Picture of the Day: New Old Coins

Lots of old coins, never used, in a tin box

My relatives have been busy doing some serious spring cleaning in their flat.

They are cleaning out really old magazines, books, clothes and anything else that they don't need; at the moment these items are all stacked up in the living room waiting to be taken away, as they live in a walk-up so they are saving this for the garbage man to manually collect day by day, or to take down themselves to a nearby recycling area or the local garbage dump.

They also found lots of money! Over HK$2,000 in coins! 

Before the Octopus card came out in 1997, people had to have exact change when boarding public transport, from buses to trams and ferries.

So their mother, who passed away several years ago, had gotten coins from the bank to ensure she always had enough change and after the Octopus card came out, the coins were forgotten and so much was amassed that my relatives hauled them to the bank to be counted. They even returned coins with the Queen's head on them (issued before 1997). 

Apparently no one is interested in buying these coins online.

She had also collected stamps and my relatives managed to sell a stamp book or two on an online buying and selling platform called Carousell for about HK$10 each. Who collects stamps these days?

Not only that, she also collected a lot of fresh bills, dating back to the 1970s, all of them from HSBC in a special booklet, and also coins too.

Some date back to 1960 which is quite amazing. They are all rolled up neatly in paper and labelled very clearly. I should also add she used to be a teacher, hence the clean hand writing.

In any event my relatives hope to find a buyer for these coins and bills and I hope they do. One man's junk is another man's treasure!

Candidates Out of Touch with Reality

Leung seems to have no idea Sai Wan Ho has an MTR station

There's one Legislative Council candidate who is making a name for himself in the upcoming polls, but for the wrong reasons.

Hong Kong Island East candidate Edward Leung Hei is from the pro-Beijing DAB party, and during an election forum held by iCable, he was asked about the destination of ferries departing from Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier.

The station was opened in May 1985

"Sai Wan Ho at the moment has a lot of different transport [options], we have always been fighting to get an MTR station..." said Leung -- who was born two months before the station was opened there in May 1985.

How can Leung not know there is an MTR station at Sai Wan Ho? Does he live under a rock? He probably does not live near his constituency at all.

While his blunder was the worst, the other candidates -- pre-approved by Beijing -- could not answer other simple questions such as how much is the tram fare for adults, where to change the MTR to get from Taikoo to Kwun Tong, and name the three hospitals in the constituency.

Others didn't know how much a tram ride is

It is absolutely appalling these people who are running for Hong Kong Island East have no idea what ordinary residents know off the tops of their heads. It also shows how out of touch they are and if they are even qualified to run for office...

Hong Kong Habits Changed by Protests

Ricky Wong of HKTV sees a 40 percent jump in online sales since the protests

 

The anti-government protests in Hong Kong are now into their 21st week. This is the new normal for the city, and its residents are adapting the best they can.

With the pseudo curfew thanks to the MTR closing early, (now 11pm this week, but 10pm for Saturday and Sunday), it has changed the way people live in the city.

More and more people are shopping online for convenience

People are dining much earlier now, as restaurants need to close early so that their staff can take the MTR to get home. I've heard even wedding banquets, which typically start around 8pm, now finish by 9.30pm so that guests can make their way home.

At the same time taxis, Uber, buses and even trams are getting more business from people who would have normally taken the MTR.

The alternative is staying housebound and having everything delivered to you. Online shopping has gone up over 40 percent in Hong Kong, with people ordering prepared food to groceries, clothes and even furniture at the click of a mouse.

Before the protests people would have personally gone to shops because they were close by or they were purchasing something they had to examine in person. And grocery shopping... everyone picks their own produce, right?

However there are some people who now really depend on these services to continue functioning and it's created a boon for these delivery companies. We all need to eat, right?

The Rosewood offers a luxurious deal for a room

Hotels are hurting badly from so few tourists coming to Hong Kong and are pushing staycation deals to local residents. Some offers are too hard to pass up -- a room for a night plus dining credit that covers more than half the price of the room... Sad but true.

High-end hotels like Rosewood in Tsim Sha Tsui that opened earlier this year are offering two nights accommodation for the price of one night. If you are into over-the-top luxury, this is an unbeatable price. Personally I'd rather stay home, but there are some people who want to feel pampered.

