Oct/ Nov 2017
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Prizes from AsiaWorld-Expo, Cafe Isara, Di Jerk Shed and Tung Chung Vet Centre
ON THE RIGHT TRACK 3 WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE LIFE YOU WANT
CHANGING TIMES
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE FROM LANDAC AND LIM
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT!
TRASH PLASTIC TO KEEP BEACH POLLUTION AT BAY ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE Join your community online at www.lifeonlantau.com
Publishers Publishers in in Lantau Lantau since since 2002 2002
OFFICE 3483 5003 Kelly Merrick Sharon Riley Misako Takato Kim Jomar
www.homesolutions.hk
9331 8141 9664 4749 9757 0927 9748 2367
(S-365384) (S-415475) (S-287062) (E-352962)
NOW SERVING SOUTH LANTAU AND TUNG CHUNG Meet the HomeSolutions Team
Sharon Christine Riley
Kim Jomar
Misako Takato
+852 9664 4749
+852 9748 2367
sharon@homesolutions.hk
kim@homesolutions.hk
Languages: English, Japanese and Spanish
$17M CARIBBEAN COAST - TUNG CHUNG 1626’ Net + 68’ Net Bay Window
Fantastic fully renovated flat combining 2 units into 1. 4 Beds, 2 Baths, 1 Helpers room. Open living/ dining area adjacent to a Western style open kitchen. Separate utility room with plenty of cupboard space. Great complex with shared facilities!
$16.88M/$49K VILLA IN CHEUNG SHA 1285’ Net + Garden
Spacious home in South Lantau’s premium location! 3/4 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 1 Helper room. Gorgeous living room w/ unique wood burning stove & direct access to large garden. Open kitchen w/ stainless steel oven. Very large storage shed in garden. Private covered parking!
$4.2M 2/F PUI O VILLAGE HOUSE 700’ + 700’ Rooftop
Spectacular sea view flat set back in Pui O. 2 Beds, 1 Bath. Modern kitchen area opens up to large living room and balcony with floor to ceiling sliding doors to appreciate the views. Rooftop perfect for entertaining!
1
+852 9757 0927 misako@homesolutions.hk
$14.2K SEA RANCH FLATS 1205’ Net + 2000’ Garden
Spacious flat in beautiful and peaceful location! 3 Beds, 2 Baths. Fully furnished and perfect for weekend retreat. Large living area leads out to fantastic garden with uninterrupted sea views. Access by ferry from Cheung Chau or hiking! Available now!
Kelly Merrick +852 9331 8141 property@homesolutions.hk
$8.8M VILLA IN CHEUNG SHA 787’ Net + Rooftop
Beautifully designed villa in sought after Cheung Fu Street! 2 Bed, 1 Bath. Open plan kitchen with breakfast bar & large living area with built in sound system, TV and wine fridge! Wood flooring throughout. Balcony on GF and rooftop with sea views. Rare on market!
$13.8K 1/ MUI WO VILLAGE HOUSE 700’ + Balcony
Gorgeous flat renovated to Western design. 2 Beds, 1 Bath. Open plan living area and kitchen with built in appliances. Bright and airy with direct access onto balcony w/ green views. Modern bathroom, built in wardrobes, stylish light fittings! Short cycle to ferry pier.
Call us any time at 3483 5003 or Email PROPERTY@HOMESOLUTIONS.HK November 2016 www.arounddb.com
C-044849
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Unit 11, 1/F, Block 2 DB North Plaza Discovery Bay, Lantau Island (opposite Wellcome supermarket)
(+852) 9685 8366
October/ November 2017
12
FEATURES 12
DISPATCH Why local beaches get trashy, and what’s being done about it
18
PERSONA Award-winning author Stephanie Han at home in Mui Wo
22 SPOTLIGHT Development in the
North and conservation for the South
22 SPECIAL REPORT Sustainable
tourism to boost South Lantau?
26
40
HEALTH Proactive ways to achieve what you want in life
REGULARS 11 33 36 40
18
GIVEAWAYS Win great prizes LADA UPDATE Security measures LANTAU FACES Community snaps INSIDER Pink dolphin watch
AGENDA 04 LANTAU EVENTS 37 CLASSIFIEDS 38 LOCAL NUMBERS
26
Oct/ Nov 2017
22
WIN!
Prizes from AsiaWorld-Expo, Cafe Isara, Di Jerk Shed and Tung Chung Vet Centre
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
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Discovery Bay’s original community magazine
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OCTOBER 2017
Macanese cookery class with DB chef John Agusto Rocha How supportive loved ones helped Cathay’s Joy Juliano-Holmes combat cancer
Bay Media Group’s 15th anniversary and where we go from here
Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 | Fax 2987 0533
3 WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE LIFE YOU WANT
CHANGING TIMES
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE FROM LANDAC AND LIM
ON THE
COVER Community beach clean-up at Lower Cheung Sha To read the cover story, turn to page 12
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT!
TRASH PLASTIC TO KEEP BEACH POLLUTION AT BAY ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE Join your community online at www.lifeonlantau.com
Publishers in in Lantau Lantau since since 2002 2002 Publishers
Photo by Andrew Spires
2017 / 2018
Top 10 things to do in Havana
Fright Night!
Why we celebrate Halloween on Headland Drive… and beyond ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE
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DINING • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL • EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY
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PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT EDITOR Sam Agars sam@baymedia.com.hk SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS & ONLINE EDITOR Claire Severn claire@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & SALES ASSISTANT Patricia Jover patricia@baymedia.com.hk SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@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 INTERNS James Allen james@baymedia.com.hk Katrina Mercado katrina@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com Jason Pagliari Colin Sim Andrew Spires CONTRIBUTORS Ken Chu Allen Ha Elizabeth Kerr Martin Lerigo Jason Pagliari Linda Sim PRINTING Fantasy Printing Limited 7/F Tin Fung Industrial Mansion 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road Aberdeen, Hong Kong 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.
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Photos by Sunny Lee – Asia Trail
LANTAU VERTICAL Lantau Vertical on September 17 saw competitors scale Lantau Peak, the island’s highest. The 7-kilometre ascent involved a 900-metre elevation gain, before a run/ walk to the finish at Pak Kung Au.
