People

First Day of the MTR "Thank you day"
- 2023-04-10
- Society
- By: Hanzhi YANG、Yiyang LIEdited by: Noah Tsang
- 2023-04-10
To thank passengers, the MTR offered half fares in April. 8 and 9, as well as on May. 13 and 14. This is the first of its kind offer applicable to travel on MTR, Light Rail and MTR bus. The MTR half-fare subsidy can encourage people to make long-distance trips. Half-fare concessions can promote spending, and some people want to enjoy half-fare concessions on weekdays. The MTR's half-fare subsidy for April began two days ago. This deal includes MTR service to and from Lok Ma Chau Station and Lo Wu Station. Compared to earlier in the week, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of people using the East Rail Line, with many choosing to take the MTR today and tomorrow to get to Shenzhen. Except for the Airport Express, the trip from the city to the port or any other area on that day can enjoy half price, meaning people can enjoy a HK$1 trip at the lowest price. At around 4 pm on April. 8, the East Rail Line had more passengers than the Kwun Tong Line. More passengers were boarding at Shatin and University stations. Kelly Zhao, 21, a Hong Kong Polytechnic University student, travels to Shenzhen once a week for dining and shopping. From Hung Hom Station to Lo Wu, transportation costs about $39 per person. "The price is a little expensive for me, but I'm going to Shenzhen twice this week due to the MTR discount of half-fare,” she said. Lee Ka Ming, 33, had just returned from a shopping spree. "I hope the half-fare concessions on the MTR will be extended for a longer period of time, as the daily commute is too expensive, and it would be better if there were discounts on weekdays," Ming said. Passengers can get more savings …

Art Basel Hong Kong 2023
- 2023-04-03
- Society
- By: Elif Lale AYHAN、Huen Tung LEIEdited by: Wisha LIMBU
- 2023-04-03
Art Basel is back in Hong Kong this spring, featuring 177 galleries from Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. This year, the return of Encounters has presented more large-scale projects.

Exhibition commemorates the 20th anniversary of superstar Leslie Cheung’s death
- 2023-04-02
- Society
- By: Yee Ling TSANG、Wai Sum CHEUNGEdited by: Yu Yin WONG
- 2023-04-02
More than 7,600 fans gathered at Hong Kong Heritage Museum to commemorate the 20th anniversary of legendary star Leslie Cheung’s death on Saturday, according to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and hosted by Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the “Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition” showcases an extensive collection of Cheung’s mementoes. Three of Cheung’s close friends, Florence Chan, William Chang and Wing Shya are guest curators. Cheung’s partner, Daffy Tong, also shared his personal collection with the museum. The event displays 61 exhibits, such as stage outfits, trophies, photos, videos and Vinyl records. Visitors can redeem free posters using their tickets at the exhibition’s exit. Cantopop icon Leslie Cheung passed away 20 years ago on 1 April 2003. In his career, Cheung won numerous awards, including RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards, Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards. Cheung’s artistic films and pop songs are still widely admired and adored by many. There are also other ongoing memorial events in the city, including “Reminiscing Leslie Cheung: 20th Anniversary Exhibition” at Hong Kong MTR Station, Timeless Leslie Encounter in Olympian City, and "Leslie Cheung MISS YOU MUCH LESLIE CONCERT" in Hong Kong Coliseum. The “Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition” will remain publicly open until 9 October.

