Hong Kong Travel News Review

8 September '00
Stilted Behaviour
Residents of the Tai O, a quiet fishing village located on one of Hong Kong's islands, feel their district is under threat from developers and the Hong Kong government. The most unusual feature of the village is its stilted houses, an architectural oddity that attracts over 30,000 tourists a year. Under present plans being mooted by the government, two thirds of Tai O's stilted houses are to be torn down to make way for boat mooring facilities, an entrance plaza and, ironically, a folk museum. The houses represent nearly 300 years of heritage and demolishing them would irrevocably change the landscape and character of the place that has been dubbed the Venice of Hong Kong. Fears were held back in July when 90 homes were destroyed by fire, but a local councilor has allayed such fears saying he thinks, ultimately, the government will not go through with the proposal.

5 September '00
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Scandal of scandals! Ten thousand concert-goers in Hong Kong paid up to US$31 to watch a fake Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra play at the Midsummer Classics 2000, in August. The real orchestra couldn't have been there as it was playing in Europe at the time and its agent in Moscow insists that it was not in Hong Kong. So who was playing to crowds between 7-13 August in Hong Kong? Probably a group of out-of-work Moscow musicians according to the conductor of the real Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. It doesn't end there though. The conductor of the Hong Kong concerts swears he led the real thing. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which promoted the concerts, is not amused.

11 August '00
Hong Kong's Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery has reopened as a tourist attraction, a few years after being closed by a landslide. The landslide occurred In 1997 and dumped mud, rocks and trees on the shrine, which subsequently remained closed for years afterwards as renovation work was delayed by lack of funds. Visitors are not required to pay an admission fee, but will have to walk up some steep steps to reach the remote temple.

4 August '00
The first Madame Tussauds waxworks museum in Asia will open in Hong Kong this August. With a combination of Chinese communist leaders, Hong Kong colonial figures and Hollywood stars, the waxworks could prove an interesting mix. Current Chinese president Jiang Zemin will be featured in wax, as will film star Jackie Chan and several of the British royal family. Wax sculptures of local stars are also in the making.The museum will be located in Peak Tower, Hong Kong.

2 August '00
Hong Kong’s monkey of the moment Kam Ying and his owner Chan have now been reunited. Those who followed the moving tale of Kam Ying, a three-year-old who was confiscated by government officials from her 90-year-old owner, Chan Yat-biu [see Scoop Hong Kong 5 June '00], will shed a tear of relief to know that the two are together again. Mr Chan, a street performer who had been pining for his pet and former colleague, won a court battle which rejected the government’s attempt to seize the monkey. The Government has said it will not appeal the decision. Mr Chan will now have a special permit to keep Kam Ying, a domesticated monkey of a species which people are normally prohibited to keep. Chan has also agreed to the fitting of a special micro-chip in Kam Ying, and the construction of a special cage enclosure for their Kowloon City home.

24 July '00
A group of Hong Kong restaurateurs sick of being chastised by trade unions for exploiting staff have offered a labour leader US$1.25m to open a restaurant, pledging they will change their labour practices if the venture breaks even operating on union guidelines. Mr Lee Cheuk Yan, head of the Confederation of Trade Unions, rose to the challenge, claiming there was no reason a restaurant in Hong Kong could not be successful while offering employees an eight-hour day and a minimum wage. The union leader plans to run the new venture as a workers' co-operative and expects the restaurateurs to soon be eating humble pie.

12 July '00
Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport could have its own extensive 'airport city' if plans go head. The airport authority is considering building the city on the 40 hectares (100 acres) of land at the northern tip of the airport. The complex would provide Hong Kong with another convention and exhibition centre, plus office spaces, shopping arcades, hotels and other commercial ventures. The idea is to build an airport community, extending the already huge facilities to attract and accommodate more stopover visitors, and perhaps Hong Kong Disneyland-related business. The airport has plans to reach a target capacity of 87 million people and a cargo handling capacity of nine million tonnes. Passenger number and cargo throughput are rising rapidly at Chek Lap Kok, but the airport is yet to break even on its costs.

