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Bicycling in HK and NY - documentary
Submitted by martinturner on 29 June 2009 - 7:12pmFor the last 18 months, Jack Lam has been making a documentary about bicycle culture in Hong Kong and New York. He has interviewed many Hong Kong cyclists, come to the Ride of Silence, and, I am confident, created something that really help show that Hong Kong can and should embrace cycling as part of its transport system.
"單車樂與路" (Nomads on Wheels) airs this Saturday, 4 July, at 8pm on ATV. It will then be available for view at the RTHK website.
CLP wind farm to impact southeast Hong Kong
Submitted by Martin Williams on 19 June 2009 - 4:51pmReceived this from "Preserve Clearwater Bay" [not sure if a group, or an individual]:
Quote:
About five years from now, when you take your kids to Clearwater Bay Country Park for kite-flying, you would probably be annoyed to see 67 giant turbines, each as tall as Jardine House in Central with blades as long as a Boeing jet, lining up outside Ninepin islands, or Kwo Chau Kwan To.
Clearwater Bay Peninsula and its surrounding marine territory are renowned for its stunning natural beauty, and are the very few virgin lands in Hong Kong which have escaped from industrial and domestic developments. Thus Clearwater Bay and the country park are “showcase of unique landforms and topographic features. Whether you are into serious geological studies or just a lover of natural landscape, Clearwater Bay has a lot to offer,” said the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department.
Unfortunately, this very last untainted nature scene in Hong Kong is going to be ruined by an Offshore Wind Farm which will be built at approximately 9 km and 5km east of the Clearwater Bay peninsula and East Ninepin Island, respectively. The wind farm projected is co-developed by China Light & Power Group (CLP) and a U.K-based consultancy firm Wind Prospect.
Junk trips to Hong Kong islands
Submitted by Martin Williams on 14 June 2009 - 10:50amEspecially in summer, many Hong Kong residents enjoy taking junk rides through inshore waters, to visit one or more islands, maybe swim at beaches, and stop off at seafood restaurants. Mostly, the junks aren't the traditional type with sails - there are only one or two of these iconic craft left here; but are motor boats, each holding maybe 20 or more people. There's a range of "junks" - from basic wooden ones, to more glamorous pleasure cruisers. Some corporate folk book their company junks; there are also junks for hire. As well as seats and a table, even a basic junk will typically have a fridge, plus shower and toilet, making it a good base for an outing.
Aberdeen, on the west coast of Hong Kong Island, is the main base for corporate and hire junks; though it's also possible to board junks on the north coast of HK Island.
Many junk trips involve little more than bobbing across the sea to a seafood restaurant - often one of the pricey places at Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island; then bobbing back again. Though there's beer n wine n camaraderie, I'm not fond of such trips: partly as I live on Cheung Chau, with abundant waterfront restaurants with good food at low prices; also as there's far more to do around coastal Hong Kong than just sit, eat and drink.
Instead, I find junk trips a great way of exploring Hong Kong's inshore waters, visiting places that might be very difficult to reach another way, as well as chilling out with friends old and new.
Hong Kong Marine Life Carnival 2009
Submitted by Martin Williams on 9 June 2009 - 2:21pm
Hong Kong Marine Life Carnival 2009 香港海洋生態嘉年華 2009
Hong Kong harbours an astonishingly high marine biodiversity. We have about one tenth of some 800 stony coral species in the world, and we have over 300 recorded reef fish species inhabiting our coral and rocky reefs. The on-going reef fish survey conducted by Eco-education & Resources Centre (ERC) has recorded nearly 200 species within Port Shelter alone. Despite this, our demand for seafood has affected local marine fishery resources.
