Reimagining Tai O
The hardworking volunteers at Living Islands Movement (LIM) continue to monitor the “Mui Wo Facelift,” meeting regularly with the CEDD and project contractors. They are pleased to report that the project is largely on track, and they have a number of updates.
Site formation and piling works for the new buildings in front of the ferry pier (cooked food market, bicycle and car parks) will commence in April. The old parking lot and rest area are currently being cleared and will be the site of the new bus terminal, which is scheduled to open in mid-2025. In the meantime, new temporary access and exit roads for buses will open at the end of April.
Residents will want to note that the provision of a proper access path from the ferry pier to the Southern Waterfront has been delayed slightly by technical issues. Work to reduce the footprint of the roundabout has also been delayed due to the discovery of two large water mains near the surface of the road. These will have to be diverted and/ or entrenched. Due to temporary traffic arrangements, there will be no car parking in the area near McDonald’s. There will however be a few spaces for drop-offs.
Meanwhile, trees that are being preserved for replanting are being carefully unearthed to avoid damage to the roots: some will be planted at the end of the Southern Waterfront this month, others will be stored offsite. Local experts – including local horticulturalist Paul Melsom of Eagle Owl – are being consulted on the selection of additional new trees for planting in the Ferry Pier Plaza, which is scheduled for completion in 2026. Measures needed to protect the large Indian Rubber Tree in the old paid parking area are being investigated.
LIM is pleased that the CEDD is keen to pay close attention to residents’ concerns as they arise, and is requesting that information and signage boards are installed in the ferry pier area, so that residents and visitors alike can have a better understanding of the scope of the project and see what the future Mui Wo will look like. [PHOTO COURTESY OF CEDD.]
Regala Wedding Package
Looking to celebrate your special day in style? Regala Skycity Hotel’s 1,210-square-metre, pillar-less Grand Ballroom provides a stunning setting for either a Western, or traditional Chinese round-table wedding. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 76 tables and its design allows it to transform into three smaller spaces for more intimate wedding parties. At 6.7 metres, the impressive ceiling is a stand-out feature, fitted with crystal chandeliers and LED lighting. During the day, the space is flooded with natural light and come evening, the star-like chandeliers and “spinning” LEDs create a magical interstellar effect.
The Regala Skycity wedding package comes with myriad tempting extras, including one-night’s stay in a deluxe suite, a welcome fruit punch and a 3lb cream cake. The hotel’s experienced banquet team can be relied upon to provide a seamless and memorable experience for the happy couple and their guests. To find out more, scan the QR code, call 3556 3288, email events@skycity.regala-hotels.com or visit www.regala-hotels.com/ en/ regala-skycity-hotel. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Regala Skycity Hotel.]
Action Sprint Trail Run, Dbay
The Sprints are back – since 2003 these events have been part of the Hong Kong trail running scene with fair cut-offs for all on well-marked courses that are easy to follow. Now’s the time to grab your spot in the Action Sprint Trail Run, DBay being organised by Action Asia Events on May 19. The race starts and finishes in DB Plaza, and there’s a choice of two distances — 9km solo (3.5-hour cut-off, 14 years and up) and 12km solo (4.5-hour cut-off, 16 years and up). The DB Sprint takes competitors off the main trails on an adventure trail route, along ocean coastlines and beaches. Both courses circumvent DB Reservoir and the Trappist Monastery, and there’s a mountain climb (Lo Fu Tau) on the 12km course.
Action Asia Events is the organiser of spectacular, remote marathons and trail races in over 10 South East Asian countries. To enrol in the DB Sprint, visit www.actionasiaevents.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]
The Shop Around The Corner
After 27 years in Fu Tung Plaza, Wing Fat Stationery Gift Shop is closing its doors this month, the latest casualty of rising retail rental prices islandwide. Run by three hardworking ladies, all Tung Chungers, the shop has been the local go-to for stationery and toys since March 1997. The impending closure has brought about a wave of nostalgia among Tung Chung residents, some of whom have been stopping by for school supplies and gifts since they were kids.
Tung Chung Facebook communities have been posting about the closure in recent weeks, which has resulted in a welcome increase in sales – and has already left quite a few shelves empty. “Ever since people have been posting on Facebook about our closure, we have received more customers,” staff spokesperson Mandy Leung says. “Some people aren’t even buying things for themselves; they are sending items to friends. We are grateful for their business and continued support over the years.” [PHOTO BY Kayli Liebenberg.]
Non-Profit Community Project
Pause for a Cause, the charity arm of Pause Studio in Mui Wo, provides free healing moving art classes for people who struggle to access studios and holistic health centres. In four years, the non-profit’s teaching team has brought around 1,000 hours of yoga and Pilates to over 15 charities in Hong Kong. Beneficiaries range from three to 80 years, and the reasons they could not otherwise attend studio classes include income, age, disability and medical history. The demand for classes is now growing and Pause for a Cause is looking for support from the community.
All donations make a difference, no matter the amount. Here’s an example of where your money will go: HK$100 helps provide yoga mats, blocks and straps; HK$400 pays for a one-on-one class; HK$1,500 enables one month of weekly classes for one group; HK$15,000 allows Pause for a Cause to add a new weekly class for one full year. To get involved, call 9030 7850, email alice_edinger@hotmail.com or visit www.pause.hk/for-a-cause.
Shows to Catch In April
Be sure to catch the global tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music from April 16 to June 9 at the Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District. The award-winning Broadway musical is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, having won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Grammy for Best Show Album, for its original run. Classic songs, like Do-ReMi, Edelweiss and My Favorite Things, bring the tale of love, compassion, hope and survival to life. To book tickets, visit www.soundofmusichk.com.
Part of this year’s SPOTLIGHT: A Season of Performing Arts, Memory Trace of Western Chamber is showing from April 18 to 20 at the JC Cube, Tai Kwun. In an eagerly awaited return to the stage, esteemed dance artist Elsie Chau Kam Ngai partners with choreographer Ong Yong Lock and dramaturg Mann Chan to deliver a soul-searching solo performance that reimagines personal experiences as scenes from a classic Chinese romance. To book tickets, visit www.art-mate.net. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Broadway International Group.]
Tails Needs Your Help
Mui Wo-based Team for Animals in Lantau South (TAILS) is almost at capacity and needs your help. As the charity does not have its own shelter, it relies on fosters to take in rescue animals prior to their adoption. More fosters are urgently needed at this time. Donations and fostering are the key to helping these animals have the chance of a long, enjoyable life. The more fosters volunteer, the more cats and dogs can be saved.
Founded in December 2018, TAILS has become a go-to for islanders hoping to adopt a pet. The charity is dedicated to helping cats and dogs find a better home, and believes that animals have the right to five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from preventable pain, injury or disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress. To home a pet, foster, volunteer or make a donation, visit www.tailslantau.org.
