ReThink Founder Chris Brown on Building a Sustainable Future
Hong Kong/ Terra/ Sustainability

ReThink Founder Chris Brown on Building a Sustainable Future for Hong Kong

Chris Brown Re Think HK 12Photo by ReThink HK

With sustainability at the forefront of discussions on Hong Kong’s development, multiple drivers have always worked to promote solutions amongst key stakeholders in the city. These efforts, however, are often solely comprised of individual parties’ objectives, lacking a unified stance and the collaboration needed to build that sustainable future we all dream of.

After arriving in the city and recognizing this gap, Chris Brown, the Founder of ReThink Hong Kong, set out on a mission to unite Hong Kong in its sustainable development efforts.

Since he founded the conference in 2019, successfully maintaining its growth throughout the global pandemic, ReThink has now become the largest sustainable business event in Hong Kong. Its 2024 edition, however, was even bigger, welcoming over 8,000 attendees to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. The event aims to not only act as a platform to support cross-business collaboration, but also support local nonprofit organizations — all proceeds from attending delegates go towards NGOs carefully selected by the ReThink Foundation.

Chris Brown Founder of ReThink HK
Facebook/ ReThink HK

Building on his background working in the events industry for 23 years, Chris found his calling in Hong Kong, which he has now made his lifelong mission. Facilitating discussions on sustainability is no easy task in one of the world’s financial centers which prioritizes convenience over anything, but Chris and his team have effectively engaged Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), multinational corporations, and the local government from day one of ReThink, supporting each step the city takes towards building a circular economy.

The Beat Asia sat down with Chris to reflect on five years of positive influence in Hong Kong, celebrating progress made along the way and highlighting the important work yet to be accomplished, ReThink HK 2024, and how everyone has the power to make an impact.

Can you start off by sharing more about ReThink HK with our readers?

ReThink HK
Website/ ReThink HK

Rethink Hong Kong is now Hong Kong's largest, but more importantly, most ambitious and impactful business event for sustainability.

Our job is to design and host a platform that brings together the full business and impact sustainability ecosystems, like a melting pot of ideas and inspiration, to share best practices, and try and overcome challenges. To build partnerships and collaboration that support the triple bottom line: the planet, people, and profit.

It's been a crazy journey to get to where we are. It's been hugely rewarding, creatively challenging, and stressful, but ultimately, we provide something totally different and unique that genuinely helps individuals, businesses, and the wider community to make progress towards a cleaner, greener, more equitable Hong Kong.

What led you to found ReThink HK – the city’s largest sustainable conference?

Chris Brown Founder of ReThink HK
Facebook/ ReThink HK

I've been working on business events for 23 years and I feel very privileged to be able to take all that experience and put it towards something good. I've done [events] for the nightclub industry, dentists, bulk transportation, and theme park owners, but to be able to do it for something so important, for a city that I absolutely love and that I want to continue to call home in the future for me and my little family, I honestly never dreamt that I'd be responsible for something like that.

I just really enjoy working on events, but it's evolved into something really special, and it's given me a purpose. This is what I might be here [for]; I've never felt so passionate or determined.

When I first came up with the idea [for ReThink] and was soliciting ideas and feedback, there were comments like ‘Oh, we don't need another sustainability event,’ and that was in 2019. What people really meant to say is ‘We just don't want another [bad] sustainability event.’ So we broke down [what was going wrong and] identified what people want and need from a sustainability event.

Right from the beginning, it was designed and influenced by heavyweight sustainability leaders or practitioners, and some very influential Hong Kong organizations. A lot of them are now our big sponsors, partners, and strategic advisors.

[ReThink is] their annual festival for everyone who is either directly or indirectly connected to sustainability or sustainable transition for their business.

Our event provides an open, accessible, neutral platform, and people see a lot of value in [that]. There are no barriers. If you’re able to contribute, doesn't necessarily mean financially, then there's a seat for you at the ReThink table. If you can help raise awareness, help people understand how to really prove that business case, you can demonstrate that you're doing it, how you've done it, and the difference it's making, then we will find a seat for you somewhere in the event.

Can you share more about the ReThink Foundation?

The ReThink Foundation
LinkedIn/ ReThink HK

The first two years [of ReThink HK] was [during] COVID-19 and [we received] cash donations for charities who needed extra [funds] to keep supporting [their causes].

Then the projection for the delegate revenue as we moved to the Convention Centre, started to get quite [substantial]. Alongside that, I was getting approached by NGOs [asking to be a] charity partner. So, we decided that we would set up a separate entity which is called the ReThink Foundation.

So that is a not-for-profit [and] the custodian of all the delegate fees. [When] they get paid to ReThink, we transfer that to the Foundation. We have a separate board for the Foundation, and they help us assess the impact projects that get submitted. Going into our second cohort of projects, we had 84 project submissions which went down to three, so, those projects were announced at ReThink [2024].

We've already started funding them and announced them on the keynote stage. In a way, everyone in that room has contributed towards the funding of those projects, whether that's because they bought a ticket, are a sponsor, or a speaker. Everyone contributed towards the overall ReThink proposition that people want to pay to come to an event [where their] money goes to fund those projects.

