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EVERYDAY HEROES

What Helper Appreciation Month is all about

AT THE SOCCER SEVENS Fernando Recio stepping out for Ampcontrol DB

TOP UK STEM TUTORING King’s Maths School debuting in HK this summer

Make way for taxis?

THE DIVISIVE DEBATE CONTINUES (AND EVERYONE WANTS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION). ARE MORE CABS COMING TO DB AND IF SO WHEN?

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Experience the freedom to work in our thoughtfully designed hybrid workspace. With adjustable-height tables and ergonomic chairs indoors, combined with a sun terrace and lounge area outdoors, our space promotes flexibility and comfort. Whether you prefer the tranquility of indoor environments or the refreshing open air, we have the perfect spot for you – with views!

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M AY 2 0 2 6 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

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FEATURES 12 PROFILE Meet Ampcontrol DB player Fernando Recio in the lead up to this month’s Soccer Sevens

16 COMMUNITY Should taxi access be expanded across Discovery Bay? The divisive debate continues

24 INSIDER How Helper Appreciation Month turns small acts of thanks into a powerful community effort

30 EDUCATION

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King’s College London Mathematics School bringing top UK STEM tutoring to HK AROUND DB / MAY 2026

REGULARS

AGENDA

08 EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

04 DB NEWS

20 CLIENT TALK

22 AT THE MOVIES QUIZ

What you’ve been up to

Claiming Vanuatu citizenship

27 GOOD READS

Six stories about FDHs

28 ESCAPES

El Salvador

40 AT A GLANCE

Cheung Chau Bun Festival

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M AY 2 0 26 | D I S COV ERY B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO M M U N I T Y M AGA Z I N E - P U B L I S H ED S I N C E 2 0 0 2

EVERYDAY HEROES

Where do you stand on the DB taxi debate?

What Helper Appreciation Month is all about

AT THE SOCCER SEVENS Fernando Recio stepping out for Ampcontrol DB

TOP UK STEM TUTORING King’s Maths School debuting in HK this summer

32 KIDS CORNER 34 HOME CHEF 35 ADB SCAVENGER HUNT 38 LOCAL NUMBERS If you have an event we can help promote, a friend you’d like to see featured or an idea for an article, please reach out to the editor: rachel@arounddb.com.

Make way for taxis?

THE DIVISIVE DEBATE CONTINUES (AND EVERYONE WANTS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION). ARE MORE CABS COMING TO DB AND IF SO WHEN?

AROUNDDB.COM

PHOTO BY Andrew J. C. Spires

CONNECT WITH STEEN SKOVFOGED TO REACH AN ENGAGED AND AFFLUENT AUDIENCE IN DISCOVERY BAY!

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S E p t E m b E r 2 0 2 5 | D I S C O V E R Y B AY ' S O R I G I N A L C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E - P U B L I S H E D S I N C E 2 0 0 2

KARTING FOR A DECADE

FUN AHOY!

EASE THE TRANSITION

Sign up to be a DB Pirate – training kicks off in late August

Enrol to compete in the 10th HLG Kart Race

How to beat the back-to-school blues

OUTLYING ISLAND HOPPING

CINDERELLA ADVENTURE POP-UP

Jump on a boat to explore a deliciously different side of Hong Kong

Your favourite DB North playcentre is open again through August 31

Something’s Brewing!

MAVERICK WANG IS COMMITTED TO LIFE IN DISCOVERY BAY AND TO CRAFTING BEER IN DB FOR DBERS

RUN BEYOND LIMITS How to train for a 10K in eight weeks

CHARTER THE GOOD TIMES

On the ball!

HEADING INTO YEAR 13 AT DBIS, HONG KONG, CHINA NATIONAL TEAM CRICKETER DANIEL MAPP IS READY TO DELIVER

Junks to hop on and off at DB ferry pier AROUNDDB.COM

AROUNDDB.COM

Discovery Bayʼs original community magazine, Around DB is the trusted provider of local information for DB residents.

The magazine is delivered to every village in DB, plus key local businesses and we now also have a very active online presence. Our website receives over 45,000 visitors per month, and the Around DB Facebook and Instagram pages have more than 25,000 followers.

We are currently offering special advertising packages (both print and digital) for 2026.

For tailor-made advertising packages to reach our unique readership, email our business development manager Steen Skovfoged at steen@arounddb.com.

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

BLOOD DONATION IN DB SOUTH

Stories come to life in the Guidepost Montessori Storybook Adventure Camp, where each week is inspired by the imaginative worlds of well-known children’s authors. Young campers, aged 2 to 6, explore these stories through creative art, hands-on building, science experiments and playful problem-solving.

Weekly camps are on offer from June 29 to July 31 at the school’s DB North campus. Enrol by May 17 to receive 10% savings; register for three or more weeks to save an additional 5%. To find out more, email admissions@guidepost.hk or visit guidepost.hk.

andrew.j.c.spires@gmail.com CONT R I B U TO RS

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May 10 Celebrating on

!

Looking to donate blood to save lives? The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service’s blood donation vehicle is in DB South Plaza from May 22 to 24, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Given the ageing population and the increasing demand for blood transfusion, BTS is proactively recruiting new donors across Hong Kong. To donate in DB this month, register at FB @db.community.hk.

s g in n e pp Ha

STUFF TO

WILD ABOUT SPICY TIGER Delivering a punchy menu packed with bold Szechuan flavours and a dazzling decor complete with neon signage, Spicy Tiger more than lives up to its exotic name.Since roaring on to the DB dining scene in January 2025, co-owners Huijun and her husband have followed through on a very definite agenda, namely to provide tasty, affordable food out of a welcoming, community-oriented venue.

“As DB residents, we are passionate about bringing something different to the community,” Huijun opens.

“We’re the only Szechuan restaurant in DB, our three chefs are very experienced having worked at Hutong and 12 Flavors, and our food is both authentic and affordable with ingredients sourced in Chengdu. We want people to relax and have fun at Spicy Tiger, so there’s a VIP room with karaoke and a pet-friendly outdoor area, as well as the 80-seater dining room.

We also host regular events to bring the community together… everything from cultural events to pet adoption days.”

It will come as no surprise to Spicy Tiger’s loyal clientele that restaurant manager Joe and the team are going all out for Mother’s Day on May 10 with a dim-sum brunch, kids’ activities and free-flow wine for mums. “They deserve it,” Huijun says with a smile. “At Spicy Tiger, we live to entertain people – if they’re happy, we are happy too.”

Dear readers,

MAY IS HELPER MONTH

ut May Througho

Launched back in 2015, Helper Appreciation Month enables all of us in the communit y – individuals, schools and businesses – to give of our time to ensure that DB helpers feel the love and have some well-deser ved fun. A series of informative and empowering free events are being planned. To find out more, turn to page 24 and visit Facebook @MayHelperAppreciation.

! s t n e v E &

DB taxi debate!

DB NEWS

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We’d love to hear your thoughts! ts! Do you support expanding taxi access across the greater convenience and accessibility,community for itit’’s important to preserve DB’s low-traf or do you feel fic, pedestrian friendly environment?

There’ re’s no doubt both sides raise id points . Easier transport could make daily life moval re pra ctic al for many, especially families, elderly residen ts and late night travellers. At the same time, DB ’ s rela tive ly quiet, safe streets are a big part of what ma kes livi ng here so special. We know this issue tter s to many of you, and opinions are strongly held ma on bot h So… are you in favour of broader taxi access, or sides. So… wou ld you prefer to see alternative solutions exp d first? Scan the QR Code and let us know where youlore stand!

Best regards, The Around DB Tea m

May 22 to 24

KNOW IN MAY! May 19

AMPCONTROL DB AT THE SOCCER SEVENS

ENSEMBLE EVENING AT DC

The Discovery College music department is hosting one of its most anticipated annual events: Ensemble Evening on May 19 from 6pm to 7.30pm at the DC Theatre. Audiences can expect a range of music styles including Motown, Classical, Pop and R&B performed

by DC Chamber Orchestra, Cobra Choir, Secondary Choir and the high-energy Stage Band. This is a free event and the whole community is invited to enjoy a night of wonderful music. For more on DC, visit discovery.esf.edu.hk.

Ampcontrol DB has been invited to participate in the Masters section of the HKFC Standard Chartered Priority Private Soccer Sevens, which is being held from May 22 to 24 at Hong Kong Football Club. Since 2017, the team has reached the final of the tournament on several occasions and they won the Masters Trophy in 2018 and 2025. This year, they’re back looking to retain their title and complete a hat trick of wins. The main sponsor again in 2026 is Ampcontrol; secondary sponsors include Tanner De Witt, Feather & Bone, Ona/ A Tavola, Tsunami, Axis Performance, Around DB, Riedel and Creative Lighting Asia. To find out more, turn to page 12, and visit hksoccersevens.com and discoverybayfc.com. [PHOTO BY Nigel Baillie.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY MAY 9 & 10 | SHOP THE DB WEEKEND MARKET in DB South Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit handmadehongkong.com.

MAY 30 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the Nim Shue Wan gate at 2pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org.

ALL MONTH | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pick-up, visit FB @dbmf.collection.

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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DB NEWS

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May 16

May 30 & 31

BEACH CLEAN-UP AT PAK NAI

While the monthly Plastic Free Seas clean-up at Nim Shue Wan on May 30 is the last before the summer, DB’s homegrown ecocharity is supporting a special beach clean-up at Pak Nai on May 16 from 2pm to 4pm. A renowned scenic wetland and mangrove area on Hong Kong’s nor thwestern coast, Pak Nai features extensive mudflats and diverse marine life, including horseshoe crabs. The clean-up involves removing spar tina (an invasive cord grass), aquaculture debris and lit ter. To sign up as a volunteer at the event, head to handsonhongkong.org.

