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Hostel Shortage

Hostel shortage plagues international university students in Hong Kong.

By Vivian Cao in Kunming & Charlie Yip

Diana Li, a student from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) who came from the Mainland is forced to share a 675-square-foot flat with five other students as they all fail to get hostel places on campus. And instead of paying the rent monthly, they had to pay nearly HK$ 400,000 to their landlord who required them to settle a year’s rent in one go.

 “Since students do not have stable work and income, landlords usually ask us to pay one-year rent in a lump sum,” the Year 3 student majoring in Finance says. “Paying such amount all at once is a huge burden for our parents,” Li says, but she has no choice as landlords tend to worry about students delaying their payments.

Like many international students coming to study in Hong Kong, Li craves for living with her fellows on campus. “Many students want to live on campus, but there is not enough supply.”

Living Off-campus

Failing to get hostel places compels Li and many other international students to rent a place off-campus to solve their accommodation needs. 

Outside Li’s flat in Parc Oasis. (Photo courtesy of Diana Li)

It took Li a long time to find her flat in Parc Oasis, which is not far away from her university in Kowloon Tong. But communicating with landlords is a problem. “Many landlords, especially the older ones, cannot understand Mandarin and English and our Cantonese is not good enough either. Hence, we cannot communicate easily when we have to sign a lease,” she says. 

Li adds that many landlords do not like renting their properties to students. “We always rent a flat together to share rent. Landlords are worried that we might mess up their flats.” 

Leasing arrangements are not very flexible for students because most landlords require tenants to rent a flat for a year or even two years. “Some of us may leave Hong Kong for exchange programmes but we still have to pay the rent even if we are not in Hong Kong,” she says.

But Li’s situation is only a tip of the iceberg.

Keen Competition

According to figures from the University Grants Committee (UGC), the number of non-local students studying UGC-funded Programmes doubled in the past decade, from 9,333 in 2009/2010 to 18,061 in 2018/2019. But the supply of hostel places fails to catch up with the surge in demand. 

Lilian Ho, executive officer of the UGC, says the eight UGC-funded universities only allocated 16,500 hostel places to a total of 22,200 applications from international students studying UGC-funded programmes this year, including around 3,300 applications by exchange students. The allocation ratio is 74 per cent – which means more than a quarter of these non-local students failed to secure a hostel place on campus.

Figures from the UGC reveals there was a shortfall of over 13,000 hostel places in 2018/2019 at the eight universities across the city. Hostel shortage at CityU was the most alarming, requiring 3,167 hostel places to be developed. 

Under the current policy, international students studying in Hong Kong universities for a four-year bachelor’s degree programme are only guaranteed to live on campus for two or three years. For the non-guaranteed year(s), they need to earn “hostel credits” by participating in school activities to compete for the limited hostel places.

Adapting to U-life

For non-local students, it is not easy to earn enough hostel credits to secure a bed place on campus.

Kevin Xue, a Year 3 Mainland student of CityU, who is also a tutor of a residential hall of the university says it has become more difficult for non-local students to get a hostel place since a change of policy in 2018. 

“Although the number of vacancies of each hall varies, the Students Residence Office (SRO) gives the same quotas to non-local students in each hall,” the Computer Science student says. He adds that under the previous policy, SRO did not give specific quotas for non-local students. 

“If you want to gain enough credits for a hostel place, you have to attend as many activities as possible. But this is very time consuming,” Xue says, adding that some students want to devote their time on studying to get better academic performances than spending time on school activities. Students trying to earn hostel credits by joining activities may not succeed either. “The quotas of hostel activities are given out on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Students have to keep a keen eye on the news about activities and try to sign up as fast as they can,” he says.

Lim Her Yun, a Year 2 student from Malaysia, who is also the former president of the International Student Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (ISA-CUHK), thinks culture and language differences make non-local students hesitate to take part in school activities. Lim notes it is difficult for international students to set up and register a club or society with the Student Union for members to earn hostel credits since all submitted documents for the registration must be in Chinese. The Global Economics and Finance major student adds that many are forced to give up the registration.

Students participating in the CUHK International Student Orientation Camp 2019, organised by the ISA-CUHK. (Photo courtesy of Lim Her Yun)

School activities organised by local students therefore become the main source of hostel points, but international students find it difficult to join with language and cultural barriers. “I guess not everyone is willing to put themselves in an environment where language is a problem,” Lim says, adding that local student societies tend to have long late-night meetings that non-local participants are not used to.

Hands from the Government and Schools

In a bid to solve the problem, the UGC introduced the Hostel Development Fund in 2018. A one-off grant of over HK$ 10.3 billion was approved to the six UGC-funded universities with hostel shortfalls, hoping the supply of student hostels can meet the demand by 2027. 

Some universities are also trying to deal with the pressing problem by offering off-campus accommodation assistance to non-local students. The University of Hong Kong provides a rental information database to non-local students to help them find privately rented accommodations in the city. It also offers rental subsidy amounting to HK$ 2,600 per month, and HK$ 26,000 per year to eligible non-local students.

Collaborating with three non-governmental organisations, CityU provides hostels or guest houses for non-local students to live off-campus, in which the rent is more affordable than hotels.

Edited by Cynthia Sit
Sub-edited by Kayi Tsang

Stress over DSE Delay

DSE candidates of this academic year face unprecedented pressures and fears amid the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged social movement. 

By Fiona Cheung

Pearl Chan, a Form Six student, burst into tears after her mother had told her the news about postponement of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination when she was revising.

“I have to endure another month of stressful wait before I can be free from the examination,” she sighs.  

Fear the worst

On March 21, Secretary for Education Kelvin Yeung Yun-hung announced the DSE examination, which was originally scheduled to begin on March 27, would be pushed back by four weeks to April 24, considering the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. 

More than 50,000 students sit for the examination which is administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessments Authority (HKEAA). Oral examinations in Chinese and English are also cancelled. Weighting of oral examinations is reallocated to other sections of examination papers. The announcement came one week before the original examination date of the first subject – Visual Arts. 

“It’s really hard and stressful. I am counting down to the examination but all of a sudden I have to do revision for another month,” she says, “I would rather get through this earlier.”

It’s really hard and stressful. I am counting down to the examination but all of a sudden I have to do revision for another month.

Having no choice but to plan her revision schedule again after the unexpected announcement, Chan is frustrated about uncertainties of the examination arrangements brought by the pandemic.

“What if the number of confirmed cases keeps increasing when the examination is about to begin?” asks Chan,“Will the examination be postponed again? Or will the examination continue as scheduled without considering our health concern?” 