5 June '00
A 90 year-old busker is now pining for his pet monkey after it was confiscated by government officials during a street performance in Kowloon. Chan Yat-biu had hand-raised Kam Ying, a rhesus macaque, from a baby. Chan's son says his father has been sad, tired and getting thinner and thinner since losing his old friend of four years. An ordinance designed for the protection of endangered species prohibits the keeping of monkeys. Local media has become quite taken with the issue, with one talk show host launching radio phone-in and internet campaigns to rally support for Mr Chan and Kam King to be reunited. They argue that Kam Ying was well cared for by Chan and could not be returned to the wild, and that it is therefore only the welfare of the old man that is being neglected. Officials have responded by saying Kam Ying was happy in his temporary new environment in an Animal Centre, and was learning survival techniques from the other monkeys. Chen is not faring so well, and has fallen sick after taken the long journey to visit his pet.

20 May '00
Amatuer divers claim they have found an ancient wall under the sea, at the site of Hong Kong`s Disneyland project. The Disney company has commenced reclamation work at the Penny`s Bay site, Lantau Island, regardless of the claims. One archaeologist and the group of 30 divers say the wall, which the divers discovered during a recent seabed search, is thought to be up to 800 years old, possibly from the Sung Dynasty. They have urged the goverment to act on their findings, investigate further and, if necessary preserve the wall from reclamation. The claims have met with scepticism on the part of officials, who say previous underwater searches did not uncover the wall. The Disney project has met many obstacles and objections, particulaly from archeological and environmental groups.

20 May '00
A new exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum show new evidence of how birds have evolved from dinosaurs. The exhibition features fossils of Chinese dinosaurs which had feathers, showing a link between the two. The fossils were unearthed by Chinese scientists in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning. Chinese National Geological Museum experts say the fossils prove that the dinosaur has not been destroyed, but has evolved in stages to bird form. The exhibition is now on, and includes Sinosauropteryx, the first known feathered dinosaur in the world, and Confuciusornis, the first known beaked bird.

26 April '00
The train ride from Kowloon Station to the Airport will be free over the Easter period. All rides will be free for passengers taking the train from Kowloon Station from Friday 21 to Monday 24 April. In addition, trains will start running 50 minutes early on Thursday and Friday, with the first trains leaving Hong Kong Station at 5am.

30 March '00
Air pollution has worsened across Hong Kong, reaching record highs in some areas. A thick blanket of smog and pollutants has covered the territory for over three days, and in some districts pollutants are at 'very high' levels. Many areas have registered more than 100 on the air pollution index; in Central district pollution reached 174, the highest level on record. People with heart and respiratory problems have been advised to stay home since 27 March, and officials are warning all people to avoid areas where traffic is very heavy.

17 February '00
Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport opened its new passenger concourse last week, in anticipation of a surge in tourist numbers. While the airport is not yet operating at capacity, officials decided to go ahead with opening the new concourse, which will boost handling capacity to 45 million passengers annually. The decision is based on an expected growth in visitor numbers in light of the easing economic crisis in Southeast Asia, and is in time for the surge in numbers over the Lunar New Year period. Also, many people deferred travel over the Christmas/New Year period due to millenium bug fears. The concourse opening is an indication of Hong Kong tourism getting back on track after two years of downturn. Hotel and arrival rates increased last year, and Hong Kong is increasingly used as a gateway for mainland China.

10 February '00
Experts have unearthed a settlement of Neolithic relics dating back 4000 years at the future Disneyland site at Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. The discovery suggests organised human activities on the island occurred as far back as the late Stone Age. Archaeologists have uncovered ancient porcelain shards along the border of the Disney site. In recent years, excavations at the Penny's Bay site have uncovered Hong Kong's largest collection of relics dating from the Ming Dynasty. Archaeological experts are urging the government to spare the ancient site from Disneyland development. The controversial Disneyland project is still awaiting the results of an environmental assessment report.

10 February '00
Hong Kong's taxi drivers have won a high approval rate, according to a recent Transport Department survey. Of the 3539 taxi passengers interviewed, tourists gave the drivers an overall approval rating of 76 per cent, while residents gave a 70 per cent approval rating. Tourists and residents alike seemed satisfied with the taxi drivers' performance in areas such as reliability, safety, behaviour and conduct. Less satisfaction was recorded in areas of courtesy and passenger comfort, as well as driver concentration and familiarity with routes. The survey results are part of a study to be used to improve training and services.

