HK Electric and the Environment

Hmm...

Toward the end of last year the government announced a rebate of up to HK $300 per month on all electricity bills, supposedly to help the poor. A nice gesture, I thought, although coincidentally our first bill following the announcement was exactly the same as we were expecting without the rebate. Somehow we managed to use $300 more electricity.

Anyway, I haven't really thought much more about it until today. Our bill for last month was zero. Thanks to the cold weather we'd only managed to spend $292 on electricity, rebated down to nothing. Great, one might think, except that today I went in to switch off the dehumidifier because the washing was almost dry and then thought "well, we might as well make the most of the rebate – the bill's bound to be less than $300 again this month otherwise."

Thankfully, my conscience got the better of me and I did turn it off, but how many less environmentally responsible people took far less time than me to reach the conclusion that they have been given a licence to waste electricity?

Not sure that's had the desired effect at all. Surely if the aim was to help the poor a means tested system would be far preferable?

Edit: while writing this post I came across this blog saying a similar thing much better than I have.

Some Videos

Some not very good video of a Lion Dance just outside our flat.

And, from Christmas Eve, the hilarious Big Band (Hong Kong Youth Marines Band, I seem to remember) at HKIA. A brilliant way to start the holiday.




(Yes, that is the fabulous Barbie Girl by Danish pop legends Aqua)

Blue Sky Thinking

Back from a fantastic week in Malaysia. Not always relaxing, but just the break from Hong Kong we needed. I loved KL. Such a diverse and culturally varied city; a real assault on the senses. From the sounds and smells of Little India (we decided there was no real need to see another Chinatown – incidentally, why is it Little India, but Chinatown), to the quiet magnificence of the Petronas Towers.

However, what I couldn't get over for the first couple of days was just how clear the air was. We could see! KL is roughly the same size as Hong Kong (certainly in population – both around seven million), and has a very familiar feel. Some stunning monoliths, some beautiful natural surroundings, some surprisingly run-down areas. But for all this, it was amazing what a difference a blue sky made. Much in the same way that getting back from Hong Kong Island to Lamma in the evening can feel like a weight lifting off my shoulders, I could feel my mood improving the more I looked up.

I'm certainly not alone in knowing of plenty of people who are actively considering moving away from HK to get away from the pollution here, and a familiar story is of expats who have really noticed their health deteriorate since moving here. Just yesterday I chatted with a colleague who has recently arrived after spending seven years in Singapore. After trying HK Island for a month or so, they felt they had to move to Discovery Bay to try to find some cleaner air. Another is having to move from Kowloon to Sai Kung to try to alleviate his daughter's asthma.

So what to do about it? Well, that's the thorny issue, isn't it? This site shows some of the strategies already in place, and (certainly compared with other major cities) it's actually fairly comprehensive and encouraging, but I feel that it is not executed with sufficient vigour or enthusiasm. There are also numerous non-governmental bodies doing their best to raise awareness (although anyone that has glanced across the harbour and not been able to see the other side should already have a fairly good idea of the scale of the problem) and implement solutions. The problem, however, is that tackling pollution sources in Hong Kong is only part of the battle. What to do about the smog billowing down the Pearl Delta from Guangdong and Shenzhen is quite another matter. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is that this pollution is often 'made in Hong Kong,' in the sense that the majority of heavy polluters in the mainland are HK owned. What is needed is for the government to be bold and introduce legislation that compels HK owned, but mainland located, polluters to meet rigorous emission standards. And, as is slowly starting to happen, planning legislation must be equally bold in preventing new developments from further preventing free air flow and thereby causing pollutant build-up.

Especially with the current economic situation, Hong Kong cannot just sit back and let the exodus gather pace, this is a key opportunity to do something about it.

