NEWS | DINING | SECRETS | HOROSCOPE | DATING
June 2021
Sip savvy Cheers to the city’s best summer cocktails
Summer in Stanley Residents rally behind shop owners
What makes him tick
Meet Thierry Dubois, founder of private members’ club LUOXO
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CONTENTS — 06/21
17 COVER STORY
An exclusive look inside LUOXO with Thierry Dubois
2 EDITOR’S LETTER
Hello from the new editor
4 CONTRIBUTORS Meet the team
Malcolm Wood, founder of Maximal Concepts
15 LOCAL
Saving Stanley Market
6 PEOPLE
Southsiders out and about
8 THE PLANNER What’s on in June
10 NEWS
13 FIVE MINUTES WITH
22 DINING
The best cocktails in town
26 BIG DAY OUT Soko Islands
What’s happening in our backyard
28 MUST HAVES
31 SECRETS
Explore St. Stephen’s College
32 PETS
Dr Pauline Taylor answers your summer pet questions
33 HOROSCOPES
Find out what this month has in store for you
36 ZIM CITY
Paul Zimmerman on motivating the city to recycle plastic
Your summer essentials
10
13 6
26
15
31 “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
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editor’s letter This month, our cover features a man who beat the odds and turned his childhood hobby into a career, without losing the heart and soul behind why he fell in love with it in the first place. Thierry Dubois loves watches and though he may be a big shot in his industry, it’s not about the brands or status. It all goes back to one thing for him – what makes them tick? As for this month’s local, we shed light on a beloved part of Hong Kong that’s losing steam. When I was a kid, my mum used to take me on bus rides around Hong Kong and Stanley was always one of our favourite places to go. I spent a day there a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely loved exploring the area again, despite the blistering heat proclaiming that summer is here. Picking up a few knick knacks, chatting with the store owners, dining on the boardwalk with a view of the ocean – what’s not to love? Despite all that the seaside town has to offer, it’s struggling. Head to page 15 to find out how Stanley residents have banded together to bring crowds back in support of local shop owners. Speaking of blistering heat – is anyone else constantly thirsty these days? Turn to page 22 to discover all the best spots with
Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Editor Cheyelene Fontanilla, cheyelene@hongkongliving.com Senior Writer Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com Dining Editor Amber Lai, amber@hongkongliving.com
Design Graphic Designer Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com Shirley Tin, shirley@hongkongliving.com
the tastiest cocktails to quench your thirst this season. Like I said, summer is here... and it’s back with a vengeance so pop over to our list of summer essentials (page 28) to make things a little more bearable in the coming months. Happy reading, folks. Have a great start to your summer.
Sales & Marketing
Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Partnership Manager Debbie Ky, debbie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com Events Manager Pranali Gupta, pranali@hongkongliving.com
Publisher
Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com
Founding Director
Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com
Things we love
Contact us Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
The Arca
New cocktails
Last month, I got a sneak peek of The Arca just before its soft launch. Located in Wong Chuk Hang, the new hotel doesn’t only have a killer view of the Aberdeen Harbour – it’s also pet-friendly. The entire establishment has a unique, modern feel to it, making it the perfect place for a staycation with family and friends.
If you appreciate an artfully made cocktail, wet your whistle with The Pontiac’s new menu. A couple of cocktails definitely stood out, like the High Tide Martini. It all but blew my mind with its pickled celery garnish, while ‘Shells and Cigarettes’ is a drink inspired by long island iced tea but tasted like a delicious coke float instead.
Covid-19 update
As Southside Magazine goes to print we have done our best to keep our content as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but life under Covid-19 regulations means things tend to change, often from day-to-day. Please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and remember, stay safe.
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HONG KONG hongkongliving.com
Karin Bremer Photography
Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong
Southside Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living 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. Southside Magazine 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 without written permission from the publisher.
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contributors
Thank you to our contributors Malcolm Wood A well-known adventurer, entrepreneur and restaurateur, Malcolm Wood is a founder of Maximal Concepts, the restaurant group behind Sip Song and Limewood. We speak to Wood about his life as a father and entrepreneur in our five minutes interview.
