Hong Kong Craft Beer: Local Style
- 2016-04-02
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- 2016-04-02
by Henry Wong and Sing Lee Hong Kong craft beer brewery, Mak's Beer, has been promoting their products for half a year. The based brewery's latest offering: "Cantonese beer" which they hope will attract local drinkers. The brewers got their inspiration from Yim Tin Tsai Village, a historic neighborhood in Hong Kong that produces salt. The ingredients include traditional Chinese herbal tea, wolfberries and longan fruit. "It's called ‘Cantonese beer' because we want to build a relationship with our community and educate local people on how to appreciate craft beers," said Mark Mak, co-founder of the company. Mak's brewery hosts free factory tours twice a month. Twenty per cent of their beer is offered for free at business and cultural events in order to promote their brand. Mak's beer is not alone. City Brew's beer "Kong Girl", for example, uses the nickname for Hong Kong women in their branding. The Bottle Shop is one of the largest retailers of craft beers in the city They stock local brands such as Gweilo, Mak's and Moonzen. " Some of the beers include creative local ingredients such as goji berries and chilies to spice up the drink," said Joey Chung Wing-yi , the brand and event manager at the Bottle Shop. But the cost of production is an issue for some of the breweries. Mak's produces 4000 bottles a month and they are priced higher than most commercially available beers. "The competitiveness is about branding and the craft beer trend in the city," Mark Mak said. Ms Chung at The Bottle Shop believes craft beer market will become as popular as coffee and red wine in Hong Kong. "There is increasing demand for local craft beers and as more bars stock them, locals became more supportive of this emerging industry," according to Ms …
The Unsung Hero of Hong Kong
- 2016-03-09
- People
- 2016-03-09
By Celia Lai Wearing a pair of thick glasses with a phone in hand, Joseph Lai Hung-Fat walks around the university campus like every other student. But Joseph is actually a "super hero" named KNIGHT in the cyber world. KNIGHT dresses up like Batman but in a remade version: blue cloak and mask, grey shirt and a pair of glasses. Unlike the cartoon character who saves the city with advanced technology, KNIGHT draws animation and makes videos. The 25-year-old illustrator has captivated nearly 70,000 subscribers on Youtube and 20,000 followers on Facebook in three years with his drawings for copypasta, an internet slang for disseminated forum post. Inspired by Japanese comics, Mr Lai illustrates his characters with distorted faces which readers find entertaining. " The way I present my work makes me different from other illustrators," he says. The young illustrator selects some copypastas with political elements in an attempt to mock Hong Kong's political and social problems. One of his pieces named Mark Six portrays the frustrating life that an ordinary Hong Konger leads. (KNIGHT depicts the miserable life an average Hong Konger leads: Mark Six is the mere breath gap to taste hope under the invisible control of hegemony.) "Politics is everything," he says. "Yet Hong Kong people are extremely apathetic to politics. I want to arouse my readers' attention to current issues by presenting politicians in a humorous way." Mr Lai is among the voices speaking out on the adverse effects of the Copyright (Amendment) bill. Critics call it the Internet Article 23, equating it with the controversial national security law. He posted a comic in which KNIGHT is blindfolded and bound with the Chinese characters of Internet Article 23 as background, symbolizing the restriction on free speech. "What I did was to spread the news so …
Time to proof if small business survives under competition law
- 2016-03-09
- Business
- 2016-03-09
By Isabella Lo and Ellen He Small businesses in Hong Kong are facing challenges caused by price-cut promotions by large firms, following the implementation of the Competition Ordinance. The Competition Ordinance (the "Ordinance"), passed by the Legislative Council in June 2012, has come into full implementation since December 14, 2015. The Competition Commission, an independent statutory body established under the Ordinance, had already received about five hundred complaints from all sectors across the territory before the law came into effect, according to Anna Wu Hung-yuk, Chairperson of the commission. Days before and after the commencement, stores selling electronics and sports products in Mong Kok had cut down the prices. For example, Fortress, an electronics chain, offered