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Society

National Day fireworks light up Victoria Harbour, but drone show cancelled again

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.  

Society

Hong Kong marks 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China with a cluster of events

Hong Kong commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday. National Day kicks off a week-long holiday on the mainland, and the city organised over 400 events to mark the occasion, such as free Starr Ferry and tram rides and discounts at various places. From commemorative banners to flags of China and Hong Kong, over 185,000 promotional materials and installations are included among the decorations for National Day, the largest number since 1997. Mr. Lui came to Hong Kong for the events as part of a Shenzhen Youth Shufa Association group. They visited an art exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui and brought along a bag of Chinese calligraphy pieces to take pictures next to the celebratory banners. They said the atmosphere in Hong Kong was less lively than on the mainland on National Day. More than 222,000 mainland Chinese tourists entered Hong Kong on Tuesday, the first day of the National Day Golden Week holiday, according to government data. That was more than 25% higher than the same period last year, and the highest single-day total since the border reopened after the pandemic. Meanwhile, 366,000 departures from Hong Kong were recorded. Around 100 markets and hawker zones offered a 25% discount on National Day. Ms. Miu moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong in the 90s. She has been running a grocery store for more than 20 years at Fa Yuen Street Market. She used to own three stalls but now only has one. She said sales have been in decline since the end of the pandemic last year. 

Society

Fire breaks out in Denmark’s largest industrial port

A car caught on fire in the Port of Aarhus in Denmark this afternoon, resulting in one injury.  The fire broke out around 3pm in the harbour’s car park, according to workers at the port.  The injured man is stable. Workers were promptly evacuated from the port’s office building. Part of the car park was damaged. Søren Nielsen, 45, a port assistant, said he learned about about the fire from colleagues through his walkie-talkie.    “I was working on my boat when one of my colleagues told me about the fire. They told me the worker who got injured was trying to fix the engine under the car because the car was not working, and then it suddenly caught on fire and hurt him. It is lucky that no one died,” said Nielsen.   Nielsen also said the fire could have been avoided. “The other workers and I had already been trying to tell our boss a few weeks ago that the cars were used for a long time and needed to be replaced, but nothing was done after that. Hopefully, they will do something this time,” he said.  Victor Collin, a resident living nearby the Port of Aarhus, said the fire was visible miles away. “I was at home when I saw smoke coming out from the building. I thought the building was on fire at first because there was lots of smoke, and also because the smell of the smoke was so strong I could even smell it from here even though I am living miles away from the harbour,” he said.    The fire was put out within half an hour by the East Jutland Fire Service.  The Port of Aarhus's daily operation was not affected by the fire. All workers returned to the office building after …

Society

“Spirit of Journalism” alive and well at first Yahoo! student journalist award

A story about using flies and fungus to recycle food waste by students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) took the top prize at the first Yahoo! student journalist award on Saturday. More than 40 students and professors attended the ceremony in Kwun Tong. They come from three  universities and together, they submitted 100 entries. Yahoo! said on the competition website that the goal was  to recognize and nurture the next generation of media professionals, and deepen their understanding of critical issues such as current affairs, and environmental, social and governance.  The top English prize  on diversity and inclusion went to Lam Tsoi-yin, 21, and Chan Chi-wing, 22, from the University of Hong Kong who wrote  about the changemakers in an aging society. “We have done a lot of research on this topic. We are very happy that Yahoo! has set up this competition for us to work on this year, and we are honored to receive this award,”  Lam said. “We encourage younger journalists to keep digging in more and more great news angles,” said Francis Ng Ka-long, Head of Home & News at Yahoo!, “There are still a lot of journalists who are fully committed to reporting news.” “Many students’ work are of a high standard,” Ng added.Francis Ng Ka-Long shares his view about the competition.  Students at  the ceremony were also asked to share what the “Spirit of Journalism” meant for them, and the answer “truth” topped the list. Raymond Li, the head of the department of Journalism from Hong Kong Baptist University was at the event. “I always support students to participate in journalism competitions. It doesn’t matter if they win or lose, as long as they have had a chance to present their work and gain experience, which is helpful to improve their …

