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Options sellers have good odds of a trade working out in their favour. Boon Tiong Tan explains how it’s done Photos Courtesy of Pexels Last issue, we talked about high-dividend stocks and why they’re not as safe a bet as many investors assume. What is an alternative way to achieve a similar return? The answer is to sell options. Options are more complicated than dividends but it is not rocket science. Anyone who has a grasp of basic mathematics can learn to trade options. Let’s start with an example. Say Apple’s share price is US$140. You think it is too high and you are happy to buy 20% lower at US$110. You can sell a put option with an exercise price of US$110 with one year expiry to earn a premium of US$5.5. This is the income you earn for setting aside US$110 to buy the Apple stock in case it drops below US$110 in one year’s time. The return on the cash you set aside is US$5.5/ US$110 = 5%. Doesn’t that sound like a good deal? You earn a 5% annual return on your cash and get a chance to buy Apple shares at a 20% discount. No matter what happens to Apple’s price a year later, this US$5.5 is in your pocket. If Apple’s stock price is above US$110 then, you can sell another option (either Apple or another company) to earn more income from your US$110 cash. You can keep repeating this and keep earning the premiums if your options are not exercised. If Apple’s price is below US$110 in a year’s time, you are obliged to buy it at US$110. WHAT IS A STOCK OPTION? It is a legal contract giving the buyer the right to trade a stock at a contractual price (known as an exercise price) within a timeframe. A buyer of an option pays a premium and the seller earns the premium. The value of a premium is derived from a stock. The premium of an Apple option is derived from Apple. The value of a premium is determined by many factors. The three most important are volatility, exercise price (or strike price) and expiry date. The more volatile the stock, the higher the premium. Gamestop’s premium is multiple times that of Apple because it is a much more volatile stock. The nearer the exercise price to the stock price, the higher the premium. Lastly, the further away the expiry date, the higher the premium. An option that expires in three months has a higher premium than one that expires in one month. There are two types of options: call and put. Call options give buyers the right to buy a stock at an exercise price. Put options give buyers the right to sell a stock at an exercise price. A buyer of a call option believes the stock price is going up and a buyer of a put option believes the stock price is going down. Their options are profitable if the prices move far enough in the direction they anticipate. It’s true that options prices are, by nature, much more volatile than the underlying stocks; it’s not uncommon for a stock price to move a few percent and the option price to move a few hundred percent. An option is like a Lamborghini with a top speed of 350 km/h – it can be very dangerous if you drive it recklessly. However, you can choose to drive it slowly and safely. One way to do that is to follow the Apple example given at the beginning of this article – sell a put option only if you have enough money to buy the stock. What you are doing here is similar to an insurance company selling an insurance product. The company collects the premium now and pays the claim later if need be. You ‘pay the claim’ by buying the stock if the stock price drops below your exercise price at expiry. What is the risk? As a put option seller, you are obliged to buy Apple at US$110 at expiry no matter how low the stock price goes, even to zero. While this may sound scary, it is the same risk as investing in a stock. Selling a put option with enough cash to buy the stock is no riskier than owning a stock. The advantage of selling a put option over owning a stock is you earn a premium and have a chance to buy a stock at a lower price. PLAYING THE MARKET Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have options too. All big ETFs like SPY (S&P 500 ETF) and QQQ (Nasdaq 100 ETF) have very active option markets. If you sell a one-year-expiry QQQ put option at a 20% lower exercise price, your annual return is 4.3%. For SPY, it is 3.7%. You get to earn about 4% while waiting for the major US indexes to drop 20%. You can also sell a put option on a high-yield stock. Ping An Insurance has a 4.6% dividend yield. A 20% lower exercise price earns you a 9% return. Not only is the return higher than the dividend yield, selling the put option is also safer. You don’t have the risk of owning Ping An – until you own it at 20% lower. If you want to buy a stock with high volatility, the return is juicier. Take Zoom, the current price is US$260. If you sell a put option at a 20% lower exercise price of US$210, your annual return is 11%. If the exercise price is 30% lower, the annual return is still a good 6.8%. If you believe cinemas will come back strongly and are happy to buy AMC, your annual return for a 20% lower exercise price is an amazing 40%. Even if you only want to buy at 60% lower than the current price, you can still pick up a 20% return. For stocks like Gamestop and Kodak during their most