Pick up a copy to

day!

THE DOGTOR

Andrew J. C. Spires, Around DB photographer, freelance marketing manager and dad to two, has published his first fully illustrated, read-aloud children’s book: The Dogtor.

Aimed at kids aged 2 to 8, the story follows loveable Ruff the Dogtor Dog, who ‘cures’ kids’ bumps and boo-boos with a wag of his tail… and turns into a real hero during an emergency. The Dogtor is on sale at Bookazine and The Lion Rock Press – or you can get a signed copy with a personalised inscription at andrew-spires.com.

A percentage of sales from each book goes to Ruff’s chosen charity Tails of Lantau, and there are special discounts available at Ohana veterinary clinic in Tin Hau for anyone who buys The Dogtor.

TEDx YOUTH TALK

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

DB’s The Performer’s Studio Theatre Company – a semi-professional troupe of 30+ child actors led by director-producer Emma Tielus-Ward – is staging the Asian premier of a brand-new adaptation of Wind in the Willows on May 30 and 31 at Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre. The hit musical from the creator of Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes, and award-winning composerlyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe is known for its exuberant choreography and upbeat score. To book tickets, visit ticketflap.com.

June 13 & 14

June 8

Students at Discovery College are holding a TEDx Youth Talk on June 8 from 5pm to 7pm. The event, being held at the school’s ground floor theatre, is free and open to the whole community. This year’s theme is ‘Kaleidoscope’, and you can expect an exciting evening filled with stories, questions and bold ideas – the student speakers are eager to speak up, stand out and share their visions for the future. To register in advance, visit eventbrite.hk.

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WIND IN THE WILLOWS

THE NEXT CHAPTER Every year, Island Dance chooses a different theme for its annual show. For this year’s production, The Next Chapter, teachers took inspiration from different book genres, ranging from children's books, to Shakespearian classics, contemporary fiction and non-fiction. You can catch The Next Chapter live on stage at Y-Theatre, Chai Wan on June 13 and 14, with 300 Island Dance performers (140 from DB). For tickets and to find out more, head to islanddance.com.hk, or WhatsApp 9159 0663.

! e s i c r e x E ! ly i m a Fun! F

S P O N S O R E D DC BO NNTEEWN ST

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TEAM PROFILE

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50%

PADDLERS

WOMEN

HOP INTO A DRAGON BOAT AND BECOME A SEA CUCUMBER TODAY!

50% MEN

AGE RANGE

25 - 60+

Looking for a fun way to get and stay f it while being par t of a friendly communit y? One hour of paddling with the Sea Cukes burns more than 60 0 ac tive calories while strengthening muscles all over your body, including your back, core, shoulders and legs.

NATIONALITIES

20+

COUPLES

Who Are We? Founded in 2013 as a DB communit y team, our initial goal was simple: to have fun. Staying true to that purpose, we adopted the sea cucumber – the slowest-moving animal in the sea – as our proud mascot and symbol.

9

18 paddlers VETERANS/ ROOKIES

As our love for dragon boating grew, so did our passion for racing. We star ted training year-round in 2015 in our own dragon boat and have won several trophies since. Our silver ware is now proudly displayed in af filiated businesses across DB.

50%

over 5 years’ experience

"Still, we are a team of normal people with common goals: having fun, get ting bet ter at boating, and camaraderie,” founding members Susan and Todd Chipner say.

20%

less than a year!

MEMBER WEIGHT RANGE



What Do We Do? We train (almost) ever y Saturday and Sunday near Sam Pak Wan Beach in DB Nor th. This makes us the only fully dedicated year-round dragon boat team in DB. Par ticipation in training is voluntar y but encouraged, as we take par t in more than 10 races around Hong Kong each year. We have proudly represented the DB communit y in Stanley, Cheung Chau, Chai Wan, Sai Kung, Shatin, Lamma Island and Mui Wo among others, as well as at our ‘home race’ in DB in Oc tober.

50KGS TO 100KGS  % OF FUN

100%!

Quality time spent together in a healthy way!

While we love competing, there's one thing we love even more – our inclusive communit y. We like to be social af ter training, enjoying a cof fee or beverage of choice as we suppor t each other with ever y thing in and outside the boat, in true team and DB spirit.

So if you're at least 18 years old and like fun and exercise, come as you are and join us in our boat and beyond.

9766 0440

seacukes.db

Sea Cucumbers Dragon Boat Team Hong Kong AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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! t u o b A & Out

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

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WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO! AT THE 19TH DB EASTER EGG HUNT AND CARNIVAL Little chicks and bunnies had a cracking time at the DB Easter Egg Hunt and Carnival on April 3 and 4. Egg hunters aged three to 10 swarmed Tai Pak Beach before checking out the bouncy castles and game booths at DB South Plaza. [PHOTOS BY Andrew J. C. Spires.]

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

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WORLD ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS As host of the 2026 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships, DB Ice Rink was home to two major tournaments last month with six national teams competing in each. The Women’s World Championship ran through April 5, and the Men’s World Championship from April 13 to 19. [PHOTOS BY Andrew J. C. Spires.]

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

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AT A NATURE EXPLORATION WORKSHOP Residents gathered at Central Park on April 25 to take part in a fun and informative Nature Exploration Workshop. There was a treasure hunt, outdoor games and the opportunity to learn about DB’s biodiversity. [PHOTOS BY Andrew J. C. Spires.]

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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PROFILE

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! s n e v e S in t s e B BACK ON PITCH

After a long career spanning Spain and Hong Kong, Fernando Recio is finally stepping out for his home team, Ampcontrol DB, at the upcoming Soccer Sevens. Sam Agars reports PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew J.C. Spires & Nigel Baillie

W

here Fernando Recio comes from, football is life. And now, nearly 40 years af ter his first- ever training session, the 43-year- old Spaniard will once again get the chance to play the game he loves when he steps out for Ampcontrol DB in this month’s HKFC Standard Char tered Priorit y Private Soccer Sevens.

on hold when he suit s up for Ampcontrol DB at the Soccer Sevens at the Hong Kong Football Club from May 22 to 24. The team is managed by local resident s Tim Bredbur y and Mike Collier, who runs the Discover y Bay Football Club over- 45s team.

And, af ter moving to DB from Tung Chung last year, Fernando is looking for ward to representing his new home.

“I remember my first training session – I was five years old. If you are a football player, you are a football player until you pass away,” he says. “All my life is about football. Even now, I am so happy I can continue to work in football because it is not easy when you retire from playing.”

“At my age, I just want to enjoy the experience. Of course, I want to win ever y single game and I like to be competitive, but honestly the most impor tant thing for me now is to enjoy it,” he says.

Af ter a senior career as a centre-back spanning more than t wo decades, beginning in Spain and culminating in Hong Kong, Fernando is now an assistant coach for Hong Kong Premier League (HKPL) side Kitchee and the Hong Kong national team. A third- division player in Spain for teams such as UE Rapitenca and CF Amposta while living in Roquetes, Fernando was lured to Hong Kong by Kitchee in 2010 and also represented Lee Man in the HKPL, as well as stepping out for the Hong Kong national team.

“I played for Kitchee for nine years and Lee Man for five, while I also played some games for Hong Kong. It was a nice experience, representing Hong Kong. In Spain this would have been impossible that I play for the national team. The level is amazing in Spain but to have this oppor tunit y here is really good,” he says.

His retirement from playing, however, will be put 12

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

Fernando will make his first appearance for Ampcontrol DB, with Tim Bredbur y finally get ting his man. “Tim is a legend in Hong Kong. Ever ybody in Hong Kong football knows Tim. We star ted to talk and he kept asking when I could play and finally this year I have time,” confirms Fernando.

While Tim, a DB resident of almost 40 years, is acutely aware of the impor tance of being competitive, the tournament is about far more than just winning and losing. “It ’s just fun. It ’s the best Sevens tournament in Asia and you get to play against some of the best players,” he says.

“It ’s also got a great communit y feel. The football scene in DB is pret t y strong, especially up at DBIS of an evening. Ever y night of the week there is a football game of some description going on, plus there is Sunday morning football.”

While the team will feature a string of DB resident s, the sponsors are also a major par t of Ampcontrol DB’s fabric and boast strong local connec tions through Lippman Lee (Ampcontrol), Tim Drew

PROFILE

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“

THE DB TEAM HAS GOOD QUALITY EVERY YEAR AND IS ALWAYS IN THE FIGHT TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT. NOW IS THE MOST DIFFICULT – EVERYONE CAN WIN ONE TIME BUT TO CONTINUE TO WIN IS MOST DIFFICULT

- Fernando Recio

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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PROFILE

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( Tanner De Wit t), Paul Daley (Feather & Bone), Guillaume Mauf frey (Riedel), Wendy Lee (A xis Per formance), Deshraj Chandel and Gaurav Bhasin (Ona/ A Tavola), Gareth Rae ( Tsunami) and JeanFrançois Har vey (Around DB). Non-DB resident sponsor Creative Lighting Asia is also a key par t of this year ’s family.

While it will be Fernando’s first time playing in the masters sec tion of the Soccer Sevens – where teams can have five players aged from 35 to 39 with the rest 40 and over – he’s tasted the ultimate success in the tournament ’s main draw. “I have played in the Soccer Sevens t wice before, both with Kitchee.

