https://www.scmp.com/rss/9700/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When did you last pick up a printed book? For more than 31 per cent of Hongkongers, the answer is: at least a year ago. This finding was revealed in a survey carried out by the Hong Kong Publishing Professional Society, which questioned 2,063 of the city’s residents. Those who said they are regular online readers often look at news and commentaries, or browse their social media feed when they read on the internet. Only 12 per cent of these respondents said they read electronic books... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2178991/how-digital-age-has-forced-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2178991/how-digital-age-has-forced-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Dec 2018 07:30:45 +0000 When conservator Wang Jin opened the case of a bronze clock that belonged to Emperor Qianlong from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), all he could see was a pile of rusty parts inside the cavity of the timepiece. Some components of Emperor Qianlong’s clock were in the wrong place, while others were broken. The complicated mechanisms [made restoration all the more difficult] Wang Jin, research fellow, The Palace Museum in Beijing “Some components of the clock were in the wrong place, while others were... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2177986/chinese-artisans-keep-qing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2177986/chinese-artisans-keep-qing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Dec 2018 06:28:27 +0000 When siblings Mak Tze-him and Mak Tze-wing were young, they used to play ping pong on the rectangular dining table at their home in Wong Tai Sin. “That was our favourite pastime. We would line up plastic water bottles and remote controls in the middle of the table as the net. I cannot recall how many balls fell out of the window,” said Tze-wing, who is now 20. Table tennis has been part and parcel of the siblings’ lives. Tze-him, 23, took up the sport when he was nine. Whenever he played,... https://www.scmp.com/native/sport/hong-kong/topics/out-and-about/article/2176906/early-sacrifices-lead-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/sport/hong-kong/topics/out-and-about/article/2176906/early-sacrifices-lead-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Dec 2018 08:30:15 +0000 This article is part of a weekly series that dives deep into the small things that add character to our city, enrich our culture and make our lives beautiful. Running can be challenging enough. Now imagine having to use a map to navigate your way around a course as you sprint. For orienteering enthusiasts, that’s what they love about the activity – the simultaneous challenge to mind and body. At 81, Hong Kong runner shows no sign of slowing down Orienteering is a competitive sport where... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/out-and-about/article/2175740/competitive-orienteering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/out-and-about/article/2175740/competitive-orienteering?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Nov 2018 03:15:30 +0000 This article is part of a weekly series that dives deep into the small things that add character to our city, enrich our culture and make our lives beautiful. Chaozhou woodcarving is one of the oldest surviving and most reputable forms of woodcarving in China, and is famous for its precision, sophistication and lifelike sculptures. Depicting everything from golden phoenixes and blossoming flowers to crabs struggling in a fishing net and rivals fighting in a martial arts contest, the craft... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2174716/how-chinas-skilled-chaozhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2174716/how-chinas-skilled-chaozhou?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:45:15 +0000 Badminton player Tim Wong Chun-yim got his first taste of the sport when he was 10, only to give it up a year later. “My father wanted me to take up a sport as a hobby. I didn’t choose football or basketball because I might have been knocked down easily playing contact sports. I decided to try badminton because even if I fell, it would only be me in the court,” said Wong, who has achondroplasia, a genetic bone growth disorder that leads to short stature. He stands 1.36 metres, and weighs 45... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/topics/out-and-about/article/2173606/disabled-badminton-player-aiming-tokyo-2020?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/topics/out-and-about/article/2173606/disabled-badminton-player-aiming-tokyo-2020?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Nov 2018 09:00:45 +0000 This article is part of a weekly series that dives deep into the small things that add character to our city, enrich our culture and make our lives beautiful. Long-distance runner Chau Wai-chuen trains for his monthly races at the Happy Valley Recreation Ground, on Hong Kong Island, every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon. How music and sounds add extra dimension to ‘twisted’ fairy tale of Red Riding Hood and hungry wolf When he gets there, usually after 4pm, he warms up and starts with a... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/out-and-about/article/2171331/81-hong-kong-runner-shows-no?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/out-and-about/article/2171331/81-hong-kong-runner-shows-no?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Nov 2018 07:15:15 +0000 This article is part of a weekly series that dives deep into the small things that add character to our city, enrich our culture and make our lives beautiful. Five performers are lying face down on the stage. As a flowing, fairy-tale melody sets in – conjuring up the image of an enchanted forest – one of the performers raises her head and starts telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood. “One day, mummy told me to visit grandma who is sick. I saw a big grey wolf on my way. He asked me where... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2170291/how-music-and-sounds-add-extra?