and these too involve various time-honoured rituals. Typically, three bowls, filled with pastries, chicken and pork, are placed at a headstone along with three wine glasses and three sets of chopsticks. The head of the family then takes a glass of wine and blows on it three times before pouring the wine on the grave. The same procedure is repeated by each member of the family three times. Following this, the family shares the food in honour of the deceased. Ching Ming Festival is first and foremost a day to honour ancestors but it’s also a time for families to get together to eat and also traditionally, to fly kites. Again, there’s plenty of superstition and symbolism regarding this activity. Instead of pulling back the kite after it has flown high, it’s important to cut the string and release it – by releasing a kite, you let go of any bad luck, disease or negative energy you have accumulated over the past year. 10
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To understand the origins of Ching Ming Festival, you need to look back around 2,500 years to the Zhou dynasty, when emperors and noblemen performed rituals throughout the year to venerate their dead, hoping for prosperity, peace and abundant harvest in return. At this time, ancestor veneration was the preserve of the ruling elite because it was so costly. However, things changed in the Tang dynasty when Emperor Xuanzong (713 to 756 CE) decided to limit these lavish rituals to a single day, establishing the Ching Ming Festival tradition. He also made Ching Ming a national holiday and decreed that all subjects commemorate it in a simple way by visiting and cleaning the tombs of their ancestors. ANCESTOR VENERATION AT CHING MING FESTIVAL
TIN HAU FESTIVAL Tin Hau’s birthday falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month (April 27 in 2022) and in Hong Kong, Tin Hau Festival is one of the most vibrant celebrations of the year. Tin Hau is the Goddess of the Sea, and given that in the past Hong Kong’s livelihood was tied to the water, she is the unofficial patron saint of the city. There are over 90 Tin Hau temples scattered throughout Hong Kong, and while they come in all shapes and sizes, they are typically small and low-key like the goddess herself. On festival day (not a public holiday), some of the liveliest celebrations are held on the outlying islands notably at the impressive, Grade 111, cliff-side temple at Fan Lau Miu Wan.
TIN HAU TEMPLE CHEK LAP KOK NEW VILLAGE
Fisherfolk worship Tin Hau as a bringer of calm seas and a plentiful catch, the rest of us simply look to her to protect our families. So, what’s the backstory? Well, according to folklore, Tin Hau started out as a mortal named Mòniáng, born around 960 CE on the island of Meizhou in Fujian Province. One morning, her father and brothers went out to fish with the local fleet and a typhoon struck. Fortunately for them, Mòniáng immediately fell into a trance and astral-projected out to sea to rescue them. As she was bringing them back, her mother woke her, causing her to drop one of her brothers. The next day, only her father and all but one of her brothers returned, all of the other fishermen were lost at sea.
TIN HAU TEMPLE FAN LAU MIU WAN
Mòniáng was so revered in life for her shamanism that after her death at age 27, the islanders continued to ask her for help, believing she had ascended to heaven to take her place among the immor tals. Over time, more and more repor ts of the goddess inter vening during crises at sea began to circulate among the fishing communities of Fujian and Guangdong. As her fame increased, her temples began to spring up all over Southern China and beyond. AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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PROFILE
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! n e M f o Band THAT’S ALL FOLK!
DB-born Black Velvet Collective has ridden the world music wave into the studio for its first album of Irish-inspired originals. Core band members Mark Rawson, Jim Alba-Duignan and Mark Basford sit down for a virtual chat with Elizabeth Kerr PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com & courtesy of Mark Rawson
BLACK VELVET COLLECTIVE JAMMING SESSION
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t’s a Friday afternoon in March, so as usual in Hong Kong these days bassist Mark Rawson and his Black Velvet Collective (BVC) bandmates – drummer and singer Jim Alba-Duignan and guitarist Mark Basford – dial in via computer, after the requisite technical futzing about, to chat about their first studio album. Guitarist Dan Marguilles is sitting this one out. The quartet makes up what Mark R considers part of an original music renaissance in Hong Kong that started long before the pandemic. Gone (almost) are the days of expat-driven dive bands covering Sweet Child o’ Mine and Summer of ’69 in Wanchai. Here are the days of creativity, and a shrinking divide between expat and local artists. “I play five tracks from artists from Hong Kong doing original songs every Friday with Phil Whelan [on RTHK]. We’re on the twelfth week and we’ve never repeated an artist.” That bodes well for the success of BVC’s February release, Sunset Peak, a collection of traditional Celtic-inflected ballads and mid-tempo jigs, complete with fiddles, mandolins and tin whistles. Sunset Peak is available on 12
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44 streamers including Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music (and yeah, Spotify), with a limited vinyl pressing coming soon. Whether that’s a shout-out to the guys’ musical roots is hard to say, but calling BVC a departure is an understatement. A quick survey reveals a diverse array of near and dear LPs: Genesis’ Seconds Out, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Squeeze’s 45’s and Under and Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, courtesy of the slightly younger Dan. No Irish folk.
THE FAB FOUR Hong Kong’s own folky Beatles came together in stages beginning roughly 18 years back. Decades of shared history is obvious; there’s a lot of shorthand and joking back and forth. Jim, the ‘John’ [Lennon, that is] moved to Hong Kong 26 years ago with a construction industry contract and, like many, one contract somehow became permanent residency. He’s lived in Discovery Bay for most of his time in the SAR, with the exception of a year in Mid-Levels which, he says, nearly killed him: “I was single; I struggled to get past Lan Kwai Fong most
PROFILE
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In a live gig you can be " flexible on the timing. In
the studio you tend to be absolutely on beat… if you’re not it’s quite noticeable, and the rest of the band is sitting in the control room waiting for you to stop fluffing it up - MARK BASFORD MARK RAWSON AND JIM ALBA-DUIGNAN AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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nights.” He flat-shared in DB on arrival, and got married later. “I did it the other way around. I met my partner, Christine, in DB, in the plaza.”
breaking out over wine in the living room. “It was a very different sound to what was going on in Hong Kong at the time. We decided to try it live. We got a great response.”
The ‘Paul,’ Mark R, landed a year later with his financial services job, and he too lived in DB for 10+ years. His family were onboard residents for a time, and he’s now based in Aberdeen with his wife Wika.
BVC was born from a desire to include different instrumentation and styles, and bring in guest performers – like fiddle player Alexandra Softley and The 852 vocalist Sarah Johnson – as well as expand the set list.
Mark B’s low-key attitude and occasional, well-placed quip make him the ‘Ringo.’ He showed up in DB 20 or so years ago with his wife, Kate, and three children, and lives here still. He started out working for a European corporate on its China strategy but ended up ditching that for teaching. “I got tired of the corporate life, and the thing I liked most about that job was teaching people how to do theirs better,” he notes. “And it’s in the blood: Both my parents are teachers, my wife’s a teacher. It was an inevitability.”
The response to the traditional Irish sound was particularly noticeable at last November’s What the Folk Festival, a world music event that Mark R organised. He had experience with music fests as one of the co-founders of Picnic in the Park (now The Big Picnic) alongside – wait for it – Jim and Mark B. Their fears that original tunes would be hard sell with local audiences proved groundless. “This is a great, international city; it’s such a melting pot and a wonderful place to be, particularly in the music scene,” argues Mark R. “Over the last few years some of those roots have really come to the fore.”
Dan, a lawyer by trade who’s expecting twins with his wife Louise, lives in Kennedy Town. He’s ‘George.’ He’s not even here.
