Uncategorized
“Spirit of Journalism” alive and well at first Yahoo! student journalist award
- 2024-09-29
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHEN Yik Nam、LI Sin TungEdited by: Juncong SHUAI
- 2024-09-29
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 …
“Home Sweet Home” exhibition lets visitors create their dream city
- 2024-09-28
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LI Sin TungEdited by: Yuqi CHU
- 2024-09-28
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 …
Tourist arrivals surge during Mid-Autumn Festival
- 2024-09-20
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHEN Yik Nam、CHAN Wing YiuEdited by: Yau To LUM
- 2024-09-20
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 …
Diverse sailors make splashes at Hong Kong Race Week
- 2024-07-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG HaicenEdited by: Jemima Badajos
- 2024-07-23
The 2024 Hong Kong Race Week drew to a close on Feb.4. The six day event was the second time it was held since the Covid-19 lockdown in 2019. Ten classes of the event including both professional and amateur levels competed in Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Lo Chau. This year’s Hong Kong Race Week was co-organised with the 29er Asian Sailing Championships, attracting 273 local and overseas sailors. Asia's top ranked sailors, Hangzhou Asian Games medallists and the winners in the last Hong Kong Race Week also gathered at Middle Island to compete. Many junior athletes from Shenzhen, Nanjing and Qingdao travelled to Hong Kong accompanied by their club coaches or parents to participate in the juniors category, a first for the event.
Otome games: the rise of the female gaming market
- 2024-05-06
- By: CAO Jiawen、WANG RuoshuiEdited by: Lisheng CHENG
- 2024-05-06
Every night in bed, Lang Yunan, 22, chats with Sun Ce, a male character in an otome game. “If you are a tree in the east of the river, I'll be the water of the Yangtze River, wrapped around you.” Otome games, or maiden games, are plot-based video games that target women players. In Lang’s game, there is a mix of adventure puzzle solving and female growth, set in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China, where the player takes on the role of a female disguised as a male leader of a secret agent organization. Girls will interact with various characters, especially with the other five main male characters to complete a variety of game tasks, but also based on the player's choice, so that the male and female main characters have mutual feelings for each other. It offers women a chance to discuss relationships within the safe confines of a game. In 2023, sales from the domestic otome game market totaled HK$32.6 billion according to Talkingdata.. ” The global market revenue for “Ashes of the Kingdom” was about HK$70 million, and "Light and Night" earned more than HK $37 million in the 2022 iOS system. Katy Cheuk, 40, Game Source Entertainment's (GSE) head of sales, said she has seen a significant increase in the number of games sold to women since 2021. "Before, it was almost always boys who bought games, but in the last two years, there have been more women coming to our store to buy the latest Otome games," said Cheuk. Until Dec. 2023, GSE has released 42 types of otome games and sold tens of thousands of units in Hong Kong. Ding Boyao, 20, a student from Hong Kong, said the otome game provides her with a kind of emotional "alternative satisfaction" that is difficult …
The Wild Side of Hong Kong
- 2024-05-02
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: XIA Fan、ZHANG YipingEdited by: Ji Youn Lee、James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTO
- 2024-05-02
Intrepid snake watchers trudged through dense vegetation in northern Hong Kong, New Territory. Holding flashlights and expensive cameras, they trekked through wet grass and heavy mud in search of slithering snakes and vicious vipers. Leading them is William Sargent, a grizzled tour guide. He used to be the snake catcher who was authorised by Hong Kong police. Since 2017, he has been organising "Snake Safaris", nighttime excursions in the lush and diverse landscapes of Hong Kong. Sargent’s groups venture into areas such as Tai Mo Shan Country Park, where some of Hong Kong’s highest peaks are located. Every year from May to August, Sargent leads hundreds of adventurous visitors on these exciting expeditions. Snake Safari is a way for Sargent to improve awareness and build appreciation of snakes among the public. He sees it as a privilege to help people explore Hong Kong’s venomous, nocturnal wildlife. “Some people are very scared of snakes but they want to learn more. Some people are very interested. Some people want to introduce their children to wildlife to make them more interested,” Sargent said. “People that come on are very positive.” Apart from the reputation of being a metropolitan and financial hub, Hong Kong is rich and dense in biodiversity. These attributes have attracted people worldwide to appreciate its unique charm and strive to protect its teeming wildlife. According to government data, Hong Kong boasts a rich biodiversity with around 3,300 plant species, 55 species of land-dwelling mammals, 115 species of amphibians and reptiles, 194 species of freshwater fish, and over 375 species of insects. Professor Timothy Bonebrake, a Hong Kong University professor in biological sciences who studied snakes in Hong Kong, said snakes, being the main predators of many species, play an important role in the local ecosystem. “The diversity of snakes in …
Hong Kong tries to give the elderly more care when they face death
- 2024-05-02
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: WANG Jing、YANG ShuyiEdited by: Wai Sum CHEUNG、Ben Rong Li
- 2024-05-02