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/out-and-about/article/2170291/how-music-and-sounds-add-extra?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Oct 2018 04:00:00 +0000 None of us enjoys the long wait to pick up our bags at the airport, but Steven Chan – whose job involves having to collect up to 80 cases each time – has things worse than most of us. Chan, the stage manager for the past 40 years of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) – the city’s leading orchestra – is responsible for dealing with the logistical problems of transporting the musicians’ assorted instruments whenever it is on tour. We never used to perform on a big stage and there were... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/concerto/article/2163898/show-must-go-steven-chan-mr-fixit-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/arts-culture/topics/concerto/article/2163898/show-must-go-steven-chan-mr-fixit-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Sep 2018 12:02:44 +0000 Eight-year-old Dicky Wu Cheuk-hin likes to create artworks out of waste material. "I felt bored at home one day and felt like eating. I saw a few pieces of newspaper [lying around] and thought I could make an egg using a balloon and the newspaper," says the young boy. Gathering the bits and pieces he needed, he blew up a purple balloon, cut the newspaper into squares, coloured the pieces and then glued them onto the ball. Dicky has been attending an arts and crafts class at Draw 2 - Art and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1571397/wan-chai-art-studio-offers-eco-friendly-handicraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1571397/wan-chai-art-studio-offers-eco-friendly-handicraft?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:45:19 +0000 English businessman Cecil Rhodes, who set up the Rhodes Scholarships, made it crystal clear that the award was never to be given to the "mere bookworm", a principle that has been upheld since 1903. "This is the most important difference between the Rhodes Scholarships and other scholarships. Many scholarships are based only on academic achievements," says Charles Conn, warden of Rhodes House, and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, which manages the international award designed to bring exceptional... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1531708/hong-kong-students-encouraged-apply-rhodes-scholarships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1531708/hong-kong-students-encouraged-apply-rhodes-scholarships?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2014 01:36:50 +0000 When Paul Spangfort and a group of teenage volunteers walked into the lounge at an elderly centre in Sheung Wan, a cheerful old man stood up and welcomed them with a song, setting his own lyrics to the tune of Happy Birthday. "He came off as a very enthusiastic person. I thought how great it would be if I could interview him - and I did," Paul says. A 12th grader at the Canadian International School, Paul was conducting fieldwork for "Stories Among Us: History Retold", a project organised by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1252611/stories-among-us-brings-tales-elderly-hongkongers-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1252611/stories-among-us-brings-tales-elderly-hongkongers-public?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000 If it feels as though you rarely venture out on weekends without being tapped for charitable donations by volunteers, you're probably right. Non-profit groups have mushroomed - more than 7,000 organisations are registered as charities with the Inland Revenue Department - and many hit the streets on flag-selling drives. But with so many groups seeking funds, it can be tough figuring out which cause to give to. Are the organisations all they're cracked up to be and how much of the contribution... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1242049/watchdog-steps-pressure-non-transparent-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1242049/watchdog-steps-pressure-non-transparent-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000 During the eight weeks Eliz Wong spent working for a charity in Inner Mongolia last summer, the Chinese University student witnessed first-hand how NGOs empower and support disadvantaged women. "The group offers local women access to microfinance, giving them the opportunity to exercise their rights and helping them achieve gender equality. With the money they can decide on - or at least discuss with their husbands - what plants to grow and what animals to rear, among other things," says Wong, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1223904/care-community?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1223904/care-community?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Amy Li's heart aches whenever she finds her son struggling without success to memorise the Chinese characters he has learned in school during the day. "Once he asked me why he couldn't learn the words by heart and read properly like others. I didn't know what to tell him. I felt helpless," says Li, who has quit her job to spend more time helping her eight-year-old son, Alex, with his schoolwork. Like many children with dyslexia, Alex cannot read fluently, nor write to dictation even after... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1193761/test-characters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1193761/test-characters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Since enrolling in the University of Hong Kong's (HKU) medical school five years ago, Lydia Kwong Lee-ting has studied diligently to acquire the knowledge and technical skills to become a good doctor. But something was missing. All the tests, surgery and treatment just weren't enough to help patients. Kwong says she finally found the missing link when she began taking pilot modules in humanities, launched in 2009 by the medical faculty to help would-be doctors to nurture observation, empathy and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1186397/dose-humanities-medical-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1186397/dose-humanities-medical-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Pansy Leung Sun-chun wears many different hats in her career - as a solicitor, as a civil celebrant and as a mediator. "I enjoy all my roles. I am happy to be able to help others," she says. A typical work day starts at 9.30am or earlier, depending on whether she has to attend a court hearing or meetings, preside over a wedding ceremony, perform her role as a mediator or go to her office in Central. As a legal adviser to the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation and the Caring for Children... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075315/pansy-leung-sun-chun-i-make-sure-i-keep-my-diary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075315/pansy-leung-sun-chun-i-make-sure-i-keep-my-diary?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Legacy is a theme that runs through the illustrious career of designer and artist Kan Tai-keung. Lauded for his work that fuses elements of traditional Chinese culture with Western influences, “Uncle Kan” is a dedicated educator who has been an inspiration to the new generation of Chinese designers. “I believe that in each era certain things can be appreciated for a very long time, even after the passing of that period. The Chinese culture is rich and deep; there are so many different layers to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075322/familiar-pattern-how-tradition-has-influenced-artist-kan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075322/familiar-pattern-how-tradition-has-influenced-artist-kan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The wine business is a waiting game, and Judy Leissner knows it only too well. “I would want my vineyard to be a 25-year-old vineyard overnight, but that isn’t going to happen. As the vine gets older the wine becomes more complex, so you can’t move the clock. All you can do is to wait,” says Leissner, president of Grace Vineyard, a family-run winery based in Shanxi province that was set up in 1997. “Unlike a chef who cooks the same dishes over and over again, our winemakers make wine once a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075331/winemaker-judy-leissners-vintage-approach-secret-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075331/winemaker-judy-leissners-vintage-approach-secret-her?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Hunger and poverty can be abstract notions even if we sympathise with people in need. But moved by what he saw of how the poor coped while he was a visiting student in Tokyo, Charles McJilton undertook what some might regard as a radical experiment to understand their predicament. He spent 15 months living in a cardboard house among its homeless. The American emerged from that life in April 1998 with an entirely changed outlook. "I no longer felt motivated to 'help' people [or 'save the world'].... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1070444/charles-mcjilton-food-bank-founder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1070444/charles-mcjilton-food-bank-founder?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 For more than a year Ms Chan has had to rely on food handouts to feed her family. Every week she walks from her home in Sham Shui Po to a food bank in Shek Kip Mei to collect packets of rice, noodles and canned food. Returning with a load of about 20kg, she lugs it up the stairs to her flat on the fifth floor of a walk-up. The food goes quickly in a household with two adults and two growing children. "We can finish a HK$100 pack of rice within a week," says Chan, who came to Hong Kong seven... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1070443/food-banks-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1070443/food-banks-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Suzanne Ho Chan Sut-ying, Emeritus Professor of public health and primary care at the Chinese University (CUHK), has dedicated her career to the study of women's health and helping women achieve better physical, social and mental being. "Health professionals should empower women to take responsibility for their own health," says Ho, founding director of the Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health at CUHK. The centre's staff provide evidence-based services such as screen tests for... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049580/suzanne-ho?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049580/suzanne-ho?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Christine Fang Meng-sang discovered at a young age that helping others makes life meaningful. Inspired by her late father, Harry Fang Sin-yang, a prominent orthopaedic surgeon whose devotion to the rehabilitation of the disabled touched many lives, Fang has made creating a fair society and empowering people in need her goal. "Life is more than living an easy and happy life of your own. The joy that I see in people who have overcome difficulties [motivates me]," says Fang, chief executive of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049603/christine-fang-social-services-professional-inspired-her-late-father?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049603/christine-fang-social-services-professional-inspired-her-late-father?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Lee Wai-sze says receiving the bronze medal for the women's keirin at the 2012 London Olympics was the proudest moment of her life. "I was touched and overwhelmed to see the Hong Kong flag rising," says the 25-year-old cyclist. "I am so proud to be a Hong Kong athlete and representing the Hong Kong people at the games." She is only the fourth Hong Kong athlete to win a medal at the Olympics, following Lee Lai-shan's windsurfing gold medal in 1996, and the silver medal that Li Ching and Ko... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049602/lee-wai-sze-i-am-so-proud-be-hong-kong-athlete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1049602/lee-wai-sze-i-am-so-proud-be-hong-kong-athlete?