Dancing with Danger

November 30, 2022

Freelance dancers in Hong Kong risk their lives performing on stage.

By Cynthia Chan

Dancers’ safety on stage has been the talk of the town after a dancer was critically injured when a giant LED screen fell during a July concert by boy band Mirror.

But accidents are not unusual according to Wong Ka-lam*, who was one of the dancers at the concert.

The freelance dancer says he was nearly injured in a stage rehearsal for a commercial dance show when stage fireworks were launched out from a device next to him years ago. But the 23-year-old forced himself to stay calm and kept the show going.

“I also saw many nails scattered around on a performance stage during rehearsals. There was no one to help even if we reported those dangerous stage set-ups!” Wong says.

Dancer Mo Li Kai-yin, 27, was critically injured when a four-by-four-metre screen weighing over 500 kg fell onto the stage during Mirror’s concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum on July 28 this year.

Li has since been hospitalised and is at risk of being paralysed as 95 per cent of his neck spinal nerve may not be able to recover fully. He can speak but cannot move or eat or drink properly at the moment.

The use of a substandard cable, poor installation and misstating the weight of devices were found to be the main causes of the accident, according to an investigation report on the concert accident released by an interdepartmental task force led by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on November 11.

The report stated the weight of the display screens was understated 2.7 times by the production contractor.

The Hong Kong Coliseum where Mo Li Kai-yin was injured in Mirror’s concert in July 2022.

Wong says it is common that organisers take no corresponding action even when dancers report dangerous stage set-ups to them.

The Labour Department stated on November 11 that Li was hired as an employee, but the employer did not report his work injury nor buy insurance for him. The department is considering prosecuting the employer.

Meanwhile, concert organisers MakerVille and Music Nation Group replied to the media’s enquiries that they have bought insurance for all performers. They promised to “pay for the medical expenditure of injured dancers and provide them with other support”, according to a joint statement released by the two companies on October 7.

Wong points out dancers’ safety and protection have never been the concern of any people.

“I do not know any policy that can protect freelance dancers’ rights. It is a common practice for us to make job arrangements solely by verbal agreement,” Wong says.

Without a signed contract, dancers might be classified as self-employed persons by law and are not entitled to any protection for wage, insurance or leaves.

“Companies do not cover our medical expenses, so we pay it ourselves,” Wong adds.

Wong has been performing in commercial shows and teaching dance classes for almost three years. Before being a full-time dancer, he used to attend dancing lessons for more than 15 hours a week as a university student.

Despite all his hard work, he only makes about HK$7,000 (US$892) a month as a dance tutor and a show performer, which is less than half of Hong Kong’s median income at HK$17,500 (US$2,230) due to strong competition for jobs in the industry.

Another freelance dancer, 26-year-old Tang Wai-ki*, says salaries of dancers have not changed over the past 10 years. For each night of performance, a dancer earns around HK$4,000 (US$510). They get no pay for the time they spend on dance learning, extra practicing and stage rehearsal.

She explains that the supply of dancers–from secondary students to middle-aged professionals–is abundant, and the younger ones are willing to accept lower wages.

Apart from dancing techniques, Tang says dancers have to make their own costumes, do make-ups, and design stage lighting and stage formation. They are expected to be a “one-man band”.

But they rarely demand better treatment.

“We do not want others to regard us as ‘troublemakers’, because it affects our career prospects,” Tang says, which also explains why most dancers refuse to reveal their identity in interviews.

Tang Yung-kei* teaching a dance showcase class that performed in August 2022, with Tang handling choreography, stage formation, costume and lighting of the 3-minute dance herself.

Limited Help

Libby Cheung Wai-ting, Secretary of the Hong Kong Theatre Practitioners’ Union, says many dancers in Hong Kong know little about their labour rights.

The union helps dancers to voice out their needs to the government. They have around 200 professional dancers as members and each pays an annual membership fee of HK$250 (US$32).

“There are no corresponding policies to protect freelance dancers’ rights… as no one treats dancing as a proper career,” Cheung says.

Hong Kong dancers are often regarded as stage props serving the stars of the show, she adds.

Cheung says there are no existing safety guidelines on stage set-ups and electricity use in venues to safeguard performers.

The July accident shocked many Hongkongers and safety concerns for dancers has been lifted, but Cheung believes change may not come soon.

“Hong Kong people are good at forgetting… even though (the serious injury of Li) Mirror’s concert has raised public’s awareness, it will eventually fade away, sooner or later,” Cheung says.

A staff member from the Hong Kong Coliseum, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells Varsity that the coliseum cannot inspect every minor detail to ensure the safety of devices though contractors use low-quality materials.

The staff member adds that Hong Kong falls behind other western countries like the United States, which have established comprehensive systems and unions to protect the rights of dancers. He points out those unions negotiate fair contracts in terms of working hours and stage safety for dancers.

Hong Kong Theatre Arts Practitioners Union voiced out for dancers after Mirror’s concert accident in July this year.

Gloomy future

Five people–senior employees of the main contractor Engineering Impact and subcontractor Hip Hing Loong Stage Engineering Company–were arrested on suspicion of fraud and a charge of allowing an object to fall from height in the Mirror concert. They are now released on bail.

The investigation report also suggested measures to improve stage safety, such as an increase in both the inspection of stage installations and performers’ stage rehearsal time. But no concrete actions have been taken yet.

The Labour Department advised dancers to “understand clearly the mode of cooperation and clarify whether he or she is engaged as an employee or a contractor or a self-employed person before entering into a contract”.

“Dancers who have entered into a contract of self-employment involuntarily can approach the department for assistance,” the department added.

* Names changed at the request of interviewees

Edited by Gloria Chan and Leung Pak-hei
Sub-edited by Ella Lang

Be Real in BeReal

November 28, 2022

BeReal users show their real selves and regain authentic interpersonal relationships.

By Lesley Lam

University student Polly Ly Po-yi is using BeReal. She thinks the application captures her friends’ life moments without filters, compared to other social media platforms.