30 November '99
While the rest of the planet gets ready to welcome the new millenium, China plans to go one better by constructing a huge monument to its five milleniums of uninterrupted civilization. More than 2000 builders have spent the last 12 months constructing a massive tower topped by a revolving platform that will accommodate more than 1000 people. Visitors to the five hectare (13 acre) site will first be greeted by a permanent flame - the 'Holy Fire of the Chinese Nation' - which will remain lit at all times ('like the eternal creative spirit of Chinese civilization', the propaganda machine has sprouted). Should the flame ever go out, an emergency burner will automatically reignite it immediately. On a bronze wall 3m (2.5yds) wide and 270m (245yd) long a massive history of the Chinese people has been etched; the etching will have a thin stream of water trickling down it at all times symbolizing 'the continuing history of the nation'. Even unfavourable periods of history will be included, such as the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre - though it remains to be seen just how negatively these events are portrayed. The monument will open on 5 February next year to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year.

16 November '99
Hong Kong is touting the world's biggest ever tea party and giving people a chance to set a tea-drinking world record. The Hong Kong Millennium Brew-up will take place at Tamar in Central on 27 November. Over 10,000 people are expected to turn up to brew and sample more cups of cha than ever seen in one place. Booths at the Brew-up will exhibit and sell products relating to tea and tea brewing. Other tea regions will also be featured, with pavilions set up from countries like China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Of course the world's biggest tea party wouldn't be the same without an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records. The event will feature an attempt at gaining Guinness fame by having the largest number of people drink tea simultaneously - apparently a fiercely contested category. Visitors can take part in the attempt for around US$38, and will receive a certificate and souvenir tea set. Proceeds will go to charity. Go to http://www.hkta.org for more details.

15 November '99
The Hong Kong government has approved construction of the tallest building in Asia, and one of the world's tallest buildings. The 580m (1900ft) tower, being built by the MTR Corporation on the West Kowloon reclamation area, will dwarf Malaysia's Petronas Tower which stands at 450m (1500ft), and will be just shorter than a proposed 600m (1950ft) skyscraper in Chicago that includes a 472m (1550ft) building and two 140m (450ft) antennas.

19 November '99
Cathay Pacific Airways has added more flights and expanded its routes in the Asia-Pacific region. Following signs of economic revival and an encouraging rise in visitor numbers, Hong-Kong based Cathay Pacific is adding new flights to Sydney, Seoul and Osaka. The new changes took effect on 31 October, and were also a response to the Hong Kong government's 15 percent reduction in carrier landing fees at Chek Lap Kok.

19 October '99
A project is underway to build a rail link from Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau. The new link will cost over US$1 million, and will create a new border crossing at Shenzhen, China. The project will include a new Lok Ma Chau rail terminal with 56 immigration counters, to be built at the same time as the Huanggang station on the mainland side. The new link is expected to ease congestion at Lowu. Around 1000 New Territories residents will have to relocate to make room for the new link.

17 September '99
Another Typhoon struck Hong Kong on the weekend, making this the most storm-filled year since 1964. Just 10 days ago Typhoon York hit Hong Kong, resulting in widespread damage and three deaths. The latest tropical storm, Typhoon Cam, hit on Sunday, injuring 23 people and causing flooding. High level rain and storm warnings were issued, and people were told to remain indoors. Typhoon Cam has disrupted transport, resulting in flight cancellations and delays, and obstructed sea traffic. Cam was the seventh typhoon to hit Hong Kong this year.

17 September '99
Preparations are underway in Hong Kong for the construction of a Hollywood-style 'Walk of Fame'. The Hong Kong Tourist Association announced that Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade will be home to the Walk of Fame, a tribute to the achievements of the Hong Kong Film Industry. It is hoped that tourists, local movie fans and htose in the industry will be attracted to the new walkway, which is expected to cost over US$100,000.

30 August '99
The largest ever collection of Ming Dynasty relics has been recovered in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. Thousands of fragments of porcelain have been excavated from the bay, which is also the proposed site for the controversial Disneyland theme park. Most of the porcelain dates back to the period 1480-1520. Archaeologists say the Ming discovery suggests the bay may have been a pirate's enclave, and a shelter for trade ships travelling between south China and Southeast Asia. Currently a shipyard, excavations will take place at the bay to make way for the new Disneyland project, as soon as the government reaches an agreement with the Disney Company.

