Around DB January 2026

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J A N u A r Y 2 0 2 6 | 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

HOLIDAY PLANNER 2026 How to max your time off this year, plus inspiration for every trip

NEW RESOLUTIONS

Sustainability guy Martijn Ros is turning trash into tomorrow

LOVING LIMITS Healthy boundaries that build confident, caring kids

Wellness gurus, shining a light!

RACHELLE CONRADIE, AMANDA YIK, SHERRY YASAY AND PAULA LEPORE UPDATING TIME-TESTED REMEDIES FOR TODAY

AROUNDDB.COM

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Welcome to Co-Working Space@DB, where innovation meets comfort! Nestled in the heart of Discovery Bay, our unique workspace offers a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor environments designed to cater to today’s dynamic work needs.

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!

Our layout encourages integration and interaction among members. Engage with fellow professionals and cultivate relationships in an inspiring setting that encourages creativity.

L/G UNIT 3, BLOCK 1, DB NORTH PLAZA, DISCOVERY BAY, LANTAU ISLAND +852 2426 8828 | INFO@COWORKINGDB.HK WWW.COWORKINGDB.HK

Our workspace is equipped with everything you need for a productive day, including a printer, scanner and shredder, a full kitchen and outdoor BBQ for social gatherings. We also provide free coffee and snacks to fuel your work!

Join us and become a part of a vibrant community that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

SPRING TERM 2026 春季課程 OPEN FOR ENROLMENT 現正招生 Club Siena, Discovery Bay 愉景灣海澄湖畔會所 5 January - 14 March 1 月 5 號至 3 月 14 號

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OLYMPIANS ASIAN GAMES

swimming@harrywright.com.hk

13 COMMONWEALTH

www.harrywright.com.hk

JANUARY 2026 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

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FEATURES 14 PROFILE Sustainability guy Martijn Ros is shaking up the city’s recycling game. He’s wise to waste!

18 COMMUNITY Four wellbeing practitioners reveal how to slow down, reconnect and live your best life in 2026

24 PARENTING The quiet power of boundaries: small ‘no’s’ that shape confident, empathetic kids

28 INSIDER

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How to max your time off this year, plus suggestions for an action-packed, year-long itinerary AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

REGULARS

AGENDA

09 SCAVENGER HUNT

04 DB NEWS

Solve a riddle, win prizes

32 ESCAPES

Asia by train

35 HOME CHEF

Sweet potato dhal

44 AT A GLANCE

Where AI powers life

C O M M U N I T Y

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L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

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L I F E S T Y L E

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P A R E N T I N G

How to max your time off this year, plus inspiration for every trip

NEW RESOLUTIONS

Sustainability guy Martijn Ros is turning trash into tomorrow

LOVING LIMITS Healthy boundaries that build confident, caring kids

Wellness gurus, shining a light!

RACHELLE CONRADIE, AMANDA YIK, SHERRY YASAY AND PAULA LEPORE UPDATING TIME-TESTED REMEDIES FOR TODAY

AROUNDDB.COM

36 MOVIE QUIZ 38 PUZZLES 40 CLASSIFIEDS 42 LOCAL NUMBERS

ON THE COVER

If you have an event we can help

DB-based wellness gurus: Rachelle Conradie, Amanda Yik, Sherry Yasay and Paula Lepore

featured or an idea for an article,

J A N u A r Y 2 0 2 6 | 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

HOLIDAY PLANNER 2026

10 EVENT ROUND-UP

PHOTO BY Andrew Spires

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January 2 to 4

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING

Did you know there are not one but two ways to recycle ‘real’ Christmas trees in DB? You can take them to the Green@ Islands recycling spot, which is open every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm, and 2.30pm to 5.30pm at Green Icon, or you can schedule a home pick-up by calling Winson Cleaning Services at 3176 3188 (a service fee applies). In both cases, the collected trees are further handled by the EPD and are either converted into compost or upcycled at Y·PARK, the government-operated yard-waste recycling centre in Tuen Mun.

Launching Q1

CONT R I B U TO RS

Ray Au, Mervyn Black,

Elizabeth Kerr, Andrew Spires, Inka Viirret, Elena M. Zepeda

G/F, Block B, Phase 4,

Kwun Tong Industrial Centre, Kwun Tong Rd, Kowloon A D B O FFI C E

L/G Unit 3, Block 1,

Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

D I S CL AIME R

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STUFF TO KNOW

Whether or not you are looking to take up residence, the property is well worth a visit. For a start, there’s the onsite sales centre with garden and rooftop terrace, which showcases Toscana’s signature design style – modern Italian luxe meets DB resort living. You can also explore Park Toscana, a meticulously landscaped green space spanning over 160,000 square feet. The views across the bay are unparalleled and there are 13 carefully crafted, Italian-themed zones encouraging visitors (and soon homeowners) to immerse in nature, sports and art.

92 Siena Ave, DB North Plaza,

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Toscana, the Italian-style oceanfront residential complex in DB North, is already creating a buzz, with HKR International expected to launch first-phase sales (320 units) early this year. The development will cover over 650,000 square feet, with around 1,400 units (one- to four-bed) providing 1,300,000 square feet of living space.

Promise Network Printing Ltd,

© AROUND DB 2025

The 2nd DB Open FS Challenge is taking place from January 2 to 4 at DB Ice Rink.

Endorsed by ISIAsia, the event gives skaters from different regions a chance to compete under a shared standard. There are opportunities for young skaters and beginners to gain competitive experience, and for advanced skaters to showcase fully choreographed freestyle routines. To find out more, visit www.dbicerink.com.

TOSCANA: DB NORTH MID-LEVELS

PRIN T I N G

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.

2026!

DB OPEN FS CHALLENGE

A central part of HKRI’s MP7 expansion/ master plan for the DB North area, Toscana integrates housing with recreational and lifestyle facilities. Art is a major focus with a Toscana-themed Italian Art Festival already under way. To kick off the festival, Italian artist Francesco Lietti and teachers and students from Discovery Bay International School were invited to collaborate on Never So Close – an exhibition of oversized, Italian style masquerade and carnival masks. Four works, themed Waterfront Living, Green Living, Luxury Living and Happy Living, are on display through January 25. More activities promoting Italian culture and art are in the offing. To find out more and track listings, visit www.toscana.com.hk.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

January 31

VIUTV SOUND BEAR FAMILY RUN Postponed in November out of respect for all those who lost loved ones in the Tai Po fire, the ViuTV Sound Bear Family Run has been rescheduled for January 31 at DB South Plaza, from 8am to 3pm.

The participation quota is a whopping 4,000+ people and there’s something for everyone: a 10km (16 years and above); two 3km races (10 to 15 years, 16 years and above); and two parent-child beach obstacle races, one with a 1km run and one without. To find out more and enrol, visit www.viutvfamilyrun2025.com.

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Dear readers,

Add to our archives

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DB NEWS

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As you browse our new website hope you enjoy delving into the AD B archives, we wh ich with magazines going back to our firs are stocked t ever issue in October 2002. You’ u’llll have noticed we have some gap s, particularly from the very early days (20 02 to 2010).

ItIt’’s a longshot but we’ wed’ love to hea m you if you have any old copies of the magazine lyinr gfroabo would help us fill these gaps. Know tha ut at home that we’re re not asking you to part with the magazines forevert we’ – we’ we scan and return them! m ! Feel free to drop them at our offd’ ice in DB North or give us a call and we’ we’llll arrange a pick up.

With best.regards, .The Around DB team !

Sand-sculpting activities

IN JANUARY!

SANDAE BEACH Sandae Sand Art, headed up by DB resident Gary Melsom, continues to evolve with exciting new sand-sculpting activities.

Their newly launched team building programme – Sandae Golf! – challenges groups to design and construct their own miniature golf courses entirely from sand. Teams work together to create playable holes complete with obstacles and bunkers, then enjoy a friendly tournament on their handcrafted course. To book a corporate retreat, visit www.sandae.online.

THE SNOW QUEEN

February 2 to 7

DB’s The Per former’s Studio Theatre Company – a semi-professional troupe of 30+ child ac tors led by direc tor-producer Emma Tielus-Ward – is staging Paul Boyd’s The Snow Queen from Februar y 2 to 7 at the Hong Kong Ar ts Centre’s Shouson Theatre. A modern interpretation of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fair y tale, the show brings catchy songs, fastpaced choreography and larger-than-life charac ters. To find out more and book tickets, visit w w w.theper formersstudio.com.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JAN 03 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in Community Green Square from 2pm to 4.30pm. Visit FB @db.community.hk.

