Youth Hong Kong

a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups

December 2014 2013

Volume 6 5 Number 4

Youth HONG

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YOUTH HONG KONG published quarterly

by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups EDITORIAL BOARD Rosanna Wong Elaine Morgan (Editor) Ada Chau (Assistant Editor) Angela Ngai Lakshmi Jacotă William Chung Henry Poon CIRCULATION (unaudited) 11,000-12,000 in Hong Kong, throughout the region and overseas 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 REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS without written permission from the publisher is prohibited INTERVIEWS Elaine Morgan, Ada Chau CONTRIBUTORS Virginia Addison Hilary Lok Ho But-lam Education Post William Wong & Ada Chau Mimi Mo Joy Pamnani HKFYG unit staff TRANSLATION Henry Poon Ada Chau PHOTOGRAPHS Other photographs by Elaine Morgan, Ada Chau, HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School, acknowledged as captioned, or in public domain..

ARTWORK Sam Suen, DG3 DESIGN, LAYOUT & PRINTING DG3 Asia Ltd ISSN 2071-3193 WEB youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk CORRESPONDENCE to The Editor, Youth Hong Kong, 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong TEL 3755 7084, 3755 7108

4-5 OVERVIEW Focus gap, generation gap, reality gap

6-19 PARENTS SPEAK PROFESSIONALS SPEAK TALKING POINT

20-27 YOUTH SPEAK YOUTH WATCH

28-35 INSIGHT EDUCATION POST

36-41

CITY SPACE DIY Recycling Freedom of choice Working out

42-51 HKFYG PERSPECTIVES

by Kitty So

Hong Kong December 2014 Volume 6 Number 4

Contents

FAX 3755 7155 EMAIL youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hk ADVERTISING enquiries to Ada Chau 3755 7108 THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS was founded in 1960 and is one of the city’s largest non-profit youth organizations. Its programmes and activities at over 60 locations are attended by 5 million participants every year.

CORE SERVICES Counselling, Creativity Education & Youth Exchange, Education, Employment, Leadership Training, Leisure, Cultural & Sports, M21 Multimedia, Parenting, Research & Publications, Youth at Risk, Volunteering, Youth SPOTs MEDIA PARTNER Education Post

The Standard

Cover image

Youth

OVERVIEW 4 Focus gap, generation gap,

reality gap PARENTS SPEAK 6 What do parents know?

PROFESSIONALS SPEAK 10 How can counsellors help?

12 What do teachers think?

TALKING POINT 16 Mobile technology: pros and cons 17 Gadgets to go 18 NGOs go mobile M21 19 Making micro movies YOUTH SPEAK 20 What do youth do?

YOUTH WATCH 24 Young, smart and social INSIGHT 28 Virginia Addison

Finger on the pulse 30 Hilary Lok

Digital revolution 32 Ho But-lam

Social media coming of age EDUCATION POST 35 In demand CITY SPACE 36 William Wong & Ada Chau

Turning trash into treasure 38 Mimi Mo

Life’s decisions 40 Joy Pamnani

Pink of health HKFYG 42 Qianhai E Hub 44 Neighbourhood First 45 Ode to Joy 46 Youth Service Award 48 FOOD & CULTURE

Winter culture, winter food PERSPECTIVES 50 A fascinating place

Smartphone counselling for minorities

Children’s Rights

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Editorial

I

t seems that nearly everyone in Hong Kong has a smartphone or some kind of mobile device. It’s not just adults but young people and children too. Yet, there is a gap in the way these gadgets are

used, and in the knowledge people of different ages have of them. There is also a gap in the levels of understanding between parents and children, and between teachers and students.

This issue of the magazine presents stories where experience of these gaps is shared. We discover how Hong Kong parents are coping with their savvy children and how teachers keep up with the bewildering pace of change. We also consider whether the young digital natives realize that they might be open to risks, including health risks, malware and stalkers via their mobile devices. Then we compare Hong Kong with other countries, look at some of the new gadgets on the market and find out about opportunities for young entrepreneurs who want to be smartphone app developers.

On all these topics we welcome your comments.

Please write and tell us about your own experience. Why not use your own mobile device to send us your message!

Dr Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP Executive Director, HKFYG

by Naiyaru flickr,com/photos/naiyaru/6275392691

December 2014

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Overview

The mobile internet

focus gap, generation S

ince Youth Hong Kong explored the mobile internet world in June 2011 it has evolved rapidly.

Are we keeping up with the changes involved?

Today, a large majority of young people in Hong Kong, like their parents, have smartphones or other mobile gadgets.* Not only here but in many countries, smartphones are the preferred choice for staying connected. While prices of smartphones and tablet computers have come down, so their solid state memory capacity has gone up and data traffic has intensified. Social media services like WhatsApp and Facebook have made multitasking and instant messaging completely mainstream for people of all ages within a mobile network footprint regardless of location.

However, despite their benefits, smartphones and other mobile devices have downsides. One of these is their undeniable capacity of to distract from life in the real world. They also create distinct generation gaps. First, there is a gap between parents who are not digital natives and their computer savvy offspring. The second gap affects the over 55 year-old late adopters. 37% of people in this age group in developed countries have no smartphone and a quarter of those who have one have never downloaded an app.1

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In the middle age group, parents of primary to secondary school students try to set limits and

Overwhelmed by the pace of change, some find it increasingly difficult to monitor behaviour and even harder to stay ahead. rules to help their children become responsible consumers of all that mobile devices have to offer. Some of them, overwhelmed by the pace of technological change, find it increasingly difficult to monitor behaviour and even harder to stay ahead of the pace set by the younger generation.

According to an American survey 66% of parents of 10-23 year-olds say their child is more tech-savvy than they are and 82% of those with 10-12 yearolds say they lack the energy to monitor all their children do online.2 Naturally, they feel that their authority comes into question when their children know more about a mobile device’s function than they do, especially when faced with the conflicts that the mobile internet can bring into family life.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Overview

gap, reality gap Teachers, meanwhile, irrespective of the level of their own skills, are increasingly using the mobile internet in classrooms and for homework assignments. According to the ongoing Pew Internet Research Project, 77% of teachers say the overall impact of e-learning is positive, but 87% say today’s youth have short attention spans and are easily distracted and 71% of teachers say mobile devices create student management issues.3 In an age of interactive media, where vast resources are on hand at the swipe of a finger, knowing how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information is essential. Media and information literacy is needed to ensure that teens and younger children know about security, inappropriate content, evaluating online risks and sharing personal information. The last is especially worrying when approximately 95% of all youth aged 10-23 use social media.

To operate effectively in such an informationdense environment, where rifts in understanding, cracks in family values, and gaps in experience and skills are evident, parents, youth and teachers all have new responsibilities. By recognizing them, they take the first step in bridging a critical reality gap that could otherwise broaden the gulf between the generations and their ability to adapt to change. The articles and interviews in the pages that follow attempt to throw some light on the ways in which this step might be taken.

Notes and sources For this issue of Youth Hong Kong, the terms “mobile devices” and “mobile gadgets” and are used synonymously to refer to smartphones, tablet computers such as the iPads and iPod Touch, and similar Android products that connect to the internet.

1. Deloitte.Technology, Media & Communications Predictions, 2014. http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Technology-MediaTelecommunications/gx-tmt-predictions-2014.pdf 2. Deloitte, ibid 3. Rainie, Lee. Pew Internet Project. pewinternet.org/2013/02/28/part-iii-bringing-technology-into-the-classroom/ 4. McAfee Digital Deception Study 2013.mcafee.com/hk/resources/reports/rp-digital-deception-survey.pdf

智能電話及平板電腦近年急速發展 ，本刊曾在早年探討青 年使用流動裝置上網的情況 。隨著各種社交媒體與應用程 式 如Whatsapp 、Twitter 、instagram及facebook等 開 發 和普及 ，青年使用流動裝置上網不僅更趨方便 ，使用者的 年紀更是愈來愈低齡化 。由此衍生的問題與挑戰 ，也不容 忽視 。現今年輕人多被稱為數碼新生代 ；「數碼鴻溝」的存 在 ，已是不爭事實 。面對這道縫隙 ，我們應該如何回應 ？

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Parents speak

What do

parents know? ight parents talk about attitudes to children with mobile devices. They all want to ensure safety and suitable browsing but some feel out of touch with the online mobile world compared with their youngsters.

E

In Hong Kong, where 87% of 18-64 year-olds and 89% of 10-24 year-olds* have smartphones, staying ahead can be difficult. So can setting and enforcing rules. Almost one in five parents do not monitor their children online, according to a British study.** What’s the situation here?

JOYCE: married, working; son 14, daughter 13

Each of my children got a smartphone when they turned 12. We told them not download apps without permission, thinking naïvely that this would show we were in charge. In fact, my daughter is always on WhatsApp or Instagram. It seems to be the only way she communicates. Sometimes I have to send her a message to get attention!

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We tried to set limits, but they are difficult to enforce. My husband doesn’t set the best example.

He’s always on the phone too. The children just copy. We tell them not to gossip, bully or look at inappropriate sites, but the truth is I don’t really know what they are doing. When I try to find their online history, the list is empty or shows nothing we would object to. I have a feeling that they are pulling the wool over my eyes. When I challenge them, they say, “We’re chatting to our friends about homework.” Should I call the other parents and check? My husband doesn’t bother. He enjoys his conversations with them about technology.

YING: married, stay-at-home mother; daughter 2

My daughter used my iPhone first when she was about one year old, just as a toy. But now, when she is still only 2 years and 4 months old, she can already record video and take photos with it, and she keeps wanting to click on the “Safari” button because she knows it is for finding videos. For now, she doesn’t know how to search and she can’t use it when I’m not there because she doesn’t know the pass code. We also have a tablet and she knows where to look for videos and how to choose them.

Frankly, I think she already knows more about the phone than I do. She has a better intuitive sense of how it works and it already worries me how long she spends with it. Right now, I let her use it around twice a day, each time for ten minutes. By the time she is 6 or 7 and in primary school, she will have her own. I will set limits such as twice a day for half an hour. I will also limit her access and not let do her own searching.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

by Len Matthews ickr.com/photos/mythoto/1193636560

Parents speak

CONNIE: married, working; two sons, 16 and 14

Both my boys have their own smart phones.

They also both have iPods, iPads and laptops.

They are always online: it’s homework on the computer and leisure and relaxation on their on their phones. I really see no problem with this.

