As the Hong Kong Chief Executive Election will be held on March 25, 2012, Hong Kong political figures’ words and behaviors triggered discussions among people. Some retailers at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair found business opportunities by relating their commodities with local politics. Many of them utilized politician’s cartoon portraits making creative commodities.

Politician Balloon Tumbler

The photo above shows a balloon tumbler with a portrait of Leung Chun-ying on it. Leung is one of the candidates in 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive Election. Compared to another candidate Henry Tang, Leung was known for understanding the working class.

Politician Fish-Prawn-Crab

The photo above shows a large dice for a Chinese gambling game named Fish-Prawn-Crab. The producers used Hong Kong politicians’ cartoon characters to replace traditional patterns, such as fish and prawn, on the dice.

Cheung Chau, the dumbell-shaped island in Hong Kong’s western waters is reached from Central Pier 5: the fast ferry journey takes half an hour; the journey on the more infrequent slow ferries is a leisurely 50 minutes.

First Treat: Hello Kitty Waffles

Topped with cream, honey and sugar, the snack is an ideal accompaniment to an afternoon cup of tea.
in the afternoon.

The waffles are served by the Lovely Island Restaurant located close to the ferry pier.

Cheong’s Fish Balls

Cheong's Fishballs. Since 1959.

Cheong’s Fish ball is just along the waterfront from the Lovely Island Restaurant. It specialises, as its name suggests, in fish balls. The deli, which has been in operation for more than a half-century, since 1959, charges $23 for a set meal of fish- and cuttlefish balls. They are also available with rice noodles.

Sun Chiu Kee: Traditional Dim Sum

Peace Buns: unique to Cheung Chau

Dim sum shop Sun Chiu Kee located in Tung Wan Road is famous for its various home-made Chinese traditional cakes, specifically red bean cake, purple rice cake, sesame cake and the most noted pastry in Cheung Chau – “the peace bun” (pictured).

These buns are the centre-piece of the annual Bun Festival which celebrates the island’s deliverance from a plague in the 19th century. when many people participate in a scramble up towers of buns. Who ever collects the most, wins. This year the carnival will take place between April 23 and May 11.

Sushi Rolls and Red Bean Buns. Simple but tasty.

Hometown Teahouse

Also located in Tung Wan Road, is owned by a Japanese woman Takahiko–san and her husband. The shop is little more than a counter with an open window through which the couple serve a variety of sushi rolls and red bean buns.  Simple but tasty.

Tung Wan Beach

Just a short stroll across the narrow width of the island is Tung Wan Beach. Rarely crowded during the week, it is a popular spot for windsurfing.

Hong Kong’s windsurfing Olympic Gold-medialist, Lee Lai-shan hails from Cheung Chau. Her uncle and aunt still run a windsurfing centre there.

The map of Cheung Chau Island, looks like a Chinese dragon.

Slideshow produced by Monami Yui
Photos by Lise Dalmeijer, Marco Lui, Doug Meigs and Monami Yui

Contributors: Alex Hofford, Nini Suet and Cedric Sam