LANTAU EVENTS
Photos courtesy of Daphne Chu, Tom Yam, Brandon Butler, Jay FC and Ivy Montmorency Mckerr-Kastan
TYPHOON CLEAN-UP Like much of Hong Kong, South Lantau was hit hard by Typhoon Hato in late August. With the roads and beaches covered in all sorts of debris, blown in by the hurricane-force winds, residents worked hard to clean up the mess. To read about Hong Kong’s marine and beach pollution issue, and what’s being done about it locally, turn to page 12.
www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 5
LANTAU EVENTS Through October 22
From October 1
DEREK BAILEY ART EXHIBITION 15A New Street, Sheung Wan
HONG KONG CLEANUP CHALLENGE Throughout Hong Kong
An ongoing Hong Kong-wide initiative, now is as good a time as any to get together with a group of friends and do your bit to rid Lantau of the trash that plagues so many of its beaches and country parks. Taking part is easy, choose a date and your clean-up location and register at www.hkcleanup.org. Photo courtesy of Derek Bailey
After 20 years specialising in temple art work – including work at the Po Lin Monastery – Tung Chung resident Derek Bailey has moved into painting. His paintings are all spiritually based, linking cosmic and other cultures and reflecting his belief that all things are connected in our universe. For more information on the exhibition, call 6857 3677 or visit the Derek Bailey Art Exhibition 2017 Facebook Page.
From October 1
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Online registration
www.hkcleanup.org
October 1, 13 & 28
RUNNER’S PARADISE Across Lantau
Whether it’s the Lantau 2 Peaks on October 1, MoonTrekker on October 13 or the Salomon LT70 on October 28, or all of the above, there is something for every running enthusiast as the Lantau Trail comes alive this month. Find out more about three of the year’s biggest races at www.actionasiaevents.com, www.barclaysmoontrekker.com and events.lantaubasecamp.com.
www.barclaysmoontrekker.com
October 4
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL Throughout Lantau
www.countryoforigin.asia
Registration for next year’s Country of Origin race is now open, with the team-of-three event taking place on April 21, 2018 on the Lantau Trail. Team members must share a nationality, and start, run and finish the race together. Fancy dress is highly encouraged and you can secure your spot at www.countryoforigin.asia. 6 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
www.wikimedia.org
Be sure to get together with loved ones on the night of October 4 (before the public holiday) to celebrate friendship, light lanterns and eat mooncakes. During Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is at its roundest and brightest, symbolising togetherness and reunion in Chinese culture.
If you would like to see an event listed in this section, email sam@baymedia.com.hk
TO ADOPT A PET
through Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), call Jacqui Green on 9197 4371, for Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS), call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.
TO JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP or dive against debris, in and around Lantau, visit www.facebook.com/ecomarine.hk.
October 21
DISCOVERY MIND’S FUNFILLED DAY Tung Chung Discovery Mind International’s Funfilled Day offers up fun and games for the kids and a chance to find out all about the school. The event runs from 10am to 12pm at both Discovery Mind’s www.discoverymind.edu.hk Primary School and its International Play Centre and Kindergarten. To find out more, call 2915 0666.
Find more information and events @ www.lifeonlantau.com
DO YOUR BIT FOR SAVE LANTAU ALLIANCE Founded to preserve one of Hong Kong’s few remaining rural environments, Save Lantau Alliance (SLA) is determined to see www.wikimedia.org that the island retains its natural beauty with members keeping a keen watch on the government’s development plans. SLA needs funding and support, so if you would like to help out, email savelantau@gmail.com. To read a report by Living Islands Movement’s Martin Lerigo on the government’s new Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, turn to page 22.
October 31
ENJOY A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN! While kids
across Lantau don costumes and head out trick or treating, plenty of adults also get in on the act.
November 3-5
SADHGURU IN HONG KONG
October 25-28
AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok
OKTOBERFEST Regal Airport Hotel, Chek Lap Kok Oktoberfest at the Regal Airport Hotel’s China Coast Bar + Grill showcases over 100 beers from around the world, plus a wealth of classic German dishes. To make a reservation, call 2286 6679.
ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY
www.regalhotel.com
Sadhguru, a yogi and mystic, is holding an inner engineering course focused on technologies for wellbeing. Created and conducted by realised master Sadhguru, this scientifically structured programme offers guided meditations, interactive sessions and imparts www.asiaworld-expo.com the Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya , a life-transforming ancient practice. For more information and to reserve a seat, head to www.ishayoga.hk.
www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 7
LANTAU EVENTS
November 15 & 27
November 6-10
BOX OF HOPE
PRESTIGE CHRISTMAS FAIRS Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty
Schools across Lantau
www.prestigefairs.hk
www.discoverymind.edu.hk
After collecting an amazing 27,253 boxes for underprivileged children in 2016, Box of Hope is targeting 29,000 this year. All Lantau kids need to do, to help those in need in Hong Kong and throughout Asia, is fill a shoebox with new and interesting educational gifts and have it ready when collection week rolls around from November 6 to 10. To get involved, visit www.boxofhope.org.
Get set for this year’s Prestige Christmas Fairs, a one-stop shopping experience like no other, which kicks off in November. Keen shoppers will be in their element, with everything from homeware, clothes, jewellery and lifestyle products on offer, as well as toys. November 15 sees the Gift and Lifestyle Fair, and November 27 is the Pre-Christmas Gift Parade. To find out more, head to www.prestigefairs.hk.
DB HIGHLIGHTS November 11
November 4
THE BIG PICNIC
DB Plaza & Tai Pak Wan, DB
November 19
DB 10KM RUN Start: Siena Park, DB
Team FEAR Throughout DB
www.evoqueportraits.com
Running from 10am until 10pm, The BIG Picnic features first-rate bands, acoustic vibes and talented dance groups. The muchloved DB institution sees your favourite acts from years past joined by exciting new talent across the Beach Stage, Plaza Stage, Acoustic Stage and Dance Stage. There’s a full kids’ zone and the event supports local charities. Head to www.thebigpicnichk.com. 8 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.evoqueportraits.com
Lock in your spot and get training for one of DB’s top annual events, the DB 10km Run for Charity. The 13th running of the event starts and finishes in Siena Park and registration comes in at HK$350 until October 31. Volunteers are also needed; head to www.dbrunforcharity.org. www.lifeonlantau.com
Photo by Vincent Ypersiel
Team FEAR, under the new name Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge, sees eight- to 18-year-olds run, bike, coasteer, abseil, swim, canoe and rock-scramble in support of Youth Outreach Hong Kong. To secure your child’s spot, head to www.team-fear.com.
Authentic Caribbean food Inspired by the culinary delights of Trinidad and Jamaica, Di Jerk Shed offers weekly specials, discounts for airline crew and free transport to Mui Wo, Tung Chung and surrounding areas.
Monday: Teacher Appreciation Night Wednesday: Airline Discount Friday: Family Night Sunday: Lantau appreciation night.
TEL: 2234 5375 COME VISIT! g Sha Beach 50 Lower Cheun
PICK UP AND DROP OFF
AVAILABLE
Here’s your chance to win great prizes!
WIN TICKETS TO SEE SHAWN MENDES IN CONCERT
Life on Lantau prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until October 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.
