Life on Lantau February/ March 2018 by Life on Lantau magazine

Feb/ March 2018

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February / March 2018

FEATURES 10

DISPATCH Lantau real estate predictions for the year ahead, from the luxury south-side to booming Tung Chung (and cut-price Peng Chau) PERSONA Mogi Amarjargal discusses opera singing, motherhood and Mongolia from the Caribbean Coast

20 SPOTLIGHT Life on Lantau Young 25

Writers Competition countdown – why kids love putting pen to paper

FITNESS Tom Wu, founder of the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament, reveals why tennis is for everyone

REGULARS 09 29 32 36

GIVEAWAYS Win great prizes THE NETWORK All about AWE LANTAU FACES Community snaps PUZZLER Mind games and conundrums

AGENDA 04 30 33 34

LANTAU NEWS HK HAPPENINGS CLASSIFIEDS LOCAL NUMBERS

Feb/ March 2018

COVER

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HOW REGULAR TENNIS CAN MAKE YOU LIVE LONGER

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ON THE

DINING • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL • EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

For the latest Life on Lantau updates, find us on

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If you would like to see a news story or event featured in this section, email katrina@baymedia.com.hk PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS & ONLINE EDITOR Claire Severn claire@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & SALES ASSISTANT Patricia Jover patricia@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katrina Mercado katrina@baymedia.com.hk SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk ADVERTISING & SALES MANAGER Connie Cottam connie@baymedia.com.hk SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Maxine Parry accountant@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com Jason Pagliari Andrew Spires Duey Tam

UPROAR OVER CONSTRUCTION WORKS ON PUI O WETLANDS

he fight to protect the Pui O wetlands has intensified in recent weeks, with local conservation groups voicing strong opposition to the commencement of construction works by a Pui O landowner. Under local planning rules, the wetlands lie within a Coastal Protection Area, Photo by Jason Pagliari within which haphazard development and landfilling are prohibited. However, according to Living Islands Movement (LIM), one landowner has applied for permission to the Town Planning Board to fill an area of wetlands for agricultural use. During a site visit conducted on December 29, 2017, local residents and representatives from LIM, along with officials from the relevant government departments, identified that work had already begun on the site, despite the ongoing application procedures. According to LIM, the applicant had already deposited building waste including shipping containers, scrap metal and pipes over about two-thirds of the site prior to receiving official acknowledgment from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), and has now taken things one step further by building a wall around the site. It is understood that the EPD is using footage from CCTV installed in the vicinity to mount a case for prosecution against the landowner and has ordered the halt of the landfilling, however has not yet taken further action to enforce the order.

CONTRIBUTORS James Allen Trisha Hughes Elizabeth Kerr Sharon Le Roux

LIM is now seeking further clarity on whether the EPD received advice from the Ministry of Justice to proceed with the acknowledgement process, despite there being an outstanding judicial review challenging the legal position upon which the process is based.

PRINTING Champion Design & Production Company Ltd. Flat D, 18/F, Sing Teck Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong.

LIM has also written to Chief Executive Carrie Lam to inform her of the issue and to request assistance in conserving the wetlands, as outlined in the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, published in June 2017.

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Life on Lantau are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.

The letter, signed by LIM chairman Merrin Pearse, states: “Is the government of Hong Kong powerless to stop one landowner who seeks to destroy a piece of pristine habitat in order to make a few dollars from renting out shipping containers which have already been placed on the land in question? If so then the government would appear to have lost the ability to govern. “We have assured our members that this cannot be the case and that our Chief Executive would not allow this to happen if made aware. This letter is to ensure you are aware and that you can take the necessary steps to prevent this madness from continuing.” On January 28, Save Lantau Alliance led a protest march from Central Pier 6 to Government House to object to the landfilling situation in South Lantau.

LANTAU NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING ISLAND WIDE! By Katrina Mercado

JAIL TIME FOR HK-ZHUHAI-MACAU BRIDGE LAB TECHNICIAN

ong Kong magistrates have sentenced the lab technician who faked test results for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to eight months in jail. Wong Kwok-Yiu, 61, was found guilty in December of fabricating reports regarding the concrete used to construct the multibillion-dollar bridge. Eighteen other former employees of Jacobs China, part of US-based Jacobs Engineering Group, were also involved in the investigation. The case came to light after complaints of corruption were referred by the Civil Engineering and Development Department, as reported by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The Highways Department and Transport Housing Bureau assisted in the investigation. The scandal arose after Wong made mistakes while recording test results and tried to cover up his errors by using alternative concrete samples to produce fake lab reports regarding the strength of the bridge’s construction material. The other accused employees, who allegedly changed the time on computers and also replaced samples, were charged with conspiracy to defraud before being released on bail. Tests re-conducted by the Highways Department in November 2017 went on to show that the concrete that had been used for construction did in actual fact meet the required standards.

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DISNEYLAND TO HOST SPECIAL EVENTS FOLLOWING FIREWORKS SUSPENSION

ong Kong Disneyland’s nightly firework extravaganza came to a halt at the beginning of January when the show was suspended in order for work to begin on the planned transformation of the park’s castle. The last display took place on January 1, 2018. According to a statement on the company’s website, the reimagined castle will feature a “seamless blend of styles inspired by different times and cultures, while paying tribute to Disney princess stories.” Once finished, the rejuvenated castle is set to take the park’s entertainment to new heights with both a new daytime show and nighttime spectacular. The project is part of wider expansion plans for the theme park, which has struggled financially, particularly since the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.

Overall, the project is expected to take six years to complete and will include new Marvel-themed experiences in Tomorrowland, an immersive Frozen-themed area and a Moana-themed entertainment venue. The first Moana attraction is due to open in May 2018. With work already underway, the park has a number of events planned to keep visitors entertained throughout the coming year, including a royal princess garden and springtime carnival, as well as the traditional Halloween and Christmas celebrations.

www.hzmb.hk

The expansion project is expected to cost HK$10.9 billion in total, with taxpayers footing half of the bill, as the government is the park’s largest shareholder. www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 5

LANTAU NEWS

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING NEW LIGHT RAIL LINK TO TAI O

N E W I N LAN T AU

he government is looking into the feasibility of building a light rail link to Tai O as part of a wider study into transport connections on Lantau.

Currently, it takes around 45 minutes to travel from Tung Chung to Tai O, however it is envisaged that the journey time could be cut by up to two thirds by building a rail line along the northern coast of Lantau. The new link would also ease pressure on South Lantau’s skeletal road structure, currently the only way to reach Tai O by land. Development Secretary Michael Wong confirmed in December that the Civil Engineering and Development Department has appointed a consultant to the study, with findings expected to be published in 2019.

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VALUE VIGILANTES!

nline wine merchant, Value Vigilantes, which started operating in Lantau in January, specialises in excellent wines that offer outstanding value for money. Apart from the usual wine categories, Value Vigilantes also offers an eclectic selection of fortified and dessert wines. Ham Tin-based Vigilantes’ founder and chief tasting officer, Solomon Leeder feels that there is a distinct lack of quality, value-for-money wines available in South Lantau, and that his new venture provides a much-needed community service. “Our team of ‘vigilantes’ scours the world’s wine regions in search of the hidden and unexpected to bring back quality yet affordable wine,” Solomon says.

