Catharina Cheung

Ah, memes. We think these silly little pictures with deliberately bad fonts and more than a touch of absurd Dadaism is one of the best things to come out of the hell hole that is the internet. Often, memes rely on knowledge of specific cultural experiences and modern references, which basically means if you get it, you get it. Sharing memes is therefore a bit of a bonding experience, so here are some of our favourite memes that we think every Hongkonger will definitely understand.  RECOMMENDED: Want to see some more Hong Kong humour? Here are things every Hongkonger has definitely Googled before, and some things that fill us with rage.

There are plenty of reasons to love Hong Kong but with the average living space per person in Hong Kong a mere 140sq ft for those in public rental housing – a standard car park space measures 135sq ft, by the way – it’s easy to understand why we Hongkongers can be snappy. There are a million and one things that can make us rage on a whim, but here are just the top ones. RECOMMENDED: When you’re done with this list, here are 12 more things that annoy Hongkongers 🤡

Hong Kong and Macau’s music scene has been thriving with activity. From homegrown talents performing at intimate venues to international stars taking on the big stage, there’s much to look forward to for eager concertgoers. If you want to be in the know on all the latest music performances, festivals, concerts, and gigs happening in Hong Kong and Macau, bookmark this page and come back regularly for more updates.  RECOMMENDED: In the meantime, check out our list of the best live music venues in Hong Kong. 

Home Alone, Love Actually, A Christmas Carol, The Holiday, Elf… we could go on and on about everyone’s beloved Christmas movies. But let’s face it, your festive watch list is the same every year, isn’t it? No judgement, same here! But instead of sticking on Die Hard or the first Harry Potter yet again, it’s time to shake things up a little with festive films that are a little closer to home. Here are some Asian movies set during Christmas that will ramp up the holiday mood and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Thousands of revellers rejoiced when Clockenflap returned this March after three long years of being away. Since that spring show was actually the 2022 edition being pushed back, the festival is going back to its original end-of-year scheduling with their 2023 edition, set to shake the city up from December 1 to 3. With an excellent lineup of international, regional, and local artists across multiple stages, as well as many other attractions and experiences, music lovers are bound to have an amazing weekend. Get your festival outfits ready, and read on for everything you need to know about Clockenflap before you arrive! RECOMMENDED: Need even more tunes in your life? Here are Hong Kong’s concerts and music events to check out.

The weather has been perfect recently, cool enough to be crisp yet warm enough to not wear outerwear if you don’t want to. Of course, this heralds the season for hiking. The beauty of living in Hong Kong is that even in our sprawling metropolis, we are never very far removed from nature. Nestled along the foot of Lion Rock, Kam Shan, and Kowloon Peak, there are trails aplenty in Kowloon. Here are some hikes that you can reach easily from the heart of the city. RECOMMENDED: Rarely on Kowloon side? Here’s our guide to accessible city hikes on Hong Kong island instead.

As one of Asia’s major arts and cultural hubs, Hong Kong not only has fantastic art exhibitions and music concerts and shows, but also boasts a year-round line-up of superb theatre productions, comedy stand-up shows, and stage performances. Read on to find out which shows you should see – say hi if you see us in the audience too! RECOMMENDED: 🖼️Art exhibitions and displays to check out in Hong Kong 🎁Best Christmas markets in Hong Kong this year 🎤Cantonese Christmas songs to check out if you’re sick of Mariah Carey

Hearing the same five Christmas songs playing throughout the city can get grating eventually, but nothing quite makes a holiday than festive tunes. If you’re truly sick of hearing who George Michael gave his heart to last Christmas, and you can’t bear to hear another minute of how much Mariah Carey wants you for Christmas, then it’s about time to put these Cantonese Christmas songs on full blast. Happy Holidays! RECOMMENDED: If you haven’t yet, check out where to buy Christmas hampers in Hong Kong, or make plans to visit the best Christmas markets in town.

What is Christmas without presents and an abundance of delicious food? Christmas hampers combine the best of both these worlds, usually containing a mix of sweet and savoury gourmet food, alcoholic drinks, some festive knick-knacks, and presented in a massive package that is a joy to unwrap. So if you’re in the market for a gift that keeps on giving, keep reading to check out the best Christmas hampers that you can buy in Hong Kong right now. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best Christmas markets around town. Be sure to bookmark our guide to celebrating Christmas in Hong Kong to help you plan for the festive season.

