Uncategorized
Doctors Without Borders raises awareness on plight in Sudan
- 2024-03-26
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、ZHANG YipingEdited by: Yee Ling TSANG、Yi Yin CHOW
- 2024-03-26
The Hong Kong chapter of Doctors Without Borders organised its first fundraising running race since 2002 at Plover Cove Reservoir’s main dam on March 17th The choice of the location aims to raise awareness of humanitarian aid and hardships in Southern Sudan.
Labour importation threatens local job security
- 2024-03-25
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、AU YEUNG JimEdited by: Ka Man Wong
- 2024-03-25
It has been six months since the government launched various labour importation schemes aimed at addressing a labour shortage in the construction and transportation sectors. Last year, Hong Kong saw a manpower shortage of 17,500-24,000 in the construction industry, and 3,600 public light bus and coach drivers, according to Legco figures. But labour unions say the government should instead focus on fixing the flaws in labour protection laws in order to promote local employment and sustain the workforce. Construction: Labour importation threatens local job opportunities According to a press release from the Hong Kong Construction Association in January, the first workforce demand survey result after the start of the importation scheme shows a shortage of 8,208 workers. The government has approved 4,680 out of the 12,000 applications in the first round for 20 construction contracts. HKCA supports the scheme as a supplementary measure to resolve the urgent labour shortage but expects the government to enhance labour sustainability by introducing multiple measures, including hiring new blood in the industries, utilising technologies, and providing more training to the existing workforce as the scheme is not permanent. Ng Wai-leung, Equity Director of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union said that the highly mobile work nature of construction work makes it hard to safeguard job vacancies for local workers. “We would only import labour when the workload exceeds the demand. We should only aim to fill up the short-term manpower gaps,” said Ng. “When the demand shrinks, it is really unacceptable that companies fire local workers before imported ones. Instead, imported workers should go home once they are not engaged in any projects.” According to Ng, many imported labour are working on the Third Airport Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport. He hoped that the agencies and government can provide language …
Food and beverage stalls return to Hong Kong Flower Show 2024 after the pandemic
- 2024-03-20
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: WONG Hong Ni、CHEN Yik NamEdited by: Ngai Fung NG
- 2024-03-20
Hong Kong Flower Show 2024, one of the biggest annual flower events in the city, has returned with full features after the pandemic of COVID-19. This year’s theme is Fairy Tales and it showcases a variety of flower exhibits from horticultural organizations from around the world.
Lions and Dragons Dance again after four years silence
- 2024-03-12
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG Haicen、ZHAO RuntongEdited by: Lisheng CHENG
- 2024-03-12
The 15th World Hong Kong Luminous Dragon and Lion Dance Championships returned to Hung Hom Stadium on Mar. 9, after a four year hiatus, gathering 11 lion teams and 8 luminous dragon teams. For the first time the luminous dragon performances took place during the day. “The windows were covered with black cloth and all the lights will be turned off to create a night effect,"said Gong Pui-wai, President of Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association. The championship is held every two years but was canceled in 2022 because of the pandemic.This year's championship includes teams from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao,Taiwan, and eight other countries and regions. The Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association sent nine referees and more than 50 volunteers to ensure the event went smoothly "Both lion dance and dragon dance are a test of teamwork," said Gong. "Holding such a championship represents Hong Kong's welcoming spirit of tolerance and unity. reflecting our respect for traditional Chinese culture,"he added.
