https://www.scmp.com/rss/323431/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Over the past quarter of a century, we’ve talked to many of the coolest, most influential and occasionally most provocative people in Hong Kong. These are just a few of the best quotes from our always compelling interviews. “I feel that I am doing my bit to protect the home that we all love.” Anson Chan, former Chief Secretary “There is not enough hope being expressed in public. Hong Kong deserves more.”—Chong Chan-yau, President of the Hong Kong Blind Union  “Oh, there are so many things... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2029346/best-best-quotes-most-prominent-people-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2029346/best-best-quotes-most-prominent-people-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Oct 2016 08:24:54 +0000 How did you become a designer? I’ve always been into arts and craft. When I was little, I was crazy about origami and would challenge my classmates to fold the smallest origami piece possible. I once made a paper hawk the size of a grain of rice. I also enjoyed knitting. I studied at Hong Kong Design Institute after graduating from secondary school. That eventually led me to my university degree in design. Why “Mosi Mosi?” “Mosi Mosi” was actually my Final Year Project for university. The name... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2029347/designer-comma-leung-crowdfunding-make-wallets-blind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2029347/designer-comma-leung-crowdfunding-make-wallets-blind?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Oct 2016 07:26:53 +0000 So, this is it then. I first came to HK Magazine long ago, back when answers to basic questions weren’t just a Google away. So for years I hung out at the back of HK Magazine, answering the questions that needed answering: Where can I get my photos framed in Hong Kong? Who can I get to repair my lamp? Who will fix my broken LP player?  But with the rise of the internet, my services weren’t quite so relevant—and so for the last three years I changed tack, answering instead questions that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038301/what-do-i-need-know-survive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038301/what-do-i-need-know-survive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Oct 2016 07:19:06 +0000 Things have been sad at the HK Mag offices of late, but we like to find the silver lining—lunch is about to get a whole lot tastier. Goodbye to cafeteria food!  Adam White I’m still on an irritating low-carb diet, but we’re all allowed a cheat week, right? First, the legendary Kau Kee (21 Gough St., Central, 2850-5967) for their curry beef brisket ho fun. I’ve been eating this with glee for the last 10 years and the only problem is that the price keeps creeping up. Then Carbone (9/F, 33 Wyndham... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038302/hk-mag-staff-pick-their-favorite-eats-last-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038302/hk-mag-staff-pick-their-favorite-eats-last-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Oct 2016 07:07:08 +0000 As you may already know, it’s been a tough few years for many print media. Like everyone else, HK Magazine has been subjected to very challenging market conditions, making it difficult for the publication to continue to be commercially viable. So, it is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that HK Magazine’s last issue will come out this Friday (October 7). We all hate goodbyes. They hurt no matter how tough we think we are, and especially when we have to part with things that we’ve grown... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038300/so-farewell-then?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038300/so-farewell-then?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Oct 2016 07:57:25 +0000 When did you start writing signs? I started learning how to make plastic advertising boards in 1973. I followed my sifu for two years, and then in around 1978 I opened my first shop making minibus accessories. When the government allowed minibuses to install air-conditioning, all 4,000 minibuses had to be replaced with bigger vehicles, and this created new demand for customized products like plastic coin racks and signs. Drivers initially wrote their own signs on cardboard, but cardboard wasn’t... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038283/mak-kam-sang-last-minibus-sign-writer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038283/mak-kam-sang-last-minibus-sign-writer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:54:40 +0000 It’s finally October, which means the merriest German festival, Oktoberfest, will be back in full swing! Beer lovers worldwide rejoice as they celebrate by downing stein after stein of malty brews, and for those in Hong Kong, there’s no better place to enjoy the festivity than Happy Valley Racecourse for a fantastic party atmosphere every Wednesday of the month. As Oktoberfest originally featured a grand horse race, a party at the Valley makes a lot of sense. On October 5, 12, 19 and 26, Happy... