bc magazine

Megabites: Greenhouse

Greenhouse on the 10th floor of Times Square is the latest outlet from the Gaia Group. The menu shares a theme and several dishes with sister restaurants Townhouse in Lan Kwai Fong and Glasshouse in IFC, but the 7000 square foot Greenhouse’s menu is different enough for a separate visit. The bright open plan layout is big enough that, unlike many smaller places, if you want to relax and chat with friends over some bites and drinks you can – without that feeling that the waiter wants you gone…

The main menu is split into 6 sections – small bites, bigger bites, robata bites, garden bites, pizza bites, main bites with a separate sweet bites menu. Prices range from $48 for the small bites to $568 for a 24oz rib eye. The dishes that caught our eye were the bacon wrapped scallops ($52/skewer) and coco-cola prime beef ($58/skewer) robata. Not cheap per skewer, but the portions are large, the beef juicy. The scallops were big and tasty, but the bacon (sadly) was barely noticeable and (sadly again, as a bacon lover) added nothing to the flavour.

The Masaman curry lasagna with roasted mushrooms, chicken and smoked mozerella ($118) – it’s such an eclectic sounding mix that it shouldn’t work. Yet it does, the curry with the melted cheese and pasta, the vegetables and chicken providing textures. Just a delicious dish and one we’ll return for time and again.

The wagyu burger with black truffle mayonnaise ($148) is a big juicy 7oz fine ground wagyu patty served in a sesame seed bun. The patty was evenly cooked, served pink, nicely juicy with a good meaty bite. The bun is fresh and doesn’t disintegrate as the juice seeps down. It would be nice if the dish came with fries, but you can order those on the side ($68) with more black truffle mayonnaise. That makes a burger and fries almost $250 (including the obligatory 10% service charge) which, in any restaurant, is a lot for a burger.

The signature Balinese style fried chicken ($258) was perfectly cooked, the chicken meat moist, while the skin was crispy. The sambal sauce is spicey, and goes nicely with fries as well.

For dessert there are pizza crepes ($98) and the fun ‘candy crush’ ($118), a selection of ice cream, fruit, chocolate and sweets served in a stone mortar and pestle for you to crush and enjoy with friends.

The drinks menu includes all that you’d expect plus a selection of ice green tea lattes ($48). The green bamboo latte is a combination of sugar cane syrup, green tea, Gaia coffee and cream – a nice mix of flavours, the coffee adding a little sharpness to the green tea. There are ‘frozen’ drinks, the Pandan leaves and coconut is combination of fresh Pandan leaves, coconut cream, condensed milk, soft brown sugar and hazelnut topping. The signature milk tea ($48) served in a jug is a little milky for our taste but there’s a lot worse being served around town.

Service is polite and efficient, the dishes bc tried were well cooked, nicely presented and reasonably sized. It’s hard to find fault in Greenhouse – it is, what it is, an enjoyable place to eat out.

Greenhouse
Shop 1004, Shop 1004, Time Square, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2383 4022

Women’s Rugby Fixtures: 10 October, 2015

Match Report: HKFC Ice 20-7 Kowloon

In a first for women’s rugby in Hong Kong, the Premiership kicked off at King’s Park at the same time as the men’s. Linda Olson was there as six of the seven Women’s Premiership teams played their first matches of the 2015-2016 season under the clouds and rain of Typhoon Mujigae and a T3 signal – with stalwart supporters and tenacious photographers braving the elements to support them on King’s Park pitch 2.

More was at stake than in previous seasons, with HKRU Women’s Development Manager, Samantha Scott Feausi announcing shortly before Super Saturday that, “A new Super Series will feature our top 66 players from the domestic league. These players will be split into three Barbarian sides which will play against each other, effectively adding a component of representative rugby apart from the domestic league and just below the national setup. The goal is to better prepare and help transition players to full representative rugby.”