JAN 17 | SHOP THE DB MARKET in DB South Plaza from

11am to 6pm. Visit w w w.handmadehongkong.com.

JAN 17 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the Nim Shue Wan gate at 2.10pm. 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 / JANUARY 2026

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DB NEWS

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agram!

Dear readers,

We’ve ve been busy cooking up some really fun content on Instagram , and would love to kno w you Come hang out with us and see wh r thoughts. we’ve ve been creating! From event reminders and phoat we’ tos snapped at recent happenings, to places to visit (or rev isit ) around DB, plus the quirky little things we spo t alo ng – there’ re’s always something new. If you enjoy the way what you see, please like, comment and share our posts with your friends and the wider communit y.

Every follow, comment and repost me ans more than you know and helps us keep the creativity flowing. Join us on Instagram and help us get the word out this month and beyond !

With best regards, The Around DB team

WELLNESS SCENE Arts for Health founder Rachelle Conradie is hosting three wellnessfocused events in DB this month: a women’s singing circle at Beach Village on Arts for health!

January 14; a community dance fundraiser at YogaUp in DB North Plaza on January 17 and an art journalling workshop at Mountain View on January 20. To find out more and enrol, visit https://linktr.ee/artsforhealth.hk. For more on the DB wellness scene, turn to page 18.

15 Launching January

THURSDAY MANDARIN SCHOOL

Yifan Mandarin is launching Thursday Mandarin School at DB Nor th Plaza on Januar y 15. Designed for children aged 4 to 10 (K 2 to P4), the systematic classes build Chinese literacy in a 10 0% Mandarin environment, making them per fec t for bilingual families. And Yifan has an exclusive of fer for Around DB readers: enjoy a free trial class plus 10% of f full-term fees when you enrol with the code 2026YF@ADB. To find out more, WhatsApp 9208 7611 or visit w w w.yifanmandarin.com.

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

Here to stay!

CINDERELLA ADVENTURE Fans of Cinderella Adventure get ready to be happy! We have confirmation that the ‘popup’ will be in place at the former EpicLand in DB North Plaza for the next six months at least. Guests get to enjoy all the playcentre facilities plus handcrafting activities.

Cinderella Adventure is open from 10am to 6pm daily; children must be accompanied by an adult – entry is HK$288 for two, HK$100 for each additional visitor. To find out more or make a booking, call 6315 0611.

January 24

INTERNATIONAL FOOD & BEER FESTIVAL

Make your way to Midvale playground on January 24 to take part in One World Spirit’s International Food and Beer Festival.

Everyone who attends is asked to bring a popular dish from their hometown to share with friends and neighbours. Capacity is limited with priority given to OWS members; find out more at www.facebook.com/1worldspirit.

DB NEWS

Clean Up Your Act!

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Commit to embracing the 3 R’s in 2026

REDUCING IS THE BEST SOLUTION We all know the mantra of REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, but did you know that reducing is the key solution to solving our waste and plastic pollution problem? Here are some t weaks to your daily routine that you can make to ensure you’re par t of that solution.

WASTE REDUCTION IN DB DB offers lots of opportunities for you to reduce the amount of waste you create. Purple food waste bins are located in every village, as are plastic bottle, paper, metal, glass and drink box recycling bins. You can recycle other plastics, paper cups and food containers, waste electronics, energy-saving light bulbs and rechargeable batteries on Tuesdays at the Green@Islands recycling spot near Parkridge and earn Green$ points.

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Carry your own water bottle every day, and a coffee cup, food container and cutlery for takeaways

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Reduce how often you ‘order in’ meals and shop online to avoid single-use packaging

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Bring your own bag when shopping, and choose products with no or minimal packaging

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Be conscious of the food you buy to avoid food waste and make a point of using your leftovers

You can recycle contact lens packaging at the City Management office in DB South Plaza. You can 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.

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Choose bar soaps, shampoos and cleaning products. If you prefer liquids, bring your bottles to a shop for a refill

You can find the location of recycling, food waste and clothing bins on the Discovery Bay App – click on Residents, then ESG in DB, then DB Recycling Bin Locations.

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Sell or give away good-condition unwanted items like toys, clothes, gadgets and homeware

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See if you can buy the things you need second-hand, before buying new

ESSENTIAL TIPS 1. Make sure all rec yclables are clean.

2. Only plastic bot tles go into DB’s plastic rec ycling bins.

Keep the cap on.

3. Drink boxes must be clean and dr y, with the plastic spout, cap and straw removed.

4. Don’t put plastic bags in the food waste bins – only food waste.

5. Don’t put paper cups or food containers in DB’s paper rec ycling bins.

Recycling is important but reducing is the best solution!

START SMALL! MAKE A BIG IMPACT! Together, our choices create a cleaner, greener future for everyone!

Find more from DB’s homegrown environmental charities at FB @DB Green and www.plasticfreeseas.org.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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DB NEWS

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K H ss o r c A g in n e pp What's Ha DREAM ROOMS

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Through January 18

Celebrating seven decades of visionary work, Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s– Now is showing at M+, West Kowloon Art Park through January 18. The exhibition invites visitors to navigate 12 immersive, multisensory installations – there are mirror-lined rooms, feather-filled rooms, and pillow-filled rooms you can reshape with your own hands. Purchase tickets at Klook.

Through March 1

KIDSFEST! An exciting festival for the whole family, led by ABA Productions, KidsFest! sees well-loved children’s books brought to life and presented vividly on stage. The fun starts on January 14 with five world-class productions running consecutively at Rita Tong Liu Drama Theatre, HK APA through February 15: The 91-Storey Treehouse, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Koala Who Could, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Charlie Cook's Favourite Book. Purchase tickets at Cityline.

To save 15%, quote ‘STAGE15’ when booking – applies to all weekday performances.

AIA CARNIVAL This year’s AIA Carnival is now in full swing running through March 1 at Central Harbour front Event Space. Enjoy 30+ rides and at trac tions, with a focus on traditional rides like chair swings, giant slides, bouncy castles and a carousel, plus an outdoor ice rink. There’s also Gandeys Circus back for the event’s 11th edition, that brings together top per formers from around the globe. Purchase tickets at Klook.

January 14 to 18

January 11 to February 8

HONG KONG MARATHON EXPO

HONG KONG MUSICALCON

A major new musical convention, Hong Kong MusicalCon is running from Januar y 11 to Februar y 8 at the Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural Distric t. Highlights include Café I Do – The Musical, a tribute to Canto-pop icon Leslie Cheung; The Addams Family Musical, a Broadway favourite; and Ephemere the Little Witch, a musical for the whole family originally from France.

Purchase tickets at Ar t-mate.

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

The Standard Char tered Hong Kong Marathon Expo, being held at Kai Tak Spor ts Park from Januar y 14 to 18, provides an excellent pre-race and race-day experience for both local and international runners, as well as their friends and families. This year’s newly added Youth Run on Januar y 17 is a highlight aimed at fostering the next generation of runners. Crowds of over 10 0,0 0 0 people are expec ted over the four days, entrance is free.

ENTER THE

ADB SCAVEN GER HUNT! , email us!

Solve the riddle, take a photo from Uncle Russ!

Win free drinks H O W TO PL AY:

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EVENT ROUND-UP

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WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO! AT THE TEAM FEAR JUNIOR CHALLENGE Some 600 youngsters aged 8 to 17 ran, coasteered, kayaked and rockscrambled around DB on November 30 as they took part in the annually anticipated Team Fear Junior Challenge. The HK$140,000 raised through sponsorship funds will be split between Youth Outreach and the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. An additional HK$5,000 was collected on the day to support those affected by the Tai Po tragedy.

[PHOTOS BY James Branch, Oliver Decker, Darren Donnelly, Olivier Durand, Jenelle Johansson, Wayne Knowles, Sharon MacEneff, Diana Marlan, Olyvia Postaccini, Thomas Robinson, Chloe Sim, Col Sim & Ganesh Vijayan.]

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

EVENT ROUND-UP

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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EVENT ROUND-UP

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AT THE WORLD PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Discovery Bay Recreation Club hosted the World Pickleball Championship, Hong Kong, China from December 5 to 7, for the third consecutive year.

Open to various skill levels and all ages, the tournament was organised

by TLP and Bay Pickle, and endorsed by Pickleball Global. [PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires.]