Dr Pauline Taylor Dr Pauline Taylor is a senior vet at Pets Central. She graduated in Scotland and spent the past 10 years practicing in New-Zealand before moving to Hong Kong with her four-legged family members. This month she explains how to care for your pets in the scorching summer.
Karin Bremer Dutch-Australian photographer Karin Bremer runs photography company Karin Bremer Photography offering a range of photography services including family portraits, events and commercial product services. This month, she worked her magic at LUOXO. karinbremer.com
Paul Zimmerman Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks and Southern District Councillor of Pok Fu Lam. In his column this month, Zimmerman shares his thoughts on motivating Hongkongers to recycle plastic drink packaging and other plastics.
Thierry Dubois A Swiss national who grew up in Hong Kong, Thierry Dubois founded private members’ club LUOXO to create a space for watch enthusiasts to interact and nurture their passion. Find out more in this month’s cover story.
Want to write for Southside Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com 4 | SOUTHSIDE
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people
Snaps from Southside
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say cheese
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planner MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE JUNE EVENTS
JUN 18-20
JUN 14
Photo: Karin Bremer Photography
Stanley Dragon Boat Pre-race Paddlers will be participating in a pre-race dragon boat session in preparation for the championships that will take place in October. Head down to Stanley Main Beach to celebrate the athletes keeping this tradition alive. dragonboat.org.hk
UNTIL JUN 30 Le French May Arts Festival One of the largest cultural events in Asia with more than 150 programmes over two months. Enjoy heritage and contemporary arts, painting, design, music and dance. frenchmay.com
UNTIL JUL 18 Interweaving Poetic Code This year’s exhibition by the Centre for Heritage, Arts & Textiles explores the coding system in textiles and how people can take better care of their clothing. Free. The Hall, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan. mill6chat.org
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The Jockey Club Heritage Education Programme An exhibition featuring more than 500 artworks by master trainers and students. Workshops and guided tours are available upon request. 10am-10pm, Free. Art Space, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. ichplus.org.hk
JUN 9-12 You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical based on the life of comic book character Charlie Brown from Peanuts. From $70, 2:30pm and 7:30pm. Academy Drama Theatre, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. premier. hkticketing.com
JUN 17 Self love happy hour Sip on free-flow wine and meet inspiring individuals changing the way we practice self love. 2-6pm. $199. Metropolitain, Aspen Court, 46 High Street, Sai Ying Pun. hongkongliving.com/shop
what’s what’s on on JUN 14 Standup Comedy with Ben Qualan Laugh all night long with Hong Kong’s international comedy winner Ben Qualan. 8pm. $300. The Hub, 1/F Fortune building, Wan Chai. thebackstagehk.com
JUN 26
Hong Kong Living Wellness Day A day of yoga and mindfulness workshops to help you relax and unwind for the summer. 10am-4pm. From $150. V-CO, 9/F, V POINT, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay. hongkongliving.com/shop
JUN 18-19 BBC Planet Earth II Live Experience the amazing Planet Earth documentary live with a soundtrack composed by Hans Semir, Jay Siya and Jasha Krabi. 8pm. From $380. Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. hkphil.org
JUN 18-20
Romeo & Juliet Hong Kong Ballet brings Shakespeare’s timeless tale of star-crossed lovers to life in a live performance. 2.30pm and 7.30pm. From $140. Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. hkballet.com
Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com
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news
ESF welcomes new chair The English Schools Foundation has recently appointed Dr Kim Mak as chair of the ESF Board of Governors. He will be taking over from the Hon Abraham Shek, who stepped down from the ESF Board having served the maximum term of six years. “It is a privilege and honour to be the Chair of the ESF Board and I will take most seriously the trust invested in me. I will work with Board members, and the wider ESF community to ensure our Foundation continues to thrive,” said Mak.
