News
Virtual party at Hong Kong Arts Festival
- 2025-03-01
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Hiu Ying、CHEN YongruEdited by: WANG Jing
- 2025-03-01
Visitors to this year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival can immerse in a virtual reality party in Paris, titled Le Bal de Paris. The experience at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has been on offer since Thursday as part of the Arts Festival. The dance is created by Spanish choreographer and film director Blanca Li and developed by a team of 100 people. All 1,100 tickets were sold out according to the Hong Kong Arts Festival website. Kot Ka-ching, 16, a secondary student, was asked by her school dance teacher to try the VR experience to try out different parts of the dance. “I am pretty surprised that during the dance, I can smell the scent of flowers and feel the breeze, making me fully immersed in it,” Kot said. “It would be great if there is someone to lead us throughout the experience, as there are too many places to explore, which made us a bit confused,” said Kot. Alex So, 30, a media worker, said he was impressed by the sense of space of the VR experience and felt he was in a boundless world, despite being in a limited space in real life. “I want to experience women's clothing because I never have the chance to wear it in real life,” said So. “This experience was so special. As soon as I put it on, the sense of immersion was instantly heightened.” “It is my first time at the Hong Kong Arts Festival,” said Catherine Zhang Ziyun, 30, the founder of Shanghai Serenade Culture. “I have always paid attention to the integration of culture, art, and technology. I believe art needs to be combined with science and technology to create new content and elements,” Zhang said. Zhang added she is looking forward to seeing more VR experiences, which …
German Election 2025: Tension in central Berlin as election approaches
- 2025-03-01
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Tsz Chiu Ma、LAI Uen LingEdited by: AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-03-01
Far-right supporters demonstrated against left-wing extremism while antifa supporters called out the rise of fascism in the city centre of Berlin on Feb. 22, one day before Germany’s federal election. One of the right-wing protests was organised by Ferhat Sentürk, the founder and leader of a far-right party, Bürgerliche Allianz Für Deutschland, or Civic Alliance for Germany, formerly a member of Alternative for Germany, or AfD. A group of far-right supporters marched from Dorothea-Schlegel-Platz near Friedrichstraße Station to Berlin Central Station waving the national flag of Germany. Meanwhile, another group of antifa supporters gathered in Schiffbauerdamm to protest against the far-right supporters. Police set up blockades on both sides of the far-right demonstration route to prevent clashes. “If you have a child as a woman, you may not be able to have a legal abortion because some populists and moralists believe that our self-determination does not matter,” said Penelope Alva Frank, a LGBTQ activist, during a speech in the antifa protest. “We have to show that we resist as German people against this far-right propaganda, and this far-right movement is against human rights,” said Marianna, a Green party and antifa supporter who did not disclose her surname because of privacy concerns. Despite police interventions, some antifa supporters managed to block far-right protesters on Hannoversche Strasse for about an hour. The Young Reporter reached out to a number of far-right supporters during their demonstration, but they claimed they do not speak English. The far-right AfD gained widespread support in states that were formerly part of East Germany and nearly doubled their seats to 152 in the Bundestag, according to the Federal Returning Officer. The Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union in Bavaria, a centre-right alliance, won 208 seats and became the dominant force in the Bundestag. The incumbent governing coalition, …
Local movie industry faces uncertainty despite box office surge
- 2025-02-28
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: WONG Hong Ni、AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: LAI Uen Ling
- 2025-02-28
Local films' income rose by 46.7% in 2024 compared to the previous year, despite the closure of nine cinemas last year, according to Hong Kong Box Office Limited. Changing audience patterns has continued to influence the local creative industry.
First Hong Kong International Horse Show after COVID-19
- 2025-02-28
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: WONG Hong Ni、CHEN Yik NamEdited by: Lok Tung LAU
- 2025-02-28
The first Longines Hong Kong International Horse show at the AsiaWorld-Expo drew an audience of more than 25,000. As Hong Kong’s first five-star equestrian event, 30 competitors from various countries took part in high jumping competitions, Shetland Pony Grand National, and HJKC Musical Rides, and so on.
