TOP STORIES
1,200 swimmers make waves in harbour race
- 2022-10-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Man TSE、Yuchen LIEdited by: WANG Jingyan 王婧言
- 2022-10-23
Over 1,200 swimmers made waves across Victoria Harbour on Sunday morning in the annual New World Harbour Race, with competitors expecting more places next year. Kwok Chun-hei, 18, a member of the Hong Kong team, won the first place in the men’s group, while fellow Hong Kong team member Wong Ching-lam, 21, won the women’s group in the approximately one-kilometre race. The race groups started at 7:05 am from the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai and finished at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, while the leisure groups began at 7:45 am. Participants had to present their vaccine pass and negative RAT results before entering the competition area. A queue was seen outside the Golden Bauhinia Square earlier in the morning. The organiser limited the number of participants in leisure groups by drawing lots to “reduce large gatherings of people” during the pandemic. Evelyn Wu, a mainland student from the University of Hong Kong, said she enjoyed the race, which was her first time swimming in Victoria Harbour. “The water was very clean. It was great to swim and enjoy the scenery at the same time,” she said. But she said she was sorry her friend was not in the race. “ She was supposed to go with me, but she did not get drawn (in the lucky draw), so I had to come alone,” she added. Another swimmer Clement Wong also said he was looking forward to more places at the Harbour Race next year. “I have done the Harbour Race before, but I didn't expect it to be so small this year,” said Wong. He added that it was very crowded in the past when swimmers came ashore at the Quarry Bay. “This year, although the venue is huge, it was a bit …
Youth Communication Event promotes Hong Kong young adults’ understanding of the Policy Address
- 2022-10-23
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Yixin GaoEdited by: Nick Yang
- 2022-10-23
The government created a focus group of those under the 40s to give opinions on policies and promote young people’s participation in public affairs at the “Youth Come Say” communicating event this Sunday. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, said in the 2022 Policy Address that Hong Kong would prosper only when its young people thrive and that the government would attach great importance to education and youth development. The “Youth Come Say” was held after the Policy Address this year was delivered. Its main organiser is the Hong Kong Youth Development Commission, YDC, an organisation which has close ties to the government and aims to support youth groups in various districts. This event is to provide youths from different stages and fields with a platform to show their thoughts about government policies, said Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, a government councillor and the chairman of the YDC. This was the second time that the YDC held the “Youth Come Say” event, yet the first time to make the discussion core as the Policy Address. “It is a method to supply directions for the government to develop policies for Hong Kong youths. Youths can also broaden their understanding,” said Kelly Li, the emcee of the event. The number of participants was about 50, mainly members of youth organisations from different urban areas, aged between 18 to 40. All participants were divided into five groups, and each group discussed one topic from the Policy Address. The five main issues were encouraging youths to participate in public affairs, promoting youth employment, learning more about the Greater Bay Area, youth education and youths’ housing issues. “The communication atmosphere was active, and everyone was sensible,” said Vivian Chen, 22, a Yau Tsim Mong area participant. An issue that has been emphasised was the Greater Bay …
Venues struggle to survive despite revival of Hong Kong’s live music
- 2022-10-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Dhuha AL-ZAIDI、Aruzhan ZEINULLAEdited by: Malick Gai
- 2022-10-23
Live music returned to Hong Kong’s culture and entertainment venues after the government announced on Thursday that it is lifting the ban on live performances that was in force since April 2020. Performers must undergo Covid-19 PCR tests twice a week and conduct a Rapid Antigen Test before entering the venue, as announced by Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun in a press conference last week. The announcement comes shortly after the government recognised the “ardent expectations of the live music sector for relaxing social distancing measures," according to a spokesperson for Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chi. The lifting of restrictions will quickly generate about 20% to 30% of business increase, according to Chin Chun-wing, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association. However, the rule that there should be no eating or drinking during performances remains in force, impacting certain venues’ opportunities to make the profit they did pre-pandemic. “We just want to go back to normal where people eat and drink when we have the live band because it’s a different experience,” said Michael Ng, the restaurant manager of Lau Bak Livehouse, one of the few music venues with approved licensing to host live events in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Ng said his restaurant loses around HK$20,000 to HK$30,000 a day, which they try to mitigate through approximately 7,000 takeaways a week. “Hong Kong is a step behind what the world is doing,” said Jasmin Sin, 26, a marketing executive at Chanel, who used to attend live music events at least once a week. The ban on live music has burdened many musicians, who have lacked job opportunities since the ban was put in place over two years ago. The Musicians Foundation surveyed 465 musicians in June and found that over half of Hong Kong’s …
