Exploring Options: Work and Study in Hong Kong and The Mainland

a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups
December
March 2013
2015
Volume 7
5 Number 1
4
Youth
HONG
KONG
Exploring
options
Work and study in

Hong Kong and the Mainland
Rosanna Wong
Elaine Morgan (Editor)
Ada Chau (Assistant Editor)
Angela Ngai
Lakshmi Jacot
William Chung
Henry Poon
CIRCULATION (unaudited)
11,000-12,000 in Hong Kong, throughout
the region and overseas
OVERVIEW
6-13
VIEWS EXPRESSED are the authors and interviewees,

may come from official sources, and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the editorial board or publisher
INTERVIEWS
Andrew Liao
Wong Yuk-shan
Joe Ngai
REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS without written

permission from the publisher is prohibited
INTERVIEWS
Elaine Morgan
Ada Chau
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS
Henry Lui
Lee Chi-kwong
Julia Liu
Guo Yuanfang
Joy Pamnani
Clare Wong
Sam Ip
HKFYG unit staff
TRANSLATION
Ada Chau
PHOTOGRAPHS
14-21
YOUTH SPEAK
22-25
Acknowledged as captioned, in public

domain or Dreamstime
YOUTH WATCH
ARTWORK
Sam Suen, DG3
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Youth
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YOUTH HONG KONG published quarterly by

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Contents
OVERVIEW
4
Exploring options and

interconnected opportunities
INTERVIEWS
6
Finding out about

One Country, Two Systems

Andrew Liao, Senior Counsel
9
Flow and counter flow

Prof Wong Yuk-shan, Open University
12
Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Joe Ngai, McKinsey
YOUTH SPEAK
14
Moving out, moving on, moving back

Henry Lui

Lee Chi-kwong

Julia Liu

Guo Yuanfang

Crystal Hung

Jimmy Chu

Joyce and Marco

Viola Lam
19
Looking forward or not: attitude surveys
YOUTH WATCH
22
China: land of opportunity?

Jennifer Lam
INTERNETSCOPE
26
Coding: learn it while its hot

Edmond Hui: LEAD
28
Beware the spiral of silence

Ho But-lam
CULTURE, FOOD & HEALTH
30
A taste of classical harp

in Tin Shui Wai
32
Small changes, new health

Joy Pamnani
34
Repairing broken smiles

Alliance for Smiles
PERSPECTIVES
36
Indian journey

Clare Wong: Educate Girls
38
Give them a home

Sam Ip
CITY SPACE
40
Shopping bag sharing

William Wong
42
Making a difference

Carolyn Feeney & HSBC volunteer

English teaching in Tin Shui Wai
HKFYG
45
Ten Thousand Galloping Horses
46
Co Create Hong Kong
49
a cappella Festival: anytime, anywhere
March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong
Editorial
by Imtmphoto
eaving home to seek ones fortune is part of the excitement and possibility
of youth.
At a time when the numbers of young Hong Kong people on the
mainland, and mainland youth in Hong Kong both increase, this issue of Youth
Hong Kong looks at cross-border explorations in education, employment and
entrepreneurship. While now at a nascent stage, we believe that this tendency will
grow more and more as the interconnected future of Hong Kong and the
mainland takes hold.
This issue focuses on just one small part of the world but we believe that the trend
of young people leaving home and crossing borders to take up their options will
continue to gain wider currency in future. What is your experience of interchange
and exploration?
Do let us know.
Dr Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP
Executive Director, HKFYG
March 2015
Youth Hong Kong | March 2015
Overview
Exploring Options and

Interconnected Opportunities
In todays globalized world, it is becoming more
apparent that young people who either study
or gain work experience away from their home
cities or countries are positioning themselves
to become more highly valued employees in
future: competitive, well-rounded, sometimes
multilingual and with a wider perspective.
A recent European study 1 of nearly 80,000
students and businesses shows that graduates with
international experience are half as likely to
experience long-term unemployment compared
with those who have not studied or trained
abroad and, five years after graduation, their
unemployment rate [was] 23% lower. This fact is
not lost on Hong Kong or mainland young people
who are increasingly exploring cross-border options,
which can result in interconnected opportunities.
Looking at cross-border demographics, it comes
as something of a surprise to see that there has
not been a consistent and constant cross-border
flow of people. The reasons, of course, vary from
tangible government immigration quotas to an
intangible sense that home is better. However, as
China continues to grow and develop, and Hong
Kongs reputation as an international finance hub
remains, young people seek to take advantage of
the relative strengths that exist for employment
and higher education on both sides of the border.
Education
There are several channels for Hong Kong

students to gain admission to mainland
universities.2 The exact number is not known,
but some 14,000 Hongkongers were believed
to be students there in early 2014.3
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is attracting large

numbers of mainland students. Current
government policy restricts enrolment of nonlocal undergraduates to 20% but according to
reports,4 the vast majority of them are mainlanders.
A March 2015 study of inter-regional student
mobility indicates a current landscape with fewer
mainland undergraduates in Hong Kong than
there are Hong Kong undergraduates on the
mainland. However, the position is dramatically
reversed for further degree students. (See table).
Enrolment of non-local students:
Hong Kong / mainland China, 2014
Mainland students in HK
HK students in Mainland
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
Undergraduate
Masters
PhD
Courtesy of Mr Gong Wan, Director, China Education

Exchange (Hong Kong) Centre.
Overview
They include setting up an Alibaba HK$1 billion

not-for-profit foundation aimed at boosting
According to a very recent Bauhinia Foundation
entrepreneurship among Hong Kong's younger
Research Centre attitudes survey,5 only 33.2%
generation.11 According to Jack Ma, the Groups
of Hong Kong respondents were willing to seek
Executive Chairman, the Alibaba Hong Kong
employment across the border. However, the
Young Entrepreneurs Foundation will offer Hong
survey also revealed that those with a higher level
Kong's younger population new opportunities,
of education and anticipated monthly income were and help strengthen economic ties between Hong
more willing to work on the mainland. This is
Kong and mainland China. so that [they can]
evident in the legal profession where cross-border
build thriving businesses that will serve as a bridge
practice shows that Hong Kong law firms have
between Hong Kong and mainland China."
over 100 representative offices on the mainland,
mostly in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.6
The plan will also see annual internships at Alibaba
and other connected businesses allowing 200
The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic
students from Hong Kong universities to gain firstPartnership Arrangement (CEPA) has facilitated
hand experience of working in mainland China.
such arrangements and mainland law firms employ Government initiatives in Hong Kong also support
Hong Kong legal practitioners, even if they are
mainland internships. Attitudes to these are revealed
not allowed to handle matters of mainland law.7
in a February 2015 Bauhinia Foundation survey.12
8
Outside the professional sector, a report by the
Planning Department shows that the number
Conclusion
of cross-border workers from Hong Kong aged
Although actual statistics for cross-border study,
15 and over who travel over the border at least
work and entrepreneurship are as yet incomplete,
four times a week, stood at 41,400 in 2014.
certain conclusions may still be drawn. First,
higher education options across the border are now
Conversely, according to the Immigration
seen more positively by students from both Hong
Department, cumulative figures for 2003-2013
Kong and the mainland. Second, while certain
show that about 80,000 mainland people were
9
contexts might dictate emotional responses about
working in Hong Kong. A government policy
gives a one-year grace period after graduation for
comparative competitiveness, in the long term, the
students seeking employment without a work
more educated from both sides are seeing the critical
visa and two years ago, it was estimated that of
necessity to follow new pathways and channels
mainland students who had studied in Hong Kong, for education, employment and entrepreneurship
nearly half of the undergraduates and 30% of the
on the mainland and in Hong Kong.
postgraduates found employment in the city.10
As young people look towards their future they
will surely see that exploring their options means
Entrepreneurship
recognizing all the interconnected opportunities
There have also been positive signs of mainland
open to them in terms of cross-border exchange
opportunities for young Hong Kong entrepreneurs. and will make the most of them.
Employment
Sources and notes

1. Effects of mobility on the skills and employability of students and the
internationalization of higher education institutions. 2014. http://ec.europa.eu/education/
library/study/2014/erasmus-impact_en.pdf
7. http://hong-kong-economy-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Hong-KongIndustry-Profiles/Legal-Services-Industry-in-Hong-Kong/hkip/
en/1/1X000000/1X003UYK.htm
2. See pages 9-11 for details.
8. Motherland of Missed Opportunity? Time Out, 4 February 2015. http://www.timeout.

com.hk/big-smog/features/70974/motherland-of-missed-opportunity.html
3. Education Bureau, HKSARG. http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/

postsecondary/policy-doc/pilot-scheme/Pilot_scheme_2015/Mainland_Expo_2014_
Booklet.pdf. p. 6. [In Chinese.]
9. Study by Hong Kong Ideas Centre. http://www.ideascentre.hk/wordpress/wp-content/

uploads/2009/02/Mainland-Students-and-Professionals-Report.pdf [In Chinese.]
4. University Grants Committee Annual Report. 2012. Report in South China Morning Post,
24 September 2012. http://www.scmp.com/print/news/hong-kong/article/1045120/
majority-non-local-students-hk-come-mainland-says-report
10. Feng, Vicky. Are mainland Chinese students 'robbing Hong Kong locals of school places
and jobs'? in South China Morning Post, 3 June 2013. http://www.scmp.com/comment/
insight-opinion/article/1252540/are-mainland-chinese-students-robbing-hong-kong-locals
5. Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. Attitudes of Hong Kong Youth towards Seeking
Employment in Mainland China, 13 January 2015. http://www.bauhinia.org/document/
doc200eng.pdf
11. http://www.zdnet.com/article/alibaba-offers-young-hong-kong-entrepreneurs-hk1-billion/
6. See page 20 for details and statistics.
12. See pages 19-20 for details.
Interviews
Finding out about

One Country, Two Systems
minent Senior Counsel Andrew Liao talks about that the intricacies of
One Country,Two Systems, the Basic Law and the Rule of Law, all of
which demand true understanding which only comes through continuous
and lifelong learning.
The pieces of the One Country, Two Systems

jigsaw are taught in Hong Kong schools, but
teaching and learning about them is very
demanding, Mr Liao says, with a sympathetic
smile. The principles represent the relationship
between Hong Kong and mainland China.
For anybody who really wants to be part of Hong
Kong, to fit in and contribute, understanding
the essence is very important, says Mr Liao.
Remembering the 1980s and 1990s, when Hong
Kongs present status was evolving, he recalled
how, People of my generation read about the
One Country, Two Systems policy every day in the
newspapers. It became a familiar part of life. Thats
not true for todays young people. But knowing
about the One Country, Two Systems policy and
the Basic Law through which it is implemented
will bring understanding of both Hong Kongs
history and constitutional rights and duties.
Learning in practice
The principles behind One Country, Two Systems
and the Basic Law, as well as the Rule of Law,
are taught in Hong Kong schools. They are
included in the Integrated Humanities part of
the school curriculum at junior level, and in
Liberal Studies at senior level. However, learning
Today, Hong Kong people,

especially young people, are
more interested in learning
about the way Hong Kong and
mainland China fit together than
they have ever been hitherto.
Interviews
The law has to be respected

and in a law-abiding society
like ours, any law can only be
changed by legal means, no
matter how noble the cause.
beyond the classroom is equally important, says

Mr Liao. I think today Hong Kong people,
especially young people, are more interested in
knowing how Hong Kong and mainland China
fit together than they have ever been hitherto.
Rule of Law: never take it for granted

The relationship between the Basic Law and the
Rule of Law is also important to understand. The
Rule of Law underlies the Basic Law, explains Mr
Liao. Fundamentally, this means that government
officials and citizens are bound by and must abide
by the law. However, you have to make an effort
to read and learn about the Basic Law for yourself
and form your own critical view, he reminds us.
The law has to be respected and in a law-abiding
society like ours, any law can only be changed by
legal means, no matter how noble the cause.
Mr Liao speaks passionately of the shared culture
of the Rule of Law in Hong Kong. It underpins
both the Basic Law and the One Country, Two
Systems concept. Now, the rule of law is high on the
agenda for the mainland. Learning how to protect,
respect and uphold it needs to be done at home,
at school, at work and in the community, through
lifelong learning. It is one of our core values.
Fitting in and making the most of it

However, young people today are frustrated,
they have less social mobility than their parents
generation and their future paths are often
unclear. Yet, because of their education, their
expectations are high. Mr Liao has a mnemonic
18

CAPCapacityAttitude
Planning
Interviews
Young people need to know

why One Country Two Systems
matters and they need to
understand the Basic law. These
are part of who they are and
where they fit in the world.
to help them cope. I say to Put on your CAP:
Build your Capacity through lifelong learning.
Have the right Attitude and remember the
importance of life Planning. These involve
making the best of what is available, including
opportunities on the mainland and throughout
the region. It means building on strengths and
always having the courage to embrace change.
To conclude, Mr Liao stresses, The only
resources Hong Kong has are human resources.
That makes young people especially important.
At the end of the day, their education is
essential. Young people need to know why One
Country, Two Systems matters and they need to
understand the Basic law. These are part of who
they are and where they fit in the world.
The One Country, Two Systems principle was

proposed by the Central Peoples Government (CPG)
of China to achieve unity when it resumed sovereignty
over Hong Kong in 1997. The Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region was then established directly
under the CPG with a high degree of autonomy
under the Basic Law, the constitutional document for
Hong Kong. The Basic Law states that the socialist
system of China will not apply in Hong Kong. Instead,
the capitalist system and way of life will remain
unchanged for 50 years. The Two Systems element is
reflected in these provisions. On the other hand, the
CPGs role in Hong Kong includes defence and foreign
affairs, as well as the power to amend and interpret
the Basic Law. This reflects the One Country element.
More reading
http://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/basiclawtext/images/basiclaw_full_text_en.pdf
http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/basic_law.pdf
* Mr Andrew Liao, GBS, SC, JP is a Non-official Member of

the Executive Council of HKSAR, and a Vice-chairperson
of the Social and Legal Affairs Committee of the
Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference.
Rule of Law: the essential elements