Have you always had an interest in promoting circular solutions? Can you share more about your sustainability journey with us?

Chris Brown Founder of ReThink HK
Facebook/ ReThink HK

We always knew that running big events is inherently wasteful, but when [we were] running those events in the past, did we really think about it? [When] I moved to Hong Kong in 2015 to launch some events and that project finished, I did a bit of consultancy work in Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, and was [using] that as an opportunity to keep working and have a rethink about what did I want to do?

I was back in Hong Kong for a couple of weeks from traveling and there were about four different things that happened over three months that if I look back, all contributed towards me going [into sustainability].

I just talk about one of them because it's slightly funny. Every Tuesday or Wednesday morning, I’d go into a restaurant for their breakfast offer. I went to the toilet [one morning] and the tap in the sink was running water. I went back and [told the server] and he said, ‘I know we're going to get it sorted out.’ I went back in the next week [and the] tap was still running. I said [to him again], ‘Has this tap been running [all week]?’ He said, [he’d] spoken to management but [they] just don't care. Me and my partner went back a few weeks later, and it had been fixed.

Reflecting on five years since you founded ReThink HK, what sustainable development have you observed in the city?

ReThink HK
Website/ ReThink HK

I think ReThink is a pretty useful barometer of what's happening in the sustainability space. Our job is to be near the forefront of what's happening: discussing and debating what's actually happening, as well as what should and could be happening. I hope that people see a reflection of reality in ReThink.

This core vision around proving the business case for sustainability has been challenging over the last five years; COVID-19 and the impact it had on global economies. I read a phrase recently that says we're in a sustainability recession, so that is people pulling back on investments, delaying projects, and cutting head count.

Ultimately, I think [the pandemic] was probably a good thing for sustainability awareness. Most people, and hopefully most businesses, are more aware of the fragility of existence. I hope it never happens again, but if you do want to take some positive out of it, there was a shift in human consciousness.

In addition to that, let’s celebrate some of the direct impact ReThink HK has had on the city. What are some notable milestones for you?

ReThink HK
Website/ ReThink HK

How we measure success [is because] we're still traditional in terms of what we are, a big expo conference. So, how many people attend, how many sponsors there are, and what do the surveys say? But alongside that, and this is difficult to measure, is what impact does ReThink HK really have?

The more people that attend, the bigger the pot that goes to the Foundation [to support local sustainability projects], so there's an impact there, and of course, we ask our stakeholders how has coming to the event changed the way you're going to do things, but that's all pretty subjective.

So where can we make a real difference? What I really want to do is change the way events are run in Hong Kong. I want to put pressure on my peers within the trade and expo industry and hold the lens up to them.

We try to be this best example; we have our own internal sustainability expert who's helping to run the event as sustainably as possible, measure everything, rapport, and disclose everything. Our goal is that, after this year's event, we will set our first [sustainability] targets.

A major barrier to Hong Kong’s sustainability journey is its import dependent economy. How do you foresee the city working to transform into a more circular model?

The way Hong Kong is traditionally operated is it’s market-led, so business leads the way, and at the point where they need or require government intervention or government support policy, the government will respond and provide that pathway forward. From a sustainability perspective, five years ago, that was still very much the way things were working. But with the government setting a 2050 Target, that really put the focus on the four key areas of the decarbonization of Hong Kong: buildings, transport, energy, and waste.

There’s been a lot of media in the last weeks from South Korea about how they now recycle 97% of their food waste. It is phenomenal. Now, it didn't happen overnight, but a clear vision and investment [was required] for that to happen. And I think that's what the sustainability sector is looking for here.

An impressive achievement at ReThink has been your continued partnerships with large corporations, including HSBC, JLL, Lufthansa Group, etc. Although their participation is crucial, how do you hold these large businesses accountable for their greater impact or lack of sustainability initiatives compared to the scale of their operations?

Fundamentally, I believe that the impact, the outcomes, and the progress that ReThink helps to facilitate is real. In order for us to do that and continue to build on it, we need commercial support.

What we can do is ensure that those sponsors do not use the platform to gloss over the issues that they're facing. You can probably imagine that some financial institutions have to be very careful about who they put on stage and who can say what. But we make them very aware that we are not going to control or restrict the discussion to protect them.

Because we're not a membership organization, we have editorial neutrality. Our job is to host the discussion. And we've done a good job of that.

What were the highlights of the 2024 edition of ReThink HK?

ReThink HK bus ad
LinkedIn/ ReThink HK

This is a really hard one because we put so much time, effort, and care into designing [the event]. It’s like going to a one-day conference but there's eight of them happening in the same room at the same time. The highlight, hopefully, is that someone came for half a day, a day, or two days, and built their own snapshot of sustainability in Hong Kong. I truly hope that everyone took at least something away with them.

If [I were] to pick one thing, I'm going to have to go with something that was totally new this year: the closing debate.

