Time to rent a convertible and tear down the Pacific Coast Highway PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels The Pacific Coast Highway snakes some 198 kilometres along the California coast, and has been designated an All-American Road, one of the country’s most scenic. Hugging the cliffs, it’s extremely narrow in places with sharp drop-offs providing glorious views of the ocean below. There are amazing places to stay along the way. In Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park the roads and trails are lined with redwoods, sycamores and ferns. Head down Sycamore Canyon Road to Pfeiffer Beach, a long-time hippie haunt known for its ‘good vibrations.’ The crescent-shaped beach is dominated by a huge, arched rock formation through which surf and sunlight stream in equal quantities. Picture perfect Carmel-by-the-Sea comprises whimsical cottages, inns, shops and galleries. It’s home to artists, poets, actors and the seriously well-heeled. Take a walk on the mile-long Carmel River State Beach, visit the 1919 home of poet Robinson Jeffers, and treat yourself to a round of golf at world-class Pebble Beach Golf Links. Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the world’s highest single-span bridges, arching 80 metres high and 200 metres across. Lauded for its graceful architecture and magnificent setting, it was completed in 1932, five years before the Golden Gate Bridge came up in San Francisco Bay. The road to Monterey is lined with pretty beaches from which you can spot all kinds of marine life, including sea lions, harbour seals, bat rays, pelicans and dolphins. Stay at Cannery Row in Fisherman’s Wharf, where the old canning factories have been converted into a gentrified strip of hotels, gift shops, seafood restaurants and bars. Retro-hip Santa Cruz is best known for its beach boardwalk and ‘50s-style amusement park. As a tourist you feel like you’ve walked straight on to a film set, and the 1987 vampire movie The Lost Boys was in fact filmed here. You meet surfers, hippies, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs (slumming it) and loads of students. All hail Big Sur: a 145-kilometre stretch of pure scenic bliss. Here the coastline gets truly dramatic – elemental even – as massive waves beat against the rocks and towering redwood groves stretch skyward. It’s easy to understand why Henry Miller, who lived in Big Sur for 18 years, said it was here that he learned to say amen.

Make Mother's day on May 8 by giving her a sweet and delicious floral treat Photos Courtesy of Adobe Stock Makes 1.13 litres 295ml soy milk 8 sprigs fresh lavender 14-oz can full-fat coconut milk 100g granulated sugar Warm the soy milk on a medium heat until it begins to boil. Stir in the lavender flowers and buds. Cover and remove from the heat. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl. Pour the soy milk through the strainer to remove the lavender. Whisk in the coconut milk and sugar. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, then freeze in an ice-cream maker. Top with lavender petals to serve.

Greening your home decor is easier than you might think, and not only will it reduce your carbon footprint, it could save you a heap of cash. Jane Drew reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” So said William Morris at a lecture before the Birmingham Society of Arts and School of Design in 1880. It’s still a good maxim to live (and decorate) by but for the contemporary home decorator there’s something missing – there’s no reference to our desire to live in an environmentally conscious way. If Morris were lecturing in Birmingham this month, he would probably say: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be both eco-friendly and useful, or believe to be beautiful. So how do you go about creating an environmentally aware home filled with useful and beautiful eco-friendly pieces? REDUCE YOUR SPENDING Tip one: shop less. Eco-friendly decorators aren’t blind followers of home fashion, nor do they shop for recreation. They might donate or sell items that aren’t ‘useful’ or that they no longer consider ‘beautiful’ but they won’t replace furnishings for the sake of it, and they’re unlikely to remodel their homes every couple of years to keep up with the Joneses. Eco-friendly decorating isn’t about constantly buying new or more; it’s about breathing new life into old pieces and reworking what you already own. UPCYCLE AND REPURPOSE The simplest and easiest way to green your home is to bring a few plants inside. In addition to improving the air quality, indoor plants are also a great way to brighten up an otherwise dull corner. If your home decor is looking tired, simply painting the walls can make all the difference. Choose eco-friendly paints that are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to both your family and the environment. Another quick fix? Move the furniture around, refresh photo frames and rearrange your artwork. It may take a bit of work but DIY-ing your old stuff into new stuff is more satisfying than buying new. By switching up the upholstery on a faded sofa, you can reinvent a room. You can also restain or repaint wooden pieces to give them a fresh new look and cover any visible signs of wear and tear. If your creative side refuses to come out, hire someone else to do the job. Upcycling is much cheaper than buying new, and the upcycled pieces will still feel new to you. Finding new uses f or old objects is another fun way to green your home. Turning a piano into a bookshelf or a phone booth into a couch is too much to ask of most of us, but a simple project like using an old trunk as a coffee table, or a vase as a cutlery jar can be an interesting, eco-boosting exercise. TURN ON TO VINTAGE There are times, of course, when you really need a ‘new’ piece of furniture, and your most eco-aware option is to buy vintage. Investing in sturdy, timeless designs will ensure that your home decor never goes out of style and, if the vintage item you find has stood the test of time thus far, it’s likely to serve you well long into the future. Assuming you want to shop locally, 2nd Chance in Mui Wo is a good first port of call for pre-loved furnishings of all kinds. The store stocks an impressive selection of second-hand furniture and home accessories. And