Culture & Leisure
More than a toy: how plush “babies” fill an emotional void for Gen Z
- 2025-12-10
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Ye Enyi、ZHENG XinyiEdited by: LIU Yutong
- 2025-12-10
Yin Yunjie, a 24-year-old financial accountant, not only owns plush toys, but also raised them. She talked to it, celebrated its birthday with a cake and worried about it like a parent. Her “baby” is a cotton doll modeled after her idol, Liu Yaowen from the leading popular boy group in mainland China, Teens in Times, also known as TNT. “When I leave for work, I say goodbye. When I come home, I hug him first,” she said. “If I don’t come back at night, I’m afraid he’ll be scared sleeping alone and feel lonely.” “It truly became an indispensable part of my life,” she added. Yin represents a growing Gen Z trend of "cyber parenting," where plush toys like Labubu, Chiikawa, and Jellycat are raised as emotional companions rather than mere collectibles or decorations. This shift is emerging alongside the rapidly expanding plush toy market, which is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% from 2025 to 2032, led by the Asia-Pacific region at 9.6%, according to Persistence Market Research. In addition, Gen Z builds identities and communities around their plush “babies”. These toys provide comfort and a sense of stable connection, filling a gap left by fragmented real-world relationships, according to Wong Ho-chun, 29, assistant professor of sociology and social policy department at Lingnan University. While millennials and Gen X might cherish stuffed animals for comfort or decoration, Gen Z engages in “cyber parenting,” said Wong. “The contemporary world is fragmented and high-pressure, demanding constant multitasking and production,” Wong said. “But dolls are always there to be with them and ‘listen’ to their thoughts as the outside world changes quickly.” “In this context, plush toys fill a void, serving as both an emotional comfort and a compensation for diminished social interaction,” Wong added. Yin …
Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te deeply moved by A Foggy Tale, a film on Taiwan’s White Terror
- 2025-11-22
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: Wing Chi HO、AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-11-22
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te attended the screening of A Foggy Tale, a Taiwanese film about the era under authoritarian rule, in the Xinyi District on Friday. The historical drama is about Taiwan’s White Terror period, the political suppression from the 1950s to 1990s when Taiwan was ruled by the Kuomintang. The film follows a girl from Chiayi, who travels to Taipei alone to collect her brother’s remains and meets a former soldier, now working as a rickshaw driver. After the screening, Lai said to the audience that he was deeply moved by the film, set in 1951, the year he was born. “In that era of the White Terror, many people might have had nothing at all, except courage, they only wanted to step out of the thick mist and see a bright future, they had no conditions, no resources—only courage,” Lai said. “Back then it was 1954, and now it is 2025. We have come this far through the sacrifices and dedication of many people,” Lai said. “I truly hope that everyone who watches this film can understand how difficult the past was, and that we must all cherish the achievements of today as we move toward a better future.” “White Terror” refers to the political suppression of dissidents carried out by the Kuomintang from 1949 to 1992, which included mass arrests, interrogations, trials and imprisonments and even executions of suspected communist spies or independence advocates, according to the National Human Rights Museum of Taiwan. The Kuomintang lifted the Martial Law in 1987 with the “Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilisation the Communists Rebellion” repealed in 1991, according to the National Human Rights Museum, putting an end to the era of political suppression and the restriction of civil and political rights in Taiwan. …
Reviving Yim Tin Tsai heritage: Arts festival rekindles traditional values at Sai Kung
- 2025-11-10
- Society
- By: Yu Yan PuiEdited by: CHAN Wing Yiu
- 2025-11-10