Policy Address 2022 Key Takeaways: leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages for economic recovery
- 2022-10-20
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Kiki Lo、Tracy LeungEdited by: Nick Yang
- 2022-10-20
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivered his maiden policy address yesterday after his swearing-in. His speech this year clocked two hours and 45 minutes, seven minutes longer than the previous chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s longest policy address last year. Using President Xi Jinping's speech on June 1 as a blueprint for the administration of the current government, Lee announced a series of policies to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantage of “enjoying strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the ‘One Country, Two Systems.’” Here are key takeaways from his first policy address speech: Wooing talents More than 140,000 workers left the city in the past two years. To attract and retain talents, Lee said the territory will be aggressive in “competing for enterprises” and “competing for talents”. Lee said the Top Talent Pass Scheme will be launched for two years. Eligible applicants, including those who earned at least HK$2.5 million in the past year or graduated from one of the top 100 universities in the world, will be issued a two-year work visa. Quotas on the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, in which “highly skilled or talented persons” are able to apply for work visas, will be lifted for two years. Stamp duty for property purchased by non-permanent residents, which is 30% of the property price, will be refunded when they become Hong Kong permanent residents. Increasing housing supply Lee said solving the housing shortage is his top priority. Currently, applicants need to wait about six years to live in public housing. Lee said the government will “cap the waiting time immediately” by introducing new “light public housing” and increasing the supply of traditional public units. The government will build at least 30,000 simple light public housing for transitional homes …
Policy Address 2022: Government to push ahead with transforming Hong Kong into high-tech centre
- 2022-10-20
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Lok Yi CHU、Ho Yi CHEUNG、Kin Hou POONEdited by: Clarice Wu、Hamish CHAN
- 2022-10-20
The Hong Kong government will invest $10 billion to foster technological innovations in universities and formulate a plan to attract foreign high-tech companies to set up offices and R&D centres in Hong Kong to build it into a global high-tech hub. Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu said that the government will launch the "Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint" to formulate key policies on four development directions. “I&T (Innovation and Technology) provides key impetus for Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development,” said Lee. Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint I&T ecosystem Talent Pool Smart city International Development 1. Promote commercialisation of research and development outcomes 2. Promote the development of technology industry 3. Press ahead with re-industrialisation 4. Strengthening infrastructure 1. Introduce leading international innovation and technology talents by collaborating 2. Optimising the existing technology talent plan 3. Increase accommodation support 1. Expand 5G Networks 2. Share database to company in I&T sector 1. Strengthen the cooperation with Shenzhen 2. Attracting enterprises Under the proposal, the government will set up a $10 billion “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme” next year to support the development of the technology industry in local universities. Matching funds will be provided to at least 100 research teams in universities, aiming to help them transform their ideas into products. "Although many scientific research teams in colleges and universities can obtain seed funds to start enterprises, they often fail to have further development or even commercialisation because angel investors and venture capital investors are more cautious, " said Shum Yu-yiu, an awardee of HK Tech 300 HK Tech 300 is a program launched by the City University of Hong Kong to help its students who are aspiring entrepreneurs. According to Startmeup HK, a government agency set up to promote startup companies in Hong Kong, …
Policy Address 2022: Hong Kong to invest HK$30 billion aimed transforming the city into a high-tech centre