For the rule of law to exist, people must
believe in [it] and be committed to [it]. They
must take it for granted as a necessary and
proper aspect of their society. It amounts
to a shared cultural belief. When this
cultural belief is pervasive, the rule of law
can be resilient, spanning generations and
surviving episodes in which the rule of law
had been flouted by government officials.
When this cultural belief is not pervasive,
the rule of law will be weak or non-existent.
Cultural beliefs are not subject to complete
human control, so it is no easy matter to
inculcate belief in the rule of law when it
does not already exist A widely shared
cultural belief that the law should rule is
the essential element of the rule of law
and that is the hardest to achieve. Above
all else people must identify with the law
and perceive it to be worthy of ruling. The
populace must believe that the law reflects
their values and serves their interests.
from Tamanaha, Brian Z. The history and elements of the
Rule of law. Singapore Journal of Legal Studies. 2012, pp232-247.
http://law.nus.edu.sg/sjls/articles/SJLS-Dec-12-232.pdf
Interviews
Flow and counter flow

crossing borders to study
ost Hong Kong senior secondary students aim for a place at a local
university, not on the mainland. However, an admission scheme introduced
in 2012/13 offers attractions, says Professor Wong Yuk-shan, President
of Hong Kongs Open University.
A scheme now in place, called the Mainland

University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS),
will benefit three cohorts of students, and is
not subject to any quota according to the 2015
Policy Address.1It exempts students from taking
the mainland Joint Entrance Examination.
Instead, they can apply once they have the
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
(HKDSE). The number of applicants is gradually
increasing and in 2014, almost 1,500 applied
successfully, with about a fifth now attending
some of the best mainland universities.
According to Professor Wong Yuk-shan, President
of Hong Kongs Open University, there are
strong reservations about higher education on
the mainland amongst Hong Kong youth, their
parents and teachers. They are socio-politically
motivated although there is nothing new
about getting a mainland degree. Before the
Cultural Revolution a substantial number who
wanted a degree but could not get a place at the
University of Hong Kong went to universities in
Guangzhou, Beijing, or Shanghai. They studied
engineering, science or the liberal arts, and many
of them did not return to Hong Kong to work.
Flocking to study abroad

Today, opportunities are growing. Students from all
round the world flock to Chinas top universities,
78 of which operate the HKDSE admission
scheme, explained Prof Wong. Look at this,
he says, showing us photos and detailed facts and
figures in a glossy comprehensive guide produced
for the Education Bureau and researched by the
Hok Yau Club and co-produced by the China
Education Exchange (HK) Center Limited.2 From
an apolitical and educational angle,
the prospects are good, in terms of
facilities, pedagogy, curriculum, hardworking peer group and value.
A dozen of the 78 universities in
the scheme are among Chinas top
twenty, famous for their pedigree.3
Competition for places is fierce
and not all faculties are open to
Hongkongers. Among the socalled second tier universities
admission chances are much higher.
All together, 9,800 students have
applied and more than 3,700 students
have been successful since 2012.
pp Handbook on the Scheme

for Admission of Hong Kong
Students to Mainland Higher
Education Institutions (2015/16)
Interviews
Options to explore
Hong Kong students receive the same fee

subsidies as their mainland counterparts. In fact,
on average tuition and boarding costs less than
a quarter of what it does in Hong Kong. Hostel
accommodation and subsistence costs are very
low compared to Hong Kong, at an average of
below HK$10,000 per annum. Therefore, the
economic advantages are expected to attract
more Hongkongers, despite the reservations.
For secondary students who are in the top 30-40%

of achievers, Prof Wong recommends the scheme as
a good alternative to becoming fee-paying students
in Hong Kong, doing an associate degree here, or
to going to Australia or New Zealand. Furthermore,
since 2014 the Hong Kong government has
been offering means-tested scholarships for
those who get a mainland university place.
By faunggs photo
flickr.com/photos/44534236@N00/4730575461
When asked why many people seem unaware

of the scheme, despite a government-hosted
expo last autumn,4 Prof Wong suggests that the
Education Bureau is trying to act as a facilitator
but is not pushing hard. Many minds are closed
to these possibilities and being accused of exerting
undue influence would be counter-productive.
Mainland universities accepting HKDSE holders

Beijing Municipality
Chongqing Municipality
}} Chongqing University
}} Southwest University
}} Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Sichuan Province
}} Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
}} Sichuan Normal University
}} Sichuan University
}} Beijing Foreign Studies University

}} Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
}} Beijing Language and Culture University
}} Beijing Normal University
}} Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
}} China University of Political Science and Law
}} Communication University of China
}} Peking University
}} Renmin University of China
}} University of International Business and Economics
Tianjin Municipality
}} Nankai University
}} Tianjin Normal University
}} Tianjin University
}} Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Guangdong Province
Shandong Province
}} Shandong University
Jiangsu Province
}} Nanjing Normal University
}} Nanjing University
}} Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
}} Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai

}} Guangdong Medical College
}} Guangdong Pharmaceutical University
}} Guangdong University of Finance
}} Guangdong University of
Finance and Economics
}} Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
}} Guangdong University of Technology
}} Guangzhou University
}} Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
}} Jinan University
}} Shantou University
}} Shaoguan University
}} Shenzhen University
}} South China Normal University
}} South China University of Technology
}} Southern Medical University
}} Sun Yat-sen University
}} The Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
}} Xinghai Conservatory of Music
}} Zhaoqing University
Shanghai Municipality
}} Donghua University
}} East China Normal University
}} East China University of Political Science and Law
}} East China University of Science and Technology
}} Fudan University
}} Shanghai International Studies University
}} Shanghai Jiao Tong University
}} Shanghai Normal University
}} Shanghai University
}} Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
}} Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
}} Tongji University
Zhejiang Province
}} Ningbo University
}} Wenzhou Medical University
}} Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
}} Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
}} Zhejiang University
Yunnan Province
}} Yunnan Normal University
}} Yunnan University
Fujian Province
Hubei Province
10
}} Central China Normal University

}} China Three Gorges University
}} China University of Geosciences(Wuhan)*
}} Hubei University of Chinese Medicine
}} Wuhan University
}} Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
}} Fujian Normal University

}} Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
}} Fuzhou University
}} Huaqiao University
}} Jimei University
}} Xiamen University
Hunan Province
}} Hunan Normal University
Jiangxi Province
}} Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Top ranking universities
Universities accepting most HKDSE holders
Interviews
Although the MUSSS will not motivate the

more affluent, for disadvantaged students it
may bring extra incentive. Its too comfy here
at home, says Prof Wong. Many Hong Kong
students appear to be inward-looking. They are
not hungry enough, dont feel they have to try
hard and so are a bit laid-back. It will be the
less advantaged who will be attracted. However,
parents will still need to be convinced.
Cross-boundary recognition
Prof Wongs advice to secondary students about

to leave school, and parents or teachers who are
contemplating the mainland degree option, is to be
open-minded and objective, to look at the practical
advantages of going to study on the mainland.
I would not push, he reminds us, though to
be honest, Hong Kong graduates working in
Hong Kong with mainland degrees will have the
advantage in future. The radius of their horizon
will be greater and they will come back here betterequipped than if they had stayed at home.
Recognition of qualifications is a hurdle and

a reason for hesitation. Another hurdle is
post-graduation employment in the face of
prejudice or ignorance, says Prof Wong. Formal
recognition is one thing, he says, referring
to the Memorandum of Understanding5 that
was signed between Hong Kong and the
mainland for mutual recognition of degrees,
prospective employer preference is another.
Given the choice between a Hong Kong student
with a mainland degree and a mainland student
with a Hong Kong degree, employers prefer the
latter. They speak better English, work harder,
have better general knowledge and are very
competitive,says Prof Wong. More than 90% of
non-local students at Hong Kong universities are
from the mainland according to the University
Grants Committee,6 thus adding to competition
locally. Furthermore, given a choice between a
Hong Kong student with a Hong Kong degree
and a Hong Kong student with a mainland
degree, most employers here prefer the former.
Professor Wong Yuk-shan, BBS, JP, was brought

up and educated in Hong Kong. He did his PhD at
McGill University, Canada, and became the President
of The Open University of Hong Kong in April 2014.
(DSE) 78

Sources and notes

1. http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/policy-doc/pilot-scheme/Pilot_scheme_2014/MUSSS.html
2. http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/postsecondary/policy-doc/pilot-scheme/Pilot_scheme_2015/Mainland_Expo_2014_Booklet.pdf
3. 38 of the 78 mainland universities covered by the HKDSE scheme in 2014/15 belong to the so-called Project 211 group of 2nd tier mainland universities Another 19 in the scheme
belonged to Project 985, top tier universities. Both of these projects are intended to upgrade mainland universities significantly with large amounts of funding.
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/english/fc/fc/papers/f14-15e.pdf
4. http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/policy-doc/pilot-scheme/Pilot_scheme_2015/Expo2014.html
5. http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/postsecondary/policy-doc/mou%28e%29.pdf
6. http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/doc/ugc/publication/report/AnnualRpt1213/full.pdf
11
Interviews
Nothing ventured,
nothing gained
oe Ngai, managing partner at McKinsey, Hong Kong, says that

working on the mainland is not for everyone, but for those
with an adventurous spirit its the way to go.
China provides more employment opportunities

today than anywhere else in the world. Our
privileged position is the envy of our Asian
neighbours, Joe Ngai begins. However, other
peoples envy does not translate into our
optimism. In fact, the number of Hong Kong
residents working on the mainland has been
dropping according to official figures, especially
for those in the younger age bracket. (See page
20 for details.) By contrast, the number of
mainlanders working in Hong Kong has seen
significant growth and there are suspicions
that they are taking jobs away from locals.
How can confidence be built? All you have to
do is go to Shenzhen or the airport on a Monday
For some thats exciting. For

others its scary. It depends how
well you work with ambiguity.
12
morning to see the enormous number of Hong

Kong people crossing the border. There are jobs
to be had in many fields, especially finance,
accounting, investment and retail and training,
if you are a skilled professional, he continues,
but its not easy to find work on the mainland
if you have no effective experience or skills.
The up-trend is for skilled Hong Kong people
in their 30s rather than those in their 20s.
Blessed and cursed

Competition is fierce and new graduates from
Hong Kong can only expect starting salaries
from HK$6,000 to HK$8,000 a month. That
is less than half what they might expect in Hong
Kong. Furthermore, unemployment is low here.
Its not like Taiwan. If we had our backs to
the wall, with nothing to lose and few options,
it would be much easier to leave our comfort
zone. Instead, we have good prospects here. In
some ways, this is both a blessing and a curse.
Interviews
Minimizing adversity does

you no good. Young people
need to jump in at the deep end
and it doesnt help them to be
surrounded by lifeguards.
The key is to think in the long term, with
immersion in a mainland industry for 10-15 years.
That would be a good investment and you would
be able to capture opportunities as they came up,
Joe Ngai advises. This is particularly true in hardcore large-scale industry sectors like engineering,
aviation and IT, but sometimes it is difficult for
young people to make up their minds about career
paths. They still have time to experiment and no
career is for life, so reluctance to make a longterm career commitment is understandable.
maybe. It would be a great adventure. I truly

believe in struggling through adversity, in
taking yourself out of your comfort zone to a
place where you dont really know what you are
doing. Its the best way to learn and mature.
Would young Hongkongers benefit from being
given more information about opportunities? I
think they would benefit from transparency about
the difficulties, about the sacrifices that have to be
made in the real world. Minimizing adversity does
you no good. Young people need to jump in at the
deep end and it doesnt help them to be surrounded
by lifeguards. They need to start swimming.
Working with ambiguity

Where entrepreneurship in China is concerned, Joe
Ngai says it is for the right people with the right
attitude. Everyone is learning and experimenting
and mainland entrepreneurs set their sights wide
and high because they have such a big market. For
some thats exciting. For others its scary. It depends
on how well you work with ambiguity. It means
taking a risk when you know you may lose. The
advantage is that you get a broader perspective
and a more progressive mindset. When you come
back to Hong Kong you see more clearly.
Most entrepreneurially-minded people are in
their 40s by the time they start up in business.
The right kind of personality and confidence
are two important factors. Joe Ngais advice is
to begin with something you know better than
others. Think of global networking, not just of the
mainland. Young people assimilate very quickly,
but going to a new place to start is tough.
Asked if he had this kind of spirit himself, he
replies with a smile, If I were young, unattached,
with no burdens, I would go. For five years
Mr Joe Ngai is Director & Managing Partner at

McKinsey & Co Inc, Hong Kong. He was born
in Hong Kong and completed three degrees at
Harvard. With HKFYG, Mr Ngai has done pivotal
work, developing the Federations entrepreneurship
support programme, Youth Business Hong Kong.

comfort zone
13
Youth speak
Moving out
moving on
hat makes Hong Kong

students leave home
to study or work and
what is life like for mainland
students and professionals in
Hong Kong? Read some views.
moving back
Henry Lui
Lee Chi-kwong
15, Shatin College,

Positive on the idea of
working in China
22, on adjusting to
life at the University
of Nottingham,
Ningbo, Zhejiang
The Chief Executive caused quite a stir when

announcing new subsidized mainland exchange
programmes for young people in this years Policy
Address. Some were quick to dismiss this as another
attempt by the government to brainwash students
but I decided to take a look at how one would
go about hunting for a job on the mainland.
Im in my third year of an international business

management degree at Ningbo. Living here has
given a real boost to my Mandarin. Being able to
speak and understand like a local has also helped me
build a social network, and non-Chinese students
and lecturers find people like me very useful for
translating Chinese to English and vice versa.
A quick search on the Labour Departments Interactive

Employment Service website revealed 499 crossborder jobs in February 2015. Though some of them
required several years experience, many were suitable
for fresh university graduates. Although getting a job
may prove a challenge, I firmly believe that it is a move
worth making. In fact, I think the mainland may well be
a happier place to live. During my first visit to Xiamen
last November, I was surprised to find that the air
quality was actually better than Hong Kongs. People
were better-mannered too. It seemed many things I
was told about the mainland appeared to be false.
Its cheaper here than studying abroad and I can go

home from time to time. However, my new friends
and I often have arguments about whether I am
Hongkongese or Chinese. There are also some
sensitive topics, like the development of democracy
in Hong Kong and China. I have tried talking about
these but they seem to be subjects best avoided.
For an average Hong Kong student, booming mainlandbased businesses such as Alibaba, Lenovo and Xiaomi
have their allure. The mainland is a hotbed of innovation
and attracts talent from all round the world. Our
city appears completely devoid of young start-ups
such as Xiaomi, so perhaps the mainland would be
a better place to work. We, as future leaders, have
to grab such opportunities before they disappear.
14
by Michael Summers
https://www.flickr.com/photos/
canonsnapper/15103350534
Hong Kong students at school and on the mainland
Other hot issues are whether Hong Kong companies will

recognize mainland degrees and why we cannot get access
to Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Corruption is
another serious concern. I have never liked giving presents
in return for favours, but according to friends who are
already working on the mainland, it is quite normal.
Basic problems of adjustment to mainland life for me
have revolved around hygiene, toilets, food and smoking.
I used to avoid public toilets but now I can handle them.
Food? Well, there is always lots of oil and chilli in food
and many people still seem to love smoking. Apart from
these difficulties, I havent had any great problems.
Youth speak
Mainland students in Hong Kong

20, from Beijing,Year 3,
Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology.
On taking up the challenge
21, born and brought up in Beijing.