With just a short ferry ride away from Sai Kung pier, visitors get to hop onto a small island rich in diverse culture as it seeks to rekindle heritage with a grassroots arts festival despite government funding having dried up. This community-powered event emerged after the government’s three-year “Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival” pilot programme ended this year. This has prompted local villagers of Yim Tin Tsai to initiate a self-financed arts festival in the hope that they could pass on the heritage by drawing continuous attention to their homeland of 300 years. According to the Tourism Commission, the recently concluded Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival was an expanded version of the earlier Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival, which began in 2019. The project was estimated to have cost HK$47 million, and brought in at least 230,000 visitors over the years. These festivals integrated local arts, cultural heritage and natural scenery to promote Yim Tin Tsai as a green tourism spot. Wong Chi-cho, former commissioner for Tourism, said in a government statement that the project introduced Yim Tin Tsai as the ‘back garden of Hong Kong’, showcasing its unique blend of Chinese Hakka culture, Western Catholic tradition, and rich ecology. Actress Emma Chan Chung-yan, 28, is a ninth-generation Yim Tin Tsai villager and is driving this new grassroots art festival. “It’s a beautiful place grown alongside Hong Kong with nine generations of locals, it deserves to be preserved,” Chan said. Chan said she was driven by a vision to see the island once again immersed in performances as she worried that her hometown could be otherwise forgotten. “As an artist, hosting this arts festival feels like I can combine my passion and my mission,” Chan said. “Our festival uses ‘hope’ as the main theme, which expresses villagers' wishes for cultural …
Wong Tai Sin's human oracle: how fortune-tellers endure the challenge posed by AI
- 2025-11-07
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG ShuyiEdited by: WANG Jing
- 2025-11-07
The 73-year-old Frankie Chan Wang-yuen is not your average fortune teller at Wong Tai Sin Temple, especially in an age where AI can decode insights into your destiny in just seconds using traditional Chinese fortune-telling concepts. Below the large, dark green Chinese shop sign – founded in 1940 – is a small, lime-green, A4-size paper with four lines of English in Arial font that reads: Frankie Chan, spiritual therapist, M.A. (Social Work), English and Putonghua. That is about all one needs to know how Chan’s fortune-stick reading service would differ from his peers at Wong Tai Sin Temple. Chan inherited the fortune-telling store from his mother and ran it for 15 years after retiring from a lifelong career in social work focusing on children and mental health. In the face of pervasive anxiety in a post-pandemic era and demand for insights to control uncertain life circumstances, Chan said he could offer a bit more than just straightforward fortune-telling. Most of his early life revolved around the proximity of Wong Tai Sin, a Taoist temple offering worship and fortune-stick reading service. It remains one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist destinations and also a place where he discovered the connections between traditional Chinese fortune-telling concepts and spiritual guidance via building connections with his customers. "Many of my customers have been coming since my mother's time," said Chan."They keep returning because of the deep connections we've built over the years." Like many, Chan too was faced with the impact of technological advancement, where traditional fortune-telling was outsourced to large artificial reasoning models that could generate insights using a wide range of Chinese astrological models. According to a report published by the Chinese online media outlet 36 Kr on Aug. 25, about 60% of respondents, who are mostly aged under 35, have used …
From street to stall: How Kwun Tong’s evicted hawkers fight for survival
- 2025-11-05
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAU Ka YanEdited by: LI Sin Tung
- 2025-11-05
Beneath Kwun Tong's gentrified Yue Man Square lies a descending escalator that leads one to a ghost market. Despite bright lighting and air conditioning, the Yue Man Hawker Bazaar is drawing only a handful of visitors each day to the basement market selling household supplies. Off-seasoned pyjamas and bath towels are seen hanging on store fronts where shop owners idled by, barely making any sales. This is a stark contrast to the former street vendors who used to huddle up in the heart of Kwun Tong’s hustle and bustle while making a living to sustain their families. Since 2021, more than 100 stalls have been relocated to the Yue Man Hawker Bazaar, which was designed to support hawkers’ livelihood. But they complained that its hidden basement location and a surging popularity with online sales have made their businesses no longer sustainable. Although there are efforts to revive the market, its once-vibrant atmosphere was killed in the process. Fung Kwong-wai, 88, is a