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A Life Shaped by the Blast

Atomic bomb survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate organisation co-chairperson Terumi Tanaka warns of the growing nuclear threat and calls for peace.

By Della Qing in Tokyo

Atomic bomb survivor Terumi Tanaka, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo, shares his story of struggles with university students, as wars in the Middle East and Europe continue in 2025 – a year that marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

“I was at home in Nagasaki when the explosion happened. My home was 3.23 kilometers away from the hypocenter. I was 13,” the co-chairperson of the anti-nuclear weapons group says in a sharing session with students of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Tokyo.

The date was August 9, 1945. Tanaka heard the roar of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber carrying out its mission flying over Nagasaki.

“I never expected it to drop such a terrifying weapon…Suddenly the whole world turned completely white. I could not see or hear anything. I ran to the first floor. Then an intense shock wave passed through our entire house,” the 93 – year – old survivor recalls.

“I lost consciousness when I got to the first floor. When I woke up, I found that my home was flattened. The wind was very hot. Two large pieces of glass pressed against me. It was a miracle that I was somehow spared from injuries,” he continues.

Terumi Tanaka getting ready to leave his office in Tokyo to attend a sharing talk.

Tanaka, a former associate professor at Tohoku University’s School of Engineering, explains that the energy from the explosion can cause damage through intense heat from the flash of light, radiation, and scorching winds.

“Three days later, I went to find families of my two aunts who lived near the hypocenter. I hiked up a small hill with my mother…There I saw the destruction of Nagasaki. All houses were burnt and corpses scattered around. Many people were badly injured. They were still alive, but nobody could help them. I had no emotions…not even sympathy. I just kept walking to find my aunts,” Tanaka recalls.

“I found the burnt-out body of one aunt at the ruins of her house which was 400 meters away from the hypocenter, and the body of her grandson, who was a student from Tokyo University. Her grandson travelled back home to Nagasaki in hope of having food to eat. Food was scarce during war time. He was killed by the atomic bomb before heading back to Tokyo. My grandfather also died because of severe burns all over his body,” he shares.

“Another aunt’s house collapsed and the whole place became a pile of wood. It took us a long time to figure out where the house was. My aunt was severely burned, and died just before we arrived. We then cremated her remains with our own hands. When we picked up some unburned bones, I felt sad and was in fear. Then I began to wail. My mother didn’t say a word. She was desperately suppressing her emotions,” Tanaka sighs.

Tanaka says everyone lived in terror and anxiety, as they did not know if they had internal injuries which could take their lives any time.

“My uncle, after staying a few days at a relative’s home, suddenly had a fever and died ten days later because of the visceral injury caused by radiation,” he adds.

“The deaths I witnessed after the explosion were horrible. I think even during war time, nuclear weapons should not be used and must be banned forever,” the survivor says.

About 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 70,000 people died in Nagasaki from August to December 1945, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Despite all the hardship, Tanaka was determined to resume his study. “I had to work for five years to save up money for my university studies. I managed to be admitted to a university and my major was physics,” he says.

He began reading more about social science when he was back in school. “The terrible condition that we suffered made me think, me and my family did not do anything wrong, why we were so unfortunate. I then realised that I must do something to push for changes,” he says.

The devastating experience paved the way for Tanaka to embark on his lifetime career of pushing for peace, while he worked as an academic at the university.

“I was quite healthy at that time. I also had a job with a stable income. So I have the capacity to help other atomic bomb survivors,” Tanaka says.

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, also known as Nihon Hidankyo, was founded in 1956. Tanaka offered help to the organization in Miyagi Prefecture. Later, he was invited to become a member of the organization.

Founded in 1956, staff of Nihon Hidankyo work in the Tokyo office advocating for a ban on nuclear weapons.

“My duty was to understand the situation of the survivors in different places and help them. I also led atomic bomb survivors to testify at the United Nations, and held an atomic bomb exhibition at the UN every five years,” he shares.

“I believe all these efforts led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, and we were at last awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024,” he adds.

Nobel Peace Prize winner 2024 certificate hanging in the office of Nihon Hidankyo

Tanaka stresses maintaining peace requires dialogue and cooperation between different countries: “I hope everyone will talk more about peace rather than war – how to maintain peace and create peace, rather than discussing possible wars or what to do when war happens.” 

Edited by Suan Yeon & Daniel Paek

Sub-edited by Erica Hwang

“Let us construct a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons and war!”

