Sai Kung Magazine April 2015

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April 2015

Starring

Sai Kung in the movies

Bruce Lee Richard Attenborough Jackie Chan Candice Bergen Chuck Norris Chow Yun-fat Sammo Hung Sally Yeh Jack Palance Yuen Biao Peter Cushing and Steve McQueen

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The really useful magazine APRIL 2015

PEOPLE

NEWS FROM THE GREENS

2 Snapped!

Sai Kung’s social life.

THE PLANNER 6 Happening in April What’s on this month.

NEWS

20 Seating plan Why we need more minibus seats.

INTERVIEW 22 The Girl Behind the Face Mui Thomas’ story.

FEATURE

10 In your backyard The latest from Sai Kung.

LETTERS 14 Have your say Words from our readers.

LOCAL 16 Gardening bug Turning derelict land into an organic veg patch.

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

18 African drummer Abraham Ofori beats a different drum.

24 Sai Kung in the movies On location with Steve McQueen, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

EATING 30 Snack attack Quick fixes and where to eat them.

RECIPE 34 Easter chocolate cake Chef Lucy Humbert shares her seasonal favourite. Plus Nibbles.

FAMILY 36 Pick your own Down on the strawberry farms.

Plus play quidditch in Hong Kong.

BIG DAY OUT 42 Jump off a cliff Abseiling and zip-lining on Tung Lung Chau.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 46 A hair affair Getting a new do at Salon Peninsula.

TRAVEL 50 Atoll relief A family paradise in the Maldives.

CREATURE FEATURE 55 Greater bandicoot rat The biggest and rarest rodent in town.

MARKETPLACE 56 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do.

CLASSIFIEDS 62 Loads of random useful local stuff.

VINES IN SAI KUNG 64 Foggy logic Stephen Vines explores some murky goings-on.

PETS 54 The long goodbye Sally Andersen calls time on a fourlegged friend.

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people Snaps from Sai Kung

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say cheese Bonaqua Action Sprint

Pictures: Polly McGovern

Rugby on the Road

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people

Share your event photos with us at photo@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!

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planner

UNTIL APR 26

Cavalia

A modern circus on horseback from the people behind Cirque de Soleil, now with extra shows by demand. Big Top, Central Harbourfront. Tickets $245-$1,195 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

UNTIL APR 19 Ocean Art Walk

APR 1 April Fool’s Day

Weekend art exhibition in support of the world’s oceans by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, www.hkyaf.com. Free. Stanley Plaza, Stanley, 2214 0177.

Don’t fall for it.

APR 1 Public pools open Yay! Dive in.

UNTIL APR 5 Jump Cut Independent Film Festival Local and international independent films chosen by teenagers for the only youth-curated festival in Hong Kong. Various unconventional locations. Free. www.hkyaf.com/jumpcut.

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APR 2-5 Smurfs Save Spring The Smurfs on stage. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Smurfy seats $688 (including gifts), other seats $250-$588 from www.hkticketing. com, 3128 8288.

happening in april APR 4 Hong Kong Pillow Fight Day

APR 10-12 Grug

Let the feathers fly. Bring a pillow, wear pjs.

4pm. Chater Garden, Central, www.hongwrong.com.

Puppet show based on the Aussie children’s book about a little haystack that falls out of a burrawang tree. For children aged one to six.

Sha Tin Concert Hall. Tickets $200 from 2111 5999, ticket.urbtix.hk.

APR 10-12 Secrets of the Lost Circus

APR 4 Total lunar eclipse.

Look, no moon. 6pm.

APR 3-4, 6-7 Public holidays Good Friday, Ching Ming Festival and Easter Monday (which is being celebrated on Tuesday).

Post-apocalyptic aerialists, acrobats, ballerinas and jugglers. Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai, 2375 8088. Tickets $180 from www.aerialartsacademy.com.

APR 16 The Wishing Machine Book Signing Sai Kung author Sadie Kaye signs copies of her new children’s novel (www.sadiekaye.tv).

5pm. Dymocks, 7 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung, 2791 9110.

APR 12 Bonaqua Action Sprint

APR 16-19 Concert in the Dark

A 12km adventure race starting 9am, Repulse Bay Beach. For details and registration, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

Music and a singing contest without lights in aid of Dialogue in the Dark. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $480-$1,500 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

APR 5 Easter Sunday

APR 20 Charli XCX

Give thanks, hunt eggs.

Boom clap! Music Zone, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $490 from www.ticketflap.com.

APR 15-19 Ocean in Motion Film Festival Short fishy films at The Vine in Wan Chai, Shek O Back Beach and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Tickets from $75 from Ocean Recovery Alliance, www.oceanrecov.org.

APR 8, 22 Quiz Nights Thinking caps on. Hebe One O One, 112 Sai Kung Road, Sai Kung, www.hebe101.com, 2335 5515.

APR 22-23 Backstreet Boys – In a World Like This Tour Backstreet’s back, alright. KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $888-$988 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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planner APR 22 Shoppinghongkong Summer and Spring Bazaar Annual fair with local and international stalls selling jewellery, accessories, clothing, wine, cupcakes and more. Noon-8pm. The Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, www. shoppinghongkong.net.

APR 25 Purple Cake Day A purple-themed charity walk from the Lions Nature & Education Centre to SKIP for cake and drinks in aid of children in poverty. 3pm-5pm.

159 Che Keng Tuk Road, Sai Kung, www.skip.edu.hk.

APR 25 How to Keep an Older Dog’s Tail Wagging Talk by Homevet’s Dr Matthew Murdoch. The Hive, 5 Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung, 2780 5844, www.thehivesaikung.com.hk.

APR 25 King’s Day Boatzilla Four junks, 200 people, one big party.

Boats depart from Central Pier 9, 11am-6pm. Tickets $400 from Gweilo Concepts, info@gweiloconcepts.com.

APR 23 Kids Ocean Day Thousands of children gather on the beach to form a picture and try to save the seas. 9am1pm, Repulse Bay Beach, www.facebook.com/ KidsOceanWeek.

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APR 27-MAY 9 Mega Ice Hockey 5’s Youth and adult ice-hockey tournament. L10, Ice Rink, Mega Box, Kowloon Bay, www.megaice.com.hk.

planner

BOOK NOW MAY 1-2 Katy Perry Prismatic World Tour

MAY 6-10 Showstopper!

The Improvised Musical

Hear her roar. Cotai Arena, The Venetian Macao. Tickets $380-$1,680 from www. cotaiticketing.com.

Top-class musical comedy that changes every night. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $295-$595 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 10, 31 Splash ’n’ Dash Aquathons

MAY 15-JUN 7 The Sound of Music A few of your favourite things, direct from the West End. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $395-$995 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 30, JUN 6 Summer Garage Sale

Kids and adults swimming and running races on Hong Kong Island.

Entry $200-$500 at www.revolution-asia.com.

Registration for tables opens at 8am on April 18. Get in quick to bag a spot at this popular twice-yearly secondhand sale. LG3 Car Park, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, 9045 5942, gujean@ust.hk.

MAY 13 Sundowners by the Bay

JUN 5-7 The Wind in the Willows

Fashion show, dinner and lots of bubbly with Sai Kung Pink Ladies in aid of Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Pak Sha Wan. Tickets $270-$470 from skpinkladies@yahoo.com.

Mole, Badger and Mr Toad come to life in a new production by British company Talking Scarlet. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $195-$435 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editor@saikung.com.

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news

in your backyard

Fab sundowners with the Pink Ladies Fundraising group Sai Kung Pink Ladies is hosting another fabulous event in aid of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation.

Sundowners by the Bay on Wednesday, May 13 will include a fashion show with Sai Kung fitness and sport personalities modelling

spring/summer collections from the likes of Desert Diamonds, House of Kamal and Phat Shack. It’ll be very this season.

The Pink Ladies are hoping to beat the $70,000 raised at last year’s Diamonds by the Bay, so please give generously.

Sundowner tickets are $270 including a complimentary glass of bubbly at the Bubble Bar by Winerack. Dinner tickets are $470, with a set meal and glass of wine before the event at Hebe Haven Yacht Club. For tickets, email skpinkladies@yahoo.com.

Yarn bombing in Sha Tin

Yann the physio opens in Sai Kung

A bridge in Sha Tin will get a woolly makeover next month, thanks to “yarn bomber” Esther Poon and more than 1,000 local volunteers.

They will crochet brightly coloured squares to be wrapped around Lek Yuen Bridge in Sha Tin Park in a fun installation as part of the Jockey Club Community Arts Biennale 2015.

Meanwhile, 70 local children and young people from The Hub Hong Kong Children and Youth Centre will also create a flock of fibreglass pigeons to be displayed in the park, each inscribed with a message to someone they love.

Sha Tin Park, April 16-May 6. For details, visit www.hkyaf.com.

Physiotherapist Yann Chau is returning to Sai Kung with his own practice, Australia Asian Acupuncture and Sports Physio. He previously worked at the now-closed Sai Kung Physiotherapy and Pain Centre.

Chau specialises in physiotherapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and chiropractic manipulation. In future, he hopes to offer other services, such as Pilates classes.

He started his own practice in Mong Kok a year ago and this will be his second branch. It will be located opposite the town hall at G/F 2A Sai Kung Town Centre, 22-40 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, 2336 5618.