THE COLLECTIVE Mark R and Jim got to know each other though the city’s live music scene at the same time Mark B and another mate were playing covers as a duo and looking for a bassist. “Mark was in from the start but we thought Jim was a keyboard player, and we didn’t need one, so we weren’t interested in him,” recalls Mark B with a chuckle. “But then we found out he was a drummer, and that was just what we needed. That was The Vibes.” The Vibes is just one of many bands the four actively work with, the others being brassy soul outfit The 852 and Celt-punk band Naggin Eejits (with Dan). “Then Jim and I started playing around with Irish folk tunes,” Mark B says. Jim, born in England to Irish parents, recalls an Irish ditty
SUNSET PEAK When the live scene shut down with COVID, Mark R found the band suddenly had more time to be creative. “We’d always been gigging so when the pandemic started, we had the time to write original songs. I found that came easily, personally, and I could come up with plenty of ideas but I needed people to help finish them off. Jim and Mark were the natural choices.” The decision to cut a record followed an afternoon noodling over an idea that would eventually become the personal Ne Temere. “Mark did great work on the melodies, I sang it, and it came together, just like that,” Jim says. “We knew it was a good song. It sounded like nothing else we were doing and we thought, ‘What do we do with that?’ We thought we may as well record it.” All three credit producer Charlie Edwards with shepherding the studio newbies along. As pals for decades, no one felt uncomfortable writing in the studio, or making suggestions or mistakes. Mostly. “Being so precise is quite stressful. It’s a challenge. In a live gig you can be flexible on the timing. In the studio you tend to be absolutely on beat… if you’re not it’s quite noticeable, and the rest of the band is sitting in the control room waiting for you to stop fluffing it up,” says Mark B. “And when you finally get it, you’re told, ‘You might be able to do that a bit better.’ But I think I’m a better player now and I appreciate that.” Dan agrees (by email), adding that the learning curve was intense. “Recording required a huge amount of effort. The writing and creating was comparatively easier, especially when working with talented musicians.”
THE NEW ALBUM IS BIG ON CELTIC BALLADS AND JIGS 14
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The process was conflict-free enough to start BVC on a path to a sophomore release. Though none of the guys are entertaining notions of being The Beatles. Thinking of the drama documented in 2021’s Get Back, Mark R confirms, “We weren’t quite that messy. Which is probably why they were so successful.” But only for 10 years.
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LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS
Omicron never takes a day off, why should we? Local charities are doing their utmost to support Hong Kong’s most vulnerable through the pandemic, and we can all help shine a light by donating time, money or provisions. Samantha Wong reports
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PHOTOS BY Adobe Stock
ast month, Hong Kong experienced its toughest COVID-19 wave to date. We all lived through compulsory testing, rising case numbers and stricter social distancing measures. Fears of being packed off to Penny’s Bay for 21 days become a reality for many. But it was the city’s most vulnerable – among them migrant workers and the elderly – who suffered the most. Now the peak is apparently over, and we are looking forward to a return to some form of normality, with significant easing of Hong Kong’s tough pandemiccontrol measures starting April 21. But the situation remains critical for the elderly, especially those who live alone in government housing or in group homes, and for migrant workers, many of whom find themselves homeless on testing positive. What can you do to help? Here, we’ve listed a few of the many Hong Kong charities that are working tirelessly to support those in need. You can help by donating time, money or provisions.
SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY Gingko House, www.love.org.hk
Gingko House supports underprivileged and vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, by providing them with food and a place to spend time. As a social enterprise restaurant (now with four branches, all staffed by senior citizens), it provides free meals to people in need. Gingko House has a catering division and an organic farm. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can pay for a meal and have it delivered to those in need. You can donate non-perishable items and have them delivered to a Gingko House restaurant. You can volunteer to deliver lunch boxes to those who need them. You can donate masks, disinfectants, rapid antigen test kits and new warm clothing. Visit www.love.org.hk.
DONATE RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, www.habitat.org.hk Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to improving the living conditions of old people, people with disabilities and low-income families, who live in sub-standard housing. It recruits student and corporate volunteers to help build and repair homes, and it is currently recruiting volunteers to help elderly people deep-clean their homes. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can donate hygiene packs comprising face masks, hand sanitisers and rapid antigen test kits. You can volunteer to help repair or deep-clean someone’s home. Visit www.habitat.org.hk. Helping Hand, www.helpinghand.org.hk
team also provides counselling for domestic workers, who have suffered trauma during this time; legal support for domestic workers on pandemic-related legal and immigration issues; and financial support for domestic workers, who are facing mounting medical bills, especially those who have lost access to medical insurance after termination. Where you come in: You can donate money. Through cash donations, HELP for Domestic Workers can provide food and water assistance, rapid antigen test kits, medical and cleaning supplies, clothes and bedding, and safe and secure accommodation. You can volunteer to helping source, pack and deliver essential supplies every day, three times a day, to temporary shelters across Hong Kong. Visit www.helpfordomesticworkers.org.
Helping Hand is dedicated to serving elderly people who are in need. Established in 1978 to rehouse old people living in cage homes, it runs six old people’s homes plus the only holiday centre for the elderly in Hong Kong. In addition to providing quality residential, rehabilitation and dementia care services, the team provides community support services and programmes for other seniors and their carers. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can volunteer to visit the elderly. You can organise a fundraiser. You can have a Will drawn up. Yes, you read that right. From now until April 30, the lawyers at Oldham, Lie and Nie (www.oln-law.com) have pledged to prepare a simple Will for anyone who contributes HK$2,900 to Helping Hand. Funds raised will go towards providing elderly people in need with food and daily essentials. Visit www. helpinghand.org.hk.
PROTECTING MIGRANT WORKERS Bethune House, www.bethunehouse.org
Bethune House is a community-driven, emergency shelter providing refuge, food and medical assistance to migrant workers in crises. The team also helps migrant women, including domestic workers, seek justice following abuse, mistreatment or unfair termination.
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Where you come in: You can donate money (HK$1,000 sponsors one worker for emergency support for one week). Through cash donations, Bethune House can provide food and water assistance, rapid antigen test kits, medical supplies, blankets, sleeping bags, personal necessities and safe and secure accommodation. Visit www.bethunehouse.org. HELP for Domestic Workers, www.helpfordomesticworkers.org HELP for Domestic Workers offers migrant domestic workers advice, assistance, education and empowerment to help them receive fair and equal treatment under the law. Its current priority is to provide domestic workers with essential supplies and temporary shelters. The 18
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P ROT E C T I N G YO U R C H I L D R E N A N D T H E E L D E R LY T H RO U G H O M I C RO N
Sharon Ser and Samantha Gershon, Partners in the Family and Divorce Team at Withers, outline what you need to know COVID-19 has been kept at bay in Hong Kong for the last two years, however this is no longer possible due to the Omicron variant. Families have been concerned for some time that they could be separated should a child need to be sent to mandatory quarantine as a result of teachers, coaches and fellow pupils testing positive or worse, should someone at home test positive. Now with the spread of Omicron, the likelihood of a family member testing positive is increasingly likely. Best advice? Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. We hope that contingency remedies won’t be needed, but it’s always better for proper planning to be done. At the end of the day, what matters is the safety and wellbeing of your children and elderly family members. In the event of some unforeseen incident, a plan will ensure your family is taken care of. In this way, you will have peace of mind especially during these difficult and turbulent times.
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SAFEGAURD YOUR CHILDREN In the unfortunate event that parents are unable to take care of their children, either temporarily, whilst being quarantined or overseas, or for a prolonged absence due to, for example, the death or mental incapacity of one or both parents, appointing the right legal guardian will safeguard your children’s immediate needs and/ or their longer-term future. When neither of the parents are able to care for their children (when children are under the legal age of 18), without a formal appointment of a guardian, the Hong Kong Court will become their de facto guardian. In the absence of a parent, the court is likely to appoint the Director of Social Welfare to be the guardian of the children. If family members put themselves forward to take on guardianship of the children, things can get messy should they compete to look after the children. This is very likely to be detrimental to children’s wellbeing at a time which will be traumatic in any event.