Everyone in the hospitality industry, from hotels and restaurants to retail must be pressuring the government to do something to end the protests. But is Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor listening? The government is doling out subsidies for those in the transportation sector, and encouraged landlords to help their tenants. This isn't enough or much to give people hope the government is concerned about them.

Banquets now finish much earlier for guests to go home

As one chef-owner told me recently, now it's survival of the richest -- who has the deepest pockets to keep operating in these adverse times...

American-Themed Protest

 

Some 130,000 people showed up at tonight's protest rally in Central

Tonight was the first legal protest gathering since the government instituted the anti-mask ban on October 5, and organizers believe some 130,000 people showed up. When I passed by the area at around 5.15pm, several people were already sitting in Chater Garden while a sound system area was being set up.

Fifteen minutes after the event started at 7pm, thousands of protesters had spilled onto the roads near Chater Garden and Prince's Building, creating a massive traffic jam in Central. They turned on the lights on their smartphones, while others played with laser pointers on nearby buildings.

Many masked protesters waved American flags

Most of the people were in their 20s and 30s, some wearing masks, many coming from work. Some were fully dressed with masks, while others just put on a surgical mask.

This time several people waved large American flags in a bid to persuade the United States Congress to pass the proposed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The vote will be held Wednesday morning Hong Kong time.

Some people held printed paper signs like "Thank you Daryl Morey!" "Thank you South Park!" and "Sir, this way", referring to US President Donald Trump.

It was impossible to hear what was being said in Chater Garden with so many people around and sporadically shouting slogans and singing Glory to Hong Kong, the protest anthem. I didn't stay, but Demosisto secretary-general Joshua Wong made an impassioned speech that whipped up the crowd.

Some thanked Daryl Morey of the Houston Rockets

Making my way towards the Central MTR station was a challenge with so many people there, and we had to clear the street to allow two firetrucks to go by, and people clapped as they did. There were lots of chanting of slogans like "Reclaim Hong Kong! Revolution of our Times!" or "Fight for Freedom! Stand with Hong Kong!"

There was so many people here tonight that it was heartening to see they were willing to come out, maybe there were restricted by their jobs or obligations not to attend illegal gatherings. All areas around Chater Garden were blocked with people, including Connaught Road Central and as far west as Pedder Street. The tram driver on Chater Road sat back in his tram, empty of passengers, and was amused that he wouldn't be getting back to the terminus anytime soon.

When I finally made it to the Central MTR entrance, in a walk that took 20 minutes and usually takes about five minutes, people kept streaming up from the escalator, with hundreds more down below walking towards the exit.

There was a full moon in the distance as more people came

In response, the Hong Kong government was not pleased about the gathering. In a statement, an unnamed spokesman said that" foreign legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR".

"Since the return to the Motherland, the HKSAR has been exercising 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The 'one country, two systems' principle has been fully and successfully implemented. Human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong are fully protected by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislation. The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to them and is determined to safeguard them."

The government is definitely towing the Party line here, with the words "Motherland", and "attaches great importance"...

We're all waiting with baited breath to see what kind of speech Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will make in her policy address at the Legislative Council on Wednesday...

Hong Kong Police Continue Crackdown

Chung Yeung is a grave-sweeping festival, but not many people did that today

Today is Chung Yeung Festival, the autumn version of Qing Ming, or grave sweeping. What should be a day of quiet, reflection, and family gathering was instead turned into another day of Hong Kong being half paralyzed again.

Less than half of the MTR stations were in operation today, forcing many people to use other means of transport (bus, tram, mini bus, taxi), and with the current environment of the Hong Kong government spreading fear, many chose not to go out to do their filial deed.

This had a knock-on effect impacting those in the cemetery industry, from flower sellers to incense and food offerings like roast pork and rice wine.

This Prince Edward memorial has been up since August 31

But it looks like the government doesn't care if people couldn't pay respects to their ancestors, and focused on continuing the spectre of danger looming nearby.

Tonight some 100 protesters gathered at Prince Edward MTR station again. Many believe on August 31, three people were not accounted for when several injured in the station were sent to the hospital. Since then protesters have left funeral offerings in the form of flowers, incense and burning hell money in front of the station entrance (that has since been shut).

Tonight was another opportunity for protesters to pay their respects to them.

However, riot police were having none of it and chased people away with tear gas and shouting.

