March 2013 issue

March 2013

WINNING STREAK HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL

MOONLIGHTER

SNAP HAPPY

DB PHOTOGRAPHERS SHARE TOP TIPS FOR GREAT PIX

“Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.”

ROBERT FROST

DBRC tennis coaches talk going pro, training young players and hosting the Nations Cup!

Join your community online @ www.arounddb.com

Publishers in DB since 2002

MARCH 2013

朝暉徑 HEADLAND

$150K

倚濤軒 CRESTMONT

Gross: 2099’ Saleable: 2094’ 4

海濤閣 ONDA

$40K

3 2

Beautifully renovated, spacious layout, close to DB Plaza and pier.

2

朝暉路 HEADLAND

$39K

4

Renovated duplex, balcony with stunning sea views, quiet, close to school and Club Siena.

3

康慧台 HILLGROVE

Gross: 1486’ Saleable: 1206’

$35M

3 2

$25K

Gross: 919’ Saleable: 776’

Renovation throughout, modern kitchen and bathroom, amazing sea views.

蘅欣徑 CAPERIDGE

$63K

Gross: 2055’ Saleable: 1633’

Great renovation throughout, terrace with stunning sea views, great for entertaining.

畔峰 MIDVALE

Gross: 1180’ Saleable: 963’ 3

海澄湖畔 SIENA

Gross: 1707’ Saleable: 1436’

Garden house with panoramic sea views, enormous living space. Tranquil location.

3

$65K/16M

$14M

3

Great space and very practical layout, balcony with stunning sea views, convenient location.

2

碧濤軒 COASTLINE

$13M

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1904’ Saleable: 1889’ 4 3

Excellent location, exquisite renovation, exceptional garden, unique

頤峰 GREENVALE

$9.8M

Gross: 1311’ Saleable: 1171’ 3 2

Beautifully renovated, modern open plan kitchen and bathroom, great for entertaining.

海燕徑 SEABIRD

$9.3M

Gross: 1500’ Saleable: 1314’ 3

Fully renovated, open kitchen with spacious living, balcony with panoramic sea views.

2

康和閣 BRILLIANCE

$7.2M

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1644’ Saleable: 1406’ 4 2

Nicely renovated joint unit, efficient layout, open kitchen, convenient location

Gross: 1037’ Saleable: 962’ 3 2

Stylish reno, large open plan kitchen, wonderful living and dining areas, great location

Gross: 919’ Saleable: 776’ 3 2

Beautifully renovated, open kitchen, balcony with stunning sea views, walking distance to pier.

Nursery Furniture & Accessories

Children’s Shoes

Baby Basics & Toiletries

Pushchairs

Everything you need at...

Children’s Furniture

Baby & Toddler Food

Safety & First Aid

Baby & Children’s Clothing & Swimwear

Toys

Highchairs

Car Seats

Maternity Wear

Pedder Building Store 5/F Pedder Building,12 Pedder Street, Central T: 2522 7112 Horizon Plaza Store 21/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau T: 2552 5000

CONTENTS FEATURES 24

30

DEAR READER

36

24 30 36 42 45 50 56 62

PROFILE Meet the DBRC tennis coaches IN FOCUS How to make the most of moonlighting FAMILY MATTERS DB photographers explain their passion TALKING POINTS Hong Kong’s Small Claims Tribunal MONEY MATTERS A level look into life insurance ESCAPES Experience Hanoi like a local ACTION DB rugger fans extol the HK7’s STYLE How to dress your bed

REGULARS 8 22 54 66 68 71 75 77 80

IN & AROUND DB Catch up with the latest community news ACROSS LANTAU What’s happening island wide TECH TREND Our resident techie answers some FAQs HK HAPPENINGS Hot stuff from across the harbour DB FACES Candid community snaps CLASSIFIEDS Great deals, employment, local businesses and more PROPERTY Choice local and overseas homes to buy or rent LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau DB MOMENTS DC students stand out against VTech sweatshops

This issue of Around DB strikes me as exceptionally hands on.

Spring 2013 is just around the corner, and it’s time to get practical!

Three locals, each with two jobs, explain why moonlighting works for them, and in so doing they may very well inspire you into starting up that second business. Find out too all there is to know about Hong Kong’s Small Claims Tribunal (look to it to settle grievances but be prepared for the process to take a while).

For March then we are big on tips. Rugger fans in the community reveal the best ways to enjoy the HK7’s, hitting our shores this year March 22 to 24. And seven innovative DB photographers, three of whom are regular Around DB contributors, advise on camera use.

We’ve also got the lowdown on beds and bedding (there’s more to choosing a mattress and linens than you might think).

This month too you’ll want to get involved in some exciting community events – we tell you what’s happening, why, when and

where. I’m particularly looking forward to the DBRC Tennis Nations Cup on the weekend of March 9 – and the after party. Can’t wait to see how the players will top last year’s prize-winning costumes!

The Lantau International Beer Dash is another must-do on March 9. And on March 16, I’ll be hanging out on Silvermine Beach to see the start of the Raidlight Lantau50, and check out all the super-fit ultra-marathon runners. For constantly updated event info, go to www.facebook.com/AroundDB. I look forward to meeting up with you right here on the island or online at www.arounddb.com.

March 2013

WINNING STREAK

SNAP HAPPY

DB PHOTOGRAPHERS

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL

SHARE TOP TIPS FOR GREAT PIX

MOONLIGHTER

Thomas Smits tops Tiger’s Head Photos courtesy of Rick Smits

“Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.”

ROBERT FROST

e Gam

on!

DBRC tennis coaches talk going pro, training young players and hosting the Nations Cup!

Join your community online @ www.arounddb.com

Publishers in DB since 2002

On the cover: DBRC tennis coaches Photo by Baljit Gidwani

Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@arounddb.com Editor Rachel Ainsley editor@arounddb.com Editorial Coordinator Dana Winograd dana@arounddb.com Advertising Lissa Morris lissa@arounddb.com Art direction Terry Chow cckterrychow@gmail.com Photography Tracey van Geest tracey@inspiredimages.co Baljit & Radhika Gidwani photosdb@hotmail.com Illustration Richard Leschinsky Accounts Lise Dooling accountant@arounddb.com Contributors this month Hannah Ball (Intern) Gordon Franks Megaen Kelly Elizabeth Kerr Paula Lepore Burrough Catharine Nicol Karmel Schreyer Mary Singer General enquiries info@arounddb.com Published by Bay Media Limited Flat 230, Block D, DB Plaza Discovery Bay, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2987 0577 Fax: (852) 2987 0533 www.arounddb.com facebook.com/AroundDB twitter.com/aroundDB youtube.com/AroundDB Disclaimer The views expressed in Around DB 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.

On February 24, Thomas Smits made it to the top of Tiger’s Head from the Tung Chung side of the Olympic Trail in just under two hours (and back down again via Mui Wo). Exciting for any eight-year-old, but for Thomas, who has cerebral palsy, this was truly a moment to remember! In November, given the race organisers' go ahead, Thomas, along with Thomas Kiprotich from Kip Movin, will attempt to break the World Record for the best time for a half marathon with a stroller at the UNICEF Charity Run. The current record is one hour and 15 minutes.

Arts Fest at Discovery College Photos by Baljit Gidwani and Lissa Morris

The fifth annual Discovery College Arts Fest, February 2 to 8, involved students in a week-long exploration of exciting art-related activities and workshops. Top community events, meanwhile, included the Discovery Fair, where local artists got to show their work, and an online auction of collaborative art produced by students. Visit the Events Gallery at www.arounddb.com for more photos.

IN & AROUND DB

Chinese New Year festivities Photos by Baljit Gidwani and courtesy of DBRC

Chinese New Year was a hot ticket in DB last month. It was fun to say ‘out with the Dragon and in with the Snake’, and the lion dances at the clubs drew crowds of people! The fireworks in the harbour were a delight as always – as was taking some hard-earned timeout with friends and family. Visit the Events Gallery at www.arounddb.com for more fantastic holiday photos.

Trail-running princes and princesses Photos by Tracey van Geest

The second stage of the Prince and Princess of the Hills trail-running series took place on February 24, organised by the Lantau Buffalos and sponsored by Lantau Base Camp. You can catch the third and final stage of this popular junior event on April 14. For more information and to register, go to www.lantaubuffalos.org. Check out the Events Gallery at www.arounddb.com for more great photos and race results.

March 2013

9

ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

MARCH 2013

MARCH AT A GLANCE

IN & AROUND DB

When March 2, 2-4.45pm March 2 March 2, 8am March 3, 8.30am March 3, 4pm March 9, 10.30am March 9-10, 10.30am March 9-16 March 15-17 March 16 March 16, 7.30pm March 16, 7.30pm March 21, 8pm March 23, 3.30-5pm March 25, 7pm March 29, 2-5pm March 29-30, 10.30am March 31, 6am

What Plant Market Fight night fundraiser – DB Boxing Otterbox Action Asia Challenge Hong Kong Hill’s SPCA Family Wag’n’Walk Lantau Trio – family chamber music Lantau International Beer Dash Tennis Nations Cup Online voting for Young Writers’ Competition The Sleeping Beauty Raidlight Lantau50 Moon Bear Concert S.O.S. Lanka Action charity dinner Shaolin Fez Live and Let Die gig French movies for kids AccessDB fundraising dinner Happy Bunny Lawn Party Easter Egg Hunt and Funfair Easter Sunrise Service

Where Nursery (across from Haven Court) Intercontinental, Causeway Bay Start: Pui O, South Lantau Disneyland Discovery College Theatre Start: Ma Po Ping Prison, South Lantau Discovery Bay Recreation Club www.arounddb.com and facebook.com/AroundDB Shatin Town Hall Start: Mui Wo Globe Theatre, Discovery Bay International School Café Duvet, DB Plaza Grappa’s Cellar, Central La Petite Enfance, DB North Plaza McSorley’s, DB Plaza Discovery Bay Recreation Club Tai Pak Beach Tai Pak Beach

If you organise an event, club or charity that you would like to see featured in this section, please contact dana@arounddb.com.

Please visit www.arounddb.com to participate in our competitions. (From the homepage you click on the competitions link.)

You have until March 10 to submit your answers.

Win an Ozzie Cozzie

voucher

COMPETITION

Ozzie Cozzie in Central stocks a fantastic collection of swim- and resort-wear from Australia, New Zealand, the US and Hong Kong, for the whole family. They have all fits and sizes, and offer friendly personal assistance. With brands such as Seafolly, Baku, Ginja, Sunseeker, Moontide and Miraclesuit, to name a few, you will be sure to find something gorgeous to wear. Take a look at www.ozziecozzieco.com to learn more.

Ozzie Cozzie is giving away two vouchers, valued at HK$1,000 and HK$600, to two readers who can tell us which US brand of swimwear can make you look 10 pounds lighter! (Hint: look to Ozzie Cozzie’s Facebook page to find the answer.) For your chance to win, go to the competitions link on the homepage at www.arounddb.com by March 10. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer.

Congratulations to last month’s winners

Changes to

ESF policy The English Schools Foundation (ESF) has announced it will be ending its admissions priority for children who do not speak Cantonese. Another change is that children who have attended ESF-affiliated kindergartens (around 600 graduate each year) will no longer receive priority for ESF primary-school interviews.

Anne Murphy, a new DB resident, is the founder of school-placement consultancy, ITS Educational Services Ltd. Anne is now posting weekly education tips on our Facebook page, www.facebook. com/AroundDB, and you can contact her there with any questions.

Mark Currie for a red wine spa at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott; Stephanie Li and Soleil Havoupa for Little Milly gift baskets; Trine Lewis, Micheline Birdwiff and Susan Barrow for tickets to see Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage; Gretina Chan for tickets to see The Graduate; and Paula Hannan for Absolute Laser Skin Care’s Dragon’s Blood Serum. Please call our office on 2987 0577 to collect your prize.

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March 2013

Shining the light for children in DB.

Serving our community with continuity, flexibility and dedication since 1990.

Sunshine House International Pre-Schools cater for children from 6 months to 6 years with two schools located in the heart of DB Plaza and DB North.

Offering a bilingual and Mandarin immersion program following an adapted British National Curriculum.

Extra-curricular activities available.

Mother Goose playgroup program for "dad's and me" on Saturday Mornings.

For further information contact our schools: Discovery Bay Plaza: 2987 8143 Discovery Bay North: 2987 0813 Tung Chung: 2109 3873 www.sunshinehouse.com.hk

MARCH 2013

IN & AROUND DB

DB student performing with Fundraising concert The Hong Kong Ballet for moon bears

Photo by Annie Renwick

DMR School of Ballet is proud to announce that Parker Thompson, who has been studying dance at the school since she was three, has earned a part in the upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty by The Hong Kong Ballet. It sounds like another Renaissance Girl in the making as Parker, nine years old this month, already does ballet, modern dance and gymnastics, plays the piano, sings in the school choir, and plays football with the DB Angels! The Sleeping Beauty is showing at the Auditorium, Shatin Town Hall, March 15 to 17. Book your tickets at www.urbtix.hk, or call 2111 5999.

Don’t miss the second annual Moon Bear Concert on March 16 at 7.30pm in the Globe Theatre at Discovery Bay International School. The aim is to raise funds for the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) and awareness about bear-bile farming. The AAF has been working to end bear-bile farming since 1993 in China and 1999 in Vietnam. DBer Clara Chan is organising the event along with the Trinity Chapel. Favourite local musicians such as Soul Trader and the YRock musicians will be among the performers. Tickets are available at Island Veterinary Services in DB Plaza or you can call Clara on 9707 7994. Find out more in News at www.arounddb.com.

Thomas The Tank Engine

ticket giveaway

COMPETITION

Get on-board for Thomas And The Hidden Treasure March 29 to April 1 at the Star Hall, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre. It’s a busy time on Sodor for Thomas and his friends as they help the Fat Controller welcome a group of holiday makers – and search for buried treasure!

With life-size moving engines and an original score of songs, this delightful new musical adventure is fun for everyone! Tickets for the shows are priced from HK$150 to HK$550 and are available at all HK Ticketing outlets and at www.hkticketing.com or by calling the ticket purchase hotline at 3128 8288.

14

Smile Live is giving away three A-Reserve tickets to see Thomas And The Hidden Treasure to two readers who can tell us where the show is set. Click on the competitions link on the homepage at www.arounddb.com by March 10 for your chance to win. Don't forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer.

March 2013

Vote for your favourite

young writer!

On March 9, you can read the three winning articles in our magazine feature-writing competition online at www.arounddb.com.

There was a fantastic response from DB and Lantau secondary-school students, and we thank everyone who entered. Now we are asking you to select the ultimate winner – note that online voting ends March 16. The winning article will be published in the April issue of Around DB magazine.

