Tomato and Pasta Soup Serves 4 2tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1tbsp tomato purée 400g chopped tomatoes 400g can chickpeas 150g risoni 700ml vegetable stock 2tbsp basil pesto Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and celery and fry for 10 to 15 minutes to soften, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in all the other ingredients, except for the pesto and remaining oil, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Season to taste, then ladle into bowls. Stir the pesto into the remaining oil, then drizzle over the soup. Serve with chunks of crusty bread.

Dig in to discover how tending the land often means tending the self THE ENCHANTED APRIL: ELIZABETH VON ARNIM (1922) Thrown together for a month in Italy, four jaded women find themselves with nothing to do but think and relax. They gravitate to the garden surrounding their villa, where nature becomes a quiet catalyst for change. The landscape sparks honesty, self-reflection, healing and unexpected friendships that transform each woman’s outlook. THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN: KATE MORTON (2008) The story begins with Nell, abandoned on a ship bound for Australia, and unfolds across generations as she and her granddaughter search for the truth about her origins. Their quest leads to a hidden garden in Cornwell, where family secrets are uncovered, linking past and present in a compelling mystery. THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS: TAN ENG (2012) Set in post-WW2 Malaysia, this lush, wistful novel follows Yun Ling Teoh, a survivor of a Japanese prison camp, who seeks solace in a hilltop garden. Through her relationship with a reclusive Japanese gardener, she gradually confronts her past and reconsiders long-held beliefs about loss, memory and forgiveness. THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS: ABBI WAXMAN (2017) Lilian, a young widow and mother of two, joins a beginner gardening class where she slowly finds new purpose and opens herself to relationships and experiences. She learns that tending a garden requires patience, care and resilience, which in turn becomes a path toward healing, renewed confidence and unexpected new beginnings in her own life. THE RED GARDEN: ALICE HOFFMAN (2011) Set in small-town Massachusetts, this linked-stories, magical-realist novel treats a garden almost as a character in its own right – a mysterious patch of land where only red plants grow and hidden truths tend to surface. The garden links the multi-generational stories together as families inherit houses near it, tend it, fear it, or fall in love around it. THE SECRET GARDEN: FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT (1911) Orphaned Mary Lennox is sent to the wilds of Yorkshire to live with her uncle; when she discovers a forgotten walled garden, both the neglected space and the people around her begin to bloom again. Widely regarded as the quintessential garden story, this timeless classic celebrates renewal, friendship and the restorative power of nature.

Limited space doesn't have to mean limited greenery. With the right plants, smart containers and a little local knowhow, even the smallest outdoor space can be transformed into a productive urban oasis. Ray Au reports Hong Kong is not an obvious gardening city: think tightly packed apartment blocks, laundry fluttering from windows and air-conditioning units dripping into narrow streets. But step onto enough balconies in neighbourhoods from Central to Tung Chung and you begin to notice something else: chilli plants tucked into corners, pots of basil balanced on portable barbecues, orchids hanging near sliding doors. Nature finds a way. Here in Discovery Bay, balcony gardening feels more ‘natural’ than in much of Hong Kong thanks to the resort’s verdant landscaping, low-density housing and scenic surrounds. While only a minority of residents have private gardens or large terraces, many apartments open onto balconies overlooking parks, hillsides, or the sea – creating ideal settings for small container gardens that blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. Container gardening is about improvisation – about carving out fragments of nature wherever you can. That improvisation is what makes gardening in Hong Kong so distinctive. A balcony garden here is shaped by humidity, typhoons, subtropical heat and the daily reality of high-rise urban living. The result is a style of gardening that feels intensely local: practical, vertical, resilient and surprisingly lush. Hong Kong’s climate is both a blessing and a challenge for beginner gardeners. The subtropical weather means plants can grow rapidly for much of the year. Summers are hot, wet and intensely humid, while winters are mild enough that many plants continue growing slowly instead of dying back entirely. But the same climate that encourages growth can also destroy it. Heavy rains waterlog roots. Tiny balconies trap heat. Fungal diseases spread quickly in stagnant humidity. And then there are typhoons – the great equaliser of Hong Kong gardening. A carefully cultivated tomato vine can disappear overnight during a T8 signal if pots are not secured. Hong Kong gardeners quickly learn to observe microclimates. A south-facing balcony can become an oven by noon, while a north-facing windowsill might receive only a few hours of indirect light. In a densely vertical city, sunlight behaves unpredictably, bouncing off towers and disappearing behind neighbouring buildings. This is why successful Hong Kong balcony gardens often begin with a simple question: how much light do you actually get? Before buying plants, spend a few days getting to know your balcony. Notice where sunlight falls in the morning and afternoon, which corners stay shaded and where rain collects during a downpour. Wind is another important factor, particularly on higher floors or exposed balconies. A simple rule is to choose plants for