volatile days, you could earn a decent return of above 5% for an exercise price 90% lower than the current price. A few warnings about the options market. Don’t be tempted to become an options buyer. Most options expire worthless, which means most buyers lose money. The occasional wins aren’t enough to pay for the frequent losses. Don’t treat options as lottery tickets. Something else you need to know: You can potentially lose the premium hundreds of times if you sell a call option without owning the stock. Never do that. OPTIONS VERSUS HIGH-DIVIDEND STOCKS So, should you buy high-dividend stocks or sell put options? One advantage of selling put options is that the premium you earn is certain and upfront. Dividends are never a sure thing and you have to wait a year to collect. Another advantage of options is you can choose a precise risk/ reward. If you are a risk taker, you can choose a 10% lower exercise price to enjoy a higher return. If you are more cautious, you can choose a 30% lower exercise price for a lower return. Selling options will suit you if you are not comfortable with your stocks’ price swings. You only have stock risk when the stock price falls below the exercise price. Options require you to choose and trade at least once a year. If you choose a shorter than one-year expiry, you have to work even harder. High-dividend stocks have the advantage of requiring less work. You spend some time choosing and buying one, then you simply sit back and collect your dividends. However, such good high-dividends are rare and hard to find. Selling put options has some advantages over selling high-dividend stocks. But which is better comes down to your personality. One key to the success of investing is to find the right product and market that suits your character. Still can’t make up your mind? Do them all and have the best of both worlds! DB resident Boon Tiong Tan (CFA) has worked as a trader with banks like HSBC and Morgan Stanley for over 20 years, and he is the author of A Stock Investment Book For The 99%. For information about the one-on-one courses (money management, stock investment, options trading and chess) that he provides for both adults and kids, email tbt444@gmail.com

If you love Cirque de Soleil, you already love AcroDance. Certified instructor Sarah Hassall of Island Dance takes Rachel Sadler centre stage PHOTOS COURTESY OF Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com ACRODANCE COMBINES ACROBATIC SKILLS AND DANCE ELEMENTS, relying on seamless transitions to create dramatic and highly energetic routines. Defined by its athletic character and unique choreography, it is a popular dance style in amateur competitive dance as well as in professional dance theatre, notably Cirque du Soleil. THE ACROBATIC SKILLS (OR TRICKS) in AcroDance are centred around strength, flexibility, limbering and tumbling. Limbering can include skills such as bridge variations, scorpions and needles, while tumbling can include handstands, cartwheels, walkovers and aerials. THE DANCE MOVEMENTS IN ACRODANCE are founded in ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern dance styles. A routine must have a significant percentage of dance movement, with respect to its acrobatic content, in order for it to be categorised as AcroDance. Pirouettes, leaps and piques are all popular and highly expressive moves. A GOOD ACRODANCER HAS A LOT OF STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY. Determination is another good trait to have for AcroDance. Showing up to class with a willingness to progress and the motivation to push yourself are important if you are to succeed. ACRODANCERS PERFORM BOTH SOLO AND IN PAIRS OR GROUPS . Training promotes team building skills, while encouraging dancers to express themselves and feel confident. AcroDance brings about a sense of achievement and its structure instils discipline. DANCERS AS YOUNG AS FOUR can learn AcroDance. At this age, children generally have a good enough attention span and can better understand the safety element. AcroDance requires dancers of similar abilities to be taught in the same class, so dancers are placed according to their ability and not by age. WORKOUTS ALWAYS STARTS WITH CARDIO , followed by strength exercises, such as the plank and handstands, before moving on to flexibility training. AcroDancers can benefit from participation in various other sports – boxing and rugby help with strength and fitness, gymnastics improves flexibility. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT and for this reason, classes are limited to 10 dancers. To teach AcroDance, you need quick reactions and good spotting skills to support dancers’ safety when practising acrobatic elements. ACRODANCE PUTS YOU IN THE MOMENT . It’s an escape, allowing you to feel safe and work towards a goal. Dance in general is good for mental health and anything to do with fitness. Working and performing with music is a great way to have fun and let go of outside stress. Island Dance now offers AcroDance classes at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club. Classes, for kids aged 4 and up, are taught by certified AcroDance instructor Sarah Hassall on Thursdays and Fridays. To find out more, email info@islanddance.com.hk or visit www.islanddance.com.hk .

