Society
A day of daydreaming: Doing nothing becomes everything
- 2024-10-12
- Society
- By: Wing Chi HO、ALISHIBA MATLOOBEdited by: Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-10-12
More than 70 people competed to be the best daydreamer at The International Space-out Competition at PMQ on Oct 5. Organized by the Korean Cultural Center in collaboration with Woopsyang Company, participants were invited to stay calm and composed for 90 minutes, to embrace the essence of mindfulness.
Preston pride parade calls for ban on conversion therapy
- 2024-10-11
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、AU YEUNG JimEdited by: Jemima Badajos
- 2024-10-11
Preston held its second pride parade on Saturday to call for the immediate and complete ban of conversion therapy in the United Kingdom, amid repeated commitments by the British government to do so. The city in North West England hosted its 11th annual pride event since 2012, but the parade across the city centre only started last year. Conversion therapy, or conversion practices, is defined by the UK Parliament as activities with the predetermined purpose and intent of changing a person’s sexual orientation, or changing a person to and from being transgender. According to LGBT rights organisation Stonewall Scotland, conversion therapy often include pseudo-scientific practices such as being asked to ingest “purifying substances”, being prayed over, exorcisms, and other forms of counselling session associated with threats to convince or even coerce an individual to change their sexual identity. “Conversion therapy is a barbaric practice, and every effort should be made to stamp out such a thing,” said Dean Toppings, a student nurse from University of Central Lancashire A government national LGBTQ survey conducted in 2018 found that out of the 108,100 respondents, 7% of all respondents had been offered or underwent conversion therapy. Within transgender respondents, 13% of them have been offered or undergone such practices. In the King’s Speech to the UK Parliament in July, the new British government under the Labour party has renewed its commitment to introducing a draft Conversion Practices Bill that will be brought forward to outlaw conversion therapy nationally. The Labour Party’s manifesto described conversion therapy as abusive. “Here is no other word for it – so Labour will finally deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices,” it read. Many hope that the transgender community will be included in the eventual bill. “Trans rights are human rights, and we must continue to fight …
Hong Kong Kickboxing Championship 2024 takes centre stage at Kowloon City Plaza
- 2024-10-11
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG Shuyi、Lok Tung LAUEdited by: Tsz Yau CHAN
- 2024-10-11
Spectators gathered at Kowloon City Plaza for the 2024 Annual Kickboxing Championship on the 29th of September. Organized by the Hong Kong Kickboxing Association, the competition serves as a platform for the association to select the most promising fighters to represent Hong Kong in various international events, making it a highly anticipated occasion.
Exhibition on Hong Kong’s textile industry promotes inclusion through sign language tours
- 2024-10-10
- Society
- By: CHAN Wing Yiu、Cheuk Chi Maggie YEUNGEdited by: Wai Sum CHEUNG
- 2024-10-10
An exhibition tour on Hong Kong’s industrial past is being led by deaf and hearing guides to promote inclusion at the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT) in Tsuen Wan starting last month. The half-hour tour at the centre at The Mills explains how textiles were made including the cotton-spinning process using traditional spinning instruments and the experiences of deaf textile workers in the past in sign language and Cantonese. “Various art groups hold several activities for the blind, but there are fewer options available for the deaf community in Hong Kong,” said Law Pik-yu, 32, the deputy curator of CHAT. She hopes the tour will promote collaboration and understanding between the deaf and hearing. There were 47,900 deaf people in Hong Kong in 2021, according to the Census and Statistics Department. However, there are less than 60 sign language interpreters, according to the Hong Kong Council Service. “Sometimes we may overlook the deaf when there is a large group of people, so during the tour, I remind participants to pay attention to the sign language used by the deaf tour guide,” said Mak Siu-fun, 51, the hearing tour guide. Mak learned sign language to communicate with her deaf daughter. During the tour, she said she tried to use it less frequently to give the deaf more chances to express themselves. During the tour, hearing participants were invited to practice sign language with docents and guess the meaning. “Deaf and hearing individuals were able to communicate during the tour, something that typically doesn’t happen in my everyday life,” said Cheung Man-ying, 32, a deaf docent. Some participants changed their perceptions of deaf people after joining the tour. “At first, I was concerned about whether deaf people would be able to express themselves clearly,” said Fung Shuk-ching, 35, a tourist …
Art engraved on the skin is undergoing technological and cultural innovation
- 2024-10-08
- Society
- By: WANG Jing、CAO JiawenEdited by: KONG Tsz Yuen
- 2024-10-08
Meow Meow, 30, a tattooist who is talented in new-school style from Hangzhou, guided her tattoo pen across the back of a customer and half an hour later, a multicolored dragon was etched into the skin. She is among over 120 artists at the Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2024. “In the past, I learned the art on a traditional machine,” she said, “nowadays I use a tattoo motor machine which gives more control over the movement of a pen to accomplish a design.” The 8th edition of the exhibition returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai from October 4 to October 6. Different tattoo artists have made changes and innovations in tattoo styles or tattoo tools. Hana Wong, 39, a Hong Kong and Japan-based artist, began to tattoo in 2012. She combined Japanese kamon elements with different patterns to create original works with a Japanese-style petal pattern. “All our tattoo designs are original, and we're still innovating,” she said. Feng Shan, 38, a tattooist from Sichuan, combined traditional Chinese and Western realism in her work. “I like the smudge technique of ink painting. I learned sculpture in university, so I made some changes based on the realistic Western style I learned,” Shan said. The exhibition organizer, Gabe Shum, said this event will allow tattoo artists and enthusiasts to connect, converse, and exchange ideas. “Next, I would like to continue to add more tattoos about Hong Kong culture so that people from other countries can recognize and understand Hong Kong culture,” Shum said. Tan Beibei, 34, from Zhuhai was getting her first tattoo on her 20th birthday. “Tattoo is a way to remember something or to express the religion, so I got my father's birthday and death anniversary tattooed on my wrist,” Tan said. Wu …
Food pairing workshop aims to raise value of Hong Kong style milk tea
- 2024-10-03
- Society
- By: WONG Hong Ni、CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: Ngai Fung NG
- 2024-10-03
Kongcept cooperates with several local ice parlors and Hiang Kie Coffee to host an Ice Parlor Festival and initiate a series of events. Organizers aim to help participants gain more knowledge about this intangible cultural heritage.