24 August '99
Typhoon Sam wreaked havoc over Hong Kong over the weekend, culminating in the China Airlines crash at Hong Kong's new Chek Lap Kok Airport on Sunday night in which two people died. The tropical cyclone had already caused delays and flight diversions when gale force winds and rains caused the China Airlines flight to flip onto its roof as it attempted to land at the new airport. The airport remained shut for many hours, causing delays and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded overnight. The storm has caused some ferry and bus closures and delays. Typhoon signals have now been lowered, but strong winds and rains uprooted trees and caused flooding and landslides across Hong Kong. The worst damage reportedly occurred in the New Territories.

2 June '99
Be careful catching a bus in Hong Kong; the driver may get you safely to your destination. In an unusual workers' protest, Hong Kong Citybus drivers are threatening to drive at safe speeds and check passenger's fares. The drivers are disputing pay and working conditions and believe the careful-driving protest would effectively double travel times on some routes and would affect over 6000 passengers. The planned protest would involve slowing down to 'safe' speeds of 30kmh (19mph) in urban areas, refusing to overtake, opening doors precisely in line with bus stop posts, and checking each passenger's fare before allowing them on board. The areas affected would be the shuttle bus routes in City One Sha Tin, and Kingswood Villas in Tin Shui Wai.

10 May '99
Visitors to Hong Kong may now be able to expect cleaner, tidier surroundings. Hotel staff have taken to the streets of Hong Kong in an effort to clean up tourist areas. The Marco Polo Hotel and the Prince hotel have designated one day a month to cleaning up their local environment in Canton and Haiphong Roads, Tsim Sha Tsui. The campaign is an attempt to attract more visitors to the city, and comes in response to increased rubbish and pollution levels in Hong Kong's streets. Tourism officials have welcomed this new community-mindedness.

22 April '99
Kowloon City's Kai Tak runway could become an island theme park if residents have their way. Responding to government plans to turn the runway site into a massive dumping area, art groups and residents of Kowloon City have insisted that the site should not become an eyesore for travellers viewing Hong Kong from Kowloon Peak. The groups have proposed a pollution-free park for the site, hosting cultural attractions like an amphitheatre, museum, concert hall and gallery. Under this plan the centre of the runway would be blasted away to form an island surrounded by water.

22 March '99
Visitors to Hong Kong can now join the thousands of residents who practice Tai Chi in city parks each morning. The Hong Kong Tourist Association is inviting tourists to try Tai Chi, with three free sessions each week in Kowloon at 7.15 am. The Chinese martial art, involving meditation and gentle exercise movements, encourages health, well being and relaxation.

1 February '99
Museums in Hong Kong will now be open every day of the year, except on the first and second days of the Lunar New Year. The new opening hours will affect the larger museums, such as the Museum of Art and the Museum of History as well as smaller museum. Authorities hope the increased openings will attract more visitors to the museums.

2 October '98
As Hong Kong's air quality wavers between abysmal and atrocious, environment groups are demanding the government takes some serious action to improve air quality. Health authorities are concerned at the number of days which are declared unhealthy. The high pollution levels in Hong Kong are caused by the large number of diesel vehicles, factory emissions and on-going construction work which kicks up clouds of dirt and concrete dust. Friends of the Earth in Hong Kong has called on the government to introduce legislation to ban idling vehicles and to swap the Territory's 17,000 taxis over to LPG.

23 September '98
If you're hungering for oysters while you're in Hong Kong, make sure they come from somewhere other than Hong Kong waters. Doctors in Hong Kong have warned residents and visitors alike to refrain from eating raw oysters from Hong Kong waters following the discovery of concentrations of flesh-eating bacteria (necrotizing fascitis) in oysters harvested in Hong Kong's harbours. The bacteria, which can be transferred to humans, causes the skin to fall off the body.