Sock it to Down syndrome

March 21 sees the eighth anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day (which is now officially recognised by the United Nations). To help raise awareness about Down syndrome, all you have to do is wear wild and wacky (preferably mismatched) socks. The idea is that we can all embrace and welcome differences in sock wearing – and people! Well done to Discovery Bay International School, Discovery College and Island School for supporting this event and asking all of its students and teachers to do their bit!

MARCH 2013 Dine out with IN & AROUND DB

S.O.S. Lanka Action

If you are a fan of Bernie Deden’s delicious Sri Lankan curries, you won’t want to miss the fundraising dinner being organised by S.O.S Lanka Action on March 16. The DB charity is taking over Café Duvet in DB Plaza from 7.30pm to 12.30pm and it’s sure to be a great night. Bernie’s charity raises money for underprivileged Sri Lankans, helping them start up businesses, and also to rebuild homes, and install sanitary facilities and wells. For more information, go to www.sos-lanka-action. org. To book a table for dinner, email bernie@sos-lanka-action.org.

DBer empowers Filipino youth

Christina Jensen, 29 years old and raised in DB, is the brains behind Anakatira, a two-fold charity/ education programme based out of an orphanage in Cebu. The scheme helps get out-of-school Filipino youths back into education, in particular funding university-level courses and providing art workshops. In exchange for full scholarships (including transport, school supplies, uniform, etc.) the students have to give back to their community by teaching, and running activities in the orphanage and in their squatter neighbourhood. Donations are welcome; a full-year scholarship costs just HK$5,000. For more information, go to www.anakatira.com and view the students’ artwork – it’s for sale!

Take-home tickets for

The Sleeping Beauty

COMPETITION

Everyone’s favourite fairy tale, The Sleeping Beauty, is being performed at the Auditorium at Shatin Town Hall from March 15 to 17. This slightly condensed, fast-paced interpretation put on by The Hong Kong Ballet will delight the whole family. Magnificent sets and lush costumes set the stage for a wonderful performance, all about romance, fate and the battle between good and evil. Book your tickets at www.urbtix.hk or call 2111 5999. For programme details, please visit www.hkballet.com.

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Around DB is very pleased to offer three pairs of tickets to see The Sleeping Beauty on March 17 at 7.30pm to three readers who can tell us which ballet company will stage The Sleeping Beauty this month at Shatin Town Hall.

For your chance to win, go to the competitions link on the homepage at www.arounddb.com by March 10. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer.

March 2013

Paint the Town

Purple for Epilepsy

DBer Shyamala Padmasola is the marketing and communications manager for Enlighten – Action for Epilepsy. The charity focuses on education, training and awareness. There’s lots going on in March (it’s Paint the Town Purple for Epilepsy awareness month), including plays and comedy shows, so go to www.enlightenhk.org/index.php/purple for more details. Be sure to stop by iCaramba in the plaza for a special purple cocktail and keep an eye out too for Ellie the Epiphant – a cute purple elephant available for purchase all around town.

Let’s friend

each other!

We already have over 1,600 fans on www.facebook.com/Around DB, and our tech team reports that some messages receive over 60,000 views. Wow! Friend us and we will keep you updated on all the best DB and Lantau events, plus the big happenings Hong Kong-side.

Be sure to visit the fan page, and keep your information coming about events, promotions and openings! Thanks to all of you who are embracing AroundDB so warmly online.

Asia’s Award Winning Spa SPA by MTM is well known for its spacious environment that fuses modern minimalism with traditional comfort. In such a tranquil paradise, your body, soul and mind will be transported to a sanctuary of rest and relaxation.

For six consecutive years, SPA by MTM has won the Cosmopolitan’s Best of the Best Award. They were also nominated as the Best Day Spa in the Asia Spa Awards, 2012 and The Most Trustworthy Beauty Spa Brand in the Spa China Awards, 2011.

The First “Custom-blended” Spa in Asia Stemming from the Custom-blended Skincare philosophy, MTM’s professional spa therapists will diagnose each customer’s physical and mental needs, and select the most suitable essences to add in the treatment in order to maximize its benefits. In addition, you can select your very own aroma in the room to customize a “ just for you” spa experience. At SPA by MTM, your senses dictate all.

Celebrity Favorites & Editor Choices SPA by MTM provides different signature treatments to suit your personal needs, including the popular Harmony Hot Stone Treatment, the reviving Japanese Genki Thermotherapy and the spiritual Five Elements Vitality Retreat. Melt into a pool of relaxation and calm your senses with our nourishing Ginger Milk Bath or refreshing Japanese Sake Bath. Special daily made refreshments will be served for the perfect finish to your ultimate pampering.

Special Priviledges for Around DB readers Please present this invitation to enjoy below offers* from now until March 31, 2013  35% off on first trial of any SPA by MTM treatment  A complimentary full-skin consultation, plus a Custom-blended Q10 Moisturiser trial gift (valued at HK$165) * Offers are available for MTM first time customers only

SPA by MTM, Citygate outlets, Tung Chung, 2923 6060 www.spabymtm.com

MARCH 2013

IN & AROUND DB

ACCESSDB

fundraising dinner Family portrait

competition

To mark the end of Eclipse Management’s fantastic five-month fundraiser for the DB Rehabus, there’s a wine-pairing dinner and wine-tasting evening on March 25 at McSorley’s in DB Plaza. Each HK$498 ticket includes a HK$100 donation, and you can make a reservation by calling McSorley’s on 2987 8280. The bus has had daily bookings since it launched in December, and HK$880,000 has so far been raised to help DBers with special transportation needs. To reserve a seat on the Rehabus call 6283 9270. A big shout out to Eclipse, as the group has matched every HK$2 donated by diners at its DB restaurants since November. Locals will also be happy to note that Hong Kong Resort International (HKRI) has also been right behind this project from the beginning.

Celebrate

Easter!

Churchgoers throughout Hong Kong are honouring Christ’s resurrection this month. Here in DB, in addition to their individual celebrations, members of the Holy Trinity, Church of the Incarnation, Discovery Bay Anglican Church and Discovery Bay International Community Church will gather together on Tai Pak Beach for a 6am Sunrise Service on March 31. All are welcome.

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March 2013

We want to see the best photo you have taken of a family, child or children!

From the photos received Around DB contributing photographers Tracey van Geest, and Radhika and Baljit Gidwani will each choose their favourite. We’ll then post the top three images on www.arounddb.com for readers to vote for a winner. To enter, email your highresolution photo to info@aroundb.com

by March 30. The images will go up for online voting, April 15 to 30. To see the judges’ work, and get top tips from seven superb DB photographers, turn to this month’s Infocus.

The Pier Bar

Stop by The Pier Bar at the DB ferry pier in Central for a great selection of international beer, mixed drinks as well as 10 wines by the glass. Grab one of their many bottles of wine from around the world on your way to or from DB. And if you are feeling hungry, they have tasty gourmet pizzas, puff pastry pies and savory snacks. They will rotate the selection to keep things interesting! The Pier Bar is open Monday through Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from noon till 9pm. Call 2520 2816 for more information.

DB

fight club

At DB Boxing, a small club for men and women started five years ago, training involves a mix of boxing-based fitness and conditioning, combined with technique drills, hand pads and light sparring. To date, the club has had five members fight in local White Collar Boxing events with a club record of five wins, no losses and two Fighter of the Night awards! The club is looking for new members – no prior boxing experience is needed but there is controlled contact in a number of the drills, so you need to be comfortable with that. Check out dbaybc.webnode.com/club-info for more information. And for a taste of the action, you can see club member Cobra (Claire Stewart) fight it out on March 2 at a fundraising event at the Intercontinental, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Easter egg

hunts and bunny fun

Head to the Easter Egg Hunt and Funfair, March 29 and 30, at Tai Pak Beach.

Tickets are HK$180, with the chance to win a Kinder Golden Egg Grand Prize worth HK$3,200. (You can sign your kids up online at www.ddeck.com.hk from March 1.) This year too the Discovery Bay Recreation Club is hosting a Happy Bunny Lawn Party on March 29. There will be a clown, balloon twisting, egghunting games, arts and crafts and a bouncy castle, plus afternoon tea and free-flowing popcorn. Call 2987 7381 to book ahead.

Let us shine the light for your child at Sunshine House International Pre-School in Tung Chung.

Guaranteed quality accredited education every time for children aged 6 months to 6 years.

Bilingual and Mandarin immersion program.

Mother Goose playgroup for "dad's and me" on Saturday Mornings.

For further information contact: 2109 3873 www.sunshinehouse.com.hk

ADVERTORIAL

Eye Level Health & Intelligen

Making M

Traditional math programmes that put an emphasis on computational practices and merely focus on speed leave students exhausted. Education researchers have touted the benefits of learning through play for years – when we are engaged in an activity we enjoy, we’ll spend more time doing it. Eye Level programme is exactly developed to present math in a stimulating manner and help students get motivated to tackle this subject. Director of Eye Level Health & Intelligence (H&I) Education Centre (DB), Herman Chu has more to tell us.

What is Eye Level Math and what are its origins?

Eye Level Math was developed by Daekyo, Korea’s largest educational programme provider, with the help of a team of maths professors from the US. Since then, Eye Level Math has been expanded to more than 15 countries with a total of over 2 million students.

This 32-level programme of study is designed to help students improve their mathematical thinking and problem solving skills by providing them with interrelated pathways to master concepts progressively and structurally.

Eye Level was previously known by DBers as E.nopi, which essentially means that the workbooks and study resources are created ‘from the eye level of the kids’ (E=eye ; nopi=level). The workbooks help each student to progress at his or her own pace.

What is special about the curriculum and what kind of improvements can we expect from students attending the course?

We are complementing and strengthening what the kids are learning at school, from reception to early secondary. Apart from Basic Thinking Math which focuses on calculation and word problem solving skills, building strong foundation in essential math concepts, the curriculum also includes a unique portion called Critical Thinking Math. This consists of fun activities in areas like patterns and relationships, geometry, measurement, logic, reasoning and spatial awareness which can greatly enhance the understanding of more advanced mathematical concepts and their applications. Furthermore, it strengthens students’ problem solving and logical thinking abilities. In fact, kids call the Critical section ‘FUN book’, which clearly demonstrates the level of liking of this section by the children.

We have received favourable feedback from parents – their kids have achieved better school results since enrolment.

The children are more confident in their arithmetic and critical thinking abilities plus they are more motivated to tackle the subject.

In fact the programme has been awarded Parent’s Choice for Educational Brand continuously for the past four years.

To enrol in Eye Level Math or to find out more about the programme

ADVERTORIAL

nce (H&I) Education centre:

Maths FUN!

What is your teaching approach at Eye Level Math?

We want students to enjoy the learning process, and have FUN. We conduct small group classes and our experienced tutors are very interactive with the students. We emphasise a lot in teaching strategies to students to approach a topic or question and we also emphasise creativity in guiding students to understand concepts that the students might find difficult to comprehend. We also emphasise applications of maths to everyday life.

Is Eye Level Math popular in DB? Our centre is the sole provider of Eye Level Math in DB and is quite reputable in the community. We have a proven track record in helping lots of kids to either advance in their math group level or simply gain confidence in the subject. Our efforts to service the DB community have been highly recognised by the Eye Level head office in Hong Kong.

To date, we have helped hundreds of students in the local community and the number is still growing each day.

So you now have opened another centre in DB North Plaza?

Yes. The demand for our service in DB has been increasing so we have opened a second centre in Commercial Centre Tower 2, DB North Plaza, in order to help more students. The environment of this new centre is excellent, so I am sure kids will enjoy having their classes there. A parent commented that, ‘This is probably the only learning centre in Hong Kong that has such a stunning sea view,’ so I would like to invite parents to come and check it out!

To celebrate the opening of the new centre, we are running tuition discount, referral scheme and rejoin student promotions. Tuition discounts are up to 20% off monthly tuition. These promotions are valid for all Eye Level Health & Intelligence (H&I) Education centres in DB. To enrol in Eye Level Math or to find out more about the programme, contact Hermann at 9366 0000 or email him at hi@hicentre.biz.

What the parents say…

“My son is very proud of coming to Eye Level class since he obtained very good grades in school after joining.

His teacher even praised his good work in front of the whole class! He is so proud of himself! He said he won’t quit Eye Level as he likes his teacher very much. Thanks for the nice work, H&I.” “My child’s school report last week was really good, especially in math. I have to thank H&I for its efforts and patience in helping my daughter in this difficult subject. I don’t have to worry about her at all. Keep going, H&I!” “The course turned my daughter’s math around! Within a month, her worries about the school math classes and homework had gone. With the Eye Level methods, she was easily able to keep up in class; in fact, she was quickly moved into the top group, achieving the highest possible grade in her report, only one year later.

I highly recommend it to any parent who feels their child needs a confidence boost or support with maths. It’s a great way to learn what can and should be a fun subject!”

Contact Hermann at 9366 0000 or hi@hicentre.biz.

MARCH 2013 See Shaolin Fez live at

ACROSS LANTAU

Grappa’s

COMPETITION

Yo u w i l l r e m e m b e r we p r of il e d D B resident and Hong Kong Philharmonic double bassist Sam Ferrer in the January issue of Around DB. Sam’s jazzy, funky, 13-piece band Shaolin Fez is performing live on March 21 at 8pm in Grappa’s Cellar, Central. The event, which features vocalist Jenifer Palor and special guest Ginger Kwan, is Live a nd Let D ie – the mu sic of Ja me s Bond, Mis sion Impossible and more. Tickets are HK$188 in advance or HK$208 at the door (one drink included). Students pay HK$88 (at the door only). For advance ticket sales go to www.shaolinfez.com.

Sam Ferrer is offering a pair of entrance tickets to the Live and Let Die gig to two readers who can tell us the name of Shaolin Fez’s first album.

(Hint: you will find the answer at www.facebook.com/ShaolinFez.) For your chance to win, go to the competitions link on the homepage at www.arounddb.com by March 10. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer.

New voice at

Andante

Filipino guitarist, bassist, drummer and vocalist, Paul Sapiera is now performing at the Novotel Citygate’s A n d a n t e b a r.

With Platinumand Gold-selling records, and songs that have reached Number One in the Philippine pop charts, Paul has also performed internationally, in the US, Japan, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Happy hour is from 5pm to 8pm and you can enjoy a chill-out session every night except Sunday from 6.30pm till late. Call 3602 8828 for more information.

Get set for the

Lantau50 It’s the second Raidlight Lantau50 trailrunning event on March 16. There are three races: the new Ultra 100 kilometre (+5,900 metres), the 50 kilometre (+2,700 metres) and the Explorer 15 which includes a 300-metre climb, all starting on Silvermine Beach in Mui Wo. The Lantau50 is a qualifying race for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a mountain ultra-marathon in the French Alps. Act fast and there may still be time to register for the Explorer 15, and the organisers are looking for volunteers on the day – go to www.lantau50.com to find out more.

