Latest from HKFP
HKFP
5 hours ago
- Health
- HKFP
WHO says all Covid-19 origin theories remain open after inconclusive study
All hypotheses on how the Covid-19 pandemic began remain open, the World Health Organization said Friday, following an inconclusive four-year investigation that was hamstrung by crucial information being withheld. The global catastrophe killed an estimated 20 million people, according to the WHO, while shredding economies, crippling health systems and turning people's lives upside-down. The first cases were detected in Wuhan in China in late 2019, and understanding where the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID came from is key to preventing future pandemics. However, a lengthy investigation launched by the UN's health agency said that pending further data, the origin of Covid and how it first spread remains elusive. 'As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, referring to the two main hypotheses as to how the pandemic began. Expert investigation An initial WHO-Chinese joint report in March 2021 concluded that the virus most likely jumped from bats to humans via an intermediate animal. It deemed a leak from Wuhan's virology laboratories — known for their research on coronaviruses — to be 'extremely unlikely'. However, that investigation faced harsh criticism for lacking transparency and access, and for not seriously evaluating the lab-leak theory. Tedros launched another investigation, setting up the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), comprising 27 international experts, in July 2021. Their 78-page report was published on Friday. It said the weight of available evidence suggests a spillover from animals — either directly from bats, or through an intermediate host. However, it could not conclude with certainty where and when this happened, nor whether the Wuhan wet market was where the virus first spilled over into humans. That said, the market 'appears to be the location for amplification of infection in humans', leading to widespread transmission. 'Evidence for widespread infections or cases in any other countries prior to December 2019 is lacking,' it added. While spillover was the best supported theory on the evidence currently available, 'until further requests for information are met, or more scientific data becomes available, the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and how it entered the human population will remain inconclusive,' SAGO chair Marietjie Venter said at the press conference. Lab leak theories 'could not be investigated or excluded', she said, because much of the needed information had not been made available. The experts requested unpublished information from other countries, notably Germany and the United States, but without success, she said. Earlier this week, one SAGO member resigned and three others asked for their names to be removed from the report. 'Crucial question' 'Over the past five years, we have learned a lot about Covid-19 but there is one crucial question about the pandemic that we have not yet answered: how it started,' Tedros said. 'Despite our repeated requests, China hasn't provided hundreds of viral sequences from individuals with Covid-19 early in the pandemic, more detailed information on animals sold at markets in Wuhan, and information on work done and biosafety conditions at laboratories in Wuhan,' he said. He said WHO has requested access to intelligence reports by governments around the world on the origins of Covid-19. US President Donald Trump's administration has officially embraced the lab leak theory. Moral imperative Tedros said finding out how Covid-19 started was a moral imperative for those who lost their lives in the pandemic and to prevent further outbreaks. He said the virus was continuing to evolve, take lives and leave people suffering with post-Covid conditions, or so-called long Covid. Tedros said the WHO is appealing to countries with information about the origins of Covid-19 to share information. SAGO said it would continue to evaluate any new, sound scientific evidence and update its findings accordingly.
HKFP
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride Chinese soft-power wave
Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (HK$314), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. TikTok effect Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok — designed by China's ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Labubumania Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.'
HKFP
11 hours ago
- Sport
- HKFP
Diehards: Hong Kong fans who go above and beyond to support the city's football team
Just three minutes before the start of the Hong Kong football team's inaugural match at Kai Tak Stadium on June 10, a 40-metre-long banner featuring a fierce dragon and four Chinese characters – which translated as 'Hong Kong team kick ass' – was unfurled above a sea of red-clad fans in the North Stand. Spread out with the help of spectators, the banner covered around 4,000 seats in the arena that was packed with more than 40,000 fans. The red dragon fixed its gaze on the pitch as the home team posed for a group photo ahead of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against India. It was the largest tifo – banner held up during a match – ever prepared by local football fans in collaboration with the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA). Kept secret from the players and most spectators, the striking visual display was intended to 'astound' the opponent and boost the morale of the home team, coordinator Ng Cheuk-hang told HKFP. Brazilian-born Stefan Pereira netted a stoppage-time penalty to seal Hong Kong's 1-0 triumph over India. Ng, 30, is a core member of The Power of Hong Kong (TPO), a football fans group founded in 2004 with supporters dedicating themselves to cheering on the Hong Kong team in both local and international matches. So far, the group has travelled to more than 20 countries and regions to show its support. Prior to the stunning success of the red dragon banner, Ng and other devoted fans had organised smaller-scale tifos using coloured placards and small flags. The display at Kai Tak required more complex preparation and coordination, Ng said, with the HKFA stepping in to cover the cost and enlisting another fan group, called Chi Sin Lo, to recruit helpers. As it was their first attempt at showcasing a massive display, Ng said they had to carefully select the fabric to ensure it was not opaque – otherwise, spectators underneath might panic, not knowing what was happening. The idea for the banner was finalised just a few days before the match, leaving them no time to rehearse the unfurling. Instead, they relied on around 40 recruited helpers to think on their feet and respond to any unexpected situations, he said. 