The magic touch
If you're feeling down, immerse yourself in the world of magic, where nothing is impossible.
Bruce Yeung Kwok-hung and Marco Ko Tim-yu are founders of Magic Kingdom, a social enterprise of the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong. 'People often say things are impossible because they're pessimistic,' says Ko, 28.
'We've read in the newspapers about university students turning [a monthly salary of] HK$70,000 to HK$3 million. What is it? It's magic.
'There are many possibilities in the world of magic. I believe that by using your brain, you can come up with a solution to any problem.'
Ko was a waiter in a bar and Yeung was a salesman and clerk before magic caught their interest. They decided to set up a business.
Magic Kingdom is one of the first 15 projects approved under the 'Enhancing Self-reliance Through District Partnership Programme' set up by the Home Affairs Department last year.
The company, located in Wan Chai, sells magic props, stages magic performances and trains aspiring magicians.
'Ko and I want to be socially responsible,' says Yeung, 27.
The pair offer training courses to those interested in magic so that they can recruit more volunteers to perform in elderly homes and district centres.
'There are many young people in Hong Kong who have the potential to be great magicians. They just don't have the chance,' says Ko.
'I know there are kids who buy a magic table that costs more than HK$1,000 and use it as a breakfast table because they don't get the chance to perform.
'By training them, we are giving them an opportunity, and at the same time, recruiting volunteers for shows.'
Audiences are impressed by magicians because they don't know the secrets behind their tricks. But will magicians lose interest in their art once they've mastered the tricks?
'Hongkongers can be really passionate about magic. Their first instinct is to look at the magician closely and try to discover the secrets behind their tricks,' says Yeung.
'But for me, what's magical is not the tricks, but the fact that I can to help others through magic.'
Yeung performs magic for rebellious youth at sharing sessions. He uses a string to encourage the under-achievers to do their best.
He cuts the string into three equal parts. This means that everyone has 24 hours a day.
Then he transforms the three pieces into different lengths, symbolising that depending on the effort we put in, our achievements can vary greatly.
'This is one of the first tricks I learned, and it's still my favourite. I'm trying to make it more attractive visually,' Yeung says.