In a press conference on April 15, the education minister said: “After reviewing the latest situation and seeking advice from the Centre for Health Protection, the Education Bureau and HKEAA have decided the DSE written examinations should begin as planned from April 24.” He added that examination results would be announced on July 22. 

Yeung said that the HKEAA would implement a series of contingency and precautionary measures, such as requiring candidates to check their body temperature and sign the “Candidate’s Declaration Form on Health” on each examination day. 

Secretary for Education Kelvin Yeung Yun-hung (on the left) showed an admission form of the DSE examination in a press conference on April 15.

The bureau has prepared three backup plans in case situation in Hong Kong worsens. The examination could be postponed to May 22 or if necessary, to June 11. The last resort would be cancelling the examinations and students would be assessed based on school performances.   

Chan, who is planning to study in Taiwan, worries that she will not be able to file her application, pointing out the deadline for application of undergraduate programme in Taiwan is July 18. (The results will be announced on July 22)

“If the release of DSE results has any further delay or the schools in Taiwan do not postpone their application deadline, I will have to plan my study all over again,” says Chan, “Now I have to immediately think of programs I want to study in Hong Kong.” 

Chan also thinks cancelling oral examination is unfair to students. “I think the result cannot reflect the ability of students comprehensively, especially for those who are better in speaking and communication skills,” says Chan.  

Losing the ambiance of a physical examination

Other than facing pressure from the sudden delay of the examination, students do not even have the opportunity to rehearse for the public examination this year.

Most of the DSE candidates were supposed to have a mock examination at their schools in January or February. But Chan’s mock examination at school was called off due to the school suspension during the outbreak.

Instead of sitting for a physical mock examination, Chan’s school conducted the mock examination online. Students were given examination papers half an hour before the examination started. The whole examination process was handled through Google Classroom.  

Chan’s mock examination was conducted online through Google Classroom.
(Photo courtesy of Pearl Chan)

“It doesn’t feel like having an examination in a hall,” says Chan. She finds the experience is far from having a real examination, because she does not have to check if she has brought her admission form, identity card and stationery before leaving home, which is an important part of rehearsing for the DSE examination.

“Since we are doing it online at home, we do not have to care about all the details such as bringing the necessary items to the exam venue. And we are more at ease,” she says.

Although students received marking schemes from their teachers after the online examination, not all teachers prepared sessions to explain questions and answers. “I did not learn a lot from this mock examination,” says Chan, “Even I have all the answers, it does not mean I understand reasons behind mistakes I made.”

Even I have all the answers, it does not mean I understand reasons behind mistakes I made.

Without a proper mock examination, Chan feels she is under enormous pressure. The DSE examination results can determine her future in the coming years, yet she cannot do proper preparation before sitting for the examination. “I feel disoriented and not prepared for the examination at all,” says Chan, “It’s like I don’t have anything in control.” 

Chan relied on online resources for preparing the DSE examination.
(Photo courtesy of Pearl Chan)

Li Kiu-On, a Biology teacher who teaches a Form Six class, has been helping his students prepare for the DSE examination during school suspension. He films a video explaining questions and answers of a mock examination paper. Li thinks discussing questions and answers is vital for students to learn from mistakes. 

“Most students actually know the answer, but they don’t know how to present it well in order to earn marks according to marking scheme prepared by HKEAA,” says Li, “There is a problem with online teaching. I cannot see my students’ immediate reactions and thus I have no idea whether they understand or not.”

I cannot see my students’ immediate reactions and thus I have no idea whether they understand or not.

Li agrees without experiencing the atmosphere of a physical mock examination, students have a harder time to get ready for the DSE examination. “Apart from their ability and knowledge, their mental state also greatly influences their performance,” says Li. 

Suffering mental pressure from social movement

The coronavirus outbreak undoubtedly has affected the mental condition of most candidates. DSE takers this year have also been emotionally disturbed by the anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (anti-ELAB) movement since June 2019. 

An 18-year-old DSE candidate who names herself Bertha participated in the movement from June to December 2019, when most tutorial centres were packed with students preparing for the DSE examination. 

Although Bertha enrolled in English and Economics mock examinations provided by a tutorial centre in December, she was not ready for any of it. “I was frightened and I followed news about the movement every day. I felt very exhausted so I basically did not revise during that period,” says Bertha.

I was frightened and I followed news about the movement every day. I felt very exhausted so I basically did not revise during that period

Bertha and her friends kept checking their chat group every 30 minutes to update each other’s status. She was very worried as she witnessed her friends being arrested before.

“I felt so helpless that there was no progress (in the movement),” says Bertha, “I even thought would the DSE examination be cancelled?”

It was a tough struggle for Bertha forcing herself to return to her study routine in December. “I felt so ashamed when I started picking up my study,” says Bertha, “Should I really revise? Or should I go out to support other protesters?” 

Advice to candidates

Hsu Siu-man, a coordinator of Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group (HKFYG), says students are more sensitive to the sanitation of exam venues this year. They worry about setting of examination halls, health condition of students sitting next to them, hygiene of toilets and water fountains at schools. “This gives them extra burden on top of pressure they already have from their study,” says Hsu.

HKFYG “DSE 27771112” scheme handled about 3,900 cases from January 29, 2020, to March 23, 2020. The number has doubled comparing the same period in 2018 – 2019.

Hsu says this academic year, which started rough with social movement and immediately followed by the coronavirus outbreak, is “very unusual” and thus supporting these students is especially crucial.

HKFYG and Faculty of Education of the Hong Kong University jointly establish a platform on Telegram for Form Six students to answer their questions on 11 subjects. The group also collaborates with some major tutorial centres to provide tips on past examination papers and revision. To show emotional support, former DSE candidates are invited to film video clips sharing their advice. The organisation gives out hand-written cards with supportive messages as well. 

A Telegram group jointly established by HKFYG and Faculty of Education of the Hong Kong University to advise Form Six students about their difficulties in the DSE examination. (Photo courtesy of HKFYG)

Hsu advises students to focus on their goal, be clear of their progress, and most importantly, seek help from others when facing difficulties.

Edited by Tiffany Chong
Sub edited by Kayi Tsang

Sustainability – Future Fashion Trend

Fashion industry makes efforts to create sustainable consumption and production behaviour

By Lynne Rao in Luzhou

Fashionable and Sustainable

“I love fast fashion, but I have to throw away many clothes every six months,” says Shum Man Yin, a Year 2 student studying history at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Shum, like any other girl of her age, loves shopping from Zara, a Spanish fast-fashion brand, to keep up with the latest trend.

Fast fashion is one of the fashion business models that provides inexpensive garments of the latest trends, encouraging frequent and excessive consumption among consumers.