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

EVENT ROUND-UP

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AT THE HITSWAVE PRELUDE The Hitswave Prelude was a blast on December 14 at DB North Plaza with top local artists performing their 2025 hits in the lead-up to the Metro Radio Hits Music Awards. Standouts of the afternoon were Honey Punch, Andy Lai and Vincy Chan. [PHOTOS

BY Andrew Spires.]

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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PROFILE

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! e t s a W o t e s Wi THE SUSTAINABILITY GUY

Martijn Ros is shaking up the city’s recycling game – linking farms, festivals and food waste to build one of Hong Kong’s only truly circular systems. Turns out, garbage might be the smartest idea he’s ever had. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew Spires

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c tually, that's a good idea, Elizabeth. I hadn’t thought about that,” says Mar tijn Ros via Google from his home in Discover y Bay. Our conversation revolves around his almost two-year-old garbage company, Waste Wise, and how he can make the most of its connec tion with Hong Kong’s small independent farms – of which there are hundreds – and hosting a farmer’s market. Mar tijn never thought in a million years he’d be making a career out of waste, so why not host a Sunday market? He’s got more than just those three dozen farmers keen to collec t Waste Wise’s free compost and he has plans to spread the gospel of urban farming through par tnerships with workshop providers.

To say Mar tijn runs a garbage business is reductive, considering the 30-year-old Netherlands native and his company co-founder Ivan Tai are actively working towards not just recycling, but also circularity in Hong Kong. Waste Wise (www.wastewisehk.com) was established in response to the 2024 plastic tableware ban, and its facility specialises in compostable tableware. The ban nobly aimed at reducing plastic to landfill, but there was no management facility able to cater to those materials.

“We already had a composting facility and technology that collec ted food waste, yard waste, animal waste… and donated the compost to local farms,” Mar tijn explains. “[We] want to grow Waste Wise to have a positive impac t instead of being focused on the negatives of manufac turing, and work towards improving the overall recycling situation in Hong Kong.”

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

Recycling is a constant source of debate, as are most subjec ts related to waste management. Mar tijn can go on at length about the wisdom behind the now scrapped waste charging scheme, a carrotand-stick rewards-based approach that works in Germany, Taiwan and Korea among others, and the endless argument over infinitely recyclable glass or lightweight petroleum-based plastic – which admittedly extends food life and reduces food waste and shipping costs. “Life cycle analysis is what counts,” Mar tijn explains. Which doesn’t mean we shouldn’t recycle our plastics. It’s just a complex challenge that Mar tijn is tr ying to help overcome.

And calling Mar tijn a Netherlands native is only half the stor y. Mar tijn relocated to Hong Kong with his family in 1999 at four years old, thanks to his father’s work with Dutch multinational Philips, which was expanding its health technology manufacturing in China. He completed kindergar ten, primar y and high school (at Discover y Bay International School) before heading back to the Netherlands to study hospitality at university. It was in Amsterdam for his first extended stay that he realised how unique Hong Kong’s cosmopolitanism actually is, as well as finding himself in the strange position of being neither truly Dutch nor truly a Hongkonger. He hung out mostly with international students, and when he graduated, he made the unconventional choice to come back.

Many would ask why, when an EU passpor t was right there, but Mar tijn’s answer is simple.

“Because Hong Kong is my home,” he states, without hesitation, adding his parents are still here, and that his older sister (working in Amsterdam)

PROFILE

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WE WANT TO GROW WASTE WISE TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT INSTEAD OF BEING FOCUSED ON THE NEGATIVES OF MANUFACTURING, AND WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING THE OVERALL RECYCLING SITUATION IN HONG KONG -Martijn Ros AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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PROFILE

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and younger brother (studying there) are probably moving back too. He’ll admit the city has changed over the years, but thinks it’s turned a corner, and remains dynamic. “Ever yone is here because they understand it’s extremely special.”

Mar tijn’s not leaving Discover y Bay either. “I’ve lived in DB for most of my life. I don’t like to go to the city too of ten. My Kwai Chung of fice is ac tually two MTR stations and a bus away; it’s not too bad.”

He raises his voice a bit in order to be heard over the blaring car horn coming through my window.

“Someone’s angr y outside your house, huh? That's another reason,” he adds with a chuckle.

“I’ve definitely thought about living in town, but in DB I can walk three minutes and I’m at my gym, at the supermarket or at dif ferent restaurants. Ten minutes and I’m at the star t of a beautiful hike that ends in Mui Wo, where I can get a taste of the local Chinese cuisine from the seafood restaurants. I can go to Tung Chung and experience a subdued city life, where I’m not suf focating in crowds. I’m extremely happy in DB, and I make concessions in convenience to live here.”

So considering Mar tijn plans on living here for the foreseeable future, he’s vowed to do his par t and make it better. In many ways, Waste Wise is the result of living with a father whose work involved innovating with regard to waste generation and management, and to manufac turing processes and operations. He credits his father’s suppor t with helping Waste Wise collec t 80,000 kilogrammes of waste so far in a tricky recycling environment.

Many consumers take a dim view of recycling, assuming the worst, but Mar tijn argues that despite a lack of crucial industrial space, Hong Kong has put considerable investment into recycling infrastructure over the last decade – that’s actually being used and is having an impact, par ticularly on the plastic bottle front. And anyone who doesn’t believe it is welcome to follow his trucks to see for themselves.

“That's ac tually where Waste Wise comes in,” he says. “The reason people are resonating with our mission is because we of fer a tracking mechanism for the waste that we ac tually collec t.”

In fairness, plastic recycling is only par t of Waste Wise’s mandate, a sec tor it naturally segued into alongside other materials. “We star ted with hoping that the impac t itself would be enough to get people interested in the programme, because we’re one of the only fully circular systems in Hong Kong,” says Mar tijn. “Ever y thing we collec t from our waste categories that we compost is donated to Hong Kong farms. So it does go straight back to the ear th, and it’s 100% durable.”

A huge chunk of Waste Wise’s energy goes into education at all levels. The company regularly hosts 16

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

MARTIJN IN DB WITH TRASH ON HIS MIND

in-person and online presentations for students, teachers, parents and its corporate and F&B clients and their employees to boost engagement and awareness. In schools, the Zero Waste Olympics of fers some friendly competition, complete with a leaderboard, monthly contest s and a year- end school champion. Waste Wise’s most high-profile corporate client could be Clockenflap, which shif ted to compostable solutions for it s food vendors in 2024. Waste Wise collec ted 3,50 0 kilogrammes of waste over three days with just a 5% contamination rate.

Even though his unique plug-in solution has gotten attention from cities in the Philippines and Australia, and Mar tijn is happy to share the wisdom, it’s slow going given complex regulator y issues and consumer behaviour that changes from place to place. Mar tijn is keeping his focus on Hong Kong for now, and is planning to scale up from composting 500 kilogrammes per day to 10,000, to accommodate some local clients that need more capacity. “I grew up in Hong Kong and my par tner is a local. We’re similar in age, but we grew up on dif ferent parallel paths. He went through the public school system and I went through international, and that kind of juxtaposition has been essential in us creating our ser vices and our overall messaging.”

The next year is shaping up to be a big one for Waste Wise, between new, bigger clients and that farmer’s market (fingers crossed). Mar tijn will car ve out some time to keep fit and decompress in his favourite getaway spots in southeast Asia, but ask him where he is when he’s not in a truck or at the of fice and the answer is no surprise. “When I’m not collec ting garbage, I’m thinking about new ways we can collec t garbage.”

WASTE NOT NOT‧ HUNGER NOT NOT‧ WITH LOVE

Food Angel Angel FOOD ANGEL is a food rescue and food assistance program launched in 2011 with the mission of "Waste Not, Hunger Not, With Love".

The program rescues edible surplus food from different different sectors of the food industry that would otherwise be disposed of as waste.

Following strict safety protocols, the rescued food items will then be prepared as nutritious meals in our central kitchen and food packs.

They will be distributed to serve the underprivileged communities in Hong Kong.

Currently, Food Angel rescues 33 tonnes of edible surplus food each week, producing over 20,000 nutritious meals and helps distribute over 6,500 other meals and food EMMA TAKING A BREAK FROM REHEARSALS packs daily free of charge for people who are in need of food assistance.

Since its founding in 2011, Food Angel has collected over 16 million kg of edible surplus food and produced over 32 million nutritious meals. By reducing food waste and providing food assistance, our mission is to nourish both the body and soul of those who need it most.

