For Hong Kong’s only pearl fisherman, Edmond Ip, the city’s formerly held title, ‘Pearl of the Orient’, may once again become reality, thanks to his longheld dream and current successful efforts to revive this formerly profitable and prosperous industry. Formerly a civil engineer, Ip was born and raised in Tai Po, located in Hong Kong’s pristine New Territories, an area surrounded by azure blue waters and protected country parks and has loved anything to do with the sea his entire life.

As the years progressed and his family grew, Ip realized that there was more to life than the daily office grind and determined that he wanted to do something more satisfying, rewarding and productive with his remaining working years – something more enjoyable and creative – when it occurred to him that he could combine his love of the sea and diving with the creativity and productivity of pearl farming. ‘I have always loved the sea’, states Ip. ‘I have enjoyed fishing and diving my entire life as I was lucky enough to be born and raised in the beautiful area of Tai Po, so had also long held a dream of combining what I enjoyed with what I did for a living and for me pearl farming was the ideal choice.’

‘Construction of Plover Cove Reservoir in the 1960s led to a drop in water quality, which seriously threatened the few remaining pearl farms, however, Mother Nature was to deal the final blow to the industry here in Hong Kong.’ The few remaining pearl farmers located in Lo Fu Wat, a small bay located near Plover Cove Reservoir in the northeastern New Territories, were wiped out in 1962 when Typhoon Wanda made a direct hit on Hong Kong, destroying remaining oyster farms in its wake. Ever-determined and driven by his dream, Ip, set about sourcing information about how to build his dream pearl farm. Information was scarce and the dream of establishing his own pearl farm seemed doomed. Ip’s luck finally changed, however, when he met a mainland marine biologist who was studying at Hong Kong’s Chinese University. He referred Ip to a research institute located in Hainan, China. He was in luck. Instructors and resources were readily available, and Ip set about learning all about pearl farming. Returning to Hong Kong in 2002, Ip commenced building his pearl farm. He rented fishing farms in Lo Fu Wat and bought them outright as soon as the law permitted.

Out in Lo Fu Wat, standing amid netting and oyster shells on the floating platforms that comprise his now-productive pearl farm Ip wears an expression of self-satisfaction as he proudly displays the fruits of his labours – perfectly formed pearls, that magically display their magnificence in the glistening sunshine. Ip estimates there is the potential for the pearl industry in Hong Kong to grow and develop into an HK$800 million a year industry, which would also result in thousands of jobs when all stages of production are considered. As he carefully documents the various stages of production and the various uses for all parts of an oyster, Ip demonstrates with surgical precision the methods for implanting a nucleas into a live oyster, which will result in production of perfectly formed pearl. To produce pearls of a superior standard suitable for the international market, Ip opens a live pearl oysters carefully, then surgically implants a small polished shell bead and a piece of mantle tissue into the live oyster. The shell bead serves as the nucleus around which the oyster secretes layer after layer of nacre, the crystalline substance that forms the pearl.

The nucleated oysters are then returned to the sea. There, in the sheltered bay at Lo Fu Wat, which is? rich in natural nutrients, the oysters feed and grow, depositing lustrous layers of nacre around their nuclei. The nucleated oysters are suspended from the pearl rafts in order to provide the best growing conditions. Water temperatures and feeding conditions are checked daily at various water depths and then the oysters are moved up or down to take advantage of the best growing conditions. Periodically, the pearl-bearing oysters are lifted from the sea for cleaning and health treatments. Seaweed, barnacles and other undersea growths that might impede feeding are removed from their shells. Then the shells are treated with medicinal compounds that discourage parasites from injuring the oysters. At last, the oysters are ready for harvest. Those that have survived such perils of the sea as typhoons and attacks from predators are raised up onto the platform and opened. If everything has gone well, the result is a lovely and lustrous and very valuable pearl.

Ip states that water quality around Plover Cove and Lo Fu Wat has improved in recent years as a result of large-scale sewage treatment projects and the relocation of many factories to the mainland and this bodes well for growth and development of not only his pearl farm but those of any others who may decide to venture into this highly profitable, if labour intensive, industry. ‘Mainland experts have estimated as many as 30 million oysters could be farmed in Lo Fu Wat each year,’ states Ip. ‘This would bring an annual revenue of about HK$200 million, achieved through selling pearls, oysters and oyster shells.’

‘The pearls are sold and made into jewellery, the oysters are sold as seafood and the shells are processed into powders which are sold as a natural ingredient for cosmetics,’ enthuses Ip. ‘Every part of the oyster is utilised in some way that is productive and profitable.’

Ip concludes by stating that ever-increasing numbers of visitors are naking the journey out to his pearl farm at? Lo Fu Wat and demand for his pearls is increasing rapidly.

Those interested in visiting this green, pristine and visually stunning corner of Hong Kong and Ip’s pearl farm can access relevant information at: www.hkpearlfarm.com