They were even more rabid in Ma On Shan, where they stormed a shopping mall and pushed away the security personnel who were literally trying to keep the doors shut to prevent them from coming in. The riot police claimed the mall was not a private area (it technically is) and went in to arrest protesters, and even pushed down a Stand News reporter, ripped her glasses off her face and threatened to pepper spray her.

This looks like a scene straight out of a zombie movie: shopping mall security guards tried to hold the doors to stop riot police fr entering but they failed #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/nKsmgrT2M6

— Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) October 7, 2019

 
https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20
https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20 https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20
What is going on?!

If Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor thinks this is the way to subdue the protests, she has a pack of rabid dogs to tame first. Last night they arrested several children -- as young as 10 years old -- who looked absolutely terrified.

While the police's brutal actions may scare off some people, it has emboldened others to step out and voice their anger from shouting expletives to aiding the protesters with everything from water to food, car rides and even safe houses.

Shopping malls have been a gathering place for protesters

This past weekend violence reached new heights, but unfortunately they are going to climb higher in the coming days, weeks and months.

Meanwhile shopping mall owners and operators are wondering what to do for Christmas, being less than 90 days away. An interesting factoid is that four of Hong Kong's main developers own or operate 100 malls in the city. Talk about ka-ching.

Anyway everyone is wondering now with the current situation what to do about the countdown to Christmas... should they put up displays or risk them being used as weapons or projectiles? Or should they try to bring some cheer to the city?

Tough call, but really it's up to the government to fix this mess they created, four months ago...

Protesters Not Giving Up

Thousands of people crammed in and around Chater Garden for tonight's rally

Tonight the protesters were back in numbers in Chater Garden in Central. This time they were angry about police abuse, particularly the sexual harassment of some female protesters who were arrested.

While the dress code for this rally was purple, most people showed up in black and wore purple ribbons that were pinned to their T-shirts. Others wore purple ribbons around their wrists. There were also people with lipsticks on hand to write #ProtestToo on people's arms, a riff off of #MeToo.

"Investigate police sexual violence!" The rally organizer said. "We believe everyone has the right to participate in political activities and take part in rallies, but the police are using sexual violence as a means to humiliate people of different gender."

Others were waiting for friends outside the MTR station

Some protesters were shining laser pens onto buildings to create an impromptu laser show, others put purple filters on their phone lights to create a pastel purple glow.

Some women came to the stage to talk about their experiences of being sexually harassed by the police, including one who says she was strip searched. She said she felt violated as a woman and is now seeking psychological help.

When I was leaving Chater Garden around 8.20pm, the crowd had spilled out onto Des Voeux Road, and they made way when trams were passing through. All the other vehicles had to go along Queens Road Central, causing a traffic jam.

There were a few police officers on hand, just making sure there were no serious accidents or that the crowd was under control.

As I walked towards the Central MTR station, people were shouting, "Reclaim Hong Kong! Revolution of our times!" or "Hongkongers add oil!". The shouts got louder as people streaming out of the MTR station on the escalator already began chanting.

And as I came into the station, more people were coming out, attaching purple ribbons on their shirts or carrying signs. It was heartening to see so many people all with the same goals with the same fighting spirit.

What else happened today?

The editor-in-chief of Global Times, Hu Xijin rolled into town today. His Twitter post said: "Just arrived in Hong Kong to attend media dialogue. I will also report what I see and hear. Current situation in Hong Kong is a bit special for mainland journalists, but I hope I can have an open trip. Looking forward to having a candid exchange of views."

Global Times' chief editor Hu Xijin has arrived in Hong Kong

Welcome to the city where we have freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Mr Hu.

See how special Hong Kong is and why protesters are defending it to the death.

They have five demands, but the most crucial is to withdraw the extradition bill. It's really simple to do, but our Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor says it cannot be done.

Perhaps you can persuade her to help us have peace in Hong Kong again?

If not, you will see scores of people out on the streets this weekend to show the government protesters are still asking for their demands to be met. They are not giving up anytime soon.

Artistic Passion for Trams

The specially-designed tram that celebrates its 115th anniversary this year

I spotted this special tram over the weekend and love the story behind it.

Up close the tram is covered in hundreds of pictures (about 350) -- of other trams in and around Hong Kong to celebrate 115 years in the city.

They are the work of Japanese artist Koichi Matsuda, who has taken as many as 10,000 photographs of trams in the past five years.