Residents rally together to save Stanley In an effort to help local business owners, Southside residents and members of the Stanley Residents Association have launched a campaign to bring crowds back to the seaside town. The Summer in Stanley campaign will host several events including beach cleanups and water-sport activities. Residents will also hold
Break the chain Hong Kong has very few laws governing wildlife crimes. But a Members Bill is currently being considered by the government that will provide greater investigative powers to crack down on these crimes. The bill will enable wildlife crime to be treated as the serious and organised crime that it is. To raise public awareness and support for this bill, the non-profit platform, Artists who Love Animals & Nature (ALAN) hopes to collect over 10,000 signatures from concerned citizens. The platform has created five murals across the city, using augmented reality to bring the artwork to life and raise awareness for the campaign. To sign the petition and put a stop to the wildlife trade please visit breakthechain.link
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frequent Stanley business meetings to discuss ways to support businesses in the area. From putting up posters, launching an Instagram account @stanleyvillagehk and even printing t-shirts, these Southsiders are putting their best foot forward in the hopes that it will bring more visitors to Stanley. Read more about the campaign on page 15.
in your backyard
Air travel bubble delayed (again) The quarantine-free air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong has been delayed once again, after a sharp spike in untraceable Covid-19 cases in Singapore. Hong Kong officials announced on May 17 that in view of the recent Covid-19 epidemic situation in Singapore, both Hong Kong and Singapore have decided to defer the date beyond the May 26 target.
The Arca opens in Wong Chuk Hang Wong Chuk Hang welcomed its newest hotel, The Arca, last month. With stunning views over Aberdeen Harbour, the hotel has 187 guest rooms and suites along with a rooftop infinity pool, fitness studio and casual indoor
and outdoor dining space. With a focus on art and design, the brand also presents a diverse curation of over 40 artworks by some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated artists. thearca.com
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Five minutes with Malcolm Wood
five minutes with
Cheyelene Fontanilla meets the founder of Maximal Concepts
Malcolm Wood holds many titles. He is the founder of Maximal Concepts, which is the award-winning restaurant group behind Sipsong, Limewood and several other Hong Kong favourites. He’s also an adventurer, a sustainability advocate and most recently, an ambassador for the United Nations. “It’s been an interesting 12 months. I’ve used the pandemic to focus on what I enjoy doing, I’ve spent more time working on my environmental businesses and film work for the United Nations, as well as pushing our latest documentary over the line which will be hitting IMAX screens early next year,” says Wood. Despite all the great things he has accomplished and continues to pursue, his favourite hat to wear is definitely that of being a father. “I make sure I spend lots of time with my kids, I’m not waiting until I’m old to create time for my family and I’m not waiting to teach them the things that I love about life,” he says. It’s Wood’s firmly held belief that travelling with young kids isn’t something you need to
be wary of. “It’s super important to get them into other environments as much as possible. We all come from a nomad heritage and travel brings new experiences and allows for the development of the mind in an important way,” says Wood. He credits these values to his parents, who have both inspired Wood to become the man he is today. “My dad put me on skis for the first time when I was two years old and as a kid, dragged me on a month-long sailing expedition. He gave me my love for the outdoors.” It’s evidently something he’s worked hard to pass on to his own children, as two of his kids already love paragliding with their not-so-old old man. Wood’s mother, however, is the reason for his business acumen. “My mother is a great businesswoman but always found time to spend with us. Mealtimes were super important. Her cooking inspires me to this day. It was really important for me to pass that down to my own kids, too.” When asked whether being a father has made him a better businessman, Wood responded simply by saying “Of course.
Tell us a dad joke “Here’s one I told my wife who is from Switzerland… ‘What’s the best thing about Switzerland?’ ‘I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.’”
You learn new skills for handling situations. You also remind yourself that there are many different ways to do the one thing and that you can’t be an expert in raising kids without learning from others.” When it comes to spending time with the family, Wood says that having a meal is one of the best things you could do together. So, what do his kids think about Maximal Concepts’ food? “My kids love the tacos at Limewood and as a family, Mott 32’s Peking Duck is a long-standing favourite. We’ve also just launched our plant-based menu at Mott 32 and they love every dish.” Sounds like an all-around stamp of approval to us.