the conditions you have, rather than trying to change the conditions for the plants you want. Once you understand your balcony’s particular mix of sun, shade, wind and moisture, choosing what to grow becomes much easier – and your chances of creating a thriving little garden increase considerably. Herbs are usually the gateway plant. Basil, mint, rosemary and coriander are particularly popular because they suit compact living and can be used immediately in cooking. Homegrown herbs also feel luxurious: snipping basil from a balcony before making pasta, or adding fresh mint to iced tea creates a tiny but meaningful sense of autonomy in an intensely urban environment. Basil thrives in Hong Kong’s summer warmth, though it needs regular watering and air flow to avoid mildew. Mint grows aggressively and tolerates humidity well, making it ideal for beginners. Coriander flourishes in the cooler months; rosemary enjoys the heat but is particularly susceptible to waterlogged roots during rainy season. Then there are the ornamentals: Bougainvillea thrives in the heat and can bring a splash of tropical colour to the tiniest of balconies. Orchids, especially dendrobiums and phalaenopsis, seem almost perfectly designed for the Hong Kong climate. Snake plants, pothos and ZZ plants survive low light and inconsistent care, making them staples of balconies across the city. Moving beyond flowers and herbs: think leafy Asian greens, fruiting vegetables, spinach alternatives and heat-tolerant varieties of loose-leaf lettuce. Root vegetables that actually work in containers include radishes, baby carrots and scallions. The best per formers for a shady balcony (two to four hours of direct sun) include bokchoy, Romaine lettuce, mizuna and Malabar spinach; and for a full-sun balcony (five to eight hours of sun): cherry tomatoes, Thai bird chilies and Japanese eggplant. Seasonal timing is all important: October to February is a good time to plant cool-season crops like lettuce, bokchoy, peas, coriander; from March to May start warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers; and from June to September plant heat and humidity-tolerant plants like Malabar spinach, beans, chilies, eggplant. Be mindful too about the containers you choose: minimum 20cm-deep for greens, 35cm-deep for tomatoes and eggplant. What is striking about many Hong Kong balcony gardens is how vertical they become. Since floor space is limited, gardeners look to rail planters, stacked pots, wall hooks, trellises and hanging baskets. Climbers that flourish locally include snow peas, Yardlong beans, Bitter melon, and even cucumbers – specifically mini cucumber, Lebanese cucumber and patio cucumber. If you’re reading this you may well be blessed with a verdant view of the Lantau hills but, even in DB, a few flourishing planters arranged on a balcony change how an apartment feels. Balcony gardens create a buffer; a form of private retreat that is rare in urban environments. Many gardeners describe the ritual itself as therapeutic. Watering plants before work, checking for new leaves, pruning dead stems after rain – these repetitive acts impose a slower rhythm on daily life. During times of stress, gardening can also provide stability. Plants continue growing regardless of relationship troubles or market swings. Of course, there are practical frustrations. Typhoons are perhaps the most uniquely Hong Kong gardening problem. We learn quickly that lightweight pots become dangerous projectiles during storms – heavy ceramic containers, zip ties for tall plants and windbreak netting are our friends. Some gardeners move entire collections into bathrooms during severe weather warnings. Rain is another challenge. In Hong Kong, overwatering can happen naturally during monsoonlike downpours. Good drainage is essential. Most experienced local gardeners emphasise potting mix instead of dense soil, drainage holes in every container and elevated pots that prevent root rot. Fabric grow bags work especially well, improving drainage and root health, although they require more frequent watering during hot, dry weather. Humidity brings pests too. Aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and fungus gnats thrive in warm, damp conditions. Neem oil and diluted soap sprays are common organic remedies. Companion planting – especially basil or marigolds near vegetables – is also widely recommended. Yet the unpredictability becomes part of the appeal. Gardening in Hong Kong requires flexibility rather than perfection. A successful gardener is not necessarily the person with the most exotic plants, but the one who adapts quickly to abrupt shifts in the weather. There is also something deeply Hong Kong about the resourcefulness involved. We reuse chopstick containers as seed starters. Plastic takeaway cups become propagation vessels. Old shoe racks are transformed into vertical herb stations. Tiny spaces are optimised with astonishing creativity. Windowsill gardening represents the purest version of this ingenuity. Not everyone has a balcony, but many apartments have at least a narrow ledge near a kitchen window. Even that can support scallions, basil, microgreens, or pothos. The constraints force precision. A windowsill gardener learns exactly how sunlight moves across a room throughout the day. In some ways, the limitations make the practice more intimate. A sprawling suburban garden can fade into the background. A single thriving chilli plant on a Hong Kong windowsill becomes a small daily achievement. But beneath the aesthetics, balcony gardening in Hong Kong still comes down to practicality. Residents want cooler apartments, fresher herbs, cleaner air and moments of calm. Plants provide all four. And perhaps that is why balcony gardens feel so moving in this city. They are acts of optimism squeezed into tiny spaces. In the end, gardening in Hong Kong is not about escaping the city. It is about learning how to live more gently within it.