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R A C I N G

Value Vigilantes offers free door-to-door delivery across Lantau for purchases of HK$450 and over. For more information or to make an order, visit www.vigilantforvalue.com.

C A L E N D A R

LBC VALENTINES RACE February 10 W H E R E : Pui O Football Pitch W H Y: Compete in 12- or 14-km races as a couple (male, female or mixed) C O N TACT: www.lantaubasecamp.com W H AT: WHEN:

W H AT: WHEN: WHERE: W H Y:

C O N TACT:

TRANSLANTAU March 2-4 Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo Race 103 km, 50 km or 25 km across the Lantau Trail and two country parks translantau.transasiaseries.com

LANTAU INTERNATIONAL BEER DASH March 17 W H E R E : Tong Fuk W H Y: Dress up, run 5 km and drink a different international beer at every checkpoint C O N TACT: melaniepotgieter@hotmail.com W H AT:

WHEN:

6 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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GIVEAWAYS

Life on Lantau prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until February 10 to apply. Simply scan the barcode, or go to www.lifeonlantau.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form.

Online wine merchant, Value Vigilantes is offering one reader a case of Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV and an assortment of wine accessories (worth over HK$1,100). Operating in Lantau since January, Value Vigilantes specialises in quality value-for-money wines sourced from far-flung wine regions across the globe. It offers free delivery throughout Lantau for purchases over HK$450 and above. To place an order, visit www.vigilantforvalue.com.

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WIN A PRIMAVERA DISH BY STAHL FROM INSIDE Homeware giant INSIDE is offering one reader a large, oval Primavera dish by Stahl (worth HK$1,050). Designed in Sweden and crafted in Portugal, the dish is oven, dishwasher and microwave proof.

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Now open in Mui Wo, INSIDE’s mission is to source unique handcrafted furniture and homeware products from around the globe. It prides itself on the values of quality, charm, versatility and freshness, and the concept of upcycling, since it restores and breathes new life into vintage furniture. For more information, visit inside.com.hk.

WIN TICKETS TO THE LONGINES MASTERS OF HONG KONG AT ASIAWORLD-EXPO AsiaWorld-Expo is offering two readers two tickets (worth HK$750 each) to the Longines Masters of Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok on February 10 at 6pm. Now in its sixth edition, the Longines Masters of Hong Kong has become an integral part of the region’s social and cultural calendar, combining heart-pounding competition by the world’s top showjumping riders and horses with world-class entertainment, fashion, art and gastronomy. Head to the Prestige Village for luxury shopping, live bands and family-friendly activities. To purchase tickets, visit www.cityline.com.

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Congratulations to last issue’s winners Julie Giles and Marius Peters for tickets to see The xx; and Josephine Dooley for HK Dragons football classes.

www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 9

DISPATCH

On the brink The Visionary, Tung Chung

Photos by Andrew Spires and courtesy of Swire Properties and Sino Land

As Hong Kong gears up for what will likely be another recordbreaking property year, Lantau is set to become either a haven or a perfect microcosm. Elizabeth Kerr reports

ith 2017 in the rear-view mirror, the one certainty of the year gone by was that it did its part to contribute to Hong Kong’s staggering residential property price growth, all told an eye-watering 405% since 2003 – and a course correction in 2018 is unlikely. “Demand for mass residential will remain strong, though sales momentum will slow given the strong growth in housing prices this year and the expected interest rate rise,” sums up Joseph Tsang, managing director and head of capital markets at JLL. Joseph is also quick to argue that the potentially fatal flaw in Hong Kong’s residential market – the weak secondary sector – remains unaddressed, and that it’s time for the government and the Monetary Authority to revisit their cooling measures, in order to unlock the massive (1.2 million-unit) secondary market. “We believe residential capital values will rise by about 10% in 2018, but potentially by as much as 20% under the right circumstances,” Joseph adds. 10 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

www.lifeonlantau.com

The supply-and-demand dynamic remains a key driver in Hong Kong real estate. Office rents in Central, for example, exceeded 2008 peaks in 2017 (now approximately HK$118 per square foot per month), due to sustained demand from incoming PRC firms and limited vacancies. The residential sector mirrors that dynamic, including on Lantau, where residential planning has taken a back seat to commercial i n te re st s , a s o u t l i n e d i n t h e g ove r n m e n t ’s m i d - 2 0 1 7 Sustainable Lantau Blueprint. According to Knight Frank, of the estimated 100,000 new residential completions expected between 2018 and 2022, the majority will be in the New Territories (29% in Yuen Long, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun alone), with little figuring into the mix on Lantau. Additionally, much of Lantau’s future development is connected to the government’s increasingly controversial 2030+ plan. The Tung Chung expansion and proposed East Lantau Metropolis are still on track, the former potentially the future home of 20% of the island’s (eventual) one million people.

SPOTLIGHT

Citygate expansion, Tung Chung

Caribbean Coast, Tung Chung

The Visionary and Century Link, Tung Chung

Commercial prospects No one is saying that Lantau is heading for stormy real-estate seas in 2018, but much of its future growth will be rooted in Tung Chung’s commercial prospects. Research (by JLL, Savills, Knight Frank and Colliers International to name but a few) indicates Hong Kong may finally have turned a corner on the retail front, with international tourist arrivals up 2.7% in 2017, and crucial PRC same-day arrival spending up as well. Rents at premium shopping centres should finally rise up to 5% this year, after plunging as much as 37% in 2015. The retail sector can expect non-core shopping areas to become increasingly attractive to retailers entering the market, as well as existing operators looking to expand. That’s good news for Newfoundworld (Swire Properties and its partners Hang Lung Properties, Henderson Land, New World Development and Sun Hung Kai Properties). The group can be seen to be committing to Tung Chung’s future position as a travel and residential hub with its expansion of Citygate Outlets. Already a stop on most tourist itineraries for outlet shopping – the first in Hong Kong – and an essential destination for Tung Chung residents, the revitalised Citygate will add a hotel, upgraded cinema and 100 shops in roughly 480,000 square feet when complete later this year. Citygate general manager Chris Heywood admits Lantau’s commercial future will increase both tourist numbers and the

residential population, in the Tung Chung area in particular. “We’re confident that the expansion of Citygate will add to Lantau’s overall development, and will immerse local residents and tourists in exciting new lifestyle offerings,” he says. Downtown residential With Citygate as its cornerstone and a key to overall growth going forward, Tung Chung has become popular with Hongkongers of all stripes. At the lower end, you’d find few other flats near MTR stations available for as little as HK$9,000 per square foot. Among the last completed developments, Nan Fung Group’s The Visionary and Sun Hung Kai’s Century Link all sold well and represent one of the city’s few strong secondary submarkets. Ironically, Tung Chung could become a hotbed of activity given the availability of flats larger than the proverbial shoebox. Vincent Cheung, deputy managing director of valuation and advisory at Colliers, expects mass residential prices to rise a further 8 to 10% this year, but argues that’s not as horrifying as it appears on the surface. “Prices could be going up because a lot of developers have changed their strategies, and are building more medium- to large-sized apartments,” Vincent reasons. “Competition among them is severe, which is why they want to build more flats from 500 square feet, to capture the remaining purchasing power in the market.” www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 11