All the programs ended earlier than normal, and we closed the event on the main stage with a debate. Hopefully, that provided an element of ceremony and provided the audience with something lively, but thought-provoking. There was also a live vote before and after the debate on whether the attendees at ReThink believe that we have a credible path to carbon neutrality.

What is an effective and achievable goal businesses can start to apply today to become more sustainable in their operations?

ReThink HK
Website/ ReThink HK

If you are thinking about it, and you're starting to put the wheels in motion to do something about it, there is probably someone else who is either in exactly the same position as you, or a few steps ahead.

There will be others, in very close proximity to you, that will have already started that journey. They may not have made much progress, or they could be a step ahead of you, and I promise, if you reach out to them, they'll be very grateful that there's someone else out there who's thinking about the same challenges that they are.

You know who your competitors and suppliers are, you know your customers are all interlinked. You all have this Venn diagram of challenges, and it's so much easier than doing it on your own.

What’s next for Hong Kong?

Chris Brown Founder of ReThnk HK and team
Facebook/ ReThink HK

Hong Kong has a proven history of being able to adapt and I don't think that'll be any different for sustainability. The pace of transition might be slower than is required, but there will be an inflection point, and I think as Hong Kong has proven many times in in the past throughout its history, there will be a real call to arms from businesses if Hong Kong starts losing out in certain areas.

You'll get a response. It will all come together, and there will be a point when it will change, and when it does, it will change quickly.

That's why, I'm committed to Hong Kong. That's why I'm hugely excited about the future for ReThink, and to be a key touch point in that transition process around sustainability, but also other areas of transformation as well.

Learn more about ReThink Hong Kong and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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This Week's Event In Hong Kong

Hong Kong/ Terra/ Sustainability

CHOMP Partners with Whiskers N Paws to Reduce Waste on Pet Perishables

Whiskers N PawsPhoto by CHOMP HK

The award-winning food-saving app, CHOMP, is rolling out a new category — this time helping cut down waste on perfectly good pet food and supplies.

This expansion is in collaboration with one of Hong Kong’s largest pet retailers, Whispers N Paws, whose two locations, Ap Lei Chau and Lohas Park, will now be available via the CHOMP app. Users will now be able to access pet food, treats, supplements, and other perishable items that are nearing their Best Before Date at a 50% discounted rate. The aim of the partnership is to help reduce the amount of edible and usable items from ending up in landfill.

“We are delighted to welcome Whiskers N Paws to CHOMP. Like with human food, if pet food remains unsold, it often passes its best before date and ends up in landfill, contributing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere,” shared Carla Martinesi, Founder and CEO of CHOMP. “Through this partnership, we hope to see people embrace sustainable shopping for their pets, try new foods and products for their furry friends, and welcome animal lovers to our community of CHOMPIONS.”

Pet owner
Photo from Facebook/Whiskers N Paws

The Hong Kong app was launched in 2021 and is primarily known as a food-saving app, partnering with over 250 vendors from the Food & beverage sector, which includes cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and stores like The Optimist, The Astor, Levain Bakery, and TreeHouse. Over the past four years, CHOMP expanded its waste-saving mission into homewares and has partnered with other types of businesses that sell perishable goods, such as flowers and skincare. This new partnership with Whiskers N Paws is the company’s foray into pet goods.

“At Whiskers N Paws, we are always striving for ways to innovate, be more sustainable, and reach new customers. We feel that our new partnership with CHOMP helps us meet all three of those goals,” said Sylvana Lee, Head of Marketing at Whiskers N Paws.

“Over the years, we have realized that whilst donated goods are valuable, it’s financial support that makes a real impact for them, which is why we have our Paws For Good program that raises money for local animal charities. This has given us some paws-for-thought on what can be done with products that aren’t always needed by charities, but can bring joy to other pets in Hong Kong. We hope this partnership with CHOMP can bridge that gap.”

The CHOMP app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store. You can also follow CHOMP on Facebook and Instagram or visit Whiskers N Paws’ Facebook and Instagram pages to know more about their products.

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Hong Kong/ Fashionista/ Style

Redress Design Award 2025 Unveils Global Talent in Hong Kong for the Future

11Photo by Redress Design Award

If fashion is a mirror of society, then one of the runways at CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong just reflected something bold, urgent, and refreshingly hopeful. The Redress Design Award 2025, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, returned this September with a powerful message: creativity can be circular.

CENTRESTAGE 2025
Instagram/ CENTRESTAGE

Hosted at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the finale brought together ten emerging designers from across the globe, each selected for their innovative approach to reducing fashion waste.

The event was part of CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s premier fashion showcase, where country pavilions like the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia added vibrant cultural context to the international spotlight.

Carla Zhang and Hugo Dumas
Courtesy of Redress Design Award

This year marked a historic first: two joint First Prize winners were crowned.

Hugo Dumas from France impressed judges with a zero-waste collection focused on regeneration and recyclability, while Carla Zhang from Mainland China presented handwoven pieces crafted from surplus cords and yarns sourced from factories. Both winners will receive mentorship from fashion icon Flora Cheong-Leen and present their work at GREENEXT Expo 2025 in Shanghai.

