HK Magazine, June 20, 2014:

PDF file or e-book

Quoting the very first paragraph on page 12:

"Lamma Island tends to attract birds of a feather -- laid-back types who enjoy nature and a good beer in equal measure. In this field guide, Kate Springer tracks down a handful of chirpy Lammaites who will make you feel at home on your next visit.
Photos by Chris Luk. Translation by Zoe Lai."

Quoting the 2nd paragraph:

The Lamma Expert - Frater Omniscis Totalis

Description:
The founder and editor of Lamma web publication Lamma-Zine (http://www.lamma.com.hk), Lamma-Gung (aka "Uncle Lamma") is the resident expert on the isle. He's all over the place, interviewing new residents, reporting on events and investigating government plans.

Plumage:
You'll know him by his heavy Swiss accent, thick-rimmed glasses and long ponytail which he preens annually: "I haven't been to a hairdresser since moving here," he says. "My wife takes a pair of scissors and cuts off my ponytail once a year."

Migration:
The omniscient Lamma-Gung has been an island resident since 2001, having moved to start over after the dot-com bubble burst. "I worked as a regional IT manager and was headhunted to work at a startup.
Like most startups, we didn't make it," Lamma-Gung recalls. "The entire market collapsed and I went from a high-flying general manager to unemployed in just a few weeks. I downsized to Lamma where the low rents were attractive."
Though it was a big adjustment, Lamma-Gung quickly found a niche for himself. "There was no media out here when I got here, so I thought ‘why not'?"
Lamma-Zine started as a classifieds website, and now it's grown to cover events, people and music.
What started as a hobby quickly became a go-to source for residents and newcomers. "I could do five stories a day on who is sleeping with who, but I want it to be a positive environment without gossip," he says.
Over the past decade, Lamma-Gung has watched the island transform into a more upmarket place. "Richer people who can afford entire three-story houses are moving in, while poorer or retired people have to move out." He lived in Yung Shue Wan until recently, when he relocated to Pak Kok Village on the north of Lamma—which is less expensive but also less developed, lacking basic infrastructure such as grocery stores and medical services.
He worries that it's only a matter of time before Lamma turns into another Discovery Bay. "We're in a kind of enchanted state right now, like Hong Kong before the handover," he laments. "It will probably become more like other outlying islands in the next five to 10 years."

Where to Spot?
Lamma-Gung spends much of his free time covering events across the island, such as Comedy Night, Lamma Fun Day and the Lamma 500 dragon boat races. He's also an avid photographer, and has been known to shoot many a fiery sunset along the Yung Shue Wan harbor.

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The Local Life
Recommendations from Lamma-loving locals
...
"Breaking into the power station with [name redacted], climbing up the pain that is the Lamma chimneys and smoking a J at the very top with a view of all of Lamma, Lantau and HK Island. Priceless." - [Name redacted]
Disclaimer: HK Magazine does not condone this behavior, awesome as it may sound

Read the other interviews with the "Loquacious Bookworm, Seafood Specialists, Animal Activist, Lamma Dragons, Tofu Granny, Friendly Restaurateur"!

Lamma-zine story, June 18

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Having lived here 18 years, the only passing resemblance to anyone living on Lamma on this Cover is "Nick-the-Book" - perhaps Harry should have drawn these cartoon figures!!!!

http://m.hk-magazine.com/city-living/article/spotter-guide-lamma?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HK%20Weekend&utm_content=HK+Weekend+-+June+20,+2014

I've asked Harry for my avatar cartoon, but he couldn't find the original high-res cartoon for printing and was on deadlines, so HK Mag did it all in-house.
No too bad, I think, but they look better without colours added.

The full story, photos and interviews are online now:

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Feedbacks received from some of the interview subjects:

Nick the Bookman:
I'm pretty much a neophyte (i.e. novice/tiro) at this Interwebby malarkey.

I would like to thank yourself and the above lovely ladies for your fantastic comments about the piece. I hope these feeble remarks are taken in the spirit of equal appreciation and reciprocity and well, gosh, you're all really great. Karina, you've been a great mate over the years (and still are) and I thank you for being at City Hall to help mark "The Day (21/3/1995) That I Stopped Shaving". Steve, I hope you're playing Clockenflap again this year because your set last year really rocked. Hugely enjoyable."

Brad Tarr:
The magazine didn't mention anything we discussed, really. The meeting was for about an hour and all they got was we had a good relationship with the fishermen, we paddled for 20 years and we like to drink beer.

We discussed in relationship to dragon boating the Lamma 500, we have now a youth programme, we raised money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Foundation of HK and Shelter Box this season. We discussed the growth of Lamma - other sports that's Lamma's involved with.. Cricket Club, Lamma Outriggering Canoe Club, other water sports, Volley Ball competitions, Basketball, Soccer, personal trainers and yoga teachers.. etc.

Was strange being asked 100 questions and getting a paragraph in the magazine.

Not too fussed though - but to answer your questions.. lots of positive remarks re the cover.
Lamma Dragon Ladies - not sure why they weren't informed. I am not sure how they go my contact. Lamma Ladies probably had to work on the interview days anyway

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.