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Esports help build local Gen Z community
- 2024-11-29
- Society
- By: ALISHIBA MATLOOB、Wing Chi HOEdited by: Elif Lale AYHAN
- 2024-11-29
“In esports, working together is very important for success,” said Gen Z player Pong Ka-hei, 25, known as SiufatBB to his peers and the founder of the Hong Kong Griffin ESports Organization. Pong is also a professional player for the popular game Valorant and the champion of VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: Hong Kong & Taiwan Stage 2 Challengers. “Every team member, including me, is from a different place and family. Everyone has a unique background, but the challenge is to do our best as a team,” Pong said. Through their teamwork and shared passion, he believes Gen Z is actively building a supportive community in esports. Gen Z gamers can be spotted in Hong Kong. South Korean Esports powerhouse, fifth-time champion of League of Legends World Championship, T1, led by captain Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker), came to Hong Kong to host the HSBC One x T1 “League of One” party on Sept 29 at the Asiaworld Summit. Hundreds of fans got to watch them play against each other and also got to meet the players' family members. Being a fan of T1, Matthew Fai, said he made many lifelong friends through gaming, such as local competitions and online games. “One of my favourite games is League of Legends,” Fai said. The gaming community in Hong Kong has been growing since the early 2010s, particularly after significant events like local player Lau Wai Kin, known as Toyz, winning League of Legends: Season 2 World Championship in 2012. In 2018, the Hong Kong government invested HK$100 million to promote esports, showing strong support for gaming in the region. According to the market research website Market.us, the global esports market was valued at around US$1.8 billion (HK$13 billion) in 2022 but grew to around US$2.4 billion(HK$18 billion) the following year. Esports charts reported “League …
SF Holdings makes flat debut amid tepid market sentiment
- 2024-11-27
- Business
- By: XIA Fan、Yichun FangEdited by: Runqing LI
- 2024-11-27
SF Holdings ended on par with its offering price on Wednesday, its first trading day, after raising HK$5.83 billion in its initial public offering in the Hong Kong Exchange amid the sluggish investors’ confidence. The stock ended flat at its IPO price of HK$ 34.3, trading at a 25% discount on its A shares listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Peaking with a 3.5% increase to HK$ 35.5 after official trading, it cooled down to the same price as the opening price at the close. Trading under the 6936 code, the company is the first mainland Chinese company in the courier industry to conduct dual listing, known as “A+H” stock, issuing stocks for public subscription both in mainland China and Hong Kong. SF Holdings was officially listed in Shenzhen in 2017. “SF Holdings’ market cap is relatively big, and the weakening of yuan’s performance dampens international investors' risk appetite. These all added to the mediocre performance on its debut,” said Louis Wong, the director of Phillip Securities (HK). Zou Xin, the Associate Professor of the Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance at Hong Kong Baptist University, said the unideal performance of SF today may be due to its time to debut in Hong Kong. Beijing’s earlier economic stimulus strategies have helped boost the market, fueling investors’ confidence. However, the market fever broke as no extra fiscal buffers were announced afterwards, and trade tensions increased after Donald Trump won the White House. “The market sentiment has been rather bloomy recently as the Hang Seng Index has hovered between 19,000 and 19,300, as a current tepid market can also influence investors’ mood,” added Wong. Hang Seng Index closed with a 2.32% increase at 19,603.13, while CSI 300, replicating the performance of the top 300 stocks in mainland China, rose 1.74% to 3,907.04 …
The Mental Health Struggles of Young Athletes in Hong Kong: Insights from the Field
- 2024-11-27
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ben Rong LiEdited by: Ka Man Wong
- 2024-11-27
The mental health crisis among young athletes in Hong Kong has become a pressing concern, with many facing significant psychological pressures as they strive for success in sports while managing academic commitments. A recent survey by the Hong Kong Sports Institute reveals that approximately 40% of young athletes aged 18-25 experience symptoms of anxiety, while 35% show signs of depression. These statistics highlight the urgent need to address mental health issues within the sports community. Young athletes are navigating a complex landscape where the demands of competitive sports often clash with their educational pursuits. Or Siu-yuen, a 20-year-old football player in the Wing Yee Football Team in the Hong Kong First Division League, shared his personal experiences with these pressures. “After graduating from secondary