Hong Kong Life

If the catwalks, advertisements and spreads in glossy magazines were anything to go by, you would think fashion was solely the preserve of the tall and thin. This mentality is often reflected in the lack of larger sizes on the rails in stores. Varsity meets the fashionistas who proudly proclaim that one size does NOT fit all!

Urban development may seem to have killed off agriculture in Hong Kong, but, hydroponics and aquaponics are emerging as alternative farming methods which could revive local agriculture.

Varsity meets the motorists and bikers who go to extraordinary lengths – including possible brushes with the law - to modify the form and function of their cars and bikes.

Commonly referred to as the "fire-worshipping religion" in Chinese, followers of the ancient Zoroastrian faith have a long and illustrious history in Hong Kong. Yet most Hong Kongers know little about this community of business people and philanthropists whose numbers are falling. Varsity takes a look at Hong Kong's Parsees.

The lives of stuntmen are a mystery to people outside the film production industry. The daredevil moves and seemingly impossible stunts performed by your favourite actors are often the efforts of the stuntmen and stuntwomen who put their lives on the line day in, day out. Varsity looks into this behind-the-scenes industry and the joys and pains of being a stuntman.

Tucked away behind the busy streets of Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong's last professional letter-writers ply a trade that has existed in Hong Kong for more than a hundred years. Their heyday was during colonial times, when many hired their English translation and writing services. The field is in decline now, but the letter writers say they'll keep on writing.

Some Hong Kong parents pay high school fees to let their children have an international education in the city's international schools but at one government-aided primary school in Mid-levels, local and expatriate pupils learn with and from each other in a setting that mixes local and international elements. Varsity meets and teachers and children of this multicultural school.

The bonds between masters and apprentices are part of Chinese martial arts folklore. In the old days, the master a combination of parent, teacher and mentor - a figure to be obeyed. How can these bonds survive in the 21st century where martial arts are not necessarily a philosophy and way of life but can also be just a hobby or way of keeping fit?

Hong Kong is known for having a fast pace of life and fierce competitive streak. But not everyone is happy to participate in the rat race. Varsity meets some the Slow-mo cyclists, who have decided to literally slow down, wake up to the world around them and smell the roses.

Fly the Flyover is a project to turn the underpasses of Kowloon East into venues for rock concerts and other cultural events. The government says it will help to revitalise the area and provide more cultural spaces in Hong Kong. But local bands tell Varsity they believe the plan is just a ploy to jack up rents and squeeze them out of Kwun Tong's factory buildings.