We won the tournament against Celtic in 2011 and in 2014 we lost the final against Man Cit y,” he says.

“I like the atmosphere of this tournament and that there is football from the morning into the night.

The games are fast; there are dif ferent rules – no of fsides – and when you have possession you cannot lose the ball other wise you have to run a lot. It ’s quite interesting.”

Vic tor y in the Soccer Sevens is far from the ex tent of Fernando’s footballing success in Hong Kong, and his experience will be called on as Ampcontrol DB looks to go back-to -back af ter defeating Wallsend Boys Club HK in last year ’s final. “The DB team has good qualit y ever y year and is always in the fight to win the tournament. Now is the most dif ficult – ever yone can win one time but to continue to win is most dif ficult. Let ’s see how we go.”

On top of the pressure that comes with defending the title, Fernando admit s he’s also star ting to feel a bit apprehensive on a personal level. “I’ve never played this over-age football but I think it will be a good level. I’m a bit ner vous. Maybe not so much ner vous, but definitely excited. Let ’s see if I can continue at my level. It ’s a big challenge for me,” he says. “I’m tr ying to prepare but I haven’t played football for almost t wo years so it won’t be easy.

Of course, I know how to play football but I’m not as fit as some players.”

generation sometimes is a bit laz y. Too much computers, too much phone – it ’s dif ferent to when I was that age. For me, it was only football. I would go to school and play football, then I would finish school and play football. It was 24/7 football. Now it is dif ferent.”

That ’s par t of the DB at trac tion for Fernando and his wife Gloria – the countless ways parent s can entice their children out side. “One of the reasons I like DB is that you can ride your bic ycle, you can go running, you play football, basketball, tennis – you can do all these things. If you live elsewhere, it ’s not as easy,” he says, before expanding on why DB has been such a great fit for his family.

“Ever yone knows each other and it ’s a small communit y. I like it a lot. It ’s calm, you’ve got the beach, the kids can play, Central is only 25 minutes away and Sunny Bay is 12 minutes by bus. I’ve measured it. I am so happy to be here.”

While Fernando is lapping up the quiet life in DB, things will be any thing but calm come the point y end of the Soccer Sevens as his side bat tles to retain it s crown. “Of course, there is always pressure when you win a lot and I love the pressure,” he says. “It excites me. I like this tournament.”

MASTERS TROPHY WINNERS AT THE SOCCER SEVENS IN 2025

When he’s not coaching, Fernando remains involved in the game through his suppor t of Real Madrid – “All my family follow Barcelona, being from Catalonia, so when I watch with my family, I’m a bit shy” – and following 16 -year- old son Hugo as he plies his own career for Kitchee.

Fer nando is quick to pr aise the facilities in Hong Kong but today ’s gener ation of youngs ter s does leave him scr atching his head at times. “The pitches I s t ar ted on weren’t ar tificial, they were sand. It was dif ficult back then. Now it ’s easy for ever yone,” says Fer nando, who also has a daughter – Paola, 14.

“My son is not bad. Let ’s see... Now, the new 14

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

AMPCONTROL DB SPONSORS 2026

⾹港聖公會弘道堂

Sundays 10am

Learn more

Wei Lun Scho o

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Sunday School, Youth Group, Bible Studies, Fellowship, Community Service

逢星期⽇ 上午⼗時半 聖 公會偉倫⼩學 第⼀、⼆、四主⽇聖餐崇拜 第三、五主⽇早禱崇拜 每主⽇均有兒童主⽇學 （⼗時半開始） 了解更多

COMMUNITY

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? b a C o t t o N or , b a To CMAKE WAY FOR TAXIS? Proposals to introduce more taxis into DB have residents divided. While opinions differ, everyone wants to know if cabs are coming and when. Edward Szekeres reports PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew J.C. Spires

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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COMMUNITY

owhere in Discover y Bay is safe – at least when it comes to chat ting about taxis. You can’t escape the topic that seems to be on ever yone’s mind: should there be more cabs in DB?

Suppor ters and opponent s are fully mobilised.

Petitions, online polls and debates in group chat s abound. Safet y is sparring with convenience, accessibilit y is contrasted with DB’s low-traf fic, pedestrian-first vibe.

The taxi question first gained trac tion in March when new taxi stands cropped up across DB, seemingly unannounced and taking many by surprise.

But the new taxi stands – unused for now – did not appear out of thin air. Hong Kong Resor t Company Limited (HKR), DB’s sole and private developer, announced it s plan to revoke DB’s current taxi-free zones and introduce four new taxi ranks in a notice dated Januar y 2026. Under the present rules set in 2014, taxis are only allowed limited entr y to DB Nor th Plaza.

The proposal aims to remove the restric tions and introduce new taxi stands near the Discover y Bay Fire Station, Peng Chau Ferr y Pier, Discover y Bay Golf Club and the Discover y Bay Multi-recreation Centre, which is currently under construc tion. Cabs would be allowed to wait up to 60 minutes at these taxi stands and access villages with door-to - door pick-ups and drop - of fs.

In the Januar y notice, HKR stated that it was responding to urgent transpor t needs of resident s, with taxis becoming an indispensable mode of public transpor t for DB’s ageing population. The current limitations, the developer said, were highly inconvenient, with the lack of point-to -point public transpor t meaning people had to walk or transfer to local buses to reach their destinations.

Optimising taxi ser vices would come hand in hand with a comprehensive upgrade to road safet y management, including an AI-powered sur veillance system to monitor traf fic violations, issuing warnings before referring cases to police.

Additional securit y personnel would also be employed to strengthen enforcement against traf fic violations, the notice read.

Impromptu polls and discussions in DB communit y groups on social media reveal that the taxi plan is divisive, with strong opinions held on both sides, but many seem to favour a compromise.

A DB Mat ters Facebook poll with roughly 50 0 responses from mid-March had close to 60% of votes cast in favour of restric ted taxi access during late-night hours, with the rest of the votes nearly

/

“ULTIMATELY, THE DEBATE IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT EASE OF ACCESS, SAFETY, OR EMERGENCY; IT IS A DEBATE ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY. IS IT A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT PRIORITISES SAFETY OVER CONVENIENCE, OR IS CONVENIENCE PARAMOUNT?

- Martin Sebena, lecturer at the University of Hong Kong

identically divided bet ween opposition to the plan.

full

suppor t

and

“I can see potential benefit s, such as increasing the convenience for resident s, especially in emergenc y medical situations,” one resident said in a discussion thread. “However, we also have some concerns [regarding road and neighbourhood safet y] especially for our children and pet s who enjoy running around freely.”

“The current system isn’t working,” another resident said in a dif ferent thread. “Waiting 15 minutes for a bus just to reach the taxi stand, hauling luggage across DB, or finding no ser vice at all af ter midnight – this is genuinely dif ficult for resident s. It ’s time for change. If done properly, with speed limit s, designated pick-up zones and real enforcement, this could ac tually work.

Convenience doesn’t necessarily mean chaos.”

While these views reflec t just a tiny snippet of the plethora of opinions expressed online and in various of fline fora, they are indicative of the debate’s scope and significance to resident s.

At a Traf fic and Transpor t Commit tee meeting under the Islands Distric t Council on April 14, HKR representatives said that delegates from DB, Peng Chau and Nim Shue Wan had collec ted about 6,0 0 0 signatures backing the plan, adding that a public consultation conduc ted bet ween Februar y AROUND DB / MAY 2026

17

COMMUNITY

/

and March involving around 70 0 resident s resulted in 87% of respondent s suppor ting the proposal.

Many resident s, however, claim never to have heard of signatures being collec ted, nor of a public consultation. They say they didn’t spot the notice posted in Januar y in a few areas of DB, including the ferr y pier to Peng Chau and Mui Wo. “It ’s just a lit tle laminated sheet tied up with zip ties,” says 40 -year resident Sophia Lau-Duehring. “Nobody was going to stop and read that.”

As of late April, more than 2,0 0 0 people signed a change.org petition calling for a pause to the implementation of the taxi plan before a more comprehensive consultation lasting at least three months is conduc ted, ideally through a communit ywide sur vey or vote.

Those who signed the online petition say they want improvement through “targeted alternatives,” such as boosted late-night and early-morning public transpor t, enhanced hire cars, priority door-todoor transpor t for those in need and limited or conditional taxi access. Given the scale of the potential change and the fac t that there was “no direc t communication to households, no notices in building lobbies or noticeboards, and no public meetings to explain the proposal or invite questions,” the consultation process has been “inadequate and poorly communicated,” the petition reads.

“Hong Kong Resor t feels that they did a proper public consultation. But many people believe they didn’t,” says Dana Winograd, a DB resident of close to 30 years. “My biggest issue now is whether this is a safe idea. Safet y should be the ultimate question before any other discussions go on as to whether we need to have it, whether we want to have it, and the details of it. All these things shouldn’t even be a question until we have assurances that the issue of safet y has been addressed.”

Replying to resident and media queries, the Transpor t Depar tment, to which the petition requesting a halt to the taxi plan was submit ted, confirmed it has received the taxi proposal and said local consultation is ongoing, with resident s expressing mixed views. It then referred queries back to HKR. Dana’s concern over the authorities’ handling of the proposal prompted her to lodge a complaint with Hong Kong’s ombudsman in late March “to clarif y what constituted the minimal standards or requirement s for an acceptable public consultation”. She has yet to hear back.