Premiership newcomers HKFC Ice proved they are worthy of their place in the top women’s league with a convincing 20-7 win over Kowloon Ladies. As Injured Captain Royce Chan looked on from the sidelines, young Captain Aileen Ryan led her team to a convincing victory over 2014’s sixth place team.

With winds gusting at 40-70km and heavy rain, Ice’s first try was scored within seconds of kick-off by number 8 Bobby Wilson, a second from Sarah McMillan quickly followed for a commanding early lead as Ice took control. A second try in the corner for Bobby Wilson before half time saw the premiership newcomers head into the break comfortably ahead 15-0.

At start of the second half, Kowloon, demonstrating an admirable never-give-up mentality, began the half with renewed energy, gaining ground despite good tackling by HKFC. Their momentum was stopped by a penalty and a couple of minutes later, Sarah McMillan capitalized on some excellent teamwork to take the ball across the line for Ice’s fourth try.,

Kowloon continued to play with Lily Chau Hei Tung scoring the best try of the match under the posts after some excellent teamwork and some fancy footwork.Cindy Yuen Lok Yee kicked the first conversion of the match for what turned out to be Kowloon’s consolation score.

Additional match report from Stephanie Wright

HKFC Ice made an impressive premiership debut against Kowloon on Saturday, looking stronger and fitter than ever. Despite the typhoon winds and lashing rain, HKFC Ice got off to a strong start with their new number 8 (Bobby Wilson) scoring a try in the first minute. In defiance of the numerous penalties called against them, HKFC Ice dominated the first half with two additional tries from Bobby and winger Sarah McMillan.

Half time and the rain had eased off. Kowloon kicked off the second half and started to show HKFC Ice what they are made of. Whether it was the improved conditions or a stern half time talk, they were back in the game. Sarah scored her second try of the game demonstrating exactly why Ice deserve their promotion. A strong defence from Ice and some great tackles by numbers 9, (Sophie Short) and 13 (Grace Hood) weren’t enough to stop Kowloon score and kick the only successful conversion of the game. It was a tough game in tough weather but HKFC Ice are off to a great start in the Premiership.

HKFC Ice 20-7 Kowloon
@ King’s Park, kick-off 14:30

HKFC Ice: Shonagh Ryan, Amy Kong, Megan Richardson, Martina Colombo, Claire Forster, Aysha Fiaz, Zuzanna Osinska, Bobby Wilson, Sam Tarrant, Aileen Ryan, Sarah McMillan, Jane Cheung, Grace Hood, Stephanie Siu, Emma Shields.
Substitutes: Denise Chan, Carol Hung, Madeline Adcock, Apple Lau, Sophie Short, Natalia Lech, Rabbit Leung.
Tries: Bobby Wilson (2), Sarah McMillan (2)

Kowloon: Tin Lai Lai, Yip Yuk Wun, Yip Cho Kwan, Lee Hoi Shan, Kwok Hei Woon, Au Yeung Yuen Ching, Lau Yan Yi, Leung Hei Nga, Chu Wing Yee Windy, Mak Ho Yee, Chiu Tsz Ki, Tsang Wing Chi, Mui Yan Long, Leung Lok Sze, Fung Wai Man Rita.
Substitutes: Wong I Kwan Elise, Iu Tsz Yan, Lau Ki Yan, Yuen Lok Yee, Lee For Wing Florence, Cham Wai Ling, Chau Hei Tung
Try: Lily Chau Hei Tung Conversion: Cindy Yuen Lok Yee

Updated 7 October with team lists and try scorers and Jena Saffery match report
Photo: Takumi Photography

Press Statement Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong

The Faculty of Law refutes in the strongest possible terms unfair criticisms that were said to have been made against Professor Johannes Chan in the last Council meeting of Sept 29, 2015.