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 To keep visitors abreast of the newest and hottest trends, Interstoff Asia Essential is debuting the Research and Education Zone, which promises to offer a wealth of information and insights. The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel (HKRITA), one of the supporting organisations of Interstoff Asia Essential Autumn 2012, will display new technologies. These include fabrics and designs for high-performance sportswear, based on research in such areas as identifying the physiological... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1042426/event-showcases-new-technologies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1042426/event-showcases-new-technologies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Interstoff Asia Essential, a leading textile-sourcing platform, is returning with an exciting range of fabrics, and bringing sustainability to the forefront. Launching next Wednesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Interstoff Asia Essential Autumn 2012 will feature exhibitors from Hong Kong, the mainland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Britain and Taiwan. The event has been hosted in Hong Kong for 25 years. Buyers from around the world will find innovative textiles of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1042430/no-escaping-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1042430/no-escaping-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Presenting timepieces from luxury wristwatches to designs with a twist, and featuring international brands and local treasures, the 31st HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair is a magnet for a global gathering of watchmakers, clock masters and enthusiasts. Running until Sunday, the world's largest watch and clock event has gathered more than 720 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions, including first-time participant Spain. Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the annual... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1029431/time-see-what-helps-people-tick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1029431/time-see-what-helps-people-tick?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 From Hong Kong's first Tourbillion watchmaking demonstration, to watch parades and a lucky draw, this year's Brand Name Gallery (BNG) Public Day is packed with exciting events for watch lovers. One of the highlights of the 31st HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, the gallery's Public Day will take place on Sunday at the Brand Name Gallery, a premium zone that showcases branded watches and clocks. Events of the day are open to the public. Former Miss Asia and models will also strut the catwalk,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1029432/feast-attractions-visitors-public-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1029432/feast-attractions-visitors-public-day?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 From ensuring the freshness of thousands of types of foods, to innovating to meet changing customer needs, high-end supermarket and retail chain City Super Group is committed to offering top-notch products and services. 'The company attaches great importance to quality. We make certain that we provide excellent services to our customers,' says Thomas Woo Ka-wah, president of City Super Group. The company has three brands: City'super, selling mostly imported fresh foods, gourmet products and... https://www.scmp.com/article/1006971/food-safety-vital-importance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1006971/food-safety-vital-importance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 McDonald's unwavering commitment to 'QSCV' - quality, service, cleanliness and value - has been the bedrock of the fast-food chain's long-standing success globally and in Hong Kong. 'For 37 years, McDonald's Hong Kong has adhered to the principle. It is our gold standard,' says Randy Lai Wai-sze, managing director of McDonald's Restaurants (Hong Kong), which scooped the gold award at the 2012 HKMA Quality Award. Lai says McDonald's Hong Kong formulates its annual strategic plans based on the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1006977/guiding-principles-recipe-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1006977/guiding-principles-recipe-success?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Like it or not, with many mothers and fathers working long hours in Hong Kong, a lot of the responsibility of parenting has fallen on domestic helpers. This is especially true on weekdays. So, besides doing household chores, preparing meals and taking the children to school, helpers are increasingly expected to help nurture qualities like independence and self-discipline in youngsters. 'Nowadays parents spend a lot less time with their children. It is very difficult for us to pass on our values... https://www.scmp.com/article/1006187/bringing-rearer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1006187/bringing-rearer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 More and more domestic helpers are becoming substitute parents during the day. Rehana Sheikh, an instructor at YWCA, and Jackie Chan Hiu-yeung, a psychologist at the Hong Kong Psychological Counselling Centre, offer a few tips to employers who plan to involve their maids in parenting duties. Look for a helper with experience in parenting, preferably one who has taken care of her own children or siblings. Make the most of the interview with the helper. Make sure her temperament and values would... https://www.scmp.com/article/1006186/maid-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1006186/maid-order?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 One of the most anticipated events in the fashion and apparel industry in Hong Kong, the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer, returns with a dazzling array of new designs and seminars, offering food for thought for industry players. Starting today, the 19th edition of the renowned trade show will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre until Friday. About 1,250 suppliers and designers from more than 20 countries and regions are showcasing their latest collections to... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005701/latest-trends-set-dazzle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005701/latest-trends-set-dazzle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The 19th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer is putting a spotlight on eco-fashion, a growing trend to use environmentally friendly fabrics and sustainable production techniques in the design and manufacture of fashion items. The trade fair will feature the grand final runway of EcoChic Design Award Hong Kong on Thursday, during which the six finalists will showcase their sustainable designs. Initiated last year by Redress, a Hong Kong-based non-profit group that... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005700/sustainable-designs-and-techniques-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005700/sustainable-designs-and-techniques-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Central is one of the nerve centres of global finance, where leading banks and multinationals are headquartered in iconic skyscrapers and modern, sleek grade-A offices. Lined with glittering shopping malls, Michelin-starred restaurants and stylish clubs and bars, it is also the place to check the pulse of the latest trends. A magnet for expatriates looking for a home away from home, the bustling hub of Hong Kong offers serviced apartments varying in style, size and price, ranging from cosy... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005179/nerve-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005179/nerve-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The emergence of premium offices, luxury malls and world-class hotels in Kowloon has reinvigorated an area that has taken a back seat in the development of Hong Kong. Kowloon East is a major business district in the making. Many companies, including several in finance and manufacturing, have moved to Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay, where there is a supply of new, affordable grade-A offices. The up-and-coming commercial area will become even more attractive following the introduction of the Sha Tin to... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005181/towering-prospects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005181/towering-prospects?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Sheung Wan boasts a delightful mix of old and new, where contemporary residences sit next to low-rise tenements and trendy restaurants intermingle with traditional stores. As the spot where British troops first landed in 1841, Sheung Wan has a rich history and lays claims to time-honoured structures, such as Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road. Built between 1847 and 1862, the temple doubled as a venue for arbitration among the Chinese in the early days of the colonial era. Thanks to the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005178/back-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005178/back-future?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Ascending from the entrance on Queen's Road Central, passing by a slew of restaurants and a few fashion boutiques, then reaching Caine Road, a vibrant residential area, before finding a mosque on the way up to Robinson Road and Conduit Road - this is a snapshot of the 20-minute journey along the world's longest outdoor escalator. The convenience brought by the 800-metre escalator, most sections of which are covered, has made Mid-Levels a popular choice of residence among aspiring professionals... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005177/reach-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005177/reach-top?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 As young people become more educated and lead a healthy lifestyle, they are increasingly looking forward to a comfortable and active life after retirement. Like most Hong Kong employees, younger workers save up for retirement by contributing to the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) and have the option to make additional contributions voluntarily. They can ask their employer to deduct the extra amount from their salary or instruct their bank to transfer the sum from their personal account to their... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005024/enjoy-life-saving-today?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005024/enjoy-life-saving-today?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Jerrick To Tsun-ki got off to a rough start with the International Baccalaureate diploma programme last year. He was overwhelmed by the demanding curriculum and felt snowed under. 'My grades dropped a lot in the first term. IB has so many activities, you have to adapt to cope with everything,' said the Yew Chung International School Year 12 student. With perseverance, self-discipline and support from teachers and classmates, To managed to balance work and play and come to appreciate the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1004890/ib-shapes-young-minds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1004890/ib-shapes-young-minds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 There are times when Hayley Goldberg wishes she knew Chinese and could offer more help to her daughter Ativa. A Primary Two pupil, Ativa attends a local school in Ma On Shan, where every subject apart from English is taught and assessed in Chinese. 'At the beginning there were six notices from the school every second day. I didn't know what was going on,' says Goldberg, a South African who teaches at an international school. 'I have to get everything translated by my students. It's crazy that I... https://www.scmp.com/article/1004819/gift-tongues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1004819/gift-tongues?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 As a veteran accountant with a keen sense of social responsibility, Kenneth Lau Chak-keung is committed to educating youngsters about how to manage money well. 'I once came across a woman in her 20s who went bankrupt,' says Lau, a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a volunteer for the institute's 'Rich Kid, Poor Kid' programme. 