From violin wunderkind to aspiring opera star, Donna Lee has blossomed into a classical bright light that’s about to get even brighter. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS BY Andrew J.C. Spires & courtesy of Donna Lee Not long ago, Donna Lee was a 15-year-old violin wunderkind and budding vocalist with a truckload of competition wins and guest performances with the Hong Kong Orchestra under her belt, on a music scholarship at Discovery College. When we met back in 2023, she was well spoken, if a little reserved, likely the product of her preference for Bach over BTS. But she put up with us and very patiently explained chord progression, what made Bach so singular and why it was such a shame kids her age weren’t more in tune with classical music and opera. What a difference a few grades make. Now 18 and on her way to the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Donna would have no trouble telling famously opera-averse movie star Timothée Chalamet what she thinks of his take on opera being an art “no one cares about”. “I think subconsciously, I always preferred singing,” says Donna of her pivot to voice from violin. The life-altering experience of seeing Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Met in New York, featuring Lisette Oropesa, didn’t hurt. “Violin is very important to me, but I think my interest in singing started to grow more because I realised opera is truly the ultimate art form. You have everything in opera: ballet, singing, theatre, instrumentalism. It’s a colossal art form; it contains every single form possible and so many ways to express a story. It’s just very impactful, and I want to make an impact.” Sit down, Timothée. On this day, Donna has manoeuvred us towards lunch at her regular spot in DB Plaza, Ona, a go-to since she relocated to Discovery Bay with her family for school. As it turns out, since she first graced these pages, Donna’s held her first solo recital to a full house, debuted at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and performed for the Royal Family of Bhutan. Last year, she studied with Finnish conductor and renowned conducting teacher Jorma Panula, as well as James Boznos, composer and principal timpanist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. After finding time to graduate from DC this year, Donna hit pause on composition and conducting to focus on singing, and even gave up her first school choice, Juilliard, in favour of the Hochschule in order to train under legendary violinist and soprano Anna Samuil. That name may not mean much to most of us, but if you’re gunning for a place on the stage at Milan’s La Scala, she’s the teacher to get you there. Would a physics nerd have passed up a chance to study under Stephen Hawking? “Actually, I was kind of lost. I was reading the bios of professors from conservatories all over and stumbled upon this prestigious conservatory in Germany,” recalls Donna. When she found Samuil, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory as a violinist and soprano, she thought she’d struck gold. Not only did their artistic backgrounds align, but Samuil also taught two of Donna’s favourite performers: Serena Sáenz, an Operalia competition runner-up, “the Olympics of opera”, and Julia Muzychenko, who placed third at Brussels’ Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2023. “I discovered their styles were similar for a reason; they were both her students,” Donna says. “I decided I needed to learn from this woman.” What followed was two years of messaging and emails back and forth, and pushback from Samuil, who finally relented and invited Donna to one of her masterclasses. “So in 2024 November, my dad and I went to Berlin. I impressed her because 16 for a classical singer is really… She called me, like, an embryo or something. Less than a baby. And coming from her you just kind of suck it up.” Donna sang a Mozart aria, Bester Jungling, and eventually won Samuil over. Donna’s next challenge was to get through the Hochschule’s gruelling audition process. Over the course of a full – and we mean full – day, she had to sing two arias; perform a monologue; sit for an interview in front of a panel of 11 professors, all in German by the way; pass a piano exam (she’s a violinist, remember) and sit a music theory exam. In the end, she was accepted into the school, and into Samuil’s elite programme that enrolled just two applicants this year. If the visa process goes smoothly, she’ll be heading to Berlin this month. Given the demands of her education and training, it’s easy to see how Donna’s last years at DC were on the solitary side. She says her physical maturity and deeper technical knowledge – much of which she credits to DC’s support – have made her a better singer, but interpreting music comes from living. “I have a lot of friends at Hochschule already because I go there so often. Which is strange because at DC