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local
Saving Stanley Market Southside residents launch campaign to bring crowds back to the seaside town
Everyone defines life in Hong Kong a little differently. To some, it’s long days at the office capped off by weekends brunching or hiking. To others, it’s hours of manning the shop you’ve owned for decades, situated in one of the city’s most famously loved tourist spots. Considering the tumultuous toll the pandemic has taken on people the worldover, life has been quiet for those that fall into the latter category. It comes as no surprise that walking through Stanley Market does not feel like it once did. The buzz of culture and excitement that used to flood that network of lanes has fallen quiet these days, as foot traffic and business has grinded to a near halt. Hong Kong’s number of arrivals have drastically dropped by over 90 percent in the last year, as has the number of people flocking to Stanley on weekends to shop, dine and stroll. Yet, if you were to mosey on down to Stanley Market now, you’ll find that, despite over a year of bad business for the area, shops remain open with business owners standing in the doorway of their stores, greeting passersby, welcoming them and chatting to them with perfect enthusiasm. They stay open for about nine hours each day, seven days a week, even if only a handful of people visit. In a spirited effort to rally behind these
hard workers, members of the Stanley community have launched the Summer in Stanley ‘21 campaign. On top of trying to gain traction on Instagram through the account @stanleyvillagehk, Stanley residents have created shirts and posters to promote the campaign. With summer barrelling in at full speed, there are also beach cleanups and a huge array of watersport events planned to bring crowds back to the seaside town. While this is the hook, residents are hoping it will get people to continue returning to Stanley to support local businesses there.
Where some may see a dead end, Hongkongers see a wall to bust through. While the buzz that hums through those lanes has quieted, remnants remain, carried through by the people that continue to occupy Stanley Market and Stanley neighbourhoods. In a city that often fails to recognise and reward hard work, we should show up for our fellow Hongkongers and do just that. If you’re wondering where to spend your dollars this summer, head to Stanley. Have lunch under the sun, go shopping, join one of the many water sport events that will be available this summer and support our local business owners.
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cover story
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cover story
WHAT MAKES HIM TICK Meet Thierry Dubois, the founder of private members’ club LUOXO
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cover story Thierry Dubois is not who you’d expect him to be. As the APAC Managing Director of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, you might assume that he revels in the lavish particulars of that world – but Dubois’s fascination with watches has always been a humble one. He doesn’t concern himself with price tags on a timepiece or stylistic trends, but rather the nitty gritty details of a watch’s history, its mechanisms and, essentially, what makes them tick – otherwise known as horology. “I was just reading a book about the first watchmaker in Geneva. It’s truly fascinating. A bit geeky, but fascinating,” he says. As a self-proclaimed nerd, Dubois has always been around the art of watchmaking. “My grandfather and grandmother worked for watch manufacturers in Switzerland. In the evenings and weekends, we would have people ringing our doorbell asking for their watch to be repaired, which my grandfather did to earn some extra money as they were not paid much in those days. Both my grandparents as well as my father, have proper watchmaking training. They know how to disassemble and reassemble watches. I do not have that training.” So, when the time came for Dubois to pick his own path, he chose to study law. He became a lawyer but without noticing it was
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happening, became drawn back to the watch industry. “Frankly speaking, I found law a bit boring. Reading and reading,” he says. So how does one go from law to founding a private members’ club for watch enthusiasts? “At the time, when I decided to start the group in 2008, I was dealing with watches at the business to business level in my job – so retailers to distributors, distributors to brands. But I’ve always been fascinated by and interested in the consumer, in the watch enthusiast. Why are they so interested? That’s when I started the Art of Time.” This was the original name for his group of watch enthusiasts but Dubois had initially wanted to call it something that arguably conveys his interest more accurately: ‘Toyz for Boys’. However, his colleagues advised against it, so he went with the name Art of Time. The Art of Time would often meet for dinners or drinks to discuss their shared passion but they never had a physical space to call their own. “When we tried to organise events, we would meet at restaurants.” Many years later, he found a location in Aberdeen. From there, he decided to use his network to turn his interest group into a private members’ club that hosts events, workshops and meetings for people who love watches. LUOXO, founded at the start of this year,