HELP US SERVE 40,000+ MEALS A DAY The Food Angel Jockey Club Food Production Centre is a new milestone for Food Angel this year. It helps to expand the meal production capacity to 40,000 meals or more daily with larger facilities and automated machinery. To support our daily operations, we require more food ingredients and volunteers. Community and business support are essential for increasing production to 40,000 meals or more, allowing us to meet the needs of our society. foodangel.org.hk 惜食堂 FoodAngel foodangel_hk_official

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Join us in making a difference! difference! Your support can help us secure the ingredients and resources necessary to provide hearty meals and warmth to those in need.

Together, we can let lives be enriched through giving and receiving!

COMMUNITY

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! u o Y w e N : r a e Y New DISCOVER YOUR PATH TO WELLNESS

Mervyn Black sits down with four DB-based wellbeing practitioners to shine a light on different ways to slow down, reconnect and live your best life in 2026. Each expert shares a time-tested approach to nurturing body, mind and spirit PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew Spires

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t a time when switching of f from technology and the pressures of daily life is becoming increasingly dif ficult, Discover y Bay of fers a range of wellness experiences to help you slow down, rebalance and reconnec t. From meditation and forest bathing to aromatherapy and expressive ar ts therapy, four local prac titioners – Sherr y Yasay, Amanda Yik, Paula Lepore and Rachelle Conradie – share the methods they use to nur ture wellbeing.

SHERRY: MEDITATION Sherr y Yasay, a mindfulness and meditation facilitator, and mindset coach, calls her DB studio “a space to slow down, connec t and remember what is truly impor tant.

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(email: amanda@shinrinyokuhk.com), the road to wellness is reconnec ting with nature, or more specifically forest bathing.

“It’s really about giving your ner vous system a break,” Amanda opens. “I think right now most of us are glued to the screen one way or another: we’re constantly stimulated in a way that is not ver y conducive to wellbeing. We live in a world where negative news stories dominate, so we are always on high aler t and our ner vous system is always tense. What we need is a space where we feel safe, connected and restored.

For me, that space is in nature – and happily here in DB, that’s all around us.”

“For me, wellness is about reconnec ting to self, remembering to slow down, prioritising rest and remembering who we are as humans – we’re not machines. Life can be do, do, do but it’s impor tant to take time out just to be in the human experience through the five senses,” opens Sherr y.

While it may sound to some like a glorified way of describing a nature walk, Amanda is quick to point out the benefits of an exper t-led experience. “If you go into the hills and just sit there and enjoy the forest, you are forest bathing but when it’s a guided process it’s more therapeutic. We bring a group together and take them on a journey – the aim is for ever yone to drop their daily hustle-and-bustle and come into a place of stillness and quietness, where they can reconnec t with themselves.”

Sherr y works both locally and throughout Hong Kong, drawing on decades of experience in the mindfulness space (w w w.sherr y yasay.com). “The overarching thing for me is connec tion to self and connec tion to others,” she says. “Community is a huge thing for me – that’s what motivates me to continue doing what I do.

Amanda references worldwide studies that suppor t the benefits of forest bathing. “Our blood pressure is regulated when we go into nature, our mood is lif ted and our stress hormones come down. What’s more, phy toncides, the amazing chemicals trees emit, are proven to have anti-cancer proper ties and immune-boosting proper ties.

“With meditation there is this space and silence where you star t to become aware of yourself – what you’re feeling, your body, your emotions, your thoughts. When facilitating meditation, I find that people have these insights independently; my role is not to offer anything back but just to sit and listen.”

“Connec ting with nature is allowing ourselves to return to who we ac tually are. Most of us wouldn’t consider ourselves sick or unwell, but we have deviated from how we are meant to live as human beings. Holistic prac tices, like forest bathing, bring us back to default settings and allow us to reset and achieve balance.”

One of Sherr y’s specialties, sound healing, uses the soothing tones of Himalayan singing bowls to quiet the mind and guide it into a meditative state. “The mind is meant to continually think – that’s its job, just like the hear t is meant to beat. So how sound works is it gives the mind something to do: listen to the sound,” Sherr y explains. “There’s a moment where you slip into a deep meditative state: your mind is not fighting for attention, and you float in and out. This allows for relaxation and healing because when you allow the body to rest, the body does what it needs to do to rebalance.”

AMANDA: FOREST BATHING For Amanda Yik, founder of Shinrin Yoku Hong Kong and a cer tified nature and forest therapy guide

PAULA: AROMATHERAPY Paula Lepore is a wellness coach and aromatherapist, currently celebrating 10 years at Young Living Essential Oils (email: hooplaessentials@gmail.com).

She describes her route to wellness as a “spiritual walk, based on knowing who God is and an everdeepening relationship with him”.

Paula first got on the path, and into aromatherapy, 12 years ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. “I star ted to explore natural options for healing and as I saw my mother heal through nonconventional treatments, I realised that people always trust the first things their doctors tell them instead of exploring other options.”

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an alternative route but it was never that – if you look back in histor y, it was always the way we would heal.”

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These days, Paula focuses increasingly on the spiritual: “I’ve realised a lot of people are not in tune with themselves and that consequently they feel conflicted inside,” she says. “Until we understand we’re not just physical beings – we’re emotional and spiritual too – we’re never going to feel whole.”

RACHELLE: THE ARTS Licensed mental health professional Rachelle Conradie blends her lifelong holistic wellness experience with the transformative power of the ar ts at her private practice, Ar ts for Health (www.rachelleconradie.com).

She offers community ar ts experiences (singing circles, yoga and sounding, gatherings for life transitions and conscious dance) and expressive ar ts therapy – tailored individual or group therapy sessions for adults and children, suppor ting sensor y regulation, emotional processing, creative expression and digital-life balance.

“The ar ts were always integral to my family’s way of life,” Rachelle opens. “Ar ts aren’t just meant for a talented few; creating is a way of being and expressing ourselves. Living creatively, we invite aliveness and connection into a more holistic, conscious way of life.”

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The experience led to Paula quitting teaching (science, math, technology and PE). “I felt ver y passionate about helping people who wanted to actually heal, not just cover up their illness or medicate themselves to get through pain.”

Paula’s journey has seen her study the science behind aromatherapy and she works through a holistic process with her clients. “Usually, they come to me with a specific situation, so we’ll deal with that right away, and then I’ll ask a series of questions that uncover what’s going on with them emotionally,” she says. “Often, those emotions are what’s driving the physical issues.

“I love using essential oils because they work on a physical level, regenerating cell tissues, but they also work on an emotional level. The limbic system is triggered by aroma and it controls your emotions, hormones and metabolism. They call aromatherapy 20

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Rachelle’s passion is palpable when she espouses the profound therapeutic impact of ar ts creating: “Ar ts engagement activates more neurological pathways than talking alone to foster new perspectives to find solutions. Clients often find insight and deeper ease after creating or moving together. Evolutionarily, movement, singing and mark-making precede language, explaining why non-verbal creation deeply impacts our sense of belonging.

“One of my main motivations is to highlight creativity as a mental health necessity, not just a ‘nice-to-have’.

It’s a really vital component of who we are, how we express ourselves and how we create connection – not only to each other, but also to the natural world and to the myster y of life.

“In community arts we embrace art like our ancestors did in their daily lives, singing, dancing, creating together – not for performance, commerce or perfecting technique but for connection with community and our environment. Arts therapy provides a safe space where we can develop capacity for uncertainty, process emotions, regulate nervous systems and welcome vitality, playfulness and beauty.

Magic happens when we co-create; our nervous systems co-regulate, moving us beyond our normal way of thinking into a place of deeper wisdom.”

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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

EDUCATION

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CODE AND CONQUER FROM DISCOVERY COLLEGE TO OXFORD UNI: J A E W O N PA R K ’ S J O U R N E Y A N D A D V I C E F O R ASPIRING STUDENTS

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“I love the theor y of computer science, and the course here is rooted in this, which has meant that my lec tures and seminars have been a joy so far.”

What ’s it like, living in a new countr y? “Living abroad is a huge s hif t, even greater t han I had expec ted. There are lot s of small things that are d i f f e r e n t f r o m H o n g Ko n g. T h e r e a r e n o hig h rise buildings here, and the rooms are f ar more spacious than I am used to, which is an adjustment and really liberating. Cooking for myself has been fun, though I don’t enjoy the washing and laundr y as much!”

“It is so much more than you see in the universit y prospec tus,” opens Jae Won Park, who at tended Discover y College from Year 1 to Year 13, and has just completed his first term at Ox ford, one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. “His tor y is all around you,” he adds. “There are c ar v i ng s i n d e s k s ma d e c e nt u r ie s ag o. A n d t h e names associated with each College, remind you that this is a place that has been at tended by world leader s and c aptains of indus tr y that have shaped societ y. It is pret t y amazing!”