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No parent wants their children taken into care, especially if there is a loving and competent friend or family member who is able to look after them. This scenario can be avoided simply by appointing a guardian of the parents’ choice before any troubles arise. It’s unlikely that expatriate families will have family members in Hong Kong who are able to look after their children. They will need to rely on family members from other countries to travel to Hong Kong to look after their children. During the pandemic, when flights are scarce and there are strict testing and quarantine rules, it may be difficult for family members to get to Hong Kong quickly. This means that the appointment of temporary guardians until the permanent guardians can look after the children can be crucial. It ensures as smooth a transition of care for the children as possible in the circumstances. Temporary guardians can be friends or neighbours. It is best if they are people with whom the children are familiar.
DOCUMENTS AND BENEFITS Legal guardianship is recognised when appointed as part of a Will or through a separate document called a Deed of Guardianship. There are different benefits to both options: A Will enables the appointment of a testamentary guardian and all consequential financial arrangements, which are fundamentally important for the future wellbeing of the children. Through a Will, parents can channel sufficient funds to their children’s living and education expenses and arrangements. W ith everything written down, arguments and uncertainty are avoided at a time of grief, leading to a smoother transition of guardianship.
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can also be left with an employer so that in the event something happens to the employee, the employer is aware of their employee’s wishes.
PROTECT ELDERLY RELATIVES If relatives are elderly or physically incapacitated, they may need to be cared for by you and they will therefore be unable to go to a government quarantine facility or hospital on their own. If they have existing medical conditions which support their inability to go alone, it would be advisable to have a “to whom it may concern” letter prepared in advance, and verified by their doctor. A n E n d u r i n g P o w e r o f A t t o r n e y ( E PA ) g i v e s legal authority to another person of the donor’s choosing to make property, financial and other legal decisions on their behalf. If your relative is mentally competent, this can be a useful way to assist them in expressing their wishes should they be separated from you. It may be an efficient way to help them with their day-to-day financial affairs should they have to go into quarantine or hospital in the short term. EPAs need to be signed before a registered medical practitioner as well as a solicitor. Know that an EPA is limited to financial arrangements and does not cover the physical wellbeing of your elderly relative.
A Deed of Guardianship is made by appointing a guardian or guardians for the children in the event of a temporary or prolonged absence or death of either or both parents. While this option does not cover financial arrangements, it comes with its own benefits. A Deed of Guardianship has to be made in writing, before being dated and signed by the parent in front of two witnesses, it’s not a complicated or expensive document for a lawyer to prepare. It’s important to ensure your proposed guardian knows about their appointment and that they have the original or certified copy of the legal document. This is crucial because a Deed of Guardianship isn’t written in stone; it can be amended, and new guardians can be appointed to take into account changing circumstances as your children get older. The final Deed of Guardianship
Withers has extensive experience in dealing with Hong Kong family law. Contact the writers: Sharon Ser at Sharon.Serr@withersworldwide.com and Samantha Gershon at Samantha.Gershon@withersworldwide.com. Withers, 30/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, 3711 1600, www.withersworldwide.com.
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D O YO U H AV E A C O M PA N Y A N D N E E D TO L E AV E H O N G KO N G ? Sharon McEneff, director of DB-based T8 Corporate & Business Services, outlines your options With Omicron still raging and so much changing within Hong Kong, many people are making the decision either to take a leave of absence (two or three years working from their home countries or from a third country such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or the Middle East) or leave Hong Kong permanently. If you own a private company limited by shares or have a property or other assets which are owned by a company structure, you will need to decide what to do with your company before you leave Hong Kong – and you will need to take other shareholders’ wishes into consideration. Here are some options for you to consider: Keep the company as is and manage it from overseas. This is a good solution if you plan on returning to Hong Kong or if your company is structured to hold property or other assets, that you have not yet been able to sell. Hong Kong is a popular place to own a company, not only because of its low taxation rates but also because of its relaxed company formation requirements. For instance, a foreign individual who resides overseas can be a sole director and shareholder of a Hong Kong company, however to ensure that you keep the value or earnings of your company or asset in Hong Kong you should have other directors who are located in Hong Kong. A private company limited by shares must have one director (regardless of nationality and permanent residency) and either a company secretary (a Hong Kong Identity Card holder) or a Hong Kongbased comsec corporate service provider. Transfer to dormant status. This is another good option if there’s a chance you might return to Hong Kong. A dormant company is still active but its status helps reduce costs. The transfer process is straightforward for companies that have yet to start operating. Companies that are in operation should cease doing business three months prior to the transfer application and an audit report must be completed to prove that no transactions were made during that period. Know that even if a company is dormant, it is still required to have a company secretary (a Hong Kong Identity Card holder) or a Hong Kong-based comsec corporate service provider. 22
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Transfer share(s) and directorship. By selling a company, you can fully transfer all ownership to another party. The process can be straightforward depending on the structure and current standing of the company. Before selling, you are advised to go through a business valuation process to calculate the financial value of the company and any assets. This process involves collecting and analysing a range of metrics, such as revenue, profit and loss, as well as assessing the risks and opportunities a business faces. Deregistration. A fourth option is to deregister the company as a legal entity. This can be a very long process (five to nine months), therefore you need to ensure that there are no pending tax liabilities and that you have signed all the necessary documents before leaving Hong Kong. If you are a sole proprietor and would like to close your business, you should also inform the Inland Revenue Department one month before your departure and file a tax return for the relevant year(s). Before leaving Hong Kong, you are advised to have your mail redirected – simply fill out a form at your local post office and provide a forwarding address.
Sharon McEneff is the director of T8 Corporate & Business Services in DB North Plaza. T8 delivers business administration services and a one-step comsec solution enabling clients to comply with Hong Kong’s rules and regulations. For more information, email sharon.m@t8corporate.com or visit www.t8corporate.com.
HARVEY LAW GROUP (HLG) HLG is a multinational law firm specializing in corporate law and investment immigration, with a worldwide reputation for representing high-profile clients and corporations. As Asia’s pioneer within the Residency & Citizenship-by-Investment industry, HLG has been offering investment immigration services for over 30 years. Headquartered in Hong Kong, HLG is a Foreign Law Firm registered with the Law Society of Hong Kong and with over 20 offices worldwide, it’s lawyers are qualified and registered in various jurisdictions including, Québec, Ontario and British Columbia Bars in Canada, England & Wales, United States, France, Grenada, Thailand and Vietnam. HLG offers more than 30 immigration programs tailored to the diverse needs of its clients, both individuals and families in Hong Kong, Greater China, and beyond.
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DINING OUT
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! th on m e th f o t n a r u a t s Re ROBATA MASTER REPORTING BY Rachel Sadler
PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com
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obata Master soft opened in the new DB Plaza extension in mid-December 2021 and there are plans for an official opening as soon as COVID restrictions are lifted and dinner service resumes. A bar-restaurant combo, like all the best robatayaki, it specialises in expertly grilled meat and seafood skewers, Japanese beer and saké.
“We serve our grilled beef with small chunks of raw wasabi on the side.”
“Discovery Bay has developed into a unique community with many restaurants but there was nothing like Robata Master. I decided residents needed a new dining option,” opens Robata Master owner Wilson Lee. “The restaurant has been well received by the community; there are seats inside where you can watch the chefs at the grill, and our outdoor terrace has become a hotspot for people looking to relax after work with quality food and drink.”
The beauty of robatayaki is how well the grilled meats and vegetables retain their natural flavours. But when ordering certain items, the chef may ask if you want them flavoured with salt, chili, wasabi or tare (a brown dipping sauce similar to teriyaki).