'The root of her problem lay in overspending. It struck me how important it is for young people to learn the basic lessons of finance... https://www.scmp.com/article/1004289/accountants-show-youngsters-value-good-financial-habits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1004289/accountants-show-youngsters-value-good-financial-habits?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Accounting professionals play an increasingly important role in helping companies adapt to the green economy. It is a new global system that promotes sustainability and addresses issues such as climate change, biodiversity and scarcity of fuel, water and food. Rachel Jackson, head of sustainability of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), says the role of the accountant is evolving in a low-carbon economy, where businesses adapt their operations from risk identification and... https://www.scmp.com/article/1004291/corporate-sector-must-change-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1004291/corporate-sector-must-change-times?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The International Baccalaureate (IB) offers three programmes to help students develop the skills to survive and thrive in the globalising world. They are the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged three to 12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for youngsters aged 11 to 16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for young adults aged 16 to 19. The two-year DP requires students to study six subjects covering languages, humanities and sciences, alongside a theory of knowledge course. They must also... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003615/hong-kong-schools-offer-full-ib-menu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003615/hong-kong-schools-offer-full-ib-menu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Jing Wong was over the moon as he came out of an English class at Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, having immersed himself in an hour of play reading led by his teacher. 'He was completely engrossed in the character he was playing. He became the character. It was most inspiring,' says Wong, who studied the two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in the early 2000s. He is now creative director of Daydream Nation, a fashion label known for its collaborations with... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003618/how-li-po-chun-course-inspired-talented-artist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003618/how-li-po-chun-course-inspired-talented-artist?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 For Chinese International School alumnus Lawson Wong, the wide variety of subjects he was required to study in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) encouraged him to become better-rounded. 'I can no longer remember the structure of organic chemical compounds or recall all formulae in optics, but I can still remember many details from modern Chinese history and see China's development in this context,' says Wong, who continued his studies at Stanford University after... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003617/love-learning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003617/love-learning?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Parents browsing through the Renaissance College's primary section newsletters cannot but notice the ubiquitous use of words such as 'finding out', 'investigating' and 'researching'. 'The key in PYP [Primary Years Programme] is learning how to learn. We want our students to be able to find information, analyse, synthesise and evaluate,' says Jamie Schmitz, head of primary at the Ma On Shan school operated by the English Schools Foundation and offering all three International Baccalaureate (IB)... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003616/inquiring-minds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003616/inquiring-minds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Hong Kong employees are generally dissatisfied with their pay and benefits, according to Mercer's latest What's Going on Around the World survey. Only 42 per cent of employees are satisfied with their base pay, which ranks as the most important element of value proposition. About half say they are paid fairly, and that their organisation has done an adequate job of matching pay to performance. Just 39 per cent rate their overall benefits package as good. Kate Bravery (left), Mercer Hong Kong's... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003393/survey-finds-hk-staff-are-unhappy-pay-and-packages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003393/survey-finds-hk-staff-are-unhappy-pay-and-packages?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Project manager Kevin Wong belongs to the younger generation of managerial staff at Kowloon Watch Company. 'Advancement isn't just about obtaining a nice title. It's about gaining the company's trust and recognition,' says Wong. 'I've been given many opportunities. While they can be challenging, they also keep me motivated.' Managing director Wong Kam-shing is keen to recruit Gen Ys - those born in the 1980s -- to cater to the needs of younger customers. He also hopes to tap into their... https://www.scmp.com/article/1003388/children-gen-y-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1003388/children-gen-y-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Whether it's creating new work, educating the public or providing funding support, non-profit groups have been invaluable to building a diverse and vibrant arts community in Hong Kong. As the education partner of Art HK since the fair's inception in 2008, the Asia Art Archive (AAA) has initiated 'Backroom Conversations', a series of panel discussions and lectures for leading experts and practitioners to address core issues in contemporary art. 'We have enjoyed working closely with Art HK,' says... https://www.scmp.com/article/1001160/community-new-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1001160/community-new-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000