PHOTO COURTESY of Adobe Stock The brilliance of these bites is threefold - they're nutritious, delicious and incredibly easy to make COURGETTE & FETA FRITTERS Serves 4 810g courgettes, grated 3 eggs 250g feta, crumbled 120g plain flour 1½tsp baking powder 30g mint leaves, chopped 30g flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped Place the grated courgettes in a flat layer on sheets of paper towel. Cover with another layer of paper towel and press to remove the excess water. Place the courgettes, eggs, feta, flour, baking powder, mint and parsley in a bowl. Season well and mix to combine. Heat a little oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the mixture to the pan and flatten with a spatula. Repeat and cook, in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes each side or until golden. Divide the fritters between plates and serve with tomato salad and tzatziki. Coconut Chocolate Energy Balls Serves 4 140g raw almonds 15 dates, pitted 30g unsweetened shredded coconut 50g unsweetened cocoa powder 1tsp vanilla 40g mini chocolate chips Place the almonds in a food processor and blitz to create a fine almond meal. (Don’t blend the almond meal too long or it will turn into nut butter.) Add the remaining ingredients and blitz to combine. Next, scoop a heaped tablespoon of dough into your hands and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in additional shredded coconut (optional) and place it on a baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve used up all the dough. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes and then transfer the balls to a freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Spain’s second city comes first in more ways than one. Good Gaudi, we can’t wait to get back there! PHOTOS COURTESY OF Unsplash & Debby Meyers THE GOTHIC QUARTER LIVES UP TO ITS NAME – all stone arches and narrow, winding streets. Some parts are reminiscent of Venice, and other sections look as if they could be movie sets for a Hammer House of Horror production. Trendy shops, restaurants and bars are tucked away throughout. PART CONFECTION, PART FOLLY, PARC GUELL is where Gaudi first tried his hand at landscape design. The pleasure gardens are glorious, but it’s the architecture that really wows – Gaudi lived in one of the fantastical buildings at the entrance, now the Gaudi House Museum, from 1906. THE TREE-LINED CENTRAL PROMENADE OF LA RAMBLA is busy with tourists and locals until late at night. You’ll find street performers, buskers and portraits painters as you explore the pavement cafés, bars and shops. A MUST FOR GAUDI FANS, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA has to be the strangest-looking cathedral in Europe. It’s arts and crafts + art nouveau + steroids. The building looks like iced gingerbread, laden with sculpture, secret code, verbiage, towering spires and tiny windows. Inside, the columns twist like muscle sinew as they stretch to the heavens. STRANGELY FAMILIAR LANDMARKS include Barcelona’s own version of the Arc de Triomphe (Arc de Triomf) and of the Gherkin (Torre Agbar), plus the large Trafalgar Square like Catalunya Square. Barcelona’s Fifth Avenue? Look no further than Passeig de Gracia. MERCAT DE LA BOQUERIA DAZZLES with its colourful displays of fruit, vegetables, sweets and snacks. A great place to eat as well as shop, you can sample delicious Spanish mainstays like paella and gelati. THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MONTJUIC is a great looking fountain by day but by night, it transforms into a wonderful spectacle of light, music and water. The dancing jets of illuminated water are 50 metres high, and the fountain sprays 700 gallons of water a second through 3,620 jets.

Jaerey Velasco, a Partner at Payne Clermont Velasco Solicitors, outlines what you need to know Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, it has been inevitable that some families would have to relocate out of Hong Kong, to return to their home country for security, employment, or other reasons. For expat families in Hong Kong, relocation with the children by one parent can be the most challenging part of divorce proceedings. Here is a walk-through of the law on relocation applications of children in Hong Kong. OVERVIEW OF HONG KONG LAW Generally, every child of the family falls under the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Courts at the start of divorce proceedings. At this time, it is usual for the Court to make Orders on the arrangements regarding children, including directions barring their removal from Hong Kong without permission from the Court. Thus, one parent must seek the consent of the other parent or file an application with the Court if he/ she wishes to relocate with the children permanently or temporarily. What happens if the other parent disagrees to the relocation? The relocating parent needs to file an application to the Family Court setting out his/ her reasons and plans for relocating the children. The opposing parent will have a chance to provide reasons for opposing the relocation application and set out counterarguments. The Court will also ask for a Social Investigation Report wherein a Social Welfare Officer will conduct an interview and assessment of the parties and the children, and provide recommendations on the relocation application. If necessary, a clinical psychologist’s report will also be called for. The Court may also decide upon a Children’s Dispute Resolution hearing, whereby the Judge acts as a conciliator and assists the parties to reach a settlement of children’s issues, including the relocation application. If there is no agreement reached at the Children’s Dispute Resolution hearing, then there will be a trial where the Court holds a hearing and considers evidence and arguments from both sides, and hands down a judgment. What does the Court take into account when granting a relocation order? The Hong Kong Court upheld an English decision in Payne v Payne that welfare of the children is paramount when considering the grant of a permanent relocation order. In deciding relocation applications, the Court assesses factors including reasonable proposals and motivation of the parent wishing to relocate; effects on the child of seriously interfering with the life of a custodial parent; and effects on the child from the denial of contact with the absent parent. The Judges will also go through the “Welfare Checklist” when determining issues relating to children and where their best interest is to be considered. PLANNING TO RELOCATE? If you are thinking of relocating out of Hong Kong, it is important that your plan is genuine and not motivated by a desire to exclude the other parent from the child’s life. You need to be able to set out your relocation plan to the other party and the Court by conducting research on the place you are relocating to, i.e. neighbourhood, school, activities for the child. You need to take into account how the other parent who is remaining in Hong Kong can have continuous access and a relationship with the child; and you need to make the child’s welfare your prime concern. In coming to a decision on a relocation application, the welfare of the children is always the Court’s main concern. Usually, the Court would not hesitate to grant a relocation application if the parent can demonstrate that he/ she has a reasonable proposal for the relocation that is beneficial to the welfare of the children. Jaerey Velasco is a Partner at Payne Clermont Velasco Solicitors in Sheung Wan. She has considerable experience in advising and representing clients on all aspects of matrimonial and family law. For more information, call 2527 9538 or visit www.payneclermont.com .