At the Traf fic and Transpor t Committee meeting on April 14, Islands Distric t Councillor Jonathan Chow called for a full and transparent consultation 18

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

covering all 17,000 DB residents, including all Village Owners’ Committees, before fur ther ac tion is taken.

“Before we rush into lif ting the taxi restric tion, I strongly suggest the operator first fully enhance it s existing hire car ser vice,” Councillor Chow added. “If we truly care about the elderly and those with limited mobilit y, we should allow them to easily book a hire car to the existing taxi stand in DB Nor th. We must address the needs of our elderly and make transpor t more convenient and accessible. But this must be done safely and with a proper public consultation.”

In it s notice from Januar y, however, HKR stated that the communit y has been raising related demands for many years. The current plan is par t of HKR’s DB2.0 blueprint that aims to introduce a series of strategic transpor t upgrades to ensure greater connec tivit y and a richer lifest yle within DB. “Ultimately, the debate is not so much about ease of access, safety, or emergency; it is a debate about the nature of the community,” Mar tin Sebena, lec turer in politics at the University of Hong Kong says. “Is it a family-friendly environment that prioritises safety over convenience, or is convenience paramount?”

At the Islands Distric t Council meeting in April, Councillor Chow pointed out that DB lacks traf fic light s and designated crossings, raising concerns about pedestrian safet y. He also warned of potential conflic t s on narrow roads, as around 50 0 licensed golf car t s whiz around the area.

In response, HKR representatives said that a traf fic impac t assessment showed the area would have suf ficient road capacit y through 2037 even with full taxi access. The developer also said that, according to records from 2020 to 2025, there were about six minor traf fic incident s involving taxis within DB per year, with no serious injuries or fatalities repor ted.

Across Hong Kong, however, the taxi accident rate is on a sharp upward trajec tor y. The involvement rate of taxis in traf fic accident s was 295 per 1,0 0 0 vehicles in 2023, considerably higher than that of 285 for franchised public buses and 192 for public light buses, according to of ficial statistic s from the Legislative Council Secretariat.

HKR’s notice originally stated the plan to ease taxi restric tions would be implemented in the first quar ter of 2026, and at the council meeting in April, representatives proposed a month-long introduc tor y period from 9pm to 9am, followed immediately by full day-time access. But for now, the debate continues: the plan appears to be on hold, following strong public interest and request s for more open consultation.

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CLIENT TALK

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FOCUS ON VANUATU HARVEY L AW GROUP DELVES INTO VANUATU’S DUAL-TRACK CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND REVEALS HOW IT CAN LEAD TO A SECOND PASSPORT IN JUST T WO MONTHS

Va n u a t u, a n i s l a n d n a t i o n i n t h e S o u t h Pa c i f i c, o p e r a t e s o n e o f t h e w o r l d ’s f a s t e s t a n d m o s t s t r aig ht f o r w a r d c i t i ze n s hi p by i nve s t m e nt (CBI ) progr ams, of fer ing a pat h to a s econd pas s p or t primarily through t wo channels: the Development S u p p o r t P r o g r a m ( D S P ) a n d , m o r e r e c e n t l y, t h e C a p i t al I nve s t m e nt I m mig r at io n Pla n (CIIP ).

T h e p r o g r a m i s g r o u n d e d i n t h e c o u n t r y ’s C i t i ze n s h i p A c t a n d r e l a t e d r e g u l a t i o n s , w h i c h authorise the gover nment to grant citizenship in retur n for qualif ying financial contributions to national development.

For globally mobile investors, these options of fer visa-free access to many countries, a tax-friendly e nv i r o n m e n t , a n d a r e l a t i ve l y q u i c k p r o c e s s i n g timeline compared with many competing programs.

W hile b ot h DSP a n d CIIP ul t i matel y lea d to t he s a m e s t a t u s o f Va n u a t u c i t i ze n s h i p, t h ey d i f f e r i n s t r u c t u r e, co s t co m p o s i t io n, a n d r i s k / r e t u r n profile, which makes it essential to understand the nuances before choosing a route.

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGR AM The Development Suppor t Program is the primar y and mos t es t ablis hed tr ack within Vanuatu’s CBI f r a mewo r k . DSP is a d o nat io n - b as e d o pt io n: inves tor s make a non-refundable contribution to t he g ove r n me nt, w hic h i s t he n u s e d to s u p p o r t inf r as t r uc t ure an d ot her d evelo p me nt p r ior itie s across the countr y.

20

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

DSP remains one of the lowest priced full citizenship options available globally. For illustration, minimum contribution levels under DSP are US$130,000 for a single applicant and US$180,000 for a family of four.

The DSP proces s is also known for it s speed and p ro ce d ur al clar i t y. A p p lic a nt s f ir s t s u b mi t b as ic document s and pay a due diligence fee; if the prec he c k is s ucces s f ul, t hey re ceive an A p p roval in Principle from the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission within a mat ter of weeks. Af ter final payment of the full donation, the authorities issue the citizenship ce r t i f ic ate a n d p as s p o r t s, w i t h tot al p r o ce s s i ng commonly quoted in the range of 45 to 60 days or roughly t wo to three months from star t to finish.

From a governance and predic tabilit y standpoint, DSP is seen as the ‘core’ state-managed programme.

The government and Citizenship Commission d i r e c t l y o v e r s e e d u e d i l i g e n c e, a p p r o v a l a n d i s s u a n c e o f c i t i z e n s h i p, w h i c h r e s u l t s i n s t a b l e rules, clear timelines and less dependence on co mmer cial p roje c t p er for mance. T his s t r uc t ure appeals to inves tor s who prioritise cer t aint y and simplicit y over potential financial upside.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT IMMIGR ATION PL AN The Capital Investment Immigration Plan emerged as a complementar y route that combines an e l e m e n t of d o n a t i o n w i t h a d e f i n e d i nve s t m e n t component. Instead of purely donating the entire

CLIENT TALK

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amount as per DSP, CIIP alloc ates a por tion into South Africa Applicant s must pass due diligence checks under a specific fund or projec t designated by the b o t h o p t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g b a c kg r o u n d s c r e e n i n g government, with the remainder treated as a nonand source - of-funds verification, and both follow refundable contribution. broadly similar steps: initial eligibilit y check, d o c u m e n t s u b m i s s i o n, a p p r o v a l, f u l l p a y m e n t , A t ypical recent CIIP struc ture involves a oath (of ten adminis tered remotely) and is suance c o n t r i b u t i o n o f a b o u t U S $157, 0 0 0 f o r a f a m i l y of the citizenship cer tificate and passpor t. of four. In this model, US$50,0 0 0 of this amount is inve s te d into a f u n d s uc h as t he CNO Fu t ure When selec ting bet ween DSP and CIIP, prospec tive Fund, a Vanuatu-based investment fund focusing applicants should evaluate several prac tical Founded in 1992,development Harvey Law objec Grouptives. is a premier multinational on Vanuatu’s sustainable facto r s . F i r s t , blaw u d gfirm, e t aspecializing n d f a m i l y in size: for a Specifically, the CNO Fund(RBI) aimsand to target applic(CBI) ant, the DSP 30 donation may compare Residency

by Future Investment Citizen bysingle Investment for over years. With i nve s t m eover n t i n20 to offices t h e c o cworldwide o n u t o il i n d u s t r y i n aiover d favourably given it s relatively low entr y level and representing 30 different countries and their respective o f Va n u a t u ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o 10 0 % r e n e w a b l e streamlined process, whereas for a family of three Investment Immigration programs, Harvey Law Group has provided its services to over elec tricit y generation. The CIIP struc ture is or four, CIIP ’s par tially ref undable s tr uc ture may the demand p a r t i c u l a10,000 r l y a dfamilies v a n t a g from e o u salla saround i t i n cthe l u dworld. e s a Aslower the ef fecfor tiveInvestment long-term Immigration cost if the investment programs grows,to various companies have latched on to the service offering, but contrac tual commitment returnemerging that US$50,0 00 is repaid as planned. to the investor period of five years.

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For individuals unsure of where to s t ar t or which Residency by Investment in over Citizenship byfor, Investment programs in guidance is program to go professional legal PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR APPLICANTS 6 continents over 20 countries the Caribbean, Europe and Asia Pacific invaluable. Har vey Law Group, with over 30 years B o t h DS P a n d C I I P g r a n t t h e s a m e e n d r e s u l t : of experience in global residenc y and citizenship Vanuatu citizenship with an associated passpor t, programs, is here to assist you in confirming your of f e r i ng v i s a -f r e e o r v i s a - o n - ar r i v al a c c e s s to a eligibilit y, preparing the necessar y paper work and Retirement Visas Citizenship by Ancestry s ubs t antial numb er of count r ies and ter r itor ies, guiding you through each s tep toward obt aining p l u s a c c e s s t o Va n u a t u ’s t a x - f r i e n d l y r e g i m e .

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Hong Kong Island: Unit 2505-6, 25/F, United Asia Finance Centre, 333 Lockhart Road, Wanchai Discovery Bay: Unit 3, L/G Unit, Block one, North Plaza

T: +852 2416 8618

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

21

QUIZ

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! s e i v o M e th t A

20 QUESTIONS How much do you know about Brad Pitt and his films?

01. When is Brad Pitt’s birthday?

A.

December 1, 1963

B.

December 18, 1963

C.

December 25, 1975

02. Who does Pitt play in True Romance?

A.

A stoner called Floyd

B.

A newly-wed called Clarence

C.