GIVEAWAYS
WIN A DINNER VOUCHER FROM DI JERK SHED
Di Jerk Shed is offering two readers a dinner voucher (valued at HK$500) for use from Monday to Saturday.
AsiaWorld-Expo is offering two readers a pair of tickets (worth HK$680 each) to see the Hong Kong-leg of the Shawn Mendes Illuminate World Tour 2017 at AsiaWorldExpo, Chek Lap Kok on December 13 at 8pm.
With a calypso vibe and unimpeded views of Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Di Jerk Shed specialises in authentic Caribbean food. It offers weekly specials, inspired by the culinary delights of Trinidad and Jamaica, Sunday brunch and discounts for airline crew. Call 2234 5375 to make a reservation.
M u l t i - p l a t i n u m a w a rd winning singer, songwriter and global sensation Shawn Mendes is touring Asia on the back of his sophomore album Illuminate. The album debuted at the top of the www.asiaworld-expo.com Billboard 200 chart, marking the teen idol’s second number one album debut. To purchase tickets, visit www.hkticketing.com. www.dijerkshed.com
WIN A DOG GROOMING SESSION AND TWO BAGS OF PET NUTRITION FROM TUNG CHUNG VET CENTRE
WIN A DINNER VOUCHER FROM CAFE ISARA
Tung Chung Vet Centre is offering one reader a free dog grooming session (worth HK$650) and two bags of Hill’s Vet Essentials pet nutrition (worth HK$350). Tung Chung Vet Centre has been serving the Lantau pet community since December 2011. For all your vet and grooming needs, visit Shop Q2, Seaview Crescent, Tung Chung, or call 2328 7282.
Photo courtesy of Cafe Isara www.pixabay.com
Congratulations to last month’s winners May Yuk and Sabine Lacoste for tickets to the Ariana Grande Dangerous Woman Tour – Live in Hong Kong; and Hiroko Nakao for the EpicLand entry passes.
Cafe Isara is offering two readers a dinner voucher (valued at HK$500) for use on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday night. Based in Mui Wo, Cafe Isara offers a selection of classic Asian and Western dishes, plus a few of the chef’s own fusion creations. You can book the stylish bistro bar for private functions, networking events or birthday gatherings. Call 2470 1966 to make a reservation; to find out more head to the Cafe Isara Facebook Page. www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 11
Photos by Andrew Spires and James Allen, and courtesy of Eco Marine HK, Shoni Kristensen and Rob Barker
DISPATCH
DROWNING IN P The past year saw Lantau beaches on the rebound, that is until disaster struck not once but twice in August. The question is where do we go from here? Elizabeth Kerr reports
W
e all saw the headlines about Lantau’s ignominious summer of 2016: “Environmental Disaster,” said Coconuts Hong Kong. “Hong Kong’s Beaches Teeming With Plastic Trash, Can Even Be Seen From Space,” screamed EcoWatch. “Hong Kong takes aim at China for trash on beaches,” was all the news that was fit to print according to Hong Kong Free Press. It was a humiliating couple of months to be sure, the kind that led to media notoriety that prompts action. And the following year did in fact see the situation improve… that is until the beginning of August, when local beaches were again ankle-deep in plastic and worse.
across Hong Kong. Pui O, Upper and Lower Cheung Sha and Tong Fuk shorelines were among the worst affected. Then disaster struck again on August 23 in the aftermath of Typhoon Hato – beaches (and even pavements) across the territory were blanketed by vast amounts of polystyrene litter swept in by the high tides, flooding and hurricane-force winds. Again the beaches buried beneath tonnes of snow-like plastic confetti, the destruction of marine life… and the screaming headlines: “Hong Kong beaches close over foul palm oil disaster,” New York Post. “Clean up begins in Hong Kong after Typhoon Hato destruction,” The Telegraph. Marine pollution policies fall short
First up, a massive palm-oil spill, caused after two vessels collided in the Pearl River Estuary on August 3, led to the closure of beaches 12 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Over the past 12 months, the government had at least seemed
SPOTLIGHT
At Lower Cheung Sha Beach post Typhoon Hato
PLASTIC to be listening. In his final Policy Address as Chief Executive in January, CY Leung noted the improved water quality in the harbour, thanks to the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2, and ongoing “collaboration with Guangdong in examining ways to reduce marine refuse and set up a notification system”. On the waste management front, the government committed to waste charging, in accordance with the Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources. CY proudly pointed out that regulations for electrical, electronic and glass producers are close to being finalised, and organic waste-to-energy facilities are almost ready, as are food-waste recycling and handling mechanisms. “We will also commission a feasibility study on how to implement a [producer responsibility scheme] targeting suitable plastic containers, mainly those carrying beverages or personal care products,” he said. It’s certain that up until early August, the amount of marine pollution on our beaches had at least eased. Regular beach clean-up organiser and South Lantau resident Shoni Kristensen, who centres her efforts on Tai Long Wan Tsuen, theorises that the combination
Eco Marine HK in action on Tong Fuk Beach
of better weather and policy played a part. “I have heard that the mainland has been fining illegal dumping this year,” she says. “Last year [when mountains of rubbish washed up on Hong Kong’s beaches, with packaging indicating most of it had come from the mainland], we saw an horrific increase in marine waste due to the unprecedented floods that affected China over the winter.” The fact remains, however, that Guangdong authorities waited two days to inform local officials about the palm-oil spill, proving that CY’s much-paraded notification system, which began a trial run in May, still needs work. Less than a week after the boats collided, Hong Kong beaches were smothered by over 200 tonnes of toxic oil waste. The foul-smelling, jelly-like clumps, coating dead fish, plastic bottles and other rubbish, continue to pose a real threat to marine life. Likewise, the environmental fallout resulting from Typhoon Hato shows that Hong Kong’s own attitude to plastic recycling still has a long way to go, despite CY’s January pledge. In early August, following an inspection by urban planning concern group Designing Hong Kong, Fisheries representatives blamed inadequate recycling www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 13
DISPATCH
Community beach clean-up at Lower Cheung Sha, organised by Frankie Yuen
Locally generated roadside litter is a significant culprit in beach and marine plastic pollution
facilities at Aberdeen Fish Market for the volumes of polystyrene boxes that end up in our waters. According to the Environmental Protection Department foam plastic comprises about a fifth of shoreline and floating refuse, making it difficult to lay blame for the latest polystyrene litter disaster on Guangdong’s doorstep.
of beach waste is Hong Kong people, littering on Hong Kong roads, which flows into Hong Kong culverts, which flows into Hong Kong seas and back onto Hong Kong beaches.” That said, Rob isn’t denying Chinese garbage makes its way to Hong Kong: “Of course there’s going to be a lot of inter-country waste. But it’s always been too easy for Hong Kong to blame other people.”
