THE first auction of bonsai trees in 90 years is to be held in Hong Kong next month. Mee Seen Loong at Sotheby's was hoping the collection of living miniatures (owned by a local collector who wish to remain anonymous) would be the first ever to come under the hammer. But she has found a reference in an old auction book to a sale of 'Japanese trees grown in pots' held in London in the early 1900s. 'The real worry is keeping them alive,' said Ms Loong, who will be taking charge of the little trees several days before the October 31 sale. 'But the ones we will be auctioning are growing on some magnificent miniature rocks. So I suppose that if the trees suffer, at least you've got the rock.' THERE is the Fringe . . . and now there is the cyberfringe. The annual Melbourne Fringe Festival starts on Sunday, but this year it will have an extra dimension - cyberspace. It promises to be a chance for anyone and everyone to be an arts critic - all they need is some opinions and computer literacy and they can transmit their crits to the world. The event also features its own cyber reporters - men and women kitted out with cameras, modems, laptops and microphones who will feature some of the events on the Internet.
WHICH discs would you play on a desert island, with just a CD player and your spouse to keep you company? This is what Jonathan Douglas will be asking local couples in a cosier version of the BBC's much loved Desert Island Discs, called It takes 2. Starting next Monday at 9 pm on RTHK Radio 4, Douglas will invite couples into the studio to talk about their music and their lives. The Pattens have already agreed to take part, as well as the Wongs (Elizabeth and Eddie), Sohmens (Helmut and Anna), Akers-Jones (David and Jane) and five other couples. 'A lot of people are interested, but about half of the ones we asked have said no. Some are too busy, some don't have an interest in music, and some just want to listen to a few programmes before they commit themselves. It's very different from Desert Island Discs. Having two people together adds a whole extra chemistry,' Douglas said.
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