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news

Landlord sues Fusion Sai Kung

ESF plans Kowloon super school Discussions are under way at ESF to form a Kowloon Learning Campus combining King George V School, Kowloon Junior School and Jockey Club Sarah Roe School. Under the proposal, KGV principal Ed Wickens will become a “super head” in overall charge of the campus from the 2015-16 academic year, which starts

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in August. However, according to the South China Morning Post, more than 100 parents have signed an online petition against the plan to merge the schools. ESF told Sai Kung Magazine the Kowloon Learning Campus proposal will be discussed by its board of governors in May before a final decision is made.

The owner of Fusion Sai Kung supermarket, ParknShop, is being sued for $51,200 by the landlord of Centro for allowing trolleys and rubbish to obstruct the shopping centre. Centro landlord Albury Garden Investment sued its major tenant – which pays $237,534 in rent and $101,169 in management fees each month – for breaching its lease by not removing rubbish using a specified route.

As a result, Fusion staff now accompany shoppers to their cars to retrieve their trolleys, providing a service that is being well received by its customers.

The tenancy agreement is due to be renewed next year. Let’s hope the dispute does not lead to the departure of the supermarket, which has proved a popular addition to the area.

news

Phuket fitness retreat

Love the sea in April Celebrate all things briny for Ocean Appreciation Month. Organised by local charity Ocean Recovery Alliance, April brings a series of fun and interactive community events to raise money for ocean conservation and awareness projects.

First up is Ocean Art Walk. Running until April 19 at Stanley Plaza, it includes large visual-art installations, dance performances and workshops.

The Ocean in Motion Film Festival (April 15-19) will screen 35 short films by local and

international filmmakers at various venues, including the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Shek O Back Beach and The Vine in Wan Chai.

The films, which are all five to nine minutes long, include Arctic Swell by SmugMug. Tickets from bit.ly/HKOceanInMotion2015.

And on April 23, the Kids Ocean Day brings together 1,000 schoolchildren to form a human picture on Repulse Bay Beach. For details, visit www.oceanrecov.org.

Yoga For Life instructors Tim Stevens, Warren Warner and Mindy Tagliente are holding a fitness retreat at The Pavillion resort in Phuket on May 14-17. Promising to take your stamina, strength, endurance and flexibility to the next level, the retreat will consist of daily bootcamps, yoga, high-intensity interval training and swimming. Set among the trees in a rubber plantation, the resort features large and luxurious villas with private courtyards, infinity-edge pools, personal spas and steam rooms. Early-bird prices for bookings before April 30 start at $10,988 per person based on two people sharing (not including flights). For details, contact 9160 0504, michelle@yogaforlife. com.hk, www.yogaforlife.com.hk.

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letters Call to action to improve Sai Kung Living here since 1996 has made me aware of the changes in Sai Kung. I am annoyed about the decisions taken by people in office who have given no thought to the implications for residents and visitors, and I need answers.

If the past and current state is bad, the future will be a disaster – increased housing, hotels, more coaches. I am keen to know the plans of the District Council, Police and the Transport Department. It frustrates me that they all seem to have fallen into acceptance mode (oh yes, we have a problem in Sai Kung at the weekend). Well, I don’t accept it – not when things can be improved.

I have arranged a meeting with the Sai Kung Police and I am awaiting confirmation from the other departments, but I hope to meet them soon. I would love to hold a public debate with all parties to see how we can gain agreement and what route to take for change.

Normally, I don’t get involved as, like most people, I am busy (I run a company with offices here and on the mainland). I am not doing this

have your say for any other reason but to make changes.

Some of them are really common sense and easy to implement – gaining the agreement and finding the route to make them is the tough bit.

I hope your readers will help me in the campaign. If any readers feel the same way, they can get in touch by emailing me at ian@fplgroup.com. I will keep you updated. Thanks.

Ian Riley Save the Hainan gibbon We are four Grade 5 students from Hong Kong Academy. We recently found out about the plight of the Hainan gibbon, which is one of the most critically endangered animals on the planet.

Our mission is to raise awareness within our local community, Sai Kung, and the rest of the world, about the endangered state of the gibbons in an effort to prevent further poaching and habitat loss.

Please spread the word to help protect these beautiful animals. If they don’t get protection they could become extinct in a few years.

Hong Kong Academy students

Help a Manila student I came across a touching story of a young man in Manila, who was of no fixed abode, selling books outside a coffee shop to raise money to return to law school. His story resonated with me and I have decided to try to help him out.

I have set up a Facebook group (Help a Homeless Kid go to Law School) and a fundraising site. People have been incredibly kind. We have a stall at Sai Kung Sunday Market for book donations, Dymocks Sai Kung are donating books and the day I launched the fundraising site we raised US$200. I have managed to locate a site were Justin can sell his books and live in Manila and I am trying to raise US$550 for three months’ rent.

My intention is to fundraise to pay his rent, ship donated books to him, and hopefully he will be able to support himself in his new bookshop.

Here’s the link – justindecastrocollegefund. causevox.com. Please visit, like, share or spare a donation to get this bright young man back on his feet. Thanks.

Brian C. Hayes

Email your photos or letters to editorial@fastmedia.com.hk. We may edit for length. Or tag us, #saikungmag on social media!

Special Offer You can enjoy a whitening and moisturizing facial treatment, valued at $480 with any package purchased.

$500 for a soak off manicure + pedicure package 30% OFF facial discount for student $152 for 45mins Foot Massage $198 for 45mins Aromatherapy Body Massage For enquiries and/or appointment, please call: 2302 0289 G/F., 10 Tak Lung Back Street, Sai Kung Working hour: 10am-8pm

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free stuff

win at www.saikung.com

Cavalia tickets Roll up, roll up! Win tickets to Cavalia, the modern circus on horseback created by Normand Latourelle, formerly of Cirque du Soleil. Featuring acrobats, musicians and 50 galloping horses, the circus will be in town until April 26 in a big top on the Central Harbourfront (www.cavalia.hk). We are giving away a pair of tickets to the 8pm performance on April 14.

Deadline: April 7.

A Seaweed Seasoning Fish Kit Add zest to fish dishes with the Seaweed Seasoning Fish Kit from online store Sooq (www.sooqcentral.com), which specialises in premium handmade products. The seaweed is harvested by hand in Scotland and includes three fish recipes for inspiration. Deadline: April 12.

To enter, click the Giveaways tab on our website, www.saikung.com. Deadlines vary.

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local

dig it

Editorial

Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer jane@fastmedia.com.hk Managing Editor Hannah Grogan hannah@fastmedia.com.hk Editorial Assistant Cherrie Yu cherrie@fastmedia.com.hk Staff Writer Callum Wiggins callum@fastmedia.com.hk Acting Digital Editor Annie Wong annie@fastmedia.com.hk

Design

Art Director Kelvin Lau kelvin@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Design Setareh Parvin setareh@fastmedia.com.hk Evy Cheung evy@fastmedia.com.hk

Thanks to Adele Brunner Carolynne Dear Sally Andersen Paul Zimmerman Steffi Yuen Mikael Levin Lucy Humbert Alastair Grigg

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Published by

Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

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Lynn and Craig Mitchell in their Tai Hang Hau plot.

The good life One green-fingered couple is turning derelict land into an organic veg patch, writes Carolynne Dear.

Clearwater Bay couple Lynn and Craig Mitchell have transformed a derelict patch of land in Tai Hang Hau village into a thriving organic vegetable garden.

“I stumbled across the land while walking our dogs back in 2013,” says Lynn Mitchell, a keen amateur gardener and cook.

Fed up with poor-quality supermarket vegetables, and inspired by one of the village elders who works tirelessly on a small flower garden in Tai Hang Hau car park, Lynn approached the landowner about developing the plot into a vegetable patch.

The idea was to create a garden slowly and organically out of recycled bits and pieces rather than spend a lot of money blitzing the land in a few weeks.

So, 18 months ago, the couple began the back-breaking job of clearing the land by hand. They hacked down dense foliage, pulled

up tree roots, erected fencing, dug vegetable beds and started a basic irrigation system.

“Apart from the fencing and some basic tools, everything used in this project has been salvaged or given to us,” Craig says.

The pair used driftwood from a nearby beach to create steps, begged old water containers and pumps from a neighbouring derelict boatyard to draw water from a stream for an irrigation system, and they have been collecting wine bottles to edge beds and pathways. The garden gate has been fashioned out of an old pallet from a local building site.

A part-time student and teacher, Lynn has lived all her life in Hong Kong but admits she had little idea about how to sew seeds or grow plants here.

“There’s not a lot of information available about growing Chinese produce in Hong Kong in English,”

she says. “My Chinese is limited, so it has very much been a case of trial and error.”

With a bit of experimentation and advice from locals, including invaluable tips about harvesting choi sum from the mother of the village chief, the Mitchells now grow carrots, Chinese cabbage, potatoes, eggplants, lettuce, cauliflowers, spinach, herbs, pak choi, choi sum and lemongrass.

Lynn recently discovered a star fruit tree amid the dense foliage.

She used the glut of fruit last month to make jam, juice and ice pops for local children. She has also plans to plant a mango tree and a large flowerbed – marigolds and sunflowers will be first in.

“I discovered flowers are integral to a healthy garden as they attract bees and deter bugs,” she says.

The vegetables are grown organically and the Mitchells are experimenting with healthy alternatives to chemical pesticides, such as neem oil.