if you’re after a vintage-look Chinese piece, head to one of the warehouses in Ap Lei Chau, where many of the wedding cabinets and so-called Ming chairs have been put together using wood salvaged from genuine antiques. If you can’t find anything to your taste locally, eBay is a great place to explore the vintage vibe though you’ll need to watch your carbon footprint. THINK SUSTAINABLE If vintage really isn’t your thing, you’ll likely have to pay a bit more for contemporary pieces that are genuinely eco-friendly. Look to brands that are focused on ethical labour standards and fair trade; firms that give back to the artisans and communities who make their pieces and are passionate about cutting-edge design. Most importantly, choose pieces that are made from sustainable materials – anything from fast-growing bamboo to naturally replenishing cork. Recycled plastic, glass or aluminium can also be classed as sustainable in this context, since we are unlikely ever to run out of them. There are so many sustainable materials available, and in the hands of the right designer, they are varied enough in colour, texture and purpose to outfit an entire home. For textiles, think wool, linen, organic cotton and hemp; for rugs, sisal, seagrass, coir, jute, wool and bamboo. Wood is your friend, as long as its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or reclaimed, as is natural stone. Of course, all-natural marble or travertine tiles come with a hefty price tag but it works out cheaper to splurge on a quality sustainably sourced material that will last a lifetime, than to pay peanuts for something that you will need to replace in a year or two. DONATE WHAT YOU DON’T NEED When refreshing your decor, it’s likely that you’ll need to get rid of a few pieces, and these you can choose to donate or sell rather than trash. Even if you don’t make any money, the item has transferred its value to someone else (and more importantly, hasn’t ended up in a landfill). Don’t assume that just because it is used or old or no longer to your taste no one will want it. Buying, selling, and trading locally helps everyone involved without harming the environment, and there are plenty of ways to do this within DB. You can place small household items, toys and clothes in the Environmental Toy Houses located at Brilliance Court, La Costa and Midvale Village. The items donated are collected by local social enterprise DB Mothers & Friends, which redistributes them to people in need. DB Mothers & Friends (find them on Facebook) also arranges door-to-door collections of larger household items for a small fee, with the next round of pick-ups scheduled for May 10. Alternatively, there are lots of DB-based Facebook groups for buying, selling and swapping items, as well as ‘swapping corners’ in many of the villages. Your unwanted armchair or bookcase may be just what someone else needs to complete their functional, beautiful and eco-friendly home decor.

PHOTO BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com Myriad Global Logistics (MGL) is a boutique, Hong Kong-based, freight-forwarding company offering air, ocean, rail and road delivery solutions for all types of cargo from small parcels to household removals and heavy industrial projects. The company is a subsidiary of Infinity Group, a large, local freight forwarder and logistics operator with US$200-million revenue, 200+ team members and 14 offices in Hong Kong, China and Malaysia. “As Managing Director of MGL, I am one of the owners of the business and I lead a small team of freight-forwarding and customer-service specialists,” opens Scott McArthur, who worked in logistics on several continents before settling in Discovery Bay some 23 years ago. “I am responsible for overseeing all commercial activity and day-to-day operations. “As well as offering traditional freight-forwarding services to the automotive, promotional goods, electronics and toys sectors, we provide e-commerce international delivery solutions to many leading global e-commerce vendors,” Scott adds. “MGL now also handles an increasing number of international household relocations, including family car transportation.” Scott launched MGL in August 2019, and he admits it was a tough time to get a new project off the ground. “When COVID hit just 12 months later, we had to re-identify ourselves,” he says. “I’d done a couple of household removals for friends so I got together with a local Chinese company who do all the professional packaging for shipping – for any business we get, they do the local side here in Hong Kong and I handle the international shipping.” MGL prides itself on providing comprehensive door-to-door solutions for its international household removals. It handles everything from packing and storage, to transportation and customs clearance. No shipment is too small, and shared container spaces can be negotiated as required. Family car transport is a specialty at MGL, not least because Scott has built up relationships with a number of leading car manufacturers over the years. “My main business has been car transport, not just second-hand cars but working with the companies that do the tooling work and make spare parts for large automotive companies like Land Rover, Jaguar and Ford,” he explains. “As a result, I know the exact needs of the shipping owners, and can provide the best possible service for families looking to transport their cars overseas.” In just under three years, MGL has built its reputation as a go-to, full-service international moving company, as is evidenced by its excellent customer service reviews. “Our customers are our most important asset, and making sure they feel well looked after is a priority,” Scott says. “Customer service is our focus; we assist clients with all requirements when it comes to order fulfillment and delivery. “MGL is a worldwide freight forwarder and has an exclusive global network of international agents ensuring complete logistical support for all international cargo requirements,” Scott concludes. “Our goal is to provide quality logistical solutions, which exceed clients’ expectations at a competitive price.” To know more about Myriad Global Logistics (MGL), email the Managing Director, DB-based Scott McArthur, at scott@myriadgbl.com or visit www.myriad-logistics.com.

