Hong Kong Trip - Home Visits

1st House visit - Tai Kok Tsui

We had the opportunity to follow Mr Leung for his weekly home visit. The first family we visited was a family of 4. Parents are maintenance workers. The unit is very small , floor area is about 2 bomb shelters in a HDB flat - toilet and kitchen thrown everything in. You can imagine how small the toilet and kitchen are . Despite their social and economic status , the sister (girl in uniform) and her brother (not in picture) remain cheerful and possess fortitude in day to day living. I gave the girl my name card and asked her to write to me if she needs any help in her study in future.

                                The Principal, Mr Leung conducting his weekly home visit

                                            The girl and her family lives in this sub-divided flat.

                                                        A very crammed living room

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The place where they sleep. A small area carved out from the living room. The girl and her brother sleep on the upper deck while their parents sleep on the lower deck. 

                             

                                                            Kitchen and Toilet

                   

                Reminder letter from the government to cut off supplies due to non-payment of utilities bill

                       Due to the lack of standing place, we took turn to enter the house (Max 5 people)

2nd House Visit -Sham Shui Po

This woman is a divorcee who has a young son. She lives in a very small unit, floor area is equivalent to a hdb bomb shelter. Each family shares a common toilet and kitchen which are very filthy. The monthly rent is HK $1800 ($ S 300). This woman doesn't work as she does not hold a valid HKid , she has to go back to China every 3 months and then come back again to qualify for extended stay.Whenever she does that , her son has to go and stay with another family. The boy receives a nominal amount of financial assistance from the government every month.The Principal of Fresh Fish gives $800 of his monthly salary to this family. My parting words to the boy - "Study hard , get a good education , get a good job next time and give your mother a good life. " The mother then echoed my advice to her boy .I gave the family a love offering before we parted.

                                                   4 families share this common kitchen

                                                                 Common toilet

                          This is the size of their home. Slightly smaller than a HDB bomb shelter

Hong Kong Trip (Science / Earth Science LJ) - Visit to Stephen Hui Geological Museum (Hong Kong University) & Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Stephen Hui Geological Museum ( 許士芬地質博物館)

Housed with the University of Hong Kong, this little known museum introduces Hong Kong's rocks, fossils and minerals. They have a very comprehensive library of rocks.

Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (MOCC) 
賽馬會氣候變化博物館

  The MOCC situated with the grounds of the Chinese University of Hong Kong offers an interactive
and multimedia exhibition showcasing valuable collections and information about climate change

Hong Kong Trip (Science LJ) - Visit to Hong Kong Science Museum & Macau Science Centre

I visited Hong Kong Science Museum . Just in time for the Science Alive Month, an event joinly organised by British Council, the Hong Kong Science Museum, Education Bureau and Hong Kong Education City Limited.There were family activities  (Science Demo Shows & Activity stations) and interactive lectures. Quite an eye opener for me. I was completely taken in by what I had seen and experienced. Take a look at the photos and videos that I have taken.

The Hong Kong Science Museum is a must go for me whenever I go to Hong Kong. Back in 2013, I saw a live Science Demo in this place, I was so inspired that when I came back and I shared with Mr Chua to start something similar in our school. Mr Chua gave me his blessings and the rest was history - The birth of the Fun Scientist Programme (FSP) @ Palm View  which has now become a signature programme of the school.

Bubble Show

                                                     Bubble Show

                                         Liquid Nitrogen Demo (In Mandarin)

                                                 Molecular Gastronomy Demo

                                                         Molecular structures

                    The FSP Demo Theatre that we have comes from the Hong Kong Science Museum

There is also a concurrent exhibition called  - Strange Matter . Essentially an exhibition on Materials Science. I majored in Materials Science in NUS, so this exhibition brought back fond memories what I used to study .Unfortunately I have forgotten many of the things that I have studied, so this was something of a refresher for me. I also got to learn also new materials such as Ferrofluids, Amorphous metals and shape memory alloy.

                                                   

                                                                          Roadshow

Macau Science Centre
澳門科學館 (Centro de Ciência de Macau)

Before I left for Hong Kong, my friend who knew that I am a Science Museum Freak suggested that I visit the Macau Science Centre. He told me that I would not regret. Well, I took his advice and I must say I was wowed.

The Macau Science Centre was designed by Ieoh Ming Pei (born April 26, 1917), commonly known as I. M. Pei. He is a Chinese-born American  architect often called the master of modern architecture.

Recorded this video. Watch what happens when I put the ball on the fountain

Hong Kong Trip (Part 2) - Fresh Fish Traders' School (Special Report) - 鮮魚行學校

I have specially dedicated this page to writing about Fresh Fish Traders' School. This school has impacted me greatly.

Background

Fresh Fish Trader Primary school was founded in 1969. Mr Leung Kee-Cheong is currently the Head Master of the school for the past 14 years. The school population has around 250 students and most of the students have single parents or parents who are new immigrants from the mainland with extremely low income and not eligible for public housing. According to Mr Leung, almost 70% of his students are from poor families and require some forms of financial assiatance. The school’s operating expenditure is HK$ 3 million per year, but the MOE only provides 1.5 million, leaving the school to raise the remaining funds (1.5 million) from the public. Mr Leung also shared that he had led the students and parents onto the streets and swarmed the Education Department in 2004 and 2007 after the school was told  to close because of insufficient enrolment. Twice he succeeded to keep the school going for the sake of helping these under-privileged kids.

I have recorded a short presentation of the school that the Principal did for us. In a mixture of English & Cantonese.







My observations :

This school may not have very impressive equipment or resources but it does deliver a truly values-driven education. You have senior students coaching younger students in their studies. I saw a group of older students gathered together to help a younger child in fixing a broken water bottle cap- unrehearsed. Students attending lessons attentively without being rowdy. Students thanking school attendants for giving out free bread. The students enjoy a close relationship with their Principal so much so that he remembers all his 260 students by name.  Impressive.

Love and Moral Education

Mr Leung emphasised on love and moral education. His definition of a good teacher is that one must have the heart for students. During the visit, we saw many students surrounding Mr Leung—one even addressed him as “principal father” (校长爸爸). The group was very touched by his passion and “heart” for his students. He is able to call every single student by name. Students go to his office to collect gifts from him for their good results, some even read story books and did their homework at the principal’s office during break time. The school also provides free breakfast for students and gifts for needy families during festive seasons.

Mr Leung believed that students need to feel a sense of belonging to the school and teachers. He provided teachers some money from his own pocket to celebrate students’ birthdays in the classroom. He paid regular home visits to the needy families as a form of support and to show concern to the families. He is a fatherly figure and a role model to his students, and demonstrated to the group the importance of a leader who walks his talk. He is indeed a very good example for many educators like us to emulate.

 

                        Rows of Senior Students helping Younger Students in an English Lesson

                  This report shows the heart of the Principal - How he put meat into children's meal

                   

  The Principal's room is full of toys. Whenever a student finishes his homework, he would reward him /her with a small toy.