Koichi Matsuda has taken 10,000 pictures of trams in 5 years

He found not only this type of transport but also the advertising on them very eye-catching.

"Hong Kong trams are special. In Japan, there are no double-decker [trams]," Matsuda, 65, said.

"The constant change of tram advertisements is the most suitable subject to showcase the vigorous economic growth of Hong Kong."

In the past five years, Matsuda has visited Hong Kong 20 times and used the same camera and lens to take pictures of the trams, usually at the Shau Kei Wan terminus. He took so many pictures that from 2016 to last year, he held six exhibition in Japan and Taipei.

After seeing his pictures, some Japanese were inspired to visit Hong Kong. "Many of my friends became more interested in Hong Kong and trams after seeing my work," he said.

But Matsuda hoped to use his photos to decorate a tram and the opportunity came after Hong Kong Tramways "liked" one of his photos on social media, and he contacted the company about his idea.

He is thrilled his proposal became a reality. This tram will be running along Hong Kong Island for two or three months. It's one of 164 trams running along the 30km system that carries 200,000 passengers daily.

Ding ding!

Picture of the Day: Smiling Trams

Caught the tram with its smile in Central this evening

Hongkong Tramways has come up with a way to rejuvenate itself in the hopes of luring more people to ride trams -- by giving them a smile.

Almost a month ago the company unveiled the new look -- in the picture you can see the lights of the tram has a pair of eyes and nose, and a smile on its bumper.

The company hopes this new look and slogan, "Catch a Ride, Catch a Smile" not only encourages people to smile, but also reminisce about riding "ding dings" as they are affectionately called.

Even the sign posts at tram stops have this new logo of the green tram, and of course the subtle smile.

Some 200,000 passengers ride trams everyday, but the company may have to mull raising fares to keep up with rising transportation costs.

So here's a shout out to people in Hong Kong to try to ride the tram as much as possible -- it's an iconic part of the city we can't give up using.

Experiencing a Car-Free Zone

How would you like part of Des Voeux Road Central to be a car-free zone?

We're looking forward to September 25, when part of Des Voeux Road Central will be blocked off from vehicular traffic. Perhaps it will get people nostalgic again when the Occupy protests blocked Admiralty for 79 days and spontaneously created a warm, selfless community.

This event though is not a protest, but part of the Clean Air Network's plan to showcase the vision of urban planners on how to convert the busy thoroughfare into a pedestrian-friendly public space without crippling traffic or causing major inconvenience to residents.

The organizers also hope it will persuade Hong Kong people into supporting their ultimate goal of permanently rezoning the main road into a car-free zone.

This is what Clean Air Network envisions for the district

On that Sunday from 10am to 4pm, Des Voeux Road will be blocked between Morrison Street and Man Wa Lane. The area will feature booths, stalls, and even a mini football pitch, and another area will be for artists to perform or exhibit their work.

Trams that go along the line will still be allowed to go through, but at slower speeds, and there will be some 400 volunteers acting as marshalls to ensure pedestrian safety.

Clean Air Network didn't have an easy time persuading the Transport Department into granting the group a temporary traffic arrangement permit. And then the group had to deal with the police and Fire Services Department, who were concerned about potential blockage of emergency vehicular access to the area.

The NGO also had to talk to other stakeholders, like the public transport companies, as about 20 bus routes would be affected.

Winnie Tse of the Clean Air Network hopes the plan won't just be for weekends, when traffic is 40 percent lower, but become a permanent one.

"We want to change people's mindset and we know this is not going to be easy," she said. "A lot of roadside vendors we talked to agreed pollution was serious in the area, but they held a general perception that this is part of life."

Professor Ng Mee-kam, director of Chinese University's Urban Studies Programme, is supportive of the plan.

"I believe people are smart enough to adapt -- remember the Occupy protests?" she asked.

"I'm for non-motorized transport and walking experience. Pedestrianizing the area will help people interact with each other on the streets, gaining inspiration and boosting our social capital," Ng said.

Sounds like a plan!

Pokemon Debate

You can capture Pokemon anywhere, even on the MTR...

There are so many Pokemon Go stories in Hong Kong these days, with the tram being inundated with riders keen on catching as many monsters as they can on their way home, or on the weekends they gather with friends, or how people discover new places in their neighbourhood they never knew about before.

But now there's a new debate brewing among Christians in Hong Kong -- is the game satanic, addictive or conducive to spreading the gospel.