How old do your kids have to be before you can start teaching them the financial facts of life, and how do you go about it? Joe Dobbs reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels I knew by the time my daughter Amy was three that she had inherited her grandmother’s ‘consumer gene.’ From when she was very young, Amy was into pretty things (particularly shiny, pink pretty things) and she wanted lots of them. Amy wasn’t born a window shopper. If she fell for a Hello Kitty lunchbox in a store, ‘just looking’ wasn’t enough, she wanted to own it. At this age, it was fairly easy for my wife and I to distract our budding shopaholic from potential pink purchases, but we quickly realised that we needed to teach her about money, and specifically that it doesn’t grow on trees. First lesson, and a hard one for any kid: You may have to wait to buy something you want. How to get this message across? In a store, I’d explain that we were there to buy a gift for a friend that day, and that I didn’t have extra cash in my wallet to buy something for Amy. If an expensive item caught her eye, we’d discuss why this purchase would have to wait until October (birthday month), or Christmas. WANTS AND NEEDS Once Amy was five or so (able to add and subtract), we began to look at the prices for treats she wanted in the supermarket, and she’d help me count out the money. Most days we’d have enough money for a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar or two but occasionally she’d have to decide which item she wanted more. This decision-making process allowed me to introduce Amy to the concept of ‘wants and needs’ – did she really need two chocolate bars or would one suffice? Then we talked more generally about the financial expenses that Mummy and Daddy have to meet each month, such as groceries, school fees and electricity bills, and why finding the money for these has to be a priority. Amy began to understand that sometimes not all her demands could be met, as needs are more important than wants. From early on, we also talked about earning money – introducing the concept that people (Mummy and Daddy included) go to work in order to make a certain amount each month. We’re living in an age when children think milk comes from plastic bottles, fruit comes from grocery stores and money comes from the ATM machine. It was important to teach Amy that ATMs and credit cards aren’t a means of money on demand; rather, they are connected to your bank account, and you can only withdraw what you’ve saved. Even tiny tots can learn the value of money, where it comes from, and that it is finite. INTRODUCING ALLOWANCES The best way to learn about money is of course to have a little of your own, which is where allowances come in. Due in part to her inherited shopaholic tendencies, we started Amy off with a small allowance age six. We gave her HK$100 a week, and out of this she knew she had to buy her own after-school sweets, sodas and stickers. Through trial and error, she quickly learnt how to make her allowance stretch. She discovered that if she blew it all on a Monday, there’d be no more treats until the following week. From the beginning, we made it clear that Amy wasn’t being paid for doing her chores (these she knew she did for free) but we did give her the opportunity to earn bonuses for behaving well. Each week we started with a bonus but she knew it could be removed as a consequence of bad behaviour. The main reason we give kids an allowance is to allow them to learn to spend wisely, save and share. Remember piggy banks? Until very recently, Amy had three jars in her bedroom, labelled ‘Saving,’ ‘Spending’ and ‘Sharing.’ She learned to divide her allowance between the jars, using the money in her spending jar for small purchases, the money in the sharing jar for donations to various causes, and the money in the saving jar for more expensive items. My wife and I always kept an eye on the saving jar in particular. It’s great for children to have a goal, such as to buy a toy, but you need to set them up for success. Make sure the item is not so pricey that they won’t be able to afford it for months. Early on, we came up with a matching programme to help Amy reach her goal (get her toy) in a reasonable time frame. Maybe we spoilt her but we put in a dollar, for every two dollars she saved. MANAGING MONEY Now, aged 13, Amy has her own bank account. She handles her own monthly allowance, and I’ve made sure that it’s large enough to allow spending beyond what is absolutely necessary, but not so large as to seem inexhaustible. The amount she receives mirrors that of most of her friends, though one boy at school gets a lot more. This lad’s excessive spending power led to an interesting and, I think, valuable discussion recently about the realities of our family’s financial situation. My wife and I continue to be very clear about what Amy pays for from her allowance. For example, we pay for things like ferry tickets and phone bills, she pays for ‘extras,’ like cosmetics or takeout from Starbucks. We pay for the clothes she needs, if she wants yet another pair of big-brand trainers, she pays for it herself. In order to encourage saving, I’ve taught Amy to write everything down – to ‘keep the books.’ Instead of relying on her end-of-month bank statement, she has a simple spreadsheet, with columns for the date, the allowance amount paid, and the running total. If she takes money out of her account, she notes down the date and the amount, and what she bought. This way she can track her spending, and her savings. Rather incredibly (at least to me), Amy does have savings, and she doesn’t let the money in her account fall below a certain amount. If a purchase would reduce her account below her set minimum, she waits until she has more money before making that purchase. Of course, there are occasions when Amy comes to me expressing a desperate need for some ‘essential extra,’ which her savings can’t quite cover. For this I’m grateful, as it has allowed me to open a discussion about borrowing and debt. We talked the other day about credit cards – how getting money in this way is like taking out a loan. Amy understands that if you don’t pay your bill in full every month, you’ll be charged interest and owe more than you originally spent. I cannot bring myself to charge my child interest, but I do make sure that any amount borrowed is paid back within the allotted time period. It’s clear to my wife and I that time spent with Amy on all of this could be one of the most rewarding investments we’ll ever make.