- 2022-10-20
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Lok Yi CHU、Ho Yi CHEUNGEdited by: Hamish CHAN
- 2022-10-20
Hong Kong is planning to establish investment funds and a talent office to attract foreign technology companies and high-level technical talents, aiming to build the city into a global high-tech hub. A HK$30 billion Co-investment Fund was planned with the aim to invest in potential oversea technology companies to set up their business in Hong Kong. To attract technical talents under a five-year technology blueprint, the government also planned to collaborate with the newly established Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). The government believes the policies will enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and create better and newer rooms for economic development in the next five years, said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. “In terms of ‘grabbing enterprises’ and ‘grabbing talents’, we hope to increase our competitiveness. There are many practices that we can see are unusual, proactive, and focused,” said Lee at a press conference. The Co-investment fund will target five high-value-added innovation and technology (I&T) industries, including health technology, artificial intelligence, data science, advanced manufacturing, and new energy technology to strengthen Hong Kong’s I&T industry further . The number of local start-up companies increased by 38% to 3,755 in September 2021, compared to the same period in 2017, according to Start Me Up, a team under Invest Hong Kong to help overseas start-ups in entering the city. Financial technology, biological technology, and the artificial intelligence industry account for over 50% of all start-up industries. Under this approach, OASES will select potential overseas technology companies and invite them to operate in Hong Kong with a tailored investment plan. Lee expects the plan will attract over 100 high-potential I&T enterprises, and at least 20 leading enterprises to Hong Kong, which is expected to bring over HK$10 billion in capital investment. Chan Tik-yuen, chairman of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Association, …
Policy Address 2022: More incinerators to build; yet recyclers seek more efforts
- 2022-10-20
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ming Min AW YONG、Dhuha AL-ZAIDIEdited by: Tracy Leung、Jayde Cheung
- 2022-10-20
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu said at the policy address speech that more incinerators will be set up to achieve the goal of “zero landfill” in 2035, yet recyclers thought efforts are still lacking. “The (recycling) industry lacks support. Before building incinerators, recycling has to be done”, said Harold Yip, the co-founder and administrative director of Mil Mill, Hong Kong’s first paper-packed beverage box recycling pulp mill. The government selected Shek Kwu Chau and Tsang Tsui to be where the two incinerators sit in 2008, according to the World Green Organisation. While the construction at Shek Kwu Chau commenced in 2017 and will take effect in 2025, the second incinerator is still pending construction. More incinerators will probably be built in the Northern Metropolis, according to Wednesday’s policy address. The incinerator in Shek Kwu Chau is expected to occupy 10 hectares and process 3,000 tons of waste daily. Besides, private recyclers account for more than half of the capability of incinerators, according to the Legislative Council. Mil Mill, a company processes about 50 tons of paper-packed beverage boxes that can make recycled pulp, however, was informed to move out from the original site last month. Recyclers urge to increase infrastructure for recycling and accelerate the leasing process, despite the two incinerators and recycling promotion that are used to achieve Zero Landfill by 2035, according to the Policy Address. The company was initially offered a lease at Yuen Long Industrial Estate at the Science and Technology Parks Corporation. However, the lease was not renewed as the park had altered it for “re-industrialisation” projects such as microelectronics development under the policy of the Hong Kong government. Although the government has offered Mil Mill a six-month lease extension until June 30 next year, Yip said the Science and Technology Park did not give …
Policy Address 2022: John Lee announces new visa to trawl the world for young talents
- 2022-10-19
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Yixin Gao、Bella DingEdited by: WANG Jingyan 王婧言
- 2022-10-19