Atomic bomb survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Terumi Tanaka warns of the growing nuclear threat and calls for peace.

By Christine Ge in Tokyo

As conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue, 93-year-old atomic bomb survivor Terumi Tanaka warns the threat of a nuclear war is an urgent matter that world leaders must address in dialogue. 

“Even in the 21st century, leaders of many countries continue with outdated approaches, such as waging war or believing that as long as their own nation is prosperous, other countries do not matter,” Tanaka says when meeting students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in a classroom at the University of Tokyo campus.

The co-chairperson of Nobel Peace Prize winner Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations), an organisation set up by atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, expresses deep concern about declining international cooperation. 

“If tensions between nations escalate to the point of war, it will inevitably lead to nuclear conflict. We must eliminate any possibility that could lead to a war,” he says.

Handwritten message by Terumi Tanaka, “Let us construct a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons and war!” in Japanese.

“There are people who want war to happen, but they won’t go to the battlefield themselves. War only makes them richer,” he says, criticizing industries and politicians who benefit from military actions. 

“These people create a climate of fear by claiming ‘we are under attack’ or ‘we are being threatened,’ making citizens believe that military expansion and weapons purchases are  necessities…as long as these leaders can convince their citizens a war is necessary, they can continue to  use public money to purchase weapons,” he adds. 

Citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Tanaka points out that there are about 4,000 nuclear weapons that can be launched at any time world wide.

Canotaph during a Remembrance Day ceremony, commemorating those who passed away in the World Wars.

He points out Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his government officially adopted a new nuclear doctrine last November, lowering the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks. Tanaka warns: “If Putin is not in the right mood, he might use it (nuclear weapons).” 

He stresses maintaining peace requires dialogue and cooperation between different countries:  “I hope everyone will talk more about peace rather than war – how to maintain peace and create peace, rather than discussing possible wars or what to do when war happens.” 

The peace activist has put his appeal into action all his life. He started helping atomic bomb survivors in Miyagi Prefecture in 1956, shortly after Nihon Hidankyo was founded. His duty was to travel to various regions to visit atomic bomb victims across the country and find out what difficulties and problems they had when rebuilding their lives. His work won praise and was invited to join the organisation. 

“I also lead atomic bomb survivors to the United Nations to share their testimonies and organise  exhibitions on the atomic bomb at the United Nations every five years,” Tanaka says.

These efforts contributed to the anti-nuclear weapons group’s most significant victory – the 2017 adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

But in 2017, Nihon Hidankyo did not receive the award. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which jointly promoted TPNW with Nihon Hidankyo, won the award.

 “We thought we would win that year. We’d been practicing for some time to get ready for the award presentation. But we did not get it. We thought maybe it’s because Norway is a member of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and they could not honor a group that helped  victims who were bombed by  the USA,” he says.

Poster on the global state of nuclear materials and weapons

The group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize seven years later in 2024.Tanaka says: “More and more victims have  passed away, and our membership  continues to shrink. For those who have left us, I think the award came too late.”

The organisation has a very strict membership policy. 

“Under the policy, it means only victims who have suffered from radiation exposure or injuries, and victims who lost family members or became displaced due to the atomic bombing can be our members,”  

Tanaka says the organisation is considering admitting survivors’ descendants as members. 

“We are worried that surviving members and new members who did not have the experience might have different views and that will be a problem. If membership becomes more diverse and opinions are in conflict, it becomes harder to form unity,” the retired professor shares.

Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Nihon Hidankyo

The Nobel Peace Prize monetary award has greatly improved the organisation’s financial condition with about JP¥150 million (US$100 million), the future of the group remains uncertain. “We are still discussing how to make good use of the resources and who should take over the work of the organisation,” he says. 

Despite facing challenges of running the organisation, Tanaka has high hopes in the younger generation for promoting peace,  “A new group that shares our core values might be formed in the future and  continue our work,” he adds.

Tanaka’s office

Edited by Suan Yeon

Sub-edited by Erica Hwang

The Award Goes To … PEACE – Editor’s Note

World peace is no longer a promise — it’s a fading illusion. As the wars in Ukraine and Gaza rage on, and genocides unfold in places like Sudan, we’re reminded that conflict is not an exception, but a constant. History, as we’re often told, repeats itself. But that’s not an excuse — it’s a warning.