Hong Kong has one of the world’s most convenient and efficient transportation systems. Despite the occasional delays and mishaps, the MTR system is well-loved by Hongkongers. Most of us rely on the MTR to get about the city daily, but how much do you truly know about the stations and their history? If you’re curious, read on to find out interesting facts and history about one of the best train systems ever.  RECOMMENDED: Get to know more about the history of some of the most iconic streets in Hong Kong.

The weather is cooling down, and before you know it, the city will begin to look a lot like Christmas. If you love decorating your living spaces with festive cheer, it means it’s time to start thinking about picking out a Christmas tree. No matter how big, small, affordable, or durable you need your tree to be, you’ll find a great option on this list. If you’re opting for the fresh smell of pine and fir, better get your orders ready, as real Christmas trees tend to sell out fast. Read below for a list of the best places to buy real and artificial Christmas trees and start shopping!  RECOMMENDED: Ready to do some serious Christmas shopping? Here’s where to get Christmas decorations, and this year’s best beauty advent calendars. 

Retromania is very much en vogue right now, as we increasingly seek comfort in the nostalgic memories of days gone by. But who says a love for the old-school should only encompass film photography, scrunchies, and brown lip liner? There’s no reason why fans of thrifting and vintage hobbies shouldn’t also extend their passions to holiday accommodation. Across Hong Kong’s border, in the heart of Shenzhen, lies one such hotel which radiates warm, nostalgic vibes. In this instalment of Time Out’s Hotel Diaries, we booked a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen – keep reading for a recap of our experience.  RECOMMENDED: Here’s what we thought of staying in the newly reopened Regent Hong Kong. Check out more Hong Kong hotels – all tried and tested by our editors.

This pop-up is set to ignite fits of ecstasy among Hong Kong millennials. If you’re an 80s and 90s kid, you will remember the joy of watching afternoon cartoons on the telly and popping into the stationery store to spend pocket money on sparkly pens and little collectibles. Well, here’s your chance to relive the good old days of your childhood. Sailor Moon backpacks, Beyblade spinning tops, Chibi Maruko-chan pencil cases, Hello Kitty stamp sets – revisit these cherished memories and more at Whatever. Coffee. From now until December 31, find a veritable treasure trove of nostalgic items collated by Thunder Toy Market, with merchandise featuring beloved Japanese characters like Astro Boy, Arale Norimaki from Dr. Slump, Kamen Rider, Cardcaptor Sakura, Sailor Moon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Crayon Shin-chan, Doraemon, and even old-school mascots from McDonald’s. This could be a good chance to pick up a nostalgia-laden Christmas present for the burnt-out millennials in your life.

Contemporary artist Chen Wei Zhu will be holding his largest solo exhibition at Artelli, which will also be his first in Macau. With keen insights in contemporary culture rendered in a cheerful, bright palette, Zhu’s art deals with pop culture, social media usage, and current consumer behaviour, and will easily resonate with a modern audience. In The Madness Never Ends, Zhu reconstructs traditional masterpieces with humour and his personal inflection. Expect to see references to famous works of art such as The Kiss by Klimt and The Swing by Fragonard, or gods from Greek mythology in humorous situations (Dionysus drinking wine is to be expected, but here he is decked out in bling with a cigarette in hand). Of the 50-plus artworks and sculptures, you can’t miss the Macau exclusive, limited-edition SUNNY Sculpture. Standing at a whopping two metres in height, this piece actually comprises 28 different 30-cm sculptures, gathered to encapsulate Zhu’s creative energy and expression. Zhu himself will make an appearance at Artelli on December 14 to deliver a live art performance, and there will also be a meet-and-greet with art collectors and enthusiasts on December 16.

This is more of a pop-up shop than an actual event, but if you’re anything like us, you’ll love the chance to discover new city pop music. Langham Place’s kkplus is hosting Taiwan’s only cassette tape specialty store, Kind of Blue Records, for a limited time pop up until November 26. Check out tapes and merch from music acts such as Taiwanese indie band Wendy Wander, Japanese beat makers Orihusay and Farragol, Korean DJ and producer Night Tempo, Mexican future funk artist Macross 82-99, and more. There will also be a selection of second-hand Western and Mandarin Chinese cassettes to fuel the nostalgia further.

