962 Bus

Thanks to Lee-Ann Forsyth for the following update which she received from the Transport Department regarding the Citibus 962 service:

Dear Ms Forsyth,

According to CityBus, the operator of route 962, there is no trip reduction in recent years to routes 962, 962B and 962S which call at all bus stops in the vicinity of HK Gold Coast.

In contrast, an extra bus has been deployed for the busiest half-hour (i.e. 7.30 am to 7.59 am) since the second half of 2011 to better serve the need of residents around. The additional bus deployment has helped ease the half-hour average occupancy from around 90% to recently 76-80%. At this stage, we are of the view that the service level can meet the demand.

Notwithstanding the above, we, together with the operator, will continue to closely monitor the service level of route 962 and make service adjustment to suit passengers' needs if necessary.

Thank you for your opinion on the service of route 962.

Regards,

Jacob TSUI Ngar Kok

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stormy Weather

The recent bad weather has at least provided some rainbows - these beautiful pictures were taken by Mrs. Joan Boutell from Gold Coast Phase II on Wednesday 6th May

New Local Items for Sale:

Gold Coast Single-room flat share; 2 kids' beds; a Kuhn Rikon Folding Bicycle

Chicco Playpen / Travel Cot; Boys Loft Bed; Handwriting Pad for a PC; Drive

Sony Digital Camera; Iomega UltraMax Pro Desktop Hard a 2006 Toyota Rav 4

and 2 x Sharp Air purifiers.

Don't forget - you can advertise your things for free, too!

Harrow International School

The scaffolding is starting to come down prior to the school opening on Monday 3rd September 2012.

Shuttle Bus Service From Gold Coast Piazza - Tsim Sha Tsui Suspended From 10th April

We're not sure if this means the service is suspended completely or just the pick-up from the Piazza. We'll try to find out.

Thanks to Maureen Buja of Dymocks in the Gold Coast for letting us know about this.

Threat to Citybus 962 Services

The big news during March was the threat to the 962 bus route from Tuen Mun to Causeway Bay. According to a proposal by the Transport Department, the the Citybus 962 route series would see the following major changes being:-

•    962 to only provide services during Monday - Saturday morning peak ( From Lung Mun Oasis---> Castle Peak Road --Gold Coast ---Siu Lam --- Tuen Mun Road ---CWB)
•    After the morning peak hours service, NO 962.
•    962X to run from 0550 to 0030 directly from Lung Mun Oasis to CWB (NOT via Castle Peak Bay )
•    Mon - Sunday 962S will almost replace 962B to serve the Castle Peak Area, from 0550 to 0030 from Chi Lok Fa Yuen --Castle Peak-- Gold Coast + Aegean Coast -- Siu Lam ---Sham Tseng ---Tuen Mun Road---CWB.

The 962 - an endangered species?

A number of local residents, Beatrice CHU Shun Nga (the Tuen Mun District Councillor for Hanford ward) and goldcoastonline.hk have all contacted Citybus and the Transport Department to complain about these proposals.

Councillor Chu has now told us:
“I think it wouldn't have any drastic change in the near future. I will keep my eyes on the progress and let you know the latest news ASAP.
BTW, please keep mobilising passengers to express their opposition directly to the Director of TD and City Bus in order to stop the proposed plan”

Please do keep the pressure on to prevent these ridiculous changed happening. Email your support to Beatrice CHU Shun Nga at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and also to the Commissioner for Transport Joseph Y T LAI.

Reclamation in the Sam Shing - Sham Tseng Area?

The rumour about Golden Beach being reclaimed is apparently untrue. However, the Government HAS been looking at 25 possible reclamation sites (including those in Tai Lam and Sam Shing Area.

This is an email we had back from the Civil Engineering and Development Department in response to our enquiry:

Subj: Proposed Reclamation in the Sham Tseng - Tai Lam - Gold Coast _ Sam Shing Area

Dear David,

Thank you for your enquiry.