Elvis Presley

03. In which movie did Pitt get his first leading role?

A.

Fight Club

B.

12 Monkeys

C.

The Dark Side of the Sun

04. Who did Pitt marry in 2000?

A.

Angelina Jolie

B.

Gwyneth Paltrow

C.

Jennifer Aniston

05. In which movie does Pitt’s character personify Death?

A.

Meet Joe Black

B.

Moneyball

C.

Bullet Train

22

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

QUIZ

06. What is Pitt’s real name?

14. What is Pitt’s Chinese Zodiac sign?

A.

Bradley James Pitt

A.

Tiger

B.

William Bradley Pitt

B.

Rabbit

C.

James Bradley Pitt

C.

Dog

07. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button what is unusual about Pitt’s character?

15. How many Oscars has Pitt won and been nominated for respectively?

A.

He ages backwards

A.

1 and 5

B.

He walks on water

B.

2 and 8

C.

He’s a vampire

C.

4 and 8

08. Of the movies produced by Pitt, which was the first to win an Oscar for Best Picture?

A.

The Departed

B.

12 Years a Slave

C.

Moonlight

09. What is Pitt’s character called in the Oceans movies?

A.

Cliff Booth

B.

Rusty Ryan

C.

Billy Beane

10. What is Pitt’s highest grossing movie to date?

A.

F1: The Movie

B.

Se7en

C.

The Mexican

11. In Inglourious Basterds, what is Pitt’s character’s nickname?

A.

Aldo the Bear

B.

Aldo the Apache

C.

Aldo the Great

12. In which movie does Pitt play a cowboy hitchhiker?

A.

Thelma and Louise

B.

Troy

C.

Babel

13. Which Guy Ritchie movie does Pitt star in?

A.

The Covenant

B.

Wrath of Man

C.

Snatch

/

16. In which movie did Pitt meet Angelina Jolie?

A.

Mr and Mrs Smith

B.

Babylon

C.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

17. What is Pitt’s character’s wife called in Legends of the Fall?

A.

Isabel Two

B.

Kayli

C.

Susannah

18. Which Pitt movie begins with a quote from The Book of Job? A.

World War Z

B.

The Tree of Life

C.

Burn After Reading

19. Who is Pitt’s co-star in Wolves?

A.

George Clooney

B.

Matt Damon

C.

Tom Cruise

20. Which famous 90’s sitcom did Pitt star in for one episode?

A.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

B.

Seinfeld

C.

Friends

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com>post>at-themovies-brad-pitt-quiz

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

23

INSIDER

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! u o Y Thank

HONOURING EVERYDAY HEROES Helper Appreciation Month tur ns small acts of thanks into a powerful community effort – offering foreign domestic helpers not only recognition but meaningful opportunities to connect, lear n and feel valued. Martin Wray reports PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew J. C. Spires

24

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

INSIDER

A

/

ppreciation satisfies a core human desire for belonging, validation and meaning, whether you're a CEO or one of Hong Kong's 370,000+ foreign domestic helpers, who form over 5% of our population. Coming from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, these helpers support our families, while living far from their own, making community gratitude not just nice, but essential.

For Discovery Bay residents XingNi Liu and Imee Macpherson, the current organisers of this May’s Helper Appreciation Month, the goal is twofold: to encourage community recognition of helper contributions and to facilitate fun experiences for helpers to enjoy. “What we're trying to do is to bring out more of the good stuff,” XingNi says. “Helpers take care of your home and children so that you can be at work on time.” May is an opportunity to celebrate their contributions.

Steve Chitty launched Helper Appreciation Month in 2015 to bring together the DB community – individuals, families, schools, non-profits and businesses – to ensure that helpers felt appreciated and got to experience a series of informative and empowering free events. Past events attracted hundreds of helpers, with 2025's month featuring numerous different activities from yoga and football to beach tennis. Ideally, at some point during the month, each member of the community will find their own practical ways to acknowledge how helpers add to their lives.

“Awareness of helpers’ working conditions, their sacrifices, their social and legal challenges, can (and should) be raised,” Steve says. “But Helper Appreciation Month is neither a protest, nor a political movement, nor an opportunity to cast blame. It is about raising the barometer of collective goodness and drawing out the best of willing people within the community.”

May was chosen because the first is International Labour Day, the second Sunday is Mother's Day (and many helpers are away from their children on this day), and finally, because the fifteenth is the United Nations International Day of Families.

Helpers are ideally an adopted part of our families, and it’s important to let them know we appreciate their work. XingNi emphasises, “Our helper Thelma is an essential part of our daily life. My husband has a fulltime job, my work is flexible, but I still have to be out and about a lot, and having Thelma takes my mind off scheduling. I trust my children in her hands – they are the most important thing in this world, so I can easily say there's nothing I don't trust Thelma with. I place the world into her hands, and that's why, without her, I wouldn't be able to work. It's as simple as that.”

When asked what members of the community can do this month, Imee points out, “In May, every year, we

BETHANY WITH THE LIU KIDS

“EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STRUGGLES, BUT A LITTLE APPRECIATION GOES A LONG WAY. IT MAKES THE HELPER VERY HAPPY THAT DAY, AND THAT’S ALL WE WANT

- Imee Macpherson, co-organiser of Helper Appreciation Month

give prompts. [We seek out community members] who already have established activities. And then we ask them if they can give us free sessions for helpers.”

This year, the duo have already lined up football training with Tekker z; touch rugby with DB Pirates’ coach Grant Abbott; Zumba with Arlyn, Dionina and Embody; strength training with Katy Day of Tita Fit; guitar and singing lessons with YRock’s Chris and Miriam; yoga with Myriam; nature ar t by Nerish Ar t Studio and a grand finale, beach tennis with Imee and Andrew on Tai Pak Beach. Helpers in DB and the surrounding distric ts are invited to visit the Facebook group (@helperappreciationmonth) to sign up for a class.

“It's very exciting, you meet a lot of friends, and learn the sports they are teaching,” comments Jen Borja, a veteran of the sporting events. “Last year, I participated in Tekkerz football and beach tennis.”

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

25

INSIDER

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smile. Employers can encourage their helpers to join one or more of the Helper Appreciation Month activities or treat them to a restaurant meal.

XingNi and Imee are mindful that, under Hong Kong law, helpers are entitled to just one rest day every seven days, and that, for most, this is a Sunday.

Additionally, there is no set daily hour limit meaning, helpers often work long days (around 11 to 16 hours) because they live in the employer’s home and may be ‘on call’. For this reason, all classes scheduled this month are either on Sundays or in the early evening.

Opportunities for helpers to have fun are not limited to May or DB. Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) hosts a popular free Sunday programme for migrant domestic workers every week, a public thankyou to helpers for their contributions in the form of a restorative escape into nature. Up to 100 helpers gather for yoga flows, Zentangle art sessions and treasure hunts in peaceful surroundings. It’s free, including bus pickups from Central and Kowloon and a vegan lunch. In February, the Li Ka Shing Foundation gave away 5,000 free Hong Kong Disneyland tickets to helpers, including transportation and lunch, up from 4,000 the previous year.

IMEE MACPHERSON AND XINGNI LIU

In previous years, it was Zumba and DB Dad Bods (DBDB); in 2024, Jen won her DBDB category.

Sanie Dalaida concurs, “I participated for two years in YRock’s guitar and singing sessions. I wanted to learn how to play chords and strum while singing.

Miriam is really good at singing, and I learned from her example. It was fun, we focused on learning but also having fun.” Sanie has gone on to perform with Unsung Heroes, a choir of helpers who sang at last year’s Clockenflap festival.

Inspirations, XingNi implies, shouldn’t stop there.

“Any vendor or service provider who sees this and wants to add on can contact us on Facebook, and we can still arrange it during the month.” Additionally, anyone can organise an in-house appreciation event.

For example, you can provide workshops for helpers to mentor them in cooking, communication, finances, first aid, sewing and so forth. Or you can offer a venue, as Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) did last year in hosting YRock’s music lessons.

If you are looking for ways to thank a helper in our community, regardless of your age, you can show appreciation with a handmade card or craft, an unexpected acknowledgement, or simply a respectful 26

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

Several other organisations offer cost-free, yearround programmes to helpers. Empower HK (empowerhongkong.com) inspires change through advocacy, creative storytelling workshops, arts programmes and community-building events. Enrich HK (enrichhk.org) delivers real-world financial money management workshops, career coaching and entrepreneurship training. Help for Domestic Workers (helpfordomesticworkers.org) offers counselling, rights education, emergency shelter, mental health support and pathways to community leadership roles.

Uplifters (uplifters-edu.org) provides online courses on mental health, leadership skills and financial wellbeing. Splash Foundation (splashfoundation.org) runs free learn-to-swim classes at DBIS to build confidence in the water. DB Pirates (dbpirates.com) has an all-women’s touch rugby team for helpers, the Piratas, that meets at DB North Plaza pitch.

Now in its eleventh year, Helper Appreciation Month has grown into a self-sustaining DB tradition, much like Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Movember.

Organisers like XingNi and Imee keep it alive by rallying residents, schools and businesses to provide fun events that generate laughter, turning helpers from overlooked outsiders into recognised contributors.

At its heart, DB thrives on activities and connections.

A simple question or gesture can light up a helper’s day, proving that small acts of appreciation can build strong bonds. “Everybody, everybody has their own struggles, but a little appreciation goes a long way,” Imee concludes. “It makes the helper very happy that day, and that’s all we want.

