The Young Reporter, Hong Kong (2025)

08/10/2025

Blazing fire dragon dance ignites Tai Hang to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, a century-old Mid-Autumn Festival tradition, was held from October 5 to 7. A 67-metre dragon, illuminated by 12,000 burning incense sticks, winded through the community to pray for peace and prosperity.

Reported by Jamie Yam Long-hei, Henry Siu Tsz-hang
Edited by Vinci Ao Wei-ying

06/10/2025

Hong Kong iconic film scenes come alive with interactive installations

Undercover Underworld exhibition at Tai Kwun, formerly the Central police station and now a renowned cultural heritage site, recreates scenes from classic Hong Kong crime movies and compares them with the real-life experiences of undercover agents today.

Running from Aug. 1 to Oct. 5, it features interactive elements, exclusive behind-the-scenes and insights from real filmmakers and undercover cops.

Reported by Alishiba Matloob & Trista Kurniawan
Edited by Zoey Zhang Yiping

01/10/2025

Hong Kong celebrates 76th Chinese National Day

Flags and banners are displayed around Hong Kong while celebrating China’s 76th National Day on October 1, 2025.

Hong Kong’s regional flag and Chinese national flag were raised at the ceremony held in Wan Chai’s Golden Bauhinia Square at 8am today to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People‘s Republic of China.

Ceremony attendees including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other government officials. The public watched the ceremony at a distance from Wan Chai Ferry Pier, as the government announced no public viewing area for the ceremony.

Reported by Vinci Ao Wei-ying, Oscar Ma Tsz-chiu
Edited by Ng Natasha Goa-sheng

27/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa: Windthrown trees blocked several roads in Wong Tai Sin

Super typhoon Ragasa hit Hong Kong on Wednesday, bringing gale and heavy rainfall to the city. The Observatory issued the highest-level T10 signal to alert the public about the extreme weather conditions.

Staff members from the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department examined the road blockage by fallen trees in Wong Tai Sin during Wednesday evening after the T8 signal was cancelled.

Workers continued clearing remaining debris in Diamond Hill on Thursday morning.

Reported by Vinci Ao Wei-ying, Luna Lau Ka-yan
Edited by Au Yeung Jim

26/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa: Tuen Mun light rail service disrupted, fallen trees block roads

Super typhoon Ragasa slammed Hong Kong with strong winds and torrential rain with the Observatory issuing the highest-level 10 signal at 2:40 am on Wednesday.

The typhoon has left 101 people injured during the typhoon period, according to the Hospital Authority as of 8pm. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

According to the government, the 1823 Call Centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 1,224 reports of fallen trees as at 8pm.

The Drainage Services Department received 22 reports of flooding, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received four reports of landslides as at 8pm.

Light Rail stops, including Prime View, Tai Hing (South), and Shek Pai are disrupted due to extensive damage.

Reported by Henry Siu Tsz-hang, Sean Cheng Tsz-sen
Edited by Vinci Ao Wei-ying

26/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa: Items scattered around Sha Tin after the storm

Super Typhoon Ragasa battered Hong Kong heavily on Wednesday, with the T10 signal issued at 2:40am hoisted for over 10 hours.

The Hospital Authority said 101 people were injured during the storm. The Government’s 1823 Call Centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 1,224 reports of fallen trees in total.

As of 8pm on Wednesday, the Drainage Services Department received 22 reports of flooding, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received four reports of landslides.

In Sha Tin district, the storm surge affected from Ragasa flooded both sides of Shing Mun River under T10 signal. Debris, branches and leaves were washed along the river banks. Strong winds also brought down trees, blocking roads, bikeways and pedestrian paths.

Some MTR outdoor sections were disrupted by fallen trees and damaged overhead cables as well. East Rail Line service remained out of service until the evening at around 6:45pm.

Reported by Oscar Ma Tsz-chiu, Henry Siu Tsz-hang
Edited by Vinci Ao Wei-ying

24/09/2025

Super Typhoon Ragasa: Travellers stuck in airport after flight suspension

Hundreds of travellers remained stranded at Hong Kong International Airport from 6pm on Tuesday due to flight cancellations, after the Observatory issued the T8 warning signal for the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa.

All flights scheduled to depart after 6pm on Tuesday have been cancelled, as well as most flights scheduled to fly out after 5pm.

Travellers are stuck at the airport as they await updates from their airlines, while take-offs and landings remain suspended until resumption from Thursday 6am, according to the Airport Authority.

Reported by Vinci Ao Wei-ying, Au Yeung Jim
Edited by Tricia Li Sin-tung

24/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa: Safety measures ahead of strong winds and potential flooding

Different safety measures were conducted in Hong Kong in advance on Monday and Tuesday to minimise destruction by the ongoing Super Typhoon Ragasa.

The Hong Kong government held a press conference about the typhoon-related measures on Monday and warned the public of the flood risks in several black spots. These include Kwong F*k Road in Tai Po, Shing Mun River and other low-lying areas.

Sandbags and water barriers were set up around the hazard-prone spots to prevent floods. The government announced some flood-prone pedestrian tunnels would be closed during the storm.

Many residents in Hong Kong also worked on their own safety measures. Windows were taped to add strength and lessen damages caused by strong wind.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the T10 hurricane signal at 2:40am, which lasted until 1:20pm on Wednesday, making this year the first time having two T10 signals within a year since 1964.