On trying to adjust to
undergraduate life at the
University of Hong Kong
The diverse cultural environment and global

exposure in Hong Kong are the main reasons I
came here. It is a place of opportunities, where
someone can fully realize their potential. There
will be more chance to study and work abroad
and the increasing interaction between China
and Hong Kong means there is a growing need
for knowledge and understanding of both. I think
I will be able to offer that. I wanted to take on a
challenge and Hong Kong is the right place for me.
The language concerned me at first so I spent a
considerable amount of time learning Cantonese.
I could understand and communicate on a basic
level within a few months. The biggest challenge
was fitting in with the local community but I have
made many friends and can see how warm and
friendly people here are. I think I understand local
culture better as a result. Adapting to a different
lifestyle has meant talking to people with different
views, but willingness to learn and respect for
others can close cultural gaps. What had been a
worry evaporated with a proactive attitude and
an open mind. Stepping out of my comfort zone
wasnt easy but it has been very worthwhile.
I would like a career in finance and have gained
some experience helping clients make investment
decisions during my summer internships. I am
looking forward to new opportunities and think
this will be a good place to start my career.
by Canadian Pacific
https://www.flickr.com/photos
/18378305@N00/8482645256
Guo Yuanfang
by Ken Lund
Julia Liu
I have always been very interested in this

city and the way it combines east and west.
To me, everything here is new and appealing.
It is easier to go back home compared with
studying abroad, and the tuition fees are lower.
I go to the mainland often, to see my family
who are now in Shanghai. They were pleased
that I came here. Its also easy to visit cultural
sites in cities in Guangdong, Hunan and Fujian
provinces from Hong Kong. Another advantage
is that I dont need to do the National College
Entrance Examination, as I would have done if
applying for admission to university in China.
On the downside, it is hard to understand
advanced Cantonese and I have found no
systematic way to learn it. Unfortunately,
my grades slipped too. I didnt expect my
studies to be so assessment-oriented. I found
adjusting to life in hall a bit difficult. It can be
noisy until 3am! My daily routine is very bad
and my health and fitness are not satisfactory
and in future, I need to see to those aspects.
If I complete both my Bachelors and Masters
degrees in Hong Kong I shall stay here for
five years and then go back to the mainland
probably Beijing where I expect my career will
begin as my social networks are in place there.
15
Youth speak
Hong Kong entrepreneurs on the mainland

Jimmy Chu
31, gourmet chocolatire.

On expanding her gourmet
chocolate business
on the mainland
34, entrepreneur in IT.

On cultural assimilation
in a mainland business
environment
by DaskBlogs
stockphotoes/3504019009
Crystal Hung Ching-wan
My first shop called Chocolat-ier opened

in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2010 and in 2012, I went to
my first food trade show in Shanghai to recruit a
distributor for my products. Then came outlets
in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Henan and
Jiangsu. Now we have authorized agents in all
the prime provinces and cities. There is less
competition than in Hong Kong and we also have
rarity value. Mainland supermarkets mostly have
local brands or imported packaged chocolate.
Networking (guanxi) has been very important.
The right business agent with a good network
helps a lot. It speeds up administrative
procedures. We recruit our main distributors
and agents for each city at mainland food trade
shows and we are quite selective. They are locals
who know how to apply for all the licences
from different government departments.
Pollution is a serious problem for me but corrupt
business practices have not really bothered us.
From an operational perspective, staff loyalty is
lower than in Hong Kong and turnover is higher.
Basic monthly salaries in Shenzhen, Guangzhou
and Shanghai are around RMB 2,500-3,000.
With an offer of RMB 100-200 more, staff leave.
There is more staff cheating and many fake
enquiries where callers pretend to be sincere,
but in fact want to copy our business model and
design. Otherwise, the future looks promising.
16
Next shop, Chengdu!
I was born in Hong Kong, but studied and

worked in the US for nine years before setting
up my company, WTF Ltd, which is now
operating on both Hong Kong and China. We are
building CNPaaS to simplify web deployment
and cloud operations. I didnt have any practical
adjustment problems. I communicated well with
mainlanders in the US, that cultural melting
pot, and have a high tolerance for a variety
of food flavours, so that made it easier. But I
know for some people there are identity issues.
When they work on the mainland, the question
is how much should they adopt the culture
while keeping their Hong Kong identities?
I have mainland friends and colleagues and am not
sensitive to the in-group/ out-group mentality.
Once I learned enough Mandarin, we could
mostly communicate and understand each other.
It helps also as we work in the same team and
have our objectives aligned. For us the biggest
advantage of China is the large user bases and
comparatively low, but rising, staff salaries.
Since our target users are mainland developers,
once the product is beta-released, we will
soon set up more operations on the mainland,
and I foresee more business trips for myself,
and more cross-region communications
between Hong Kong and mainland.
Youth speak
Marco*
from Shanghai, early 30s.

Tentative about working in
Hong Kongs finance sector
26, from Beijing.

Upbeat on working in
Central, Hong Kong,
for a mainland bank
by Azchael
azchael/15746356415
Joyce*
When I first came here as an undergraduate in

1999 it was difficult to integrate. There seemed
to be a lot of discrimination against mainlanders,
even though there were only a handful in my
class. I didnt make a lot of friends before I went
to a Los Angeles graduate school. But 10 years
later, I was offered a job here and I have found
it has changed. Now we are envied because we
get higher grades and speak English better.
I used to think that blending in with local culture
should not be all that difficult if I had the right
attitude, but my take is that Hongkongers
feel threatened by us mainlanders. Its true
that employers prefer to hire mainlanders
for their business connections in China.
I am most aware of being different when I go
shopping or out to eat and my personal problems
come with language. If I speak Cantonese,
people know I am not a local even though I
look Chinese. If I speak Mandarin, they think
I am a tourist. Sometimes it just seems safer
to speak English! Will I stay here long-term?
That depends on my pay. Mainlanders generally
accept lower salaries than Hong Kong people.
*Note Both mainland professionals prefer to remain anonymous
by caledomac
https://www.flickr.com/photos/caledomac/8341153449
Mainland professionals in Hong Kong
I am so glad to be in Hong Kong. Even in

Central the smog is never as bad as it can
be in Beijing! I work in a building occupying
prime office space and I feel like I am in the
hub of the finance world. Integration of Hong
Kong and China just seems natural to me.
I like the fact it is easy for me to go back to the
mainland any time and with the new transport
links under construction, the high-speed rail to
Guangzhou and the bridge to Zhuhai, it will be
even better. I have no complaints, apart from the
fact rents are quite high for very small flats. If it
costs too much for me to live here I can always
rent an apartment in Shenzhen and commute.
I have had to make adjustments to my way of
life, such as learning a new language and eating
different food, and it took a while to make
friends. At first my Hong Kong counterparts did
not invite me to join them to eat or for after
work activities, but now I find I am part of the
crowd. Personally I can see that Hong Kong
has a lot of opportunity for me professionally
and I will take all the chances the city has to
offer. Maybe then I will move on or go back to
the mainland, but I am very glad I came here
and Im proud of what I have achieved so far.
17
Youth speak
Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2015

from Hong Kong
I believe learning can change peoples lives, wherever they are in
the world, and thats why I devoted myself to work in the education
sector for the last 10 years. My learning method supports primary
and secondary school mathematics, and the first FS Education Centre
opened in Wan Chai in 2010. Now we have centres in Mongkok and Yau
Tong as well, and I plan to expand the business further in the coming
year, not only in Hong Kong and online, but also in mainland China.
Enjoyable, effective learning is my aim, with interesting teaching
methods that mean students learn quickly and improve their scores as
they become more interested in the subject. We do this with an image
method for memorization instead of the traditional methods. It also
ensures that the students are learning with the whole year firmly in mind.
My financial turnover grew by 250% one year and now we
employ 20 people offering services to thousands of children.
More Hong Kong centres are in the pipeline and we reach
even more students on the web with online courses.
Viola Lam
28, Founder and CEO, FS Education
Centre with the international Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
I am confident that my company has the potential for growth and

negotiations on the mainland are already under way. I will be in
Qianhai's E Hub by the summer and we will be growing soon.
Congratulations
Violas company was nurtured with seed funding and mentorship by the Federations Youth Business Hong Kong (YBHK) programme
which supports promising start-up companies like hers.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award is given by Youth Business International (YBI), the parent organization of HKFYGs YBHK.
Congratulations to Viola for her enterprise, her drive and initiative!
Go to page 47 for more information about Youth Business Hong Kong and the Federations
entrepreneurship support programmes.
Visit ybhk.hkfyg.org.hk for more details about Youth
Business Hong Kong
Go to http://www.fseducation.com.hk/ to learn more about
Viola Lam and the FS Education Centre
F A
S T
18
by Kevin Dooley
flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/9583594054
Youth speak
Looking forward or not?

hat do Hong Kongs young people think about openings for them to study
or go on exchange trips on the mainland? What about internship
programmes and employment? Surveys by the HKFYG Youth Research
1
Centre and the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre provide some answers.
The 2015 Chief Executives Policy Address

contained a proposed subsidy to enable every
pupil at a Hong Kong school to join at least
one mainland exchange tour at both junior and
secondary school. The aim was to give first-hand
experience for better understanding of life across
the border. A Bauhinia Foundation survey in
early 2015 set out to discover whether such tours
met the needs of students in senior secondary
school. Ten schools were involved in the survey.2
Nearly 58% of respondents said they would, in

the terminology of the survey, consider going
on a mainland exchange trip, and 80% who
had been before said they would go again. For
20%, the subsidy was an important factor and
over 30% said they would like subsidies to be
raised. Slightly fewer said the main reason for
going was to learn about mainland society and
culture. About 27% said the main deterrents
were fears for personal safety, food safety and/
or hygiene. Those who had been on exchange
trips were more willing to take up internships.
Figure 1 For and against mainland exchange
Reasons for
To understand the society/culture
To experience the lifestyle
Because there are subsidies/low fees
To make social connections
To improve Mandarin
Encouraged by family/friends
Other reason
Dont know
29
23.9
20.2
11.6
8.8
1
2.8
2.7
Reasons against
Fears about security
Fears about food safety/hygiene
Unfamiliar environment
Not enough subsidies/ fees too high
Worries about speaking Mandarin
Reluctant to leave family/friends
Other reasons
Dont know
%
27.6
26.8
9.8
9.2
6.0
3.4
6.3
11.0
Reasons against
Fears about security
Fears about food safety/hygiene
Unfamiliar environment
Low wages
Worries about speaking Mandarin
Reluctant to leave family/friends
Other reasons
Dont know
%
29.7
20.0
15.2
10.8
6.8
6.2
2.5
8.9
Figure 2 For and against mainland internship
Reasons for
To acquire job skills/experience
To understand the society/culture
To make social connections
To earn a wage
To improve Mandarin
Encouraged by family/friends
Other reason
Dont know
Source http://www.bauhinia.org/document/doc207eng.pdf
36.8
17.4
15.9
15.1
11.4
1.4
0.6
1.4
19
Youth speak
Attitudes to government-organized internship

programmes for 18-29 year-olds3 were also revealed
by the survey. 41% or respondents said they were
interested and half of those who had been on a
mainland exchange tour said they would consider
an internship. Again, personal safety and hygiene
were the main detractors. Over half said the best
motivators for mainland internships would be for
them to be in sizable/reputable enterprises or for
increased wages/subsidies. 30% said they would
consider pursuing further development of some
kind on the mainland in the next five years.
Change afoot
Young people in Hong Kong appear to be
changing their minds about working on the
mainland. A decade ago the idea of taking a job
over the border was entertained by a substantial
proportion of young people. Today it appears
that social, economic and quality-of-life issues are
tipping the balance against leaving Hong Kong.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, the
number of Hong Kong people of all ages working
on the mainland grew. It reached a peak of
244,000 in 2004.4 Since then the numbers have
In 2003, a study by HKFYG found that about 15% of