Recycling bin in a community
(Photo courtesy of Shum Man Yin)

Being trendy, however, leaves Shum in a dilemma. As much as she cares about trends, she is also concerned about textile waste in Hong Kong. “It (fast-fashion clothing) is cheap but poor in quality. I always buy a lot but don’t wear them much,” shares Shum. She tries to buy less now and makes it a habit of putting away unwanted clothes into recycling bins placed in the community.

A New Choice

“I’m regretful every time I throw away my clothes,” says Shum, “but I have to (do so) because it’s hard to manage my wardrobe.”

Keeping up with fashion trends often leaves consumers with an overloaded wardrobe. Four in ten Hong Kong shoppers said they threw away clothing after wearing it just once, according to YouGov, a private research centre, in 2017. The survey shows that the number of garments purchased by individuals grew by 60 per cent each year between 2000 and 2014 alone.  

Toby Crispy, Upcycling Designer
(Photo Courtesy of Toby Crispy)

“People buy and throw away their garments so quickly, and that causes so many environmental problems,” says Toby Crispy, an upcycling fashion designer who used to work for a commercial fashion brand.

Crispy points out that overconsumption is accelerated by fast-fashion retailers who break down industry’s “four-seasons-a-year routine” into 52 mini collections a year. The brands use synthetic materials for their cheap garments which are mainly oil by-products and cause pollution during laundry.

The garment material is not the sole problem of fast fashion. Having worked in the fashion field for over two decades, Crispy says she has witnessed the dark sides of the industry, such as “severe pollution, animal abuse and exploitation of labor.” “I (no longer) could accept to work hard for this selfish and ignorant industry,” she says.

Tired and disappointed, Crispy quit her job as a design manager at Agnes b. HK— a label she worked for before creating her upcycling fashion label. She created her upcycling fashion brand, Lastbutnotleast in 2013. She is committed to fighting against waste and pollution problems in the fashion industry by repairing, reshaping, and redesigning secondhand garments from customers.  

A hoodie designed with t-shirts collected by a secondary teacher over 6 years
(Photo courtesy of Toby Crispy)

Crispy believes upcycling can make the best use of old clothing while it also helps reinforce the sense of attachment customers share with their belongings. “It’s so touching every time I listen to stories people have with their garments and see happy faces when they receive redesigned clothes,” says Crispy.

Crispy holds regular workshops in an effort to promote sustainable fashion. She explains how garments are made and shares tips on how to turn old clothes into new ones. “I feel proud when I see the participants feeling happy and learning different types of upcycling skills in my workshops,” she says. “The mission as a designer is to propose a sustainable lifestyle, rather than producing the unnecessary.”

Let’s Redress

The fast-fashion model adopted by Zara and H&M has been successful in sales since the 2000s. They are especially popular in Hong Kong with net sales of 1,502 million kronor (around HK$1.23 billion), according to H&M 2018 annual report.  The figure is significant considering the net sales of other neighbouring regions like Taiwan and Singapore are just 600 million (around HK$467 million) and 800 million kronor (HK$ 620 million) respectively.

According to figures from the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong, about 0.125 million tons of textile garbage were dumped into landfills in 2018. On average, about 343 tons of textile waste were produced per day.

To combat textile waste, Redress, an environmental NGO in Hong Kong, makes efforts to change the public perception of fashion and reduce textile waste.

Volunteers sorting out second-hand clothes at Redress’ Sort-a-thon during their Get Redressed Month 2019
(Photo courtesy of Redress)

Redress, founded in 2007, has held various campaigns to promote sustainable fashion through recycling and upcycling. Redress encourages the public to adopt a circular model by collecting, sorting, and reusing or upcycling secondhand garments.

Redress Design Award 2019
(Photo courtesy of Redress)

The NGO also holds the Redress Design Award every year to spread the message of sustainable fashion with designers of various backgrounds. “We work to change mindsets (of fashion consumption) and (related design) practices to reduce textile waste, as well as to create systems and partnerships that will bring out the values (of) existing waste,” says Kay Liu, circular fashion programme director at Redress.

H&M Conscious line explained on its official website
(Picture sourced from H&M official website)

Fast-fashion retailers are also looking for sustainable models to address environmental concerns. H&M introduced an environmentally conscious label, “Conscious” in 2019, which means their products “must contain at least 50 per cent sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester” according to H&M’s official website. Zara also has its eco-friendly collection, “Join Life”, which uses organic cotton, recycled wool, and forest-friendly fibre, Lyocell as the primary materials.

“These changes do not only offer consumers more sustainable choices but also push other practitioners in the industry to change,” Liu adds.

Liu thinks changing consumption behavior is the key to promote sustainable fashion. She points out that consumers lack awareness of the impact of over-consumption. “Many consumers don’t realise that they are buying one of the world’s biggest polluted goods when they purchase fast fashion,” she says.

Liu asks consumers to keep three “Re’s” in mind to practise sustainable fashion trends, which are, to Re-think before buying, Re-organise wardrobes, and Re-create old into new.

Edited by Soohyun Kim
Sub-edited by Kayi Tsang

Young Instagram influencers

By Mandy Yim

Working as young Instagram influencers has become a trend among
university students for self-recognition and some pocket money.

CatCat Cheung Ka-man, a Year 4 university student of Hong Kong Baptist University, has started working as an Instagram influencer since 2018. The communication major student has worked with more than 280 brands in two years.

Cheung is at an event at the LeeGardens. Photo courtesy by Carmen Cheung Ka-man

Cheung has taken part in a wide variety of advertisements for various products such as electronic gadgets, jewellery, cosmetics, hotpot restaurants, paper-packed beverages and even shower gels. 

She found jobs from online media platforms such as Mingo, SpreadIt, Vfluencer, Touchbase and CastingAsia. Some companies approached her directly by sending her invitation messages via Instagram.

“Apart from money and free products, I also receive free facial treatments, free meals as well as chances to participate in cocktail events,” Cheung says.

Cheung says that even though the job nature of being an Instagram influencer is simple and no professional knowledge is required, influencers may still face unexpected difficulties.

Cheung recalls an unforgettable experience. “Directions given by brand companies on advertising posts are sometimes unclear. A company once required me to express the mood of excitement and surprise at the same time while biting a Cheesy BBQ Meatball Sandwich. I felt embarrassed though I successfully finished the task,” she says.

Cheung is promoting some lipsticks. Photo courtesy by CatCat Cheung Ka-man

Cheung also reveals that she usually waits for one to two months for payment after posting an advertisement. “Some companies even forgot to pay. Influencers had to remind companies to settle payments,” she says.

While some university students are keen to join the online marketing industry, some have quit the trade.

Ruby Kao Hoi-tung, a Year 2 student of City University of Hong Kong, started her career as an Instagram influencer in 2018 when she was 18. The business major student’s Instagram account now has more than 4000 followers. Her one-year contract with Maybelline has just ended.

