Photo Essay
Kenyan runner takes first place in Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon
- 2025-02-17
- Photo Essay
- By: Fu RongEdited by: Chun Hei LUK
- 2025-02-17
Kenyan runner Rutto Bethwell Kipkemboi was the champion of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Feb 9, clocking in at 2:11:13 hours. “I never knew I could win. I struggled to beat the other seven to nine runners around 30 km. It's a hard win,” Bethwell Kipkemboi said. “Hong Kong people were friendly. With the cheering along the way, it was a good game.” This year, 383 local runners won the special incentive award with a cash prize of HK$1,000 each, reduced for the first time from the usual HK$10,000. The award is for permanent residents who finished the marathon in less than three hours for men and three and a half hours for women. “While prize money was a nice incentive, I didn't think it would diminish their desire to compete or pursue better results,” said Kwan Kee, the Chairman of the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates. “After finishing the race, I heard some runners complaining about the prize money, but I believed the process was the most important aspect,” said Tam Ho-hin, 23, a local amateur runner who finished the marathon. Around 74,000 runners participated in the marathon on the coldest day of the year, including 15,00 non-locals. The marathon started at Nathan Road and finished in Victoria Park. Hong Kong local and spectator Paddy Haughey made creative boards with her friends to encourage runners and their friends who took part in the race. “We wanted to make the race more exciting and interactive,” Haughey said. Tam Man-huen, 24, an artist, finished the concurrent 10km race. She said that professional as well as amateur runners enjoyed the race. “I thought such an atmosphere was only found in the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon,” Tam said. “It was cool to see so many people doing something …
11 trail runners finish 2025 Hong Kong Four Trails with new rules
- 2025-02-03
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: LEUNG Chi NgaiEdited by: Chun Lim LEUNG
- 2025-02-03
15 trail runners from Asia gathered from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31 to participate in the annual Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), along the MacLehose Trail, Wilson Trail, Hong Kong Trail and Lantau Trail. Runners who finish the 298 kilometers trail within 60 hours and 72 hours are classified as "finishers" and "survivors" respectively, according to the official site. The challenge kicked off at Tuen Mun on Jan. 29 at 9:44 pm. This year, there were 11 survivors, and for the first time since 2016, there were no finishers. Andre Blumberg, the founder of the HK4TUC was not surprised with the result. "This challenge was very difficult.You can't really take anything for granted," he said. Nugo Yamanath Limbu, 46, a Nepalese runner living in Hong Kong, was a finisher twice in 2020 and 2023. This year, he was the first to finish at 10:32 am on Feb. 1. It took him 60:49 hours. Nugo was happy though he wished he could have done better. “I spent 19 hours in Lantau Trail because of bad weather,” he said, “everybody made me enjoy it. It was nothing like that three years ago.” “It is impossible to check the phone when there is no watch allowed in long distance running,” said Nugo. Runners were prohibited from wearing any smartwatches this year in order to raise the difficulty of the challenge. "I don't think that's such a big deal," said Andre, "it may be a bit of a reminder that we've all become a bit too reliant on technology,". Takashi Wakiya, a Japanese runner who was in Hong Kong for the first time, finished the challenge within 67:44 hours. "The steps in Hong Kong were more steady and the inclination was much higher, compared to similar trails in Japan.” He said. “The …
Hongkongers celebrate Halloween spirit despite struggles for local vendors
- 2024-11-02
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Chun Lim LEUNGEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-11-02
Stores and stalls in several shopping hotspots, such as Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po, have been selling costumes and decorations, such as pumpkins and ghosts as Halloween approached. Reiko Leung Hei-nga, 21 has been going to Fuk Wing Street to purchase items for her Halloween costume for almost four years. “I enjoy getting together with my friends and showcasing our costumes,” Leung said. “The hardest part each year is probably finding new ideas and inspiration for a costume.” Many of those costumes showed up at Lan Kwai Fong. “A Hauntingly Good Time in Lan Kwai Fong”, is the theme for the week in the popular nightlife area. Retiree Leung Run-hei, 67, has been visiting Lan Kwai Fong for three consecutive years. “I’ve had a blast coming here with my friends and socialising with others. Although I’m old now, my mind keeps telling me to