stall owner in Kwun Tong who has been selling mostly pyjamas for all ages for over 50 years. “I can only make a hundred dollars a day. It is not enough, as even lunch now costs at least HK$40,” said Fung. Many hawkers, like Fung, face a similar situation at Yue Man Hawker Bazaar. “No one comes here except for some neighbours occasionally,” said Janet Chan, 50, another old stall owner who sells daily items including combs, hair ties and pouches at the bazaar. Lau Sze-ying, 80, has been an owner who sells Chinese New Year couplets and red pockets for over 50 years. “Half of the day goes by, and only two to three people out of every 10 people who take the escalators down may buy things here. Most of the people who come are usually …
Sham Tseng: A place defined by its geese
- 2025-11-04
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Wing Chi HOEdited by: Chun Hei LUK
- 2025-11-04
In the heart of Tsuen Wan, along the coastline with streets lined with banyan trees and village houses, lies a name that has become known for a particular dish: roasted goose. The neighbourhood of Sham Tseng is synonymous with the traditional dish and is often seen in its television advertisement. Yue Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant, founded by Ng Chun-yam in 1958, caters to factory workers with its charcoal-roasted Guangdong geese, made from recipes passed down through two generations. Ng’s eldest daughter, Ng Juan-hua, who is now the owner of the family business, started working in the restaurant at age 12. She said she gave up further education to help her parents run the shop, allowing her younger siblings to continue their studies. On June 4, 1992, a level 3 fire broke out at Yu Kee Restaurant. The owners, Ng and his wife, died in the fire. Since then, Ng Juan-hua took on the role of second-generation leader and worked with her siblings to revitalise Yu Kee. Now, Ng Juan-hua’s son, Ng Guo-han, runs the operations. In the kitchen, a fortress of heat and focused energy, head chef Lee Ming-kwok is a man of few words but action. His canvas is a goose, his tools are time and fire. He cooks and chops 50 to 100 geese daily. The process includes marinating the geese for several hours, air-drying them, and roasting them for about 45 minutes to an hour. The dish stands out due to the blend of spices and the chef’s technique. Lee has worked at Yu Kee for over a decade. The large oven contains burning charcoal at the bottom, and the goose hangs suspended above it, slowly roasting as the heat rises and envelops the meat, ensuring an even cooking process. “Many places use gas or electric ovens …
Sham Tseng — The story of Hong Kong’s roasted goose restaurant
- 2025-11-04
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Wing Chi HOEdited by: Chun Hei LUK
- 2025-11-04
TYR stepped into the kitchen of Yue Kee restaurant in Sham Tseng, known for its roasted goose. We’ll talk with Ng Juan-hua, the second-generation owner, to learn about the techniques behind this dish. Discover the history and methods that have kept customers returning for years. Yue Kee, along with Chan Kee, is one of the oldest roast goose restaurants in the area, both operating since the 1950s. Join this exploration of the history and flavor of Shum Tseng. (4th November, 2025) Reported By Gigi Ho Edited By Anson Luk
Nepalese Community Seeks to Call Hong Kong Home
- 2025-10-31
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ye EnyiEdited by: CAO Jiawen
- 2025-10-31
Every afternoon, a diverse crowd sits in the dimly lit bar at The Nest, a Nepalese restaurant in Jordan, savouring its happy hour buy-one-get-one-free drink special and listening to jazz music. “My guests are saying that this place is very cozy and relaxing,” said Pradeep Kandangwa, 55, the owner of The Nest. “They keep coming here once they come.” Jordan, referred to as “Little Nepal,” is dotted with restaurants like the Nest and specialty shops selling Nepalese food and daily necessities. It’s part of the Yau Tsim Mong District, which has the highest concentration of ethnic minority residents among Hong Kong’s 18 districts, approximately 8.6% of the city’s total ethnic minority population, according to the 2021 census. The largest portion of these are Nepalese. Many, like Kandangwa, work in the catering and hospitality industry, which employs the largest proportion of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, according to a 2023 study from Lingnan University and Hong Kong Baptist University. But experts say that ethnic minorities in the city are pushed into service industry or construction jobs because of a lack of Chinese language skills. For some, especially those who were born in Hong Kong, this can lead to an identity crisis. Kandangwa said he first worked in construction when he arrived in Hong Kong from Nepal 25 years ago before opening his restaurant in 2016. “Nepalese who don’t speak Chinese and even English still make a living in places like restaurants, salons and hotels,” said Kandangwa. “Finding work in Hong Kong’s local community isn’t easy for non-Chinese individuals. We may meet the qualifications, but the issue is language, our Chinese isn’t fluent enough.” “While I can manage basic communication, read and write some words, it’s insufficient to secure a job at a local company, so I decided to start my own …