In this issue — our November 2025 edition — we reflect on that warning in a month marked by Remembrance Day, a time meant to honour those lost to two world wars and to strengthen commitment to peace. Yet, in today’s world, remembrance feels less like reflection and more like persistence.

Our Periscope feature centers on 93-year-old Terumi Tanaka, a Nagasaki atomic bomb survivor and co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. In 2024, he received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the group — a powerful moment in the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Tanaka doesn’t just recount the horror of nuclear war — he warns us about the growing global appetite for militarization and the evolving threat of nuclear weapons. His message is clear: peace is not passive; it must be fought for.

In People, Varsity reporters introduce you to Miru Wong Ka-lam, who keeps tradition alive by running a 67-year-old embroidered shoe shop in modern Hong Kong — a quiet resistance against cultural erasure. We also feature a bar where people can enjoy “Hitting Villain Cocktail,” an experimental mixture of stress relief with Cantonese folk rituals, proving that even in chaotic times, tradition can thrive.

Other stories explore the uneasy relationship between students and GenAI. More are using it to ace assignments, but many fear they’re trading intellectual growth for convenience — and losing the ability to think for themselves. Our reporters also dig into the subtle politics of dating apps, where digital loneliness is reshaping intimacy and youth culture, and where personal choices are increasingly influenced by algorithms and isolation.

Varsity reporters also report on how storm-chasing for social media clout turned dangerous during Typhoon Ragasa, with arrests and hospitalizations raising questions about public safety and digital recklessness.

From tech to tradition, our stories this month reflect one core question: what does peace look like in a fractured world? At a time when the world feels like it’s unravelling, we believe journalism must do more than document — it must ask the hardest questions, challenge apathy, and imagine better futures.

Because peace isn’t just the absence of war.
It’s the presence of justice, empathy, and truth.

Thank you for reading.
Erica Hwang & Suan Yeon
 Co-Chief Editors

Splashing water, spreading blessings: Thai New Year in Kowloon City

Reporters: Christine Ge, Della Qing, Flavia Zhou, Isa He, Ivonne Deng, Jennifer Liu

Thai Community in Hong Kong celebrate traditional Thai New Year “Song Kran Festival” through splashing water in Kowloon City in April, 2025.

A Lifetime of Pushing the Bar

Reporter: Belle Yip, Justin Tai, Swara Sanket Kamble, Whitney Kwok

Tsu Kwong-hong , 76, shares his persistent journey of fitness and bodybuilding.

Hong Kong’s First South Asian Plus-size Model

Sakshi Vasudev

Sakshi Vasudev speaks on breaking away from conventions as a model in the city through healthy physical and mental outlooks.

By Swara Sanket Kamble

While many models are encouraged to go on restrictive diets to achieve the fashion industry’s “ideal” thin body, Sakshi Vasudev, the first South Asian plus-size model in Hong Kong takes control of her health through a balanced diet and exercise routine.

“There is so much more in life than the way you look. You don’t have to change your ways in order to fit a certain standard of beauty. You can be the way you are and still be beautiful,” Vasudev says.

“It depends on myself if I want to have a good diet. I told myself if I want to pursue this [modelling] seriously, I need to keep myself in check. I have started going to the gym, taking care of my skin, and stopped eating junk food. I mean, from time to time I eat junk food, but it’s not like I’m stuffing my face,” the 23-year-old model says.

Vasudev usually has her mother’s home cooked meals such as curry, vegetables, and rice. Her favorite food is stir fry Chinese vegetables, like choy sum, with rice. 

She points out the fashion industry plays an important role in creating beauty standards for models which are difficult to attain.

“Obviously this sets an unrealistic expectation that girls wanting to become a model need to starve themselves, eat salads, or even extreme to the point of throwing up after meals so it doesn’t affect their bodies,” Vasudev says.

“The type of [modelling] agencies that put models through diet restrictions and ask their models to puke after every meal are looked down upon,” she adds.

Vasudev highlights that the body structure of different nationalities is an important factor affecting body shape. “In East Asia, women are more slim and have a small bone structure. Whereas if you go to the West or South Asia, you’d know the body structure is quite big. And sometimes it has nothing to do with diet,” she says. 

Weighing 73 kg and 171 cm tall, Vasudev works out three to four times a week, mostly focusing on training with weights and targeting different muscle groups.

“Now the media has played a pivotal role in showing what models should look like, but you can also see some representation of different body types. And I hope it continues where we see different body types in the fashion industry,” she says. 