Please be advised that a map showing the approximate locations of 25 possible reclamation sites (including those in Tai Lam and Sam Shing Area) is available on the following link for viewing and downloading. http://www.landsupply.hk/download/pdf/MediaBriefing-4Jan2012/Possible_%20reclamation_sites_map.pdf

Please note that one of the major objectives of Stage 1 Public Engagement is to finalize the site selection criteria. Government commenced the public engagement in November last year. In the first two months of the consultation process, some stakeholders considered that the discussion of the site selection criteria were relatively abstract and suggested Government to provide possible reclamation proposals for in-depth discussions. In response, Government has put forward 25 possible reclamation sites with a view to facilitating public discussions on the site selection criteria.

The list of 25 possible reclamation sites is NOT a confirmed list of selected reclamation sites. Our objective is to better understand how the public consider the initial site selection criteria through listening to the views expressed about these possible sites. Based on the comments collected at Stage 1 Public Engagement, we will review and finalize the site selection criteria with a view to identifying potential reclamation sites. We aim to identify about 10 potential reclamation sites in mid 2012 for conducting a technical assessment of the sites and consultation with the relevant local communities during the Stage 2 Public Engagement exercise which is planned to commence in the 3rd quarter of 2012.

If you have any comment, please send them to us on or before 31 March 2012.

You can voice your opinion by:
Sharing your comments online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
E mailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sending a fax to (852) 2714 2054
Sending written comments to 4/F Civil Engineering and Development Building, 101 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Kowloon (Please specify "Enhancing Land Supply Strategy")

Regards,

Port Works Division
Civil Engineering and Development Department

Bearcare English-language Playgroup in Tsuen Wan!

A lot of parents and children will be familiar with 'Miss Ami', who has run playgroups in the Gold Coast area for over 7 years. She is now opening Bearcare Playgroup for ‘Panda Bears’ (walkers – 2 years old) and ‘Sun Bears’ (2 – 3 years old) at Chipmunks in Tsuen Wan (see below) in a fun and caring environment. Miss Ami will also be taking arts and crafts classes for children on Saturday mornings.

Class schedule:

Monday 23rd, Wednesday 25th, Friday 27th
Monday 30th April.
• ‘Panda Bears’ (2 – 3 years old): 9.30 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.
• ‘Sun Bears’ (walking Bears – 2 years old): 10.45 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.

Each class is $180, but book all 7 classes and get the first class free! First class free trial – all 7 classes for only $1,080. Register before 16th April to get an Early Bird 10% discount - 7 classes for only $970!

Classes are 1 hour long, and the price includes 1 hour’s free play at Chipmunks!

For more information call: 9194 3167 (English) or 3749 9428 (Chinese). You can find more details on the Bearcare website or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Welcome to Gold Coast

The regular Welcome to Gold Coast Coffee Morning after Easter will be on Wednesday 25th April between 10.00 a.m. and Noon at the Silk Road Café at Crossroads. All are welcome to come along and make new friends.

New Fung Shui Article by Master Jill Lander

Jilll Lander has more than 15 years experience having trained with some of the greatest FENG SHUI masters of our time through out Asia. Jill inspires her clients to maximize their true potential using authentic yet practical FENG SHUI.

You can find her latest article, about what to expect this month, here.

Topschools Website

A new useful resource for parents has just come on line. Topschools.hk is the first site in Hong Kong to provide accurate, comprehensive school profiles with photos, reviews and a map.

Parents will be able to shortlist their preferred schools and easily compare key data to aid their decision.

Head Girl, Ruth Benny, says: “As a parent, I experienced the frustrations I know a lot of parents feel. We wasted a lot of effort, time and money because we didn’t know where to look. We missed deadlines and messed up interviews. There was no single source of information to help us shortlist schools, understand their selection and admissions systems and prepare for the interview. That’s why I created topschools.hk.”

“We are dedicated to connecting parents with parents, teachers and school administrators/management so that each family has the best advantage in choosing a top school and getting a place - and that advantage is knowledge.”

Little Steps

Another handy resource for parents - if you have children then it’s worth signing up with the Little Steps website to receive their newsletter. It has some great ideas about things to do in Hong Kong with children, and is regularly updated.

