PEOPLE Courtesy of Daniel Chan t was a rare sight – a tall bearded westerner standing on a street in IPokfulam, waving at strangers passing by. “Hello, I am Zimmerman. Please give me a vote. Thank you,” he was shouting out in imperfect Cantonese. Paul Zimmerman’s campaigning sure paid off. In September he beat his rival, Ellis Lau Ying-tung from the Savantas Policy Institute to win the district council seat for Pokfulam in the Zimmerman lives in the countryside with four dogs and they Southern District, with 60 per cent jog together. of the vote. It was an unexpectedly “Residents will vote for somebody At that time, Zimmerman did not hotly contested by-election with a 40 who can make sure their living district is know anyone in the city but that only per cent turnout rate. nice,” Zimmerman said. encouraged him to explore. “Every night, after work, I would go home, change my For the 52-year-old Zimmerman, It is this aspiration to live in a better clothes and walk the streets.” He walked it was fourth time lucky. He had and greener environment that drove everywhere but liked to hang out in Lan People previously lost out in the 2006 Election the Dutchman to enter politics and Kwai Fong and at dai pai dongs. Committee, an 800 member electoral made him decide to reside in Hong Kong college for the Chief Executive, the 26 years ago. After just three years, Zimmerman 2007 District Council and the 2008 struck out on his own and started a Legislative Council elections. The idea of Asia was planted in his business. He founded Bridge Design Inc, head as a child listening to his father’s a corporate communications company. It But Zimmerman does not think his tales, “My father was trading textiles was a success and 10 years later, in 1997, victory was down to luck. Nor does in Asia when I was a kid,” he recalls. he sold it and made his first fortune. he think the support from the Pan- Zimmerman junior liked to edit the films Democrats – he is a member of the that his father shot on his journeys – the Once he was financially secure, Civic Party – or the fact that more than fascination started then. Zimmerman started to think about what 20 per cent of Pokfulam residents are he wanted to do with his life and where expatriates were major factors. After he graduated from Erasmus he wanted to spend it. He had grown up University, he decided to head for Asia. in the Netherlands and spent some time Instead, Zimmerman puts his success In 1984, the young Zimmerman arrived in Australia, both of which he found down to his persistent fight for good city in “busy, hot but fun” Hong Kong with a boring. He also spent a few months in planning in Pokfulam over the past six years. traineeship at a Dutch bank. Shanghai. That was exciting initially, but Courtesy of Daniel Chan Courtesy of Daniel Chan Meet Councillor Paul Zimmerman canvassing residents in Pokfulam district. Zimmerman and members of the Civic Party thank voters for Zimmermanby Andrew Choi Tsz-hong their support in the 2010 by-election. 8 Varsity NOV 2010 ISSUE 117 NOV 2010 ISSUE 117 Varsity 9 His experience as an engineer and issues as understandable ideas,” says Andrew Choi Tsz-hong Courtesy of Daniel Chan the crowds and lack of outdoor activities veteran of the environmental movement Lai. “This may, in the end, get people and greenery soon got to him. allowed him to raise concerns about the involved in the city’s development.” controversial Express Rail Link and provide “After I sold my business and had a professional alternative proposal. He certainly has his work cut the money to be able to think about out for him. Zimmerman says he my life, I looked at all the options: the Lai says Zimmerman always conducts has no plans to step up his political Netherlands, Australia, Shanghai. I thorough research and never stops trying participation and contest a seat decided in 2003 to remove the question to convince the opposition to change in the Legislative Council because mark and stay in Hong Kong forever.” their mind, no matter how diverse and of the restrictions on legislators’ far apart are their beliefs initially. nationalities. But he hopes to serve Zimmerman loves the fact that the Pokfulam district for another Hong Kong is an urban centre where Lai linked Zimmerman up with the three or four terms. A picture of his new-born daughter is everything is just 10 minutes away, Civic Party to not only promote a more Zimmerman’s computer wallpaper. including the beautiful outdoor democratic political system, but also On top of that, he is studying for environment. “Hong Kong is like a to advocate for a better utilization of a master’s degree in Transport Policy Courtesy of Daniel Chan combination of New York and Hawaii,” Hong Kong’s resources to serve the and Planning at the University of he says. people’s interests. Hong Kong and continues his work with Designing Hong Kong. In all the He loves the city too much to just sit “Zimmerman is exactly the right areas of his work and study, he will and watch while it deteriorates around Zimmerman and other concerned citizens urge the Hong Kong government to protect Tai person to be the catalyst to speed up the remain focused on better and more People him. Once he had decided this would be Long Sai Wan’s natural environment. process of empowering people, and to be sustainable infrastructure planning home for his family, he threw himself a decoder who can explain complicated and making Hong Kong a greener, into activism. Zimmerman co-founded more livable city. Designing Hong Kong, which advocates the adoption of sustainability, good “We are only efficient in building roads halt the redevelopment of the Seaview Despite his limited design and quality of life as core values and infrastructure but not other social Building in Repulse Bay which would Cantonese, Zimmerman Zimmerman’s family is a great support in in urban planning. aspects.” He wishes the government see part of Repulse Bay beach become is not worried about all things. could have been more sensitive to the a private area. a cultural gap with Zimmerman cited several problems that problems and tackled them earlier. his colleagues and are challenging us and our environment – He also campaigned against a constituents, “To me it’s USA, Hong Kong and the Netherlands, blue skies are missing, roads are congested, The community is not much better. proposed section of the Route 4 not a barrier. I have lived will meet and catch up with each other and the air is polluted. He has observed a lack of effort in Highway that would run along the coast here for 26 years.” He somewhere around in the world. solving the problems that have led to and impact on the Pokfulam waterfront points out that his family, “From Victoria Harbour to Tai Long our predicament. and took part in efforts to preserve his staff and members of “If you do not have a healthy Sai Wan, we are killing the city,” he says. Kin Yin Lei. Campaigners forced the the groups he works with relationship with your family, you He believes both the government and Destruction of the environment and government to strike a deal with the are all Chinese. cannot persevere with anything,” he the community are responsible. On the over-development is repeated over and owner of the 73-year-old mansion by says, with his eyes trained on a computer government’s part, he says outdated over again: from Victoria Harbour, to offering an alternative plot of land. He has everything he screen showing a photograph of his thinking and outdated regulations have Sai Kung’s Tai Long Sai Wan and Hoi Ha needs here, family, friends, infant daughter. And for a moment led to outdated policies. Wan, but the city never unites to fight Apart from his energy and enthusiasm business and recognition. “Hong the busy rookie district councillor, Courtesy of Daniel Chan against the threat. in fighting for the causes he believes Kong is going to be my place forever,” seasoned green campaigner and former in, friends say it is the willingness to he says. entrepreneur is just a proud father. “People have to do something.” engage in and win over opponents that makes Zimmerman an effective agent He still visits the Netherlands Zimmerman fears that by the time for change. once a year. And every year, the pain is too great to bear and the during Christmas, members of the community finally decides to speak out, Albert Lai Kwong-tak first became Zimmerman family, who reside it will be too late. “We should not only friends with Zimmerman when they around the world, in Switzerland, the focus on political reform,” he says. joined forces to defend Victoria Harbour. Lai is the vice-chairman of the (From left to right) Lai, Zimmerman and Tanya Chan have been colleagues and He himself is man of action rather Civic Party and the current chairman of friends. They work together to protect our than just words. Zimmerman helped to The Professional Commons. precious heritage. 10 Varsity NOV 2010 ISSUE 117 NOV 2010 ISSUE 117 Varsity 11.