Society
NGO booth aids migrant workers hit by Tai Po’s blaze
- 2025-11-28
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: SIU Tsz Hang
- 2025-11-28
Mission for Migrant Workers, a non-profit organisation serving to support migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, set up a booth to assist those affected by the level five fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Edwina Antonio, the representative of MFMW, said the NGO can help migrant workers who have lost their passports in the incident to contact their nation’s consulate directly. MFMW provides free shelter with food and necessities to accommodate displaced migrant workers. Antonio said until 10pm today (Nov. 27), only four migrant workers sought help from the NGO. “They do not know we are here, so we need to promote,” she said, adding that the booth will be operating from 10am to 9pm tomorrow (Nov. 28). The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong said at least two Indonesian migrant workers have died in the blaze. Antonio said she was saddened by the incident, especially for the families of the deceased workers, as they have lost their breadwinners. As of 10pm today (Nov. 27), the fire has killed at least 75 people, according to the Fire Services Department.
Authority opens flats in Kwong Fuk Estate for picking up belongings
- 2025-11-27
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: LI Sin Tung
- 2025-11-27
Residents from Kwong Fuk Estate, which is beside the burning Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, have been allowed to pick up belongings from their flats since today morning, although they still have to stay out of their homes tonight. Shek, a resident in Kwong Yau House who did not want to reveal his first name, said he only had at most 15 minutes to stay in his flat. “If you did not leave within 15 minutes, you would be called (by the authorities),” he said. He added that he will stay at the nearby Kwong Fuk Commercial Centre tonight, where bed mattresses are provided. Many volunteers set up supply stations and provide resources, including food, drinks and clothes, to the affected residents. After the level five fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court yesterday, the authorities evacuated many residents in Kwong Fuk Estate. Until 8 pm today, the ongoing fire has killed at least 65 people, according to the Fire Services Department.
Tai Po blood donation vehicle reaches capacity after deadly fire
- 2025-11-27
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Hiu YingEdited by: CHAN Wing Yiu
- 2025-11-27
The blood donation station in Tai Po is no longer accepting donations after reaching capacity, following a fire in Wang Fuk Court that left at least 44 people dead. The mobile blood donation vehicle was parked near Tai Po Art Centre. Our reporter talked to some residents and they said they have been asking how they can donate blood. Hong Kong Red Cross’s staff advised residents to visit the nearest donation centre in Shatin. Since the centre may reach full capacity, they suggested donors to call 27101281 to make an appointment for the coming days or next week.
At least 13 dead in Tai Po level-five fire
- 2025-11-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Wing Chi HO、CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: SIU Tsz Hang、LAI Uen Ling
- 2025-11-26
A No.5 alarm fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, leaving at least 13 dead, including one firefighter, officials said. As of 6pm, there are at least five injuries, including three that were critically injured. One person was in serious condition, and one was in stable condition. Nine people felt unwell and were sent to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment. Police have set up a hotline 1878999, for the public to inquire about information on the casualties of the fire.
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. …
Exhibition by Hong Kong’s Press Photographers Association cancelled after host venue orders “emergency repairs”
- 2025-11-22
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Wing Chi HO、AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-11-22
Members of the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association dismantled their exhibit at 12:30am on Saturday at Hong Kong Baptist University, after the host venue cancelled it saying it had to conduct “emergency repairs”. Prior to its opening ceremony on Saturday, HKPPA cancelled the show after showing it publicly for four days at the Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery at HKBU. Security staff outside the venue at the Communication and Visual Arts Building said the issue was related to an electrical voltage problem. The exhibition, titled PRESENT – HKPPA 35th Anniversary Retrospective & Focus at the Frontline 2024 Exhibition, was set to feature historic photographs documenting key moments in Hong Kong since the late 1980s, showcasing the long-term commitment of local press photographers. Apart from the retrospective, the association also displayed the award-winning entries of “Focus at the Frontline 2024,” showing important news images from the past year. Two talks were also announced by the association, featuring experienced journalists to share insight on visual narratives. The exhibit included a photo of the former Apple Daily headquarters building, taken by Lam Chun-tung from Initium Media, which was the “Photo of the Year” exhibit. A photo of Ronson Chan Long-sing, the former chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, taken by Leung Yin-to at the HKJA General Meeting on Jun 22, 2024, was also featured at the exhibition. According to an online statement by HKPPA, the show had taken nine months to prepare, and the scale of the display meant that it was impossible to find an alternative venue at short notice. Initially, the exhibition was scheduled to open daily from Nov. 18 to Dec. 8. The association decided to cancel the event due to an unclear reopening date of the gallery. HKPPA said the cancellation is a significant loss for the industry and …
