Plug in and drive on

Vehicle emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution in Hong Kong and the government has been promoting the use of electric vehicles as a way to tackle the problem. But despite its efforts, the response from drivers has been disappointing. Apart from the relatively higher cost of electric cars, motorists tell Varsity the lack of quick chargers is one of the reasons there are so few zero-emissions cars on our roads.

Finding the Spotlight

Mention musicals and most people will think of productions from New York's Broadway or London's West End. But a group of dedicated performers, writers, producers and musicians are working hard to put on local musicals performed in Cantonese. It's an uphill struggle, but they tell Varsity it is well worth the effort.

Walking in the City

Being caught in rush hour traffic in Central is no joke, and if you are a pedestrian, breathing the exhaust filled air is bad for your health. A group of researchers and scholars say there is another way - that we can create a Central free of cars, a walkable Central. Varsity learns more.

Raising Hope – The Future of Dolphins

The plight of an injured dolphin, later named Hope, in waters off Lantau island drew public attention to the dangers facing the Chinese White Dolphins around Hong Kong. Hope's eventual death led to calls for a protocol on dealing with the rescue of injured sea mammals in Hong Kong waters, and for greater monitoring of local dolphin watching tours.

Local apps developers seek to protect innovations

New apps appear on the market for consumers to download onto their mobile devices every day. But for the developers who spend their time and efforts to create them, there is little in the way of intellectual property protection. Varsity speaks to some of the innovators who say that being ripped off is simply a sad reality.

A Hong Kong Natural Treasure

The Hong Kong Global Geopark of China is part of the Global Geoparks Network. It will undergo its first midterm assessment by the UNESCO this July. Varsity meets the professionals and people who work at the Geopark to see whether it will keep its place on the list.

The Forgotten Transport: Kaito Ferries in Hong Kong

Kaito ferries provide a much needed service to residents in some parts of Hong Kong, but stringent licensing requirements mean some are forced to operate illegally, while high operating costs threaten the future of legal services.

Viewing Hong Kong history through protest

While the sheer volume and creativity of the art and visual culture of the recent Umbrella Movement is unprecedented in Hong Kong's history, the territory does have a history of protest and protest culture. Varsity takes a look at how protest objects and their collection have changed over the years.

Capturing scenes from the city – the old fashioned way

In the age of the ubiquitous smartphone and digital camera, Varsity meets the artists who prefer to capture urban scenes using non-digital means.

Old and alone in Hong Kong’s ghost villages

Varsity treks to some of Hong Kong's remote villages to talk to the few elderly villagers still living there and hears that one if their greatest concerns is the lack of convenient transport in the event of a medical emergency.