Society

“Home Sweet Home” exhibition lets visitors create their dream city

The “Open the Box: Home Sweet Home” exhibit unveiled at Tai Kwun on September 21 resembles a cardboard city. Participants of all ages select a plot, purchase a house, and design it anyway they wish to build their miniature town. Started in London in 2006, the travelling exhibit has been to over 10 cities such as Scotland, Kyoto and  Berlin. It’s the creation of British artists Abigail Conway and Lucy Hayhoe.  The piece was born from a desire for adults to play, and to create an environment that encouraged its audience to participate and take ownership of their individual experience. They want participants to interact with their neighbours, name their streets and work together to solve community problems. “We want the audience to be artists as well,  I'm glad to see everyone enjoying themselves. It's a collective event where everyone is creating the town of their dreams,” Conway said. Upon completion of their houses, participants are able to visit their “homes” between Sep.21 to Oct. 6, and will be invited to the closing party on Oct. 6, when they can take home their creation. According to the Tai Kwun’s official website, the aim of this project is to provide participants with a transitory and socially engaging community experience while also encouraging them to deal with the changing nature of community and home. “It’s a new experience for me. I am participating in interactive art for the first time,where I can build my villa with my family,” said Lulu Xu, 40, who was there with her five-year-old son and daughter. Lee Nok-yiu, 20,  a university student, built her own tree house. “We can work together to build a better town, and communicate with our neighbours. Many Hong Kong  people live in very small places, so this is a very rare opportunity …

Business

Hong Kong stock market ends six-day rise after the Chinese rate cut

  • By: Haoming Zhou、ZHAO RuntongEdited by: Runqing LI
  • 2024-09-23

Hong Kong's stock market twisted the six-day increase and closed lower as China’s central bank slashed the short-term rate after the US interest rate eased the yuan’s pressure. The Hang Seng Index edged down by 0.06% to 18,247.11 at the close, snapping the six-day streak to last Friday, and the Hang Seng Tech Index decreased by 0.15% due to the drop in mainland electric vehicle stocks. XIAOMI-W Holdings jumped by 3.37% to HK$20.55 after announcing the official launch of the latest Redmi Note 14 series on Sept. 26. Chinese Aoyuan Group surged by 126.89% as the UAE-based investment firm, Multi Gold Group, became its main shareholder. The Chinese Biotech company Wuxi AppTec dropped by 3.65% at the close, and WuXi Biologics, its subsidiary, slipped by 5.08%. CHINA RES Power Group rallied 3.33% to its five-day high of HK$19.84 after the company published its financial report. LENOVO Group surged 2.56% to HK$9.63, and GEELY AUTO Group added 2.11% to HK$10.18 on its first trading day after launching its new car last Friday night. “The cut of US interest rate last week made Hong Kong’s stock gain rapidly,” said Herald van der Linde, the head of equity strategy, Asia Pacific at HSBC.“But this week, as initial excitement and confidence at first hearing the interest rate cut have passed, people are considering whether the market could meet their expectations.” Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po reminded investors the pace of cuts in the prime rate used by commercial banks ‘may be slower’ than those in the US on Sept. 19. The People’s Bank of China cut the 14-day reverse repurchase rate to 1.85% from 1.95% on Monday to maintain the liquidity of the banking system, according to the statement on its website. The weak outlook of the US economy leads to the interest rate …

Culture & Leisure

Guo Pei’s haute couture exhibition debuts in East Asia at M+

  • By: YANG Haicen、WANG LudanEdited by: Ka Man Wong
  • 2024-09-23

Chinese haute couture designer, Guo Pei’s thematic exhibition launched on September 21 at the M+ Museum, showcasing multiple iconic designs in East Asia for the first time. "We hope to guide the audience to feel and reflect on the artistry of contemporary fashion and its connection with contemporary visual culture," said Ikko Yokoyama, lead curator of Design and Architecture at M+.  Titled "Couture Fantasy," the exhibition features 11 collections by Guo Pei, with over 40 haute couture pieces, including the yellow gown worn by pop singer Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala in New York. "This dress is very challenging to wear, it’s large and the heels are high," Guo said in public talk. "I was worried Rihanna wouldn’t be able to walk on the red carpet," she said. When Rihanna stepped onto the red carpet, Guo heard a gasp from the crowd. "I had only one thought: I've succeeded," she said.  This piece has become a landmark in Chinese haute couture and has made Guo Pei a household name in international fashion. "I was deeply impressed when I saw this dress on a red carpet video for the first time. I thought we finally have an Asian fashion brand that can stand alongside Dior and Chanel," said Wesley Yu, 18. "Seeing it in person today, I can't help but marvel again at how exquisite and beautiful it is!" Yu said. Guo Pei tailored the big red dress displayed prominently in the exhibition hall for American supermodel, Carmen Dell'Orefice as the finale of the legendary collection. “The red colour represents blood, life and passion, sacrifice and dedication, and I'm especially grateful that Carmen Dell’ Orefice was able to wear this gown for me at 87, " Guo said. “She has dedicated her life to modelling, so I feel like she's a role …