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PROFILE

Photos by Baljit Gidwani

court approved 24

In the lead up to the DBRC’s Tennis Nations Cup this month, Elizabeth Kerr talks to the club’s full-time tennis coaches – and congratulates Paul Summerside on his recent promotion

Clockwise from bottom: Full-time DBRC coaches Paul Summerside, John Weston and Shane Fox

March 2013

PROFILE

I

f the tennis world had its own boy band, it might be the full-time coaching staff at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC). True, there’s no indication that they sing, and they’re a couple of players shy of a full outfit, but they do have the jock by default.

John Weston could fill the scoundrel role, the bachelor who’s quick with a quip or a witty comeback. Taylor Swift might write a song about him. Shane Fox (new to the club) would be the suave one, charming but laid-back. Think Kevin Richardson. And freshly minted head-coach Paul Summerside is the diplomat – the face of the crew who guides the group and defines its identity. He’s a Timberlake.

Ace-ing it Together Paul, John and Shane have a combined halfcentury of coaching experience. Having played and coached around the world as well as right here at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) and Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC), the trio of Australians is well suited to the DBRC’s relatively diverse membership. And yes, indeed, they all played some level of professional tennis.

John has been coaching for 20 years, and admits, “When we finished as juniors, we all probably had aspirations of playing pro but circumstances change.

Some went to college, some of us found beer and girls…” So how do you make the leap from playing

March 2013



25

PROFILE

to coaching? “You’re a failed tennis player,” chips in Paul.

Which is not to say that the coaches are slumming it, or just passing time until something better comes along. Far from it. They enjoy their work and it shows on court. As Shane describes it, “I know guys who are still trying to play pro, that you’ll never hear about and they have a ranking and they travel a little bit. But they’re in their mid- to late-20s and they don’t have five dollars. Every bit of money they have they spend making it to the next tournament. Eventually, at some point, if you don’t have backing or parents [to support you] you have to make a decision to do something else.

For me, for all of us, what we were able to do was travel the world coaching.”

Paul credits the strong global network of player-coaches with making moving from club to club, country to country, possible – and welcoming. All three coaches have worked in Europe and North America and tapped into this sprawling

international network when the time was right to move on. Paul has 18 years coaching under his belt, and ‘failing’ as a player certainly didn’t spell the end of his tennis career.

“For most of us tennis is our life, we’ve been playing since we were four or five years old,” Paul says. “So to keep doing something with tennis is ideal, and [coaching] gives us the opportunity to stick with what we know.”

Young players Children make up a huge market segment at the DBRC, and Paul says, “It’s particularly rewarding to see some of the kids we’ve got progress.” All three – along with part-time coaches Ajit Gidwani and Richard Gordon – admit there is indeed professional potential in some of their young charges, if (and it’s a big if) kids are allowed to focus on the one activity. In addition, until kids discover autonomy, beer and girls/ boys, “It’s something parents can do with their kids,” Shane remarks.

Children definitely play a large part in the trio’s lives, both personally and professionally. Shane held demanding positions at the HKJC and the HKFC when along came a son, now 14 months old. “My priorities changed instantly,” he notes, saying how he wanted to put more time in with his young family (his wife Kylie is the club’s first outdoor fitness trainer). “And that wasn’t going to happen in a head coach role,” he states. Paul is expecting his first child later this year, leaving John the childless odd man out. “I have plenty of kids on the court,” he states gravely. He’s not kidding.

Net gains

Paul coaching a young player

Find more local heroes

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March 2013

Paul is admittedly stepping into big shoes left behind by the club’s last tennis boss, Gregory ‘Stevo’ Stevenson.

“Stevo is the master. You can still see his footprints on the court over there,” Paul intones, alongside much reverent hemming and hawing from the other two. But kidding aside, all three are quick to acknowledge 

www.arounddb.com

PROFILE

Stevo’s contributions to the game in DB and its growth at the DBRC. So what makes Paul the right man for the job?

“I’m definitely the fittest. As you can see,” he deadpans.

Can the tennis programme expect wholesale changes or a nice even keel? Ideally Paul wants to, “Take the things Stevo has done and keep them running and add a few new things.

There are a few junior and kids programmes we’d like to get going, and Shane will be the guy for that. Maybe a few new tournaments. There are always little things to do that can improve the club.” The ‘we’ is not overstated. He’s the boss but Paul looks to be plotting a collaborative course that will serve the entire membership, even if any fresh ideas can’t be revealed in detail just yet.

But first up, carrying on that legacy begins with this month’s Tennis Nations Cup, now in its 20th year, where 20 national teams comprising over 200 players spend a weekend, eating, drinking, trash talking and, of course, playing tennis.

This is Paul’s first year running the event, and he’s expecting nothing less than a resounding success. “The whole spirit of the tournament is to get out there and have a fun day with

your fellow countrymen and have a bit of laugh no matter how good or bad they are,” he enthuses. “Some teams are out there to win it but some are just out there to have a good drink and a good time.” He pauses for a cheeky grin. “Yeah, it’s good.”

Find it Get set for the 20th Tennis Nations Cup being held on March 9 and 10 at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC). As always this promises to be a great weekend for players and spectators alike. Off court there’ll be stalls to shop, food and beverages to buy, and for the kids, bouncy castles and activity booths.

On court, players will battle it out in weird but often wonderful national dress! The Sunday after-party is open to players and their partners only – a real hot ticket! For more information, or to book time on court with Paul, Shane or John, call the DBRC on 2987 7381.

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Illustration by Richard Leschinsky Photos courtesy of Pierre Cadoret, Parmila Gurung, Alison Whalley

IN FOCUS

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March 2013

IN FOCUS

second acts Mary Singer catches up with three busy Lantau Islanders engaging in a side business while holding down their day job

S

ome people take on second jobs in order to help pay the bills. Others elect to start their own business because they want to, not because they have to. And in the digital age, setting up this second career and publicising it has never been easier.

Managing one job can be a handful, and the idea of having two may seem overwhelming. But here are the stories of three Lantau residents who moonlight for love – and well, maybe a little money, too.

The pilot brewer Pierre Cadoret is a pilot, so he gets around. And like most people, he loves to sample the local fare whenever he takes a vacation. In his case, the passion is beer, and his compelling urge to advance this interest came to fruition here in the territory. “Before I moved to Hong Kong, I was flying here regularly, still with Cathay but based in the UK,” he says. “Whenever I went out in the evening I never found a beer that I liked.” Pierre started to make inquiries, asking friends in the know about the feasibility of starting a brewery. And on moving here in 2005, he decided to give it a go.

a first prize at the Hong Kong International Beer Awards in 2011,” he explains.

Forewarning would-be moonlighters, Pierre says, “It has been hard work trying to fit in the brewery stuff with my main job as a pilot, and this is why I need new investment and partners to help make the brewery more commercially viable, and to allow me to take on a more developmental role.”

Future plans involve legging and bottling the beers (currently all on draft) to make them more widely available.

The brewery is on hiatus at the moment, but like most entrepreneurial types, Pierre has plenty of ideas up his sleeve.

Property developer mum

Pierre Cadoret

Of course there was a lot of research involved. Pierre took a course in England, and then started to work out the logistics of moving his newly acquired beer kit out to Hong Kong.

“I also had to find out what I needed to do to keep the authorities happy,” he says. Pierre’s ale, made at his brewery in Mui Wo, first became available in local pubs in July 2009, and he soon altered the recipe to produce a bitter called T8, which was very well received. “However, it was my golden ale, Eastern Lightning, that went down best of all, winning

Alison Whalley is an energetic mum to two teenage daughters as well as an active member of the community. She is a member of the Discovery Bay Tennis Committee, heavily involved in community fundraising – and a good tennis player to boot. But with much less fanfare than a Tennis Nations Cup tournament, Alison has been slowly but steadily working on one of her most ambitious projects – high-end property development.

Twelve years after quitting accountancy to start a family, Alison can look upon her ‘third child’ Emsworth Suites, with as much pride as she does her two children. Geared to professional tastes, the apartments embody Alison’s signature design style. Location, views and outdoor entertaining areas are key, with interiors focused on luxury and space-saving strategies.

And what inspires Alison, a full-time mum, to continue with her second job? Success and great feedback! “The other

March 2013



31

IN FOCUS

Parmila Gurung

How to manage two jobs

Alison Whalley (Phoebs Photography)

day, one couple contacted me to say how sorry they were to have missed out on one of our rental units in Wanchai,” she says. “They asked if they could reserve my next flat, even though I hadn’t even started the renovation!”

In addition to the nuts-and-bolts of the design and renovation work, and as the number of units available in the Emsworth Suites’ listings expands, Alison is increasingly turning her attention to branding and marketing. She is on a learning curve with social media, having recently upgraded the Emsworth Suites’ website and added Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to her media resources, with the help of her daughters. The efforts bring all sorts of rewards, not simply financial. She is enjoying building up a family business with her daughters, and says that the experience is also a way to work together with her financier husband.

Educator-cum-jeweller Parmila Gurung, at times a supply teacher and education assistant, and at all times mum to two teenagers, started making jewellery in the summer of 2007. “My friend Eva was making earrings and I tried it and fell in love right away. I

Find more inspirational local stories

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March 2013

1. Don’t neglect your primary source of income, and think carefully before informing your boss about your side business. Many employers won’t allow you to take a second job if it is remotely related to your day job, while some employers won’t allow moonlighting at all.

2. Most jobs carry some degree of stress, so keep tabs on any additional anxiety caused by your second job. Moonlight in something different or fun. If you’re at a desk all day, avoid computers at night.

3. Moonlighting may put a lot of stress on your relationships. Continue to prioritise your family, and don’t neglect social activities. Work too much, and you may find your friends stop calling because they assume you’re unavailable.

4. Inform yourself about the legalities of setting up a side business, and beware the tax man. Take the time to calculate your approximate tax liability with your additional income and save something extra each month.

5. Be kind to yourself. If you can squeeze it in, exercise, a balanced diet and at least six hours of sleep will make a big difference in your ability to handle a second job.

6. Nobody should work 24/ 7, no matter how much they love their job(s). Put aside one night and one full day each week to relax.

Source: www.moneyunder30.com

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INFOCUS

have not stopped since,” she explains. “My company name is based on my friend's initial and mine: Pure Elegance (P for Parmila and E for Eva).

Parmila’s moonlighting started as she wanted something to do after work when her kids were asleep. “I like wearing jewellery, but I am allergic to nickel, so it was perfect that I could start making my own jewellery in Hong Kong.

I bought some jewellery tools plus bits and pieces in Denmark,” she says of her business’ early stages. The jewellery is very simple and inspired by Scandinavian design. She uses sterling silver and semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and recently added gold-plating on sterling silver as well.

After many years working at local schools, Parmila took a year off two summers back to concentrate on what she called her hobby. It turned out to be more than a hobby, and these days she only has time for occasional supply work.

Silver-smithing, which she studied in London, is her next project. “I have to figure out the insurance policy and so on,” she notes, “as I am not sure that my current house insurance will be adequate.”

And what drives Parmila? “Making jewellery has given me inner peace. And as the icing on the cake, all my customers are very appreciative which encourages me to keep going.

I am still keeping it very small, but it is going better than I expected!”

Whether you do it for love, or money, or both, it is likely that anyone who dares to work a second job will find the efforts rewarding in many ways.

Find it • Emsworth Suites, www.emsworthsuites.com, www.facebook.com/emsworthsuites • Pure Elegance Jewellery, www.facebook.com/groups/233190846728834 • Typhoon Brewery, www.facebook.com/TyphoonBrewery

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FAMILY MATTERS

memory

keepers

Baby Isabella, nine days new – Tracey van Geest

Karmel Schreyer aims for a wide-angled view of DB’s resident shutterbugs to find out what they focus on.

She discovers that, for the most part, it’s family Photos by Tracey van Geest, Radhika and Baljit Gidwani, Nana Minasian, Bradley Wayburne, John Wong and Vincent Ypersiel

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March 2013

FAMILY MATTERS

Y

ou don’t have to be a fully-fledged pro with years of experience to take amazing photos. This month, a DB mum, a dad and a student, who are taking their passion for photography to the next level, give us some tips. We also hear from a DB teen and a DB 20-something, with recently launched photography studios, and Around DB contributing photographers Tracey van Geest, and Radhika and Baljit Gidwani. Interestingly, everyone interviewed reveals that the photo bug bit them young.

The mum-with-camera All mums are equipped with cameras, and we consider the photos of our children as our art, but not all mums make the time to be schooled in the craft of photography. Nana Minasian’s love of photography started early, growing up in Armenia and, for her birthday last year, Nana’s husband enrolled her in a two-day photography workshop at the Hong Kong International Film Academy.

My kids – Nana Minasian

The course covered camera basics, exterior shots and night shooting. Students were also taught the basics of studio lighting, practising interior shots and portraits. “I believe the best thing about the course was the realisation of how creative one can get and how much flexibility there is in your camera when you take it off the automatic setting,” Nana notes. “Taking photos of my family and friends, capturing precious moments, looking back and reliving them is the essence of photography for me.”

The photo daddy Belgian-born pilot Vincent Ypersiel got his first camera at the age of eight, a basic plastic Kodak Ektra. “I remember my parents made me responsible for photo coverage during a family weekend in Luxembourg, a task I took very seriously,” Vincent says. “I enjoyed it so much that I have never stopped taking pictures since, reading about skills and gaining field experience in photo shooting.

Starfish – Vincent Ypersiel

“Besides learning the technical aspect, put effort and passion into your photography,” Vincent advises. “Nowadays, especially in this digital era, with the help of good material, photo-editing software, back-up and sharing options, and yes, a little bit of time commitment, photography has never been so efficient and manageable.”

Vincent’s favourite compositions are of nature (landscapes, wildlife, clouds), travel themes, sports events, and, last but not least, his kids in action. Vincent also offers his services at local sports events, snapping photos of the daring exploits of his kids and other competitors, and considers it a part of his community service.

The young enthusiast John Wong, a Year 9 student at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS), has been a dedicated photo-hobbyist since 

Winter Wonderland – John Wong

March 2013

37

FAMILY MATTERS

he borrowed his mum’s camera age five. “I do not actually take lessons, but nevertheless I have grown more technical in my photography through self-discovery,” John says. “I mostly use manual mode when shooting with my camera, currently the Sony a55 DSLR.” John has won several DBIS mathematics and science awards; does he see any connection? “Mathematical knowledge is useful for photography as a lot of the element settings have numerical values,” he notes. “The ‘f-stop’ is also important when indicating aperture; they adjust how much light is allowed to the sensor and are mostly set on a camera using a scale that increases by powers of the square root of two.” Yep! John is clearly merging his favourite school subjects with his art.