“The soil quality is not too bad.

The area used to be rice paddy

The idea was to create a garden organically terraces pre-1960s. I have been making compost at home and using it to line the beds before I plant. I grow the seedlings on my roof and replant them,” she says.

It’s hard work, but this year the couple hopes to clear more overhanging trees that are blocking the sunlight and create more beds.

Craig also has plans for beehives at the back of the plot.

The couple welcomes anyone who would like to join in with some manual labour, or donate old wine bottles, tools, seeds, plants or pots at the blue bin in Tai Hang Hau village car park. Visit Mitchell’s Vegetable Garden on Facebook or www.mitchellsgarden.com.

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five minutes with...

big bang

Sales & Marketing Head of Sales & Marketing Karman So karman@fastmedia.com.hk

Business Development Manager Tristan Watkins tristan@fastmedia.com.hk Marketing & Comm. Manager Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Manager Oliver Simons oliver@fastmedia.com.hk Sales & Marketing Executive John Lee john@fastmedia.com.hk Sara Tomovic sara@fastmedia.com.hk

Accounts Manager Connie Lam connie@fastmedia.com.hk

Printer

Apex Print 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

A crowd-pulling performance.

Abraham Ofori

Annie Wong meets the African drummer beating a new path in Sai Kung. www.saikung.com ads@fastmedia.com.hk @saikungmag facebook.com/SaiKungMagazine

GIVE US A CALL! Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772, 3563 9755 Sai Kung Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication.

The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Fast Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

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When I moved to Hong Kong three years ago, I visited Sai Kung at weekends for sightseeing.

I saw the community as very warm, which made me want to start something new in Sai Kung if the opportunity came about.

Fortunately, I found myself with Sai Kung Tutors (SKT), so I have brought my performance group, Djijor, to Sai Kung.

perform and make it my source of income.

Sai Kung is a peaceful place.

I like the natural environment and the mountains. People are extremely welcoming and make me feel at home. The Sai Kung community is able to adapt to different cultures and people say hello when I’m on my way to work.

I teach people about performing and drumming. I teach kids, young people and adults African rhythms, songs and stories, and where they come from. I teach people what Africa is made of, not only music but the history, culture, lifestyle and moral values.

I started drumming in primary school. My teacher picked me to be a part of the performance and drumming team. I realised I had talent. I was working in telecommunications when I decided to fulfil my dream to

Reactions to my performances are very positive. Through my performances, I want to create confidence, happiness and stress relief for people. I want to make an impact, to have interaction with people in Sai Kung and

We play games and sing songs...

We bring joy

people in Hong Kong. We are looking to reach out to everyone.

I hold community workshops in the town hall every Wednesday. I also perform for schools, specialneeds education and aged care facilities. We play games and sing songs with the kids and the elderly.

We bring joy. They don’t have to play, but they are happy to see us.

That’s how it should be.

I make and repair drums. My drums are handmade out of heartwood and painted with African symbols. We supply drums in the lessons.

I have a big vision for myself and for Djijor. I want to expand African music in Sai Kung and Hong Kong.

As I work to expand Djijor, more members of the performance group will come to Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit www.africandrumanddance.hk.

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news from the greens

seating plan

More seats on minibus Paul Zimmerman campaigns for extra capacity on a vital mode of transport.

A common complaint I receive as a District Councillor concerns the waiting time for a seat on minibuses. Residents can spend more time waiting for the minibus than for the journey itself. Trying to hail a minibus en-route can be disappointing as there is no guarantee of empty seats on the next or subsequent minibuses during rush hours.

The minibus service began in the 1970s,

initially with a maximum capacity of 14 seats on each vehicle. In 1988, the government amended regulations to increase the number of seats from 14 to 16. Over the past 26 years, our population has grown by 1.6 million, or 28.5 per cent. Yet the government, under pressure from bus companies and taxi drivers, continues to hold the view that minibuses are an auxiliary transport mode and any increase in seats could have a negative impact on other transport operators.

It’s time to change this. Minibuses are often the only mode of transport for residents in suburban areas across the territory. And with fares slow to increase, drivers’ salaries have not kept up with the economy resulting in a shortage of drivers.

Increasing the number of seats is the most efficient, economic, environmentally friendly way to reduce waiting time for buses, improve driver salaries and profitability for operators.

Newer vehicles in the existing fleet can be

retro-fitted with four extra seats by removing luggage racks. Older vehicles, however, cannot be retrofitted and will need to be replaced.

This will result in newer, cleaner buses benefiting the passengers with greater comfort and the public with a reduction in roadside air pollution. Moreover, with our narrow roads and short laybys, minibuses have less impact on traffic than big buses, which often block traffic lanes with their “dragon tail sticking out”.

The government is conducting a public transport strategy study and is inviting the public to submit views on this and other related issues. Join our campaign, “More seats on the minibus!”, by signing our online petition today at www.designinghongkong.com.

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

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interview

“The first draft was ready around 2010, which was the time Mui was finishing school,” Rog says. “Things [with Mui’s final exams] didn’t go as good as they could have gone. It wasn’t a good time to move forward with it all, but now it is.”

The family is still looking for a publisher, so the book has no release date. However, the book is generating plenty of interest via its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ GirlBehindTheFace), which received more than 8,000 likes in just a few weeks.

“We never expected people to help or even

Rog, Tina and Mui Thomas tell their story in The Girl Behind the Face.

The Girl Behind the Face The Thomas family talk to Hannah Grogan about their new book.

A new book based in Sai Kung has everybody talking – and only a handful of people have read it so far. The book is The Girl Behind the Face and it’s the story of Tina and Rog Thomas and their daughter, Mui, whom they adopted.

At 22 years old, Mui is a medical miracle.

She was born in 1992 with a rare skin disorder, Harlequin ichthyosis, and abandoned at birth.

Doctors did not expect her to live beyond childhood.

At the time, Tina and Rog were volunteering for a programme run by the Social Welfare Department in the Duchess of Kent Children’s

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Hospital and planned to move to Australia to start a birth family. But then they met Mui, a patient at the hospital.

“And that’s when we fell in love,” Tina says.

So they abandoned their plans, stayed in Hong Kong and adopted the 18-month-old child with the terrible prognosis.

The Girl Behind the Face was written by Rog, but through Tina’s eyes. It tells the story of Tina’s troubled childhood, becoming engaged within two weeks of meeting Rog, adopting Mui and how that changed their lives. It has been years in the writing.

The local community has taken her to their heart anyone to be interested,” Rog says. “We’ve always lived life with a smile and tried to have fun. Sai Kung has provided that. When [we’d go to restaurants and bars] everyone would fall in love with her. And it’s not just the expat community, the local Chinese community has also taken her to their heart. That sense of community has been great.”

Support has come to the family in many ways over the years, most notably from Sir David Tang, who has also written the foreword for the book. One of the most unexpected came in 1999 from a Central doctor, Lauren Bramley,

being mui

she has not been rushed to hospital once.

The family’s motto is “give it a go”. And Mui does, despite daily physical challenges – she can’t sweat or control her body temperature and should avoid direct sunlight.

She’s inspirational for getting on and living life with a smile

Above: Mui and Dr Bramley. Left: With Sir David Tang.

who offered her services free. She has helped Mui with everything from blood tests to dental work. As a young child, Mui was hospitalised regularly. Since Dr Bramley came into her life,

“I get on and do it,” she says. “A lot of the time when I’m out, I don’t actually think about it.

I deal with the consequences later.”

Since leaving school she has qualified as a rugby referee and is now involved with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.

“Mui wanted to play rugby, which wasn’t going to happen – no one is going to tackle a kid with such a severe skin disorder,” Rog says.

“However, after she stopped complaining, we said, ‘Just get involved’. When she’s on a rugby

field, she’s not judged on her condition – she’s judged on whether she’s any good. Judged as an individual.”

Mui lights up when she starts to chat about rugby. She’s bursting with enthusiasm for the sport and it shows. But her efforts on the field are not only striking for someone with Harlequin ichthyosis. Mui is one of only a handful of female referees in the male-dominated sport.

She works full time as an educational assistant for The Rock Foundation, a facility that helps young people with special needs, and dedicates time to local charity Sailability, despite not being able to swim owing to her condition.

Rog wrote the book because he believes Mui is inspirational – not because she has Harlequin ichythyosis, but because she tries.

“She’s not inspirational for just scratching her backside,” Rog says. “She’s inspirational for getting on and living life with a smile and doing things like the rugby and Sailability. These are positive. It’s about doing something.”

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on location

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on location

Sai Kung on screen Mikael Levin revisits 10 movies filmed in your backyard.

Hong Kong has appeared in its fair share of films since World War II. Its vibrant cityscapes and idyllic countryside pop up in numerous big-budget Hollywood epics and Hong Kong feature films alike. With Shaw Studios based in Clearwater Bay, it’s not surprising that more than 30 films have been at least partially shot in Sai Kung.

Some of the most famous celebrities of their eras have visited our villages and walked in our lovely landscapes, including international movie stars Steve McQueen, Peter Cushing and Jack Palance and local heroes Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Chow Yun-fat.

“In the 1970s and 80s, Hong Kong film studios didn’t have huge backlots,” says film producer, martial artist and actor Bey Logan.

“So they would often shoot scenes in the rural New Territories.”