A home-grown issue Plastic consumption on the decline Contrary to popular – or comforting – belief, local experts are adamant that our beaches get trashy because of us. In July, Eco Marine HK co-founder and Tong Fuk resident Keilem Ng was in the middle of a 30-day personal clean-up (she first got involved in cleaning beaches during the 2012 pellet plague) that became a factfinding mission. “I go to the closest beach from my home and I’m out and back in 45 minutes,” she says. “I wanted to see – to show – what I could do in 30 days.” Keilem also wanted to track what it was she was picking up. The sheer volume of disposable lighters shocked her, as did the number of plastic bottles from right here in the SAR. “At the two-week mark almost half the bottles were from Hong Kong,” she says. “People point fingers but we need to look at our own behaviour. There’s a great perception that everything is China’s fault. Media like to emphasise that all the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are from China when it’s 51%. That drives me crazy.” Rob Barker, a sustainability investment executive, South Lantau resident and rubbish-off-beaches-and-roads (ROBAR) evangelist, first got serious about picking up the litter he found, when walking near his home, around the time of the 2016 disaster. Out of curiosity he started a running tally and counted 800 plastic bottles in one year – by himself. Rob is quick to lay blame on our own doorstep: “The biggest source 14 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Education is key to changing behaviour. “We need to work on it from all angles,” Keilem says. “Really, we need to stop producing, and making, so much of this plastic rubbish. And we need to bring people to [the problem]. In a place like Hong Kong where so many people live in these elevated, podium high-rise towers, they’re not very connected to nature, they don’t see. They understand the problem intellectually but they don’t link it to themselves.” As grim as things seem, use of plastic could well be on the decline. “What is good is the growing awareness. More people are going vegan or vegetarian; it’s trendy to be a hippie,” says Keilem with a laugh. “There is some greenwashing but it’s generally going in the right direction.” “It’s an emerging corporate risk for people who produce plastic, it’s becoming known as something that shouldn’t be used,” adds Rob. “We’re not going to end the use of plastic, but we have to be smarter about how we produce it and not use so much, and ultimately not put it in the waste system. The value of the material has to be captured and reused before it even gets to a waste concept.” Stemming the tide So whose job is it to protect our beaches and seas? “It’s everyone’s duty to keep the beaches clean, individuals and government alike.
DISPATCH
Shoni Kristensen organises regular clean-ups at Tai Long Wan Tsuen
Eco Marine HK operates across South Lantau
A ROBAR beach clean-up at Lo Kei Wan
We owe it not to just ourselves but to our children’s children to ensure that we are leaving the world a better place than we found it,” says Shoni. “I hounded the Environmental Protection Department and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department last year and as a result they have now organised cleaners to come to our beach and clean semi-regularly. This was a huge step forward and we are very pleased that they listen to complaints and act on it.” Rob and Keilem are even more optimistic. Rob’s private campaign to eliminate 400 plastic bin liners for 250 days each year from his office in Central – and compel re-examination of personal behaviour – is working. The bins and their 100,000 pieces of plastic per year were gone by July. Keilem recalls a light-bulb moment with a woman who pulled out a plastic water bottle at an Eco Marine HK beach clean-up, and her subsequent vow to change. Positives to be drawn from the events of this August include the government’s swift and decisive handling of the clean-up process, and the willingness of people across Hong Kong to get involved. On Lantau, an unprecedented number of groups and individuals rallied round to deal with the fallout, racing to pick up first the palm-oil coated plastic clumps and then the mountains of polystyrene before they were washed back into the sea. 16 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Beach cleaning is part of the curriculum for Lantau students
Speaking from a community beach clean-up at Lower Cheung Sha on August 25, Frankie Yuen, owner of Lantau Grocer and Lantau Diner, said: “This is the first clean-up I’ve organised since July 2016. Around 25 volunteers took part and we picked up a lot of general refuse brought in by Typhoon Hato, including polystyrene. After all our hard work we finished up with a barbecue on the beach.” Long-term, the easiest way to keep the beaches respectable – and appealing for everyone – is not to make them filthy to begin with. Keilem, Shoni and Rob organise regular South Lantau beach cleanups, with Rob also encouraging rubbish collection off roadsides. “Clearing rubbish that has been thrown out of vehicles or littered by walkers is as good if not better than cleaning a beach, as once the rubbish is in the sea, it’s out of our control,” he says. “We have to stop our rubbish getting into the sea in the first place, and that is entirely within our control.”
JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP • Eco Marine HK Facebook Page • ROBAR, robandros@me.com • Shoni Grant, shonigrant@dsasia.net
Come in for a casual meal, a night out with friends, or sit back and watch the game. With friendly service and a relaxed ambiance, Cafe Isara is a great place to unwind in Mui Wo... Opening Hours: Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri Tue Sat, Sun
12:00 - 0:00 17:00 - 0:00 09:00 - 0:00
18A, Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Shop 3, G/F Bookings/Takeaway: 2470 1966
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instagram.com/cafeisara
Photos by Andrew Spires and courtesy of Stephanie Han
PERSONA
WORDS OF WISDOM Stephanie Han splits her time between the feral spaces of Mui Wo and the bright lights of Honolulu. Her witty and timely debut short story collection strikes a chord with Elizabeth Kerr Stephanie Han at home in Mui Wo
18  LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
S
ome of us are waking up. At a time when Hollywood studios are figuring out, however slowly, that diversity is not only important (actor Ed Skrein had to point that out by giving up a role as a Japanese character Hellboy in August), but simply right – and that it makes money – author Stephanie Han’s Swimming in Hong Kong is as timely as it is rare.
Stephanie’s 2017 Paterson Short Fiction prize-winning story collection, exploring culture, identity and exchange, was 20 years – and 150 rejections – in the making. “I’m used to rejection. I’m so familiar with it, I’m hardly bothered by it anymore,” she says, on the phone from Waikiki. That’s where the rare part comes in. It’s not often an English-language book from the SAR hits shelves. Swimming in Hong Kong Born in St Louis, Missouri and raised in at least six states, Stephanie currently divides her time between Mui Wo and Honolulu, with her financial journalist husband, Stephen Aldred, and primary school-aged son. For most of us the idea of coming from Honolulu and making a home in Lantau wouldn’t seem too much of a leap, but Stephanie points out that the family’s life in Hawaii is very urban, and in Hong Kong it’s very rural. “Mui Wo is wide open spaces, and we thought it would be a good place for our son to breathe fresh air,” she says. “He had a very feral early childhood, running wild in the village square. There’s a nice community; people know each other. It’s very old-fashioned that way.”
Swimming in Hong Kong – Stephanie’s 2017 Paterson Short Fiction prize-winning story collection
While she’s intensely aware her biracial son will one day claim a unique identity, Stephanie’s own familial roots are in Hawaii. As a fourth generation Korean-American, she’s familiar with the snarl that can arise at the intersection of identity, nationality, culture and ethnicity.