The experimentalist

Behind wood – Bradley Wayburne

Now 26, Bradley Wayburne loved poring over issues of National Geographic as a DB youngster, admiring the photography. He ended up studying film at university but all his electives were in photography. “My favourite was learning about film cameras and the dark room, it's a very cathartic process,” he says. Photographing people is Bradley’s thing.

“Street photography, to be precise,” he says. “Expressions are unique to the moment; and when you frame it well and use the light properly, the outcomes are amazing. Anyone can do it!

“You don’t need expensive cameras to get good images – but it sure helps!” Bradley adds. “Like any passion in life, if it is something you really want to do then you find ways.”

Bradley’s company, Wayburne Photography, recently launched a unique concept-photography studio, The MM Look. “We aim to create images that are not your run-ofthe-mill portraits,” he says. “You experience the life of a superhero or supermodel on one of our shoots.” The concept includes make-up sessions, with the final product being versioned as a comic strip or magazine cover.

Model – Radhika Gidwani

The pros Baljit Gidwani and his family are long-time Discovery Bay residents. As a devoted father, he has been taking photos of thousands of Hong Kong students for years. Talking to Baljit, you get the sense that he is the kind of person who sees art all around him and this is reflected in his work.

In November last year, Baljit launched Photosdb.net with his award-winning photographer-daughter Radhika, 17.

Recognising Radhika's natural sense of composition, timing and impact, Baljit has encouraged her to follow her heart, take her skills one step further and ‘go pro’. Both Gidwanis are now regular Around DB contributing photographers.

Working with Radhika is a joy: “I never have to tell her what to do or how to capture the moment,” Dad says. “She never  fails to impress.”

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March 2013

Morris family – Tracey van Geest

This?

Or this?

Shop 112 DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, 29874338 info@dmr-hk.com www.dmr-hk.com

FAMILY MATTERS

Listening to Tracey van Geest, an Around DB contributing photographer, and art director Terry Chow talk shop makes you realise how much you are missing out on by keeping your camera set to ‘auto’. Tracey loved photography as a child and studied the craft in Australia. “The study gave me the foundations to experience different photography styles and develop, most importantly, my own style,” she says.

Find it • Tracey van Geest, www.inspiredimages.co • Baljit and Radhika Gidwani, www.photosdb.net, www.facebook.com/Photosdb.net • Bradley Wayburne, www.themmlook.com, www.wayburnephotography.com • Cass Shing Creation, www.shingcass.com

Tracey initially learnt the craft with film, “understanding that each frame was money” but now she’s totally sold on digital photography. “As with most advances in technology, photography is now more accessible to everyone,” Tracey notes. “There are so many advanced yet affordable cameras on the market, and this allows people to experience a level of photography that was once very difficult to attain. I encourage everyone with a passion for photography to get to know their camera. Don’t be afraid to try all the different settings and experiment. Fall in love with your camera and enjoy capturing your special moments.”

Family portrait competition We want to see the best photo you have taken of a family, child or children! From the photos received Around DB contributing photographers Tracey, Radhika and Baljit will each choose their favourite.

We’ll then post the top three images online at www.arounddb.com for readers to vote for a winner. To enter simply email your high-resolution image to info@aroundb.com by March 30. The images will go up for online voting, April 15 to 30.

Baljit’s top tips on photographing kids • Have a chat with the children before you start shooting; let them get to know you a little bit. Give them a small compliment on their looks • Get down to the same level but never shoot from an angle lower than your subject • When you’re ready to get your shot, ask the kids to say something – this loosens the muscles around the mouth and makes the smile more relaxed. Press the shutter button a moment after the kids say ‘cheese’ or whatever word you gave them. Better yet, if possible, do something silly, distract the kids and make them laugh • Keep on shooting for that relaxed candid shot – often the first few frames are tense. Some of the best shots are of kids interacting with other kids and not looking straight into the camera lens • Put your camera on continuous shooting with a fast shutter speed and go for an action shot • When shooting portraits, use a long focal length.

This will flatten the face and reduce the curved distortion that results from a wide-angled lens • Find a neutral background, and fill the frame. Use as large an aperture as your lens allows and quite a lot of zoom. This will give you a shallower focusing range and help blur the background • Watch the light – when it’s too sunny the shadows on the kids’ faces will look harsh Kabliji girls – Baljit Gidwani

Find more topical local topics

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March 2013

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TALKING POINTS

make your claim W

e are talking, this month, about getting revenge. OK that may sound a bit extreme, what we really mean is that we are focusing on a channel through which you can try to get what you are owed. It is a legal channel, and one that won’t make it necessary to hire a lawyer. This is perhaps what makes Hong Kong’s Small Claims Tribunal most appealing for the resolution of grievances of a certain nature.

Hong Kong’s Small Claims Tribunal will handle cases between parties involving debts, services, property damage, faulty goods, and other consumer claims up to a money value of HK$50,000. It does not handle issues related to alimony, libel and slander or wage disputes. Once you have decided to avail yourself of this government service (and it should be said that it is available free of charge to Hong Kong permanent residents), the first step towards filing a claim is to obtain the name and address of the person or company you wish to make a claim against. Next, fill in some forms which detail the particulars of the claim and deliver them in person to the Tribunal Registry Office in Wanchai.

Here you pay a nominal filing fee of about HK$100.

have a representative attend the hearings on their behaIf. In cases where the defendant appears to be ignoring the proceedings (by not showing up), the adjudicator may enter a default judgment against him as long as all paperwork is in order. Parties may also apply for a discontinuance, adjournment of proceedings or amendments to a claim or counterclaim at any point before a judgment is executed.

If an agreement cannot be reached at the mention hearing, a trial date will be set, and parties will have to prepare evidence and witnesses just as they would for a real court case. But without the expensive lawyers present.

Sounds reasonable… but there are a few caveats. Even if you receive a judgment in your favour, the Small Claims Tribunal cannot enforce payment and you may end up paying more to receive what you are owed. If you move to trial you may have to pay for certain documentation, such as notarised statements or affidavits. The timeline for any tribunal case varies but it can take more than a year to enforce compliance.

One DBer’s experience About the process When the defendant receives notice of the claim, he can opt to settle it or go to the first stage of proceedings, called a call-over. If the issue cannot be resolved in this first instance, the tribunal will schedule a mention hearing at a later date, where parties further state their case. The defendant may also register a counter claim. A claimant or defendant can

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March 2013

Donald Jackson (not his real name) decided to go this route in order to be reimbursed for expenses incurred when water leaks from the above flat caused damage to his DB home. The entire process took about a year and a half. And during that time, an additional leak occurred which perhaps prompted the defendant to agree to settle the current case, and promise to pay for the new damage.

TALKING POINTS

Around DB looks at the ins and outs of seeking justice – through Hong Kong’s Small Claims Tribunal

The truth will out (www.christian-wallpaper.com)

“I look back on the experience at the tribunal positively,” Donald says. “I felt that the adjudicator understood my vexation with the defendant, who was suggesting that the initial damage may have been a result of rain and such like.

Even so, the adjudicator was at pains to explain to me that the burden of proof rested on me, and even in a case like this I should take nothing for granted.”

Donald knew that one avenue to assure his case was to hire an engineer to assess damage, but the fee would have been significant compared to the actual amount of the damages claimed. He did, however, secure a document from the Water Supplies Department, after an inspection and watermeter reading, that attested to ‘prima facie evidence of water seepage nuisance’.

Proceedings were concluded after a meeting that at first showed little promise of resolution. At that point the adjudicator gave stern instructions to both parties to come to an agreement while he left the room for 10 minutes.

“Compromise was offered and accepted,” Donald notes.

“A cheque was written. The tribunal’s support staff seemed happy as they carried out the documentation. It all happened so fast, in the end, after more than a year and several appearances at the tribunal. It seemed surreal but maybe that’s exactly how these things go.”

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Would Donald do it again? “Even though I view the outcome as positive, I am not sure I would do it again if the circumstances were the same. The process took a long time, and in between each tribunal appearance, you are obviously going to be preoccupied about it to an extent. And there is also the risk of ending up in real court, if no settlement can be reached. At that point, you are committed to getting representation at additional cost. The most you can expect is HK$50,000, so you need to decide if that is the price you pay for simply paying any damages yourself and getting on with life.”

Donald adds, “When all was said and done, and my wife and I were enjoying a glass of champagne in a Wanchai bar after we’d reached a settlement, I realised that, in our case, the Small Claims Tribunal had done its job. The emphasis is on mediation. And, again, in this respect, I have the highest regard for the process. But in the end, any success in this process will ultimately depend on the characters of the parties involved. You can control your actions, but you can’t control the other side. Be mindful of that.”

Find it • Small Claims Tribunal, 2877 4068, www.judiciary.gov.hk

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MONEY MATTERS

life policies Not everyone needs life insurance of course, but for those of us who do it’s the best investment money can buy. Gordon Franks reports

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H

ow many times do people say or even just think, ‘It will never happen to me’? The problem is it does happen. The ‘it’ being any kind of disastrous situation which affects you and your family. But fortunately, there’s actually no need to live in denial – for less than many of us spend on coffee each month we can insure our families to protect against all eventualities.

No one is suggesting that you rush out and buy life insurance and disability insurance right now. However, if you have been remiss and not planned for what could happen you really ought to at least give it some consideration and make a plan.

Some individuals say they will deal with whatever life throws at them and that they can cope with any eventuality. If that is the case and they are prepared for the worst then they

are effectively self-insuring. Others feel that they have sufficient assets to cope with almost any challenge that may come their way. Again, provided they have given this some thought and know that provisions are in place in the event of a disaster they are already ahead of the game.

If, however, you are one of the vast majority of people who say, ‘It will never happen to me’, then you are really being negligent to yourself and your loved ones. By burying your head in the sand you are simply ignoring the potential problem and hoping it will never actually occur.

Facing facts Of course, the most precious asset you actually have is your own ability to earn. This provides on-going income to cover the cost of living, and additional savings to provide for your golden years in life. But what if your ability to work

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MONEY MATTERS

ceased because of medical reasons? You would not only have to find the resources for on-going expenses but also the extra funds needed for medical care. You would also lose the ability to save for the provision of your retirement which has in effect hit you prematurely. Retirement on medical grounds is a very different thing from kicking up your heels to relax and travel the world, play golf, and take up those interests you always meant to. For this reason, I would urge all earners to put a little of their salary into personal insurance.

Many of us will have the primary income earner of the family insured, but what if something happened to our non-working spouses who may be raising children? I am currently advising an individual who is well insured, but has no insurance in place for his wife, a non-income-earning full-time mother. Unfortunately this family’s young child has developed a critical illness. If anything were now to happen to mum, dad would have to take unpaid time off work to care for his child. For this reason, we are now looking into insuring both parents.

Two case studies to consider Several years ago I heard about a case where a young expat became ill and was hospitalised in a coma. It was touch and go whether he lived. He eventually came round several weeks later only to discover that he was paralysed from the waist down. He was essentially a paraplegic. While he had to recover psychologically as well as physically, his family was devastated. But strange as this may sound, he was one of the lucky ones. He was employed by a multinational corporation (MNC) who had covered him for just such an event.

Our young man was repatriated along with his family, to his home country. His house had many alterations made to it;

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he was able to buy a car and have it modified for him to drive; all his private-medical expenses were covered; and he was given a host of medical aids, such as wheelchairs and stair lifts. What’s more his salary was paid for five years, and he was given a considerable lump sum as compensation from the insurance company as his was classified as a critical illness.

This young man has retrained in IT and now runs a successful business from home, over the internet. His Asian wife and their family are settled into their new environment, and the entire family is grateful for the fact that they were so well insured.

I know of another individual who suffered a back injury which left him almost totally incapable of physical movement. He was admitted to a hospital but had no insurance of any kind. He was told that he required surgery on his spine, and the cost was almost prohibitive. However, knowing that he could raise the necessary funds he decided to go ahead.

Then he was told that he had a heart condition which prevented him having a general anaesthetic. The remedy was to have a heart operation which would actually be more expensive than the spinal surgery. In constant pain from his back, he was left with a very difficult dilemma.

Having decided to go through with the double surgery, it took a long time for him to become fit enough to return to work. His savings had all been earmarked for hospital

Insuring yourself and your spouse is a must, particularly if you have children (www.claudereynoldsinsurance.com)

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MONEY MATTERS

bills, so he had next to nothing to live on while recuperating.

Perhaps we might describe this as a complete financial wipe out.

Whilst our first person lives a very restricted physical life indeed, he is actually comfortable in terms of his wealth which covers his living expenses. Most of us would not wish to swap our health for such financial comfort. However, would you like to face the predicament of our second expat?

Contingency plans So, how far do you go in making provisions for yourself and your family? Some of us will realise that proper planning can assist us in making the right choices. As we get older our asset base usually increases and then we find we have a great deal more flexibility, enabling us to make insurance provisions for events of a very high-cost nature. We do this knowing that we can cover the lower cost events with our own resources.

Younger people need to make higher provisions for the near and medium future and these can tail off as their resource base grows through their career. Careful planning should

be made in respect of both on-going requirements and projected wealth.

Whatever your current situation it is best you seek advice from a professional who understands the detailed requirements and how to calculate them. He will be able to provide advice on the wider picture of all aspects of your financial life and how it will develop over time. This will allow you to balance effectively between selecting the right protection and supporting your own lifestyle requirements under all circumstances.

Gordon Franks is managing director of Platinum Financial Services Ltd (PFS), an independent Hong Kong-based investment and financial advisory firm catering to professional expatriates across Asia. PFS advises on all aspects of personal financial planning, including portfolio optimisation, retirement planning, savings, investments and inheritance-tax planning.

Email Gordon at gordonfranks@fsplatinum.com.

Who am I? KayeKaye Khemlani (PIBA No. 0032-009006), a native English-speaking insurance advisor, with a strong presence in Discovery Bay and Hong Kong.

My thoughts I understand we all go through different stages of life and so do our insurance needs.

But the mandatory insurances required by the HK Government (including domestichelper insurance, house insurance, automobile coverage and life insurance), are always worth due diligence. This month, I want to wake you up to some things you may not have considered about your health insurance policies.

Health The different types of medical insurance available in Hong Kong are confusing, and the premiums vary tremendously. Here’s how to make sense of a four- tier medical system: 1. Government hospitals – you know how that works.

2. Lower tier insurance – basic coverage for those of you on a budget. This type of insurance is good for the self-employed and for non-travellers (limits can be really low for Europe, Australia and North America). It can be used at local private hospitals but may leave you short if any major surgery is needed. Be aware too that if you have a large claim your next premium will increase considerably. For outpatient claims, reimbursements are not so high especially if your doctor is in Central or DB. 3. Middle tier insurance – high local coverage that is also sufficient to cover outpatient claims and doctors’ bills in DB and Central. This type of insurance is typically for those at managerial level. It works for frequent travellers, even those heading to Europe, Australia and Canada but those travelling to the US will need a bit more protection.