Mara San Pedro and her collection
Courtesy of Redress Design Award
Nathan Moy and his collection
Courtesy of Redress Design Award

Other standout awards included the People’s Choice, won by Mara San Pedro from the Philippines, and the Hong Kong Best Prize, awarded to Nathan Moy. The full roster of finalists featured talents from South Korea, South Africa, Germany, Canada, the USA, and more — each pushing boundaries in sustainable design.

Founded by Hong Kong-based NGO Redress, the award is more a competition and a movement. With over 330 alumni and 23,000 designers educated globally, Redress continues to challenge the fashion industry’s reliance on virgin materials and landfill-bound textiles. Even the collections were shipped using DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, reducing carbon emissions.

As fashion grapples with its environmental footprint, these designers are proving that style and sustainability can, and must, coexist.

Explore the finalists and their collections at Redress’ website, and witness how the next generation is stitching a new narrative for fashion by staying tuned with Redress’s Instagram and Facebook.

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Hong Kong/ Terra/ Sustainability

Nicole Tung Wins Carmignac Award: Exposing Southeast Asia’s Hidden Crisis

11Photo by Nicole Tung for Fondation Carmignac

What happens when one of the world’s most fearless photojournalists turns her lens toward the sea? You get a story that’s as haunting as it is urgent. Hong Kong-born photographer Nicole Tung has been named the laureate of the 15th Carmignac Photojournalism Award for her nine-month investigation into illegal fishing and labor abuse across Southeast Asia.

Nicole Tung
Courtesy of Chris McGrath

Born and raised in Hong Kong and now based in Istanbul, the New York University graduate is known for documenting war zones and refugee camps from Syria to Ukraine.

Tung’s latest work dives into a different kind of battlefield beneath the waves, with her reporting spanning Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, where she uncovered a shadowy industry marked by environmental devastation and human rights violations. From debt bondage aboard foreign-owned vessels to the rollback of labor reforms in Thailand, her images reveal the human cost of industrial overfishing.

Nicole Tung's nine-month investigation into illegal fishing and labor abuse across Southeast Asia.
Courtesy of Nicole Tung for Fondation Carmignac
Nicole Tung's nine-month investigation into illegal fishing and labor abuse across Southeast Asia.
Courtesy of Nicole Tung for Fondation Carmignac

It’s more about people rather than politics. Tung’s portraits of dock workers, fishers, and families offer a rare glimpse into lives hidden from view. In Palawan, she captured how Chinese maritime dominance has pushed local fishers out of ancestral waters, slashing incomes and forcing many to abandon their trade. In Indonesia, she documented the shark trade, where meat is sold locally while fins and bones are exported to Hong Kong and China for cosmetics and traditional medicine.

Her work also touches on the global seafood supply chain, tracing fish from small coastal canneries to sushi counters in Tokyo. It’s a wake-up call: the choices we make at the dinner table ripple across oceans and communities.

Nicole Tung's nine-month investigation into illegal fishing and labor abuse across Southeast Asia.
Courtesy of Nicole Tung for Fondation Carmignac
Nicole Tung's nine-month investigation into illegal fishing and labor abuse across Southeast Asia.
Courtesy of Nicole Tung for Fondation Carmignac

Founded in 2009 by financier and philanthropist Édouard Carmignac, the Carmignac Photojournalism Award was created in response to a crisis in global media and in support of investigative storytelling. Each year, the award funds a long-form photo reportage focused on human rights or geopolitical issues, offering full production support from the Fondation Carmignac. Laureates are selected by an international jury of editors, curators, and regional experts who ensure the chosen project reflects both artistic merit and journalistic urgency.

Past winners have exposed everything from migrant slavery in Libya to gender-based violence in Afghanistan. With exhibitions held at major institutions across Europe, the award has become one of the most respected platforms for socially engaged photojournalism today.

Nicole Tung’s award-winning series debuted at the Visa pour l’Image festival in France and will be exhibited globally. It’s a powerful reminder that storytelling isn’t just about what we see, it’s about what we choose to see.

For more information about the series and related exhibitions, check out the Carmignac Photojournalism Award’s website, and follow the Instagram of Nicole Tung, Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and Visa pour l'Image.

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Hong Kong/ The List/ What's On

lululemon's ‘Like New' Pilot Hosts Pop-Up Resale, Workshops, and a Party

Like NewPhoto by lululemon/Website

lululemon is redefining the future of fashion with pre-loved garments. From Sept. 17 to 21, 2025, the brand will host its "Like New" Pop-Up Event at PMQ, Central, inviting the public to shop curated pre-loved activewear, join hands-on workshops, and celebrate mindful movement through a run & coffee party.

'Like New Pop-Up' will be hosted at PMQ this September
Photo from Website/lululemon

The pop-up marks Phase 2 of lululemon’s "Like New" pilot in Hong Kong, following a successful Phase 1 product take-back initiative held from April to August. During that phase, over 3,800 gently worn items were collected across select stores, sorted by Redress, a Hong Kong-based nonprofit championing circular fashion, and prepared for resale or repair.

