Elderly Overwhelmed by E-ordering

March 22, 2023

Elderly face challenges when ordering food with QR code in dim sum restaurants.

By Nicole Li

Struggling to order dim sum with a QR code system in a Chinese restaurant, Chan Wing-hung frowns at her phone.

“I used to choose what to eat on a dim sum list with a pencil and it is easy to handle. But now I do not know how to place an order using my phone,” the 65-year-old woman says.

Chan loves going to Chinese restaurants for tea and dim sum with her family and she now finds the restaurant she has visited frequently for more than 10 years an alien place.

“I used to go to the Chinese restaurant every week but now I only go there twice a month because I do not know how to use the QR code,” the grandmother says. So she now only goes there every other week with her family who can order food for her.

Customers scan the QR code to
order food.

Digital orders in restaurants rose 124 per cent in the year ending March 2021 compared to 2020 according to a report from the NPD Group, a consumer spending research firm.

Some Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong, such as the Starfood restaurant and Lei Bistro, have adopted the e-ordering system.

Customers use their own smartphones to scan a QR code to get a restaurant menu, pick dishes they want and put them into a shopping cart, and then wait for food to be served.

Instructions listed on a QR code order sheet.

“I do not know where to scan the QR code but the managers are too busy to help. Almost half of the elders in restaurants cannot order food successfully with their smartphones. Everyone needs help,” Chan says.

She finds the instructions given by the restaurant are not clear enough.

“There are some wordy instructions on the QR code paper. But the actual operation is hard to understand without pictures demonstrating how to use it.”

The elderly recalls she once waited for about 20 minutes to get help from the restaurant manager to order food through the digital platform.

“Overall, the dining experience was poor, and I may switch to other restaurants where customers can order with a pencil and a dim sum list,” she adds.

Restaurant workers also dislike e-ordering.

“Many old people complained and asked for help on the first day when the new system was launched. It was really a hectic day, especially during the peak hour,” *Mary Wong, a waitress working in Tao Heung’s Yuen Long branch says.

“They did not know how to scan the QR code. Some of them might double-click the options and could not find the confirmation list,” she adds.

“But it is better now as more people are adapting to the system. We do not have to handle so many complaints these days,” she explains.

Committee member of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management Simpson Chung Chi-yeung says the association offers a series of workshops for elderly to help them better understand how technology devices work.

Restaurants used to fully rely on
screen monitors to process food
orders (Photo Courtesy of the As-
sociation for Hong Kong Cater-
ing Services Management)

“It takes time to build a habit, especially for elderly. Still, it is important for restaurants to develop user-friendly interfaces for customers,” the researcher says.

“The elderly not only face the problem of e-ordering, but also numerous technological difficulties,” he adds.

Professor Yang Tian from the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong believes old people are suffering in the digital age.

“This is not just a problem appearing in restaurants and delivery systems—the whole internet ecosystem is not elderly-friendly which altogether accounts for the exclusion of the elderly.”

“The current interface designers often assume that the e-ordering platforms are mainly catered to young generations, while largely overlooking the need of the elderly. So, the restaurants and the delivery platform should improve the learnability of their interface,” Yang adds.

Restaurants are adopting electronic ordering to reduce costs and hygiene problems, according to Professor Oliver Chan Ngai-keung of the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“E-ordering minimises human contact especially during the pandemic,” he says.

Customers receive dimsum orders by scanning QR codes.

Chan mentions that old people take more time to get used to e-ordering because they are new to technology.

“But once the old people are familiar with the electronic ordering system, they can use it easily. They also faced difficulties using Alipay at first but now they have no problem. They just need more time to get familiar with new tools,” he adds.

*Names changed at interviewees’ requests.

Edited by Karmen Yip
Sub-edited by Esme Lam

Never Apart: Hongkongers Emigrating With Pets

March 21, 2023

More and more pets are left behind by emigrating pet owners in Hong Kong because of complicated and costly procedures, some still try their best to stay with their furry friend despite the difficulties.