Vasudev as a runway model for the Redress Design Awards in September 2024 (Photo courtesy of Sakshi Vasudev)

Vasudev joined ‘Self Management Hong Kong’ last year, a modelling agency, which hires diverse models and represents them globally. She is the first plus-size model who joined the agency. 

She was previously signed to ChubbyChubby – Asia’s first plus-size modelling agency – from 2022 to 2023. 

“I reached out to ChubbyChubby after seeing their TVB interview. Being Indian and curvy puts me on a unique edge so they were eager to sign me on. Their whole message was to be the first plus-size modelling agency in Asia and they want to change the norm in the industry,” she says.

Vasudev has modelled for many different brands such as makeup company Charlotte Tilbury, a luxury designer clothing brand Emma Wallace, and has walked the runway for Hong Kong based fashion brands Redress, The Hive, and Harmony HK.

“Traditional models are booked easily for editorial shoots for high end brands like Elle. Plus-size models are usually booked for active wear, lingerie, and upbeat, lifestyle types of photo shoots. These are usually for brands who want to showcase diversity,” Vasudev says.

Colored plus-size models usually get jobs once every two to three months. 

“Hong Kong is not quite there yet in terms of diversity and inclusivity,” the model says.

Vasudev (left) for Rising Lotus (Photo courtesy of Sakshi Vasudev)

In 2020, Jill Kortleve was the first plus-size model to walk for the French fashion house in over a decade.

“I believe the West is more open to plus-size models. Hong Kong is much slower. Since the pool of models here is quite small, brands prefer booking traditional models,” Vasudev says.

Precious Lee is one of her favorite plus-size models.

“I watched an interview posted on YouTube in which Lee talked about how she started walking for Versace. She told her agent that she wanted to model for Versace and they laughed at her. A few years later, she walked for Versace and became Donatella’s favorite,” Vasudev recalls. 

This serves as inspiration for Vasudev.

Vasudev shares that high-end brands such as Chanel do not care about diversity, but more about brand image.

“There aren’t a lot of plus-size models modelling for luxury brands. I want to break that stereotype and model for Chanel one day,” she says.

Vasudev started modeling in 2019. She was 18. She especially loves walking runway shows.

“There is a certain type of energy I get on the runway. The moment you put me on a runway, I get a lot of confidence. I love it because you can showcase your personality and listen to music,” she says. 

Vasudev auditioned for and was selected for a winter show by Harmony HK – which is the first diverse model agency in Hong Kong and Asia, representing models from all backgrounds, races, ages, shapes, and the LGBT community.

“Once I stepped on the runway, people cheered for me and it gave me such a confidence boost, because for my entire life I was always considered as not the prettiest one. I was seen as too fat, or I was always behind the shadows… I just wanted to try it out. I wanted to prove to people that people like me can be on the runway,” the proud model recalls. 

Vasudev as a runway model for the Hive (Photo courtesy of Sakshi Vasudev)

Being in the public eye means that Vasudev is no stranger to criticism. 

“I once posted a reel of me walking and in the video you could see my stomach jiggling. I got a lot of negative comments from people, mostly guys, telling me to ‘go to the gym’. It really showcases how quick people are to judge,” the model says.

“Although the comments did affect me a bit, I’m here to walk and you’re [netizens] here behind your fake accounts while I’m getting rich,” she adds.

Vasudev recalls her high school days when she was affected by the names her peers called her.

“I started hiding myself in cardigans, even when it was very hot outside. I never wore dresses or skirts, I was always in jeans and t-shirts,” she says.

“Subconsciously, there’s always a part of me that says ‘you’re fat’. I grew up chubby, I didn’t suddenly gain this weight. There were times that I lost weight and then gained it back. Now it doesn’t matter if I am fat. I want to be the strongest version of myself physically and mentally,” she adds. 

Vasudev is on a mission to prove people wrong and spread the message that everyone is beautiful in their own way. “If you know yourself and your health is okay, there’s no pain, and the doctor says you’re good, then everything is fine,” she says.

Vasudev reminds aspiring models to be persistent and urges them to keep trying.

“You’re going to get rejected and that’s ok. Don’t take it personally. Keep developing yourself and your skill sets. In a world of constant nitpicking, people constantly try to throw you down. Take that as motivation to get better,” she adds.

Edited by Lunaretta Linaura

Sub-edited by Cindy Lee

More than Pets – Editor’s Note

Our May 202r issue – More than Pets is now published.