After the game was launched in the city on July 25, an anonymous message circulated around social media, asking Protestants to pray for those who was addicted to the augmented reality game.

The tram is the best way to catch Pokemon safely + efficiently

It said Pokemon images were partly inspired by figurines in Japanese shrines, and suggested "the game would guide people to play with evil spirits".

"There are Christians talking about not playing the game... and I agree that you can choose not to play it to avoid getting addicted," said Reverend Sam Chung Shu-sum, senior pastor at Assemblies of God West Post Church.

"But while new [trends] are always attractive or even potentially addictive, Christians could also make good use of them."

Last month Chung had written on his blog questioning whether Christians with weak wills might find the game addictive.

However Alliance Bible Seminary assistant professor John Chan suggested on Facebook that churches could have "lures" to attract rare Pokemon, and that might attract some potential church-goers.

Hundreds of Pokemon hunters gather in Tin Shui Wai

While the game is about catching monsters, how is the game satanic in any way? It's just a game! There are many people addicted to it at the moment, and the trend could fizzle as fast as it came, as it's virtually impossible to catch all the Pokemon, unless you're like American Nick Johnson who has literally traveled around the world to catch practically every single one, even the regional creatures.

Although I'm not religious, I like Chan's suggestion that Pokemon Go could result in more people going to church. It's just a matter of getting them through the door, right?

The game is a time waster -- there's no doubt about that. But some people admit to walking their dogs longer than usual or even meeting new friends to catch Pokemon. That's a good thing too, right?

Picture of the Day: Pokemon Craze

There was a long queue of people waiting patiently to get on the tram!

This past week has been crazy on the streets of Hong Kong, watching people become particularly zombie-like, glued to their phones without a regard to their surroundings.

Thousands of people here have become addicted to Pokemon GO and I've heard of people bumping into lamp posts and trying to play the game surreptitiously under their desks at work.

The police, hospitals and even the People's Liberation Army have all warned players to stay away from their premises, worried they will cause havoc. It would be good not to stray into PLA territory as you never know what might happen...

Not having downloaded the game myself, a few friends have showed me how the augmented reality game works. It's like being in a virtual world where you catch virtual monsters with a ball that you can collect at various points in the city.

As you go by a certain landmark, there's a large disc that players have to spin to get more balls. And it also has a picture of the restaurant or shop that you are approaching.

Then you use these balls as ammunition to hit these pokemon or monsters. The more you shoot down, and the more rare they are, the more points you score. And then you can go to Pokemon Gyms to beef up your strength, which are highly prized places.

That's how the game gets people out to play, which is a good way to encourage them to explore neighbourhoods and meet up with friends.

One of the best ways to play Pokemon GO is on the tram, because you can pass by a lot of places on Hong Kong island for only HK$2.30.

So perhaps I should not have been surprised when I saw a massive line-up for the tram at the Kennedy Town terminus this afternoon after I came back from the gym. There must have been over 30 people waiting in line, when usually there is only a handful.

Hong Kong Tramways that runs the trams must be happy about this unexpected windfall -- its revenues have been dropping because of the MTR expansion to Western and also because it's summer not many are willing to sit in a tram without air conditioning.

But who knows how long this Pokemon Go crazy will last? Two friends remarked that they downloaded the game and within 20 minutes of playing it lost interest. On the other hand there are many others who are completely addicted and are posting updates of what they find on Facebook.

While I'm not too crazy about Pokemon hunters wandering around without noticing who or what they are bumping into, at least they are giving the trams a lot of business!

A Cool(er) Ride

Look out for tram number 88 that has air conditioning!

Just in time to help beat the heat, there will be one tram going around Hong Kong Island that will be air conditioned. Yes -- one trial tram is being further modernized to see if it can lure more people to get back on the ding ding.

From Monday, the tram car with the lucky number 88 will be riding the rails for three months, and fares will be the same as non air-conditioned ones. Temperatures will be set at 23, 25 and 27 degrees Celsius and passengers will be surveyed on which setting should be adopted.

Senior engineering manager Steven Chan Si-yiu explained it cost HK$250,000 (US$32,170) to retrofit air conditioning in the car, and did not rule out fare hikes if there were more air-conditioned cars in the future.

