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Young adults play hide-and-seek with modern technology twist
- 2023-10-16
- Society
- By: Lisheng CHENGEdited by: Yixin Gao
- 2023-10-16
Hong Kong's first urban “cat-and-mouse” game took place at Kowloon Walled City Park on Oct 15, where 40 people engaged in an exciting chase through sharing satellite positioning. The game was created and initiated by the HKGo organization, a business that has organized more than 100 outdoor and indoor activities that participants pay to play. The game is the company’s first outdoor game combined with modern techonology. The game is a combination of hide-and-seek and tag with players divided into cats and mice. The cats hunt the mice and gain bracelets when a mouse is hit with an inflatable stick. The game is played until all the mice have been converted to cats. Players must stay within the boundary of the park. The cat with the most bracelets and the last surviving mouse are crowned kings. Players pay HK$48 to join the game and kings win HK$88 each. Players share their real-time positions with the satellite positioning function of Gaode Map, a map app. Bruce Shen, 28, one of the organizers, said the hide-and-seek aspect is not new, but adding the satellite positioning technology escalates the excitement and challenge level of the game. Shen, also a founding member of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Association, and his business partner, Michael Hua, 29, studied information technology. They aspire to combine traditional games and outdoor activities with new information technologies to bring a fresher experience to young adults. “Seeing the cat only ten meters away from me on the map without knowing the exact spot was a nerve-wracking moment,” said Clara Chen, 23, a mouse player. Yiqi Chan, 22, a cat player, united with other cats and discussed plans to catch mice. His partner distracted the mice from the front while he climbed up the hill from the back to chase …
28-year-old university student arrested for suspected sexual assault and voyeuristic acts at multiple university orientation camps
- 2023-09-07
- Society
- By: Ngai Fung NGEdited by: Aruzhan ZEINULLA
- 2023-09-07
The police announced yesterday the arrest of a 28-year-old student from the Education University of Hong Kong on allegations of sexual assault and voyeurism during six different university orientation camps. Basil Tang, an assistant police commander of the Hong Kong police force, said in a press briefing, that four female students reported being victims of the suspect’s illicit behavior. The suspect, identified as a top-up degree student at Education University, is believed to have sexually assaulted an 18-year-old freshman during a joint orientation camp hosted by the Hong Kong Red Cross in mid-July. However, the suspect's alleged criminal conduct did not cease there. In mid-August, a month after the first reported incident, he was accused of raping a 19-year-old female student when driving her home from a university camp. In the same camp, an 18-year-old female student alleges she was indecently assaulted by the same individual. Further allegations involve the suspect reportedly observing a 22-year-old female student while she was showering during a joint photography and engineering orientation camp in late August. Assistant Commander Tang also revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested in early July for a sexual assault case unrelated to university orientation camps. These distressing incidents have raised significant concerns and prompted attention from the academic community and beyond. Ahead of the weekly Executive Council gathering, Hong Kong's leader John Lee commented on the recent sexual assault cases within university camps, stating, “If such behavior does not breach the law but is in conflict with campus regulation, schools have a responsibility to ensure discipline.” According to data provided by the Hong Kong Police Force, there were 20 reported rape cases in 2022, and 21 in 2023. As the new academic year begins, universities, including Hong Kong Baptist University, actively promote student participation in various society-organized …
Hong Kong Faces Organ Donation Crisis with Sharp Decline in Registrations
- 2023-04-13
- Society
- By: Kei Tung LAMEdited by: Ming Min AW YONG
- 2023-04-13
Organ donation in Hong Kong has hit an eight-year low, with only 12,500 people registering as donors last year, despite ongoing efforts to promote organ donation. The number of new registrations on the Central Organ Donation Register has declined year by year following 2019. The number of cancellations has also risen sharply, reaching 1,615 last year, more than double the figure for 2021. Edith Chow, a 20-year-old university student who has registered on the Central Organ Donation Register, believes that organ donation is a moral imperative. “The decision of donating organs is often driven by a desire to help others and to make a positive impact on the world. I hope I can be a way to leave a positive legacy and make a lasting contribution to society,” she said. However, some people are hesitant or opposed to the idea of organ donation. Ip, a 76-year-old man, cited Chinese beliefs as the reason for his opposition to organ donation. “We believe that we should have our whole body even after death, so I can’t donate my organs to others. I don’t even allow my relatives to do so,” he said. Chow said most of her friends and relatives are generally more open-minded about organ donation. However, she said the government's efforts to promote the program are insufficient in attracting more registration. "Registering to donate organs is an easy process, but the lack of advertising on public transport is challenging to reach a broader audience. Many people are still unaware of the significant impact that organ donation can have on someone's life," Chow said. Lam, a 58-year-old architect, expressed concerns about the risks associated with donation and its potential impact on their health. “I have three high, and I am afraid that if my organs are donated to others, it would …
Hong Kong Cantopop: K-song's popularity reduces diversity of local music
- 2022-12-30
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ka Ki FUNG、Kin Hou POONEdited by: Lokman Yuen
