Young Conservatives Break with Tradition

Hong Kong's young people may be getting more involved in politics and social movements but contrary to common perceptions, they are not all radical or pan-democratic. In fact, some of them are proud to call themselves pro-establishment and conservative although as Varsity discovers, they are not afraid to adopt to learn from some of the more outspoken ways of their pan-democratic counterparts.

April 2013 – An Inhabitable City?

A recent survey by The Economist named Hong Kong as the most "liveable" city in the world. The S.A.R. also came in tenth in a...

Dream Homes out of Reach

Hong Kong consistently tops lists of the world's most expensive city for accommodation. The cost of land and property fuels rising rents, and prices for goods and services and despite various market-cooling measures rolled out by the government, many people remain priced out of the market.

The Cost of Hong Kong’s Dirty Air

There is no doubt we have a problem with the air we breathe. Hong Kong's dirty air is costing the territory billions of dollars and driving away professional talent. The government has vowed to tackle roadside pollution by phasing out the most polluting vehicles. But maritime pollution is an even bigger culprit when it comes to some of the major pollutants in the air. As Varsity learns, even shipowners are urging the administration to take tougher action.

The Kindergarten Rat Race

It can be tough being a kindergarten kid in Hong Kong. First, there is the endless round of extra-curricular interest classes, then the exhausting round of interviews for a primary school place. In the race to make sure their children get the best start in life, parents are putting themselves and their children under increasing pressure to get ahead.

March 2013 – Hong Kong’s Coming Culture War

As our society becomes more fractious and divided we ask whether the culture war has arrived in Hong Kong. In the United States, the...

City of Divided Loyalties

Tensions between Hong Kongers and mainlanders continue to grab the headlines, one of the more recent flashpoints being the shortage of infant formula and the restriction of the amount of milk powder visitors can take out of the city. But there is another simmering conflict. Hong Kongers themselves are increasingly polarised between those, such as the Hong Kong Autonomy Movement who identify with an emerging local consciousness, and nationalists who put their Chinese identity first.

Christians at the Crossroads

A recent mass prayer gathering to oppose any consultation on legislation to outlaw discrimination against gays has sparked discussion about the participation of Hong Kong's evangelical Christians in politics and social affairs. It also highlighted the growing gulf between evangelical and liberal Christians on social issues such as gay rights and political reform. Are we witnessing the beginning of a culture war?

A Radical Road to Reform

For years, Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has concentrated its efforts on winning office through the ballot box. But more than 15 years since the handover, democratic reform in the city remains stalled. Increasingly, democrats are fed-up with trying to change the system through participating in it. As society debates plans to Occupy Central to, many have already taken their demands and protests out of the Legislative Council and onto the streets, organising campaigns of civil disobedience and seeking more radical means of resistance.

December 2012 – Our Place, Our Home

This issue of Varsity looks at the relationship some Hong Kongers have with the places they call home: Many young Sheung Shui residents say they feel...