I had just one friend in my grade. In Berlin I have many, because finally it’s a place where I fit in,” she states bluntly. Donna is intensely aware of how much school she missed for masterclasses (she followed Samuil to Brussels, Changsha and Shanghai), competitions and performances in Hong Kong and farther afield, and how much of her school life was catching up on the IB curriculum on her own. By her count, she took 28 flights last year, executive flight numbers. She’s thankful for the school’s support, but says she found DC difficult socially. “It’s hard to step into the stream when you’re so rarely there. And then what do we talk about? I’ve dedicated my life to something so early on that few people know much about. I still don’t know what a PS5 is and they don’t know what I do. Which is completely okay, but yeah. What do you talk about?” Donna would talk about opera: how it’s underappreciated by her generation and, in truth, entirely relevant. “It addresses so much in our world today in a way that transcends fast-paced, dopamine-driven art,” she says, settling in to make her own impact. And she means it. Donna has no problem admitting she’d love to be the singer some young girl waits for outside the theatre, the way she once waited for Sáenz. And awkward as the conversation is, she’d love to be at the crest of more Asian women on the operatic stage at La Scala, or the Met, or Teatro Colón, or Wiener Staatsoper. Donna and a Korean student are the only ones entering Samuil’s voice programme this year. “I’m very proud I got into this programme, and it already means a lot,” Donna finishes. “But it will mean more when there are more Asian women actually on the big operatic stages.” One is on the way.

AT A BEACH CLEAN-UP Plastic Free Seas and their trusty volunteers were back at Nim Shue Wan on the afternoon of August 16 cleaning the beach, after taking a couple of months break over the summer. [PHOTOS BY Andrew J.C. Spires.] DMR DANCERS ON STAGE Congratulations to all the dancers from DMR School of Ballet who brought their annual performance, Wonderland, to life on June 13 at DBIS, Globe Theatre. Their hard work, dedication and passion truly shone on stage. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon.] MURAL PAINTING AT DB NORTH The fabulous new murals at DB North Plaza were created by Hong Kong social enterprise Art Dreamers and inspired by DB’s increasingly pet-friendly environment. Students from S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School helped the team put the finishing touches to the murals on June 20. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKRI.]

If you’ve already conquered Hong Kong’s ‘Big Four’, it’s time to discover the Tinworth Trail – a rugged 90km route that explores Lantau’s quieter northern side and beyond PHOTOS BY Will Hayward & Jono Woodhouse Hong Kong has four officially designated, long-distance hiking trails: Maclehose (100km, established in 1979), Lantau (70km, established in 1984), Hong Kong (50km, established in 1985) and Wilson (78km, established in 1996). The Tinworth Trail (90km, established in 2022) is the unofficial fifth. Second only to the Maclehose in length, it’s a quieter, rougher and more adventurous alternative to the ‘Big Four ’ – an under-the-radar challenge that has quickly earned a loyal following among experienced hikers and trail runners. Like the Big Four, the Tinworth is a collection of existing trails linked together into one continuous route. Unlike them, however, it hasn’t been given a bureaucratic seal of approval. In essence, it’s simply a website built by a group of local runners, hikers, race organisers and Strava-users, who drew on their collective experience to build something new. Just four of its 90 kilometres overlap the Big Four – the aim was to give Hong Kong hikers a fresh challenge, while showcasing lesser-known trails. The route starts in the northeast corner of the territory at Sha Tau Kok, runs southwest through the New Territories, hops the bay and picks up in Lantau. Like the official trails, it’s divided into 10 sections, each with start and end points accessible by public transport, making it easy to tackle over several weekends or in one epic '17-hour if you’re super-fit’ push. The trail is named after race director and runner Nic Tinworth, who sadly died from a brain tumour in 2020 at the age of just 44. Nic played a huge role in popularising trail running in Hong Kong, founding the Hong Kong Trail Running Facebook community and co-founding RaceBase, the events company behind iconic races like Country of Origin, Nine Dragons and the Great Relay. It’s a fitting tribute because the route reflects the kind of trails Nic loved. Rather than concrete steps and manicured paths, the Tinworth favours muddy singletrack, rocky scrambles and the occasional ‘how am I supposed to get up there?’ climb. The result is a trail that’s undeniably more demanding than the government-maintained routes, but never beyond the reach of reasonably fit and prepared hikers. Of course, the Tinworth’s unofficial status means there are no brightly coloured ribbons, signposts or arrows guiding you along the way. But the organisers have used technology to solve that problem. The website (tinworthtrail.com) provides detailed maps and a GPX link – a spatial topographic file that you load onto your phone or smart watch – to help you navigate. And GPS works via satellite, so you’ll stay on course even in the rare places where there’s no mobile reception. For Discovery Bay residents, sections 7 to 10 (the Lantau hikes) are the obvious place to start. As the official Lantau Trail already covers much of the island’s southwest, the Tinworth explores the north. Highlights include the 700-metre climb up Tiger’s Head, the beautiful Wong Lung Hang Valley and the Tung O Ancient Trail to Tai O. SUNNY BAY TO DB The Lantau portion of the Tinworth Trail starts with section 7 (6km distance, 524m elevation), right outside Sunny Bay MTR. Taking the footpath from the station, zigzag your way between the parking areas and the railway line, and go through the underpass. On the other side, cross Cheung Tung Road and then Sunny Bay Road. Finding yourself on the north side of Sunny Bay Road, head towards Disneyland (away from the station). Before long, the ground slopes downwards and on the right, you find a walkway under Sunny Bay Road. Once on the other side, turn right and start heading back towards the railway line, now on the south side of the road. You quickly find a trail on the left heading up the hill; follow it up and over Lai Pik Shan and on past the communications station at Tai Che Tung, then down towards DB. The stage finishes at the path that comes up from Neo Horizon. There’s an exit here, down an obvious path that is uneven in places. DB TO PAK MONG Section 8 (7.4km distance, 321m elevation) kicks into gear at DB Lookout, 200m above sea level. The climb up and over Tiger’s Head (Lo Fu Tau) provides outstanding views of DB on one side and the back of Lantau looking across to Tuen Mun on the other. The path looks a lot shorter than it actually is, but it flattens out for 10m every now and then. Tiger’s Head summit is about 50m off the Tinworth and well worth a detour. Take a left – a short climb takes you right up to the giant stone on the top of the hill shaped like the head of a tiger. The views are incredible here; you can see the whole of DB and appreciate just how far you’ve climbed. After enjoying the view, head back to the Tinworth and carry on down the Lo Fu Tau Country Trail for about 3km until you reach the Olympic Trail. Turn right and follow the Olympic Trail all the way to Pak Mong Village. PAK MONG TO YU TUNG ROAD Section 9 (10.2km distance, 783m elevation) begins as you exit Pak Mong village. You see a trail on the left side, rising steeply, which is initially a little overgrown but quickly opens out. You’re starting one of the most challenging climbs of the Tinworth, almost 700m over 5.5km towards Sunset Peak. Your reward? Incredible views over the central Lantau massif and down towards Tung Chung and the airport. Eventually this trail intersects with the Lantau Trail; turn right and follow the Lantau Trail for less than 1km, then take the turn-off down Wong Lung Hang Valley. In the valley, you drop back to sea level over about 2km. At the bottom of steep steps, you reach Wong Lung Hang Road; turn left and follow it out to Yu Tung Road, which you reach by taking an elevated pedestrian walkway over the road and down the other side. You can exit here to Tung Chung by walking about 1km. YU TUNG ROAD TO TAI O The last stage of the Tinworth, section 10 (13.7km distance, 288m elevation), largely follows the Tung O Ancient Trail around the coast to Tai O. Go along Yu Tung Road about 500m then take steps down to the right and follow the path past a sports field and through wetland until you find yourself on a concrete trail that passes under the cable car. You pass through a series of villages, with the airport on your right until suddenly you turn a corner and it disappears. The last 3km of the Tinwor th provide wonderful views across the Pearl River Delta. On entering Tai O, go along the eastern side of the river until you find a bridge just before the road which takes you towards a housing estate. Follow the main road for about 500m and finish beside the bus terminal at the entrance to the historic part of Tai O. The Tinworth brain trust could easily have extended section 10 to Fan Lau and clocked a nice round 100m. Instead, they prioritised accessibility. The Tinworth is designed to be completed in manageable stages, with every section finishing within easy reach of public transport. Fan Lau, by contrast, is in the middle of nowhere. But if you fancy adding the extra distance just to earn bragging rights, more power to you.