Prof. Chan has long been recognised as a leading scholar of public law and human rights in Hong Kong. Before he became Head of the Department of Law in 1999 and subsequently Dean of the Faculty of Law, he had already been promoted by the University to his current academic position as Professor in 1998, after rigorous external assessment and on the basis of international recognition of his contribution to legal scholarship. In 2002 he was elected Dean of the Faculty. In 2005, when the University changed its deanship system to appointment of full-time deans on the basis of international recruitment, Prof. Chan was selected by the search committee and appointed the first full-time Dean of the Faculty.

Speculations that Prof. Chan was appointed Dean only because he is a nice person are groundless. While Prof. Chan is certainly a nice person, his colleagues respect him because of his excellent leadership and management of the Faculty, his vision for the Faculty’s role in providing high-quality legal education and promoting the rule of law in Hong Kong and as a centre of excellence in research on Western, Chinese and international laws, his unique ability in promoting and motivating colleagues to achieve this vision, and above all his utmost honour and integrity. During his term of office as Dean, Prof. Chan was also tireless in his efforts to deepen the Faculty’s ties with Mainland and overseas Universities, and the Faculty achieved high rankings in the QS World University Rankings.

Prof. Johannes Chan’s appointment as Honorary Senior Counsel in 2003 testifies to his high standing in Hong Kong’s legal community. Under section 31A(4a) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, a member of the academic staff of a law school in Hong Kong who is qualified as a barrister and who has “provided distinguished service to the law of Hong Kong” may be appointed Honorary Senior Counsel. The appointment is made by the Chief Justice after consultation with the Chairman of the Bar Council and the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong. So far, Prof. Chan is the only law teacher in Hong Kong who has been appointed Honorary Senior Counsel.

Professor Yash Ghai, Emeritus Professor of our Faculty, formerly holder of the Sir Y.K. Pao Chair in Public Law and HKU’s Distinguished Research Achievement Award (the most prestigious research award in the University of Hong Kong), wrote to us after the recent Council decision as follows:

“I was shocked to learn that the Council of Hong Kong University has rejected Professor Johannes Chan’s nomination as the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor…

I was Professor Chan’s colleague for several years at the Faculty of Law at HKU. We are both public law teachers and have collaborated on several research projects. Prof. Chan is also a distinguished lawyer who has participated in several leading cases on constitutional and administrative law in Hong Kong.
It is absurd to say that he is not qualified for the position because he does not have a Ph D. Some of the world’s leading law professors and scholars do not have a PhD degree. … When I was a law student, first at Oxford, and then Harvard for graduate studies, not one of my teachers had a PhD! …

I collaborated with Prof. Chan in writing in and editing two books, one on human rights in Hong Kong, following the adoption by the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, and the other on the decision of the Court of Final Appeal in the right of abode case, decided soon after the Basic Law came into force. Chan edited most of the chapters, co-authored one with me, and one on his own, in the first of these books. In the second book, he took responsibility for editing contributions in Chinese language, and wrote a chapter himself. Both these books were well received and provoked considerable debate — as a good book should. Two years ago in a book that I edited with Professor Simon Young, on the first 13 years of the Court of Final Appeal and that of Chief Justice Andrew Li, Prof. Chan contributed an excellent chapter on public law. He has published articles in well-known law journals, in Hong Kong and abroad. …

Professor Chan has also written about Hong Kong’s law in popular journals and newspapers, to educate ordinary people and to stimulate debate — which is also the responsibility of a good law teacher and professor. His involvement with cases in the Hong Kong courts is also consistent with a scholar’s contribution to the development of the law. Developing good working relations with the judiciary and the legal profession, which Prof. Chan has done with great success, is also often regarded as the responsibility of a law teacher. His contribution to the reform of law is well-known, through litigation and research. It would be a grave misrepresentation to suggest that Prof. Chan was elected Dean of the Law Faculty because he was considered ‘a nice guy’. He is undoubtedly a nice guy. But before he became the Dean, he was the Head of the Law Department. All the students and teachers had ample opportunities to see his leadership at close quarters. It is because we were convinced of his outstanding abilities, in providing leadership, fundraising, cultivating relations with the judiciary and the legal profession, and his vision of the Faculty as a leading centre of legal scholarship, that we elected him as Dean. All the expectations that we had of him have been fulfilled…”

We hope that this statement has helped to set the record straight: Prof. Johannes Chan is internationally recognized as a leading scholar in his field. He was appointed Dean of Law for his vision, his leadership, his integrity, his passion for legal education, and above all his outstanding abilities. We have been fortunate to have him at the helm of the Faculty.

