Jeff Chow, a final-year student in the Department of English, won the Most Creative Award in Hong Kong’s Top Story 2016 competition, co-organised by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), EJ Insight and the Hong Kong Economic Journal Education. All winners received books from Pan Macmillan and dining vouchers from Lan Kwai Fong Group. The theme of the competition…
Category: creative
“An Old Anecdote” by Isabella Dong
It is an old anecdote That the kitten and the Lady Cat Go to the southern hill. The prevailing song of the sea Fuses every ephemeral being. Up the hill there is a tree: Daylight swims in its vermillion flame— Other blossoms not yet awoken. But eucalypti hastily dip Fresh leaflets In new green quick…
“Con- or perhaps, Sub-juncts” by Lian-Hee Wee
And with conjunctions bookending this sentence it conjoins to anything but.* Nor yet for so, exhausting all the co-ordinations, that is why true freedom and democracy are faulted for being too difficult. Because subordinates are pliable, As long as, by the time, even if, in case, lest, once, provided that we do not realize how…
Alumni News: The Release of Ordinary People (2015)
Ordinary People (2015) is Chantaiman‘s debut album which draws influences from nineties Britpop and post-punk. In Chantaiman’s words, the album is ‘a celebration of reality and dreams, of lust and love, of fear and courage, of defeat and victory. This album is our gift to all the ordinary people.’ Ordinary People was recorded, mixed, and produced entirely…
“The Song of Green Snake” by Isabella Dong
I seek you everywhere On the land once torn by war, The city overwhelmed By the flood you summoned People’s grief cried aloud When you threatened The wicked, bald hypocrite To let go of your husband. On the Broken Bridge You and I tempted fate. I sneaked into town by moonlight, Consumed by agony. The…
Headspace: Ivan Delazari and Holden Liang Qichao
Headspace: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department write about a place or space they go to write, read, study or create. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Ongoing” series.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] Click the image to enlarge. The Dungeon Headcase To the memory of William S. Burroughs Fresh eyes….
Headspace: Suzanne Lai
Headspace: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department write about a place or space they go to write, read, study or create. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Ongoing” series.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] You heard the train before You saw it. “Mind the gap.” She warned You. Staring straight ahead…
Headspace: Janet Lau
Headspace: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department write about a place or space they go to write, read, study or create. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Ongoing” series.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] St. Lucia On weekdays or weekends, placidity, which dares not come to light before midnight in the…
Headspace: Gary Lam
Headspace: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department write about a place or space they go to write, read, study or create. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Ongoing” series.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] Café Je t’aime, Sheung Shui Calm, blissful nights with fine weather. Dark, quiet alley in Shek Wu…
An Interview with Tammy Ho Lai-Ming
{This interview was originally published on Peel Street Poetry.} . Denis Tsoi: What was the impetus or defining moment that made you pursue your writing further? Tammy Ho: As I have mentioned elsewhere, I wrote almost exclusively in Chinese until university and it was mostly just silly scribbling. When I was an undergraduate student at…
“In Your Absence” by Jason Eng Hun Lee
“Still Life With Eight Oyster Shells” by Tammy Ho I said when you moved into my life, ‘fill the room and the room will be yours‘, so you took possession of everything and set them to darkness in your absence. They will not forget your subtle grace: the sofa stoops to pick up your weight,…
“Loss of the Rule of Law” by Lian-Hee Wee
March 23, 2015 Pixen and Schulos hold dear the Rule of Law. Citizens in their city too are swayed often by arguments on what might threaten the rule of law. The rule of law has been demonstrated to be superior to other forms of government thus far. Yes, the law serves only those who can…
“The Salesman Sleeps His Way to Death” by Jeff Chow
“Morning Light” by Tammy Ho Today is a Wednesday. A horseracing day for my father but just an ordinary Wednesday for me. Waking up to another dull day, the air is humid and suffocating. I am holding a cup of chamomile tea, sipping, watching my father in his deep sleep. My father used to wake…
“(Selected) Notes on the Imaginary Creatures in City W” by Paulina Lee
EDITOR’S PREFACE Fan Te Xi (範特西) died while I was studying his book on endangered species in the Amazon. Ten years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Fan in the City of Water Alley (禾日水巷, also known as City W). Mr. Fan was an enthusiastic traveller and learner. I was (and I…
“Ever More Ed Perfect Perfect Im More Ever” by Jason S Polley
“I See You, Ménilmontant” by Tammy Ho Over Wards back read re please sdraw kcab daer er esaelP is wards back it If ohw syaS is read re read re If si daer er daer er fI And not simply read If can read simple be ever fI If work krow fI Smell Correct…
Announcement: Tammy Ho received Young Artist Award in Literary Arts