THE MENU For many Robata Master fans, the grilled beef, pork, lamb and chicken robatayaki skewers are the main event. While the various meats are sourced worldwide, the sumptuous Wagyu beef is flown in direct from Japan. “The Wagyu beef is aged for 14 days before serving, this creates a nice texture on the beef,” says Wilson. 24
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It’s not all about the meat however. Signature veggie skewers include eggplant, mushroom and cucumber, and Robata Master’s prime selection of seasonal seafood is locally sourced.
As well as the grilled items, the menu includes a good selection of everyone’s favourite Japanese meals, including curries, noodles and rice dishes. These are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, COVID restrictions allowing. “Diners especially like the Wagyu beef rice bowl, the beef is so succulent, and the ramen is very popular too,” says Wilson. At Robata Master, you can order takeout for breakfast, lunch and dinner for pick up or free home delivery within DB. Recommended takeaway dishes include the ramen and deep-fried fish fingers which retain their crispiness for a long time.
DINING OUT
THE GRILL
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Robatayaki refers to a method of cooking, similar to barbecue. In Japan, the loaded skewers are grilled over white-hot charcoal but in Hong Kong, restaurants are only permitted to use electric grills due to fire regulations. “We use an electric grill for safety reasons, but our chefs cook in traditional-style and achieve the same end results,” says Wilson. The best robatayaki skewers are soft on the inside and deliciously crunchy on the outside, something Wilson attributes to the grilling process and the skill of the chef. “When you place the meat on the skewer, all the juice drops back onto the grill and vaporises back into the meat,” he explains. “Our chefs have a keen eye for timing and they know the exact temperatures needed for the different meat, seafood and veggie items that are grilled.”
GRILLED ROBATAYAKI SKEWERS ARE THE MAIN EVENT
THE SPECIALS One of Robata Master’s bestsellers is its sharing platter for two, which includes a choice of four meat, two chicken and two veggie skewers. Diners are advised to order at least four skewers each, and to pair the grilled meat with Japanese beer, the seafood with saké. While skewers can be ordered individually for those who know exactly what they want, the most convenient option is to order the omakase, or chef’s special set. The restaurant’s well-priced set lunch – one menu item plus a drink – has been a hit with residents in recent weeks. RAMEN IS A BESTSELLER
Robata Master is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner (COVID restrictions allowing). To reserve a table, book the space for an event, or order takeout, call or WhatsApp 6636 3303.
JAPANESE BEER IS A SPECIALITY
THE BAR Robata Master’s outdoor terrace has been designed as a comfortable after-work hangout for residents, and the bar stocks a good selection of IPAs and craft beers, sourced both locally and in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Japanese beer and saké. An own-brand Robata Master saké will soon be made in house. As soon as COVID regulations allow, Robata Master’s happy hour will run daily from 3pm to 6pm. There are also plans to introduce regular food and wine/ beer/ saké pairing events, with all sorts of gourmet combinations recommended by staff. AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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KELLETT SCHOOL C R E AT I N G G LO BA L PAT H WAYS Established in 1976 and one of Hong Kong’s leading international schools, Kellett School is a co-ed, through-train school with campuses on Hong Kong Island (four to 11 years) and in Kowloon Bay (four to 18 years). For over 45 years, Kellett has earned a reputation for offering an exceptional, British-style education. Outstanding public examination results (over 55% of A-level results at A*, and over 68% of GCSE results at A*) ensure that students go on to attend top universities worldwide. Kellett has evolved its educational approach to ensure that students are equipped with the right mindset and skill set to enable them to thrive and cope with the stresses of modern-day life. “While our examination results showcase the exceptional academic standard of our students, behind these results is a strong focus on wellbeing, k n o w n a s P o s i t i v e l y K e l l e t t . We b e l i e v e t h a t wellbeing plays a central role in enabling students to reach their full potential, academically, outside their classrooms and far beyond their school years,” says the school’s Principal and CEO Mark Steed. In acknowledgement of its approach to wellbeing, Kellett was recently awarded the highest honour of Patron’s Accredited Membership by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). While in 2020, Kellett was named ‘British International School of the Year’ at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards, with Positively Kellett highlighted as being key to that accolade.
“The Senior School has a week off-timetable dedicated to global citizenship, known as GOW (Global Outlook Week). Year groups travel overseas to lear n about different cultures and make a contribution through community service. In recent years, we have focused more on local issues, most notably on the asylum, refugee and ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong.” Kellett’s Mini-MBA programme, meanwhile, provides sixth-form students with a practical introduction to the world of business in an engaging, workshop environment. Year 12 students gain a deeper understanding of how businesses function, developing real world skills to help them in their future careers. Likewise, in Years 7 and 8, Innovation lessons allow students to focus on working collaboratively to understand and solve real-world problems in creative ways. These projects emulate the world of real work, with students harnessing individual strengths to contribute to one shared goal. Teams are also encouraged to experiment and learn from failure. “Kellett’s goal has always been to engender a ‘love of learning and confidence for life,’” Mark concludes. “Academics are of course very important, and we take great pride in our excellent results record, but we place far greater value in preparing our students for life’s opportunities and challenges, and seeing them flourish, now and in the future.”
“Launched in August 2018, Positively Kellett saw the development of a bespoke Positive Education curriculum, which is now taught in weekly lessons to all year groups,” says Mark. “Carving time out of the curriculum to focus on wellbeing has been central to our approach.” Beyond the confines of the curriculum, Kellett students also study public speaking, innovation and global citizenship. “Global Citizenship and Critical Perspective lessons help students become informed, responsible and active global citizens,” says Mark. “We have a strong focus on how each of us can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, through advocacy, fundraising and community service. Kellett School will be adding a new bus route from Central Ferry Pier to its Kowloon Bay Campus in August. For more information about the school, email admissions@kellettschool.com or visit www.kellettschool.com.
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PARENTING
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! d l i h C Wild LIVING GREEN
These easy-to-implement eco-friendly activities will help you get the kids on board for Earth Day (April 22) and beyond PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
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PARENTING
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pril 22, 2022 marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day, and the world needs you and your actions! It’s our job as parents to teach children to be good stewards of the earth by encouraging them to love and respect the world around them. And getting them on board when they’re young (pre-school-young) encourages them to continue the tradition as they get older. Think how proud you’ll feel if your child turns out to be the next Greta Thunberg! There are so many things that families can do together to express and grow their love of nature and their determination to protect it. You’ll find plenty of fun activities listed here, all of which can be done at or close to home, while social distancing.
GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY People protect what they love, and it follows that to be truly eco-aware children need to spend plenty of time outdoors, appreciating the beauty of nature. So why not organise a special family hike or bike ride on April 22? This way your kids will get the oppor tunity to enjoy what Mother Ear th has to offer, while being active and adventurous. Or maybe they would prefer to get out on the water? You could spend the day obser ving nature from a nonpolluting kayak, rowboat, or stand-up paddleboard. Whatever outdoor activity you choose, be sure to bring along a bag to pick up any litter you spot and some binoculars to do some birdwatching. If you’re looking to make a day of it, pack an ecofriendly picnic, complete with reusable containers, utensils and water bottles. To reduce your carbon footprint, prepare a vegan meal. You can follow this up with a nature scavenger hunt: Encourage your kids to use the materials they find – shells, sticks, rocks, leaves or flowers – to create a piece of eco-art on the ground for other families to find. Or maybe they would enjoy a grounding, outdoor yoga session? Encourage them to stand barefoot in the grass so they can feel the earth under their feet; ask them to breathe in the fresh air and focus on the sunshine and wind on their skin. Pick some of your favourite earth- and animal-related poses for them to try, like tree, turtle, butterfly, lotus and frog.
