Masthead

FOUNDING EDITOR
Ho Cheung LEE (Peter), EdD FLCM
Dr Ho-cheung (Peter) LEE is the founding editor of BALLOONS Lit. Journal and author of poetry chapbook “Something Celebrative or Immortal Under Another Birdless Sky” (Jamii Publishing). He was awarded Champion in both the Oxford Primary English Writing Competition (2019) and “Love Is All Around” The 2nd Hong Kong Chinese & English Essay-Writing Competition (2020). His work (poetry/short stories/photography) has appeared in Rattle, *82 Review, Shearsman Magazine, Interpreter’s House, The Writing Disorder, The Oddville Press, and elsewhere. His poetry was shortlisted in Oxford Brookes University’s International Poetry Competition (2016), for erbacce-prize for poetry (2017), thrice for The Proverse Poetry Prize (2017, 2018 & 2020) and was a finalist of the Real Good Poem Prize (2019). He teaches English in Hong Kong. [ho-cheung.com]
BLJ ADVISORY BOARD
​
Ricci FONG, PhD
Dr Fong spent her teenage years in Singapore before studying at the University of Hong Kong where she earned her BA, MEd and PhD She is now an Assistant Professor at The Education University of Hong Kong. Beyond research, she is a foodie with a sweet tooth. She also enjoys painting and reading stories and poetry that offer different layers of meaning to readers of different ages. Children’s picture books have recently given her a treasure trove of inspiration and a new aspiration to publish a picture book collection for children’s well-being. This is a long-term dream. 
Gary HARFITT, PhD
Dr Harfitt is currently the Principal of Good Hope School (Secondary section), the school where he first taught in Hong Kong and where he was English Panel Chair in the 1990s. Before rejoining GHS in 2021, he was the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU). During his time at the Faculty of Education, he was an award-winning teacher-trainer both at undergraduate and graduate levels and in 2020 was awarded an ‘Oscar’ of Education at the QS Awards in London for his work with Experiential Learning in HKU. He has widely published in academic journals and written two books as well as producing textbooks on teaching and learning poetry. Dr. Harfitt has a wide range of research interests including the use of poetry and language arts in the English Language classroom. Moreover, he has been actively involved in community services, including adjudicating the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival since 2002, as well as drama, debate and speech competitions at different schools in Hong Kong.
​​Lancy TAM Suk-yin
Ms Tam has more than 30 years of teaching and administrative experience in secondary education in Hong Kong, which includes 12 years as English Panel Chair and 5 years as Vice Principal. From 2007, she served two years as a teacher-development consultant and English Project manager at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. In 2010, she became a principal in a DSS secondary school until her retirement in August 2021. During her years of principalship, she has done a lot of work on curriculum development and she served on the adjudication board for the Chief Executive award for Best teaching practices on the stream of Counselling and Guidance in 2013-14. Since September 2021, she has started working in Creative Secondary School as the School Quality Engineer, coaching leadership teams and helping teachers bake their successes. Being happy is her motto in life.

“Attitude can chance the consequence of most actions and events. Being happy is an attitude which is paramount in life.”​ 
Simon THAM Sheon-ming
Mr Tham is currently an English language consultant. Before his retirement, he was an English Literature teacher at secondary school level, the Principal Inspector of English in the Advisory Inspectorate Division of the Education Department, as well as the Head of the NET Section of EMB, Hong Kong. Tham is an experienced speech and drama adjudicator and has written a booklet and produced a video on “The Teaching of Choral Speaking”, and “Good Practices in Speech Activities” which were distributed to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong.  Tham also frequently conducts talks and workshops on the subject for both primary and secondary English teachers.