DISPATCH

Riverwalk, Mui Wo

South Lantau living While infrastructure improvements earmarked for Mui Wo are making the once low-key beach neighbourhood a hot ticket, properties across South Lantau are experiencing demand. Sino Land rolled the dice with the Riverwalk rental development in Mui Wo (and with the record-breaking Botanica Bay in South Lantau), and Swire is in on the act with WHITESANDS in Cheung Sha. The Riverwalk location, overlooking Silvermine Bay, appealed to Sino for the opportunity to repeat its success with Hong Kong Gold Coast Residences in Tuen Mun, and with occupancy at over 90%, Sino’s been proven right. Mui Wo presents a strong lifestyle location, for its “perfect combination of modern convenience and shore-side living,” explains Sino’s Maria Lam, assistant general manager for leasing. “Mui Wo enables residents [to live] a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city [and] Riverwalk is surrounded by verdant greenery and the shimmering beach,” Maria adds. Easy access to shimmering beaches and greenery is something residents and investors are willing to pay for, an advantage that’s offset only by Lantau’s perceived remoteness. With so little new supply coming to South Lantau, it could be that the laid-back, rural lifestyle is transforming the district into a new luxury submarket. Adrian To, residential director at Swire argues that, “South Lantau is fast becoming a luxury enclave of choice among a discerning group of international buyers, who are seeking unique properties in non-traditional locations.”

WHITESANDS, Cheung Sha

Of WHITESANDS’ 28 villas, 16 are sold and three have been leased, indicating a healthy market for properties like it. Savills forecasts up to 15% capital appreciation for South Lantau’s luxury flats and town houses this year, with rents to record 5% gains. Adrian also expects residential demand to remain robust despite (probable) interest rate hikes and continued cooling measures. Best of all for the district is the supply crunch. “The limited supply in South Lantau, together with the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint initiatives, will make quality residential properties more sought-after,” Adrian says. “Looking ahead, the overall residential market is expected to remain stable. We expect premium residential developments, such as WHITESANDS, to continue to be well-received.” As we move into 2018, Kelly Merrick at Lantau realtor HomeSolutions Real Estate sees Cheung Sha as the island’s number one real-estate hotspot. “Cheung Sha village houses are in particularly high demand,” Kelly says. “If you are lucky enough to find a village house for sale, you can still pick one up for as little as HK$12 million. What’s more, Cheung Sha and Mui Wo are the only two areas in South Lantau with villas, but the starting price for a Cheung Sha villa can be as low as HK$8.8 million.” While rental returns are in the neighbourhood of 5% in Cheung Sha – an obvious draw for property investors – Kelly points out that rents are still affordable. “The monthly rental on a village house can be as little as HK$35,000, HK$26,000 for a villa,” she says. “Most village houses in Cheung Sha lease for around HK$40,000 per month, villas for HK$35,000 upwards.” Kelly says that Cheung Sha’s luxury residential sector is also going strong and set to boom even further, with two new developments – one a 45,338-square-foot site behind the Cheung Sha fire station – on the way. “These new luxury developments will join Botanica Bay and WHITESANDS at the top end of the property market in South Lantau,” she concludes. •

Botanica Bay, South Lantau

12 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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HomeSolutions Real Estate, www.homesolutions.hk

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DISPATCH

Paloma Bay, Peng Chau

New horizons As unchanging as Hong Kong’s property market appears to be (land is expensive, prices go up, etc., etc.), it is nonetheless always in flux, and new hotspots emerge. One of those is Peng Chau, just off the Lantau coast near Discovery Bay. Anticipating a rapidly developing submarket, Sino has bet big on the sleepy island with leasing developments Paloma Bay and Paloma Cove, on the Tung Wan side. “We’ve moved quite a lot of people from DB to Peng Chau. It’s very reasonable. You can rent a house for HK$40,000,” argues Savills’ head of residential services, Edina Wong. Indeed, rentals at Paloma Cove villas start at HK$40,000 and Paloma Bay apartments at HK$17,000. Peng Chau is not for everyone but infrastructure is being built, and shops and restaurants are proliferating. The little island is becoming more attractive to professionals, who travel a lot but want a modicum of tranquillity at home, as well as easy access to Central (there’s a direct ferry). Sino’s Maria notes that a wet market, supermarket, library, sports centre, medical clinic, vet, temple, church, police box and bank are situated within roughly five minutes of the ferry pier.

The primary driver for families looking for property remains proximity to schools – something that is underpinning rental growth in Tuen Mun (near Harrow International School Hong Kong), in Yau Ma Tei (near the forthcoming Malvern College Hong Kong), and in Tseung Kwan O (Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong). There’s not much by way of schooling on Peng Chau, but for the right individuals and families, the island is gaining traction. A lack of new supply since 1997 has made properties like the resort-style Palomas feasible and appealing options. “They attract strong interest from executives, expatriates and families looking for a tranquil neighbourhood and quality of life away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” Maria reiterates. “It’s a growth market,” finishes Edina. Like much of Lantau in 2018.

FIND IT • • • • • •

Colliers International, www.colliers.com JLL, www.jll.com Knight Frank, www.knightfrank.com Savills, www.savills.com Sino Land, www.sino.com Swire Properties, www.swireproperties.com

Paloma Cove, Peng Chau

14 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

www.lifeonlantau.com

HYDROPONICS THE FUTURE OF FOOD PRODUCTION

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PERSONA

16â&#x20AC;&#x192; LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

www.lifeonlantau.com

Songbird Lantau resident and opera singer Mogi Amarjargal’s road to Tung Chung took the long way round, and included a stop at Abbey Road Studios. Elizabeth Kerr reports

“M

ongolians do things very late. We’re not very timely as you can see,” says Munkhjargal – Mogi – Amarjargal with a laugh as she strides into a coffee shop in the Hopewell Centre just a couple of minutes overdue. Mogi looks for all the world like a typical Hong Kong professional, though it’s obvious there’s a more generous soul lurking beneath the surface. Not that Hongkongers are entirely self-absorbed, but good luck finding one who didn’t have an email address at 20 years old. Or a mobile phone. In 2005. Scandalous. Lack of a phone might as well be Armageddon in Hong Kong, but for Mogi, a native of Mongolia, it was the least of her concerns. In 2005, she was still adjusting to life in a rapidly changing post-communist country, and she was a university student who didn’t speak a lick of English, embarking on a globetrotting romance with a Scot. Now 33, Mogi’s one of the roughly 500,000 Mongolians living overseas. Married with two children, she chatters away in fluent, ever so delicately accented English. Did I mention she’s a trained opera singer who recorded a song for the Dalai Lama? Yeah, there’s that. Diva in the wings Mogi looks unassuming with her easy smile and sparkling eyes, but she’s led a life that would be suitable for documentation in, well, an opera. Raised outside Zuunmod by her grandmother, 40 minutes from Ulaanbaatar, Mogi has a firm handle on where she’s from, recalling the changes that wracked Mongolia – which is not part of China (she has to correct that a lot). “After 1990, we switched from a communist country to a democracy,” she explains. “It gave us more freedom but it was difficult. Before that we had 100% employment. People started losing jobs, including my mum and dad, and we all had to find our way in a private market.” Her climatologist mother and insurance-executive father were nonetheless fine with her choice of music as a university major, and probably not all that surprised. Mogi’s great uncle, G. Khaidav, is known as the ‘godfather of opera’ in Mongolia, and his niece was one of his first mentees – she had already developed a penchant for performing for the family at age six.