! s e i or t S Untold

GOOD READS

/

6 TALES ABOUT ‘THE HELP’

Delve deep into the lives of Hong Kong’s foreign domestic helpers

INGAT: EDITED BY YVONNE YU (2024)

STRANGERS AT HOME: SO MEI CHI (2015)

MAID TO ORDER: NICOLE CONSTABLE (1993)

TALES FROM VICTORIA PARK: TODD CROWELL (2016)

MY EXTRA-SPECIAL AUNTY: JOANNA BOWERS (2024)

THE EXPATRIATES: JANICE Y.K. LEE (2016)

A power ful anthology of poetr y, essays and shor t stories written by foreign domestic helpers, Ingat delivers personal reflections on ever yday life in Hong Kong. Centred on themes of memor y, identity, loneliness and resilience, the collection transforms lived experience into literature, while giving space to voices that are often overlooked.

A clear, accessible study of helpers’ lives, Maid to Order in Hong Kong combines research with personal accounts that are as relevant today as they were in 1993. The inter view-based narrative explores working conditions, relationships with employers and structural inequalities in a balanced, informative way.

Told from a child’s perspective, My Extra-Special Aunty highlights the loving bond that is so often established between Hong Kong families and their helpers. The picture book celebrates the cultural diversity and creative talent within the helper community, complete with illustrations by Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra.

A poignant documentar y-style photobook, pairing Rob Godden’s intimate images with So Mei-chi’s controlled prose, Strangers at Home reveals the quiet dislocation of Hong Kong’s helpers. Tender yet unsettling, it captures personal stories, and highlights the emotional cost of leaving family behind to live in someone else’s home.

Tales from Victoria Park follows the lives of multiple Indonesian helpers through a collection of upbeat short stories focused on their Sunday gatherings, friendships and romances. At the same time, the narrative reveals how helpers are often overlooked – and that they only becoming ‘visible’ when they gather in public spaces on Sundays.

The Expatriates focuses on three American women living in Hong Kong who owe their privileged existence – at least in part – to their live-in help. The narrative explores the stark contrasts in lifestyle, revealing how the wealthy characters interact with, and often disregard, the helpers who take care of their children and homes.

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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! e im T Vacation ESCAPES

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EL SALVADOR The Land of Volcanoes

REPORTING BY Elena M. Zepeda

EL SALVADOR MAY BE THE SMALLEST countr y in Central

America, but it’s big on character.

With 20+ active volcanos, sur ftastic beaches, historic centres and archaeological sites, the countr y is a gem to explore, offering plenty of variety and adventure. The newly gentrified capital, San Salvador, is an ideal place to stay, with all major destinations reachable by car.

DOWNTOWN SAN SALVADOR is picturesque, safe and accessible.

Drop by the National Theatre, a key cultural venue known for its French Renaissance-style architecture; the gleaming white Metropolitan Cathedral consecrated in 1999; and the National Librar y, which opened in 2023 and ser ves as a major public space, reflecting the countr y’s ongoing development.

A PREMIER COASTAL TOURISM

initiative, Sur f City is known for its black sand, consistent waves and vibrant nightlife. The centre of the action is the former fishing village of El Tunco (Salvadorian slang for piglet), where the point breaks per form year-round, and you can swim out to the iconic pig-shaped rock just offshore.

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ESCAPES

PICTURE-PERFECT SANTA ANA has a genteel,

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old-world vibe thanks to the wealth that poured in from local coffee plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visit the gleaming white, neo-Gothic Santa Ana Cathedral, and sample the rich, strong local brew – either in a plaza café or on a plantation tour in the surrounding hills.

HIKING AND ADVENTURE HOTSPOT Puerta Del Diablo, aka

the Devil’s Gate, gained its name because of the curious arched shape of the high rocks that form it.

The site consists of three dramatic rock formations El Chulo, El Chulito and El Chulón (The Good Looking, The Cutie and The Impressive). You can hike up the rocks with a guide, and rappel down if you dare.

MAYA CULTURE EXTENDED

into the western and central parts of El Salvador, and its Mayan settlements date back over 4,000 years. Be sure to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén, a farming village buried by volcanic ash, and Tazumal, a major, longinhabited settlement (100 to 1,200 AD) known for its 24m-high pyramids and sophisticated ceremonial structures.

VOLCANIC ILAMATEPEC El Salvador’s highest peak, at 2,381m, affords

‘challenging-but-worth it’, expertly guided hikes through coffee plantations, cloud forest and rocky volcanic terrain. At the summit, you can look down on a vivid turquoise crater lake – enticing as it looks, it’s highly acidic and the sulphur-rich water can reach near-boiling temperatures. Don’t dive in!

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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EDUCATION

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Q&A!

BRINGING TOP UK STEM EDUCATION TO HK

Timothy Bateup, Head Teacher at King’s College London Mathematics School, introduces the KCLMS Hong Kong Summer Programme, new for 2026

K

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KCLMS

ing's College London Mathematic s School ( KC L M S ), a l s o k n o w n a s K i n g ’s M a t h s School, consis tently tops UK national league tables and has secured a reputation as the ultimate launchpad for Br it ain’s top S TEM undergraduates. Star ting this summer, the school is bringing it s exper tise to local s tudent s through the KCLMS Hong Kong Summer Programme – t wo, intensive, t wo -week STEM-focused initiatives held in collaboration with Beacon Group.

KCLMS Head Teacher Timothy Bateup, a passionate mathematician and educ ator, shares insight s into the programme.

Q : F o r f a m i l i e s i n H o n g Ko n g w h o a r e n e w to KCLMS, could you briefly introduce the school?

A : K ing's Mat hs Sc ho ol is a s p e cialis t s t ate funded school founded in 2014 for s tudent s aged 16 t o 19 w h o h av e a n a p t i t u d e a n d e n t h u s i a s m for mathematics. It is run in par tnership with K ing’s C olle ge Lo nd o n. O ur mis sio n is to c reate a d e d i c a t e d e nv i r o n m e n t w h e r e m a t h e m a t i c a ll y gif ted s tudent s can truly thrive.

Q: Your academic environment is famously rigorous.

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

What is the core philosophy that drives KCLMS? A : We’r e p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o u d o f o u r a p p r o a c h t o STEM subjec t teaching. We promote collaborative lear ning, where student s are encouraged to ques tion, challenge and pos tulate. We don’t treat the exam syllabus as a ceiling; we use it as a f o u n d a t i o n f o r s t u d e nt s to b uil d o n. We w a nt student s to explore where their curiosit y leads – this is what we mean by limitless learning.

St udent s are motivate d to wor k toget her, r at her than in isolation, and find solutions together.

Q: That approach clearly pays off. Can you share some recent academic results and university destinations?

A: We’re incredibly proud of our students. In 2025 A-Levels, 71% were A*, 92.2% of grades were A* to A. KCLMS has been awarded Sixth Form College of the Decade (2021), Sixth Form College of the Year (2020, 2025) and Sixth Form College of the Year for Academic Excellence (2025, 2026). We have a high success rate for university placements: 42% of leavers secured places at Oxford and Cambridge in 2025, with many others progressing to top UK universities.

In par tic ular, we foc us on s tudent develop ment, delivering exceptional value-added results.

EDUCATION

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Q: Inc redible numbers! So, what inspired you to create the KCLMS Hong Kong Summer Programme, and when is it happening?

A: The Hong Kong progr amme is a s tr ategic initiative to bring the same authentic lear ning experience to the region. We will focus on large, complex topics that open up new concepts and show the interrelations in mathematics. In addition, one-third of the programme is dedicated to a g r o u p r e s ear c h p r oje c t w he r e s t u d e nt s u s e mathematical concept s to solve real-life problems.

On the second Saturday, student s will present their research projec t s, and parent s are welcome. There are t wo sessions: Session 1 runs from July 13 to 25, and Session 2 runs from July 27 to August 8.

HEAD TEACHER TIMOTHY BATEUP WITH KCLMS STUDENTS

Q: Parents here are always looking for the right fit for their teens. Who is this programme designed for, and what subjec ts are of fered?

A: It ’s ideal for student s who are curious and openmi n d e d – s t u d e nt s w h o w a nt to s e e mat h s f r o m a n e w p e r s p e c t i ve a n d e nj oy b e i n g c hall e n g e d.

It ’s s ui t a b l e f o r s t u d e nt s f r o m i nte r nat io nal a n d loc al schools, as well as those from UK boarding schools, who are s tudying the A ‑ Level, IB or DSE curricula. The subjec t s we of fer are Mathematic s, Fu r t h e r M a t h e ma t i c s a n d Phy s i c s . O u r ai m i s to encourage a love for maths, and to ignite a passion for c ur iosit y and problem s olving in any s tudent who is at tending.

Q: What led KCLMS to choose B eacon Grou p as its Hong Kong base for the programme?

STUDENTS DEVELOP ANALYTICAL THINKING THROUGH PRACTICAL INVESTIGATIONS

A: Beacon Group brings strong local experience – since 1989, it has helped thousands of students pursue studies abroad and now also supports those seeking further education in Hong Kong. They’ll help us reach students who are a good fit for the programme. The programme will be held at Beacon Plus Education C e n t r e i n N o r t h Po i n t , w h i c h i s w e l l s u i t e d t o small classes (max. 15). We’ll also have dedicated administrative staff to oversee student safeguarding.

Q: The programme includes scholarship suppor t.

Can you tell us more about that?