My children are responsible and educated and since they know more than me, I don’t worry. We do have general rules: no downloading or surfing inappropriate sites. I trust them and I don’t check their phones as that would be a breach of trust.

It is important that they don’t get left behind technologically, so I make sure they have the latest models. Sometimes they call me, but mostly they chat with their friends, play games or watch YouTube videos.

JUDY: divorced, working; five sons aged between 8 and 22

My policy is to give each of the children a cheap smartphone and a tablet computer on their 14th birthday. Nothing fancy and they have to “earn” it by getting good results at school.

I have to stay ahead so I’m always looking for tips on blocking or undoing deleted photos, emails and texts. I also make a habit of checking on their posts, activating security settings on their phones in case they are lost or stolen and constantly installing system updates. There are strict time limits and the rules are enforced. If not, I take the devices away. One of the boys broke the rules. I smashed his phone. Now, they all know the consequences of misbehaviour.

I do random checks but as they have grown older and smarter, they try to delete information before I see it. In fact, I know I cannot always monitor closely. My big concern is that they might be looking at, or taking, nude photos and circulating them online.

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Parents speak

ANDREW: divorced, working; daughter 8

My daughter is eight and has her own smartphone. I use a timer when she is online, whether it is for homework, browsing or playing games to stimulate her brain.

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by csalla flickr.com/photos/csaila/3648816968

I disagree with people who emphasize the negatives of mobile technology. However, I always stay up to date and teach her about online security, how to recognize spam mail and malware, and never to upload personal data on social media. I am pretty sure I know a lot more than she does. If I thought she might know something about the mobile internet that I didn’t, my strategy would be to ask her to teach me. My emphasis is on being enabled by, not dependent on technology. ***

KEN: married, working; son 9

My son will probably get a smartphone when he goes to secondary school. My main concern is that it would be a distraction. Because of his age, he lacks self-control and time-management skills but by the time he leaves primary school he will feel peer pressure. For now, the thought of such pressure just makes me stricter.

I sometimes let him borrow my smartphone but only after I have unlocked the passcode. He can then use the phone under my supervision.

His mother is always on her phone, even at meal times. I suggested we should have our personal rules for this and she agreed, but she keeps on checking her phone. What can I do?

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Parents speak

w ANGELA: married, stay-at-home mother; son 10

CHRISTY: married, stay-at-home mother; son 18, daughter 10

My son has been playing on my phones since he was quite small and I gave him a spare smartphone when he was 9 but he has no self-control and plays games all the time. His dad and I drafted a “contract” listing the rules and explaining the boundaries. He agreed, but the whole plan fell flat.

He couldn’t stop playing his games, so I told him I’d sold his smartphone. It wasn’t true and he cried so hard. After a week, I gave it back to him.

My son has both a smartphone and tablet. My daughter has had a second-hand smartphone since she was 8. Even so young, she gossips for hours on WhatsApp or WeChat, especially as most of her classmates have smartphones too.

Sometimes she spends 2-3 hours a day chatting and comes late for dinner. That’s too much, but I am tired of shouting. Even when she does homework, she can’t leave the phone alone.

I think that if he continues to play like this it will affect his studies. It’s good to use these devices at school, but I still prefer him to read an actual book rather than read online. I think that’s better for memory and for his eyesight.****

Some of my relatives let their children play with tablets whenever they go out for a meal. This I don’t allow, even though my own parents used let me take a comic to restaurants. We should teach children good manners. I worry about deteriorating standards with all the online abbreviations like, “b4” instead of “before”, “CU” for “see you”. But I really like it when my daughter uses “emoji” icons, like sending me a kiss. My son does it too. He is too shy in real life. Because he lives in a university dorm and my husband works long hours, we keep in contact via family group chat.

The children laugh at me. I’m not as smart as them with these gadgets. When my 10 year-old daughter teaches me something, I often forget it.

It’s quite an art, being a mother. There will always be a gap in experience but you don’t want your children to think you are too controlling. Neither can you let yourself be ignorant about their world.

You have to know how to look after them.

Notes *See page 23 ** http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26121434 *** See Gardner, H & Davis, K. The App Generation. Yale University, 2013 **** 80—90% of East Asian city school-leavers are short-sighted compared to under 10% in the US or Australia. There is significant correlation with time spent studying, reading or using electronic devices http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-05/l-two050112.php http://www.economist.com/news/china/21631113-why-somany-chinese-children-wear-glasses-losing-focus

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Professionals speak

Can counsellors help bridge

the generation gap in understanding the scope and nature of the internet can compound the generation gap when it comes to mobile devices and families, says Hsu Siu-man, supervisor of student counselling at HKFYG.

by reway2007 https://www.flickr.com/photos/reway2007/8230881592

A

It is not unusual for arguments to occur between family members over the use of smartphones and tablets, and it is not only the parents who complain.

Children too, faced with parents who cannot stop checking their phones, naturally have objections.

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gap ?

According to Federation social workers, too much time texting with friends, spending pocket money on app downloads, and losing phones are the most common concerns for parents. Awareness of health risks is also widespread, including the Whether the root of the problem is parents possible negative effects on eyesight of peering for compulsively checking Facebook notifications, too long, too close-up at touchscreens. Compulsive WhatsApp posts, or incoming push email, it’s all internet use is a big worry too, but other risks to the same to a youngster psychological health who craves care and Parents should face the issues and well-being also attention. Hsu Siu-man need to be addressed. with their children. It may be says, “most children will feel bored if their parents difficult, but it is essential.

“Parents seem to pay less attention to them underestimate the than to their mobile phones. They may even act impact of cyberbullying, possibly because it’s naughty on purpose, just to get attention. However, hard to find out about it unless their children when a parent hands over their own phone to tell them. They also seem less concerned keep a child quiet, they are making a big mistake. about exposure to pornography than in the Although the generation gap is narrowed by sharing past, despite the continued risk for children the phone, there are risks they should be aware of. and teenagers,” according to Hsu Siu-man.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Professionals speak

Fundamentally, bridging the gap across generations involves exercising common sense and adapting moral values to the world of the internet, she continues. That means constantly updating knowledge of what smartphones offer and how users can be exposed and exploited, by location services and jealous bullies, for example. “Parents should face issues like these with their children, says Hsu Siu-man.

“It may be difficult, but it is essential.”

It is a question of balancing freedom of speech with a sense of responsibility.

One example is “sexting” or sending suggestive short messages. “It is a common but subtle practice among youngsters,” Hsu Siu-man explains. “I can see this from online discussions. Some young people who are sexting will go to a sex-related forum first to identify the person with whom they want to form a WhatsApp group. They then exchange texts, photos and sex-related voice messages within that group. They may never meet face-to-face and the photos may be fake.”

Technical skill levels among the older generation are quite diverse but there are plenty of workshops and training sessions available at schools and community centres according to Hsu Siu-man.

Parents with less knowledge or experience of mobile devices usually just complain about the amount of time children spend online, often because they don’t understand how useful a smartphone or tablet can be for homework and fact-finding. “Working, middle-class parents who are educated to tertiary level are used to managing their smartphones and tablets but they may not be up with the latest trends.”

What the majority of parents need is “a way to fill the gap in their knowledge of cyber world phenomena, the ease of making friends via social media, the risks to privacy and the need to protect personal particulars. It is a question of balancing freedom of communication with a sense of responsibility for what is posted on a Facebook wall.” Media literacy and a discussion of the moral issues involved in dealing with gossip-mongering and rumour proliferation are needed. It requires awareness of the possibility of unfair criticism without justification and complaints about uploading photos of others without their permission.

Addiction is always a hot topic. People of all ages can become over-dependent on their mobile devices: for communication, work, entertainment and news. “On the one hand parents complain about children spending too much time on the phone or social networking. On the other hand, if they accidentally left their mobile phone at home, they would go straight back to fetch it, even if they were already on the way to work.

It just goes to show how dependent they are on staying connected. Nevertheless, you don’t hear parents saying, ‘I'm addicted’ or even, ‘I can’t resist checking my phone’, but they might accuse their children of being internet addicts.”

Addiction is always a hot topic.

Issues such as privacy, setting limits, and assessing the integrity of online material and contacts are complex. They involve recognizing prudent boundaries between people, judging wisely, and reaching reasonable, valid conclusions about online interchange and resources. Practical skills cannot help with all the hurdles. Some of them can be a challenge whatever your age.

Counselling services at HKFYG

uTouch: Award winner WhatsApp: 6277 8899 Something app: Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Award (APICTA),Inclusion and Community Section, 2014 Gold Award for HKICT 2014: Best Digital Inclusion Award Gold Award at the Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-being 2014

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Professionals speak

What do teachers think? obile devices are already part of normal life for students, so integrating mobile technology into the classroom is logical.

The questions facing teachers like Mr Lee and Mr Chong in this interview by Ada Chau are not if or when, but rather which devices and how best to use them.

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Students are far more motivated if they work on their own or in collaborative groups with tablets, rather than trying to sit still and listen to a teache.

Adoption of e-learning in the city’s schools is uneven, and the government’s recent Fourth Strategy on IT in Education consultation exercise was intended, in part, to address this issue. In the Federation’s HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School (LSKPS), iPads are in use for IT classes, Chinese, English, Maths and General Studies. The school has 30, enough for all pupils in a class.

“One of the most exciting things about using the iPad in class is how it enhances learning,” says Mr Matthew Lee, ICT coordinator. “With Hong Kong educational reform stressing self-directed learning, I have found students far more motivated if they work on their own or in collaborative groups with tablets, rather than trying to sit still and listen to a teacher lecture. The iPads are perfect for that.”

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The range of technological tools for learning continues to grow. This will lead to greater creativity and innovation, says Mr Lee. He cites the way children now present their work, not just with PowerPoint, but through videos and photographs, as well as by uploading to a cloud platform. These methods also enable students to see what is being done by their classmates and to provide feedback.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Professionals speak

Photos courtesy of HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School

Most of Mr Lee’s colleagues at LSKPS concur.

They says the students need little help using the hardware and sometimes know more about how the devices work than their teachers. But the teachers all agree that the children need a guiding hand to assess, process and ultimately use the information they discover online wisely and creatively.