school, the pressure increased significantly because my academic performance was not ideal. This led me to enrol in a higher diploma program related to fitness and exercise nutrition. The challenge of balancing my studies and my football career leaves me feeling increasingly lost about my future,” he said. Or elaborated on the difficulty of pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer while managing his education. “The conditions for advancing to the Hong Kong Super League are tough, and to pursue my dream of becoming a professional footballer, I might have to sacrifice my studies. But currently, I feel stuck at a crossroads, unable to fully commit to either path,” he said. Or also expressed the familial pressures he faces, “My family expects me to finish my studies and start working soon, but my progress in football hasn’t reached a level where I can support myself. This creates immense pressure every time I engage with football, making me feel that if I don’t succeed, I might have to give up …
Ocean Park celebrates Hong Kong’s first newborn panda twins 100 day birthday with 16,000 visitors
- 2024-11-26
- By: Chun Lim LEUNG、Wing Chi HOEdited by: Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-11-26
Hong Kong's first locally born pandas cubs turned 100 days old on Saturday at Ocean Park, which drew more than 16,000 to its birthday celebrations. Panda twins’ father Le Le also made an appearance for the first time in two months. Some visitors were given Chinese traditional blessing food, including red eggs and pork knuckles. While visitors won’t be able to see the twin pandas until they are at least 6 months old, the park live streamed video footage of the twins. “Elder sister weighs 5.3kg, while the little brother is now 5.5kg,” Chairman of Ocean Park, Paulo Pong Kin-Yee, said in a media Q&A. “They are undergoing an explosive growth and appear to have teeth now,” Pong said. “We need to cherish them because pandas represent China,” Queenie Yu, 40, who dressed as a panda for the celebration, said. “Le Le and Ying Ying finally got their children.” “Le Le looked shy at the beginning.When the staff took a ball for him to play, he moved around and appeared to us, we miss him a lot,” Yu said. Zheng Deliang, 27, a visitor from Shenzhen, came to Hong Kong at 7am today. “I am fascinated with the cute pandas,” he said. “Their fluffy skin and color pattern attracted me most.” “I will participate in some events later because it is a treasured moment in Hong Kong,” Zheng said. Yeung Yun-Hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said a campaign named Hello Pandas will kick off next month. “It is a time to enhance the panda economy, as the giant panda will act as a mascot promoting Hong Kong tourists,” he said in a press Q&A session. Hong Kong also received two giant pandas as a gift from China in September, bringing the number of Hong Kong’s pandas to six. …
Icelandic volcano erupts for the seventh time in a year
- 2024-11-25
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: Ka Man Wong
- 2024-11-25
REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, November 23 (The Young Reporter) – A volcano in the Reykjanes Peninsula near Grindavik in Iceland erupted on Wednesday night for the seventh time in a year with limited impact on safety and infrastructure. It started its first eruption at 11:14 pm, and eruptions are steady and still ongoing. Located in southwest Iceland, the volcano lies on the same peninsula as the Reykjavík’s Keflavík Airport. “The airport is fully operational. Flights have not been impacted by recent eruptions and are on schedule,” the country’s international airport said. The lava is flowing primarily westward and gas emissions are going southward over Grindavik, according to Iceland’s meteorological office. Lasha Shinjikashvili, a resident of Hafnarfjörður, a city south of Iceland’s capital, said he witnessed a road closure 8 kilometres from the volcano. “I wanted to get closer but the police closed all the roads in the direction of the volcano,” he said. “There were lots of people with smartphones,” he added. He said he was in his car to take photos of the eruption around Thursday midnight, while the majority of Grindavik’s residents had already evacuated. Grindavik, with a population of 3,800, is southwest of the erupting site. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said most of Grindavik’s residents were evacuated. Lava has engulfed the car park of the internationally well-known geothermal spa Blue Lagoon. The spa has evacuated all people from its operational units, including surrounding hotels and retreats. Blue Lagoon said they will remain closed until next Thursday, Nov 28 and there is currently no damage to their main infrastructure. According to an officer at the visitor centre, there are helicopter tours available to take tourists to see the lava and the eruption. He said for safety, the helicopter stays at a certain distance. “Even if you walk on the street …
Heavy Rainfall Floods Southeast Queensland, More Wet Weather Ahead.