University of Hong Kong’s first PhD of English Literature in 2010. Her road to published author started as a kid in a family that moved around a lot.
An old saying suggests writers should write what they know, but Stephanie disagrees: “You can write what you know but it may be more useful to write what you question. In order to keep writing you need to want to explore something.” And Swimming in Hong Kong is full of exploration.
“I became a writer because I was a reader… I was awkward – a Korean in places where there weren’t many, and so I often had difficulty making friends,” she explains. “And my mother was a bookworm. She taught me that if I learnt to read I’d always have a friend in a book.”
It’s easy to see why. Stephanie is a thinker, someone who ponders the greater meaning in our collective actions, behaviours and words. She resists being drawn into political discussions but an awareness of the world is visible – audible – beneath the surface. It’s easy to imagine her gesticulating as she speaks, but there’s also a grounded, connective bent to her words that balance searing intellectualism with everyday experience. She’s easy to talk to. Roots and wings
Like most people who develop a taste for reading, Stephanie began with what she thought of as the greatest hits: Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Charles Dickens. Those ‘hits’ changed as she got older and discovered African-American writers like Richard Wright and Alice Walker in an effort to find the voices that were close to her own. “I wasn’t a picky reader,” she says. “I kind of read everything, but when I was a freshman at college I read Maxine Hong Kingston. That shaped me because she was the first Asian-American writer I read.”
Stephanie and husband Stephen met in 1997 when she was teaching in Korea, before she started teaching English literature at the University of Hong Kong in 2002, and before she became City
Stephanie has spent more time in Hong Kong than in Korea, but doesn’t feel particularly connected to Chinese culture. She comes from a typical American home. “No one goes to Asia in my family; www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 19
PERSONA
it’s either wine country or Vegas,” she notes. All those elements went into Swimming in Hong Kong, whose stories unfold in the US and Korea as well. Cross-culturalism and identity Stephanie claims she explored the idea of polyculturalism – the nature of how we exchange and cooperate – almost by accident. The conversation, however, couldn’t come at a more relevant time, and Stephanie’s 10 connective stories are by turns awkward, funny and razor-sharp in their ability to distil feelings of otherness (in the title story Swimming in Hong Kong), and searching (The Body Politic). Anyone who’s been there will understand the stories immediately, and those privileged enough to have never questioned where they fit in –something that’s explored in Invisible – should come away with a new appreciation for why representation matters. “Some people don’t feel the need to question their national identity but that’s tough to do in Hong Kong, and in the US it’s broad and ever changing, same as in the UK,” Stephanie says. “What is an American, what is a Korean, and how can we consider ourselves? You can see smaller constructions of self in polyculturalism, where people align tribally more than nationally. There are values in those identities that
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people often think are irrelevant. We need to respect how people want to construct themselves and be thought of.” Next up for Stephanie is a boarding school novel, co-authored with Deer Hunting in Paris’ Paula Young Lee, a high-school chum with whom she reconnected, decades later, via Facebook. The process opened her up to a whole new writing experience in telling a story very much about place that benefits from multiple viewpoints and artistic tacks. “Collaboration is fun,” Stephanie enthuses. “Editing has found us examining how we each come to narrative and our differences in this make for an interesting collaboration. In our case, we are actually opposites: Paula looks at the entire picture and therefore the rules of structure that hold the picture, outside in, and I operate inside out, so to speak. I need an image or idea which leads to the character that in turn gives me the world.”
Swimming in Hong Kong, Stephanie Han’s debut short story collection, is available at Pause in Mui Wo, at Bookazine, www.willowspringsbooks.org and on Amazon.
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SPOTLIGHT
LANTAU’S FUTURE? Photos by Terry Chow and courtesy of Martin Lerigo
Development plans reached a seminal stage in June with the government’s release of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint. Martin Lerigo of Living Islands Movement sums up the ongoing debate
W
ith just 1,600 square feet of land per inhabitant, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated territory on earth. This is what lies behind much of the friction and disquiet that often surrounds plans for land development. The recent jailing of activists, who opposed the government’s plans for a new town in the North East New Territories, was a reminder of the deep-rooted anger land-supply issues can evoke among large sections of the population. All the more reason why the government should tread carefully when it comes to its plans for developing the green jewel of Hong Kong: Lantau.
just the next stage of lengthy consultation; the government being at pains to stress there is plenty more opportunity for consultation and dialogue. For the more sceptical, however, the paper represents the government’s final plan, with only minor amendments likely to follow in the future.
Numerous position papers and consultation exercises have taken place to date with regard to Lantau’s development, including Space for All and Vision 2030. To the casual observer these may well blur into one but it’s important to recognise that we have now reached a significant waymarker – the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, which the government released in June. To the generous of spirit this is
Development and conservation
22 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Veterans of the campaign opposing the government’s plan to build a giant incinerator off the south coast of Lantau point to the production of a blueprint for that project being the stage at which meaningful consultation came to an end.
The government held a public consultation meeting in Mui Wo on August 9 to review the contents of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint and hear what the community had to say. Over 200 people attended what was the biggest such local event in recent years.