Pets have become family members and friends of their owners bringing them joy and companionship. Pet related businesses have grown in recent years ranging from afterlife service, pet salon to pet insurance. 

Varsity talks to business operators which provide funeral service for pets to learn the latest updates of the industry.  Reporters find out tailor-made packages of funeral services are available for pet owners with different religious beliefs. Cremation service, funeral ceremony, souvenirs in memories of pet owners’ beloved flurry friends are all covered in these service packages. 

While some animals are loved and cared for, the unfortunate ones struggle to survive. A former café operator Siu Lam-lam, the owner of Duncan’s Cafe in Mong Kok took care of up to 30 stray cats at one point. 

She put cats in her café and her home to take care of them. She also helps them find new owners and feed stray cats.  Cat lovers flocked to her café weeks before its closure in late March. 

This issue is a reminder that pet owners determine the fate of an animal’s lives. They are more than pets and should be treated with love and care.

Other stories featured in the May issue include stories in both China and Hong Kong. 

Varsity reporters look into an abandoned mine turned Cafe that has become popular, protestors involved in the White Paper Movement and their current state, smokers in Shenzhen ignoring anti-smoking rules and micro drama regulations in the Mainland.

As for stories in Hong Kong, we have stories about students doing self-study in Disneyland, secondary school students doing bodybuilding, the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme and the story of Hong Kong’s first plus-sized model.

Our May issue gives us more insights on both the Chinese and Hong Kong Community. Let’s take a look at the world around us. 

Enjoy your read!

Cindy Lee

Chief Editor

Tighter control over micro drama industry in China

By Isa He

Rigid micro drama regulations may curb creative freedom.

As a crazy fan of micro dramas, Cai Hanjun, a 20-year-old university student, watches micro dramas on Douyin for about one to two hours every day.

Hooked to her phone screen, Cai loves micro dramas – vertically shot, minute-long episodes featuring frequent plot twists. She enjoys genres like romance, suspense, and comedy, with a particular preference for stories about reincarnation and revenge. 

“There’s one micro drama I really like, which is about a woman coming back to life and taking revenge on her husband who hurt her in her first life. It felt really satisfying and I was addicted to watching it,” the student living in Wuhan says. 

As of June 2024, the number of Chinese micro drama viewers reached 576 million, accounting for 52.7 per cent of the total internet users in the country, according to the China Netcasting Services Association (CNSA). 

In 2024, revenue from the micro drama market reached RMB ¥50.40 billion (US $6.93 billion), surpassing the box office of Chinese movies for the first time, according to DataEye, a digital research firm based in Shenzhen. 

The firm also estimates that the micro drama market will surpass RMB ¥100 billion (US $14 billion) by 2027.

Whilst the popularity of these ultra-short, binge-friendly micro dramas has been booming in recent years, they have also brought scrutiny from the government.

Since 2024, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has tightened regulations on micro dramas by introducing new rules on content review, theme direction, and platform responsibility.

On February 5, it released a notice that a classified and three-tiered review system based on production themes and budgets has been established.

Key micro dramas, with a budget of RMB ¥1 million (US $136,729) or more, or involving sensitive topics such as politics, military affairs, diplomacy, or national security, must undergo national-level review. 

Regular micro dramas, with a budget ranging from RMB ¥300,000 (US $41,018) to RMB ¥1 million (US $136,729), are reviewed by provincial-level radio and television authorities. 

Smaller productions with a budget under RMB ¥300,000 (US $41,018) are supervised by streaming platforms, which are responsible for internal content review, copyright compliance, and routine reporting to regulators.

Noting that the new regulations aim at fostering industry growth and ensuring stricter governance, the NRTA requires all micro dramas to hold an online drama distribution permit and display a government-issued license number. It also introduces a “white list” system banning unlicensed content from being promoted or monetised.

It adds that the new measures hope to prevent the industry from over-commercialisation and encourage content that aligns with public values and social responsibility.

Due to the regulations, Cai noticed that the type of “satisfying” dramas she likes has become harder to find. “I used to see a lot of dramatic plots. Now, it’s harder to come across them. It’s a bit disappointing,” she says.

“The shows I watch do have distorted values. And yes, some dramas could negatively affect people’s thinking. So maybe regulation is necessary,” she says.

But Cai does not like the government’s tighter control over micro dramas, as these policies dampen creative freedom. “It makes people feel restricted… I hope they won’t interfere too much so there is more creative freedom,” she adds.

