By: Michael Shum、Kenji ChanEdited by: Nicole Kwok
SOPA award winner says patience and ethics is key to investigative stories
- 2017-10-26
- The Young Reporter
- By: Michael Shum、Kenji ChanEdited by: Nicole Kwok
- 2017-10-26
Reported by Michael Shum and Kenji Chan Edited by Nicole Kwok Aun Pheap, reporter at The Cambodia Daily and co-winner of the SOPA Award for Excellence in investigative reporting, said doing an investigative story could be dangerous and demanding, but staying patient and ethical is crucial in getting the story done. Being a journalist in Cambodia, Pheap sees how corrupted the Cambodian government is. He had once entered a military area with his colleagues in Zsombor, where they found a bunch of luxury-grade timber stocked there. They were discovered by the military and were arrested as well as interrogated. "The military officials said they would not allow us to leave if we don't reveal our intentions. We disclosed our identities as journalists," said Pheap, "they suddenly became friendly to us." "They invited us for coffee and offered gasoline, hoping that we will not write anything about the luxury wood stocked in the military base," he added. "The military commander found us a driver to a guest house, but we left the city right after the driver drove away, for we are afraid of the commander changing his mind. After that, we put everything into the article." said Pheap. He also received a direct request from a government official before, asking him not to publish an negative coverage on government officials. But instead of giving in, he reported the situation to his chief-editor. The Daily decided to disclose that whole conversation between him and the government official to the public. "I always got hung up on after revealing that I am a journalist," Pheap added. "Government officials will call and scold us with very bad words." "However, I usually try to stay friendly. I want them to answer my questions," he said. …
Hong Kong sees growing popularity in Himalayan art
- 2017-10-06
- The Young Reporter
- By: Windy LIEdited by: Nicole Kwok
- 2017-10-06
According Sotheby, one of the world's largest auction house, there were 3 auctions with more than 60 pieces of Himalayan art held in 2016, making a total sale of $4.8 million (about HK$38 million), compared to only only 1 similar auction in 2012, with total sale of only $1.8 million (about HK$14.5million). Much of Himalayan art are paintings and sculptures composed of unique symbols and patterns from Buddhism, Hinduism and various tribal cultures. "There's growing interest in Himalayan art in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China. But the largest growth is here in Hong Kong," said Fabio Rossi, the owner of Rossi & Rossi gallery. Founded in London, Rossi and Rossi has handled a lot of antiques and art from the Himalayan region, specifically from Tibet, Nepal, and Kashmir over the past decades. Rossi brought over 30 pieces of Himalayan classical art and early textiles to Fine Art Asia this year. Those include a bronze statue of Avalokitèshvara, a bodhisattva from Nepal in 13th-14th century, valued at about $3 million U.S. dollars (about HK$23.4 million). Fine Art Asia, a leading international annual art fair in Asia, features Himalayan art from more than seven top international galleries this year. Gan Ting, 30, graduated from art school and is now works for an art investment company. Gan loves Tibetan culture and art work, especially thangka, a form of Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk appliqué, or human skin. "I like to look into different parts and details of thangka so I can get different meanings from them," said Gan. The price of thangka increased significantly these years, from a few thousands to a hundred thousands US dollars, Gan told us. "For example, I saw a big piece of thangka selling for around $1.8 million U.S. dollars(about HK$14 million) and even a small …
Cultural tours fail to pull mainland tourists during Golden Week
- 2017-10-04
- Business
- The Young Reporter
- By: Holly Chik、Caroline Kwok、Ezra CheungEdited by: Angela Cheung、Emily Cheung
- 2017-10-04
Not a lot of mainland tourists come to Hong Kong for cultural exploration or eco-tours, spokesperson of Mainland Travellers Centre of China Travel Service said. The company offers different one-day tours including popular tourists spots such as Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland, but they also offer cultural and eco-tours. For example, China Travel Service provides cultural tours to Kowloon Walled City Park and site visits to the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. Both types of packages targeted at mainland travellers but cultural and eco-tours are usually less popular amongst customers regardless in peak seasons or in regular days. Over these few days of the National Day Golden Week, over 150 individuals from the mainland came to Hong Kong daily for one-day tours of traditionally popular tourist attractions. Yet, only less than 60 joined either cultural or eco-tours every day. China Travel Service spokesperson said the company did not marketise any of their tours as flagships and customers could make their own choice. "Usually they are here (in Hong Kong) for shopping and popular tourists spots," spokesperson said. Ho Ho Go Experience is a tour agency which covers tradition and off-the-beaten-path attractions. The founder, Ling Ho, also said no mainland tourist has joined their cultural tours after they were launched in 2015. • 20 Most Popular Countries as Mainlanders' Tourist Destinations (Data from China Tourism Academy) Former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying aimed to diversify the visitor source market and develop cultural and creative tourism, as he announced in the 2016 Policy Address. The government defined "creative tourism" as tourism and minglement of experimental activities with local characteristics, citing South Korea, Brazil and New Zealand as examples. Brazil offers tourists samba dance learning experiences instead of just watching a dancing show, whereas New Zealand organises indigenous related hands-on workshops operated by …