15-34 year-olds had thought about working on the
mainland. However, over 60% of respondents said they
were unfamiliar with the area, 30% said they had a poor
impression of it and 70% said they would only consider
working there if they couldnt find work in Hong Kong.
By 2009 these sentiments had changed. According
to HKFYG surveys the number of those considering
working in the PRD more than doubled between
7
2003 and 2009. Nevertheless, personal safety was a
considerable concern, and almost a third said the most
needed support services were healthcare and social
welfare. Furthermore, of all the issues mentioned in
the survey as disincentives, it was Law and Order
that topped the list, followed by poor air quality.
dropped, most drastically among those under

40 years old5 (See Figure 3). They fell from
112,000 to 45,700 between 2004 and 2010.
In 2010, the date of the last relevant special
government report, the figure for Hong
Kong residents of all ages who had worked
in mainland China during the previous 12
months was 175,100, of which about 89%
worked in Guangdong province. Interest in the
Pearl River Delta (PRD), a rapidly developing
area in Guangdong province close to Hong
Kong, has been growing for some time.
Figure 3: Hong Kong residents employed on the mainland: numbers and % by age group
1988
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2008
2009
2010
15-39 year-olds
40 year-olds and older
15-39 year-olds
40 year-olds and older
(% of total)
(% of total)
Number of people (,000)
Number of people (,000)
64.9%
59.6%
58.8%
56.5%
50.6%
44.6%
48.2%
45.8%
45.9%
42.7%
37.7%
32.8%
26.0%
35.1%
40.4%
41.2%
43.4%
49.4%
55.3%
51.8%
54.2%
54.1%
57.3%
62.3%
67.2%
74.0%
33.9
27.2
37.7
69.2
79.6
85.2
95.4
109
112
101.4
82.3
64.5
45.7
18.4
18.4
26.5
53.1
77.8
105.6
102.7
129.2
132
136.1
135.9
131.9
129.4
Source http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130121
Note Statistics indicate the figure for the 12 months before enumeration. They are the latest available figures of this nature.
20
Youth speak
Increasing obstacles perceived

Whether they were influenced by social issues
or not, by 2010 the downward trend of interest
in working on the mainland was confirmed
when a Bauhinia Foundation study8 of 1,000
Hong Kong people aged 16-35 noted the very
low priority accorded by Hong Kong youth
both to mainland exposure and international
exposure. These factors ranked as the least
important elements of a good job anywhere.
Living in the Mainland was also at the
bottom of respondents list of 10-year goals.
The following year, a study9 for the Bauhinia
Foundation conducted by a youth think-tank
in Hong Kong, the 30S Group, compared
perceived working and living conditions and the
obstacles faced by young professionals in Hong
Kong and Beijing. Respondents were degree
holders in the two cities, both mainlanders and
Hongkongers. The findings included insights
into aspirations and attitudes towards career
development; professionalism and ethics;
cross-border work and work-life balance.
Keen competition for jobs was cited by over 35%
of the Hong Kong young professionals as the
biggest hurdle in mainland career paths, followed
by over 19% who said they were simply not
prepared for working there. According to the same

report, many young professional Hongkongers
working in Beijing said they found difficulty
getting help when dealing with problems. The
report compilers called for more information
on Central Government policies, and guidelines
on housing and childrens education from the
Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing.
Marked disinclination to go
A Bauhinia Foundation survey conducted in 2014
by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, shows a
further decline in desire to work on the mainland.10
None of the 1,001 18-29 year-old respondents had
any experience of working there and over two-thirds
were unwilling to seek mainland employment. Over
half of those considered societal aspects as the
main disincentive. Lack of confidence in the rule
of law in the mainland was the most important,
accounting for nearly 23%. Among those who
were willing to try for jobs on the mainland only
4.9% had actually taken concrete steps to do so.
It appears that young Hongkongers need to be
persuaded to take a chance. Lawrence Lee, Bauhinia
Foundation Research Centres Director and
Convenor of this, suggests the government improve
young peoples knowledge on laws and regulations,
and provide them with more chances to experience
the work environment in the mainland.11
Sources
** The Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre is a privately funded Hong Kong public policy think-tank. Its stated mission is "to promote the understanding of the 'One Country, Two Systems'
arrangements in Hong Kong and other socioeconomic policies in Hong Kong.
1. http://applications.edb.gov.hk/circular/upload/EDBCM/EDBCM14087E.pdf
2. Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. How do Hong Kongs senior secondary school students perceive capitalizing on the opportunities in mainland China? February 2015. http://www.
bauhinia.org/document/doc207eng.pdf
3. http://www.coy.gov.hk/en/mainland_exchange/funding_scheme.html
4. General Household SurveySpecial Topics Report No. 57 http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp160.jsp?productCode=C0000027
5. HKFYG Youth Trends in Hong Kong 2013. Figure 2.3.11 http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/page.aspx?corpname=yrc&i=2388
6. HKFYG Youth Study Series 29, 2003. http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/news.aspx?id=909d69ad-c839-4bfc-953d-7e4c262ebb50&corpname=yrc&i=2527
7. HKFYG Youth Study Series 42, 2009. http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/news.aspx?id=9b228275-13bb-45b7-a13a-b291f38ce66e&corpname=yrc&i=2527
8. Diversity of Youth Aspirations. Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. 2010. http://www.bauhinia.org/research_content.php?id=16
9. Predicament and Aspirations of Young Professionals in Hong Kong and Beijing. Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. 2012. http://www.bauhinia.org/research_content.php?id=3
10. Attitudes of Hong Kong Youth towards Seeking Employment in Mainland China. Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. 2015. http://www.bauhinia.org/research_content.php?lang=eng&id=65
11. ibid
21
Youth watch
China: land of opportunity?

E
ach year more and more people from overseas choose to work,
study or set up in business in mainland China. Why do they go,
what benefits do they see, and what are the downsides?
by Jennifer Lam
TO STUDY
Where do they come from?
Chinese Ministry of Education figures1 show
there were 328,330 overseas students from
about 200 countries and regions studying in
China in 2012.They were at 690 institutions
across China, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Macau. By 2013 the number had risen to
356,499 in more than 700 institutions.2 The
Ministry hopes this number will reach 500,000
by 2020 and make China the largest destination
for international student exchange in Asia.3
Overseas students in China:

top 10 home countries
South Korea 63,500
US 24,600
Japan 21,125
Thailand 16,675
Russia 14,975
Indonesia 13,150
Vietnam 13,050
India 10,250
Pakistan 9,625
Kazakhstan 9,650
Source
Based on figures at http://www.admissions.cn/news/364282.shtml
Snapshots
pp Jiaotong University, Minhang campus
Shanghais Jiao Tong University has one in 10

4
undergraduates from overseas.
Peking University in Beijing is home to over 2,000

international students.
Britain has a government-backed scheme encouraging
22
up to 15,000 students to study in China in a bid to

5
boost business ties.
Most popular courses Chinese language, engineering,

computer science, economics, management, law,
6
medicine and medical specialties.
Language of instruction Top universities have

significant programmes delivered in English, but there
has also been a substantial increase in the number of
overseas students studying for degrees using Chinese
as the medium of instruction.
Youth watch
Why go?
Q Costs For foreign students, degrees are much cheaper in mainland
China than in their home countries. For those from developing
countries there is the opportunity to gain an external, highquality British or US degree from one of the universities with
independent, overseas campuses in China, at a reasonable cost.7
Q Recognition of academic qualifications Many Chinese
university degrees are recognized overseas.8 Agreements on mutual
recognition of academic qualifications with the US, UK, France,
Japan and 65 other countries and regions have been signed.
Q Employment advantages World top 500 companies all do
business in China and Chinese speakers gain an advantage in
terms of employment.9 In South Korea, students view fluency
in Mandarin as an asset when seeking jobs at home.10
Top 10 provinces/cities
with overseas students
Beijing
Shanghai
Guangdong
Tianjin
Zhejiang
Jiangsu
Liaoning
Shandong
Hubei
Fujian
Source
http://www.admissions.cn/news/364282.shtml
Q Broader horizons Students want to experience the

countrys culture, history and natural beauty.
TO WORK
Why go?
About 550,000 foreign experts were working

in mainland China in 2012, according to State
Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs
statistics.11 An HSBC study found the top three
home countries of foreign residents in Shanghai
were Japan, the United States and South Korea.12
Q Work experience Young graduates see

gaining work experience in China, often as
unpaid interns, as a way of improving their
job chances, particularly in engineering,
business and finance.13 Four out of 10 interns
chose China as their internship destination
in 2013 and 38% of all China interns now
receive full- or part-time job offers.14
Overseas workers in China:

top 10 home countries
South Korea
Japan
Russia
US
Malaysia
Singapore
Vietnam
Philippines
Mongolia
Canada
Source
http://www.adbi.org/files/2012.01.19.cpp.day2.sess4.5.dong.
foreign.population.statistics.china.pdf 2010 statistics.
Q Cost and quality of life A 2012 HSBC

survey found 40% of working expats in
China spend less on daily necessities than
in their home country and 44% believe the
country offers them a high quality of life.15
Q Better pay While wages in China keep rising,
western wages have declined or stagnated.16
Sources
1. http://www.admissions.cn/news/364282.shtml
2. http://www.chinaeducenter.com/en/
3. http://news.at0086.com/Make-a-application/Subjects-being-popular-among-foreignstudents-who-study-in-China.html
4. http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/best-universities-in-china-international-students
5. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10114059/Thousands-moreBritish-students-to-study-in-China.html
6. http://news.at0086.com/Make-a-application/Subjects-being-popular-among-foreignstudents-who-study-in-China.html
7. http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20131022125122189
8. http://www.cucas.edu.cn/feature/index/2172/2172
9. http://www.cucas.edu.cn/feature/index/2172/2172
10. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-04/china-beats-u-s-for-korean-studentsseeing-career-ticket.html
11. http://www.chinadailyasia.com/news/2013-11/06/content_15096915.html
12. http://www.designative.info/2011/12/22/living-in-china-shanghai-holds-the-highestpopulation-of-foreigners-in-mainland-china/
13. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303745304576354963157118104
14. http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2013/07/19/interns_going_global_-_
china_is_no_1_destination_-_why
15. http://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/files/pdfs/overall-reports/2012/report.pdf Hong
Kong treated separately in this report.
16. http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2013/07/19/interns_going_global_-_
china_is_no_1_destination_-_why
Cont'd p.24
23
Youth watch
Snapshots
pp Shanghai: Pudong from the Bund
The largest number of foreigners, 173,000, live in

17
Shanghai.
The next nine most popular cities are Beijing, Tianjin,

Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Nanjing, Suzhou,
18
Hangzhou and Qingdao.
Third-party internship organizers say they are getting a

rising number of applicants; one company sent 2,000 to
19
Beijing and Shanghai in 2014.
Most popular jobs are in engineering, finance, IT, sales,

pp Beijing Central Business District
teaching, marketing/creative fields and high-level

20
management.
Approximately 85% of professional expats work for

international firms.
TO START A BUSINESS
Largest proportions in sales and marketing (30%),

banking and financial services (25%), engineering (15%)
and 8% in education.
Asian companies are by far the biggest investors, Investment from European Union countries
with investment from the top 10 economies in

the region, including Hong Kong, Thailand and
Singapore, rising to US$102.5 billion in 2013.
reached US$7.2 billion by then, while

investment from the US was US$3.4 billion.21
Why go?
Q
Government encouragement for foreign
companies to expand into mainland China.
Q New sectors are opening up for overseas

investors and companies as priorities shift.23
Q Reductions in overhead and

production costs are significant.
Q Increasing urbanization is leading

to more economic growth.24
Q Domestic market has increasing numbers

with more disposable income.22
Q Large trained labour pool and

very low employment costs.25
Sources
24
17. http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-01/09/content_27630934.htm
19. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/28/world/asia/foreign-students-seek-internships-inchina.html?pagewanted=all
20. https://www.yoyochinese.com/blog/Top-6-Jobs-China-Foreigners
21. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/16/us-china-economy-fdiidUSBREA0F0EI20140116
22. http://www.openchina.co.uk/advantages.html
23. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2012/11/05/china-leads-in-foreign-directinvestment/
24. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/invest_china.asp
25. http://www.chinabizservices.com/news/2013/0628/17.html
26. http://www.china.org.cn/top10/2012-12/13/content_27404677.htm 100 cities were

evaluated according to 8 criteria
27. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2012/01/30/forbes-chinas-top-100-publicsmall-businesses-for-2012/
28. http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-us-china-business-council-report-on-the-top-tenissues-with-doing-business-in-china-2011-10?op=1#10-market-access-for-the-servicessector-financial-legal-information-telecom-1
29. http://www.chinabizservices.com/news/2013/0628/17.html
30. http://www.quora.com/What-are-some-advantages-to-living-in-China-compared-toliving-in-the-US
31. http://www.teachaway.com/teach-english-china/living-china
32. http://news.at0086.com/Life-Assistant/Ten-Reasons-for-Foreign-People-Choosing-toLive-in-China.html
Youth watch
Challenges: top 10 problems of doing

business in China28

Personnel demands means good workers are
too few, leading to wage inflation.

Administrative licensing means months of
waiting for business licences and product
approvals.
pp Wuxi: Jinchang Royal Garden

Cost increases eg labour, materials, and inflation.
pp Nanjing Library
The most popular city for business was Shanghai in 2012,
followed by Hangzhou and Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuxi,

Nanjing, Ningbo, Beijing, Suzhou and Tianjin.26
The most popular business sectors are technological research and
development, automation, education, biotechnology, ecology and

environment, power and energy, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.27

Fierce competition with local companies
because they are trying to improve quality control
for product launch overseas.

Intellectual property rights enforcement is
improving, but a major concern.

Standards and conformity assessment are
especially complicated for foreign companies to
protect local competitors reported.

Restrictions on inbound investments (i.e.
ownership limits) exist even where investment is
encouraged.

Lack of transparency is a key factor in almost
all other problems.

Discrimination favours domestic enterprise.