Room for improvement in protecting consumer rights in online shopping
- 2025-02-27
- Business
- The Young Reporter
- By: ZHANG Yiping、QIN ZiyangEdited by: WONG Hong Ni
- 2025-02-27
Jiong Jiali, 23, a Malaysian customer, was disappointed when she received a pair of trousers she bought from an Instagram shop in February last year. “This is nothing like the high-quality homemade trousers the shop claimed to sell,” she said on Rednote, a Chinese social media platform. The cutting of the trousers was awkward, and they hung loose around her waist and dragged on the floor. “What is worse is that the shop offered to change the trousers to a smaller size only if I cover the cost of shipping,” said Jiong. “It means I spent over HK$90 on this disappointing pair of trousers.” Despite the sluggish performance of the retail industry, online shopping has been blooming, as the total sales of Hong Kong stores without a physical storefront reached HK$1.41 billion in November 2024 after consecutive 17 months of year-on-year growth. However, the number of consumer complaints regarding online shopping are also on the rise. In 2023, online shopping complaints saw an increase of 19% from the previous year, reaching 12,696 cases and accounting for two-fifths of the total number of retail complaints received, according to the Consumer Council. The amount of money involved also increased by 20% from the previous year, exceeding $43 million. Online shopping consumers often face problems such as delayed delivery, goods not matching descriptions, counterfeit and copyright-infringing products, and difficulties in returning and exchanging goods. According to the Annual Report of the Consumer Council, in 2024, delays, non-delivery and loss of couriers was the most prominent issue, accounting for 24% of total complaints with 3,969 cases recorded. Dr. Yang Lin from the faculty of law at the University of Hong Kong, who specialises in dispute resolution and e-commerce law, said the rise in consumer complaints is a result of a lack of government regulations. …
German Election 2025: Right-wing parties take over parliament with record high turnout
- 2025-02-27
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAI Uen Ling、Tsz Chiu MaEdited by: AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-02-27
Germany shifts to the right after reaching a voter turnout of 82.5% in the 2025 federal election, a record high since the unification of Germany. On Sunday, voters elected a new Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, commonly known as CDU/CSU, a centre-right political alliance, top the election result taking 208 seats with 28.5% of the votes. The far-right nationalist party, Alternative for Germany, or AfD, comes in second with a record 20.8% votes. It now holds 152 seats, according to The Federal Returning Officer. Friedrich Merz, the chancellor candidate of CDU/CSU, is set to become Germany's next leader,and will put together a governing coalition. Prior to the election, CDU/CSU was the largest opposition party in the Bundestag. CDU represented the alliance in 15 of the 16 states, while CSU only contested in the southeastern state of Bavaria. Mark Schneider, CEO of a startup company and a member of CDU, said he believes the party can form a strong government that is able to make clear decisions. “Germany is facing a downshift in the economy. We are not in the best moment,” Schneider said. “Europe has a lot of challenges, including the war in Ukraine. But the last three years of the government were very weak.” He said he would prefer not to have a coalition government, but he suggested the CDU should ally with the Free Democratic Party, another centre-right political party. FDP lost all of its current 92 seats with only 4.33% of the votes, and failed to meet the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation. CDU/CSU’s election campaign promised a crackdown on immigration and a deregulation of Germany’s ailing economy. The country’s GDP has decreased for two consecutive years, according to the Federal Statistical …
Budget 2025: One-year civil servants pay freeze
- 2025-02-26
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Fu Rong、Chun Hei LUKEdited by: Wing Chi HO
- 2025-02-26
More than 170,000 civil servants and all members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government will not see a pay rise for a year. Up to 10,000 civil service posts will be axed. (February 26, 2025).