Here are 10 of the most memorable movies made in your backyard.

The Sand Pebbles (1966) Starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and Candice Bergen Locations: Pyramid Hill and High Island Reservoir One of the biggest – and most debonair – stars in the Hollywood firmament, Steve McQueen is best known for nuanced portrayals of men in danger in blockbusters such as wartime epic The Great Escape and disaster flick The Towering Inferno. But his only Academy Award nomination was for the period war drama The Sand Pebbles in 1966 (he lost to Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons).

Location scouting took more than a year for the film, which was set on the Yangtze River in 1926 revolutionary China. It was directed by legendary filmmaker Robert Wise, who was passionate about finding the right location and, in exchange for the time spent searching, he agreed to make a “fill-in” project for 20th Century Fox, The Sound of Music.

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on location Eventually, the scouts found the perfect location: Sai Kung. Perhaps the most recognisable location is Pyramid Hill, which appears in the background of several scenes with Ma On Shan to the right. The poster (see p.24) shows McQueen on a boat on a body of water that is now part of High Island Reservoir.

Project A (1983) Starring Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao Locations: Kau Sai Chau, High Island, Muk Min sea cave.

Project A is a martial-arts action comedy and the first starring Jackie Chan in the style we have come to know and love. Set in 1800s Hong Kong, it blends exaggerated stunts and slapstick comedy reminiscent of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, right down to a recreation of Lloyd’s famous stunt in which he hangs off the hands of a clock. Chan plays Marine Police Sergeant Dragon Ma who must take on a gang of pirates. The film makes extensive use of Rocky Harbour and Kau Sai Chau, which is now home to the territory’s only public golf course.

The Prodigal Son (1981) Starring Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung Locations: Yim Tin Tsai, Tai Tung Wo Liu Yuen Biao plays a wealthy kung-fu fighter

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Clockwise from top: scenes from The Sand Pebbles, Project A and Dragons Forever were shot in High Island, Rocky Harbour and Hong Kong Marina, respectively.

on location

Miracles happened at Shaw’s Movietown, overlooking Port Shelter. The location stood in for 1930s Macau.

whose father has been secretly paying his opponents to lose, and who must convince an expert to train him properly.

This kung-fu classic features fight scenes shot in beautiful locations around Tai Tung Wo Liu, off Sai Sha Road, and Yim Tin Tsai island, with the distinctive saddle-back outline of Ma On Shan making several appearances. In one scene, Sammo Hung races along the pier at Yim Tin Tsai in a likely homage to actor and filmmaker Danny Lee, who ran along the same

pier eight years earlier in his first starring role, in River of Fury. The movie won a Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Once a thriving village and 19th-century centre of Catholicism established by Joseph Freinademetz, who was canonised in 2003, Yim Tin Tsai no longer has a permanent population.

It is home to several abandoned salt fields, derelict houses and a Romanesque chapel that is occasionally used for weddings. It can be reached by private ferry from Sai Kung public pier.

Dragons Forever (1988) Starring Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao Location: Hong Kong Marina This 1988 action comedy marks the last time Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao appeared in a film together, and this time as three lawyers working for a dubious company. The opening fight scene was filmed on the dockside at Hong Kong Marina on Che Keng Tuk Road.

Hung enjoyed the locale so much that he used it again for a fight scene on the marina’s terrace in 1991’s Touch and Go. The terrace is part of the Hong Kong Marina restaurant, which accepts cash and is open to the public during the week (members only at weekends and holidays).

The Killer (1989) Starring Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee Locations: Sai Kung waterfront, Yi Chun Street Directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee, The Killer is arguably Hong Kong cinema’s finest gangster movie. Its balletic if violent choreography brought Woo to the attention of Hollywood and its dialogue was even sampled in early hip hop tracks. It revolves around a disillusioned assassin who takes on

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on location one last hit to pay for an operation to restore the sight of a nightclub singer (Sally Yeh) who he blinds in an early scene.

One scene is set during the dragon-boat festival on Sai Kung waterfront and Yi Chun Street, possibly the area’s most famous location, beloved of tourists, seafood fans and dog walkers.

Forced Vengeance (1982) Starring Chuck Norris Locations: Nam Shan Sun Tsuen Road and Hiram’s Highway.

American martial-arts star Chuck Norris rose to fame in 1972, when he appeared opposite Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon. After a decade in Hollywood, Norris returned to Hong Kong for this 1982 action movie about a casino security guard who seeks revenge when triads threaten his friends.

Shot throughout the territory, prominent Sai Kung locations include the Nam Shan home of his on-screen nemesis. The house still stands behind a gate on a long and winding path on Nam Shan San Tsuen Road, near Po Lo Che. Hong Kong film buff and blogger Philip Edward Kenny (hongkongandmacaufilmstuff. blogspot.hk) points out that the film is “littered with illogical geography”. The opening scene, for example, in which Norris takes a cab

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In 1982’s Forced Vengeance, Chuck Norris’ nemesis lives in this Nam Sham house, which still stands.

from Kai Tak airport to a casino in Tuen Mun, was actually filmed on Hiram’s Highway. The unlikelihood of that route can be chalked up to artistic license. In the film, Hiram’s Highway is noticeably less developed than it is today, but it oozes Sai Kung charm.

Miracles (1989) Starring Jackie Chan Location: Shaw’s Movietown Hong Kong film-production company Shaw Brothers’ Studio enjoyed great success in the 1970s and 80s. It was based in Clearwater Bay, where it built a flexible backlot dubbed

Movietown. But by 1988, Kenny says, “Shaws had largely moved away from films and into television and as such the huge backlot at the old studios was leased out to others wishing to take advantage of the large and reasonably remote studio backlot.”

Movietown was leased by rival film company Golden Harvest to shoot Miracles and was adapted to resemble 1930s Macau, complete with Portuguese-style architecture.

The movie made extensive use of a large verandah overlooking Port Shelter, which also appears in romantic scenes in a number of other films.

on location villagers along with his team of karate-kicking henchmen to rid them of a gangster played

by Fernando Lamas. It was shot on locations across Hong Kong, including Shek O beach, Stanley and Ma Nam Wat village, near Trio Beach. Much of the village is now abandoned, but it remains a popular hiking location and is easily reached by a well-worn path from the end of Che Keng Tuk Road or by sampan from Pak Sha Wan pier.

The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires was partly filmed on a ridge overlooking Silverstrand Bay.

The studio has since moved to new premises near Tseung Kwan O. Fist of Unicorn (1972) Starring Unicorn Chan and Bruce Lee Location: Pak Tam Chung A vehicle for martial artist Unicorn Chan, Fist of Unicorn was released amid controversy and acrimony. Already a major international star, Bruce Lee worked on the film as a fight choreographer as a favour to Chan.

However, the camera crew surreptitiously filmed Lee working near a bridge in Pak Tam Chung, edited the footage into the film without

his permission and subsequently marketed it as a Chan/Lee joint film. Lee was unhappy with the deceit.

The bridge that features prominently in the movie is now a popular spot for wedding photographs, picnics and dog walks. It is next to Fat Kee café about 500m beyond the Sai Kung Country Park gate at Pak Tam Chung.

Kill a Dragon (1967) Starring Jack Palance Location: Ma Nam Wat Academy Award winner and three-time nominee Jack Palance stars as a mercenary hired by

The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974) Starring Peter Cushing Location: Silverstrand Bay Famed for playing the commander of the Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin, in Star Wars, Peter Cushing spent much of his career making B-movie horror flicks for Hammer Studios alongside Sir Christopher Lee and Vincent Price. A collaboration between Hammer and Shaw Brothers’ Studio, this 1974 film was a Chinese folklore-inspired tale about vampires, Dracula and Van Helsing (Cushing). Parts of the film were shot on location in Hong Kong, with Shaw Brothers’ Movietown seeing much of the action. One scene, however, takes place on a ridge behind the backlot overlooking Silverstrand Bay. The beach at Silverstrand is deservedly popular on sunny weekends.

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eating

feeling peckish?

Snack attack Sai Kung’s best snacks. By Annie Wong.

Pineapple bun What: This Hong Kong favourite might have been invented in Yuen Long, but queues form outside Sai Kung Bakery for these pillow-soft buns with a sugary, crunchy topping. They get their name not from their flavour but because the topping cracks as it bakes to look a bit like a pineapple. Eat with a wedge of butter (and try not to think about the calories).

Price: $9.

Where: Sai Kung Bakery and Café, G/F, 6-7 Kam Po Court, 2 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, 2792 3861.

Fish & chips What: A British-style takeaway classic. Hot chunky chips and a succulent piece of cod in crispy beer batter come in a boat-shaped dish or wrapped in paper for eating by the sea.

What’s not to love? Chip-In is also home to Hong Kong’s only deep-fried Oreo. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

Price: $42 (small).

Where: Chip-In, Shop 11, G/F, Ko Shing House, 9 King Man Street, Sai Kung, 9761 5091, www.facebook.com/chip.in.fish.n.chips.

Classic beef burger What: Burger Deli’s juicy 5oz Australian Angus beef patty on lettuce, onion and tomato slices in a sesame-seed bun. Other choices include Australian Wagyu (7oz for $88), Mexican and Californian. American friends swear this is the best burger they’ve ever had – and let’s face it, Americans know a good burger when they eat one. Don’t forget a side of sweet-potato fries.

