August 2015 A publication of The Singapore Association of HK 50 years, and counting ... LSC ad_op.pdf 1 8/7/15 12:22 pm C C M M Y Y CM CM MY MY CY CY CMY CMY K K A publication of The Singapore Association of HK contents August 2015 Chairman’s message P6 Editor’s note A strict land ofP8 paradoxes HK FACT FILES P58 Useful info P10 P68 Cost of living Meeting of minds P72 Transportation P80 Shipping & relocation P84 Accommodation P16 P98 Education Celebrating SG50 P108 Kids’ activities P126 Eating out Eat, drink andP20 be merry Twin hubs – why Singaporean banks are movingP22 to the HKSAR PROFILES Lynette Tiong: P26 All in the family SPECIAL P30 FEATURES SIS: Nurturing Hellen Teo: brighter futures Love takes time P118 P34 Motivating your child to read P122 SG v HK P38 What Singaporeans say P44 Who comes up top in transport? P50 Natalie Yue: Happy in Singapore P54 Jack Lee: Learning his ABCs 06SING August 2015 A publication of The Singapore Association of HK MESSAGE SING is published by Ren Publishing (HK) Ltd for The Singapore Association of Hong Kong to provide logistics support for their canned commemorate SG50. FROM THE food event, which will deliver much-needed Editor: Jennifer Tan, Vice Chair, SAHK supplies to the underprivileged through SAHK the Chicken Soup Foundation. SIS was a big supporter of SA Ball 2015, with the SIS CHAIRMAN Choir providing a wonderful performance during the event. We will also continue to Tan Thean Peng Dear fellow Singaporeans and friends, work with various universities to reach out to Managing Director: Singaporean students studying in Hong Kong. 11/F Hong Kong Jewellery Building As we celebrate SG50 this year, it is truly As SAHK was founded on the volunteering 178-180 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2542 2993 • Fax: +852 2542 2994 an honour to commemorate the 50th spirit of Singaporeans, we highly encourage www.ren.com.hk anniversary of Singapore. those who are passionate in serving others to [email protected] In the lead up to the National Day help our fellow Singaporeans to contribute in Writers celebrations, The Singapore Association of any way possible. Reggie Ho Hong Kong (SAHK) organised SA Ball 2015 I am delighted that over the past few years, Rhandell Rubio in April. Your participation and generosity SAHK has been able to consistently donate Project Manager helped contribute to the meaningful causes to charities and local communities at large. Cory Tse of two outstanding charitable organisations – their respective organisations since their I want to convey to the Hong Kong people Printed by Sun Field Label Printing Factory Ltd Viva China Children’s Cancer Foundation and inception. that Singaporeans are not only here to work or Unit 5, 1/F, Block A, Wing Kut Industrial Building Make-A-Wish Foundation. It was certainly Over the years, we have had many set up our own businesses, but also help and 608 Castle Peak Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. one of the largest turnouts I have witnessed, Singaporeans in Hong Kong come and go. uplift local communities wherever we can. Tel: +852 2745 4603 • Fax: +852 2745 4619 with around 500 people attending the event. However, one thing has always remained: While I will not be around to witness © Ren Publishing (HK) Ltd. For good measure, SA Ball 2015 was able to SAHK’s ongoing mission to make our fellow SG100, I would like to impart to our younger All rights reserved 2015. raise the highest proceeds in the history of No part of this publication may be reproduced, Singaporeans feel right at home even generations how fulfilling it is to do something stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any SAHK. though we are miles away from our home meaningful and purposeful that touches other form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, In view of SAHK’s establishment country. SAHK activities such as Forum Talks, people’s lives. magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written 40 years ago, I also took the opportunity at Happy Hour, Singapore Mini Food Fest, On this note, I would like to conclude by permission from Ren Publishing (HK) Ltd. the ball to honour the founding members of Chinese New Year Lo Hei and our all-time sharing my favourite quote from American the association as well as those of Singapore favourite National Day celebrations have all author Zig Ziglar: “You have not really lived All information is for reference only and shall not constitute or be construed as giving any International School (SIS). It was the perfect helped to bring the Singaporean community until you have done something for someone expressed or implied offer, representation or occasion to recognise these outstanding closer together. who can never repay you.” warranty. The publisher and editor accept no individuals for dedicating their time and responsibility with respect to any products We also look forward to fostering closer or services that are advertised or referred to effort to the successful development of relations with SIS, including helping to Stanley Tee in this publication, or any errors in any such advertisements or references. 