A : A key p a r t of K i n g’s M a t h s S c h o o l ’s v i s i o n i s t o p r o m o t e M a t h e m a t i c s f o r a l l, r e g a r d l e s s o f background. To honour that philosophy, we of fer full or par tial scholarships to mathematically talented student s from underprivileged backgrounds.

KCLMS DELIVERS SMALL-CLASS, COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Q: This sounds like a transformative summer. If a student is interested, how do they apply?

A: Student s can apply at w w w.kclmshk.com. As par t of the selec tion process, they may also be asked to complete an online maths - based admis sions tes t and/ or at tend an inter view.

Visit www.kclmshk.com for more information on the programme or scan the QR code to apply.

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

31

Q UKI IZD S / C O R N E R

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! y a B y r e v o c s i D in te a e r C k in h T y la P BRAIN BOOSTER!

FUN FACTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY GET READY FOR MAY 10

MAKE HER BREAKFAST

Mother’s Day is celebrated in over 100 countries around the world! In Hong Kong, it happens on the second Sunday of May.

Lots of kids make breakfast for their mums, and restaurants get super busy because families go out to eat together and have some fun.

IT’S THANKS TO ANNA

WRITE IT DOWN

Mother’s Day was thought up by a woman named Anna Jarvis. She wanted a special day to say thank you to mums.

Millions of people give cards – it’s one of the biggest card-giving holidays! Write something sweet to show mum you love her.

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

SHARE THE LOVE

The most popular Mother’s Day gift is flowers! Traditionally we give carnations but any will do, even a paper one you’ve made yourself!

Mother’s Day isn’t just for mums – you can also celebrate aunties, grandmas or anyone who takes care of you.

THIS MONTH’S CHALLENGE! DRAW YOUR MUM! Use paints, crayons, pencils, or anything you like. Any size, any style – just have fun!

Ask a grown-up to email your drawing to rachel@arounddb.com

by May 20. You might see it in the next issue or on our Instagram page!

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

How about making mum a rainbow fruit cup when she wakes up on Mother’s Day? Choose any fruit you know she likes – a couple of strawberries, a banana, a handful of blueberries, a kiwi… and ask an adult to wash them for you, and chop them up. Then you can layer them into a tall glass or bowl.

Add a dollop of yogurt and honey, or even ice cream as a special treat!

K I D S C O R N QE UR I Z / /

bear y d e tedessert? h t d ady y di to d Wh say no was alre se ituffed! u a c st Be

MAKE IT! FLOWER PEOPLE CARD HOW TO MAKE IT: 1.

Take a long strip of green paper and fold it accordion-style (zig-zag folds)

2.

Draw a simple person shape across the folds with the head at the top and arms going out to the sides – the arms must touch the edges so the ‘chain’ stays connec ted!

3.

Cut it out without cutting through the arms

4.

Unfold it, and you’ll get a chain of connec ted ‘people’!

5.

Cut out simple flower shapes

6.

Glue one on top of each ‘person’s’ head

7.

On each figure, write something you’ll do for mum like set the table, or make your bed

8.

Write ‘Happy Mother’s Day: I Love You’ on the bottom strip

Why did the banana go to the doctor?

Because it wasn’t peeling well!!

Yo u r f unny n ew friend has th re e jokes for yo u this m onth

What do you call a sleeping dinosaur?

A dino-snore!

COLOUR ME! AROUND DB / MAY 2026

33

HOME CHEF

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! th on M e th f o e Recip THE ULTIMATE TEAR-AND-SHARE TREAT 510g but termilk biscuit s

20 0g granulated sugar

225g but ter

3t sp cinnamon

10 0g brown sugar

MONKE Y BREAD Serves 8 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut each biscuit into quarters. Put the granulated sugar and cinnamon into a zip-top bag and shake to combine. Add the biscuit quarters and shake some more. Spread these nuggets out evenly in a Bundt pan.

Next, melt the butter together with the brown sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once combined, pour it over the biscuits. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes until the crust is a deep dark brown on top. Remove it from the oven.

Allow the monkey bread to cool for about 15 to 30 minutes before turning it over onto a plate.

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

, email us!

Solve the riddle, take a photo from Uncle Russ!

Win free drinks H O W TO PL AY:

le, he ad to th e An sw er th e ri dd , ta ke w e’re hint in g at D B de st in at io n an d em ail it to a hi -r es ph ot o db .c om ad m in @ ar ou nd

: TAGRAM HANDLE S IN R U YO S U E GIV e an no un ce he n w W e’ ll ta g yo u w e! th e w in ne r onlin

W H AT YO U G E T:

fr om U nc le en ta ry dr in ks em pl m co ur Fo er Ba r Ru ss an d Th e Pi

E M A IL US BY: M ay 15

Leah Gutierrez

SOLVED LAS T MON TH’S RID DLE and ema iled us this pho to of DB TUN NEL .

We hop e you enjo y you r com plem enta ry drin ks from

Unc le Rus s and The Pier Bar!

dleT: H N rid O is h t M in n E e d H n isThid ioF t O a in t E s e L d r D u o RIYD

IS H T E M E RI DD L

a n d, t s d n a k c o d ferries e r e h w t r a t S odland, o w o t in d n a e village h t h g u o r h t tays, s Then walk e c n e il s e r e h place wh ig h a in e m days. s Find s le t n u o c r alked fo w e v a h s k n o Somewhere m

' s e r i p S w e Andr

DB FACES

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COMMUNITY SNAPS

PHOTOS BY Andrew J. C. Spires andrew.j.c.spires@gmail.com

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AROUND DB / MAY 2026

CLASSIFIEDS

Help expand the ADB archives!

The magazine archives at arounddb.com go back to our first ever issue in October 2002 but we are missing some issues from the very early days – 2002 to 2010.

Weʼd love to hear from you if you have any old copies that would help us fill these gaps.

Weʼd scan and return them! Please email us at admin@arounddb.com.

• Use the food-waste bins and the plastic-bottle, paper, metal, glass and drink-box recycling bins located in every village • Recycle contact lens packaging at South Plaza

NEED A CAR

FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE? duty free price brand new car unlimited mileage and a lot more...

97554038 SALES@EUROCARDRIVES.COM

CALL OR WHATSAPP

ATIONS LOC B A Y A P P BIN E R Y LL O V C

• Deposit good-condition toys in the DB Mothers & Friends’ collection boxes (located at Costa Court, Brilliance Court and Midvale bus stop), and barely-used clothes in one of the many smart bins located around DB

WEBSITE

6117 1889

O N T FIND HE DI A S

WASTE REDUCTION IN DB

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

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a unique open-air shopping experience in DB South Plaza

17 JAN 14 & 15 FEB 14 & 15 MAR 11 & 12 APR 9 & 10 MAY 13 JUN 12 & 13 SEP 10 & 11 0CT 31 OCT 14 & 15 NOV 28 & 29 NOV 12 & 13 DEC

WEEKLY RECYCLING POP-UP (EVERY TUESDAY) Did you know you can ONLY recycle plastic bottles #1 and #2, paper, metal and glass in your building's recycling bins?

Infront of Parkridge 10am - 1pm, 2.30 - 5.30pm

Recycle other plastics, including polyfoam (polystyrene), liquid cartons (Tetra Paks), rechargeable batteries, energy-saving light bulbs and waste electronics,

at the WEEKLY RECYCLING POP-UP Find out more at the Islands Recycling Station FB page.

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power ················································· 2728 8333 DB Fire & Ambulance ················································ 2987 7502 DB Transportation Services Limited ··························· 2987 7351 Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline ······························· 2435 4511 Lantau North Police Report Room ····························· 3661 1694 Water Fault Reports ················································· 2811 0788 FINANCE & BUSINESS Co-working Space@DB Hybrid workspace encouraging interaction between members.

The hi-tech, ergonomic interior is boosted by a spacious outdoor lounge area Located at DB North. Call 2426 8828

Bank of China ·························································· 2160 8585 HSBC ······································································· 2233 3000 Monx ······································································· 5286 0155 T8 Consulting ··························································· 2517 8248 HOME & REPAIRS Chameleon Design & Interiors ··································· 9219 8169 Good Luck Engineering ············································· 2987 1313 Green Clean ····························································· 5644 1167 Greenland Pest Control ············································ 9871 0771 Island Cleaning Solutions ········································· 6091 5176 Open Kitchen Contractor ········································· 9278 9319 Rich Point Hardware Materials ··································· 2987 0789 Synergy Pest Control ················································· 5604 3950 Tai Fat Hardware Store ·············································· 2987 0789 HOTELS

Mandarin Time ························································· 6111 0523 Yifan Mandarin ························································· 9208 7611 Zhi Zhi Chinese ························································· 9648 2966 LEARNING CENTRES & SCHOOLS Bayview House of Children ········································ 6114 2436 Discovery Bay International School ···························· 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten ···················································· 2914 2142 Discovery College ···················································· 3969 1000 Discovery Mind ························································· 2987 8088 Discovery Montessori Academy ································· 2812 9206 Discovery Montessori School ····································· 2987 1201 Guidepost Montessori················································ 2185 6134 HKILA ······································································· 2416 3198 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten ·································· 6071 3136 Mathemagic (home tutoring) ····································· 9135 4724 Open Book Learning Hub Phonics & literacy programmes designed to nurture kids’ reading, writing, spelling & language skills through personalised instruction. Located in DB South. Call 9665 8740

The Playgroup Hub at Open Book Learning Hub Montessori play-based learning, with stories & music, for kids aged 6 months to 3+ years. Weekly coffee mornings & community building for parents. At DB South. Call 9665 8740