Market access is difficult for services sector
(financial, legal, information, telecoms).
POSITIVES
AND
NEGATIVES
Positives
Negatives
P Major dynamic economy Many work

29
and study opportunities.
P Home comforts Eating, shopping &
entertainment in big cities similar to home
countries.
P Cost of living Low, particularly outside
bigger cities (but see opposite).
P Rents in cities are cheaper than in big
North American cities.
P Services Utilities and domestic help are
30
affordable.
P Public transport All kinds, including taxis,
31
are cheap.
P Culture and travel Easy to enjoy with
32
many interesting sites.
P Food China has a vast range of delicious,
33
inexpensive regional cuisines.
O Language 56% of non-Chinese find learning the language difficult.

O Local competition Near fluency in Mandarin plus local work experience
are essential to come back for jobs, except for English teachers.
O Returnees More mainland students are returning with overseas university
degrees, multiple languages and an international outlook. 186,200 such
35
returnees last year.
O Quality, ease and value of services Finding good basic facilities, eg
schools, banks and clinics, is considered difficult by some westerners.
O Bureaucracy Complex visa and residency processes make it difficult for
36
foreigners to work long-term in China.
O Costs A 2014 survey found increased costs of living and education, and
37
high levels of air pollution were causing foreigners to leave Beijing.
O Censorship Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has suggested that China's
prevention of free expression online may pose a threat to continuing
38
economic progress and research.
39
O Firewalls Blocked social media is a disincentive to youth.
34
Sources
33. http://www.quora.com/What-are-some-advantages-to-living-in-China-compared-toliving-in-the-US
34. http://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/files/pdfs/overall-reports/2012/report.pdf
35. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/world/asia/13iht-sreducjobfair13.
html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
37. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/09/29/china-wants-to-know-why-foreigners-arefleeing-beijing/
38. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lindsay-hoffman/internet-censorship-a-thr_b_4395167.
html
39. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/business/international/china-clamps-down-on-webpinching-companies-like-google.html
25
by albir flickr.com/photos/lliurealbir/3053537329
Internetscope
by Edmond Hui
Team Leader, HKFYGs LEAD
learn it while
its hot
oding is hot in kids education. Countries like the US, UK and

Singapore already have coding as a vital element in their
elementary curriculum. Is Hong Kong dragging its heels?
Certainly not at HKFYGs LEAD where Scratch starts kids coding early.
Scratch is a graphical programming language

which kids use to code by the drag-and-drop
method, using programming blocks that look
much like jigsaw puzzle pieces. It provides a
digital sandbox where kids learn the basics
in less than an hour. Next comes a free hand
to create multimedia and interactive projects
such as games, animations and slideshows.
The importance of learning to code with languages
such as Scratch has been stressed in Hong Kong
as part of programming education. It appears in
the governments 2014 Digital 21 Strategy public
consultation document from the Commerce
and Economic Development Bureau, and in
The Fourth Strategy on Information Technology
in Education consultation document from the
Education Bureau. The latter not only suggests
making coding a required part of the curriculum
but also expressly advises schools to allocate at
least 30% of time teaching computer literacy to
programming concepts at junior secondary level.
technology, much of which, sadly, is unlikely

to be transferable even after software updates.
To empower kids as power-users of technology,
capable of keeping pace with the latest technologydriven learning revolution, they need to be offered
computational thinking and problem solving skills
instead of just soon-to-be-obsolete, low-end, user
guides. Facilitating them as life-long learners who
are competent to adapt to the changing world of
the future means teaching them to code. Then, they
will not only be able to use, but also to modify or
create with new technology that barely exists today.
Thanks to the high quality, mostly free resources

available online, children can start learning to
code as soon as they are capable of recognizing
symbols and understanding the basic logic of
cause and effect. In fact, lots of coding activities
are already taking place at kindergartens around
the world. At this stage coding just involves
dragging and connecting up icons into logical
sequences to create a short animation, nothing
too complicated. Older kids can choose from
Coding means computer programming, combining learning the basic concepts of coding in an hour
computer comprehensible codes in logical ways
to designing their own game or animation using
to carry out tasks: anything from alarm clock
a digital sandbox. They can create an interactive
setting to game and animation design to robot
slideshow with their own voices and pictures, or
control. The IT knowledge and skills being taught build a robotic model using programmable bricks.
in schools today is mostly about using existing
26
Internetscope
LEADing by Example
HKFYGs Learning through Engineering, Art and Design
(LEAD) project was set up 10 years ago in collaboration
with the MIT Media Lab. This pioneer creative education
initiative promotes coding education in Hong Kong. LEAD
has conducted hundreds of workshop sessions for
thousands of students and teachers on Scratch MITs
coding language. Designed for anyone aged eight or older,
the emphasis is on local schools needs and continuous
support for curriculum or activity design.
LEADs Scratch Milestones
To-do list in coding education

1.
rigger motivation with project-based workshops on
1 T
coding as a new language
Early 2006
First Hong Kong Scratch workshops for teachers

and students with MIT
2009-2014
Four Scratch books published in Chinese
2011
Set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest

Game Design Lesson on LEAD annual Scratch Day
2012-2014
LEAD books translated into seven languages for

Asia, Europe and North America
Details at http://lead.hkfyg.org.hk/page.
aspx?corpname=lead&i=1596
2 E quip kids with computational thinking and logical,

2.
problem-solving mindset
3.
each only whats needed no matter how powerful
3 T
the programming language
4 Give opportunity to explore and experience rather

4.
than step-by-step instructions
5 S upport kids efforts to freely express creatively,
5.
with personal meaning
In preparation Polish and French versions
2013
Scratch resources hosted by Harvard University

Go to http://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/resources/super-scratchprogramming-adventure-excerpt
2015
Scratch resources hosted by UK National STEM

Centres eLibrary
Go to http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/
resource/11401/super-scratch-programming-adventure
6.
6 S how them what they can do, rather than tell them
what they should do
7 Arrange time for sharing and appreciation

7.
8 E ncourage kids to solve problems with support from
8.
peers and online resources
9.
9 S hift the role of teacher from instructor to coach
and facilitator
10. Vary the form of learning: class, group, extra10
curriculum club, project competition, showcase, or
as a volunteer service with the needy
11. Integrate coding elements into learning other
11
subjects such as language, mathematics, science, art
and music
12. Explain to fellow teachers and parents the value and
12
power of coding
More information on coding:

Alice (3D coding language by Carnegie
Mellon University) www.alice.org
Code.org http://code.org/
Code-to-Learn Foundation http://codetolearn.org/
Computer Science Unplugged http://csunplugged.org/
Kodu (3D coding language by Microsoft
FUSE Labs) kodugamelab.com/
Learn the concepts in just one hour! csedweek.org/
Scratch online community for
creative learning scratch.mit.edu
Scratch App Inventor from MIT Media Lab,
for Android appinventor.mit.edu/explore/
ScratchEd online community for parents
and educators scratched.gse.harvard.edu/
ScratchJr for kindergarten kids now
available for iPad scratchjr.org/
27
Internetscope
Beware the spiral

oday there are many instances where we
limit what we say publicly. We dont
want to break the law, risk a lawsuit or
offend people unnecessarily. However,
when we do this out of fear fear that the powers
that be might punish us for speaking openly, or
add what we have written to a secret dossier that
might affect our future the effects are insidious.
Self-censorship is widely practised today, not

only by authors, publishers and creative artists,
but also by users of social media. Indeed, the
internet and social media have an important role
in the free expression of opinion and discussion
as well as in the dissemination of propaganda.
But these media are also a source of threats,
bullying and intimidation. They can be used
as tools for the repression of free speech.
Fear of isolation
In some cases, ordinary people now feel unable to
say what they believe for fear of retribution, and
since young people are the preponderant users of
social media they may feel this repression more
than most. There was once hope that platforms
like facebook and Twitter could provide discussion
venues which would allow those with minority
views the freedom to express them more openly,
28
A 2014 report suggests that

social media have nurtured a
phenomenon where individuals
suppress their own views if they
believe they differ from those
of family, friends, colleagues or
community.
broadening public discourse and adding new

perspectives to discussion. Maybe we now need
to qualify this viewpoint. A report1 from the Pew
Research Center in 2014 suggests that social media
have nurtured a phenomenon where individuals
suppress their own views if they believe they
differ from those of family, friends, colleagues or
community. It is known as the spiral of silence.
Online cues such as Likes make us more aware
of how others perceive us and subtly influence
what we post online. The permanence of opinions
online also inhibits free expression because posts
may be found later by prospective employers. The
report suggests that these mechanisms can create
an atmosphere online where the most fervently
Internetscope
of silence
by Ho But-lam
held views are the most likely to be aired, while

individuals with moderate or dissenting outlook
become more reticent, fearing isolation. The
report also showed that social media actually
stifle discussion on important issues and have
a knock-on effect on real-life conversation.
Offence or prudence
Of course, what is considered offensive varies from
one country or region to the next. It may be simply
a matter of opinion. Some people react violently to
cartoons depicting religious or political leaders, as
in the murder by Islamic extremists of writers and
cartoonists of the French satirical magazine Charlie
Hebdo. This case led many to question the level
of press freedom and whether it might be more
prudent to refrain from publishing anything that
might cause offence. Others may be offended by the
oppression of women, polygamy, racism or overt
corruption. In mainland China, as social tensions
seem to grow in parallel with the proliferation of
social media, the task of controlling the flow of
bad news is very onerous and one which also may
well involve an expectation of self-censorship.
educators explain them to students? Many countries

have laws balancing the various fundamental
personal rights and freedoms to control abuses
of free speech when it amounts to defamation
or offensive behaviour, or incites violence, racial
hatred or treason. This is generally accepted as
a good thing, especially when it prevents harm
such as libel, violence or child pornography.
A 2013 Hong Kong survey2 which resulted in the first
Hong Kong Press Freedom Index reports that, On a
scale of zero to 10, where 10 indicates "very common",
journalists rated media self-censorship at 6.9, while the
public gave 5.4... The index was based on a University
of Hong Kong poll and interviews with journalists. It
took place before the democracy demonstrations and
the incidents involving the dismissal of an outspoken
radio host and a brutal attack on a newspaper editor.
However, when fear causes self-censorship, freedom

of speech withers and the public loses the valuable
opportunity to express new ideas. If people are
afraid of offending the rich and the powerful,
their government is failing to protect them. When
fear of bullying, ridicule or ostracism alone, not
to mention physical violence, engender selfcensorship, the task of offering guidelines for the
young becomes even more challenging. Perhaps it is
Most thinking people accept there must be limits
on what can be said publicly, but what form should here that faith and courage need to be called upon
to light up the path towards a better future.
those limits take, and how can Hong Kongs
Sources
1. http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/08/26/social-media-and-the-spiral-of-silence/
2. Self-censorship common in Hong Kong newspapers. South China Morning Post, 23
April 2104.
29
Culture, food & health
A taste of classical harp

T
hanks to the Friends of the Harp Charitable Foundation,
learning to play the harp will soon become a reality for
underprivileged youngsters in Tin Shui Wai.
Learning to play classical music on a beautiful

instrument like the harp is well beyond the
expectations of many needy Hong Kong
children. But for Tin Shui Wai students who
take part in a new sponsored Federation
programme it is no longer a dream.
Lam Yan-yee (eight years old) and Wong Pui-ying
(nine years old) both go to school in Tin Shui
Wai. They come from low-income, local families
who receive government assistance for school
expenses. Pui-ying says she thinks the harp is quite
wonderful, so graceful to look at and so lovely to
listen to. Thats why I wanted to play it. Ive never
played any instrument before and its so exciting!
30
Yan-yee is just as enthusiastic. I learned the flute

at school but the harp is very different. Picking the
right strings is a bit difficult but I love the way the
harp looks and the sound it makes. I hope one day I
will be able to play my favourite, Bachs Ave Maria.
The girls instructor is Miss Yummy Yam, an
experienced harp teacher from Kowloon. She is
equally delighted. Music is like love for me. I want
to share it through the harp with these children.
The girls had their first experience of a harp being
played live at a performance by volunteers at the
HKFYG Jockey Club Tin Yuet Youth SPOT last
Christmas. Poon Chui-wa, one of the young
An ancient Chinese harp

The konghou (; pinyin: knghu)
is an ancient Chinese harp which
was played until the Ming Dynasty.
It was revived in the 20th century as
a double bridge harp which does not
resemble the ancient konghou, but is
similar to the western concert harp.
pp Detail of a Ming Dynasty painting by Qiu Ying,

showing a woman playing a konghou,
early 16th century.
volunteers, said how happy she was, to have

the chance to show Tin Shui Wai people how
beautiful it is. Emily Tse, another volunteer,
said that Music is medicine for my mind. It
is one of the great loves of my life and I hope
my playing brought joy to other lives too.
A second promotional programme of classical harp
music takes place in June 2015. The low-cost classes
continue till August 2015. Contact Jolene or Sunny,
tel 2445 5777, or visit tyt.hkfyg.org.hk for details.
Friends of the Harp Charity