The Sustainable Lantau Blueprint is themed Development in the North and Conservation for the South
Representatives from the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Development Bureau and Planning Department laid out the thinking of the government, with several members of the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) also present. Audience response varied from constituency to constituency. Rural Committee representatives were keen to hear about the potential for development, business and commerce. Environmental and conservation groups sought to understand how the government intends to make good on its promise to balance the needs of development with the needs of conservation. Themed Development in the North and Conservation for the South, a key tenet of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint is the development of North Lantau as a gateway to the Pearl River Delta and rest of the world; a so called bridgehead economy, linking Hong Kong to the array of international transport links and attendant commercial opportunities being developed within a 300-mile radius of Lantau. Key to this are the Three-Runway System, the nearly complete Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island. With this will also come the provision of 200,000 new homes along the North Lantau shore from Tung Chung to Siu Ho Wan – the Tung Chung New Town Extension. The second key tenet of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, and one of its most controversial, is the construction of an East Lantau Metropolis (ELM), reclaiming land around the islands of Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau to create a second business district and more than 700,000 new homes. A significant amount of new transport infrastructure is also outlined as part of this phase. The inclusion of Mui Wo as an element of the ELM – without any clear definition as to what this will mean in practice – leaves open the possibility of significant development in and around Mui Wo in the future. Further tenets of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint include the development of Sunny Bay and Hong Kong Disneyland for tourism. The good news from a conservation standpoint is that at least some
Government representatives met with the community at a meeting in Mui Wo on August 9
of the worst excesses suggested in the original development plan – the First-Term Work Report, published by LanDAC in January 2016 – have been dropped. A stargazing facility will not be built at the top of Sunset Peak, nor a funicular railway run up its eastern flank. Plans to develop sustainable recreational facilities in South Lantau, including a water sports centre, mountain bike trails, camping grounds, eco-education centres and an adventure park, remain, as do proposals to conserve ecologically important habitats and designate new marine parks. In addition, the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint includes proposals to protect the Pui O wetlands, the mudflats at Shui Hau and Yi O, and mangroves at Tai O. There are also proposals to protect a number of heritage sites, such as Silvermine Cave, Fan Lau Fort and Yeung Hau Temple. Past experience suggests that all those who applaud such measures should do so cautiously until the finer detail emerges. Questions and answers Several leading questions came up during the meeting in Mui Wo on August 9. Notably, can the controversial ELM project be separated out as a project for consultation in its own right, given it is of a scale unprecedented for a generation, and its planned completion date is not until the 2040s. Is the government using the tactic of bundling all of this development into one project, in order to maximise the chance of pushing it through the consultation process? Government representatives rebutted this suggestion, saying that the ELM is part of the government’s overall vision for Lantau and that the plan must be viewed in the round. www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 23
SPOTLIGHT
There are plans to protect the Pui O wetlands, the mudflats at Shui Hau and Yi O, and mangroves at Tai O
How about the government’s bid for funding to set up a Lantau Development Office? Is this a cynical way to pursue the Development Bureau’s agenda without meaningful input from the Environmental Protection Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department? The Bureau’s somewhat vague response on this was that its officials and engineers have sufficient expertise to ensure conservation requirements are met. It was pointed out that Hong Kong is supposed to adhere to the International Convention on Biodiversity, which would require the whole development project for Lantau to be subject to various conditions. Silence from the government representatives on that one. Some of the conservation objectives proposed in the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint cannot be achieved without land resumption (compulsory purchase) or land swaps, and the Development Bureau representatives were asked how this would be achieved. The response was that many of these objectives are aspirational and the detail of how to achieve them has yet to be worked out. However, the Development Bureau was at pains to point out that it has the government’s backing to pursue whatever options are necessary. Several questions were asked about the future of Lantau’s cattle, particularly the Mui Wo herd. Rural Committee representatives voiced their desire to see the Mui Wo cows moved to the Soko Islands but such calls were matched by counter arguments from the cattle concern groups, who consider Lantau’s bovines an integral part of the community. The government representatives hedged their bets on this issue, saying they are seeking solutions as to how humans and cattle can co-exist in harmony. All in all, the August 9 meeting saw a useful exchange of views although a straw poll afterwards suggested that most attendees felt the government representatives had not really said much and 24 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Mui Wo’s future is uncertain as it is included as an element of the East Lantau Metropolis
had failed to answer questions with any specific detail. Some felt that the meeting had been simply a tick-box exercise to enable the government to say it had fulfilled its duty to consult. More consultation is promised in the future, including an indication from Islands District Council Member (South Lantau), Randy Yu that he will hold public surgeries for constituents to air their views. Now is the time for those who are concerned to get involved and lend their voice to the ongoing debate.
FIND IT • Living Islands Movement, www.livingislands.org.hk • Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, www.lantau.gov.hk/ download/full_report.pdf
SPECIAL REPORT
Island of
Adventure
South Lantau has the potential to become a mecca for eco, adventure and sports tourism. Achieving this need not compromise the natural environment, says LanDAC member, and group chairman of Mission Hills Group, Ken Chu
L Photos courtesy of Ken Chu and www.wikimedia.com
antau is the largest island in Hong Kong but it has a pleasantly low population density compared to the rest of the territory, and therefore offers a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centres. Aside from its stunning landscape and coastline, Lantau’s natural attractions include a rich variety of wildlife, rare species of tree frogs, precious flora and fauna and a vibrant cultural heritage. To make the most of the unexploited natural environment and rich biodiversity, the government plans to bolster the growth of sustainable tourism – the concept of visiting a place as a tourist and trying to make only a positive impact on the environment, society and economy – in South Lantau, with an emphasis on eco, adventure and sports tourism. Reaping the rewards of sustainable tourism While both eco and adventure tourism are a form of special-interest travel, catering to a niche market, they have grown rapidly in the past decade to become a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide. Sports tourism is also becoming increasingly popular, and it is so even among young mainland Chinese travellers, aged between 20 and 25. One out of four within this age group has expressed strong interest in participating in extreme sports while travelling abroad. Last year, two-thirds of visitors to Queenstown, New Zealand’s leading skydiving hub, were young mainlanders.
26 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
South Lantau is already a playground for outdoor sports enthusiasts, who enjoy a huge range of activities, including hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing, kayaking, kiteboarding and paragliding. Improving the facilities on offer would secure tourist interest, and at the same time benefit the locals, who would have year-round access to the new-and-improved sports amenities. A regulated influx of visitors to South Lantau would, of course, boost Hong Kong’s tourist industry, and it’s important not to overlook the way it would also profit the local community. Studies show that local communities benefit directly from nonmainstream (adventure, eco and sports) tourism. This is because mainstream tourists tend to spend their money in international hotel and resort chains and fine-dining restaurants, and they head to the upmarket malls to buy branded consumer goods. By contrast, non-mainstream tourists prefer to stay in locally managed B&Bs, they spend their money at local farms and eateries, and they enjoy traditional handicrafts and snacks. Local Lantau business people, even down to the sellers of dried seafood and shrimp paste, would therefore benefit greatly from the growth of sustainable tourism. Looked at this way, promoting non-mainstream tourism incentivises local communities to continue with their efforts to conserve their culture and traditional ways of life, which might otherwise gradually disappear.
Ken Chu visiting remote Sham Wat Village in north-western Lantau
Preserving the natural environment It is essential that we capture this opportunity for growth without endangering the island’s rich biodiversity and incredible natural scenery. To this end, the government has, since the early 2000s, attempted to map out a conceptual framework for Lantau, balancing the need for development with that of conservation. According to the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, released by the government in June, future development will be concentrated on North Lantau. [Turn to page 22 to read more.] The south of the island has been designated for nature conservation, and environmentally sustainable recreation and tourism purposes. We can look forward to a water sports centre, camping grounds, heritage and nature trails and an adventure park. Development in ecologically sensitive areas, such as the Pui O wetlands and Tai O mangroves, will be avoided. Making the best use of the natural environment without destroying it, is what sustainable tourism is all about. What’s more, nonmainstream tourists tend, by their very nature, to be environmentally aware. That said, raising public awareness is vital to the success of sustainable tourism, and efforts must be made to further educate visitors to Lantau. To this end, the government intends to set up environmental education centres across the island to help visitors learn to appreciate Lantau’s natural attractions and behave responsibly.