“BeReal gives a sense of realness since photos there are unfiltered. I think people are fed up with all the beautiful photos on social media platforms and just want to connect with friends and regain the authenticity of interpersonal relationship,” Ly says.

Through BeReal, Ly stays connected with her friends over little things in life, such as realising that they “are having lessons in the same place” based on the photos they take at the same time.

Unlike Instagram or Facebook on which users often only post their special moments in life, BeReal encourages users to live in the moment and be their authentic selves.

Launched in January 2020 by ex-GoPro employees Alexis Barreyat and Kévin Perreau, BeReal has become popular since early 2022 with 67.2 million downloads worldwide until October 2022. It topped the free app ranking of the iOS store of Apple in July 2022.

The photo-sharing social media app sends a notification each day at a random time to users in the same time zone. It asks them to take a selfie and a frontal photo within two minutes, without any filters available. When users do not make it on time, the app tells you that they “posted late.”

BeReal sends a notification at a random time of the day to all users in the same time zone. (Photo courtesy of BeReal)

The BeReal team declined the Varsity’s request for an interview. A fact sheet about the social media app was shared, however.

It states one of BeReal’s features: “You can only see friends’ posts if you share a photo. No lurking.”

Ly finds this element of reciprocity attractive. When she posts stories or posts on Instagram, she has no idea how her followers react.

“I feel like exposing myself to my followers without knowing what they think of me and what they are doing when they see my posts or stories on Instagram. But when I use BeReal, I can be like, okay, they are having dinner when they see a picture of me having a lesson. I feel more secured this way knowing their reaction,” she says.

Ly also points out that since BeReal is a relatively new platform with not many of her acquaintances using, she does not feel burdened to maintain a favourable image like when using other apps.

The main goal of BeReal founders is that they “want an alternative to addictive social networks fueling social comparison and portraying life with the goal of amassing influence,” according to the fact sheet.

The app’s absence of filters and synchronicity of notifications supports this goal. It also helps to persuade people to present their “real” lives since there is no sense of social comparison holding them back.

Ly thinks social comparison can still happen among BeReal users, but it does help users focus on the present moment.

“BeReal is really simple. There is very limited space for captions, no filters, location tags, or stickers,” she says.

“The simplicity makes users focus only on what others are doing at the moment when photos are taken.”

Another university student Queenie Yu Kwan-yi agrees that the sense of social comparison still lingers because users can still see what others are doing in their lives through the app.

She also thinks this may undermine the realness that BeReal is trying to achieve.

Yu sometimes does not open the app immediately to post when she receives a notification. Instead, she waits until something special happens to take and post her photos.

“I think to some degree people still want to post something that they think worth posting,” she says.

Yu is an active user who posts on the app every day, and she always clicks on the app when she receives notifications.

She thinks BeReal provides a sense of realness to some extent since only two raw photos can be taken and posted every day, whilst other social media platforms encourage multiple formats of sharing with a lot of room for editing.

“BeReal’s design of sending notifications every day allows us to peep into our friends’ real everyday life and it is quite interesting,” she adds.

The 21-year-old also likes the function Realmojis.

“Realmojis are real photos and that makes the exchange more like real face-to-face interactions,” Yu says.

Users can react with Realmojis, the photos they take as their reaction. (Photo courtesy of BeReal)

Enjoying the platform so far, Yu points out that if BeReal is to adapt in-app advertisements extensively, she would have less incentive to use it.

“Unlike other social media platforms, there is no marketing information on BeReal right now and it makes the app more simple,” she says.

She adds that BeReal cannot replace other major social platforms but acts as an add-on.

Donna Chu Shun-chi, director and associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, points out that being real on social media platforms can be awkward and undesirable to some.

Others might also find the app demanding. One of her students downloaded BeReal but deleted it on the same day.

“BeReal can become like Snapchat. One of Snapchat’s features is Snapstreak which encourages users to maintain daily interaction with their friends. But it becomes a daily duty and that can be tiring to users when the practice lasts for a long period of time,” Chu explains.

She adds that there is a question of whether users’ participation can sustain. “For Instagram and Facebook, once you have an account, you don’t really have to interact or participate. You don’t have to click “Likes” or post anything. But it is different in BeReal, you need to participate to see what others are posting,” she says.

Chu believes the app is clever in letting users take photos at a random time of the day within limited time. It adds a sense of excitement and fun to the authenticity it tries to create.

She also sees the app as a reflection of what society wants now. “From a broader perspective, the launching of different social media platforms is a series of dialogues. And the conversation we reached today is ‘What about more “real”?’,” she says.

Chu thinks BeReal is answering to a trend.

“We are already in a connected world, but how to create meaningful connections is an open question that is currently concerned,” she says.

“The invention of apps like BeReal and people’s response to it is like handing in answers to this question,” Chu adds.

Sub-edited by Chaelim Kim

Sexual Fantasy Seller

November 24, 2022

Wong Yuet-hei, or Hieey, provides sexual fantasy by selling her photographs.

By Phoebe Chu

Often called “Online Prostitute”, “Lewd” and “Flirtatious” online, Wong Yuet-hei, never shy away from flaunting her curvy body online.

“I love my body, I look good with the sexy costumes and I wanted to share them with others,” the 27-years-old woman says.

Dreaming to be a queen, she named herself Hieey Heika on social media. “Heika” is a Japanese word for “your majesty”.

Nearly 900 photos of her in sexual costumes with most of her body exposed are shown to her 450,000 followers on Instagram. Many of the costumes, including the maidservant uniform and bunny girl bodysuit are designed by her.

Hieey posing while wearing a costume designed by herself.
(Photo Courtesy of Hieey, Wong Yuet-hei)

“I find my ideal self when shooting photos as Hieey Heika, seeing the sexy photos of myself gives me a sense of satisfaction,” Wong says.

In real life, Wong is an introvert but once she puts on her “battle suits”, her confidence is boosted and she becomes a chatterbox.

Limited to providing sexual dreams instead of physical contact to fans, she sees herself as a “sexual fantasies provider”.