Regardless of what lies ahead, the Faculty will continue in its commitment to uphold academic freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Faculty of Law
University of Hong Kong
4 October 2015

Match Report: Valley Black 17-0 USRC

Typhoon 3 was not enough to stop the reigning champions from starting off the league with a solid win against the USRC Tigers. After many phases deep in the Tigers half, Bella put first points on the board from a penalty kick 40m from the posts. Then, in open phase play, Bella spotted a gap and dotted through to score under the posts. She nailed the conversion to extend the lead to 10-0 at half time.

The second half saw a superb team try initiated by a turnover from Rocky at the halfway mark. The black ladies demonstrated great skill and teamwork to put it through the hands for Jen Mackay to finish on the other side. Well done to new first team caps Jazz, Rebecca and Jess who had a great run. Congrats to MVPs Sarka, for being relentless and Rocky for three try-saving tackles under pressure.

Decent hit out for first game of the season. Valley Black have bye this week.

Match Reports: HK Scottish

Fielding two teams this season, the Hong Kong Scottish Kukris playing XVs in Women’s NL1 and the Hong Kong Scottish Sekongers playing 10s, both started the season with simultaneous 4:30 kick offs at the Police Club (Kukris v Police) and Tai Hang Tung (Sekongers v Revolution). The Kukris found themselves battling a vastly improved Police team, compared with last season, and with many of the new recruits more familiar with 10s, made little headway against a determined Police defence. At halftime, the Kukris were down 7/0. But with the weather deteriorating to a decidedly Scottish level, the Kukris’s fortunes changed. Sustain pressure brought results, with two corner tries from Yuen Ting and Ellie Ngan Kee. The conversions were unsuccessful, but in spite of a valiant fightback from the Police, Kukris held on start the season with a win.

Over at Tai Hang Tung, Revolution were making the most of their numerous reserves, but did not have it all their own way, with the Sekongers frustrating their attacks and dominating the scrum. As the weather deteriorated, running became more difficult, with the Sekongers positively enjoying the conditions. Tries from Hau Yi, Crystal and Suzi, two of which Suzi converted, allowed the Sekongers to score 19 points, and leave the field in buoyant mood, even though we lost (although we’re not sure of the final score as the referee’s notes were just soggy mush).

All in all a positive start the season.

Police 7-10 Scottish Kukris
@ Police Boundary Street, kick-off: 16:30

HK Scottish Sekongers 19-? Revolution
@Tai Hang Tung, kick-off: 16:30

Match Report: HKCC 29-0 HKFC Fire

After a long, sweaty and tiring pre-season the start of the 2015/16 season has finally arrived. Head coach Alex Tarleton reports on HKCC season debut against HK Football Club Fire.

Match day started off in typical HKCC fashion with traumatic moments even before the season’s first whistle was blown – wrong buses, bus’s breaking down, replacements bus, no pitch booked and some tears (and that was just the coaches…). Finally a full squad of 23 arrived at KGV to warm-up, with time to spare.

With a T3 hoisted as Typhoon Mujigae brought wind and rain, nervous anticipation had the ladies fidgeting and keen to get the match and the season underway!

In the opening few minutes those nerves were very apparent, with HKCC resembling a herd of sheep following the ball around the field. However, a turnover saw summer signing Ashley Brooks make a quick break against the run of play to score a great solo effort from 30 yards out.

The opening score saw the ladies relax, become more settled and started to play the patterns we had been building on in pre season. Our shape was looking very good, our defence unbreakable and our scrum a great attacking platform.