Back to battling five days out of seven to get your kids dressed, fed and ready for school? Kate Farr's sneaky survival tips will help you transform those manic mornings Photos Courtesy of Pexels Ask any busy parent to list their number one family headache, and they’re liable to tell you that keeping tabs on the morning schedule is up there with mastering astrophysics, i.e. near impossible. But why do weekday mornings seem so difficult? No doubt, there is a lot to do in a short period of time. What’s more, with the clock ticking for work and school, temperamental differences between family members can come to a head. The child who is slow to get going clashes with the parent who is fast paced; or the child who is crabby in the morning clashes with the parent who is also crabby. It’s a prime time for power struggles. All this can be extremely stressful when it’s your job to get everyone out of the flat on time. You need to discover a way to get ready for school that works for your family. If keeping all those balls in the air is making you wish for octopus arms, then it’s time to cheat your way to organisational bliss with these savvy shortcuts. DRESS FOR SUCCESS The first step is to ensure that the majority of your prep is done the night before. Get your kids to help you lay out their uniform and any accessories – such as hair clips – before bed, bag up the smaller items in a drawstring pouch and hang everything on the back of the door. If space is at a premium, gather up all the items needed, lay them on a flat surface, such as a bed, and then roll them all up into one neat package before stashing it in a drawer. Rolling, rather than folding, ensures that clothes remain crease free (always un-ball socks first), and leaves you with a neat, grab-and-go package that eliminates the frantic morning search. Note – this also works well for Mum and Dad’s outfits and saves valuable time. Swerve the inevitable shoes-on-the-wrong-feet panic by putting two halves of a sticker in your kids’ shoes. They just need to match the halves to ensure that the shoes are on correctly BEST FACE FORWARD While the kids are getting dressed, you’ve got approximately three-and-a-half minutes to tackle your hair and make-up for the day. If you like to wash your hair in the morning, invest in a microfibre towel to wrap around your hair as you leave the shower. This will soak up any excess water quickly, significantly speeding up your blow-dry. No time for a wash and blow dry? Dry shampoo, or, in a pinch, baby powder to the rescue! Apply sparingly to oily roots, rub through, then brush out with a natural bristle brush for fresh(ish) hair that will see you through the day. Finally, to avoid lipstick on your teeth, after application always put your finger in your mouth, close your lips around it then pop it out. Any excess colour will cling to your finger, rather than your teeth. EAT SMART In an ideal world we’d all love to linger over long family breakfasts of pancakes, eggs and hot coffee… but back to reality, where everyone is halfway out of the door as soon as the alarm rings. How to ensure that everyone is fuelled up and ready to face the day? Batch-cook crêpes in advance, then load up with chopped fruit, nut butters, cottage cheese… the options are endless. Substitute regular flour for quinoa, coconut or chia flour for a high-protein hack that will keep hunger at bay until lunchtime. Alternatively, smoothies are always a popular choice, with near-endless varieties to explore. Simply throw in your choice of fruit (bags of frozen fruit work well here), veggies, perhaps some seeds and some protein (tofu gives a lovely creamy texture if dairy’s off the menu), press go, then run. Another perpetual headache is the packed lunch, but again, mass-production is the name of the game to save time. Batch-make sandwiches then freeze (defrost overnight in the fridge). You can also freeze juice boxes and water bottles for refreshing break-time drinks that double as cool packs, and portion off several small pots of raisins, carrot sticks and grapes to throw in at the last minute. Finally, ensuring that each child has two lunchboxes – one in use and one ready to go – enables you to pack for the next day at leisure and also saves stress if your kiddo forgets his box at school. ON YOUR BIKE... … Your scooter, or even your feet! If you struggle to find time for a morning workout, then incorporating the school run into your exercise regime can save you time and money too! Of course, here in DB, there are always certain times of year when it’s either lashing it down with rain or sweltering hot, however this time of year is ideal for walking, biking or scooting with the kids to school. Throw on your workout gear and head straight out of the door – that way you won’t get side-tracked with other items on the to-do list. Walking to school is also a sneaky way to encourage kids to get moving without even realising they’re exercising, which is ideal for would be couch potatoes. If they still need encouragement, then an active game, be it racing to the next fire hydrant, measuring who can jump the highest – or even Pokémon Go – makes the journey a little more fun. Once you’ve reclaimed your morning routine with these easy hacks, you may find that you can enjoy some quiet time with the kids before you have to leave the flat. Spend it reading, talking, or doing some other activity together; an early morning moment of calm will set everyone up for the day ahead. Alternatively, of course, hitting the snooze button may once again become a realistic option.