When discussing the growth of sustainable tourism in South Lantau, some residents have expressed concerns that the area will be overrun by visitors. While the number of tourists is not expected to be so very great, traffic and crowd-control measures will need to be put in place. The Sustainable Lantau Blueprint also outlines a plan to go electric on all means of transport in South Lantau in the longer term. To move forward, the government needs to continue to find ways to minimise any potential negative impact caused by the growth of sustainable tourism. After all, Lantau is one of the few remaining natural assets in the Pearl River Delta.
Ken Chu is group chairman and chief executive officer of Mission Hills Group and a member of the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC). Mission Hills Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a pioneer in China’s hospitality, sports, leisure and wellness sectors, operating golf courses, hotels, resorts, shopping malls and international schools in Shenzhen, Dongguan and Haikou. Visit www.missionhillschina.com.
www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 27
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HEALTH
LIVE LIFE TO THE
FULLEST
Linda Sim with a client
Photos by Colin Sim and courtesy of www.wikimedia.org
Are you interested in self-development and growing as a person? Lantau-based executive and business coach Linda Sim provides some practical inspiration
O
ur lives today can be challenging and stressful. The omnipresent attempt at balancing work and life can leave us feeling out of kilter, or unhappy. A heavy workload and long hours can lead to burnout and impact negatively on our families. What can we do to shift our compass needle and start heading in the right direction? Here are three ways to help you chart your course:
endeavour to achieve what you want to change. These are some of the ways you can become more self-aware: • T ake a personality-type assessment – there are myriad you can do quickly and easily online, and they can help you gain a deeper insight into yourself. Try the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), or Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder 2.0
Work on self-awareness Learning to understand yourself, your strengths and your potential is a solid foundation for shaping your life in a way that is unique to you. As the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu said: “He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.” It is important not only to know yourself – why you do certain things and how you react to situations – but also to be at peace with yourself, accept yourself wholly, and be kind to yourself. This creates positivity and optimism, which in turn supports your
• P ractice mindfulness – be fully present, aware of where you are and what you are doing. This will save you from being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around you • B e bold – ask friends, family or colleagues to answer questions about you as a person, outlining your strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. There are online programmes to help facilitate this anonymously, which helps to garner honest feedback www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 29
HEALTH
• S tart listening – TED talks are an excellent way to learn from and be inspired by other people’s life stories and experiences. Use the numerous webinars and podcasts available to help promote transformation and self-discovery • G et out of your comfort zone – this is key for creating change. Putting yourself into new and challenging situations, and meeting new people, is not only important, it is imperative. Growth will not happen without it. Learn to get uncomfortable and know that the experience will be invaluable in some way Start setting goals A goal is a dream with a deadline. Setting goals is easy, achieving them is not, so it’s essential to be resilient. Remember that you have not failed until you give up. As Thomas Edison said: “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” As a way in, before deciding on a goal, you need to assess just how important it is to you. Ask yourself some questions… How do I feel in my head/ heart/ gut when I think about this goal? Does this goal make me feel motivated? On a scale of one to 10 how important is this goal to me? What’s the possible outcome if I don’t achieve this goal? Once you have earmarked something that you truly want to achieve, get going by following the SMART methodology. SMART goals are: • • • •
Specific – they are clear and well defined Measurable – you know exactly what you want to do Achievable – they are attainable without being too easy R elevant – they match the direction you want for your life or career • T ime specific – you have set yourself a clear deadline to make a start
Changing your perspective gives you a more positive outlook on life
When you find yourself in an annoying or difficult situation, find a way to stay calm and positive. If someone rushes to push in front of you in the supermarket, rather than becoming angry consider the possibilities. Is this person being rude, or are they in panic mode, hurrying to get home to their children? Perhaps their thoughts are simply elsewhere and their cavalier treatment of you is not intentional. Importantly too, when seeking to grow as a person, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. By thinking mistakes are simply a sign of failure, you’re educating yourself out of your creative capacities. Don’t give in to your inner critic, which sees you as you were, and snuffs out the light of who you might become. One of your aims is to make your life more purposeful and more joyful, and being there for others – attempting to make a difference – can help with that. Compliment someone, pick something up that they have dropped, or give a sincere thank you with a smile. These are small gestures, but give it a try, you’ll see the face of the person, whose day you’ve just made, light up. Lastly, know your strengths; focus on what you can do, and your inner potential. This helps to shift your perspective in a positive way and alters the meaning you put into situations and events.
When you do this exercise write down your goals by hand, rather than typing them. This engages the right side of your brain which controls your creative and intuitive functioning.
This simple story beautifully showcases the power of perspective: Three men are working by the side of a road, breaking stones. A passer-by notes that one of them is very unhappy, another is contented and the third is very happy. Curious, he questions each one about their state of mind.
Be aware that change is necessary; if your actions stay the same, so will your results. But be honest when identifying what is a priority for you. If you feel you don’t have time to achieve a particular goal, it actually means you don’t want to.
The first one, the unhappy one, says: “I am breaking stones. It’s hard work. It’s hot.” The second one, the contented one, says: “I am making a good living. I have a family to feed.” The third one, the happy one, says: “I am building a temple.”
Change your perspective
All too often we believe what other people tell us we are, or ought to be. True happiness lies in discovering for ourselves who we really are – and then being it.
What we do, what we think, how we feel and what we achieve is strongly linked to our perspective. As Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” Often what you tell yourself is what will be, and what you expect is what you will get. So how do we learn to shift the meaning we put on events and circumstances to make them positive? First of all, stop and breathe – slowly, deeply, several times. Accept that your thoughts don’t define you, your behaviour does. 30 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
Executive and business coach Linda Sim is the director of Discovery Bay-based Strive Consulting. For a consultation, you can contact her at 9272 1134, linda@striveconsultinghk.com, or visit www.striveconsultinghk.com.
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LADA UPDATE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES Contributed by Lantau Development Alliance founding chairman, Allen Ha
H
Photo courtesy of LaDa
ong Kong has one of the lowest crime rates and safety threats in the world and we want to help keep it that way. Following the Manchester Arena bombing in May, AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) immediately implemented a fourstep public safety enhancement scheme to optimise security for event-goers and ensure better crowd management. The four-step public safety enhancement scheme is now effective during all concerts. Patrons are given a security wristband before entering the premises where they undergo a metal detector check, followed by a bag search. An express line is in place for patrons without bags, in order to speed up the process and encourage a no-bag policy in the long-run. AWE has also deployed explosive-detection dogs to patrol the venue and entrance.
