TOP STORIES
Cancellation of Lam Tsuen Well-wishing Festival under Covid-19
- 2022-02-03
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Karmen LiEdited by: Jayde Cheung、Jenny Lam
- 2022-02-03
Covid forces cancellation of the Lam Tsuen Well-wishing Festival for a second year. Well-wishing Square is closed for the first 15 days of Lunar New Year.
Two sentenced under sedition law for handing out leaflets advocating independence
- 2022-02-01
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Karmen LiEdited by: Malick Gai、Jayde Cheung、Jenny Lam
- 2022-02-01
Former school clerk Cho Suet-sum, 45 was jailed for 13.5 months at the District Court yesterday. Her co-defendant, 17-year-old Wong Chun-wai, will undergo nine months of rehabilitation. The pair pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to print, publish and distribute seditious materials. The court heard how they handed out leaflets that included the slogan “Hong Kong people, build an army. Establish a state.” The withered bauhinia covered in red paint on the leaflet, mimicking the regional emblem, was intended to provoke violence, according to the judgement. National security law judge, Kwok Wai-kin ruled that the defendants incited others to commit violence to attain Hong Kong independence, which is very close to incitement to secession under national security law. Judge Kwok said Cho manipulated the naivety of Wong and incited others to use violence to achieve her political purpose, making her offense more serious. Cho is the second defendant convicted and sentenced under the sedition law since 1997. Property manager Chiang Chung-sang, 41, was sentenced to eight months in prison at West Kowloon Court on the same day. During the 1967 leftist riots, the sedition law was used to ban propaganda materials from communist forces against the colonial British government. The clause was used again recently against Apple Daily and Stand News after national security law came into effect. Cho was denied bail seven times and has been remanded in custody since June last year, while the teenager was granted conditional bail in August last year. Kwan Man-wai, counsel for Cho, said that the prosecution has overstated the wordings of the slogans. He added that calling others to change the existing political structure is not necessarily inciting violence. Ronny Leung, counsel for Wong, said that Wong wishes for early discharge in order to resume his studies and take the Diploma …
Ontario restaurants to resume dine-in
- 2022-01-31
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: Kiki LoEdited by: Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-31
Dining in at restaurants in Ontario will be allowed from today at 50% capacity following a 25-day suspension because of Covid restrictions. Customers are required to scan a QR code that shows whether they have been vaccinated in order to enter restaurants and other businesses, including theatres and gyms. Unvaccinated people will only be allowed if they can provide proof of medical exemption. Ontario premier Doug Ford announced on Jan 20 that restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, museums and gaming halls would reopen this Monday as the Covid-19 situation shows signs of improvement. The limit for social gatherings would also increase from 5 to 10 people indoors and from 10 to 25 people outdoors. “Percent positivity has now dropped to 15.9%, new admissions to hospitals are starting to slow, and patients are spending a lot less time in the hospital when admitted. And our workforce is stabilizing, with more people coming back to work than calling in sick,” Ford said. He also said there’s evidence to show that the measures to blunt transmission of Omicron are working, adding that the government would gradually ease public health measures in February. In early January, with the increase in the number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, dine-in at restaurants and cinemas, gyms and museums were suspended in Ontario. Stephy Yip, an exchange student from Hong Kong in Kingston, welcomed the lifting of restrictions. “I'm really looking forward to eating at the restaurants. It is more convenient because I don't have to walk home for lunch during class anymore," the 22-year-old said. Another student in Kingston, Dasha Sylenko also said she supports the reopening of restaurants and gyms. “I am very excited about the reopening. I can’t wait for the gyms to open,” she said. Ontario reported 2,012 cases of Covid-19 and 16 hospitalizations on Thursday, compared …
Chinese New Year in Singapore’s Chinatown under COVID
- 2022-01-30
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: Nick YangEdited by: Jayde Cheung、Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-30
Chinese New Year is approaching. In Singapore, Chinatown is bedecked with festive light displays and colorful lanterns. It also serves as a shopping centre where Singaporians prepare for the new year. However, the celebration is subjected to COVID-19 restrictions, including group gatherings of a maximum of five people and five guests at home. Religious ceremonies are also forbidden. “We will be celebrating this Chinese New Year during the pandemic again, but what matters is the spirit of this joyous occasion,” Lee Hsien-loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, said in his Facebook account on Jan. 24.