Local artsy businesses transform old district into trendy check-in spots
- 2025-10-30
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Edited by: MAO Anqi、CHEN Yik Nam
- 2025-10-30
In the century-old neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po, a poster shop stands on the corner of Ki Lung Street. Its classic Hong Kong film posters tell the stories of the past. Wong Tak-hei, 32, has spent five years transforming his obsession with local films into a small shop called Moviemarks that sells what he calls collective memories. “Unlike those fancy shopping malls you wouldn’t visit every day, Sham Shui Po is the kind of place you can visit on two different days and have a completely different experience,” Wong said. Moviemarks is one of the small creative businesses located in Sham Shui Po, a district that was developed as early as the 1910s. A report by the Urban Renewal Authority in September 2023 highlighted the age of the area, as reflected in the old buildings, high population density and social problems related to subdivided residential houses. But recently, the community has nurtured creative local businesses and has become a haven for artistic shops. The area is bustling with trendy cafes and craft shops, and its themed streets have their own specialised categories of goods. Fuk Wing Street is the place for toy wholesale and retail, and Nam Cheong Street features ribbon selling. In October 2020, urban culture magazine TimeOut selected Sham Shui Po as the third coolest neighbourhood in the world, in recognition of its creativity. “The atmosphere here is unique, and I like it very much. These modern stores blend well with the old community, creating an interesting and fresh experience,” Wong added. Xie Yongqi, 18, who has been living in Sham Shui Po since she was born, said she visits boutiques and toy stores every two weeks. “I usually come here with my brother to pick out toys or buy gifts for friends. Sham Shui Po is undoubtedly …
Aberdeen faces challenges amid its deep-rooted fishing culture
- 2025-10-22
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHEN Ziyu、MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: MA Tsz Chiu Oscar
- 2025-10-22
Every typhoon, the two Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters are filled with fishing vessels seeking refuge from strong winds. On the southwest coast of Hong Kong Island, across from the small island of Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen Harbour is a natural shelter for boats. When Super Typhoon Ragasa struck Hong Kong and prompted the Observatory to hoist the highest level T10 signal in September, the two shelters were full. “Ragasa left a trail of destruction in Hong Kong, but it didn’t affect Aberdeen much,” said Lee Choi-wah, 68, the former president of the Hong Kong Chamber of Seafood Merchants, who owns a seafood store in Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market. Because of its geographic location, this naturally protected harbour made Aberdeen the most important fishing village in Hong Kong before the 1970s, with more than 50,000 residents active here, according to the Fishermen Museum. They were known as “boat dwellers” and many of them worked as fishermen. “Aberdeen is an important spot for seafood trading,” said Lee. “At its peak, 80% of seafood products in Hong Kong were traded here.” Boat dwellers in Aberdeen operated grocery stores and restaurants on boats, forming a community on the water. This includes Jumbo Floating Restaurant, the most well-known seafood restaurant on boats in Aberdeen, which operated for 44 years before it was closed during the pandemic and subsequently sank in the South China Sea in 2022. Lee, from a family of boat dwellers, spent his childhood living on a boat. “It was exciting when I could just jump off and swim with other kids after finishing my homework,” said Lee. He added that sometimes he and his friends casually fished together between the moored boats. The 1961 Hong Kong Census recorded the highest number of boat dwellers since the end of World War II. Over 138,000 …