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038299/prost-its-hong-kongs-favorite-oktoberfest-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038299/prost-its-hong-kongs-favorite-oktoberfest-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Sep 2016 07:53:39 +0000 Sep 30 It’s a Party!  Pink Season kicks off with a launch party at Circo, a new LGBTI-friendly bar with unparalleled views. Score your ticket to the party of the season and you’ll find yourself sipping on pink-themed cocktails as you mingle and schmooze under the stars with entertainment and lucky draws.  7-10pm. $200 from pinkseason.hk (before Sep 29); $250 at the door. 22/F, Oliv, 15 Sharp St. East, Causeway Bay.  Through Oct 2 Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival HKLGFF is offering an... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038291/top-8-things-do-pink-season-2016?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038291/top-8-things-do-pink-season-2016?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Sep 2016 06:38:35 +0000 A strip by the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre, Alfresco Lane is a haven for urbanites wanting to escape the busy city without actually having to skip town. It offers a wide variety of cuisines from around the world, with a magnificent view of Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. You can picture yourself in a little Italian town when you get to Spasso (Empire Centre G5-8, 12-17, 2730-8027): This charming eatery serves genuine Italian cuisine in both indoor and outdoor... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038281/lets-take-it-outside-alfresco-lane-tst-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038281/lets-take-it-outside-alfresco-lane-tst-east?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:40:24 +0000 It’s the Cantonese interpretation of the Vietnamese phrase “bắt đầu từ nay,” meaning “From this point forward.” But—in Hong Kong, it’s also a derogatory term for “Vietnamese person.” The phrase passed into common usage in the late 80s and early 90s, at the height of the Vietnamese refugee crisis. The communist takeover of Vietnam and Laos led to an exodus of refugees from the territories, with Hong Kong becoming a key place of refuge. But the city—and indeed, the region—was unable to handle the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038282/what-does-bat-lau-dung-laai-mean-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038282/what-does-bat-lau-dung-laai-mean-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:24:08 +0000 I was born this way. I didn’t have to join the LGBTI community or become part of it. I’ve been part of it since I was born. It’s not a lifestyle choice. Most people know about me coming out in my concert in 2012, but to my friends and family, I was out long before that. Many of my songs directly or indirectly reference LGBTI issues.  Read More: Love Wins: The Road to LGBTI Equality in Hong Kong—and Around the World Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Pink Dot 2016 To me, coming out in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038293/singer-and-lgbti-activist-anthony-wong-yiu-ming-says-he-doesnt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038293/singer-and-lgbti-activist-anthony-wong-yiu-ming-says-he-doesnt?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:42:14 +0000 Pink Dot HK is a non-political outdoor event that gives all people a chance to show their support for LGBTI issues through “inclusiveness, diversity and love equality.”  The first event, titled “We are Family: The Freedom to Love,” took place in June 2014 at Tamar Park, and included a funfair and live music. The 2015 edition, also at Tamar Park, bore the tagline “Love is Love”—reflecting the ideal that if love is real, one’s gender is unimportant. We've made you a handy-dandy poster to hold up... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038296/everything-you-need-know-about-pink-dot-2016?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038296/everything-you-need-know-about-pink-dot-2016?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:41:42 +0000 1. FLM Formerly known as Volume Beat, FLM is one of the very few gay clubs in Hong Kong. This trendy spot keeps the party going well into the night with great disco music and a rowdy dance floor. The bar is just across the street from Zoo, and Wink is also a block away if you’re looking to bar crawl from one venue to another. The first floor features banging tunes by a live DJ for the dancing crowd, while the second floor is quieter and is great for those who prefer to have actual conversations.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038298/hong-kongs-11-best-gay-bars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038298/hong-kongs-11-best-gay-bars?