Price: $49.

Where: Burger Deli, G/F, 2 Ko Shing House, 9 King Man Street, Sai Kung, 3689 9052, www.facebook.com/burger.deli.

Pepperoni pizza slice What: A foot-long slice of New York-style pizza. Al Morales’ original Paisano’s outlet was an instant hit – five years later, he’s making pizzas in seven locations across the city, with a Causeway Bay store opening soon. But this is where we first fell in love with his over-sized slices, loaded with pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Price: $30 a slice.

Where: Paisano’s, G/F, 27 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, 2791 4445, paisanos.com.hk.

Lamingtons What: An Aussie teatime classic comprising large cubes of vanilla sponge, generously coated with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with dessicated coconut. Mushroom Bakery’s version is fresh, soft, moist and so laden with chocolate that it becomes absorbed into the sponge. We want one. Now. Price: $15.

Where: Mushroom Bakery, 26 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6826.

Indian paratha What: Light and crispy Indian-style pancake flipped on a hot plate until golden brown and eaten by itself or stuffed with your choice of chicken, beef, lamb, potato, cheese or vegetables and usually served with curry. For dessert, try paratha with durian or banana.

Price: $22.

Where: Ali Baba Curry House, Shop 13, G/F, Ko Shing Building, 9 King Man Street, Sai Kung, 2783 8980

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We see options.

As an IB World School, Hong Kong Academy challenges all students to reach their potential and prepares them for life in a dynamic and diverse world. Please visit Hong Kong Academy to learn about Secondary School options for:

• Coursework

• Graduation

• Financial Assistance

Admissions and Enrolment Manager Angela Reilly will be happy to answer any of your questions and arrange a tour of the school.

Email angela.reilly@hkacademy.edu.hk for more information.

learning, growing, understanding

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eating

Vanilla ice cream What: Bibini’s Italian-style ice cream and gelato comes in unusual flavours such as durian, yuzu and champagne as well as old favourites like strawberry, pistachio and mango sherbet. But we love good old vanilla. The ice cream is made on the premises by the Italian owner and draws the crowds as the mercury rises.

Price: $35 for a single scoop.

Where: Bibini Nice Cream & Gelato, Shop 11, G/F, Ko Fu House, 58-72 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, 6040 7278, www.facebook.com/pages/ Bibini-Nice-Cream.

Brezel What: Part bread, part pretzel, all good.

Created by the Swiss bakers at Swissbeck, the brezel comes sprinkled with salt and twisted like a pretzel, but with the taste and texture of bread. While we’re talking mutant baked goods, don’t miss the rohnut – half doughnut, half croissant and filled with cream.

Price: $20.

Where: Swissbeck, Shop B, G/F, 65 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, 2792 0738, www.swissbeck.hk.

Dark chocolate cake What: Layers of light chocolate sponge and chocolate cream mousse generously topped with dark chocolate shavings at 18 Alley Grams. These slices of chocolatey heaven are made daily in the 18 Grams kitchen factory and transported to the chain’s seven branches every morning to ensure freshness. The perfect accompaniment to 18 Alley Grams houseroasted coffee.

Price: $45.

Where: 18 Alley Grams, 56 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, 2791 9418, www.18grams.com.

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Free home delivery on any mix of 6 Bottles - Order online at: www.winerack.com.hk 32 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

eating Sai Kung’s favourite snacks “Burger Deli is the best burger joint in Sai Kung.” – Michaela, 18 “Ali Baba’s roti prata is great.

It’s cheap, $22, and good after a night of drinking.” – Josh, 19 “I’m new to Sai Kung but the noodles from the small stalls are great.” – Tam Yut-ho (Fat Ho), 18 Pinchos What: Casa makes mean pinchos – and we mean that in a good way. This classic tapas comprises slices of bread with various toppings, garnishes and sauces. Casa’s interpretations include pork belly with apple sauce; bacon, brie and cranberry (above); halloumi with porcini and eggplant, and smoked salmon with guacamole.

Price: $15 a piece.

Where: Casa, Shop 1 & 2 Sui Yat Building, Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, 5594 0007, www.casagroup.co.

Fried chicken What: Deep-fried chicken at Hot Star is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a choice of original or spicy flavours. Portions are reasonably generous and cooked to order.

Drumsticks, wings and chicken cartilage are also available, as well as other fried favourites such as chips, onion rings and cuttlefish balls.

Price: $30.

Where: Hot Star, Shop 13, G/F, Kam Po Court, 2 Sai Kung, Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, 9638 8990.

“Hot Star Fried Chicken is good, crispy and flavourful.

Something I can grab and go.”

– Wings Liu, 23 “Burger Deli. Best burgers!

They know me and my friends by name.” – Tammy, 29 “Everything at Casa is great.

Check it out.” – Octavia

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eating

Lucy’s Easter chocolate cake In the first of a new column, chef Lucy Humbert whips up an Easter favourite.

A sweet treat for Easter.

Method - Pre-heat the oven to 150°C. -G rease a 24cm cake tin and line the base with baking paper.

-P lace the chocolate, butter, cocoa and water in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

Once melted, stir to combine and set aside.

- I n another bowl, place all the sugar and the eggs and lightly whisk to combine.

-A dd the chocolate and butter mixture, then the milk. Sieve the flour and baking soda

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and fold into the chocolate mix. Pour into the prepared cake tin.

- Bake for one hour. Leave to cool and wait until completely cold before decorating.

- To make the chocolate glaze, put the cream and chocolate into a bowl over a pan of simmering water to melt.

- Pour the mixture over the cake, spread evenly and decorate with Easter eggs.

- Serve with cream or ice cream.

Cake - 225g chocolate (50 per cent cocoa solids) - 200g butter - 2 tbsp cocoa - 75ml water - 150g soft brown sugar - 150g caster sugar - 3 eggs - 100g self-raising flour - 100g plain flour - ½ tsp baking soda - 100ml milk Chocolate glaze - 150g plain chocolate, chopped - 75ml whipping cream Small chocolate eggs to decorate Chef-restaurateur Lucy Humbert has been winning fans for her cooking for more than 20 years at Lucy’s, 64 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, 2813 9055.

eating

Nibbles Save our outdoor tables An FEHD clampdown on alfresco dining has Sai Kung residents up in arms, following news that Burger Deli has been told to remove its outdoor tables – rendering the tiny eatery a takeaway only establishment. Fed up with their favourite outdoor tables being ruled out of bounds by government officials, local residents have formed a new lobby group, Occupy Seating in Sai Kung. So far, it has formed a Facebook group and is looking at ways to bring back the outdoor ambience we all know and love.

Breakfast at Mandy’s Mandy’s is launching a new breakfast menu this month. Charge up your mornings with a Caribbean Breakfast of sardines, avocado and chilli scrambled eggs, or go for a traditional full English, complete with sizzling bacon and sausages. For vegetarians, there is chickpeas in bara roti. Breakfast is available 8am-11.30am. And look out for new dinner menus and seafood dishes. 24 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung, 2791 2088, www. caribbeanhk.com.

Candy Crush afternoon tea at Royal Plaza.

Alice in Easter Wonderland Boutique hotel The Luxe Manor is transforming Dada Bar + Lounge into the surreal world of Alice in Wonderland for Easter. Families are invited to dress up to meet Alice and the White Rabbit on April 4 and 5. There will be a magic show, balloon twisting, Easter egg hunt, video games and a screening of Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants. 3pm-6pm. Adults $90, children $178. 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3763 8888, www.theluxemanor.com.

Dan Ryan’s TST reopens Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill is reopening in its

former location in Ocean Terminal. With its giant portions, child-pleasing free helium balloons and keychains, and colouring games, Dan Ryan’s is a hit with families.

To celebrate, from April 20-29 it is offering selected items at the prices it charged when the chain opened in 1989. Items include potato skins at $48 and a rib and chicken combo at $138. Next month, the Vintage Menu features popular selections including Hainan chicken and rice and taco salad with shrimp. Level 3, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2735 6111, www.windy-city.com.hk.

Candy Crush tea Royal Plaza restaurant Lion Rock is partnering with Candy Crush for an afternoon tea inspired by the popular computer game.

Die-hard fans will recognize the iconic “candies” on a three-tier tea stand, including a sugary shire, chocolate block, rainbow shrimp, purple candy, colour bomb and Tiffi crush. It is available until June 30 and costs $250 or $488 for two. 3/F, Royal Plaza Hotel, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mong Kok, 2622 6167, www.royalplaza.com.hk.

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family

get back to the land

Pick all the strawberries you can at the Tai Tong Lychee Valley.

Grown in Hong Kong For truly local, organic produce, visit the territory’s farms.

Chefs and nutritionists everywhere extol the virtues of buying local and going organic. That might sound like a tall order in tiny Hong Kong, where land is at a premium, but there are 129 certified organic farms and producers in the territory (www.hkorc-cert.org), many of which welcome visitors. Here are the pick of the crop.

Tai Tong Lychee Valley Pick your own strawberries (all-you-can-pick for $120) at this New Territories farm set among lychee and papaya trees. As well as the berries, it has a wide range of activities such as rides on bicycles, ponies and ox-carts, plus a playground, barbecue area, organic food shops and even a petting zoo, where children can feed baby goats and rabbits. English maps available.

