Society
Parents react to abolished HK$2500 education grant from budget address
- 2025-03-18
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: WONG Hong Ni、QIN ZiyangEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-03-18
The cancellation of the HK$2,500 education subsidy has drawn mixed reactions among parents about the latest budget plan, which aims to reduce education expenditures. Cammy To, 34, a mother with a daughter in kindergarten, said she does not consider the grant to be very impactful for her daughter’s education. “My child studies in full-day kindergarten. A month of tuition fee with meal fee is almost HK$1,500. One semester’s textbook fee is about HK$1,100. So a HK$2,500 grant for a year is just better than not having any subsidies,” she added. The grant did not require a means test for application, making it accessible to all families. According to the Education Bureau, around 800,000 applications of the HK$2,500 grant succeeded and nearly HK$2 thousand million were given to households in the academic year of 2023/24. Lan Wong, 53, a parent to a primary school student, expressed confusion about the proposal after the abolishment was proposed. “The original grant did not require a means test that both rich and poor could get it,” said Wong. She added that removing it all of a sudden is unfair for some families, especially for those who need this yearly subsidy. Christine Choi, the head of the Education Bureau, commented on March 7 during a press conference that the abolition was a necessary step to decrease the government’s expenditure while maintaining educational standards in Hong Kong. “The HK$2,500 grant was introduced as a relief measure, we had announced beforehand that it was designed to alleviate challenges,” said Choi. “Families in need could apply for other subsidies that the government is currently providing.” Professor Cheung Chi-keung, the Head of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, also expressed concern. “Removing subsidies for education is deteriorating Hong Kong’s talent cultivation in …
Elderly flower girl turn artist puts on a show at Victoria Park
- 2025-03-17
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Hiu Ying、LAU Ka YanEdited by: LI Sin Tung
- 2025-03-17
94-year-old local artist, Fapopo, who will not disclose her real name, put on a display of her own with her floral design on furniture and canvases at this year’s Hong Kong Flower Show. Fapopo is her pseudonym for the public. She has been planting, drawing, and arranging flowers for over 50 years. It started when she sold flowers at Mong Kok Flower Market in her twenties and that deepened her passion for floral painting. “I was poor and had no money to buy canvases at first, so I just used unwanted furniture to draw,” she said. “I really appreciate Fapopo’s passion and I am glad that I got to know her story at this year’s Flower Show,” said Ada Tam, a 60-year-old retiree. “Her fascinating journey in pursuing her dream is also very much in line with this year’s theme.” “Ablaze with Glory,” is the theme of this year’s Hong Kong Flower Show, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The Cosmos, a flower that symbolises resilience and strength, is this year’s chosen flower. Some 40,000 varieties of it are on display in an array of colours including yellow, pink and white. A total of 238 organisations participate in this year’s event, including 157 from Hong Kong and 81 from 11 countries. Raymond Ng, a 77-year-old photographer, said the Cosmos is now growing well as early spring brings ample but not intense sunshine. Its brightness brings vitality to Hong Kong. Eileen Lau, a retiree in her sixties, said the Cosmos is appealing and colourful, which can represent the vibrancy as the theme of the show. “But I also worry if the Cosmos would wither easily because it looked so fragile and thin,” Lau said. “I actually do not have much feeling about the chosen flowers as I care …
Special-forces mainland travellers are changing the Hong Kong tourism industry
- 2025-03-06
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAU Wing YauEdited by: KURNIAWAN Trista Vania
- 2025-03-06
It is 10 am and the Mong Kok footbridge is already buzzing with people. Tourists snap photos of the Hong Kong skyline with luggage in hand, before hurrying to their next stop. They walk thousands of steps and visit as many attractions as possible in a day. They are the so-called special-forces tourists in Hong Kong. Like soldiers, they move from one location to another under tight schedules, often over the weekends or holidays such as Labour Day and the Qing Ming festival. Special-forces tourism is a growing trend among mainland tourists, who have become major contributors to Hong Kong’s tourism industry. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, 21 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024, with 77% of them from the mainland. On holidays such as National Day, the Immigration Department recorded 1.22 million mainland visitors, making up 88% of the total number of tourists. The Hong Kong Tourism Board also shows a 34% increase in mainland day-trippers to Hong Kong from 2023 to 2024, causing challenges to the city’s hospitality sector. Yu Li, 25, counts herself as a special-forces tourist. She planned to explore three districts – Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, in a day. “Last time I came here, I mainly went hiking along the MacLehose Trail, and this time I am here with my friend just to explore,” she said. Li said she found her destinations through Rednote, the Chinese social media app where users commonly share and recommend travel plans. “I have not been to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui before, but the recommendations in Rednote made me interested in what it features,” she said. She said she only spends around HK$2,000 a day. “I mostly shop for medicine and smaller things …
Health-seeking shoppers pick balanced meals via labeled diet boxes
- 2025-03-04
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Fu Rong、Wong Kit YingEdited by: LIU Yutong
- 2025-03-04
Marimo Lai, a 53-year-old clerk in Hong Kong, sat in the canteen and took out a blood glucose monitor from her bag before having lunch. Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago, testing her blood sugar level has become part of her daily routine. The results showed her blood sugar was stable. Marimo has been ordering her food under a personalized meal plan for two years. “Ever since I found this kind of lunch box, it has been much easier to control my blood sugar,” she said. Marimo’s food is from Nutribute, a catering company that claims to provide a balanced diet. A typical meal costs $63 per set and more for special needs such as diabetes and pregnancy. Nutribite has sold 22 million meal boxes in 2024, and sold their products at more than 100 Pacific Coffee shops and Hung Fook Tong shops in Hong Kong, showing more Hongkongers want to embrace a healthier diet with convenience labeled nutritional lunch boxes, said Susan So, the general manager of Nutribite. At present, about 700,000 people in Hong Kong suffer from diabetes, according to the Hong Kong Diabetes Federation, and it will surge to 920 ,000 by 2030, accounting for 13% of the total population. Terry Ting, 50, is a registered dietitian. “As more people recognize the importance of a balanced diet especially after the pandemic but lack the time and money to cook for themselves, the demand for such services will grow,” he said. He thinks these food companies should follow government guidelines in their nutrition labels. Other healthy food delivery platforms in Hong Kong include WeBite, Eatology, Fittery, Nosh and Calfit. WeBite specialises in group meal deliveries to offices and campuses. “They started to provide this service to Hong Kong Baptist University in November 2024, and …
Cross-border marathon to prepare for 15th National Games
- 2025-03-03
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Fu RongEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-03-03
Runners from Hong Kong and Shenzhen join the first cross-border marathon in a test event in preparation for the National Games to be held in November.
Budget 2025 Key Takeaways: Balance public expenditure and maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness
- 2025-03-03
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-03-03
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the 2025-2026 Budget speech on Wednesday. He said that “strictly containing public expenditure is a must” and it is crucial to strive for a balance among restoring fiscal balance and lowering potential impacts that may arise. For the coming fiscal year, the total government expenditure will increase by about 8.9% to HK$822.3 billion, while the total government revenue is estimated to be HK$659.4 billion. Chan expects that there will be a deficit of HK$67 billion for the year, and fiscal reserves will decrease to HK$580.3 billion. Here are the key takeaways of this year’s budget plan.
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, …
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: 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.