Safe, boring and simple income accumulation is the historical means to generating long-term wealth but do high-dividend stocks still match that criteria? Boon Tiong Tan takes a look Photo Courtesy of Pexels In this world where interest rates are close to zero almost everywhere, savers and retirees are finding it hard to earn a decent return on their money. One ever popular way to get a higher return than the paltry interest offered by banks is to buy high-dividend stocks. What are dividends? They are mostly cash, though occasionally shares, paid to shareholders from companies’ profits. The distribution of dividends is entirely at the management’s discretion. It can be zero even when a company is profitable, and it can vary from year to year. In the US, dividends are mostly paid quarterly; in Hong Kong, they are paid half-annually or annually. Non-US residents have to pay a 30% tax on US-listed companies’ dividends. For every dollar of dividend you receive, 30 cents is deducted straight away. There is no dividend tax for companies listed in Hong Kong. If a company pays a total annual dividend of US$3 and the share price is US$100, the dividend yield is 3%. The dividend yield of the S&P 500 Index (a stock index consisting of the 500 biggest US-listed companies) is about 1.3%. This is much lower than the historical average of 4%. Hang Seng Index, the benchmark Hong Kong stock index, is paying almost 3%. Where can you find companies with high-dividend stocks, providing an annual dividend yield upwards of 5%? Simply use the stock screeners on financial websites like FT.com and WSJ.com. Plug in 5% or even 7% as a cut off, and the screener will show you a list of stocks with higher than 5% or 7% dividend yields. HSBC WAS PAYING MORE THAN 6% DIVIDEND YIELD PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. THE UK REGULATOR FORCED THE BANK TO STOP DIVIDEND PAYOUTS LAST YEAR TO PRESERVE ITS CAPITAL. RISKY BUSINESS Over the years, high-dividend stocks have gained a reputation for being ‘safe, boring and simple’ but they’re not that straightforward. It’s unlikely that you just buy a high-dividend stock and live happily ever after. There are misconceptions about these stocks; they are not as simple and safe as you might assume. Many high-dividend-yield stocks are in industries that pay generous dividends, such as utilities, telecoms and banks. But these industries are not as safe as some believe. In 2008, investment bank Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and Citibank nearly followed. Germany’s largest power producer RWE was facing bankruptcy a few years back when the government made an energy policy change. The share prices of these ‘simple and safe’ stocks are also more volatile than you might think. Prices can easily move a quarter or more in a year. Link REIT, the first real estate investment trust in Hong Kong and currently the largest in Asia, is offering a 4.5% dividend yield and its 52-week high to low is 25%. China Construction Bank, one of the big four banks in China, is offering a 7.2% yield and its 52-week high to low is 27%. Ping An Insurance is 4.8% and 53%. While share price volatility is a concern, a downtrend in share prices poses an even bigger problem. A high dividend is not a guarantee that the share price will hold up well. Fairwood, a fastfood chain that offers generous dividends (in an industry that is perceived as safe and defensive), has seen its share prices drop by more than half in five years. Likewise, China Mobile, which offers a 7.2% dividend yield, has been in a downward trend since 2016, losing more than 60% from its peak. Many investors who choose to buy high-dividend stocks are attracted by the ‘certainty’ that they’ll get the same dividends (or more) regardless of ups and downs in stock prices. From time to time, however, they get a rude shock. Kraft Heinz, a big company in the shelf-stable prepared food industry, that has Warren Buffett as its biggest shareholder, cut its dividend by a third in 2019. Singtel, the dominant telecom company in Singapore, cut its dividend in 2020 for the first time in decades. And closer to home, Lee Ka Shing flagships CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings chose to cut dividends last year despite having enough funds to maintain them. REGULATORY RISKS Another thing to consider is that dividend policy can face regulatory risks. In Macau, as a result of ongoing policy changes, casinos may need to consult the government before paying out dividends. Sands China, which was the most generous dividend payer among the Macau casinos, saw its share price dive 51% in the third quarter of 2021 – compare that to a low-dividend casino stock, such as Galaxy’s 36%. HSBC, one of the most popular high-dividend stocks among Hong Kongers, was paying more than 6% dividend yield prior to the pandemic. The UK regulator forced the bank to stop dividend payouts last year to preserve its capital. Long-term HSBC shareholders, who held the stock during the Global Financial Crisis, know well that a dividend cut to zero is not the worst thing that can happen. In March 2009, HSBC launched the biggest ever rights issue in the UK, asking shareholders for GBP12.5 billion to shore up its shaky balance sheet. At the rights issue price of HK$28, 60,000 Hong Kong shareholders did their part and in total contributed more than HK$40 billion. Many of these shareholders depended on HSBC’s dividend as income; not only did they lose this income they were called upon to part with more hard-earned cash. Some high-dividend stocks are low grade, affording high yields because their future is uncertain and dividends are in doubt. This pushes the price down and the yield up, and it can be a deadly trap for investors who are attracted to the high yield but ignore the weakening earnings and balance sheets. Examples of such companies are numerous and include some big names. When Evergrande Group, one of the biggest property developers in China, was suspended on October 4 this year, its dividend yield was 6.1%. Is there an alternative to buying high-yield stocks? A surer way to get decent returns? Yes, there is. You can sell options. Next issue, we’ll take a look at what’s involved. Stay tuned. DB resident Boon Tiong Tan (CFA) has worked as a trader with banks like HSBC and Morgan Stanley for over 20 years, and he is the author of A Stock Investment Book For The 99%. For information about the one-on-one courses (money management, stock investment, options trading and chess) that he provides for both adults and kids, email tbt444@gmail.com .