Easy Print

Goldcoastonline.hk believes in recognising good service, so we would like to mention the great service we’ve had from Aldrin OR of Print-Easy in Tsuen Wan.

They have been very efficient in translation and design of banners, flyers and name cards – and at a very reasonable price.

American Women's Association 2012 Spring Drive for Charity

Are you moving? Relocating? In need of a wardrobe clean-out?

AWA’s Charitable Donations and Volunteering Committees are proud to introduce the 2012 Spring Drive for Charity. We are teaming up co-sponsors: Boys Scouts of America, USA Girls Scouts, and Asian Tigers Mobility.

This is a great opportunity for you to help others while getting your house in order. This is collection of gently loved, but outgrown items in good condition to give to those in need. The Drive will take place on Tuesday, May 15th at various collection points around HK.

The beneficiaries of this year’s Spring Drive are Christian Action’s Mongkok Service Centre, Vision First, and PathFinders.

Children’s: clothes, shoes, books, toys, school supplies, strollers, baby slings, burp cloths
Adult clothing and shoes (including maternity clothes)
Linens, towels and blankets
Kitchen items: pots, rice cookers, kettles, fans, Tupperware, utensils, slow cookers
Non-perishable grocery items

For more information, contact Rhonda Fleming ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Drop off:

May 15th, 10:00 to 2:00PM, Faraday House, 6 Tsing Yung Street, Tuen Mun. Tsing Yung is just behind Sea View Apartments on Castle Peak road near Gold Coast Hotel.

Dymocks Opening in the Gold Coast - and Hiring!

As reported earlier, Dymocks, the largest Australian-owned bookseller in Australia and one the leaders in the Hong Kong Book Market, is opening TWO shops in the Gold Coast.

There will be an English-language magazines and selected Best Sellers downstairs in Shop 18 (formerly the hot dog shop/information booth/the rental office/ photo shop, etc. Upstairs in Shop 22 will be the full shop with adult’s and children’s books. Work on the two locations is currently underway, and they should be open before the end of March.

They are now looking for full time & part time Sales staff:

F.7 or above with fluency in English, Cantonese & Mandarin
Outgoing personality & enjoy reading
Book sales experience preferred
Able to work independently and as a team
Shift duty is required

Attractive remuneration and benefits will be offered to the right candidates. Please send a full CV with salary expectations to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Violin Tuition

If you are looking for a Violin Teacher for you or your children then Candy Cheung is one of the most experienced in the area.

Candy holds a Bachelor in Music in Violin Performance from the Boston Music Conservatory, and she has 15 years’ experience of teaching children of all ages, as well as adults of all levels. She also teaches group classes in a number of schools including St. Paul’s Primary School, Queen's Primary School and many others.

Over the years she has performed and conducted, with different orchestras. When she worked for the Hong Kong Music Office she was the soloist in The Teacher orchestra. Being trilingual, Candy can teach in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

You can reach Candy via email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Pain Article

We have a new article on facial pain by Hong Kong pain Specialist Dr. Ben Tay. You can find it here.

Quiz Night - Friday 2nd March

The quiz night on Friday 2nd March at Med Stars was great fun. December's winning team, the ‘Cloudy Bays’, set the question.

The winning team "MadStars" and quiz masters Liz Badrinath and Genesis Baker

The evening raised $2,030 which has been donated to the UNICEF Horn of Africa Food Appeal. The next Quiz Night will be in April, date to be confirmed later.

Thanks as always to Maggie Mason for organising the evening.

Crossroads is Looking for Volunteer Crocheters

Explosives Magazine, Siu Lam

Goldcoastonline.hk has previously mentioned the explosives magazine being built in Siu Lam. It stores explosives for the new Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou express rail link. The magazine has now been built, and there's a photo below. Security does not seem to be a priority - there is a fence and a civilian guard in a hut - and that's it!

Yoga/Pilates Sessions

Local resident Melinda Wright is now running one hour Yoga/Pilates sessions at the Aegean Coast Clubhouse on the Gold Coast.

