Latest news with #UniversityOfHongKong
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong legal bodies right to speak up on issues of significant import
Legal issues are often complex and controversial, especially when they arise as a result of rapid technological developments. Informed and authoritative perspectives are needed to help find solutions to problems that can have a significant impact on the community. Advertisement Hong Kong's Bar Association prides itself on speaking up when such issues arise. It is well-placed to make a valuable contribution. Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet recently gave his take on topical legal matters in an exclusive interview with the Post. He said targeted legislation is needed to combat AI-generated deepfake pornography . Concerns were raised when a student at the University of Hong Kong created such images. Officials have argued existing laws can be used, but Maurellet said applying legislation intended for other purposes might lead to complications. The government should consider whether current laws are adequate, especially as technology advances. The Bar Association's views lend weight to calls for legal amendments, and Maurellet's suggestion that the Law Reform Commission prepare proposals is sensible. He also urged the authorities to exercise caution when deciding whether to use new powers to ban individual lawyers from visiting prisoners. The government can now seek a court warrant prohibiting visits by legal representatives if this threatens to endanger national security, obstruct justice, cause bodily harm or hinder the recovery of crime proceeds. Maurellet highlighted the importance of access to legal advice. He said there needs to be compelling evidence to justify a ban, warning proceedings might be disrupted if a prisoner needs to switch lawyers. Advertisement The Bar Association chairman has expressed views on a variety of issues, from the proposed recognition of same-sex relationships to the importance of the city's independent judiciary.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Programme inspires Hong Kong and Beijing youth to reimagine cities' cultural hubs
Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District hosts grand museums, performance venues and open spaces – but 18-year-old Emma Yao Yimo has found there is more work to be done in attracting visitors. As part of the annual Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme, Yao interviewed locals about their perception of West Kowloon. 'Some said they wouldn't visit West Kowloon because they didn't feel 'cultured enough'. That's something we should overcome – culture shouldn't feel exclusive or require a lot of prior education to enjoy,' said Yao, an architecture student at the University of Hong Kong. Over the past two months, Yao and 15 other university students from Hong Kong and Beijing joined an eight-week programme – launched by the Hong Kong Palace Museum with support from Beijing's Palace Museum – to cultivate future cultural leaders and strengthen ties between the two cities. The exchange also took students to Beijing and Shanghai, where they explored how landmarks like the Palace Museum engage younger audiences through storytelling, creative merchandising and digital technologies. Participants also interned at cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+. Louis Ng, director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, described the programme as a key initiative for cultural exchange and arts education since its launch in 2022. 'It is dedicated to providing a platform for young people in Beijing and Hong Kong to connect and share ideas, promoting Chinese culture on a global stage and exploring its international impact,' he said. For Yao, the experience gave her fresh insights into how cultural hubs like West Kowloon can better connect with younger audiences. 'It's about staying relevant to youth, developing further and not getting stuck in the past. From what I've seen, Hong Kong is heading in the right direction,' she said. M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum are part of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Eugene Lee A visit during the programme to Nantou Ancient Town in Shenzhen showed Yao an example of how to integrate heritage, retail and community life. 'They brought the whole community together – from shops to food and beverage – to create a vibrant atmosphere,' she said. 'It's something West Kowloon is still working hard to achieve.' Yao believes better policies for community vendors could help bring more visitors to the cultural hub. 'For example, the government has too many restrictions on food trucks and similar operations, which limit customer numbers. Adjusting these policies could attract more locals and tourists,' the student said. She added that another way forward could be to boost its visibility online. 'You need to stay on top of the conversation – for example, on social media,' she explained. 'West Kowloon and M+ aren't the most prominent online, so there's room to step into young people's daily lives.' The highlight of the programme for Yao was exploring how cultural expression has evolved in today's world. 'We barely touched on this in school, so I'm glad the programme gave me a deeper understanding of how culture works now, and how people are trying to develop and present it,' she said. While Yao said she found this industry to be interesting, she was still 'on the fence' about whether to make this her career path. 'It's already challenging to come up with new ideas – I imagine it's even harder for those actually working here to push them forward,' she said. Emma Yao Yimo (left) and Wu Xiaoya say this experience has given them insight into how cities develop culture. Photo: Handout For Wu Xiaoya, an economics and finance student at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the programme was a step toward her goal of launching culture-related entrepreneurship projects. 'This programme showed me how vital it is for culture to interact with its surrounding community,' said the 21-year-old, whose first visit to Hong Kong was through this initiative. Wu pointed to a community project by One Bite Design Studio, which invited elderly residents to take part in its activities, and noted that West Kowloon could benefit from similar community engagement. From her perspective, Hong Kong's cultural sector 'has not fully realised its potential'. 'It is not profitable yet, but many opportunities are waiting to be explored by young people,' Wu said. In the four weeks she spent interning at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Wu noticed room for improvement in its merchandise. 'Most of their products, like postcards or booklets, are very generic,' she said. 'In the mainland, there are many creative designs that capture your interest. Hong Kong museums aren't doing enough of that.' She also encouraged the industry to be more daring: 'The cultural sector should be a place for brave ideas – you shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes or launch bold projects.'
