
Record increase in green burials signals shift towards sustainable ashes handling
Elderly citizens explore green burial facilities at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium & Garden of Remembrance in Tuen Mun. (GIS)
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Fierce China job market turns unemployed youths into ‘full-time grandkids'
As China's job market continues to struggle, a new trend in which young people become 'full-time grandchildren' by returning home to care for their elderly grandparents has gone viral. The trend addresses their own employment problems and the growing need for companionship among the elderly. Such so-called full-time grandchildren provide companionship, emotional support and daily help to elderly or disabled family members. Compared to 'full-time children,' who primarily accompany able-bodied parents, 'full-time grandchildren' are often seen as more filial. So-called full-time grandchildren can turn an elderly relative's day into a fun experience. Photo: Shutterstock One such 26-year-old who was unable to find work after failing her postgraduate and civil service exams accepted her grandfather's invitation to return home.


The Standard
4 hours ago
- The Standard
Record increase in green burials signals shift towards sustainable ashes handling
Elderly citizens explore green burial facilities at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium & Garden of Remembrance in Tuen Mun. (GIS)


South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Precious public input needed to protect Hong Kong's biodiversity
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Hong Kong launched a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) in 2016, which is now due for an update . The two-month public consultation for an updated plan is a critical opportunity for citizens to share their views. A recent report, 'The State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025', reveals that around a quarter of assessed species are at risk of local extinction. Animals which are dependent on lowland habitats, such as wetland birds and freshwater fishes, are particularly at risk. Local extinction is often irreversible, which underscores the need for proactive measures like habitat restoration, stronger anti-poaching laws and integrating biodiversity into development planning. Speaking as a member of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Expert Group (HKBEG), which submitted more than 100 expert recommendations for the BSAP, it is disappointing to see few of them reflected in the 37-page public consultation document. Representatives from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) used the Chinese saying, 'Cast a brick to attract jade,' to justify the omission of details from the document. If this document is a 'brick', 'jade' represents the public's valuable input and support, which the department desperately needs. It's essential to note that the AFCD staff working on the BSAP are experts who understand the importance of implementing the HKBEG recommendations. A careful inspection of the document reveals traces of these recommendations, reflected in the four focus areas, examples of proposed actions and guiding questions.