STAY HOME AND WATCH TV For something entirely different, you could choose to take a vir tual day trip with your family from the comfor t of your living room. Consider places your children might like to visit, places they would be inspired by and showcase them. Pick the right TV series and the world really is your oyster – you can climb Mount Everest together, visit the Grand Canyon, explore the Antarctic or ride across the Gobi Deser t.
TEACH KIDS TO NURTURE NATURE IN A HANDS-ON WAY
Vir tual holidays are a great way to enjoy fabulous far-flung places without the environmental cost of flying. You can teach your children that this is a viable way to reduce their carbon footprint and still have fun, too.
GROW GREEN THUMBS You don’t need a garden or even a balcony to encourage your kids to develop green thumbs. Indoor gardening is a real option even in the tiniest apartment, and setting one up makes for a perfect Earth Day activity – children get to play with dirt (which most love), while learning to value and nurture nature in a hands-on way. To set up a simple indoor garden, place plants in windows that receive a decent amount of light. Windows that face south and west usually receive enough light to grow herbs and leaf and root vegetables. East- and north-facing windows receive less light and are ideal for shade-loving houseplants. When choosing a location for your indoor plants, also consider accessibility. Your kids will need room to water and monitor plants, and they will need space to clean around their indoor garden. Children can use just about anything for a plant container as long as it has drainage holes; you can show them how to place their pots on individual saucers to protect the windowsill from water damage. Soilless AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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PARENTING
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potting mix works well since it anchors plants firmly, keeping them upright, while serving as a reservoir for water, air and nutrients. The next step is to teach your children how to care for their plants; you’ll be amazed how much they love watching them grow. Help your kids get to know the moisture needs of their various plants – some prefer a consistently moist soil, while others do better when the soil dries out between waterings. You can also teach them to apply water directly to the soil and to discard excess water from plant saucers so the soil does not get too wet.
REPURPOSE AND RECYCLE Children love making art from just about anything including trash! Cardboard boxes plus imagination equal robots, houses and even space rockets! So, give your kids a selection of materials you would normally throw away or recycle and get them to transform them into a sculpture. Encourage them to paint and decorate their creation, then display it proudly. Through this sort of activity, children learn the concept of repurposing, they see at first-hand how easy it is to give items that are destined for the recycling bin a new lease of life. Showing kids how to sort recyclables, and asking them to place each type of recyclable (plastic, metal, paper and glass) into separate bins is another worthwhile Earth Day activity. And again, it’s ideal for pre-schoolers or kindergarteners, since it’s a skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives. As your children get older, you can make them responsible for sorting the household waste into the correct bins – this household chore can be made more appealing with the addition of a pocket-money incentive.
ENCOURAGE KIDS TO REPURPOSE RECYCLABLES 30
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All of DB’s villages have communal separation bins, clearly labelled for plastic, metal, paper and glass, but it’s important to note that hard-to-recycle items, including soft plastics/ polyfoam, liquid cartons, electrical appliances, rechargeable batteries and energy-saving lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes, need to be disposed of at the Green@Community pop-up recycling station near Parkridge Village.
JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP A startling fact: Every piece of plastic ever made is still in existence, the result of which is brought into sharp focus when visiting DB’s beaches, so often blanketed in waste left behind by visitors or washed in from the sea. Earth Day is a great day to tackle that. This final piece of the eco-puzzle gives children the opportunity to get hands-on resolving the crisis on our own doorstep. Alongside Plastic Free Seas (www.plasticfreeseas.org), local non-profit DB Green (www.dbgreen.org) organises regular beach clean-ups that are suitable for the whole family. Bring your own reusable water bottle and you’ll be supplied with reusable cotton gloves and rubbish sacks. The difference is immediate and profound, and underscores the importance of environmental awareness to kids that participate.
CLEANING A BEACH INFORMS KIDS ABOUT PLASTIC POLLUTION
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C A N B E I N G C A L L E D A GW E I LO B E C O N S I D E R E D D I S C R I M I N ATO RY ? Russell Bennett and Mark Chiu of the Employment Practice at Tanner De Witt outline a recent District Court decision More than three years ago, we published an article in respect of a District Court claim lodged by a British construction professional (the “Employee”) who alleged that his former employer (the “Employer”) had discriminated against him on the ground of his race by terminating his employment. One of the bases for the Employee’s claim was the use of the term gweilo by his colleagues in the workplace. Last month, the District Court handed down its decision on the above claim in the case of Haden, Francis William v Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited [2022] HKDC 152. In essence, the ruling was consistent with our view that whether a slang term can be offensive to others and in what situation depends on the context of the particular situation.
T h e C o u r t a d o p t e d t h e ‘ re a l c a u s e ’ t e s t i n determining whether the Employee suffered less favourable treatment on the ground of his race in this particular case. This means that the Court will consider the fundamental question of, in all circumstances of the case, what is the real and effective cause of the act complained of. The Court dismissed the Employee’s claim due to lack of sufficient factual evidence for it to draw any adverse inference against the Employer that the alleged discriminatory treatment of him was on the ground of his race.
The Court made the following general observations: i.
the term ‘gweilo’ has long been and continues to be widely used in Hong Kong;
ii. according to the witness evidence from the Employer, not many expatriates had any objection to colleagues (both local and expat) using the term; iii. it is unlikely that the term, even if used in a workplace, necessarily carries a derogatory meaning (with a racially discriminatory overtone); iv. the mere use of such a term to describe or refer to a particular “foreigner” is insufficient to prove a background of racial hostility. Overall, the Court considered that the Employee had either misunderstood the real meaning of the term or had exaggerated his adverse feeling (arising from the use of the term). Ultimately, it is important to remember a key element to establishing racial harassment under the Race Discrimination Ordinance is that “a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated that the other person would be offended, humiliated or intimidated by that conduct.”
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Tanner De Witt was established in 1999 and now has a team of over 100, including more than 50 Hong Kong lawyers. The team at the firm’s Employment Practice advises on all aspects of employment law. For more information, email russellbennett@tannerdewitt.com or visit www.tannerdewitt.com.
Contact us today for a free assessment. Mathnasium of Discovery Bay WhatsApp/Phone : 2628 3362 mathnasium.com.hk/discoveybay Shop 105-B North Plaza
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FITNESS
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! n a c u o y f i it Catch IN THE ZONE Looking for ways to stay fit that don’t involve breaking into a gym? We have a solution for you! You can play frisbee PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
FRISBEE GIVES YOU A POWERFUL WORKOUT since it incorporates different types of movements, making sure you exert almost all parts of your body. It combines cardio, stretching and strength training into one sport. There’s running and jumping too, not to mention all the arm exercises when you throw the disc.
IT PROVIDES INTERVAL TRAINING, helping you burn calories
and grill your fat as your body is moving intermittently. Varying the intensity of effort exercises the heart muscle, providing a cardiovascular workout and improving aerobic capacity. This means you will quickly become able to exercise for longer periods of time and/ or at more intense levels.
FRISBEE’S BEGINNER-FRIENDLY,
suitable for those who are interested in upping their fitness levels but have limited exercise experience. Anyone can play the game from kids to older adults (running is not mandatory). At the same time, many people find throwing a disc more fun and considerably easier than kicking or throwing a ball. 34
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FITNESS
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FRISBEE PRIMARILY TARGETS THE SHOULDERS
and to a lesser degree the biceps, calves, forearms, glutes, groin, hamstrings, hip flexors and quads. It can help you to strengthen your arms and legs and increase your bone density. Once you get good at it, the jumps, quick turns and pivots involved enhance your agility.
FRISBEE IS GREAT FOR ATHLETES
who are looking for a way to improve their speed, precision, strength and coordination. These qualities translate well to other sports like football, tennis and even long-distance running.