Australian Open: Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong wins junior boys’ double, first ever in Hong Kong history
- 2022-01-28
- People
- The Young Reporter
- By: Clarice Wu、KOO Chi Tung 顧知桐Edited by: Jayde Cheung
- 2022-01-28
17-year-old Coleman Wong Chak-lam becomes the first Hong Kong tennis player to win the junior boys’ double in Australian Open with his American partner, Bruno Kuzuhara. Wong and Kuzuhara played against Alex Michelsen from the United States of America and Adolfo Daniel Vallejo from Paraguay. Wong and his partner brought home the champion title with two sets, scoring 6-3 and 7-6 (7-3) respectively. The match continued for 1 hour and 12 minutes. Wong and Kuzuhara got a head start by winning the first point shortly after the match started, followed by Wong’s aces which opened a 4-1 lead. The pair won the first game by 6-3. They held all the cards until Michelson and Vallejo counterattacked with three big points to take a 6-5 lead in the second game. The Hong Konger-American pair was forced to go to a tiebreak but still managed to win the match. The pair was overjoyed as Wong rushed to their coach, James Alleby, after their victory. “We can’t believe it and we just think it’s dreaming,” he said. The young tennis player expressed his gratitude for the support shown by Hong Kong citizens. “I love you guys. Hong Kong is the best. Hopefully I can keep doing well to make you guys proud!”, Wong said. Siobhán Bernadette Haughey, the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal has also congratulated Wong on her Instagram when he won his second round against Turkey’s Togan Tokac in Australian Open Junior Championships. Wong appreciated the support coming from the swimmer. “I feel so happy and motivated because she really helped me a lot by sending many positive things to me,” he said. Wong also encouraged young aspiring tennis players in Hong Kong to “work hard and be passionate in tennis”. The triumph marked the second milestone …
Police officer sentenced to four weeks in jail for upskirting
- 2022-01-26
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Jayde CheungEdited by: Clarice Wu
- 2022-01-26
An off-duty traffic police officer was sentenced to four weeks in jail for taking photos up women’s skirts. The crime took place in the chain store Don Don Donki in Tsim Sha Tsui on Jan 21 last year. So Yin-ho, 38, was charged with committing an act outraging public decency. He remained calm as Magistrate Jacky Yip Kai-leung meted out the sentence. The Magistrate ruled that upskirting is a serious and formidable crime that upsets women. So denied the charge despite security cameras recordings from the store and eye witness statements presented in court. “It was premeditated and abhorrent,” said the Magistrate. “You do not feel guilty and denied all the accusations, including refusing to admit owning the phone to sneak the photos, even claiming that the safety guards at the store were biased against you.” A psychological report stated that So was likely to repeat the offence. He also showed no remorse while remanded in custody. So plans to appeal and has been released on a bail of HK$25,000 with conditions. "Upskirting" is against the anti-voyeurism law which came into effect on October 8 last year. It prohibits "unlawful recording and observation of intimate part". Francis Kong, a social work supervisor of Caritas Specialised Treatment and Prevention Project of Sexual Violence, said that most people do not grasp the magnitude of the problem due to the absence of explicit legal accusation and punishment. “Clear legislation is important,” said Kong, “the punishment is just a way to compensate the victim. The law should also advocate respect for one another’s will on sexual contact.” Kong believed that upskirting is a form of intrusive sexual violence that neglects other parties’ will. He has called for more education on the issue because heavy penalties, he said, will not prevent similar behaviour in the …
Covid lockdown in Kwai Chung leaves residents in the lurch
- 2022-01-25
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Karmen LiEdited by: Jayde Cheung、Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-25
Students learn together on Instagram as Covid-19 gets worse
- 2022-01-24
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Gigi ChongEdited by: Tiffany Ma
- 2022-01-24
The candidates of 2022 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education maintain their burning ambition to study by posting under #2022dsestudygram, a trending hashtag that has gained over 6,000 posts on Instagram. “Studygram makes me more concentrated on my studies during the class suspension period when I see how hard others study though their Studygram,” said Cindy Lam Pui-yin, a DSE candidate taking Physics and Economics as elective subjects, on top of the four compulsory subjects including Chinese, English, Mathematics and Liberal Studies. “The future depends on what you do today,” is one of the inspiring quotes captured by the student-managed Studygrams, where pupils keep a record of their study progress in Instagram accounts, to encourage peers amid class suspension due to rapid spread of Covid-19. The Education Bureau announced that all schools must hold classes online only on Jan.20, but schools can arrange in-person half-day lessons for form six students to prepare for the final examinations. Examinations and student activities in other levels should halt and postpone, according to the announcement. Although online lessons save travelling time and give students more autonomy in learning, Lam worries that the sudden amendment will affect her performance in the public exam. “We haven’t been taught the full curriculum for some elective subjects yet, and the class suspension is having an impact on my preparation for the public exam,” said Lam. Michelle Lam, also a candidate for the examination, owns a studygram with over 700 followers, said that online teaching always distracts her from focusing on the lessons. “I don’t dare to relax when I see so many people study hard even though the in-person classes are suspended,” Lam said. The 2022 DSE will start on Apr. 22 while the class suspension lasts until Chinese New Year holidays.