is located in Wong Chuk Hang and is staffed with watch experts. Dubois has a team of people who have extraordinary skill sets when it comes to horology. Loraine is a young woman who single handedly disassembled and reassembled a watch that’s over a hundred years old – twice. It belonged to one of LUOXO’s members, who had bought it at a flea market in Europe. She took every cog and spring apart, cleaned it and put it back together. Marc, another person on Dubois’ team, holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Degree in Microtechnology, Specialization in Watch Engineering and Microtechnology and is able to look at the movement of a watch and tell you which pieces the watch will fit in and how it ticks. LUOXO also has a “digital safe” in which its members can store information about their precious time pieces to be accessible only by them when needed. This doesn’t just mean Rolexes and Patek Philippes – it can be any watch, branded or not. “It’s a space that is completely neutral, meaning that it’s not attached to any brand, where people can really think and say whatever they want about horology and watch brands. There’s no pressure from a particular brand.” LUOXO has no affiliations so all members are free to criticise and debate watches as they please. The location also has a two-tier roof. Their meeting room, which is totally soundproof,
luoxo has a view of the terrace and Wong Chuk Hang’s surrounding mountains and bay, but has blacked out windows so that it is completely private – something his members value more than anything. Dubois emphasised that this club is for everyone, “you don’t even need to own an expensive watch,” he affirmed. It was difficult to understand exactly what he meant until he told us this story. “This guy who’s following me on Instagram had very good, pertinent questions about watches and water resistance. We were speaking and he brought up an interesting point. I told him, ‘Wow, I’m really impressed. That is a really good question.’ To which he responded, ‘I’m only 14 years old.’ From that conversation, Dubois invited the boy and his parents to come and learn about watches at LUOXO, proving that it’s not an elite club for high society. It’s for anyone who genuinely has an interest in horology. While LUOXO is the first-ever physical location, Dubois is now planning to open three more locations in Shanghai, Singapore and Japan in 2022 and 2023. luoxo.com
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Photo: @ericsgeography
dining
CHEERS TO SUMMER
Amber Lai samples the best cocktails this season
Ozone Experience the elements whilst overlooking the city from Ozone. The new cocktail menu represents the elements in five unique cocktails, water, earth, metal, fire and wood. We recommend sampling the fire cocktail which blends alipus mezcal with jalapeño before getting set on fire upon serving. ritzcarlton.com
181 at Fortnum & Mason To celebrate its latest book, Time for Tea, 181 at Fortnum & Mason has curated three speciality tea-infused cocktails for the summer. The Earl Henry Sour, which features cachaça, grey tea and banana preserve. Tribute, a smoky cocktail with a gentle spice and lastly, the Aperitif soda no. 2 which mixes rose pouchong tea and rosé vermouth. 181fortnums.com.hk
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cocktails
MO Bar Partnering with Belvedere, MO bar is offering a selection of cocktails with its Garden’s Spring brunch set. The Rootssini, a bubbly cocktail with rhubarb, strawberry and ginger and the Pimento Collins, made with Belvedere
La Rambla vodka, yellow bell pepper, apricot liqueur, lemon juice and soda water. The cocktails are available as part of the free-flow package for diners. mandarinoriental.com
The Pontiac Local dive bar, The Pontiac, led by popular mixologist, Beckaly Franks has released a new cocktail menu inspired by classic combinations. The menu features 10 new mixes including shells & cigarettes cocktail, a twist on a Long
Browse La Rambla’s extensive collection of gins by Catalunya. Partnering with the gin brand over the summer, Its signature gin and tonic cart features five gins including Tanqueray Ten, Tanqueray Rangpur and Tanqueray Malacca. larambla.hk
The Commune Island Iced Tea and the Starting Gun. The bar has also partnered up with ecoSpirits to create cocktails that will leave a lasting impression on the environment. facebook.com/thepontiac
Celebrating art month, K11 ARTUS’s has released a signature seasonal cocktail, The ArtDomus. Using goji berry vodka and purple yam liqueur, the cocktail is perfect for photos with a unique lavender shade. artus.com.hk
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dining
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nibbles
Dining News New Pici location opens in Kennedy Town Pirata Group’s popular pasta bar, known for its rotating menu of fresh pastas, has just opened its sixth restaurant in the seaside location of Kennedy Town. Fitted out with elegant decor and open windows, the new addition overlooks the waterfront, allowing diners to tuck into homemade pasta dishes including its location-exclusive codfish ravioli, while enjoying a fantastic view. pici.hk