'Compared with tifos we've seen elsewhere, what we did was just at a beginner's level,' Ng said in Cantonese. 'But with this experience, maybe we can try something new next time – we can be more creative.' Tifo – derived from the Italian word tifosi, which means fans or supporters – is part of the football culture known as the ultras – the passionate, and sometimes radical, football fans who go to great lengths to support their teams. (The word ultra means 'beyond,' and the term too first originated in Italy.) The spectacular visual display often incorporates cultural elements representing the team, its country, or city. Ng said the dragon design was inspired by the HKFA's logo, while the phrase 'Hong Kong team kick ass' came from a placard held by Hong Kong fans at the old Kai Tak Airport in 1985, when the city's team returned home following a historic victory against China in a World Cup qualifier. It was especially meaningful for local fans to chant and display the phrase at Kai Tak Stadium 40 years later, Ng said. Chester Cheung, one of the founding members of Chi Sin Lo – a Cantonese phrase meaning 'crazy man' – told HKFP that the fervent atmosphere at Kai Tak could hopefully inspire some spectators to become regular supporters of the Hong Kong team. Cheung, 28, began supporting local football in 2015. He said people around him had questioned the quality of Hong Kong football, describing it as 'very amateur' and saying the city's representative team was 'no match' for others in international tournaments. But what has kept Cheung a diehard fan for almost a decade is the unique sense of closeness he feels with local players – something he feels is very different from supporting a foreign team. The match that made Cheung fall in love with the city's team was the World Cup qualifier between Hong Kong and China on November 17, 2015. He joined forces with fans he had met on online forums to create passionate chants, shouting at the top of their lungs. The intense, sold-out match at Mong Kok Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw, but it marked the beginning of Chi Sin Lo – a fervent, unconventional fan group devoted to supporting Hong Kong's football team. 'After the Hong Kong team match, I realised how genuine the connection between me and the players was. I used to support Chelsea in the Premier League, but I had never experienced anything like this before,' Cheung said. Ng echoed that the close connection between players and fans is what makes Hong Kong football feel more 'touchable.' He has sought to promote more interaction among stakeholders in the local football scene, such as organising matches for supporters of different Hong Kong Premier League teams. A journalism graduate, Ng also runs a blog called where he documents stories related to the sport and publishes profile interviews with players, coaches, and others involved in the game. Hong Kong football fans should not underestimate the impact they may have on the sport, Ng said. Instead of simply criticising the problems in the city's football development, people should consider how they can get involved and help drive improvements, he added. Before every home match held in Hong Kong, Cheung, Ng, and some key members of the fan clubs arrive at the venue about two hours early to set up decorations and displays. They usually bring a suitcase packed with banners, flags, and loud hailers for chanting slogans. Everything they plan to display must be approved in advance by the HKFA and the venue operator. In its early days, Chi Sin Lo members, who saw themselves as ultras, vowed to be the team's '12th man' by putting pressure on the opposing team. They shouted profanities to keep the atmosphere intense, believing that was how true football fans should support their team. They also didn't hold back criticism of the team they supported, often yelling at players when they underperformed. But after attending more matches alongside TPO – a more reserved supporter group that disapproved of swearing – Cheung said he and other Chi Sin Lo members gradually became 'more moderate.' 'My mentality has changed. I believe that once the players put on the Hong Kong team jersey, we should watch and support them – no matter what,' he said, adding that the HKFA had reminded them to avoid breaching match etiquette, as it could lead to penalties. Both Ng and Cheung observed that Hong Kong's football fan base has grown in recent years, with more supporters travelling overseas to back the team. They attributed the surge in interest to the rise of social media, which has helped showcase the vibrant atmosphere at matches, as well as to Hongkongers' passion for travel. A recent match in Singapore and the upcoming East Asian Cup in South Korea have both drawn many fans eager to support the team in person. Chi Sin Lo has also offered shuttle bus services to around 800 Hong Kong fans planning to attend the matches in a city near Seoul. Ng and Cheung agreed that despite the growing fan base, the support has not translated into success for the local Premier League. Some football clubs are even looking to cut costs amid a sluggish economy, Ng said. Cheung admitted that while Chi Sin Lo had previously organised activities to support local clubs, the response was underwhelming. He said it might feel 'unfair' to promote certain clubs over others, so for now, the group is focusing its efforts on supporting the Hong Kong national football team. He is eager to expand Chi Sin Lo and has recently stepped up recruitment efforts for new volunteers. The core members who founded the group in 2015 are 'getting old,' he said, and they need fresh blood to bring in new ideas and energy to support the Hong Kong football team. Cheung said he hoped to see a fully packed stadium for the upcoming home matches. While some fans criticised those who attended the June 10 game as mere 'bandwagon fans' who were just 'following the trend,' Cheung said it didn't matter. The more supporters, the better. 'I was also just following the trend back then, but I gradually became more and more invested' in Hong Kong football, he said. 'You always need that first opportunity to experience it before you can truly become passionate.'