“Mongolians love to sing, and it has been a large part of our culture for thousands of years,” she says. “I think the recent success of Mongolian singers [in competitions like BBC Cardiff Singer of the World] is down to natural talent, and the way we sing from the heart.” It was the summer of 2005 when Mogi met her eventual husband Michael at a kids’ camp, where she taught music. Long story short: inspired by Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Round travel series – “any TV programme with Mongolia in it has the wild country, the blue sky, horses everywhere…” quips Mogi – Michael wound up volunteering at the same camp. A long-distance romance ensued by old-fashioned post – she still didn’t have an email address – repeated trips to Mongolia for him, phone calls aided by matching English-Mongolian dictionaries, a stint studying English in the UK for her, and finally a 2010 wedding in Edinburgh. Recording at Abbey Road Studios Living in the UK, Mogi’s passion for opera continued to grow. “Mongolian classical music comes from the Russian tradition, it’s very strong. The technique is quite different in English, so I wanted to learn that too,” she recalls. Somewhere along the way (2010), Mogi found herself in none other than Abbey Road Studios recording a song for the Dalai Lama. This came about because of a chance encounter, one that proves that the world is indeed tiny. “I met a Tibetan guy in a Mongolian pub in London,” Mogi says. “He heard me singing and offered me a chance to sing on an album commemorating the Dalai Lama’s 70th birthday.” The location for the recording meant nothing to Mogi, and its significance only became clear when she filled Michael in on the details. “He asked what kind of studio and I said some studio called Abbey something. Michael was totally baffled because bands like the Beatles and Pink Floyd used to record there. He asked me if I was joking,” she recalls with a hearty laugh. While the album – Multi National Tribute Album for His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama – wasn’t distributed widely, it was presented to the Dalai Lama himself. He kept seven CDs and signed five, one of which is in the Mongolian Embassy in London. “It was made by Buddhist www.lifeonlantau.com

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LIFE ON LANTAU 17

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PERSONA

cultural singers, and there was a Mongolian singer (me), an Indian singer, one from Nepal, one from Bhutan and one British singer,” Mogi says. “I’ll never forget the experience. “Mongolians have a very close connection with Tibet,” she adds. “Although Shamanism was the traditional religion practiced in ancient times, Buddhism has been a part of Mongolian culture since the 13th century, and in particular a Tibetan sect of Buddhism. It is said that ‘Dalai’ (meaning ocean), in the name Dalai Lama, was bestowed by a Mongolian king, Altan Khan, in the 1500s.”

I believe that people who grow up with music are joyful; they have respect for others and love life Vocational dreams Now in Hong Kong nearly four years, Mogi with a British supply chain firm and Michael in IT, the family lived in Discovery Bay before relocating to Tung Chung. The move was largely motivated by schooling options for the kids. “We applied to the schools in DB and the waiting lists were very long,” Mogi explains. “Discovery Mind Primary School had a space for Sara in Tung Chung, so we decided to move. My son, Leo, will be going to a local kindergarten in September.” Now based in the Caribbean Coast, Lantau life suits the family.“We didn’t want to be in Central, not with two kids,” Mogi says. “We got lucky and found a new building with great facilities and outside space. Hiking is right there, there’s boating, the MTR is close. It’s perfect.” Now that the kids are that little bit older, Mogi is keen to get back into singing. “I saw the Hong Kong Women’s Choir perform at the MTR in Central over Christmas, and I did some research on them. I think I’ll apply,” she says. “I really come alive when I perform, so it would be good to be able to do that with a choir… not just at karaoke parties.”

Mogi Amarjargal with husband Michael and kids Leo and Sara

Chance encounters and random connections – you’ll remember the Tibetan guy in the London pub – have served Mogi well, and she’s not shy to express gratitude and give praise. In fact, that’s what separates her from many a Hongkonger. She describes her mother-in-law as “an amazing woman, a role model: strong, powerful, kind, patient,” and her grandmother, who raised nine children all of whom went to university, as “the most powerful woman in the world.” Michael, meanwhile, is regularly referred to as “sweet” and “endlessly supportive.” Even the SAR gets its due, as a place where “there’s so much opportunity, in any job, in any industry. “Hong Kong is still so new for us, it’s international and exciting, and living here means Mongolia is closer,” Mogi finishes. “I can see my friends and family, and it puts me a few steps closer to my dream. I would like to help Mongolian children, who haven’t had the opportunities I’ve had, get a musical education. I believe that people who grow up with music are joyful; they have respect for others and love life.”

AL L T HING S K IDS ! 6774 6567, hello@kidzwagon.com, www.kidzwagon.com Kidz Wagon is your go-to shop for Japanesemade baby clothing, handmade toys, baby carriers, accessories and daily essentials. There’s also a stylish and fashionable clothing line for little ones. Shop and reserve your items online, and you can view them at the Kidz Wagon showroom in Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay before final purchase.

9277 4025, info@arkedenonlantau.org, www.arkedenonlantau.org Ark Eden’s forest camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children. Held in a beautiful valley in Mui Wo, each day is different. Eco-activities include campfire cooking, making a treehouse, ‘forest fashions,’ organic farming, nature play, fun yoga, dog-walking, netting in a stream and cosy camping. Running from February 19 to 23, the nature camps are open to children aged five to 11.

2987 1386, bookazinedb@bookazine.com.hk, www.partytime.com.hk Partytime has everything you need to organise an unforgettable party on any budget. Its Discovery Bay shop, located in Bookazine, stocks the city’s largest selection of party supplies, from tableware to balloons, piñatas, party favours, toys and sweets. Partytime also provides full partyplanning services, supplying everything from face-painters and magicians to customised cakes and invitations.

5360 0565, theoffice@dragons.hk, www.dragons.hk HK Dragons FC offers football classes in DB, Pui O, Mui Wo, Stanley and at YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, Tung Chung for kids, aged three and above, of all abilities. Children learn about teamwork and fair play, and how to get competitive in a fun and safe environment. Professional coaching from UEFA/ FA qualified coaches ensures an improvement in skills, match awareness and fitness. Enrol your kids now in the February 20 to 23 CNY Football Camps, for an early-bird discount!

www.lifeonlantau.com

6779 2481, info@purpleturtleparties.com, www.purpleturtleparties.com Purple Turtle Parties takes parties to the next level of entertainment with a jawdropping collection of characters, themes and attractions. Look to them if you want a princess singing enchanted songs to your birthday girl, or a dinosaur raging through the house… Not just for kids, Purple Turtle Parties puts on events of all types and sizes.

2987 1571, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk Best known for its disco, freestyle, ballet and hip-hop dance classes at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club and Club Siena in Discovery Bay, Island Dance hosts birthday parties, with a dance instructor providing party-rocking choreography and games. The DB-based dance studio runs classes across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon along with dance workshops, flash mobs and camps.

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LIFE ON LANTAU 19

SPOTLIGHT

THE WRITING BUG Sharon le Roux, one of the mentors of this year’s Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writers Competition, asks some young local storytellers why they love putting pen to paper

T Photos by Andrew Spires

hese days, it feels like everywhere we turn children have their eyes glued to small screens, seemingly unaware of the world around them. With access to iPhones, tablets and Xboxes, adults could be forgiven for thinking that putting pen to paper to write stories is something children now consider old-fashioned, boring and a waste of time. As a seasoned teacher and advocate of creative writing for young minds, I’m aware of the benefits that story writing offers; I know why children should write. I also have (in my bag of tricks) many ways of encouraging them to write. However, what I wasn’t 100% sure about until recently was – with their electronic ‘everythings’ always to hand – why children want to write. Why do they love doing it? To find the answer, I talked to some of my Lantau students at The Story Studio.