Where adventure awaits REPORTING BY Inka Virrett LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST COAST of Central America, bordering Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, Belize is a treasure trove of natural beauty and rich cultural experiences. If you can tear yourself away from the glittering Caribbean coast, there are wildlife-filled jungles, rolling mountain ranges and fascinating Mayan ruins to explore. THE MAYA CIVILIZATION EMERGED in Belize at least three millennia ago and flourished until about 1000 AD. You can explore Mayan ruins throughout the country, but the best, based on scale and accessibility, are Lamanai, known for its 38m High Temple; Altun Ha, with its grand, open plazas; and Caracol, which homes an early astronomical observatory. THE INFLUENCE OF MESTIZO AND CREOLE cultures is evident in the rich, diverse flavours that define Belizean cuisine and, unsurprisingly, the catch of the day is often prepared with a Caribbean twist. Be sure to order ‘fry jacks’ – a popular Belizean breakfast dish – puffed-up slices of tortilla dough filled with everything from jam and honey to beans and cheese. IN THE JUNGLES OF SOUTHERN BELIZE, you find 128,000-acre Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to one of the highest concentrations of jaguars in the world. Here you can also hook up with birding guides to spot more than 500 kaleidoscopic avian species, such as keel-billed toucans, scarlet macaws and indigo buntings. THE COUNTRY’S DIVERSE TOPOGRAPHY – forests, mountains, grassland and jungles – provides numerous opportunities for adventure. Openwater rafting is a fantastic way to explore Belize’s wild side, and you can go tubing through mysterious underground cave networks. The lush rainforests are perfect for zip-lining, or horse-back riding.

Victoria Harbour Sailings

How much do you know about Tim Burton and his films?

Safety-first trials are already running near the Discovery Bay Tunnel. Is this a careful first step toward driverless taxis? Photo by Felix Chan If you’ve been driving or taking the bus around Sunny Bay or the Discovery Bay Tunnel lately, you might have spotted something a little unusual: a car or bus with special labels, gliding along a bit more deliberately than the usual traffic. Welcome to the age of autonomous vehicles, and yes, it’s arriving right here on our island. Over the past year and a half, North Lantau has become one of Hong Kong’s main testing grounds for self-driving technology. Baidu’s team has already clocked more than 100,000 kilometres of careful, incident-free trials since late 2024, starting on Airport Island and steadily spreading into Tung Chung. This summer the routes grew again, now linking the airport with Tung Chung town centre via Chek Lap Kok South Road and stretching out towards Sunny Bay and the Discovery Bay Tunnel approaches. Operators are running trials linking the airport with Tung Chung town centre via Chek Lap Kok South Road and stretching out towards Sunny Bay and the Discovery Bay Tunnel. That means the roads many of us use every day - Sunny Bay Road, Cheung Tung Road, parts of Tung Chung Waterfront Road, and the area around the tunnel toll plaza are now part of live autonomous trials. There’s even a 20-seat autonomous bus being tested between Sunny Bay and Siu Ho Wan, fitted with fancy new camera technology designed to react faster in Hong Kong’s busy, sometimes chaotic conditions. The good news is that caution is very much the order of the day. Every vehicle on these public roads still has a trained backup operator either sitting in the driver’s seat or watching remotely from a control centre. Fully driverless tests (no one in the vehicle at all) are currently limited to Airport Island, and only after months of successful remote-monitoring checks confirmed the systems were stable and safe. While ordinary residents can’t just hop into these vehicles yet (passengers are limited to designated staff or special public experience rides), the longer-term picture is more exciting. The government’s stated goals include moving toward driverless, scaled-up, and eventually commercialised AV operations. In the years ahead, that could open the door to driverless taxis or autonomous shuttle services operating in carefully chosen areas, including potentially parts of Lantau. The vision talked about by both the operators and the Transport Department is a “Smart Mobility Network for Lantau”: safer, more efficient connections between the airport, Tung Chung, Sunny Bay and beyond. One day that might mean convenient, on-demand autonomous rides that complement our existing buses and ferries, reducing the need for private cars on some trips. Of course, any commercial services would only arrive after further rigorous testing and regulatory approval, and safety will remain the non-negotiable priority. Keep an eye on the Transport Department’s AV trials page for the latest maps and updates, and enjoy the quiet thrill of living through a small piece of transport history, right here at home. Subscribe to our newsletter here for more community news.