South Korean singer and actor Lee Junho will be holding a fanmeeting event next month. Fans of his work in drama series such as Confession, the award-winning The Red Sleeve, his most recent King the Land, or even his music back in the 2PM days will want to seize the opportunity to see this talented artist in the flesh. Tickets run from $799 to $1,899, and while all attendees will receive merch such as photo cards, postcards, polaroids, and a print of a handwritten letter from Junho, VIP ticket holders will also get a signed poster and access to a group photo opp as well as the soundcheck party.

Thai singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor Jeff Satur has only been doing music for a few years, but with 361 million streams of his singles and sold-out shows in Singapore, Bangkok, and Indonesia, his star is definitely shining bright. This tour will complement the launch of his debut album, and fans can expect Satur’s blend of pop, R&B, hip-hop, and 80s influence, as well as the visual spectacle that accompanies all of his performances. Tickets will go on presale for Live Nation members on December 7, while general public sales start from December 11.

American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson will be playing in Hong Kong for one night as part of his 2024 world tour. His albums have sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and his latest one is Meet The Moonlight which was released in 2022 – full of chill crooning about finding hope and wonder in life’s little moments. Seated tickets will sell for $688 while standing will be $888. Live Nation members will have the opportunity to purchase the exclusive ticket presale on November 29, while general sales will start from November 30.

British vocal legend Tom Jones has announced his Ages & Stages tour in Asia next year. Playing in Hong Kong for one night only on March 16, Jones will be taking the stage in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, and Bangkok as well. In his career of over 60 years, Jones has won multiple Grammys and sold over 100 million records, and this tour will feature a setlist spanning his life’s work, so expect to jam out to Jones’ soul-stirring ballads and most famous anthems all night. Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 24, and run from $799 to $1,999. 

The deTour design festival has once again returned to town, showcasing the works of art and design communities both from and outside Hong Kong. For 10 days, there will be exhibitions, creative installations, workshops, design dialogues, movie screenings, and much more to see. This edition marks the 10th year that deTour has been held in PMQ, each with its unique theme of exploring how design can improve lives and solve social issues – and the theme for 2023 is New Know How, exploring how technology can be applied to design and crafts. Exhibition highlights include a group of Japanese designers who are 3D-printing household essentials using discarded tatami mats; a local designer who has modified the traditional production process of birdcages; a 3D photogrammetric model and documentary of the Cheung Chau Theatre; and the application of modern technologies to the old – and disappearing – process of soy sauce production in Hong Kong.

Broadway International Group will bring the International Tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music to make its Hong Kong stage debut. Catch the heartwarming tale of governess Maria as she joins the family of Captain Von Trapp and his seven children, and ignites their love of music, all set against a pre-World War II backdrop. The original Broadway musical has won Tonys and Grammys over the years, and will be celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. Audiences will also get to hear perennial favourite songs such as My Favourite Things, Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, and the title track The Sound of Music. Having been sold out for its seasons in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the soon-to-open Shanghai, make sure to catch the Sound of Music stage production at the Xiqu Centre from April 16, 2024.  Priority booking will open for American Express cardholders from November 28, and general sales tickets will be released on December 11.  

Art Basel is coming back swinging for their 2024 edition, having confirmed a list of 242 leading international galleries that will be participating. This brings the art event back to a pre-pandemic scale, with 65 more exhibitors joining the fair as compared to this year. Galleries from 40 countries and territories across Asia, Europe, North and Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa will be participating, so expect to see quality artworks spanning various mediums and markets. 25 of the participating galleries in 2024 will be making their Art Basel debut, including Fitzpatrick Gallery from Paris; Almeida e Dale Galeria de Arte from São Paulo; Waitingroom from Tokyo; PTT Space and Each Modern from Taipei; Public Gallery and Alison Jacques from London; Mangrove Gallery from Shenzhen; and YveYang, Bortolami, and Chapter NY from New York. The 2024 edition will also see 68 established galleries returning to the Asia fair after a hiatus away. As expected of Art Basel Hong Kong, there will be a strong focus on artistic production from the Asia-Pacific region – more than half of all exhibitors operate from the continent. Whether it be historical rediscoveries, works from 20th-century masters, or pieces by exciting, emerging artists, there will undoubtedly be something to catch your eye.