- 2024-11-22
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: KURNIAWAN Trista VaniaEdited by: Ji Youn Lee
- 2024-11-22
Several parts of Queensland are bracing for more flooding after days of extreme rainfall in the area. Brisbane and greater southeast Queensland were drenched after days of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Though the rain is expected to end on Thursday, more flooding is possible near the Warrego River, which flows through Queensland and New South Wales. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the river saw heavy rainfall of over 150 millimetres in the last 8 hours to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, leaving rising water levels and major flooding in southeast Queensland. More showers are expected on Thursday and Friday, with flooded areas under close monitoring and warnings to be issued. On Wednesday, BOM released a severe weather warning for central Queensland, stating that total rainfall could reach 160 to 180 millimetres in six hours and up to 250 to 300 millimetres over 24 hours. The department warned residents in the area to brace for heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding, floods caused by rain in less than six hours. Last Saturday, the police rescued a woman who was trapped in her car in Rochedale, South Brisbane, after nearly 100 millimetres of rain fell within three hours in the region. In 2022, the state saw a record average rainfall of 778 millimetres which was 25% above the average of over 20 years. As of Tuesday, the BOM recorded heavy downpours for several Brisbane suburbs, including Rosalie with 46mm, Toowong with 45 mm, Green Hill with 43mm and Youngs Crossing with 33mm. Samuel Karjadi, a resident of northern Brisbane, said that he almost experienced a car accident on his way home last Thursday because of the storm. “It was quite dark and the road was slippery as well. I nearly hit someone’s car in an intersection near my house,” …
Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit 2024: Asia's trade flows expected to grow with China’s investment strategy
- 2024-11-19
- Business
- By: Haoming Zhou、WANG RuoshuiEdited by: Chi On LIU
- 2024-11-19
Top banks anticipate intra-Asian trade to grow triggered by the "China plus one" strategy at Tuesday's global financial leaders' investment summit held in the nation's offshore financial centre. “The China-plus-one strategy has formed a virtuous circle and brought opportunities among Asia, and ASEAN, as China's largest partner, has benefited regionally,” said Georges Elhedery, the chief executive officer of HSBC, in the Hong Kong Global Investment Summit, organised by The Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The “China Plus One” Strategy, where investors avoid investing in China only but also invest in its neighbourhood to hedge against tariffs and geopolitical conflicts, could increase the intra-Asian trade by 65% this year, as estimated by Elhedery. According to China's General Administration of Customs, China's imports and exports to ASEAN grew by 10.5% in the first half of 2024, making it the number-one trading partner for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, China also accounts for around 50% of the Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN countries, according to Elhedery. “The opportunities in ASEAN are vast and varied, and as a large trade bank, (we view) the Asian market is very important to us, especially the Chinese market,” said Bill Winster, the chief executive officer of Standard Chartered. The expanding trade corridor between China and Southeast Asia meant more opportunities for the bank, said Winster. However, Huang Yiping, the Dean of the National School of Development of Peking University, said that although the Chinese government's policies are “aggressive enough”, it should do more to boost its economy. In September, the Chinese government revealed a series of stimulus policies towards the nation’s sluggish property market, including trimming the lending rates, mortgage rates and down payments with facilities for institutional investors on the stock market. “China will run out of the advantage of low cost and the population ageing in …
Student dormitory shortage worsens as universities take on more non-locals
- 2024-11-19
- Society
- By: Chun Lim LEUNG、Chun Hei LUKEdited by: Yau To LUM、Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-11-19