08SING August 2015 editor’s note SING is published to commemorate our nation’s 50th National Day. It has been a pleasure to commission and be involved with the talented team at Ren Publishing to work on the concept, design, editorial and production of this magazine – and to be able to complete this project in such a short period of time. It was decades ago that SAHK last published such a quality publication, so to be able to achieve this in just two months and to C make it on time for our SG50 celebrations on 9 August is indeed an M achievement for us all. This year, the main focal point for Singaporeans in Hong Kong is obviously SG50. Prominent Y Singaporeans, members of SAHK, and other Singaporeans here in Hong Kong will gather at the Island CM Shangri-La to mark this momentous occasion. SING’s main objective is to mark these celebrations as MY well as to commemorate SAHK’S 40 years in Hong Kong. But we hope it will not stop here. We want it to go further and bring together all Singaporeans and CY their friends here in Hong Kong. The information we have compiled for this magazine will help serve CMY as a useful guide for them – whether they are intending to relocate here, or are already living in Hong K Kong. SING will help them settle down easier and make the most of life in this wonderful city. I thank all our supporters and contributors for taking time to provide their views. These include Lynette Tiong, a Singaporean who has lived in Hong Kong since 1977. She has also kindly shared her life as a wife, mother, grandmother and businesswoman in an interview on Pages 30–33. Various members of the association, including Hellen Teo, Bernard Rodrigues, Daniel Loh, Jack Kau, Ng Ean Kiam, Felicia Loh and Koh Wei Jun, and other members of the Singaporean community have also kindly shared their views in comparing life here and back home in Singapore. I thank also members of SAHK’s Executive Committee 2014/2015 who have helped review the materials, and our Chairman Stanley Tee for supporting this work. Last but not least, I thank all the companies who have supported this publication with their advertisements, without which, SING would not have been possible. Jennifer Tan Vice Chair, SAHK 10SING August 2015 A STRICT LAND OF PARADOXES The government of this tiny nation may be heavy-handed at times, but many citizens laud it adaptive, responsive, progressive and even creative. Ooi Kee Beng examines the paradox that is Singapore, and why it has been so successful the last 50 years. August 2015 marks the 50th been peripheral to world history and yet it anniversary of the birth of styles itself a global city. Singapore as an independent While the little country’s government is nation. Its very existence is heavy-handed in many areas, it is adaptive fascinating, not to mention in others. While pro-active and pragmatic, Its population has an its phenomenally successful it sees itself as conservative. While political economy. authoritarian, it is proudly responsive. It likes English-speaking 9 For starters, this is a city to control social spontaneity, and is quick state existing in a time of nation states. at damage control where it has failed to Chinese majority living Its population has an English-speaking foresee a problem. Chinese majority living in the midst of a How do we explain this? This is not in the midst of a Muslim The mythical Merlion looks Muslim Malay-speaking world. It is the hub a normal country; and is it therefore across the river Malay-speaking world. towards the for a multitude of key activities but has no reasonable to ask the question, “Will imposing towers hinterland to speak of, or to draw upon. It is Singapore – the seemingly anomalous of Marina Bay. located in a part of the world that had always Singapore – survive?” Or is it more cogent 12SING August 2015 Singapore’s future is likely to be decided in part by the colonial past on which its present economic to consider this strange place as a harbinger of things to come in the Asia-Pacific region? success is based. After all, it is often argued that post-Mao China had constantly been learning from the thoughts of Lee Kuan Yew. Innovative as it still is, Singapore’s own And so it came to describe itself as The future is nevertheless likely to continue being Global City – suggesting a country very decided in large part by the colonial past on open to the world in many ways but that which its present economic success is based.