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Thanks to the understanding and cooperation of visitors, organisers and security teams, the four-step public safety enhancement scheme is already enjoying positive feedback. In hosting a series of big-name international acts in the coming months, including Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes and Anzen Chitai, AWE is dedicated to implementing its new public safety measures in as efficient and patron-friendly a way as possible. AWE is a world-class venue providing a diverse range of multifaceted events, so security enhancement and risk management are of paramount importance. Major events in 2017, such as the Chief Executive Election Forum in March and the Indonesian President’s visit in April, have seen close collaboration with enforcement authorities and event organisers. Moreover, a well-managed contingency crowd management plan has been set up to be immediately applied in the event of an emergency. By consulting professionals and referring to successful cases overseas, AWE will continue to review and fine-tune its public safety measures. Please join hands in helping us provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all, as we shape Hong Kong into an international hub for great events. Sponsored Content
The Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) is a group of local organisations and enterprises on Lantau that have come together to promote the social and economic development of the island. Visit www.lantau-da.com.hk.
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LIFE ON LANTAU 33
COMMUNITY SNAPS
LANTAU FACES
Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.lifeonlantau.com
like ed uld r o w u eatu If yo photo f l mai hk our e y , e e . g e to s is pa dia.com h t on me bay @ w re and
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If you want to drink, that’s your business. If Alcoholics you want to stop, we can help.
Anonymous No dues or fees.
24hr hotline:9073 6922
www.aa-hk.org
Tung Chung Vet Centre
AKASH MOVING Local packing & moving service Best Move - Best Rate
All your vet needs, surgery, dentals, vaccinations, acupuncture, retail and grooming.
Tel: 2328 7282
ARROW ACCOUNTING SERVICES LTD Do you need someone who can record accounting transactions and also give you an idea of how to maximise your company’s profit? We are an accounting firm offering corporate services to small & medium-sized enterprises at a reasonable rate. For details of services, please visit us at www.arrowservicesltd.com. Contact Ms. Raji on 6201 9710 or email arrowservices@netvigator.com
Shop Q2, Seaview Crescent Retail, 8 Tung Chung Water Front Road, Tung Chung (near Zentro Bar)
Akash offers a packing / unpacking service, provides boxes & Alcoholics packing materials & Anonymous makes small deliveries
Call 2421 8088
Deadline for
or visit
December/
www.akash.hk
January issue
Like us on Facebook for event reminders: www.facebook.com/lifeonlantaumagazine
CLASSIFIEDS
November 14
LOCAL NUMBERS
Add your business - www.lifeonlantau.com
TUNG CHUNG
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 Little Whale 6310 7074 Kidznjoy 6273 7347 Little Stars Playgroup 6479 0390 Sakura Kids 6674 6194
38 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
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 PHOTOGRAPHY RedJacq Photography
9313 6887
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 Epic Tung Chung 2786 9699 ESF Sports 2711 1280 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 KIPMOVIN 6180 3256 La Cantera 2557 8007 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 Expat Living Hong Kong 3480 7614 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 & 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 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
6810 0111 2985 8383
REAL ESTATE HomeSolutions 3483 5003 Findley Leung 2984 8334 RETAIL 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
LOCAL NUMBERS
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 SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House International Preschool
2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8088 2914 2202 2480 3909 2987 8608 2987 8143
FOOD & RESTAURANTS 22˚ North Coyote Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice Hemingway’s McSorley’s Ale House Uncle Russ - DB Plaza Uncle Russ - DB North Plaza
2987 2298 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 8855 2987 8280 2682 0068 2682 8110
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 Movement Improvement Harry Wright International The HIT Room Yoga Up
9681 2896 6974 7707 6244 6093 2517 8248 2987 4338 2987 4274 2987 1571 6180 3256 2987 5852 2575 6279 6621 7410 8197 5591
TRANSPORT Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline
2987 6348 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
www.lifeonlantau.com October/ November 2017
LIFE ON LANTAU 39
INSIDER
ON BORROWED TIME As the likelihood of survival for Lantau’s Chinese White Dolphins fades, Jason Pagliari reports on their plight, and the kindliest ways to see them in their natural habitat
Hong Kong Dolphinwatch’s boat trips put the dolphins’ safety first
M
ost Lantauers have made the bus journey to Tai O and, lured by touts for competing business, taken a fast boat out to the marine habitat offshore in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive and extremely rare Chinese White Dolphins. On such a trip today, you’ll quickly notice you’re in the middle of a construction site, with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge nearing completion and the third airport runway coming up just around the coast. All this despite concerns over some 650 hectares of prime dolphin habitat being lost to land reclamation.
Photo courtesy of James Branch, Lantau Boat Club
The government has agreed to set up a 2,400-hectare marine park but only after the runway is completed in 2023. The big question, of course, is whether there’ll be any dolphins left by then. Add to all the construction, the re-routing of high-speed Sky Pier ferries straight through dolphin habitat, and the future looks bleak for Lantau’s loveable pink-hued cetaceans. A recent study, conducted by Dr Samuel Hung Ka-yiu of the Cetacean Research Project, reveals that the Chinese White Dolphins’ existence has reached crisis point: “Numbers drop every year but usually there are at least some bright spots. In recent years for example, we saw dolphins taking refuge further south... and they were still reproducing,” he told the SCMP in June. “There are absolutely no barometers of optimism this year.”
round trip of Lantau in a non-competitive, eco-minded event, Dolphin Quest. “We have attempted to grow the event year on year since 2011,” says event coordinator Adie Leung. “The aim is to raise the awareness of those taking part, and also bring the dolphins’ plight to the attention of the general public through the press coverage generated.” The 100 or so Dolphin Quest participants (two support junks carry additional paddlers and their guests) each pay a HK$550 entrance fee, with profits donated to a different local marine charity each year. Local charities working tirelessly on the Chinese White Dolphins’ behalf include WWF Hong Kong, Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation and DB-based Plastic Free Seas. For an organisation that provides eco-friendly dolphin-watching boat trips, that are open to all, Hong Kong Dolphinwatch comes highly recommended. Its year-round, half-day ecological tours cruise out from Tung Chung New Development Pier, taking every care not to disturb the resident cetaceans. Each trip includes a talk on the environmental situation by experienced guides, and helps generate revenue for research and campaign work.
In clear sight
FIND IT
While there may not be much that locals can do at this point – charities and eco groups can’t stop the construction work – there are still some people out there who get to witness these majestic creatures in as natural a way as possible. Every September, Hong Kong’s seven paddling clubs (hosted by Lantau Boat Club Paddle Section and including South Lantau Paddling Club), each provide a six-man outrigger canoe crew to make the 72-kilometre 40 LIFE ON LANTAU October/ November 2017
www.lifeonlantau.com
• • • • • •
Dolphin Quest, www.lantauboatclub.com Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, www.hkdcs.org Hong Kong Dolphinwatch, www.hkdolphinwatch.com Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, www.opcf.org.hk Plastic Free Seas, www.plasticfreeseas.org WWF Hong Kong, www.wwf.org.hk