20 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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Performing magic Author Christopher Moore says, “Children see magic because they look for it.” Unfortunately, these days, particularly in places like Hong Kong where the analytical and logical side of the human brain is deemed all-important, and infinitely more useful than the creative, playful side, we parents often feel a collective need to push our children into putting away their childish things too early. However, in doing so, we forget that we are first and foremost creative beings. Unlike the other species on this planet, we are able to take something that doesn’t exist – except for the mere idea of it – and find ways to make it real. From microchips to skyscrapers, everything begins with creative thought – with the human imagination and its awesome

Young writers at The Story Studio in Tung Chung

power to give us ideas. Rosie, 9, feels, “Writing stories is like a form of magic, the ability to give birth to a new idea.” And she is absolutely right. We humans are magicians; we conjure things out of thin air, from thought to existence. Children like Rosie understand that story writing helps us generate those all-important ideas. Illyas, 8, says, “As soon as my pencil touches my paper, my imagination is a-whizzing. I love the way as soon as I start writing my ideas start working, like a factory opening in the morning.”

Children love how writing allows them to share themselves, especially with their peers. Christian, 8, says, “I really enjoy writing together with my friends. I like it when someone is reading my story and enjoying it.” Like anything children do, the more they do it, the better – and more confident – they become. Of the act of story writing, Arjan, 10, says, “It makes you believe in yourself.” Marco, 7, enjoys “knowing how to use better words… and getting better and better each time.” For Livia, 8, it’s an opportunity to “learn English, and be more creative,” and Perla, 9, believes writing “helps improve [her] literacy.”

Taking selfies

For Janice, 14, writing is a way to examine real-life experience. “I like to write stories about it and change the names of the people involved in the story,” she says. Perla says, “Instead of saying my feelings out, I feel like making up a story and putting my feelings in it, so it gets a bit more clear. If I’m sad, rather than saying I’m sad, I’d rather give more information to what I’m writing.”

Children feel there’s intrinsic and personal worth in putting those thoughts and ideas down on paper; that in doing so those ideas become something of substance. Derwin, 10, says, “I get an extraordinary idea and I feel so excited, I have to put it down in my story.”

Ultimately, just like taking selfies, when children write stories they capture and express who they are. Writing is a lot like shaking a bucket of stones; the act of doing it brings the largest, the most poignant of our thoughts and ideas, emotions and opinions to the top.

Faced with writing stories, adults tend to search for ideas before they can begin, whereas children understand that the act of putting pen to paper stimulates their imaginations, and that their ideas come while writing, not before it.

www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 21

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SPOTLIGHT

YWC mentor and The Story Studio founder, Sharon Le Roux

The explorer’s journey When asked if story writing feels like ‘work,’ the answer comes back loud and clear – story writing is “fun... exciting… a treat.” “I love writing, and I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t do writing,” Ilyas says. Children see writing as something to experience. Deekshaa, 8, says, “I can really imagine strange and weird things, which makes me feel adventurous.” Coco, 8, agrees, saying, “When I start writing, time goes fast. It feels like I’m flying in the sky,” and Charlize, 8, says, “It feels like your mind has run away with your imagination.” When they write, children feel they have the freedom to explore who they are, in a space that they can control and feel comfortable in. Janice says writing a story “feels like [she’s] in a comfort bubble.” When she’s writing, Mia, 8, is “happy and calm,” while Harry, 9, feels able to “switch off from everything else and relax.” Rosie says stories “give us a place to go when we want to escape from the outside world.” Kayla, 14, enjoys having “complete control over something;” she sees writing a story as “an escape from being trapped in the cracked, rusted chains of societal pressure.” A taste of freedom It’s clear that children do see writing as a form of freedom. Rosie believes writing stories lets you “be whatever you like, do whatever you like, be wherever you like.” Becky, 14, says, “When I write, I can craft anything I want; the only limits are the limits of my imagination,” with which Livia agrees, saying, “Writing stories makes me think openly, not bounded by what I see, without limit.” Kayla says writing allows her to “let loose,” and in doing so she feels she is being true to herself.

Lantau kids having fun writing stories

We are creative creatures, and story writing gives our children an outlet for their creativity. Ryan, 7, likes writing because he can create all his favourite fantasy stories. Kayla loves the act of “working words like weaving a tapestry,” and Becky enjoys “being able to manipulate the feelings of a scene with [her] words.” Marie, 8, enjoys “choosing her character and building her own story.” Harry likes to “build a character and make a connection,” and Becky loves “making characters, and knitting the relationships between them, and getting to know them – all their quirks and habits.” There you have it, in black and white – children love writing stories. Each and every time they set out to write, they begin a new adventure, as explorers of their own, unique and creative selves.

Sharon Lesley Le Roux runs creative writing classes for kids and young adults at The Story Studio, with workshops in Mui Wo, Tung Chung and Discovery Bay. You can contact her on 6341 3989, email thestorystudiohk@yahoo.com, or visit www.thestorystudiohk.com.

Young Writers Competition All secondary school students living and/ or studying in Lantau are eligible to enter the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writers Competition (YWC). Students are asked to submit an account of 600 to 700 words describing Lantau life in the future – in 2030+. From the articles submitted, our three mentors each select a winning story and work on improving it with the author. The three finished articles are posted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages for an online vote. Authors must submit their name, age, year group and school, along with their article, by March 7 to rachel@baymedia.com.hk.

22 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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YWC finalists 2017: Janice Ho (DBIS), Kayla Lee (YHKCC) and Sienna Bertamini (DBIS)

AROUND DB AND LIFE ON LANTAU

YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION NOW 2018 OFFICIALLY THE CHALLENGE

Write a 600- to 700-word account describing Lantau life in the future – in 2030.

Open to all secondary school students living and / or studying in Lantau.

DEADLINE:

MARCH 7

Submit your article by March 7 to rachel@baymedia.com.hk.

THE REWARD

The winning article is published in the May issue of Around DB and the June issue of Life on Lantau. There will be prizes for the three winners and three runners-up, provided by Bookazine.

OPEN!

