bc magazine

Halloween Fest @ Ocean Park

The night before All Saints Day (1 November) is known as All Hallows Eve, which has evolved over the centuries to Halloween and been embraced locally as a time to dress up, have fun and eat sweet treats. Commercially a single night has become a season, and there’s no better example of this than Ocean Park where it’s 15th Halloween Fest is a 6 week branding bonanza for sponsors stretching from 18 September to 1 November.

Spokesperson Allan Zeman said Halloween Fest is principally targeted at Hongkongers… Which makes it hard to understand why H15 this year’s signature Halloween attraction, for a park looking to attract 36,000+ people a day, is a single person journey strapped to a board from your funeral through the first seven days postmortem. Needless to say advance registration on 4 and 10 September is required. Looking to cater to everyone Ocean Park has Halloween tie-ins with TV show The Walking Dead and anime favourite Doraemon among its 10 Halloween attractions and 12 seasonal shows. Not having previewed any of the these it’s impossible to comment on them, although calling an attraction Lolita Mansion seems a little distasteful. There are also a variety of themed menus on offer.

So grab a few friends, set aside your cyncism and have a little fun, entry is $345, but nothing is that simple these days and there are almost as many discounted entry tickets, passes and ways avoid queues as there days in Halloween Fest, take a look at their website to see how to save www.oceanpark.com.hk

NPC Decision on HK Chief Executive Election by Universal Suffrage

August 31st marks the one year anniversary of the publication of the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage.

For those who have not read it, here is the full text

Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2016

(Adopted at the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress on 31 August 2014)

The Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress considered at its Tenth Session the Report on whether there is a need to amend the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2016 submitted by Leung Chun-ying, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on 15 July 2014. In the course of deliberation, the relevant views and suggestions of the Hong Kong community were given full consideration.

The Session points out that according to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Issues Relating to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on Issues Relating to Universal Suffrage adopted by the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People’s Congress at its Thirty-first Session on 29 December 2007, the election of the fifth Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the year 2017 may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage; at an appropriate time prior to the selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by universal suffrage, the Chief Executive shall make a report to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress as regards the issue of amending the method for selecting the Chief Executive in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of Article 7 of Annex I and Article III of Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and a determination thereon shall be made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. From 4 December 2013 to 3 May 2014, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conducted an extensive and in-depth public consultation on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016. In the course of consultation, the Hong Kong community generally expressed the hope to see the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017, and broad consensus was reached on important principles such as: the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage shall comply with the Hong Kong Basic Law and the relevant Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and the Chief Executive shall be a person who loves the country and loves Hong Kong. With respect to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016, the Hong Kong community put forward various views and suggestions. It was on this basis that the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region made a report to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on issues relating to amending the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016. The Session is of the view that the report complies with the requirements of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of Article 7 of Annex I and Article III of Annex II to the Hong Kong Basic Law and the relevant Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and reflects comprehensively and objectively the views collected during the public consultation; and is thus a positive, responsible and pragmatic report.

The Session is of the view that implementing universal suffrage for the selection of the Chief Executive represents a historic progress in Hong Kong’s democratic development and a significant change in the political structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Since the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake, there is a need to proceed in a prudent and steady manner. The selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by universal suffrage has its origin in Paragraph 2 of Article 45 of the Hong Kong Basic Law: “The method for selecting the Chief Executive shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures.” The formulation of the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage must strictly comply with the relevant provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law, accord with the principle of “one country, two systems”, and befit the legal status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It must meet the interests of different sectors of the society, achieve balanced participation, be conducive to the development of the capitalist economy, and make gradual and orderly progress in developing a democratic system that suits the actual situation in Hong Kong. Given the divergent views within the Hong Kong community on how to implement the Hong Kong Basic Law provisions on universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive, and in light of the constitutional responsibility of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for the proper implementation of the Hong Kong Basic Law and for deciding on the method for the selection of the Chief Executive, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress finds it necessary to make provisions on certain core issues concerning the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage, so as to facilitate the building of consensus within the Hong Kong community and the attainment of universal suffrage for the selection of the Chief Executive smoothly and in accordance with law.

The Session is of the view that since the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be accountable to both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Central People’s Government in accordance with the provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the principle that the Chief Executive has to be a person who loves the country and loves Hong Kong must be upheld. This is a basic requirement of the policy of “one country, two systems”. It is determined by the legal status as well as important functions and duties of the Chief Executive, and is called for by the actual need to maintain long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and uphold the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country. The method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage must provide corresponding institutional safeguards for this purpose.

