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Blowing Water

Supporters of Tsai Ing-wen cheer for her election victory in Taipei. Photo: AP
Taiwan elections 2020

Blowing Water | Do you hear the (young) people sing? Time to empower them

Young people are taking to the streets more often in protests across societies, making their anger heard through votes. We should cast aside stereotyping millennials as ‘good-for-nothings’ and entitled, and see how we can help them.

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Hong Kong protests

Blowing Water | Happiness is a choice and Hongkongers must not forget to multiply and share it

Climate change

Blowing Water | Greta Thunberg award a timely reminder that governments work for us

Hong Kong economy

Blowing Water | Place we call home has to make us feel we belong – Hong Kong has work to do

City has slipped down the table of places people want to live, and high cost of living is only partly the reason.

There are times when Hong Kong can feel like a less than friendly city. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong protests

Blowing Water | The dilemma for the ‘peaceful, rational, and non-violent’ Hongkongers

If our goal is to save the city, surely we can find ways that are agreeable to majority of Hongkongers, including young protesters.

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Hong Kong protests

Blowing Water | Sometimes good people do bad things, just look at Hong Kong

Life is about grey areas and we must understand that if our city is to survive.

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Racism and other prejudice

Blowing Water | What’s worse than Justin Trudeau’s blackface scandal? The rage over it

Sometimes we are driven by political correctness to the point of lunacy, when what we should be focusing on is in making Hong Kong truly culturally diverse, instead of just culturally tolerant.

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau is under fire over photos and videos of an act he put on years ago. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
Hong Kong extradition bill

Blowing Water | Why use of word ‘cockroach’ for Hong Kong protesters is baffling

Taking a cue from comedy king Stephen Chow, siu keung, or ‘little power’, became a slang name for cockroaches and a term of endearment in Chinese communities.

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Cantonese

Why a ‘garden tour’ is a bad habit when speaking Cantonese

Hong Kong extradition bill

Blowing Water | How social media is warping Hongkongers’ sense of identity

As unrest grips the city, online pressure to please others and win plaudits is reshaping what it means to be from Hong Kong.

The identity of Hongkongers has been in a state of flux for a while, and is still evolving. Photo: Robert Ng
Animal rights in China

Blowing Water | Applaud those trying to save the world one small problem at a time

From smaller small bite-sized problems, to major global concerns, trying to make a difference is a laudable trait in someone, we shouldn’t criticise those wanting to make our planet a better place to live.

Bringing attention to the plight of canines at the Yulin Dog Meat Festival elicited a variety of responses. Photo: Edmond So
Animal rights in China

Blowing Water | Ritual slaughter of 100,000 dogs is abhorrent practice we must stop

Unimaginable that practice is allowed and even celebrated at China’s Yulin Dog Meat Festival, a ‘tradition’ that is only in its 10th year.

Hong Kong extradition bill

Blowing Water | Botched response to protests exposed by Carrie Lam’s ‘mother of Hong Kong’ claim

Styling herself as a maternal figure when police used rubber bullets and tear gas on mainly young protesters, demonstrates the city leader’s fumbled approach to defusing the crisis.

Cathay Pacific

Blowing Water | Airline advert fiasco is reminder that Hong Kong lags behind on LGBT rights

Corporate reaction to gay couple ad represents the tip of the iceberg of homophobia in the city. A major shift is needed to deliver respect for all, starting with legalising same-sex marriage.

Attitudes to same-sex couples in the city have been in the spotlight since the controversy over a Cathay Pacific advert. Photo: Reuters
Cantonese

Make off with some Cantonese phrases about ‘stealing’

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US college admissions bribery

Blowing Water | Are you killing your child’s zest for life with an education obsession?

Hong Kong’s stressed out parents and students should not overlook the virtues of a less academic path to success.

Technology

Blowing Water | Tech lover or tech slave? It’s our decision

Banning wearables and other personal devices from classrooms ignores the many advantages they bring.

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Parenting: newborns to toddlers

Blowing Water | Hong Kong parents: an hour of playtime a day is your child’s right

Are we raising children to be happy or to fulfil our preconceived notions of success?

Children at play in Tuen Mun. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Pets

Blowing Water | If you love your pet, you’ll choose their death over their suffering

A high-profile Korean charity has come under fire for secretly killing more than 200 dogs, but Luisa Tam says lives are often needlessly prolonged causing undue suffering because owners are reluctant to say goodbye.

Luisa Tam on good fortune phrases for Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year family dinner phrases with Luisa Tam

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Blowing Water | Singles get a raw deal at work. But at least there are signs of change

Discrimination against singles is often not intentional. But companies often expect them to work for longer or cover holidays for married colleagues.

Singles need time off to nurture a better work-life balance as much as a working parent who needs time to nurse a sick child.
Poverty

Blowing Water | Four things that might improve Hong Kong in the coming year

Letting children get more physical exercise, weaning ourselves off our throwaway culture and nurturing a proper sense of community would improve life for all in 2019. Hong Kong should also nurture a proper sense of community, reaching out to the needy, and make an effort to be inclusive.

Blowing Water | All I want for Christmas … is an end to the global plastic calamity

This festive season, let's make the right choices for the environment.

Sexual harassment and assault

Blowing Water | Court of public opinion is no place to find real justice

#MeToo movement should remember that a herd mentality is not always productive, while those who defend sexual predators need to realise that loyalty has its limits.

Judi Dench’s decision to speak up for Kevin Spacey was brave, but misguided loyalty can be a dangerous thing
Pets

Blowing Water | Adopting dogs in need in Hong Kong is win-win for owners and pets

Luisa Tam details humans’ deep bond with the loyal creatures, and urges against abandoning them as if they were disposable.

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Luisa Tam details humans’ deep bond with the loyal creatures, and urges against abandoning them as if they were disposable

The very versatile Cantonese phrase “ai yah”

Ageing society

Blowing Water | What use is rising life expectancy when elderly care is a disgrace?

Luisa Tam says the heartbreaking poverty experienced by many elderly residents bodes ill for the challenges Hong Kong society will face as life expectancy edges towards 100.

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Blowing Water
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Blowing Water. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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