Foundation (FOTH)
This splendid collaboration of the HKFYG Jockey Club
Tin Yuet Youth SPOT with the Friends of the Harp
Charity Foundation (FOTH) is funded by the Drs Richard
Charles & Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation.
We hope this effort under the leadership of HKFYG can
widen access to harp music education in the district, that
it will inspire youngsters, give them a sense of achievement
and a wonderful way to connect with audiences.
Ms Adeline Ching
Board Member, FOTH
More details at: http://www.friendsoftheharp.org/pages/
index.asp?lang=en&sid=12&pg=dep_about_us_
organization
31
Small changes, new health

efusing your veggies may be common in some
countries, but not in Hong Kong. Thousands
flocked to the first ever local vegetarian expo
this spring, and its not only because fruit and
vegetables are a lot cheaper than meat, says this
young writer.
by Joy Pamnani
by Farm Sanctuary flickr.com/photos/

farmsanctuary1/2163395322
Going vegetarian
32
Ovo
includes eggs but
no dairy produce
Lacto-ovo
Vegan
Four
includes
excludes
all
major
dairy
dairy
vegetarian
produce and
products
diets
eggs but no
and eggs
meat
Lacto
includes dairy
produce but no
eggs or meat
People become vegetarians for a variety of reasons

including health, care for animals, personal
preference and religion. Health often comes
first. Vegetarians generally have a lower risk of
cardiovascular and weight-related diseases because
a vegetarian diet is lower in saturated fats and high
in fibre. Studies show it is also linked to a longer
lifespan and more energy. 1 I feel fresh, my skin
becomes revitalized and I dont need to see the
Packing in protein
doctor as often, says Vivi Cheung, a part-vegetarian
or flexitarian food therapist and chef at the expo. One of the biggest questions about
going vegetarian is how to get
enough protein. The answer
A vegetarian diet also has reputed health benefits
is to get essential nutrients
because it cuts out growth hormones given to
from grains, legumes
animals. Do you know whether antibiotics or
harmful chemicals have been injected into the meat and nuts. Many nonon your dinner plate? wonders Shara Ng, Chair of vegetarians also fear that
Hong Kong Vegan Association and founder of Meat a sudden change in diet
might cause cravings for
Free Hong Kong. Another graphic mental image
meaty flavours, but Ken
is provided by Mahesh Pamnani, a 49 year-old
from Happy Cow4 tells a
vegetarian at the expo. Quoting George Bernard
Shaw, he says, I choose not to make a graveyard of different story. He believes
the taste of meat dishes
my body for the rotting corpses of dead animals.
results from the addition pp The author and Ken of Happy Cow
of spices and other added flavours. If I gave
you a piece of raw steak off the shelf, would
you be willing to eat it? Besides, adding a tasty
flavour to vegetarian dishes is less of a hurdle
nowadays, with a variety of products on the
market such as vegetarian tempeh and various
soybean products which add taste sensations.
Nissa Marion, editor-in-chief of EcoZine, adopts a

flexitarian diet like Vivi Cheung, allowing herself
the occasional meaty snack while maintaining the
ultimate goal of becoming a true vegetarian or vegan.
I have to admit, veganism is challenging. Getting
into the habit of no meat in one go is like going
cold turkey, so Im going step by step! she says.
The UN calls on people to consider a vegan

diet to combat climate change and reduce
2
world hunger. Cows digestion process
releases methane, a greenhouse gas
that traps heat and is one of the
biggest culprits behind global warming.
Meat production also translates into
a lot of wasted water. According to
3
FoodTank, producing a mere pound of
pork takes up 2,180 litres gallons of water.
Producing a pound of corn takes only 410 litres.
by Giandomenico Pozzi flickr.com/photos/

trimmer741/2816975775
by F Deleventhal flickr.com/photos/
krossbow/5094601329
Black Mushroom with Broccoli
Some people complain about the lack of vegetarian

restaurants in Hong Kong, but recently, companies
like Happy Cow have been providing vegetarian
restaurant details and reviews on their website.
However, according to Ken, Although a lot of
people arent initially very receptive to vegan food
its because of poor past experience. They shouldnt
base their conclusions on just one meal. Like
Nissa and Vivi, they should take it gradually.
Ive been a vegetarian since birth. I dont think
animals deserve to be killed for us to enjoy eating
them. However, I do agree that making a huge
shift in diet is not easy. Instead, try making
small changes. They can make big differences.
Many private sector companies have Meatfree Mondays, for example. You can too. Next
Monday, try a veggie meal. Who knows, you might
just spare an animal, save a few hundred litres
of water, or contribute to a clearer future sky.
Remember the lyrics in The Gregory Brothers
and Kid President song, The world can be
better, in spite of all its flaws. The world can
be better, and you can be the cause.
Sources
1. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12936945
2. theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet
3. foodtank.com/news/2013/12/why-meat-eats-resources
4. http://www.happycow.net/asia/china/hong_kong/hong_kong_island/
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
10 Chinese black mushrooms
200g broccoli
3 tablespoons blended sesame oil
6 cloves garlic, pounded
1/2" ginger, pounded
1 teaspoon chilli paste
Sauce:
1 cup water
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 1/2 level tablespoons cornflour
(mix all the ingredients)
Steps:
1. Soak mushrooms for 30 minutes and cut in half.

Discard stems.
2. Heat oil in a wok. Add garlic, ginger and chilli paste.
Fry for a minute.
3. Add the broccoli and stir-fry for a few minutes
4. Add the mushrooms, salt and prepared sauce. Cook over
a medium flame, stirring carefully till the sauce thickens.
Serve with steamed rice.
33
Repairing broken smiles

n China, several million people have a cleft lip
or cleft palate and it is estimated that at least
30,000 are born that way every year. Thats
one in every 350, says Anita Stangl of Alliance for Smiles,
a charity that gives them free corrective surgery.
pp Father and son, before
There is a higher prevalence of cleft lip or palate (CLP) in China

and in South and Central Asia, says Anita, more than double
the rate in Europe and the US. There is a definite genetic link
but the exact cause has not been pinned down yet. Dr Colin
Wong from Hong Kong is the President of Alliance for Smiles
(AfS). He retired from a dentistry career in California in 2000 and
has been helping CLP children since, especially those in China
where he understands and negotiates the cultural differences.
Small international teams of volunteers have made great efforts on
behalf of those with CLP in deprived areas but one of the goals of AfS
is to set up centres where local care providers can be trained to offer
treatment and follow-up in the patients own communities. Training
includes surgery, nursing, oral hygiene and anaesthesia but surgery
has a very steep learning curve. It is the first step. Then there needs
to be coordinated ongoing treatment, including dentistry, speech
therapy, sometimes repeat surgery and psychological counselling.
pp Father and son, after
Treatment centres opened in China

by Alliance for Smiles
April 2007
Jiujiang
November 2009 Wenzhou

November 2011 Harbin
September 2013 Zunyi
September 2014 Guiyang
34
pp oral hygienist with patients
pp Anita Stangl, CEO,

Alliance for Smiles
pp Dr Colin Wong, President, Alliance for Smiles,

with a volunteer and a patient
pp Volunteer, Tina Hollcroft, with a patient
AfS has a multi-pronged approach. Four to six teams go to China in

the spring and autumn. Each team has about 15 medical volunteers,
supported by approximately five non-medical volunteers. We
usually treat 70 to 90 cases in a two-week period. Two plastic
surgeons, three anaesthesiologists, nurses, usually a dentist and
a dental hygienist make up the clinical team. Other members
include coordinators and young volunteers who can be record
keepers, photo journalists, sterilizers or quartermasters, says
Anita. Teams who are locally trained then handle ongoing care.
Dr Colin Wong coordinates the teams with the institutions,
but he also forms special bonds with the children who
are treated. I tell people I have 4,000 grandchildren
in China. They all call me Grandpa Wong.
More details www.allianceforsmiles.org

Alliance for Smiles works closely with the
China Population Welfare Foundation:
http://www.cpwf.org.cn/en/cooperation4.asp
Volunteering
http://www.allianceforsmiles.org/
content/get-involved-0
e-mail: anita@allianceforsmiles.org
General Enquiries Alliance for Smiles, Inc
2565 Third Street, Suite 237
San Francisco CA 94107
tel 415.647.4481
e-mail: info@allianceforsmiles.org
Myths about clefts
Further reading
Negative stereotyping afflicts youngsters with clefts but in fact,

there are no hard and fast rules about them.
A cross-cultural study including

mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
and Norway, looked at psychosocial
impact in over 2,000 adolescents and
adults with CLP. It found that individuals
in Shanghai appeared to be the most
negatively affected and individuals in
Hong Kong appeared to be least affected:
cpcjournal.org/doi/full/10.1597/09-046
Some people think that children born with a cleft lip or palate will
inevitably have learning difficulties. This is not the case.
Some people regard a child born with a cleft lip or palate as being
disabled, perhaps because some have speech or hearing difficulties.
Some think that these children dont try hard enough to speak
properly, if they are not severe cases.
Some prefer to think of a cleft lip or palate as an inconvenience,
sometimes a major inconvenience and sometimes a distressing one.
It is also often assumed that levels of distress are directly
linked to the degree of disfigurement. Actually, this varies
according to peoples reactions.
Source
http://www.clapa.com/docs/pdf_downloads/CLAPA_School_Years.pdf
A study on the effects on Hong Kong

parents of having a child with CLP:
http://repository.lib.polyu.edu.
hk/jspui/handle/10397/3635
A blog by a Hong Kong parent:
http://cleftliphongkong.blogspot.hk/
35
Perspectives
Indian
journey
by Clare Wong
lare joined four friends for a 3,000km

journey by motorized rickshaw, up the
east coast of India on behalf of an Indian
NGO called Educate Girls. In this opinion piece,
she writes about a life-changing experience.
In two brightly painted rickshaws, we set out on

a mission to find out what child marriage means,
and to learn about child labour and the lack of
education for girls in rural India. We got stuck
in countless city traffic jams, drove past endless
stretches of white sandy beach, skirted vineyards
and breathtaking canyons, and searched over and
over for mechanics to fix those rickety rickshaws.
A couple of weeks later, when we honked our way
out of throbbing Mumbai, I was a changed person.
We visited six schools in south, middle and
northwestern India. Some visits were arranged in
advance by an Indian friend and founder of the
Global Discovery school projects. We learnt how to
connect with the local people, with cameras and
smiles, handshakes, toys and pens, then we gave
them our leaflets in Hindi explaining our goal.
36
Often we were invited home for chai, the local

tea simmered with milk and sugar. There was
often much excitement when we said we wanted
to help more girls stay at school. Some people

were enthusiastic and optimistic, but others
would say how hard it was. A few seemed
intimidated by the idea and in some cases, they
fell completely silent and just walked away.
Girls: not a good investment

We learned a lot about complex Indian cultural
and social issues and why some girls dropped
out of school in Grade 9 because their parents
didnt think it was a good investment. [School
is free up to Grade 8 in India but then costs
Rps 500 (HK$80) per month.] Females are not
supposed to work outside home. If they look for
jobs they often cannot find one with fair pay. It
shocked me to discover the strength of gender
discrimination in rural areas where girls rarely leave
the household, instead leading lives of drudgery,
cooking, cleaning, and raising babies. Only men
work for an income and we would pass through
villages where there was not a girl in sight.
Arranged marriage is a cultural norm. Giggly
schoolgirls asked whether I wanted an arranged
marriage or a love marriage. Even if a girl gets to
university, she just wants to get married. As a male
25 year-old university graduate scientist explained,
I am getting married next year. I dont know
Perspectives
pp Secondary school in the mountain village of Sagar
to whom but my family will choose much more

wisely than I can. Then, a 16 year-old girl told
me, In two years I will be married. I would pick
somebody tall and handsome, but my father is very
wise. He will pick a husband for me who has a
good job, financial stability and doesnt get drunk.
Change and liberation

Empowerment is what these girls need. Many
went to school to get free food, uniforms
and books but they rarely learned about the
possibility of a career or a life free of traditional
cultural boundaries. Without empowerment,
whether they are educated or not, they and their
parents wait until they are of marriageable age
and then they become what they are supposed
to be labour for a husbands household.
pp Clare with friends (from left) Thomas, Philippe, Paul and Sofia
I became more and more concerned until I met

Dimpal Rawal. She was very different. Five years
ago she would not dare to express an opinion
to her father. Then she became a volunteer
with Team Balaika of Educate Girls. Since then,
her entire family has made a cultural shift. Her
father is supportive and committed to dealing
with peer pressure from other villagers. Her
brother has promised to pay for her education,
and her mother and aunts listen to her because
they respect her transformation. Volunteers like
Dimpal showed us how change begins with local
motivators structuring locally-oriented solutions.
Pass on the message

Eventually, in the desert of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan,
the journey ended. Was it really an ending? No, it
was a beginning. The experience gave us the skills
to take on more volunteer work in future, to tell
people what we learned, especially Indian girls
best placed to pass on the message. We are making
a documentary to raise awareness and funds for
Educate Girls in India, to motivate parents to
keep their girls at school, to follow up with village
schools, and check on girls educational level and
literacy rates. The goal is to empower girls to
achieve their dreams and then go back to their own
villages and empower more girls like themselves.
Educate Girls is
an Indian NGO
founded in 2007
by Safeena Husain.
It aims to tackle
issues at the
root of gender
inequality in Indias
education system.
More details
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/
Educate_Girls
37
Perspectives
Give them a
home
ome means comfort and shelter. But what if you dont even have the money
to rent somewhere to call home? What would you do? Become a street
sleeper? This young writer tries to imagine it.
In Hong Kong, more than 700 people live out

on the streets according to the Social Welfare
Department1. A recent study showed the
number is growing, yet it is a minor issue where
government policy-making is concerned.
Homelessness breeds other problems. Living on
the street means losing your sense of identity,
your self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as
losing social ties. According to Dr Au WingKwong, Administrative Head, Social Work
Department, Hong Kong Shue Yan University,
The longer people are street-sleepers, the
weaker their ability to work and their life skills
become. On top of this there are problems of
environmental hygiene and public security.
Inflation and high rents