ASIAMARINE is thrilled to announce that it has been appointed as the official dealer of TIGÉ Boats in Hong Kong. The trusted luxury boat broker is bringing three flagship models, the TIGÉ Z3, 23 RZX and 23 ZX to our shores this month. Based in Texas and founded in 1991, TIGÉ has rapidly become a leader in surf, wake and ski boats worldwide. ASIAMARINE is delighted to add TIGÉ to its portfolio and bring this innovative and exciting brand to local wake-surfing enthusiasts. From the get-go, TIGÉ boats have blown customers away with their breakthrough styling, multi-sport versatility, roominess, luxury trim and ease of handling providing a thrilling experience on the water. This reputable wake-surf manufacturer offers Z, RZX and ZX Class from 20 feet to 25 feet. The 23-foot models in particular have established themselves as the ultimate best within the wakesurfing community. “TIGÉ’S innovative and award-winning GO System powered by TAPS 3T offers the most adaptable and versatile wave, catering to beginners right up to pros,” opens ASIAMARINE’s newly appointed TIGÉ ambassador, watersports expert Darren Lo. “We cannot wait to introduce it to the local wake-surfing community.” Built on years of success, TAPS 3T has been engineered with the most effective and forwardthinking technology available. TAPS 3T and the natural performance of the CONVEX V HULL forms the longest, most perfect and powerful surf wave on either side of the boat. Tested down to the last millimetre, it delivers consistent waves, set after set. “The GO System powered by TAPS 3T makes dialling in your boat literally effortless,” Darren adds. “Just push ‘GO’ and your cruise control, ballast, and TAPS 3T settings are automatically set. No set up or dialling in instructions needed. You get massive barrels right out of the box!” For more information on TIGÉ at ASIAMARINE, visit www.asiamarine.com or call Darren Lo at 6171 6603 for a sea trial.

After a lot of downtime and the reflection that comes with it, DB saxophonist Blaine Whittaker is ready to get back on stage. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon – www.richardgordonphotography.com You’re not imagining it. There is such a thing as ’80s sax. You know the sound; that singular wail unique to semi-ballads from the decade of excess like You Belong to the City, Who Can It Be Now? and the high-water mark, Careless Whisper. “It’s a speciality. It’s an era. I know the genre very well, particularly because I grew up in it. It was normal,” says jazz saxophonist Blaine Whittaker when asked what the deal is with that oily muscleman in Tina Turner’s old band. Blaine explains the evolution of the distinct sound, which emerged from the funk-soul of the 1970s, transformed by new recording techniques in the ’80s and unleashed by producers who let sax players let loose. Blaine plays those sax riffs often with local cover band On Point, but he’s well aware that “there is great pop sax from the ’80s, and there is cheese. I love it,” he says with a smirk, “but there is a craft to it. MUSIC MAN That’s Blaine in a nutshell: dedicated to his craft but willing to embrace its more baffling elements. It’s a quiet Monday afternoon in Discovery Bay, and Blaine is looking relaxed and hale on Hemingway’s terrace, sipping a fruity concoction and nibbling on a meat-free lunch. He’s not a vegan evangelist, nor is he a teetotaler but a summertime health scare that involved a battery of EKGs and CT scans, combined with the stress of COVID lockdowns that put a serious crimp in his career compelled him to rethink his rock star lifestyle. At 50 on the dot, he figured it was time to practice moderation, eat right and get more exercise. A lifestyle pivot is understandable; choosing to settle in Hong Kong as a musician seems odd. But when Sydney native Blaine “re-met” his eventual wife Gillian in their hometown – they went to school together – it was a no-brainer. “When I asked her where she lived, she said Hong Kong. So to make that work someone had to go somewhere. I didn’t want to make her go back to Australia and I was a bit bored in Sydney.” Blaine had released a record in Australia, played with jazz giants Wynton Marsalis and Vincent Herring, and backed James Morrison, so he thought it was time for a change. Hong Kong turned out to have a wealth of opportunities, and after arriving here in 2003, Blaine worked with Jacky Cheung, Joey Yung, Britpop band Blur, on AGA’s local hit Nights Without You and with the Hong Kong Philharmonic – to name a few. “The only time I was ever terrified was at the rehearsal with the Philharmonic,” he admits. “I’m a jazz player and I wanted to kind of prove myself to these classical players. I kept missing the conductor’s directions because they do it differently in the two forms. The concert went fantastically, but that first rehearsal? Oh, man.” BUSTING THE COVID BLUES A lot of ink has been spilt about how grim 2020 was, rightly so, and Blaine is a bit melancholy when he thinks of how COVID gutted the music scene, and turned everyone’s lives upside down. “All my mates in Australia, the US and Canada got some kind of government support,” Blaine recalls. “Here there was nothing and all of us were wondering, ‘What do we do?’ I was lucky because my wife teaches at Discovery College, but I was experiencing depression and anxiety. There was no work, and there wasn’t going to be any for months ahead.” Blaine spent those empty months casting about for ways to keep busy and musically sharp. Gigs or no, he took a cue from jazz musicians he admired to practice every day and be ready should the phone ring. He helped friends decorate their new club. He took a course in surveillance out of curiosity. His new health-conscious lifestyle took him on regular hikes on Dragon’s Back, the MacLehose Trail and up Sunset Peak. And yes, he dabbled in virtual concerts. “I got sick of it. The thing I enjoy about playing live is the transfer. You put energy out and you get energy back. You put your horn down and walk to the bar and someone comes up and asks what the last song was, or says ‘Great solo’. It’s immediate and you don’t get that on a livestream. That said it was good experience for the boys when they did one.” Those boys being 16-year-old Saxon and Jarvis, 14, who’ve followed in their father’s footsteps. Blaine picked up his love of music from his father, later honing his skills at Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University in Brisbane. Saxon and Jarvis play guitar as a duo, frequently at Hemingway’s. They rustled up over 300 viewers when they tried livestreaming. THE COMEBACK TRAIL With the live music scene finally sparking to life again, Blaine is on something of a comeback trail, so it’s a good thing he kept playing. After enduring the lockdown, the phone is indeed ringing again. And though he’s now watching corporate jobs evaporate along with business travel, live music isn’t dying the slow death everyone feared it might. Despite the high profile Clockenflap’s cancellation, other events are forging ahead. Blaine was on the Hong Kong Jazz Festival bill at the end of October, and he’s found regular outlets at venues like the Jockey Club’s Adrenaline, Foxglove, Salon 10 and the new Silva Records in Wong Chuk Hang – the one he helped decorate. (Find him on Facebook for other show dates). “I was convinced no one would want live music anymore. It’s why I was so full of anxiety,” says Blaine. “But when they lifted the restriction in early July there was such a groundswell among the general public that the two gigs I did immediately were packed. After that I was convinced people did want live music. It came from the people, not from us musicians forcing it on them. I get emotional thinking about it.”

Coordination, core strength and mobility are all key to perfecting your strokes: Swim coach Michael Fasching of Harry Wright International shares his insider tips with Rachel Sadler PHOTOS COURTESY OF Harry Wright International YOU SHOULD LEARN TO SWIM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE , it’s easier to pick it up and become proficient at a young age. The first stroke children are taught is backstroke. It’s the least stressful stroke to learn because it doesn’t involve putting your face in the water. BEING TALL AND HAVING BIG HANDS AND FEET is a natural advantage for competitive swimmers. Competing at a high level involves self-discipline, determination, commitment and time management. It changes the body and develops endurance that helps in all areas of life. SWIMMING IS FOR EVERYONE and it’s a great way to fitness for any body type. It works the whole body and it’s a low-impact sport. Swimming two to three times a week makes a big difference to fitness levels. It strengthens joints and is good for cardiovascular endurance. STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE TRAINING , like cross-fit, yoga, boxing and Pilates, helps you get swim fit. Sports, like long-distance running and cycling, are great for building stamina and endurance TO GET A FRONT CRAWL LIKE SIOBHAN HAUGHEY takes years of dedication and practice but the single most important skill to master has a lot to do with the way you position your head in the water. You need to keep your head still when you take a breath. There are always little things you can improve and tweak, like being at ease with exhaling underwater and inhaling on the surface. WITH BACKSTROKE, THE START IS IMPORTANT . You have to enter into one little hole in the water and get your body nicely streamlined into the entry point. One of the first skills you’re taught is how to count your strokes from the flags to the end of the pool. This is adjusted as your body develops and your stroke-count changes. Backstroke swimmers need to have well-developed joint mobility and tremendous core strength. CALEB DRESSEL’S BUTTERFLY IS EXPLOSIVE and takes a lot of core strength. Over short distances of up to 100 metres, the leg kick in butterfly is what counts but for longer distances, swimmers also rely on upper body strength. It takes strength and flexibility to cut through the water efficiently. ADAM PEATY’S BREASTROKE IS SO FAST because he is superstrong and has mastered the technique, which means he can glide seamlessly through the water. The key with breaststroke is to get your coordination right and move efficiently in the water. SWIMMING IS ABOUT BEING PRESENT IN THE MOMENT and it can be tremendously relaxing. There is breathwork involved and you follow a specific rhythm, so it’s a lot like meditation. Harry Wright International offers swimming classes for babies, children and adults at Discovery Bay Recreation Centre and Club Siena. You can enrol by downloading an application form at www.harrywright.com.hk and submitting it in person at one of the clubs.

