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After hearing that her mother had gone missing following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, a maid working in Singapore requested to return home. Her employers quickly agreed, purchasing a plane ticket for her and giving her an additional $800 to support her while in Myanmar. Chen Huiqin, a 52-year-old obstetrician and gynaecologist, shared with Shin Min Daily News that her helper broke down in tears upon learning that her 62-year-old mother was missing after the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing, Myanmar. “We felt she should be with her family during such a difficult time,” Chen said. Besides covering the $335 airfare, Chen gave her helper $800 in cash to help with expenses. She explained, “She has only been working for six months and hasn’t yet repaid her loan to the employment agency. She has no savings, so I hope this money provides some support.” Best Home Employment, the maid agency, confirmed with their Myanmar partners that the helper’s mother was likely a casualty of the quake. Due to the emergency, the agency’s director, Tay Khoon Beng, said they waived the helper’s remaining loan, provided her with $150 for immediate needs, and expedited her return home. When contacted on April 3, Tay expressed relief that the helper had reunited with her family and could now attend to her mother’s funeral arrangements. At Changi Airport on April 1, the maid spoke of her anguish over her missing mother but expressed gratitude to her employers, calling herself lucky to have met such kind people. The 30-year-old university graduate hoped to find her mother and remain in Myanmar to be with her family. Chen and the helper shared an emotional farewell, with both shedding tears. The helper wrote a heartfelt letter to Chen’s family in English, thanking them for their kindness and apologizing for only being able to work for six months. She wrote, “I wanted to work longer… I pray for your family’s health and happiness. Thank you for everything, my employer.” As of April 3, over 3,000 people have died in the earthquake, reportedly the strongest Myanmar has experienced in a century. Tremors caused damage as far as Bangkok.

Hong Kong has been recognized as the 10th most walkable city globally, according to a recent survey conducted by Time Out. This ranking is based on responses from 18,500 individuals across over 50 countries regarding the ease of walking in their cities. With 82% of residents rating the city highly for walkability, Hong Kong shares the 10th spot with Cardiff, Shanghai, and Paris. It stands out as the most walkable city in East Asia, closely followed by Singapore, which ranks 16th. The city's compact design and excellent infrastructure contribute to its walkability. Hong Kong offers a robust public transport system, including affordable buses, minibuses, taxis, historic trams, and ferries, making it easy to navigate without relying heavily on cars. The urban landscape is well-organized, allowing residents and visitors to walk from Kennedy Town on the west to Sai Wan Ho in the east along the harborfront. Interestingly, despite assumptions that cities like Tokyo may be more pedestrian-friendly, Hong Kong's flat terrain in Kowloon and well-paved roads enhance its walkability. Additionally, the city boasts numerous hiking trails that connect urban areas with natural landscapes. At the top of the walkability rankings is Abu Dhabi, with Boston and Brighton following closely. The full list includes notable cities like New York, Chicago, and Edinburgh, showcasing a diverse range of walkable urban environments. For those who enjoy exploring on foot, Hong Kong’s vibrant streets and scenic routes make it a remarkable destination. The World’s 20 Most Walkable Cities: 1. Abu Dhabi, UAE - 91% 2. Boston, US - 89% 3. Brighton, UK - 88% 4. New York, US - 87% 5. Bilbao, Spain - 86% 6. Chicago, US - 86% 7. Edinburgh, UK - 85% 8. Marrakech, Morocco - 85% 9. San Francisco, US - 83% 10. Cardiff, UK - 82% 10. Shanghai, China - 82% 10. Hong Kong, Hong Kong - 82% 10. Paris, France - 82% 14. Oslo, Norway - 81% 14. Stockholm, Sweden - 81% 16. Singapore - 80% 16. Melbourne, Australia - 80% 18. London, UK - 79% 18. Lyon, France - 79% 18. Washington DC, US - 79% Stay updated on the best of Hong Kong by signing up for the Time Out newsletter!

Thundery showers are approaching Hong Kong in the next few hours, the city’s weather forecaster has said, warning the public to be vigilant. In a special message issued at 6pm, the Observatory said some “areas of intense thundery showers” associated with a trough of low pressure were gradually moving southwards and were expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta within the next few hours. The public was reminded to stay alert to the changing weather. Earlier in the day, the weather was projected to be mainly cloudy with occasional showers and a few squally thunderstorms for Thursday night and the next morning. Temperatures would range between 24°C and 28°C on Friday. On Friday night, an easterly airstream will affect the coast of Guangdong gradually and strengthen slightly over the weekend. It will be windier with a few showers across the region. The Observatory said with the easterly airstream moderating; it would be hot during the day over coastal areas in the early to the middle part of next week.