Yhk 6.4

a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups
December 2014
2013
Volume 6
5 Number 4
Youth
HONG
KONG
e
h
t
ind
Mobi
le Ga
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 Jacot
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
citys 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

Lifes 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

Childrens Rights
December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong
Editorial
t seems that nearly everyone in Hong Kong has a smartphone or

some kind of mobile device. Its 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
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
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 devices function than
they do, especially when faced with the conflicts
that the mobile internet can bring into family life.
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 todays 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

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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.
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.** Whats 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 navely
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!
We tried to set limits, but they are difficult to

enforce. My husband doesnt set the best example.
Hes 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 dont 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, Were chatting to our friends
about homework. Should I call the other parents
and check? My husband doesnt 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 doesnt know how to search and she cant use
it when Im not there because she doesnt 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.
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: its 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 dont worry. We
do have general rules: no downloading or surfing
inappropriate sites. I trust them and I dont check
their phones as that would be a breach of trust.
It is important that they dont 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 Im 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.
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.
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 didnt, 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?
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 couldnt stop playing his games, so I told him
Id sold his smartphone. It wasnt 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. Thats too much,
but I am tired of shouting. Even when she does
homework, she cant leave the phone alone.
I think that if he continues to play like this it will

affect his studies. Its good to use these devices
at school, but I still prefer him to read an actual
book rather than read online. I think thats
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
dont 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. Im not as smart as
them with these gadgets. When my 10 year-old
daughter teaches me something, I often forget it.
Its quite an art, being a mother. There will always
be a gap in experience but you dont 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
**** 8090% 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
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
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.
10
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, its 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 its
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.
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 toform 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 dont 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 dont
hear parents saying, I'm addicted or even, I
cant 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
11
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.
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 citys schools is
uneven, and the governments recent Fourth
Strategy on IT in Education consultation exercise
was intended, in part, to address this issue. In
the Federations 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.
12
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.
Professionals speak
Photos courtesy of HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School
Most of Mr Lees 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 dont 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.
13
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?
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
14
Source
scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1549901/health-warning-survey-finds-hong-kong-toddlers-begin-using-tablets-16
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
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 todays youth? Send your
views to youthhongkong.hkfyg.org
Further reading
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/sec/library/1112fs15-e.pdf
15
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 Federations 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/
16
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.
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 parents 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 convertthe

kinetic motion of the wearer into electricity
with which to recharge mobile devices.
17
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 NGOs 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.
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 Ltds
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 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 Smithsonians National Zoo flickr.

com/photos/nationalzoo/8389950390
What
by David Woo flickr.com/photos/

mckln/3134985100
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 wouldnt know.
Hilary
20
Snehaa
by Ananami No03.flickr.com/
photos/ayanami_no03/4959562793
Ella
Bakhita
Youth speak
WHAT DO THEY USE?
Will
I was eight when I got my first smartphone. Now Im 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 cant reach it.
Carl
Im 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 Im 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
Im 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
Im 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. Its so slow!
Claudia
I guess mobile devices are fragile in some ways. They must be, given how often people
replace them, and Im sure that theyre 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 its already going
wrong. Still, Im quite attached to it and Im not looking forward to replacing it.
Snehaa
Like most teenagers, my phone and me well, we are almost inseparable. Its my
second-best friend and Im hooked to it almost everywhere and anytime, mostly for
social media.
Bakhita
Im 13, but unlike any of you and most of my friends, Ive 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.
Its different for parents. They dont know as

much about technology.
21
Youth speak
HOW DO THEY USE THEM?
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 its 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 thats easier said than done. Its different for our parents. Their generation
doesnt know as much about technology. Im pleased to say, we havent 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 wouldnt say I was addicted but it did take up a lot of my time. I
hope she gives me another one but I know Ill 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 wouldnt know.
Snehaa
Sometimes I cant stop messaging or texting someone. It tends to get very addictive
because its 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 theres nothing to do, when Im bored or
when on the bus, its 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 its 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.
Youth speak
WHY DO THEY USE THEM?
Claudia
Id 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. Im a firm believer in giving myself thinking space, turning off my phone for a
while. It can give me perspective on whats 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 doesnt 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. Im
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. Thats handy.
Will
I have real-life friends too and Im no longer in a WhatsApp group with my schoolmates. I
dont really need more apps, but there is one I really want its a game about growing
plants to fight vampires. Not very useful really. I know I cant have it because I would play
all the time and then my mother would be yelling all the time too!
23
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.
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
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. Youths 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
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?
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 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
20
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.
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% ofChina mobileusers
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 childrens 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
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.
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.
Its 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.
Life imitating art