Admission $30, free parking. Open daily 9am6pm. 11 Tai Tong Shan Road, Tai Tong Tsuen, Yuen Long, 2470 2201, www.yl.hk/taitong.

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Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden On the slopes of Tai Mo Shan, the 148-hectare Kadoorie Farm runs regular short courses on organic farming and sustainable living (mainly in Cantonese). It’s a beautiful location, with paths crisscrossing the hillside through various

Pick choi sum, sweetcorn, cherry tomatoes and watermelon in season gardens, past pavilions and waterfalls and exhibits of local wildlife to the summit of Kwun Yum Shan. On the way, visit black kites in the aviary, local freshwater fish in the aquarium, pigsties, an orchid greenhouse and a butterfly garden with countless species. Children can get their hands dirty planting trees or join art and environmental workshops. Animal

encounters are held most Sundays, with English translations available. Entry $20. Open daily 9.30am-5pm, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, 2483 7200, www.kfbg.org.hk.

Lions Nature & Education Centre Set on the edge of a country park near Sai Kung town, this lovely nature centre grows a wide variety of organic fruit and vegetables in its landscaped 34ha plot. Visitors aren’t permitted to pick the produce, but at weekends there’s a stall selling fresh organic produce grown in Hong Kong. As well as the crops, there’s a dragonfly pond, insectarium, turtle pond, a collection of 5,000 seashells, arboretum, picnic areas and even a dog-training park, as well as plenty of space to run on the grass. Free.

Open daily 9.30am-5pm. Exhibition halls open Wednesday-Monday 9.30am-4.30pm, closed Tuesdays. Hiram’s Highway (entry from Che Keng Tuk Road), Sai Kung, 2792 2234.

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Country life at Tai Tong Lychee Valley, Rainbow Organic Farm and Kadoorie Farm.

Zen Organic Farm Known for its top-quality organic fruit and vegetables, Zen Organic Farm sells to many local restaurants, including the five-star Four Seasons Hong Kong. The farm offers fruit and veg picking sessions along with regular educational tours and activities.

Using an outdoor oven, it also runs bread- and pizza-making sessions, with your choice of fresh organic toppings. A bus ride and short walk from Fan Ling station. Free entry. Open TuesdaySunday 10am-5pm. Ping Che, Ta Kwu Ling, 6692 2671, www.zeno. com.hk.

Rainbow Organic Farm Avid strawberry enthusiast Eddy Chan opened this farm in 2009 with a 300,000 sqft field, where up to 200 people can pick their own

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strawberries ($80 a pound) until the end of April. He grows a plethora of other vegetables to pick, including organic peanuts, choi sum, sweetcorn, cherry tomatoes and watermelons in season.

There’s also a petting zoo with lambs and rabbits, and a barbecue area. Open daily 9am-6pm. 76 Hok Tau Village, Fan Ling, 9302 0258, www.strawberry-farm.com.hk.

Kam Tin Country Park Hong Kong This 100,000 sqft park grows strawberries from different countries (French strawberries $60 a pound, Korean strawberries from $90 a pound). It’s principally an entertainment area, with a children’s playground, war games, bicycle rental, bouncy castles, sports activities and small farm animals to feed. Visitors can

Grow your own Garden Farm Grow your own organic fruit and vegetables by renting an allotment from Garden Farm, with sizes varying from 36 sqft to 96 sqft and costing $600-$1,500 per quarter. Staff offer instruction on organic farming techniques from the basics of turning over the soil before planting to harvesting.

also bake and decorate cookies, barbecue, sample honey and buy fresh local vegetables. Free parking. Open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-10pm.

Lot 109 Shui Tau, Kam Tin, Yuen Long, 2442 0909, yl.com.hk/ktcc.

HKFYG Organic Farm Run by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, this organic farm

Prices include equipment, seeds, compost etc. After a hard day on the farm, reward yourself with a barbecue on site. Parking available. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm.

131 Tseng Tau Tsuen, Shap Sze Heung, Sai Kung, 2792 8164, www.hkgardenfarm.org.

promotes local agriculture and environmental education. It offers a range of tours with professional explanations and welcomes visitors and volunteers of all ages to get their hands dirty planting and harvesting the crops. Free entry. Open daily 9am-5pm. 1 Family Walk, Ho Pui Reservoir, Pat Heung, Yuen Long, 2838 4808, www.organicfarm.hkfyg.org.hk.

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family

mind the bludger

Quidditch in Hong Kong Yes, really!

New activity centre Hyperspace features Hong Kong’s first quidditch pitch, based on the game invented by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter books.

In the hi-tech game, teams of three “fly” on hoverboards – 30 minutes of training required – while clutching a broomstick between their legs and trying to score by throwing a quaffle (that’s a ball to nonPotter fans) through suspended hoops while dodging the bludger (another ball). There’s even a drone-style snitch for a seeker to catch. Hi-tech players must wear padding and be aged 12 or over. For the under12s, the low-tech version involves no hoverboards and can be played by teams of up to five.

As well as quidditch, the centre offers bubble soccer (eight-20 players), glow-in-the-dark neon bubble soccer and archery tag.

For all activities, the space and equipment cost $2,500 for the first hour, $1,500 for each subsequent hour. 5/F, Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 3462 3318, www.hyperspace.hk.

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sponsored column

Applying to US Universities ITS Education Asia gives tips for prospective students and their parents Applying for university in the US can be gruelling. On top of school grades, students are expected to sit the SAT or ACT, request recommendations from their teachers, fill their afternoons with extracurricular activities, and write short essays for each university application. Here is how to begin tackling the daunting task of finding the right university.

SAT or ACT? In the eyes of virtually all US universities, the SAT and ACT are equivalent so only one of these tests is required. The main difference is the ACT includes a Scientific Reasoning section and is widely considered a better test of intelligence, but the SAT is easier to study for. Never take either test more than twice.

Choosing a university There are more than 2,000 four-year colleges

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and universities in the US. Once students have a rough idea of their SAT/ACT scores, they can begin to search for universities at which their applications will be competitive.

Students should strongly consider what knowledge and skills they hope to attain from a university education, and look for schools that are strongest in those departments. A higher “ranking� does not mean a school is the best possible choice for the student. It may be a general guide of a university’s merits, but students should evaluate how it aligns with their passions.

Start writing early Common Application essay prompts are typically issued by early summer and most universities release their own by August 1.

Once term resumes, pressure of schoolwork means many students do not give application essays their full attention. By starting early, students are likely to produce cleaner, clearer and more thoughtful essays. Students should always have their essays reviewed by peers, family and someone familiar with the US application process.

Extracurricular passions Students seeking a place at a US university will not be admitted on the strength of grades alone. Top universities look for individuals who are passionate and compassionate, and have a life beyond academics.

ITS Education Asia provides consulting services for students applying to US and UK universities, as well as tutorial lessons for SAT/ ACT, IB, A-Level, IGCSE and a variety of other curricula. For more details, contact sat@itseducation.asia, 2116 3916, or www.itseducation.asia.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 43

big day out

Hang on a minute: zip-lining on Tung Lung Chau. Below: the departure point.

Look, no hands!

Abseiling and zip-line novice Callum Wiggins jumps off a cliff.

Tung Lung Chau is a mecca for people who like to scale walls. Whether climbing up, down, sideways or jumping between them, there is no better location in Hong Kong. And now there’s a new way to join the thrill-seekers: abseiling and zip-lining on our very own adventure island.

I don’t have great memories of climbing.

When I was 10 years old, I went on a school trip to an artificial climbing wall. What should have been a character-building experience learning to abseil turned to disaster. Leaning backwards over a precipice, tightly gripping a rope, I was paralysed by fear. I could not, would not move.

Eventually, I was hauled back to the top and

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had to take the stairs back down.

Fast-forward to 2015, I decide to set things right and sign up for an abseiling and zip-lining experience with Klook, a new booking platform for travel activities and experiences in Hong Kong and around the region.

Weekends see rock climbing and adventure-sports enthusiasts packing onto the ferry to Tung Lung Chau from Sam Ka Tsuen pier. The route operates only a few times a day at weekends and public holidays, there are no scheduled ferries during weekdays.

After disembarking, our guide leads the Klook group on a short hike from the pier up

zip-a-dee-doo-dah

Leaning over the edge for the first time is nerve-racking

Learning to abseil, two by two, down a 30-metre cliff.

to the main rock faces, picking up necessary safety equipment on route: harnesses, helmets and safety ropes.

At the top of the abseiling cliff, expert instructors provide a short demonstration and ensure all the harnesses and ropes are attached correctly. The technique involves leaning back over the cliff with legs extended and the soles of your feet against the rock face, and allowing the harness and safety ropes to take your weight. Adopting an almost sitting position and continually feeding the rope through one hand allows you to descend while keeping your other arm outstretched for balance and to prevent you from hitting the rock face. The harness and safety rope controls the speed of descent even if you start to lose control.

Leaning over the edge for the first time is nerve-racking, but friendly encouragement from fellow participants and the exhilaration of

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big day out

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big day out the abseil keep my nerves (mostly) at bay. My descent is steady rather than spectacular, but soon my feet reach the ground and I complete the 30m abseil faster than expected. With a rush of confidence and a helpful buzz of adrenaline, I find the next few descents much more enjoyable.