Kao’s picture appears on Maybelline’s counter. Photo courtesy by Ruby Kao Hoi-tung

“Before working with Maybelline, I have been doing online advertising for three brands. They are Shu Uemura, M.A.C and Happy Socks. I contacted the brands through online media platforms such as Zolar,” she adds, “They are one-time jobs. I did not have a long-term employment relationship with the brands.”

Zolar, formally established in early 2019, is an associated business of New Media Group, a media company in Hong Kong. It does matching for brands and job seekers who want to join the influencer marketing industry.

Kao was not satisfied with  jobs she had when she was a freelancer. “The money I got from one-time jobs was little. I only got sample products and travel allowances after posting advertisements. The pay was low which was around $100 per post,” she says.

She joined a digital marketing program initiated by Maybelline, namely Babelline Society, in March 2019 and signed a one-year contract. According to the contract terms, Kao was not allowed to create any advertising posts for other cosmetics companies. The program recruited university and secondary school students as promoters for both online and offline promotions.

“Besides money, the main factor pushing influencers to continue their career is the vanity to be famous,” Kao says.

“Being accepted by Maybelline is my greatest reward in this career. I feel like my ability in marketing is recognised,” Kao says, “I had an interview before I was successfully selected as Maybelline’s online influencer. The interviewers required me to design a campaign to promote their brand and pitch an idea to them. I was so glad that my idea brought me to the company.”

Kao prepares for her Instagram post at Mabybelline’s studio. Photo courtesy by Ruby Kao Hoi-tung

“I used to prepare shooting equipment and make-ups myself when I was not a contract staff of Maybelline. I had to take selfies and edit them by myself when I did one-time online marketing campaigns for other brands. The whole process took several hours,” she says. Maybelline, in contrast, provided studios and photographers for Kao. The arrangements made Kao’s job much easier.

Despite receiving full assistance from the brand, there were times when she thought about quitting the industry. “I worried about how others thought of me. I questioned myself, ‘Do my followers like my photos? Do they think I am hard-selling? Will they unfollow me?’ I felt stressed,” she says. These worries faded away when her friends once actively assisted her in selecting photos for an advertisement campaign of Maybelline. “Their encouraging words motivate me a lot,” she says.

But Kao has no plan to renew her contract with Maybelline. “Some people around me dislike Maybelline due to political reasons,” Kao says. She will also stop promoting other brands and start her own YouTube channel. “I want to start my own channel this summer for myself instead of for other brands.”

“I spend time understanding products before I promote them in public,” Kao says, “I want to live up to the expectations of my followers.”

Marsha Yu Man-shan, a Year 3 student of Hong Kong Baptist University, also stopped working as an online influencer after joining the industry for a year. 

“I started my freelance work as an Instagram influencer when I was in Year 1. I was 18 at that time,” she adds, “I joined this industry only for money.”

Yu is at an event held by Kiehl’s. Photo courtesy by Marsha Yu Man-shan

She describes the industry as disordered and messy, as anyone can join the trade.  “Everyone can be an influencer. Many of them spread product information just for money rather than recommending high-quality brands to others. Advertising posts are neither representative nor convincing. Customers may be misled,” she says.  

She also faced the problem of low and unstable income like Kao. “It is impossible to have a full-time and long term career in online marketing as an influencer as the income fluctuates,” she adds.

But the main reason why Yu gave up her online marketing job is the anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (anti-ELAB) movement in Hong Kong. In her view, it is inappropriate to post advertisements during the social movement because they distract others from knowing the most updated information of movement. Therefore, she shifted the focus of her Instagram posts to news about the movement.

“I may still consider re-joining the industry when the anti-ELAB issue is not a topic of intense debate in Hong Kong,” Yu says. 

Under the influence of the social unrest, media companies have also been observing a drop in the number of Instagram influencers.

Director of Zolar, Doris Kuok, who has been working in online marketing for 15 years, says the number of teenagers joining the online marketing industry has dropped due to the social movement.

Kuok thinks that influencer marketing ties closely with the social situation. “Instagram users follow an influencer only when the influencer has in-depth and constant sharing on a specific theme, such as food and cosmetics. If an influencer shares diversified topics, for instance, political affairs, information about masks and sterilizers, as well as commercial advertisements, followers may lose interests as they find some content not suiting their tastes. They may unfollow the influencer,” she says.

“Creating posts that relate to a wide range of topics causes the loss of style and character in influencers’ Instagram account,” Kuok says.

Dr. Wu Shih-chia, a professional consultant of the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says both promoters and target audience of online advertisements are mainly teenagers.

 “Brands that adopt influencer marketing are selling trendy products related to fashion, travel, fitness and beauty. Since the young generation is the potential customers of these products, companies would like to hire teenagers to be their influencers,” she says.

She thinks that free products, the sense of satisfaction in influencing other people and honorarium are the reasons that attract university students to join online advertising market. “Some students may even become a full-time influencer after graduation,” she says.

“The purpose of using influencers for promotion is not to turn a non-famous product to a famous one,” she adds, “Instead, it aims at reaching the target audience through the influencers’ close social networks.” She adds that the strategy of influencer advertising is not a matter of coverage but the closeness.

Additional information about Instagram marketing

Instagram, with one billion monthly active users according to eMarketer’s statistics in 2018, is the second most engaged social networking site. More than 70% of the billion monthly active users are under the age of 35, according to the data from Statista in 2019. Thus, more and more companies targeting teenage market develop their advertising channels on Instagram.

How to be an IG influencer:
1) Download apps such as SpreadIt and Mingle, which are agencies connecting influencers and brands. Details of various products and corresponding remunerations are listed. Users can browse and filter items by interest.
2) Click “APPLY NOW”, they can collaborate directly with brands and create posts according to brands’ requirements.
3) After submitting sample posts to brands and getting approval, they can share their posts on Instagram and Facebook.

Edited by Ariel Lai

Sub-edited by Tiffany Chong

Speak for the Unspoken

(Photo courtesy of Joanna Bowers)

Documentary director Joanna Bowers talks about her film projects, her values, and her goals as a filmmaker.

By Patricia Ricafort

Coming to Hong Kong

While some local directors are stepping out of Hong Kong, Joanna Bowers moved here to embark on her career in film. In 2017, she produced a documentary, The Helper, which follows the lives and struggles of domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

In 2011, while Bowers was in Los Angeles, her friend, who was moving to Hong Kong, convinced Bowers to accompany her to help with finding an apartment. While she was in Hong Kong, she met the CEO of a manufacturing company, who gave her a directing opportunity that kept her here.

