It’s Not Only Rock ‘n’ Roll
Mention concerts in Hong Kong and most people think of glitzy shows by Cantopop stars in venues like the Hong Kong Coliseum. But in recent years, the territory has been playing host to a very different kind of music event. An increasing number of outdoor music festivals are attracting big name international headliners and showcasing local indie talent and changing the way Hong Kongers experience live music.
Boccia – A Game with No Barriers
Boccia is a ball game that can be played by the able-bodied, the disabled and the elderly. It's a paralympic sport in which Hong Kong has an impressive track record. Yet few in Hong Kong have heard of it. Varsity takes a closer look.
Leading the Way
Guide dogs for the blind are making a comeback in Hong Kong. Two groups are training a new generation of guide-dogs by enlisting the help of "puppy walkers" who help young dogs learn how to socialise with humans and navigate around the city. Varsity finds out what it takes for a puppy to become a guide dog.
Covering the Community
With the spread of the internet, newspapers around the world are suffering from falling advertising revenues and shrinking circulations. District newspapers, which were once an important source of local news and information in Hong Kong had nearly all disappeared by the end of the 1980s. But a renewed interest in community and neighbourhood in community in the city has led to revival of district papers. Varsity meets the people behind them.
Crowdfunding makes dreams come true
Crowdfunding, already popular overseas, is making inroads in Hong Kong as a way to raise money for charities, artists, filmmakers, programmers, entrepreneurs and others interested in creative projects. But can it really succeed here? Varsity talks to people who have managed to fund their projects through clicks on the internet.
Sound Art – More than Noise
In a noisy city like Hong Kong, it is easy to block out the different sounds that make up our auditory experience. Varsity meets a group of artists who are trying to teach Hong Kongers to listen again, and to find the art in sound.
The Unsung Heroes of the Music World
Not all singers perform for fame and fortune. Demo singers are unknown and usually uncredited, yet they are often the first artists to interpret and and record a song. While backing singers provide the harmonies that can complete and elevate an arrangement. Varsity lifts the veil on these unsung heroes of the music industry.
Flash Mob Takes off in Hong Kong
From a seemingly spontaneous mass performance of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" in Mong Kok, to an apparently aimless pillow fight in Central, to a mass gathering to call for the elimination of violence against women - flash mobs have become increasingly popular in Hong Kong. Varsity finds out how something that started as a sarcastic commentary on urban hipsters turned into a way to connect people and raise social awareness.
April 2012 – Hong Kong’s Ailing Health System
Hong Kong has one of the better public health systems in the world but the system is groaning under the challenge of an aging...
Barter Hunting
Why buy when you can trade? That's the question asked by some young Hong Kongers who are staging barter events so people can dispose of their unwanted items without creating waste. Varsity discovers that more and more young people in Hong Kong are taking part in these cash-less transactions.