Check the YWC guidelines on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages or www.arounddb.com. JANICE HO (DBIS)

LAST YEAR’S FINALISTS:

KAYLA LEE (YHKCC)

SIENNA BERTAMINI (DBIS)

CMY

FITNESS

MATCH POINT

Anyone for tennis? James Allen talks to Tom Wu, founder of the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament, to find out why getting on court has multiple fitness benefits – for everyone

Photos by Andrew Spires

ennis has not always been a sport for the masses. One of the so-called ‘gentleman’s games,’ it was for a long time an elite pastime, beyond the reach of most. Even today, the worldfamous Wimbledon, hosted at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, whiffs of privilege and tends to attract a certain kind of spectator. Tickets to final matches change hands for tens of thousands of dollars, and the likes of David Beckham, Hollywood actors and even the Queen of England are frequently in attendance. Whether or not you can get court-side tickets, Wimbledon makes July the hottest month on the international tennis calendar… but March is the time to catch a game in Tung Chung – at the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament, an event that is open to residents of Tung Chung Crescent, Seaview Crescent, Coastal Skyline, Caribbean Coast, The Visionary and Century Link. “Last year, 64 players competed in the doubles-only matches, and we had over 100 people watching from the sidelines. Anyone over 16

can compete in the tournament, and it has been well received since I founded it in 2016,” says Tung Chung resident Tom Wu. “We hope to get at least 10 teams this year.” A full-body workout Tom is eager to discuss why more people should consider getting into the sport, and it’s fair to say he looks the part. Decked out from head to toe in traditional tennis whites and carrying a bag that looks like it’s holding half a dozen rackets, he plans to get on court later in the day. “I’ve been playing tennis since I was at university,” says Tom, who grew up in Canada. “In high school, I was into basketball, volleyball, other sports, but then, for me, tennis took over. It’s good for all-round fitness – many folks might not realise that playing tennis for one hour burns about 600 calories, making it as effective as jogging or an indoor cycling class.” www.lifeonlantau.com

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FITNESS something tennis great Bjorn Borg describes as “a thousand little sprints.” Interval training, like this, accelerates your heart rate, while decreasing strain on your heart, making it optimal for improved cardiovascular health. Set for life For Tom, the benefits of tennis run even deeper than health and fitness; he says the mental and social gains are not to be underestimated. Sam Groth hit the world’s fastest tennis serve (263.4 km/h) in 2012

Indeed, there can be no doubt that playing tennis fairly competitively, on a regular basis, will get you fit. Sports blogger Michael Cramton writes: “The quick anaerobic movements the sport demands burns fat, increases your heart rate and promotes higher energy levels. In addition to the cardiovascular health benefits, the game also combines vigorous strength training in your legs, arms and upper body. And it’s not just in a static repetitive set of muscles. A tennis match requires players to move from side to side, up and back, and at differing speeds to test a variety of muscles in the legs. And the inherent movements in a typical match help to improve forearm strength, back muscles and core development.” Heart-healthy matches Bearing all this in mind, it’s no surprise that tennis has a reputation for being hard on the body – and Tom acknowledges this, but only up to a point. “Even though a lot of people say it’s a high-impact sport and bad for your knees, if you read studies, running is even worse,” he says. “What’s more, most of us are not playing at a pro level; it’s all about how you play. Most people’s objective is to have fun and to be healthy. These days, if my opponent hits a really good shot, I just say ‘Nice shot!’ I don’t bother to go and chase it. I just figure my knees are more important! So it’s all for health.”

“Tennis is not only a physical game, it’s a strategy game too,” he explains. “You don’t have to hit hard… tennis is all mental. It helps develop tactical thinking and it keeps your mind moving, just like chess. That’s one thing. Second thing is you’re socialising with people. When you run you don’t talk to anybody but in tennis, between games, you still talk to people. You’re using your brain and your listening skills.” Certainly, the social aspect of the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament is a real motivator for Tom. “We get groups of people of different nationalities to play together,” he explains. “The idea came from the Discovery Bay Nations Cup, which I competed in in 1994. I thought it was a wonderful idea particularly because I had just moved here from Canada. Tournaments like these are a good way to meet neighbours from your home country, and of course everywhere else.” While all sports benefit us in various ways, it would seem that racket sports, such as tennis, can be incredibly effective at improving both physical, mental and social aspects of life, regardless of your age. As Tom gathers up his gear to leave, he remarks that he’s off to a match, playing some senior residents who organise weekly sessions. Rather incredibly, his oldest opponent is 90 years old and still playing regularly. Tom laughs. “He runs faster than I do!”

Speaking of health, picking up a racket can do more than just help you stay in shape. A 2016 study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, by an international team of researchers, shows that regularly participating in racket sports can reduce the risk of death at any given age by almost half. By studying over 80,000 adults aged over 30 in England and Scotland, and comparing their activity types and levels with others over a nineyear period, researchers found that playing racket sports can reduce your risk of death by 47%. By contrast, running and football appeared to offer little protection, while swimming came in second, reducing risk of death by 28%. Looking just at the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the team found that racket sports reduced the risk by 56%, swimming by 41%. Running, cycling and football showed no protective effect. For the answer to why tennis is a heart-healthy exercise, you need to look to the way matches are structured. A typical match lasts two hours tops, and it’s broken up into a series of intervals –

26 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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Tom Wu all set for the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament

You can catch the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament at Coastal Skyline Residents Club on March 24. To sign up to play or find out more, email TCWorldCupTennis@yahoo.com, or visit the Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament Group Facebook page.

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28â&#x20AC;&#x192; LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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English Bespoke Tailors Club of Sartorial Elegance Suits from HKD1999 Shirts from HKD349 Tux from HKD2499 Topcoat from HKD2999

THE NETWORK

MICE’S ANCILLARY TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE LANTAU Contributed by Aero-Bridgehead-Economy Employers Network

English Bespoke Tailors www.englishbespoketailors.com Club of Sartorial Elegance (+852) 9816 3280

info.hk@englishbespoketailors.com himarkmt@netvigator.com Room 603 Tower A, New Mandarin Plaza, 14 Science Museum Road T.S.T Kowloon, Hong Kong

Book an appointment

Tung Chung Rugby Club We are a communityled rugby club for girls and boys aged 4-13. Also touch rugby for youth and adults.

Join us via Facebook: Tung Chung Rugby Club, www.tcrc.org.hk or email: tc.rugby.fc@gmail.com TCRC is a company limited by guarantee and part of the Hong Kong Mini Rugby Football Union.

From the publishers of Around DB and Life on Lantau magazines

Photo courtesy of The Network

n December 2017, the government established the Sustainable Lantau Office to promote the Development in the North, Conservation for the South principle, drawn up in the June 2017 Sustainable Lantau Blueprint. It has not escaped our notice that the revitalisation and sustainable works outlined in the blueprint offer huge potential for MICE development. To gain inspiration, the MICE Lantau Team attended the 10th China Meetings Industry Convention in Huairou, the back garden of Beijing, in December 2017. Situated 50 kilometres outside Beijing, along the Great Wall, Huairou’s MICE team has gained national exposure, and support from the government, by hosting numerous iconic events, including the Sino-European Cultural Summit Forum in 2014. But the team is not exclusively focused on EXPOtainment activities. It provides a value-added MICE experience by promoting tourist attractions in the Ecological Development Demonstration Area – and the beauty of the natural landscape. It’s clear that conserving Lantau will serve as a great strategy for the island’s re-positioning and MICE industry transformation. Upon completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, with the Greater Bay Area easily accessible, we can expect a more flourishing yet competitive environment. Preserving and promoting Lantau’s unique and precious landscape, including Tai O fishing village and the Pui O wetlands, will serve us well. The aim is to provide locals with new activities in these ecological and cultural hotspots, and, at the same time, give high-end business travellers a reason to revisit the island.

Wonderful Websites!

As we enter 2018, we look forward to optimising the potential in Lantau’s beautiful landscape, and sharing the joy with visitors from around the world. Through well-balanced conservation work, we can achieve a brand-new sustainable Lantau! Sponsored Content

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Aero-Bridgehead-Economy Employers Network (The Network) aims to capitalise on the advantages of Lantau’s future development through strategic and innovative solutions. It has been established to upgrade and transform Lantau and the Northwest New Territories. To find out more, email info@abeen.com.hk.

www.baymediastudio.com/websites

www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 29

HK HAPPENINGS

KIDSFEST!