“I always knew I was perverted. I have visited lots of pornography websites since my secondary school days,” Wong says.

She is a Japanese animation fan who loves cosplay. Super Sonico, a sexy fictional character with pink hair and a large bust is her favourite.

“I found myself very attractive when cosplaying Super Sonico,” Wong says.

At first, she only took and kept her sexual photos for self-appreciation, and she started posting them to her Facebook account and gradually sharing them in 2013.

“I like my photos and there are people who appreciate them on the internet,” she adds.

Wong started selling her photos in 2018 on Patreon, a crowdfunded subscription platform with various membership levels ranging from HK $10 (US $1.27) to HK $1,180 (US $151) per month.

Members paying a fee of HK $10 (US $1.27) can get a limited number of her selfies every week. They can pay more for access to more videos and photos. Naked photos are only available for those who pay HK $1180 (US $151).

Patreon page of Wong Yuet-hei with various membership levels.

“A lot of people see my photos but it is hard to get them to pay for the photos, no matter how hard I try. It is difficult to prevent my photos from being copied and posted on social media platforms,” she says.

As a protest to these moochers, she posted fully naked photos of herself on Twitter a year after creating her Patreon account in 2019.

“Just send my photos around if you want, you can look at my full body naked for free on Twitter. It is not just about the money. I decided to make them because I appreciate my body,” Wong says.

“The moment I decided to make my sexual photos public, I knew there is no turning back. Things posted online will be kept forever,” Wong says.

Earning around HK $20,000 (US $2,548) a month through Patreon and by selling photo books, polaroids and 4R-size photos of herself in different events such as Ani-com, Wong says it is hard-earned money.

“People may think selling photos online is easy money, but it is not”, Wong adds.

From finding places for shootings, doing studio set-up, preparing her costumes, and doing photoshops and layouts, she has to do everything herself.

“The costumes and accessories are expensive. My income could not cover them until I make more money after three months of starting the page,” Wong says.

“Hong Kong people are not familiar with what I am doing, and they often criticize girls like me as an online prostitute on a discussion forum called LIHKG,” she says.

“Now, I am lucky enough to do something I am passionate about and I can make a living out of it,” Wong says.

Wong believes some people might not accept and hire people posting sexy photos like her so she is now studying hypnotherapy and learning to be a massage therapist and florist since these jobs can allow her to work on her own.

“At the age of 30, I will look at my body shape and consider if I should be continuing the occupation as a provider of sexual dreams,” Wong says.

Sub-edited by Jack Deng

Elderly Depressed

November 24, 2022

Depressing thoughts come up to elderlies’ minds when they are separated from family and friends

By Amelie Yeung

Mary Ma* was left behind in Hong Kong when her only child emigrated to the United Kingdom with her family in January 2022.

The 78-year-old widow used to leave her home in Sha Tin to babysit her grandchildren in Tai Wai every week. She also enjoyed cooking dinner for her grandchildren every weekend. But now she seldom leaves her home.

“I have no family in Hong Kong now and no one to spend time with,” Ma says.

Feeling betrayed and worthless after they left, Ma laid in bed all day and cried multiple times almost every day after her daughter left with her family.

During the depressive episodes she suffered from February to May 2022, Mary Ma* spent most of her time in bed doing nothing.

Ma even thought of committing suicide at one point. She lost more than seven kilograms from February to May 2022.

“Even my very own daughter does not care about me. What matters if I am gone?” she says.

When Ma went to Shatin Hospital for a medical check-up, she confided her thoughts to an occupational therapist whom she was seeing for medical reasons in May 2022. She was then referred to a clinical psychologist and was diagnosed with depression. She then started having counselling sessions and was put on medication.

Since then, Ma has stopped feeling as sad about her family’s emigration and learned to use her phone to talk to them remotely.

“I still think about committing suicide occasionally, but my thoughts will move on instead of lingering,” she says.

“Even my very own daughter does not care about me. What matters if I am gone?”

Rising Elderly Suicide Rates in Hong Kong

The suicide rates of the elderly in Hong Kong have reached new heights in 2021. According to the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK), 1,010 people committed suicide last year, with the majority aged over 60, making up 40 per cent of the total number. In 2019, 993 people committed suicide, with around 38 per cent of people aged above 60.

In the first half of 2022, there were on average 11,000 calls per month to the suicide prevention hotline of Suicide Prevention Services. Three years ago, there were 1,114 calls.

The Suicide Prevention Services provides a 24-hour hotline service for suicidal people to call in times of distress.

“The elderly feel lonely when their children emigrate, especially if their spouses had passed away,” says Clarence Tsang Chin-kwok, SBHK’s Executive Director.

“Once their children leave, they will rarely have the opportunity to see their family again. They relied on their children to take care of them but now that they are gone, the future is gloomy,” he says.

Tsang advises people to mentally prepare their elderly relatives before emigrating. “Arrange for someone to take care of them so that they will not feel as lonely. Teach them how to use online meeting applications so that they can keep in touch while abroad,” he says.

“The elderly feel lonely when their children emigrate, especially if their spouses had passed away.”

COVID-19 Making Elderlies Feel Worse

Apart from the emigration wave, the COVID-19 pandemic has also made many seniors feel depressed. Leung Kam-lan, 76, is one of the elderly who was clinically diagnosed with depression as the pandemic continues.

“My children told me to stay home as they learned from the news that many elderly have died from the virus. It was dangerous to go out in 2021,” Leung, a mother of three, says.

Before the pandemic, Leung met her friends at Chinese restaurants every day. She loves playing mahjong with them, but she cannot do so during the pandemic.

Leung adapted badly to social isolation and spiralled into depression for months before finally seeking for psychiatric help in the latter half of 2021. The intense solitude had made it difficult for her to stay positive.

“Every day I wake up and find myself surrounded by four blank walls,” the senior says. She lives with her youngest son, but he only comes home late at night.

“I could not even go out to the wet market and I missed my friends so much. It was hard because of the boredom. I remember thinking, ‘what is the point of living?’” she says.