4 Top-tier insurance – high-end cover for just about any hospital, anywhere in the world. This type of insurance provides all kinds of benefits, including private rooms, and free delivery for pregnant women. Top-tier insurance is popular with senior executives, independently wealthy people and women who want kids.

My offer: These are oversimplified concepts and different people have different budgets. I can do a comparison shop for you free of charge, to ensure that you have made the right choice and check that you have the right product at the right price.

ESCAPES

viet Photos by Catharine Nicol

song

On bike and on foot, shopping, eating, drinking and generally doing what the locals do, Catharine Nicol has a ball in Hanoi

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’ve ridden motorbikes in numerous countries. I scooted through Rhodes as a student, earning spontaneous cheers from bystanders due to my wobble factor; I’ve zoomed around Goa narrowly avoiding sacred cows and ducking manic Indian traffic; I’ve zipped through the dusty villages outside Yangshuo, Guangxi; and I’ve explored Koh Phangan’s beaches in that same time-honoured way.

But biking through Hanoi was the most challenging and fool-hardy of the lot.

spiking, heart-racing experience when inexpertly trying to wield a heavy bike and pillion combination.

In the middle of a revving, fume-filled swarm of bikes in the Old Quarter, I struggled not to shout an extreme fourlettered mantra of panic out loud, for fear the guy on the back might realise I was out of my depth. The roads are crowded with motorbikes, push carts, bicycles – and pedestrians. It’s a hedonistically exciting yet chaotic mix when on two nimble feet; an infinitely more adrenaline-

Breakfast by the lake

March 2013

My advice – make good use of the motorbike taxis and their smiling drivers instead, for whom the crazy streets are a meditation. They knew exactly where to find my hot list of Uncle Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, KOTO café, Hang Gai and Hang Bong streets, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the Opera House, Manzi Art Space and Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hoan Kiem Lake is where Hanoi wakes up. This is where you see the city folk yawning, stretching, dancing, jogging, tai chi-ing, coughing and hawking their way into the day.

The calm water on one side, with the pagoda in the middle, balances the gradually increasing chaos of traffic and life

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Hanoi street scene

on the other. Witnessing the individual morning rituals is a real insight into the heart of local life.

Breakfast? Pho is, traditionally, a morning dish and Hanoi’s signature. Pronounced to rhyme with ‘duh!’, pho’s comforting broth, chewy rice noodles and rare slices of beef, sometimes sprinkled with coriander and spring onion, mixes Vietnamese herbs with French colonial influences.

The name possibly derived from feu meaning fire in French, and it epitomises the friendly warmth, cultural mix and irresistible flavours of this city.

Fuelled up, start strolling the Old Quarter’s streets, up coffin street, down travel agent street, along tin street – you’ll start to think of them according to the wares in which they specialise. One of Vietnam’s most famous exports is its art, with thousands of households around the world

sporting pictures of statuesque women wearing ao-dais (the timelessly elegant national dress) and conical hats, in the typical style of artist Nguyen Thanh Binh. Check into Apricot Gallery, Green Palm or new Manzi Art Space for a wider choice that encompasses impressionist, minimal and numerous other styles.

Something surreal For more culture, although significantly less picturesque, visiting Uncle Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is a kind of cult trip; a gruesome view of retro Vietnam. The former communist leader, revolutionary, prime minister, president and Viet Cong founder, who lead his country to independence, ‘lives’ on in a mausoleum that is an identikit to Lenin’s in Moscow. Although he gave his name to Vietnam’s southern city, he reluctantly (he had requested

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cremation) gave his body to Hanoi, and his spirit to the Vietnamese people who continue to glorify him.

Just like in Moscow you have to check in all bags and cameras then join the slowly moving queue; no irreverence (laughing, pointing, stopping or staring) is allowed. For the locals this is an important and emotional glimpse of the leader they have revered all their lives. One moment you’re filing past, silently gazing at the grey, dead-for-forty-years leader, the next you’re back in bright sunshine, blinking at the bizarreness of it all.

Eat to shop No doubt it will be time for another meal by now, and one of the most heartfelt and welcoming cafés in Hanoi is KOTO (Know One Teach One), the not-for-profit eatery and vocational training centre on Van Mieu Street. Here each staff member is a former street kid, rescued from an uncertain future by Vietnamese Korean founder Jimmy Pham. From KOTO they go on to five-star hotels, high-end restaurants and other jobs all around Vietnam as well as overseas. The pho is mouth-watering, the juice refreshing and the cappuccino I ordered was rustled up by none other than a former National Barista Champion.

Energised again, it’s time to shop. Markets like Dong Xuan mix souvenirs with ceramics, plastic goods from China and food. The array of handicrafts available in Hanoi is almost overwhelming – head for Hang Gai or Hang Dao streets.

Local signature pieces include lacquer bowls and trays saturated with colour, wood and rattan baskets, silk lanterns, water puppets and Viet Cong propaganda memorabilia.

Winding down the day As the sun goes down it’s time to head to a bia hoi (beer stop), one of the usually alfresco places that siphon Bia Hoi beer from kegs into chipped, recycled glasses, for peanuts.

Try the one on Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen in the Old Quarter. Bia Hoi is ridiculously cheap, even weaker than American beer, and makes for the most refreshing drink you can get, bar a lime soda. Sitting on tiny plastic stools,

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ESCAPES

Delicious pho

watching the traffic roar by, this is one of Hanoi’s old-school ways to relax.

If you prefer your glasses intact, there are numerous bars in town – relax in the lounge bar of Green Mango, hip Dragonfly or Funky Buddha. Angelina Bar at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is well worth a splurge. The last time I was there one of KOTO’s graduates, the delightfully effervescent, spiky-haired Le Van Tuan, was expertly mixing cocktails behind the bar.

And for another splurge, after all it’s not every day you’re in Hanoi, drop by irreverent chef Bobby Chinn’s Home, near Westlake. Talking of fine dining, there’s also the magical fish at Cha Ca La Vong, expertly prepared local dishes at Quan An Ngon and the more upscale fusion favourite, Indochine.

Sapa’s paddy fields

Halong Bay

How to get there Hong Kong Airlines, Dragonair and Vietnam Airlines fly direct to Hanoi.

Side trips Catch the luxurious overnight Victoria Express to the hill town of Lao Cai and then hop on a minibus to Sapa. Days are spent hiking the paddy fields and mountain villages – a breath of fresh air after the city.

Guides in traditional dress might take you to their family home, if you’re lucky.

Halong Bay is another tempting diversion, a couple of hours’ drive from downtown Hanoi. Arrange an overnight boat stay with your hotel, the old junks or classic emeraudes (paddle steamers) are beautiful.

Swap the crazy streets of Hanoi for calm seas, water villages, caves and dramatic limestone mountains.

www.arounddb.com

TECH TREND

learning technologies Whether it's for school, personal use or business, wherever the need for learning takes place, the potential of online tools to enhance our education is very great. Paula Lepore Burrough reports

Saying that computers have revolutionised education is an understatement, and we are all lifelong learners (www.nearpod.com)

Vocaroo

Symbaloo

Edcanvas

Nearpod

Vocaroo, providing vocal feedback, is the simplest of online tools. Just click the red button to record, then listen, and, if happy with the result, click to save.

If not, try it again. Various sharing options will appear for social-media sites: an embed code, a link, or the option to email or generate a QR code. I'm thinking about recording my family singing Happy Birthday and sending it off to family members. Educators have said that they can provide more detailed feedback to their students with Vocaroo. The link is live for a couple of months, but you can download the file as a MP3, OGG, FLAC or WAV file to keep a permanent copy.

Symbaloo is a fun way to visually organise your favourite online resources using tiles, which you custom-design with your own image, colour choice and name. Log in to your account to create your own webmix and/ or explore the gallery of webmixes ranked by users. Accessing it from any computer is easy. Also, each webmix can be set to a private or public setting.

The gallery is a great way to discover new websites for your latest hobby or subject specialty. Schools or businesses can build their own webmix of links that are commonly used and publish them on their website. Symbaloo provides an html-embed code for each webmix.

This tool allows you to create a collection (canvas) of resources arranged in a customised grid. It uses the easy drag-and-drop gesture. An abundance of different resources can be included: YouTube videos, personalised text, bookmarks, weblinks and Flickr images. You can upload or access files through Dropbox and Google Drive. The canvas opens in a pop-up window and is interactive. Viewers can write comments at any point. If you find a canvas, but would like to tweak it, just copy and edit. Canvases can be emailed, embedded into any html page and shared via Facebook, Twitter or Edmodo.

Need to create enriched media presentations with interactive features?

Nearpod is the coolest of tools to bring any presentation to life. It was voted the Best Collaboration Solution – EdTech Digest Awards 2012 and Audience Favourite – Launch Edu and Kids 2012. The creator uses the Nearpod site to create a customised presentation and then broadcasts via a mobile device such as the iPad that has the (free) Nearpod app installed.

It’s perfect for monitoring activity through polls, quizzes, videos, drawing interactivity, website sharing and more, in real time – especially when presenting to large groups such as a classroom.

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ACTION

rugby rules In the lead up to the HK7’s this month, Megaen Kelly uncovers some DBers’ top memories of the event, and finds out why rugby is such a riot

March 22 to 24, catch the Cathay Pacific HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in the IRB Sevens Series (www.photoree.com)

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ACTION

Y

A real ruckus

Much more than just a weekend-long rugby fest of top players vying for a large cash prize and IRB points, the HK7’s is of course also a time for fans to let their hair down and have a good time. In covering the tournament this year, we’ve decided to focus on people’s passion for the game, as well as for the HK7’s itself. And who better to talk to than

When asked about his best memories of the HK7’s, Randal, who is head of senior rugby for the club, says, “My first HK7's was in 1996 but the only thing I remember was a length of the field try by Christian Cullen; the rest is literally a blur. The south stand has a lot to answer for but it does teach you many things – dressing as a man of God gets you to the front of beer queues, Mexican ponchos have hidden  benefits and Safari suits are best left to the 1970's!”

es, it’s that time of year again – the Cathay Pacific HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in the IRB Sevens Series (HK7’s) March 22 to 24.

Organised by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, and set in Hong Kong Stadium, the 2013 tournament sees 28 national rugby teams battling it out in front of a 40,000-strong crowd.

the RugBees’ directors, and Randal Leonard, Courtney Davies and Phillip Baldwin – three player/ coaches with the Discovery Bay Pirates Rugby Football Club (DBPRFC).

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ACTION

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Discovery Bay residents have a good time at the HK7's

British-born Randal first got into rugby age eight when he was taken to a London game by his grandfather. “In my twenties I really got a taste for the game,” he says. “I threw myself into the winter-long cycle of training, playing and drinking!”

traditional gathering place), corporate boxes and top-tier seating. Now I like wandering around the stadium sitting in different places.”

‘Try-ed’ and tested Courtney spent his childhood playing the sport. “I grew up in Cardiff and attended a Welsh school which had a strong rugby culture,” he says. “This was in the 70’s and 80’s when the Welsh language and Welsh rugby were both going through a revival.”

Courtney’s most memorable HK7’s was his first, at the Sunday ‘march-past’. “I walked out onto the field with 40 U6 Pirates players, and supervised a group of five, essentially my son and his mates,” he recalls. “They seemed unsure of the atmosphere and their role until I pointed out to them that the crowd was cheering and waving at them because they had played so well all season. My comment inspired an innocent and delightful reaction. The boys looked at each other, smiled with uncertainty and, slowly lifting their arms in the air, started to wave back at the crowd!”

Like Randal and Courtney, Phillip got into the game young.

“Like many English boys I first ran onto a rugby pitch as a very cold 11-year-old during winter term at school,” he recalls. And what of the HK7’s? “I have experienced the HK7’s every which way since my first in 1991, and I haven't missed one since,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed it from the south stand, the south-east corner (the Pirates’

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Talking to Tristan Allan, co-director and coach of RugBees (a rugby/ play programme tailored for children from walking age to five years old, now offered at Discovery College), one gets yet another passionate take on the HK7’s. "It’s always exciting to attend the Jewel in the Crown of the series, the HK7’s,” Tristan says. “What will make it even more poignant for us, is the day a RugBees star rises to play in the tournament. We will no doubt cheer him or her on loud and proud from the south stand."

Co-director and RugBees coach, Dee Allan goes on to explain her love for the game – and how she feels it benefits young players. “I particularly champion rugby as a sporting choice, as I love how the different elements instil self-discipline and camaraderie, as well as physical, social and psychological skills. Good manners are ingrained into the sport framework from the start, and it's an inclusive sport. No matter what sex, size or shape, there is a place for everyone.

“Of course the sport provides an outlet to improve strength and endurance, and for kids to develop speed and agility, but the ‘softer’ skills are just as important,” Dee continues. 

www.rugbees.com

ACTION What the Around DB team has to say Seemingly every Hong Konger you talk to has a top HK7’s memory to share and the Around DB team is no exception.

For Lisa Dooling, the thrill is quite simply getting on the ferry early on Saturday morning knowing you are going to have a great day out! Around DB’s Kiwi accountant loved seeing New Zealand winning the cup in 2011! Her (British) husband Colin’s best moment was seeing England knocking out Australia in 2006 in the final – and getting a shirt signed by Ben Gollings (the highest ever point scorer in the IRB7’s history). The couple loves dressing up every year, checking out all the crazy costumes and witnessing the opening ceremony.

Here Rachel Ainsley, Around DB editor, chips in recalling how she watched her friend’s son play mini-rugby in 2011, on the Friday night before the big matches began. “It was a total thrill to watch Maxim strut his stuff on the pitch, of course, but what really made my day were the smiles on his parents’ faces,” she says.

“The atmosphere is electric and it’s very exciting for the little ones! Being a DB Pirate is a great opportunity for friendship and sportsmanship for DB kids. And kudos to the club for getting our young players involved in such a huge international event.”

Likewise for core contributor Karmel Schreyer the highlight of her HK7’s for a couple of years now has not been the rugby, exactly. “My daughters dance every year in the Island Dance performance co-ordinated by Miss Melissa, so I always look forward to the interval,” Karmel says. “One year she met the young lad rugby player Keith Robertson in the stands. I think that was daddy's biggest thrill! The HK7’s is a daddy-daughter thing for them.”

DB Pirates coach Courtney, tackler Oliver Stranger at Siena Park (James Branch)

“You learn about working as a team, sportsmanship and having respect for others. It's this ethos of rugby which attracts us all to the great sport.” You can’t say fairer than that!

