TOP STORIES
Ocean Park's panda twins may meet the public around the Lunar New Year
- 2024-10-15
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CAO JiawenEdited by: Juncong SHUAI
- 2024-10-15
A pair of twin pandas born at Ocean Park on Aug.15 are thriving well, according to park officials at a news conference on Monday. The female now weighs 2.7 kg and her brother weighs about 2.5 kg. “When the panda twins are 6 months old, around the Lunar New Year, they will have the opportunity to meet the public,” said Ocean Park. Howard Chuk, head of the park's Zoological Operations and Conservation, said the panda twins opened their eyes earlier this month, and are now making powerful sounds. “At this time, the baby panda's hearing is also developing rapidly, so we try to let Ying Ying ( the mother) participate in caring for the cubs,” he said,“ but due to the large weight difference between Ying Ying and her children, we usually use a golf club to separate them, and when necessary, we will use a club to remove the twins.” In 2007, female panda Ying Ying and male panda Le Le settled in Hong Kong's Ocean Park. According to Ocean Park, Ying Ying gave birth to a pair of twins on 15 August 2024 when she was 19, the first pair of pandas born in Hong Kong. Ying Ying is the oldest panda on record to give birth for the first time. Mandy Yan, senior supervisor of Zoological Operations, said it’s difficult to tell the twins apart. “But if you look closely, you will find the female with messy hair on the head and the male with rounder dark circles under his eyes,” she said, “and the male's voice is more powerful.” Elke Wu, assistant curator of Zoological Operations, said the mother, Ying Ying is about 80 percent recovered from giving birth. “Ying Ying is a picky eater. Our team prepared electrolyte water for her, and hopes she can …
Innovation Unveiled: Highlights from Hong Kong Electronic Fair Autumn Edition
- 2024-10-13
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Cheuk Chi Maggie YEUNG、MAO AnqiEdited by: Ka Man Wong
- 2024-10-13
The Hong Kong Electronics Fair Autumn Edition has brought together vendors and buyers focusing on cutting-edge products, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on the first day on Oct. 13. Over 3,200 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions showcase their brands, highlighting products and technology solutions for smart mobility, the silver economy, digital entertainment and more. This year’s 44th edition of the fair is focusing on the World’s Leading Electronics Marketplaces, with a digital entertainment zone for VR and AR featured products. Lina Li, 25, an officer of a New-Design company committed to digital healthcare, said their bestseller, the Hallux Valgus Corrector, a device used to treat joint protrusion at the base of the big toe, has successfully applied for a global patent. “It is designed in three kinds of angle fixation and stepwise osteopathic correction, and updates the bandage adjustable for men and women,” she said. Li added that the newly developed abdominal massager has been improved by the latest research and development. “We take inspiration from ancient Chinese massage, and use natural Sibin red bian stone for the contact end, making it more comfortable and effective in physiotherapy,” she said. “We have brought the bestsellers in the United States and Europe to this exhibition,” said Elise Zhang, 35, the promoter of Renpho, a company that provides a growing ecosystem of smart lifestyle products. Although their target customers are mainly in the United States and Europe, they are still looking for opportunities in Hong Kong. Zhang was satisfied with the flow of people at the fair. “We have previously set up booths in Germany and the United States But the customer base in Hong Kong is somewhat different,” Zhang said. “Customers in Hong Kong usually look for an original equipment manufacturer, while overseas, we have met …
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.
Queensland celebrates World Mental Health Day with art
- 2024-10-11
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: KURNIAWAN Trista VaniaEdited by: Ji Youn Lee
- 2024-10-11
Queensland pays tribute to World Mental Health Day with an art exhibition raising awareness about mental health from 4 to 10 October. The Richmond Fellowship Queensland, a leading provider of mental health services, hosted the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition as a part of Queensland’s Health Week, showcasing 270 works of artists with lived mental health experiences. The exhibition has run for 33 years and continues to embrace the power of art and encourage conversations about mental health, recovery and well-being. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians experienced a 12-month mental disorder between 2020 and 2022, which constitutes a diagnosis of a lifetime mental disorder. Two in five people aged 16 to 24 were diagnosed with a 12-month mental disorder. Tea Delalic, Manager of Communications and Events of Richmond Fellowship Queensland, hopes visitors will develop an awareness of mental health after viewing each piece. “With all our artwork, there’s one common theme you’ll always see and that is hope. It’s no matter what their journey has been, or what they’ve gone through, there is always that hope that things will be okay and it will get better.” Delalic said many artists were initially hesitant to share their art because society places mental health labels that may limit their potential and affect their self-esteem. “Some artists need to come to a few exhibitions first to know that they are capable of doing this. With the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition, artists are like a little team that gives positive feedback to one another.” All works on display are for sale, with 85 per cent of their sales going to the artist. Pauly Jay, a barber-turned-artist who painted live in the exhibition, shared his experience with mental health and passion for street-art style paintings. “I have ADHD and I …
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.