Times are: Tuesday 9 - 10 am: Yogalates; Wednesday 8-9am: Pilates;Thursday 10 - 11am Yogalates; Saturday 8.30 - 9.30am Pilates

Melinnda also also offers private personal training sessions for one or two people. These sessions may include cardio, spinning, weights, TRX, yoga and pilates, depending on clients individual choice/needs. For more information contact Melinda Wright at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 9546 1162.

Domestic Helpers

Recent changes mean that BOTH the Domestic Helper AND the employer must now notify the Immigration Department separately within 7 days of a Domestic Helper leaving his/her contract. Failure to do so may mean that any future application by or for a visa for a DH may be blocked.

Chipmunks - a Great New Indoor Kid's Play Centre in Tsuen Wan!

Only a 20 minute drive from the Gold Coast, Chipmunks is a fantastic new kid's play centre in Tsuen Wan. Close to Citywalk, Chipmunk's has 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play space. Our 7 y.o. thinks it's the best place ever!

We have a review by a local mum below.

"My family recently discovered Chipmunks, the new and exciting play area for children in nearby Tsuen Wan – only 15 minutes’ drive away.
It’s a unique indoor and outdoor play area designed for fun-loving children with heaps of energy. It’s clean with excellent quality equipment, friendly and helpful staff, and huge – its website says it’s 25,000 square feet!

It’s hard to know where to start – there are two enormous indoor bouncy castles with slides, tunnels and a massive four storey climbing area which also offers your kids 3 wavy slides side-by-side for friends to race down; a long covered slide loops its way from top to bottom; a large built in trampoline; ball pits and heaps more. They are also planning to install an integral climbing wall in the near future.

The toddlers haven’t been left out - they have their own ball pits, slides, houses and 2 or 3 free rides (the sort which are usually coin-operated.

As well as providing plenty of physical fun activities, Chipmunks has its own ‘Chipmunk Village’ with houses, shops, ‘zebra’ crossings, road signs, electric cars as well as plenty ride-on vehicles. There is also a cooking area for those budding chefs with bean bags for seating. A corner area has been set up as a quiet area for reading and watching videos.

While the children are having fun on the indoor equipment, parents, grandparents and caregivers can relax on the grown-up furniture scattered around and get a drink or snack at the small coffee shop. Chipmunks will soon be offering a variety of Asian and Western ‘snack food’ catering for kids and grown-ups, including popcorn and candy floss.

Parties are proving to be a big attraction with seated rooms of various sizes available; catering is optional – you can do your own or Chipmunks can recommend caterers for you; entertainment from clowns and magicians to organized games can be offered on request. The rooms are decked out with birthday banners and balloons.
These rooms are used during the day for playgroups, arts and craft sessions, homework study areas and more.

Come warmer weather (hopefully around March time) Chipmunks are opening up their outdoor terrace with a huge inflatable comprising of 3 slides with running water going into a pool at the end … Wow! Is this just for the kids?? There will be tented changing areas, tables for mum and dad to watch their young ones enjoying themselves. They will also be offering barbecues in the evenings at weekends… I can't think of a better way to finish off a fun packed, family day out!
There are some great new attractions to come over the next few months!

Negatives? They don’t have an exit barrier, so until one is installed keep a close eye on your toddlers. Also, there is a very grown-up Zombie shooting video game which is a little too graphic; however it is something for the Dad’s to do. It would probably be better moved somewhere away from the kids.

Prices range from $75 during the week to $150 at weekends. Allow for at least 2 hours ‘play’ time, for your kids – it’s difficult to get them away!

The Chipmunks website – www.chipmunks.com.hk - has directions to get their by car, MTR and bus. There is parking in Citywalk, which is a couple of minutes’ walk away, and I understand the 141 PLB stops right outside Concord Square. The 141 runs past the Gold Coast along Castle Peak Road every 30 minutes.

Ami."

New Articles

We have two new articles on referred pain by Dr. Ben Tay, a leading Hong Kong Pain Specialist. You can find it here.