V Cycle supported reverse logistics, ensuring all items were responsibly consolidated and delivered for sorting. Unsellable or unsold pieces will be donated to Crossroads or redirected to local communities in need.

'Like New' circulation process
Photo from Website/lululemon

Now, lululemon is unveiling the results with a professionally cleaned and restored collection of high-quality gear, available for purchase at the pop-up. The event is powered by a meaningful collaboration with Redress, with lululemon pledging to donate either 100% of net profits or 2% of revenue (whichever is higher) to support sustainable fashion initiatives.

In the initiative’s series of events, guests can also participate in upcycling workshops, crafting accessories like scrunchies and keychains from repurposed materials. Each session costs HK$100 and is redeemable as credit toward same-day purchases.

Another highlight of the week is the "Like New Run x Coffee Rave" on Sept. 20, 2025, where guests will jog through Central with lululemon ambassadors Calvin Au Yeung and Stephanie Cuvelier before dancing into the morning at PMQ’s coffee rave with Bad Time Disco’s co-founder, Ani Phoebe, on the deck.

While the "Like New Pop-Up" is a walk-in only event, guests can register via Eventbrite for the workshops here and the Run x Coffee Rave here.

For more information, check out the website of ‘Like New’ and follow lululemon Hong Kong’s Instagram and Facebook.

Location: HG11–12, PMQ, Central

Date: Sept. 17 to 21, 2025, from 11 AM to 7 PM

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Hong Kong/ Nomads/ Explore

8 Hong Kong Places to Visit in Hungry Ghost Month (If You Dare… or Don’t)

11

Every seventh lunar month, Hong Kong enters a spiritually charged season known as Hungry Ghost Month — a time when the gates of the underworld are believed to open, allowing spirits to roam freely among the living. In 2025, Ghost Month runs from August 23 to September 21, with the Hungry Ghost Festival falling on September 6 — the 15th day of the lunar month.

Rooted in Taoist and Buddhist traditions dating back over 2,000 years, the festival is a moment of deep cultural reflection. Families honor their ancestors and appease wandering souls with offerings of incense, food, and elaborate paper effigies like money, luxury handbags, smartphones, and even mansions — all burned to send comfort to the afterlife.

Yu Lan Festival
Courtesy of Association of Hong Kong Yu Lan Festival

In Hong Kong, the Chiu Chow (潮州) community has played a vital role in preserving these rituals, especially through Yu Lan Festivals held across the city, turning the festival into a vibrant affair. These events feature traditional opera, towering paper effigies, and street-side offerings.

Meanwhile, the Hungry Ghost Month comes with a long list of taboos, and here’s a few:

- Don’t swim in open waters — water spirits are said to lurk.

- Don’t whistle or sing at night — it’s believed to attract ghosts.

- Don’t hang clothes outside overnight — spirits may “try them on.”

- Don’t step on joss paper or offerings — it’s deeply disrespectful.

- Don’t wear red or black — these colors are said to draw spirits in.

Despite the caution, some thrill-seekers and curious wanderers use Ghost Month as an excuse to explore Hong Kong’s haunted history. From abandoned villages to wartime mansions, the city is full of places with uncanny reputations and ghostly stories. If you’re not afraid of a little chill down your spine, and you’re respectful of the cultural weight this month carries, here are eight places to visit for an adventure.

But let’s be clear: we strongly advise against visiting most of these sites at night, alone, or without permission because Ghost Month is not just spooky, it’s sacred.

Dragon Lodge, The Peak

Dragon Lodge
Courtesy of Skywalker's Heritage

Once a grand mansion built in the 1920s, Dragon Lodge has long stood empty despite its prime location. Rumors swirl of wartime atrocities, including the alleged decapitation of Catholic nuns by Japanese soldiers during WWII, and ghostly cries of children echoing through its halls. A construction crew reportedly abandoned renovations after experiencing unexplained phenomena.  But it's worth noting It’s private property.

Location: Dragon Lodge 32 Lugard Road, The Peak 

Tat Tak School, Yuen Long

Tat Tak School
Courtesy of CCIDAHK

This abandoned primary school since 1998 is infamous for sightings of a woman in red — said to be the ghost of a headmistress who died tragically on-site.

Tat Tak School in Yuen Long is surrounded by graves and rumored to be built on a mass burial site from the 1899 Six-Day War and WWII. In July 2025, the site made headlines when a man was found dead after committing suicide on the premises, adding unexplained phenomena and a heavy, oppressive energy to it.

Location: Tat Tak School, Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long 

Nam Koo Terrace, Wan Chai

Nam Koo Terrace
Courtesy of Hong Kong Spatial History Project

Built in the early 1900s by a Shanghainese merchant, this red-brick mansion was allegedly used as a “comfort house” by Japanese troops during the occupation. Tales of abuse and torture linger, and urban explorers have reported ghostly flames and women's voices echoing through the halls. In 2003, a group of teens claimed one of them was possessed after sneaking in.