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai This is your last chance to experience KidsFest! Grab your tickets for I Believe in Unicorns (February 1-4), Dinosaur Zoo (February 2-4), What the Ladybird Heard (February 8-11), and Lost and Found (February 10-11). For more information, visit www.kidsfest.com.hk. For tickets, starting at HK$195, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Through February 11

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH!

www.wikimedia.org

CATS

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai

Like the Life on Lantau Facebook page for event reminders

Through February 11

THE AIA GREAT EUROPEAN CARNIVAL

Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central The Great European Carnival continues through February due to public demand! With new rides, games and attractions, the best elements of carnival and festival www.wikimedia.org are merged into one amazing outdoor event. To complete the experience, expect live performances and a wide selection of Asian and Western food. For tickets, starting at HK$40, visit www.tgec.asia.

Through February 25

blog.superbreak.com

Join the Jellicle Cats as they come out to play in a larger-than-life junkyard on the night of the Jellicle Ball. One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, CATS has won numerous awards, including Olivier and Tony awards for Best Musical. For tickets, starting at HK$445, visit www.hkticketing.com.

MALVERN COLLEGE PRE-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Coronation Circle, Yau Ma Tei February 3

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai February 8-11

www.malvernpreschool.hk

Visit the Reggio Emilia-inspired campus to meet teachers and founding principal Jacqueline McNalty, and find out more about Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong. Expect activities and games for kids and parents at the event. For more information, visit www.malvernpreschool.hk. 30 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

www.lifeonlantau.com

www.faustworld.com.hk

Faust International’s young a c to rs , a g e d e i g h t to 1 6 , present a reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most popular works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream . Join a playful sprite up to no good, two fairy royals caught up in a battle of wills, and four lovers involved in a hectic forest chase. For tickets, sta r t i n g a t H K $ 2 7 5 , v i s i t www.urbtix.hk.

VALENTINE’S DAY Above Hong Kong

No plans yet for this special day? Why not treat your beloved to a helicopter ride over Hong Kong’s fantastic skyline. Fifteenminute flightseeing tours depart from either the rooftop of the Peninsula Hong www.bsnscb.com K o n g i n Ts i m S h a Tsui, or the Wanchai Helipad next to the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Prices start at HK$2,000 per person. To find out more, visit www.hong-kong-traveller.com.

February 14

Get your events listed @ www.lifeonlantau.com

CHINESE NEW YEAR NIGHT PARADE Tsim Sha Tsui

February 16

CHINESE NEW YEAR FIREWORKS Victoria Harbour

www.wikimedia.org

The Hong Kong Chinese New Year Night Parade features colourful floats, marching bands, acrobats, drummers, and dragon and lion dancers. The fun starts at 8pm. To purchase tickets for the special spectator stands by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, head to the Kowloon Star Ferry Terminal Tourism Board Office on the Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui.

February 17

www.askideas.com

Every Chinese New Year, boats set up in the middle of Victoria Harbour and launch dazzling pyrotechnics that leave the audience breathless. The event starts at 8pm and you can admire the spectacle from wherever the harbour is in full view – ideally Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade or Central Waterfront Promenade.

February 23 - March 24

CHINESE NEW YEAR RACE DAY Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin

Chinese New Year Race Day combines Hong Kong’s fondness for horse racing and festivity. The event includes a grand opening show, a traditional lion dance, cultural performances and, of course, fiercely competitive horse racing. Tickets, starting at HK$10, are available at the door. To find out more, visit entertainment.hkjc.com.

February 18

www.hk.artsfestival.org

HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL Across Hong Kong

www.campaign.hkjc.com

The Hong Kong Arts Festival invites emerging local artists as well as renowned international artists and institutions to showcase the best in dance, music, theatre and opera. Workshops and demonstrations are on offer to promote artist-audience engagement. To find out more, visit www.hk.artsfestival.org. For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk. www.lifeonlantau.com

February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 31

LANTAU FACES

e ould lik If you w tured oto fea h p r u yo ail to see ge, em a p is h k on t .com.h

COMMUNITY SNAPS Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.lifeonlantau.com

ia ymed w@ba andre

Photos by Duey Tam

32â&#x20AC;&#x192; LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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LOCAL NUMBERS

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TUNG CHUNG

COMMUNITY SERVICES Public Library 2109 3011 Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 COMPUTER REPAIRS Bobby Mirchandani 9425 3812 EDUCATION Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Education Centre 3141 7319 Discovery Mind Play Centre & Kindergarten 2987 8070 Discovery Mind Primary School 2915 0666 Greenfield International Kindergarten 2162 5538 Han Xuan Language Education Centre 2666 5905 Salala Kids’ House 2611 9193 Soundwaves English Education Centre 2164 7210 Sun Island Education Foundation 2420 1068 Sunshine House International Preschool 2109 3873 The Story Studio 6341 3989 Tung Chung Catholic School 2121 0884 YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College 2988 8123 EMERGENCY – FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE – 999 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot 2988 8282 Tung Chung Fire Station 2988 1898 Tung Chung Police Station 3661 1694 FOOD & RESTAURANTS Essence Restaurant - Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Curry Lounge 2960 1977 Handi Indian Restaurant 2988 8674 McDonald’s Delivery 2338 2338 Melody Thai 2988 8129 Moccato Coffee Shop 3602 8838 Olea Restaurant - NovotelCitygate 3602 8818 Pizza Hut Delivery 2330 0000 Resto Restaurant 2886 3156 Velocity Bar and Grill - Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888 HEALTH & BEAUTY Cambridge Weight Management 9576 2147 Hairdresser - Ricky 9882 9741 Max Beauty 2162 5752 MTM Spa 2923 6060 Om Spa 2286 6266 Quan Spa 3969 2188 Radha’s Place 5374 7133 Tung Chung Facial & Nails 9669 9433 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths 2109 2330 O-Live Decor 8105 2588 Shun Yu Engineering 2988 1488 Tung Chung Handyman - Peter 9161 0348 Towner Interior Design 3113 4968 Wing Shing Interior Design 5403 0363 HOTELS Novotel Citygate 3602 8888 Regal Airport Hotel 2286 8888 Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel 3969 1888 KIDS 4 Dimensions+ (Dance, Gym, Drama, Art) 9446 6013 Clement Art School 9021 1502 Jumping Castles 9662 1747 Kidznjoy 6273 7347 Little Stars Playgroup 6479 0390 Sakura Kids 6674 6194

34 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018

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MEDICAL Bayside Dental 2185 6550 Essential Health Family Clinic 2109 9396 Human Health Medical Centre 2109 2288 Maternal & Child Health Centre 3575 8370 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality HealthCare Medical 2403 6623 Quality HealthCare Physiotherapy 2403 6328 Raffles Medical 2261 2626 Raffles Medical Emergency 2261 0999 Skyline Physiotherapy 2194 4038 REAL ESTATE HomeSolutions 3483 5003 REMOVALS & RELOCATIONS Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE CONTACTS Caribbean Coast Club House Caribbean Coast Management Office Coastal Skyline Club House Coastal Skyline Management Office Seaview Crescent Club House Seaview Crescent Management Office Tung Chung Crescent Club House Tung Chung Crescent Management Office