When asked about her view on the three-tiered review system for micro dramas, she says, “As long as I’m not restricted, I want to be in the group that can watch everything.”

The industry regards the new regulations as a watershed that micro drama is shifting from rapid, unregulated growth to a stage of stricter policy guidance and compliance. 

Li Tao, the founder and CEO of Fengxing Culture, a micro drama firm in Xian, western China, sees the new regulations as a turning point, signaling both official recognition and rising expectations for the industry. 

Li Tao Participated in the Second Micro-Drama Summit Forum, hosted by micro-drama media outlet Xinwanr, on December 14, 2024, in Hangzhou .

Li points out that at the start, the industry grew wildly, resulting in many micro dramas with content being vulgar, violent, and other unhealthy values.

“It is only after the supervision of relevant departments and the introduction of relevant policies that the industry is gradually moving towards a more and more standardized direction and healthier development,” he adds.

Li notes that many micro drama production companies that fail to produce high-quality work have been eliminated by competition and market forces in the past two to three years.

He says his firm will strictly follow the policy requirements to create more content with correct values, correct guidance, and diverse topics, encouraged by the government.

Assistant professor Lin Jian of the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong reveals that the regulations are very much related to the political system in China.

“In China, cultural governance has been a significant part of national supervision. Because the Chinese government is a one-party system, it requires its society to be consistent with its ideology. It conducts a content review to ensure that the values are consistent with the mainstream ideology,” he says. 

“Since the market of micro dramas has grown rapidly in the past two years, many Chinese are exposed to them. And as a cultural product, it involves values and ideology, so government censorship will come in,” he adds.

Lin stresses that the industry has a wealth of experience in dealing with government regulations while maintaining freedom of creation, and supervision of micro dramas is much more complicated than that of films.

“Even though those regulation policies are now introduced, the production of content on the internet is freer compared to the production in traditional media. Wheth
er an internet company or a government department, they don’t have enough time, manpower, or capital to conduct a detailed review of every piece of micro drama content, unlike a movie review,” he adds. 

Stating that the three-tiered micro drama review system can enhance the efficiency of the reviewing process, Lin hopes that the review system can be better defined and polished. 

“It is necessary to regulate cultural content, especially the production of the so-called mass culture and popular culture. But the question is how you establish a transparent review system, the human factor of the current review system is still relatively large, and its boundary is not very clear,” he says.

Edited by Yika Ng

Sub-edited by Lunaretta Linaura

Paradise Lost for Stray Cats

Siu Lam-lam, the owner of Dundas Cafe, reflects on her journey of making her restaurant a foster house for stray cats. 

By Whitney Kwok

Former restaurant owner Siu Lam-lam is now devoting all her time to care for her beloved furry friends, as she closed down her restaurant in Kowloon. In the past nine years, the restaurant used to be a happy hang-out spot for her customers and a safe haven for stray cats. 

“My restaurant is more than just a dining place. It is a place of warmth, a place for gathering and gossiping, a place for people to share their happiness over cats, and most important of all, a place for needy cats,” Siu says with a smile.

After the closing of the restaurant, Siu takes a break from her 12-hour work schedule and spends time with her 30 cats at home. 

Dundas Cafe is located in Portland Street in Yau Ma Tei.

Siu continues to help needy cats by keeping in contact with other stray cat feeders she knows. 

“I told them to help me feed stray cats in the area where I used to feed them, and to feel free to find me if they need any supplies,” she says. 

Three “cat managers” Eggplant, Cotton Candy and Milk Milk, have also retired from Dundas Cafe, a Hong Kong-style cafe in Mong Kok.

“The cat store managers will continue to stay with me, and receive training for the next job,” Siu says with a laugh, adding that she took care of 18 cats in total at the restaurant when at its peak. 

Since 2016, Siu has helped at least 286 cats find a home, clearing most of the stray cats in the area around her restaurant. An average of about HK $7,000 (US $902.26) was spent every month on veterinary medical treatment, cat food and other expenses. 

Siu Lam-lam, the owner of the restaurant.

On March 7 2025, the restaurant owner announced on Facebook that she was going to close down the restaurant at the end of March due to economic downturns after nine years of operation.  

At the time, there were still about 30 foster cats seeking adoption, and 19 of them were soon adopted, three weeks before its closure. 

Siu conducted home visits before handing over her beloved cats to their new owners to make sure the cats would be well-taken care of, even during the preparation to wind down her restaurant.

