LOCKING UP PENNY’S BAY COMMUNITY ISOLATION FACILITY
Penny’s Bay Community Isolation Facility (PBCIF), formerly Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre (PBQC), shut its doors on March 1, following Hong Kong’s policy switch from ‘zero COVID’ to ‘living with COVID’. During the closing ceremony, members of the Civil Aid Service (CAS), the facility’s primary manager, held placards reading ‘Mission Accomplished,’ as their band played Auld Lang Syne. When CAS personnel closed the main gate, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk put a ‘lock’ on it, symbolising the completion of the PBCIF’s anti-epidemic mission and a return to normalcy.
The PBQC opened in July 2020 providing facilities for close contacts to undergo compulsory quarantine. It was converted into the PBCIF in February 2022 to receive low-risk patients as the epidemic began to recede. All told, the quarantine/ isolation facilities at Penny’s Bay were in operation for 31 months with the number of units increasing from 1,500 to nearly 10,000, and ultimately covering an area of 1 million square metres.
Some 270,000 people were detained at Penny’s Bay over those 31 months. These included close contacts, arrivals from high-risk countries and locally infected patients with mild symptoms, as well as travellers testing positive for COVID upon arrival in Hong Kong. In April 2021 alone, more than a thousand Tung Chung residents, living in the Caribbean Coast, were admitted after a mutated coronavirus variant was discovered in their housing block.
Reports of poor living conditions at Penny’s Bay have been rife in the media – questionable hygiene, unappetising food, CCTV surveillance, harsh fluorescent lighting, 24-hour confinement with no outdoor access, the list goes on. But, fittingly, the focus at the closing ceremony was on the people on the ground, all those who had worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to do their jobs and keep the facility up and running.
Looking to the future, what the Penny’s Bay site will be used for remains uncertain, the units may be dismantled or used for temporary housing.
[PHOTO BY Geeta Ale.]
ALL THINGS ITALIAN IN PUI O
With Bella Ciao Lantau, the Italian restaurant, bar and grocery store, which soft-opened on February 21 in Lo Wai Village, Pui O, F&B veteran Matteo Cecchi has set out to provide an allnew food experience with seasonality at its core. The menu will update regularly, providing diners with a taste of fresh produce shipped from the four corners of Italy. All-time classics, such as pasta and pizza, are a speciality, with many dishes served in new and creative ways. As one might expect of an Italian restaurant, choices of drinks are plentiful – Prosecco-based Aperol Spritz and minibarrel- aged Negroni are bestsellers. The grocery store, meanwhile, is stocked with a tempting range of regional delicacies, including fresh, creamy burrata.
Bella Ciao Lantau is open Tuesday to Friday from 2pm to 10pm, and for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the weekend.
To find out more and make a booking, visit www.bellaciao-lantau.com.
[PHOTO COURTESY OF Bella Ciao Lantau.]
THE ENCHANTED SOUTH LANTAU COLLECTION
Former Associated Press photojournalist turned digital artist Anat Givon is exhibiting her latest works at Pause Café in Mui Wo throughout April and May. From surrealist photographic collages depicting buffalos walking on tree branches to more naturalistic photos of Lantau villages and seascapes, the Enchanted South Lantau Collection is a true homage to the island, capturing both its quirkiness and beauty.
“The Hong Kong exhibitions that I have participated in were usually focused on the city’s urban identity. Living in South Lantau for four years, I wanted to pay tribute to this greener, rural part of Hong Kong where there is so much to capture. With its white walls, large windows and relaxed atmosphere, Pause Café is a great place to have this exhibition,” says Anat. Limited edition prints from the Enchanted South Lantau Collection are available for purchase.
To find out more, email anat.givon@gmail.com or visit www.anatgivon.com.
[PHOTO COURTESY OF Anat Givon.]
ON THE WATERFRONT IN TUNG CHUNG
Next time you find yourself on Tung Chung East Promenade make a beeline for Tung Chung Community Liaison Centre, where various themed exhibitions encourage visitors to know more about development projects and conservation works being undertaken by the Sustainable Lantau Office. Child-friendly, interactive exhibits focused on Lantau’s culture, history, flora and fauna are also on offer, plus a meeting room where islanders can hold community-driven activities and events free of charge. The offering has expanded recently with the addition of an adjacent extension providing more space for conservation- and sustainability-themed exhibitions and activities.
Lantauers are being encouraged to make good use of the surrounding area, thanks to the addition of some neat outdoor facilities, including a mini skatepark, a small gym, children’s play areas, plenty of seating and grass to walk on. The space is open from 8am to 8pm. Find out more at www.lantau.gov.hk.
[PHOTO BY Sarin Ale.]
STEAK KING HOME DELIVERY
Well-established, Hong Kong-wide meat, seafood and produce provider Steak King has businesses in Tung Chung and Mui Wo, meaning it can access remote parts of Lantau, including Ma Wan, with ease. Orders are delivered door-to-door at optimal temperatures in Steak King’s fleet of six refrigerated trucks. Working directly with overseas farms to source the freshest produce weekly from Australia, Canada and the US, Steak King connects islanders with quality produce at competitive prices. Ready-made-meals are also on offer, as is a catering service for events of all sizes and budgets.
This month Steak King is offering Life on Lantau readers HK$150 off any spend of HK$1,500 or above. Steak King delivers to South Lantau on Tuesdays and Fridays, and to Discovery Bay on Fridays; delivery is free for orders over HK$1,500. To claim your discount, click here. To order online, visit www.steak-king.com.
LANTAU POTTERY STUDIO
Located in the heart of Mui Wo, Lantau Pottery Studio, formerly Little Egret Studio, is a unique space for potters to get together and enjoy the ceramic-making process. Founder Fatima Morrissey showcases locally made ceramics and art, and hosts regular pottery lessons for adults and children. While the children’s pottery classes are project-based, all students have the chance to learn hand building and wheel throwing techniques. There is also the option to book the venue for special events and pottery parties.
Fatima is a mother of two and an artist. Her love for pottery started at a very young age and she believes playing with mud is just as much fun for children as it is for adults. Her functional and sculptural pieces draw on an eclectic mix of influences including European and Asian folk art. To find out more and book a class, visit www.lantaupotterystudio.com.
[PHOTO COURTESY OF Lantau Pottery Studio.]
EASTER FUN IN DISCOVERY BAY
There are plenty of Easter-themed activities for families to enjoy across Discovery Bay on the weekend of April 7 to 8. In DB North, there’s an Easter FunLand offering an Easter-themed photo zone, face painting and an Easter bunny meet-and-greet, with popcorn, cotton candy and balloons provided free of charge. Meanwhile, DB Plaza is transforming into an Ohpama Kids Fiesta with exciting games and workshops on offer.
Kids who enrolled early will also be looking forward to the DB Easter Egg Hunt on the Beach, running April 7 to 8. Egg hunters are divided into different age groups (three to four years, five to six years and seven to 10 years) to participate in the respective game sessions at Tai Pak Wan. All entrants receive a Welcome Goodie Bag, including a shovel set, souvenirs and a Certificate of Participation. Kids can redeem the colourful and biodegradable Easter eggs they find to win prizes totalling HK$1 million! To find out more, visit www.dbeasteregghunt.com.