2109 9277 2109 9288 2179 6678 2179 6621 3473 8700 3473 8833 2403 6770 2109 1222

SPORT & RECREATION Aqua Gym 2914 0658 Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 Canterano Futbol Club 5611 2490 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 ESF Sports 2711 1280 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 KIPMOVIN 6180 3256 La Cantera 2557 8007 Overtime Basketball 6355 7674 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Pilates Plus 9838 3937 Tennis lessons 6025 7990 Tung Chung Basketball 6355 7674 Ving Tsun 5264 3149 YD Taekwondo Korea 2337 9992 Zumba & Bollywood Dance 6497 8086 USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous 9073 6922 Arrow Accounting Services 6201 9710 Carpet washing, repairs & sales 2623 0499 Clarinet, saxophone, flute lessons 9413 0498 Dyslexia/Dyscalculia - Patricia Hamlin 6775 9735 FTC Apparel 2428 2566 Phoenix Wills 3100 0101

VETERINARY & PET SITTING SERVICES Bon’s Mobile Pet Grooming Royal Pets Ltd - Pet Sitting Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre

9099 9959 6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282

Add your business - www.lifeonlantau.com SOUTH LANTAU ART & CULTURE Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier (FGUA)

DISCOVERY BAY 2882 3390

EDUCATION Buddhist Fat Ho College 2985 5365 Kind Hing Trinity International Kindergarten & Nursery 2109 9886 Lantau International Kindergarten 2984 0302 Lantau International School 2980 3676 Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons 5197 4647 Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten 3689 6709 Mindfulness Matters 9048 5425 Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten 2984 0006 FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Bathers/ Beach House 2504 4788 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar 3484 3095 Di Jerk Shed 2234 5375 Kebab Korner 6429 3507 Lantau Grocer 2702 0050 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Long Island 2320 2001 Mavericks 5662 8552 Mucho Gusto 6422 5009 Natural Plus 2984 2233 Robert’s Market 9193 2937 Tai O Solo Café 9153 7453 The Gallery 2980 2582 The Kitchen 5991 6292 The Stoep @ High Tide 2980 2699 The Water Buffalo 2109 3331 Value Vigilantes 6132 9120 HEALTH & BEAUTY Cambridge Weight Management 2525 7165 Dietitian - Patricia Castle 5690 0366 Greenstyle Organic and Healthcare 9802 0553 Kremer Method/ Bowen Therapy 9827 9911 Pause Studio 9708 0187 Spa Ambiance 2984 2488 Spa Puretouch 2984 0088 Thai Palin 9062 0148 Thai Sa Baai 5228 6552 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN New Look Design 9783 5840 Unitek 9156 0360 HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

LOCAL NUMBERS

6810 0111 2985 8383

REAL ESTATE HomeSolutions 3483 5003 Findley Leung 2984 8334 RETAIL INSIDE 2890 8606 Quay House 2882 8710 SPORT & RECREATION Lantau Base Camp 5463 6060 Long Coast Seasports 2980 3222 Pause Studio 9708 0187 Treasure Island 2546 3543 TRANSPORT New Lantau Bus Company 2984 9848 USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous 9073 6922 Phoenix Wills 6108 8471 VETERINARY SERVICES SPCA Mui Wo 2984 0060

COMMUNITY Club Siena DB Recreation Club DB Fire & Ambulance DB Marina Club DB Management

2987 7382 2987 7381 2987 7502 2987 9591 2238 3601

EDUCATION DBIS Kindergarten DBIS Primary School Discovery College Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School Mandarin for Munchkins Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House International Preschool Zhi Zhi Chinese

2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8088 2914 2202 2480 3909 2628 3362 2987 8608 2987 8143 9648 2966

FOOD & RESTAURANTS 22˚ North Coyote Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice Hemingway’s McSorley’s Ale House The Pier Bar Uncle Russ, DB North Plaza

2987 2298 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 8855 2987 8280 2520 2166 2840 1188

HEALTH & BEAUTY Afflatus Hair Workshop 2987 0283 Maximum Care 2987 2060 M Spa 2987 0614 Nailed It! 2987 2266 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health and Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 IMI (Integrated Medicine Institute) 2537 1087 Island Health 2987 7575 OT&P Healthcare 2468 3577 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 RETAIL Bookazine Little Whale P-Solution Wing On

2987 1373 5690 4960 2987 1777 2987 9268

SPORT & RECREATION Caissa Chess Club d. Be FIT Daruma Sports DB Pirates DMR School of Ballet HK Dragons Football Club Island Dance KIPMOVIN Harry Wright International The Beat The HIT Room Yoga Up

9681 2896 6974 7707 6244 6093 2517 8248 2987 4338 2987 4274 2987 1571 6180 3256 2575 6279 5194 9630 6621 7410 8197 5591

TRANSPORT Passenger Telephone Hotline

2987 0208

PROPERTY LISTINGS AND BOATS AquaBlu Marine Headland Homes HK Boats & Homes Lifestyle Homes & Boats Mandarin Yacht Savills Hong Kong

6017 7802 2987 2088 6055 0146 2914 0888 9142 4343 2987 1919

USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous Auberge Discovery Bay Hotel Island Veterinary Services

9073 6922 2295 8288 2987 9003

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February / March 2018

LIFE ON LANTAU 35

25 9

PUZZLER INSIDER 10 22

3 5

GET THOSE SYNAPSES

16 4

CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?

25 5

9 24

10 7

9 5

In24this Code Cracker, letters have been replaced by 5 3 3 9 6 4 17 25 9 18 numbers, and each number represents the same 3 13 9 3 21 18 9 letter throughout the grid. You’ve been given a few pre9 5 6 2 25 3 10 15 2 25 9 determined letters, use these to decipher the code.

17 25

18 2

13 6

G H I J

K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A Kakuro puzzle consists of a blank grid with sumclues to help you fill in the missing numbers. Can you fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top?

13 6

3 25

10 25

5 22

4 17

7 9

3 7

4 2

6 I 25 26

2 6

K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

16 4

G H I J

25 13

A B C D E F

25 7

8 6

18 8

4 9

4 25

5 5

25 24

2 Sudoku is an excellent brain game, improving concentration and overall brain power. Can you fill this 9x9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3x3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9?

SUDOKU BRAIN GAME

10 16

8 11 9 9 7 3 6 12 9 5 17 29 23 10 7 10 9 24 29 29 3 27 27 9 11 9 23 10 24 15 9 7 11 23 10 9 9 6 6 16 13 27 9 3 5 6 8 7 7 6 3 6 3 17 17 11 11 9 12

12 4

KAKURO LOGIC PUZZLE

6 12

19 5

24 3

4 A B C D E F

25 9

9 13

sizzling!

FIND THE SOLUTIONS AT WWW.LIFEONLANTAU.COM/LIFE-ON-LANTAU-ARTICLES/PUZZLER-SOLUTIONS

Two-year Lantau resident Trisha Hughes is an ardent puzzler. She is also a crime fiction writer, and the author of the best-selling memoir Daughters of Nazareth. Trisha’s V 2 V trilogy traces the British Monarchy from the Vikings through to Elizabeth The Virgin Queen and Queen Victoria, and back again. For more on Trisha, visit www.trishahughesauthor.com.

36 LIFE ON LANTAU February / March 2018