New meat alternative comes to town Last month Hong Kong welcomed the first jackfruit alternative to meat, KARANA. The brand uses underutilised young jackfruit to make an authentic and delicious meat alternative including burger patties and tacos. So far six restaurants including Beef & Liberty, Sip Song and Elephant Grounds have introduced it to their menus. eatkarana.com
Aria launches Omakase menu Located in California Tower, Aria is a modern italian restaurant overlooking the city. Designed by executive chef Andrea Zamboni, the new Omakase menu comes in five, seven and ten-course sets showcasing the freshest ingredients flown in from Italy and Europe. It boasts a panoramic view of the Hong Kong skyline, made better by family-style recipes with a modern twist. ariaitalian.com
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big day out
A Soko Island adventure Rory Mackay heads back in time to the now uninhabited islands
There are many spots in Hong Kong that can feel far removed from the city, but are in fact just round the corner. Then there are those rare spots that are genuinely far removed from civilization. The Southern waters off Lantau Island are such a locale. Within these waters lie a somewhat forgotten and neglected archipelago; the Soko Islands. A great option for fearless day trippers, yet still family friendly, Soko Islands is a hidden gem. As there are no scheduled boats, you will need to arrange your own, however if you make
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soko islands
the effort to venture to this remote area you will be rewarded with a trip back in time. An untarnished landscape bursting with pristine beaches and historical relics lies in wait. If you are not travelling on your own private boat or charter such as a junk, other than kayaking the simplest way to reach the Sokos is via Cheung Chau.
From Cheung Chau you can agree on a fee with a local boat operator to drop off and pick up within one day. Incidentally if one wants to kayak there, kayaks can be rented from Cheung Chau too, but it is only advised for more experienced seafarers as you will cross exposed bodies of water. If in any doubt, arrange for a guide. There are two main islands that you can spend time ashore on here, Siu A Chau and Tai A Chau. Both have several stunning beaches to enjoy and a pier that small vessels can safely alight at. Up till the late 1970s, the Soko Islands were home to merely a couple dozen farming families, tending to small-scale agriculture and fishing in order to survive. This all changed in the following decades as Tai A Chau became home to an ever-expanding refugee camp housing people fleeing the conflict in Vietnam. Although the Vietnam War came to an end, the ensuing issue of these refugees was
never properly resolved. The Soko Island camp was gradually shut down by the government approaching the 1997 handover and inmates were transferred to camps elsewhere in Hong Kong. It’s absolutely incredible to see just over 25 years on, how little of the camp remains. For the most part, concrete foundations and not much else. But a closer look reveals smaller details of what once stood at the site of the camp. The Sokos are an incredible part of Hong Kong to explore. Any adventure here will leave you with great memories and a sound appreciation of the living standards most of us enjoy in that big city, just across the sea.
Rory Mackay runs adventure company Wild Hong Kong. For more details visit wildhongkong.com
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must haves
Handmade raffia visor $280 from Solidayz Hong Kong solidayz.com
Summer Lovin’
Round straw handbag $309 from Black Coral blackcoralxo.com
All you need for a perfect summer in the city
Vitamin C Serum $530 from Ole Henriksen sephora.com
Brightening Gel Crème $375 from Ole Henriksen sephora.com
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Mystic turquoise jewelled huggies
summer essentials
$534 from Astrid & Miyu emma-wallace.com
Gold statement tassel earrings $129 from Black Coral blackcoralxo.com
Eyepitizer sunglasses $1,290 from kapok ka-pok.com
Rechargeable Pocket Slim Fan $88 from DOMA doma.com.hk
Napoleon Rogue gas BBQ $8,390 from Everything Under The Sun everythingunderthesun.com.hk
Eco beach towel $380 from Ruper and Bird rupertandbird.com
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secrets
Explore the college-turned-military hospital from the nineteenth century Want to know more? Geoffrey Charles Emerson - Hong Kong Internment 1942-1945, Life at the Japanese Civilian Camp in Stanley conducts a thorough investigation of the history. Available on Google Books, Book Depository; or attend a guided tour of the heritage trail led by students by registering at ssc.edu.hk/ssctrail
Hong Kong’s rapid urbanisation since the 80s left very few areas of the city untouched. Located in the southmost part of Hong Kong Island, Stanley was not immune from the change. Little about Stanley today reminds people of the secluded village it used to be. The then-fishing village is now a beloved