Do you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep? Samantha Wong shares some proven ways to overcome insomnia PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels The most well recognised cause of insomnia is… you guessed it, stress. Both acute insomnia, which lasts a few days, and chronic insomnia, which renders you unable to get a good night ’s sleep for a month or more, are often the result of long, demanding working hours, problems at home, or worries about the state of the world. Studies show that women are more likely to have insomnia than men. Older people, those in pain and people suf fering from depression are also particularly susceptible. Of course, a great many medications can cause insomnia as a side effect. Cold medications are the most common culprits. Certain anti-depressants can also cause wakefulness if taken at night, and several of the anti-hypertensives (used to treat high blood pressure) can also result in poor quality of sleep. LIFESTYLE CHANGES To combat the problem, step one is to regulate your lifestyle. Our circadian rhythms vary throughout the day, causing us to feel sleepy at certain times and awake at others. Irregular habits disrupt that, so try to regulate what time you go to bed and what time you get up. Take a look too at what you eat and drink and when. Avoid eating too late at night because this will mean your body is active (busy digesting) right when you want to rest. And take care with alcohol. Although it will make you feel sleepy initially, it can lead to poor sleep quality and tiredness in the morning. Of course, caffeine can keep you up at night, so have your last cuppa at 6pm or even earlier if you are sensitive to it. Substitute with natural teas – try camomile which is commonly regarded as a mild tranquiliser or sleep inducer. Be sure to drink a glass of water right before bed, and keep a jug of fresh water on your nightstand. Interestingly, the old wives’ tale about warm milk making you feel sleepy holds true. Milk contains tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter which can help with sleep. Insomniacs should also take a good look at what they eat. Reduce your meat intake, eat more vegetables and clear sugar from your diet. Sugar makes adults hyper – not just kids – so sleeplessness is another good reason to cut it out. Be sure to avoid sugarladen processed foods and fizzy drinks. Carbohydrates like rice and cereal will aid sleep, but if you’re after a healthy night-time snack, try cherries. They contain melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. TRIED-AND-TESTED REMEDIES And what about sleeping pills? Although night sedation is very effective, the more recent medications don’t last very long and you’ll find you wake early in the morning. The older medications, like benzodiazepines and sedating anti-histamines, have a risk of morning sedation or hangover. In general, you should take sleeping pills as seldom as possible and in the smallest dose that will work. Some sleeping pills are addictive and most tend to work less effectively the longer you use them. It’s important, of course, that you’re sufficiently tired physically (not just mentally weary) to need a full night’s sleep. Insomniacs often benefit from regular exercise, which allows them to burn off excess energy. There’s some truth too in the sedative power of counting sheep. If you find yourself unable to drop off, don’t just lie there fretting – think about something else, or get up and walk around for 10 minutes or so. Any technique that involves creating a relaxed environment (preferably internally and externally) is worth a try. Many insomniacs find meditation beneficial since it clears and quiets the mind, and helps regulate breathing and overcome stress . Alternatively, treat yourself to a massage a couple of evenings a week, sign up for a course of yoga, or book in for some reiki healing. LOOK TO YOUR BEDROOM Whatever you do, don’t resort to watching TV in bed, or switching on your phone or computer when you wake in the night. Your gadgets will simulate your brain and make you feel energised; they will not help you sleep. In fact, it’s a good idea to make your bedroom a tech-free zone. Speaking of the bedroom, invest in a quality mattress and some new pillows. Install blinds or even shutters to shut out any light from the street. Take a look at the decor too, and change things up a bit. Moving the furniture around, or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint will help create a new atmosphere which you may find is more conducive to sleep. Better still take a look at your bedroom’s feng shui – this comprehensive ‘rule book for living’ has been around for centuries, so by following its advice, you might well find some relief. Feng shui says that your bedroom is the space that symbolises you and affects you the most. It follows then that if the feng shui isn’t right, if the positive energy isn’t flowing, your ability to sleep will be compromised. First step is to get your bed in the ‘command position.’ This means placing it so you can see the entry door (anyone coming in) when you are lying in bed. But don’t place your bed so that it directly faces the door, do this and you’ll be lying in the position of the dead – you’ll be ready ‘to go feet first.’ If the bedroom is big enough, leave a space on both sides of the bed. Energy needs to flow all around you when you’re sleeping, so keep the space under your bed clutter-free too. In terms of what you want to see in your bedroom, go with restful, earthy tones or skin tones. Feng shui masters will tell you that stark white walls are too mentally stimulating. A calming combo of off-white, cream and chocolate brown will promote peaceful vibes. You want your bedroom to be a sanctuary, somewhere that makes you feel relaxed, somewhere you are happy to sleep in. You’re seeking harmony and balance, so be sure to nourish your senses. Play some soothing tunes, layer soft and inviting fabrics and burn sweet smelling essential oils. Putting a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil on your temples and on your pillow before you go to bed can help you get a good night’s rest.