Now, almost ten years after she first moved to Hong Kong, she sees herself staying here. “I think there’s a lot more opportunities in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a certain vibrancy and grittiness, and there are many unique things about Hong Kong that are interesting and attractive,” she says.

She believes that living in Hong Kong has allowed her to discover and explore unique stories that she would not have been able to access if she was living elsewhere.

First Time as a Director

Before that, the first directing opportunity came to Joanna Bowers unexpectedly. In 2009, her friend Maureen Ganz had written a short film, Inviolate Rose, and he approached Bowers to direct it.

 “After my first day on set, working on this short film, I realised I love it! This is brilliant!” she says.

Inviolate Rose is based on a true story of Maureen Ganz and her two sisters, who travelled to Ireland to scatter their mother’s ashes after her death from cancer.

Prior to directing her first film, she never believed that a woman could become a director.

“I remember, years ago, seeing Jane Campion’s film The Piano that was nominated for the Oscar, and I remember being really taken aback. It hadn’t occurred to me that it was possible for a woman to be a director of a film at that level,” she says.

Joanna Bowers (left), now based in Hong Kong, has worked as a director since 2009. (Photo courtesy of Joanna Bowers)

An Untold Story

“I strive to tell those stories that haven’t been told before to help the person that has been overlooked to get their perspective out in the world,” says Bowers. “The more diversity and different perspectives we can understand, the better for us.”

Bowers once co-wrote a romantic comedy featuring an interracial relationship between a Caucasian woman and an Asian man. While she was able to get funding for the film, she had a hard time finding a distribution company because the lead in her story is an Asian male.

“When my producers went to the Cannes Film Festival to try and get some pre-sales on the film, they came back to me and said, ‘We’re having a difficult time selling this film because it’s got an Asian male romantic lead. Nobody seems to want to buy that. How about this: what if, he’s not Asian, he’s Caucasian but grew up in Hong Kong?’”

Bowers refused. “That defeats the entire purpose of what the whole story’s about!” she says.

While that film was never executed, she was able to produce her feature documentary, The Helper, and released it in 2017. The documentary follows the lives and struggles of domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Bowers made it after realizing that nobody had made a film exploring their lives. “I became fascinated by how important they were yet how unseen and unknown their stories were. I wanted to put them on a platform where they would be appreciated and be seen,” she says.

The Helper fits in well with Bowers’ interest in telling women’s stories. “As I’ve progressed as a director, I’ve become more and more conscious of how underrepresented women’s stories are within the media,” she adds.

Joanna Bower (left), the director and Tony Verb, the producer of the documentary, The Helper. The Singapore screening of the documentary took place at The Projector on 22 Oct 2017. It features domestic helpers. Photo by Najeer Yusof. (Photo courtesy of Joanna Bowers)

“As I’ve progressed as a director, I’ve become more and more conscious of how underrepresented women’s stories are within the media”

Life before directing and Hong Kong

Growing up in Kent, U.K., Bowers did not even think she would work in the creative industries. She initially selected her GCE A-level subjects on the premise that she was going to study medicine in university. “I thought I was going to be a heart surgeon!” she says.

Yet she quickly realised that the sciences were not suitable for her, so she decided to pursue a more creative career.

Bowers studied broadcast journalism at university. While she enjoyed learning about writing and video production, she realised that hard news was too dark and depressing for her.

Instead, she set her sights on the entertainment industry. She planned to move to Los Angeles as a university student after seeing opportunities available there. 

“If I want to be in this industry, rather than being in the UK, which, at the time, had maybe four or five channels, there’s much more work and opportunity being in Los Angeles,” she says.

Her directing career in Los Angeles, however, was short-lived. Soon after releasing her short film, the effects of the financial crisis reached her. As a new, inexperienced director, she found herself out of work.

“My work disappeared, and it was awful for me. I had finally figured out this role in the industry that I loved,” she recalls.

Looking ahead

While her first feature film is a documentary, Bowers also hopes to direct narrative film in the future. At the same time, she aims to continue increasing awareness of critical issues through documentary filmmaking.

She is in the final stages of making a documentary called Refashioned, profiling three Hong Kong people aiming to promote sustainable fashion in various ways. “The world’s changing. I watch people like Greta Thunberg, and they make you realize how much of an emergency we are facing,” she says.

 “You want to make the world a better place for your children to grow up in, and I feel like making films is my attempt at doing that.”

Edited by Lambert Siu
Sub-edited by Jasper Cao

Sing It Out of Love

(Photo courtesy of Marc Yuan and Shane Lin)

The first same-sex couple married in Taiwan, Marc Yuan and Shane Lin, talked about their romance, family lives, and also how LGBT community fought for their rights there.

By Tommy Huang in Taipei

He, Marc Yuan, proposed to him, Shane Lin, on January 6, 2018 at Tanya Chua (蔡健雅)’s concert in Taiwan. The singer passed her microphone to Yuan from the stage after singing a song titled “Sing It Out of Love (說到愛)”.

“Will you marry me?” Yuan asked, with his hands trembling. His words were responded by his beloved man, Lin, with the exact three words he wanted to hear most at that moment: “Yes, I will.” Audience lit up the stadium with their cellphone flashlights, which looked like sparkling stars in the sky, wishing the couple a lifetime of happiness.

Fashion store owner, Yuan, 30 and fondant cake artist, Lin, 31, tied their knots officially on May 24, 2019, marking a significant day in Taiwan gay right history. The couple is the first pair who registered their marriage after the legislation of same-sex marriage was passed on May 17, 2019.

Lin and Yuan signed “Love is Love”, a slogan promoting sexual equality, on their new book, “Husband x Husband”.

Darkness before dawn

But before this happy ending, the two princes underwent a lot of tough times in their childhood. “Feminine boys tend to be targets of bullying, whether you are gay or not,” Lin says. “My childhood memory was as bad as it can be.”

Lin was teased as a “cream puff”, a nickname for feminine boys, for his femininity and was bullied at schools. He was once dragged out of a toilet cubicle by bullies. “If I talked back, they would become more violent,” Lin says. “At that time, I chose not to go to a restroom if there were many students there.”

Having suffered from years of bullying, Lin concealed his sexual orientation to avoid being attacked. He decided not to keep it as a shameful secret when studying at a high school.               

“Whenever I was asked if I am gay, I replied, ‘Yes, I am. What’s the matter?’” Lin recalls. He found that people would respect him more when he answered the question this way. If he attempted to shy away, others would tease him.

Yuan was attacked by his classmates violently as he had more female friends than other boys. “Once I went to play billiards with some female classmates, some boys dragged me to an alley and assaulted me with helmets and baseball bats,” Yuan says.