stay young and enjoy as much as I can,” she said. Ocean Park is hosting a Halloween Fest that started on Sept. 7 until Nov. 3,. Visitors can enjoy six haunted house experiences, namely Dreadful Walled City, Prison Escape, Netherworld Wedding, Hotel Morte, Horror of Homesteak and Forbidden Zone 274. There are also performances, such as Too Hot to K-Oppa, by a group of Korean dancers. “Even though I work here full-time, the unique events and decorations never cease to amaze me, said Park employee, Diamond Chan Sang-shu, 21, who has been working at the theme park for over two years. But the festivities did not benefit some shops, such as a stall owner surnamed Poon, who operates on Fuk Wing Street. She said sales that have gone down by 60% in the past few years. "The only time that my shop has been active is during festivals. For instance, during Halloween, I would …
Hong Kong marks 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China with a cluster of events
- 2024-10-02
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAI Uen LingEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-10-02
Hong Kong commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday. National Day kicks off a week-long holiday on the mainland, and the city organised over 400 events to mark the occasion, such as free Starr Ferry and tram rides and discounts at various places. From commemorative banners to flags of China and Hong Kong, over 185,000 promotional materials and installations are included among the decorations for National Day, the largest number since 1997. Mr. Lui came to Hong Kong for the events as part of a Shenzhen Youth Shufa Association group. They visited an art exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui and brought along a bag of Chinese calligraphy pieces to take pictures next to the celebratory banners. They said the atmosphere in Hong Kong was less lively than on the mainland on National Day. More than 222,000 mainland Chinese tourists entered Hong Kong on Tuesday, the first day of the National Day Golden Week holiday, according to government data. That was more than 25% higher than the same period last year, and the highest single-day total since the border reopened after the pandemic. Meanwhile, 366,000 departures from Hong Kong were recorded. Around 100 markets and hawker zones offered a 25% discount on National Day. Ms. Miu moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong in the 90s. She has been running a grocery store for more than 20 years at Fa Yuen Street Market. She used to own three stalls but now only has one. She said sales have been in decline since the end of the pandemic last year.
Diverse sailors make splashes at Hong Kong Race Week
- 2024-07-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG HaicenEdited by: Jemima Badajos
- 2024-07-23
The 2024 Hong Kong Race Week drew to a close on Feb.4. The six day event was the second time it was held since the Covid-19 lockdown in 2019. Ten classes of the event including both professional and amateur levels competed in Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Lo Chau. This year’s Hong Kong Race Week was co-organised with the 29er Asian Sailing Championships, attracting 273 local and overseas sailors. Asia's top ranked sailors, Hangzhou Asian Games medallists and the winners in the last Hong Kong Race Week also gathered at Middle Island to compete. Many junior athletes from Shenzhen, Nanjing and Qingdao travelled to Hong Kong accompanied by their club coaches or parents to participate in the juniors category, a first for the event.
Noir & Blanc—A Story of Photography exhibition debuts at M+
- 2024-03-24
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: LI Sin Tung、CHEN Yik NamEdited by: Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-03-24
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Noir & Blanc—A Story of Photography is the first photography programme of the French May Arts Festival in Hong Kong opening in March. As the first stop of the travelling exhibition, M+ is collaborating with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), the national library of France. It showcases photographic works from 1915 to 2019 and is the first major public exhibition of BnF’s photography collections in Asia. “Light and Shadow”, “Aiming for Contrast” and “Colour Chart” are the three main sections in the exhibition. It presents different perspectives for comprehending the creation of black-and-white images over the span of more than a century. The exhibition includes more than 250 photographs from BnF’s world-renowned collection, complemented by over 30 works from both mainland China and Hong Kong, drawn from the M+ Collections. The exhibition will be held from Mar. 16 to July 1. Tickets are $140 for adults, $70 for full-time students, children ages 7 to 11, senior citizens ages 60 or above, persons with disabilities and one companion, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.