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:41:26 +0000 We take a look at other places around the world where, despite often enormous odds, love is winning. China Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997. Since then, the People’s Republic has seen gradual progress towards a wider acceptance of LGBTI issues, though more in the social arena than the legal. This year, 27-year-old Meng Fanyu was voted the first ever Mr Gay China in the first successful iteration of the competition in the country. A survey suggests that of the 27 million users of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038295/love-wins-road-lgbti-equality-hong-kong-and-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038295/love-wins-road-lgbti-equality-hong-kong-and-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:40:49 +0000 We hope you're hungry, because our annual HK Eats Guide 2016 has just hit the city!  It's been another year, another round of restaurant openings and more memorable meals than we can count. As Hong Kong continues to grow its presence in the international culinary scene, we find ourselves blessed with some of the finest restaurants and world-famous chefs landing on our shores, as well as homegrown concepts that have nabbed their well-deserved spot on the international stage. But while Michelin... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038297/jurys-here-are-best-bites-hong-kong-and-where-find-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038297/jurys-here-are-best-bites-hong-kong-and-where-find-them?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 04:55:58 +0000 Sep 10, Sat: A man opens a box of assorted sushi he had purchased from a supermarket in Tsuen Wan—only to discover white worms wriggling on the surface of some raw tuna. He reports the incident to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, who take the sushi away for testing. Sep 11, Sun: A man falls onto an awning after jumping from a multi-story carpark in Yau Ma Tei. Bouncing off the awning, his body strikes a security guard. Police and paramedics rush the pair to hospital, where the man... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038288/last-week-viral-news?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038288/last-week-viral-news?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 03:38:58 +0000 Bostonian Lobster’s Back It’s been a mainstay of Tsim Sha Tsui dining for well over a decade, but The Langham Hong Kong’s Bostonian Seafood and Grill has just come out of a two-month makeover to update it for the modern age. The underground space is all about the industrial chic, banishing the American steakhouse look of old for a cleaner, more modern look, complete with exposed concrete walls adorned with contemporary Chinese art. There’s also a brand new craft beer bar, serving up brews... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038286/new-wine-lounge-mira-bostonian-relaunches-and-sai-ying-pun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038286/new-wine-lounge-mira-bostonian-relaunches-and-sai-ying-pun?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Sep 2016 08:29:54 +0000 How did The Harmonics get their start? The Harmonics was founded in August last year by a group of eight people from Out in HK. At the beginning, they just thought they would gather together, do something with music—until they had to perform at a fundraising event for AIDS awareness. I joined shortly before the performance. With that performance, we knew that we’d be a singing group. The direction and identity was formed, and we became a choir.  Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Pink... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038287/alex-see-lgbti-choir-harmonics-citys-gay-community-and-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038287/alex-see-lgbti-choir-harmonics-citys-gay-community-and-being?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Sep 2016 08:18:04 +0000 Government House, morning. Sun streams into the Chief Executive’s office. CY LEUNG sits at his desk, lost in thought. JOHN TSANG barges in. He is furious. CY [Barely looking up] Oh. It’s you. JOHN Thanks a bunch, CY. You’ve screwed me like a Wan Chai hussy this time, haven’t you? Trying to lay the blame for this Yuen Long mess at my door... Well, this is one time too many. I ain’t gonna stand for it, I tells ya! CY [Weary] What do you want from me, John? JOHN I WANT YOU TO HAVE MY BACK, CY! CY... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038294/masterpiece-theater?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038294/masterpiece-theater?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Sep 2016 07:54:36 +0000 1. Kam Wah Café  Opened in: 1972 You’ll find flocks of tourists outside Kam Wah Café, which is famous for its super-thick butter in the crunchy and sweet-flavored pineapple bun ($10). The cold butter and the warm bun combine for a mouthful of different textures and temperatures. Wash it down with a silky milk tea ($17), ordered “cha zau,” which means replacing evaporated milk with condensed milk for a smoother and sweeter beverage.     G/F, 47 Bute St., Prince Edward, 2392-6830. 2. Man Fong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038278/top-10-hong-kong-bing-sutts-old-school-new-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038278/top-10-hong-kong-bing-sutts-old-school-new-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Sep 2016 06:39:38 +0000 I think I’ve found what works for me. At my Pure Fitness gym there’s a whole floor dedicated to what’s called “strongman” training. Forget the fancy machines with their pulleys and cables: Here you pick up heavy stuff and move it around. Simple, if not always elegant. But man, is it addictive. Read More: #MakeAdamFitAgain: HK Mag Staffer Is Undergoing a Total-body Makeover Read More: The #LivePure Challenge #1: A Painful Start Witness the deadlift: All you do is pick a barbell up from the floor.