Media and information literacy (MIL see page 23) is one of the concerns expressed by Mr John Chong Kin-lung, a teacher of computer studies and English. “We must be careful to monitor these children, to see that they do not become superficial when they search for information on the internet. This is actually a great challenge for us teachers and it is our responsibility to ensure that students don’t get into the habit of cutting and pasting without cross-checking information and evaluating the material they are presenting.”

All the teachers acknowledge that using technology in the classroom requires certain adjustments on their part. Not only does e-learning involve more time for lesson planning and generating material, but teachers must also be more observant

in the classroom, ensuring students do not waste time browsing irrelevant sites or get constantly distracted by all that digital technology offers.

“This is something that cannot be helped when students getting overexcited,” says Mr Chong. “But I think we teachers still have the upper hand!”

The most difficult aspect for some teachers is adapting their mindsets and teaching habits when faced with unfamiliar devices and apps.

At LSKPS, support and training is available, both in and out of school. Teachers also give great credit to the Principal, Mr Kenneth Law, for his enthusiasm in promoting technology in the classroom and for setting up an IT Support Group to help staff members.

“We all understand that trends are changing and technology is part of everyday life, including teaching,” says Mr Law. “We must be supportive of our colleagues and help those who need to learn more. It requires extra effort but, as most teachers are willing to learn, all that is really needed is time and we believe we will get fruitful rewards in future.”

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Talking point

Mobile technology:

benefits and challenges few years ago, mobile devices in classrooms and youth centres were almost unheard of. Now, Hong Kong parents and schools as well as youth are experimenting with them and benefiting from the wealth of information and resources available. What questions, pluses and minuses should be borne in mind?

A

First, does technology add value so that students work better than they did before? Second, are digital technologies used meaningfully? Third, can mobile technology have deleterious effects on child health?

Educators have come up with strategies for dealing with some of these issues: Set goals and expectations for teaching and

learning before deciding which device to use

Develop strong support at the school early Maintain transparent communication with parents Think about equality and levelling the playing field Bridge the gap between users by letting the students take some control

Use students’ ideas to help design mobile learning

Problems with vision and musculoskeletal development were also possible, according to an ophthalmologist and an orthopaedic specialist on the research team. Half of the students had lost sleep from using computers and other related devices, while 45% admitted their academic performance had suffered. The youngest child found to have used a mobile device was just one month old. On average, children started using tablets and personal computers at 16 months and 24 months, respectively.

by Claudia Tam

by algogenius flickr.com/photos/ 59939034@N02/5476290862

programmes

The social challenges of mobile technology are also taken seriously. Findings released this year of an interdisciplinary study of 4,300 parents, teachers and children showed that well over a third of the primary and secondary school pupils interviewed had given up outdoor activities altogether in favour of staying indoors with their devices.

Mobile learning Benefits include:

Technical challenges include:

creative use of online resources they cost less than PCs and laptops

connectivity and battery life screen size and key size

attractive multimedia content delivery devices are often lighter than books or PCs

compatibility and risk of obsolescence keeping up to date

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Source scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1549901/health-warning-survey-finds-hong-kong-toddlers-begin-using-tablets-16

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Talking point

Media literacy: closing the awareness gap iteracy is simply defined as the ability to read and write, but in today's world we require much more. Bombarded with often contradictory information from so many sources, the ability to analyze and evaluate it has become crucial. As the professionals in this section say, whatever your age, you need media and information literacy (MIL) skills to help you.

by algogenius flickr.com/photos/59939034@N02/5476290876

L

These involve: developing critical thinking understanding how media messages shape culture and society identifying marketing strategies recognizing the techniques of persuasion distinguishing between truth and bias, spin, misinformation and lies creating and distributing media messages with integrity

The second level involves asking critical questions to evaluate the information: Who created this message?

What persuasive techniques are being used to attract my attention?

How might other people understand this message?

What values and points of view are represented in this message?

Why is this message being sent to me?

The third set of skills has a different purpose.

It is required when creating content for dissemination. The questions are: What am I creating and sharing?

Why am I doing this?

Will my message engage and compel my target audience?

Have I clearly and consistently used my own values and points of view?

Have I communicated my purpose effectively?

Where am I getting this message from?

Who sent me this message?

How might different people respond to this message?

Do I respond to this message actively or passively?

by Claudia Tam

The first level of skills when confronted with information involves asking questions about intake of information:

How important do YOU think media and information literacy is for today’s youth? Send your views to youthhongkong.hkfyg.org

Further reading http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/sec/library/1112fs15-e.pdf

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Talking point

Partnerships at HKFYG with Microsoft Partnership programmes for schools and NGOs have made the adoption of mobile technology more feasible. On this page there is a selection, including some in which the Federation has been a beneficiary.

Microsoft is currently providing YouthSpark training at the HKFYG Jockey Club M21 centre in Aberdeen. This programme aims to provide training to expand digital literacy, thus improving youth employment opportunities. The underlying goal is to help talented young people, particularly young women, to understand career opportunities in IT and increase the diversity of the IT talent pool.

Microsoft also collaborated in the creation of the Federation’s community-based technology-learning centres, dubbed Cyber SPOTs. These formerly gave free IT training at the first wireless broadband Internet social services centre in Hong Kong.

More information microsoft.com/hk/sparkhk/english/empowering_youth.aspx microsoft.com/hk/giving/caprogram/default.mspx#potential

More information

by Massachusetts Education https://www.flickr.com/photos/masseoe/8167724021

samsung.com/hk/smartschoolproject/

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WE Learn: an e-learning initiative in Singapore

courtesy of Qualcomm

Innovative and smart An experiment in educational technology was the Hong Kong Innovative Schools initiative, also supported

by Microsoft, and reported in the June 2009 issue of Youth Hong Kong. One Laptop Per Child followed and currently the Samsung Smart School Citizenship Project is providing 2,400 free tablet computers in about 70 Hong Kong primary and secondary schools in need of support. Among the objectives are the promotion of e-learning for schoolteachers and principals and the development of IT capabilities.

The Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ project in Singapore uses 3G-enabled smartphones. Called WE Learn, its aim is to transform learning from the traditional, teacher-centred model to a student-centred, inquiryoriented, and collaborative model. The pupils can take the phones home so they have access to online resources both in and out of the classroom. Teachers have observed students becoming more in dependent, inquisitive and self-directed. Teachers have adapted their teaching methods to incorporate the technology and reflect the positive results and responses from students while parents have become more open to using and supporting technology for learning.

More information

qualcomm.com/news/topic/education Qualcomm is a multinational semiconductor company that designs and markets wireless telecommunications products and services.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Talking point

by Sho Hashimoto flickr.com/photos/shokai/14669551252

Microsoft Band

Here are some appealing items for your Christmas stockings from in the mobile device department. Watch out for the price tag!

by Ross Harmes flickr.com/photos/rossharmes/4267358767

courtesy of Microsoft

Gadgets to go

courtesy of A T & T

by lawrencegs flickr.com/photos/lawrencegs/11466363313

Three fitness trackers that synchronize with your phone: Microsoft band, Fitbit Charge, Jawbone Up24

Google Glass Explorer 2

A wearable hybrid child finder and simple smartphone (available in the US).

Works via a parent’s smartphone.

A pair of glasses that contains a hidden computer with a small transparent display screen above the right eye.

photo courtesy of Ampy

by Samsung Tomorrow flickr.com/photos/samsungtomorrow/14873631009

AT&T Filip

Samsung Gear S

Ampy

A standalone smartwatch with a built-in 3G mobile connection, WiFi and Bluetooth that can handle calls with its built in speaker and microphone.

A small, wearable battery pack that can convert the kinetic motion of the wearer into electricity with which to recharge mobile devices.

17

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Talking point

NGOs going mobile K YHK

en Ngai has worked in the information technology at the Federation for some years. He talks to Youth Hong Kong about innovating with and adapting to the mobile internet, and says we cannot forget it.

How feasible has it been for an NGO to harness the power of the mobile internet?

KN Since I began working in this field about 15 years ago, computing and the internet have changed very fast. Every two or three years there have been major developments, not only in hardware and internet platforms but in applications.

Compatibility is a perennial issue and already there is a problem of obsolescence associated with mobile internet app development. Sometimes, new mobile web technologies and operating systems emerge too fast for an NGO’s apps to keep up.

YHK How can these challenges be met?

By constant learning, whatever your age, by KN observing the latest trends and partnering industry stakeholders. However, overhead and recurrent costs can escalate rapidly, as can the costs of marketing. The way people

use hardware has also changed dramatically.

Ten years ago we only used mobile phones for calling and texting. Nowadays, probably 60% of Hongkongers use them for everything, including web surfing, music, gaming and learning.

We have no choice but to use mobile internet technology. It meets expectations and has the advantage of speed, penetration and reach.

Every few minutes, most young people in the city are on their smartphones and they are not very patient! They expect fast response.

YHK What innovations are planned for the future?

Websites still work best for the delivery of information about services, coupled with social media. This is the direction we will continue to follow for mobile internet-based services. We will also design a media literacy programme which raises awareness of how the internet shapes perceptions, and how consumers need to develop critical and responsible attitudes.

KN

18

by Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/4657824028

For us, as a forward-looking youth service organization, the mobile internet is essential.

Until the next new technology takes the world by storm, we have to keep it constantly in mind.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

M21

Making Micro Movies with M21 From now till September next year, the HKFYG Jockey Club M21 is offering training in micro movie-making to pupils at the Cotton Spinners Association Secondary School, Po Leung Kuk CW Chu College and Buddhist Ho Nam Kam College. Wharf Holdings Ltd’s Project WeCan is our partner and the goal is the creation of high quality films for entry at youth film festivals. An award ceremony with premiere screening of micro movies will take place in early June next year and the films will be released for public viewing in September.

pp HKFYG Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Camp: for team building and basic production skills

pp M21 training classes in script writing, cinematography, lighting, sound, editing and visual effects

More information Visit m21.hk/wefilm

Contact CK Chow at M21, tel 3979 0040 for further details

19

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Youth speak

ight youngsters chat about the mobile internet. Will and Carl are still at primary level and the girls are at secondary school. They all like smartphones but are aware of their distractions and the problems they cause with parents.

are young people

Will

Siu-yu

Carl

Claudia by sekihan flickr.com/photos/ sekihan/3963055349

by Veronica Belmont .flickr.com/ photos/earlysound/4490601295

doing?

by Smithsonian’s National Zoo flickr. com/photos/nationalzoo/8389950390

What

by David Woo flickr.com/photos/ mckln/3134985100

E

by Susan Sermoneta flickr.com/ photos/en321/15595917402

My parents told me not to use the phone late at night, but even if I did, they wouldn’t know.