Covid-19 vaccination for children starts
- 2022-01-22
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: Phoebe LawEdited by: Karmen Li、Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-22
Covid-19 vaccination for children in Hong Kong aged 5-11 years started yesterday. They can get the Sinovac jabs offered at 12 Community Vaccination Centers all over the city. Primary and secondary students can also get the vaccine at five Student Health Service Centres. The two doses should be given 28 days apart. Legal guardians must accompany children to the vaccine centres in order to sign a consent form. But some parents are hesitant. Lam Wing-yan has two children aged five and 12 years old. She would not consider vaccinating her children at this moment. “I am not sure if there will be any side effects. I still need more data before getting my children vaccinated,” Lam said . Theng Minxuan, a 16-year old student has had her first dose of BioNTech, but she is not getting the second dose. “Many of my classmates developed serious side effects after receiving the second dose of vaccination. I am scared so I don’t want to get it,” she said. From February 9, reservations will start for the BioNTech vaccine and the jabs will be available at three Children Community Vaccination Centres. The two doses should be given 12 weeks apart to minimize the chance of developing myocarditis, according to the Chairman of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong, Chui Chun-ming who spoke on RTHK on Jan.21. Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that developed the mRNA vaccine such as BioNTech, has conducted trials in children aged six months to 12 years. It reported that two doses of mRNA vaccine, given more than 21 days apart are safe and effective for children. In Taiwan, 23 people aged 12 to 17 years developed myocarditis after receiving BioNTech since November 3, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center. A week later, the Center suspended the …
Education University of Hong Kong derecognises student union, keeps HK$ 9 million reserve
- 2022-01-21
- The Young Reporter
- By: Tracy LeungEdited by: Kylie Wong
- 2022-01-21
The Education University of Hong Kong announced yesterday it will derecognise its student union. It also said it would keep the union’s HK$9 million reserve. Representatives of the former Student’s Union of the Education University bow to express gratitude towards their supporters in a screenshot of yesterday’s press conference. The university sent an email to teachers and students stating the Student’s Union has governance problems and fails to represent students. Representatives of the Student’s Union said in a press conference yesterday it did not deprive or exclude any student from applying for membership and elected and appointed officers in accordance with established instructions and procedures. In 2016, the university revised the union constitution, resulting in a decrease of members. The university said the union has been run by a temporary administrative committee for more than four years. The representatives questioned the university’s justification and legal basis to confiscate the reserves, also asking why the university did not raise concerns in previous years. “The HK$ 9 million reserve of the Student Union should belong to the students. I hope the university will discuss with us how the money will be managed,” said Yeung Yat-ming, the president of the Student’s Union. The union is now prohibited from using the name of the university, collecting membership fees, governing campus facilities or managing its university online accounts and services. “The university is abusing its power. Without the student union, there are fewer chances for us to express our opinions,” said Jocelyn Kong, a 20-year-old student at the Education University. The Student Affairs Office, which will take up the function of the union, “obviously couldn’t represent the students and deliver our concerns to the university,” said Kong. The Finance Office of the Education University said it will keep the union’s HK$9 million reserve in custody. …