FRISBEE’S FREE, YOU CAN DO IT JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE, and all
you need is a disc and a partner. It’s also a no-contact sport, so there’s little risk of significant injury. Before you start to play, do some gentle warm-up exercises, like overhead arm reaches, lunges, push-ups, plank walk-outs and Jumping Jacks.
IT MAKES SENSE TO PLAY FRISBEE IN BARE FEET
because doing so engages all the little muscles in your feet and toes. Playing barefoot encourages you to make softer contact with the ground when running or jumping, which strengthens supportive ankle muscles and reduces long-term wear on joint cartilage, tendons and ligaments.
IT’S ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
Like any exercise, frisbee lifts your mood, lowers stress levels and helps with anxiety and depression. To ensure you get a healthy dose of ‘happy-making’ endorphins, exercise for over 30 minutes, at a moderate to intense pace.
HOW TO PLAY:
Take the frisbee in your hand and curl your arm back towards your chest. Bring your arm forward and throw the frisbee so that it spins to its destination. When throwing a frisbee make sure that your knees are bent and that you extend your arm as you throw. If you are catching the frisbee, run to where the frisbee is going and catch it with one or two hands and then throw it back to your partner or another player.
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CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE
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UK PROPERT Y INVES TMENT F OR BEGINNERS Gordon Franks, Managing Partner at Lifestyle Property International, outlines everything you need to know People are generally aware of the benefits of property investment and the returns it can offer, but often feel overwhelmed about where, or how to start on their property investment journey. Today, I will aim to cover some of the main benefits that this asset class brings, as well as share with you what to look out for in order to maximise your investment. Where to invest? Location, location, location is a mantra often used with property and, to a certain extent, it’s true, but the first thing to do is to remove personal, emotive thoughts and focus on what and where will make you the returns you are looking for. This may be your home country, or if you’re looking for greater returns than from your home market, other countries, such as the UK, may offer a better yield. U K p ro p e r t y m a r k e t o u t l o o k . UK property is extremely popular now, and for good reason. Weak GBP, strong rental demand and a robust and stable exit strategy continue to attract overseas investors looking for consistent returns. According to the HMRC Land Registry, the average UK property price in 2012 was GBP 150,000, and today, average house price stands at GBP 270,000. Within the period of 10 years, house prices have nearly doubled.
and Manchester, are seeing large-scale investment which is pushing demand for quality housing up. Predictors of property investment success. As with any investment, including property, you need plenty of good reasons to get involved. Below are just some of the factors which can make certain projects or areas stand out and help increase returns. Factors to look out for are: • Government regeneration • An increase in connectivity through transportation links • Relocation of workforces or increased population growth • A steady demand for tenants, if rental is the goal Whilst these factors do not guarantee success, they lay a good foundation for it. Ultimately, there are many things to consider when purchasing property, particularly when you are doing so from overseas. As always it pays to get good quality, professional advice.
Is UK property for me? Investors come from many backgrounds, from those considering a move to the UK at some stage, to people who have no desire to live there, and anywhere in between. They all seek safe and stable returns and see the attraction of UK property. Couple that with relatively low entry points compared to Hong Kong, and it looks very attractive as an investment destination. Best cities in the UK to invest in now. Once comfortable to invest in the UK, the next decision to make is where to invest. London has always been the obvious choice, but it has also seen a lot of growth over the last decade and although this growth has slowed, rents haven't kept up with the rapid growth. That has led to yields falling, and investors looking elsewhere for returns. It is not just buy-to-let investors who are considering alternatives, but also companies and corporations who are increasingly looking to relocate all or part of their workforce outside of London. This means other major UK cities, such as Birmingham 36
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Lifestyle Property International, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Hong Kong, has helped many clients become comfortable with the process of purchasing property overseas. The team assists with the purchase, mortgage and rental of properties for clients to create wealth through property. For more information, email info@lfsproperty.com or visit www.lfsproperty.com.
CREATING WEALTH THROUGH PROPERTY
Do you view property as a good asset class? Do you realize that on average the value of property doubles every 7 to 10 years? O Learn how to build a profitable property portfolio without making costly mistakes O Take advantage of our due-diligence procedures to ensure maximum profit O Property financing and ongoing mortgage available O Receive a real yield and positive cash flow from day one O Rely on our independent research and analysis
Call (852) 3115 7617 or visit www.lfsproperty.com to create wealth through property! 15/F, Skyway Centre, 23 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong T: (852) 3115 7617 W: www.lfsproperty.com E: info@lfsproperty.com
AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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? in a g a l e v a r t o t Ready ESCAPES
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HIMALAYAN HEALING Time to reboot in Rishikesh PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
ONE OF NORTHERN INDIA’S MOST SACRED SITES,
Rishikesh in the northern state of Uttarakhand is scenically located on the banks of The Ganges, the holiest river according to the Hindu religion. Being in the foothills of the Himalayas, it’s relatively cool year-round. You fly in to Dehradun Airport from New Delhi or Mumbai.
OUTWARD BOUND IS HUGELY POPULAR in Rishikesh. There’s
trekking, white-water rafting, rock climbing, cliff jumping, rappelling and bungee jumping on tap; after all this is the glorious Gateway to the Himalayas.
THE WORLD CAPITAL OF YOGA, Rishikesh catapulted
to Western fame when the Beatles dropped by to visit Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram (now closed). There are in fact three Rishikesh essentials: yoga practice, a ‘holy’ dip in The Ganges and having your palm read. 38
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NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD AND ALCOHOL ARE BANNED
ESCAPES
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but there’s a wealth of delicious Ayurvedic and health-food restaurants. The sleepy downtown streets are lined with wooden pushcarts selling fresh fruit and veggies, plus tasty local sweets, like jalebis and imartis. Watch out for food-stealing monkeys!
TRAYAMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE IS THE BIGGEST
in Rishikesh, built as a 13-storey home for Lord Shiva more than 800 years ago. It is known for its beautiful idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, and walls inscribed with ancient religious texts. The best way to reach Trayambakeshwar is via Laxman Jhula hanging bridge.
ASHRAMS PEPPER THE TOWN
as densely as Starbucks in Seattle, and picturesque Swarg Ashram (Heavenly Abode) is one of the oldest. Situated at the foot of the Himalayas on the left bank of The Ganges, it’s the spiritual ‘ground zero’ of Rishikesh, positively jammed with temples, meditation centres, Sanskrit schools and stores.
GANGA AARTI IS PRACTISED DAILY on the steps leading down to The Ganges. Fire lamps are lit at the end of more than an hour’s chanting, symbolising the light of truth as they fire up, and the destruction of the ego when they burn out. Taking part makes for a powerful goodbye to Rishikesh and an empowering preparation for the real world to come.
