Study Buddy (Explorer): Crime-themed attractions popular with tourists
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Attractions to do with law and crime – such as Hong Kong's 1974 ICAC Cafe and the Abashiri Prison Museum in Japan – are drawing a growing number of tourists.
[2] Official data shows that Hong Kong received over 290,000 visitors during New Year's Eve and the first day of the new year. More than 77 per cent were from mainland China. These tourists shared their Hong Kong holiday experiences on social media platforms.
[3] In January, topics related to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Cafe made headlines after attracting more than 200,000 views on one high-profile platform where users called it a 'must-visit spot for Hong Kong TV drama fans'.
[4] The agency's work has inspired many popular productions, such as the film Z Storm featuring Louis Koo Tin-lok and the television drama Mission Run with Bosco Wong.
[5] The cafe opened in November last year and is located at the ICAC headquarters in North Point. It's named after the year the anti-corruption agency was founded, 1974. The cafe serves three coffee varieties made with different beans. The drink names – integrity, confidentiality and sincerity – reference the agency's core principles. One cup of black coffee costs HK$22 (US$3).
[6] The brew is symbolic of the ICAC's operations. In Hong Kong, being 'invited for coffee' is a euphemism for being invited for questioning by the anti-corruption agency.
[7] One visitor described the black coffee as 'very sour and bitter' and said: 'It makes sense. One sip, and any criminal would confess everything.' Another said they were finally able to 'legally' have coffee at the ICAC without getting into any trouble: 'As a Hong Kong TV drama fan, this is pure bliss!'
[8] Visitors can take selfies at a photo booth and get an ICAC Pass. The cafe also offers merchandise – including ICAC-themed badges, mugs and tote bags – from HK$20 to HK$110 (US$2 to US$14). One mainland visitor praised the friendly staff and their fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. Another guest called the cafe 'an innovative approach to public legal education' and the agency 'the backbone' of the city's legal system.
[9] Another government institution-themed attraction is Japan's unique Prison Museum in Hokkaido. A former prison, the converted museum charges 1,500 yen (HK$77 or US$9.87) for adult entry and offers a glimpse into Japan's correctional history.
[10] Visitors can explore prison cells, guard rooms and soy sauce brewing factories where inmates once worked. For 950 yen (HK$49 or US$6.25), guests can even try an authentic inmate meal featuring barley rice, grilled Pacific saury and side dishes. The museum also offers the chance to take 'prisoner photos' and sells inmate-made products such as dolls and keychains.
Source: South China Morning Post, January 18
Questions
1. What do the ICAC Cafe and Prison Museum have in common, according to paragraphs 1 and 2?
A. They have a crime theme.
B. They are more popular with locals than tourists.
C. Most of the tourists who visit these places are from mainland China.
D. None of the above
2. What does the 'must-visit spot for Hong Kong TV drama fans' in paragraph 3 refer to?
3. Decide whether the following statements according to paragraphs 4 and 5 are True, False or the information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) The cafe is located in the same building as the actual ICAC headquarters.
(ii) Mission Run and Z Storm were released in the same year.
(iii) The cafe is named after one of the founders of ICAC.
(iv) The agency has moved three times since it was founded.
4. In paragraph 5, what is the significance of the coffee drinks' names?
5. Based on your understanding of paragraph 6, someone is most likely to feel … when they are 'invited for coffee'.
A. excited
B. anxious
C. angry
D. indifferent
6. Find a word in paragraph 7 that means 'to admit that you have done something wrong'.
7. How much does one tote bag cost, according to paragraph 8?
A. HK$20
B. HK$50
C. HK$110
D. Information not given
8. According to paragraph 9, what did Japan's Prison Museum used to be?
9. In paragraph 10, what can visitors get for 950 yen?
A. a guided tour of the museum
B. a workshop on soy sauce brewing
C. an inmate meal
D. a set of 'prisoner photos'
Louis Koo (left) and Gordon Lam in a scene from the 2014 Hong Kong action thriller film 'Z Storm'. Photo: Handout