Hilary

20

Snehaa

by Ananami No03.flickr.com/ photos/ayanami_no03/4959562793

Ella

Bakhita

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Youth speak

WHAT DO THEY USE?

8

Will I was eight when I got my first smartphone. Now I’m ten and most of my primary school classmates have one too. I know I spend a lot of time on my phone, but I try to look at it only after I finish my homework. I deliberately put it somewhere I can’t reach it.

Carl I’m also ten. I used to have a smartphone too, but about six months ago, my mother took it away from me because I was always playing games. Now I have an old mobile phone with just one game on it.

Ella I got my first mobile phone when I was 11. Now I’m 14 and I have both a smartphone and an iPad. Most of my school friends have them too. I think 25 of us in a class of 26 have some kind of mobile device. They empower us if we don't depend on them.

Hilary I’m in senior secondary school and I recently got a new smartphone because my old one finally broke. The next time I get a new phone, I want it to look good. My old one just was so old it was a joke.

Siu-yu I’m the same age as Hilary, and I totally understand! My old phone was a bit of a joke too and now my new one has a cheap data plan. It’s so slow!

Claudia I guess mobile devices are fragile in some ways. They must be, given how often people replace them, and I’m sure that they’re not meant to last for more than a couple of years.

I got my iPhone when I was 17 and have had it for around a year but it’s already going wrong. Still, I’m quite attached to it and I’m not looking forward to replacing it.

Snehaa Like most teenagers, my phone and me …well, we are almost inseparable. It’s my second-best friend and I’m hooked to it almost everywhere and anytime, mostly for social media.

Bakhita I’m 13, but unlike any of you and most of my friends, I’ve never had a smartphone or 3G. My phone plan consists of free texts to people on the same network and calls paid by minute, by my parents.

It’s different for parents. They don’t know as much about technology.

21

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Youth speak

HOW DO THEY USE THEM?

8

Siu-yu I used to be helplessly attached to my phone, mainly for social networking. My parents were always yelling at me and so I decided that I would try and do without it – at least for part of the day. I think what really motivated me to “let go” was that it really used to irritate me, seeing all those huddled masses on the MTR who just sit and stare at flickering screens. I began to socialize with my friends in person more. I know that mobile devices provide vast amounts of information on demand and allow easier communication, but I do think we should rely on them less.

Bakhita I use my iPod more than my mobile phone. It helps me with homework but it’s also a distraction. If I had a smartphone, I think I would be like the others and be on it all the time. As it is, I can easily get off-task on Facebook or Instagram. I would like to find a balance, but that’s easier said than done. It’s different for our parents. Their generation doesn’t know as much about technology. I’m pleased to say, we haven’t had any really bad arguments so far.

Carl I love games and that is why my mother took my smartphone away. I was really not able to control myself. I still wouldn’t say I was “addicted” but it did take up a lot of my time. I hope she gives me another one but I know I’ll have to make a much bigger effort to go out and play football.

Will I know how easy it is to spend tons of time on the phone. I try to keep up with my library book reading but I have to make a really big effort.

Ella I use my smartphone mostly at home for WhatsApp, Facebook and browsing. I have no game apps and I seldom make calls. I enjoy reading real books. My parents told me not to use the phone late at night but even if I did, they wouldn’t know.

Snehaa Sometimes I can’t stop messaging or texting someone. It tends to get very addictive because it’s like a real conversation and much more private than speaking on the phone.

I do try not to be on it so much, but when there’s nothing to do, when I’m bored or when on the bus, it’s hard to not look at it.

Claudia I tend to use my phone more on public transport, rather than sitting idly and staring out of the window, even if it’s only music on my headphones or Candy Crush.

Hilary

22

I prefer Flaubert and Hardy on my Kindle app! But like you all, I can be a procrastinator, very prone to distraction when I am supposed to be studying. I think it is just our generation. We are very, very immersed in the online world. My parents and I do have arguments about it and they always complain that I spend too much time on mine.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Youth speak

WHY DO THEY USE THEM?

8

Claudia I’d say that mobile devices have transformed the way we learn. The other day in class, we did a live online survey using a phone app. That was interactive and really fun. But when it comes to real social contact, I am less inclined to share my thoughts through the screen or online. I worry about chats getting into the wrong hands and people misinterpreting what I am trying to say. I also think that an emoji can only go so far to express your feelings. I’m a firm believer in giving myself thinking space, turning off my phone for a while. It can give me perspective on what’s really important.

Siu-yu Real friends are very important and I often find those blinking messages and pop-up notifications difficult to ignore, but online chatting is intimate in its own way. When I really want to unwind I try to ignore my phone, spend some time with real people or listen to music.

Bakhita I agree. Although I know I have more and more friends on Facebook and more and more followers on Instagram, it doesn’t really mean very much.

Hilary If social networking were the primary means of social interaction, that would be very worrying indeed.

Carl I did sometimes use the smartphone for homework and I really want another one. I’m sure it would be useful for getting information.

Ella Since the Occupy movement began, I have been looking out for more news and opinions on universal suffrage and democracy. I also use WhatsApp for group projects. Sometimes it is easy to misunderstand people if you only use text.

Snehaa My phone is useful for social media and for making phone calls to real people. I use the App Store occasionally. That’s handy.

Will I have real-life friends too and I’m no longer in a WhatsApp group with my schoolmates. I don’t really need more apps, but there is one I really want – it’s a game about growing plants to fight vampires. Not very useful really. I know I can’t have it because I would play all the time and then my mother would be yelling all the time too!

23

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Youth watch

Young, smart and social martphone statistics around the world have made headline news for some time. Now, statisticians say the total population of users is likely to reach its maximum in about ten years, with the Asia-Pacific region peaking at about eight billion.

S

Smartphone users by region: forecast growth 8

Smartphones are mainstream for many Hong Kong people. 87% of 18-64 year-olds have one, the same as in Singapore. Take-up is 71% in mainland China and 18% in India.1 Hong Kong also leads Asia in mobile internet use, with 96% of smartphone owners using a mobile internet service on a daily basis, followed a by Japan (94%), Singapore (93%), and South Korea (92%).2

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

A Federation poll of Hong Kong 10-24 year-olds in late 2013 revealed that 89% had smartphones and used them for an average of 3.5 hours a day.

76% used the instant messaging function most.

42% used them for social networking and 41% for games. 71% used the phones just before sleeping, and 67% said they never switched them off. 50% used them at mealtimes and 43% took them to the bathroom. 49.5% said that when they were out, they felt more insecure without their phone than without cash.3 A survey in August 2014 showed that 68% receive information about news and social issues via the internet. Less than 30% do so via TV, radio, newspapers and magazines etc.4

7

Africa & Middle East Asia & Pacific

Central & Latin America

Central & Eastern Europe North America Western Europe

Source asymco.com/2014/01/07/when-will-smartphones-saturate/ Note This diagram is indicative only

24

Smartphone users (billion)

How do smartphone and social media statistics for Hong Kong match up to eight other countries? We look at the US, the UK and Asia, with figures for various age groups.

Sources 1. Nielsen: Decoding the Asian Mobile Consumer, 2013.

2. Google & Ipsos Media CT. « 2103 Our Mobile Planet: Hong Kong” 3. HKFYG Youth Research Centre. Youth’s mobile usage, November 2013, yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/news.aspx?id=d0c297f1-6593-4fdc-900d-db07e50eed14&corpname=yrc&i=2526 4. http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/news.aspx?id=37156654-f902-43e6-b8f9-37c414d55302&corpname=yrc&i=2526

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch

Users, uses and age

8 countries

BEIJING DELHI TAIPEI HONG KONG

obile devices, including smartphones and tablet computers, are common, especially among youth in the developed world, writes researcher, Jennifer Lam. How about overall penetration rates, figures for older users and the less developed areas?

M

Smartphone city demographics Six Southeast Asian cities are compared for smartphone penetration in various age groups.

Hong Kong and Seoul are close contenders for top position.

SEOUL

SINGAPORE

Sources 1. chinainternetwatch.com/8954/mobile-social-networking-apps/#ixzz3HQl55d3Z 2. red-luxury.com/trends/chinas-mobile-internet-users-are-young-not-affluent-and-in-lowertier-cities-26550 3. tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/more-than-90-percent-mobile-internet-users-in-indiaare-men-105097.html 4. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Teens-drive-Indian-smartphone-salesstudy-finds/articleshow/22406572.cms 5. tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/73-percent-indian-pre-teens-access-facebook-othersocial-networks-survey-223384.html

aged 15-19

aged 20-29

aged 30-39

aged 40-49

aged 50-54

SEOUL

92%

98%

88%

87%

78%

85.4%

92%

97%

89%

67%

52%

HONG KONG

92%

97%

94%

79%

54%

81%

82%

92%

87%

66%

36%

10. phys.org/news/2013-06-gulf-lovers-smartphones-segregation.html

SINGAPORE

77%

84%

83%

66%

30%

71.2%

12. quora.com/What-are-the-most-popular-social-media-sites-in-Saudi-Arabia-at-themoment-mid-2014

80%

81%

78%

58%

47%

13. english.alarabiya.net/en/media/digital/2014/01/09/Use-of-mobiles-in-social-media-on-therise-in-Saudi-Arabia.html

TAIPEI

66%

78%

82%

63%

68%

62%

71%

60%

48%

36%

64.8% BEIJING

53.5%

60%

85%

60%

35%

26%

60%

73%

58%

38%

12%

6. bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-26/softbank-backed-app-lets-indian-teens-flirt-in-private. html 7. news.com.au/technology/japans-internet-fasting-camps-for-teen-addicts/storye6frfro0-1226705489183 8. thebridge.jp/en/2013/11/japan-mobile-usage-survey 9. blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/10/14/smartphone-use-rising-survey-says/ 11. arabnews.com/mobile-devices-replace-watching-tv-among-kingdom%E2%80%99sfamilies

14. blog.tellmycell.com/2013/10/smartphone-adoption-close-to-100-among-young-southkoreans-.html 15. globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/south-korea/140411/one-four-southkorean-teenagers-smart-phones-addiction 16. dailytech.com/ South+Korean+Schools+Can+Now+Disable+Students+Smartphones+During+Class/ article34557.htm 17. taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/print/2014/04/19/2003588406 18. digitalkey.biz/2013/10/tablet-and-smartphone-ownership-in-uk/ 19. ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_322713.pdf

DELHI

9.4%

14%

23%

14%

6%

4%

6%

10%

4%

4%

4%

Source and Note 1. http://www.hakuhodo.jp/pdf/2013/20130809_2.pdf 2. *Delhi ranks 14th in the source survey, after Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Mumbai.

