Society
Thousands march in Brisbane against mass immigration
- 2025-10-27
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAU Wing YauEdited by: KURNIAWAN Trista Vania
- 2025-10-27
Around 2,000 protesters gathered in Brisbane’s central business district on Oct.19 to call for an end to mass immigration, which they believe is worsening Australia’s housing and cost-of-living crisis. Nearly 300 counterprotesters joined nearby, with banners calling the protest a racist and fascist movement. This is the second round of anti-immigration protests, also known as “March for Australia”, across the country. The first was held on Aug. 31 with thousands protesting in major cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. In Brisbane, 6,000 protesters, out of a city of 2.5 million, joined the demonstrations. “Racism may intensify, and I feel concerned about my safety,” said Alice Wong, 28, a Hong Kong student in Melbourne planning to obtain permanent residency, who didn’t go to the protest for physical safety concerns. Wong said the protest promotes the idea of white superiority. “When they protest against immigration, it feels like they think immigrants are taking away their resources, like housing or job opportunities,” she said. Australia’s housing market is surging at its fastest pace in almost four years, with Brisbane becoming Australia’s second-most expensive housing market, according to the House Price Report in 2025. Kev, 72, an Australian who participated in the protest and preferred to keep his last name anonymous, said he has never seen a country in such a bad economic position. “We’ve never had so many people coming to the country so quickly, and the government has been no help,” he said. In September 2023, Australia’s net overseas migration peaked at 558,000 after lifting COVID-19 restrictions, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australia recorded a net overseas migration of 446,000 people in 2024, down from the previous year but still far from pre-pandemic numbers of 239,000 in 2020. Kev said he isn’t against immigrants, but he wants to see …
Starting salaries of Hong Kong bachelor’s graduates end five-year upward trend
- 2025-10-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG ShuyiEdited by: WANG Jing
- 2025-10-26
The average starting salary for university graduates of bachelor’s degrees in Hong Kong remained at HK$19,500 this year, marking the end of a five-year upward trend amid the US-China trade war, a survey has found. The “2025 Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area Pay and Benefits Survey” published on Oct. 23, also reported that the production, sales, and customer service sectors face the highest declines in the starting salary. "Due to Hong Kong's poor economic conditions and uncertain future outlook, some employers tend to lower the starting salary for fresh graduates," said Huang Xu, director of the Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development at Hong Kong Baptist University, who led this survey. Huang said Hong Kong’s current economic situation is significantly impacted by the new round of the US-China trade war that began in April this year, and that is one of the reasons why the average starting salary for university graduates has not increased as expected. "In our long-term tracking of employee salaries offered by 2,000 Hong Kong companies, we observed a significant decline following the outbreak of the trade war in April," said Huang. The average salary increase rate in Hong Kong is 2.5%, and it is below last year's figures of 3.5%. This year’s survey was conducted from July to September, with a total of 258 participating companies that represent over 240,000 employees. Gou Jyun-lung, 20, who studies interactive design at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the average starting salary meets his expectations for his first job in the future. "With many universities in Hong Kong expanding enrollment, competition for jobs is becoming more intense,” Gou said. “So, if my future salary can reach HK$19,500, I would be satisfied." Zhang Que, 21, is a final-year social science student who is currently looking for a job, …
Blazing fire dragon dance ignites Tai Hang to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival
- 2025-10-08
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: SIU Tsz Hang、YAM Long Hei JamieEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-10-08
Reported by Jamie Yam Long-hei, Henry Siu Tsz-hang Edited by Vinci Ao Wei-ying Video description: The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, a century-old Mid-Autumn Festival tradition, was held from October 5 to 7. A 67-metre dragon, illuminated by 12,000 burning incense sticks, winded through the community to pray for peace and prosperity.
Hong Kong celebrates 76th Chinese National Day
- 2025-10-01
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: NG Natasha Goa Sheng
- 2025-10-01
Flags and banners are displayed around Hong Kong while celebrating China's 76th National Day on October 1, 2025. Hong Kong’s regional flag and Chinese national flag were raised at the ceremony held in Wan Chai’s Golden Bauhinia Square at 8am today to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Ceremony attendees including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other government officials. The public watched the ceremony at a distance from Wan Chai Ferry Pier, as the government announced no public viewing area for the ceremony. Lee Ka-chun, 16, who is a local student, said he secured a spot with his friends at the Wan Chai Ferry Pier observation deck at around 7am. He said it is a pity that he can only view the ceremony through his telephoto lens on a camera today, citing his past flag-raising viewing at the Tiananmen Square allowed him to be nearer to the ceremony, after passing through security checks. During the national anthem, two helicopters hanging a Chinese national flag flew over Victoria Harbour, while ships under the Police and the Fire Services Department sailed along the harbour. It is the first time Kai Tak Sports Park hosted a flag-raising ceremony, outside the city’s largest stadium at 11am. Free ice cream and beverages were distributed near the venue by the park’s authorities. Leah Zhang, 27, travelled from Jiangmen to Hong Kong for two days during the National Day Golden Week. She said she came across a social media post on RedNote about the flag-raising ceremony at Kai Tak. “I thought more people would be here to see the flag-raising ceremony. There are only limited promotions from the Kai Tak Sports Park, which could be the reason,” said Zhang. A firework display is held at 8pm on the same …
Typhoon Ragasa: Windthrown trees blocked several roads in Wong Tai Sin
- 2025-09-27
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、LAU Ka YanEdited by: AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-09-27
Super typhoon Ragasa hit Hong Kong on Wednesday, bringing gale and heavy rainfall to the city. The Observatory issued the highest-level T10 signal to alert the public about the extreme weather conditions. Staff members from the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department examined the road blockage by fallen trees in Wong Tai Sin during Wednesday evening after the T8 signal was cancelled. Workers continued clearing remaining debris in Diamond Hill on Thursday morning. The government's 1823 call centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department had received 1,224 reports of fallen trees as of 8pm on Wednesday. The Hospital Authority said 101 people were injured during the typhoon period. Individuals concerned received the necessary medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency departments of designated public hospitals.