By Hannah Tang

Well-planned and willing to spend, Nicole Li* and her family left Hong Kong and moved to Britain with Bailey, a two-year-old corgi.

Having settled happily since August 2022, Li noted the family began finding ways to leave with their dearest pet once her husband successfully secured a job transfer within his company from Hong Kong to Britain in late 2021.

“Due to the rapid changes in politics, economics and even the education system in Hong Kong in recent years, there were many uncertainties we saw when planning our future,” Li says, adding the family insisted on leaving Hong Kong together with Bailey.

Noting that pet emigration involves lots of procedures and documents and the family was busy with work at that time, Li says it is worth paying HKD$66,000 (USD$8,435) and several thousand dollars of incidental fee to a pet relocation agency.

“It was not easy for sure, but I treat Bailey as my child. We are glad that she came here with us without any separations,” Li says.

Bailey moved to London, Britain in August 2022.

“Honestly, it would be quite stressful if we didn’t find the agency,” she says.

The agency provided the family with vet visits and helped arrange a Cathay Pacific direct flight for Bailey, and most importantly, got the signed health certificate from the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).

Li points out that if a pet owner can do every single procedure on his or her own, the cost can be just one-third of hers.

“I truly understand the difficulties of emigrating a pet, especially the divergence in opinions among family members,” Li says, adding that pet owners should try every means to emigrate with their pets.

“I will always call Bailey as ‘she’ not ‘it’, she is our family, so do other pets in other families”

In recent years, many Hong Kong people are leaving the city. Some choose to or are forced to abandon their pets.

According to the Census and Statistics Department, the city’s population fell from 7.52 million to 7.29 million from the end of 2019 to mid-2022.

A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2022 indicated that, among 705 interviewees aged 18-year-old or above, 28.4 per cent intended to emigrate and the top push factor was the “excessive political disputes or unstable politics”.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals notes it has seen an increase in pet abandonment cases amid the recent emigration wave.

“In 2020/2021 alone, we received 377 animals surrendered to us by their owners,” the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) stated on their Facebook page.

Still, many Hong Kong people are willing to spend time and money to leave the city with their pets

Like the family of Li, Marsha Yeung* and her husband are glad to relocate with their pets.

They moved to Canada in May 2022 with two cats, Fuji and Goji, both two-year-old, after more than two years of pre-emigration preparation.

Fuji and Goji moved to Vancouver, Canada in May 2022.

“It is good that Fuji and Goji could fly to Canada with us in the same plane so that we can look after them during the flight,” Yeung says.

Air Canada allows fully weaned cats and small dogs in the cabin. Yeung paid HKD$1,200 (USD$153) for the seats of her two cats.

Fuji and Goji’s departure from the Hong Kong International Airport in May 2022.

She also spent another HKD$2,600 (USD$330) for rabies vaccinations as required by the Canada government.

“Fuji and Goji were in our emigration plans at the very first stage as they’re part of our family. You never leave them behind, just as families having human kids.”

“If we’re not able to bring along Fuji and Goji, we wouldn’t have emigrated,” she adds.

The Hong Kong Society for Abandoned Animals (HKSAA) founded in 1997 amid the city’s migration wave in the 90s, points out that the decision of abandoning a pet may cause severe consequences, and it may even cause the death of the pet.

HKSAA has also received a significant increase in requests for assistance on how to bring pets along with them to other countries.

Holding the motto “Never Kill Never Abandon”, HKSAA suggests pet owners to be aware and make sufficient preparation beforehand in regards to the varied regulations among countries, also to seek a legal and proper channel to bring their pets abroad.

HKSAA encourages owners to try bringing along the pets with them. Owners could reach out to the association for emigration procedures consultations and pet emigration service providers referrals .

Life expectancy of pets can be 10 to 20 years. The association strongly recommends owners of senior pets to stay and accompany their pets for the rest of their lives.

“If owners are not able to bring their pet together, they ought to help settle down the life of the pet before leaving and ensure the life quality of the pet,” the association says.

