Information Sheet

Project: Saving our homes in Ping Che

Date: 23 October 2015 (Friday) to 26 October 2015 (Mon) (4 days)

Location: Ping Che, Fanling, New Territories,Hong Kong

Type: Social/ Art/ Renovation/ Agricultural

Organizer: VolTra & Visitors’ Centre of Ta Kwu Ling/Ping Che Alliance for

“Saving Our Home”

Participants(Expected): 4IWO, 4NICE, 4VYA, 4VT

Participation Fee: 1000HKD /130USD

1) MEETING POINT

PLACE : Exit C, Fanling MTR Station, Hong Kong

(香港新界粉嶺港鐵站 C 出口)

DATE : October 23 2015 (Fri)

TIME : 14:00

You are required to arrive on the first day and stay until the last day. We have arranged work

and activities during the workcamp, and your full participation is essential. If you cannot reach

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the meeting point on time or encounter some troubles on the way, please contact Ms. Kary

Wong at 852-93276125 .

2) HOW TO GET THERE

1. From Airport to Fanling

Hong Kong (香港) is located on the southern coast of China. This 1,104 km² area territory

consists of the Hong Kong Island (香港島), the Kowloon Peninsula (九龍半島), the New

Territories (新界), and over 200 offshore islands. Fanling (粉嶺) is located in the northern part of

the New Territories in Hong Kong. There are two ways to reach Sheung Shui from the Hong

Kong International Airport (香港國際機場).

(A) Airport -> Fanling Railway Station (by Airport Bus)

Bus Route No. A43

Fare HK$30.9

Route Direction From Airport (Ground Transportation Centre) Bus Terminus to Luen Wo Hui Bus Terminus

Travelling Time Approximately 78 minutes

Distance 57.1 km

Schedule Operates daily from 07:00 - 24:00, arriving every 20 - 30 minutes

Remark Get on at Airport (Ground Transportation Centre) Bus Terminus and get off at Fanling Railway Station

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Airport (Ground Transportation Centre) Bus Terminus

Fanling Railway Station

Kowloon Motor Bus Company: http://www.kmb.hk

(B) Airport -> Fanling [by Mass Transit Railway (MTR)]

Mass Transit Railway

Get on here

Get off here

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Fare HK$60 (Paid by Octopus)

Route Direction From Airport to Fanling

Travelling Time 76 minutes

Schedule Operates daily from 05:54 - 23:28

Remark Interchange stations: Tsing Yi Lai King Prince Edward Kowloon Tong

Route Detail

Mass Transit Railway: http://www.mtr.com.hk

Airport Express

Fanling MTR Station

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2. Location of the meeting point

If you still cannot find the Fanling MTR Station, you may show the following Chinese sentence

to nearby passersby to ask for directions to Fanling MTR Station, Exit C.

請問哪裡是粉嶺地鐵站 C 出口？

REMARK: Fares and schedules of the above transportation may vary with time.

If you arrive earlier or later upon the supposed arrival time, you may contact your leader

directly.

3. Bus route to Ping Che project site from MTR Station

（In case you may miss the meeting time and not able to contact us, you may have to be

there by yourself）

Fanling Railway

Station Exit C

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After exiting from Fanling MTR Exit C, head towards the minibus station to the opposite of the

exit. Take green minibus 52K. The bus fare is 5.7 HKD and may be paid using coins or with the

octopus card. The location to get off is “九記士多” and is pronounced as “Gou Gay C Dor” in

Cantonese.

Fanling MTR Exit C Ping Che “九記士多”

You may show the following Chinese sentence to the bus driver, and the bus driver will let you

know when to get off.

請在“九記士多”叫我落車。唔該！

3) LOCATION

In contrast to the densely populated areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Ping Che is a

sub-urban area characterized by natural scenery, charming small villages, and a stunning

sunset. The place is also situated just next to Shenzhen, China.

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4) PROJECT

(A) Background

The project is co-organized by VolTra and Ta Kwu

Ling/Ping Che Alliance for “Saving Our Home”. The

aims of Ta Kwu Ling/Ping Che Alliance for “Saving

Our Home” are to protect villagers’ homes and

culture and to conserve the environment. Currently,

the government and the villages are in discussion

regarding the North East New Territories New

Development Areas Planning. Therefore you may

no longer see the nature in 10 years but

skyscrapers.