20. mobile-ent.biz/industry/market-data/81-per-cent-of-uk-teens-use-smartphones/040714 21. emarketer.com/Article/Smartphones-Become-UK-Young-Adults-Prime-PlaceSocial/1010153 22. independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/british-children-are-worst-in-europefor-excessive-smartphone-use-9582901.html 23. pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/ 24. cnet.com/news/smartphone-ownership-reaches-critical-mass-in-the-u-s/

25

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Youth watch

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS UK

US

UK Smartphone users and owners USERS 61% of all aged 18 or over have used a mobile device 18 94% of 16-24 year-olds have used one

across generations

18-24 year-olds 91% 65 year-old and over 18% 18-29 year-olds 89% 65 year-old and over 49%

Sources UK http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/uk-social-media-demographics_b53389 US http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/

19

17% of those aged 65+ have used one 50% of 18-34 year-olds do most of their 21 social networking on smartphones

OWNERS 3% of 3-4 year-olds 13% of 5-7 year-olds 18% of 8-11 year-olds 20 26% of 12-15 year-olds 65% of British 9-16 year-olds reported experiencing at least two problems as a result of using smartphones, more than in any other European nation. The most common was an overwhelming urge to check and check their phones for updates. Nearly half were bothered if email or social media was inaccessible. 40% said they spent less time than they used to with their families, 22 friends or doing homework because of their phone.

US Digital divide 83% of 18-29 year-olds own a smartphone 89% use social media 58% of all American adults have a smartphone 74% of them use social media 40% use smartphones for social media 19% of those aged 65+ have a smartphone 23 49% of them use social media There are still substantial gaps in access to computers and the internet among children in the US. Access to mobile, internet-enabled devices varies significantly by income from 61% of lower-income families to 91% of higher-income ones. The largest gap is in ownership of tablet devices such as an iPad, Microsoft Surface, Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab, or similar products. 20% of lower-income families have 24 one of these compared to 63% of higher-income ones.

26

Sources On page 28

India Start male and young 90% of mobile internet users are male 51% of all internet users are aged 18-24 30% are aged 25-35 10% are aged over 35 3

9% are aged under 18

Smartphone users aged 16-18 rose sharply from 5%-22% between 2012 and 20134. 73% of children aged 8-13 use social media. Nearly 25% of 13 year-olds, 22% of 11 year-olds and 15% of 10 year-olds, and 5% of 8-9 year-olds are on Facebook. Other sites like flick.com, Google Plus, Pinterest are also being used by 85% of 5 children aged 10-16. Young people are also adopting the mobile chat app Hike. It can hide messages and chats 6 from parents.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch

Saudi Arabia Looking for love online Mobile chat apps, like WhosHere and Twitter are used increasingly by young people to make contact in a country where it is nearly impossible for men 10 to openly approach a woman. 12-34 year-olds are the biggest smartphone users. Their favourite uses are social networking, listening to music, downloading apps, finding information on where to hang out with friends and playing online games and 11 streaming TV shows. The most used social media sites are Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and 12 LinkedIn. 74% of Facebook users are men, while 13 the largest age group on the site is aged 26-34.

China Mobile, male, not rich 60% of mobile internet users in mainland China are male 47% are aged 25-35 30.5% are 24 or younger 22% are aged over 35 Most are not affluent 7.5% earn over 8,000 yuan a month 48% use smartphones 1-4 hours daily 47% are in second and third-tier cities Mobile internet users account for 83% of total internet users in China and over 60% of China mobile users 1 are using mobile social apps. Google+, Facebook and Twitter are banned. The most popular alternatives are WeChat, Momo, Weibo and Douban but Weibo saw a 2 decline of 11% of users from mid-2013 to mid-2014.

Japan Internet fasting on the menu

Taiwan

8.1% of 100,000 school children were addicted to 7 the internet, according to a survey last year. The government then announced internet “fasting” camps to help students live without laptops and mobile phones.

Other reports found 9% of middle-schoolers and 15% of high-schoolers spent more than 5 hours online each weekday. Male and female teenagers and youth in their 20s used social apps like Line, Facebook, and Twitter for about 80 minutes each day. Teen girls use apps more 8 heavily. A 2014 survey found 74% of male teens and 70% 9 of female teens use smartphones to access the internet.

Smartphones running children’s lives Nearly 10% of children aged 11-14 were heavily dependent on smartphones, using them once every 5 minutes 14% of children used smartphones for over 3 hours on weekdays 20% used them for over 5 hours a day at weekends Most young people aged 8-17 use the internet to listen to music, followed by visiting social networking sites and watching online videos, then playing online games.Yahoo, Facebook and Google remain the top three most used websites for them. Penetration rates have changed from 72.4% to 39.7%, 19% to 35.4% 17 and 5.6% to 21.6% respectively over the past year.

South Korea High ownership, high compulsion 98% of 18-24 year-old South Koreans own a 14 smartphone, even more than 25-34 year-olds, at 95%, but 25% of high school students are prone to internet 15 addiction. In 2014, 11 schools in Seoul started to trial iSmartKeeper, an app which disables smartphones and is able to control what services and apps the student has access to. The system allows teachers to turn the phones off, allowing emergency calls and SMS only. One 16 mode even allows the teacher to turn off specific apps.

27

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Insight

Finger on the pulse sociolinguistics in practice any parents and teachers bemoan the time spent by young people on mobile devices and social media. Deanna Wong, of Macquarie University in Sydney, takes a more positive view.

Talking to Virginia Addison, she says it can be a positive force for creatively bridging a communication gap. Student, Hilary Lok, agrees.

M

“What I see is talented users of English using language creatively,” says Dr Deanna Wong, lecturer in linguistics. “They know what type of language to use in different circumstances and they know how to use that language.” They manipulate the language to suit their needs when writing texts, tweets or Facebook posts.

According to Dr Wong, “They simply adapt text to suit their communicative needs. To my mind this shows both talent and creativity.”

Driving change She says language used to communicate through mobile devices could be called “finger language.”

It’s suitable only for small keyboards and is not likely to creep into essay work. In fact, she has seen no diminution in writing quality in her students’ written assignments. “English is a language in flux,” says Dr Wong. New words have always been constantly added and there has been rapid innovation in recent years due to the introduction of new technology. “Young people drive this language change, with new spelling and new expressions.”

28

Other internet linguistics experts agree. John McWhorter, for example, has emphasized that texting is not writing. He calls it “a linguistic miracle” and an “emergent complexity.” He believes that the language now being created and used by 16 year-olds will be the language of the common lexicon in 50 years’ time.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Life imitating art While Dr Wong sees today’s new media as mostly positive in terms of linguistics, she does express some concerns about its effects on social attitudes.

“I think when a person spends too much time on their own Facebook page, or their Instagram or WhatsApp account, looking at themselves and their posts, they can become too selfcentred and possibly inward-looking,” she says.

by mkhmarketing flickr.com/photos/mkhmarketing/8546850049

Insight

by University of Salford Press flickr.com/photos/salforduniversity/9718507502

Some academics have had enough of this overuse and abuse of electronic communication and Dr Wong mentions a recent move by a professor in the US who banned e-mail communication She also points to how these sites can have a strong with students. Spring-Serenity Duvall, assistant influence on self-image and that now, as most sites professor of communications at Salem College, demand a true identity, girls, in particular, are was unhappy with the “inappropriate informality” choosing the best possible avatars and manipulating used by students in e-mails to her, their failure to their pictorial representations. This has even spilled understand that professors did not feel the need over into real life, where girls can buy make-up to respond immediately, and the unnecessary that provides the appearance of the “glow filter” nature of most of their communications. used to make online photographs more “magical”.

Duvall took a bold step. She refused e-mail from students unless they wanted to schedule a facePushing at the limits to-face meeting. She said this was intended to Dr Wong says there is one area where young people encourage them to read assignments and the using electronic communication have seemed to syllabus more closely, and to allow for more challenge traditional authority roles. This is in the classroom discussion and talk during office excess informality they use in e-mails. The days hours. The policy is working well. Even the of writing formally to your professor or tutor to students approved, rating her courses more ask for assistance or inquire about part of your highly while praising her accessibility. course are rapidly fading away. “I get e-mails that just start ‘hey’. There is no, ‘Dear Dr Wong’ Perhaps there are limits after all to the flexible or even ‘Dear Deanna’. They seem not to have functionality of digital communications. A good worked out that email is a formal business tool.” old face-to-face chat is as adaptable as ever.

29

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Insight

Digital revolution Hilary Lok, 17, Shatin College

In Shakespeare’s times, “thee,” “thou,” and “thy” were as much part of common vocabulary as “u” and “ur” are today. Language changes all the time and though we are still taught “proper English” at school, the influence of instant messaging has indisputably permeated the informal language. Whether we like it or not, “texting language” has heralded a new era.

by Intel Free Press flickr.com/photos/ intelfreepress/8598246200

As the new generation moulds language to fit their digital communication needs, perhaps a communication gap has emerged. There is a clear disparity between the ways different age groups use digital communication. The simple logic of conversational texting language may not be immediately apparent to everybody, especially if punctuation is omitted. The look of “r u ok 4 2nite” looks alien at first sight, but nobody would deny that it’s quicker to type “r u ok 4 2nite” than “are you okay for tonight?”

It’s less than half the number of characters. That saves time: the essence of instant messaging.

30

In a bustling metropolis like Hong Kong, time takes on crucial importance.You might think there is little difference between the time it takes to type “u” and “you.” But then multiply it by ten, 100, 10,000.Young people send dozens of messages every day and given their instantaneous nature, it seems to us all the more urgent to respond as fast as possible.

Every nanosecond is considered valuable.

This type of change has created acronyms, new words and commonly used phrases.

“TTYL” means “talk to you later” and “LOL” means “laugh out loud”. But there can be misunderstandings. A friend of mine from the baby boomer generation thought “LOL” stood for “lots of love.” It can be confusing.

