The Young Reporter

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, 78, the founder of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was found guilty on three charges of violating national security. Lai was convicted of two counts of "conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security" under the National Security Law and one count of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications."  He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  Judge Esther Toh Lye-ping said in the judgment that Lai's evidence was “contradictory and inconsistent and he was evasive and unreliable in many instances" and dismissed some of his testimony. The court also said in concluding remarks that during the 2019 anti-extradition bill movement, Lai had “constant invitation to the US to help bring down the Government of the PRC with the excuse of helping the people of HK.”  The trial, which spanned 156 days, is the first in Hong Kong to involve the charge of "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.” Lai was arrested by Hong Kong's national security police in August 2020 and has remained in custody since December that year, a detention of nearly five years.  Hong Kong’s officials and Beijing's official representative body the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong have both issued statements welcoming the court's guilty verdict.  Press freedom organisations around the world criticised the ruling. Reporters Without Borders wrote in a statement that it is a “shame trail” for Lai and “emblematic of a wider and devastating collapse of press freedom” in Hong Kong. The British Consulate General in Hong Kong and the European Union Office in Hong Kong also issued statements to show their concern regarding the verdict. The British Consulate General condemned “the politically motivated prosecution" on Monday evening and called for “immediate release” of Lai. Lai became a British citizen after obtaining a UK …

On a November morning in Hong Kong, the sun scorching the tiled roof of the Wong Tai Sin Temple, hundreds of people pressed together to head to the main altar in a rite for the upcoming Legislative Council election. Devotees walked slowly past the great bronze incense burner, heads bowed, respectfully planting three sticks of incense each. Alan Chan, 68, edged forward in the slow-moving river of bodies, his three incense sticks already lit and trembling between his fingers. For decades this had been his quiet anchor: a bow, a murmured name — Tommy Cheung Yu-Yan. But the 76-year-old lawmaker had just announced his retirement from Legco after 25 years. His prayer caught in his throat. He stared at the altar’s flickering candles, the sea of unfamiliar faces on campaign flyers taped to nearby pillars.  "These young candidates I don’t recognise a single one…How am I supposed to vote? How am I supposed to pray?" he said. Cheung is one of 12 current Lego members aged 70 or above who declared they will not run in this year's election, including former Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yin, 74, and convener of the Executive Council Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, 75, accounting for a little over a third of all 35 lawmakers who announced their election withdrawal. Most veteran lawmakers said that they hope to make way for the younger generation. This unprecedented wave of withdrawals is despite no existing legislation specifying a retirement age limit for members of Legco.  Although the reasons for the generational shift remain unclear, some commentators have speculated that Beijing seeks a younger cohort of legislators who will appeal to Hong Kong’s youth and align more closely with national development priorities. Martin Cheung Tat-ming, Chief Researcher at a leading local think tank, said the most direct reason why …

Two designated polling stations have been set up for Hong Kong’s ethnic minority population to cast their ballots for the Legislative Council election on Sunday. The designated polling stations are located at Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary School and Kowloon Park Sports Centre, to allow ethnic minority voters who participate in religious events at the Wan Chai Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple and Kowloon Masjid respectively to cast their ballots, according to the authorities. These designated polling stations are part of the government’s pilot arrangements to cater to voters with special needs. “Sometimes it was difficult for us to wait in a queue, but now it is perfect,” said Aida Zubaida, 33, a housewife from India who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 10 years. “There are separate counters, so we can go easily and orderly.” According to the 2021 Population Census, about 8.4% of Hong Kong’s population belong to an ethnic minority group. Indonesians top the list, followed by Filipinos, White people and Indians. Zubaida said she hopes the next Legislative Council can address the social inequality encountered by the ethnic minority population today, especially in terms of financial support. “There shouldn’t be partiality between Chinese and ethnic minorities, in jobs, employment and other areas," Zubaida said. “We are suffering a lot here, so that’s why we are expecting more separate places for us.” “If we have more job opportunities, we can easily have financial support. But in Hong Kong, the Chinese language is very important here. Even though we are trying to learn the language, it has been very difficult for us.” According to a report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission, Hong Kong’s equality watchdog, it is common for ethnic minorities to face discrimination in accessing goods and services. In terms of employment, ethnic minority …

North of Lantau Island, waves crashed against coastal rocks. In February 2024, a team from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden discovered a white, crumbly solid — the first Eurasian otter feces recorded there in half a century.  Back at the lab, Aiko Leong Kwok-yi, a 30-year-old conservation staff at the Fauna Conservation Department under the KFBG, handled the sample for DNA testing, leaning in to sniff its scent. “Otter faeces do not smell foul, they smell salty like dried salted fish. When fresh, it smells like tea, jasmine tea, not stinky at all,” Leong said. The discovery on Lantau Island has ignited a fragile hope for Eurasian otters clinging to survival in the city. With only seven individuals remaining, primarily in the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Wetlands, the otters are at extremely high risk of extinction. In response, KFBG, the only local team dedicated to otter conservation, launched a two-and-a-half-year Eurasian otters research project on Dec. 1 this year. The project received HK$2.2 million funding from the Civil Engineering and Development Department. The study will deepen understanding of the  distribution and status of otters, identify habitats and threats of it within Lantau Island, beginning with the collection of feces samples. Leong, who joined the team in 2020 and now leads the project, set her sights on animal research after reading about legendary conservationist Jane Goodall at the age of 11. “Jane Goodall’s story just hit me that there are people who can work with animals every day. I found my life’s purpose at that moment,” Leong said. “From that day on, I've been heading straight in this way, never turning any corners,” Leong added. The path has been physically demanding. During early fieldwork, she navigated slippery coastal rocks, once nearly falling into the sea.  “I asked myself, why …