Table 1 Britain and Canada’s policies on pet immigration
Notes:
1. No restrictions imposed on the exportation of pets from Hong Kong unless they are endangered species according to the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
2. Specific terms and conditions are imposed for different species in different countries.
3. Official website version shall prevail.

*Names changed at the requests of the interviewees.

Edited by Lily Wang

Sub-edited by Fiona Dongye

Messy Student Dormitories

March 19, 2023

bin_resized-1 — Residents in a student dormitory continue to fill up the rubbish bin after it is visibly full.

Why are university student dormitories so unpleasant to live in?

By Chloe Tam

Ruby Shum* and her two roommates have been living in a dormitory of Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) for six months since September 2022 and only managed to clean their toilet for the first time in February 2023. They hope they will not have to do it again till the end of the school year in May 2023.

“Cleaning the bathroom is very disgusting and my roommates and I are too lazy to clean it,” the year one Journalism student says.

The smell of the bathroom was so strong that the trio had to think of a “quick fix”.

“We just poured some bleach into the toilet bowl, used toilet gel stamps and sprayed freshener to cover the unbearable odour,” Shum recalls, adding that she does not know how to clean the toilet as her mum cleans it for her at home.

For Shum’s roommates, their domestic helpers do it.

“We could not stand the smell anymore. There were also stains on the toilet bowl so we decided to carry out this ‘big job’. We used a clip to hold wet wipes to clean the toilet bowl. The primary aim of the washing was to remove the stains,” Shum recalls the first time cleaning this year.

“We did not wash it thoroughly as we are too afraid of dirtiness. I hope we will not have to wash it before the end of semester in May,” she says.

“Most residents also do not clean their bathroom because of laziness,” she adds.

Jolene Chan*, a student living in Wu Yee Sun College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), shares Shum’s experience.

She is particularly frustrated by the situation in the bathroom on her floor that is shared by 60 students.

“We have a big rubbish bin in the bathroom but it is always full. I have seen used sanitary pads on the floor near the bin two to three times. Is it so difficult to throw their rubbish into another bin by walking a few more steps?” the Year One Linguistics student says.

She points out that other than the big rubbish bin, smaller ones are also available in each of the four toilet cubicles.

Chan is also upset by her peers’ behaviour when flushing water supply was suspended in November 2022.

“I don’t understand why people do not flush the toilet. Why would they expect someone to flush for them? I wanted to go to the toilet after class but I could not find a clean one on my floor, UG and first floor. It was a nightmare!” she says.

She ended up walking ten minutes to the toilet in the University Library from her dorm to answer the call of nature.

The university student is also troubled by noise problems in her dorm.

“Some girls scream and chat loudly in the corridor during midnight. Some even use hair dryers in the common area when others are sleeping. It is really disturbing,” she says.

Notices have been posted to remind students to be considerate and not to use hair dryers in the common area. Chan finds the soundproofing design of the hostel poor. She can always hear noises in the common area even when she is in her room.

“Most students are born in small families with one or no siblings so parents spoil their kids. They are not taught to be considerate and empathetic. They put their convenience before others and do whatever they want,” she says.

“Many Hong Kong students are machines trained to perform well in exams. They have excellent exam skills but none or few life skills. They have no idea how to get along with others, especially when they need to live together,” she continues.

“I believe university students study hard and become well-educated. But some of the residents’ behaviour makes me doubt their education. A university student is not supposed to be so inconsiderate. They may think that no one would find out who has messed up toilets and common areas so they are free from responsibilities,” Chan adds.

Photos of the unpleasant condition of the toilet bowls were sent to a Whatsapp group used by resident tutors and residents to spread information. Residents sometimes use the group to complain about the living conditions and ask others to behave well. Noise problems and the untidiness of the toilet and pantry are primary concerns.

Residents complained about the behaviour of other students in the floor Whatsapp group in December 2022.

