100Most - a satirical weekly that's a hit with Hong Kong's Occupy generation

At a time when publishers are battered by falling ad revenues and readers increasingly expect free content, the weekly 100Most is a marvel. It began in March 2013 and quickly gained popularity for its irreverence, acid humour and ability to tap into current youth culture.

Nearly two years after its launch, 100Most shifts about 80,000 copies each week and is already bringing in revenue for its three founders - Lam Yat-hei, Iu Kar-ho (popularly dubbed Ah Bu) and Luk Ka-chun (who goes by the pen name Chan Keung).

The trio, who are in their early 30s, became friends while at working at Commercial Radio, and initially went into publishing simply as a venture that could bring them together after Lam left to work for a sister company in 2008.

"It's kind of a silly reason, but the three of us joined Commercial Radio at around the same time in 2005, and found we shared similar values and outlook on life," Bu says.

The friends decided they would only meet regularly if there was a joint project to work on together. That decision yielded Black Paper, an A5 size card filled on one side with their pithy political commentary and musings on life and art.

The friends each shelled out HK$2,000 to print the first 2,000 copies, which went on sale on New Year's Day, 2010. Priced at just HK$1, the cards sold out within two days. An additional print run of 20,000 copies was also quickly snapped up. By 2011, the monthly newsletter was being distributed at all 7-Elevens and sales rose to 100,000 copies.