“Whenever I was asked if I am gay, I replied, ‘Yes, I am. What’s the matter?’”

First encounter

Their first encounter was in Shih Chien University when they were grouped in a physical education lesson. They chatted with each other through video calls every day after school.

Lin soon confessed his love to Yuan. “I like you. Do you want to be with me?” Lin did not dare to see the reply so he turned off his computer but Yuan made his decision without thinking much unexpectedly. “Sure! We can try it,” Yuan answered.

They cohabited in Lin’s place after dating for about a year. Lin’s family gradually grew fond of Yuan as they get used to his presence. “I hope they can feel our love directly,” Lin says. “It’s important to change their heart little by little in this way.”

Coming out

Lin came out to his mother when he was in high school, but his mother thought homosexuality was something bad. “I would like my family to know my significant other and let them realize that gay couples can also engage in a stable relationship,” Lin says.

Yuan came out to his mother a month before he proposed to Lin, but in fact his mother knew every thing from the beginning. At the night he came out, his mother could even tell the name of Lin or how long they had been together.

When Yuan concealed his sexual orientation, his mother faced everything alone. “Now I send these kind of videos about homosexual people and their family to let her realize that this is natural, and that she is not alone in the situation,” Yuan says.

“Maybe it is because we gave our family lots of time to observe and to accept us gradually. So family conflict was avoided,” Lin says.

Lin and Yuan became the first gay couple to marry in Asia. (Photo courtesy of Marc Yuan and Shane Lin)

LGBT right in Taiwan

Starting from 1990s, Taiwan LGBT rights movement has gone from pride parades, constitutional interpretation to referendum. It was a landmark moment when same-sex marriage was legalized after the Legislative Yuan passed the act. “Taiwan is a blessed country where human rights are valued, which makes me feel so proud,” Lin says. Taiwan is the first nation in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

A rainbow showed up in the sky after the Legislative Yuan members voted to approve same-sex marriage. “Ever since I realized I was gay, I believed that it was almost impossible for me to marry my love,” Lin says.

“When Yuan told me that the bill same-sex legislative act was passed, I couldn’t help but bursting into tear. I almost cried my eyes out!”  

The Legislative Yuan, the supreme legislative organization of Taiwan, is equivalent to a parliament in other democratic states. Legislators are elected by the people every four years to exercise legislative power. 

The pair was one of the 20 couples who married on May 24, 2019, in an event organized by Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan. They became the first group of couples to sign the official paper. It took them a few minutes to complete the official registration, but LGBT community had fought 40 years for their right to get married.

“When I held my identity card in my hand, I got goose bumps,” Lin says.

At first, it was embarrassing for them to call each other husband in the public. “But now I can say it out loud,” Lin says. “People treat us with a friendly attitude.”

“Public attitude toward gay marriage has changed a lot after the legalization in Taiwan,” Lin says. “What impressed me most is that they same-sex couples started holding hands on streets after the act was passed,” Yuan adds.

“Those who oppose same-sex marriage are not forced to shift their ground to support it immediately,” Lin says. “Give them some time. Only time will tell.”

A family of he, he and it

This year, Yuan and Lin adopted a white Shiba Inu dog. Yuan records its daily life via its Instagram account. “When it is tired after playing around, it lies on my chest sometimes,” Yuan says. “Looking at its sleepy face, I am as happy as a clam.”

Expenses of their son-like dog turn out to be their sweetest burden. “It is different from the time when we were dating,” they say. “Our ‘son’ gives us feeling of having a warm nest.”

“I really thank myself for willing to reveal the secret when I was in high school,” Lin says. “If I had not, it might be impossible for me to confess to the one I love.”

Recalling their first date and encounter, Yuan says it is their fate. “It is Lin who unlocked my heart and made me who I am. I thank him for confessing to me and being a part of my life.”

Edited by Lambert Siu
Sub-edited by Cynthia Sit

Caged City

Metal fences cage the city amid anti-government protests.

By Reüs Lok

  • Iron nets have been installed in the footbridge connecting Hung Hom station and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, near the Cross Harbour-Tunnel.

Iron nets have been installed on footbridges across the city amid the anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (anti-ELAB) movement, especially those above trunk roads or railways, in a bid to prevent protesters throwing objects from heights onto nearby carriages.

Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Leo Chu Tsz-lok objects to the installation. Two pedestrian footbridges near Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been fenced in his constituency, after violent clashes between police and protesters in November last year.

Anti-ELAB protesters tried to block the Cross-Habour Tunnel by throwing objects from footbridges above the Cross-Habour Tunnel Toll Plaza and that connecting PolyU and Hung Hom station in the week of November 11, 2019 in an attempt to trigger a city-wide strike. Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police officers at the PolyU campus. Police sealed off all campus entrances and surrounded the campus till around the end of November. The city’s vital tunnel reopened after two weeks of closure, on November 26, 2019.

Chu learnt about the installation on December 25, 2019 after being informed by nearby residents. He says the district council was not consulted or informed about the installation and the Highway Department did not reply to them when they asked for details of the arrangement.

“The installation did not solve the deep-rooted socio-political problem. It is only an ostrich policy,” says Chu. “Is it practical to fence all footbridges in Hong Kong?” He also questions if the fencing has breached the Fire Safety Ordinance and worries if it will threaten safety of footbridge users. Chu says residents nearby are very concerned.

“The installation did not solve the deep-rooted socio-political problem. It is only an ostrich policy.”

 “Installing iron nets is only a temporary solution. The root cause of the social problem has nothing to do with the footbridges,” says Chung Shing, a PolyU student who frequently uses the footbridge connecting the campus and Hung Hom station. “The fencing also recalls memories of what happened at PolyU in November last year. All memories come to my head when I walk across the bridge,” he adds.

Fenced footbridges can also be found in other districts where protests are rare. Kwai Tsing District Councillors, Ng Kim-sing and Tong Ho-man, discovered installation of iron nets in a pedestrian footbridge connecting Ko Fong Street and Kwai Chung Plaza in January this year.

Similar to Yau Tsim Mong district, no official consultations or announcements were made before the installation. Tong and Ng wrote to the Highway Department concerning the issue. The department replies that the installation is only a temporary measure to prevent throwing of objects from the footbridges. The two councillors find the explanation unacceptable. “No cases of objects being thrown from height on that footbridge have been reported in the past year,” Tong says.

Tong says the fencing has caused many problems. Some residents complained to him that the fences make them feel uncomfortable. Walking across bridges wrapped by nets, residents have the feeling of being trapped in a prison cage. “These nets also lead to poorer littering problem,” he says.

“How can the problem be solved when the government does not try to understand why people are still saying ‘Five demands, not one less’?” says Ng. “Even if no one throws objects into carriageways anymore, does it really mean the problem has been solved? I think we all understand that the problem is still here.”

