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Lamma Island

Happiness is sharing your ideas with others

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Lana Lam

Wan Chai - which was last week voted the happiest place in Hong Kong - added another string to its bow yesterday, when it joined the likes of Barbados, Seoul and Argentina.

No, the district with a smile on its face hasn't declared independence, it has hosted a TEDx talk, known globally for its inspiring speakers who share personal life stories in 18 minutes. With the motto, 'Ideas Worth Sharing', TEDx talks are organised by locals who borrow the TED brand, a non-profit organisation that started in California 26 years ago.

TED and TEDx talks have gained a strong following in recent years with high-profile speakers including Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Richard Branson and former British prime minister Gordon Brown.

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Yesterday's event at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, titled 'Charitable Impact', featured speakers including Ted Kwan Chi-hong, a part-time finance lecturer who also runs a hairdressing salon that helps former drug addicts and ex-offenders get their life back on track.

His decision to start the salon, run as a social enterprise, was sparked five years ago when he volunteered to visit inmates at a youth prison on Lamma Island.

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Every Saturday morning at 6am, he would travel for two hours to the prison and talk to the young criminals.

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