National Day fireworks light up Victoria Harbour, but drone show cancelled again
- 2024-10-03
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: MAO Anqi、LIU YutongEdited by: Wai Yan MIU
- 2024-10-03
The annual National Day fireworks lit up Victoria Harbour last night, but a drone show scheduled to kick off the celebration was cancelled at the last minute because of signal interference, according to a government press release. “Ionospheric scintillation,” a phenomenon mainly caused by a solar storm, disrupted the show, the statement said. Another celebratory drone show was axed on Monday for the same reason. More than 330,000 people gathered on Victoria Harbour to watch the fireworks, according to the government, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. “I am disappointed that the drone show was cancelled,” said Yu Huiying, 24, who arrived at West Kowloon at 3pm for the 9pm show. “I've never seen a drone show in person.” “But I understand the show was cancelled due to natural causes, and I am excited to see the beautiful and stunning fireworks,” Yu added. “What beautiful and special fireworks, especially the scene where the smiley face pattern turned into a love heart,” Gu Belly, 23, another spectator who came to watch the National Day fireworks for the first time.
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.
Fire breaks out in Denmark’s largest industrial port
- 2024-10-02
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: NG Natasha Goa ShengEdited by: Wai Yan MIU
- 2024-10-02
A car caught on fire in the Port of Aarhus in Denmark this afternoon, resulting in one injury. The fire broke out around 3pm in the harbour’s car park, according to workers at the port. The injured man is stable. Workers were promptly evacuated from the port’s office building. Part of the car park was damaged. Søren Nielsen, 45, a port assistant, said he learned about about the fire from colleagues through his walkie-talkie. “I was working on my boat when one of my colleagues told me about the fire. They told me the worker who got injured was trying to fix the engine under the car because the car was not working, and then it suddenly caught on fire and hurt him. It is lucky that no one died,” said Nielsen. Nielsen also said the fire could have been avoided. “The other workers and I had already been trying to tell our boss a few weeks ago that the cars were used for a long time and needed to be replaced, but nothing was done after that. Hopefully, they will do something this time,” he said. Victor Collin, a resident living nearby the Port of Aarhus, said the fire was visible miles away. “I was at home when I saw smoke coming out from the building. I thought the building was on fire at first because there was lots of smoke, and also because the smell of the smoke was so strong I could even smell it from here even though I am living miles away from the harbour,” he said. The fire was put out within half an hour by the East Jutland Fire Service. The Port of Aarhus's daily operation was not affected by the fire. All workers returned to the office building after …
“Spirit of Journalism” alive and well at first Yahoo! student journalist award
- 2024-09-29
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHEN Yik Nam、LI Sin TungEdited by: Juncong SHUAI
- 2024-09-29
A story about using flies and fungus to recycle food waste by students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) took the top prize at the first Yahoo! student journalist award on Saturday. More than 40 students and professors attended the ceremony in Kwun Tong. They come from three universities and together, they submitted 100 entries. Yahoo! said on the competition website that the goal was to recognize and nurture the next generation of media professionals, and deepen their understanding of critical issues such as current affairs, and environmental, social and governance. The top English prize on diversity and inclusion went to Lam Tsoi-yin, 21, and Chan Chi-wing, 22, from the University of Hong Kong who wrote about the changemakers in an aging society. “We have done a lot of research on this topic. We are very happy that Yahoo! has set up this competition for us to work on this year, and we are honored to receive this award,” Lam said. “We encourage younger journalists to keep digging in more and more great news angles,” said Francis Ng Ka-long, Head of Home & News at Yahoo!, “There are still a lot of journalists who are fully committed to reporting news.” “Many students’ work are of a high standard,” Ng added.Francis Ng Ka-Long shares his view about the competition. Students at the ceremony were also asked to share what the “Spirit of Journalism” meant for them, and the answer “truth” topped the list. Raymond Li, the head of the department of Journalism from Hong Kong Baptist University was at the event. “I always support students to participate in journalism competitions. It doesn’t matter if they win or lose, as long as they have had a chance to present their work and gain experience, which is helpful to improve their …