Jae Won is now embar king on a three -year undergraduate Computer Science cour se, having earned an incredible 44 point s in his International Baccalaureate Diploma. DC recognised his potential early: he was awarded an academic s c h o lar s hi p, a p r o g r a m m e w hic h i n c lu d e d a r e d u c t i o n i n hi s s c h o o l f e e s, a n d a m e n t o r s hi p from a Senior Teacher. With this suppor t, he went on to engage in a variet y of elec tive and ex tension courses, inside and out side of the school.

So how is Jae Won set tling into his new home and w hat a d v ice d o e s he have for s t u d e nt s w ho are looking to follow in his foot steps?

Why did you choose Oxford? “It was the nature of the Computer Science course that really stood out for me. I had some brilliant guidance from the Higher Education Team at DC who suggested that t his w as really imp or t ant. To lo o k for t he d et ail and nuance in what you are studying and to make sure it aligns with your passions.

How did your school experience prepa re you for all this? “DC gave me a place, a communit y, to grow in confidence. I joined the school in Year 1 and I felt par t of a tight group of friends, and of teacher s, who k new me and encour aged me.

I w as s hy i n ma ny w ay s, b u t t he s c ho ol help e d me to find passions in Mathematics and in Programming, through the curriculum and ex tracurricular oppor tunities.”

What advice do you have for someone applying to a prest ige universit y like Ox ford? “Ox ford values your pas sion, k nowle dge and interes t in your chosen course. So being able to draw upon t h e e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t D C o f f e r e d m e, s u c h a s entering infor matic s progr amming competitions was invaluable.

“The inter view it self is about the subjec t and the critical way in which you can think about this to solve problems. DC provided me with multiple mock inter views and construc tive fee d bac k on my ans wer s eac h time, w hic h gave me both the confidence and skills to per form w he n I nee d e d.”

What does the future hold? “I think I will move b a c k t o H o n g Ko n g w h e n I g r a d u a t e, a s t h a t has been such a happy place for me. Right now, I’m e njoying t he s ubje c t s o muc h t hat a c are er i n a c a d e mia a n d c o m p u te r s c i e n c e r e s ea r c h i s w he r e I s e e a f u t ur e. T hi s i s w he r e my p as s io n lies and following this has been a good approach so far, so – whilst I’m enjoying the moment – I’m already ver y excited about what may come nex t!”

Jae Won Park is one of a number of recent Discovery College graduates to be studying at elite

institutions around the world. To find out more about scholarship opportunities at Discovery College, visit https://discovery.esf.edu.hk/en/admissions/scholarship_programme.

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! th or W r u o Y n Stand I THE QUIET POWER OF BOUNDARIES

From playground disputes to everyday choices, the small ‘no’s’ we teach our children build the foundation of self-respect, confidence and empathy. Joanne Li reports PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew Spires

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our four-year-old is at the playground. Another child runs up, grabs her yellow sunglasses and laughs as she reaches for them. Your daughter looks at you with big, confused eyes, tears welling up. In that single moment lies a choice – do you rush in and fix the situation for her, or do you kneel down, hold her hand, and help her find the words: “Please give my yellow sunglasses back.

They’re mine.”

That small sentence, spoken aloud, is not just about a pair of sunglasses. It is the first brick in a for tress of self-wor th that will protec t your child for the rest of her life. Sounds crazy, right? Read on...

Healthy boundaries are the gentle rules we teach children (and adults) so that they can keep themselves emotionally and physically safe. Boundaries are not walls; they are bridges to help people connec t in healthy and respec tful ways. Pic ture these boundaries as glitter y lines that indicate: here is my space and here is yours. When a child learns to draw these glitter y lines early in life, something magical happens – they grow up knowing they are allowed to take up space, to feel what they feel, to disagree even when all their friends agree, and to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from a place of self-w or th instead of fear.

Setting boundaries is a form of self-love. Ever y time a child says: “I don’t want a hug right now” and instead of telling them to stop being dif ficult, to give Uncle Jimmy a hug, we answer: “Ok sweetie,” we are telling them – your body belongs to you, your feelings are real and valid and you are wor thy of being heard and respec ted.

Ever y time a child says: “I need a little bit of space” or “I need quiet time” and we honour that, we are watering the deepest root of confidence.

Many parents worr y that when their child says ‘no’, it makes them rude, dif ficult or selfish. This is far from the truth! Children who feel safe in their own skin become the most empathetic humans on ear th.

When a child knows how it feels to have their voice respec ted, they naturally learn to respec t someone else’s ‘no’. They notice when a friend looks uncomfor table; they stop tickling or teasing when asked; they share toys because they want to, not because they are afraid to lose a friendship, to lose love, if they don’t.

Imagine living in a world where you are in a playground and when your child bravely says: “Please give my yellow sunglasses back. They’re mine”, the other child ac tually respec ts this and gives them back. In ac tuality, this scenario doesn’t of ten happen but the truth is, it needs to star t with us. As parents, we have a responsibility to

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HEALTHY BOUNDARIES ARE THE GENTLE RULES WE TEACH CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEMSELVES EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY SAFE. BOUNDARIES ARE NOT WALLS; THEY ARE BRIDGES TO HELP PEOPLE CONNECT IN HEALTHY AND RESPECTFUL WAYS demonstrate healthy boundaries so our children can learn from our example.

Boundaries and empathy stem from the understanding that ever y person has their own space and their own opinion, and we need to respec t it even if we disagree.

Why is this so impor tant? Well think of it this way, a child who is always forced to hug Uncle Jimmy learns that their body is not fully theirs. Later, when a classmate touches them in a way that feels wrong or a teenager pressures them to do something they don’t want to do, the old lesson shows up – my ‘no’ doesn’t matter.

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young, hears a dif ferent voice – my opinion matters, I am allowed to choose and I am wor thy no matter what. This will be the lesson that shows up when later in life, that classmate touches them in a way that feels wrong or that teenager pressures them to do something they don’t want to do. They will stand their ground and draw that glitter y line without feeling guilty about upsetting someone or scared of being disliked.

So now it doesn’t sound so crazy, right? We must help our children set healthy boundaries when they are young. At three, let them decide if they want to share their toys in the playground. At four, teach them to say: “No more hugs today, thank you”. At five, help them tell a friend: “Stop calling me stupid, it is not nice and I will not play with you if you keep doing it.”

So tonight, when you watch your child brush their teeth, sing of f-key and talk a lovely lot of nonsense, make a promise to both of you that you will help them guard the magic inside them, one glitter y line at a time.

Let your child learn this – you are allowed to be fully, beautifully and unapologetically you! That is the quiet power of boundaries. And that is the loudest way we can teach our children to please, be you.

As a mother, life-skills coach and author, this is what I tell people – make sure when you say ‘yes’ to others, you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.

Setting boundaries can bring discomfor t and that’s okay. Why? Because even though most people mean well, saying no is sometimes necessar y. We need to teach our children to distinguish between the discomfor t of doing the right thing and the discomfor t of not being liked. Uncle Jimmy will be sad when he doesn’t get his hug, the other child in the playground will probably cr y if you don’t share your toys and guess what, that’s okay!

As parents, we might feel the urge to smooth things over – let’s just give that hug, let’s just share that toy one last time. But we need to pause and reflec t, am I doing this in ser vice of myself or am I doing this in ser vice of my child? Am I tr ying to be the ‘good’ parent who doesn’t upset other people or am I teaching my child that their needs don’t matter?

Remember, you are not responsible for other people’s happiness – no one is. Having said that, when a situation arises, you can gently explain that you are teaching your child about boundaries – teaching them that their body and feelings belong to them. Over time, the people who truly love your child will celebrate their growing sense of self-wor th instead of being angered or discomfor ted by it.

As children get older, boundaries help them walk away from gossip that feels unkind, leave a par ty when ever yone else is still drinking, and end relationships that make them feel small.

The little ‘no’ you taught your three-year-old becomes the quiet courage that keeps them safe at thir teen, twenty-three and beyond. Children with healthy boundaries become parents who raise a generation that understands: love does not demand self-betrayal; love makes room.

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Joanne Li is a DB resident and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). She is the author of

two children’s book Please Be You and I Am

Me, and she leads the learning and leadership development of a global organisation.