Hong Kong’s property market reinvents itself yet again following the fundamental work and lifestyle shifts of 2020. Elizabeth Kerr reports The Hong Kong real estate market is no stranger to external shocks, and unlike many places around the globe, it is incredibly resilient. Little surprises the SAR’s property sector, as it seemingly goes from strength to strength, if the 400%-plus price gains in the last couple of decades are any indication. But 2020’s global coronavirus pandemic and the near shutdown of most major economies seemed like the kind of shock that might finally throw a wrench into the property sector. “We have seen more transactions between the first half of 2020 and the first half of 2021 despite the pandemic, as the purchasing price has become more attractive … luxury residential prices are now sitting in the HK$80,000 to HK$100,000 per square foot range,” begins Colliers’ Hannah Jeong, head of valuation and advisory services. “Amid growing optimism of Hong Kong’s economic recovery and the pandemic being brought under control, the demand will remain healthy.” While HK$100,000 is indeed Repulse Bay pricing, the market rebound is happening in all districts, including Discovery Bay. Activity in traditional luxury districts – Island South is in particularly high demand – has been buoyant since early in 2021, but according to JLL, B and C class flats between 430 and 1,075 square feet have seen demand rise against nano-flats and outperform, with prices climbing as much as 5.8% in the 18 months starting in November 2019, versus 2.9% overall and 2% in the luxury sector. A continuing low interest rate environment, relaxed LTV ratios in the mass sector, a liquid market with relatively little debt and flush with stock market cash (180 IPOs generating over HK$600 billion since the start of 2020) make a cocktail for demand – compounded by what can be referred to as the new COVID lifestyle. COVID-LIFESTYLE HOMES With borders still closed, residential sales and leasing in 2021 have been defined by local investors and, most significantly, local upgraders looking to realign their homes with our new collective lifestyle. As working from home gains more traction (it’s also more cost effective for corporate occupiers as evidenced by the battered office sector) buyers and tenants alike are opting to upgrade their homes to accommodate the new normal, putting those B and C class flats and traditional luxury on everyone’s radar. “Anything that ticks so-called COVID boxes is demanding a lot of attention from both upgraders and investors,” says boutique broker Habitat Property managing director Victoria Allan. Flats with up to four bedrooms, ample outdoor areas, interior space for studies, offices and family rooms, and walkability to restaurants, beaches, hiking and everyday conveniences are drawing the most interest. A view helps. Large flats that have been recently renovated to a high specification are getting even more attention. As Victoria sees it, upgraders are unwilling to wait, and are looking to address lifestyle changes as soon as possible. “That’s a new factor for potential buyers but it’s become a time-saving measure that allows families to move in immediately, with minimal work. Those properties are demanding a premium. On the rental side, there’s also a lack of stock on anything ready to move into.” MARKET REBOUND IN DB Those same trends have impacted DB, where despite the impression that families are fleeing the city (with few new arrivals) a lack of available stock is putting pressure on prices in the wake of rising demand. “We are seeing fewer properties on the market than last year,” agrees Headland Homes partner Charles King. “Given that people are more commonly working from home it makes sense for them to get more bang for their buck by getting more space.” Also a plus, DB buyers still aren’t compelled to pay HK$100,000 per square foot, or HK$228 per square foot to rent (as was the case at 73 Mount Kellett Road). Victoria echoes Charles, noting ongoing travel restrictions “are having an enormous impact on people’s decisions to stay or leave. That said the stock still isn’t coming to the market.” First time buyers are making their way to DB alongside upgraders looking to take advantage of quickly dwindling rental reductions and sales discounts. Though rents in Hong Kong have fallen 16% since late-2019, vacancy rates for larger flats have also fallen as local families are making the leap to COVID lifestyle homes.

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