The Session is of the view that the amendments made to the method for forming the fifth term Legislative Council in 2012 represented major strides towards the direction of enhancing democracy. The existing formation method and voting procedures for the Legislative Council as prescribed in Annex II to the Hong Kong Basic Law will not be amended, and will continue to apply in respect of the sixth term Legislative Council in 2016. This is consistent with the principle of gradual and orderly progress in developing a democratic system that suits Hong Kong’s actual situation and conforms to the majority view in the Hong Kong community. It also helps the various sectors of the Hong Kong community to focus their efforts on addressing the issues concerning universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive first, thus creating the conditions for attaining the aim of electing all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage after the implementation of universal suffrage for the selection of the Chief Executive.

Accordingly, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of Article 7 of Annex I and Article III of Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Issues Relating to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on Issues Relating to Universal Suffrage, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress makes the following decision:

I. Starting from 2017, the selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage.

II. When the selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is implemented by the method of universal suffrage:

(1) A broadly representative nominating committee shall be formed. The provisions for the number of members, composition and formation method of the nominating committee shall be made in accordance with the number of members, composition and formation method of the Election Committee for the Fourth Chief Executive.

(2) The nominating committee shall nominate two to three candidates for the office of Chief Executive in accordance with democratic procedures. Each candidate must have the endorsement of more than half of all the members of the nominating committee.

(3) All eligible electors of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have the right to vote in the election of the Chief Executive and elect one of the candidates for the office of Chief Executive in accordance with law.

(4) The Chief Executive-elect, after being selected through universal suffrage, will have to be appointed by the Central People’s Government.

III. The specific method of universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive shall be prescribed in accordance with legal procedures through amending Annex I to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China: The Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The bill on the amendments and the proposed amendments to such bill shall be introduced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the Hong Kong Basic Law and the provisions of this Decision. Such amendments shall obtain the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legislative Council and the consent of the Chief Executive before being submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for approval.

IV. If the specific method of universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive is not adopted in accordance with legal procedures, the method used for selecting the Chief Executive for the preceding term shall continue to apply.

V. The existing formation method and voting procedures for the Legislative Council as prescribed in Annex II to the Hong Kong Basic Law will not be amended. The formation method and procedures for voting on bills and motions of the fifth term Legislative Council will continue to apply to the sixth term Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2016. After the election of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage, the election of all the members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage. At an appropriate time prior to the election of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage, the Chief Executive elected by universal suffrage shall submit a report to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of Article 7 of Annex I and Article III of Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China as regards the issue of amending the method for forming the Legislative Council. A determination thereon shall be made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The Session stresses that it is the consistent position of the central authorities to implement resolutely and firmly the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy, strictly adhere to the Hong Kong Basic Law and steadily take forward the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017. It is hoped that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and all sectors of the Hong Kong community will act in accordance with the provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law and this Decision and jointly work towards the attainment of the aim of selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage.

Genki 20th Anniversary

Genki the name synonymous locally, and globally, with conveyor belt sushi celebrates it’s 20th anniversary in Hong Kong this month. Their first local store opened on 3 August 1995 in the Far East Finance Centre, Admiralty. As part of the celebrations Genki have opened their first Kousoku (Speed Train) store in Tsuen Wan. Instead of trays of sushi and sashimi on a conveyor belt snaking around the restaurant each table is served by a three level Kousoku.

The benefits of this to us as customers are that each dish is prepared fresh when you order it and served directly to the table. Ordering is by touch screen pad, with each part of your order limited to four plates (each train only has space for four plates). Individually and for couples this works fine, but with most dishes on the menu only having one item, it might not work so well for groups of four. Each plate is sent when ready and the target is to serve you within 90 seconds of a dish being ordered. The system is fun, portion size, quality and price / value are the same as the conveyor belt stores.
Genki Kousoku Shop B105-108, B1, Tsuen Wan Plaza, Tai Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Tel: 2499 3172. Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm

Megabites: Sushi Sei

Sushi Sei
There are a surprising number of restaurants in IFC, one of the more recent arrivals is Sushi Sei. Offering two quite different menus at lunch and dinner the food we sampled at lunch was fresh, full of interesting flavours and well presented. Head Chef Kaoru Mitsuhashi said his style was based around the traditional Edomae Nigirisushi.

In truth we’re not well enough versed in Japanese cuisine to comment on it’s authenticity, but beyond having a very enjoyable lunch we did learn two interesting things. We’ve been eating our sushi incorrectly for years, instead of picking a piece up and placing it in our mouths we should actually turn each piece so that the fish rather than the rice touches the tongue first so as to appreciate the subtle flavours of the fish before the rice dominates the tastebuds. Very obvious, when you think about it….