Harriet Li Xinyi, 21, a year three student at Hong Kong Lingnan University, was chatting with her family in Shenzhen online, while her two roommates worked on their assignments in their Lingnan University student dormitory. Li left home three years ago to study in Hong Kong. However, she was not able to get a dorm room on campus for the first two years. “I will have to go back to my home in Shenzhen if I don't get a dormitory next year,” Harriet said. In the 2024 policy address, chief executive John Lee Ka-Chiu said studying in Hong Kong could nurture future talents, as the government-funded higher education institutions quota rose from 20% to 40% last year. The chief executive also proposed a pilot scheme allowing hotel and factory buildings to be used for change purposes to student dormitories. Secretary for Education, Choi Yuk-lin, told the Legislative Council on Oct.30 that in September last year, there were a total of 37,600 student dormitories. A target of an additional 13500 host places will be provided by 2027 in universities. 64,200 non-local students were studying in higher education programs in Hong Kong in the 2023-24 academic year, according to government statistics. “I initially got a place when I enrolled into the school, but there were two to three roommates in a room whom I am not familiar with, it was too crowded,” Li said. Different universities have different evaluation criteria on whether a student should get a dorm room. At Lingnan University, the goal is to enable students to live on campus once every two years or twice over their fourth-year degree program. At Education University, if students want to live in a dorm for two consecutive years, then they need to contribute to the university's affairs and achieve a certain grade …
Choi Hung Estate tour highlights its community ahead of redevelopment
- 2024-11-19
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHEN Yik Nam、CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-11-19
Zamm Jyun-bok has lived in Choi Hung Estate for 60 years. Nowadays, he takes visitors around the 62-year-old public housing estate with the aim of explaining what life is like there before it disappears. Local culture and lifestyle platform, Kongcept has been running these tours since 2022. The ageing public housing estate is slated for redevelopment, which will start in three years time. “For some, it could feel like travelling back in time. Since I’ve known this place for so long, I want to share the memories of living here and hope it can help people understand how special the estate is,” the 68-year-old said. “There would be two empty flats in every building used as a public space starting from the seventh floor. Children would gather there to play after school and on holidays while the older folks would play Mahjong,” Zaam said. “Residents would share food and joy during festivals, something that I cherish a lot in Choi Hung Estate." Another notable feature of the buildings, he added, is that while the overall layout is quite dense, the arrangement of the high-rise structures introduces a varied elevation, which helps to make the space feel less cramped. Participants of the tours get to visit old shops and stalls, such as the Ka Nam Store, founded in 1961. Owner Lau Kei, 70, has lived at the estate for more than 50 years. When his child grew up, he moved to Tseung Kwan O but continues to return daily to run his store. “I heard from many residents that the walls were peeling off and seeping,” said Lau, adding that he supports the reconstruction of the Choi Hung Estate. He said that he will miss the people he's acquainted with over the years once the redevelopment project begins. Kongcept is an …
US Election 2024: Star-studded campaigns lack real impact on voter decisions
- 2024-11-19
- Politics
- By: Yau To LUM、Wai Sum CHEUNGEdited by: Wai Sum CHEUNG、Yau To LUM
- 2024-11-19
Just after the US presidential debate on Sept 11, Taylor Swift wrote to her 280 million Instagram followers to declare her support for Vice President Kamala Harris saying she “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) The next month, superstar Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at Harris’s Houston rally in the closing days of the campaign. In addition to tech billionaire Elon Musk, popular podcast host Joe Rogan and Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson endorsed former President Donald Trump. Controversial influencer Logan Paul even interviewed Trump on his podcast “Impaulsive” in June. During the presidential election campaign, a constellation of A-list celebrities leapt from the stage to the political arena, rallying behind both presidential candidates. However, despite the star-studded spectacle, Harris’s disappointing election results suggested that such an approach may be less effective than anticipated. The trend of celebrity endorsements is not new in American politics. In the 2016 and 2020 elections, notable figures such as Lady Gaga and Jay-Z campaigned for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden respectively. John Affleck, Department Head for Journalism at Pennsylvania State University, said that many seek to portray themselves as socially responsible. “There’s a public service aspect. I’m a good person, putting out these democratic values, asking people to vote,” he said. Affleck added that some celebrities hope to connect with fans who share their beliefs, enhancing their visibility. “Someone may not know you that well but then you espouse this political viewpoint. And I might also have that political viewpoint, so I might be more likely to listen to your record,” he said. Matt McAllister, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, said that the surge in social media has transformed how celebrities communicate …