Methadone Throws Lifeline to Heroin Addicts
Hong Kong’s methadone programme is held up as a model that has worked to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users and assist addicts to lead functional lives. But as the number of heroin users has decreased in the territory, the programme’s value has been questioned. Varsity looks at the impact methadone has had as a method of harm reduction.
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Jobs Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
Ex-offenders often encounter discrimination when they leave prison and re-enter society. It can be hard for them to overcome social prejudice and find jobs. But as Varsity discovers, there are some organisations and employers who are working to to give former offenders a chance to start afresh through employment.
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Masters and Apprentices in the World of Martial Arts
The bonds between masters and apprentices are part of Chinese martial arts folklore. In the old days, the master a combination of parent, teacher and mentor – a figure to be obeyed. How can these bonds survive in the 21st century where martial arts are not necessarily a philosophy and way of life but can also be just a hobby or way of keeping fit?
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Residents face forced move from Tai O’s Tin Lee House
Tin Lee House in Tai O village is the public housing block with the lowest occupancy rate in Hong Kong, with just 14 households. Now those households, mainly made up of elderly people who lost their former homes in a fire, have been told they must leave because the government wants to sell the flats under the Home Ownership Scheme. Here, the residents tell their stories.
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Our Community
Marry First, Love Later
Arranged marriage may seem like an anomaly in a society saturated by images and stories of love, romance and dream weddings. But for many members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities, arranged marriage is a cultural norm and an accepted fact of life. Varsity listens to their stories.
People
A Rehearsal of Life
Meet Mo Lai Yan-chi, one of Hong Kong’s brightest young drama actors and scriptwriters, a documentary-maker, filmmaker and activist. Here she tells Varsity how abandonment by her birth parents and an unusual childhood in rural China shaped her worldview and inspired her work.
Photo Feature
Learning the Ropes at Hong Kong’s Sea School
Imagine living by the beach in Stanley and practising canoeing and windsurfing as part of your school sports activities. This is not just the preserve of the rich and privileged elite, but also for the boys from the Hong Kong Sea School. Students at the school are mainly academically lower-achieving boys from underprivileged backgrounds. The school’s maritime-based curriculum and strict discipline are designed to train them jobs in the maritime and hospitality industries.
Multimedia
Methadone Throws Lifeline to Heroin Addicts
Hong Kong’s methadone programme is held up as a model that has worked to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users and assist addicts to lead functional lives. But as the number of heroin users has decreased in the territory, the programme’s value has been questioned. Varsity looks at the impact methadone has had as a method of harm reduction.
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Methadone Throws Lifeline to Heroin Addicts
May 22, 2013 15:05 -
Jobs Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
May 22, 2013 15:05 -
Masters and Apprentices in the World of Martial Arts
May 22, 2013 15:05 -
Residents face forced move from Tai O’s Tin Lee House
May 22, 2013 14:05 -
Wheelchair Athletes Call for Better Sports Facilities
May 22, 2013 13:05
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Dr Rusdi Rashid:
Bravo to the young journalist team! Certainly, this video article will help to -
Angel Ogden:
It is an interesting article which helped to provide an unbiased report of the b -
prof. robert newman:
a clear, succinct, balanced summary of methadone treatment in Hong Kong, includi -
Liz:
Parents oh parents, please save your kids their lovely childhood. :$ The inter -
Pauline Burton:
Congratulations, Jeff and Tracy, on your careful and thoughtful exploration of a
Recent Articles
Methadone Throws Lifeline to Heroin Addicts
Hong Kong’s methadone programme is held up as a model that has worked to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users and assist addicts to lead functional lives. But as the number of heroin users has decreased in the territory, the programme’s value has been questioned. Varsity looks at the impact methadone has had as a method of harm reduction.
Jobs Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
Ex-offenders often encounter discrimination when they leave prison and re-enter society. It can be hard for them to overcome social prejudice and find jobs. But as Varsity discovers, there are some organisations and employers who are working to to give former offenders a chance to start afresh through employment.
Masters and Apprentices in the World of Martial Arts
The bonds between masters and apprentices are part of Chinese martial arts folklore. In the old days, the master a combination of parent, teacher and mentor – a figure to be obeyed. How can these bonds survive in the 21st century where martial arts are not necessarily a philosophy and way of life but can also be just a hobby or way of keeping fit?
Residents face forced move from Tai O’s Tin Lee House
Tin Lee House in Tai O village is the public housing block with the lowest occupancy rate in Hong Kong, with just 14 households. Now those households, mainly made up of elderly people who lost their former homes in a fire, have been told they must leave because the government wants to sell the flats under the Home Ownership Scheme. Here, the residents tell their stories.
Wheelchair Athletes Call for Better Sports Facilities
Hong Kong’s successful Paralympics athletes are widely lauded by the government and in the media for their inspiring achievements. But little is heard about sporting needs of ordinary disabled people. Here, they tell Varsity about the problems they face in finding venues to train and the hurdles they encounter with the lack of facilities that cater to their needs.
Cyclists Savour Life in the Slow-lane
Hong Kong is known for having a fast pace of life and fierce competitive streak. But not everyone is happy to participate in the rat race. Varsity meets some the Slow-mo cyclists, who have decided to literally slow down, wake up to the world around them and smell the roses.
Local Bands Snub Government’s Flyover Venue Plans
Fly the Flyover is a project to turn the underpasses of Kowloon East into venues for rock concerts and other cultural events. The government says it will help to revitalise the area and provide more cultural spaces in Hong Kong. But local bands tell Varsity they believe the plan is just a ploy to jack up rents and squeeze them out of Kwun Tong’s factory buildings.
Marry First, Love Later
Arranged marriage may seem like an anomaly in a society saturated by images and stories of love, romance and dream weddings. But for many members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities, arranged marriage is a cultural norm and an accepted fact of life. Varsity listens to their stories.
Mainstreaming Mothers’ Milk
The recent dispute over the shortage of infant formula highlighted tensions between Hong Kong and the Mainland. But it also shone a light on the territory’s low breastfeeding rate. The ratio of mothers who still breastfeed their babies after six months lags behind most Asian countries and regions. As Varsity discovers, many mothers complain Hong Kong lacks a supportive environment for breastfeeding.
A Rehearsal of Life
Meet Mo Lai Yan-chi, one of Hong Kong’s brightest young drama actors and scriptwriters, a documentary-maker, filmmaker and activist. Here she tells Varsity how abandonment by her birth parents and an unusual childhood in rural China shaped her worldview and inspired her work.