The HKRFU wants to hear from you!

Congratulations to the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) on their 60th anniversary! To mark this milestone, it is calling on anyone who has represented Hong Kong in a full international over the last 60 years (or anyone who knows someone who has) to get in touch! You can email katherine.chan@ hkrugby.com. For more information, turn to page 10.

Find it • DB Pirates, www.dbpirates.com • HK7’s, www.hksevens.com • RugBees, www.rugbees.com

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Around DB editorial coordinator Dana Winograd’s four children all play rugger. But Dana is not a HK7’s fan. Understandably perhaps, as she recalls falling through her chair in the south stand some 16 years ago, not once but twice. (We put this down to dodgy seating rather than too much beer, of course!) Around DB’s style columnist Elizabeth Kerr, like Dana, vetoes the event.

“If you consider being so completely and utterly terrified of hordes of drunken Caucasians that I bunker down at the other end of town for a weekend – with plenty of canned goods, dried fruits and cat food – then sure, I’ve got eight years’ worth of exciting HK7’s memories to share,” she quips.

Lissa Morris, Around DB’s ad exec and long-time HK7’s attendee, sums the event up for most of us when she says, “It’s just friends getting drunk while watching the rugby”! Exactly!

That’s what thousands of people from all over the world come to the HK7’s every year to do. “I was so excited to be there last year,” Lissa adds. “The first Philippines team made the cut and they played really well for a HK7’s newbie. I went dressed up in a native Filipino costume with a headdress full of bananas which I sold for HK$5 each in the end. It was great to see Filipinos not just from Hong Kong but from overseas in the crowd there to watch a Filipino team play.”

If, like new Around DB intern Hannah Ball, you are yet to go to the HK7’s, I hope this inspires you to join in the fun and games this year. And be sure to cheer for the DB Pirates!

www.arounddb.com

License No.: E-140372

Greens 533’ (Saleable 456’) Spacious 1-Rm

80k

93k

5-Star Deluxe Deco, Open Kitchen, Big Room Size, 3-min to Pier

5-Rm Duplex Rooftop, Deluxe Deco, Huge Interior, Nice Marina Seaview

Best Price of All!

Walk to Pier, Balcony

Blossom 629’ (Saleable 546’)

La Serene 601’ (Saleable 498’) Lowrise 1-Rm

Spacious 2-Rms

Best Price of All!!

Full Renov, Open Kitch

Greens 856’ (Saleable 693’)

Greens 865’ (Saleable 744’)

Seaview, MTR Bus

MTR Bus Route

Siena Two 862’ (Saleable 655’) 2-BRs + Balcony Modern Interior

Midvale 909’ (Saleable 729’ ) Renovated 2-Rms Open Seaview

2-BRs + Balcony

3-Rm Duplex Garden, Deluxe Deco, Huge Interior

20.5m / 80k

58k 4-Rm Garden, Helper’s Rm, Open Kitchen, Spacious

5-Rm Duplex, Full Deco, Massive Interior, Near Plaza

2-BRs, High Floor

60k 3-BRs Modern Interior, Big Garden, Near Club

9.6m / 33k 3-BRs, 2-Baths, Seaview Balcony, Modern

6.8m 3-BRs + Balcony, New Deco, Fantastic SV

23k

Modern Interior

Greens 776’ (Saleable 649’) Spacious 2-Rms Very High Floor

Greens 689’ (Saleable 592’)

14.9m

Hillgrove 472’ (Saleable 398’) Renovated Studio

3-BRs + Balcony

3-BRs, Full Deco, Fantastic SV, Spacious

The area size informa�on on this leaflet is for reference purposes only. Kingsland Property Consultants does not guarantee the accuracy of the informa�on, and will not be accountable for any loss or damage caused from the use or reliance of the area size informa�on.

Photos courtesy of Burnt Oringe, Kokoon Beds & Bedding, Linen House and Sleep Naked

STYLE

62

sleeping

beautifully What you do with your mattress is up to you, but a good one with good linens is a must-have in the modern world, writes Elizabeth Kerr Ice-white, hotel-feel linens, Sleep Naked

March 2013

STYLE

L

egend holds there was once a time when we fragile humans spent eight hours each day asleep. With work, and life in general, now running at the pace it does, that number is sinking like a stone. And if we do get eight hours in bed, we may not be sleeping: we take laptops, mobiles and books to bed with us, and how many people do you know without a TV in the bedroom. So much for pure, unadulterated sleep.

More than ever a bed that is going to maximise the body’s relaxation cycle is imperative. Never mind fad diets and creams – a good night’s sleep helps you lose or maintain weight, and can help keep you looking young. As important as the bed is, at least when it comes to size and style, the mattress is the key.

own furniture it can be even more challenging. Like trouser sizes, a double in Europe, North America, Hong Kong – and Sweden – are different dimensions. “We can custom make to your requirements, for example, boat live-aboard customers where the beds may be an odd shape,” Moira says. Department store Wing On can also have most of its products cut to fit alternative sizes like IKEA’s.

In the end a mattress comes down to what feels right.

Everybody reacts differently; if you get up in the morning in pain, you’re on the wrong mattress. Flopping down for more than 30 seconds is a must when shopping around. And if a mattress comes with a warranty – take them up on any return policy.

Sleep on it Go to the mattresses Getting sheets that will inspire you to sleep in just Chanel No. 5 is tricky; we’re choosy about what comes into direct contact with our skin. If you’ve splurged on a good mattress, dress it up right. “Using cheap or rough bed linen on an expensive bed is like flying first class to the Maldives on your honeymoon and staying in a youth hostel,” says Robin Beaumont, director of linens manufacturer Sleep Naked.

The Big Three – Serta, Sealy and Simmons – dominate the mattress market but even within those brands the choice can be mind boggling. Styles range from latex to pocketed spring to memory foam, each with its pros and cons. “Mattress technology has developed and evolved over the years,” explains Kokoon Beds & Bedding’s Moira Roberts. “Choosing a mattress is as much a cultural choice as it is a personal one.”

Contrary to popular belief the be-all and end-all of bed linens is not Egyptian cotton. Aside from its longer cotton bud So where to start? First, decide on (that results in a longer, finer fibre) the your budget and honour it, otherwise Honolulu design, Linen House caché of Egyptian cotton likely stems you’re likely to be sold bells and from the fact there isn’t that much of it. “Egypt produces less whistles you don’t need. You may want to do some research than one percent of the world’s cotton per annum, therefore online beforehand before diving into the second step. “It one should be absolutely certain [of] purchasing the genuine is important to spend as much time as possible trying a product,” Burnt Oringe managing director Tarynn Hattonmattress. If you have a sleeping partner, try the mattress Jones points out. “Any cotton bedding can feel luxurious, as together,” notes Moira. long as the beginning product is of high quality.”

Manufacturers have scads of names and labels for various As to the vaunted thread count – the total number of single products, but there are three basic types. The most common threads in both directions in a 1 by 1 inch square – that are spring mattresses, where a coil (single, pocket or open) also depends on how thick the yarn is, (its denier). And if provides the support beneath a comfort layer. There’s a blended fabric is used some manufacturers will double memory foam, which applies even pressure everywhere on the count because of a 2-ply yarn. It’s not illegal, but it is your body. (On the downside, it can get warm and may not misleading and can compel consumers to spend more be right for this climate.) And then there are latex mattresses, when a pure cotton 400 sheet would feel nicer to the touch. sometimes used as a topper for a regular spring mattress Another downside to high thread counts? It often means and increasingly a green option. Latex is natural and is a denser final fabric that’s less breathable, and less than appropriate for those with allergies or anyone concerned suited to humid climes. about hazardous off-gasses.

Bedding down

The look of love

Once you have the type, you’ll need to figure out the size. Buying a double or queen in Hong Kong is a unique endeavour; and for people moving into town with their

“Regardless of the weather, organic materials are higher in quality and feel softer, therefore they're always better to sleep on,” comments Tarynn. In fact if you have a latex mattress for

March 2013

 

63

STYLE

Terra design, Burnt Oringe

Classic style, Kokoon Beds & Bedding

its eco qualities you may want to check out Burnt Oringe’s linens to cover it with. The green-certified, independent label uses organic fabrics ideal for the consumer keen to apply sustainability and social consciousness to more than just their coffee, and it does so affordably. Burnt Oringe can also customise its linens for any occasion – monograms, baby shower sets and so on.

When it comes to the look of linens, Moira warns against chasing trends that last for a season or two. She avoids mass-produced cartoon patterns that kids outgrow, and focuses on the tried-and-true for the rest. “We start with the quality of fabric then focus on craftsmanship. Our designs are simple with clean lines, we use mostly plain colours with an accent trim,” she states. Kokoon also has a range of limited jacquard linens designed by Moira.

Australian bed and bath specialist Linen House has just arrived on the scene in Hong Kong and it’s brought along its massive collection of decorative, colourful and fashionable linens. Stock runs from bold brights to subtle geometics, many designed by Australian artists and designers. “You spend a third of your life at home,” says creative director

Find more DB-friendly design

64

March 2013

Durable quality whites, Sleep Naked

Sue Morris. “Make sure it expresses your personality and reflects what makes you unique.”

If you’re trying to reproduce that hotel feel at home start with Sleep Naked, manufacturer for hotels like The Dorchester and W, it has been selling to consumers for the last few years. The distinct icy white found in hotels is a nightmare for anyone with kids and/ or pets but if your home is animalhair and finger-paint free why not indulge? An added bonus to Sleep Naked’s linens is their durability and strength when faced with super-hot water and bleach.

Find it • Burnt Oringe, 2529 6555, www.burntoringe.com • Kokoon Beds & Bedding, 2518 8382, www.kokoonbeds.com • Linen House, 2424 0096, www.linenhouse.com.hk • Sleep Naked, 3422 8126, www.sleepnaked.hk

www.arounddb.com

MARCH 2013 HK HAPPENINGS

What's

new

around

Something for

Hong

Kong

Take a

film buffs healthy hike

Screening on average over 330 titles from more than 50 countries, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, March 17 to April 2, is now in its 37th year. Committed to discovering new talent, the festival also focuses on Chinese cinema and showcasing Asian talents.

Festivalgoers can enjoy classic movies, like Lawrence of Arabia, and zany new documentaries such as The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology; they can attend seminars hosted by leading international filmmakers, view exhibitions and generally celebrate the vibrancy of film.

For more information, visit www.hkiff.org.

Catch all-time classic Lawrence of Arabia

Spectators having a blast

Action Asia’s healthiest hike

You’ll enjoy some of Hong Kong’s most scenic trails if you take part in Action Asia’s Hysan Healthy Hike and Run on March 17. With over 700 competitors in 2011, the event is now back in 2013 for the fourth time, aiming to promote healthy living – and Hong Kong’s natural beauty. Participants take part in either the 5-, 13- or 21-kilometre races, all of which start at Tai Lam Country Park in the New Territories. For more information, go to www.actionasiaevents.com.

Experience new Cuban cool

Cosy comfort on Havana Bar's outdoor terrace

Hong Kong’s 37 th International Film Festival

66

March 2013

Havana Bar, newly opened in Lan Kwai Fong, is the perfect hideaway for cocktail lovers. With its modern take on classic mixes, the hottest Latino music in town and one of the most extensive rum offerings in Hong Kong, this sexy little joint is a real find. If you fancy splashing out, why not try one of the world’s most exclusive rums, St Nicholas Abby from Barbados, priced at HK$278 a shot. Mint (think mojitos) is an essential ingredient at Havana Bar, so much so in fact the owners now grow their own. For a reservation, call 2851 4880.

MARCH 2013 HK HAPPENINGS

Compiled by Hannah Ball

Adam Lambert

For your entertainment

live in Hong Kong

Art for all

On March 5, Adam Lambert is performing in Hong Kong as part of his 2013 South Asia Tour. Since the release of his first album For Your Entertainment in 2009, which has now sold over two million copies, the former American Idol star’s fame has rocketed. Boasting a whole host of awards, as well as a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2011, his talent has proved to be just as striking as his looks. What’s more, Adam co-wrote and co-produced his latest album Trespassing. For tickets, go to www.hkticketing.com.

Eleanor McColl's photomontages

Enjoy a

floral fiesta We all love flowers, so what’s not to love about Hong Kong’s annual flower show?

Head to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to see thousands of beautiful flowers, The Dendrobium orchid is this year’s potted plants and featured flower luscious landscaped gardens, and learn the secrets behind their beauty.

Running from March 15 to 24, this major event is aimed at promoting horticulture locally, with this year’s featured flower being the Dendrobium. Arrangements on display are provided by participants from all over China, as well as further afield. Buy your flowers from the many stalls, join in competitions, and enjoy music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations, plant-maintenance workshops, guided tours and much more. For further details go to www.lcsd.gov.hk/green/hkfs/2013/en/index.php.

Find local event updates

Asian talent is showcased at the Affordable Art Fair

From March 15 to 17, you can pick up art priced from as little as HK$1,000 at the Affordable Art Fair in the Hong Kong Convention Centre. Choose from paintings, photos, sculptures and more, by up-and-coming as well as established artists. DB resident Eleanor McColl, known for her paintings, photomontages and collages, is one of hundreds of (local and international) artists being featured, and you can view her work at www. eleanormccoll.com. For more details about the show, and the talks, tours, workshops and activities on offer, visit www.affordableartfair.com or call 6220 5682.

www.arounddb.com March 2013

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DB FACES

C O M M U N I T Y

S N A P S

Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.arounddb.com

1

6

7

9

2

3

4

5

8

10

COMPETITION

Y

our challenge this month is to find which two of the DB Faces above also appear on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/arounddb). For your chance to win, simply check out the Uncle Russ Competition post, and note down the number of both photos. Then contact us online via the competitions link at www.arounddb.com (homepage) before March 10. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer. Good luck!

Congratulations to last month’s winner Bernadette De Launay.

Please contact our office on 2987 0577 to collect your prize.

Photos by Baljit Gidwani (www.photosdb.net) and Vincent Ypersiel

If you’d like us to consider your photos for DB Faces, email them to info@arounddb.com (subject line: db faces).

Around DB accepts no liability relating to the photos sent.