(B) Aims

1. Raise awareness among publics towards the development of the rural village in Hong

Kong

2. Learn and appreciate the importance of the local village and its Hakka culture

(C) Work

1. Renovate elderly’s homes by painting

2. Beautify or renovate the visitors’ centre

3. Painting on the roadside

4. Village touring

5. Gardening /farming with old farmers

5) SCHEDULE

Date Morning Afternoon Evening

20/3 (Fri) - Arrival at 14:00 &

Orientation

Welcoming Party & HK

night

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21/3 Sat) Work Work+Hiking for Sunset Cultural Night

22/3 (Sun) Work Work & Village Tour Farewell Party

23/3 (Mon) Traditional Breakfast

&Sightseeing in local

market

clean-up & departure

REMARK: The schedule is tentative and subject to changes.

6) LIFE

(A) Work

Workcampers will mainly work around the village or on the farms

(B) Accommodation

Workcampers live in the visitors’ centre. It is well equipped with a bathroom and a kitchen.

Please bring your Sleeping bags and pillows.

Workcampers are responsible for maintaining a clean and tidy environment of the living and

working areas.

Mosquitoes are unavoidable in rural area. Please remember to bring more mosquito

repellent. Organic or natural one is recommended.

You are responsible for the safety and security of your belongings in the camp site.

Workcampers are responsible for maintaining a clean and tidy environment of the living

and working area. Recycling bins will be available in the camp site.

(C) Meal

Workcampers are responsible for carrying out cooking and cleaning duties by turns.

Bring along your secret recipe and even special ingredients from your country to share with

us your favorite home country dishes!

Please indicate if you request special diet to your team, e.g. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free,

etc.`

(D) Laundry

There are no washing machines, and so, workcampers will need to wash their clothes by

hand.

(E) Internet

Internet connection is not available in the centre. WiFi cards can be bought at convenience

store such as seven eleven.

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(F) Language

English is the common language during the workcamp. You are also welcome to try to

learn and speak some Cantonese/Mandarin.

(G) Currency

Hong Kong Dollar is the official currency in Hong Kong. The exchange rates for USD and

Euro are approximately:

1 USD = HK$7.7

1 Euro = HK$10

Please bring cash for your own expenses during the workcamp, including the transport

from to the farm. Highly recommend you to get an Octopus Card at the airport. It will make

your life much easier here. You may exchange Hong Kong dollars at the exchange stores

at airport or withdraw cash from the automated teller machine (ATM). However, money

withdrawal by overseas credit or debit cards may incur handling charges. You are advised

to consult your bank in advance.

(H) Weather

March is quite cool in Hong Kong with average temperature from 15°C to 25°C but lower

temperature is expected in the site. Workcampers should carry suitable clothing for the

cool weather.

(I) Cultural Exchange

Please be prepared for the cultural nights, you can prepare some foods or photos or other

thing to introduce your country and cultures to the volunteers.

7) WHAT TO BRING

Items

【Important】traditional snack and food, recipes, photos, props, music, games, performances or

art and cultural stuffs for sharing

Raincoat & umbrella

Hat

Jacket

Torch

Slippers

Mosquito repellent (Organic or natural one is recommended!)

Sunblock

Towel

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Sleeping bag

Pillow/cushion (Anything you can put your head on when you go to sleep!)

Water bottle

Long-sleeved working clothes (Your clothes would probably get dirty by painting!)

Sports shoes

Travel adaptor

Recipe and special ingredients of your country

Personal medicine

Decorations with your country’s characteristics (for decorating the

accommodation with diversified cultural elements)

Small gift for the host!

8) Photos

Visitors’ Centre of Ta Kwu Ling/Ping Che Alliance for “Saving Our Home”

Entrance Communal area

Accommodation

Sleeping area Dining area

Kitchen Bathroom

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Work

Beautify village road Rehabilitate agricultural land

Leisure Activity:Hiking Painting

9) OTHER POINTS TO NOTE

The workcamp should be run and created by each workcamper. Workcampers may also be

divided into teams to carry out the daily work by turns. Let’s discuss it on the first day and

fix the role of each workcamper.

Please bring cash for your own expenses during the workcamp.

Indeed, it is regarded as a workcamp in terms of voluntary work. Please do not treat it as a

cheap travel.

Please be open-minded to different cultures.

Have an open heart to share and talk. Language should not be a problem. Communication

is not about language.

If your behaviour during the workcamp is not cooperative (e.g. not working properly, not

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respecting others, breaking the rules, the local manners and culture, etc.), you will be

requested to improve. If there is still no improvement, we may request you to leave the

workcamp as the final choice.

10) ENQUIRY

Ms Kary Wong

Project Coordinator VolTra

Email: kary@voltra.org

Tel: (852) 93276125