Ng Yu-fung’s father was at his deathbed at Nam Long Hospital, a specialist hospital for cancer patients. “What makes me regret is that I was afraid of my father's death when he was near the end of his life,” Ng recalled. His father’s last moments of life inspired him to become a volunteer in hospice care. Today, Ng is president of the Hong Kong Hospice Social Workers Association. The association’s goal is to enhance a patient’s quality of life before the end, focusing on pain management, spiritual care, and palliative care. Hong Kong ranked 20th among 80 countries in the 2023 in quality of death according to a white paper published by the Economist Intelligence Unit. In 2015, Hong Kong ranked 22nd among 40 countries. The Index scores countries across four categories: basic end-of-life healthcare environment; availability are; cost and quality of care. End-of-life care involves palliative care and hospice care, thus the progress of hospice care in Hong Kong contributed greatly to the rise in rankings. Dr. Fowie Ng, vice president of the Hong Kong College of Health Service Executives said that the progress of hospice care in Hong Kong is caused by many factors, including the city’s medical and social services. “The Hospital Authority has set up a ward specifically to treat end-of-life patients. It used to be the responsibility of the Bradbury Hospice Centre, but now it has expanded to many hospitals setting up these ward services on hospice care,” Dr. Ng said. Chan Mok-kwong, president of the Hong Kong Hospice Society said that not only has the government paid more attention to the development of hospice care in recent years, but the support groups who promote education and improve hospice care services have also made a lot of effort. “If the patients have financial difficulties, we …
Big, loud and looking for a mate - Asian Koels in Hong Kong
- 2024-04-22
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTOEdited by: Xiya RUI、Hanzhi YANG
- 2024-04-22
As dawn cracks and you wake up to prepare for work, school or other routines, your day may go undisturbed without a sharp two-toned “koo-ah,” courtesy of the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), a common sight in Hong Kong. Steady into Spring, the cacophonous calls of the Asian Koel echo throughout Hong Kong, signalling the mating season for the city’s feathered friends. With a vocalisation akin to their onomatopoeic name, the Asian Koel is a large, long-tailed cuckoo species common in Hong Kong and widely distributed throughout East, South and Southeast Asia. Although they are resident birds, they are only heard vocalising during the breeding season, typically between March and August. “I’ve seen some people imitate their sounds whenever I visit the park,” said birder John Chow Kwok-pun. “Some people don’t even recognise what bird is making those noises.” The “ko-ah” call is produced by the male koels, which sport glossy black plumage, to attract females, identifiable by their white and black streaks. Like certain bird species, such as herons and hawks, they have crimson irises. Asian Koels can be found in urban parks and the countryside, perched high in the trees where they vocalise. Being mainly fruit-eaters, they can also be observed perched near fruit trees. “They are frugivorous birds, which means they can be good seed dispersers,” said Bond Shum, founder of Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong. “Frugivorous birds mainly take fruits in their diet and they can fly with a larger foraging range which helps to disperse the seeds further away from the mother tree,” said Shum. “With the protection of an indigestible seed coat, the seeds are excreted and dispersed when the birds fly away from the fruiting tree.” Asian Koels also possess the behavioural pattern of brood parasites. Brood parasitism is observed among cuckoo species where …
Engaging the Diaspora: Examining the Significance of Overseas Voting in Hong Kong for Korea's 22nd National Assembly Elections
- 2024-04-16
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: KIM SeojoonEdited by: Kin Hou POON、Elif Lale AYHAN
- 2024-04-16
Ban Kyungmin, an exchange student at Hong Kong Baptist University, came to the Korean consulate with a friend on the first day of the election to vote. "I've always participated since I had the right to vote. I knew that I could vote overseas, so I applied in advance to participate in the overseas elections,” she said. South Korea is holding parliamentary elections on April 10th. Under the overseas election system, which was introduced after the amendment of the Public Offices Election Act in 2009, the Korean Central Election Commission announced that it would set up overseas voting stations in 178 diplomatic missions around the world, so Koreans living in Hong Kong will be able to vote at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong from March 27 to April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each day. The Hong Kong Korean Association and other Korean student organizations in all Hong Kong universities and colleges have been eagerly anticipating the event and have been promoting it through their respective online communities and social media. Election officials are at the entrance to guide the election. “I think it's an opportunity for Koreans abroad to feel a sense of belonging to Korea and to unite with other Koreans living abroad," Ban Kyung-min added. Kyungmin Ban and her friend make a "vote-proof pose". The Korean Central Election Commission is responsible for preventing and cracking down on election crimes and supervising election administration. The Overseas Election Commission comprises two members nominated by the NEC, one nominated by each of the political parties that form a bargaining group in the National Assembly, and one nominated by the head of the diplomatic mission. Overseas missions and the Election Commission have recruited various personnel, including poll guides and election officials. …
Hong Kong's unique herbal tea store is facing a crisis
- 2024-04-16
- By: LI Sin Tung、CHEN Yik NamEdited by: Yau To LUM、Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-04-16
Rorippa Indica Tea is a traditional herbal tea in Hong Kong. “Sam Bat Mai”, a herbal tea store in the centre of Wan Chai that only sells Rorippa Indica tea. It is an exclusive shop without other kinds of herbal tea like five-flower tea (Ng Faa Caa) or “Twenty-four Flavours”(Jaa Sei Mei). This video is going to introduce what Rorippa Indica tea is and what challenges will “Sam Bat Mai” face in the future.