“I could not even go out to the wet market and I missed my friends so much. It was hard because of the boredom. I remember thinking, ‘what is the point of living?’”

In early 2021, she began to visit Shatin Hospital regularly for a variety of illnesses, including gout and extreme fatigue, a symptom of depression. She has suffered from other illnesses such as arthritis and the after-effects of a stroke for years.

“I was tired and could not walk. I only managed to leave home for medical appointments. They were the highlights of my days because I got to talk to nurses and other patients,” she says.

Starting from August 2021, Leung met a clinical psychologist to treat her depression at the hospital regularly. Healthcare professionals advised her to call friends in times of loneliness, as well as to take up baking as a hobby.

Things began to turn around for Leung after she took the Sinovac vaccine in December 2021. After months of isolation, she can finally meet her friends physically.

“I can go out safely now as long as I wear a mask and bring my alcohol sanitizer,” Leung says.

How Can Elderlies Cope With Depressive Thoughts?

The pandemic has been particularly detrimental to the elderly’s mental health, according to Professor Lin Shen from City University’s Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

“Under the pandemic, social circles become smaller. The elderly may not necessarily have smartphones or possess digital literacy to contact friends. Because of this, they are especially at risk of suffering from loneliness,” Lin says.

“They may also suffer from chronic illness like heart disease and asthma, which makes them physically vulnerable. To them, the COVID-19 virus is life-threatening and the high infection rates make them feel hopeless. Some mentally unwell elderly will not reach out for help because mental illness is heavily stigmatized in the Chinese society,” he adds.

Lin advises the elderly to build social circles with at least three people so that they have trusted friends to confide with.

“As social distancing measures are easing, the elderly should also make use of community centres and social events to meet people and develop hobbies. Social participation encourages human connection,” he says.

He recommends doing outdoor activities, such as dancing and exercising together in public parks.

The SBHK provides a consultation hotline for relatives and friends of suicidal people to enhance their understanding of suicide symptoms.

If you know an elderly who is feeling unhappy or suicidal, please reach out to social workers or call SBHK for consultation services at 2319 1177.

*Name changed at the request of the interviewee.

Edited by Leung Pak-hei
Sub-edited by Felicia Lam

Traumatised Mirror Fans

November 21, 2022

Months after the concert incident, Mirror fans are still experiencing mental hardships.

By Esme Lam

On July 28, 2022, Jimmy Chan, a fan of Anson Lo Hon-ting, witnessed a tragic accident in which a 600 kg video screen landed on a dancer during the Mirror concert at Hong Kong Coliseum.

The screen fell from the ceiling and struck dancer Mo Li Kai-yin when the 12-member boy band was performing the song “Elevator”. He was critically injured, but his condition is now stable in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Anson Lo Hon-ting and Edan Lui Cheuk-on, members of Mirror, were performing the song “Elevator” when the screen fell.

“I am now afraid of walking in places where there are construction sites or highways. I am worried that I might be hit by falling objects. I stopped listening to songs by Mirror after the concert. Their music triggers my memory about the accident,” Chan says.

“I am now afraid of walking in places where there are construction sites or highways. I am worried that I might be hit by falling objects. I stopped listening to songs by Mirror after the concert. Their music triggers my memory about the accident.”

He is now listening to Korean pop music such as new songs from Blackpink, a South Korean girl group.

“I hope the truth can be found in the investigation. I will feel very angry if anyone or any party still tells lies to cover up anything about the accident,” Chan says.

Another Mirror fan Wincy Seto Wing-kee is also mentally disturbed by the accident.

“Even now I cannot bear to watch any videos that I took that night. I did not want to listen to any songs by Mirror which may trigger my memory,” Seto says.

The 18-years-old student has been a fan of Frankie Chan Sui-fai and Anson Kong Ip-sang, members of the boy band for a year.

“I just wanted to relax and enjoy a concert featuring my favourite singers. I never thought such a terrible accident would happen,” she recalls.

“When I saw people sharing photos of watching Terrence Lam’s concert, I was a bit upset since it reminded me of the accident that happened at the same site,” she says.

Terrence Lam’s concert is the first event that was held at Hong Kong Coliseum after the accident in July.

“I still want to watch a concert featuring other singers or Mirror in the future, but I hesitate to watch concerts that are held at the Hong Kong Coliseum,” Seto adds.

The university student stopped following news about Mirror after the accident. Instead, she devotes her time to university life.

Lee Uen-kwan is a fan of Ian Chan Check-yin, a member of Mirror.

Another university student Lee Uen-kwan has second thoughts about her life after witnessing the accident.

“Life is full of uncertainty. No one would expect that having a concert may take someone’s life,” she says.

Lee is a fan of Ian Chan Check-yin, a member of Mirror. To support her favourite singer, she even bought concert tickets from a scalper–someone who resells tickets at a larger price.

Lee deleted videos she took during the concert to avoid recalling horrible memories.

“Treasure those who are with you right now. I spend more time with my loved ones. I also work harder in my study. I want to make my life more fulfilling,” Lee adds.

Psychological Impacts

Psychiatrist May Lam points out that the psychological impact is devastating as fans at the concert expected to have fun, but it turned out to be a tragedy.

“The Mirror concert is one of the things that people look forward to. Mirror has united people in Hong Kong from different ages during difficult times amid the pandemic. Anything that has happened to the group will cause great impacts on the fans and the public,” Lam says.

Lam points out that some people having these acute stress reactions may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“It will develop within a few weeks and the symptoms are having an inability to recall what happened in that time, difficulty in falling asleep and getting a startled response for minor things. The symptoms might last for around six months after the exposure of the stressful event,” she says.

Dr. May Lam Mei-ling says that any clues about the concert can trigger the memory of the terrible accident.

“When you sense some signs of stress, listen to your heart. Do something that makes you feel comfortable, such as doing exercises, chatting with friends and listening to your favourite songs,” Lam adds.

“But if the symptoms of PTSD do not subside, it is about time to seek help from professions, including counsellors or psychiatrists,” she says.

Sub-edited by Gabriella Lynn

Roger Wu Wai-chung: “Sawadee Krub!”