The Highway Department explains the installation of iron nets is to ensure safety of road users and maintain normal traffic on public roads by preventing the throwing of objects onto nearby carriages. It says the arrangement is only a temporary preventive measure given rise by the exceptional circumstances and the government will review the situation as and when necessary. However, no timetable of removal is given.

Edited by Emilie Lui
Sub-edited by Wayne Chang

Protesters-friendly Shop

Apart from selling daily goods, HKongs provides job opportunities for protesters.

By Reüs Lok

With the ongoing anti-government protests, political stance of a shop or a restaurant becomes one of the major considerations when consumers shop. This gives birth to a new term – “yellow economic circle”. It means that consumers in favour of pro-democracy yellow camp and the anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (anti-ELAB) movement only spend money on shops and restaurants that openly support the same political ideal.

HKongs (光時), an online grocery store, is a member of the yellow economic circle. The online shopping platform was launched after the anti-ELAB movement broke out, aiming to provide job opportunities to protesters, especially those who have been arrested or charged.

“We want to provide a job or a stepping stone for those who have been arrested or have become unemployed due to political reasons,” says Sam, a volunteer from HKongs who declines to reveal her full name. “Hiring those who actively participated in the movement is our top priority,” she adds. HKongs now employs 26 protesters or Sau Zuk (手足), a terminology used by protesters referring to each other.

“We want to provide a job or a stepping stone for those who have been arrested or have become unemployed due to political reasons.”

HKongs is very different from other companies. Their team consists of both volunteers and paid employees. All volunteers are recruited through LIHKG, an online forum, and they all have their own full-time job. Volunteers have no salary and need to balance between their full-time job and work at HKongs. There are around 15 volunteers working as company managers and trainers for the online store now.

Hkongs had a tough start when volunteers set up the company. Suppliers refused to provide warehouse support at first. But after building their reputation as a business that helps arrested protesters, suppliers who share their political view actively reach out to them and offer them support. 

HKongs is also cooperating with other shops in the yellow economic circle, trying to look for possible ways to share resources and logistics networks. “I’m confident about the development of the yellow economy,” says Sam. She thinks the number of “yellow stores” is increasing, and that helps further develop internal support and communication within the yellow economic circle.

If you want to know more about HKongs and support them, you may make purchases on their website or visit their Facebook page for more details.        

Edited by Emilie Lui
Sub-edited by Wayne Chang

Aid from all Quarters – Editor’s Note

A generation of young political activists was born in the Umbrella Movement in 2014. The 79-day movement made Hong Kong people feel the urge for a revamp in the political system in Hong Kong. The city is under the international limelight again after five years. The unprecedented anti-extradition bill movement has taken the globe by storm and even won support from foreign governments.

The movement has a long-lasting impact on Hong Kongers, especially young people who have active participation in the fire line. It has affected their mental health, academic studies and family relationship. Thousands of protestors have been arrested and some are facing criminal charges. Some young activists even fled to Taiwan for political asylum. Our periscope section sheds light on how volunteers in Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong offer support to young protestors. 

The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan joins hands with other non-governmental organizations to offer assistance to Hong Kong young protestors who fled to the island. Temporary residency and mental care are available for them. Scenes of police firing tear gas and water cannon at protestors in Hong Kong bring a strong sense of déjà vu to Koreans. What happened in Hong Kong bears much resemblance to the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. Varsity talks to Korean students and witnesses of Gwangju Uprising to learn their views about the social unrests in Hong Kong and how they show support to the democratic movement in the city.  

In Hong Kong, a church provides temporary accommodation to young protestors who are expelled by their parents due to different political views, while other volunteers offer private tutorial service and job opportunities to them. Varsity interviews university students who provide free online tutorials to secondary school students who had active participation in the social movement. Volunteers from an online grocery store, which aims to hire activists, share with us how they create a platform for boosting the “yellow economy”.

This issue of Varsity also features how people from all walks of life ushered in a revolutionary change in Hong Kong. The social unrests affect dating relationship, district council elections and domestic helpers’ job opportunities in Hong Kong. 

You will also find stories about pet adoption, pursuing quality lifestyle and cultural significance of neon signs in Hong Kong. Flipping through the profile of three professionals with an unusual occupation and the photo of Freedom Trail in Boston definitely bring you some inspirations to life. We hope you enjoy the read!

Tiffany Chong
Editor-in-chief

Hands Across The Strait

Supplies are gathered and transported from Taiwan to Hong Kong.

By Linn Wu, Mandy Yim

The Risky Way Out of Nothing

“I was accused of illegal assembly, so I had to obey bail conditions: curfew, regularly report to the police station, not to leave Hong Kong…,” says Andy, a 22-year-old Hongkonger, who declines to disclose his full name.  He was arrested on August 11, 2019, the day when a female protester was shot in the right eye. The woman, who may be blind in one eye, became a figurehead of the faceless and leaderless anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong. 

According to a government press release, as of Mar 2, 2020, among 7,549 people that were arrested during the movement, 3,091 were students. Most arrested protesters are facing charges of unlawful assembly, rioting and possession of offensive weapons.

Unlike the majority of protesters, Andy, due to his unique identity – a student of National Taiwan University of Art who was admitted in 2017, successfully applied for a change of bail conditions to stay in Taiwan after submission of supportive documents such as flight tickets, his student identity card and proof of dormitory residence. Andy adds, “I could freely enter Taiwan, but those without the identity as a student studying in Taiwan are in a very different situation. They fled to Taiwan confidentially.”

There is a trade-off for seeking asylum in Taiwan. Protesters choose to sacrifice Hong Kong residency to avoid political trials but there is no guarantee that they are safe once they embark on the journey. “If you enter Taiwan illegally, it is possible for the Taiwanese government to handle it through lawful means, rather than regard it as a special case. If an arrest warrant is issued, you are a wanted person. Don’t even think about returning to Hong Kong,” Andy explains.

Bookseller of Causeway Bay Books Lam Wing-kee fled to Taiwan in April 2019, fearing that he could be extradited to mainland China under the proposed government bill which is now withdrawn. Activist Lee Sin-yi fled to Taiwan in January 2017 ahead of the Mong Kok riot trial, leaving aside court hearings and an arrest warrant in Hong Kong. Both Lam and Lee had flown to Taiwan with a travel visa.

“To arrested protesters, at present time, if you arrive in Taiwan, you see heaven. If not, you see a dead alley,” Andy says.