Reported by Oscar Ma Tsz-chiu
Edited by Vinci Ao Wei-ying

23/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa: Preparation of supplies before storm approaches

Residents in Hong Kong rushed to markets to purchase food and supplies on Monday and Tuesday, before the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the T8 signal at 2:20pm on Tuesday, after a pre-T8 announcement on Monday when the T1 and T3 signals were hoisted.

Markets were packed with people wanting to stock up food and supplies in advance before stores close. Products including bread, vegetables and fresh meat ran out of stock in many stores.

As of 8:45pm on Tuesday, the Observatory estimated that Ragasa will be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. Higher signals will be considered for issuance from 11pm on Tuesday to 3am the following day.

Our reporters visited markets and supermarkets in Kowloon, Sha Tin and Tai Po to capture how locals prepare for the storm.

Reported by Vinci Ao Wei-ying, Oscar Ma Tsz-chiu
Edited by Ng Natasha Goa-sheng

17/09/2025

Policy Address 2025: Leveraging Kai Tak Sports Park to popularise sports in Hong Kong

John Lee Ka-chiu said in this year’s Policy Address that the government will support elite sports and leverage Kai Tak Sports Park to further develop the “sports + mega events” model in Hong Kong.

“We will continue to promote sports development by supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism in sports, developing sports as an industry and promoting sports in the community,” said Lee.

The Policy Address also focused on enhancing professionalism in sports, improving the functionality and positioning of sports venues, reviewing the governance of sports and boosting the publicity of sports by the media.

“Elite sports and popularisation are mutually supportive. Elite sports can promote public participation and ‘sports for all’ through the celebrity effect. Expanding the proportion of the grassroots in sports will in turn promote the selection of elites and further promote the popularisation of sports events,” said Patrick Lau, Professor and Associate Academy Director (Research) of the Academy of Wellness and Human Development of Hong Kong Baptist University.

Hong Kong already plans to co-host part of this year’s National Games, the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games in November and December.

The city’s portion of the National Games include bowling, track cycling, fencing, golf, Rugby Sevens, a triathlon, beach volleyball, men's handball and men's U22 basketball.

The golf will be played in Fanling, and the Hong Kong Golf Association has announced that Xu Longyi, individual gold medalist of the Hangzhou Asian Games, will represent Hong Kong.

“To attract more world-class players to compete in Hong Kong, we have agreed on a multi-year partnership arrangement with LIV Golf, one of the most important golf tours in the world,” said Lee.

(The article continues in the comment section)

17/09/2025

Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong lowers house-purchasing money threshold to facilitate cross-border buyers

Non-locals hoping to obtain Hong Kong residence through investment will be able to purchase residential property for a minimum of HK$30 million rather than the current HK$50 million, said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in Wednesday’s policy address.

But the amount of the property purchase allowed to be counted towards the visa scheme eligibility of $30 million in investments will remain HK$10 million.

This is under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, which was launched on March 1 last year, to help investors settle down in the city without the need to establish or join a business.

As of February this year, the scheme has received 918 applications and expects to inject over HK$270 billion into the local market, according to the government’s press release in March.

But among the approved applications, no applicant has made an investment in residential real estate. They all choose to invest in non-residential approved assets to meet the eligibility requirements.

Wu Cheuk-him, district councilor of Tai Po, said the government’s move is positive.

“I am confident that lowering the investment threshold for property purchases will draw more people to buy homes in Hong Kong, and as a result, to stimulate the local property market,” he added.

(The article continues in the comment section)

17/09/2025

Hong Kong extends tax allowance for parents with newborns in its latest fertility push

Hong Kong parents with newborns are set to get more tax allowance as the city strives to boost its birth rate.
Currently, parents receive a HK$260,000 tax exemption in the baby’s first year but this is going to be extended for another year, according to the 2025 policy address.

Those with older children will continue to get HK$130,000 of their taxable income exempted.

Hong Kong has been struggling with a declining birth rate, with the number of babies born dropping from 60,900 in 2016 to a low of 32,500 in 2022. In 2024, there was a slight improvement to 36,700 babies.

A 36-year-old mother of a toddler from Kowloon welcomed the additional tax break.

“As someone from the 80s generation, I really want to have children, this policy will help us to relieve some financial pressure,” said Ruby Tse, who is trying for a second child.

Lawmaker Chan Wing-kwong, who specializes in medicine, said the allowances are a welcome addition for families trying for more children, but it would be an unlikely fertility boost for those who don’t.

“The additional newborn allowance is merely a drop in the bucket when it comes to the cost of raising a child in Hong Kong,” said Lin Sen, who has been married for six years but has remained reluctant to have a baby.

Lin said the intensifying competition for schools and jobs a child might face in the future deters her from giving birth.

Lee also pledged more childcare resources for babies and schoolchildren.

Chan said that although the direction of the current encouraging policies is right, a series of supporting measures must keep pace.

The lawmaker called on the government to provide more measures for schools and job placements.

“Only when the social environment can let people ‘live and work in peace and contentment’, will they be really willing to consider having children,” said Chan.
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Reported by Suri YANG Shuyi, Laura LOU Zhengzheng
Edited by Hannah WANG Jing

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