HKFP
11 hours ago
- Business
- HKFP
New way to lose your shirt: Betting on basketball
Like most people who have worked in the casino business – I had a short but lucrative career in the bingo business before my first journalism job – I have mixed feelings about gambling. For most people, it may be a bit of harmless fun. The proportion of partakers who get hooked is quite small. But for them, the addiction is a life-wrecker. Serious gambling also seems a terrible waste of money. The house wins in the long run. That means in the long run, you don't. I am suspicious of stories of 'professional gamblers' who show a profit. But if they exist, this trick clearly depends on a lot of hard work and research. You might as well get a real job and do something useful with your life. These thoughts surfaced when I read that the government plans to launch a whole new betting option. People will be allowed to gamble on basketball. A licence will be issued by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs. Will the lucky recipient of this licence to print money be carefully selected? Of course not. It is going to the Jockey Club. Our government's affection for market forces and competition does not, it appears, extend to the gambling industry. The Jockey Club has a great deal of expertise in the highly technical and complex business of running horse casinos. It also has a lot of influence where it counts. So whenever another gambling option comes along, the Jockey Club gets another opportunity to fleece the unwary punter. We have been through this before. When the idea of legal football betting came up, the government said, as it says now, that of course it does not approve of betting at all. But a legal outlet for the public's weakness must be supplied, since otherwise, unapproved and illegal betting will flourish. The same arguments are offered for basketball betting, and this leads to the suspicion that something may be going on here that we are not being told about. Why do people use illegal bookmakers when the legality and convenience of a Jockey Club account are on offer? Could it be because they suspect that the illegal bookies will be … more generous? There will be 'net stake receipts' from legal basketball betting, according to the official notice. I take this to mean that the cash paid out to lucky winners will be somewhat less than the receipts from luckless losers. The 'net stake receipts' will be shared on a 50:50 basis with the government. They will, clearly, be considerable. Football betting was licensed in 2004, but this did not in fact result in the disappearance of the illegal version. Meanwhile, the illegal bookies went on to basketball. I wonder if in 20 years we shall be reading that there has been an upsurge in illegal betting on something else – Indian cricket, Rumanian pickleball, the number of times a senior official can get 'national security' into one speech – and the only solution to this problem is for a legal version to be offered by … the Jockey Club, naturally. The club is rightly famous for its charitable activities, but there is surely something a bit odd about a private members' club for rich people being given a succession of lucrative monopolies. Also a bit odd is the club's progression from running betting on its own races to running betting on other sports taking place in other countries. Will there come a time when the Jockey Club is offering a book on everything from athletics to yodelling competitions (I do not think there is a sport beginning with z) in every country you can think of? And at that point, will someone say that running horse races consumes a lot of attention, space and water, most of which is wasted, and is a distraction from the club's real business, which is running a lucrative gambling operation. I am reminded of the story of the Eastern potentate who built a magnificent mausoleum around his wife's tomb, but eventually decided the building would look better if the tomb were removed. HKFP is an impartial platform & does not necessarily share the views of opinion writers or advertisers. HKFP presents a diversity of views & regularly invites figures across the political spectrum to write for us. Press freedom is guaranteed under the Basic Law, security law, Bill of Rights and Chinese constitution. Opinion pieces aim to point out errors or defects in the government, law or policies, or aim to suggest ideas or alterations via legal means without an intention of hatred, discontent or hostility against the authorities or other communities.
HKFP
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Renowned Hong Kong-based food critic Chua Lam passes away at 83
Renowned food critic Chua Lam has died at the age of 83, according to an announcement on his Facebook page on Friday. Chua, who was born in Singapore, spent most of his life in Hong Kong, where he built a career in the city's entertainment and culinary scenes as a movie producer, writer, and food critic. He passed away at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on Wednesday. 'In accordance with [Chua's] wishes, and to avoid disturbing family and friends, no ceremony will be held. The body has been cremated,' the Chinese-language post read. 'We thank everybody for their concern for Mr Chua Lam,' it added. Born in 1941, Chua left Singapore for Japan when he was 16 to study film. He worked for Hong Kong film company Shaw Brothers Studio there and later also spent time in New York, Seoul, India, and Nepal, according to his biography. He moved to Hong Kong in 1963 at the age of 22, working as a production manager for Shaw Brothers Studio. Around a decade later, he joined local film company Golden Harvest, where he produced films for actor Jackie Chan. Chua ventured into the food industry in the 1990s, becoming a prominent food critic and host of cooking shows. In 2020, he started a YouTube channel called ChuaLam ColorfulWorld, where he posted food review videos of restaurants in Hong Kong. Chua was active on Facebook until April 2023, when he posted on his page that he was recovering from a fractured leg. It was his last update before the post announcing his death on Friday.