Russell Bennett and Mark Chiu of the Employment Practice at Tanner De Witt outline a recent District Court decision More than three years ago, we published an article in respect of a District Court claim lodged by a British construction professional (the “Employee”) who alleged that his former employer (the “Employer”) had discriminated against him on the ground of his race by terminating his employment. One of the bases for the Employee’s claim was the use of the term gweilo by his colleagues in the workplace. Last month, the District Court handed down its decision on the above claim in the case of Haden, Francis William v Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited <2022> HKDC 152. In essence, the ruling was consistent with our view that whether a slang term can be offensive to others and in what situation depends on the context of the particular situation. The Court made the following general observations: i. the term ‘gweilo’ has long been and continues to be widely used in Hong Kong; ii. according to the witness evidence from the Employer, not many expatriates had any objection to colleagues (both local and expat) using the term; iii. it is unlikely that the term, even if used in a workplace, necessarily carries a derogatory meaning (with a racially discriminatory overtone); iv. the mere use of such a term to describe or refer to a particular “foreigner” is insufficient to prove a background of racial hostility. Overall, the Court considered that the Employee had either misunderstood the real meaning of the term or had exaggerated his adverse feeling (arising from the use of the term). Ultimately, it is important to remember a key element to establishing racial harassment under the Race Discrimination Ordinance is that “a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated that the other person would be offended, humiliated or intimidated by that conduct.” The Court adopted the ‘real cause’ test in determining whether the Employee suffered less favourable treatment on the ground of his race in this particular case. This means that the Court will consider the fundamental question of, in all circumstances of the case, what is the real and effective cause of the act complained of. The Court dismissed the Employee’s claim due to lack of sufficient factual evidence for it to draw any adverse inference against the Employer that the alleged discriminatory treatment of him was on the ground of his race. Tanner De Witt was established in 1999 and now has a team of over 100, including more than 50 Hong Kong lawyers. The team at the firm’s Employment Practice advises on all aspects of employment law. For more information, email russellbennett@tannerdewitt.com or visit www.tannerdewitt.com.

Sharon Ser and Samantha Gershon, Partners in the Family and Divorce Team at Withers, outline what you need to know COVID-19 has been kept at bay in Hong Kong for the last two years, however this is no longer possible due to the Omicron variant. Families have been concerned for some time that they could be separated should a child need to be sent to mandatory quarantine as a result of teachers, coaches and fellow pupils testing positive or worse, should someone at home test positive. Now with the spread of Omicron, the likelihood of a family member testing positive is increasingly likely. Best advice? Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. We hope that contingency remedies won’t be needed, but it’s always better for proper planning to be done. At the end of the day, what matters is the safety and wellbeing of your children and elderly family members. In the event of some unforeseen incident, a plan will ensure your family is taken care of. In this way, you will have peace of mind especially during these difficult and turbulent times. SAFEGUARD YOUR CHILDREN In the unfortunate event that parents are unable to take care of their children, either temporarily, whilst being quarantined or overseas, or for a prolonged absence due to, for example, the death or mental incapacity of one or both parents, appointing the right legal guardian will safeguard your children’s immediate needs and/ or their longer-term future. When neither of the parents are able to care for their children (when children are under the legal age of 18), without a formal appointment of a guardian, the Hong Kong Court will become their de facto guardian. In the absence of a parent, the court is likely to appoint the Director of Social Welfare to be the guardian of the children. If family members put themselves forward to take on guardianship of the children, things can get messy should they compete to look after the children. This is very likely to be detrimental to children’s wellbeing at a time which will be traumatic in any event. No parent wants their children taken into care, especially if there is a loving and competent friend or family member who is able to look after them. This scenario can be avoided simply by appointing a guardian of the parents’ choice before any troubles arise. It’s unlikely that expatriate families will have family members in Hong Kong who are able to look after their children. They will need to rely on family members from other countries to travel to Hong Kong to look after their children. During the pandemic, when flights are scarce and there are strict testing and quarantine rules, it may be difficult for family members to get to Hong Kong quickly. This means that the appointment of temporary guardians until the permanent guardians can look after the children can be crucial. It ensures as smooth a transition of care for the children as possible in the circumstances. Temporary guardians can be friends or neighbours. It is best if they are people with whom the children are familiar. DOCUMENTS AND BENEFITS Legal guardianship is recognised when appointed as part of a Will or through a separate document called a Deed of Guardianship. There are different benefits to both options: A Will enables the appointment of a testamentary guardian and all consequential financial arrangements, which are fundamentally important for the future wellbeing of the children. Through a Will, parents can channel sufficient funds to their children’s living and education expenses and arrangements. With everything written down, arguments and uncertainty are avoided at a time of grief, leading to a smoother transition of guardianship. A Deed of Guardianship is made by appointing a guardian or guardians for the children in the event of a temporary or prolonged absence or death of either or both parents. While this option does not cover financial arrangements, it comes with its own benefits. A Deed of Guardianship has to be made in writing, before being dated and signed by the parent in front of two witnesses, it’s not a complicated or expensive document for a lawyer to prepare. It’s important to ensure your proposed guardian knows about their appointment and that they have the original or certified copy of the legal document. This is crucial because a Deed of Guardianship isn’t written in stone; it can be amended, and new guardians can be appointed to take into account changing circumstances as your children get older. The final Deed of Guardianship can also be left with an employer so that in the event something happens to the employee, the employer is aware of their employee’s wishes. PROTECT ELDERLY RELATIVES If relatives are elderly or physically incapacitated, they may need to be cared for by you and they will therefore be unable to go to a government quarantine facility or hospital on their own. If they have existing medical conditions which support their inability to go alone, it would be advisable to have a “to whom it may concern” letter prepared in advance, and verified by their doctor. An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) gives legal authority to another person of the donor’s choosing to make property, financial and other legal decisions on their behalf. If your relative is mentally competent, this can be a useful way to assist them in expressing their wishes should they be separated from you. It may be an efficient way to help them with their day-to-day financial affairs should they have to go into quarantine or hospital in the short term. EPAs need to be signed before a registered medical practitioner as well as a solicitor. Know that an EPA is limited to financial arrangements and does not cover the physical wellbeing of your elderly relative. Withers has extensive experience in dealing with Hong Kong family law. Contact the writers: Sharon Ser at Sharon.Ser@withersworldwide.com and Samantha Gershon at Samantha.Gershon@withersworldwide.com . Withers, 30/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, 3711 1600, www.withersworldwide.com .