Floral Joy Around Town: 2024 Hong Kong Flower Show
- 2024-03-18
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LI Sin Tung、MAO Anqi、James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTOEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-03-18
Hong Kong welcomes the arrival of spring with the annual Hong Kong Flower Show as it returns to Victoria Park for a second straight year after a three-year halt due to Covid-19. This year’s theme is “Floral Joy Around Town,” with the Angelonia as the event’s chosen flower. Angelonia, also known as the “angel flower” and summer snapdragon, comes in various colours and is noted for its long flowering period, flourishing from Spring to Autumn. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department uses the Angelonia to symbolise Hong Kong’s ability to overcome adversity, adding that Hong Kong can always overcome difficulties and bloom with vigour like the theme flower. Around 229 organisations are participating in this year’s event, including several government departments and exhibitors from other countries. The event will be held from Mar. 15 to 24.
Lions and Dragons Dance again after four years silence
- 2024-03-12
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG Haicen、ZHAO RuntongEdited by: Lisheng CHENG
- 2024-03-12
The 15th World Hong Kong Luminous Dragon and Lion Dance Championships returned to Hung Hom Stadium on Mar. 9, after a four year hiatus, gathering 11 lion teams and 8 luminous dragon teams. For the first time the luminous dragon performances took place during the day. “The windows were covered with black cloth and all the lights will be turned off to create a night effect,"said Gong Pui-wai, President of Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association. The championship is held every two years but was canceled in 2022 because of the pandemic.This year's championship includes teams from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao,Taiwan, and eight other countries and regions. The Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association sent nine referees and more than 50 volunteers to ensure the event went smoothly "Both lion dance and dragon dance are a test of teamwork," said Gong. "Holding such a championship represents Hong Kong's welcoming spirit of tolerance and unity. reflecting our respect for traditional Chinese culture,"he added.
Wong Tai Sin Lantern Festival Fun Fair returns after four-year hiatus
- 2024-02-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LI Sin Tung、MAO AnqiEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-02-23
The first day of the Wong Tai Sin Lantern Festival Fun Fair has resumed after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Buzzing with noise and a lively atmosphere, the highlight of day one was the return of crowds of visitors at the night-time event. Visitors immersed themselves in the festivities, taking pictures and eating snacks bought from the stall. According to the Wong Tai Sin District Council, around 50 exhibitors participated in the fair, including food vendors, craft stalls and decoration stands. The Wong Tai Sin Lantern Festival Fun Fair is one of the events under Night Vibes Hong Kong, a series of projects using night markets as a means to promote the post-pandemic economy by the government. The Fair will be held from Feb. 23 to 25.
For this Filipino domestic helper dragon boat team in Hong Kong, paddling empowers their community and women
- 2023-12-12
- Society
- By: Jemima BadajosEdited by: Wisha LIMBU
- 2023-12-12
As the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Gala 2023 kicked off at Tai Pak Beach, it was a homecoming for Filipino Dynamo, a Filipino domestic helper dragon boat team in Hong Kong, as they were going to compete where they first began. Filipino Dynamo was first founded in January 2018 by Liza Avelino, a Filipino domestic helper who used to compete in a mixed dragon boat team. She wanted to start a team of her own, composed of female Filipino domestic helpers. When it first started, the team recruited helpers who had little to no experience in paddling. Over the years, Filipino Dynamo has proved itself on a competitive level, recently winning 1st runner-up in the Sinopec Ladies Race at the Gala. Although dragon boating has been around for more than a thousand years, Hong Kong has propelled it forward into a ‘modern sport’. This year, 43 local and international dragon boat races were held, according to the Dragon Boat Hong Kong. The Filipino Dynamo team aims to join at least one race every season. However, dragon boat racing is also an expensive sport. To compete in the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Gala, the ladies race category alone costs HK$3,800 to register. Without a dragon boat and parking space licence, the group also has to rely on sponsorships and club membership fees to rent out boats for water training. Most domestic helpers have Sundays as their day off, with plenty that can be seen gathering with their friends in public areas. By law, domestic helpers are required to have a 24-hour rest period every week. But for Filipino Dynamo members, they spend their one day-off training for the next race. Their training regime consists of a mix of yoga, circuit, and strength training on land and paddling techniques in water. With …