While Dr Wong sees todays 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
Insight
Digital revolution
Hilary Lok,
17, Shatin College
In Shakespeares 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 its quicker to type r
u ok 4 2nite than are you okay for tonight?
Its 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; dont
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.
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 werent 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 are used to describe a face that
looks embarrassed, like the shape of the
character 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 isnt as
immediately striking. However, there are
parallels such as the simplification of phrases
like (now in Cantonese) into E+
31
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.
Social medias 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
32
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
wasnt 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
didnt mean lots of love. Instead, parents and
grandparents whod 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 Springand 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
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
Nothings free
But theres 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 its 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 cant 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
products 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. Whats 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.
33
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
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.
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 dont 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.
35
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.
36
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
Its easy to reuse PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
bottles that once contained water or soft drinks,
but make sure they are clean. Hong Kongs 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.
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
childrens charity that makes them into Christmas
baubles. These creative ideas not only help to solve
the citys waste problem, they also foster awareness
about the need to be responsible, look after your
own garbage and try not to waste anything.
Dont 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, thats 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 shes 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. Its a household job
for life. Its your job and your responsibility.
37
pp Recycling everything from umbrellas to fruit peelings
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 drivers 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."
38
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 dont
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
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.
39
City space
Walk your way into the

pink of health
nited States Department of Health guidelines recommend 60
minutes of exercise daily for 617 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.
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 dont 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.
40
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
Weve got to work it out

Joni calls on teens to realize that health means
more than avoiding disease; being healthy doesnt
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
dont 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 ones 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, its no huge
disincentive for me. After working out, I feel light
and full of energy. Its like all my blood cells just
got a breath of fresh air. Besides, sweating releases
toxins, something to be happy about! If I dont get
regular exercise, somethings 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
41
HKFYG
Qianhais E Hub:
a niche opening at the heart of possibility
he Federations 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.
42
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.
HKFYG
The E Hub will capitalize on its situation

close to Hong Kong. The citys 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
43
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

() 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.
44
More information Mendy Sit tel 2467 7933
Community
Investment and
Inclusion Fund
Tuen Mun District
Web neighbourhoodfirst.hkfyg.org.hk/
HKFYG
Ode to Joy
Concert of Ten Thousand
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
45
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.
46
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.
HKFYG
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
tomorrows 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/
47
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.
Winter Solstice, or Dong Chi (), 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 cousinswould gather around in the
kitchen area, helping my aunt rolling the dough
into small round balls, says Bee on Rasa Malaysia.
48
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 () 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 () sometimes
flavoured with Sweet Osmanthus flowers, as
in the photo above. Theres 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.
Northern Chinese people traditionally eat

dumpling soup at the time of the Winter
Solstice. It is called qhn jior tang (
) and was originally made during the Han
Dynasty to keep out the cold. The dumplings
were shaped like ears, and were said to stop
childrens 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 Sknska 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.
49
Perspectives
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
KELYs 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.
50
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
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 childrens 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 childrens 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
pp A child labourer (Chennai Photography Club)
What are Childrens 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
51
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01
4
08
ue
20
iss
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March 28 - April 13
Programme Enquiries
a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups
Volume 6
5 Number 4
December 2014
2013
Youth
HONG
KONG
Mind th
Mobil
e Gap
Publisher :
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
www.hkfyg.org.hkwww.m21.hkwww.u21.hk
Youth Hong Kong: 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong
Tel : 3755 70843755 7108Fax : 3755 7155Email : youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hkWebsite : youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk
Soy-ink is made from soybeans and is both environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Soy-ink is biodegradable and non-toxic.

Yhk 6.4

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a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups

YOUTH HONG KONG published quarterly

FAX 3755 7155

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

t seems that nearly everyone in Hong Kong has a smartphone or

Dr Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

The mobile internet

focus gap, generation

ince Youth Hong Kong explored the mobile

Today, a large majority of young people in Hong

In the middle age group, parents of primary to

Overwhelmed by the pace of

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

gap, reality gap

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Each of my children got a smartphone when

We tried to set limits, but they are difficult to

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

My daughter used my iPhone first when she was

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

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

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

Both my boys have their own smart phones.

JUDY: divorced, working;

My policy is to give each of the children a cheap

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

ANDREW: divorced, working; daughter 8

My daughter is eight and has her own

I disagree with people who emphasize the negatives

KEN: married, working; son 9

My son will probably get a smartphone when

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

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

CHRISTY: married, stay-at-home mother;

My son has been playing on my phones since he

My son has both a smartphone and tablet. My

I think that if he continues to play like this it will

Some of my relatives let their children play with

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

Can counsellors help bridge

It is not unusual for arguments to occur between

According to Federation social workers, too much

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Fundamentally, bridging the gap across

What the majority of parents need is a way to

Addiction is always a hot

Counselling services at HKFYG

uTouch: Award winner WhatsApp: 6277 8899 Something app:

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

What do teachers think?

Students are far more

The range of technological tools for learning

December 2014 | Youth Hong Kong

Photos courtesy of HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School

Most of Mr Lees colleagues at LSKPS concur.

in the classroom, ensuring students do not waste

Youth Hong Kong | December 2014

benefits and challenges

First, does technology add value so that students

learning before deciding which device to use

Develop strong support at the school early

Use students ideas to help design mobile learning