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Dear Ms. Cheung Lai Shing, Lucia

RE: Cafe De Coral Premium Ingredients/Wetland Park Menu

I wish to take this opportunity and express my sincere disappointment to note that Cafe De Coral, through its website, advertises the consumption of shark fin as a premium ingredient, and as a main dish at the ‘Government’ Wetland Park (a place of conservation/education interest). This promotion may appear to be advertised in poor taste and shows zero consideration for the lack of awareness about an issue that has received worldwide media publicity in recent years. The department of AFCD should also be equally ashamed for allowing food outlets to serve such contentious dishes.

It is well-documented that shark fin consumption in Asia is the main contributor of shark declines worldwide. Growing demand for the product has triggered a gold rush to cash in on the high price for shark fins. However, as extremely slow breeders, sharks are unable to cope with the intense fishing pressure. Unlike most fish, that produce millions of eggs at a time over a shorter length of time, shark reproduction is more like that of dolphins and whales. Generally, they do not reach reproductive age until their teens, have very few offspring each time and have amongst the longest gestation period of any family in the entire animal kingdom!

As a result, shark fishing today is an extremely unsustainable industry and has contributed to the disappearance of many shark species in our oceans. Scientists have warned that some species have declined by over 90% and the list of threatened and endangered sharks continues to grow. The disappearance of sharks will also have detrimental knock on effects on other marine species and affect some of the fish stocks that we humans rely on for food.

There is nothing sustainable about shark finning.

Like myself, I believe many people in Hong Kong will feel equally strongly about your promotion as I do and may be reluctant to even visit the Wetland Park. I therefore appeal to Cafe De Coral to change its menu and website advertising as such promotions is counterproductive to the long-term image of Cafe de Coral .

Previous campaigns against Disneyland Hong Kong, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Citibank, MasterCard and Singapore Airlines have all resulted in them withdrawing their shark fin advertising offers, with overwhelming global response being the persuasive factor.

Thank you for your attention, and I hope that you will take this correspondence in the constructive manner that it is intended. I would also be available to speak with your staff at both the Wetland Park and head office about this issue.

Yours Sincerely,
Charles Frew, MSc
Director

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Having spent 30 days in the Maldives, training hard running etc, I attempted my first 2 hr run on Sat morning up on Ma On Shan….pollution symptoms – immediate, sore throat/swollen glands..and felt so lethargic and tired…..

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Hi Martin

Thanks so much for your quick reply!! I’d read through a couple of posts…we were looking to avoid hiking all together due to some injuries, and wondered about hiring a boat from Victoria Harbour or somewhere close to central HK. Any thoughts?
Thanks again!
craven

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From Heather Ruxton:

Quote:

loved the Hong Kong DVD, it was such a great idea to show the beautiful
natural side to such an incredible place!

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From Sam Lee:

Hi Charlie,

Just finished watching your DVD, it’s nice and very informative. I like the parts introducing the Bluff Is. and MaiPo wetland. You look quite serioius in the video,should add more smile:)

Sam

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From Chris Caldwell:

Quote:

Wild Hong Kong was inspirational, in fact, I’ve been to both Mai Po and Bride’s Pool over the week and was loving it. The only way it could have been better is if you and I had a mock fight scene at the TST Walk of Stars in front of Bruce Lee. The sequel maybe.

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Martin, it was printed. I saw it in Friday’s edition.

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As expected my inside informant with a reputable newspaper has this to say, and she’s real shark conservationist at heart as she dives regularly. I think there are too many ‘villagers’ having one too many drinks in the aft…

the complete story was, LCSD report from a citizen he saw shark in repulse bay on june 17th, inside the shark net, and the government flying services received the report and check out the area, and then they saw a dark shadow around chun hom kok beach, a further look into it, it was just a big school of fishes.

well, we still didn’t know if there’s really shark in sai kung…..

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Believe you me, I was out diving in this weather today, incredible lightening display, so much so that the powerpack on one of my outboards probably blew up. Had to limp back in driving rain, and gusty squalls to Sai Kung. Have just got my repair bill…..
Suggest everyome stays at home and watches 24 or Prison Break

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On the subject of Cobras, I also saw one coming out of the tidal creek just before you get to Ham Tin, Tai Long Wan last week. From afar the underside was lighter/olive, did not see top, but then it stood up and flared its hood. I was still some distance away..maybe the snake objected to my body odour?
All very exciting.

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Could be the Indo Chinese Rat Snake..certainly right length for it and sometimes the banding looks like thin stripes down side of body. Habituates streams etc.

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Hi Simon,
Thanks for your quick response. I shall certainly look into finding those places if time permits.. back then it was quite a long hike, which could then be the place you described. I believe it takes more than few days in HKG to fully enjoy those special locations..
Your message made me smile as I can imagine what trekking with some ladies can be like.. and luckily my girlfriend is not “indoor-oriented” (‘am still laughing now). She is the one making sure we spend most of the day outdoors and prefers the longer routes, loves to go trekking 6-8 hours in one go… one of the reasons why we’re together I suppose.. With the right maps I shall try to get to those pools!
You’re a star, thanks a lot:)

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Hi there,
I like rock pools a lot and would love to get some information on a particular area on Lantau, maybe you as the specialist can help! We used to go hiking on Lantau many years ago (in 1996), I believe in the south of Lantau and the trail went up the hill where we had several rock pools on different levels, each with a great view of the sea! It was absolutely stunning and I really want to go back there. Being in HKG in early May it would be great if you had some info on that particular location.
Thanks!

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Hiking from Ma On Shan to Siu Sai Wan is a long hike along Stages 3&2 (M. Trail backwards) and fairly tough with camping gear.
However camping at Siu Sai Wan is great and there is a superb seaside restaurant there, where he can do full English Breakfast..if you bring the ingredients..otherwise the usual. Last time I had to swim out to the boat as someone forgot the eggs…..
There is also a bus that leaves from the Pagoda, nearby. Owner(Tommy?) has timetable and the bus departs back to SaiKung.
Might suggest hiking from Pak Tam Chung/Au over Lok Wu Plateau.
Otherwise consider camping at Long Kei (if you like beaches) or have a good look over the maps and choose any one of numerous campsites. Remember to bring water, gas/stove etc and warm clothing.

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TB,
If I was going to go out by speedboat, is there a campsite nearby that one could camp at and at the same time keep an eye out on boat. There are some shallow water moorings in place, near the beach…. Don’t want any II’s using my boat for waterskiing in the middle of the night.
CF

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