Changes in govt regulations

Safety concerns

Fear of change?

Fate of Choi Hung

Weaponising cultural nostalgia

From the use of bamboo scaffolding for construction projects to a six-decade-old public housing estate, changes are afoot.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

Hong Kong’s bamboo scaffolding is immortalised in many a Jackie Chan flick, with heroes and baddies fighting it out while teetering on poles. But the city has been gripped in what Hong Kong correspondent Magdalene Fung says is an almost “visceral fear” over a recent government edict to reduce the use of bamboo in construction projects due to safety concerns.

ST foreign editor Li Xueying catches up with her over a similar debate arising over the would-be demolition of Choi Hung, Hong Kong’s first large-scale public housing project completed in the 1960s. 

Having undergone the social turmoil and political changes of recent years since the 2019 protests, Hong Kongers are seeking comfort in the things that can remain the same - and quietly protesting the changes coming their way.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:53 Changes in government regulations over bamboo scaffolding

2:25 Safety concerns

9:24 A fear of change

11:42 Why Hong Kong’s oldest public housing estate has to go

17:02 Has cultural nostalgia been weaponised? 

Read Magdalene Fung’s article here: https://str.sg/dbo9

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR 

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x  

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters  

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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#STAsianInsider

From the use of bamboo scaffolding for construction projects to a six-decade-old public housing estate, changes are afoot.
Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.
Hong Kong&rsquo;s bamboo scaffolding is immortalised in many a Jackie Chan flick, with heroes and baddies fighting it out while teetering on poles. But the city has been gripped in what Hong Kong correspondent Magdalene Fung says is an almost &ldquo;visceral fear&rdquo; over a recent government edict to reduce the use of bamboo in construction projects due to safety concerns.
ST foreign editor Li Xueying catches up with her over a similar debate arising over the would-be demolition of Choi Hung, Hong Kong&rsquo;s first large-scale public housing project completed in the 1960s.&nbsp;
Having undergone the social turmoil and political changes of recent years since the 2019 protests, Hong Kongers are seeking comfort in the things that can remain the same - and quietly protesting the changes coming their way.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:53 Changes in government regulations over bamboo scaffolding
2:25 Safety concerns
9:24 A fear of change
11:42 Why Hong Kong&rsquo;s oldest public housing estate has to go
17:02 Has cultural nostalgia been weaponised?&nbsp;
Read Magdalene Fung&rsquo;s article here: <a href="https://str.sg/dbo9">https://str.sg/dbo9</a>
Read Li Xueying&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iqmR">https://str.sg/iqmR</a>&nbsp;
Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/ip4x">https://str.sg/ip4x</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters">https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Host: Li Xueying (<a href="mailto:xueying@sph.com.sg">xueying@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8">https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX">https://str.sg/JWaX</a>
Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>&nbsp;
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#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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