Senior hall tutor at Wu Yee Sun College Michelle Hon Ka-yan is responsible for managing residents’ affairs, providing guidance and organising floor activities. She has received residents’ complaints about problems living in student dormitories.

“After receiving complaints, I remind residents to put themselves in other’s shoes in the floor Whatsapp group. I also stick notices in the bathroom to remind them to clean it after using. As a hall tutor, I want to teach residents to be considerate, but not to blame them. Empathy and responsibility are very important,” Hon says.

“I tell residents to think for other students, especially international students who do not have a home in Hong Kong. They live here every day,” she adds.

Residents should take good care of all public properties and keep the hostels clean and orderly at all times, according to the Student Hostel Regulations of Wu Yee Sun College.

Resident tutors have posted notices to remind students to be considerate.
Resident tutors have posted notices to remind students to be considerate.

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Professor Yu Wai-mui from the Education University of Hong Kong shares Hon’s view in educating students to be better residents.

“Living in a dorm is a transitional period for university students to become mature grown-ups and responsible leaders,” Yu says.

“While university students are blessed with loving parents, families should teach their children to be more independent from primary school. Parents can teach their kids basic skills like cooking, using the washing machine, and most importantly, eating healthily. It is better to develop good habits at a young age,” she adds.

Yu is part of a research project published in 2022 titled “Strengthening the Alignment of Residential Education and University Educational Aims”. She visited some top universities including University of Cambridge, Harvard University and Nanyang Technological University and found out residential education was highly valued at these universities.

Yu and her fellow researchers suggest increasing human resources and providing more funds for residential education development. They also encourage organising more hall activities that help students understand the value of residential education.

“Hall life education should be provided in Hong Kong to improve the living quality of dorms. The University Grant Committee (UGC) only focuses on hardwares of university but there should be more resources on developing communication channels, organising cooking lessons and providing counselling sessions,” says Yu, who is also the Warden of the Grantham Hall at the Education University of Hong Kong.

“Self-discipline is the key. If students can manage their time well, they can better manage themselves and their interpersonal relationships. They can gain peer support and be more considerate to others,” she says.

“Young adults are easily influenced by their peers so mutual support can bring positive influence to their well-being,” Yu adds.

*Names changed at interviewees’ request.

Edited by Victoria Fong
Sub-edited by Charmaine Choi

Long Live Live Shows!

March 19, 2023

People crave for live shows as the pandemic situation eases.

By Lilac Ye

University student Wu Sio Fong is dying to go to live performances as the pandemic situation eases. He has bought 13 tickets for concerts from November 2022 to May 2023.

Wu went to Dear Jane’s concert in November 2022, four Hins Cheung’s concerts,and two Eason Chan’s concerts in December 2022 and January 2023.

Attending Sky Tour at the Hong Kong Space Museum in December 2022, Wu also went to Ivana Wong’s show in December 2022 and Gigi Leung Wing-kei’s concert in February 2023.

He will go to Leslie Cheung’s anniversary concert on April 1, 2023, Sam Hui’s concert on April 7, 2023, and another Ivana Wong’s show on May 13, 2023.

The last live show Wu watched was Jacky Cheung Hok-yau’s concert in Macau in 2018.

“I really love live concerts. I love sitting in crowds and singing with other concert-goers in a stadium. I miss live activities so much,” Wu, who has not been to any live shows since 2018, says.

“Singers usually do heart-to-heart talks during concerts. They sound so sincere that I feel so touched. As a fan, I feel like I am a friend of the singer. The quality of music is much better at live concerts as well, as professional audio equipment is used. I can only have this experience at live concerts,” Wu says.

Wu bought a ticket for Hins Cheung’s concert in January 2022 but it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“I used to take going to live performances for granted, but the pandemic has taught me otherwise,” he says.

HongKongers attended a live concert and waved their hands.

Another university student Liu Minxing shares Wu’s passion for live performances. She went to 12 live performances from December 2022 to February 2023.

The rap show lover went to three shows in Chengdu in December 2022. She also went to Shenzhen and Zhuhai for two other shows in February 2023.