Lynda Nazer having converted from a scrum half to a bustling back rower over the summer added two excellently worked tries, showing great determination to push over for an excellent brace.

The T3 was causing carnage at KGV with plastic bags and bottles invading the pitch, the rain hammering it down, but we went in 15-0 at the break.

The second half began a lot more tighter with HKFC regrouping and playing with a lot more ‘Fire’ as they tried to get back in the game. Both teams knew the next score was vitally important and CC withstood a lot of pressure from their rejuvenated opponents.

With the HKCC defence being pummeled, the ladies showed great character to withstand the pressure and keep FC from registering their first points of the season. Another turnover in the opposition half saw Ashley Brooks score again with Emma Chung adding the conversion to push the score out to 22-0, hopefully sealing the game with the bonus point.

We coaches were frantically signaling to keep up the hard work in defence as the Fire fly-half restarted the game, only for Tinley Wong to break through their defence straight from the kick off for a fifth try with Emma adding the conversion from in-front of the posts.

An excellent afternoon of rugby in testing conditions saw HKCC emerge with a 29-0 opening day bonus point win over HKFC Fire.

Celebrations then began on the side of the pitch and into the night….

Women of the match had to be both Brace Try scorers – Lynda Nazer and Ashley Brooks.

Women’s National League 1: HKCC 29-0 HKFC Fire
@KGV Kick-off: 16:30
HKCC: Kassie Chapel, Joan Yip, Jo Harvey, Katie Rowbottom, Lauren Petersen, Wendy, Lainie Man, Lynda Nazer, Ashley Brooks, Tinley Wong, Yana Dimitrova, Lucy Thomson, Tissia Polycarpe, Diana Li, Stephaine Zhang
Substitutes: Charlotte Berry, Mhairi McCloughlin, Carolyn Champion, Zoe Wong, Emma Chung, Wawa Li, Hoi Yi Li, Nobuko Oda
Tries: Lynda Nazer (2), Ashley Brooks (2), Tinley Wong. Conversions: Emma Chung (2)

Match Report: DB Pirates 5 – 20 CWB Pink

A T3 signal ensured a tough opening day at the ‘office’ for both the Discovery Bay Pirates and CWB Pink as by the 17:15 kick-off time the rain and wind of Typhoon Mujigae had well and truly set in. The Pirates Ladies struggled to field a side, with a lot of the team away, but two HK Scottish 10s players Anna Kam and Tiffany Tse stepped in to ensure the game went ahead. This was the first run out for a lot of the lady Pirates who are rebuilding their team after several players left for University at the end of last season.

In a game played with a lot of heart and enthusiasm, Sienna Stubbs went over to score the Pirates only try, with the new season barely ten minutes old. The Pirates dominated in the scrum during a first half when the weather ensured there were a lot, but were unable to add to their score. While both teams committed valiantly to the scrums and rucks, the conditions ensured that free flowing rugby was at a premium. The second half saw the Pirates front row tire as CWB ran in further tries for a comfortable win.

A tough first game for both teams considering the conditions. The inexperienced Pirates learning lessons that only game time can give will be hard at work on the training pitch over the the next two weeks as they work to improve and meld as a team. Thanks to Anna Kam, Tiffany Tse and Eleanor ‘Jonesy’ Jones for playing with the DB Pirates.

Discovery Bay Pirates are looking for any players from around Discovery Bay and Lantau, anyone 17up looking to join the sisterhood please contact [email protected] no experience required, just passion to learn and play!

DB Pirates 5 – 20 CWB Pink
@ Tai Hang Tun Recreation Ground
DB Pirates: Meg McGrath, Corne Brink, Sienna Stubbs, Rebecca Thomasis, Oorja Goel, Vanessa Kima, Paula Andrea, Shannon Tjon, Anna Kam, Tiffany Tse, Eleanor ‘Jonesy’ Jones.

Edited 6 October, 2015 to include HK Scottish players names