In many modern Japanese restaurants the rice is squashed tightly together making more of a block to bite into. Chef Mitsuhashi claims the traditional method is to have the rice loser and served warm so that it ‘crumbles’ in the mouth. Unsurprisingly this creates a completely different flavour experience, again allowing the flavour of the fish to remain on the palate longer.
Sushi Sei: Shop 2016, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, Tel: 2387 3377

Miss Yellow Headphone Launch @ Kee Club – 22 August, 2015

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Miss Yellow celebrated the launch of her limited edition headphones at Kee Club on the 22 August, 2015
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Megabites: Port @ Knutsford Terrace

New on Knutsford Terrace is Port, the third bar from the owners of Zinc and Ra. Hong Kong has been one of the worlds busiest container ports for years but Port is the first bar bc can recall to use the shape and design of a container as it’s underlying theme and decor. The industrial container concept works well to create a unique design with a large outside seating area and a spacious interior.

There’s a small but interesting menu split into five sections – Apps, Soil, Sea, Land, Sweet Tooth – and full of interesting dishes we’ve not seen locally before. From the Apps selection bc sampled several very enjoyable plates the Blistered Shishito Peppers with Lime, Sea Salt ($55) were tasty and tangy and a perfect snack to drink with. The Boudin Arancini (Chorizo Rice Balls, $75) were large and filling and served with aioli sauce, slightly larger chunks of chorizo would improve this fine bar snack. The Chicharones ($98) served with plum and aioli sauce were large meaty and tasty if a little dry.

In the Soil section the Long Beans, Manchego Cheese, Lemon ($68) saw crisp long beans covered in cheese and lemon, simple fresh and crispy. From the Sea the Atlantic Cod Charred with Sweetcorn and Chorizo ($168) was a delicious blend of flavours and textures. Cod is such a delicious fish that we have to hope that stocks will continue to replenish. After so many interesting dishes the Bacon-Grind Sliders, Cheddar, onions and Comeback Sauce ($138) served with spicy fries seemed rather mundane but the sliders are large, with lots of freshly ground beef in the patty topped with good bacon (as a bacon lover a second rasher would have made the dish) and cheddar cheese.

An interesting and varied menu, generous well presented portions and reasonable prices ensure Port is definitely a place worthy of dropping anchor when your next in TST.
Port – 2 Knutsford Terrace, TST. Tel: 2146 2222
Zinc – 35 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong. Tel: 2868 3448
Ra – G/F Wing On Plaza, 62 Mody Road, TST East. Tel: 27121 3600

Kai Tak Transport Deadzone

Since the closure of the old airport one large swathe of Hong Kong has become a deadzone for public transport. Alicia Sing explores how to get close to Kai Tak if you’re attending an event there or want to explore the area.

What are your options? Bus, minibus, MTR, walking… The closest MTR stops are Kowloon Bay and Ngau Tau Kok followed by a long walk. Here are the fastest and cheapest routes from across Hong kong, almost all routes require a 15-20 minute walk from the bus stop to the Kai Tak cruise terminal

[table id=KaiTak2015 /]

Alternatives – take a Taxi! There is a taxi pick up and drop off right outside the terminal. Here is the Chinese address for taxi drivers: 啟德郵輪碼頭

If you want to look up the fastest and cheapest route yourselves? Try this app: Hong Kong eTransport.

Hope you’ll find your way and enjoy your day!

Megabites: Great UK Food Festival

The latest promotion from Great in the basement of Pacifc Place is the UK Food Festival which features over 300 new products. Filling Great’s wonderful cheese room is an expanded range of UK cheese from Neal’s Yard, which sources farmhouse made cheese from across the Isles. Amongst others there’s Keen’s Cheddar, Kirkham Lancashire, Appleby’s Double Gloucester, Colston Bassett Blue Stilton and an interesting Shropshire blue as well as Ticklemore’s Goat’s Cheese…

Also featuring in the promotion are Dickinson & Morris pork pies. The humble British pork pie is actually a complicated culinary delight as anyone who has tried to make one at home can attest. Sealing the filling in the dough to create the jelly is an art unto itself. In the bakery there’s also a range of scones – perfect for afternoon tea, topped with jam and clotted cream, and yes Great is selling real clotted cream! Enough with this fake overly sweet stuff that masquerades as ‘cream’ in Asia and destroys so many fine cakes and deserts. There’s also battenberg cake, an English delight that features squares of sponge cake surrounded in marzipan.

Welsh lamb and Scottish seafood offer options and flavours to the more traditional sources available locally and of course there’s trifle…. The Great UK promotion runs until 3 September