New Gold Coast Shops

A new high-end French wine shops has opened at Shop 28A on the Ground Floor of the Gold Coast Piazza (where the Gold Coast Photo Centre used to be).

Maison Denise & Charles is "more than a boutique of wine. We offer a selective range of French wines to harmonize with the 'countryside' foods such as cheese, charcuterie, saucisson and 'pates' to expand the "gourmet heritage".

We teach how to taste wine and how to understand your own palate. We demystify the complexity of the French wine regions by proposing some tasting events each month.

We propose a comfortable place to relax and develop your senses into culture and tradition."

They are open from 11.00 a.m. to 10. p.m. They are also holding a Grand Opening on Saturday 11th February, so go along and try some fine wine.

A new German Bar and Restaurant is also opening on the First floor of the Piazza, and there is a rumour that a Dymocks is also going to be opening shortly.

Airport Shuttle Bus Changes Back to Phase I & II Pickup

After numerous complaints Sino have changed the airport shuttle bus back to picking up from Phases I and II instead of from the Gold Coast Piazza. Here is the new timetable:

OOPS! Early Morning, Friday 13th January

It was a real Friday 13th for the van driver who flipped his van on Castle Peak Road close to the junction with Tsing Tai Road this morning.

Gold Coast Gymkhana, Saturday 7th January 2012

On Saturday 7th January the playing field behind the Gold Coast Phase 2 club house was turned into a show-jumping ground as Sino Land held a gymkhana in aid of Riding for the Disabled Association.

Spectators enjoyed watching horsemen and women put their horses through their paces. Children also enjoyed pony rides, face painting and a fancy-dress competition.

You can see more photos here.

Welcome to the Gold Coast Book Lovers Club

The Book Lovers Club is open to all who enjoy reading and sharing books. Starting January 13th this event will take place every 2nd Friday of every other month (Diary Dates are January 13th, March 9th, May 11th and July 13th).

Bring along a book you have read, talk a little bit about it and share it with others. Venue; Crossroads Silk Road Cafe, Crossroads International. Time" 2-4pm

All are welcome to come along, for more information please contact Nicole at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chek Lap Kok / Tuen Mun Tunnel

Thanks to Brian for flagging that the he Government has given the go-ahead to the construction of a tunnel linking Hong Kong International Airport to TUen Mun. Full details can be found on the Highways Department's website here.

Material Labs Building, Lok Chui Street / Lok Yi Street, Siu Lam

Siu Lam residents are familiar with the Material Labs building and the brown vans that park outside in on the pavement. However, it now looks as though that site is going to be redeveloped as Material Labs / Fugro Technical Services have submitted a planning application and change of zoning. The planned development is for 10 houses.

This building was originally planned as a residents' club house for one of the local developments, which is why there is a swimming pool (although unused) on the roof of the building. When it was built it was given the zoning for 'Supermarket, Restaurant and other Commercial & Recreational Facilities'. Once completed this building stood empty for a number of years before being taken up by Material Labs.

Local rumour says that the company is planning to move out of this building in 2016.

Whilst the deadline for making any comment about the planning application passed on December 23rd, full details of the proposed redevelopment can be found here.

ATTENTION PASSPORT HOLDERS!!!

From the SCMP, Dec 4, 2011 by Keith Wallis

Thousands of British passport holders in Hong Kong and on the mainland face being marooned because of little-known changes in renewal procedures.

Regulations introduced last August mean that the applications are dealt with in Hong Kong but the passports are issued from Britain.

Previous passports are cancelled as soon as the person applies for renewal, and the new passports are taking up to four weeks to arrive.

That means business people across Asia can be stranded and unable to travel while they wait.

One Hong Kong businessman was forced to spend HK$15,000 travelling to London to renew his passport or risk losing key deals in China and India because the Hong Kong processing centre could not guarantee the new passport would arrive before he travelled.

The regulations are also severely affecting British passport holders who commute between Hong Kong and the mainland on an almost daily basis. They have to renew their 10-year passports as often as every 10 months because they are full.