What does “tl;dr” mean: “this is lame; don’t read” or “too long; didn't read”? When in doubt, Urban Dictionary is a great go-to, with comprehensive definitions and regular updates from the internet community.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Insight

Technological advance has not only given us a reductionist approach to communicating. It has also re-moulded our language to fit current needs for expressions that weren’t around ten years ago. Though some may sneer at this type of language and deem it a “teen” thing, but even my mother indulges in “u” and “r” instead of “you” and “are.” Standard dictionaries have caught up with the changes. The Oxford English Dictionary added words such as “LOL” and “OMG” in 2011, and words such as “twerk” and “selfie” last year. It seems they are here to stay.

because there is similar pronunciation. Terms such as “囧” are used to describe a face that looks embarrassed, like the shape of the character 囧 looked at as a picture. “Kai,” a descriptor for randomness or silliness, has also sprung into life in the digital age.

Language is a continuously evolving medium.

It is sculpted by society and the digits on our hands, and as the new tech-savvy generations grow up, it is inevitable that modern language will grow with them.

Perhaps those of us in Hong Kong notice this paradigm shift in language less, as many use Chinese over English as a medium of communication, and the effect of technology on conversational Cantonese isn’t as immediately striking. However, there are parallels such as the simplification of phrases like “依家” (“now” in Cantonese) into “E+”

31

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Insight

he world of social media once seemed to be dominated by youth. Now, Facebook, Instagram,YouTube, Flickr, Reddit, Twitter and many other platforms are used by people of all ages for all sorts of reasons.

On social networks at least, the generation gap has closed, says lawyer, Ho But-lam, but the risks have persisted as exploitation has grown.

T

Social media’s face has changed. It has come of age and now it is wide open to young and old alike. Anyone wanting to share anything, from their photos and thoughts, to recipes and advice, can do so on the internet. But just as the age-gap has narrowed and the social networks have matured, so have they had their share of identity crises and growing pains.

Growing pains

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When the “big players” in social media were just starting out, it was mainly teenagers and young adults who tried them, explored them, inhabited their universes and made them grow. But it wasn’t long before parents and other “oldies” caught the bug and wanted to take part in the fun too. There were often funny, even disastrous results, but the “oldies” soon learned that LOL didn’t mean “lots of love”. Instead, parents and grandparents who’d joined Facebook to try to keep in touch with their offspring started worrying about accusations of “stalking” their progeny and their young friends on the internet.

by Martin Gysler https://www.flickr.com/photos/martingysler/6094177406

Social media coming of age

Of course, social media and the corresponding revolution in digital gadgets were open to less salubrious phenomena, including cyberbullying, invasions of privacy and sexual indiscretions.

All these made their insidious way onto the net until even beatings, rapes and other criminal acts were being filmed by participants and observers ... before doing the rounds of youngsters at school and even finding their way onto YouTube. Paedophiles, too, were quick to take up social media. It was, and still is, an easy way to groom vulnerable young innocents.

Facing up to it Nowadays, youngsters who grew up with social media are getting older too. Political content and contacts have become common, as was seen at the time of so-called “Arab Spring”and more recently during events in Hong Kong, when Facebook, tweets and messaging were used to move and organize masses of young people.

Events, good and bad, were filmed and circulated to millions as they happened. Meanwhile, older

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Insight

people monitored live feeds and social media.

Smartphones and tablets were always on, telling the news on the streets, at work and at home.

At the same time social media propaganda sites have flourished, promoting the extreme political causes of terrorist groups, from ISIS to Hamas and Al Qaeda, inciting hatred, recruiting impressionable youngsters to their causes and disseminating lies or distorting facts. Of course, in most countries these activities are unlawful. Internationally, Interpol, Europol, the FBI, Scotland Yard, secret services and other agencies take cybercrime very seriously. But, as usual, the adult world of law enforcement has had quite a way to catch up.

by Khalid Albaih https://www.flickr.com/photos/ khalidalbaih/5653817859

Nothing’s free But there’s been another, somewhat less malevolent side to the way social media has developed, legally and commercially.

They have completely changed the world of advertising and marketing. There was a time when newspapers, magazines, colourful shop window displays, radio, television and even low-flying airplanes towing advertising banners were ways to close the marketing gap between people on the streets and potential customers. Now, telephone and internet subscriptions come with built-in advertising packages you “agree” to and the cost of your telephone or other subscription becomes cheaper.

But nothing is really free on the net. There are cookies in online shopping websites. They are hidden in free downloads, apps and games.

They can, and do, infect your computer or smartphone. Like busy little men with picks and shovels, downloads can “mine” data about Note The author, a former Hong Kong academic in law, is writing here under a pseudonym.

you, your life, your interests, preferences and weaknesses. Worse, even your email addresses or other private information can be taken.

Then it’s all available for sale to businesses wanting you to buy their products and often even to criminals interested in hacking into your accounts. The privacy issue remains serious.

Levelling the playing field On the positive side, the growth of social media has meant that even small businesses that can’t afford big advertising or marketing budgets can take advantage of social media to build sales platforms, develop a brand name and get exposure worldwide.

The mobile internet is also a very fast way of exploiting gaps in the market. Anyone with a product or service to sell can publicize their “brand” by opening a Facebook page or a Twitter account and paying very small sums to “boost” their posts, publicize their services or market their products. Start-ups can make a video of their product’s benefits and post it on YouTube.

They can “blog” about themselves and their goods. If they are lucky, they may even be able to make use of celebrity retweets, or likes.

Celebrity endorsement would cost much more.

For those who want to get a message across about a product, a service or a revolution, it can be done for the cost of a mobile device and investing a little time on social media. What’s needed is lessons in the basic rules of behaviour and the etiquette of social media marketing or mobilization. Contribute something useful, post things that people will like to hear and pass on to others, tell them what they need to know rather than just trying to sell and social media may just change your life.

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LET CHOICE NOT CHANCE DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE Education Post is Hong Kong's leading online education website with up-to-date editorial content such as insider news from the Accounting, Business and Education communities and the most comprehensive database in postgraduate, MBA and continuing education with information on over 2,000 courses.

@ educationpost.com.hk

YOUR CAREER STARTS HERE

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Education Post

In demand y July this year there were about 1.3 million apps available for Android smartphones and 1.2 million for iPhones. App development represents a business opportunity for young entrepreneurs and the advent of wearable devices opens up the field further, but do too many apps mean too much choice?

Interviews by the Education Post provide answers.

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Since smartphones took the world by storm a few years ago, every business and organization trying to expand their reach or their products has been interested in apps. However, of the many new apps coming onto the market every day - apart from those designed for niche markets - a huge number are ignored by users or deleted not long after being downloaded. In effect, users are having trouble choosing. Should young start-ups join the field?

by CrashTest flickr.com/photos/33rdprime/13322856155

Dr Karl Leung Ping-hung, Head, Department of Information & Communications Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education in Tuen Mun, thinks that with so much keen competition it is difficult for app developers to survive. “The competition is global, with different regions having different copyright laws, it is difficult for developers to get compensation if their innovation is copied,” he says. “Even

if you have an innovative idea, there will be many copycats as soon as you hit the market.”

However, Ben Cheng, Vice-Chairman of the Internet Society Hong Kong, is upbeat. He says that although competition is tough, the demand for apps is sustainable. With wearable devices coming onto the market there is renewed demand for app development talent. He says the starting monthly salary for newcomers is “around HK$15,000 to HK$18,000. If you have a strong foundation in programming and love to play with phones, it is a career option to consider… Spend four years in university studying computer science, get some internship experience and you will be ready.”

Dr Ray Cheung Chak-chung, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, was also positive. “The start-up culture of Hong Kong has taken off and many business students have great business ideas but lack knowledge in technology. I help to match them up with IT students. I think the future for app development is rosy. First of all, I don’t see people abandoning smartphones any time soon. There are more and more devices on the market that need apps to support them, such as smart watches and smart TVs. The demand will only grow bigger as people become more involved with technology in their daily lives.”

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

by Gareth Bellamy https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2294/2181580422_bf98C68666_0jpg

City space

Turn trash into treasure D

IY recycling has been taking off in Hong Kong recently and there is more than one way to cut waste - try reusing old materials and making them into useful products, say William Wong and Ada Chau of HKFYG.

Hong Kong produces about nearly 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day and while many people put used bottles and containers in recycling bins, some want to give these products a new life by reusing them.

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Different plastics have different characteristics and some manufacturers print recycling codes on their products, so you know if they can be recycled or reused. The polypropylene containers, sometimes given away with takeaway meals, are heat resistant.

You can pop them in the microwave oven several times. Plastics made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cannot be heated. They may release dioxin which is bad for health, but with a dash of creative thinking they might find a new lease of life too.

Keep it safe It’s easy to reuse PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles that once contained water or soft drinks, but make sure they are clean. Hong Kong’s humid environment can lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi if these bottles stay damp inside, and this could lead to problems. Also, the production of PET bottles involves plasticizers and additives, so it is important to sterilize the bottles using salt and a brush to remove any traces of contaminants, then give them a good rinse. And never use these bottles for hot drinks because they will deform.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

City space

by Recicldo Creativo w https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9365221724_6902dc94d8_0.jpg

New life for old One way to have a bit of fun with bottles is to “upcycle” them. Community upcycling projects have included using plastic bottles to make solar light bulbs, turning them into vases and planters and using them to make curtains.

HKFYG joined the upcycling trend too and over 2,700 plastic bottles were recently collected for a children’s charity that makes them into Christmas baubles. These creative ideas not only help to solve the city’s waste problem, they also foster awareness about the need to be responsible, look after your own garbage and try not to waste anything.

Don’t avoid responsibility

we see people throwing rubbish into garbage bins, especially plastic bottles, we stop them. If they hand us their bottle with a big smile, we tell them they are missing the point. Our message is that they should be doing it for themselves.”

recycling initiative at the Occupy demonstrations this autumn attracted a lot of attention. Everything from fruit peel to umbrellas was collected for recycling.

All of it relied on DIY.

At Admiralty in October, that’s what happened. Many people got involved in sorting and classifying rubbish.

Within a short time, people were even sorting fruit peel and making it into compost on site. “We care about what is thrown into landfills when so much might still be useful. Even furniture is thrown away when it goes out of fashion,” says Ecowitch.