“I really want to go to live shows because I love these rappers and the vibes at live performances. Everyone yells and jumps to the music,” Liu says.

She spent RMB ¥480 (US $69.3) to buy a VIP ticket for a live show of a Chinese rapper, Knowknow, in Chengdu in December 2022.

“VIPs have the chance to meet the rapper closer than others in person. Knowknow took my phone and started filming during the live show!” Liu recalls.

VIP audience’s vision of the live show of Chinese rapper Knowknow, in Chengdu in December 2022.

“Online shows can never replace live shows. I never manage to finish watching a whole online concert. I just give up after watching a few minutes because it is boring. Interactions between the stars and the audience is the highlight of live performances.”

Liu also loves live concerts and plays. This year, she went to concerts by Eason Chan and Sunset Rollercoaster in January, watched three plays in Shenzhen in February, and attended a meet-up session featuring movie artists from Someday or One Day in Hong Kong in the same month.

Liu Minxing held Eason Chan’s concert ticket she bought at HK $999 (US $127.63).

“Live performances’ venue settings, visual impact, stage and lighting designs, as well as live acting and singing, cannot be replaced by other forms of presentation,” Liu says.

“Being present in a live performance sometimes makes me feel like I am part of the show. That is the magic of a live show,” she adds.

Assistant professor Karim Bettache at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Social Science says experiencing lockdown is a trigger for people to seek social contacts.

“People buy many more tickets to engage in such social events because they are way more special than before. Many of us fear that in the future, lockdowns may come back. Therefore, many try to enjoy life to the fullest now that things are opening up again,” Battache says.

“To be socially isolated for so long and in so many ways has been quite unnatural and historically unique to us as human beings,” he adds.

Edited by Lily Wang

Sub-edited by Lesley Lam

Cyberbullying takes a teacher’s life

March 19, 2023

An intrusion to an online teaching platform is considered a new type of cyberbullying and arouses cyber security awareness.

By Molisa Meng

High school student Alina Liang* does not want to take online classes anymore as her history teacher died from a heart attack after being bullied during an online class. The 16-year-old deleted her online course software, DingDing, in November 2022.

Liang and her classmates are saddened by the tragedy, which casts a great shadow over her.

“My mind totally went blank when it happened. It’s like we were witnessing the whole incident, but we could not do anything. I still feel upset when I think about my teacher. I still cannot believe that happened,” she says.

On October 28, 2022, 46-year-old history teacher Liu Hanbo from Xinzheng No 3 High School in Henan used DingDing, a video conferencing software with similar functions as Zoom, to host an online class as usual when some unknown users entered the online conference room.

DingDing, where the case happened, is an online teaching software with a similar function like Zoom.

“They turned on the microphones, spoke abusive language, made annoying noises like sounds of alarms and posted videos about sex and violence. My teacher tried to kick the intruders out. But after a few seconds, they re-entered the room several times and cursed at my teacher until the class was finally suspended,” Liang recalls.

The history teacher died from a heart attack a few hours after the online intrusion on the same day.

“Whenever there was an online intruder, there was no way to conduct normal teaching and the class had to be suspended. My teacher felt very stressed,” Liang says.

“The local police are taking the case very seriously because of its significant impact, but we do not know when the guilty ones will be arrested,” she adds.

Five days after the tragedy, someone who claimed to be Liu’s daughter posted on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, saying her mother was in good health before the incident.

“In just a few days, she had experienced three cyber attacks in a row during online classes. She was insulted by the intruders, causing her great distress,” the post reads.

Liu’s case has aroused great concern with more than 490 million post views, 194,000 shares and 36,000 comments on Weibo as of March 2023.

Xin Zheng education bureau issued an announcement about Liu’s case on their official website on November 2, 2022.

The education bureau of Xinzheng City, Henan Province, issued a statement announcing Liu’s death on their official website on the same day the Weibo post was published, stating “What Liu encountered was cyber violence. The public security authorities are investigating the case and further information about the investigation will be made in due course.”