Founded in 2021, Square Street Gallery exhibits work by emerging Hong Kong artists that challenge the social, political, and cultural fabric of the city.

Indie singer-songwriter Joya will be releasing her debut EP She is Joya on November 17. This local musician’s raw, emotionally resonant tunes have already been garnering recognition, as Joya has been featured on MTV Asia and RTHK, as well as worked with National Geographic, Aesop’s Queer Library campaign, The Orchestra Academy of Hong Kong, Lau Bak Live House, and most recently the Gay Games 11 Hong Kong. Joya will be launching her EP in a one-night-only performance at Soho House, where she will also share the stories and inspiration behind each track. Singer Kiri T will be making a guest performance as well, so come check out  Hong Kong’s brightest musical stars on a mood-filled, intimate stage. General admission tickets are available from Eventbrite at $200.

After being a Central mainstay for 18 years, Hong Kong-owned British high-end department store Harvey Nichols will shut down its Landmark store in March next year. The store’s parent company, Dickson Concepts, explained that retail spending has been weaker than expected from both Hongkongers and Mainland Chinese tourists – even during the prime Golden Week period. “Coupled with locals increasingly travelling abroad during the holiday season, [it] means there is no longer a need to operate multiple large-scale department stores in close proximity,” explains the group’s executive chairman, Sir Dickson Poon. Spread over five floors, Harvey Nichols currently occupies 60,000sq ft of space in the Landmark shopping mall. Dickson Concepts has therefore decided to focus their efforts on the Pacific Place store instead. This decision comes after Manju Malhotra, CEO of Harvey Nichols, resigned in August after 25 years of service in the company. In the interim, Pearson Poon, executive director and son of owner Dickson Poon, will step in as vice-chair of Harvey Nichols until Malhotra’s replacement is appointed. RECOMMENDED: Here’s where to buy the best Christmas decorations in Hong Kong this year. Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and updates on what's going on in the city. 

The MTR Gallery in Kowloon MTR station will soon reopen to the public from December 9. To celebrate its relaunch, a new piece of wall art measuring three metres tall and seven metres wide has been installed, named T Chai’s Hong Kong Adventure. The character of T Chai will be set against a backdrop of various iconic attractions in Hong Kong, making for a fun bucket list of experiences in the city. The gallery’s original offerings have also been revamped, now featuring new exhibits and interactive multimedia games such as a ticket mosaic wall made of more than 8,000 MTR tickets, a photo spot with all 99 colours schemes Hong Kong’s distinctive MTR stations, models of MTR trains, as well as a train driving simulation game. Entry to the MTR Gallery is free, but visitors should register for admission via the booking system on the MTR website from November 29 onwards. RECOMMENDED: Check out more art exhibitions and events happening in Hong Kong now.  Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and updates on what's going on in the city. 

Commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield has released its Main Streets Across the World report, which focuses on prime retail rental rates in major global cities. The Chinese saying ‘A square foot of land is worth a square inch of gold’ absolutely rings true for us in Hong Kong, as Tsim Sha Tsui comes in as the world’s third most expensive retail street.  Among the global rankings, Hong Kong only comes after New York’s Fifth Avenue and Milan's Via Montenapoleone; meanwhile, London’s New Bond Street has retained its spot as fourth most expensive retail destination and the Avenues des Champs-Élysées in Paris came in fifth. As expected, we are also considered the most expensive retail destination within Asia Pacific cities. Hong Kong and Tokyo dominated the region’s most expensive streets, claiming six out of the top eight rankings. Tsim Sha Tsui, of course, claimed the top spot with an average rent of US$1,493 per sq ft per year; followed by Causeway Bay in second, at US$1,374 per sq ft per year; and Central in eighth spot.  Experiential retail is undoubtedly here to stay, and we’re excited to see which brands can make the most out of our pricey retail locations. Click here to view the Cushman & Wakefield report for yourself. RECOMMENDED: 🍴25 Hong Kong restaurants ranked best in the world by La Liste 👩🏽‍🍳Hong Kong chefs acknowledged in The Best Chef Top 100 2023 🍾11 Hong Kong bars make it onto Top 500 Bars 2023 Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, an

