FIVE MINUTES WITH

Jeff Rotmeyer

Nicole Slater meets the founder and CEO of ImpactHK

The ImpactHK team in action

Moving to the Hong Kong to teach English over 16 years ago, Jeff Rotmeyer has always been passionate about charity work and began coaching football to refugees and asylum seekers in his free time soon after his arrival.

As the second most expensive city in the world (according to The Mercer Cost of Living Survey 2021), housing has been an ongoing problem for many residents. But it wasn’t until Rotmeyer was introduced to a park in Sham Shui Po and saw over a hundred individuals sleeping around the area, that he understood the true extent of Hong Kong’s issue with homelessness. “I never thought of the homeless or knew there was even a problem here. I was completely blind to the issue,” he says.

He set up ImpactHK in 2017, intending to simply distribute meals to the less fortunate outside once per month. In just four years the non-profit organisation has served over 500 meals daily and has helped nearly 400 individuals get off the streets. “The homeless issue continues to get worse year by year. However, through ImpactHK we’ve seen thousands of volunteers coming together to care and stand up for those experiencing homelessness.”

Through fundraising, volunteer programmes and Kindness Walks, ImpactHK has been tackling homelessness as holistically as possible. The non-profit organisation even has its own community centre, Centre 29 in Tai Kok Tsui where people can go for shelter and food support, along with daily activities, mental health support programmes, senior support, employment assistance programmes and more. “We see new people coming through our doors daily and distribute 300 meal boxes seven days a week. Centre 29 is a place where people are welcome and safe,” says Rotmeyer.

This year also saw the opening of ImpactHK’s first retail store 1ofaKIND, which sells high-quality clothing samples from top designer brands at low prices, employs individuals who were previously homeless and raises funds to give others an opportunity. Not only are the staff in the store previously homeless but almost 50 percent of ImpactHK’s staff and volunteers are individuals whom they first met sleeping outside. “It’s been amazing to see so many people making it a priority in their lives to do what they can to support and the results of that care show.”

For many organisations throughout the city and world, the past few years have been financially challenging, with donations dropping. ImpactHK has also seen a large increase in homelessness, with the average age getting younger and a doubling for female residents. “Our work is challenging to say the least but I couldn’t be more proud of our team for their constant care and hard work. Every day we are doing our best to give this community outside, who are facing incredible pain and challenges, the very best opportunity we can.”

This Christmas the non-profit organisation will be fundraising for our Full Time Assistants Programme, which employs individuals off the streets to care for and help people who are in similar situations. Over the next year, ImpactHK is aiming to improve its mental health and drug rehabilitation programme and continue to give everyone more opportunities and services.

impacthk.org

In collaboration with J Senses

Located at the intersection of Johnston Road and Ship Street, J Senses is a unique dining and lifestyle complex capturing the spirit of Wan Chai’s ever-changing cityscape. Housed in a building where the heritage has been preserved, including the French windows, the inscribed Chinese names of Woo Cheong Pawn Shop and the Hong Kong Yu Clansman Association on the façade, J Senses has become a living heritage where the historic and the contemporary blend harmoniously together. Come visit the complex this festive season and enjoy all the specials it has to offer.

CRUST Italian

a pasticceria (Italian pastry shop) with a restaurant and Italian street food takeaway counter. The all-day venue specialises in sfogliatelle, which are puff pastries filled with lemon-scented cream or custard; street-food style calamari or pizza fritti wrapped in a paper cone for takeaway; and seafood scialatielli served with a 14-hour ragu made with six different cuts of pork beef and veal, among many other Italian dishes. Wash it all down with a variety of cocktails made with Amalfi gins, Campari, and wines by the glass, which are all accompanied by a complimentary buffet of dishes during aperitivo hour. G/F, 66 Johnston Road Tel: 2191 0278

MW Gunpowder Indian RestoBar

Conceptualised by celebrated actor Michael Wong and the team behind Gaylord Indian Restaurant, MW Gunpowder takes inspiration from Indian, Chinese and American cuisine. It offers a number of Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes with bold flavours, including the signature “IndiSum” street favourites in Dim Sum portions. Other options include street savouries, tandoori grills, freshly baked breads and curries, all made with a modern twist that will surely tickle your taste buds. Design-wise, the restaurant boasts a long bar with a hanging shelf in copper tones and a sparkling tile inlay that brings style and sophistication. Meanwhile, the dining section is backed by full-height wine cellars and marbled high tables, highlighted with metallic pendant lights, making for a perfect spot for date night or for catching up with friends. G/F, 18 Ship Street Tel: 2827 7777

RUAM

A vibrant and casual Thai garden eatery and bar set above Ship Street, Ruam is a welcoming venue that serves Thai market favourites and

innovative cocktails. Pronounced roo-uhm, the name is the Thai word for ‘gather’ and reflects its welcoming environment and buzzing atmosphere – a spirited bar, lush expansive terrace and intimate indoor dining area. For a twist this Christmas, head over to try out the restaurant’s Southeast Asian delights. 1/F, 18 Ship Street Tel: 3160 8535