The Jiangsu provincial government also posted an announcement to remind internet users to pay attention to network security to prevent similar offences from happening again.

Li Ying, who has taught chemistry in a junior high school in Jilin province for 15 years, feels distressed about the news.

“I want to know how it happened. It is difficult to imagine how much the teacher had suffered. I would have never thought an online intrusion case would cost a life,” says the 39-year-old teacher.

Li’s colleagues are shocked and upset about the tragedy.

“What happened to Liu could have happened to us. We felt very worried. As a teacher who has conducted many online courses, I hope this will never happen to any other teacher again,” Li says.

“We need to be more vigilant. The tragedy reminds me that every teacher should keep an eye on changes in teaching software and chat rooms,” Li continues.

The Jiangsu Province Government posted an announcement on November 2, 2022 to remind the public to pay attention to the online ecosystem to prevent such cases from happening again.

Assistant professor Meng Wei of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong attributes the tragedy to abuse and misuse of technology.

“Security features of some online conference softwares fail to prevent malicious cyber attacks by hackers. Some users might even share passwords with these attackers,” he says.

Meng, who researches cyber security, points out that it is important to educate internet users about the importance of protecting their accounts.

“Users should learn what kind of network security risks they may face and what options are available to counter these risks, such as using strong and random passwords, not clicking unknown links, and not sharing account information with anyone,” Meng says.

“To prevent potential misuse, online conference software developers should devote more resources in developing user-friendly interfaces with sound security features. Two-factor authentication is one example,” Meng says.

“A stronger level of restriction is to use a guest whitelist. But in many cases, it is hard to trade usability for security, and people deliberately choose convenience over security,” he says.

*Name changed at interviewee’s request

Sub-edited by Charmaine Choi

Knitting With Youngsters

March 19, 2023

Youngsters enjoy knitting in the UK while the culture is fading in Hong Kong.

By Sunnie Wu

When most young people buy fast fashion to catch up with latest trends, university student Margaret Law Wan-hei Loves knitting clothes, hats, scarves and bags not only for herself but also for her family and friends.

She has already created more than 10 pieces, some were knitted as farewell gifts to her loved ones for her departure from Hong Kong.

“I become very focused when I knit, as I devote all my attention to the repetitive and rhythmic movement of my needles. It helps me relax and ease my stress from studying,” the 18-year-old student says.

Cardigan knitted by Margaret Law Wan-hei after her arrival in the UK. (Photo courtesy of Margaret Law Wan-hei)

Law has been watching her mother’s knitting since she was a small child. The young girl finally picked up knitting needles to learn the skill from her grandma after sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), when most youngsters are glued to their smartphones.

She now spends 10 hours on her interest every week. Her grandma offers help to Law when she faces obstacles in understanding written patterns.

“Sometimes I feel lonely knitting on my own, as it is not a popular hobby among my peers. My friends are shocked and puzzled when they find out I knit since they think knitting is a hobby for seniors.”

While it is hard to share her passion in Hong Kong with her friends, Law finds the UK, where she lives and studies now, a paradise for knitters with a long history of knitting culture and easy accessibility to resources.

“Knitting seems to be a granny’s hobby in Hong Kong and I feel awkward telling people that I am a knitter. It feels like people will treat me as an introvert. But in the UK, it is a hobby for all ages,” Law says.

She was amazed when she visited a yarn shop of 4,000 square feet in the UK where she found a large variety of yarns and tools.

“I was very surprised. Knitting needles for chunky yarn is quite difficult for me to buy in Hong Kong, but there is a whole tray displaying it in the UK,” she says.

Margaret Law Wan-hei was amazed when she first visited a UK yarn shop.
(Photo courtesy of Margaret Law Wan-hei)

Law believes British diver Tom Daley, who knits in public and even when attending Olympic Games, helps promote knitting.

“Daley makes more young people want to try knitting since he is quite influential on social media,” she adds.

Tom Daley creates a knitting and crochet account on Instagram.