In order to increase public understanding on reef fish diversity in Hong Kong and raise public awareness to sustainable use of marine resources, the Eco-education & Resources Centre is organizing the Hong Kong Marine Life Carnival 2009. The event includes guided exhibition board tour, guided snorkeling, booth games organized by various institutes and conservation groups, beach cleaning, origami day and mini concert. We wish to provide participants with a relaxing and interactive way to learn more about marine life and conservation in Hong Kong. Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 27 – 28 Jun, 4 – 5 Jul, 11 – 12 Jul 18 – 19 Jul (Sat and Sun); Time: 1100 – 1800; Venue: Sai Kung Pier (near the public swimming pool)
Bicycles on ferries, and in society
Submitted by martinturner on 8 June 2009 - 8:05pmIn today's HK Economic Journal, 勁翔 highlights the closed minds of First Ferry and the Government towards cyclists. On his way to participate in the Ride of Silence, he was thrown off the Mui-Wo Central ferry because he had the temerity to carry on his folding bike. (Perhaps they thought their ferry couldn't cope with the extra loading?)
The government still refuses to recognise cycling as a kind of transport, despite that hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers cycle every day, getting around simply and efficiently. And so there is no pressure on transport operators, such as First Ferry and MTRC, to be part of an integrated transportation system. Hong Kong is mostly flat, and the distances we travel are mostly short - perfect for cycling in fact.
Here's what he had to say:
沉默的騎行
勁翔
早一陣子，我去了「沉默的騎行」，悼念去年的馬路上被撞死撞傷的單車族。死亡人數，十人。
在香港騎單車，你不想找麻煩，麻煩自動找上門。我打算坐比較舒服又便宜的慢船，在梅窩碼頭被伯伯截停，臉有難色的說單車要另外購票，十六元多，比乘客票更貴。這樣一程船下來，要花三十元。
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Current weather
Hong Kong Int Airport
- Scattered clouds
- Temperature: 27 °C
- Wind: East-Southeast, 20.4 km/h
- Rel. Humidity: 84 %
- Visibility: 10 km
5 July 2009 - 7:00am
Active forum topics
Do you know of any places that rent out village houses or units for the weekend?? I have been searching but havent been able to find much, except camping in tents. Thanks, Nick
Hmm; I'd hoped the article on Acoommodation in rural Hong Kong would be readily found by people searching for such info. Maybe have a look at it.
For Cheung Sha and nearby, maybe check out Long Coast Seasports, and Fung Wong Holiday Bungalows in Shui Hau.
With lots of rain today, plus distance from my home on Cheung Chau to Sai Kung, I wimped out on attending launch ceremony for the carnival. I lately posted following to Facebook, tho; unduly cynical for sure, but a ring of truth perhaps?
Seems the Weather Underground forum comments were right; Nangka closing in on us, and may pass over Hong Kong. T3- strong wind - signal now in effect.
Odd looking storm - "exposed eye" say W Undergr comments; radar and satellite images show only little cloud and rain in north of storm, but dense cloud (surely plenty of rain) in south, esp southwest. Set to be closest around midnight.
Two shots here from earlier this afternoon, on Cheung Chau.
As I write, HK Observatory radar shows eye of Nangka just to east of Hong Kong, heading north. Even so, not muc wind reported; here on Cheung Chau, would barely know there's a storm anywhere near us. No rain, barely any wind; frogs calling in night.
Towards sunset, though, did get fabuious rainbow near Cheung Chau, as rainstorm to east, over HK Island.
After I sent email to HK Outdoors members re the wind farm, had a reply including:
It's really interesting and also informative. I loved it.Thanks
You may like to have your say directly to the Environmental Department at [link not working - Martin]
Yes please. Would love some hikes moderately easy with shade and/or water especially Sai Kung area. Have done Maclehose to Tai Long Wan and then to pagoda at Sai Kung Sai Wan but then couldn't get on minibus with dogs and no signal to call taxi!!! Very difficult end to very long hike. Any suggestions for something similar but with way out or not so long?? Maybe hike in and boat out or vice versa?? All ideas gratefully received as we love to hike with our dogs and it is such a great area to go but in the hot weather it is too much for the dogs unless there is water around and we get get back out to our car.
I was wondering whether it was possible to use this video as part of advertising against Shark Fin Soup - it's not copyrighted, is it?