Budget 2024: Monthly fireworks may have limited effect on tourism but cause air pollution
- 2024-02-28
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: BO Chuxuan、LIU YutongEdited by: Yuqi CHU
- 2024-02-28
Fireworks will be set off every month over Victoria Harbour in the coming year along with drone displays to attract visitors, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in today’s budget speech. Chan said last year's fireworks displayed along the waterfront in Victoria Harbour, Wan Chai and West Kowloon were all well received. "We will make full use of these valuable resources to provide a more engaging and diverse experience for the public and visitors,” he said. "Regular events are important to tourism," said Professor Chong Tai-leung, 55, executive director of Chinese University’s Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance. "Monthly fireworks displays are a great way to attract foreign visitors from far and wide." “There are obviously more people visiting Hong Kong, especially on the second day of the Lunar New Year when people gather at Victoria Harbor to admire the fireworks,” said Peter Lo, 62, an electrical engineer, “it almost felt like the traffic flow before the pandemic.” But Lo does not believe that Hong Kong's tourism industry will bring sustained appeal. "There are only a few interesting attractions in Hong Kong, the fireworks won’t attract tourists for a second time." "If it happens every month, I can choose a time that suits me better and avoid the severe rush during the New Year," said Cao Kailuo, 21, a mainland college student who plans to visit Hong Kong during his vacation. Sara Leung, chair of the Hong Kong Tourism Industry Employees General Union, told RTHK that she is not optimistic about fireworks and drone shows because many nearby areas are hosting similar events and visitors will lose the novelty. "In fact, the government doesn't need to spend a lot of money on fireworks displays, they usually get sponsors to host them," Chong said. "For example, last year's …
Y2K aesthetics makes a comeback 23 years on
- 2024-02-20
- By: Lisheng CHENG、Junzhe JIANGEdited by: Zimo ZHONG
- 2024-02-20
In the year 2000, humanity’s love affair with technology was still fresh, but many feared a Y2K bug would destroy the internet. From that hope and fear emerged a style dubbed Y2K aesthetics that can best be described as a mix of futurism, grunge and cyberpunk. In the 1990s, the fashion styles showcased by Britney Spears, the Spice Girls and characters in the movie. The Matrix is a typical Y2K style: metallic jackets, iridescent tops, and low-rise jeans. In the early 2000s, Y2K was more about such as cargo pants, military-style jackets, and chunky boots. Nowadays, Y2K fashionistas tend to do crop-Ts, plastic flares and metallic colours. “Y2K now is a mix of original Y2K, Neo-Y2K, and the Harajuku style,” said Du Yuxiao, a student fascinated with the style. Du first got interested in Y2K culture in high school because of a rock music video. Nowadays, her favourite items include bulky plastic pants and a lot of metal accessories. “To be honest, I cannot empathise with the people in the 1990s because I didn’t have the same experience,” said Du. “However, I love how they can express themselves freely regardless of mainstream opinion. Plus, the clothes suit my taste.” She said the current version of Y2K includes more elements like bright colours, loose socks, and gothic accessories because of the rise of social tolerance. “Dressing Y2K style can make me feel that I am the most special in the world because I always feel that I am ordinary in life,” said Du. Irene Jin, 21, owns a Y2K store in Mong Kok. It all started four years ago through a local forum called Y2K culture exchange on social media. “I made some friends with the people in that Y2K forum, and I learned the culture from them,” said Jin. She …
Brisbane faces Heaviest Rainfall since 2022 floods
- 2024-02-17
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: KURNIAWAN Trista VaniaEdited by: Aruzhan ZEINULLA
- 2024-02-17
Brisbane faced its heaviest rainfall since the 2022 floods on Friday, as a tropical cyclone crossed the Northern Territory-Queensland border, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The Bureau reported that rainfall was 184 millimetres of rain in 24 hours. The downpour flooded streets, submerged cars and overflowed rivers. The cyclone is expected to continue through the weekend. In the Brisbane suburb of Rosalie, 197 millimetres of rain was recorded and there were, 189 millimetres in Mt Cootha, 173 millimetres in Bowen Hills, and over 160 millimetres around the city this morning. One fatality was reported when a woman's car was swept away by floodwaters at Malbon River, near Cloncurry Duchess Road, on Friday afternoon. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services told 7news that they received 58 calls for help between midnight and 8 a.m. due to floodwater and roofs collapsing. In 2022, heavy rain in Brisbane killed at least 13 people and flooded more than 23,400 properties. The highest flood level reached 3.85 metres on Feb. 28, 2022, which was the second-highest level since the 4.46-metre peak recorded in 2011. In a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Brisbane City Councillor Fiona Cunningham said that residents were unable to receive weather alerts for hours after the first thunderstorm warning was issued. The city’s weather alert system, Weatherzone, was assured to be fixed after the technical error. Naura Miyantari, a university student, experienced the flood while on her way to a class on Friday morning. She said that there was no clear warning about the weather conditions. Due to the heavy rainfall and flood, her plans for the day were delayed and cancelled. “There were a few accidents down the road and road closures. The weather alert should have been more accurate in predicting the weather and alerting residents of …