First-person shooter game leaves young Chinese players with heavy losses after the collapse of virtual trading market
- 2025-11-10
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Lou Zhengzheng、Lan XinbeiEdited by: WANG Ludan
- 2025-11-10
A developer update to the first-person shooter video game Counter-Strike 2 triggered a collapse in its virtual trading market on Oct 22, wiping out almost US$2 billion in real money. Valve, the American video game developer of Counter-Strike 2, released an update that allowed players to more easily craft rare weapon skins in the game, causing a plunge in the value of skins that are purchased and traded with real-world money. Although the value rebounded in November, it remains below most buyers’ original purchase price. Skins are virtual cosmetic items that change the appearance of weapons without affecting the gameplay. They are categorized by color, ranging from basic white to the rarest gold. The price of gold skins dropped by approximately 30% to 40% on the international third-party game trading platform Buff Market, hitting players who had collected them as virtual investment commodities for future resale and rental. Previously, the gold skins could only be obtained either by unlocking in-game loot boxes containing randomized virtual items such as skins, gloves, and other weapons, or by trading with other players through third-party online marketplaces, including NetEase Buff and Youyou Youpin, which are both platforms that primarily serve Chinese players. John Liu, 20, a mainland Chinese student at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said he purchased a rare “marble fade” butterfly knife skin for approximately 13,000 yuan (HK$14,201.54) on NetEase Buff because he anticipated later reselling it at a higher price for a profit. After the update, the “marble fade” Butterfly knife’s skin value fell to 5,999 yuan (HK$6,553). “I just gave up on selling after seeing the price hit its lowest point a couple of days ago,” he said. According to data from Buff Market, several virtual items in the game, such as gloves and knives, experienced a price recovery in …
Local green institutions call for environmental conservation after super typhoon hit in Yuen Long
- 2025-11-10
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHENG Tsz Sen Sean、AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-11-10
Video description: Super typhoon Ragasa has toppled trees and caused flooding in many areas. Local green institutions, Hong Kong Timberbank and sunflower farm Shun Sam Yuen are calling for more environmental awareness as they deal with the aftermath. Reporters: Sean Cheng Tsz-sen, Vinci Ao Wei-ying Editor: Vinci Ao Wei-ying
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 …
Hong Kong’s port battles to stay afloat amid green and digital shift
- 2025-11-10
- Society
- By: QIN ZiyangEdited by: NG Natasha Goa Sheng
- 2025-11-10
The Kwai Tsing Container Terminal was once the world’s busiest port and a symbol of Hong Kong’s economic boom. In 2023, for the first time in history, it fell off the list of the top 10, marking the end of a five-decade maritime dominance. Shipping data provider Alphaliner ranked Hong Kong in11th place that year. In 2024, it fell again to the 13th. According to Lloyd's List, in the top 10 global freight ports in 2024, mainland Chinese ports account for 7 of the largest ports, with Shanghai topping the list. In 2023, its throughput reached 49 million standard containers, 34 million more than Hong Kong. “Initially, Hong Kong's container throughput has fallen mainly because manufacturing has shifted away from China, reducing goods routed through Hong Kong," said Henry Ko Hok-han, professor at the School of Business of City University of Hong Kong. "Then, mainland ports like Shanghai and Ningbo have become more technologically advanced and handle more cargo directly, and rising operating costs have weakened Hong Kong’s competitiveness," he added. The government has introduced new policies to enhance port competitiveness, including connecting the port to shipping lines in the mainland and promising to push its green transformation and digital technologies, said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in the 2025 Policy Address. “The mainland government subsidises its ports, which has created unfair competition for Hong Kong,” said Ryan Chan, Secretary General of the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association. “The relocation of manufacturing industries from Hong Kong to cities in the Greater Bay Area and the competition from other ports in the GBA, like Shenzhen and Nansha, are the key factors in the transit port of cargo shifting from Hong Kong to mainland ports,” said Chan. “Mainland ports are being supported by advancing the sharing of railway and port facilities, …