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled a series of policies to attract young talents worldwide amid a brain drain caused by the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions and political situation. Lee said in today’s speech that the government would extend the IANG visa, which allows non-local graduates of Hong Kong universities to stay in the city while job hunting, from one year to two years. The visa will also be extended to those students graduating from the universities whose campus is located in the Greater Bay Area in the mainland. "Over the past two years, the local workforce shrank by about 140,000,” Lee said. More than 113,000 residents have left Hong Kong since June 2021, according to the latest data released by the Census and Statistics Department in June. Haywood Guan, director of the Hong Kong Quality And Talent Migrants Association, said that some induction procedures are slow because of the pandemic as even if companies decide to hire non-local graduates, they might not be able to handle their entry process immediately. “One year is too short for me to find an ideal job in Hong Kong. There could be fewer working opportunities,” said Zhang Yunhan, who is now studying for a master's degree in finance at Lingnan University. The new policy boosts students’ confidence to stay in Hong Kong after graduation, said Guan. Han Liuchenxin, a final-year undergraduate student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said that this policy attracted him most as the visa extension could give him a sense of safety if he cannot find a job in Hong Kong immediately after his graduation. “It is a symbol of stability which could increase my possibility of working here,” said Han. Keith Lee, chairman of Yau Tsim Mong Youths Society, added that Hong Kong could reserve …
Policy Address 2022: Elderly Health Care Voucher enhanced but still lacking
- 2022-10-19
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Yuchen LI、Man TSEEdited by: Kylie Wong
- 2022-10-19
To improve the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme, John Lee promised to expand its coverage and amount, while increasing the quota for the Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) next year. The voucher amount would be raised to HK$ 2,500 per year from the previous year’s HK$2,000. The voucher amount in 2018 and 2019 was HK$ 3,000. The enhanced Scheme allows holders of such vouchers’ spouses to enjoy its services. New services include medical procedures by audiologists, dietitians, clinical psychologists and speech therapists. This could potentially help grassroot elderly, according to Yuen Wai-kee, assistant professor of the Department of Economics and Finance at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Elderly aged 65 or above with a Hong Kong Identity Card or equivalent identification by the Immigration Department are eligible to use the Voucher for primary healthcare services. “Some elderly people need long-term medication, such as Cholesterol medicines. This would cost them around HK$ 200 per month. This could be a substantial amount, burdening the more grassroot elderly,” said Yuen. However, this is only adequate for elderly who require basic medical care or occasional clinical visits, Yuen added. For more advanced or private healthcare, they should seek other governmental subsidies, Yuen explained. “The HK$ 2,000 Elderly Health Care Voucher is insufficient, because we often feel unwell and need diagnosis and medications. The voucher will soon be used up after going to the clinic about 4 times,” said Lam Bing, a 82-year-old lady. Lam lives in a public housing estate in Mei Foo. On 13 Oct under typhoon signal number three, she went to Pei Ho, a charity restaurant in Sham Shui Po for a free meal. Chan Cheuk-Ming, founder of Pei Ho revealed most elderly use the voucher for healthcare purposes, making the budget for daily expenses tight. Oxfam suggests that …
Policy Address 2022: Govt’s proposed additional public housing not enough, said experts
- 2022-10-19
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Yuhe WANG、Yongyi CAO、Jiaxing LiEdited by: REN Ziyi David、YANG Zhenfei
- 2022-10-19
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee announced plans on Wednesday during his policy address to provide 72,000 additional private housing units and 30,000 temporary public flats within the next five years, but experts say that will not be enough to meet the demand. In his first policy address, Lee said the government’s plan to boost land supply will result in an additional 72,000 private housing units to be ready by 2027. He said the government was also planning to build 30,000 temporary, easily constructed public housing units called “Light Public Housing (LPH)” by 2027. That will increase the Public Rental Housing (PRH) units by 25%. “Those on the waiting list for traditional PRH for three years or more may apply for LPH for earlier allocation of units, and priority will be given to family applicants,” he added. About 144,200 general applicants are waiting for a PRH unit as of June 2022, and there are an additional 98,400 non-elderly one-person applicants under the Quota and Points System. The average waiting time for general applicants in the past 12 months was six years, according to the Hong Kong Housing Authority. Lee said that the demand for private housing in the next 10 years would be 129,000 units. He anticipated the overall supply will exceed projected demand, as the number of new PRH and the LPH units will add up to 102,000. However, some experts disagree. “The new policy will make a difference and have a positive effect on Hong Kong's housing problem, but it remains to be seen whether it will be able to meet the actual market demand,” said Sze Ming-yu, chairperson of the Land Registry Joint Standing Committee. KK Chiu, the Chief Executive of Greater China of Cushman & Wakefield, said housing issues have always been a major concern for …