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| No.4 August, 2013 |
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4 Hong Kong Stories you may have missed |
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Since the last Hong Kong Monitor in June 2013, there have been a wide range of news and updates from Hong Kong. For example, there are signs that the city might be a future centre for stem-cell therapy after a local not-for-profit organisation successfully regenerated a human spinal cord. Then there’s also a heartwarming story about Barry, a former stray dog in Hong Kong who has been given a new sense of purpose by the Hong Kong Police Force after being adopted and trained into a drug-busting canine!
Check out the stories below:
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1. |
On Now: Bruce Lee: Kung Fu‧Art‧Life Exhibition |
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Despite passing away more than 40 years ago, legendary martial arts and kung fu master Bruce Lee remains an international icon. The opening of the Bruce Lee: Kung Fu‧Art‧Life exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, where plenty of overseas and local media attended, proves the point.
The five-year exhibition, which is supported by the Hong Kong government, occupies 850 square metres and features more than 600 relics related to Bruce Lee, including his costumes, books and writings. The exhibition also houses a 3.5-metre high statue of Bruce Lee and will give visitors unique insight into Lee’s personal life and cultural impact.
One of our colleagues at HKETO recently went to the exhibition and highly recommends it! Check out more information on the exhibition here. |
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2. |
New life for stray dogs as drug-busters in Hong Kong |
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Since last year, the Hong Kong Police Force has successfully trained homeless dogs into excellent drug-detectors.
Hong Kong's Police Dog Unit headquarters has 16 Passive Alert Dogs (PAD) and three of them were once homeless. "Passive" means that if the dog smells drugs on a person it will sit in front of them instead of barking or attacking.
According to Police Dog Unit Station Sergeant (SSGT) Chin Chi-on, there are no big differences between the training for a stray dog and a police dog. A stray dog has to be "re-educated" because it used to wander, scavenge for food and fight on the streets. Additionally, because stray dogs are more wary of people and more defensive, officers have to gain their trust by showing more care and love.
In order to become a PAD, stray dogs have to complete eight weeks of training and pass a strict exam.
 Six-year-old Barry, a former stray dog, has been a police dog for three years. Shortly after his training, Barry pulled off his first arrest by managed to sniff out drugs hidden in a car in less than 60 seconds.
SSGT Cheung Chun-wah says that PADs not only speed up drug searches, but they are also useful when officers can’t access certain places.
"Criminals would hide drugs in inconceivable places, such as in HiFi equipment or car doors. Under such circumstances, a PAD plays a useful role because officers can't dismantle the car,” said SSGT Cheung.
Stray dogs also have other advantages. A rookie police dog doesn’t know how to ride on an escalator, is reluctant to enter a lift and is scared of the fast-moving cars on the roads. Stray dogs don’t have such problems.
After his training, Barry got rid of his habit of fighting and picking food off the street and has turned into an excellent and hard-working drug-detecting dog.
In his three years' service as a police dog, Barry has carried out 150 missions. |
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3. |
Hong Kong non-profit gives hope to immobile patients |
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Dr Wise Young, the chief executive officer of ChinaSCINet has announced that trials for stem-cell therapy have showed ground-breaking results in helping immobile patients walk again. ChinaSCINet is a Hong Kong non-profit organisation and calls itself the world’s largest clinical trial network for spinal cord therapies. Dr Young said this is the first time in human history that we can see the regeneration of the spinal cord! Dr Young noted that if the spinal cord injury trial turns out to be positive, Hong Kong will be ahead of all many countries and will make the city a centre for stem-cell therapies.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/sci-tech/hong-kong-stem-cell-trial-gives-spinal-patients-hope/story-fni0c0qs-1226670516113 |
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4. |
Global writer gush about Symphony of Lights |
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As if travellers didn’t already need a reason to see the world’s largest permanent light show, here’s UK journalist John O'Ceallaigh gushing about Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights! O'Ceallaigh describes the show as a “21st-century Fantasia” and says the lights symbolize the bright future of Hong Kong. Of course, most tourists who admire the performance have no idea of the show’s symbolic significance, but the display is dazzling no matter what.
Check out what O'Ceallaigh wrote here. |
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