November 21, 2022

A Thailand expert from Hong Kong shares his experience after 20 years living in the country.

By Carrie Lock

In every episode of “Thai Rogered”, a Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) programme introducing many tourist attractions and restaurants to Hong Kong people, the host Roger Wu Wai-chung always says “Sawadee krub!” with a big smile.

“Many places in Thailand are yet to be known and explored by Hongkongers as there are 77 provinces in the country, and new trends emerge every day. So, I have a lot to shoot and share with the audience,”says Wu, who moved to Thailand 20 years ago.

His programme was broadcasted on Hong Kong’s television channel J2 in 2016. Its seventh season was aired in September this year. Two Thai television personalities, Phakkasupat Pecharawiwat Aomzaa–nicknamed “Tom yum mui” or “Tom yum sister”–and Sirilak Kwong, cohost the show with Wu.

Roger Wu Wai-chung and another TV host of “Thai Rogered”, Phakkasupat Pecharawiwat Aomzaa at Wat Bang Chak, a monastery in Thailand. (Photo Courtesy of Roger Wu Wai-chung)

“I am happy to film the programme with the two cheerful hosts and collaborate with the Thai production team. Working with Thai people is different from working with Hong Kong crews. They do not complain about having no meal breaks during shooting, whereas Hong Kong crews want to have sufficient time for rest,” says the 58-year-old travel expert.

Roger Wu Wai-chung’s YouTube channel has over 188K subscribers.

“The local production crews and I have worked together for over ten years so we became close friends. As for the hosts, I recruit people who are not camera-shy, fluent in Thai and willing to wear weird T-shirts,” Wu says, noting that he sometimes wears a T-shirt printed with six-pack abs when filming.

The show was forced to stop amid the pandemic in 2020. Wu still tries to share updates on Thailand with Hongkongers via Youtube.

“I have been uploading at least one YouTube video every day since the start of the pandemic. I read local news and see if anything is worth doing a story, then I shoot a video and release it on the same day,” he says.

Forming Ties with Thailand

Wu’s love for Thailand began when he first visited the country in 1990.

“I visited Thailand when I had my annual leave. I thought of visiting Japan, but it was too expensive. So I joined a 12-day tour to Thailand, visiting numerous cities including Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin,” he recalls.

“Thailand has beautiful beaches and sunshine, which I love so much. The low living cost and the polite locals impressed me a lot during my first visit,” he adds.

Wu worked as a researcher at the now-defunct broadcaster Asia Television Limited (ATV) and produced travel programmes. He also wrote for Apple Daily’s travel news desk when it was established in 1995 as a freelancer.

He published his first travel guide about Thailand in 1997 for River Bank Culture, a publishing company specialising in travel books.

“I was shooting a travelling programme called ‘Thailand Has It All’ (泰國乜都有) for ATV in 1993. I could fly to Thailand and gather first-hand travelling information, like the latest tourist spots and local trends so I decided to write travel books about Thailand,” he says.

“My first book was so popular that a second edition was published. At that time, many travel authors confessed that they wrote their books simply by copying descriptions printed on brochures of travel agencies without leaving Hong Kong. Unlike them, I have first-hand information,” Wu recalls.

Roger Wu Wai-chung’s travel book, introducing the tourist spots of Bangkok to the readers, was published in August 2019.

His contribution to tourism in Thailand is recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. He was given the “Friends of Thailand” award in 2000.

“Many Hong Kong people still see Thailand as a poor country and a hub of sex, drugs and gambling. I want to change people’s perception and present an authentic Thailand to them through my work,” Wu says.

“Many Hong Kong people still see Thailand as a poor country and a hub of sex, drugs and gambling. I want to change people’s perception and present an authentic Thailand to them through my work.”

After seven years of countless flights between Hong Kong and Thailand, Wu decided to settle in Thailand in 2002.

“To update information on my travel guides, I had to travel to Thailand very often without sponsorship during the seven years. Those frequent trips cost me a lot. Considering the affordable rent and my strong interest in the country, I decided to relocate to Thailand,” he explains.

Thailand vs. Hong Kong

Roger Wu Wai-chung enjoying his time in Pattaya. (Photo Courtesy of Roger Wu Wai-chung)

Moving to a foreign place may be difficult for many people, but Wu blends in easily, highlighting that patience is the key.

“Language is not a big problem in Thailand. Many expats in Thailand do not speak the local language but still live happily,” he says.

“Thailand’s living pace is slower so it may be hard for you to slow down in the beginning. As time goes by, you will get used to it,” he continues.

In recent years, some Hong Kong residents have been considering leaving the city for Thailand, one of the popular emigration options in Asia, as the cost of living is much lower. But Wu reminds them that they should also need to consider the country’s business environment and political situation.

“If you plan to start a business here, you are legally required to find a Thai national to be your business partner who must hold the majority of the company’s shares. Where can you find such a person? That’s why I know some Hongkongers operating restaurants in Thailand do not abide by the law as it is too hard to find a local partner,” he says.

While Thailand has seen political turmoil for nearly two decades, including protests and two coups, Wu says it is not a big deal.

“There were several coup d’etat that took place, but so what? After all, that is only a change of leadership and people’s daily life remains unchanged. The society is stable; if not, foreigners will not keep coming and residing in the country,” he adds.

Cultural differences between Hong Kong and Thailand is another factor that should be considered by people planning to emigrate, as Wu says Thai people are very superstitious.

“In exchange for luck, wealth and better lives, the superstitious Thai people raise child ghosts, wear phrakhrueang (a Thai Buddha amulet) and visit masters for advice frequently,” he says.

“To me, I believe in my God–the God of the singer Sam Hui,” Wu says. Hui’s Drifter’s Song, which sings ”If something is meant to happen in life, it will. Otherwise, don’t push it”, is Wu’s motto.

His motto is similar to the belief of many Thai people. “The Thai always say ‘jai yen yen’ (ใจเย็นๆ), which means chill out. When you get annoyed by a traffic jam or get in an argument with somebody, just say ‘jai yen yen’,” he says.