Tenzushi

Known for its modern interpretation of Japanese fine dining, the team at Tenzushi consistently surprises even its most regular guests with delightful innovations. Sporting minimalist décor and modest crockery, Tenzushi chooses to focus on its chefs’ craft and creativity, providing guests with a true omakase experience in a private and intimate setting. 2/F, 18 Ship Street whatsapp: 5533 9263

Qi – House of Sichuan

Helmed by top Sichuan chef Wong Chun Fai, Qi – House of Sichuan has been awarded One Michelin Star from 2016 to 2019 in the Hong Kong and Macau Michelin Guide. Its authentic Sichuan dishes reflect the “seven flavours of Sichuan” – spicy, aromatic, sweet, bitter, sour, peppery and salty and are not for the faint-hearted. If you’re up for the challenge, be prepared to experience a wide spectrum of spiciness and explosive flavours this Christmas season. 2/F, 1-7 Ship Street Tel:

2527 7117

BO Innovation

Obtaining Michelin’s highest honour of three stars for three consecutive years, BO Innovation has taken discerning diners and food critics round the world by storm. Alvin Leung Jr., aka the “Demon Chef“, is the creative wizard running the astounding restaurant. Despite having no formal training, his passion for experimental cuisines and creative improvisation cannot be doubted. 1/F, 1-7 Ship Street Tel: 2850 8371

Christmas Special

22 Ships

This Christmas, 22 Ships brings rustic festive flavours to the comfort of your home. The Christmas En Tu Casa menu includes a classic cold cut selection, Grilled XXXL Carabineros, Blue Lobster Salpicón, as well as the restaurant’s signature Burnt Basque Cheesecake made with Truffle Manchego and more. A whole roasted sucking pig and the Patxaran Royal set are also available a la carte or as add ons, or you can opt for special private catering menus. To pre-order, visit jiacatering. com. G/F, 22 Ship Street Tel: 2555 0722

Bibi and Baba

Gather with your loved ones at Bibi & Baba this season and opt for a cosy feast featuring 3 Festive Season Specials. Exclusively available for the whole month of December, the restaurant has handpicked some of its most popular dishes, such as Singaporean Chilli Crab, Sambal Stingray, and Hainanese Chicken. Spice up the feast and share a pitcher or two of classic Mulled Wine to get into the Christmas spirit. G/F, 1-7 Ship Street Tel: 2555 0628

Want more? Other restaurants at J Senses include Five Guys, LHC Coffee and Zoë.

Visit J Senses at 60A-66 Johnston Road and 1-22 Ship Street, Wan Chai and learn more about its upcoming Christmas events at jsenses.com.hk and follow its Facebook: J Senses, Instagram: @ jsenseshkg, Wechat: J Senses 香港

A quarantine Christmas

A festive poem by Nicole Slater

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Hong Kong, Partygoers were texting, “Meet at the Fong?”, The moon over Harbour City glittered on white plastic snow, Giving the lustre of midday to objects below, Times Square gathered a line for the lifts, With parents rushing for last minute gifts.

Amongst the Christmas chaos there are a few to remember, Those stuck in hotel quarantine throughout December, With travel bans keeping families apart, The 21 days makes it difficult to depart, After two years of waiting many are fed up, When will the restrictions finally be cut?

On a mission to bring back Christmas cheer, Santa jumps straight onto his reindeer, He soars through the night, flying over The Peak, And enters the city before hearing a shriek, “WHERE IS YOUR MASK?” the people shout, He forgot to pick one up before heading out. Upon further inspection they notice his deer, “Did you skip quarantine before arriving here?” A bus pulls up and Santa is ushered in, It’s straight to Penny’s Bay for him, Is Penny’s Bay really that bad? He asks, Before reading the Facebook quarantine posts from the past.

He is welcomed by hazmat suits and a form, Before being escorted to his dorm, It’s cozy and compact, there’s even a group WhatsApp,

With nothing to do, he lays down for a nap, Before realising they forgot to take the sacks, Who will deliver the presents? He yacks.

He paces up and down the room, Hoping to talk to someone soon, But alas there is hope, a delivery of food, This will help keep him in a good mood, As he tucks into his feast he has an idea, Dough Bro’s can deliver the presents from here.

Santa rallies up the trusty drivers, And asks them to bring presents to the quarantine survivors.

Speeding through the night to dodge the traffic, The delivery men do their magic, Presents, parcels, cards and more, Going straight through people’s quarantine door. The guests spring from their beds, curious about the clatter, Who sent them these gifts, oh why does it matter? This small act of kindness is more than enough, To keep them going until New Year, before it gets too tough.

Santa lays back on his bed with a sigh and smile, He’s going to be in that room for a while, Before he drifts off to sleep he mumbles so slight, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!