Answers
1. A
2. ICAC Cafe / 1974 Cafe (any one)
3. (i) T; (ii) NG; (iii) F; (iv) NG
4. They are named after the core principles of the ICAC.
5. B
6. confess
7. D
8. a prison
9. C
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
14 hours ago
- RTHK
19 wanted over alleged national security violations
19 wanted over alleged national security violations The police urge the wanted persons to return to Hong Kong and surrender. The police announced on Friday that they have issued arrest warrants for 19 people accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law by forming or joining an organisation called the "Hong Kong Parliament". According to the National Security Department of the police force, the "Hong Kong Parliament" aims to subvert state power and challenge the central and SAR governments. Police said its objectives include promoting 'self-determination,' drawing up a so-called 'Hong Kong constitution,' and using unlawful means to overturn the country's constitutional order in violation of Article 22 of the National Security Law. Nine of the suspects are accused of establishing the "Hong Kong Parliament" and organising its election. Among them are Elmer Yuen, Victor Ho, Tony Choi, and Johnny Fok, who were earlier placed on the wanted list for suspected national security offences. Authorities have offered rewards of HK$1 million each for information leading to their arrests. As for the other five suspects, along with 10 others who were named as wanted persons for allegedly participating in the election, the police are offering a reward of HK$200,000 each. All 19 wanted individuals are said to be living outside Hong Kong. "The above wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police over their roles in engaging in endangering national security activities, so as to rectify their mistakes," according to a police statement. Officers said investigations are still ongoing and more people may be added to the wanted list if necessary. They pledged to continue working hard to bring all the suspects to justice.
RTHK
15 hours ago
- RTHK
19 wanted over alleged national security violations
19 wanted over alleged national security violations The police urge the wanted persons to return to Hong Kong and surrender. The police announced on Friday that they have issued arrest warrants for 19 people accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law by forming or joining an organisation called the "Hong Kong Parliament". According to the National Security Department of the police force, the "Hong Kong Parliament" aims to subvert state power and challenge the central and SAR governments. Police said its objectives include promoting 'self-determination,' drawing up a so-called 'Hong Kong constitution,' and using unlawful means to overturn the country's constitutional order in violation of Article 22 of the National Security Law. Nine of the suspects are accused of forming "Hong Kong Parliament" and arranging its election. Among them were Elmer Yuen, Victor Ho, Tony Choi, and Johnny Fok, who were earlier placed on the wanted list for suspected national security offences. Authorities have offered rewards of HK$1 million each for information leading to their arrests. As for the other five suspects, along with 10 others who were named as wanted persons for allegedly participating in the election, the police are offering a reward of HK$200,000 each. All 19 wanted individuals are said to be living outside Hong Kong. "The above wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police over their roles in engaging in endangering national security activities, so as to rectify their mistakes," a police statement said. Officers said investigations are still ongoing and more people may be added to the wanted list if necessary. They pledged to continue working hard to bring all the suspects to justice.
South China Morning Post
18 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Police slap bounties on 19 members of ‘subversive' group ‘Hong Kong Parliament'
The city's national security police have placed bounties of up to HK$1 million (US$127,400) on 19 overseas activists involved in a group called 'Hong Kong Parliament', which they called 'subversive' and accused of violating the Beijing-imposed security law by holding an unlawful 'election'. Advertisement The arrest warrants announced on Friday were for Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, Victor Ho Leung-mau, Fok Ka-chi, Choi Ming-da, Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Sasha Gong, Ng Man-yan, and Tsang Wai-fan, who were accused of establishing the so-called parliament-in-exile in 2022 That year, the group, mainly founded and run by self-exiled activists, formed an 'electoral committee' in Canada to hold elections that it said 'represents, solidifies and revives Hong Kong people's rights of self-determination'. In May this year, the group said 15,702 votes were cast to elect 15 members for its first 'parliament' and a 'virtual swearing-in ceremony' was held on July 14. Another 10 people were accused by Hong Kong national security police of taking part in the election and swearing in as so-called parliament members, namely Chin Po-fun, Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo, and Zhang Xinyan. The group, which includes businessman and opposition activist Elmer Yuan, held an unlawful 'election' and 'virtual swearing-in ceremony' for a so-called parliament-in-exile earlier this month. Photo: Facebook The government had previously placed bounties of HK$1 million each on Yuan, Ho, Fok, and Choi. A bounty of HK$200,000 was placed on each of the remaining 15 activists listed in the latest announcement.