Express Airport

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

We're off to Malaysia for the Chinese New Year holiday. A couple of days in KL (my first time), and then maybe a drive up to Ipoh and the Cameron highlands. Getting here reminds me of why I love this place: wander through the village avoiding the day-trippers streaming in, admiring the whole pigs being butchered and flanked by endless tanks of beautiful fish, then onto the ferry (the novelty value of commuting by ferry still hasn't worn off!). A quick five minutes through the IFC, with its Gucci and Armani provides a bit of a contrast, and then it's into the Airport Express to check in.

Traveling at peak times certainly has its benefits, I think we've now been upgraded something silly like five out of six segments! Checked in, so no bags to worry about, it's then only a maximum ten minute wait (they've just increased the frequency from 12 minutes, just for CNY?) for the next train straight into the terminal.

Unfortunately, no band piping us through the airport this time (unlike at Christmas), but security was a breeze and then not a single person queuing for the smartcard immigration machine. A quick left turn directly in to the first class lounge, and I just can't help comparing this experience with any other major city/airport!

And at least, unlike Ho Chi Minh for Christmas, this flight (at four hours, rather than two, is long enough to take advantage of being in business!).

So, Kung Hei Fat Choi, and see you when we're back.

Hong Kong's Addicts

No, not the drug addicts that are soon to be rooted out by random drug testing (if the government gets its way, that is), but it seems we're addicted to spending. Recent research from Synovate pinpoints Hong Kong as the most pessimistic of the four Asian markets studied (the others being Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan), with the UK as the most pessimistic globally (the release of these data also happens to coincide with figures finally showing what we already knew - that the UK is now officially in recession).

What is more interesting though is that a mammoth over 50 percent of Hong Kongers responded that, 'despite misgivings over their financial status, they were unable to refrain from spending at the same level as during a positive economic climate.' By contrast, only 25% of respondents from Singapore felt the same.

Well, we're either going to spend our way out of this recession, or we're going to have a bl00dy good time trying!

(Sadly, despite myself, I'm afraid I probably fall into the half of us here who still keeps spending despite all logic dictating otherwise)

The Hong Kong Trail

So, we've finally finished hiking the 50 km Hong Kong Trail. Not in one go, you understand - although some crazy people do the much harder MacLehose Trail in one fell swoop in November. In fact, rumour has it that I will be joining those crazies this year, but I'm not convinced yet. The average time is about 24 hours, but the winners last year completed it in a spectacular time of under 12 hours! They were ex-Ghurkhas, obviously.

Anyway, we took a rather more sedate approach to the HK Trail, only taking on one or two of the eight sections at a time. It was brilliant though, and really showcases the beauty (both rural and urban) of Hong Kong Island. Stage five, in particular, offers fantastic elevated views over the rolling hills of the South side of the island, with its heavy dusting of lush green trees and sprinkling of emerald reservoirs glinting in the winter sunlight, the peace only broken by hawks soaring below, looking for thermals. But a glance to the left reveals one of the most densely populated cities in the world in all her glory. The magnificence of the IFC and the Bank of China Tower flanked by the surprise of Happy Valley racecourse nestled among gravity-defying skyscrapers. And then over to Kowloon-side, and the remains of Kai Tak airport, with its legacy of an encircling of stunted buildings only beginning to dissipate, framed by the mountains of the New Territories.

Of course, this is hiking, Jim, but not as I have ever previously known it. Much of the trail, unfortunately, is across paved roads, and even the really out of the way sections have safety rails and concrete steps. Lots of steps. And the route seems designed so that if there is a sustained flight of stairs to be conquered (I believe the most consecutive steps is around 800), it will always hit you right at the start of a section leaving no time to warm up or contemplate the task ahead.

But it’s a beautiful walk, and even within 50 km on a very small island, still manages to traverse some astonishingly diverse terrain. And descending the final, lingering staircase down into Big Wave Bay to join the surfers did bring with it a definite sense of satisfaction.

Next up the Wilson Trail, wending its way from Hong Kong Island almost to the border with China, and passing through monkey territory! First though, the small matter of The Twins: an ascent of 1000 steps, only to rinse, repeat and head straight up to the second summit. Wish us luck!