“We started to ‘teach’ people to do their own recycling two years ago,” says Ecowitch, a strange name, but she’s just an ordinary Hong Kong citizen, like you and me. She belongs to a concern group called Stop Using Only One Bin. “When

The protest sites gave the group the opportunity to really teach young people the importance of recycling and the scourge of waste. It is not a one-off message,” she says. It’s a household job for life. It’s your job and your responsibility.

A

37 pp Recycling everything from umbrellas to fruit peelings

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

City space

Life's decisions D

o we really have the freedom to do choose what we do with our lives?

Mimi Mo writes about being in the driver’s seat, making decisions, while staying open to options and opportunities.

by Don Carlier flickr.com/photos/don-c/870746853/

Eight years ago, I had an interview at a Swiss university, famous for alumni such as Albert Einstein. It was an important decision point.

The interviewing professor drew two lines representing my options. One was a straight line: for joining his research team immediately.

The other was a straight line with a blob in the middle: for continuing my studies at Oxford University before joining him. He suggested the latter. "Besides,” he said, “look at what else we can offer," pointing to a little building visible through the window. "There's the nursery. Right next to our lab! You're in the driver's seat now, but in a few years, when you have a partner to think about, that may not be the case. Choose wisely."

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Losing control I was a bit offended at the time. "Maybe my partner won't mind me being the driver," I thought. "On the other hand, maybe I would enjoy the ride even more in the passenger's seat!"

But the professor was right. Sometimes you're in control of life's decisions, but most of the time you are not. Life makes the decisions for you. The key is to reflect upon and understand yourself.

Since then, I have lived in Hong Kong, London, Oxford, Cambridge and Boston. I've been an academic researcher, a consultant for Fortune 100 companies, a patent drafter, a university alumni donor relationship manager and a medical adviser in a pharmaceutical company. Many people look at me and jump to the conclusion that I don’t know what I want to do. Indeed, I see the world as a carnival and there's only so much time to try every stall and meet all the interesting people.

Career dreaming Only time will tell how all the dots of my life and career will join up, but two things are certain, I have a fascination with unravelling technical jargon into simple messages, combining

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

by Jamie Grant flickr.com/photos/jamie_grant/4161669962

City space

science, marketing and education with a lot of creativity. I also want to help two groups that need advocates - infants and the elderly. That's why I undertook research into neural tube defects in infancy and neurodegeneration in old age.

Building branches instead of pyramids

We are educated to be competitive, to strive for the top, as if life were a pyramid, but once we leave adolescence, stepping into the real world means experiencing different things with different people.

Life is not just about getting high marks or doing a At Cambridge, I was involved with innovation as good job, but about compromising, being generous a technology consultant, like helping to identify to colleagues with your time and effort, and going new power-generating bio-materials, finding to work every day with a smile, even when there is fat substitutes with authentic flavours, and nanotechnology for better drug delivery. Previously, tension. One of the things I enjoy about life now is being with people who are different from me.

I had thought consulting meant helping industry promote commercial products. Instead, I found When I look back to that choice between two myself learning about the commercialization straight lines, I'm grateful to those who have of promising blue-sky technologies. provided the opportunities and trust that allowed my lifeline to grow its branches. Even when you're What made me keep changing my trajectory in the driver's seat on the highway of life, and if I already had a dream career with likecan choose between the turnings to take, make minded colleagues? The bottom line is, my sure you explore the side streets. The scenic route mission is to connect people, and to help to your destination is well worth travelling. them do things I cannot do by myself.

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

City space

Walk your way into the pink of health nited States Department of Health guidelines recommend 60 minutes of exercise daily for 6–17 year-olds. Teenagers in Hong Kong have never reached that standard. Joy Pamnani, a secondary student at Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College, asks what can be done about it.

U

Ascribing the blame According to a study published in the AsiaPacific Journal of Public Health two decades ago1, adolescents in Hong Kong did about 44-50 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. By 2004, only 35% of adolescents reached this level.

Seeing the trend take a turn for the worse, I spoke to Joni Zhang, a graduate from the University of Hong Kong Institute of Human Performance, to find out more about the current situation.

Adolescent teenagers are self-conscious. They yearn for peer approval and always want to maintain a good image, trying to avoid any embarrassing, reputation-destroying activities, in academic studies or relationships, and certainly in sports. “Girls nowadays don’t want to move a muscle during PE lessons,” says Joni.

“If possible, they will deprive themselves of even the most minimal form of exercise.”

Joni thinks this is due to personal and social factors, plus the hot, humid, Hong Kong summer, and the lack of sporting facilities in our densely populated city. However, she puts most of the blame for inertia on the demands of the education system which rarely give time for students’ talent in sport to develop.

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December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

City space

The real deal According to my own online survey, nearly two-thirds of younger people exercise mainly for the sake of appearance. Almost half also do it for sheer enjoyment. The older generation, by contrast, tends to focus on increased wellbeing and a balanced lifestyle, embracing health and psychological benefits.

something small, but incorporating that little bit of exercise into your life will play an important part in developing habits that bring you a step closer to leading a healthier, more balanced life.”

Critics have long called for a shift in values in the younger generation, encouraging them to find motivation for the sake of their health and removal of toxins rather than just thinking of their looks.

But it may be a hopeless task. Joni says, “Social science shows that adolescents are inevitably more concerned with appearance than the average adult.” Definitely right

We’ve got to work it out Joni calls on teens to realize that health means more than avoiding disease; being healthy doesn’t just mean not being sick. It includes being active, following scientific recommendations and, most importantly, incorporating exercise into your routine.

Despite the fast lifestyle, she hopes Hongkongers don’t overlook opportunities to move their muscles, whether it involves a leisurely hike, a short walk, or even just using the stairs instead of the escalator or the lift. According to an Australian study2, walking 10,000 steps per day reduces blood pressure and can add five years to one’s life. Joni believes that Hong Kong people will begin to see improvements in their health if they bring their physical activity levels up to international standards. “It could be

While many complain about post-workout soreness and being soaked in sweat, it’s no huge disincentive for me. After working out, I feel light and full of energy. It’s like all my blood cells just got a breath of fresh air. Besides, sweating releases toxins, something to be happy about! If I don’t get regular exercise, something’s definitely wrong.

by Vanessa Blaylock flickr.com/photos/vaneeesab/15457934540

by Vanessa Blaylock flickr.com/photos/vaneeesab/15457934540

I used to be a little chubby when I was younger but I set my mind to losing weight and began weaving mini workouts into my schedule. Now, exercise is important. Gearing up for the DSE is no piece of cake and stress sometimes takes over, but exercise energizes me and helps me release builtup tension. I alternate between cardio and Pilates workouts and sometimes add a Zumba number.

Source 1. Gang He, Huang, WY & Wong, SH. “Physical activity research in Hong Kong from 1978-2012: evidence on children and adolescents. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 4 October 2013.

2. http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/10000-steps-plus-trips-to-the-gym-itll-make-you-and-the-boss-happy-20110914-1k9oe.html

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

HKFYG

Qianhai’s E Hub:

a niche opening at the heart of possibility

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he Federation’s newest exciting venture has just opened. It will bring together about 200 innovative start-up companies from Hong Kong, the mainland and around the world.

The location of the Qianhai ShenzhenHong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E Hub), just across the border in the Pearl River Delta region, facilitates innovative policy-making and government tax incentives.

It also means convenient transport and easy access for mobile international talent.

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The campus is on a land area of about 58,000 square metres. It has a cluster of functional buildings, including The Entrepreneur Academy, the Exhibition and Entrepreneurial Service Centre, The Residence and an Innovation Centre. Once fitting out is complete there will be comprehensive facilities, funding opportunities, training and business support, marketing and networking platforms.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

HKFYG

The E Hub will capitalize on its situation close to Hong Kong. The city’s strengths as a leading international financial and business centre mean that learning from experience, the application of the Rule of Law, global vision and thorough understanding of global market forces, will enhance cooperation between Hong Kong, mainland China and the rest of the world through fruitful collaboration and partnership.

E Hub is a collaborative project of the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen, the Shenzhen Youth Federation and HKFYG. The creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Qianhai is now just over the time horizon, placing boundless opportunities within the grasp of ambitious start-up companies.

More information tel: +852 2527 2448 web: ehub.hkfyg.org.hk email: ybhkehub@hkfyg.org.hk

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

HKFYG

Christmas is coming: go visit your neighbour!

In a warm gesture of community solidarity, 100 volunteers from four Neighbourhood Teams based at the HKFYG Jockey Club Kin Sang Youth S.P.O.T. will do something special this month. They are going to visit families living on low incomes, elderly people living alone, and needy new immigrants. This will happen in Tuen Mun district on Neighbourhood Visiting Day, Saturday 20 December 2014.

Opening Ceremony 11.30am -12noon Main Venue Kin Sang Youth SPOT & nearby neighbourhoods Visits 12 noon - 2pm Sponsors

The theme for the visits is Neighbours bring Happiness (快樂送上門) and the young volunteers, all part of the HKFYG Neighbourhood First programme, will cheer up the families and elderly singletons with funny hip hop dances, fancy twisted balloons, conjuring tricks, homemade food and snacks, and games for all to play.

The volunteers will also be invited to join the festive Neighbourhood Reunion Lunch, organized by the Federation next February.

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More information Mendy Sit tel 2467 7933

Community Investment and Inclusion Fund

​Tuen Mun District

Web neighbourhoodfirst.hkfyg.org.hk/

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

HKFYG

Ode to Joy

Concert of Ten Thousand

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n 6 December at the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Ode to Joy Concert of Ten Thousand brought a huge number of young people together for a joyful performance, showing the remarkable effects of marvellous music.

Mrs Carrie Lam, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR Government, was the Guest of Honour.

The multi-media programme included opera, ballet and animations. It was the climax of six months of musical activity. In six sections, with traditional songs and music by Beethoven, Bizet, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, both a cappella and accompanied, the whole audience joined choirs and celebrities to rapturously sing their hearts out. Choral works were performed in Cantonese, English, German and French, by children and adults, and inspired a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people singing together for a live radio broadcast with official witnesses, Professor Gabriel Leung, Mr Raymond Young and Mr Chiu Tsang-hei.