Reviews aggregator La Liste has announced their Top 1000 Restaurants of 2024 – and Hong Kong secured 25 spots on the list. Launched in 2015 and founded by Ambassador Philippe Faure (former CEO of Gault & Millau and the Head of the French Tourist Board), La Liste utilises an algorithm to meticulously analyse restaurant reviews worldwide. By compiling scores from a diverse range of sources including newspapers, publications, guides, and casual online reviews from 200 countries, La Liste creates numerical scores for each restaurant, providing a comprehensive assessment of dining experiences. This year, the coveted number one spot, with a top score of 99.5, is shared by seven remarkable establishments from around the world. These include Le Bernardin in NYC, Guy Savoy in Paris, Simon Rogan's L'Enclume in the UK, La Vague D'Or in Saint-Tropez, Schwarzwaldstube in Germany, Sushi Saito in Tokyo, and Lung King Heen in Hong Kong. Photograph: Courtesy Lung King HeenFish maw casserole Other Hong Kong restaurants which also ranked on the top 1,000 list include Caprice (just edged off the top slot with 99 points), Amber, L’Atelier de Jöel Robuchon, Tin Lung Heen, Sushi Shikon, T’ang Court, Lai Ching Heen (formerly Yan Toh Heen), Sushi Saito, Bo Innovation, Forum, The Chairman, and Sun Tung Lok. See the complete 1,000 best restaurants in the world on La Liste’s website. Recommended stories: 4 Hong Kong chefs earn spots on The Best Chef Top 100 2023 Louis Vuitton's upcoming Hong Kong fa

To honour the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death, illustrated book publisher Thames & Hudson is bringing out the most comprehensive catalogue of the Spanish artist’s paintings and drawings to ever be collated.  The life’s work of influential art critic Christian Zervos, Zervos is a legendary 33-volume reference catalogue raisonné of Picasso’s work. Collaborating directly with Picasso, Zervos catalogued over 16,000 paintings, drawings, and sketches during the last four years of the artist's life from 1895 to 1972. First published between 1932 and 1978, the full 33 volumes were released as a complete set in French in 1991, and the first English edition in 2014.  Photograph: Courtesy Gaëtane Girard / Editions Cahiers d’ArtThe Zervos Catalogué Raisonné de Picasso par Christian Zervos The Zervos collection – both the French and English editions – are now available in Hong Kong, retailing at $225,000. This is undoubtedly a great deal of money, but Cahiers d’Art, the French publisher who originally published the collection, notes that these volumes are very much collector’s items and vintage sets that routinely sell for around US$60,000 at auctions – and US$200,000 if in pristine condition.  Picasso was an exceptionally prolific artist, as evidenced by the sheer amount of work collated in just the Zervos volumes. Art dealer Larry Gagosian says of these books, “Some days Picasso painted four or five paintings – in one day! – and that’s all chronicled. You get a sense of how

Australian skincare brand Aesop has launched a brand-new retail store in Central, just a few steps away from their original location on Hollywood Road. Taking over Tom Dixon’s old space, the new store boasts a bright, plant-filled aesthetic, as well as two facial spa rooms upstairs. Featuring sweeping curves and clusters of green, the shop floor has been designed to reflect Hong Kong elements that one would see out and about in the neighbourhood, such as warm beige tiles – reminiscent of the ones used on the Hong Kong Cultural Centre – and a bespoke neon sign. As with all Aesop locations, the central basin area is a main focal point, and the Hollywood Road store’s is crafted to integrate stone- and tile-work, greenery, and brass shelving that represents bamboo scaffolding – much like the sights of our city outside. Instead of having a fragrance armoire like in some of their other stores, Aesop Hollywood Road has an open fragrance bibliothèque, including a hidden infusion chamber where guests can spritz their clothes with a fragrance and hang it within to get a more intense olfactory experience. The crowning jewel of this store, however, is its facial spa facilities. All other local locations only have a single facial suite, but Hollywood Road has two. Joining the ranks of the Gough Street, Fashion Walk, and Harbour City stores, Hong Kong now has the largest number of Aesop facial spas globally.