According to a study by the Society for
Community Organization in 2012, 58% of
the homeless say they live on the street because
they have no job. 11% are underemployed
and their jobs are low-paid.2 Given the average
inflation rate of 3%3 over the past 10 years, their
purchasing power keeps decreasing. Although the
minimum wage means a certain income for those
in work, it does little to improve quality of life.
38
Studies have shown that the average monthly

income of a homeless person is about HK$5,000.4
In order to rent a flat in Hong Kong you need
to pay the equivalent of three months rent in
by Yi Chen flickr.com/photos/yiie/4719715011
by Sam Ip
advance. Yet it costs on average HK$4,000 a

month for an 80 square-foot sub-divided flat
in Sham Shui Po, an area of serious urban
decay. Furthermore, there are fewer legal
accommodation options nowadays. Even the
notorious cage homes are becoming difficult to
find and rooftop metal shacks are prohibited.
Deep-rooted pressure
Personal problems are another driver of
homelessness. Recent findings show that
about 10% of the homeless are drug abusers.
30% have not been in touch with relatives
for more than a year and about 10% are in
conflict with families.5 Moreover, some live
on the street to escape debts or because they
have been kicked out of the family home.
A vicious cycle results. You have little or no
income so you have no fixed address. Without
by Leung Ching Yau Alex
Perspectives
Sam Ip Year 2
You have little or no income

so you have no fixed address.
Without proof of address, Hong
Kongs welfare safety net will
only provide you with HK$1,500
a month.
proof of address, Hong Kongs welfare safety
net, the Comprehensive Social Security Scheme,
will only provide you with HK$1,500 a month.
That does not cover even basic expenses. You
have no choice but to sleep on the street.
To get a brief taste of what it might be like, I
spent a night on the streets of Sham Shui Po
last summer. We started by collecting waste
cardboard from shops to sleep on. Then it began
to rain heavily. We panicked, but eventually the
rain stopped and we were lucky to find a place
in a park where we could get comfortable.
That was a turning point for me. It made me
think hard about how street sleepers survive,
not just about achievement for myself.
Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Answers to homelessness
Hong Kong has outstanding public education,
housing and healthcare. It is time for the
government to take a more active role and be
more flexible in the allocation of resources. For
example, more services like job counselling and
empowerment projects, including those offered
by NGOs, could help the homeless find jobs
with fair pay. A home of their own could follow.
Hong Kong is supposed to be a home for
all of us, to fulfil a basic need. As we young
people are the future working generation, it is
up to us to find answers for the future.
Homeless people in other large cities
6
New York has an estimated 53,000 homeless

in a total population of approx. 8.4m
7
Shanghai has 12,000 (indicative figure) homeless

8
out of a total population of approx .23.9m.
Tokyo has 1,768 (official) or 5,000 (unofficial
9
estimate) homeless in a total metropolitan
area population of approx. 37m
Sources
1. Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR (CSD). Women and Men in Hong Kong - Key Statistics, 2014. http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B11303032014AN14B0100.pdf.
2.
Society for Community Organization (SoCO). . 2012
3.
CSD. Annual Report on the Consumer Price Index, 2013. http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B10600022013AN13B0100.pdf).
4.
SoCO. . 2012.
5.
SoCO. . 2012
6.
https://www.bowery.org/homelessness/
7.
Indicative statistic based on national NGO forum report. http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Around_Town-Around_Town/8942/Reporter-Begging-in-Shanghai.html.
8.
http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/shanghai-population/
9.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/08/23/editorials/homeless-risk-attack-tokyo/#.VN7eqfmUdMc
Other reading
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. (2012) . http://www.hkcss.org.hk/uploadfileMgnt/0_2013725162711.pdf
Legislative Council, HKSAR. (2011) LC Paper No. CB (2)1177/10-11(01). http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/panels/ca/papers/ca1220cb2-1177-1-e.pdf
39
City space
Shopping bag sharing

by William Wong, Environment Officer, HKFYG
by Robyn Lee flickr.com/photos/roboppy/3850032136
by gadgetgirl flickr.com/photos/gadgetgirl70/3484852103
ong Kong supermarkets have been charging a levy on plastic

bags for five years. Now phase two of this scheme is
imminent, but how well did the first phase work?
pp no more of these
pp bring your own bag instead
The government levy1 on plastic shopping

bags means that shop customers pay
HK$0.50 for each one. So far, the scheme
has generated HK$26.5 million, much less
than the expected HK$200 million.
Is the scheme working well so far? The good
news is a 90% reduction in the number of bags
handed out by supermarkets. Conscientious
shoppers take empty bags with them and many
brand name retailers give away attractive
reusable bags. The environmentally
aware save these bags. In fact, many of
us have far more than we need.
40
Environmental or not?
According to a survey by Green
Sense, a Hong Kong charity, 30%
of people do not know what
the new-style non-woven bags
are made from. In fact, their
production involves many types
of plastic and chemical solvents.
40% of those surveyed said they
had more than 10 such bags
2
at home not in regular use .
Does this help? Maybe not. The soft

bags many of us now carry in our
backpacks and briefcases are known
as non-woven bags and despite
the fact that they appear to be clothlike, they are actually made of plastic.
We use them for longer, but they
require even more resources to make
than the old kind of plastic bag.
Sources
1. http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/psb/en/index.html
2. http://www.greensense.org.hk/plasticbag/subpage4b.php
Annual income from the government levy is

equivalent to the 51 million plastic shopping
bags at HK$0.50 each, but that represents only
14% of the bags still being disposed of. This will
change from 1 April when all traders are included
in the scheme, up from 3,500 to 100,000.
Bring Your Own Bags

We think this means everyone will want to make
the best use possible of their old bags. To
encourage this, HKFYG has a pilot scheme
for shopping bag sharing. The scheme is
run with the Environmental Campaign
Committee (ECC) at three HKFYG
Youth SPOTs. The goal? Maximum reuse
of bags, reduction of ad hoc purchase
of bags and more space for you at home
when you clear out your bag drawer!
The project runs till mid-April 2015.
Help us make it work. You can
drop a bag off or pick one up.
City space
Have spare bags? Need one? Drop-take-share

HKFYG Jockey Club
Ping Shek Youth SPOT, G/F, Restaurant Block
Ping Shek Estate, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.
Tel 2325 2383
Opening hours
Jockey Club Verbena Youth SPOT
Monday
Podium Levels 1 and 2

Block 2,Verbena Heights, 8 Mau Tai Road,
Tseung Kwan O, New Territories
2pm - 6pm
Tuesday to Saturday
Tel 2997 0321
2pm - 10pm
Tsuen King Youth SPOT

G/F & 1/F, Block 10, Tsuen King Garden
76-84 Tsuen King Circuit
Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Tel 2498 3333
Further details
HKFYG GoGreen website : http://gogreen.hkfyg.org.hk/
HKFYG GoGreen Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HKFYG.GoGreen
EP_School_Directory_197x144.pdf
3/3/15
11:41 AM
City space
Making a difference in
Tin Shui Wai

few years ago, Youth Hong Kong
reported on voluntary English
teaching in the HKFYG Tin Shui Wai
primary school. Always partnered
charitably by HSBC, it is now into its fifth
year and going strong.
The Volunteer English Teaching Programme at the

HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School (LSKPS)
in Tin Shui Wai relies on the generously given
time of a group of expat spouses and partners
from HSBC. It has gone from strength to
strength, says Mrs Camay Wong, the schemes
initiator and inspiration. Motivating the ladies
was the first step, but the programme really
got into its stride quickly and has been more
rewarding than I could ever have dreamt.
Principal Mr Kenneth Law Yue-kwan is delighted
with its success. As he says, The children
treasure the chance of meeting the volunteers
and are inspired to do better. This is of great
significance in their overall development.
pp Principal, Mr Kenneth Law and Mrs Camay Wong overlook the students.
Mrs Carolyn Feeney, who has been directing

the programme since 2013, says It is wonderful
to see the childrens confidence grow. With
the encouragement of the volunteers they
gain a sense of success with every session.
We have certainly come a long way since
2010 when there were two volunteers and 12
students. Last year we achieved 616 volunteer
hours with 3,724 student contact hours!
42
pp Mrs Carolyn Feeney in class
City space
What the pupils say

The children practise with each other as well as
with their volunteer teachers. It is a rare
opportunity and helps them prepare for
challenging situations, such as interviews for
secondary school admission.
Before, there wasnt much chance to speak English. Now,
we always get a turn and we can practise. A few months
ago I had my secondary school interview in English. I
was offered a place at that school. I feel so lucky!
Vicky Ng, 6B
The opportunity to speak English has really helped
me become confident. Like Vicky, I could practise
with the HSBC programme and when I did my
secondary school interview I didnt get stuck once!
Sam Liu, 6C
The volunteers always tell jokes in English. They use
interesting ways to explain difficult words. It makes
me much more curious about learning English!
Kelly Wong, 5B
I can practise my English vocabulary easily in these
sessions and so I remember the words much better
when I need to use them in written or oral exams.
Edwin Lam, 5A
I felt scared when I did my first presentation in
English, but after a few tries I relaxed. Instead
of forgetting my vocabulary I practise, and learn
new words too. With many English words in my
brain it is much easier to find the right one!
Eunice Heung, 5A
pp Vice Principal, Ms Pelly Ng
Vice-Principal Ms Pelly Ng Puiyee emphasized the extraordinary

nature of the opportunity, so
rare in Tin Shui Wai: to speak
and read English in a kindly,
encouraging environment.
The children could never
otherwise have known what
it is like to speak naturally to
native English people. Now,
they are not afraid of making
mistakes. For some, this is an
unforgettable experience.
This very worthwhile programme is a fine example

of what can be achieved as a result of the
combined efforts of a dedicated group of energetic
people in close partnership with one another.
HKFYG thanks HSBC sincerely for supporting the
logistics which enable the programme to continue
and hopes the fruitful work will continue for many
years to come.
43
City space
What the volunteers say

For the ladies who volunteer, the experience of visiting a school in the Northwest
New Territories of Hong Kong was enlightening. Their heart-felt comments bear
witness to the rewards of taking part.
This programme benefits everyone, including the
volunteers! It makes our day, and the gratitude from the
teachers, parent helpers and students is humbling.
Mrs Helen Peirce-Finken

To have made a difference to so many young peoples
lives has actually made a difference to my own as
well. I will remember this experience forever.
Mrs Diane McKeown

I expected it to be nerve-wracking but in fact I enjoy every minute.
The children are so well behaved and a credit to their school.
Mrs Kate Stafford

That our English teaching has helped improve the schools
success rates is wonderful. Long may it continue!
Mrs Andrea Angel

Id had no teaching or child-rearing experience and
was quite nervous! But the students are impeccably
polite, enthusiastic, engaging and eager to learn.
Mrs Clare Drummond

Seeing these diligent children change from being shy and reserved
to comfortable and confident in their English after a few sessions
is testimony to the immense value of the programme.
Mrs Kavita Singh

My motivation is the childrens reaction. We see gratitude written
all over their faces at every session. Its good for the soul.
Mrs Mel Banks

I am proud and honoured to be running this inspirational
programme that has helped so many children and has
been supported by so many volunteers over the years.
Mrs Carolyn Feeney
Summing up, Mrs Camay Wong said, Seeing the smiles on the faces of the students, volunteers, teachers
and parents, I know I made the right decision five years ago when I suggested to my husband that I
would like to start this special volunteer programme.
44
Mrs Camay Wong is the wife of Peter Wong Tung-shun, JP, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of The Hongkong
and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Asia-Pacific. The other ladies quoted above have been volunteers for
several years. Most volunteers come from England, although a few are native English-speakers from countries such
as India.
HKFYG
Ten thousand galloping horses
linking a master of yesteryear with children of today
This year is the 120th anniversary of Xu Beihongs birth

and the 130th anniversary of the Hong Kong Jockey Clubs
establishment. Both are famous for their relationship with
horses, the inspiration behind the creative Ten Thousand
Galloping Horses, United With One Heart project.
To celebrate the anniversaries, HKFYG is hosting an
installation art and education project with The Hong
Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as main sponsor.
It uses Xu Beihongs Galloping Horse as a blueprint for
10,000 papier mch eco-horse sculptures, decorated
imaginatively during the Year of the Horse by pupils
and social celebrities at over 100 schools, art studios
and Youth SPOTs. Members of the public in Hong
Kong, Taiwan and on the mainland also took part.
Inspired by Xu Beihong
The work of Xu Beihong (1895 1953)
provides the concept of a link between
the master of yesteryear and the
children of today. Xu combined Chinese
brush and ink techniques with western
perspective and methods of
composition, integrating firm and bold
brush strokes with the precise
delineation of form. As an art teacher,
he advocated the subordination of
technique to artistic conception,
emphasizing the importance of the
artists experiences in life.
Exhibition venues for decorated horses
Partners
2-5 April, at Concourse, HKJC Sha Tin Racecourse
Co-organizing partner: Xu Beihong Art Committee
11-24 April, at Sky Dome Atrium. Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan
Supporting Organizations: Education Bureau

and Home Affairs Bureau, HKSARG
The top 100 will go forward as installation art

and the best eight will receive awards.
Announcement of winners 2 April
Concourse, HKJC Sha Tin Racecourse
45
Strategic partners: M21, easyvolunteer.hk, Discovery

Park, Tsuen Wan, Dah Sing Life, Weshare
Enquiries Rex Chan tel 3755 7021 / 2130 4000
web m21.hk/10000horses
M21.hk/10000horses
45
HKFYG
Co Create
Hong Kong
Innovation
The new 8,000 squarefoot HKFYG Social Innovation

Unit will be launched soon in Wong Chuk Hang
at the Genesis Building. It has a reserve of HK$2
million for seed funding and has co-working space
at the low monthly rent of approximately HK$1,000
available for 70+ entrepreneurial social innovators
aged 18-35. Those with business ideas and business
plans are eligible to apply for seed funding and coworking space now. Shortlisted applications will
be invited for interview by the end of May.
Focus points
}} Education
}} Health
}} Environmental protection
}} Ageing issues
}} Promotion of Social Cohesion
Main characteristics of the Centres work include:
PP Advocacy of social innovation for problem-solving
PP Incubation of entrepreneurial ideas to nurture growth
PPProfessional networking to widen business support
46
Address: 11/F Social Innovation Centre, Genesis Building,