LEARN TO SWIM FREE PROGRAMME FOR MIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKERS SPLASHFOUNDATION.ORG/ HOW-TO-REGISTER

BECOME A VOLUNTEER COACH GET NOTIFIED ABOUT OUR NEXT NEW COACH TRAINING: BIT.LY/SPLASHCOACH Splash Foundation is a charitable organisation creating opportunities for kids and adults from disadvantaged communities to experience the transformative impact of learning to swim and to enjoy lifelong access to the water.

We work with migrant domestic workers and other ethnic minorities, children and parents from low income families, and children with special educational needs. By 2030, Splash Foundation aims to teach 25,000 people how to swim.

SPLASHFOUNDATION.ORG

#EVERYONECANSWIM #IMPROVEACCESS #ENHANCEWELLBEING #IGNITECHANGE

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! s p i T p To

HOLIDAY PLANNER 2026 Looking to make the most of your precious annual leave in 2026?

Ray Au has this year’s vacations all worked out for you PHOTO COURTESY OF Pexels 28

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s I write, I’m imagining you happy and raring to go, and just back from a fabulous Christmas break somewhere sunny and relaxing, or snow y and ac tion packed. Either way, I hope you enjoyed a full 12-day escape (December 24 to Januar y 4) by cashing in four days of your 2025 annual leave (December 24, 29, 30, 31) and just one day of your leave for 2026 (Januar y 2).

Safe to assume that moving into 2026, you’re looking to establish a fulfilling work-play balance: nailing your job, while making time for leisure and personal wellbeing, minibreaks and long vacations.

Here’s your guide to doing just that in 2026.

The good news is that Hong Kongers enjoy 17 ‘general’ holidays, aka ‘public’ holidays, a year: these are statutor y holidays for banks, schools, government of fices and most businesses. Added to which many of us work a five-day week, Monday to Friday, leaving our weekends free. The bad news is that Hong Kong bosses are obliged to give staf f just 14 days paid leave per year, and that only kicks in once we’ve been with the same company, on a continuous contrac t, for nine years. Of course, many employers have a more enlightened attitude to our need for downtime (and you need to be sav v y about this when negotiating your employment contrac t) but still, it’s a good idea to maximise the leave you get by planning it around those 17 governmentgiven holidays.

CNY ON TOUR: FEBRUARY If you’re on the ball, you’ll have already booked a full nine-day Chinese New Year holiday, using just two days of your annual leave. Februar y 17 to 19 ( Tuesday to Thursday) are public holidays, so by taking Februar y 16 and 20 of f work, you’ll have a generous amount of time to welcome in the Year of the Horse.

A nine-day trip in Februar y? Think Rajasthan: the weather is ideal (warm days, cool nights) and a series of kaleidoscopic festivals are in full swing. Book a private car and you’re looking at a few shor t, scenic drives (five hours max) between each of the big-ticket destinations – Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. Medieval for ts and palaces, camel rides to dusty deser t outposts and safaris through tigerstalked national parks: that’s Rajasthan.

SPRING BREAK: APRIL There are no public holidays in March, so by April you’re going to be ready for a vacation. The Easter and Ching Ming Festivals come together in 2026 –

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April 3 to 7 – so by taking time of f work from April 8 to 10, you can grab yourself a tasty 10 -day break for the price of three.

How about ticking the Seychelles of f your bucket list this year? Base yourself on Mahé, the main island, home to over 60 white-sand beaches backed by lush jungle. Water temperatures rarely dip below 27ºC in the Seychelles, and scuba divers can expec t up to 30 metres of visibility in the cr ystal-clear Indian Ocean. Ever y waterspor t imaginable is on of fer – if you can summon the willpower to leave your idly swinging hammock, that is.

SUMMER ESCAPES: MAY, JUNE AND JULY We’re not blessed by many public holidays midyear (if you want a traditional summer holiday, or to spend time with your kids over the long vac, you’re going to have to dip heavily into your annual leave) but there are a couple on which to hang some lovely long weekends. Labour Day, May 1, is a Monday; the day following the Buddha’s Bir thday, May 25, is a Monday; Tuen Ng Festival, June 19, is a Friday; and HK SAR Establishment Day, July 1, is a Wednesday.

A minibreak in South East Asia… Let’s see: Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap, Hanoi. Been there, done that? Well, how about Seoul? The South Korean capital is an unexpected delight – in addition to the futuristic skyline and buzzing nightlife, you’ll find culture-rich temples, palaces, teahouses, parks and lakes. Be sure to visit Gyeongbokgung, a palace complex reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City, complete with a picturesque pavilion in the centre of an ar tificial lake. And for a glimpse of ‘new Seoul,’ head to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). This popular cultural centre – DDP stands for DreamDesign-Play – is filled with galleries, event spaces and shops. Designed by the late, great Zaha Hadid, it’s a futuristic sight to behold in undulating aluminium and concrete, with lawns that rise up to its roof.

AUTUMN GETAWAY: OCTOBER Two more oppor tunities for a long weekend away present themselves in Oc tober, since National Day falls on Oc tober 1, a Thursday, and the Day following the Chung Yeung Festival on Oc tober 19, a Monday.

Macau is always a great option for a couple of nights, whether you’re chasing glitz and gaming on the Cotai Strip, or Coloane’s leaf y trails and quiet beaches… but how about a quick trip to Tokyo? The mesmerising Japanese capital is easy to get around and wacky as they come. With three or four days in hand, you can mingle with the manga crowd on AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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Harajuku Bridge; catch a kabuki show, ‘bathe’ in the lucky incense at Sensoji Temple and – on a clear day – get a glimpse of Mount Fuji.

WINTER VACATION: DECEMBER Having worked hard all year, you may well decide to secure yourself an ‘out of of fice’ experience at Christmas and/ or New Year. The public holidays fall on December 25, 26, and Januar y 1. Taking two days of f (December 24 and 28) will give you five days to unplug, or you could jingle all the way through to

the New Year by also booking leave from December 29 to 31.

Should you choose the latter option, grabbing an 11-day break for the price of five, you’ll want to make the most of your time of f. So how about treating yourself to a big ticket, white Christmas?

If you’re a fan of romantic comedies – like Miracle on 34th Street (1947), When Harr y Met Sally (1989) and Serendipity (2001) – you already know that a New York Christmas is hard to beat. There’s skating at the Rockefeller Center, the annual Christmas Spec tacular at Radio City, and, of course, shopping on Fif th Avenue. Enjoy!

HOW TO MAX YOUR TIME OFF IN 2026!

LUNAR NEW YEAR 9 DAYS IN FEBRUARY

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EASTER & CHING MING FESTIVAL 10 DAYS IN APRIL

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L ABOUR DAY 3 DAYS IN MAY

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY 3 DAYS IN MAY

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HK SAR ESTABLISHMENT DAY 5 DAYS IN JULY

NATIONAL DAY 4 DAYS IN OC TOBER

CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL 3 DAYS IN OC TOBER

CHRISTMAS 5 DAYS IN DECEMBER

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WED 1 OCT

THU 1 OCT

SUN 24 JUN

SAT 20 JUL

THU 2 OCT

FRI 2 OCT

FEB

THU 19 APR

WED 8

FEB

FRI 20 APR

THU 9

FEB

SAT 21 APR

FRI 10

FEB

SUN 22 APR

SAT 11

APR

SUN 12

HONG KONG HOLIDAYS 2026

JUN

JUL

FRI 3 OCT

SAT 3

JUL

SAT 4

JUL

SUN 5

OCT

SUN 4

OCT

MON 19

DEC

DEC

DEC

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

APR

TUE 7

SUN 21

SUN 18 FRI 25

APR

MON 6

FEB

WED 18

MON 25

SAT 17 THU 24

FEB

TUE 17

MAY

FRI 1 SAT 23

TUEN NG FESTIVAL 3 DAYS IN JUNE

FEB

SUN 15

SAT 26

DEC

SUN 27

DEC

MON 28

New Year’s Day

January 1 (Thursday)

Lunar New Year’s Day

February 17 (Tuesday)

The second day of Lunar New Year

February 18 (Wednesday)

The third day of Lunar New Year

February 19 (Thursday)

Good Friday

April 3 (Friday)

The day following Good Friday

April 4 (Saturday)

The day following Ching Ming Festival

April 6 (Monday)

The day following Easter Monday

April 7 (Tuesday)

Labour Day

May 1 (Friday)

The day following the Buddha’s Birthday

May 25 (Monday)

Tuen Ng Festival

June 19 (Friday)

HK SAR Establishment Day

July 1 (Wednesday)

The day following Mid-Autumn Festival

September 26 (Saturday)

National Day

October 1 (Thursday)

The day following Chung Yeung Festival

October 19 (Monday)

Christmas Day

December 25 (Friday)

The first weekday after Christmas Day

December 26 (Saturday)

Source: www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/2026.htm

BETHUNE HOUSE - It takes a community to shelter a migrant in need

Who we are Since 1986, Bethune House has been Hong Kong’s most reliable refuge for migrant women in crisis.