We love when organisations focus on accessibility and equity for those in need. In a pioneering move for our city, The Stallery has now become the first art gallery in Hong Kong to provide EnChroma glasses for colour-blind visitors – joining over 100 other museums and galleries around the world which are also providing the same service, such as The Centre Pompidou, Van Gogh Museum, and the Gallerie d’Italia. EnChroma glasses, which are designed to enhance colour perception, will allow colour-blind individuals to perceive artwork in a way that they may never have been able to before. After all, why should colour-blind people be unable to enjoy art like everyone else? These glasses will be permanently available for public use through The Stallery’s EnChroma Colour Accessibility Program.  People with normal colour vision can perceive over one million shades and hues, while colour-blind people can only see around 10 percent of them. 350 million people worldwide are colour-blind, with a one in 12 ratio for men and one in 200 ratio for women. Founder of The Stallery, Ernest Chang – who is himself a colour-blind artist – shared how working with colours can prove difficult, and how he often needs his assistant’s help to differentiate colours and confirm if the tones match across digital representations and final prints.  The gallery will also take things further with an upcoming exhibition featuring artwork exclusively created by colour-blind artists in January 2024. Watch Chang and

Multi award-winning singer-songwriter Sam Smith will be performing in Hong Kong very soon. Before you glam up and head off to AsiaWorld Expo, we’re answering everything you might need to know about the concert. What time does Sam Smith’s concert start? The concert itself starts at 8pm on October 6, but it’s always a good idea to arrive at least an hour before to get through the admission queues. Doors will open at 6pm for audiences to start entering the venue, so we assume the queues will start forming by 5pm. As with most concerts, latecomers will only be admitted during a suitable break in the performance, but admittance is not guaranteed. Smith is only here for one night, so make sure you get there early! What is the Hong Kong setlist for Sam Smith? There doesn’t seem to be an official setlist released for his Hong Kong show, but here’s the run-down from Sam Smith’s concert in Bangkok on October 3. Stay With Me I’m Not The Only One Like I Can Too Good at Goodbyes Perfect Diamonds How Do You Sleep? Dancing With a Stranger (Sam Smith & Normani cover) Kissing You Lay Me Down Love Goes Gimme Lose You Promises (Calvin Harris and Sam Smith cover) I’m Not Here To Make Friends Latch (Disclosure cover) I Feel Love (Donna Summer cover) Gloria Human Nature (Madonna cover) Unholy Will there be merchandise for sale? There will be two merchandise counters at AsiaWorld Expo. The first is near exit A on 1/F by the orange wall, and the other will be on G/F outside Hall 3. Merch will be o

The Commissioner for Heritage’s Office (CHO) of the Development Bureau will launch the Heritage Fiesta cum Roving Exhibition 2023 from October 1 to November 31. In order to highlight heritage venues on a wider scale, this event will be held across 10 declared monuments and graded historic buildings that are related to greening and landscape. The 10 venues are the Cattle Depot Artist Village, which used to be the Ma Tau Kok Animal Quarantine Depot; the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware; Green Hub, which is the Old Tai Po Police Station; the Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre and the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, which are both old blocks in the Former Whitfield Barracks; the Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre Eco-Learn Institute; blocks 7, 10, and 25 of Lei Yue Mun Park, formerly the old Lei Yue Mun Barracks; the HKFYG Leadership Institute, which is the former Fanling Magistracy; the Pokfulam Farm, which used to be the senior staff quarters of the old Dairy Farm; and the Woodside Biodiversity Education Centre. Free guided tours will be available at the above venues on a first-come, first-served basis. The accompanying roving exhibition – running until December 20 – will be making its rounds at Immigration Tower, Citywalk 2, and various public libraries. Check out the CHO website for event details and schedules. RECOMMENDED:  🍽Hong Kong’s oldest restaurants 🏛Old stores and venues we wish still existed in Hong Kong 🎨Historic buildings that are now artistic space