Assistance After the Boat Journey

Alvin Chang speaking at a demonstration in Taiwan on August 4, 2019 (photo courtesy)

Alvin Chang, spokesman for Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, says, “Actually, the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan has offered daily support to Hong Kong protesters who flee to Taiwan. Yet, the council is not revealing details in public to minimize the risks of exposing these people.” He adds that NGOs and some other supporting units in Taiwan have privately contacted the council.

NGOs in Taiwan work closely with one another to exchange information and organize democratic activities to help Hong Kong protesters in Taiwan. In a bid to show their support, National Students’ Union of Taiwan, Hong Kong Outlanders, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy and Taiwan Citizen Front organised “929 Taiwan Hong Kong Grand Parade – Support Hong Kong, Fight Against Totalitarianism” with more than 100,000 participants.

Apart from holding protests, NGOs have continuously pressured the Taiwanese government through petitions, posts on Lennon Walls and social media platforms such as Telegram, LINE, Facebook and Instagram. “Our protests give Hong Kong protesters mental and emotional support, and that is the assistance that they need the most after arriving here,” Chang says.

Lennon Wall posts in support of the protests in Hong Kong can be seen on university campuses.

He adds that since the council, as a governmental institution, can provide neither material nor promotional assistance, NGOs can fill the service gap.

The Ministry of Education and educational institutions in Taiwan also introduce measures to ensure that student protesters’ learning is not disrupted amid the movement. During class suspension in Hong Kong in November and December 2019, universities in Taiwan allowed Hong Kong university students, regardless of nationality, to audit classes in Taiwan. A few even opened up application for students to transfer to their universities.

At universities in Taiwan, two kinds of special programmes, targeting students from Hong Kong universities, regardless of nationality, are launched. One is the visiting student programme, which allows students to start auditing courses instantly without credits offered. Another programme is for school transfer or higher education. Students can apply directly through the Ministry of Education.

According to National Taiwan University (NTU), which accepts most visiting students, almost 500 students have applied for the Special Visiting Student Programme, which started last December, including 200 Hongkongers and others from 16 different countries.

Community with A Shared Future 

To Taiwan’s NGOs, supporting Hong Kong is not the primary intention of establishment. “In the past, very few Taiwanese people were concerned about Hong Kong. Not until news reports of the massive pro-democracy demonstration on June 12 did they realize the political threat is actually very close to them,” Chang recalls. As demonstrations against the proposed extradition bill morphed to deep-rooted political legitimacy and police accountability, he witnesses Taiwanese people’s growing awareness of “Today’s Hong Kong, Tomorrow’s Taiwan”.

“We have a common enemy,” Chang says.

Tens of thousands of people participated in the demonstration in Taiwan on June 16, 2019. They held signs saying “Taiwan backs Hong Kong.”

“Hong Kong and Taiwan are on the same boat. It is not Taiwan backing Hong Kong but Hong Kong shielding Taiwan,” says Josh, a fourth-year Taiwanese university student who declines to reveal his full name. He volunteers to work at Chè-lâm Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, where material supplies from different parts of Taiwan are sent to, collected, and delivered to protesters in Hong Kong. 

Helpers at the church have been calling for support for the movement on the internet, providing shelters to protesters seeking refuge in Taiwan and delivering various supplies to frontline protesters in Hong Kong, including protective gears, external medicines such as normal saline, respirators and anti-tear gas cartridges. “Only supporting or sharing articles online is far from enough now,” Josh says. 

Like many other Taiwanese, Josh considers the fate of Hong Kong and that of Taiwan are closely related. “Hong Kong and Taiwan have the same oppressing neighbour [China], who keeps using politics to override rule of law and freedom, and still wants to persuade and deceive others… I loathe it,” he says.

A post-it note on supplies saying “Take care tonight, Hongkongers”

As the movement continues for over half a year, more and more Hongkongers flee to Taiwan in fear of political persecution. Josh worries some of them will not seek help and if the assistance can really cater to their needs. “Real challenges start after they safely flee to Taiwan. Problems in seeking jobs, going to school or security follow,” he says.

A Sustainable System

Josh thinks Taiwan lacks a comprehensive system for political sanctuary. Most of the support Hongkongers receive comes from NGOs, which have limited sources and are highly dependent on public support. “I hope the government can introduce measures to help Hongkongers, or else we can only help case by case, which I don’t think is enough,” he says.

Infinite Effort, Finite Effects

Goobear Chen
(photo courtesy)

Goobear Chen, Chairman of National Students’ Union of Taiwan, says, “The fundamental mission of Taiwan NGOs is to put pressure on the government to amend the refugee law.” He thinks that since information flow is limited and operations have to be under the table, it is difficult for any organization to provide assistance. In the long run, Taiwan NGOs will not be able to provide financial assistance to Hongkongers. Therefore, lawfully accepting fugitives would be the most effective measure.

Concerning the amendment of refugee law, Chen believes there is a certain degree of consensus among Taiwanese. He does not think it is a difficult problem. “But I am quite pessimistic about Hong Kong’s future after the movement. The whole issue is hard to cope with.”

The Open Secret

“It is neither the Taiwanese government’s nor Taiwan NGOs’ responsibility to help us,” Andy says while acknowledging the help he gets from Taiwanese civic society.

“Fleeing to Taiwan has become a hot topic in Hong Kong, arousing concern of both governments,” Andy says. He believes increasing media exposure of NGOs like Chè-lâm Presbyterian Church and district councillors like Daniel Wong Kwok-tung (The ‘Protective Umbrella’ Project) may have alerted the governments. He foresees that there will be more frequent government interferences to stop such concerted effort made by NGOs in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“At this moment, Taiwan is already an extremely hard choice for fleeing,” Andy says with a frustrated tone.

The ‘Protective Umbrella’ Project, initiated by Daniel Wong Kwok-tung, Kowloon City District Councillor, aims at raising funds for Hong Kong people who fled to Taiwan and want to set up small businesses such as restaurants and second-hand boutiques in Taiwan to earn their own livings. He also helps protesters to apply for working visas.

A Little Faith, a Big Controversy

Under the current policy, Taiwan government refers to Article 18 of the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong and Macau Affairs when dealing with Hong Kong people seeking asylum in Taiwan. It states: “Necessary assistance shall be provided to Hong Kong or Macau residents whose safety and liberty are immediately threatened for political reasons.” So far, no resident from Hong Kong or Macau has received lawful assistance from the Taiwan government under the act.

“At this stage, the act has already provided solid legal foundation,” Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s current President, stated on December 4 2019. “Revising the refugee law is unnecessary.”

Edited by Wayne Chang
Sub-edited by Jasper Cao

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Varsity CUHK
Varsity is an award-winning magazine created for the tertiary students and faculty of Hong Kong. It is written, edited and designed by students in the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Contact us: varsity@cuhk.edu.hk