Travelling through the countryside of Sweden, product designer Michael Leung was intrigued by the site of two burgundy beehives on a snow-covered hill. He chatted with the bee keepers who gave him his first taste of beekeeping.
After returning to Hong Kong 10 months ago, the 27-year-old London native has not forgotten his trip. He visited Yip Ki-hok of Wing Wo Bee Farm, one of the two honey producers in Hong Kong. Yip generously shared what he knows about beekeeping with the young designer.
At the farm, Leung held his first bee frame and came to realise that bees are not as scary as he thought, and that if he can do this, anyone can. Yip also asked him to collect a wild hive on a hillside near Sha Tin. The experience further inspired Leung's passion.
'I want people to experience what I experienced, and to appreciate the value of bees and locally produced honey,' says Leung. He set up HK Honey in January and launched his first collection of honey products in July.
The company sells locally produced honey products and foods, including candles made of beeswax. 'The candles are all natural so they won't release any toxic fumes while burning.'
Leung keeps two hives on the rooftop of a friend's place in Ngau Tau Kok. Each hive houses 10,000 bees. 'These are Chinese bees, which I bought from Yip's farm. They are more aggressive than Western bees,' he says.