Is it possible for humans to embody, or fully understand, the mind of an animal? If the answer is yes, then how is consciousness defined? Hong Kong-based artist duo Zheng Mahler has taken philosopher Thomas Nagel’s 1974 essay ‘What is it like to be a bat?’ as the foundation for this exhibition. Nagel argues that humans can only ever allude to the subjective experience of other animals. In other words, we can imagine what it’s like to fly on wings, to have bad vision, or to hunt using echolocation, but it is still only a human imagining a bat’s behaviour – and not a bat’s experience of being a bat.  To this end, Zheng Mahler has created a large-scale video installation based on their own research of bats living on Lantau island. In a first-person perspective, the viewer transforms from a human into a bat and journeys around a Mui Wo that has been rendered in psychedelic colours. A VR headset experience is also available for even further immersion into life as a bat. The exhibition also features an abstracted colour field video of a bat feeding ground, soundtracked by echolocation, as well as tile works showing different scenes from the main video installation. Rooted in philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism meditative practices, Zheng Mahler’s exhibition invites visitors to think about the limits of consciousness, and whether there is scope to expand its understanding. ‘What is it like to be a (virtual) bat?’ is free, but prior registration is required so visitors can immerse themse

2023年9月5日、香港の終審法院（最高裁判所）は地元LGBTQIA+コミュニティーにとって一部勝利となる判決を下し、香港政府へシビルユニオンを含む同性カップルの権利を法的に認めるための枠組みを設けるよう命じた。 香港のクィアコミュニティーはこれまでの約10年間、小さな勝利を得るために香港政府と激しく闘ってきたが、このたび収監中の民主化運動家であるジミー・シャムの努力によって、流れがついに変わった。ニューヨークでパートナーと結婚したシャムは、2019年以来、同性婚や少なくとも何らかの形のシビルユニオンパートナーシップを認めない政府の姿勢に異議を唱え、上訴を続けている。彼は、政府の不作為が平等の権利を侵害していると主張しているのだ。 香港では1991年以来、同性愛は非犯罪化されているが、政府は同性婚や同性婚を認めていない。これはLGBTQIA+コミュニティーの深刻な争点であり、異性間のパートナーシップで当たり前である特定の権利、平等、保護の否定を意味する。 今回の判決は、完全な結婚の権利に相当するものではないが、終審法院は現在、香港政府が 「同性パートナーシップを法的に承認するための代替的な枠組みを確立する積極的な義務（中略）に違反している 」と宣言。5人の裁判官はまた、この枠組みは同性カップルに「合法性の感覚を与え、承認に値しないという劣等的な階級に属しているような感覚を払拭（ふっしょく）するべき」だと述べた。 なお、終審法院は香港政府に対し、判決に従うための2年間の猶予を与えている。 関連記事 『Hong Kong’s top court rules in favour of ‘legal recognition’ for same-sex partnerships（原文）』 『東京、LGBTQ＋フレンドリースポット10選』 『新宿、LGBTQ＋フレンドリースポット26選』 『新宿二丁目初心者向けガイド』 『ラテンアメリカにおける婚姻平等、同性婚の法制化への道を考えるイベントをレポート』 『今こそ観てほしい、日本のLGBT映画5選』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  

The Hong Kong government has announced a new campaign to “boost its night-time economy”. At the opening ceremony of the ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ campaign, financial secretary Paul Chan declared that the plans involve setting up night markets, food stalls, movie screenings, and live music events over weekends, in the hopes that night-time business will see more traction. Apart from shopping, the events will also cover entertainment, arts, culture, leisure, music, and more. Look out for the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival with its accompanying city-wide dining promotions all month-long, a drone show held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and the return of the National Day fireworks display after a five-year absence. The campaign’s events will mainly be found on either side of Victoria Harbour, including the waterfronts of Wan Chai, Sai Wan, and Kwun Tong. 80 malls will also be hosting late-night activities, and some will extend their operational hours to 11pm, offering discounts for late-night cinema screenings. Members of the public can enjoy free entry to the Wednesday races at the Happy Valley Racecourse, and both Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland will also offer events and extended hours on certain days. Furthermore, over 100 restaurants and bars that are members of the Lan Kwai Fong Association will provide an array of dining offers. To encourage more after-dark activity, the MTR will also run a special offer. For every five night trips taken after 10.30pm, passe