Bethune House is a community-driven emergency shelter that provides food and other forms of assistance. Through providing for basic needs, we enable migrant women in crisis to seek justice and achieve empowerment because of insufficient support systems in Hong Kong for these women.

Our services Basic Needs Food shelter Guidance & Assistance Case guidance Welfare, emergency & medical assistance Education, Training & Advocacy Rights-based education Life skills development Intercultural exchanges & social functions Faith-based reflections & Bible studies Public education Mental health & Welness

How can you support?

There is a high demand for service with very few providers. We will not be here without supporters like yourself!

Volunteer with us!

Teach skills Accompany clients Translate documents Cooking lessons Donate to Bethune House Scan the QR code to donate by credit card, by cheque, by direct deposit/transfer, by FPS and please get in touch with us for cash donations.

How to reach us +852 9338 0035 shelter@bethunehouse.org.hk https://bethunehouse.org @BethuneHouse @bethunehousehk @BethuneHouseHK

The women behind Bethune House

! e im T Vacation ESCAPES

/

OFF THE RAILS Best train journeys in Asia PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

THE BEIJING-TO-LHASA EXPRESS

covers 3,757km in 40 hours, gliding from the neon-lit capital across the near- deser ted Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

At the Tanggula Pass (the highest rail pass in the world, at 5,072m), the views become truly sensational: think snow- capped peaks, Gobilike deser t, remote Tibetan villages, grazing yaks, flut tering prayer flags and boundless blue skies.

THE HOKKAIDŌ SHINKANSEN

starts in Tokyo and ends in Hakodate, the southern por t of Hokkaidō, covering 824km in just four hours.

One of Japan’s iconic bullet trains, with an average operating speed of 260 km/h, it zooms past picturesque rural landscapes (mountains, forests, farmland) and through the Seikan Tunnel, one of the longest subsea rail links in the world.

THE ARGO WILIS journeys 696km

across Java, connecting Bandung and Surabaya in just under 10 hours. In the train’s ‘panoramic’ car, giant side and ceiling windows provide glorious 360 views – crossing the Parahyangan Highlands is a highpoint, showcasing rolling hills, volcanic vistas, traditional Sundanese villages and well-preserved Dutch-era estates.

32

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

THE EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS rolls in high style

ESCAPES

/

from Bangkok through central (and coastal) Malaysia to Singapore, covering 1,900km in three nights and four unforgettable days. Large picture windows in the luxurious, wood-panelled observation cars provide an excellent view of the passing scenery. There is also an open-air observation deck at the rear of the train.

THE REUNIFICATION EXPRESS,

starts in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi, covering 1,726km over two days. One of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways – and one of the most epic overnight train journeys in the world – it runs the full length of Vietnam, rattling through inviting colonialera towns and alongside spectacular coastlines.

THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, known as the

Toy Train, covers 88km in seven hours connecting New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling in West Bengal. An impressive feat of engineering, the line winds along extremely narrow tracks with sharp turns, steep climbs and precarious-feeling loops that offer stunning views of the Bengal plains and Eastern Himalayas.

THE COLOMBO-TO-BADULLA TRAIN covers 292km in 10 leisurely hours,

rising from Colombo’s leafy, sea-level boulevards into mist-wrapped hill country. Jungle and forest give way to paddy fields and palms, then soaring ridgelines and plunging valleys. Approaching Ella, the train crosses Nine Arch Bridge, a striking example of colonial-era engineering set amid lush tea plantations.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

33

enrichhk.click/donate

Established in 2011, we relocate homes and offices throughout Hong Kong. We also have experience moving families on and off boats, ensuring smooth transitions. Full packing and unpacking services are available if required, as is furniture disposal.

Look to us too for handyman jobs like hanging TVs, frames and mirrors.

Home and office relocation all around Hong Kong, including inner and outer islands.

Call us for a quotation.

9854 4410 berndacosta@gmail.com

Storage space rental also available in DB. CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS

! th on M e Recipe of th

HOME CHEF

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VEGAN WINTER WARMER

1tbsp sesame oil

1 red onion, f inely chopped

1½t sp ground cumin

1 garlic clove, crushed

40 0g sweet potatoes

1 red chilli, f inely chopped

250g red split lentils

Fresh ginger, f inely chopped

60 0ml vegetable stock

1½t sp ground turmeric

80g spinach

SPINACH, SWEET POTATO & LENTIL DHAL Serves 4 Heat the sesame oil in a wide-based pan with a tight-f it ting lid. Add the red onion and cook over a low heat for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, chilli and thumb -sized piece of ginger and cook for 1 minute, then add the turmeric and cumin and cook for 1 minute more.

Turn up the heat to medium, add the sweet potatoes, cut into even chunks, and s tir ever y thing together so the potato is coated in the spice mix ture. Tip in the lentils and vegetable s tock. Bring the liquid to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes until the lentils are tender. Season to tas te, then s tir in the spinach. Once the spinach is wilted, ser ve the dhal topped with f inely chopped spring onions.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

35

QUIZ

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! s e i v o M e th t A

20 QUESTIONS How much do you know about Guy Ritchie and his films?

01. What is Guy Ritchie’s directorial debut feature film?

A.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

B.

Swept Away

C.

Revolver

02. Who does Eiza González play in Ritchie’s soon-to-be-released In the Grey?

A.

A negotiator

B.

A spy

C.

A sorcerer

03. In which cult classic does Ritchie direct Brad Pitt?

A.

True Romance

B.

Snatch

C.

Thelma and Louise

04. How many children does Ritchie have?

A.

Three

B.

Five

C.

Seven

05. Which French film is Wrath of Man based on?

A.

Les Enfants du Paradis

B.

Amélie

C.

Le Convoyeur

36

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

QUIZ

/

06. Who stars as Sergeant John Kinley in The Covenant?

14. Who plays King Arthur in Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?

A.

Dar Salim

A.

David Beckham

B.

Antony Starr

B.

Charlie Hunnam

C.

Jake Gyllenhaal

C.

Eric Bana

07. Which Ritchie movie is a reimagining of a classic Disney animated film?

15. On whose novels is Ritchie’s Young Sherlock TV series based?

A.

Aladdin

A.

Andy Lane

B.

Sleeping Beauty

B.

Sir Ar thur Conan Doyle

C.

Brave

C.

Tana French

08. Who stars in Ritchie’s 2008 ad campaign for Nike?

16. Who plays the fixer in Ritchie’s crime drama TV series MobLand?

A.

Thierr y Henr y

A.

Tom Hardy

B.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho

B.

Pierce Brosnan

C.

Lionel Messi

C.

Helen Mirren

09. Who plays Sherlock Holmes in Ritchie’s 2009 and 2011 films?

A.

Rober t Downey Jr

B.

Jude Law

C.

Mark Strong

10. Ritchie is co-founder of which English single malt brand?

A.

Cotswolds Single Malt

B.

Rosemaund Farm Whisky

C.

The Glenlivet

11. Which Ritchie spy film is based on a 1960s TV series?

A.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

B.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

C.

RocknRolla

12. Who is Ritchie married to?

17. In which martial art has Ritchie earned a black belt?

A.

Judo

B.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

C.

Bare-Knuckle Boxing

18. Which frequent collaborator of Ritchie starred in Revolver?

A.

Eddie Marsan

B.

Hugh Grant

C.

Jason Statham

19. What line does Matthew McConaughey deliver in The Gentleman?

A.

When the lion's hungr y, he eats

B.

Alright, alright, alright

C.

All destruction leads to construction

A.

Jacqui Ainsley-Ritchie

20. What is the name of Ritchie’s estate in Wiltshire, England?

B.

Helen Ainsley-Ritchie

A.

Stourhead House

C.

Sarah Anne Ritchie

B.

Mompesson House

C.

Ashcombe House

13. Which Ritchie movie opens in Bangkok?

A.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

B.

Fountain of Youth

C.