Hong Kong Sevens: tournament breaks gender barrier as women play alongside men for the first time
- 2023-04-02
- Society
- By: Dhuha AL-ZAIDIEdited by: Ming Min AW YONG
- 2023-04-02
It’s the much-anticipated time for sports again in Hong Kong. Tickets have been purchased months in advance, as rugby fans await the iconic Hong Kong Sevens. In the So Kon Po stadium last weekend, live bands cheer on the crowd, who are spotted in eccentric costumes – giraffe onesies, pirates, Snow White and her seven dwarfs – chanting to Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer with beer pints in their hands. This year, for the first time in the World Rugby Sevens Series’ 23-year-history, the male and female teams will compete side-by-side over three days, from March 31 to April 2. As the Hong Kong women’s rugby players eagerly prepare for such transformation that will shape the trajectory of the team, this points to an optimistic change in rugby, as more and more women are entering the field and adapting the dynamic of the sport. According to World Rugby, there are currently 2.7 million global female rugby players out of a total of 9.6 million, with a 28% increase in registered female players since 2017. This is largely attributed to new measures and campaigns aimed at increasing participation and engagement in women’s games. The Try and Stop Us campaign launched by World Rugby in 2019, and the World Rugby Women’s Plan 2021-25, hope to increase women’s contribution to the sport both on and off the field through participation, performance and investment. Currently, more than 40% of rugby’s 400 million fanbase are female World Rugby reported. In Hong Kong, women first began playing professionally for the Hong Kong Football Club, a private members' sports organisation, 110 years after it was founded in 1886, playing against Japan in their first international tournament in 1998. Now, the club holds two 15-a-side female teams - Fire and Ice and seven men’s team. As the …

Hong Kong’s High-Speed Railway to mainland fully resumes its train service today
- 2023-04-01
- Society
- By: Runqing LI、Yi Yin CHOWEdited by: Ming Min AW YONG
- 2023-04-01
Hong Kong’s high-speed railway fully resumes its train service today, reopening the long-haul trains from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Mainland China cities. According to Mass Transit Railway, the resumption of long-haul train service would directly take passengers over the border to 66 cities in mainland China. This includes Beijing, Shanghai and more. Passengers must complete the Mainland Health Declaration Online Form before the journey and have a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 48 hours of travel if they have stayed in designated overseas places or Taiwan in the past seven days. Zhang Xing, 24, arrived in Hong Kong from Guang Xi, a province in the southwest of Mainland China, after a four-hour journey on the high-speed train. She said there were enough tickets to Hong Kong when she bought the ticket one week ago, and she was excited to take the first train after resumption. Depending on the destination, tickets for the high-speed train can cost around HKD78 to HKD 1375 for adults. Fares are also different for different classes of Travel. Currently, Second Class, First Class, Premium Class and Business Class are available. Premium Class and Business Class are only available on some Mainland trains. “I come to Hong Kong as a traveller,” said Zhang. “Of course I will visit Hong Kong more frequently as the high-speed train saves my time.” Cai Zihan, 16, a mainland student in Hong Kong, also said he was happy to see the resumption of the train service. “I no longer needed to transfer the train in Shenzhen. I can directly arrive my hometown in Fujian by the high-speed train directly,” he said.

HK Rugby Sevens return with women’s game added for the first time
- 2023-03-31
- Society
- By: Yau To LUM、Tsz Yau CHANEdited by: Ka Ki FUNG
- 2023-03-31
Hong Kong Sevens game kicked off today at the Hong Kong Stadium. The three-day tournament starts today and will continue through the weekend. 16 men and 12 women teams will be joining the game. Hong Kong women's team played against New Zealand this afternoon, losing out by 50 points. They will be playing against Great Britain’s team tomorrow at 10 am. The local men’s team will be facing Great Britain and Uruguay tomorrow. Despite the rainy weather, local fans, students and tourists slowly lined up for security and ticket check at the front gate at 8 am. Some audience dressed up in costumes to root for their favourite team. Chan Hoi Yee, 16, a rugby fan who had watched the Hong Kong sevens for the sixth time, said, “This year’s game is definitely more energetic, entertaining and fun.” She thinks that rugby is “the sport that everyone would love” and different from other sports. Kent Smith, 38, who came from Melbourne in Australia, was excited to watch the game for the first time despite the bad weather. “I have never been to Hong Kong. This is my first time here, I am excited to watch the game,” Smith said. He also said that the rainy weather does not really affect the atmosphere in the stadium. Mak Chiu Tsui, 57, a local rugby fan, said this is his 9th time watching the Rugby Sevens. “This time, I am looking forward to watching the women’s games. Since this is the first time the women’s team is playing in Hong Kong,” Mak said. Tickets for the Rugby Sevens games are still on sale, available at the Hong Kong sevens website. The price of a 3-day pass is $1950 for adults and $950 for children.