Location: Nam Koo Terrace, 55 Ship Street, Wan Chai

Bride’s Pool, Tai Po

Bride’s Pool
Courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board

This scenic waterfall hides a tragic legend: a bride en route to her wedding fell into the pool when her sedan chair bearers slipped. Her body was never found, and her spirit is said to haunt the waters. Hikers have reported seeing a woman in red brushing her hair by the pool’s edge — only to vanish into mist.

Location: Bride’s Pool, Plover Cove Country Park, near Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po 

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex (Old Mental Hospital, High Street Ghost House)

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
Courtesy of Antiquties and Monuments Office

Originally Hong Kong’s largest mental hospital, this colonial building was later rumored to be used by Japanese forces as an execution site during WWII. Locals believe the spirits of tortured patients and wartime victims still linger. The building sat abandoned for decades before being converted into a community center.

Location: Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun 

So Lo Pun Village, New Territories

So Lo Pun Village
Courtesy of Hong Kong Hike

This abandoned Hakka village is known for eerie silence and zero mobile signal. So Lo Pun means “locked compass,” stemming from tales that hikers’ compasses stop working upon entry. Legends speak of villagers vanishing after a boat accident, and some visitors report ghost sightings and sudden illness.

Location: So Lo Pun Village, Plover Cove Country Park, northeast New Territories 

Campsites Across Hong Kong

Camping sites are open as usual despite the Hungry Ghost Month

Ghost Month superstition keeps most campers away — meaning you’ll have nature all to yourself.

But here’s the catch: many locals avoid forests and mountains at night during this time, believing they’re hotspots for wandering spirits. If you do go, stick to daylight hours and avoid solo trips. Some of the most popular campsites are Pui O Campsite (Lantau), Pak Tam Chung (Sai Kung), and Nam Shan Campsite (Lantau).

Local Yu Lan Festivals (盂蘭勝會) in Your Area

Yu Lan Festivals
Courtesy of Intangible Cultural Heritage Office
Bamboo Theatre
Courtesy of Intangible Cultural Heritage Office

Happening across the city, Yu Lan Festivals are community-led rituals held across Hong Kong during Hungry Ghost Month, especially by the Chiu Chow population. These events have been passed down for generations, dating back to 1897 when the first was held by the Chiu Chow Kung Wo Tong in Causeway Bay.

The festival honors ancestors and appeases wandering spirits through offerings, prayers, and performances. One origin story comes from the Buddhist tale of Maudgalyayana, a monk who saved his mother’s soul from hell.

The most iconic part of Yu Lan Festivals is the bamboo opera stages. These temporary structures host traditional Chiu Chow opera performances, often dramatizing mythological tales or moral parables. But here’s the twist: the front row is left empty — intentionally reserved for the spirits. Sitting there is considered disrespectful, even dangerous, as it’s believed to invite unwanted spiritual attention.

Beyond opera, you’ll find towering paper effigies of the Ghost King — a fierce, four-meter-tall figure with green skin and fangs, meant to keep order among the spirits. On the final night, the effigy is burned in a dramatic send-off ceremony, symbolically closing the gates of the underworld.

This part of Hungry Ghost Month is less about fear and more about reverence, storytelling, and community. If you’re curious about Hong Kong’s intangible heritage, Yu Lan Festivals are a rare chance to witness living tradition in action — just don’t sit where the spirits sit.

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Hong Kong/ Urbanite/ Commercial

Hongkong Land Unveils Hong Kong’s First AI-Powered Building Platform

Hongkong Land Unveils Hong Kongs First AI Powered Building PlatformPhoto by Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is making office life in the city a little more seamless with the launch of Hong Kong's first artificial intelligence (AI) powered facility management system called the Integrated Facility Management Control Tower (IFMCT), the platform brings together more than 20 standalone building systems — from Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC) and Building Management System (BMS) to soft services such as cleaning and vendor management — into one intelligent command center.

"This pioneering initiative stands as a testament to Hongkong Land's leadership in delivering forward-thinking sustainable solutions, highlighting the Group's long-standing culture of innovation and our commitment to creating lasting value for all our stakeholders. We're proud of the platform's success in Hong Kong and look forward to extending its impact across our regional portfolio," Hongkong Land Chief Executive Michael Smith said.

The IFMCT helps enhance building operations by automating workflows, shifting maintenance from reactive to predictive, and using AI health analytics to spot issues early and reduce service interruptions.

Already tested at Alexandra House, Charter House, and Exchange Square, this smarter approach has cut air-handling unit maintenance by 16%, automated 66% of work orders, and slashed document retrieval time by 80%. It also helped Hongkong Land and its tenants streamline communication by reducing alarm calls and supporting decarbonization efforts through intelligent energy management, which balances demand and adjusts cooling or heating in line with weather forecasts.

By 2026, the IFMCT is set to cover all of Hongkong Land’s Central properties before being scaled to regional projects such as Shanghai’s Westbund Central, a development with high-quality retail spaces, hotels, office towers, arts and cultural venues, and residences.