AroundDB_Mar13_op.indd 1

2/14/2013 11:00:05 AM

Selling trinkets and treasures for girls and boys, made from only the best materials. www.littlemilly.com | candiceb@littlemilly.com Also available at Toysland, DB and Bizzie Lizzie, Mui Wo For HK orders please contact Candice at 6596 1817

Post free classifieds @ www.arounddb.com COMMUNITY

- Japan qualified – skilled piano tuner in DB We can offer professional advice and services on all piano matters;

One of the keys to piano maintenance is - How to keep your piano in good condition with a subtropical climate www.88keys.com.hk E-mail: info@88keys.com.hk Tel : 9687 0726

DB GREEN DB’s local non-profit environmental group. We focus on recycling, tree planting, have monthly beach clean ups and a stall at the DB flea markets. You are welcome to donate any gently used items for us to sell. For more information or to get involved, visit www.dbgreen.org or our Facebook page DBEES is DB’s non-profit, community-based ice-hockey team for kids age 5 & up, at any playing level. If your child is interested in playing, please email stuart. winchester@hk.rcm.com or flavarone@netvigator.com. The club is looking for more 5 to 8 year olds to get involved. Check out www.dbeeshockey.com for more information

EMPLOYMENT LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT Domestic helper looking for a job, 13 years working experience in HK. Great with babies, children & pets. Very honest & reliable. Can cook & clean. Reference available. Please call 5138 3602

FINANCE & INSURANCE AUSTRALIAN TAX RETURNS

Need to lodge your Australian tax return?

If you are an expat or collect rental from Australian property, you must lodge an annual return.

Let us do it for you here in HK. Contact Dwight Stuchbery, Australasian Taxation Services on 3571 8700, dwight@smats.net, or visit www.smats.net

DO YOU HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN OR NEW ZEALAND PASSPORT?

Are you interested in saving 30-50% off your Life, Critical Illness & Income Protection insurance premiums?

For a no-obligation quote, contact Carolyn on 2827 1199, carolyn.gray@f-p.hk CIB License: 01795

Looking for a place to stay?

www.arounddb.com WORSHIP SERVICE Discovery College Sundays @ 10 am

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH XTREME & RDB TEENS

Outdoor Group Training experts now in Discovery Bay!  Shred Unwanted Fat  Build Lean Muscle  Cardio & Strength Training in 1 Workout Classes on the beach front on Tuesdays & Fridays from 8 - 9 am.

Don’t miss out!

register online NOW! www.impactfitness.com.hk

Pastor James Buckner Tel: 2987 7061 wwww.dbicc.org

March 2013

71

Post free classifieds @ www.arounddb.com KIDS

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HYPNOSIS &/ OR SHORT-TERM THERAPY

Quit smoking quickly.

Divorce/ Post-divorce coaching.

Resolve: • Fear of flying/ public speaking • Overeating • Couples’ conflicts • Career & command-training stress • Anger management • Phobias • Nail biting • Insomnia Call Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist & Hypnotherapist on 2575 7707, or visit www.mindmatters.hk

HOME & REPAIRS

EXPERT MOVER

• Packing & moving • Cargo collection • Disposal service • Handyman services • Packing material supplies • Storage, with humidity control Professional quality service at a low rate.

Contact 2566 4799, sales@expertmover.hk, or visit www.expertmover.hk

MIDGET GEMS KIDS’ CLUB

Established playgroup for children from 2 to 4 years.

Morning sessions with afternoons coming soon. A wonderful environment where children learn through play with our qualified & experienced teachers. Also offering Bilingual Gems, afternoon sessions in German & Mandarin.

Please contact 2987 0272, info@midgetgemskidsclub.com, or visit www.midgetgemskidsclub.com

GEMS OCCASIONS

Looking for that perfect party venue for your little gem?

A colourful, safe & fun environment with toys & dress-up clothes.

We can provide an entertainer.

We also tidy up!

Please contact 9176 2990, info@midgetgemskidsclub.com, or visit www.midgetgemskidsclub.com

EARLY ADVENTURES PLAYGROUP

A dedicated playgroup with the emphasis on learning through play. Activities to stimulate all areas of development.

Come & look at our facilities.

Classes for kids from 20 months to 4 years. Morning & afternoon sessions. Call 9511 2107, or visit www.earlyadventures.net

design + living

interior architecture design & build

space planning project managment

Tel. 31112062 www.dlcchk.com

dlconsultant@gmail.com

SINCE 1997

OUR SERVICES DOG & CAT GROOMING ( BY APPOINTMENT ) PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIES CAT SITTING SERVICE FREE DAILY DELIVERY Ground floor 11B, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay (next to Island Vet) Tel: 2987 0428 / Fax : 2914 1313 / E-mail : petsgallerydb@yahoo.com.hk Open from 9:00 am till 7:30 pm (Mon - Sun)

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March 2013

KIDS

TRAVEL

MIDGET GEMS RENTAL

CONCORDE TRAVEL CONSULTANTS

Have an idea for a children’s business? We have a clubroom available for rent, afternoon time slots. Please call Koren on 9176 2990

Leisure travel specialists since 1978.

Licence No. 350343.

Call 2526 3391, or visit www.concorde-travel.com

PETS TUITION & COURSES WOWOW SALON!

Looking good & feeling great from head to tail? More than just a grooming salon, we provide dog-sitting, dog-walking & dog-training services.

Please call Kelvin on 6038 9121

SERVICES PROFESSIONAL EDITING SERVICES

Doctor of Edit offers specialised editing & copy-editing services for busy academics, business executives & students.

My skills in editing (punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, syntax, etc.) & copy-editing (consistency of style, clarity, fluency, effective & concise language & organisation), extend to PhD theses, manuscripts for journal publication, reports, proposals, brochures, newsletters & speeches.

For more details, please contact doctorofedit@gmail.com

MANDARIN CHINESE LESSONS

• For children & adults; small groups or individuals • Any level / place / purpose Call DB Mandarin Room on 6071 9643, or visit http://tclearning.sinacool.com

INTENSIVE MODELLING, GLAMOUR & ETIQUETTE COURSE

Taught by a certified modelling trainer, TV presenter & VS in-house model Start date: March 9 (8 weekends – 2-hour classes) In DB & Central, age 7 & up • Catwalk & glamour • Etiquette & protocol • Make-up & photography • Drama & nutrition Contact LB_MEMODEL@yahoo.com, 9046 7479

Post free classifieds @ www.arounddb.com

CHINESE (MANDARIN & CANTONESE), MATHEMATICS & ENGLISH Personal Professional Tutoring Service.

• Curriculum: HSK, IB, GCSE, SAT • ESF & all international schools, Year 1 to 13 • For students & adults (homework/ exams/ business) • Mother-tongue Chinese tutors from the PRC. (Levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) • Mathematics tutors (UK B SC) • Native English tutors.

(MA in Education, specialising in Early Childhood Stage) Contact 9107 5655, gracias8@hotmail.com, or visit www.chinesemandarinsite.com

L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie is open for registrations for school year 2013-2014.

Full-time French Primary One (CP) and Primary Two (CE1) classes available.

French curriculum as per the French Ministry of National Education with English and Mandarin as additional languages.

For more information, please call 6071 3136 or visit our website at www.pmcuriehk.com or send an e-mail at info@pmcuriehk.com.

MATHEMATICS (GCSE, AS, SAT, IB, GMAT, ETC.) & ENGLISH TUITION

Offered by a London University graduate (First-Class Honours).

Experienced in teaching adults, ESF & international school students.

Call 9121 0389

SPANISH LANGUAGE SERVICES

One on one. Any time, any day Intensive courses & IB/ IGCSE tuition services.Translation & interpretation Commercial & tourist guide For Hong Kong & South America.

Call 9046 7479

La Petite Enfance Kindergarten is open for registrations for school year 2013-2014.

K1 to K3 classes available.

French curriculum as per the French Ministry of National Education with English and Mandarin as additional languages.

For more information, please call 6710 0391 or email us at info@la-petite-enfance.com

March 2013

73

Find out more @ www.arounddb.com

M Spa

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?  Counselling for individuals, couples, families & adolescents

provides door-to-door treatment service and is conveniently located in the Plaza.

 Sliding fee scale; affordable options for all clients  English, Putonghua, Cantonese, Hindi, Marathi and Marwadi speaking counselors Call 2523 8979 Now for Appointment http://www.resourcecounselling.org Serving the community over 35 years A Member Agency of the Community Chest

• REFLEXOLOGY (Foot Massage) • BACK, SHOULDER, NECK massage and reflexology • FACIAL & SHOULDER massage • MANICURE & PEDICURE (We use OPI products) • BODY MASSAGE

Be pampered! Call us for special offers!

2987 0614

Open 7 days a week, 9 am to midnight

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March 2013

Post free classifieds @ www.arounddb.com PROPERTY DB

PROPERTY DB

SHORT-TERM LET

DELUXE SERVICED APARMENTS

Newly renovated, 2-bed flat with balcony.

Luxuriously furnished, with TV, cable & broadband. Panoramic harbour views & short walk to pier. Contact Brian on 9098 6951, brian@headlandhomes.hk

For lease. Fully furnished 1-2-bed apartments with beautiful decor, wi-fi & broadband. Well-equipped kitchen, luxurious bedding, weekly cleaning service. Contact Cherry on 2987 2626, cherry@appletravel.com

MODERN FLAT FOR SHORT- OR MEDIUM-TERM RENTAL

STUDIO FOR SHORT-TERM LET

Fully furnished, 1 bed plus study with extra beds & fully equipped kitchen. Sleeps 4. Broadband, wi-fi, DVD, LCD TV & split A/C. Linen & towels provided. Serviced twice a week. Contact 6475 2035, sharmilaproperty@ gmail.com or visit www.dbayhillsuites.com

GREENDALE COURT RENTAL Brand-new, fully furnished, 533’ 1-bed apartment. Deluxe renovation, on a high floor, with mountain view. Call 9108 5525

Comfortable, nicely decorated studio, close to DB Plaza & pier, with fully equipped kitchen. 37” TV, DVD, wi-fi, linens & towels provided. Contact 9190 7348, niceroom_db@yahoo.com.hk

SHORT-TERM RENTAL Greenery Court, 553’, 1-bedroom flat, newly renovated, modern & fully furnished with internet, LCD TV & DVD. Contact Sandy on 9654 8862, sandylamdb@yahoo.com.hk

LUXURY MODERN FLATS TO LET Short- or medium-term rental at Siena 2. 600’ 1-bed flats with sea views, near the North Plaza, Club Siena & tunnel. Serviced & fully furnished with washer/ dryer, bed linen & kitchenware.

Plus wi-fi, broadband, blue-ray & home theatre.

Contact 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

2-BED APARTMENT FOR RENT At Greenmont Court, nice & fully furnished.

Contact 9108 5525

PROPERTY OVERSEAS FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED RENTAL Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

FIVE VILLAS IN PHUKET Three-bed villas with pool for rent. Ten minutes from Phuket International Airport. On the 8th hole of Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa. Contact 8thonmissionhills.com, thonmissionhills@gmail.com

CHERISH COURT TO LET Fully furnished 2-bedroom, newly renovated flat. Tranquil with sea & Disneyland view, & wi-fi. Photos available. Contact Jacqueline at 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY Everything you need to know about buying a property in Australia. Information on property markets, taxation, finance, migration & legal.

Free online at www.aussieproperty.com

FLAT FOR RENT Bright, fully furnished flat, sleeps 4.

Fully equipped kitchen, plus wi-fi & broadband.

Towels & linens provided. Minimum stay 1 month.

Email dbstay4@yahoo.com

Search 1000s of DB property listings!

@ www.arounddb.com March 2013

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Your ultimate guide in Tung Chung and South Lantau

LANTAU NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

CLOTHINGS & ACCESSORIES

AQ Prettiness Jumping Castles Shoesee Foldable

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

9527 6202 9662 1747 9765 2798 HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre Island Veterinary Services Ltd Pets Central Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical

2109 2109 2988 2328 2109 2403 2403 2261

9396 2288 1534 7282 6800 6613 6623 2626

Impact Fitness Jill Marshall Pilates South Lantau Paddle Club Tony’s Salon

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

HOTELS

8334 8487 1802 9833 6823 0792 0587

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383 LEARNING CENTRES

3602 8888 2890 6060 3969 1888 LEARNING CENTRES

Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Kidznjoy Kindermusik Little Academy Salala Kids House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School (Yat Tung) Tung Yan Day Nursery YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

5360 0991 2987-8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6976 8867 3520 3500 2611 9193 6204 7387 2420 1068 2109 3873 2109 4000 3194 5120 2988 8123

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Airport Izakaya Andante Asian Taste Deli Viet Bistro Delifrance Café Aficionado China Coast Bar & Grill Dragon Inn Erawan Essence Federal Palace Restaurant McDonald’s Delivery Moccato Olea Pizza Hut Regala Café & Dessert Bar Rouge Skycity Bistro Spaghetti House Starz Wine Bar Zentro Garden

2286 3602 2109 2109 2109 2286 2286 2286 3760 3602 2626 2338 3602 3602 3180 2286 2286 2969 2109 2109 2802

6668 8828 4360 0036 4187 6238 6898 6878 6633 8808 0181 2338 8838 8818 0000 6618 6868 2500 1297 0612 8000

2109 2179 6902 3473 5400 2385 3152 2403

9277 6678 2250 8700 4109 9677 7535 6770

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Caribbean Coast Club House Coastal Skyline Club House Impact Fitness Seaview Crescent Club House Smash Cricket Socatots Stepz Studio Tung Chung Crescent Club House

UTILITY, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1694

FERRY SCHEDULES Mon-Fri (except Public Holidays) From Mui Wo 7.45am 3.35pm

Sat, Sun and Public Holidays From DB 7.15am ＊ 8.45am # 10.45am 11.45am # 1.15pm 3.05pm # 4.15pm 6.15pm 8.05pm

2984 2984 2984 2984 2819 9373 2984 HOTELS

2421 8088 9625 1392 2988 1488

Novotel Citygate Regal Airport Hotel SkyCity Marriott

From DB 7.15am 3.05pm

3976 0187 1462 0990

HOME & REPAIRS

Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering Mantech Electrical Strong Engineering Wah Sing AV Company

HOME & REPAIRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering

9473 9708 6770 2984

From Mui Wo 7.45am ＊ 9.15am # 11.15am 12.15pm # 1.45pm 3.35pm # 4.45pm 6.45pm 8.30pm

＊ Operates on Saturday (except Public Holidays) only ＃ Operates on Sunday and Public Holidays only

Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten

2985 2984 2984 3689 2984

5150 0069 0302 6709 0006

PROPERTY AGENCIES

Easy Reach Real Estate Home Solutions Proper Trip Real Estate

2984 0618 3483 5003 2984 1666 RESTAURANTS & BARS

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bombay Café Casa Brasil Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) China Bear Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar High Tide Restaurant La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Rome Restaurant Sun Fat Restaurant Tak Chai Kee Seafood The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Stoep

2984 2984 2984 2984 2984 3484 2980 2984 6331 2984 2984 2984 2983 2980 9160 2980

0222 1847 7471 0498 9720 3095 3002 8933 8974 7982 0418 1265 8931 2582 5986 2699

2134 2984 2984 2984 2988 2406 2987 2984

1234 2227 2278 0249 1368 8122 0099 7884

2984 9662 2984 9025 9062 6351 9834

1410 1747 0060 3949 0148 8923 5498

2984 2984 2984 2984 9036

2268 8494 8255 9848 3132

RETAIL

Bikes Mui Wo BMX Shop Bizzie Lizzie (childrens clothes and toys) Friendly Bike Shop Park ‘N’ Shop Red Hall Chinese Antiques Renge House (clothes & accessories) The Red Lantern Wellcome SERVICES & OTHERS

Hop Sing Automobile Jumping Castles SPCA Suzanne Goodwin Photography Thai Palin Massage Twig (Design Studio) Zoe Lyle Photography TRANSPORTATION

Lee Hing Loong Hon Kee Transportation Company Lantau Tours New Lantau Bus Company Sun Rising Moving Company

THE RED LANTERN Genuine antiques, small pieces of delightful furniture from the late Ching Dynasty.