Tammy Ho Lai-Ming won the Award for Young Artist in Literary Arts 2015, presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. The ceremony took place on Thursday 21 April 2016 and was broadcast on TVB Jade on Saturday 7 May 2016 (see video below). In response to receiving the award, Tammy expressed her gratitude to…
“Guan Yin, or Mother Buddha” by Abel Han Song
—from the novella The Statues (winner of the TSMC Literature Award 2015), translated into English by Abel Han. The instant it comes out, “it” becomes him or her. Nowadays statues are made by machines. That’s a different journey from their ancestors who have a wooden base and soil body. Those statues are mainly Buddhas, with solid forms,…
“A Cantonese Curse / against the Fur Industry / in Hong Kong English” by Lian-Hee Wee
Nico said, ‘ Poor guy!’ Cheese in buns chart low sea fart. Mob pays the young Czar. Translation: Zombies on the road. Shorted rectums, useless dongs. The dregs who flay kids. Note: The haiku is to be read in Hong Kong English (with her special syllable structures) to reveal the Cantonese curse (translated). Thanks to…
Announcement: Abel Han Song won the TSMC Literary Award
Abel Han Song (English Language and Literature, Year 4) won the TSMC Literature Award 2015. As a biennial award for Sinophone novella writing, this award attracts new comers in Sinophone literature from around the world. According to the January 2016 issue of Ink Literary Monthly 《印刻文學生活誌》, the awarded novella, The Statues, “keeps a cold eye…
“The Lie” by Zabrina Lo
Her seat has been empty for a year. Still we sit together. Not together. Around the table we eat the tasteless water chestnut cakes which I insist ordering. I lie that the plum rain of China in early January nourishes the jade-like crunchy corms – the best time to savour this New Year’s dish. But…
“How A Ceiling Fan Rotates” by William Ng
I sat at the back of a classroom With twenty lads in a warm and humid afternoon. My mentor taught his English before the board, Writing cursive with his chalk. I caught a certain breeze of calm, Gazing at a buzzing ceiling fan Its metal blades revolving around a milky white and pivotal round. It…
“Weathered” by Grace Wong Hiu Yan
It was declared the last storm of the summer, when the wind was strong and billowing curtains of rain scattered paklan petals over the tiled courtyard, and silver-veined wind chimes echoed the rhythm of beaded eaves. After a while the rain quieted, the clogged drains stirred themselves into delusional cups of tea, and the…
“Late Arrival” by Pamela Wong
Long have I departed from you, long have I been petrified at the front steps, gazing at the gate, reconstructing the countless hours you had spent here, with the stubborn street light, dimmed in the swirling smoke of nicotine. For twelve years had it questioned your patient heart? It agitates me as I am ready…
“Model Factory Man” by Jimmy Chan
His altar was at a food factory. His piety was rated satisfactory. There he performed rituals and pushed buttons, Where he devoted himself to make more muttons. Suddenly the Machine snarled and growled That cowed the acolyte to cower and bow. Then the bell rang a deafening ring And the lights painted his altar with…
“Another Matthew Bear” by Cheng Tim Tim
“We would love to provide bears to all of you who are mourning the loss of someone special. However, we are a very small group and are doing this just for fallen service member’s families.” —The Matthew Freeman Project Covered in a piece of the army uniform you’d worn, now unstained as in the morning…
“A Creative Response to the 3rd Movement of Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony” by Holden Liang Qichao, with Ivan Delazari
I saw a movie, in cold blue and dark grey colors (film-noirish, dark palette, like at dusk but with no street lights or any artificial light). A woman was running through a labyrinth of streets, looking like Hong Kong (small alleys, lots of cables and laundry lines, the ground wet), with her face towards us, the camera moving backwards in…
“And She Walked On” by GiGi To Man Chee
Removing two zero eight six from my timetable, I reluctantly enrol in a different course on a different day. There’s no doubt poetry is not replaceable, But the die has been cast for my schedule on Fridays. My teacher enthusiastically asked us to read a cat poem, lightly, ………………………………………………………light-heartedly. I wanted to respond, but could…
“Gastritis” by Vinton Poon
. My stomach acid suddenly decides to be adventurous. Without a passport, they travel up. Little do they know, they’re not the most refined tourists, Leaving a trace of blazing pain in my throat. The body is not the most adaptive object. To accommodate, only congee can pass my lips, Their grand voyage has chased…
Ongoing Moments: Holden Liang Qichao
Ongoing Moments: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department respond to a photograph of their choice. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] The Incomplete History of a Yellow Bicycle Part One: The Origin Story Breaking news! Local junior high school was struck by what an insider calls “a bicycle…
Ongoing Moments: Heidi Huang
Ongoing Moments: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department respond to a photograph of their choice. [Read all entries.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.] My Collection Of Notebooks Only a few pages used in each. Some have been there for years. Some new arrivals. “In the beginning was the written…
Department of English, Hong Kong Baptist University 