He did not reveal how much electricity the car uses for air conditioning; however, if there are more air-conditioned cars on the track, they have to be separated from each other, otherwise they may draw too much electricity at one spot and could bring down the grid.

The MTR extension has affected ridership on trams

Chan said that if the current fleet of 163 cars were fitted with air-conditioning, then Hong Kong Tramways would have to install power substations along the track to boost power voltage.

The company hopes having air conditioning will bring riders back to the tram. Since the MTR extended its Island line to Kennedy Town in December 2014, the number of daily riders has dropped to 180,000 from 200,000.

It'll be interesting to see how people react to having air-con in the tram -- probably a positive thing. But people are also price-sensitive these days, so it'll have to depend on how much the price hike is...

Moving Art Installation

Our tram for the next 25 minutes or so, with the upstairs covered up

This afternoon I had a chance to see some art on a tram.

Called Twenty five Minutes Older, not much is told ahead of time, except that visitors can either take the tram from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay or from Causeway Bay to Sheung Wan, a ride that takes approximately 25 minutes.

Although almost all the free tickets were snapped up, the artist, Kingsley Ng let me ride at one of the times with fewer people, which happened to be today at 4.20pm.

Kingsley Ng explaining the proceedings

However, when I got there, the tram was experiencing delays thanks to the rainy weather and so I and about 10 other people waited patiently under cover.

From the outside, the tram looks like any other, but the upstairs is covered up. We entered the ground floor, and Ng was there explaining the situation: When we went upstairs, it would be very dark, and no photography, mobile phones or flash were allowed at all. The actual piece would be about 15 minutes long and we would arrive at Wan Chai or Causeway Bay.

Then we were each handed a pair of headphones, that at first had sounds of ocean waves. Then we went upstairs and saw the windows were covered up and almost all the seats were taken out; there were some cushions on the floor so I sat down on one of them. When we settled in, the lights went out and a series of phrases were projected in Chinese and English, while music played in the background.

We then started to see a view of Central and I recognized the shops as we went by, but they were upside down and in black and white. What was going on?

Periodically we'd hear a woman's voice speaking poetic phrases that didn't seem to add up to much, but I was more entranced by the images we were seeing in front of us.

Looking through the pinhole camera on the tram

When the lights finally went up, Ng explained the images we saw were in real time, projected from a camera obscura that was actually right next to me. He wanted to show that things we see are fleeting -- that we cannot record them because they are gone.

Perhaps it was a message to tell us to stop and metaphorically smell the roses, to not always focus on capturing things for posterity, but to remember the moment.

Our trip ended in Wan Chai and the rain was coming down in buckets.

Twenty five Minutes Older is running until June 2, as part of "The 5th Large-Scale Public Media Art Exhibition: Human Vibration", presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Another work that was part of this show was the large light installation on ICC that got yanked after the ADC claimed the two artists changed the title of the work without consulting it or the curator.

One of the panels adding context to Ng's tram installation

But many believe it was turned off because the pair explained after the work was launched, that the large number on the ICC was actually the number of seconds counting down to July 1, 2047, when "one country, two systems" ends.

While watching the seconds countdown was daunting, being in the tram with a few people and experiencing the same thing was a memorable and intimate way to experience art -- moving art -- that also made you think about how we spend our time, and that it that will never come back.

Twenty five Minutes Older by Kingsley Ng

www.25mins.info

Gritty Street Art = Fine Art

One of the posters that Vhils carved to reveal a face

I didn't have enough of an art fix at Art Basel, and after dim sum today at Lei Garden in IFC, I headed out to the ferry pier and noticed there was an art exhibition on the roof of Pier 4, where the ferry goes to Lamma Island.

The artist is Portuguese Alexandre Farto, best known as Vhils, who splits his time between here and Lisbon. "Debris" is his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and it was presented by Hong Kong Contemporary Art (HKCA).

Striking portraits carved from styrofoam

The roof is an interesting space, and a temporary shelter was created for the show. It's not so large that the artist feel pressure to fill the space, but also large enough to hang big pieces, even multimedia work.

Vhils is a street artist who creatively uses discarded materials to make his art, mostly carving portraits into them to reveal layers that create depth and texture.

The first few pieces are of posters that have been layered on top of each other, and he paints the top with white paint before carving faces on them. The carving reveals the previous layers in colours and designs that are completely haphazard.