tourist location with beautiful beaches, rustic waterfront bars and bungalows. A big piece of history lies in the stapled school, St. Stephen’s College. Stanley was the Commonwealth Army’s last line of defence before they surrendered Hong Kong to the Japanese in December 1941. Prior to that, the Main Hall of the St. Stephen’s College Campus was converted into an emergency military hospital of the Army. On Christmas Day 1941, the Japanese Army entered the campus. There, they killed and injured over a hundred wounded soldiers, doctors and nurses. A school teacher was also killed in his effort to protect students who were trapped on campus. The horrific event became known as the ‘St. Stephen’s College Massacre’. As Hong Kong fell to Imperial Japan, the campuses of St. Stephen’s College and parts of the Stanley Prison became the Stanley Internment Camp. The camp housed over 3,000 captured civilians over the three years of Japanese occupation. Some notable internees include the then-Attorney General of Hong Kong Sir C. Grenville Alabaster and Chief Justice Atholl MacGregor. The college’s infrastructure suffered tremendously during the occupation. The
bungalows where the school teachers and wardens used to live were mostly destroyed. The now rebuilt Bungalow C was nearly flattened during an American Air Raid in 1945, when over fourteen civilian internees were accidentally killed. Today, you can stroll down the slanted path surrounded by giant trees and beautiful flowers and watch students moving from classroom to classroom. It is hard to imagine the turmoil this place had been through. Traces of the camp’s history remain – the main hall and bungalows are declared monuments and still used daily by students and staff. One of the bungalows was converted into a mini-museum, housing artefacts found inside the internment camp. The school chapel built shortly after the war has beautiful stained glass windows and plaque to remember the story of the internees. The Campus also borders the Stanley Military Cemetery, the resting place of around 600 soldiers who gave their lives in the war and civilians who passed away in the internment camp. To this day, a number of them remain unidentified. In commemoration, the St. Stephen’s College Heritage Trail opened in 2008, allowing the public to visit the campus upon registration on the school’s website. The Stanley Military Cemetery is open to the public every day from 8am to 5pm. ssc.edu.hk
How to get there Take Bus 6, 6X or 260 from Central’s Exchange Square, and alight at St. Stephen’s College station. The journey takes around 45 minutes without traffic. The military cemetery is a 5-minute walk from St. Stephen’s College.
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pets
Ask a vet... Dr Pauline answers your summer pet questions Dr Pauline Pets Central veterinarian What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer? With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or even kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: 1. Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects. 2. Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car. 3. Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot. 4. Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out. 5. Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin.
6. BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the body and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine.
How long can dogs safely lay in the sun? Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their in-built temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C). Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally. If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should naturally move out of the sun’s rays. Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day.
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horoscope
Written in the stars Letao Wang, The Kingdom Healer shares his insights on what the stars hold for you this month thehealingkingdom.com
AQUARIUS Don’t be surprised if you feel stuck during this time, Aquarius. People around you seem rigid and retrograde-minded, which further complicates the way to a new form of life. So use your creativity to come up with new ideas and break the mold for everyone else.
TAURUS This will be a period of great intensity regarding your relationships, Taurus. Your protective nature will help and support loved ones going through a difficult time. However, be careful not to neglect your own needs. Put as much effort into caring for yourself as you do for others.
LEO Your family and loved ones will take prominence during this period. Childhood memories will keep you in a gloomy mood and you will feel the need to have your parents by your side. Take some time to contact them, especially if you live in a distant city.
SCORPIO Your creativity will give you the confidence to venture into a new undertaking. Assemble a team of efficient and reliable people, as your leadership skills will help you in this new initiative. Rely on your creativity and create something never seen before, Scorpio.
PISCES Your imaginative mind is usually your best asset, Pisces. However, at this time, you should be careful not to take it too far. Your imagination can become an escape from reality and a way to avoid responsibilities. Try to keep your feet on the ground and don’t stay in a dreamland forever.
