Episode 82

Hung Shing Festival is on the 13th in the second month of the lunar calendar. Organised by the Ap Lei Chau Kai Fong Tung Hing Association, the celebration has been held since 1880, and it has evolved into the Ap Lei Chau Hung Shing Cultural Festival today. This year, it is held from 2nd to 17th March. In addition to rituals such as ceremonies inviting and sending off deities, the two-week festival also features various activities on Ap Lei Chau, such as parades, dragon boat rituals, religious opera performances, bazaar, lion dance competitions and exhibitions. There are also Cantonese opera costume experience zone and the popular water lantern blessings.

The beautiful Caribbean coast of Colombia is the birthplace of the iconic Colombian rhythm, cumbia, which has gained popularity across Latin America. The Music Voyager team visits Cartagena, filming acclaimed artist Totó la Momposina performing with her band on the beach as local children join in the dancing. Cartagena is also a hub for champeta music, which blends contemporary African styles with Latin and Caribbean influences. The team interacts with local stars like Louis Towers, producer Lucas Silva, and sound engineer Charles King, exploring the historic yet vibrant city from the old town to the beaches of La Boquilla.

Each contestant at the WorldSkills Competition in Lyon carries their own story and expectations. Mavis, participating in Visual Merchandising, will select a prop from a mysterious place for her design. Ivan, focused on Plumbing and Heating, faces a communication issue that jeopardizes his time. Helen, specializing in Fashion Technology, must regain her sewing touch with unfamiliar fabrics. Jarvis, in Pâtisserie and Confectionery, experiences a setback on the first day. The competition has begun, presenting a pivotal opportunity for all participants.

Today, books and other print publications are mostly printed by computerised typesetting or offset printing. For a long time though, two different and traditional printing methods dominated: movable type and lithography. At one time there were 200 print shops in Central and Sheung Wan alone, and more than 1,500 across Hong Kong, mostly run as very small or even one-man enterprises. Alicja Kwade uses everyday objects and natural materials in her sculptures and public installations to explore reality and the subjectivity of time and space. Among the works on show in her solo institutional exhibition in Hong Kong, this site-specific installation “Waiting Pavilions” was commissioned by Tai Kwun to be shown in the Prison Yard. It reflects the passage of time in the setting of a former prison. The exhibition, “Pretopia” includes nine works laid out in a sculptural environment in Tai Kwun’s F Hall. Alex Woods is a saxophonist, composer and arranger from the United Kingdom. He came to Hong Kong in the summer of 2017 to design a youth music programme for over 5,000 students. Having toured in Europe and performed in venues and festivals in Brazil, USA, Asia and Russia, since 2023 Woods has based himself in Hong Kong.

Established in 1935, Chan Kwong Kee Jewellery started out in the Central and Sheung Wan area as a shop occupying only half the space of the building it was in. After the war, the Hui family turned their pawn shop into a jeweller, which is now in the hands of the third-generation inheritor. He recalls that his grandfather and father were already doing business with many wealthy people in the city during the brand’s early days, as well as witnessing the business district expand from Central and Sheung Wan to Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. In the 1990s, jewellery shops in Hong Kong became a frequent heist target among mainland Chinese criminals, and the industry was in the grip of constant fear. However, the impact was far less severe than that brought by the financial crisis which followed. The company’s jewellery craftsmen witnessed the significant downsizing of the factory which once employed dozens of people, and business went into free fall. Twenty years later, the brand is still standing thanks to its integrity and the golden reputation that it has built over the decades. The shop’s sign and nostalgic decor do not only hold treasured memories for the owner, but also the people of Hong Kong.

The theme of the 21st Robocon Hong Kong was developed by Vietnam, the host country of ABU Robocon this year, which was inspired by the famous terraced cultivation in the country when designing the series of robotics tasks. Local tertiary students implanted artificial intelligence (AI) applications in their robots and trained them for sowing, transplanting, and harvesting. In the last episode, we have had a good look at the mechanical design of the robots of Group A and Group B, and watched 3 rounds of group competitions. In this episode, there will be the introduction of Group C and Group D, as well as the presentation of some more intense and breathtaking robot battles!

With the interest rate cut cycle underway, the market broadly expects further rate reductions in the coming year, which could have a cautiously positive impact on Hong Kong’s economy. Although the extent and pace of rate cuts may not align perfectly with those in Europe and the US, they are likely to alleviate operational pressures on businesses. How will the shift in interest rates influence capital flows and shape the development of Hong Kong’s economy? How should personal asset management and SME operations be positioned to adapt to a lower interest rate environment? What implications will this have for retirement planning? And can SMEs seize opportunities amid the rate-cutting trend?

This episode features some highlights of the award presentation ceremony for the Civil Service Volunteer Commendation Scheme, and introduces several winning civil service volunteer teams: Hong Kong Police Force Volunteer Teams – With staunch support from the departmental management, the Volunteer Teams provided a wide variety of volunteer services, and their total number of volunteer service hours was the highest among the various teams. Digital Policy Office Volunteer Team – Being familiar with digital information technology (IT), the Volunteer Team has applied many IT items to the volunteer services, so that the recipients could enjoy the benefits and support arising from the new technologies. Hong Kong Fire Services Department Volunteer Team – Apart from the routine fire prevention and extinguishing work, one of the important items for the Volunteer Team was “After-fire Service”, which provided thoughtful and appropriate assistance to people affected by disasters. Drainage Services Department Volunteer Team – The Volunteer Team has produced a series of short films for the cancer prevention and rehabilitation institutions, so as to provide various types of useful information for rehabilitees and their carers. The hit rate of these short films has already exceeded 100 000. The programme also introduces two veteran civil service volunteers who received individual awards, with a view to demonstrating their community-caring and people-oriented spirit to the public.

CHAN Yiu-fai, the Hongkong Post’s Superintendent of Posts, considers that it is not necessary for Postal Officers to be smarter than others, but they must have a greater sense of responsibility. CHAN Yiu-fai has experienced the challenges during the epidemic and elections. As the management, he had to maintain the public service while ensuring the health and safety of colleagues. During the epidemic, he would always stay until the last moment, and would close the door and leave only after making sure that all colleagues had returned safely. CHAN Yiu-fai considers that both individuals and departments have to keep abreast of the times. He likes to learn from young colleagues so as to better understand social changes and discharge his duties more effectively. In recent years, the department has actively used technologies to launch services and enhance efficiency. However, he considers that human capital of the Hongkong Post is the most important resource after all. As a member of the civil service, it is the responsibility of CHAN Yiu-fai to serve the public with professionalism, positive attitude and dedication. What satisfies him the most is seeing that his service could bring convenience for the public, and won their recognition and trust.