S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School ·································· 2987 8608 Woodentots Montessori Playgroup ···························· 6108 9131 MEDICAL

Auberge Discovery Bay Five-star hotel in DB North with 22 mountain/ ocean-view rooms & suites. Meetings & events, dining, wellness & recreation. 25 minutes from HKIA. Call 2295 8288

LAWYERS & INSURANCE Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services, including investment residency programmes. Meeting facilities in DB North. Call 2416 8618

Manulife ··································································· 9172 9152 KIDS CLUBS DBees ······································································ 9867 9240 Funfit ······································································· 6302 6327 HK Dragons Football Club ········································ 2987 4274 Harry Wright Trusted swim partner offering expert-led lessons at Club Siena with a structured progression system, small group sizes & international-standard coaching. Call 2575 6279

iGym Gymnastics ······················································ 6077 2758 Jungle School ··························································· 9095 7250 Living Oceans ··························································· 6701 9203 Tekkertz ···································································· 9770 4548 The Performer’s Studio Theatre Company ·················· 6894 7243 Tinytots Soccer ························································ 3488 7724 Treasure House ························································ 2987 4217 YRock ······································································· 6180 0817 LANGUAGE TUITION Dr Bear Education Centre ········································· 9685 7856 Japanese Private Tutor ·············································· 9462 0550 Mandarin for Munchkins ············································ 2480 3909 38

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

Bayside Dental With state-of-the-art facilities & a friendly team, Bayside Dental provides family dental care for both routine check-ups & advanced treatments. Call 2987 0855 (DB North), 2285 8068 (DB South)

Central Health at Discovery Bay ································ 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital ··············································· 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre ·································· 2987 5633 Lok Kwan Home Care Service ···································· 2803 2103 MOVERS Bernardo Removals ·················································· 9854 4410 FTC Relocations ······················································· 2814 1658 ReloSmart ································································ 2561 3030 Rocket Movers ·························································· 5134 0044 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church ··················································· 2987 8136 DB Anglican Church ·················································· 2987 4210 DB International Community Church ·························· 2987 7061 Trinity Chapel ··························································· 3590 8017 REALTORS Centaline Property Agency ········································ 2987 8484 Century 21 Newcourt Realty ······································ 2987 9729 EPS Property Consultants Ltd ···································· 2987 2023 Headland Homes ······················································ 2987 2088 Homes R Us ······························································ 2662 1878 Kingsland ································································· 2987 2987 Land Master Property················································· 2987 6238 Midland Realty ·························································· 2987 2888 Okay.com ································································· 2102 0888 Pacific Estate ··························································· 2987 2928 RECREATION BMSE Community Centre ········································· 2259 3422

LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY Club Siena ······························································· 29877382 DB Football Club ····················································· 9770 4548 DB Golf Club ··························································· 2987 7273 DB Ice Rink ······························································ 2234 0187 DB North Community Centre ···································· 2987 8136 DB Recreation Club ·················································· 2987 7381 Lantau Boat Club ······················································ 9377 3074 Lantau Yacht Club ····················································· 2987 9591 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre ······················································ 2238 3388 DB Lost & Found ······················································ 3651 2345 DB Services Management ········································· 2238 3601 RESTAURANTS Café Bord de Mer & Lounge ····································· 2295 8299 Coffee Academics ···················································· 2882 2280 DBrasserie ······························································· 9848 1101 Dough Bros ······························································ 2408 0448 Ebeneezer’s ······························································ 2987 0036 Quality Cuts ····························································· 2172 6111 Feather & Bone ························································ 5198 1831 Figos Seaside Café ··················································· 2987 2995 il Bel Paese ······························································ 2987 0202 JOO Korean Grill & Bar ············································· 2234 6118 Koh Tomyums Thai ···················································· 2987 0767 Levain Bakery ··························································· 2726 4922 Liang She Han Buy Good ·········································· 3618 7827 McDonald’s ······························································ 2987 1033 MOOJOO Lifestyle Café ··········································· 5122 5928 ÓNA ········································································ 3619 0937 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant ··································· 5401 8350 Pachanga ································································· 2626 3008 Pasha ······································································· 6340 0903 Peony ······································································· 2215 0833 Pho Bay ···································································· 3619 0932 PizzaExpress ····························································· 3164 1340 Smokey Joe’s ···························································· 5784 7101 Spicy Tiger Vibrant & funky, community-oriented restaurant serving bold Szechuan flavours with a contemporary twist. Best choice for parties & events. At DB South Plaza. Call 2328 3383

Subway ···································································· 2914 0005 Sunset Bay Bar & Grill ··············································· 2787 7788 Sushi No En······························································· 3705 9984 Taste of Thai······························································ 2987 2010 The Chippy ······························································· 2987 8688 The Pier Bar······························································· 2520 2166

Greenmont Kids ······················································· 5345 1451 il Bel Paese Express ·················································· 2997 6303 Island Wake ······························································ 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre ·················································· 2987 1041 Market Place & IKEA ················································· 2947 9092 P-Solution ································································ 2987 1777 Star Mart ·································································· 2366 6534 The Optical House ···················································· 2987 1368 Toysland ··································································· 2987 7859 Watson’s ··································································· 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine ·························································· 2987 0268 SPORTS 24/7 Fitness ······························································ 6538 2247 DB Pirates ································································ 9255 6133 DB Runners ······························································ 5646 2946 DMR ········································································ 5210 7208 Embody ··································································· 6624 8712 HK Yoga ··································································· 6113 6770 Island Dance ···························································· 9159 0663 Kaisei Ryu Ju Jitsu ···················································· 5315 0227 Kipmovin ································································· 6436 3308 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan ·························· 9663 8077 Sea Cucumber Dragon Boat Team ····························· 9766 0440 The Beat ·································································· 5721 3000 The Golf Bay ···························································· 2856 5188 The Running Cult ······················································ 5629 8123 Yoga Bay ·································································· 6704 9851 Yogika ······································································ 6749 7836 YogaUP ···································································· 6805 4996 Zumba with Dionina De Guzman ······························· 9317 6793 TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services ··············································· 2914 2727 DB Transportation Services ······································· 2987 7351 Limousine Rental ······················································ 5303 3489 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services ········································· 2987 9003 My Pet Shop ····························································· 2987 8873 Pet Space Club ························································· 2788 1599 The Dog’s Garden ····················································· 2987 2077 WELLBEING & BEAUTY Afflatus Hair Workshop ············································· 2987 0283 DB Bay Spa ····························································· 9837 0969 Dream Nail ······························································· 9206 7349 Elly House Of Beauty ················································ 6131 9039 Herbal Health Care ··················································· 2834 7276 Salon De Coiffure ····················································· 2987 4112 Sophia Essentials ······················································ 2527 0118 Spa Botanica ······························································ 2295 8129

The Rink – Bar Grill & Restaurant Steakhouse, specialising in modern international cuisine with a dedicated kids’ menu. Pet-friendly, located in DB South Plaza Extension overlooking DB Ice Rink. Call 5444 6046

Three Sheets Marquee Bar ········································ 2987 0966 Uncle Russ ································································ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar········································ 2338 8970 SHOPPING 7-Eleven ··································································· 2299 1110 Bloom ······································································ 6117 7653 Circle K ···································································· 2991 6337 Coco Express ··························································· 9220 3527 Cosmo Computers ···················································· 5136 1799 European Touch ························································ 2918 0868 Fusion ······································································ 2987 7486 Genius Loci ······························································ 5633 5088 Gillian Florist ··························································· 2529 8256

VIEW OUR ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY AT AROUNDDB.COM To add your directory listing, call the Around DB office on 6117 1889 or email info@arounddb.com

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

39

Far Out!

14M

STEEL TOWER

BUN SCRAMBLING AND FLOATING KIDS Cheung Chau Bun Festival has to be Hong Kong’s whackiest and most authentic cultural celebration – be there on May 24

9,000 BUNS

3

MINUTES PER ROUND TO COLLECT AS MANY BUNS AS POSSIBLE

12

MAY 24

FINALISTS RACE FOR 3 MINUTES AT MIDNIGHT

10,000+ VISITORS

SCORING SYSTEM

3-SQ-KM CHEUNG CHAU ISLAND

BUNS Y K

9 POINTS (TOP BUNS) 3 POINTS (MIDDLE BUNS) 1 POINT (LOWER BUNS)

st

ns ch (pin g o) ar ) act o n b a er 平 安 (peace

/

LUC

AT A GLANCE

bu am w hit e st e a m e d ese ped hin with th e C

TIMELINE 1800s

The festival originated after a plague outbreak, and was centered around the worship of Pak Tai, the God of Water

1900s

Floating Colours Procession, Taoist ceremonies and bun scrambling introduced

1978

100+ people injured in (bamboo) tower collapse

1978 - 2004

Modified festival focused on rituals and parades; bun scrambling banned

2005 - PRESENT

Bun Scrambling Competition reintroduced with strict safety rules and a steel tower

3PM Local children are suspended on towering poles and paraded through the streets in the Floating Colours Procession

11.45PM

6-WEEK CARNIVAL AT PAK TAI TEMPLE PLAYGROUND

Villagers burn a paper effigy of Zhong Kui, the King of the Ghosts

12AM (MIDNIGHT)

ENTIRE ISLAND GOES VEGETARIAN

Final of the Bun Scrambling Competition

60,000 BUNS PRODUCED 40

AROUND DB / MAY 2026

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