Have Your Say – Guy Shirra

Author/ Being Neighbourly
3 May 2025

Guy Sanderson Shirra is a long-time Hong Konger who tried to get away, only to return eight years later to Sai Kung, which he calls a healthy, happy place to live and bring up children. Shirra is a former police office and currently works as a publisher, author and contributing author.

How long have you lived where you live?

My wife and I have lived in Tan Cheung Upper Village, above Sai Kung Town, for nigh on 20 years. We both lived and worked in Hong Kong for 30 years until retirement so now it is a total of 50 years residence for myself and 60 years for my wife.

Can you see yourself anywhere else?

I left the UK when I was 18. My wife left Shanghai when she was 10. We both tried living in the UK post retirement but we sold up and returned to Hong Kong after eight years. So, the answer is NO! – unless we eventually move to a care home in Thailand.

What’s so great about your home/neighbourhood?

Sai Kung, for the time being at least, is still “The Garden of Hong Kong” depite the disruptive highway development. Our village is small, very conveniently placed for walking to Sai Kung Town and back, has plenty of parking, borders the Green Belt with its local bird and wildlife, has views of the harbour and Pryamid Hill, has ready access to walks long and short and has a vibrant and friendly mixed community of indigenous locals and expatriates.

Best little known gems?

Sai Sha Beach, at the northern end of the Sai Kung Promenade, which, being ungazetted, is dog friendly and supports kayaking and wing-foiling activities and supported by a Thai restaurant and a BBQ plaza.

Best places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner?

Most expat restaurants in the centre of Sai Kung Town provide all day English breakfasts. CENA is my personal favourite for brunch. Dinner-wise, we are spoilt for choice, so it would be unfair to single out any of the great bistros for special mention. The best value Chinese food restaurant for lunch and dinner is the Hunan style Villa Vila. For dim sum/yam cha it has to be Chuen Kee on the waterfront and for seafood the restaurant at the southern end of the waterfront next to the harbour; the Fu Ah.

Best places to drink coffee/find a drink?

Coffee, for me the best value in large cups is definitely CENA. For drinks, it is one of the oldest genuine pubs in Sai Kung – Poets (Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday 🙂

Best other hangouts?

At my age, I generally no longer “hang out”. However, for a snooze or sit-down (and the start/finish location for the former Sai Kung Hash House Harriers), it is the garden and shelter in the eyebrow raising Wan King Path known as Plod’s Pagoda.

What’s true/not true about your neighbourhood?

Sai Kung truly is a healthy and happy place to live and breath, enjoy life, rescue dogs and raise children. You can sail, hike, swim, climb, jump off mountains sitting in a bucket under a canopy (paragliding), play golf and take trips to offshore islands to enjoy seafood and even fresher air.