“Having a secure safety net on all windows is a must, the regular mosquito net or a magnetic one is not enough, as cats can easily scratch them off,” she adds.

She also checks if potential adopters have prepared cat necessities, including cat food, litter and medicine, before handing her cats to them. 

“Every adoption is like arranging a marriage for my daughters. I don’t arrange adaptation just for the sake of giving away the cat, instead I want to find a safe, loving and warm home for every one of them,” she says. 

A donation box was placed in front of the cashier. Many customers showed their support by donating money to the restaurant. 

Siu requires pet owners to send her photos of the cats to make sure they are settled well. 

“Seeing how cats changed from being skinny and sick, to becoming princes and princesses in their homes makes me realise that all my efforts and time spent are worthy. It brings me joy that money cannot buy,” the cat lover shares.

Siu keeps the rest of the cats herself because of their old age, adding that the remaining cats are 12 to 18 years old, equivalent to over 60 years old in human age. 

“Old cats cannot adapt to new environments easily and might feel stressed about moving to new places,” she says, adding that cats can suffer from issues like inflammation.

Having recently moved into a new and bigger flat to accommodate her 30 cats in mid-March, Siu recalls her cat story that began in 2017.

When Siu dumped rubbish in a back alley after work, she saw skinny and sick stray cats digging for food in the trash. 

“A pack of cat food did not cost much, so I started feeding them regularly after work ever since,” Siu recalls.

“More and more cats started to go to the spot where I first fed them. After a while, some cats allowed me to pet them, so I decided to take them in to stay in my restaurant and take them to vets for medical treatment, ” she adds. 

The café was then known as the “affordable cat cafe” in the neighbourhood. While most cat cafes serve western dishes for over HK $100 (US $12.85) and charge an extra entrance fee of around HK $50 per hour (US $6.43), the Cha Chaan Teng provides a large range of Hong Kong-style food including dish rice for around HK $50 (US $6.43) and side dishes range from HK $70 to $100 (US $9 to $12.85). 

“We lost some regular customers because they were concerned about hygiene. But many cat lovers started coming to my restaurant,” Siu recalls. 

Cotton Candy was one of the cat shop managers.

While Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Society for Abandoned Animals and other charity groups are active in handling stray cats, the number of abandoned animals continues to increase as owners surrender their pets due to various reasons such as pregnancy or newborn baby, immigration and housing issues according to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

There are also reports about the abuse of stray animals. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, the maximum fine is HK$200,000 and carries a maximum imprisonment of three years if found guilty of cruelty.

“Some people might pour alcohol or put rat poison into food bowls for cats, so I usually stay for an extra hour after work. I return home at around 1 to 2 a.m.,” she recalls. 

Her friends and customers also took the stray cats they found to the restaurant.  

“My customers took cats from all 18 districts to me, as they trust me. Some are even from Mui Wo and Cheung Chau,” the former restaurant owner says. 

Siu is concerned about whether it is ethical to keep store cats, as she has rescued at least 20 abandoned store cats in the past. 

“I don’t understand why some store owners just abandon their store cats when they close down. They are loyal employees who work for free,” she says.

“Still, some store owners treat their cats as their children and keep them at home after closing their business,” she adds. 

The restaurant announced on Facebook that it would be closing down on March 31 after nine years of operation on March 7, 2025. (Screenshot via Facebook)

Siu reflects on her nine-year journey with mixed feelings.

“Many friends greet me as I go to work every day. I will definitely miss this neighbourhood after the closure of my restaurant,” she says.

“I hope that me and the cat shop managers can get back to a restaurant soon, so that we can sell food while rescuing cats and meeting new friends,” she adds. 

“But now let me take a rest, relax and play with cats at home first before considering future plans,” she says.

Edited by Daniel Koong

Sub-edited by James Cheang

Gym Class after School

Dedicated secondary school students share their inspiring story of bodybuilding.

By Justin Tai

A rejection from a crush may lead to a broken heart. But to Huang Wang Yu, it can be a source of power in the gym. The teenager started bodybuilding to mend his broken heart when he was 15.

“Being rejected turns out to be a good thing that makes me embark on my fitness journey,” the Form Six secondary school student recalls with a smile. 

Huang Wang Yu (left) during the interview.

As the leader of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Society of Salem-Immanuel Lutheran College, Huang, now 18, has a six-day workout routine, in which he starts off with training his chest, followed by back on the second day and legs on the third. 