There are over 400 knitting groups in the UK, according to the UK Hand Knitting Association. Knitting groups provide opportunities for members to make new friends who share common interests. They help each other with advice when someone runs into difficulties with a project.

Peer Support in the UK

Another university student, Cassie Yip Ka-hei, who is now studying at Durham University in the UK, is also amazed to find that knitting is popular among young people in the UK.

“There are many knitting societies in the UK, and this is the total opposite in Hong Kong. The hobby club at my university makes me want to knit,” Yip says.

Yip says there are about 10 to 20 people in each gathering and it is a good chance for her to learn new skills and get to know more people. She thinks the club makes knitting a meaningful social activity.

“Knitting requires many small and repetitive motions that my stiff fingers cannot handle. Despite watching many step-by-step tutorials on Youtube, sometimes I feel like my hands are not able to make stitches,” Yip adds.

The university student thinks that the learning environment affects young beginners’ motivation.

“As a beginner, it is challenging for me as I always forget the steps or get lost in the process. I often feel frustrated after spending several hours knitting and making almost no progress. This is why peer support is crucial to me. They calm me down, try to help me and motivate me to keep going,” the Year One student says.

Fading of Knitting Culture in Hong Kong

While there is more new blood learning knitting, some elderly in Hong Kong also heard of the trend among youngsters in the UK.

Alice Wong, who has knitted for over 30 years, says her friend also noticed that more young people are learning the skill around the world.

“One of my friends who moved to the UK last year told me she often saw people knitting in public such as in parks, coffee shops or on buses. It is quite encouraging to see more people willing to learn knitting,” Wong says.

Though some young people in Hong Kong learn knitting, yarn shops in the city are struggling to survive.

Vinchi Lau, who took over his father’s wool shop in 2020, has witnessed the decline of the wool industry. MeiFung Wool shop was first opened in Tsuen Wan in 1985.

Vinchi Lau, owner of MeiFung Wool shop is tidying yarn.

He says their sales dropped significantly during the pandemic and the social movement in 2019 so it is difficult for them to run the business.

“As far as I know, around three wool shops have shut down in the last few years. Comparing the peak season with the off-season, there is a difference of around HK $500,000 (US $63694) in annual income,” Lau says.

“Around 80 per cent of my customers are around 50 to 70 years old. They stop knitting mostly due to health issues and immigrations. Besides, I only have a few new customers. It is difficult to run the business,” Lau adds.

The shop owner blames the fast-paced lifestyle for declining interest in knitting.

“Knitting requires a lot of time, effort and patience. You need a lot of time to hone your skills and you will not become an expert shortly, so less young people start learning it,” he says.

Edited by Esme Lam
Sub-edited by Charlie Chun

Scholarships Lures Talent

March 18, 2023

Scholarships becomes a vital key to attract foreign talents to the city.

By Charlotte Wu

Among offers from the renowned Indonesia International Institute for Life-Sciences and three universities in Hong Kong, Michelle Tjoa decided to embark on university studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

“I had other options when it came to studying abroad. But Hong Kong was very generous with financial aid and scholarships,” the year one Indonesian student, who joined the university in September 2022, says.

Under the CUHK University Admission Scholarship, students who achieve three A*s in A-levels are awarded full tuition fee.

“I think the main reason people choose to study in Hong Kong is because of the scholarships,” the biomedical science major student adds.

“Around 40 Indonesians applied for the CUHK conditional scholarships. Only a few were eligible to receive the scholarship,” she says.

Having obtained two A*s in A-levels, Tjoa only got half of the scholarship. But she still decided to come and learn research-oriented skills to prepare for her future career plan.

“I am happy I can study here. The scholarship helps reduce the financial burden on my family. There is no way I can come here without a scholarship.”

Tjoa thinks Hong Kong has a better academic reputation and environment for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) students.

“Hong Kong has higher-quality resources for research. There are also better institutions that I can join after graduating,” she adds.