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038271/livepure-challenge-3-strongman-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038271/livepure-challenge-3-strongman-game?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2016 06:43:54 +0000 I was born and raised in Canada, but moved to Taiwan when I was 15 in order to develop my singing career. But what I really wanted to do was act. In 2001, [film director and producer] Derek Yee was producing a movie by director Ann Hui called “July Rhapsody,” starring Jacky Cheung and Anita Mui. He flew me into Hong Kong for an audition and I got the role, so I stayed.It was my first day on set when I realized, “This is what I want to do!”  I came to Hong Kong in 2001, and since then I’ve done... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038280/actress-karena-lam-living-life-artistic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038280/actress-karena-lam-living-life-artistic?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2016 07:03:33 +0000 October’s rolling in, which means the start of Hong Kong’s fleeting fall—but more importantly, mountains of pork knuckle, loads of live German bands and rivers of beer. This year’s Oktoberfest starts way earlier than the month itself on Sep 17, so throw on those lederhosen and PROST! Beerliner German Bar & Restaurant The thoughtful folks at Beerliner are offering authentic German grub paired with three exclusive brews from Munich’s Hacker- Pschorr brewery—try the weisse beer’s faint bitter note... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038279/where-go-hong-kong-oktoberfest-2016?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038279/where-go-hong-kong-oktoberfest-2016?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2016 06:10:58 +0000 When did you first begin photographing women, and what was it initially that inspired you to do so? I started photographing in 2007 out of the desire to express the real me and how I felt about the world around me. Much of this was related to the confusion of puberty, of being young and inexperienced. But when I saw the girls around me sharing the same emotions and confusions about life, I realized that I needed to record our lives.  How have your impressions of Chinese women changed since... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038266/luo-yang-empowering-girls-and-breaking-stereotypes-through?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038266/luo-yang-empowering-girls-and-breaking-stereotypes-through?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2016 05:48:28 +0000 Behold the Hairy Crab We’re just on the cusp of hairy crab season, and these furry little critters are about to invade our dining tables—from Groupon deals as low as $30 per crab (surprisingly not too shabby: simply steam at home on a bed of perilla leaves with ginger) to $2,000 epic hairy crab tasting menus. For the crème de la crème, make a reservation at two-Michelin-starred Yan Toh Heen, which is celebrating the best catch from Yangcheng Lake in an eight-course hairy crab degustation ($2,488... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038272/hairy-crab-season-inbound-grappas-returns-and-peak-gets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038272/hairy-crab-season-inbound-grappas-returns-and-peak-gets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 07:46:20 +0000 Guilin & Yangshuo, China Guilin in northeast Guangxi possesses one of the most distinctive (not to say famous) landscapes in all of China. The characteristic karst topography is the stuff of classical handscrolls, photographic fantasies—and the 20 Yuan note. But this overwhelming natural beauty has brought an attendant, crushingly massive boom in tourism—particularly to the otherwise picturesque little town of Yangshuo, which is at the heart of it all. Millions upon millions of visitors swarm... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038277/4-asias-most-amazing-places-and-when-go-beat-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038277/4-asias-most-amazing-places-and-when-go-beat-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 07:05:15 +0000 Why? Because they’re good people, that’s why.  This is a Flag Day, a rather Hong Kong-specific form of charity fundraising. While in other countries a flag day would be to celebrate the adoption of a national flag, not so in Hong Kong (we have July 1 for that). The idea is that you donate the spare change in your pockets—$2, $5, $10—and in return get a sticker “flag” to show you’ve donated. Everyone knows you’re a good person, and you don’t get hassled by all the other flag sellers for the rest... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038270/why-do-people-try-sell-me-stickers-street-every-saturday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038270/why-do-people-try-sell-me-stickers-street-every-saturday?