Sharon McEneff, director of DB-based T8 Corporate & Business Services, outlines your optionsWith the current tightening of government restrictions and ongoing changes within Hong Kong, many people are making the decision either to take a leave of absence (two or three years working from their home countries or from a third country such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or the Middle East) or leave Hong Kong permanently. If you own a private company limited by shares or have a property or other assets which are owned by a company structure, you will need to decide what to do with your company before you leave Hong Kong – and of course you will need to take other shareholders wishes into consideration. Here are some options for you to consider:Keep the company as is and manage it from overseas. This is a good solution if you plan on returning to Hong Kong or if your company is structured to hold property or other assets. Hong Kong is a popular place to own a company, not only because of its low taxation rates but also because of its relaxed company formation requirements. For instance, a foreign individual who resides overseas can be a sole director and shareholder of a Hong Kong company. A private company limited by shares must have one director (regardless of nationality and permanent residency) and either a company secretary (a Hong Kong Identity Card holder) or a Hong Kong-based comsec corporate service provider. Transfer to dormant status. This is another good option if there’s a chance you might return to Hong Kong. A dormant company is still active, but its status helps reduce costs. The transfer process is straightforward for companies that have yet to start operating. Companies that are in operation should cease doing business three months prior to the transfer application and an audit report must be completed to prove that no transactions were made during that period. Know that even if a company is dormant, it is still required to have a company secretary (a Hong Kong Identity Card holder) or a Hong Kong-based comsec corporate service provider. Transfer share(s) and directorship. By selling a company, you can fully transfer all ownership to another party. The process can be straightforward depending on the structure and current standing of the company. Before selling, you are advised to go through a business valuation process to calculate the financial value of the company and any assets. This process involves collecting and analysing a range of metrics, such as revenue, profit, and loss, as well as assessing the risks and opportunities a business faces. Deregistration. A fourth option is to deregister the company as a legal entity. This can be a very long process (five to nine months), therefore you need to ensure that there are no pending tax liabilities and that you have signed all the necessary documents before leaving Hong Kong. If you are a sole proprietor and would like to close your business, you should also inform the Inland Revenue Department one month before your departure and file a tax return for the relevant year(s). Before leaving Hong Kong, you are advised to have your mail redirected – simply fill out a form at your local post office and provide a forwarding address. Sharon McEneff is the director of T8 Corporate & Business Services in DB North Plaza. T8 delivers business administration services and a one-step comsec solution enabling clients to comply with Hong Kong’s rules and regulations. For more information, email sharon.m@t8corporate.com or visit www.t8corporate.com.

Gordon Franks, Managing Partner at Lifestyle Property International, outlines everything you need to know People are generally aware of the benefits of property investment and the returns it can offer, but often feel overwhelmed about where, or how to start on their property investment journey. Today, I will aim to cover some of the main benefits that this asset class brings, as well as share with you what to look out for in order to maximise your investment. Where to invest? Location, location, location is a mantra often used with property and, to a certain extent, it’s true, but the first thing to do is to remove personal, emotive thoughts and focus on what and where will make you the returns you are looking for. This may be your home country, or if you’re looking for greater returns than from your home market, other countries, such as the UK, may offer a better yield. UK property market outlook. UK property is extremely popular now, and for good reason. Weak GBP, strong rental demand and a robust and stable exit strategy continue to attract overseas investors looking for consistent returns. According to the HMRC Land Registry, the average UK property price in 2012 was GBP 150,000, and today, average house price stands at GBP 270,000. Within the period of 10 years, house prices have nearly doubled. Is UK property for me? Investors come from many backgrounds, from those considering a move to the UK at some stage, to people who have no desire to live there, and anywhere in between. They all seek safe and stable returns and see the attraction of UK property. Couple that with relatively low entry points compared to Hong Kong, and it looks very attractive as an investment destination. Best cities in the UK to invest in now. Once comfortable to invest in the UK, the next decision to make is where to invest. London has always been the obvious choice, but it has also seen a lot of growth over the last decade and although this growth has slowed, rents haven't kept up with the rapid growth. That has led to yields falling, and investors looking elsewhere for returns. It is not just buy-to-let investors who are considering alternatives, but also companies and corporations who are increasingly looking to relocate all or part of their workforce outside of London. This means other major UK cities, such as Birmingham and Manchester, are seeing large-scale investment which is pushing demand for quality housing up. Predictors of property investment success. As with any investment, including property, you need plenty of good reasons to get involved. Below are just some of the factors which can make certain projects or areas stand out and help increase returns. Factors to look out for are: • Government regeneration • An increase in connectivity through transportation links • Relocation of workforces or increased population growth • A steady demand for tenants, if rental is the goal Whilst these factors do not guarantee success, they lay a good foundation for it. Ultimately, there are many things to consider when purchasing property, particularly when you are doing so from overseas. As always it pays to get good quality, professional advice. Lifestyle Property, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Hong Kong, has helped many clients become comfortable with the process of purchasing property overseas. The team assists with the purchase, mortgage and rental of properties for clients to create wealth through property. For more information, email info@lfsproperty.com or visit www.lfsproperty.com.