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Hong Kong/ Terra/ Sustainability

Extreme Weather in Hong Kong: Typhoon and Record Rainfall Raise Alarm

1Photo by The Hong Kong Observatory/Instagram

One day it was a T10 typhoon, then in the next few days, it was one black rainstorm followed by another. The last couple of weeks might have felt like a disaster movie on loop, and experts say it’s not just bad luck, it’s a sign of deeper climate instability that’s possibly only getting worse.

Thunderstorm photographed on July 26
Photo from Instagram/The Hong Kong Observatory

The Hong Kong Observatory recorded 355.7 millimetres of rainfall at its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters on Aug. 5, 2025, marking the highest daily rainfall in August since records began in 1884. Some streets were flooded, MTR exits closed, and flights delayed as the city battled the weather.

Just days earlier, Typhoon Wipha skirted Hong Kong, prompting the Observatory to hoist the T10 Hurricane Signal, which remained in force until 3 PM on July 20, 2025. The T10 signal warns of sustained winds exceeding 118 km/h and is rarely issued; its presence underscores the severity of the storm’s impact.

Former assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory
Photo from Instagram/Leung Wing-mo

In an interview, Leung Wing-mo, former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, emphasized the link between climate change and the surge in extreme weather. “By nature, the weather fluctuates,” he said. “Climate change exacerbates these fluctuations, causing weather to be more unstable and more extreme”.

The Observatory’s rainstorm warning system, which includes Amber, Red, and Black signals, is designed to alert the public and mobilize emergency services. The Black Rainstorm Warning indicates extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 70mm per hour, often leading to serious flooding and landslides.

Flow of model training and weather forecasting of AI models.
Courtesy of The Hong Kong Observatory

In response, the Observatory is accelerating its use of AI forecasting models, which successfully predicted the rainband responsible for this week’s deluge. “Our use of artificial intelligence in predicting the weather is still at a preliminary stage,” said He Yuheng, Acting Senior Scientific Officer. “But it has already shown promise in narrowing cyclone path predictions and anticipating heavy rainfall.”

Government departments are being urged to improve coordination, especially in slope maintenance and drainage systems.

As Hong Kong braces for more unsettled weather, experts warn that the frequency and intensity of such events may continue to rise. The city’s infrastructure, forecasting systems, and public awareness will be critical in adapting to this new climate reality.

For updates on and other information about Hong Kong's weather, check out Hong Kong Observatory's website here or follow their Instagram here.

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Hong Kong/ Delish/ Happenings

Food Waste to Good Taste Launches First-Ever Cookbook

CHOMP cookbookPhoto by Food Waste to Good Taste

What do cucumber peels, onion skins, and leftover pasta have in common? They’re the stars of Conscious Cooking – Asian Delights, the brand-new cookbook launched by HKU’s School of Biological Sciences in partnership with GREEN Hospitality and the award-winning food-saving app CHOMP!

With Asia producing 50% of the world’s food waste (and Hong Kong alone tossing 3,437 tons daily!), this initiative aims to reduce food waste and promote sustainable cooking.

This cookbook isn’t just eye-opening; it’s packed with mouthwatering recipes that turn "trash," such as lemon peels, leek tops, potato skins, and other leftovers, into "treasure."

Featuring twenty exclusive recipes from nine of Hong Kong’s leading local chefs and rising talents, all proceeds from the cookbook will go towards the Foodlink Foundation.

Cookbook Team
Courtesy of Food Waste to Good Taste

Top chefs like May Chow (Little Bao), Barry Quek (Whey), Krzysztof Czerwinski (Soho House Hong Kong), and Zinc Leung (Sushi Zinc) are whipping up kitchen wizardry for this cookbook, alongside creative twists from CHOMP’s founder Carla Martinesi and HKU students.

To celebrate the launch, foodies and sustainability champions gathered at Soho House Hong Kong for a deliciously eye-opening celebration that featured live cooking demos, mouth-watering samples, a lively panel, and an exclusive sneak peek at this game-changing cookbook.

chicken bistek
Courtesy of Food Waste to Good Taste

Get ready to try recipes such as Dragon Well Tea Shrimp, a recipe by Chef May Chow, fragrant Dry Assam Lemon Noodles by Chef Barry Quek, and deliciously meaty Filipino Chicken Bistek, crafted by Chef Jen Balisi.

“Food waste is one of the most pressing issues of our time. This cookbook serves as an invitation to rethink how we view food waste. We’ve been determined to find ways in which these overlooked ingredients can be repurposed — not just to reduce waste, but to create something meaningful and beneficial for human health,” Professor Jetty Chung-Yung Lee, holding an MPhil, PhD, SFHEA specializing in Food & Nutritional Science, shared.

"Conscious Cooking – Asian Delights" is available now as an eBook, priced at just HK$100.  Or you can pre-order a hard cover copy (priced at HK$300) from the Foodlink Foundation website here.

To stay in the loop, visit Food Waste to Good Taste on their Instagram. Visit Green Hospitality on their website, Instagram and Facebook, CHOMP on their website and Instagram, and Knowledge Exchange at The University of Hong Kong on their website.

