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Martin Williams
Martin Williams is a Hong Kong-based writer specialising in conservation and the environment, with a PhD in physical chemistry from Cambridge University.
Predicting typhoons is a matter of life or mass death yet it is backed by imperfect science. So, how have the boffins at the Hong Kong Observatory been rising to the challenge?
Hong Kong’s Mai Po wetlands are a magnet for diverse species of birds, but now this natural asset is once again under threat, this time from plans to build an IT hub for its Northern Metropolis.
A trio of historic Hong Kong ‘squatter’ villages face destruction, destined to be replaced by homogenous residential blocks despite the efforts of historians, architects and academics.
The cavalier attitude towards warnings about the submersible’s seaworthiness in the run-up to its implosion is reminiscent of our blasé response to the alarming signs of a warming Earth.
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The future of Hong Kong’s bucolic Sha Lo Tung area, which has been at the centre of a decades-long land-development battle, appears bright as wildlife begins to return. But there’s more work to be done.
Rescuing people from sinking ships and burning buildings, the crew of Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service have to stay calm amid frantic conditions. They recount their most memorable missions.
Hong Kong does not lie along their usual migratory route, so what brings some raptors to the city? After looking to the sky for answers, veteran birdwatcher Martin Williams discovers what’s going on.
Recent record heatwaves, including in Hong Kong, should have hammered home the deadly and immediate impact of climate change. Yet Hong Kong’s action plan for 2050 seems remarkably relaxed, and measures taken so far are often inadequate and even downright questionable.
Compared with countries like the UK that are living with the virus and the mainland’s citywide lockdowns, Hong Kong’s measures have been more balanced, albeit with some oddities. A sensible approach would be to focus on a few science-driven initiatives, like improving air quality.
The middle road between a strict zero-Covid policy and a dangerous ‘let it rip’ scenario is grounded in science and promotes quality of life. It requires us to focus on sensible long-term measures such as wearing masks, getting vaccinated, and improving indoor ventilation.
Martin Williams ended up spending six days in hospital after a cellulitis diagnosis, likely the result of stepping on a small sea creature on a Hong Kong beach.
Hong Kong’s rich biodiversity may surprise some, but a number of the species to which it is home are under threat. Marine theme park Ocean Park’s Conservation Day focuses on six, from coral to horseshoe crabs and finless porpoises.
Start a Lantau Island hike from Ngong Ping, and you’re already high up. With rugged hillsides and views of China, Hong Kong Island and the South China Sea, the area has a lot to offer.
As Covid-19 continues its rampage around the world, it seems wise to abandon meddling with viruses in this way, and perhaps too late to heed other scientists’ warnings that doing so poses extraordinary risks to the public.
Kowloon Peak affords majestic views north, south, east, and west, and other nearby peaks to scale. Save your legs by taking a taxi up, then opt for an easy stroll or a hike back down to the urban sprawl.
The best waterfalls in Hong Kong and how to reach them - along smooth concrete trails or up on steep steps that zigzag up a hidden ravine
It’s time to get out and discover some of Hong Kong’s best woodland walks. Here are five places worth exploring around the city to help you get back to nature – and maybe even hug a tree.
We might need to live with mask wearing and social distancing for several years. For Hong Kong, the authorities could greatly expand outdoor dining, stagger office hours, have more work-from-home periods and fewer air-conditioned interiors.
Just because Covid-19 means you are stuck in Hong Kong doesn’t mean you can’t take beautiful photographs. Here’s where to go for some great shots, and how to take photos at different times of the day and in different weathers.
Giant wingspans, gorgeous colours, amazing variety – Hong Kong has 245 butterfly species. Find out how to identify the most eye-catching ones, and where to look for them.
From Kowloon Park, with its lake and remnants of a military battery, to the perfection of Chi Lin Nunnery, and Kowloon Walled City Park, laid out in classical Chinese style, learn what there is to discover and enjoy in five of Kowloon’s best parks.
April is the best time to see and hear birds in Hong Kong, as permanent residents are joined by migratory birds heading north for the summer.
Get away from the coronavirus news and social distancing woes by taking a hike up Sunset Peak on Lantau – a tough trek that could take up to six hours, but rewards you with stunning views from the third highest mountain in Hong Kong.
The coronavirus pandemic has left many wanting to get out of cities – and there’s no better way to do it in Hong Kong than by taking a relaxing bike ride through the New Territories, from Tai Po Waterfront Park to Tai Mei Tuk.
The best park in Hong Kong, a lane full of street art, the Noonday Gun and ‘Instagram Pier’ – see them all as you hop on and off trams along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island. Journeys are super cheap.
Covid-19 could be a once-in-a-century pandemic disease like Spanish flu. Indeed, social-distancing measures being adopted now are not unlike those taken a century ago. But shouldn’t we find new ways to get on with life?
The rice paddies of Yi O on Lantau Island, offer a tranquil, bucolic retreat; they’re easily reached from charming Tai O, fishing village of stilt homes. With tourism low and coronavirus fears high, this is a great time to visit both.
Science shows fears of imminent doom are groundless. In evolutionary terms, a disease that relies on human-to-human transmission tends to be mild, because infected people have to be well enough to spread it.
The protests may be deterring tourists from coming to Hong Kong, but that makes it the perfect time to explore the attractions of Hong Kong Island. Head up The Peak for stunning views, birdsong, and historic sites such as World War II bunkers.
Actress Sharon Kwok, her steel tycoon husband Stanley Pong Kit and friends opened Hong Kong’s first battery recycling centre after eight years of research and red tape. Things are not going well – the plant is mostly idle.