These easy-to-implement eco-friendly activities will help you get the kids on board for Earth Day (April 22) and beyond PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels April 22, 2022 marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day, and the world needs you and your actions! It’s our job as parents to teach children to be good stewards of the earth by encouraging them to love and respect the world around them. And getting them on board when they’re young (pre-school-young) encourages them to continue the tradition as they get older. Think how proud you’ll feel if your child turns out to be the next Greta Thunberg! There are so many things that families can do together to express and grow their love of nature and their determination to protect it. You’ll find plenty of fun activities listed here, all of which can be done at or close to home, while social distancing. People protect what they love, and it follows that to be truly eco-aware children need to spend plenty of time outdoors, appreciating the beauty of nature. So why not organise a special family hike or bike ride on April 22? This way your kids will get the opportunity to enjoy what Mother Earth has to offer, while being active and adventurous. Or maybe they would prefer to get out on the water? You could spend the day observing nature from a non-polluting kayak, rowboat, or stand-up paddleboard. Whatever outdoor activity you choose, be sure to bring along a bag to pick up any litter you spot and some binoculars to do some birdwatching. If you’re looking to make a day of it, pack an eco-friendly picnic, complete with reusable containers, utensils and water bottles. To reduce your carbon footprint, prepare a vegan meal. You can follow this up with a nature scavenger hunt: Encourage your kids to use the materials they find – shells, sticks, rocks, leaves or flowers – to create a piece of eco-art on the ground for other families to find. Or maybe they would enjoy a grounding, outdoor yoga session? Encourage them to stand barefoot in the grass so they can feel the earth under their feet; ask them to breathe in the fresh air and focus on the sunshine and wind on their skin. Pick some of your favourite earth- and animal-related poses for them to try, like tree, turtle, butterfly, lotus and frog. For something entirely different, you could choose to take a virtual day trip with your family from the comfort of your living room. Consider places your children might like to visit, places they would be inspired by and showcase them. Pick the right TV series and the world really is your oyster – you can climb Mount Everest together, visit the Grand Canyon, explore the Antarctic or ride across the Gobi Desert. Virtual holidays are a great way to enjoy fabulous far-flung places without the environmental cost of flying. You can teach your children that this is a viable way to reduce their carbon footprint and still have fun, too. You don’t need a garden or even a balcony to encourage your kids to develop green thumbs. Indoor gardening is a real option even in the tiniest apartment, and setting one up makes for a perfect Earth Day activity – children get to play with dirt (which most love), while learning to value and nurture nature in a hands-on way. To set up a simple indoor garden, place plants in windows that receive a decent amount of light. Windows that face south and west usually receive enough light to grow herbs and leaf and root vegetables. East- and north-facing windows receive less light and are ideal for shade-loving houseplants. When choosing a location for your indoor plants, also consider accessibility. Your kids will need room to water and monitor plants, and they will need space to clean around their indoor garden. Children can use just about anything for a plant container as long as it has drainage holes; you can show them how to place their pots on individual saucers to protect the windowsill from water damage. Soilless potting mix works well since it anchors plants firmly, keeping them upright, while serving as a reservoir for water, air and nutrients. The next step is to teach your children how to care for their plants; you’ll be amazed how much they love watching them grow. Help your kids get to know the moisture needs of their various plants – some prefer a consistently moist soil, while others do better when the soil dries out between waterings. You can also teach them to apply water directly to the soil and to discard excess water from plant saucers so the soil does not get too wet. Children love making art from just about anything including trash! Cardboard boxes plus imagination equal robots, houses and even space rockets! So, give your kids a selection of materials you would normally throw away or recycle and get them to transform them into a sculpture. Encourage them to paint and decorate their creation, then display it proudly. Through this sort of activity, children learn the concept of repurposing, they see at first-hand how easy it is to give items that are destined for the recycling bin a new lease of life. Showing kids how to sort recyclables and asking them to place each type of recyclable (plastic, metal, paper and glass) into separate bins is another worthwhile Earth Day activity. And again, it’s ideal for pre-schoolers or kindergarteners, since it’s a skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives. As your children get older, you can make them responsible for sorting the household waste into the correct bins – this household chore can be made more appealing with the addition of a pocket-money incentive. All of DB’s villages have communal separation bins, clearly labelled for plastic, metal, paper and glass, but it’s important to note that hard-to-recycle items, including soft plastics/ polyfoam, liquid cartons, electrical appliances, rechargeable batteries and energy-saving lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes, need to be disposed of at the Green@Community pop-up recycling station near Parkridge Village. A startling fact: Every piece of plastic ever made is still in existence, the result of which is brought into sharp focus when visiting DB’s beaches, so often blanketed in waste left behind by visitors or washed in from the sea. Earth Day is a great day to tackle that. This final piece of the eco-puzzle gives children the opportunity to get hands-on resolving the crisis on our own doorstep. Alongside Plastic Free Seas ( www.plasticfreeseas.org ), local non-profit DB Green (www.dbgreen.org) organises regular beach clean-ups that are suitable for the whole family. Bring your own reusable water bottle and you’ll be supplied with reusable cotton gloves and rubbish sacks. The difference is immediate and profound, and underscores the importance of environmental awareness to kids that participate.