Society

Tourist arrivals surge during Mid-Autumn Festival

More than 423,000 tourists came to Hong Kong on Sept 16 during the Mid-Autumn Festival, according to the Immigration Department figures. That’s an increase of by 45 percent over the same period last year.Among the arrivals, 140,370 were from mainland China, and 29,853 from other countries, a 48 percent and a 23 percent increase respectively. To celebrate the moon festival, the government set up three large-scale lantern carnivals in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsing Yi Park, and Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.  The Carnivals showcased a variety of colorful lanterns that combined traditional and modern designs in clothing, food, housing and travel, The four themes symbolise the prosperity of Chinese civilization and the authentic style of Hong Kong while praying for good health and a better future. Zheng Jialing, 24, and Liu Shixing, 24, both from Guangdong Province were visiting Hong Kong during the moon festival for the first time. “People of different ages and genders come to the carnivals and it’s different from my hometown where we won't have such a huge event,” Zhang said.“They usually stay at home to eat mooncakes and watch television with their families rather than go outside,” Zhang explained.“I think Hong Kong put a lot of effort into such a traditional festival,” she said. “ We definitely want to spend another Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong,” said Liu. “Many people invite us to take a photo with them because of our costumes, we really enjoy it there because it is lively and joyful,” she said. Jean Joanason and Kyra Smith, both from the United Kingdom, said the lantern display grabbed their attention when they arrived at the carnival in Victoria Park. “The lanterns make me a bit confused about where I should start,” Smith said .  “First time in Hong Kong and so far so …

Business

Hong Kong banks trim prime rates firstly in five years after the US rate cut

  • By: BO Chuxuan、Yichun FangEdited by: Junzhe JIANG
  • 2024-09-19

Hong Kong lenders have lowered their prime rates for the first time since 2019 to boost the local economy just after the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut. HSBC cut the prime lending rate by a quarter of a point to 5.625% effective Friday, and the deposit rate over HK$5,000 will be decreased by the same margin to 0.625% per year, according to the bank. Bank of China (Hong Kong), also reduced the loan rate for its best customers by the same amount to 5.625%, starting from Sep. 23, the bank said. The action echoed the US Federal Reserve’s decision to cut the base rate by 50 basis points on Thursday. Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the city’s de facto central bank, followed the decrease to 5.25% to maintain the exchange rate with the US dollar. “By now various indicators show that inflationary pressure in the US has eased,” said Howard Lee, the acting chief executive at HKMA. “With signs of labour market cooling down, the Fed’s 50-basis-point rate cut is largely in line with market expectations.” During the Fed’s rate-hike cycle since March 2022 in response to inflation, interest rates were raised 11 times by a 5.25 percentage point, according to the HKMA. Chong Tai-leung, the executive director of Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance, said the Interest rate cut will release money from fixed deposits, and most of this money will go back to the stock market, which simulates stocks upwards first.  “If all the money from fixed deposits comes back, the stocks could be pushed to over 30,000; even half of it comes back, our stocks could also soar to about 24,000.” The Japanese stock market tops the increase of 2.1% among major Asian markets on Thursday. The Hang Seng Index reached a two-month high …

Society

Mid-Autumn Fun: Thousands gather for annual Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

  • The Young Reporter
  • By: MAO Anqi、LI Sin TungEdited by: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
  • 2024-09-17

Thousands of revellers gathered along Wun Sha Street in Tai Hang in Causeway Bay yesterday for the first night of the annual Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. This year’s event includes a 20-metre-long LED fire dragon held by around 100 children, a first for the annual night-time event. The fire dragon dance route also extends to Causeway Bay Road, passing souvenir booths for event-goers to visit and take photos. “​​The participation of children can help promote the younger generation's understanding of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and better inherit our culture,” said Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun at the opening ceremony. A small area with old public housing estates, Tai Hang livens when the dragon dance attracts a tide of admirers. Dancers manoeuvred the dragon while carrying over 30,000 burning incense sticks. The event included performances accompanied by traditional drumming and gongs. Among the thousands in attendance was Gao Junyang, who creates and sells hand-made dragon lanterns. His first time visiting, the 17-year-old described the atmosphere as "full of life" "Every corner is teeming with excited people, who stretch their necks and hold phones above their heads,” he said. Zoe Wong, one of the Lotus Sisters, a team consisting of little girls dressed in pink cheongsams and carrying pink lotus lanterns,  in this year’s show said her excitement overwhelmed her feelings of exhaustion. “I can play with friends, and grab some incense sticks for fun and fortune,” the 7-year-old said. “I would love to come and perform again next year.” Linda Chen, 23, from Fujian Province in mainland China, also enjoyed the fire dragon dance. “Seeking happiness, health and unity with family not only means a lot to me but also follows the tradition,” she said. However, Chen said the horde of people made it difficult to see …