Sub-edited by Gabriella Lynn

When Fashion Meets Function

November 21, 2022

By Charmaine Choi

Hong Kong fashion designer Tsang Mei-sze creates ergonomic industrial workwear durable and safe for blue-collar workers.

Striving to make better clothing for blue-collar heavy-duty workers, or “industrial athletes”, Tsang Mei-sze is determined to shake up the industrial workwear scene with ergonomic industrial pants.

“Many heavy-duty workers are performing repetitive physical movements during work. They also have great endurance and persistence. These qualities echo the essential traits of athletes. Therefore, workers’ uniforms should be athletic, flexible and protective, just like sportswear,” says the fashion designer.

Interested in drawing and working on hands-on art projects, the 28-year-old takes her passion and talents in art and design further. She studied fashion design at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2016.

After graduation, she dipped her feet in the industry, serving various retail fashion brands like Aitour Throup, Toogood and ASOS for two years.

Soon, she learned that pure fashion was not her calling.

“The term ‘fashion’ often limits designers’ ability to create because you need to cater to the taste of the masses in order to fit into the retail ecosystem. It is a bit old-school to create fashion just for the sake of aesthetics. As a designer, I wish to launch products that can help make the world a better place,” says the Hong Kong-based fashion designer.

Her dedication to making better workwear stems from her father, who worked at construction sites in the 1990s. With many fond memories of her father and his fellow workers during her childhood, Tsang considers industrial sites to be her “second home”.

Tsang’s father, a former construction site worker (Photo courtesy of Tsang Mei-sze)

“To me, these heavy-duty workers are like my friends and family. They construct the beautiful Hong Kong that we live in and I want to offer my design skills in return for their contribution,” she says.

A Gap In The Market

Tsang knew at a young age that existing workwear designs do not offer enough comfort and protection for heavy-duty labourers.

“I find it ridiculous that workwear for heavy-duty workers has barely changed over the past three decades,” she says.

She points out that workers often wear ill-fitting and bulky pants drenched in sweat and dirt. Coupled with multiple rips and tears, the pants make their lives even more miserable, especially under the scorching summer heat in Hong Kong.

“It is too despicable to only take fashion inspiration from workers without catering to their actual needs.”

“There is insufficient well-designed workwear in the market. The few well-thought-out designs usually cater to the needs of a colder climate, but still incompatible with the sweltering weather in Hong Kong. As the climate gets hotter, there is a need to introduce [a design] lightweight yet durable,” she adds.

“It is too despicable to only take fashion inspiration from workers without catering to their actual needs. If no one is taking the responsibility to provide better workwear for these workers, I will. I know I can create something better,” she continues.

This is why Tsang flew to London to study the Master Programme in Fashion at the Royal College of Art in 2018, which she considers “not only a fashion course”. Covering a wide range of social issues such as gender, culture and race, the programme has offered her a chance to ponder the relationship between society and fashion.

From Drawing Board To Life

In 2020, Tsang launched the “Brickman” collection as her graduation project, featuring a workwear set with a T-shirt, a jacket and a pair of trousers designed specifically for bricklayers.

Tsang Mei-sze’s graduate project, “Brickman”, features a full-set industrial workwear for bricklayers. (Photo courtesy of Tsang Mei-sze)

Incorporating the concept of ergonomics into workwear by reducing the use of fabrics for greater flexibility and mobility, the collection laid a solid foundation for Tsang’s workwear brand, TMS.SITE., founded a year after she returned to Hong Kong in 2021.

Based on two prototypes she developed in her graduate project, Tsang continued to refine the industrial pants named “3.0 Industrial Athlete Pants” with the help of three steel fixers, Em Pong, Ka Wai and Stone, who she met during a lunch break in front of a convenience store in Tsuen Wan in 2021.

The three workers told her about their feedback on the wearing experience during their lunch and cigarette breaks.

Using a breathable and moisture-wicking nylon material, the “3.0 Industrial Athlete Pants” are much more lightweight and dirt-proof than traditional woven fabric pants. The adjustable waistband design also wittily helps workers avoid “builder’s bum” by providing a snug hug around the waist.

Three steel fixers worked with Tsang on her latest workwear project.

On May 27, 2022, Tsang launched the new collection on Kickstarter.com.

In less than two months’ time, she received a total of HK$188,730 (US$24042.73) from 98 backers, successfully bringing her collection to life. The industrial pants have started manufacturing and are expected to reach customers in December 2022.

Yet her beloved father and her muse will not be wearing her designs.

“I would have wanted my dad to try them on for me, but he could not even fit into the largest size. He has gotten a ‘dad bod’ after his retirement,” the designer says with a giggle.

“Of course, he no longer has an athletic physique as he used to, but his endurance and perseverance make him an industrial athlete for life,” she adds.

Edited by Gabriella Lynn
Sub-edited by Felicia Lam

Glamping: A Lifestyle Being Sold

November 17, 2022

By Kossy Chen

The Call of Nature

Camping enthusiast Elvis Zhang goes camping three times a month and is upset about how nature has been damaged by people who go glamping.

“Many places have been damaged. I was angry when I found litter, broken wine bottles, and food waste all over a beach on Yanzhou Island last summer,” the 35-year-old office worker from Guangdong province says.

“I used to go for a walk in Shenzhen Bay Park during weekends before 2020, but it has become very crowded and noisy now. Some vegetation has been destroyed to make room for more camping sites,” he says.

“Many campers set up giant tents and barbecue equipment. They also grill steak and that makes the place smoky. Some grassland is even burnt,” he adds.

Zhang observes more people go camping during the pandemic. Campsites recommended by key opinion leaders (KOL) on social media have become very popular, leading to more damage.

“…They also grill steak and that makes the place smoky. Some grassland is even burnt.”

He always brings rubbish bags and reusable items like a water bottle or tumbler when he goes camping.

“Nature heals me. It helps me empty my mind and ease my anxiety. So I always go camping in quiet places with fine views to get fresh air and sunshine. Camping should not be about doing wild parties that pollute the natural environment,” he says.