Artistic Advisers Warren Mok & Barbara Fei Starring​​​​​​​

With

Warren Mok tenor​

​The Global Symphony Orchestra Gong Dongjian bass​​​​

conducted by Mak Ka-lok Rao Lan soprano Samantha Chong mezzo-soprano C Allstar and Alfred Hui​​​​ Chorus Director Alex Tam

Partners Organizers HKFYG, Opera Hong Kong, Radio Television Hong Kong Major Sponsor The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Strategic Partner Lee Hysan Foundation Supporting organizations Education Bureau, Home Affairs Bureau Venue sponsor LCSD Supporting Media M21

More information m21.hk/odetojoy

Contact Iris Sham tel 3755 7107

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

HKFYG

The Hong Kong Youth Service Award Core values and community service

Alex Fan Hoi-kit is a barrister whose motto is “youth serving youth.� He established the Hong Kong Young Leaders Development Association, through which many young participants have gone on to serve as community organizers. Alex is encouraging and enabling the younger generation to take up the mantle of responsibility and build Hong Kong for the future.

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Kong Wan-ki is the

founder of the Hong Kong Professional Sign Language Training Center. She was born with a hearing impairment and now provides mentoring and skills training for the deaf, thus helping with their integration into the wider community. Kong Wan-ki has turned her disability into an ability, providing others with the capability to rise with courage above their own disabilities.

Desmond Tse Sheung-wai is a correctional services officer who encourages and enables young people on the fringes of society to volunteer help for people less fortunate than themselves. Desmond established the Hong Kong Young Historian Leadership Development Institute, blending history and education to empower young people from all backgrounds, with faith in their own potential so that they too can give back to others.

Carrie Tang uses her

spare time to cook and deliver food to those in the community with no family support. She and her team brought Design for Change to Hong Kong and China, encouraging children to take action for creative social change. With vision, determination and enthusiasm, Carrie ignites hope and encourages people to dream of a better future for themselves and others.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

HKFYG

I

n November, six young people were recognized for their dedication to Hong Kong. They received The Hong Kong Youth Service Award, an initiative of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

Each winner of this award, which was established to honour, acclaim and encourage outstanding young people, exemplifies the core values of service to the community.

They have balanced their personal and professional lives with serving others and are given the award to encourage them to become role models, particularly for their peers, who they can inspire to follow in their footsteps and serve the community.

The annual awards are not only a form of public encouragement, but also a reminder that the future of the community lies with those who are prepared to make difference today.

Selection Panel Chairman: The Hon. Andrew LI Kwok-nang, GBM, JP The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (1997-2010)

Members: Stanley Cheung Yun-hang, Architect Jason Tang Yiu-lun severely injured in a forest fire, believes that even “small potatoes” are able to change the world. He is the Founder Director of the Kinetic Life Training and Counselling Centre, which nurtures people to think and behave positively and healthily. Stanley humbly puts all his efforts into bringing hope and positive energy to Hong Kong.

established the Design + Hope Implementation, which offers young people a starting point to test their artistic abilities.

Jason has a passion for and a commitment to creativity. The seeds of originality he is sowing today, in projects such as wall paintings, garden and roofs, will blossom into beautiful flowers in tomorrow’s Hong Kong.

The Hon. Mrs. Fanny LAW FAN Chiu-fun, GBS, JP Non-Official Member of Executive Council, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr. Jack SO Chak-kwong, GBS, OBE, JP Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council Prof. Frederick MA Si-hang, GBS, JP Honorary Professor, School of Economics and Finance, The University of Hong Kong Mr. Ambrose HO Chairman, Communications Authority Ms. Shelley LEE Lai-kuen, GBS, OBE, JP Director, Dragon Foundation Dr. Rosanna WONG Yick-ming, DBE, JP Executive Director, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

Further details Iki Chan or Rita Fan, tel 21690255 web ysa.hkfyg.org.hk/

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

by LaitrKeiowsen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmanthus_fragrans#mediaviewer/ File:Osmanthus_fragrans_(orange_flowers).jpg

Food & culture

Winter culture, winter food amily life around the world is marked by traditional festivals.

In Hong Kong and mainland China today, the Winter Solstice in December is anoccasion to celebrate with family gatherings and lots of good food.

F

Winter Solstice, or Dong Chi (冬至), is the shortest day of the year. It falls in the 11th lunar month.

In the northern hemisphere, universal time, it is on 21 or 22 December. In China it is associated with the concept of yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony and the Winter Solstice Festival is considered a time for optimism.

black sesame or sweet potato paste. “As a child, Dong Chi had always been a fun festival… I have countless childhood memories when all of us— my aunt and cousins—would gather around in the kitchen area, helping my aunt rolling the dough into small round balls,” says Bee on Rasa Malaysia.

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by Sebastian Mary flickr.com/photos/giovannijl-s_photohut/330010221

by marcovdz https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcovdz/6730665119

In China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan the festival calls for big celebration, second only to Chinese New Year for many families.

Most Hong Kong people finish work early and have lavish meals with their families. Dinner usually includes tong yuen (湯圓) a sweet soup with balls of glutinous rice filled with red bean,

The balls are often served with a mildly alcoholic rice wine soup called jau yeung (酒釀) sometimes flavoured with Sweet Osmanthus flowers, as in the photo above. There’s also a saying that having tong yuen signifies being a year older.

Eating them is belived to be a way to honour ancestors, improve family ties and friendship.

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Northern Chinese people traditionally eat dumpling soup at the time of the Winter Solstice. It is called qùhán jiāoěr tang (祛寒嬌 耳湯) and was originally made during the Han Dynasty to keep out the cold. The dumplings were shaped like ears, and were said to stop children’s ears from getting chilblains.

Multicultural Midwinter Festivities Not only Chinese communities but all round the world, midwinter is celebrated, as well as Christmas.

Good winter foods

Chaomos In the northwestern Pakistan lasts for at least seven days, including the Winter Solstice.

Soups, stews Root vegetables, squashes Apples, pears, citrus fruit Garlic, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom Nuts, especially walnuts

Hanukkah The 25thday of the month of Kislev, between late November and late December is celebrated by Jewish communities.

Gody In Poland, thissolstice festival with preChristian origins involves people showing forgiveness and sharing food.

Kwanzaais celebrated by some Africans and African Americans from December 26th to January 1st.

Saturnalia The Ancient Roman7-day Winter Solstice festival starting 17 December

by distoplandreamgirl https://www.flickr.com/photos/probonobaker/335373799

Yule The pagan Germanic celebration of the Winter Solstice Vegetables by Skånska Matupplevelser flickr.com/photos/matupplevelser/4643773925 Nuts by clkohan flickr.com/photos/razzmataz/3729988291 Fruit by clkohanf lickr.com/photos/razzmataz/3729988291

by Rob Hyndman flickr.com/photos/rhh/8521186271

Food & culture

Whatever your age or cultural background, Youth Hong Kong wishes you a winter with warmth, convivial gatherings and good things to eat like this Yule log made of chocolate.

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Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Perspectives

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ews and views on topics covered by Youth Hong Kong is in this section. Please share your perspective with us by writing to youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hk

Dear Youth Hong Kong I really enjoyed the September 2014 edition of the magazine. The contributors were so impressive, with confidence, flair and sense of purpose.

Inevitably, I suppose what was said so many times reflected what is happening currently with protests on the streets. We've been following this with interest, and hoping for a favourable outcome.

Hong Kong sounds a fascinating place, and reading the contributions helps to give an extra perspective that you don't get from the media here.

By Pasu Au Yeung flickr.com/photos/studioKanu/15494833021

A fascinating place

EM Cawdron Retired educational consultant, London

Ethnic minorities find bilingual support on the mobile internet

By Justine

Over twenty years ago, the KELY Support Group (KELY is an acronym for “Kids Everywhere Like You”) was founded as a telephone hotline service for youth. Recently it has begun to use technology to engage with hidden, socially disengaged, at-risk youth. In mid-November, KELY launched Talk2Me Instant Messaging (IM), a bilingual WhatsApp helpline, available in both Cantonese and English for 14 to 24 year-old youth in Hong Kong, who need emotional and psychological support.

Schipper/KELY Support Group

Dear Youth Hong Kong

KELY’s services include ethnic minority and non-Chinese speaking communities as well as local Chinese youth. Our programmes, including Talk2Me IM, are developed and implemented based on feedback from youth in these three communities.

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We recognise that there are limitations, especially for those who do not have WhatsApp. Youth from certain socio-economic backgrounds may not have access to smartphones, or may change phone plans frequently for financial reasons. Because of these limitations, we continue to use multiple channels to maintain our communication.

For those who want to find out more, the numbers to call are 6174 4267 (English) 6174 4395 (Cantonese).

Sky Siu, Acting Executive Director, KELY, Hong Kong

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives

Human Rights and the Rights of the Child When I made a presentation on human trafficking I seriously began to think about the rights of children. I was shocked to learn that they were treated as things rather than human-beings, forced into labour, prostitution and even slavery, sold to work. I could not erase the image of deep sorrow in their eyes, hopelessness and fear. How is it that in spite of human rights being advocated for so many years, violations of children’s rights still continue?

Here in Hong Kong, we may not have child trafficking, child prostitution or child slavery, but there are other kinds of abuse. According to the Social Welfare Department, there were over 960 newly reported cases of child abuse in 2013. This is just a tip of an iceberg because many cases are not reported.

As a nursing student, I hope to do my part to protect children’s rights to health, social justice and education, and to keep them safe from sexual exploitation. If not us, who? If not now, when?

On 10 December, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education." Ten days later, the United Nations commemorates International Human Solidarity Day to celebrate unity in diversity and remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

by Rakesh Rocky flickr.com/photos/22905496@N07/6279036285

Dear Youth Hong Kong

pp A child labourer (Chennai Photography Club)

What are Children’s Rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out basic rights and freedoms to which all women and men are entitled whereas the Convention on the Rights of the Child focuses on those who have not reached the age of majority. It is the most universally accepted human rights instrument in history. In 1992, the Convention was ratified by the People's Republic of China. In 1994, the UK extended the ratification of the Convention to Hong Kong. The rights it includes are survival, protection, development and participation which includes: •• Freedom of expression •• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion •• Freedom of association and peaceful assembly •• Information from a diversity of sources Full details at http://www.unicef.org.hk/uncrc/ which states, “Sponsored by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR. The content of this website does not represent the position of the Government of the HKSAR.”

Connie Yau Yim-ching 18 Studying nursing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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March 28 - April 13 Programme Enquiries 節目查詢 a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups

Volume 6 5 Number 4

December 2014 2013

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Publisher : The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

香港青年協會

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