Officials in London say the move was prompted by security concerns and the need to save money.

But British chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok are so concerned about the impact on business they have written to British Prime Minister David Cameron and several ministers calling on them to amend the system.

They are also worried about further proposed changes, due to be introduced by 2014, that will force passport holders to apply directly to Britain for a new passport rather than to one of the seven regional passport processing centres around the world.

The Hong Kong centre, covering north and southeast Asia, deals with around 53,000 applications a year, of which about 40,000 are for renewals.

Brigadier Christopher Hammerbeck, executive director of Hong Kong's British Chamber of Commerce, said it was "unacceptable" there was no fast-track service to shorten the renewal time.

He said the chamber had suggested an express service along with a larger, 96-page passport in a letter to Vince Cable, Britain's secretary of state for business. The chamber has also contacted three other government officials, including Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne.

The British consulate general estimates there are 250,000 British citizens in Hong Kong, including 30,000 expats and around 16,000 British nationals with mainland work visas.

The changes also affect holders of British National (Overseas) passports, although out of around 3.4 million issued, only about 7,000 are renewed each year as travellers appear to prefer Hong Kong SAR passports.

Tony Wines, director of Turnkey Consulting, spent HK$15,000 on a return air fare, a hotel and meals to renew his passport in London.

Wines, whose passport had one page and eight years left, urgently needed a replacement because he was making visits to China and India inside a week to support bids for new contracts. "I had to go," he said.

But when Wines applied at the British consulate in Hong Kong he found the passport would not be issued locally. Instead, he was told it would take a "minimum of three weeks and possible four" for the new passport to be sent from Britain.

An emergency travel document could be issued, at a cost of about HK$1,300, but while it would be accepted by the mainland authorities, Wines said it would not be recognised by Indian immigration.

With no fast-track service available, Wines decided to fly back to London, where a new passport was issued in 24 hours. He said: "It was a real hassle. The change in legislation has not been brought to people's attention. I don't understand why there is no premium service here."

One British citizen, who became aware of the changes only when he checked the British consulate website said: "I work in Hong Kong and my family is in Shenzhen.

"What am I supposed to do every 10 months when the time comes to renew my passport? Spend HK$800 a night for a hotel room for three or four weeks waiting for a new passport or try to work from Shenzhen?"

Jo McPhail, head of the overseas passport management unit at the Foreign Office, said the passport operation was shifted back to Britain to economise and improve security by cutting the number of blank passports being moved globally.

She said the majority of applicants received new passports within two weeks and that 28 days is the "maximum turnaround [time]".

No express service was currently available outside Britain.

McPhail said technology issues meant a person's passport was cancelled as soon as they applied for a new one.

White Dolphin Workout Club

The White Dolphin Workout Club is a group of mostly native English speakers living in the New Territories that are endeavouring to lose weight and get fit or to stay fit while getting fitter by climbing stairs together for health benefits and mutual encouragement. Membership is entirely free; just come!

When Do We Meet?
8AM - 9AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
8PM - 9PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Where Do We Meet?
On the bridge just before the White Dolphin Lookout entrance, Lung Kwu Tan, NT, HK
Lung Kwu Tan on Google Maps: http://bit.ly/vz5YNZ

We meet promptly atop the bridge just before the White Dolphin Lookout entrance at the appointed times!

For more information please see the White Dolphin Club's Facebook page.

New Cost-Effective Self-Storage in Tuen Mun!

As home and office space becomes more expensive it makes sense to place your home and business items in lower cost location. The Store House, a leading storage provider in Hong Kong, has just opened a new self-storage facility in Tuen Mun. They can offer you a managed storage solution on flexible terms which includes:

A private self-contained steel unit for your items only * A transportation service for collecting or returning items * No lease commitment
24/7 free access if required * Security systems * Insurance can be provide if required * Climate controlled facilities * Only take the space required

Take advantage of their special offer for goldcoastonline.hk readers now to receive your 2 months of free storage for signing a 12 months plan.

If you would like to find out more information you can contact them via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 2814 1018 or visit their website.