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INSIDER
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! s p i T p o T THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP
Do you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep? Samantha Wong shares some proven ways to overcome insomnia PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
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T
INSIDER
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he most well recognised cause of insomnia is… you guessed it, stress. Both acute insomnia, which lasts a few days, and chronic insomnia, which renders you unable to get a good night ’s sleep for a month or more, are of ten the result of long, demanding working hours, problems at home, or worries about the state of the world. Studies show that women are more likely to have insomnia than men . Older people, those in pain and people suf fering from depre s sion are also particularly susceptible. Of course, a great many medications can cause insomnia as a side effect. Cold medications are the most common culprits. Certain anti-depressants can also cause wakefulness if taken at night, and several of the anti-hypertensives (used to treat high blood pressure) can also result in poor quality of sleep.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES To combat the problem, step one is to regulate your lifestyle. Our circadian rhy thms var y throughout the day, causing us to feel sleepy at certain times and awake at others. Irregular habits disrupt that, so try to regulate what time you go to bed and what time you get up. Take a look too at what you eat and drink and when. Avoid eating too late at night because this will mean your body is active (busy digesting) right when you want to rest. And take care with alcohol. Although it will make you feel sleepy initially, it can lead to poor sleep qualit y and tiredness in the morning. Of course, caf feine can keep you up at night, so have your last cuppa at 6pm or even earlier if you are sensitive to it. Substitute with natural teas – tr y c amomile which is commonly regarded as a mild tranquiliser or sleep inducer. Be sure to drink a glass of water right before bed, and keep a jug of fresh water on your nightstand. Interestingly, the old wives’ tale about warm milk making you feel sleepy holds true. Milk contains tr yptophan which is a precursor to serotonin , a neurotransmitter which can help with sleep. Insomniacs should also take a good look at what they eat. Reduce your meat intake, eat more vegetables and clear sugar from your diet. Sugar makes adults hyper – not just kids – so sleeplessness is another good reason to cut it out. Be sure to avoid sugarladen processed foods and fizzy drinks. Carbohydrates like rice and cereal will aid sleep, but
MAKE SURE YOU’RE TIRED PHYSICALLY NOT JUST MENTALLY WEARY
if you’re after a healthy night-time snack, try cherries. They contain melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone.
TRIED-AND-TESTED REMEDIES And what about sleeping pills? Although night sedation is very effective, the more recent medications don’t last very long and you’ll find you wake early in the morning. The older medications, like benzodiazepines and sedating anti-histamines, have a risk of morning sedation or hangover. In general, you should take sleeping pills as seldom as possible and in the smallest dose that will work. Some sleeping pills are addictive and most tend to work less effectively the longer you use them. It’s important, of course, that you’re sufficiently tired physically (not just mentally weary) to need a full night’s sleep. Insomniacs often benefit from regular exercise, which allows them to burn off excess energy. There’s some truth too in the sedative power of counting sheep. If you find yourself unable to drop off, don’t just lie there fretting – think about something else, or get up and walk around for 10 minutes or so. Any technique that involves creating a relaxed environment (preferably internally and externally) is wor th a tr y. Many insomniac s find meditation beneficial since it clears and quiets the mind, and helps regulate breathing and overcome stres s . Alternatively, treat yourself to a massage a couple of AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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INSIDER
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evenings a week, sign up for a course of yoga, or book in for some reiki healing.
LOOK TO YOUR BEDROOM Whatever you do, don’t resort to watching TV in bed, or switching on your phone or computer when you wake in the night. Your gadgets will simulate your brain and make you feel energised; they will not help you sleep. In fact, it’s a good idea to make your bedroom a tech-free zone. Speaking of the bedroom, invest in a quality mattress and some new pillows. Install blinds or even shutters to shut out any light from the street. Take a look at the decor too, and change things up a bit. Moving the furniture around, or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint will help create a new atmosphere which you may find is more conducive to sleep. Better still take a look at your bedroom’s feng shui – this comprehensive ‘rule book for living’ has been around for centuries, so by following its advice, you might well find some relief. Feng shui says that your bedroom is the space that symbolises you and affects you the most. It follows then that if the feng shui isn’t right, if the positive energy isn’t flowing, your ability to sleep will be compromised.
TRY MEDITATION TO QUIET THE MIND AND REGULATE BREATHING
First step is to get your bed in the ‘command position.’ This means placing it so you can see the entry door (anyone coming in) when you are lying in bed. But don’t place your bed so that it directly faces the door, do this and you’ll be lying in the position of the dead – you’ll be ready ‘to go feet first.’ If the bedroom is big enough, leave a space on both sides of the bed. Energy needs to flow all around you when you’re sleeping, so keep the space under your bed clutter-free too. In terms of what you want to see in your bedroom, go with restful, earthy tones or skin tones. Feng shui masters will tell you that stark white walls are too mentally stimulating. A calming combo of off-white, cream and chocolate brown will promote peaceful vibes. You want your bedroom to be a sanctuary, somewhere that makes you feel relaxed, somewhere you are happy to sleep in. You’re seeking harmony and balance, so be sure to nourish your senses. Play some soothing tunes, layer soft and inviting fabrics and burn sweetsmelling essential oils. Putting a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil on your temples and on your pillow before you go to bed can help you get a good night’s rest. 42
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PUT A FEW DROPS OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL ON YOUR PILLOW
RECIPES
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! t n e l l e c g g Simply E Hunt no further for amazing Easter eggs to make over the holidays PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock
CHOCOLATE EGGS Makes 30 114g butter, softened 1tsp vanilla extract 8oz package cream cheese, softened 40oz icing sugar 340g creamy peanut butter 128g flaked coconut 136g unsweetened cocoa powder 200g chocolate pieces 1tbsp vegetable oil
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In a large bowl, mix together the butter, vanilla and cream cheese. Stir in the sugar to make a workable dough. Divide the dough into four parts. Leave one of the parts plain. Mix peanut butter into the second part, coconut into the third part, and cocoa powder into the fourth. Roll each type of dough into egg shapes, and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until hard, at least an hour. Melt the chocolate pieces in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth. If the chocolate seems too thick for coating, stir in a teaspoon of the oil until it thins to your desired consistency. Dip the chilled candy eggs in chocolate, and return to the waxed paper-lined sheet to set. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to harden.
RECIPES
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RECIPES
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PAINTED EGGS Makes 6 6 small bowls 6tsp vinegar 6tsp food colouring 6 hard-boiled eggs 1 white crayon 12 rubber bands 1 egg carton
Fill small bowls halfway with hot water, adding 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of food colouring, one for each colour you want to use. To dye an egg a solid colour, place in a bowl for 5 minutes. Alternatively, write a message or draw a pattern on an egg in white crayon, before you dip it. When it comes out of the dye, the wax will remain white, highlighting the pattern against the coloured background. For a striped design, place rubber bands around an egg before dipping it. Remove the bands, and you’ll see stripes where the bands were. Once done, place the eggs in an empty egg carton to dry. Then you can hide them for a hunt, place them in a decorative basket, or if you’re really hungry, peel and eat them!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH'S WINNER: Richard Gordon @richard_gordon_photography
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Hire a Truck: $220/Hour. Minimum 3 Hour Short Trips: $200.00 up. Hire Movers: HK$120/hour per Mover. Minimum 3 Hour. Cartons and Packing Materials: 16x14x14" (Small): HK$12.00. 23x15x15" (Medium): HK$15.00. 24x18x16" (Large): HK$18.00. 36x23x11" (Flat carton for Hanging Clothes): HK$30.00. 24x22x47" (Wardrobe Boxes) : $90.00 Plastic Wrap: HK$60/Roll. Packing Paper: $160/Ream. Bubble: HK$50/Roll. Packing Tape: $8/piece. Plastic boxes and used cartons can be provided free of charge. (Subject to availability) Serve Lantau, DB, Tung Chung and rest of the HK. www.akash.hk 50
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TUNG CHUNG
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station
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2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2984 0302 2980 3676 2984 0302 3689 7033 5511 6107 2984 0006
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY BahçeTurkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Bathers 2504 4788 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Long Island 2320 2001 Pause Cafe 5267 5549
RETAIL Friendly Bike Shop 2984 2278 Garden Plus 2980 2233 IslandWines 9521 8481 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Lantau Base Camp 9889 4375 Lantau Grocer 2702 0050 Red Hall Chinese Antiques 2988 1368 Tony’s Salon 2984 0990 ValueVigilantes 6132 9120 VIBE Book & Music Shop 9088 2370 SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports South Lantau Paddle Club Treasure Island Beach Club