customers a discount up to 20 per cent for selected products, as stated on its official Facebook page. The Competition Ordinance is an economic legislation aiming to "prohibit conduct that prevents, restricts or distorts competition in Hong Kong". It adjusts business relationships by prohibiting three kinds of anti-competition conducts: anti-competitive agreements, concerted practices and decisions; abuse of market power; merger and acquisition (only applicable to the telecommunications industry). According to Thomas Cheng Kin-hon, an antitrust lawyer and member of the commission, the law should have given small businesses greater room because it "aims to ensure level playing field so that businesses can compete on their merits." In particular, "The Second Conduct Rule prohibits of abuse of substantial degree of market power, which means that small businesses should be able to compete better," he said. Before and shortly after the law came into effect, however, a large scale of stores including the large enterprises offer great discounts like 40 per cent off, leading to heavy pressure on small businesses. "When large corporations and small businesses both make sales, the former is surely at an advantage," …
Vehement canvassing continues as By-election nears its end
- 2016-02-28
- Politics
- 2016-02-28
By Tracy Zhang; Photo by Alfred Lam & Celia Lai At 8.30pm, more than 370,000 voters have balloted for the Legislative Council's New Territories East geographical constituency by-election while the seven candidates and their supporters continue to campaign for votes. The seven candidates, which include Lau Chi-shing, Wong Shing-chi, Holden Chow Ho-ding, Albert Leung Sze-ho, Christine Fong Kwok-shan, Edward Leung Tin-kei and Yeung Alvin Ngok-kiu are fighting for one seat that will last for seven months. Chan Ka-hei, a F6 student who supports Leung Tin-kei Edward, said, "I believe Leung Tin-kei because Hong Kong Indigenous could be hope for the city's future." "I hope the winning candidate can uphold our core values and represent Hong Kong people's voices," said Mr Chan. Another of Leung's supporters, Tsang Tak Kit, 21, who volunteered to campaign for Leung Tin Kei said he believes Leung could ban all the unreasonable policies to prevent Hong Kong from being "engulfed" by the Mainland in 2047. But former media-related worker Mony Chan said she would prefer Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, the Civic Party candidate due to his "humble personality" because Hong Kong is not ready for the direct protest that Leung is appealing for. Former Scholarism spokesperson Lai Man-lok Oscar and former legislator Martin Lee Chu-ming rallied for Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu outside Fanling train station, calling for the protection of the 'crucial seat' with votes. Executive Councilor Starry Lee who supports Holden Chow said the campaign was critical since a silent majority of Hong Kong's voters had not voted, during which the turnout rate reached 26.03 per cent, 2 per cent lower than that in 2012. "No one is absolutely right or wrong. They (the parties and the government) need to calm down and have a talk so as to work things out," said 89-year-old Mr Wong, adding …
Hong Kong legislative by-election faces rise of radical group
- 2016-02-28
- Politics
- 2016-02-28
By Susan Gao; Photo by Tiffany Lui & Rechelia Yeung Thousands of Hong Kongers in the New Territories East constituency are casting their votes for a legislative by-election today, in which seven candidates are vying for a seat left vacant by a prominent democrat Ronny Tong Ka-wah. The poll, once a battle between pro-Beijing parties and democrats who want more autonomy, now takes a new twist among the rise of Edward Leung Tin-kei, an activist who promotes independence from China and was arrested over the recent Mong Kok chaos. Edward Leung Tin-kei, 24, a leader of a localism group Hong Kong Indigenous, has become a new choice of many freedom-loving voters who once preferred Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu of Civic Party, a rising star among the pan-democrats. Another front-runner is Beijing loyalist Holden Chow Ho-ding, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), who has been emphasising the importance of harmony throughout the election. Chan Ka-hei Herman, a F.6 student who supports Mr Leung said pro-democrats haven't been successful in fighting for democracy and better policies in the past. He believes that localism would be hope for the city's future. "I don't expect the candidate to do much in a seven-month period," he said, "but I hope the winning candidate can uphold our core values and represent Hong Kong people's voices." The amount of support the young activist gains will be an indicator of mainstream society's acceptance towards localism movements and radical protest methods, both of which are fiercely opposed by Beijing. Tsang Tak-kit, 21, who volunteered to campaign for Mr Leung said he supports him because he does not want Hong Kong to be "engulfed" by the Mainland in 2047. "I believe Leung can ban all the unreasonable policies if he gets elected." Despite …