Michelle Tjoa is studying biomedical science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In the 2020-21 academic year, a total of 12,477 non-local full-time undergraduates were enrolled in Hong Kong’s eight publicly-funded universities. In 2021-22, the number rose by 6.3 per cent to 13,254, according to figures released by the University Grants Committee (UGC).

The number of international undergraduates at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) increased by 16.9 per cent from 6,257 in the 2020-2021 academic year to 7,308 in 2021-2022 academic year.

For the University of Hong Kong (HKU), a total of 4,408 non-local full-time undergraduates were admitted in the 2021-2022 academic year. The number is 4.6 per cent more than the matriculated 4,213 in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the HKU Student Profiles.

Born and raised in Thailand, Gene Nutcha is another international student studying at CUHK.

The 19-year-old attended Chulalongkorn University (CHULA) in Thailand as a science major student for one year. She came to the city for a different study path.

“I think communication studies fits my interests better,” the year one student says.

Benefiting from the CUHK University Admission Scholarship, Nutcha is able to study global communication with full tuition coverage of HK $580,000 (US $74,081) for the four-year curriculum.

“The tuition fee for international students is more expensive. I will not study in Hong Kong without the scholarship,” she says. Non-local students pay HK $145,000 (US $18,480) per year, while local students pay HK $42,100 (US $5,366) per year.

“It [CUHK scholarship] helps me a lot because I do not have to pay for my tuition. My parents can save their earnings for my living expenses.”

Studying abroad has allowed Nutcha to use more English, not only in class but also in daily life.

“I need time to ease into an English-speaking environment and studying in Hong Kong encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone,” she says.

Gene Nutcha serves as the public relation director of the Executive Committee at the student dormitory.

Nutcha is enjoying her time in Hong Kong. When comparing the learning atmosphere of Hong Kong to Thailand, she is more motivated and active in class.

“CHULA adopts one-way teaching. There are no tutorials for us to discuss among small groups. But here [in CUHK], students eagerly participate in discussions, I can share my opinions and learn from others. I cannot find this peer learning atmosphere in Thailand,” she says.

Like Nutcha, Lucy Seoyeon Jung also benefits from the CUHK admission scholarship.

Studying the CUHK-Tsinghua University Dual Undergraduate Degree Programme in Economics, the South Korean student will spend two years in the city and another one and a half years in Beijing.

Having secured offers from HKUST and Tsinghua University, the 19-year-old only received an admission scholarship from CUHK. The scholarship reduced her tuition of HK $174,000 (US $22,184) per annum by half for two years.

Jung believes offering scholarships is an important incentive for the university to lure overseas students to study in Hong Kong as it recognises and rewards the effort students put in.

Through the program, she hopes to experience different types of university life and learn about the diverse economic backgrounds in Hong Kong and Beijing.

“I think this will be a fun experience to study in two different locations and obtain two degrees,” the year one student says.

The economics major student plans to work in consulting and finance in the future. She believes her study will equip her with relevant skills.

“There are many mentorships and research opportunities in this subject. I can contact professors and understand procedures on how to support research,” she adds.

In October 2022, the Policy Address was released with key measures to trawl for foreign talents. Specific measures targeting talents and enterprises were rolled out in December 2022, including the introduction of the Top Talent Pass Scheme and establishment of The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises.

UGC has allocated funding to the Heads of Universities Committee Standing Committee in promoting the “Studying in Hong Kong” brand. Universities will participate in major international conferences and recruiting trips including the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Annual Conference and Exhibition in Thailand in March 2023 and the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers 2023 Annual Conference & Expo in the U.S. in May this year.

Non-local students studying in UGC-funded universities are eligible for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship of HK $80,000 (US $10,191) per year.

In a written response to queries from Varsity regarding their policies in attracting foreign talents, the UGC says they will continue to work closely with universities in positioning Hong Kong as Asia’s World City and developing strategic partnerships with major cities in the Greater Bay Area.

Edited by Charlie Chun
Sub-edited by Phoebe Chu

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