Fantastic multimedia piece using stencils on screens

When an artist goes with the flow, you can tell he or she is very confident to let things happen the way they do, or is curious to see what lies beneath.

He also does this with metal, using acid to eat into it to create his designs, or carving on discarded wooden doors. When I was photographing these pieces on my smartphone, the images seemed even clearer through the frame -- much like the Space Invader exhibition which was interesting.

The concept of "carving" extends to multimedia. In one large room, there are a series of TV monitors set up with shows going on in Chinese and English, and he places stencils of faces on top.

There are other impressive pieces of portraits carved out of styrofoam, but for me the more raw the material the better.

A collection of neon signs that are better seen at night!

Vhils also shows videos of portraits that are made from walls through controlled explosions which are fascinating to see, and it would be neat to see how he did that.

Exposed outside were some neon works, but obviously these were not as effective in the daytime, but the collection he assembled were an homage to Hong Kong.

And if you're lucky to catch the right tram, Vhils has decorated the outside of one, again putting layers of posters on there and then carving faces out of them.

Art doesn't have to be perfect -- but it should be executed well, and Vhils does just that. His striking images and creative use of materials will stay with me for a while.

Nothing wasted -- discarded doors are carved

Debris

A solo exhibition by Vhils

Until April 4

Central Ferry Pier 4

From noon-9pm daily

www.hoca.com

Attention Seeker

A consultancy firm proposed cutting tram service from Central to Admiralty

No need to panic -- we can all breathe a sigh of relief now that the Hong Kong government has come out for the record.

Earlier a company called Intellects Consultancy made a proposal to the Town Planning Board to cancel the Central to Admiralty segment of the tram service to improve traffic.

Shocking, right? What is Hong Kong Island without trams?

Intellects Consultancy is headed by Sit Kwok-keung, who turns out to have been a former long-time senior town planner with the Planning Department.

 

The firm said trams take up 30% of road surfaces

In a radio interview he said electric trams served no purpose other than taking up large chunks of major toads and blocking traffic during rush hours in the city's main business district.

 

He added trams take up 30 percent of the road surface, but now with the MTR line going all the way west to Kennedy Town, streetcars serving this area should "go to the history museum".

 

Sit did not rule out phasing out the entire tram service if his plan for the cancellation of the Central to Admiralty section succeeded.

 

One can imagine the outrage if the plan really came to fruition, of killing the existence of the 110-year-old tram affectionately called "ding ding". It could be grounds for another Occupy Movement.

 

But the government preempted it with a statement this afternoon.

On a recent submission to the Town Planning Board (TPB) to cancel the Central to Admiralty segment of the tram service, a Government spokesman today (August 19) clarified it is neither a government proposal nor a proposal by a consultancy commissioned by the government.

All submissions will be discussed by the TPB in accordance with the established procedures.

Under the existing transport policy, trams provide frequent and affordable services without roadside emissions on the north of Hong Kong Island for an average of around 180,000 passengers every day, performing a supplementary role. There is no change to the role of trams under the policy.

Phew.

Intellects Consultancy says trams belong in the museum!

At least the government has its head on straight with regards to trams in the city.

However, Sit should have proposed this on April 1 to make his idea even more compelling...

Taking a Free Ride

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce celebrates its birthday

Today marks the 154th anniversary of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. And to celebrate every May 29, it sponsors all rides on trams and the Star Ferry.

They expect some 300,000 people to take advantage of it and I managed to do that.

Many riders had no idea today was "HKGCC Free Ride Day" and were shocked to see the fare collection box and Octopus card reader both covered with cloth bags.

Free rides on trams and Star Ferries today

"We don't have to pay today?" they asked incredulously as they got off the tram. Obviously the HKGCC isn't doing enough promotion of this free ride day, even though a few trams have the chamber's Lego-like design plastered on the outside of the trams, and was covered in the media today.

Chamber chairman YK Pang gave a statement at a press conference this morning:

"For the past 154 years, the Chamber has gone through various ups and downs with members and the community, and we have all worked hard to build a prosperous future for Hong Kong," he said. "Our birthday wish this year is for all business sectors to thrive and for everyone to have a happy and prosperous year."

Then he added a subtle political hint.

"We also hope that society can come together to make sure constitutional development moves ahead."

Should the chamber be making such comments?

Or should we just ignore it and appreciate the free (non air conditioned) ride, even though it was bloody hot today at 33 degrees?