Booming Outdoor Leisure Trend

As of October 2022, the country’s leading leisure and e-commerce platform, RED, had more than 4.7 million posts about “camping”. The search volume surged by 746% during the Labour Day holiday in 2022 compared to 2021.

Screenshot taken from the RED platform on October 5th, 2022.

Qichacha (企查查), a business data platform for China-based companies, shows that among the 41,000 campsite-related enterprises, nearly 30,000 were founded after 2020.

A Fantasy of Living in Wildness

Nature lover Iris Meng Yutong was impressed by camping-related social media posts by RED until she worked as an intern and was assigned to promote camping in May 2022 at the company.

“I became disillusioned about glamping in the first week of my internship after learning the marketing logic behind,” the university student says.

“Glamping is just about giving you a seat on the outskirts of cities. It has nothing to do with embracing nature but deceiving people to pursue a luxurious lifestyle and pay more,” she adds.

Iris Meng at a beach campsite near Zhuhai, Guangdong Province during her internship. (Photo Courtesy of Meng Yutong)

Meng cites a camping programme “Camping at Shanghai Tower” which creates a fancy camping scene on a skyscraper’s terrace as an example.

“Business operators use synthetic grass, green canopy for nature-like decoration, and camping equipment such as camping tables, chairs, and food to create the feeling of camping. It costs RMB ¥599 (US $82.19) to sit there for an afternoon,” she says.

“RED invites KOLs to create gorgeous camping-related posts on the platform to promote camping products and advertising. It’s often just an excuse to drink afternoon tea and to pose for idyllic photos that can then be shared on social media. Campers shape their middle-class identities from it,” she adds.

Get a Slice of the Cake

Riding on the trend, the founder of Shanghai Green Grass Camping Base, Wang Ergou, embraced the business opportunity in March 2020.

“I was a media practitioner before starting the camping business. All I want is to make money!” Wang says.

He operates a 20,000 sq m (215,278 sq ft) campsite in Shanghai, with monthly revenue of around RMB ¥300,000 (US $41,163.56).

“We mainly do theme camping for families, featuring cute pets like dogs, colt ducks, deer, alpacas, and lambs for kids,” he says.

A Child riding a bike in Shanghai Green Grass Camping Base. (Photo Courtesy of Wang Ergo)

Wang points out there were about 10 camping bases of the same size as his in 2020 in Shanghai, and the number is now more than 50.

He encourages people to protect the environment while camping and practice “no trace camping”. But he admits that it is hard to achieve.

“I was a media practitioner before starting the camping business. All I want is to make Money!”

“Some campers, particularly those who go glamping, burn the lawn or litter. People who rent or carry their own equipment are more environmentally conscious,” he says.

Take Actions Together

Greenpeace has also noted the threats that glamping poses to the environment.

Director of Greenpeace East Asia’s forest programme, Shuxuan Chen reminds campers to show care for nature, as the beauty of nature is vital for a good camping experience.

Greenpeace has organised offline workshops and developed camping guides to help rookie campers build good habits.

“Campers should avoid camping in areas with high ecological value. They should show care for plants and animals around campsites, and leave no rubbish, including food waste at camping sites. They should remind other campers to behave too,” she says.

Edited by Jack Deng
Subedited by Ella Lang

Domestic Helper: “Helpers are human beings, not robots!”

November 17, 2022

An Indonesian domestic helper becomes an influencer in Hong Kong.

By Leopold Chen

From a Helper to a Star

“Helpers are human beings, not robots,” Contrinx, a 39-year-old domestic helper in Hong Kong, says in a YouTube video.

The Indonesian helper, who only reveals herself as Contrinx, becomes well known after her video criticising employers went viral with more than 332,000 views.

Though willing to voice up for the many domestic helpers in the city with her YouTube channel “contrinx’s fansclub” since 2020, Contrinx declines to reveal her name due to safety reasons.

In the one-minute YouTube video published on March 18, 2022, the helper roasted Hong Kong’s many employers of helpers, “what is it so proud to be rich?”

“WHAT IS IT SO PROUD TO BE RICH?”

Contrinx roasts employers “what is it so proud to be rich?” in Cantonese in her viral video.

“I feel tired working for you 24 hours a day without any day off. But you are not paying a lot, just HK $4,000 (US $509.56) something, is that much?” she questioned in the video.

Hoping to arouse Hong Kong employers’ awareness about the well-being of foreign domestic helpers and let all employers in the city understand their helpers more in the city, she spoke Cantonese in the video.

“I uploaded that video because many employers have become mentally abusive to domestic helpers after the outbreak of COVID-19. Most Hong Kong people have the problem of being double-standard,” says Contrinx.

“Employers treated helpers as virus carriers and did not allow us to enjoy our days off, but they went out as usual,” she adds, citing that many employers did not allow domestic helpers to spend their days off outside amid COVID-19 outbreaks.

Coming to Hong Kong 16 years ago, Contrinx realises the importance of having a healthy relationship with her employers and communication is the key.

Contrinx learned Cantonese by watching local TV programmes with the elderly in her first Hong Kong employer’s home.

“I think it is important to learn the local language when you work in a place, and I like learning languages,” she says.

“At my first Hong Kong employer’s home, I used to watch TV programmes with the elderly and asked him to do the translation for me. That is how I learned Cantonese,” she adds.

“Arrogant” Employers

Contrinx has been working as a foreign domestic helper since she was 18 years old when she first left her home to work in Singapore in 2001.

Her Singaporean employer even came all the way to visit her in Hong Kong in 2017, a decade after she left the family.

Having worked in Hong Kong since 2006, Contrinx says her employers in the city are not as pleasant as the one from the Lion City.

Contrinx switches her job every two years as she is tired of staying in an environment for too long, and she finds all her employers in Hong Kong are arrogant.

Recalling her first employer in Hong Kong, she says when the whole family went out to have breakfast in the morning, they would lock all the doors to their private rooms.

“In the first month, I kept quiet. In the second month, I told them, ‘Excuse me, if you do not trust me. Please do not hire me here,’” Contrinx says.