- 2022-12-30
Cantopop has played an important role in Hong Kong music culture since 1960, yet faced criticism for being dominated by mainstream love songs, or so-called “K-songs”. The term “K-song” appeared 20 to 30 years ago and comes from the word “karaoke”, a popular choice of activity teenagers like to do in the 80s-90s, according to Michael Kam Wing-hin, associate programme director of the associate degree in social sciences at College of Institute. Some say that the emergence of “K-song” reflects the musical preferences of mainstream audiences while critics say K song is a commercial act adopted by music production companies to gain profit. Jacky Chueng, one of the four “Heavenly Kings” in Cantopop, had high sales of his K songs in the 80s and 90s, but his jazz style in the later years led to mediocre sales, Kam said. “This situation may reflect that ‘K songs’ have a good response and audience acceptance, but it does not necessarily mean that the quality of ‘K songs’ is high. While those with a high level of musical quality does not mean that they are easy to become hits,” said Kam. As K songs guaranteed commercial success, companies have shifted their attention more to producing these types of songs, which reduced the diversity of songs in the music industry, and led to mass production of songs with similar characteristics. Kam agreed K songs are a product of the music market. Songwriters tend to produce K songs because audience acceptance and market response is the key to decide whether a song is hot or not, and K songs are mostly about love, with catchy melodies that are easy for people to sing along with, gaining a lot of concern and support, Kam said. “K song” is also seen as a way for artists to …
Art Department: The story behind the visuals
- 2022-12-29
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Nga Ying LAU、Yuhe WANGEdited by: Leona Liu
- 2022-12-29
Irving Cheung Yee-man, a 40-year-old film production designer and art director, once worked on film production in the Shaw Studio for 69 hours straight without sleeping. She would keep working but not be conscious about what she was doing. “Why am I still working?” was the realisation when her consciousness was delayed. For Cheung, working in the film art department is exciting, despite the high-pressure schedule and irregular working time. “Few other industries have such a job that people working for it can tell others, ‘hey, I just witnessed an explosion today, or a bank robbery, even flesh-cutting from a corpse’,” Cheung said. In Hong Kong, the rising popularity of recent domestic films has brought more attention to the film art department, which is often hidden behind the media spotlight and the cheers of moviegoers. As the directorial debut of award-winning visual effects specialist Ng Yuen-fai, the action sci-fi film Warriors of Future has become the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Hong Kong of all time, taking over HK$80 million at the Hong Kong box office, according to data released by the official social accounts of this film. With expensive and time-consuming production, Warriors of Future has impressed audiences with its rich visual effects and sparked a media discussion on Hong Kong’s special effects filmmaking. To achieve the artistic presentation of a film, the art department is responsible for creating the overall visual look of a film in collaboration with the director. An art department is supervised by a production designer whose job can be divided into three stages: pre-production, scene creation and post-production. Production designers will discuss and co-create the backgrounds of the film characters at the pre-production stage when the script has yet to be developed. Then, the production designer will lead the art director and costume designer in …
Hong Kong film industry questions for its revival era
- 2022-12-28
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ho Yi CHEUNG、Ka Tung NGEdited by: Tiffany Ma
- 2022-12-28
In October, two local films, "Warriors of Future" and "Table For Six", broke over HK$70 million at the box office while some movie related people wonder whether the Hong Kong film industry can have its second glorious "1980-90" era. "As time passes and more significant events occur, there will inevitably be more compelling movie ideas.," Luk said. "Warriors of Future", starring Louis Koo, Lau Ching Wan, and Carina Lau, is the biggest movie ever made in Hong Kong while "table of six" became the top Hong Kong-produced comedy at the box office in Hong Kong in 2022. Luk said social events can inspire new themes to Hong Kong films and create a craze. For example, a 2002 film "Internal Affairs" created with the background after Hong Kong's handover in 1997. Hong Kong is also attempting to produce a wider genre of films. Over half of the films with the gangster genres in the 1970s to 1990s to kung fu films such as “Ip Man” series from 2008 to 2019, the Hong Kong films mostly are about themes of police and bandits. “By introducing science fiction films to the local market, "Warriors of the Future" has made an important first step for Hong Kong's film industry,” said Luk. Chan Hoi-king, 21, a former film student in Hong Kong Baptist University, now studying at the University of Birmingham thinks the Hong Kong film industry is expected to revive. “The government has begun to face up to the development of the film industry, and the rebirth of Hong Kong film is expected,” said Chan. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has set aside approximately HK$240 million to promote the development of Hong Kong films. Eligible film projects will receive a maximum of HK$9 million in funding under the new measure "Asian Cultural Exchange …
Last surviving hand-painted porcelain factory in Hong Kong
- 2022-12-23
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Tsz In Warren LEUNG、Noah TsangEdited by: Karmen Li
- 2022-12-23
Yuet Tung China Works, first established in 1928, mainly exports hand-painted dinnerware and family crests, such as plates and bowls, to foreign countries. The Canton famille-rose porcelain making technique can now only be found in Hong Kong's last hand-crafted porcelain factory after the decline of handicraft industry.