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Hong Kong/ Terra/ Sustainability

Hongkong Land Makes Big Moves in Sustainability Toward Year 2030

2 NE1 2Photo by Hongkong Land

The major property investment, management, and development company Hongkong Land (HKL) is making remarkable progress toward its 2030Sustainability Framework goals, surpassing several targets thanks to its focus on reducing carbon emissions.

Efforts such as upgrading key buildings like LANDMARK in Tomorrow’s CENTRAL,” and building strong partnerships with tenants are also helping to shape the future of luxury real estate in Hong Kong and beyond, all while driving tangible value.

A significant achievement has been a 33.3% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions compared to 2019, placing the company ahead of its target timeline for reducing its environmental impact.

In addition, 96% of its leasing portfolio has green building certifications that rank at the second-highest level or higher, exceeding its 2030 goal of 90%.

Furthermore, 81% of the leasing portfolio has earned the top certifications available globally, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable building practices.

The company has also made impressive headway in waste management, with a commercial waste diversion rate of 48% and aiming to reach the 50% target by 2030.

By fine-tuning its carbon measurement tools and improving emissions data, HKL is enhancing its sustainability efforts throughout the entire supply chain. On top of this, the company’s upgrades to energy efficiency and building enhancements are expected to save around US$1 million annually, while also boosting the overall value of its assets.

HKL
Facebook/Hongkong Land

These efforts have caught the attention of major ESG rating agencies, with HKL being recognized by prestigious organizations like the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025.

Another key milestone was HKL achieving “Triple Platinumstatus across its entire Hong Kong commercial portfolio — the first developer in the city to do so. With 96% of its leasing portfolio certified at top green standards and 70% WELL certified, the company is raising the bar for sustainability in the real estate industry.

The company is committed to maintaining the highest efficiency of its existing buildings, continuously reducing its existing portfolio’s carbon footprint, and steadily progressing towards the goal of 100% certification for existing leasing portfolios by 2030.

Beyond buildings, HKL is fostering collaboration through the Tenant Sustainability Partnership Program (TSPP) more positive environmental impact. which launched in 2023.

By the end of its first year, 23% of its total lettable office space in Central — consisting of over 840,000 square feet — had joined the program. This initiative is now expanding to properties in mainland China.

As the CEO of HKL, Michael Smith, highlights, “Meeting a number of our 2030 sustainability targets ahead of schedule reflects our commitment to a sustainable future as we think in generations and create lasting value for all our stakeholders. ESG leadership is fundamental to our operations, and these milestones demonstrate our ability to align business excellence with sustainable values.”

For more information, visit HKL on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Hong Kong/ Fashionista/ Style

REFASH To Open Their Newest Hong Kong Store at East Point City on Apr. 25.

REFAS Hs East Point City storePhoto by REFASH Hong Kong

Score designer finds and preloved steals like Zara and Ralph Lauren at REFASH’s newest Hong Kong branch!

Leading preloved fashion retailer REFASH is opening its newest Hong Kong store at East Point City, Tseung Kwan O this Apr. 25, 2025! Known for offering high-quality secondhand fashion at affordable prices starting from HK$29, REFASH’s expansion is a response to the growing demand for sustainable and budget-friendly fashion in Hong Kong.

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REFASH provides a wide range of casual outfits, activewear, seasonal essentials, and office wear with a carefully curated selection of over 1,000 styles. Apart from secondhand fashion, the store will also feature its signature “Brand New with Tags” (BNWT) collection, offering unworn pieces from Zara, Ralph Lauren, Nike, COS, Calvin Klein, and Love Boito at discounts of up to 90% off retail prices.

REFASH will also be bringing the popular “Celebrity Closets” to their newest store, with an East Point City outlet’s exclusive collection of curated preloved clothing from over 10 local KOLs and celebrities from Apr. 25. Fans can recreate the trendy and stylish looks of BabyShadow 小影, Leslie Chu, Amber Chua, and more!

As part of its commitment to make fashion more circular, REFASH will be hosting Instant Cash Out (ICO) Events, a popular and convenient way for Hongkongers to declutter their wardrobes in exchange for cash. During ICO events, customers bring bags of clothes to the store at their reserved time slot, receive a quote within an hour, and are paid on the spot.

Customers can also choose to donate any unaccepted items to The Salvation Army through REFASH’s donation initiative.

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REFASH East Point City Grand Opening

From Apr. 25 to 27, shoppers can look forward to some exciting activities in celebration of the grand opening of REFASH’s fourth outlet at East Point City, such as:

  • Participate in a “Spin the Wheel” to get exciting welcome gifts, including REFASH HK$30 voucher, CL Mall HK$25 voucher, Starbucks HK$20 gift card, and OP Beauty HK$10 voucher.
  • A chance to meet KOLs Gigi, Hanna, Helen, and Queenie
  • Sell clothes at the popular Instant Cash Out event (by appointment only)

For more info about the Grand Opening and REFASH, visit REFASH’s website and Instagram page!

Location: Shop 199G, 1/F, East Point City, 8 Chung Wa Road, Tseung Kwan O

Opening Hours: Daily from 11 AM to 9 PM

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