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The Hong Kong government and some schools are optimistic about e-textbooks being the way of the future. But that's not going so well. Why?

Contract teachers in Hong Kong's schools do much the same jobs as permanent teachers and are usually paid far less. They are also often given one-year contracts, which leads to a lack of job security. Varsity learns more.

There is a common misunderstanding in Hong Kong that autistic people are either severely intellectually disabled or are geniuses with special talents. Either way, they tend to be labeled as freaks. However, high functioning autistic people are embraced by employers due to their loyalty, methodical approach and sensitivity to numbers.

End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients need frequent dialysis treatment frequently to stay alive. This makes it hard for them to find jobs to pay for the costly treatment. Disability Allowance could help to ease their financial burden but the ambiguous terms in the application mean many doctors do not consider ESRD patients as eligible for the allowance.

With an ageing population, Hong Kong faces a shrinking workforce. The government’s latest initiative to boost the workforce and expand the pool of talent is to appeal to the children of Hongkongers who have emigrated overseas. But does the city have what it takes to attract these second generation overseas Hongkongers, or would they prefer competitor cities like Singapore?

Unions have been fighting for collective bargaining rights for Hong Kong's workers for more than a decade. Yet the government and business sector insists that voluntary negotiations are good enough. Labour groups tell Varsity all they want is a fairer footing at the negotiating table.

Hong Kong has long been regarded as a World City that accommodates tourists from all over the world. But the huge increase in the number of mainland tourists in recent years has dampened its attractiveness to other international tourists. Is Hong Kong losing its competitive edge in tourism?

With a surge in the number of PhD graduates and scarce job opportunities in academia, local PhD graduates are finding it harder to find research and teaching jobs in universities. Varsity hears how they can often be at a disadvantage to holders of overseas doctorates.

In America, any disease affecting about one in 1,500 people is defined as a rare disease, in European Union countries, the figure is one in 2,000 people and in Taiwan, one in 10,000 people. But in Hong Kong, there is no definition of what counts as a rare disease, let alone any legislation safeguarding their rights. Sufferers tell Varsity how this affects their treatment and care.

A marriage may be between two people, but when it hits the rocks, it can affect more than just the couple involved - especially when there are children. Marriage counsellors can help couples to resolve their differences or at least their hostilities for the benefit of all parties. But as Varsity learns, services are hampered by cultural barriers and a lack of support.