Hong Kong's youngsters are shunning computer games and hi-tech gadgets for a toy that dates back to 500 BC - the yo-yo.
Yo-yos have been among the top five selling items at Toys 'R' Us since early last month and were the most popular toy for the first three weeks of this month. The store has sold 50,000 so far this year.
The latest yo-yos feature strobe lights and even glow in the dark. Some youths are so desperate to own them they have resorted to stealing in a series of incidents this month.
Japanese cartoon Super Yo Yo, shown on TVB Jade in the afternoons, had added to the toy's popularity, said Dr Cheung Siu-kau, City University's social studies principal lecturer.
'Young people have a tendency to follow major trends and conform to peer pressure,' he said. 'Those who don't play are considered outcasts because so many others are keen on yo-yos even though it's not a technologically advanced game.'
'Some children collect the yo-yos and have as many as 10 - they are looking for the fastest speed and highest quality ones to collect. It can be a very expensive hobby.'