Omicron never takes a day off, why should we? Local charities are doing their utmost to support Hong Kong’s most vulnerable through the pandemic, and we can all help shine a light by donating time, money or provisions. Samantha Wong reports PHOTOS BY Adobe Stock Last month, Hong Kong experienced its toughest COVID-19 wave to date. We all lived through compulsory testing, rising case numbers and stricter social distancing measures. Fears of being packed off to Penny’s Bay for 21 days become a reality for many. But it was the city’s most vulnerable – among them migrant workers and the elderly – who suffered the most. Now the peak is apparently over, and we are looking forward to a return to some form of normality, with significant easing of Hong Kong’s tough pandemic-control measures starting April 21. But the situation remains critical for the elderly, especially those who live alone in government housing or in group homes, and for migrant workers, many of whom find themselves homeless on testing positive. What can you do to help? Here, we’ve listed a few of the many Hong Kong charities that are working tirelessly to support those in need. You can help by donating time, money or provisions. Gingko House, www.love.org.hk Gingko House supports underprivileged and vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, by providing them with food and a place to spend time. As a social enterprise restaurant (now with four branches, all staffed by senior citizens), it provides free meals to people in need. Gingko House has a catering division and an organic farm. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can pay for a meal and have it delivered to those in need. You can donate non-perishable items and have them delivered to a Gingko House restaurant. You can volunteer to deliver lunch boxes to those who need them. You can donate masks, disinfectants, rapid antigen test kits and new warm clothing. Visit www.love.org.hk . Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, www.habitat.org.hk Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to improving the living conditions of old people, people with disabilities and low-income families, who live in sub-standard housing. It recruits student and corporate volunteers to help build and repair homes, and it is currently recruiting volunteers to help elderly people deep-clean their homes. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can donate hygiene packs comprising face masks, hand sanitisers and rapid antigen test kits. You can volunteer to help repair or deep-clean someone’s home. Visit www.habitat.org.hk . Helping Hand, www.helpinghand.org.hk Helping Hand is dedicated to serving elderly people who are in need. Established in 1978 to rehouse old people living in cage homes, it runs six old people’s homes plus the only holiday centre for the elderly in Hong Kong. In addition to providing quality residential, rehabilitation and dementia care services, the team provides community support services and programmes for other seniors and their carers. Where you come in: You can donate money. You can volunteer to visit the elderly. You can organise a fundraiser. You can have a Will drawn up. Yes, you read that right. From now until April 30, the lawyers at Oldham, Lie and Nie (www.oln-law.com) have pledged to prepare a simple Will for anyone who contributes HK$2,900 to Helping Hand. Funds raised will go towards providing elderly people in need with food and daily essentials. Visit www.helpinghand.org.hk . Bethune House, www.bethunehouse.org Bethune House is a community-driven, emergency shelter providing refuge, food and medical assistance to migrant workers in crises. The team also helps migrant women, including domestic workers, seek justice following abuse, mistreatment or unfair termination. Where you come in: You can donate money (HK$1,000 sponsors one worker for emergency support for one week). Through cash donations, Bethune House can provide food and water assistance, rapid antigen test kits, medical supplies, blankets, sleeping bags, personal necessities and safe and secure accommodation. Visit www.bethunehouse.org . HELP for Domestic Workers, www.helpfordomesticworkers.org HELP for Domestic Workers offers migrant domestic workers advice, assistance, education and empowerment to help them receive fair and equal treatment under the law. Its current priority is to provide domestic workers with essential supplies and temporary shelters. The team also provides counselling for domestic workers, who have suffered trauma during this time; legal support for domestic workers on pandemic-related legal and immigration issues; and financial support for domestic workers, who are facing mounting medical bills, especially those who have lost access to medical insurance after termination. Where you come in: You can donate money. Through cash donations, HELP for Domestic Workers can provide food and water assistance, rapid antigen test kits, medical and cleaning supplies, clothes and bedding, and safe and secure accommodation. You can volunteer to helping source, pack and deliver essential supplies every day, three times a day, to temporary shelters across Hong Kong. Visit www.helpfordomesticworkers.org .