The Seawall: Living in a world of constant surveillance

He walked past the former ship-loading bay and climbed up the seawall to the walkway above, setting his food down carefully. To his left was the glare of the Hong Kong skyline, against which he often saw the silhouettes of others like him. But tonight, he was alone. The seawall was a haven for Seb. […]

Ariana #06: Autumn | Winter 2020 Issue

LGBT+ acceptance should be taught during children’s formative school years, but Hong Kong’s sexual education system often falls short. From ancient history to modern times, we explore social sentiments, cultural norms and religious influences across three regions – Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Philippines … Sitara Shipping’s Sanjam Gupta explains how she’s connecting and empowering […]

Eradicating bear bile farming amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Jill Robinson, animal rights advocate and founder of animal protection group Animals Asia, shares her thoughts on animal welfare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, governments and hospitals are grasping to find effective treatments for rapidly spreading COVID-19. We’ve seen recommendations for high doses of Vitamin C, hydroxychloroquine (usually used to treat malaria) and […]

What it’s like to be “gay and grey” in Hong Kong

“Many of us had to get married, so society would see us as ‘straight’ and ‘normal’. Even when we are old, we still can’t be ourselves,” says a 75-year-old man during a public forum on establishing senior homes for Hong Kong’s LGBT+ older generation. This is a scene from Suk Suk, a 2019 Hong Kong […]

What you should know about dolphins and whales in captivity

While most of us have found it challenging to practice physical distancing for just a few months during the COVID-19 outbreak, Jessie was no stranger to isolation. The female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin spent roughly 38 years inside a concrete tank, separated from her parents and siblings before passing away in 2016. Jessie was captured in […]

Screen Time: Is breast-cancer screening the right move?

Vanessa Lai was in her early 40s when she discovered an abnormality in her left breast in September 2015. After undergoing a biopsy, doctors delivered the terrible news: she had stage 1B breast cancer. In the two months that followed, the beauty consultant underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancerous tissue, followed by four gruelling […]