Time to zip line. A 40-metre wire is suspended across a gorge between two cliffs, 30m above the crashing waves. On a platform of rock jutting from the cliff, an instructor waits to attach your harness to the zip line. Carefully edging along the platform, I have a good view of the ocean and jagged rocks below. A few deep breaths, a final tug on the safety rope (just to make sure), and I jump...

While the plunge over the edge and whizz across the wire to the other side takes only seconds, the adrenaline rush lasts much longer. I race back to the start of the zip line and fling myself off the edge without a second thought.

Professional instructors help the Klook gang learn the ropes on Hong Kong’s adventure island.

Abseiling and zip-lining is $480 a head for two to three goes on each and participants must be at least 14 years old. To book, visit Klook (short for “Keep Looking”) at www.klook.com. For enquiries, call 3462 6208 or email support@klook.com.

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health & beauty A hair affair Hannah Grogan checks out Sai Kung’s new hairdresser, Salon Peninsula.

Sunshine and sea views add to the airy ambience.

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Going to a new hairdresser is like starting a relationship – initially scary but, if it’s right, you’ll never want to let go. Every first date is nerveracking and when I arrive at Salon Peninsula, I’ve got butterflies.

Previously home to Tranquility Spa, overlooking Sai Kung pier, the space is white, clean and bright. Large windows run the length of the room, offering views out to sea from the haircutting stations and filling the space with natural light.

I’m seated by the window and greeted by co-owner and stylist, Charlie, who has more than 25 years’ experience cutting hair in Hong Kong and China. The salon – which is not affiliated with the Peninsula hotel – is owned by Salon Go Ahead, a local group with a threestorey flagship branch in Mong Kok. I’m a natural dark blonde, but I have been dying my hair for more than 15 years so this ain’t my first rodeo. Something seems amiss

when my blonde options are slim, but as colour charts in Hong Kong are different to those in the west, I put it to the back of my mind.

Charlie opts for a “stacking” technique, which is meant to create depth of colour. Like highlights, it involves foils, but over the whole head instead of only a fraction of the hair. It’s time consuming and I’m there for more than five hours, long enough to send out for noodles from the Thai restaurant downstairs.

When the foils come off, it’s not love at first sight. Even before my hair is dry I’m not sure.

It’s got depth of colour, but it’s not blonde... it’s yellow. The coverage is all over, but it isn’t what I’d expected or wanted.

The next few days I’m torn between liking and loathing my hair. After letting the salon know of my disappointment (which you should always do when you aren’t completely satisfied), I make a second date for the following Saturday. As Charlie is away,

blonde ambition

When you’re getting to know a new stylist, cut through the small talk and get to the important stuff – hair freelance stylist Nicci will be taking care of me.

This time around, my stylist and I have a good chat. This is key: when you’re getting to know a new stylist, cut through the small talk and get to the important stuff – hair. Nicci is English and has a long background as a stylist in Britain, New Zealand and in Hong Kong. She knows her stuff.

After a few minutes, she sorts out a solution

to get my hair where it needs to be – that is, no longer yellow.

This time around, the process is a lot quicker. Nicci puts several colours through my hair to tone down the yellow and give it depth.

And it works. I leave the salon feeling happy and confident. Will I organise another date?

Yes. Despite a shaky start, I believe in second chances and I’m perfectly happy with my new colour and cut.

Prices are reasonable, with a cut and finish from $182 for walk-ins with specialists (senior stylists) from $390. Updos start at $200, colour treatment from $400, Brazilian blowouts from $1,800. Salon Peninsula also offers makeup services with Chelria.

1/F, 11 King Man Street, Sai Kung, 2766 1266, www.salongoahead.com, www.facebook.com/SalonPeninsula. Nicci takes bookings via Whatsapp at 6777 5368.

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Seaplanes connect the Maldives’ far-flung atolls.

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travel

Pictures: Hannah Grogan and Cherrie Yu

oh my, maldives

Clockwise from left: arriving at the Sun Siyuam Iru Fushi resort; sunset colours vary nightly; the water villas.

Paradise unpacked Hannah Grogan visits a family paradise in the “necklace islands”.

Think of every postcard you’ve ever seen of the Maldives, every Instagram feed, every Google search... none of them do the place justice. This island nation in the Indian Ocean is paradise writ large: strings of tiny, palm-dotted atolls fringed with white sand, blue lagoons and coral reefs (Maldives is a Sanskrit word meaning garland of islands). The colour of the sea alone makes the heart sing. Seen from the air, on a seaplane connection from the international airport to one of the further-flung atolls, it is idyllically, impossibly turquoise. Cerulean sea blurs with azure sky until the whole world seems to be a blaze of blue that goes on for miles and miles and miles.

Where to stay Maldives resorts take over entire islands. This is one of the world’s favourite honeymoon destinations and shiny new wedding rings seem de rigueur on many islands, but the Maldives is not just for lovers. The five-star Sun Siyam Iru Fushi (www.thesunsiyam.com) is an awardwinning family resort, 100km or a one-hour seaplane trip north of the capital, Malé.

With pristine beaches and martini-clear water, the island is small enough to walk around in 30 minutes, but big enough to lose yourself in. Its award-winning spa is the biggest in the Maldives. The resort also has six restaurants and two bars, with plans for a new underwater

restaurant next year. While it’s hard to nip over to the next island for dinner, the resort ensures there’s plenty of variety from Maldivian beachside grills to fine French dining.

Guests stay in luxurious villas on the beach or built on stilts over the sea. Can’t decide? The Lily and Rose package (from US$2,198 for two people) lets you stay for two nights in each.

Our vote goes to the water villa. Perched over the lagoon, which laps soothingly against the stilts below, each villa has a ladder descending into the water for easy access and a glass panel on the floor so you can watch the fish from bed.

Spend the days counting fish or relaxing on a sunbed on the private deck. Expert design means each water villa is completely private from its neighbours – although we swear some of those fish were watching us.

At last year’s World Travel Awards – the travel industry’s Oscars – Sun Siyam Iru Fushi was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort. It’s easy to see why. Children aren’t just tolerated here, they’re positively encouraged with activity packs, a kids’ club, kids’ pool and babysitting services. Even better, children under 12 stay, eat and play for free.

Sunsets are spectacular and spectacularly different, lighting up the sky in new colours every night. Catch it at Reflections, the adultsonly infinity pool and bar for over-16s only.

Children aren’t just tolerated here, they’re positively encouraged with activity packs, a kids’ club, pool and babysitting services The two-for-one happy-hour sundowners are particularly popular, so get there early. It’s one of the few times we were aware that the resort was at 90 per cent occupancy. Other than breakfast, when the buffet gets a tad busy, the vibe is unhurried and uncrowded, with plenty of space and no shortage of things to do.

Things to do Circling the entire island, the perfect beach beckons with sunbeds on the sand. Cool off by snorkelling among the colourful fish in the lagoon – pick up free snorkel, mask and fins on arrival – or for something a little more challenging, head to the reef drop-off behind the island’s Dive Centre. The wary can hold onto a floating rope laid over the reef to an offshore buoy and don the lifejackets provided in the villas.

The Dive Centre’s multilingual PADI-certified instructors are on hand offering courses for novices or willing to act as guides for more seasoned divers.

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oh my maldives

The colour of the sea alone makes the heart sing Throughout the island are little pockets of games and activities, including a life-size chessboard, table tennis, a recreation centre, billiards, darts and even a karaoke room.

The water-activities centre has plenty of options for adventure seekers, including jetskis, kayaks, snorkel excursions and sunset cruises. Experience local culture (the Maldives is Muslim, so dress appropriately) with a guided excursion to neighbouring islands, take a yoga class on the beach or be pampered in the spa.

Discover the capital If you have time between flights, take the 10-minute ferry trip from the international airport to Malé (the ferry is US$1). The Republic of the Maldives celebrates 50 years of independence this year but Malé has relics that date back to the 12th century.

At just 195 hectares, it’s a colourful melting pot of a city, with buildings daubed in pastel

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Take a day trip to a local island (top and left) — if you can drag yourself away from paradise, that is.

oh my maldives colours and architecture reflecting Arab, Indian and colonial influences. Check out the heritage Friday Mosque and the Sultan’s Tomb, then head to the nearby fish market and shopping street for handicrafts and souvenirs.

How to get there Cathay Pacific (www.cathaypacific.com) and Mega Maldives (www.megamaldivesair.com) both fly non-stop between Hong Kong and Male. Some resorts require an onward seaplane journey with Trans Maldivian Airways (www.transmaldivian.com).

No GoPro? No problem Hong Kong company Rentasuitcase hires out GoPro cameras and accessories, and even suitcases by the day. GoPro rentals start at $55 a day, with accessories from $10 a day. 13/F, Radio City, 505 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, 6183 4588, www.rentasuitcasehk.com.

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pets The long goodbye Sally Andersen makes the toughest choice.

With all the advances in modern veterinary care, many dog owners are faced with the awful decision about when to let their beloved companion go after many happy years together.

It’s a question I’ve had to ask myself recently.

It’s impossible to know when is exactly the right time. There are many factors to be taken into consideration, including some that concern not only the dog, but also human family members who find the pain of seeing their old friend struggling too difficult to bear.

Based on my own experiences, these are the factors to take into account: • When quality of life is so poor there is no enjoyment or interest in food.

• The inability to stand and walk, or to control bladder and bowels.

• When there is pain that can’t be eased with medication.