5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543
WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance
9708 0187 2984 2488
AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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LOCAL NUMBERS
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DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES T8 Consulting Ltd
2517 8248
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power Emergency DB Fire & Ambulance Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Police Report Room
2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694
FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 Parsons White Wealth Management 2433 6981 The Stephen Putnam Practice 2914 0388 HOME & REPAIRS China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hung Kee Co May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry
2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 2987 5087 2987 0222 2987 0789 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151
HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay
2295 8288
LAWYERS & INSURANCE Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 24168618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com,
Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES Discovery Montessori School A reputable & well-known international school for authentic Montessori bilingual (English & Chinese) education for children aged 1 to 12 years. Beautiful campus & highly qualified teachers. Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk Little Explorers The longest running playgroup in DB, Little Explorers eases the transition between home play and kindergarten for children aged 18 months and up. Contact 6331 7215, littleexplorersdb@gmail.com Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include a drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & cooking class. Contact 3742 8772, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com
Bayview House of Children 6114 2436 DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Primary School 2914 2202 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 9685 7856 Epic Adventurers 2441 0098 Eye Level Education Learning Centre 9366 0000 Funfit 6302 6327 HKILA 2416 3198 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie 8191 0813 Links Parenting 6114 2436 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Mathnasium 2628 3362 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 54
AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
Sunshine House International Preschool 2987 8143 Treasure House 2987 4217 Woodentots 6108 9131 Zhi Zhi Chinese 9648 2966 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health & Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 Island Health 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre 2987 5633 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan Home Care Service 2803 2103 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan District Support Centre (Islands) 2548 0060/ 2546 3739 Yulana Stynder Physiotherapy 5514 1008 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel
2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 2987 9909
REALTORS Headland Homes 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0829 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Hoi Yu Transportation 2987 4488 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries
2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY 101 Tasty House 2658 9696 22º North 2987 2298 Bones & Blades 2383 0792 Café Bord de Mer & Lounge 2295 8299 Caffe Pascucci 2591 1426 Cali-Mex 2904 7698 Coffee Academics 2882 2280 Coyote Mexican Cantina 2987 2848 Ebeneezer’s 2987 0036 Epic Foods 2172 6111 Figos Seaside Café 2987 2915 First Korean Restaurant 2987 9123 HanMade Teahouse 2322 8858 Hemingway’s 2987 8855 il Bel Paese 2987 0202 Island Café 2987 9311 Koh Tomyums 2987 0767 La Creation & Châteraisé 2987 1829 Levain Bakery 2726 4922 Lekker Laa 6857 1620 McDonald’s & McCafe 2987 1033 McSorley’s Ale House 2987 8280 Mirch Masala 2987 1337 Moofish by Zak’s 2987 6318 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant 5401 8350 Pacific Coffee 2987 1662 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food 2591 1426
LOCAL NUMBERS
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DISCOVERY BAY Peony 2215 0833 PizzaExpress 3164 1340 Robata Master 6176 7573 Shanghai Breeze 2987 7808 Solera 2555 0772 Starbucks 2246 8372 Subway 2914 0005 Sushi No En 3705 9984 Taste of Thai 2987 2010 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar 2338 8970 Zak’s 2987 6232 RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES Bloom 6117 7653 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina 2130 7013 Fotomax 2914 2378 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Lareina 6882 8982 Market Place 6882 8982 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Polishfood.hk 9546 0374 Rapee-living 2987 7082 She Creates Stories 9166 8077 Slowood 2944 5189 Star Mart 2366 6534 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Dog’s Garden 2987 2077 The Optical House 2987 1368 Nomadic 2987 8460 Red Velvet 9010 5832 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268 Wing On Department Store 2987 9268 YOPE 2668 2144 SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk
Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week. Contact 2987 1571/ 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk Tekkerz Football programmes for boys & girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.prosportsasia.com
The Beat A premium fitness centre situated in two convenient locations at north and south plaza. Offering group fitness, pilates reformer, barre, yoga, kids fitness, personal training and latin dancing. Contact 5721 3000, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk
BMSE Community Centre 2259 3422 Club Siena 2987 7382 DBees 6473 4277 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR 5210 7208 Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 Fit 852 9680 7665 Future Stars Dance Academy 2987 6867 Gallery Jeeum 9819 7176 Greenwich Yoga School 9685 8366 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 HK Yoga 6113 6770 Kapuhala Train-in-Space 6101 8434 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan 9663 8077 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591 MGK Fight Club 9303 2996 The Bike Hub 5402 9970 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 68054996 TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services
2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368
VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Ready, Pet, Go!
2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 5721 6181
WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training. Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com
Afflatus Hair Workshop 2987 0283 Bay Spa 9837 0969 DB Pure Spa 9794 0918 Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it 2988 1188 Herbal Health Care 2834 7276 Nailed It! 2987 2266 Nest Care 2499 8826 Salon De Coiffure 2987 4112 Sophia Essentials 2527 0118 Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay 2295 8129
VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk AROUND DB / APRIL 2022
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! on o p m DB La OUT THERE
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WISE UP!
We live in outrageously serious times. What the world needs now is silliness, and lots of it, says Peter Sherwood PHOTO COURTESY OF Pexels
I
recently watched Monty Python’s masterpiece Ministry of Silly Walks. Timeless and brilliantly silly, it works because it’s meaningless. No political or social comment or rage against injustice, just a gentle swipe at bureaucracy. Really. Very. Silly. Today there’s not nearly enough irrelevant craziness to go around; we need more insanity reflective of nothing whatsoever. ‘Silly Walks’ should be required viewing in every school, to impress on young minds that there is more to life than logic. Python was successful because it is bonkers. A friend and I compiled a series of wacky books that sold internationally. We’d spent a lot of time being stupid, so why not put it in print and monetize it? As obviously unsophisticated as the material was, a few reviewers called it schoolkid humour. It was like calling a wombat… a wombat. The point of being innocently loony is precisely that there is no point. Last Xmas I gave some children Spike Milligan’s Silly Verse for Kids. They loved Milligan’s nutty imaginings, and with no effort to understand it, which reminded me of The Little Prince: “Grownups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” It was Milligan who smashed barriers to make way for Python with its educated lunacy. But silly to the same degree. Silly verse and limerick go back centuries. Edward Lear’s Book of Nonsense was published in 1846. A decade before, this little beauty appeared: “There was an old man of Tobago/who lived on rice, gruel and sago/till, much to his bliss/his physician said this:/‘to a leg, sir, of mutton you may go.’” And 120 years later this Milligan gem: “There’s a hole in the sky/where the rain gets in/the hole is small/that’s why rain is thin.” Spike took silliness up (or down) a notch with frothy foolishness
THERE IS ELEGANCE IN WELL-WROUGHT SILLINESS
like: “On the Ning, Nang, Nong/where the cows go Bong!” (etc). In the face of quality silliness, the admonition ‘Don’t be so silly’ rings hollow, yet half of humanity earnestly seeks hidden meaning, a search doomed to failure. There is intelligence and elegance in well-wrought silliness. Python and Milligan often achieved that state of grace. In between devastating bouts of depression, a country called ‘Silly’ was where Milligan lived, churning out mountains of mad TV scripts, poems and books, as well as performing most of it. Hilarious to the end, the famous epitaph on his gravestone reads, ‘I told you I was ill.’ Python was side-splittingly funny, but its writers and actors had another life. For Milligan, ‘funny’ was where he lived. He’d wake from sleep with stuff like: “A lion is fierce/his teeth can pierce/the skin of a postman’s knee/it serves him right/that because of his bite/he gets no mail you see.” And: “I thought I’d read a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.” Milligan was wired differently to the rest of us and, happily, had little control over his outpouring. “In the Nong, Nang, Ning/where the trees go Ping!” (etc).
Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20+ years. The former head of an international public relations firm, he is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post. 56
AROUND DB / APRIL 2022