Local art gains more attraction while censorship fears continue
- 2022-12-23
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Aruzhan ZEINULLA、Dhuha AL-ZAIDIEdited by: Nicholas Shu
- 2022-12-23
A typical day for Ka Yu Ng, a 32-year-old independent artist in Hong Kong, starts by reflecting her anxious thoughts, embracing her sensitive emotions; feelings of vulnerability that she once hated and tried so hard to supress growing up. She spends most days on Peng Chau Island in her small studio, embraced by the melodic instrumentals playing in the background, engulfed by the scent of sandalwood incense, as she channels her feelings into art, words, and music. Away from the hectic city, 5+2 studio, named after her childhood nickname which sounds like “five plus two” in Cantonese, is Ng’s daily personal exhibition venue where she is free to produce visuals. Having been in Hong Kong’s art scene for three years, Ng thinks the local art has developed. “The locals are more aware of building their own style. I believe it’s a very good start,” she said. Local art in Hong Kong has been gaining more attention since the social movement in 2019 and the shortly followed COVID-19 pandemic. However, some artists have faced restrictions on creativity, which has led them to question the extent of their artistic freedom. “The social unrest and the pandemic are reminding people that something in this place needs to be protected, the culture in particular,” Ng said. Hong Kong comprises approximately 29,420 creative establishments, with around 136,470 members, according to the official website of the local government. As a culturally dynamic city, it boasts 11 components of the cultural and creative industries, including arts, antiques and craft, accounting for about 5% of the city’s GDP. This year, the government announced a series of new subsidies for art talents. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged new funding for the new generation of artists, in his first Policy Address in October. Financial Secretary Paul Chan committed several …
Reviving Hong Kong’s flower plaques tradition
- 2022-12-22
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Chengqi MO、Kei Tung LAMEdited by: Clarice Wu
- 2022-12-22
In a narrow and cluttered shop, Lee Chui-Lan, 68, leans over a table piled with materials and brushes, stapling sheets of shiny metallic paper together to make flowers. Surrounded by yellowed photos on the peeled wall, she works in a cramped storefront where vivid handmade peacocks hang from the ceiling. The inconspicuous flower plaque shop is called Lee Yim Kee, located in Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long District. Lee, the owner of Lee Yim Kee, inherited the store and the craft from her father Lee Gam-Yim, who set up the shop the year his daughter was born. She started helping out in the shop in her early teens and experienced the most prosperous years of the flower plaque-making business. In the 1970s, giant flower plaques on display around Hong Kong were common. Nowadays, they can only be found in the New Territories and walled villages. Hong Kong has 480 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) items, and traditional flower plaques craft is one of them. With limited government support, the craftsmen struggle to survive in a rapidly changing society. Flower plaques are huge colourful displays, mainly made of bamboo, fabric and paper. Most are meant for celebrations or announcements of festive events such as the opening of new stores, weddings and birthdays. Back in the days when there was no internet to disseminate information, flower plaques were useful in spreading messages. “When a family or company held an event, people passing by would know about it quickly by looking at the flower plaques,” said Lee. The process of making flower plaques involves writing messages, making paper flowers, crafting the structure and assembling the different parts. Over time, various crafting techniques developed. For instance, messages that used to be assembled with cotton eventually changed to paint. “Sometimes, we will use the computer to …
Hong Kong's landmark Sikh temple sees its rebirth after a five-year reconstruction amidst blessings
- 2022-12-22
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Bella DingEdited by: Jayde Cheung
- 2022-12-22
A sea of flowers and colourful flags bedecked Khalsa Diwan, the only Sikh temple in Hong Kong. The aroma of food lingered in the air and wafted through the gate, alongside greetings and laughter resonated across the temple, to celebrate its reopening after a five-year renovation last month. The holy place that sat at Wan Chai for over 120 years was finally opened to the public with a makeover worth HK$230 million. Expanded by more than five times to 76,000 square feet, around 7,060 square metres, the temple has three stories that feature a larger prayer hall, an upgraded library, a bigger kitchen and a medical centre wholly operated by volunteers, according to its official website, to better serve more than 10,000 Sikhs in the city. The costly project was made possible solely by donations from fellows and Sikh-led communities, said Gurdev Singh Ghalib, the convenor of the reconstruction project. Sikhism, the world’s fifth largest religion, gathered more than 25 million fellows worldwide, according to a volunteer organisation The Sikhcoalition. From the far south of India stretching to Hong Kong, Sikhism enriches the city’s cultural diversity to spread warmth and enthusiasm. In 1841, after the Sikhs landed in Hong Kong, they started their first prayers in a small room of the former Central Police Station, where Tai Kwun sits now. 60 years later in 1901, the Sikh temple was built on government-issued lands by the Sikh members of the British Army Regiment stationed in Hong Kong. Since then, it has served as a community centre for the Sikhs. It provides not just a place for worship but a place with food, shelter and education for whoever is in need. The temple officially reopened on Nov 8 for a reason. “We decided on this date to celebrate our founder Sri …