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong urged to brace for chikungunya fever amid global outbreaks
Leading expert Yuen Kwok-yung has said Hongkongers should stay alert against chikungunya fever. He warned that the mosquito-borne disease could cause prolonged joint pain. Yuen is chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology. He issued the warning following recent outbreaks in mainland China. Last month, the city recorded its first imported chikungunya fever case since 2019. Yuen said a potential outbreak in Hong Kong could be large because of the population's weak immunity. The World Health Organization also issued an urgent call for action against chikungunya fever. The virus has been affecting other parts of the world, including Madagascar, Kenya and India. Europe has also seen a growing number of cases. Chikungunya fever is spread by Aedes albopictus mosquito bites. Cases typically develop fever and joint pain that can last for a long period. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes. The risk is higher for older people, newborns and those with chronic illnesses. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear loose clothes and insect repellent.
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Eliminating mosquitoes not enough to fight China's chikungunya fever outbreak, experts say
Experts in mosquito-borne infectious diseases are warning against excessive insect eradication campaigns as cities in southern China seek to eliminate mosquitoes in the fight against chikungunya fever Advertisement Guangdong province in southern China has been hit by a wave of chikungunya fever cases , with more than 7,000 people affected so far – marking the most severe outbreak since the disease was first detected in China nearly two decades ago. Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. While rarely fatal, it can lead to symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain. The combination of heat, humidity and rain has created a favourable environment for mosquitoes to thrive and spread the disease. In Foshan, the centre of the outbreak, some health authorities have penalised businesses, including hotels and restaurants, for failing to promptly eliminate mosquito breeding sites, according to state-run news site However, Jin Dongyan, a professor of biomedical science at the University of Hong Kong, said the efforts to kill all kinds of mosquitoes in the cities, including those in homes and shops, may be missing the target because most of them did not carry the virus. A sanitation worker sprays insecticide to prevent the spread of chikungunya on August 3 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images Chikungunya is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which can also transmit the dengue and Zika viruses. However, Aedes aegypti is rarely seen in Guangdong, according to Jin.
South China Morning Post
24-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Stay alert to chikungunya fever threat, leading expert tells Hongkongers
Hongkongers should stay vigilant against chikungunya fever, leading expert Yuen Kwok-yung has said, stressing that the mosquito-borne disease could cause prolonged and severe joint pain amid weak population immunity. Yuen, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong's Department of Microbiology, made the warning on Thursday, following recent outbreaks in mainland China, including 3,000 cases reported in Foshan city in Guangdong province. While no chikungunya fever cases have been registered in Hong Kong since 2020, Yuen has said that any potential outbreak in the city could be on a large scale. 'Any outbreak could be major because we have no immunity, so we should not take it lightly,' he said during a radio show. 'Normally, you might only experience a fever, rash and swollen joints. Most people will be fine, but you must not forget that if you have a chronic illness, it can be very serious to those who are very old or very young. 'It can affect your brain and cause inflammation of the retina or even retinal detachment. It can also impact the heart.'