No 33-35 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong
More details www.facebook.com/hkfyg.sic
Enquiries 3755 7062
Entrepreneurship
The Youth Business Hong Kong (YBHK) programme of

the Federation provides interest-free loans, professional
guidance and business networking support. Since it
was established ten years ago, a cumulative total of
more than HK$9 million has been granted in loans to
help 257 young entrepreneurs with 155 businesses.
Young people aged 18-35 can apply now for support.
Focus points
}} Enhanced, expanded support
for young entrepreneurs
}} New Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of
Commerce bringing exciting opportunities
}} Maximum interest-free loan raised from
HK$100,000 to HK$150,000 and number
of supported businesses increased to 30
}} YBHK, as partner of the Qianhai Authority,
nominates eligible young entrepreneurs to join the
Qianhai E Hub and develop mainland businesses
}} Five new social enterprise projects in Tin
Shui Wai creating over 110 local jobs with
expansion to other districts expected
}} Education and enrichment of information
about entrepreneurship including
annual large scale career expo
More details ybhk.hkfyg.org.hk
Enquiries ybhk@hkfyg.org.hk
HKFYG
he HKFYG Indicators of Youth Values 2014 revealed upward trends in young peoples
confidence levels, in their potential creativity and ability to find employment or set up a
business. Active youth participation and engagement are more evident too, although the
survey revealed a lack of self-efficacy to achieve change in public policies and a decreased sense
of belonging. In response, four important elements of the Federations work are being brought
together in a new plan of action called Co Create Hong Kong. The keys are Innovation,
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and the new Research & Youth Think Tank.
Creativity
M21 is a youth-oriented, interactive, multimedia web

platform which connects with school and community
networks and encourages youth in self-expression
through participation in multimedia production.
Focus points
}} Understanding development in the context
of global megatrends via sponsored
multimedia production programmes
centering on Hong Kong, mainland China,
the Asia-Pacific region and the world
}} Multi-media production competition on social
policies to be launched as a channel for discussion
on resolving social problems in October 2015
}} Basic Law learning resource kits created by
teachers and young people with interactive
and practical multimedia tools
}} 48-hourvideo-making with three annual
competitions for the best video made
in 48 hours by about 120 sponsored
teams, focusing on value education
}} Youth Speaker programme hosted by 10
invited speakers on social issues for 5minutes
every last Saturday of the month
More details m21.hk
Enquiries 3979 0000
Research &
Youth Think Tank
A think tank will be established by 100 young

participants of HKFYG leadership training programmes
to help strengthen research and advocacy. By putting
emphasis on analytical thinking and participation by the
younger generation, it is expected that new ideas and
suggestions on youth-related affairs will be put forward
through an exchange of views and in-depth discussions.
Research reports will be published on a regular basis.
Focus points
}} Youth Research Community with advisors,
researchers and young leaders forming a
unique platform to foster exchange of views
}} Research areas:
Economic development, employment
and competitiveness
Governance and constitutional
development, relationship between
Hong Kong and mainland China
Education, social innovation
and manpower training
Housing needs, poverty and social development
More details syrc.hkfyg.org.hk
Enquiries 3755 7022
47
HKFYG
Effective Public Speaking
at Hong Kongs LARGEST

English Public Speaking Contest
he Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Standard Chartered Hong Kong English Public
Speaking Contest builds confidence and increases
fluency. Some of the 2015 winners say why.
When I began public speaking I wanted to overcome my nervousness and

push myself beyond my comfort zone. Ive improved my skills and gained
friends along the way. The other contestants gave me insight. Their
diversity of topics in the early rounds was an eye-opener. I realized that
good public speaking is not simply about fluency but is also about the
originality and persuasiveness of your ideas.
Edward Mak, 16 King George V SchoolChampion, Senior Division
Theres a good chance that one
day you will have to make a
speech, whoever you are. Many
people fear it but I enjoy
persuading a large audience to
see an issue from my
perspective. I dont just want to
win; I love public speaking and
this contest has provided me
with a platform.
This competition has improved

my presentation skills and
spoken English, an international
language used in the political and
commercial world. The
15-minute impromptu speech in
the semi-finals seemed an
impossible task but, through
training and practice, impossible
became possible!
Nusky Shazia Syeda, 15

Diocesan Girls School
Champion, Junior Division
Jasper Cheng, 13
PLK Choi Kai Yau School
1st runner-up, Senior Division
December Winners-to-Winners
Practice Sessions with Sir TL Yang
English Language Ambassadors
January Preliminary
& Revival Rounds
February Semi-finals
28 February Grand Final
cum Awards Ceremony
March 21st Century Lenovo
Cup National High School
& Primary School English
Speaking Competition, Henan,
China: two from each division
representing Hong Kong
May 2015 English-Speaking Union
International Public Speaking
Competition, London: Edward Mak,
Champion, EPS Senior Division
2015, to represent Hong Kong
Organizer
The Hong Kong Federation
of Youth Groups
Co-organizer
The English-Speaking
Union (Hong Kong)
Sole Sponsor
Standard Chartered Bank
(Hong Kong) Limited
Supporting Organizations
I joined this competition to

widen my horizons and learn
from my fellow contestants and
was honoured to have the
opportunity to join the Sir TL
Yang English Language
Ambassador Programme. I can
teach students with the best of
the best other top-notch
winners of this competition.
This is one of the most

demanding public speaking
competitions in Hong Kong. It
has taught me how to look at
social issues from different
perspectives and understand
that the key is not just practice,
or a well-written speech, but
also confidence and effort.
Lo Kwan-yiu, 14
La Salle College
2nd runner-up, Junior Division
Marcus Chow, 16
La Salle College
2nd runner-up, Senior Division
48
Highlights
December Speaking
Enhancement Workshops
Education Bureau, HKSARG

Standing Committee on Language
Education and Research (SCOLAR)
Toastmasters International
The Law Society of Hong Kong
Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce
Hong Kong Association
for Customer Service
Excellence (HKACE)
British Council
30SGroup
HKFYG
anytime, anywhere
Cappella has evolved as fast as it has been adopted, in Hong Kong and around the
world. Try a taste at the 2015 HKFYG Jockey Club Hong Kong
International a cappella Festival, on now, and running till mid-April.
SLIXS
(Germany) are well known for their unique style. It sets them
apart from any genre clichs. With a powerful mix of jazz, pop
and funk, classical and world music, these six multi-talented voices rock audiences
at concerts and festivals across Europe and Asia. Extensive international acclaim
rates this sextet currently as one of the best vocal ensembles in the world. Acclaim
includes Best Jazz Song of the Year (2008), Best Folk/World Song of the Year (2013)
at the CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award), and two Ward Swingle
Awards and three Golden Diplomas at Vokal Total (2006) in Graz, Austria.
EXIT
(Korea) is a contemporary a cappella group whose name

came from the idea that they want to free themselves and their
audiences from boring daily life through their performances. These five male
singers won prizes in the 2012 Asian Cup a cappella Competition and the 2012
World Contemporary a cappella Competition. They offer themselves as role
model to other young a cappella groups in the region with their vastly varied
cross-genre repertoire that ranges from powerful hip-hop to soft ballad.
Jabberwocks
(US) is an all-male a cappella group from Brown

University that sings everything from 50s doo-wop,
to 60s Motown to contemporary pop. Aside from regular on-campus appearances, the
Jabberwocks have sung everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Lincoln Center. They travel
extensively, both at home and abroad, to cities such as Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Seoul, as well as making this second visit
to Hong Kong. Numerous awards include tracks on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella
(BOCA) albums and honours in the Contemporary A Cappella Recording (CARA) awards.
The Hong Kong

Melody Makers
(Hong Kong) is a youth choir

established in 2004 by The Hong
Kong Federation of Youth Groups with sponsorship from The Dragon
Foundation. Its aims are to reflect Hong Kongs vivacity and give voice to the
citys cosmopolitan spirit. Choir members are dynamic young people with
outstanding artistic talent who are guided by Mr Patrick Chiu, the groups
Artistic Director. Their shared passion for music can benefit the entire
community and enrich Hong Kongs cultural life by promoting choral and a
cappella music.
49
HKFYG
OUTPUT_p28.pdf 13-Feb-15 1:21:55 PM
Rajaton
means "boundless" in Finnish and

the style of this six-voice a cappella
ensemble from Finland explains their name. They give
about 100 concerts a year, at festivals, concert halls and
churches. In their native Finland, Rajaton is a bona fide
pop phenomenon, successfully bridging the gap between
classical and mainstream. Of 13 albums to date, the last
three are on the group's own record label, Boundless
Records and last autumn, Rajaton celebrated 17 years of
music-making with one double platinum, three platinum
and eight gold sales are approaching 400,000 copies. Always
seeking new challenges, they have performed with many
other a cappella artists, including The Kings Singers and The
Real Group, as well as in productions with film directors
and choreographers. Their infectious energy, ability to
entertain, passion for their art, and generosity of spirit
have won acclaim from audiences and critics everywhere.
C
CM
MY
CY
CMY
Ambassador
Hanjin Tan
is a producer, composer,
arranger and mixing
engineer as well as vocalist. Hanjin has released five albums
and written over 500 songs. He is a household name across
Southeast Asia and Greater China, earning numerous
prestigious titles such as the best singer/songwriter, outstanding
musician, the best songwriter and the best jazz/blues artist.
Time magazine described his singing as a "larger-than-life
channelling of the already larger-than-life Sammy Davis Jr."
View at youtube.com/
watch?v=MvoZz2DYIl8&index=3&list=PLIz7OWUAEHOGE3mxxxn
VJtAKCbrQZRzEP
App-cappella
Enroll
Rehearsal
Tools
Event
Highlights
Download app-cappella from App store or Google Play
Soprano: Essi Wuorela

Soprano:Virpi Moskari
Alto: Soila Sariola
Tenor: Hannu Lepola
Baritone: Ahti Paunu
Bass: Jussi Chydenius
Official website http://www.rajaton.net/en/frontpage/
Listen at http://www.last.fm/music/Rajaton
Watch at http://goo.gl/6qeT25
50
HKFYG
Programme
HKFYG Jockey Club a cappella Education Programme
21 March 20154:00pm
Piazza C, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Secondary School a cappella demonstrations

and training courses
International a cappella Marathon
Admission free
Leadership Training Scheme
A Cappella Relay from

the East to the West
Hong Kong International a cappella Contest

a cappella Workshop for Music Educators
22 March 2015 4:00pm
Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza
a ca-flla: a series of concerts in a cosy caf

environment
a cappella @ Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza
Admission free
a cappella Stage-for-Six: for individual singers to

meet one another
Your daily-life a cappella

23-25 March 2015
Live tour
Mobile a cappella
Lets move with a cappella!

27 & 28 March 20158:00pm Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena
International a cappella Extravaganza
with pre-performance guided
interactive talk
Tickets HK$100
11 April 20158:00pm
Hong Kong City Hall Theatre
a cappella library: free loans of a cappella music

scores and books, over 300 items in the
collection
a cappella Equipment Rental Service:
high-quality amplifiers, wireless mikes, mixers
and speakers
More details acappella.hkfyg.org.hk
Enquiries HKFYG Cultural Services Unit
tel 2395 5753email: csu@hkfyg.org.hk
facebook.com/fygaca
The Hong Kong Melody Makers Concert Tickets HK$220, HK$150
Dats Your Song
Open dress rehearsal before the show
13 April 20157:00pm
GR1, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Rajaton Masterclass
Apply at acappella.hkfyg.org.hk
14 April 20158:00pm
Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall
Rajaton a cappella Master Series
See back cover for ticketing
Deadline Wednesday 1 April 2015

HKFYG Jockey Club a cappella Education
Programme and the 2015 HKFYG Jockey Club
Hong Kong International a cappella Festival
have major sponsorship from The Hong Kong Jockey
Club Charities Trust.
51
March 28 - April 13
MARCH 21-APRIL 14
Programme Enquiries
Publisher :
www.hkfyg.org.hkwww.m21.hkwww.u21.hk
Youth Hong Kong: 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong
Tel : 3755 70843755 7108Fax : 3755 7155Email : youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hkWebsite : youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk
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a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups

Work and study in

VIEWS EXPRESSED are the authors and interviewees,

REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS without written

Acknowledged as captioned, in public

FAX 3755 7155

YOUTH HONG KONG published quarterly by

March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong

Youth Hong Kong | March 2015

Exploring Options and

There are several channels for Hong Kong

Meanwhile, Hong Kong is attracting large

Courtesy of Mr Gong Wan, Director, China Education

March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong

They include setting up an Alibaba HK$1 billion

Sources and notes

2. See pages 9-11 for details.

8. Motherland of Missed Opportunity? Time Out, 4 February 2015. http://www.timeout.

3. Education Bureau, HKSARG. http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/

9. Study by Hong Kong Ideas Centre. http://www.ideascentre.hk/wordpress/wp-content/

6. See page 20 for details and statistics.

12. See pages 19-20 for details.

Youth Hong Kong | March 2015

Finding out about

The pieces of the One Country, Two Systems

Today, Hong Kong people,

March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong

The law has to be respected

beyond the classroom is equally important, says

Rule of Law: never take it for granted

Fitting in and making the most of it

Youth Hong Kong | March 2015

Young people need to know

The One Country, Two Systems principle was

* Mr Andrew Liao, GBS, SC, JP is a Non-official Member of

Rule of Law: the essential elements

March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong

Flow and counter flow

A scheme now in place, called the Mainland

Flocking to study abroad

pp Handbook on the Scheme

Youth Hong Kong | March 2015

Hong Kong students receive the same fee

For secondary students who are in the top 30-40%

When asked why many people seem unaware

Mainland universities accepting HKDSE holders

}} Beijing Foreign Studies University

}} Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai

}} Central China Normal University

}} Fujian Normal University

Top ranking universities

Universities accepting most HKDSE holders

March 2015 | Youth Hong Kong

Although the MUSSS will not motivate the

Prof Wongs advice to secondary students about

Recognition of qualifications is a hurdle and

Professor Wong Yuk-shan, BBS, JP, was brought

Sources and notes

Youth Hong Kong | March 2015

oe Ngai, managing partner at McKinsey, Hong Kong, says that

China provides more employment opportunities

For some thats exciting. For

morning to see the enormous number of Hong