GEMINI Your professional efforts will be finally recognised, Gemini. Your colleagues will admire your passion and will follow your example. You will also be the center of attention at various social events. Enjoy your moment of fame, you deserve it.
VIRGO Virgo, you will resume projects, agreements and contracts that have been on hold for some time. Repair the damages caused in your relationships due to misunderstandings. Your mental clarity will help you find the right words.
SAGITTARIUS Although this is not a propitious time to start new projects, you will feel a lot of movement within yourself. Your inner wisdom will restructure your personal beliefs. So, meditate on the concepts associated with your life philosophy, Sagittarius. A change of perspective will bring benefits to your future.
ARIES You will achieve whatever you set your mind to, Aries. Your magnetic and passionate personality will help you breakthrough and become independent. Follow your heart in this new stage and don’t let negative comments from others discourage you.
CANCER Try to take notice of any dreams you may have at this time, Cancer, as they contain clues to resolve issues from the past. This is a time to reflect on your emotions and express them clearly to others. Cultivate personal confidence to share your ideas more boldly.
LIBRA Your charm and passion are the reasons why your partner has fallen in love with you, Libra. However, it is possible that during this time, your need for approval could create problems. Try not to demand so much from your partner and moderate how you express your feelings towards them.
CAPRICORN Life demands changes from you, Capricorn, no matter how much you want to avoid them. However, your attachment to the past may block your way to a better future. If you feel lost follow your intuition. You’ll find more answers that way.
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zim city
Small deposits, smart waste reduction Paul Zimmerman on motivating Hongkongers to recycle plastic drink packaging and other plastics
You don’t need research to understand that a high deposit will help ensure used plastic bottles come back, instead of ending up in the landfill or the environment. What is less well understood is that a dollar or fifty cents deposit could slow down the broader agenda for plastic recycling in Hong Kong. My slogan in 2017 was ‘a dollar a bottle’. After volunteering my time chairing 97 meetings to lead research, pilot schemes and consultation among participants on Drink Without Waste we learned that we need to start conservatively, as close as possible to the actual value of the plastic bottle. Here is why. We have highly efficient recycling networks for paper and metal. Consumers, domestic helpers, building managers and cleaners, waste collectors and street cleaning companies, all have people, bins and trucks to keep these separate. Can we motivate them to also handle plastics? Yes, we can. We have started with plastic bottles, a highly recognisable fraction of our waste which makes up 5 percent of Hong Kong’s plastic waste. With a pilot scheme we are offering 5 cents to cleaners for returning plastic bottles and 3 cents to recyclers for the logistics.
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In a few months the scheme has grown to 100 tons of plastic recovered. We see a restart of plastic collection, sorting and recycling in the target areas. The scheme is convincing property owners and managers (including Government departments) to facilitate the bins and sorting space required. It gives us confidence that with modest incentives we can grow a network to recover 70 percent of used plastic bottles and expand it to handle all plastics in the future. That is less than the cost of schemes proposed by others. To collect bottles and pay out 50 cents or a dollar we would need 4,500 ‘reverse vending machines’ to make sure money is not paid twice. The cost of the machines, maintenance and manpower could add another dollar to the cost of a drink, so two dollars including the deposit. Relying solely on RVMs cannot be the way forward. Expensive automation to protect against fraud can’t easily be expanded to handle other plastics, nor does Hong Kong have the space to replicate collection systems for different waste streams. High deposits benefit manufacturers of reverse vending machines. As long as deposits apply equally for all, the drink manufacturers will see little impact on their sales. However,
as the consumer ultimately pays the cost, high deposits make it effectively a ‘consumer responsibility scheme’. I propose we legislate a true ‘Producer Responsibility Scheme’ mandating the percentage of used beverage containers to be collected for drink manufacturers and importers to avoid waste charges. This will motivate them to incentivise Hong Kong’s property managers, cleaning companies and recyclers to create systems for the return, collection, sorting and recycling of plastic drink packaging and other plastics.
Paul Zimmerman is CEO of Designing Hong Kong and Vice-Chairman of the Southern District Council. He has been acting as Chairman of the Single-Use Beverage Packaging Working Group and their ‘Drink Without Waste’ initiative since 2017.
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