“They said my main duty was to take care of the child, but they did not allow me to touch the baby, let alone feed her or take a shower for her,” she adds.

Contrinx hopes that employers could change their attitudes and treat migrant domestic helpers like friends instead of mere employees.

“The connection between us is person-to-person, but many employers do not have such a mindset and treat us differently,” Contrinx says.

“The migrant domestic helper community is an essential part of Hong Kong, but many people just ignore it and deny our value,” she adds.

Hong Kong has 339,451 foreign helpers, that which mainly come from the Philippines and Indonesia, according to the government.

Asked about tips for migrant domestic helpers, Contrinx says one needs to be calm and not take employers’ emotions personally when facing mental abuse from employers.

“Once you work in Hong Kong, tell yourself you are valued. You have your quality, skills, and standard,” the YouTuber says.

Speak Out for Migrant Domestic Helpers

With more than 9,100 subscribers, Contrinx’s YouTube channel covers various topics, including immigration regulations, cooking tips, her daily routine, and domestic helpers’ stories.

Contrinx’s 8.6-thousand-fan YouTube channel is full of videos focusing on MDHs.

Unlike the video that makes her popular, her videos are mainly filmed in English or Indonesian as they are mostly dedicated to domestic helpers.

“I started my YouTube channel because I want to change my way of conveying information with the help of audio-visual,” she says.

Before she started her YouTube channel, Contrinx used to deliver information to domestic helpers during her days off in physical venues and on Facebook.

In 2015, she used her Facebook page to criticise the Indonesian government for imposing too much burden on those who wanted to work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.

“In Indonesia, before we become a domestic helper, we need to come through a lot of obstacles,” the Indonesian says.

“We have to go to private-run training centres, pay HK $15,000 (US $1920.68), and spend six months with no salary,” she adds.

“I want to voice out for the community of domestic helpers and meanwhile educate them. That is my passion,” Contrinx says.

Edited by Ella Lang
Sub-edited by Jack Deng

Catch Me If You Can

November 17, 2022

Webtoon creators insist on pursuing their career despite content being stolen.

By Charlie Chun

Ivanna Choi* reads webtoons from pirate sites to catch up with the content published weekly.

“Most webtoons are in their original language such as Korean. I am not able to understand without any official translation, so I have to search for translated versions online,” the university student who declines to reveal her full identity due to legal concerns says.

She is annoyed by the quality of illegal translations, but still turns to pirate sites for quicker access to comics.

“I only want to get to the latest chapters. Official translations can lag behind for 80 episodes, so illegal sites are my only choice,” she says.

Creators’ Sufferings

Taiwanese webtoon creator Jennifer Chuu feels frustrated when she spots pirated versions of her work circulating on social media platforms and websites featuring counterfeit work.

“Some people have pirated my webtoon and posted them on Instagram, YouTube and pirate sites,” says Chuu, whose webtoon account has over 890k subscribers.

Cases of webtoons shutting down due to content pirating have been reported. Pirated work can affect up to 70% of their complete earnings according to other media outlets.

“I make about US $4,000 a month. I receive a fixed amount from webtoon and another source of my income depends on how many fast passes are sold,” the 33-year-old says.

Chuu uploads new episodes of The Witch and The Bull every Thursday on Webtoon.

Webtoon is a South Korean digital comic application launched in 2004 by Naver Corporation. The comic series are free to read and episodes are updated on a weekly basis.

The fast pass allows readers to read the latest episodes of certain series so they can read before the regular release day. Readers can purchase one fast pass with seven coins, with ten coins priced at US $0.99.

“The pirated version of my series discourages people from buying a fast pass and that hurts my income.”

Chuu has to pitch her story ideas to the webtoon company to seek approval and sign a new contract with the company for every project.

“Webtoon series are actually free to read, as long as readers are willing to wait. I do not understand why some people would rather go on pirated sites,” she says.

Webtoon counterfeit work appears in forms of screenshots and screen recordings.

“My fans inform me whenever they see pirated versions of my work online. Then I have to email Webtoon and ask the legal team to take action,” she says.

“The legal team is so busy that sometimes nothing is done even if a case was reported a year ago. We (webtoon creators) have to keep on emailing the team to check if any actions have been taken,” she says.

Another webtoon creator Coco Ouwerkerk from the Netherlands also shares Chuu’s frustration.

“Some people are not even aware that content pirating is illegal. They translate my content from Dutch to English without informing me, and post them on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook,” Ouwerkerk, who started working as a webtoon creator in 2018, says.

A report from the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange states that over 1,300 scanlation aggregate websites are active in over 30 countries.

Her webtoon series, Acception, which targets teenagers in the Netherlands and covers topics such as sexuality and LGBTQ+, has been pirated and circulated on Instagram.

Ouwerkerk’s webtoon, Acception, has also faced content piracy issues.
(Photo courtesy of Coco Ouwerkerk)

“Whenever I see my work being pirated I alert Webtoon, then it will be gone in a few days,” she says.

“If I were alone, I would have to spend all my time dealing with pirated content. I have a team of interns and friends to back me up, I do not have to worry too much,” she adds.

Blurred Line of Responsibility

Paul Joel Schmidt, professional consultant at the law faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong says it is difficult to eliminate content piracy.

“Creators have to look out for pirated content and inform the content provider, then issue a notice of copyright infringing to ask the pirate to take down the content,” Schmidt says.

“The never-ending issue is, content pirates can change their username online and post the same material again. Creators are tired of going through the same legal process, therefore many pirated content just go unnoticed,” he adds.

He points out that both content creators and providers are displacing the responsibility of policing each other

“The industry has to figure out who is responsible to pay for the costs and burdens of policing. Until then, there will be no satisfactory system to solve the problem,” he says.

The International Criminal Police Organisation, Korean and Moroccan governments collaborated to combat digital piracy in 2022, they shut down an illegal webtoon site and detained a suspect.

*Name changed at interviewees’ request

Edited by Chaelim Kim
Sub-edited by Gloria Chan