Reported by Audrey Fu Rong, Betty Lan Xinbei Edited by Alishiba matloob Aloosh, Carmen Cao Jiawen, Vinci Ao Wei-ying Video Description : Research shows social media increases Gen Z’s anxiety. The idea of "digital detox" is emerging as a trend among Gen Zs to combat mental health damage due to comparisons of doomscrolling. Betty Lan, one of our TYR reporters, embarks on a 24-hour digital detox challenge. Staying away from electronic devices, she was not adapted without them before experiencing different activities with her friends.

Supply stations at Kwong Fuk Estate brimmed with essentials at noon as volunteers urged donors to hold off, confirming sufficient stocks for residents displaced by the Tai Po blaze. The stations offered various supplies, including solid meals, drinks, first aid medicine, adhesive bandages, masks, paper underwear, and shampoo. A group of secondary school students from the nearby Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School, in uniforms, handed out snacks and fruit at the station.  One student told the reporter that they offered displaced residents freshly cooked vegetarian lunchboxes and hot tea provided by local restaurants in the neighborhood .  “Prescription grains and blankets for pets can be obtained. We want to deliver them to people in need as soon as possible,” said Tracy Wong, 30, a volunteer at a pet supplies booth on site.  The pet supplies booth called on the public to stop sending more cat and dog food as it had sufficient resources collected.  Other booths worked on sorting clothes, separating heavy winter garments from lighter clothes on the ground.  Additional services at the stations included blood pressure checks and counseling sessions to comfort residents.

Young Australians are leading a new trend all over social media, focusing on alcohol-free socialising and personal wellness. The trend is on the news everywhere in Australia. Data shows 76% of 1000 young Australians, aged 18-24, prefer to socialise without alcohol. Meanwhile, one in four Australians has reduced their alcohol consumption over the past year. Instead of bars and clubs, people in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne are flocking to cafes and bakeries hosting 8 am morning raves to kick off the day feeling fresh and energised.

Hong Kong’s Simmi Chan Sin-yuk, 23, lost to Belgium’s Tinne Gilis at the single-elimination round of the Milwaukee Squash Open 2025 on Dec. 3, ending the team’s journey at the tournament. As the tournament entered its third day, Chan was the only one among the six Hong Kong players to advance to the second round of the five-round competition. Chan, who claimed the silver medal at the inaugural Under-23 World Squash Championships this April, found her match when faced against the world’s No. 8 squash player, Tinne Gilis, falling to a defeat with 9–11, 7–11, and 12–14 in the three rounds of the match, respectively, at the Hong Kong Squash Centre. “I have given out everything I could to win the game, so I carry no regret regarding the defeat,” Chan said. The tournament is divided into men’s and women’s main draws, each only featuring the top 30 players worldwide, and the local host was awarded two unrestricted qualifying spots in each draw, granting entry to local players with no restrictions on their world ranking. “It will be a tough game for Chan since Gilis is a formidable opponent,” said Wong Tsz-hin, 30, Chan’s teammate, adding that he hopes Chan can enjoy the game before the match begins. Gilis took the leading position in both the first and second rounds, at one point holding a five‑point advantage in an 11‑point game. Despite reaching the match point at 10–9 in the third game, Chan missed several shots from the same spot on the right forecourt, allowing Gilis to reverse the momentum and win.  “She was able to complete the defence when the situation was unfavourable for her,” Chan said, describing Gilis as a rival who combines physical strength with steady play in the post-game media conference. Chan’s rival Gilis just won her …

The death toll in the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire has risen to 156, the Police Regional Commander of New Territories North, Lam Man-han, said at a briefing. Lam said search operations have been completed in five residential blocks, including Wang Kin, Wang Shing and Wang Tai Houses. Searches at Wang Cheung House are about 40% complete, while Wang Sun House has reached 90% completion.  Search work was suspended earlier today, to prevent families from witnessing the removal of bodies during roadside mourning ceremonies. She said 13 bodies were recovered in Wang Cheung House, including five newly located bodies, bringing the total death count to 156. Among those, 127 bodies have been identified, 29 of them pending identification and 30 people still reported missing. Lam added residents of Wang Chi House, the only block that was not directly affected by the fire, will be allowed a one-time return to their homes on Dec. 3 and 4 to collect essential items.  Between 9am to 9pm, only up to two people per household will be permitted to enter their homes for a maximum of 90 minutes. Authority personnels will accompany residents during entry, and police officers will be stationed on each floor.  To facilitate smooth operation, staff from the Social Welfare Department will provide on-site support. Additional transport services, including shuttle buses and volunteer taxi vehicles will be available for Wang Chi House residents.