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 06:24:33 +0000 Imagine Central—without the traffic. The photos you see here are what a handful of leading Hong Kong organizations are hoping to achieve through their ongoing campaign, Walk DVRC: a cleaner, greener heart of the city. To give the public a better picture of what a pedestrianized public space along the major artery would look like, on September 25, organizers of the campaign—Clean Air Network, Designing Hong Kong and Hong Kong Public Space Initiative—will be converting a 200-meter section of Des... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038275/des-voeux-road-going-car-free-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038275/des-voeux-road-going-car-free-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 05:16:42 +0000 New Territories West lawmaker-elect Eddie Chu Hoi-dick has been the subject of death threats after alleging that “government-business-landlord-triad collusion” was behind the scaling down of a public housing project in his constituency.  Yuen Long rural leader Leung Fuk-yuen objected to what he called Chu’s “white terror” tactics, saying that it wasn’t “collusion,” but instead “cooperation” between those involved. See what he did there? Leung has skillfully reframed the narrative to manipulate... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038269/reframe-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038269/reframe-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:55:00 +0000 Sep 3, Sat: A video goes viral: In Wan Chai, a passenger in a van catches a taxi driver masturbating while stopped at a red light. His genitals are in plain sight in the video, as an unwitting female passenger sits in the back seat. He drives off with his member still on display. Sep 4, Sun: Residents at a retirement home in To Kwa Wan are given cue cards “reminding” them to vote for the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. Young people claiming to be the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038276/last-week-viral-news?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038276/last-week-viral-news?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:54:28 +0000 Definition: One who follows others blindly or obsequiously. Origin: Describes someone who follows on your tail, like a dog on a leash. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038274/follow-tail-dog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038274/follow-tail-dog?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:46:04 +0000 Being inordinately impressed by a westerner speaking passable Cantonese. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038273/gweilingo-n?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038273/gweilingo-n?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:45:36 +0000 Alleyway Bar Hopping: Golden Gai Hidden between the shiny high-rises of Tokyo’s metropolis, yokochos—or old-school alleyways filled with dive bars and eateries—are some of the best places to get a taste of the local cuisine without blowing your budget. These backstreets boast some of the finest street food in Tokyo, and are open well into the night for nocturnal souls and post-party revelers. Rub elbows with Japanese salarymen at Golden Gai, one of the most buzzing yokochos in the city, which... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038261/top-6-places-explore-tokyo-after-dark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038261/top-6-places-explore-tokyo-after-dark?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:18:18 +0000 HK Magazine HK Magazine Living in Hong Kong, it’s easy to think of China as that monolithic dragon; the giant north of the border full of “locusts” and hostile dictators. It simplifies the narrative, makes the whole vast country easier to hold in your head.  But that’s not how it works, is it? China is home to more than 320 million people in their teens and 20s, those with no memory of revolutions, of Mao or Tiananmen Square. They’re just trying to make a place for themselves in the world. “Wish Lanterns” follows six... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038264/alec-ashs-wish-lanterns-lays-bare-dreams-and-fears-six?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038264/alec-ashs-wish-lanterns-lays-bare-dreams-and-fears-six?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:48:13 +0000 Have you always been an artist? I’ve always enjoyed drawing. I got into graffiti while working in post-production for an advertising company in Amsterdam. I’d been living the way my parents and society told me to, and even did two years of biochemistry in university before switching to game design. I decided to stop waiting for someone to show me how it’s done, and fulfil my childhood dreams. I quit my job and moved to Hong Kong, where my parents are from. It was partly to discover my roots, and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038265/graffiti-artist-cara-caratoes-materialism-gender-bias-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038265/graffiti-artist-cara-caratoes-materialism-gender-bias-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Sep 2016 04:08:27 +0000 Hong Kong: bilingual city. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, our streets don't quite line up as we'd like them to. 1) Streets named after royal personages regularly get lost in translation. “Queen” in English can be the wife of a king, or the female ruler of a kingdom. Queen’s Road, built in the mid-19th century, was named for Queen Victoria. But instead of using the Chinese phrase for “queen” in the sense of “sovereign ruler” (which would have been neoi wong, 女皇), translators rendered the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038263/hong-kongs-top-8-wrongly-translated-street-names?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038263/hong-kongs-top-8-wrongly-translated-street-names?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Sep 2016 08:01:31 +0000 1. Squid Ink Linguine with Sea Urchin, Fish & Meat Wrapped around in a bundle vaguely resembling a bird’s nest, the squid ink linguine at Fish & Meat unfolds into delicious, black strands of smooth al dente noodles, with red carabineros prawns, sea urchin and salmon roe on top lending a salty, oceanic pop to every forkful. It’s simple yet stunning, and proves what can be done when just a few key ingredients are left to shine.  $385. 2/F, 32 Wyndham St., Central, 2565-6788.  2. Mac ‘n’... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038255/house-carbs-top-10-pasta-dishes-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038255/house-carbs-top-10-pasta-dishes-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Sep 2016 07:40:25 +0000 Fly High Something to get excited about: the PowerUp FPV paper plane. Sure, it has a silly name, but it’s more than just a regular fold-and-throw. The kit consists of a camera and a couple of propellers, which you strap to your own paper plane, then hook up to your smartphone. Slot your phone into the provided Google Cardboard VR headset, and the PowerUp gives you a first-person view from the plane in flight—which you then control with movements of your head. How awesome is that? And of course,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038260/smartphone-controlled-vr-paper-planes-alternative-uber-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038260/smartphone-controlled-vr-paper-planes-alternative-uber-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Sep 2016 06:34:49 +0000 I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I started learning to play the piano when I was around 3, because my dad loves music. At around 5 or 6 I started joining competitions and performances. My dad was very proud and wanted to show off my musical talent. For a while, I hated music. So I tried my best to finish all the piano exams—when I was in Form One I already had my Performance Diploma. I felt great after the exam—because I didn’t have to keep learning classical. I was very rebellious when I was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038262/singer-songwriter-producer-alex-fung-says-cantopop-not-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038262/singer-songwriter-producer-alex-fung-says-cantopop-not-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2016 11:15:45 +0000 Go On, and Be Happy If you work or live anywhere in the Wan Chai area, you’re probably already familiar with The Optimist’s happy hour, where you can enjoy their killer cocktails and bar bites—think ham croquettes, beef sliders, oysters and eggplant fries—for $48 each. But it’s not just the bar vibes that the ground floor space has going for it—awash in greenery, shades of turquoise and an open window façade for people gazing, the street-level venue is perfect for all-day dining, now... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038256/new-rolls-lobster-central-and-best-blueberry-pancakes-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038256/new-rolls-lobster-central-and-best-blueberry-pancakes-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:02:11 +0000 1. Dim Sum Trolleys In the late 1960s, Hong Kong restaurants began serving dim sum with the trolleys used in Western fine-dining, because servers found traditional trays and platters too heavy to handle. The trolleys were later fitted with heating elements to keep food warm. But thanks to the space trolleys take up, they’re now a dying breed, disappearing in favor of the often baffling dim sum order sheet. Get trollied: Lin Heung Tea House, 160-164 Wellington St., Central, 2544-4556; London... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038257/lost-world-11-disappearing-hong-kong-icons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038257/lost-world-11-disappearing-hong-kong-icons?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 09:26:07 +0000 The elation of electing new voices to Legco, which soon subsides into the reality that not much will change. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038259/legcomedown-n?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038259/legcomedown-n?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 02:22:40 +0000 Definition: A pathetic man who will do anything for a girl. Also means “one who has been friendzoned.” Origin: A soldier for the goddess Guanyin would be totally loyal and obedient. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038258/guanyin-soldier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038258/guanyin-soldier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 02:16:13 +0000 The first date is your chance to impress. Pick a restaurant with character, great food and amazing cocktails. Once you’ve got the perfect spot, work out what you’re going to wear. If you look sharp you’ll earn points with your date—and then there’s no reason the evening has to end with just a peck on the cheek. Polo Club Give that worn office shirt a rest by donning a classic polo like this one from Kapok’s new individual label Future Classic.  Sweater Weather Hong Kong’s not yet ready for... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038251/dress-impress-what-wear-your-first-date?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038251/dress-impress-what-wear-your-first-date?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Sep 2016 09:18:10 +0000 How did you get into photography? I was 12 when I found an old 6x6 camera and a photography book in my parents’ attic. Since then, I’ve never stopped taking photos. For me, digital was a real revelation! No more negatives; no more hours spent in the darkroom. I started organizing small exhibitions. Selling my photos allowed me to finance my equipment, travel and have more exhibitions. I decided in 2012 to quit my 3D computer graphics business to work as a photographer.  Who were your main... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038252/laurent-dequicks-photo-landscapes-capture-hong-kongs-frenetic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038252/laurent-dequicks-photo-landscapes-capture-hong-kongs-frenetic?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Sep 2016 05:14:48 +0000 In a Facebook live chat, Hidden Agenda founder Steveo Hui Chung-wo announced the start of fundraising and discussed ways to re-open and maintain the respected indie hub. Hui revealed that the current plan is to apply for a Food Factory License from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) so the spot could run as a takeaway food stall. He said in the video that the team has found suitable premises in Kwun Tong, but declined to reveal the exact location. A provisional... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038248/indie-hotspot-hidden-agenda-crowdfunding-new-venue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038248/indie-hotspot-hidden-agenda-crowdfunding-new-venue?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Sep 2016 09:55:08 +0000 What makes a hit track? One that can never be forgotten. Is a rapper's life as ballin' as it seems in the music videos? Yes, but the music videos tend to turn it up a notch. Who's your hip hop inspiration? Run DMC, OutKast, Dr. Dre, 2 Live Crew, Nas, Jay Z, the list goes on… What music would people be surprised that you listen to? Gospel music. What's the total value of the bling you wear on your neck? The most popular is my Jesus piece and it's worth millions. We’re a notoriously calm crowd... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038233/60-seconds-withflo-rida?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038233/60-seconds-withflo-rida?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Sep 2016 06:27:52 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038246/hk-mag-teams-lee-gardens-serve-all-local-delicacies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038246/hk-mag-teams-lee-gardens-serve-all-local-delicacies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Sep 2016 09:31:39 +0000 Taj Mahal, India Time left... 5 years With its white marble dome and symmetrical minarets, the Taj Mahal seems like a page torn straight from “One Thousand and One Nights.” Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s monument to the memory of his Persian wife Mumtaz Mahal, this brilliant mausoleum took 22,000 artisans and 1,000 elephants some 21 years to assemble.  The mausoleum itself, like the royal couple whose tombs now lie side by side in a shadowy burial crypt beneath the inner chamber, embodies the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038245/4-world-wonders-visit-they-disappear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038245/4-world-wonders-visit-they-disappear?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Sep 2016 07:22:31 +0000 Nathan Law Kwun-chung—42,822 votes (Hong Kong Island) Age: 23 Political affiliation: Demosistō The youngest candidate ever to be voted into Hong Kong's Legislative Council, Nathan Law started off as the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. He made his name as one of the student leaders of the Umbrella Movement in 2014, and was banned from entering China after his Home Return Permit was revoked. In April 2016, Law and other student leaders formed the political party... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038244/whos-who-legco-meet-6-new-radical-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038244/whos-who-legco-meet-6-new-radical-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:50:38 +0000