21 September '98
The Hong Kong government has abolished one of Hong Kong's public holidays - the Sino-Japanese War Victory Day. This public holiday, which celebrated the eviction of Japanese forces from Hong Kong at the end of World War 2, falls on a Monday in mid to late August each year. The cancellation of the holiday brings the number of public holidays celebrated in Hong Kong each year down to 17. The holiday was cancelled mainly to save costs for business operating in Hong Kong.

15 July '98
Travelers arriving at and departing from Hong Kong's new airport, Chek Lap Kok, are advised to be very patient, as it hasn't been a good opening week for the airport. Computer and mechanical problems have left many passengers stranded due to flight delays, and cargo operations at the airport have all but halted. Cargo flights have been re-directed to the nearby airports at Macao and the Chinese city of Shenzen as officials attempt to solve the problems.

8 July '98
Hong Kong's new international airport opened on Thursday, 2 July. The airport is built on a man-made island at Chek Lap Kop, off Lantau Island. At a cost of US$20 billion and with the capacity to handle 35 million passengers annually, the new airport was one of the world's largest construction projects. The airport commenced full operations on 6 July. The new airport replaces the Kai Tak airport, which sat smack in the middle of urban Hong Kong and made for one of the most exciting (or nerve-wracking) final approaches of any airport in the world.

8 July '98
In a recent survey by the Geneva-based Corporate Resources Group, Tokyo has lost its status as the world’s most expensive city for expatriate living. The most expensive city in the world is now Hong Kong. And it appears living anywhere in China is not for those with limited funds - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian and Shenzhen all made it into the top ten most expensive cities in the world. London is the 10th most expensive, New York the 21st, while Sydney comes in at 74th.

10 June '98
The Hong Kong Tourist Association is anticipating zero growth in visitor numbers this year. More than 70% of visitors to Hong Kong come from other Asian countries, but as it doesn't look like the region's economy will be improving for some time yet, officials are looking at another year of poor tourism returns. Nonetheless, the association has announced a number of projects to attract visitors back to Hong Kong including the development of the Aberdeen fish market into an area similar to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, and improved terminal facilities to attract more cruise ships to the island.

27 May '98
The Hong Kong airline, Cathay Pacific, has banned British rock group Oasis for life from flying on Cathay Pacific flights. The ban comes after the lead singer Liam Gallagher and his band were reported for their drunk and abusive behaviour on a flight from Hong Kong to Australia in February this year. Recent elections in Hong Kong saw a strong swing in favour of pro-democracy candidates. All the candidates who were ousted after the return to Chinese rule won their seats back, although the Democrats, Hong Kong's largest party, secured only 13 seats of the 60-seat Legislative Council.

13 May '98
Red tide algal blooms, which have already closed beaches at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and Chung Hom Kok, appear to be spreading to Lamma and Lantau Island, threatening their closure as well. The algal blooms are toxic to fish and dangerous to humans, particularly when contaminated shellfish and fish are eaten. This latest health scare is one of many over the past six months to hit Hong Kong. Late last year an outbreak of ‘bird-flu’ in chickens caused the death of six people and last week pig offal was banned after nine people fell ill after eating pig lung soup. Travellers might like to consider the vegetarian option during their stay in Hong Kong.

4 March '98
Immigration officials in Hong Kong are currently testing a new travel pass which allows business people who visit Hong Kong frequently to use the residents’ lanes at the immigration counter, reducing the time spent waiting in queues by around 40%. Applications for the passes, which cost $65 and are valid for three years for multiple stays of up to two months each, are available at Hong Kong immigration and trade offices.

4 February '98
Hong Kong’s only remaining vehicular ferry service across Victoria Harbour, from North Point to Kowloon City, has ceased operation. As most cars and taxis in Hong Kong now use tunnels to cross the harbour, dwindling use of the ferry services across Victoria Harbour made the services under-used and unprofitable.

20 Janruary '98
A new Museum of History has been planned for Hong Kong. The Museum will include an exhibit about the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. The student demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square were widely-supported by Hong Kong and more than one million Hong Kong residents protested against the military crackdown against the students.

24 December '97
Repairs to the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery, damaged during a landslide earlier this year, have almost been completed and the Monastery is scheduled to re-open by Lunar New Year. The main temple in the Monastery, situated on Sha Tin hillside, contains more than 10,000 gold statues of Buddha.