The Covenant

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com> quizzes>guy-ritchie-quiz AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

37

! h c r a e s d or Lantau W PUZZLES

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WINTER STAYCATIONS AUBERGE DB HK

A

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DISNEY EXPLORER’S LODGE FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON

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SEAVIEW HOLIDAY RESORT

E

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SILVERMINE BEACH RESORT

I

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TAI O HERITAGE HOTEL

E

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NOVOTEL CITYGATE REGAL AIRPORT HOTEL

TAI O INN BY THE SEA THE COVE HOSTEL THE SILVERI HK

SUDOKU

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Medium Puzzle #2

Silvermine Beach Resort Regala Skycity Hotel Ngong Ping Youth Hostel Regal Airport Hotel The Silveri HK Auberge DB HK 4Seaview Holiday9Resort Silverview Citygate 5 Resort HK Disneyland Hotel Novotel 5 Espace Élastique Four Points by Sheraton Tai O Inn by the Sea HK SkyCity Marriott Lychee Sunset Hotel 5 The Cove Hostel City Oasis Guesthouse 9 8Lantau 6 Lodge 4 Disney 7 Explorer’s Lodge Tai O Heritage Hotel

7

6

4 www.arounddb.com> puzzles>decemberpuzzle.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

9

8 1

2

H Find the answers at

38

Medium Puzzle #1

4 1

3

9

7 5

6

4

1

9

1

7 1

4

7

6 2

8

3

4

9

Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

1

1

9 9

7

3

5

7

3

8

9

3

1

4

6

2

5

1 4

8 2 3

Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

I F E S T Y L E

|

P A R E N T I N G

CONNECT WITH KRISTIN JIANG TO REACH AN ENGAGED AND AFFLUENT AUDIENCE IN DISCOVERY BAY!

002

Special

advertising packages available for

2026

M AY 2 0 24 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

BABY TALK

arcella King supporting mothers in DB and beyond

C O M M U N I T Y

|

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

|

L I F E S T Y L E

|

P A R E N T I N G

C O M M U N I T Y

|

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

|

L I F E S T Y L E

|

P A R E N T I N G

A U g U S t 2 0 2 5 | D I S CO V E R Y B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO 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

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!

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

Enrol to compete in the 10th HLG Kart Race

OUTLYING ISLAND HOPPING

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

EASE THE TRANSITION How to beat the back-to-school blues

CINDERELLA ADVENTURE POP-UP 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

ker's d!

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.

ESCAPE TO MONGOLIA

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

Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

For tailor-made advertising packages to reach our unique readership, email our sales manager Kristin Jiang at kristin@arounddb.com

PRINT advertising form

DIGITAL advertising form

CLASSIFIEDS

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WEEKLY (EVERY TUESDAY)

RECYCLING POP-UP Did you know you can ONLY recycle plastic bottles #1 and #2, paper, metal and glass in your building's recycling bin?

AMK Consulting

NEED A CAR

Interior Design Services

FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE?

Power Eagle discount for bookings before Jan. 15 （delivery in 2026）

In front of Parkridge

DB-Based Designer with over 25 years of experience

10am - 1pm, 2.30 - 5.30pm

Services offered:

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E V E RY C H I L D D E S E RV E S TO C E L E B R AT E T H E I R B I RT H DAY TO K E E P A S A L I FE- LO N G M E M O RY Birthday Happiness Asia strives to create exciting and special memories for children who do not have the same advantages as most of their peers.

VOLUNTEER

Help us deliver birthday happiness to many less fortunate children

DONATE Find out more at the Islands Recycling Station FB page.

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' s e r i p S w e Andr

DB FACES

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COMMUNITY SNAPS

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

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

41

LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power ················································· 2728 8333 DB Fire & Ambulance ················································ 2987 7502 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 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 Coaching for girls & boys aged 2.5 to 14 years at DBIS & DB North pitches. The professional coaches (FA level 2 or above) are First Aid & CPR qualified. Call 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 Tekkerz Curriculum for U3 to U14 boys & girls designed to develop technical skills & overall game play by using a ‘maximum touch’ approach. Training at DB North pitch. Call 9770 4548

The Performer’s Studio Theatre Company ·················· 6894 7243 42

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

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 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

S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School ·································· 2987 8608 Woodentots Montessori Playgroup ···························· 6108 9131 MEDICAL Bayside Dental (DB Plaza) ·········································· 2285 8068 Bayside Dental (DB North) ········································· 2987 0855 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 DB’s trusted property consultants for buying, selling & renting homes. Top listings & expert guidance provided for first-time buyers, seasoned sellers & renters. Call 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

LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY RECREATION BMSE Community Centre ········································· 2259 3422 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 Heart-warming dishes made from the freshest ingredients provide the ultimate Italian experience. Simple & inviting decor. Located in DB South Plaza. Call 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 ······························································· 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 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 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 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

VIEW OUR ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @www.arounddb.com

To add your directory listing, call the Around DB office on +852 6117 1889 or email info@arounddb.com

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

43

AT A GLANCE

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! t h g i l t o p S FUTURESCAPE 2026: the year artificial intelligence went mainstream

NEW ERA OF

90%

diagnosis accuracy; personalsed, predictive treatment

2010s

INTELLIGENCE

45%

AI ASSISTANTS ARRIVE

tasks automated; AI copilots boost productivity by 30%

2020s

GENERATIVE AI REVOLUTION

10 HOURS/ WEEK

2026

AI EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME

40%

KEY STATS pe

eco n

com p

US$15+ trillion

se AI-as sis le u p o

1 billion

ools daily dt te

oost (pro ic b je m o

by PwC) ed ct

0% in 2 m5 02 fro

use AI (u ies p n a

80%

saved by teachers through AI grading; AI personal tutors

reduction in losses due to AI fraud detection

60%

of creators use AI tools

10%

3)

of all new cars sold globally are AI-powered

EMERGING TRENDS

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALGORITHM Data privacy & surveillance risks

AI 2.0

multimodal systems (text, image, audio, video together)

44

AI AGENTS

personal assistants that can act, not just suggest

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2026

EDGE AI

processing moves to devices (phones, cars, sensors)

AI FOR GOOD

solving climate, health & accessibility challenges

Job displacement in routine sectors Deepfakes & misinformation Risk of bias in AI decision-making

DISCOVERY BAY COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER FOR TAI PO FIRE VICTIMS The outpouring of support from DB for Tai Po has been truly inspiring. We can’t possibly name every individual, organisation, school and business that helped – but here are just a few…

AUBERGE HOSPITALITY venues united to raise funds for the Tai Po community on December 5.

Together with a corporate donation from HKR International Ltd and contributions from HKRI staff, over HK$10.65 million was donated to the HKSAR Government’s Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

DB GALLERY has offered its space as a complimentary venue for the Hong Kong Red Cross to hold blood drives, inviting the public to participate.

DISCOVERY COLLEGE came together as a community on December 5 at a We Stand With Tai Po Fundraiser. Over HK$50,000 was raised for the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

DISCOVERY BAY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL community has raised HK$336,856.70 to date. Funds will go directly to NGOs working with the families affected by the devastating fire in Tai Po.

DISCOVERY MIND School Board is donating HK$10,000 to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Proceeds from the Discovery Mind Christmas Fair and Christmas Dress-Up Day will also be donated.

MY PET SHOP is collecting pet food, clean water, blankets, carriers, beds, toys and specific medications for the pets affected by the Tai Po fire. The team has also built a foster network to home rescued pets.

ONE WORLD SPIRIT ASSOCIATION has donated all proceeds from its annual St Nicholas event to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

SPICY TIGER invited residents to come together on December 7 to mourn victims of the Tai Po fire through a one-minute silence. Half of the proceeds from the event were donated to support those impacted.

TEAM FEAR JUNIOR CHALLENGE competitors raised HK$140,000 through sponsorship funds, half of which will go to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. An additional HK$5,000 was collected on the day.

TEKKERZ organised a football fundraiser on November 29 to support Tai Po fire victims, and collected blankets, sleeping mats, jumpers,clothing, power banks, chargers, canned food and toiletries.

HARVEY LAW GROUP (HLG) a worldwide presence expediating your immigration goals

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Founded in 1992, Harvey Law Group is a premier multinational law firm, specializing in Residency by Investment (RBI) and Citizen by Investment (CBI) for over 30 years. With over 20 offices worldwide representing over 30 different countries and their respective Investment Immigration programs, Harvey Law Group has provided its services to over 10,000 families from all around the world. As the demand for Investment Immigration programs grows, various emerging companies have latched on to the service offering, but Harvey Law Group remains the only legacy law firm that specializes in Investment Immigration as a discipline.

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