4 minutes' walk from the ferry in Mui Wo in the direction of the Silvermine Beach Hotel.

Free Delivery to DB Tel: 2987 0099 Fax: 2980 4833 glandam@netvigator.com

Your ultimate guide in DB

DB NUMBERS

Discovery Speech Therapy Cabinet d’Orthophonie Clear Communication in French LG-06, Office Block One, DB North Tel: 8120 7835 info@discoveryspeechtherapy.com Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza Catholic Church (Trinity Chapel) DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Discovery Speech Therapy, Cabinet d’Orthophonie Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Healthcare Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza

LEARNING CENTRES

HOME

COMMUNITY & HEALTH

2987 0855 2259 3422 2988 1515 2987 8136 2987 7061 2987 5633 8120 7835 2666 6183 2834 7276 2987 7575 2987 9003 2259 3422

Interior 18 Japan Home Centre Marc James Design, North Plaza Next Furniture Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Season Art Kitchen Perfection Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre

2987 7803 2987 1041 2765 5700 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2987 1990 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428

Island Dance Freestyle, Jazz, Ballet & Tap Tel: 2987 1571 www.islanddance.com.hk

LEARNING CENTRES

Musical Drama – Acting – Musical Theatre

French kindergarten open for registrations for school year 2013-2014 from K1 to K3.

LG-05, DB North Plaza Tel: 6710 0391 Email: info@la-petite-enfance.com www.la-petite-enfance.com

Tues & Wed classes at Discovery College 4 to 12 yrs - 2 fully costumed performances a year Tel: 8122 9475 Email: admin@actingantics.com www.actingantics.com

Little Explorers A fun place for little ones to play and have loads of fun, fun, fun!

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Tel: 9327 0507 Email: littleexplorers@team-fear.com

Bayview House of Children

Early Childhood Educational Center (Bilingual English-Mandarin) 12 months to 6 years old For details call Ramesha on 6114 2436 ramesha@bayview.hk; www.bayview.hk

Lullaby Layette Online Boutique for Newborns & Infants Tel: 5600-7605, info@lullabylayette.com www.lullabylayette.com

rush yoga ∙ fitness ∙ swim G/F, G35, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay Tel: 2526 0720 Mon–Sun: 10:30am to 7:30pm www.rush.com.hk

Playgroups, parties, art-jamming and art classes for all ages!

International Bodyfit Swimwear Exercise and Yoga Wear

Tel: 2325 3999

2987 8226 3480 1348 2987 8460 2987 2098

DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP GNC Just Green Mannings Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome

2987 4401 2987 7486 2987 9331 2448 1180 2987 1720 2987 4089 2947 9092

FINANCIAL SERVICES

AlcaMat Financial & Accounting Services Ltd Accounting & Taxation, Business & Operation Consulting, China Trade Advisory, Company Formation & Secretarial, Immigration Assistance Tel: 2851 8081, info@alcamat.com, www.alcamat.com

HSBC Travelex Money Exchange, North Plaza Luen Fat Securities Co. Ltd

2233 3000 2682 1210 2987 1851

HOME Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Home Services Engineering Hung Kee Co

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2987 1313 2987 4488 2987 0061 2987 5087

March 2013

Tel: 2987 0272 info@ midgetgemskidsclub.com www.midgetgemskidsclub.com

British Studio of Art Hong Kong

Sunwood by Design

In Style Little Whale, North Plaza Nomadic Start-rite shoes

Established playgroup for children 2-4 years

New art studio in DB for 2 year-olds to adults www.bsoahk.com info@bsoahk.com Tel: 9132 5249

ColourStorm Art Centre

Tel: 6626 5470 www.sunwood-by-design.com

Midget Gems Kid’s Club

Address: LG-10, Office Block One, DB North Plaza. www.colourstormartcentre.com

Craftybabes

Sensory Play for Babies, Toddler Art and Craft, Adult Craft Evenings. Located in the Plaza.

Tel: 9239 6447 Email: crafty.babes@hotmail.com, www.craftybabes.com

Dumper Trucks & Daisies

A Montessori based playgroup programme that focuses on the growth and development of the whole child.

From 16 months to 4.5 years old Tel: 9667 6921 mandy@dumpertrucksanddaisies.com www.dumpertrucksanddaisies.com

First Friends & Second Friends DB’s largest & longest running playgroup Iin Porter 9151 5545 firstsecondfriends@yahoo.com www.firstfriendshk.com

Playtime Kids DB

Playgroup run by Montessori trained teacher. From 18 months to 4 years. Tel: 2623 4099; 9054 0565 playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com, www.playtimekidsdb.com DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School Discovery Montessori School DMR School of Ballet Early Adventures Learning Centre HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House Int’l Pre-School Sunshine House Kindergarten Treasure House

2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8028 2987 8088 2914 2202 2987 1201 2987 4338 9511 2107 2416 3088 8191 0813 2987 8608 2987 0813 2987 8143 2987 4217

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine, DB Ferry Dymocks & Gallery Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd Fun to Read, North Plaza Movieland Pen’n Paper P-Solution The Bookshop

2987 1373 2987 8494 2914 2378 3105 3588 2987 7111 2987 8898 2987 1777 2987 9372

OTHER SERVICES

Apple Travel The Best Travel Agency in DB

HK School of Highland Dance

Tel: 2987 2626

Highland Dance classes now available at MI Studio.Teacher qualified by the SDTA.

Email: cas@appletravel.com

All ages welcome Tel: 9123 0863 Email: highlanddancehk@gmail.com

Around DB's April 2013 issue coming out

March 29

DB NUMBERS OTHER SERVICES

RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

At Home in DB Information & Services for Residents of DB. Expat Relocation, Newcomer Orientation, Tours, Courses, Networking

2682 8108 2987 6232

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Women’s Fitness Centre Club Siena Tel: 2987 0772 curvesdb@gmail.com www.curves.com

Harvey Law Group International Canadian Law Firm in DB North Plaza offering you customised legal services on the many aspects of your personal and professional life

Embody Classical Pilates, Yoga and more!

Tel: 2416 8618 www.harveylawcorporation.com

Tel: 6624 7812

Grooming & Pet Services Wth Trust, Love & Safe Care For the ones you love Tel: 2914 0382 Email: info@petcoDB.com www.petcoDB.com Amity Shoe Care My Pet Shop, North Plaza Pets Gallery The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

HK Dragons Football Club Football for 2.5- to 14- year old girls and boys Tel: 2987 4274 www.dragons.hk

2987 4538 2987 8873 2987 0428 2987 1368 2987 5151

Movement Improvement Pilates, yoga, posture & fitness 2987 5852 www.movementimprovement.com.hk

REAL-ESTATE AGENCIES

DB Golf Cart Services DB Transit Services DB Transportation Services Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline Rehabus Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2727 2914 0186 2987 7351 2987 6348 2987 0208 6283 9270 2987 9368

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

embody-hk@live.com www.embody.com.hk

PetcoDB

Limousine Rental

Limo service in HK & China  pick up from / to DB Tunnel  direct transfer to SZ / GZ Airport Tel: 5303 3489 / 9654 0899 limo9689@gmail.com

Curves

Tel: 9769 4701 Email: sue@athomeindb.com www.athomeindb.com

TRANSPORT SERVICES

24-hour Customer Service Hotline China Light & Power Emergency China Light & Power Information Line Discovery Bay Commercial Services Discovery Bay Fire & Ambulance Discovery Bay Management Discovery Bay Medical Services Discovery Bay Office Centre Discovery Bay Police Discovery Bay Post Office Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Report Room San Hing Gas Co Typhoon Signal Enquiries Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department

3651 2345 2728 8333 2678 2678 2987 4242 2987 7502 2238 3601 2525 6798 2238 3388 2987 4052 2987 6046 2435 4511 2988 2369 2987 6738 2835 1473 2811 0788 2824 5000

WELLBEING

Sportsmanship Gymnastics Programs, Health Consultancy, Weight Management & Nutritional Supplements Tel: 2870 3524 www.sportsmanship.usana.com

Lifestyle Homes Tel: 2914 0888 info@lifestylehomes.com.hk www.lifestylehomes.com.hk Casa Real Estate Ltd Centaline Property Agency Ltd EPS Property Consultants Ltd Headland Homes Hong Kong Boats & Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property Savills Hong Kong Ltd

2914 2987 2987 8484 2987 2023 2987 2088 6055 0146 2987 2987 2987 6238 2987 1919

All your sporting needs right here in DB Tel: 2914 1323 Email: bruce@sportsworld.hk

Tinytots A professional sports play program specially designed for children 16 months - 5 years of age.

2987 2298 2987 8203 2987 0966 2987 2848 2987 0036 2987 9123 2987 4768 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2997 8688 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2555 0772 2987 2915 2914 0005 2914 1308 2987 2886 2682 0068

Club Siena Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody

Child & Family Development Practice Developing potential, exploring possibilities www.childdevelopment.com.hk info@childdevelopement.com.hk

Gillian - The Skin Therapy Centre Fully qualified International Beauty Spa /wellness trainer with over 16 yrs experience in the Spa industry offering full range of beauty services here on DB

Tel: 34887724 info@tinytots.com.hk www.tinytots.com.hk

% Arabica Coffee Roaster & Farm

22º North Berliner Café Duvet Caramba Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza Koh Tomyums La Création Bakery McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant Solera Sopranos Subway Super Super Kiraku Tei Uncle Russ, DB Plaza

Holistic therapy for illness, stress, sports injury & learning disorders Tel: 6683 5755 angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk www.bodytalksystem.com.hk

Sports World

RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS

DB North Plaza Tel: 2885 1323 Email: info@arabica.hk www.arabica.hk

Body Talk

2987 7382 2987 9591 2987 7273 2987 7381 6624 8712

TOYS, ACCESSORIES & KIDS’ PARTIES

DB Party Lovers For all your party needs in DB

Tel: 9604 6920, 2987 0764 (Gillian) www.theskintherapycentrehk.com

M Spa Provides door-to-door treatment service. Conveniently located in the Plaza. Reflexology, massage, pedicure/manicure.

Tel: 2987 0614

Tel: 9132 5249 Email: dbpartylovers@gmail.com www.dbpartylovers.com

Nailed It

Little Milly Trinkets & treasures for girls and boys Tel: 6596 1817 candiceb@littlemilly.com www.littlemilly.com Bo Bo House Toysland

2987 4230 2987 7859

Professional artificial nail services in DB Tel: 2987 2266 Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Maximum Care Salon De Coiffure Sense of Touch Spa Siena

March 2013

2987 0283 2987 2060 2987 4112 2987 9198 2987 7382

79

DB MOMENTS

girl power

Kathy Law, Ariel Galor, Léa Mahoudeau-Campoyer, Alison Lam, Lili Fillip, Sanara Thotawatte, Francesca Philips, Samaara Malhotra and Margaux Gjurasic

Standing up for change, nine Discovery College students are taking on VTech – demanding improved conditions for its Chinese workers. Hannah Ball reports

D

id the world sit up and take note in June last year when The Institute of Global Labour and Human Rights (The Institute) published a damning report detailing a long list of human-rights abuses at the Chinese factories of technology manufacturer VTech?

Well, maybe not the world. But nine Year 10 students at Discovery College (DC) certainly did.

Now followed on Twitter by The Institute, the girls – Kathy Law, Ariel Galor, Léa Mahoudeau-Campoyer, Alison Lam, Lili Fillip, Sanara Thotawatte, Francesca Philips, Samaara Malhotra and Margaux Gjurasic – have grouped together to form DC Labour Rights, and have made it their mission to make a difference to the lives of VTech factory workers in China.

Photo courtesy of Aude Mahoudeau

‘We want to help improve conditions for all sweatshop workers. We want managers and guards to treat workers as human beings and stop physical and verbal abuse. We believe that all workers deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and above all, with humanity,’ the girls note on the DC Labour Rights Facebook page.

According to The Institute, VTech, the world’s leading supplier of phones and electronic learning toys, sells around 172,800 products every day, and has nearly 30,000 workers in three plants in China. In May 2012, VTech announced annual revenues of US$1.785 billion. What VTech did not reveal, according to The Institute, is that its Chinese employees are malnourished, paid HK$8.45 per hour and forced to work 12- to 15-hour days. VTech has staunchly denied the alleged abuses.

With a growing Facebook page, and LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, the DC girls’ goal is to get at least 500 people to sign their online petition. (They currently have nearly 100 signatures.) This will give them the ammunition to meet with the executive director and chief executive officer of Contract Manufacturing Services, Andy Leung Hon Kwong, in VTech’s Hong Kong offices. Persistent phone calls have already led to a conversation with Andy Leung’s secretary.

Find more inspirational local stories

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March 2013

“It’s really been since the start of this year that things have started happening,” explains Francesca. “We officially started the group in August 2012, and it feels like our efforts are finally seeing results now.”

The group’s initial inspiration came from DC Humanities teacher, Bruce Taylor, who has worked on similar projects with students in the US. “Mr Taylor showed us how change can be achievable,” says Léa. “I’d always thought about doing something like this, but honestly I’d never really thought it was possible.”

Through extensive online research, the group has also gained first-hand evidence about conditions in VTech factories. Through an article attached to a video link, the girls have tracked down a Facebook page for one of the workers. “We cannot give any information away as this person wishes to remain anonymous,” says Léa. “Now that China has blocked Facebook, we are posting articles on local China sites in order to interview workers.”

“These girls have been leading themselves 100 percent.” says Mr Taylor. “What friends of mine took two to three years to achieve, these girls have achieved in just four months. I leave them to their own devices and what they’ve already achieved really blows me away.”

Find it • Sign the DC Labour Rights petition, www.ipetitions.com/petition/vtech-sweatshop • Visit the DC Labour Rights Facebook page for more information • Be inspired by The Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, www.globallabourrights.org • Read the report on VTech, www.globallabourrights.org/reports?id=0649

www.arounddb.com