Newly Introduced Silver Bond may Neglect Poorer Elderly Population
- 2016-02-24
- Business
- 2016-02-24
The Silver Bond may only benefit senior citizens with extra money in hand, neglecting the poorer elderly population in Hong Kong. The Silver Bond, similar to the previous inflation-linked iBond that was designated for the elderly, will be launched this year and the year after, announced the Financial Secretary Mr. Tsang Chun-wah in the Budget speech today. "The bond is attractive if I had some extra money in hand," said Mr. Chu, 75 years old. "But I only had enough to cover living expenses, how could I spend thousands to invest?" "I don't have any money to buy the bond," said Ms. Chan, 84. "Even if I do, I'd spend it on bread." Aiming to protect against inflation, A HK$10 billion iBond was issued every year since 2011 with a guaranteed return of two per cent for investors aged 65 and over. "The Silver Bond is just the performance of the government," said Mr. Chu. "It cannot protect against inflation." Interested in the Silver Bond, Mr. Lau said retirement pensions and medical service would be more important to the senior citizens. "I hope the government could cover all the elderly population with the retirement benefits, not just part of us at the moment," he said. "The old people are much easier to get sick and the medical care is costly," he added. "So the government should provide us with more support." In mid-2014, Hong Kong had 1.07 million people aged over 65 and over, accounting for about 15 per cent of the total population. https://www.facebook.com/tyrmag/videos/1116156438408885/
Summarizing the 2016-17 Budget : what has the Government announced?
- 2016-02-24
- Business
- 2016-02-24
Today's budget discloses a 6.7% increase in expenditure to $347.5 billion from $324.6 billion last year. This year, tax allowances rewards focus on those taking care of the elderly people, with increases allowances for a dependent parent or grandparent aged 55 or above. Whereas in 2015-2016, tax allowances are mainly targeting population with children, raising child allowances only. Moreover, basic, single parent and married person's allowance are increased, benefitting wider range of Hong Kong people. The government has 75 per cent reduce salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profit tax in a same extent as 2015-2016. They also lower the waive rates' ceiling from $2500 for two quarters last year to $1000 for four quarters this year. Tourism, hospitality and retail industries and other enterprises also take advantages from waived licence fees, business registration fees, technology vouchers and more subsidies. In sum, the tax and short-term relief measures cost $38.8 billion compared to $34 billion last year, which further reduces the government revenue reduction. The government plans to play a key role under the "new economic order". They take action to nurture innovation in applying R&D results, startups, Fintech and creative industries, and find new markets in Belt and Road Initiative, trade and logistics and financial services. Fostering talent is also vital to Hong Kong by gaining internship and exchange chances for students and professional training. Compared to last year, the budget promoted diversified development in nurturing startup ecosystem, boosting creative industries and promoting social enterprises, and improving the quality of manpower. It focused on opportunities created by "One Belt One Road". Based on the latest projection, government has adopted the public housing supply target of 280 thousand units for the ten-year period from 2016-17 to 2025-26. Livelihood related …
Reserve Estimates : Highlights
- 2016-02-24
- Business
- 2016-02-24
The government is estimated to have $30 billion worth of surplus in this financial year.
Creative Sector : Highlights
- 2016-02-24
- Business
- 2016-02-24
A total of 8.1 billion be provided to support for film, fashion and sports sectors.
Housing & Land : Highlights
- 2016-02-24
- Business
- 2016-02-24
28,000 public housing units and 29,000 private housing units can be provided to the housing market, according to this year's Budget.