Budget 2025: Hong Kong Tourism Board to receive funds to boost local art and culture development
- 2025-02-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Hiu Ying、LAU Ka YanEdited by: CHEN Yik Nam、LI Sin Tung
- 2025-02-26
The government will inject HK$1.235 billion into the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote a series of distinctive tourism products, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in the budget speech on Wednesday. The Board signed a three-year partnership agreement with international art fair Art Basel to establish immersive experience zones of Hong Kong culture at all four of their shows around the world, strengthening Hong Kong's connection with the global art scene, said Chan. Hundreds of thousands attended Art Basel last year in Europe, the US and Hong Kong. “Art Basel will attract foreign tourists or celebrities, which will bring economic benefit to Hong Kong,” said Kwok Wai-keung, 46, a member of the Legislative Council and Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions. “I am pretty surprised that the Hong Kong government would put so much support for cultural activities, such as holding Art Basel and developing different types of tourism,” said Carmen Chan, 33, a Canadian tourist. “But I am glad because these activities can help us get to know Hong Kong better, especially to allow my daughter to be exposed to a more diverse culture,” Carmen Chan said. Kwok said that Hong Kong needs to improve technology for tourists. “Hong Kong does not have a special app to facilitate tourists and locals to search for related tourism, such as ‘dianping.com’ [a public review app] from the mainland,” Kwok said. “So Hong Kong needs to work harder to create a platform for visitors to see comprehensive feedback from attractions and restaurants.” “The distinctive tourism projects that the government aims to promote in 2025, including panda, horse-racing and eco‑tourism, must incorporate local cultures that are difficult for other regions to replicate, in order to attract more tourists effectively,” Kwok said. Some have criticised the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is designed …
Budget 2025: Hong Kong increases PhD fellowship quota to attract more outstanding non-local students
- 2025-02-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: FENG Zhenpeng、Li YinhengEdited by: LIU Yutong
- 2025-02-26
The government said it plans to increase the quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and continue its Belt and Road Scholarship to attract more talented international students under the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. The number of places for PhD students will increase from 300 to 400 per year, said Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in the budget address on Wednesday. The PhD fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$337,200 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,000 per year for a period of up to three years. “The cost of living in Hong Kong is extremely high. International students really need scholarships plus tuition to survive in Hong Kong,” said Felipe Kondo, 21, an undergraduate student from Brazil who received a University Grants Committee scholarship. Hong Kong is the most expensive city in the world for international employees, according to research from HR consulting firm Mercer. “Without the scholarship programs, I do not think I would have come to Hong Kong,” Kondo said. According to official figures, the Hong Kong government set up the Belt and Road Scholarship Scheme in 2016 for students from selected countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. From 2016 to 2021, more than 330 students from countries along the Belt and Road have received this scholarship from the Hong Kong government, and this number is increasing year by year.
Budget 2025: 2% cut for public universities
- 2025-02-26
- The Young Reporter
- By: WONG Hong Ni、QIN ZiyangEdited by: ALISHIBA MATLOOB
- 2025-02-26
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po proposed a cut of 2% in university grants each year over the next three years to reduce the HK$87.2 billion deficit in his latest budget address today. The government will save about HK$2.8 billion in total after the reduction. The public universities will have to return HK$4 billion to the government on a one-off basis in the 2025-26 financial year from their balances of the General and Development Reserve Fund (GDRF). "I must stress that this funding level is still higher than the HK$63.2 billion in the last triennium," Chan told the Legislative Council, referring to automatic annual increases. Eight universities receive the grants from the University Grants committee, with 78% used for teaching, 20% for research funding and 2% for professional activities. Cheung Chi-keung, the Head of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, warned that funding cuts will have long term consequences. “Compared to Singapore, if we cut the grant and increase the tuition fee,” said Cheung, “it is not an ideal situation for Hong Kong's education development and ability to attract talent.” He said it is still affordable for universities to have less grants because they have sufficient reserves. Some students are worried the funding cut will impact their studies. Hannah Li, a finance student at Hong Kong Baptist University, is worried university-funded workshops could disappear. April Zhao, a doctoral student in social work at Hong Kong Baptist University, said she is concerned it will impact student resources.