Welcome to DB ! My daughter is 15.5months.
I have the following suggestions:
* First Friends at the Marina Club - you need to be a member, or know a member who will sign your application form. FF takes children from 1 year and they must be accompanied by a parent or helper.
* Kindermusik - not a formal playgroup, but they have classes at the Residents Club and Kids Alive
* Kids Alive - not a playgroup, but a sort of indoor playroom, where children can interact. It is located underneath Coastline Villas
* Panda Junction - on HK Island, but well worth travelling to, my daughter loves it.
Thats all the suggestions I have. There is a list of playgroups in the latest Inside DB magazine, but they mostly start at 18mth/2 years and are "leave them" playgroups - ie mum has to go. Personally, my daughter won't be ready to be left at 18mths, but perhaps some kids are.
I certainly think there is a gap in the market for playgroups around this age.
Mothers groups are more informal. I have a group of friends who I meet about once a week. We have children from 7 to 20 months. Ie. our "group" is more about the mums liking each other, than the age of the children ! If that interests you, let me know.