Government figures tell us that Hong Kong generates about 160 to 180 tonnes of yard waste, also known as green or garden waste, daily. Around 100 tonnes of that are generated and collected by government departments in the course of public works and daily vegetation maintenance. And the amount has increased over the past five years. The problem was particularly highlighted in 2018 when typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong. 44,600 tonnes of yard waste were sent to the landfill that year, and almost half of which was in the aftermath of Mangkhut. But there are creative ways to reuse at least some of that waste.

A visit to a Hong Kong tailor shop used to be a one of the main attractions for foreign visitors coming to Hong Kong. At a fraction of the cost of Italian or British tailor-made suits, any gentleman or aspiring gentleman, could get a bespoke suit made here within a day or so. But with the retirement of many of the old masters who’d come to Hong Kong from Shanghai, a lack of interest in the trade from younger generations, changes in lifestyle and fashion trends, and the advent of fast fashion, this kind of craftsmanship is disappearing. At The Mills in Tsuen Wan, “Foreign Fabric Local Looks: A Hong Kong Suit Story” shows how a well-fitting suit can convey the spirit of Hong Kong.

December last year was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. Hundreds of celebrations were planned across the globe, especially in his birthplace of Bonn, Germany. Sadly, Covid-19 either cancelled, suspended, or delayed many of those events. One of those delayed programmes was a joint presentation by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and RTHK’s Radio 4 of “Beethoven 32 in Hong Kong”. Now it’s going ahead. The organisers and pianist Colleen Lee came to our studio to tell us more.