Super Typhoon Ragasa set the second-longest T10 signal in Hong Kong since 1999
- 2025-09-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: ALISHIBA MATLOOB、LAU Ka Yan、Ye Enyi、Wing Chi HO、MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: WONG Hong Ni、ZHANG Yiping
- 2025-09-26
Super typhoon Regasa swept past Hong Kong on Sept. 24, resulting in a T10 storm warning that lasted for 10 hours and 40 minutes, the second-longest in history. 90 injuries were reported by the Hospital Authority, and over 600 flights were cancelled in Hong Kong. As typhoon Ragasa moved west, our reporters filmed the typhoon from different locations around the city. Follow this link to watch the full reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPBA7dpk5kD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Typhoon Ragasa: Tuen Mun light rail service disrupted, fallen trees block roads
- 2025-09-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: SIU Tsz Hang、CHENG Tsz Sen SeanEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-09-26
Super typhoon Ragasa slammed Hong Kong with strong winds and torrential rain with the Observatory issuing the highest-level 10 signal at 2:40 am on Wednesday. The typhoon has left 101 people injured during the typhoon period, according to the Hospital Authority as of 8pm. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals. According to the government, the 1823 Call Centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 1,224 reports of fallen trees as of 8pm. The Drainage Services Department received 22 reports of flooding, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received four reports of landslides as of 8pm. Light Rail stops, including Prime View, Tai Hing (South), and Shek Pai are disrupted due to extensive damage.
Typhoon Ragasa: Items scattered around Sha Tin after the storm
- 2025-09-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: MA Tsz Chiu Oscar、SIU Tsz HangEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-09-26
Super Typhoon Ragasa battered Hong Kong heavily on Wednesday, with the T10 signal issued at 2:40am hoisted for over 10 hours. The Hospital Authority said 101 people were injured during the storm. The Government’s 1823 Call Centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 1,224 reports of fallen trees in total. As of 8pm on Wednesday, the Drainage Services Department received 22 reports of flooding, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received four reports of landslides. In Sha Tin district, the storm surge affected from Ragasa flooded both sides of Shing Mun River under T10 signal. Debris, branches and leaves were washed along the river banks. Strong winds also brought down trees, blocking roads, bikeways and pedestrian paths. Some MTR outdoor sections were disrupted by fallen trees and damaged overhead cables as well. East Rail Line service remained out of service until the evening at around 6:45pm.
Super Typhoon Ragasa lands in China from the southeast, bringing new experiences to cities’ new arrivals
- 2025-09-25
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Fu RongEdited by: WANG Ludan
- 2025-09-25
The Greater Bay area takes the heat of super Typhoon Ragasa, the most intense storm in 2025, as it sweeps across all the regions on Wednesday, prompting a No. 10 hurricane signal in Hong Kong. The ferocious wind and sudden rainfall bring an unprecedented experience for cities’ newcomers. After Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, Ragasa is expected to be the strongest typhoon in Hong Kong’s history, according to the former observatory director Shun Chi-ming on Tuesday. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, Typhoon Ragasa sustained a maximum wind speed of 195 kilometres per hour, which makes it more intense than Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which recorded a maximum wind speed of 185 kilometres per hour. Chen Guowei, a 24-year-old physiotherapist born and raised in Yunnan Dehong, came to Shenzhen Dapeng New Area after graduating last year. “I have never seen a real typhoon before. It’s really crazy,” said Chen, living in the hotel next to the beach provided by his company. Prompted by the weather forecast and messages from families and corporations, he decided to move into the hotel inside Taikang Home Penguyaun, the elderly community he works in. “I don’t really have to work during the typhoon and can live in this expensive hotel, which costs about 500 yuan a night,” Chen said in the video interview. Dubsy Eli, a Nigerian international student at City University of Hong Kong, is also experiencing his first T10 typhoon. “It’s not my first typhoon, but it’s the biggest one. I bought so many fruits to survive,” Dubsy said in a video interview, waking up several times at night to check the weather outside his apartment in Prince Edward. “Back in my hometown, we only experienced heavy winds. But raining with big winds is so exciting for me,” said Dubsy. He is …
Typhoon Ragasa: Safety measures ahead of strong winds and potential flooding
- 2025-09-25
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-09-25
Different safety measures were conducted in Hong Kong in advance on Monday and Tuesday to minimise destruction by the ongoing Super Typhoon Ragasa. The Hong Kong government held a press conference about the typhoon-related measures on Monday and warned the public of the flood risks in several black spots. These include Kwong Fuk Road in Tai Po, Shing Mun River and other low-lying areas. Sandbags and water barriers were set up around the hazard-prone spots to prevent floods. The government announced some flood-prone pedestrian tunnels would be closed during the storm. Many residents in Hong Kong also worked on their own safety measures. Windows were taped to add strength and lessen damages caused by strong wind. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the T10 hurricane signal at 2:40am, which lasted until 1:20pm on Wednesday, making this year the first time having two T10 signals within a year since 1964.