Board games help build post-pandemic friendships
- 2024-01-30
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: Ji Youn Lee、Ka Man WongEdited by: Aruzhan ZEINULLA
- 2024-01-30
Secret Hitler, Arkham Horror, Terraforming Mars, Tumbling Monkeys—just some of the board games in the bright paper boxes at 808 Games. In one corner of the café, four drunk patrons squabbled over tokens the size of their fingernails. In another corner, three women were engrossed in their first session of ROOT, a strategy game about animals trying to rule the forest. The players are strangers to each other, but they have played together online every week for a month. A player who goes by Ms X_X on the social media platform X, held a paper pamphlet twice the size of her hand while she mulled over the colourful tokens. Her two fellow players pored over the rules book like a treasure map. Chris Lo, the owner of 808 Games and a veteran of the board game industry for over 11 years, approached them for assistance. “Has my turn ended?” X_X asked. “Not yet. You still have to do a night action,” Lo replied. This is a typical afternoon at 808 Games. a board game café in Mong Kok which rents out games to its customers for an hourly fee. It has an assortment of games ranging from UNO to Cthulhu: Death May Die, a lengthy campaign board game which includes a 60cm plastic statue of Cthulhu, a mythical creature in the Lovecraft horror. The cluttered café has been in operation since 2010, making it the oldest board game café in Hong Kong. Since then, other cafés such as Wheat and Wood, a casual café centered around socializing, or Jolly Thinkers, which has its own Board Game educator programme, have opened in Hong Kong There are now more than ten board game cafés in the city. Since 2010, 808 Games has gone through two owners, one renovation and a pandemic. Lo, …
Skateboarding rolls to new heights
- 2024-01-30
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: James Ezekiel Kalaw MODESTOEdited by: Tsz Ying CHEUNG
- 2024-01-30
Eric Ng Siu-chung, 27, is a part-time skateboarding instructor. He has seen increasing demand for lessons over the past four years. From being a niche and stereotypically rebellious hobby to a contemporary sport, skateboarding has gained immense popularity in recent years since its introduction to the city in the 1970s. This year, Hong Kong's skateboarding team competed at the Asian Games for the second time since the sport was added to the games in 2018. “Even if my students fail to do a trick, it’s good to see them committing to doing something new,” said Ng. In response to the surge in popularity, the government is opening up new facilities for skateboarding. In the 2023-2024 Budget Speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po highlighted the importance of promoting popular urban sports, such as skateboarding, for youth development. The government is considering converting “underutilised floors” at the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building in Jordan for urban sports. Fung Chuen-chung is a Deputy District Leisure Manager for Yau Tsim Mong District with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). He said they are working in close consultation with the Architectural Services Department and skatepark designers with the target of completing the conversion by 2025. To date, Hong Kong has 13 skateboarding facilities managed by the LCSD. That has come a long way since the sport started in Hong Kong almost four decades ago. Warren Stuart, 54, is dubbed “the godfather” of Hong Kong skateboarding for his experience and contributions to elevating the local skate scene. He is among the top advisors for the sport’s development in the city and is the head coach for the Hong Kong national skateboarding team. He said that one reason why skateboarding has soared to new heights was its inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games. It was shortlisted …
Education and Career Expo highlights government positions and further education
- 2024-01-29
- Business
- By: Ji Youn LeeEdited by: Chi On LIU、Junzhe JIANG
- 2024-01-29
Attracting more than 800 booths, The Hong Kong Education and Career Expo addressed civil servant positions, featured job openings from private institutions, and provided further study opportunities as a burst for applicants seeking government and commercial sector jobs and a boost of studying abroad. The three-day expo was held from Jan.25, bringing more than 3,000 job openings from 16 countries and 17 regions to the participants. To help the participants better understand the government’s jobs, the series talk on “Careers in the Government” became one of the most popular stands at the event. “Hong Kong government, which is the biggest employer in Hong Kong, offers more than 190,000 full-time jobs for those willing to work hard and keep learning to achieve success,” said Ingrid Yueng, Secretary for the Civil Service. Correspondingly, applications for civil service jobs increased sharply. The applicants for Customs officers surged by 90%, with a 40% increase for Immigration officers since October, according to Yueng. Tiffany Cheung, 23, a fresh graduate from a local university, said the government’s talks during the expo were very insightful for her future career path. “I can ask questions regarding the application process and job content here, so I think [this event] is quite helpful,” Cheung said. “The talks are quite clear, and the speaker made the content of the position very clear. It matches my expectations regarding the role.” The unemployment rate in Hong Kong from October to December of 2023 was 2.9%, which resumed at the pre-pandemic level in 2019, according to government data. However, Sandy Cheung, a final-year history student at Hong Kong Baptist University, said finding a job proved difficult because there are few opportunities in Hong Kong for her major. “My history major limits my career prospects, and many of my friends consider teaching or working at …