“Each exercise is repeated for four sets until I reach my limits, a cardio-session is also added in each workout, which lasts around one-and-a-half to two hours,” he shares.

The cycle repeats twice a week with just one rest day in between.

  • Huang is doing bicep curls.

Apart from Huang’s daily workout routine, he does not let his guard down on his diet as the goal is to keep fit and lower his body fat.

“My diet is bland and boring, I’ve been consuming as little rice and oil as I can, and my diet is mainly composed of meat and vegetables,” he shares.

  • Huang’s daily meal during the pre-competition period. (Photo courtesy of Huang)

In July 2024, his school held an inter-school bodybuilding competition. The 18-year-old won second place.

“The feeling was so crazy, because I have never thought the show would stir up this much attention from the bodybuilding community and the media,” Huang shares.

Behind the stage was not all sunshine and rainbows.

“Four months before the competition were the most tiresome and difficult periods,” Huang recalls.

With strict diet discipline, he only ate boiled chicken breast and blanched broccoli, and the amount of carbohydrates could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

“I kept eating the same thing three times a day for three months straight, let alone the six-day weightlifting and cardio routine. It was a living death,” the bodybuilder sighs.

Besides Huang’s daily routine, he also had to keep up with his studies and prepare for exams.

“It was pretty hard for me. But I decided to focus more on the competition and put away my studies for a while,” Huang recalls.

To recover muscle and release stress, Huang cut the workout routine down to three days a week just before the competition, ensuring he was in peak condition.

Having fulfilled one of his bodybuilding ambitions through the competition, Huang sees it as the beginning of his bodybuilding journey.

“I will participate in bodybuilding competitions when I am in university and win as many awards as I can. I want to be a fitness coach or a personal trainer,” he says.

While Huang started bodybuilding for a romantic reason, his gym buddy Law Tsz Shing, who just wanted to kill time by doing workout, has evolved from a shy boy to a confident young man.

“I had so much spare time that I didn’t know what to do, so I thought working out would be great, I might as well improve myself,” the 18-year-old student, who started bodybuilding when he was in Form Four, says.

“I’ve been sticking to a five-day workout routine. A week starts off with chest, followed by arms, back, shoulders, and legs, I usually do four sets of twelve reps for each exercise,” he shares.

  • Law Tsz Shing (left) is doing cable-flys.

 

Like most beginners, Law did not have any clue of what to do at the gym. 

“When I first stepped in the gym, I felt uneasy because I didn’t know anything about fitness and weightlifting,” Law recalls. 

The shy teenager in the first three months of lifting was guided by Huang, who encouraged him to join the bodybuilding competition.

“I was so nervous about this, especially during the two weeks before the competition. It gave me so much pressure knowing that I would be half-naked and posing in front of a big crowd,” the secondary student, who came fourth in the contest, says.

Law has evolved from once a timid and skinny boy to a man standing up on the stage showcasing his muscles.

“I wasn’t as sporty as I am today. I was more academic-oriented and I played sports just to kill time, but now going to the gym has become a hobby,” Law shares.

“I never thought of becoming a professional bodybuilder anytime soon; lifting weights is simply an interest for me now,” the 18-year-old adds.

The transformation of these young men would not have been possible without Wong Chun Man, one of the masterminds behind the school’s bodybuilding society and competition.

Also, as a gym-goer himself, Wong believes the results of working out are much harder to achieve than solving a math problem.

“I believe students who are in the bodybuilding society are very persistent and aren’t afraid of hardships. Even if you keep working out tirelessly, you may not see changes instantly. Because it takes so much perseverance and time. But for studying, as long as you revise, you can quickly see improvements,” Wong shares.

“Students can learn this important life lesson of being determined, that you must put in great effort in order to have great results,” he adds.

He points out that encouraging students to work out also helps solve their sleeping problem.

Wong, the vice-principal, also believes it is challenging for the young generations to find a particular hobby or interest due to the era of smartphones.

“Using one to two hours of your day working out at the gym is far better than two hours of mindless scrolling on smartphones,” Wong shares.

“Seeing the way students enjoy a specific hobby other than playing smartphones and getting results from it is already a great success to me,” he adds.

As the bodybuilding competition has gained traction from the public, the vice-principal decides to organize the competition again this year on 9th July.

“We have invited all secondary schools in Tai Po District to take part in the event this time, including the alumni. We hope to promote this event on a bigger scale,” he shares.

Edited by James Cheang

Subedited by Daniel Koong

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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.
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