Harvey Law Group examines Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship By Investment Program, highlighting its far-reaching appeal to international investors In a world of growing uncertainty, many high-net-worth individuals are turning to the Caribbean for stability, security and opportunity. Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has become one of the most attractive routes to a second passport. Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation made up of two major inhabited islands – Antigua and Barbuda – along with several smaller surrounding islands. It’s famously nicknamed the ‘Land of 365 Beaches’ due to its numerous pristine shorelines – one for every day of the year. Beyond its white- and pink-sand beaches, coral reefs and rugged coastal formations, Antigua and Barbuda boasts historic harbours, a lush rainforest, wildlife-rich lagoons and spectacular birdwatching opportunities – it’s a destination that is small in size, but truly large in natural wonders. TWO WAYS TO INVEST Antigua and Barbuda’s CBI program allows applicants to choose between a donation option and a real-estate investment option. Either way, the investment is only payable after pre-approval, which gives applicants certainty before making a large financial commitment. The donation option appeals to applicants who favour a lower financial mobilisation and simpler process. Donations start at US$230,000 for a family of up to four persons making a contribution to the National Transformation Fund, and at US$260,000 for a family of up to six persons making a contribution to the University of the West Indies Development Fund. The real-estate investment option, meanwhile, is favoured by applicants keen to invest in something tangible: a property that can appreciate in value, generate rental income and serve as a family retreat. With a minimum qualifying investment of US$300,000 and a five-year holding period, investors gain both citizenship and a foothold in one of the Caribbean’s most desirable property markets. Only government-approved real-estate projects qualify under the program, ensuring high standards and investor confidence. Current approved projects include Moongate Resort (Half Moon Bay): boutique luxury suites starting at US$350,000, with professional rental management; The Gardens (Jolly Harbour): villas with private pools, fractional ownership from US$300,000 and strong rental demand from yacht owners; and Verandah Estates (Long Bay): a 25- acre, gated community offering two- and three - bedroom villas starting at US$400,000, ideal for families and long-term residents. Resale opportunities also exist in sold-out developments like Nonsuch Bay Resort (Nonsuch Bay), provided the five-year holding requirement is met. MOBILITY, INCLUSIVITY AND TAX BENEFITS Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 140 destinations, including the UK, Schengen Area, Singapore and Hong Kong – a powerful passport for global mobility. Antigua and Barbuda’s CBI program stands out for its inclusivity. Eligible dependents include spouses, children up to 30 years of age, unmarried siblings, parents and grandparents over 55 and even dependent grandchildren. Few Caribbean programs match this breadth, making it ideal for family planning and legacy building. Uniquely, Antigua and Barbuda has embraced digital assets, positioning itself as the Caribbean’s most crypto-friendly jurisdiction. For modern investors, this forward-looking regulatory environment is a major draw. Add to that zero personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax, and the appeal becomes clear. THE APPLICATION PROCESS Applications must be submitted through authorised representatives such as Harvey Law Group (HLG). The process typically takes six to nine months. New citizens must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first five years and take an oath of allegiance. Note that the ‘Caribbean Five’ (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia) are exploring a harmonised future approach to physical residency or in-person verification. The exact impact remains speculative, though early indications suggest that any future requirement will likely be highly manageable, such as a rumoured 30-day aggregate stay over a course of five years. While this remains a high-level concept which could take months or years to be implemented, HLG recommends applicants intending to move forward to apply without delay. For investors seeking more than just a passport, Antigua and Barbuda offers a rare combination: luxury real estate, family inclusivity, crypto-friendly policies and global mobility. Whether it’s a villa overlooking turquoise waters or a suite in a boutique resort, the investment is more than property – it’s a gateway to opportunity, security and a Caribbean lifestyle. Individuals interested in gaining CBI in Antigua and Barbuda find professional legal advice invaluable. HLG brings over 32 years of immigration expertise with offices in 20 countries globally. Our specialisation extends to the Caribbean, and we offer clients clear, professional guidance with each step of their journey. Reach out to us at contact@harveylawcorporation.com. To read more from HLG, click here.