Episode 101

This year, Ani-com & Games. will be held from July 25th to 29th at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. In addition to the Cosplay Self-Guided Tour in which everyone can participate in, the anime cosplay competition has changed from one to two, the single, and the double World Cosplay Summit 2026 Hong Kong Qualifiers. Contestants who qualified in the preliminary rounds will compete in the finals held on the first three days. And don’t forget the finale - Cosplay Together - on the last day. As the name Ani-com & Games suggests, there will be the latest animations, comics, games, models, figures and more. Among them, the “Elefunpop Art & Toy Show” will display various trendy designs and artists’ works, as well as the most stylish and latest toy figures and limited edition products.

Alessandro Huber works for a small transport company that flies over Suriname. In this country covered with 96% virgin forest, as soon as we move away from the maritime coast, we fly over what some call, the "Green Hell". Seen from the sky, it’s a gigantic emerald-colored rug. On the ground, it is an impassable primary forest with regions that are completely inaccessible by car or boat. Without his plane, it would take many days to connect the communities together. It is used in turn as an ambulance, taxi, freight truck, and armored van for transporting gold from mining companies.

Emission reduction is urgent as global warming and extreme weather events ravage the world. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become a consensus among humans. "Absorbing" and "locking" carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, preventing its release back into the air, has become another new endeavor alongside emission reduction. Simpler in structure than humans, microalgae, single-celled organisms that have existed in oceans and rivers for millions of years, are natural carbon absorption experts. Microalgae, invisible to the naked eye, are a few micrometers in size and, like trees, rely on photosynthesis for survival. During photosynthesis, microalgae's chlorophyll converts carbon dioxide into proteins, carbohydrates, and fats while producing oxygen, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Young research teams in Hong Kong have set up demonstration sites to cultivate and breed microalgae in specially designed tanks. They have devoted great effort and explored various methods to enhance the carbon absorption capacity of microalgae, with the goal of industrializing microalgae cultivation and promoting it worldwide. Local innovation and technology companies have also commercialized the "carbon absorption experts" by installing fluorescent green "microalgae reactors" in schools and other locations. These reactors use air pumps to draw air into water-filled containers to cultivate microalgae, aligning with organizations' carbon reduction goals under ESG reporting. Microalgae may be the "carbon absorbers," but their life cycle is short, and they gradually release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Scientists in other fields continue to unleash their unlimited creativity by attempting to directly "absorb" carbon dioxide from the air. Some Western countries have already invested in the construction of large-scale facilities to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and store it underground. In Hong Kong, researchers at universities have made preliminary developments in the "carbon dioxide reduction system," which converts carbon dioxide into raw materials for plastic chemicals. In the future, this system could potentially be applied in industrial projects to promote carbon neutrality. Of course, tree planting remains a crucial strategy for "carbon sequestration" at present. Trees naturally reduce carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Environmental organizations collaborate with universities to study five different types of forests in various locations in Hong Kong. By measuring plant data using instruments after selecting suitable locations, they estimate the "carbon storage" of Hong Kong's forests and their potential for carbon dioxide removal. The aim is to assist the government in formulating policies to enhance the carbon absorption capacity of forests, ensuring that forests continue to serve as a major force for "carbon sequestration" in nature. The extent of microalgae's carbon absorption capacity is still under research. Trees can store carbon dioxide in trees and soil for long periods. Can microalgae have a similar "carbon sequestration" effect? How effective is machine-based carbon capture? These questions still require further exploration by the academic and environmental sectors.

Hong Kong pianists are increasingly making waves in the international music scene. Last week, Aristo Sham, Gold Medallist in the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, was with us to talk about his experience of that competition. This week we’re featuring Joyce Cheung, who’s been on the show a number of times, and who recently won a top prize in Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards. She recently played in a concert with French singer Sarah Lancman. We spoke to them both. Can you remember the last time you had a deep, restful sleep? In a city of incessant activity, what does it mean to truly take a break? At the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC), Kingsley Ng and a team that includes technical, light, and creative interaction designers and a sound engineer have turned a performance venue into a sanctuary of calmness. The work of singer-songwriter and visual artist Kendy Suen ranges from Cantopop and music for theatre to calligraphy and multi-disciplinary pieces. Recently, she’s been working with Chaklam Ng on a device that translates ink-brush strokes into music. She also writes and sings in different languages. She’s here now with pianist and film composer, Yusuke Hatano to tell us about their collaboration.

The Hong Kong Football Festival at the end of July will feature four top European teams - Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. They will present two games at the Kai Tak Stadium. The first match on July 26th will be between the Premier League champions Liverpool and Serie A’s AC Milan. It will be a replay of the classic UEFA’s Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007. This will be Liverpool’s first visit to Hong Kong after 2017, while AC Milan last visited Hong Kong 21 years ago. As for July 31st, Arsenal, the the Premier League runners-up this year, will face off with Tottenham Hotspur, who just broke their trophy drought and won the Europa League. It will be the first time in history that the North London derby between two century-old clubs is staged overseas.

Arranged marriages by "parents' orders and matchmakers' words" are rarely heard of nowadays in Hong Kong. However, Hina, a third-generation Hong Konger of Pakistani descent, experienced "arranged marriage" ten years ago, when her father arranged for her to marry her cousin who lived in a rural village in Pakistan. Hina was born and raised in Hong Kong. Despite her Pakistani looks, she pursues freedom of love from the bottom of her heart, as do other Hong Kong people. She refused her parents' arranged marriage and her relationship with her family broke down. In Hina's eyes, her father has always cared for her family, but he became so different when it comes to marriage. Later Hina's sister took her place in the marriage and suffered from domestic violence. It was until then that her parents finally woke up. Their relationship mended. Determined to choose her own partner, Hina fell in love with her husband from Morocco. She was most touched by her father's understanding and acceptance. Now, Hina is a teacher teaching Chinese to local ethnic minority students to help them integrate into Hong Kong. She shares her experiences with students and hopes that they will realise the importance of pursuing their own happiness.

Award: Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Certificate of Merit (Technology Education Key Learning Area) School: King's College Awardee: Lee Ho-yin Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword in recent years. From smartphones and computer programmes to daily life, AI exists everywhere. Mr Lee Ho-yin, the STEAM Coordinator at King’s College, saw AI’s potential and began incorporating AI education into his classes eight years ago. Gradually, AI has become part of the standard syllabus of computer studies across all forms. Mr. Lee is committed to promoting AI education. He is coordinating the AI Learning Circle formed by 16 government secondary schools, hoping to spread AI education to more schools. Beyond technology, Mr. Lee is also a disciple of Hung Kuen under the lineage of Wong Fei-hung, serving as the school’s martial arts instructor, teaching traditional Chinese martial arts and lion dance. As a martial artist, how does he instill the spirit of martial arts in his students? And what inspiration do they take away from it?