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No departed animal would want to know its owner was sad • When there is no hope for recovery, but only a slow deterioration until an inevitable end.

• When the emotional pain of seeing a muchloved pet suffering is affecting one’s own life.

Even after deciding to have a pet euthanised, there will be doubt about whether it was really the right time, along with overwhelming feelings of guilt and grief. This is natural and it’s at this time that the next question arises: when to get a new dog. It’s something people often ask me after the loss of their pet. I always reply that it’s too personal

last post

hong kong creatures Greater bandicoot rat aka Bandicota indica

a choice for me to make for someone else, however, I do think adopting another dog sooner rather than later can help fill a void and bring happiness again in loving and caring for a new friend.

One dog can never replace another, but I’m sure there is no departed animal who would want to know its owner was sad and grieving rather than laughing with another. Also, with animal-rescue groups constantly overloaded with dogs and puppies in desperate need of a home, opening your heart to another dog not only helps heal the pain, but can literally mean saving a life.

Sally Andersen is the founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, a charity that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes unwanted or abandoned dogs.

The greater bandicoot rat is the largest of the five Asian species of rodents. Growing up to 29cm long, with an additional 28cm tail, this stocky rodent has broad yellow incisors and a black or dark brown coat with a profusion of long black and pale hairs.

Bandicoots have a lifespan of about a year, during which females will give birth to eight to 10 litters, each with eight to 14 babies. Young are born blind and naked, reaching sexual maturity in 50 to 60 days.

Given their rate of reproduction, greater bandicoot rats are not endangered worldwide, although they are rare in Hong Kong. They can be found throughout Asia, from Sri Lanka to the Nepalese lowlands and from Myanmar to Taiwan, typically on the outskirts of human settlements.

They are often seen near rubbish bins and in most countries are considered a pest.

Greater bandicoot rats can tunnel through brick and masonry, causing considerable damage, and carry diseases such as rat lungworm and, in Myanmar, murine typhus.

Where to find them in Hong Kong: Mai Po, Pat Sin Leng Country Park and Lantau.

Steffi Yuen

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marketplace

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Tel: 9618 2475 smillie.cynthia@gmail.com

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To advertise, email ads@fastmedia.com.hk or call 2776 2772

marketplace

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marketplace

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Our Cleaning & Repair services are among the best in hong kong We also selling Persian carpets and rugs for your home

Free pickup & Delivery MR IQBAL Tel: 90180897 28513665

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To advertise, email ads@fastmedia.com.hk or call 2776 2772

marketplace

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WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 59

marketplace

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To advertise, email ads@fastmedia.com.hk or call 2776 2772

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Get yours at saikung.com/shop To advertise, email ads@fastmedia.com.hk or call 2776 2772

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classifieds

random but interesting

PROPERTY FOR RENT

NEED A HOLIDAY? PHUKET VILLA FOR RENT! Luxury 5 bed villa with swimming pool located in Surin area.

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distribution

where to find us

Sai Kung Magazine continues to extend its reach in the community, here is the latest in distribution news.

SAI KUNG PENINSULA

Shatin

Sai Kung Town Hebe Haven Hebe Haven Yacht Club

Marina Cove KOWLOON Silverstrand Tseung Kwan O Clearwater Bay

HONG KONG ISLAND Portofino

30,000 readers 10,000 copies Restaurants, Bars and Cafes - AJ’s Sri Lankan Restaurant - Ali Oli Bakery - Bacco - Big Fish - Butcher King - CC Café - Casa - Cava - Chip In - Classified - Colour Brown - Fiesta Fiesta - Firenze - Grande Restaurant - Five Coffee Company - Hebe One O One - Italiano’s - Jaspas - May’s Sawadee - Mike’s Chicken Comida de Portugal - Paisano’s - Pepperonis - Pizzeria La Gondola - Revolution Gallery Cafe - Sauce - Sawadee Thai - Starbucks - Steamers - Takka Fusion - T.C. Deli - Tree Cafe (Horizon Plaza) - The Duke of York - The Dutch - The Sandwich Club, HKUST - Union Jacks

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club

- Vilavila Gourmet - Village Restaurant

Shops - The Bottleshop - The Courtyard - East Point City Shopping Mall - Everything Under The Sun (Horizon Plaza) - Final Fragment - Fusion, Centro Plaza - Fusion, Clearwater Bay - Ka Ying Curtain Craft - Leisure Book Shop - Life’s a Breeze (Horizon Plaza) - Look Upstairs - One Kowloon - Patsy House - Rich On House Property Agency - Sai Kung Market - Schmidt Vinothek - Taste (East Point City) - Today Speed Photo Finishing - Mirth - TREE - Watsons Wine Cellar - Wood + Kitchen

The Giverny

Pets and Vets - Pets Central - Sai Kung Animal Hospital

Private Clubs and Hotels - Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club - Equestrian Centre - Hebe Haven Yacht Club - Hillview Court - Hyatt Regency Hong Kong (Sha Tin) - Marina Cove - Residence Oasis - The Giverny - The Portofino - Victoria Recreation Club

Health and Fitness - Allure - Escapade sports - OT&P (Razor Hill) - Pole Paradise - Queen’s Castle Organic Day Spa - Sai Kung Healthcare Centre - Sara Thai Massage - Seasons Fitness (Central) - Sense of Touch

- Tala’s Hair and Beauty - Zone @ Sai Kung Reflexology Centre

Schools and Kindergartens - Anastassia’s Art House - Clearwater Bay School - Garden House - Hong Kong Academy - Hong Kong Adventist College - Kellett School - Mills International School - Music Horizon - Sunshine House - Sai Kung English - Tutti Music - Woodland Pre-School

TO VIEW OUR MAGAZINE ONLINE Visit www.saikung.com

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vines in sai kung

stephen says...

Foggy logic Stephen Vines explores murky goings-on in Centro, Shaw House and at the Ag & Fish. of what had been destroyed, so this “guide” largely consisted of pointers to what had already disappeared. So maybe the demolition of another piece of history will be shrugged off, but it should not be.

Incidentally the Post was brave, or maybe honest enough, to point out the company that owns most of this site is part of the SCMP Group. Ho hum!

Centro’s owners are suing their own biggest tenant.

Finding something nice to say about spring I am struggling to think of a more miserable time of the year than what passes for spring in Hong Kong. The weather never seems able to decide whether it is hot or cold but generally settles for being humid, damp and overcast.

Then there’s the hangover from Lunar New Year when it seems to take forever to get things stoked up and back to normal. And just in case all this is not sufficiently depressing April heralds a new financial year and demands for tax payment.

However, in Sai Kung spring has some compensations. Setting out for a hike across the hills it may be damp underfoot, but there’s something ever so slightly romantic in the way the mist suddenly breaks to reveal a familiar vista that is given a new look by the swirling vapour. Many flowers and shrubs come into bloom at this time, and a splash of colour does no harm.

Moreover this is a good season for Chinese vegetables. My favourite, dau miu, is a winter vegetable but it’s still around at this time of year.

Then there are those hotpots stuffed with things that cannot possibly be good for you, such as waxed Chinese sausage. But how often have you heard of anything that is both really tasty and good for you? I rest my case.

A new film plot On Clear Water Bay Road, which an

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overenthusiastic South China Morning Post reporter described as “the former cradle of the city’s film industry”, the Antiques Advisory Board may have thwarted a plan to demolish Shaw House, the art deco-ish office building that sits before the entrance to the former Shaw Studios and TVB headquarters.

The board gave the whole site grade one status, which is not sufficient to prevent demolition but may provide enough leverage to save Shaw House while the rest of the site is developed for housing.

Maybe the demolition of another piece of history will be shrugged off, but it should not be Like many of Hong Kong’s fast dwindling heritage buildings, this one can hardly be described as being of outstanding architectural merit. However, it has made a considerable contribution to popular culture.

Some time ago I was commissioned to write a book unfashionably called “a guide to colonial Hong Kong”, which centred on the Central district. The publisher unearthed some wonderful pictures, but few of them were contemporary. They were merely records

What’s next for this white elephant?

Talking of buildings, Sai Kung’s biggest white elephant, Centro on Chui Tong Road, is in the news. The building’s owners are suing ParknShop, its major tenant, for breaching its lease by allowing various bits of impedimenta, such as trolleys and racks, to be left outside its designated rental area.

Although it pains me to write anything nice about this supermarket chain, this is the best supermarket in Sai Kung and it has managed to breathe some life into this forlorn building.

Presumably the owners prefer the building to slump back into disuse. The motives for this are hard to fathom unless they have other plans for the building, under the name of redevelopment.

As Hong Kong developers have such a stellar record for conservation and concern for the communities surrounding their developments we can, no doubt, rest assured that they have something far better and more beautiful in mind. Or maybe not.

If it ain’t broke, fix it Finally, warm congratulations to the good folk at Ag and Fish who have spent ages demolishing a seating pagoda at the entrance to the Sai Kung Country Park. They have now finally completed the project and taken down the hoardings surrounding the construction project to reveal the product of their work. Lo and behold they have constructed a replica pagoda performing exactly the same function as the perfectly usable edifice that they destroyed.

My oh my, what fun it is to have other folk’s money to play with. Another shining example of public money well spent.

Stephen Vines is a journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur. He is the former editor of the Eastern Express and Southeast Asia correspondent for The Observer.

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