HK Magazine

HK Magazine is a free English language city-living magazine. It is a Hong Kong-based weekly published by HK Magazine Media Group. Premiering in 1991, it targets young metropolitans. It offers discussions on social issues as well as entertainment listings. New issues are distributed every Friday; piles of copies are a common sight. The 1000th issue was published in 2013.

History

HK Magazine was founded by best friends Greg Duncan, Stephen Freeman and Gretchen Worth. In 1989, considering Hong Kong a suitable place to start a magazine, they decided to establish an English-language weekly publication.

The first issue, called HK: the indispensable Hong Kong Guide, was published in June 1991 by the local private company Asia City Publishing Limited—as it was formerly known.^[1] It had 24 pages and claimed a circulation of 15,000. It continued to publish on a monthly schedule until November 1992, when because of the ambiguity of the name and the change of the publisher's schedule, the magazine was renamed HK Magazine, and switched to a bi-weekly schedule for the next three years.

Later in September 1995, it became a weekly magazine.

In 2013, it was reported that Asia City Media Group had sold its Hong Kong business, including HK Magazine and other titles to South China Morning Post for a consideration of HK$13 million.

Distribution

The magazine, which is audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, is free at around 900 venues including restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bookshops and retail stores. The distribution outlets are mostly concentrated in commercial business districts.

Readership

The magazine claims around 236,000 readers per week.

According to a survey conducted by HK Magazine in 2004, 87% of the readers are holders of at least one university degree and 75% earn more than HK$30,000 per month. (Source: HK Magazine 2004 Readership Survey, HK Magazine 2004 Distribution Survey).

Contents

HK Magazine usually contains features about social issues, and articles about music, movies, fashion, dining and travel, etc. --> The main sections that appear regularly in the magazine are:

Upfront

The opening pages of the magazine, featuring humorous and usually satirical commentaries on current affairs.

Letters

Letters from readers. There may be comments or thoughts about past issues of the magazine or opinions towards social issue, etc.

Street Talk

Interviews with ordinary Hong Kong people on their lifestyle and working environment, of persons of interest around town coinciding with special events they are taking part in.

Features

Generally, there are two features in each issue, both covering local issues and sometimes foreign issues. The first one is usually on social, political and cultural issues and events. The second one usually covers events in everyday life.

852

This section, named for Hong Kong's IDD code, is split into four sub-categories: Shopping, Dining, Travel, and Healthy and Beauty, with selected new items featured under Shopping, as well as resident weekly columnists each writing under last three sections. 852 also features reviews on restaurants around town every week, written anonymously.

Listings

There are three different categories in this section:

• Arts: Art-related events; split into sub-categories Stage and Exhibitions, which include concerts, opera, dances and other theatre shows. Includes interview features with personalities working in the arts.
• Nightlife: Concerts, gigs, club events and happy hour listings. Includes reviews on newly opened bars and clubs around town or interviews with musicians and DJs. Also featuring a Nightlife column.
• Film: Synopses and reviews of recently released or soon-to-be-released movies.

First Person

A full-page interview with notable Hong Kong personalities, including politicians, entrepreneurs and celebrities.

Classified

Attached as a separate booklet, containing classified advertisements and weekly column Mr. Know-It-All, who answers readers' questions.

In every issue

Comics, astrology, column Savage Love.

Online and Tablet app

HK Magazine Online publishes content from the print edition and also contains a large archive of the magazine's articles from the last decade. Online exclusive content is also available, most notably the news section on its homepage.

In January 2013 HK launched its free iPad edition, followed by one for Android in February. The tablet apps offer a multimedia platform for readers of the magazine, with interactive content, videos and sound clips enhancing the reader's experience.

Periodic supplements

Restaurant Guide

A guide to restaurants in the city based on anonymous reviews published over the past year.

Art Guide

Introduced for the first time in 2013, the Art Guide is a comprehensive supplement informing readers of art events as well as all major art galleries across Hong Kong.

Wedding Guide

A complete guide on wedding planning, including venues and locations, gown designers, photographers, caterers, makeup and hair stylists and more.

Health and Beauty Guide

Featuring the best of the city's health and beauty retailers and products, as well as spas and gyms.

HK Eats

The best food and restaurants recommendations in Hong Kong as selected by editors.

Christmas Shopping Guide

A round-up of Christmas sales and promotions around town as well as the best shops, boutiques, department stores and malls for Christmas gifts. Includes editor's selections on ideal gifts, from fashion to home decorations.

Publisher

HK Magazine is a publication of HK Magazine Media Group. Established on February 10, 1989 in Hong Kong, it produces a portfolio of free city living publications. Formerly known as Lucky Still Limited, the corporation changed its name to Asia City Publishing Limited on 23 May 1989; it underwent another name change to become Asia City Media Group in the 2000s. In 2013 it was acquired by South China Morning Post and named HK Magazine Media Group. It introduces new lifestyle to readers in different regions through an extensive portfolio of publications.

Others titles also published under HK Magazine Media Group are as follows.

Hong Kong

• Where Hong Kong, an edition of the international travel magazine with titles in major cities and countries across the globe
• Where Chinese, catered to visitors from Mainland China and published in simplified Chinese characters
• The List, a bi-weekly women's magazine. Featuring a different theme every issue, the magazine offers an extensive listings section called Know and Tel where readers will find useful information, addresses and phone numbers for different shops and companies alike.

Controversies

On 27 March 2009, the magazine allowed the publication of an article from its columnist, writer Chip Tsao. His article War at Home alleges the Philippines to be a nation of servants and also claims China is the master. This triggered a massive outcry from the Filipino community in Hong Kong and outraged many across the Philippines. Tsao made a public apology three days later on 30 March 2009.

See also

• Media in Hong Kong
• List of magazines in Hong Kong

References

1. HK staff (29 Sep 2011). "20 Years, Covered". HK Magazine. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

External links

• HK Magazine Online
• Companies Registry (2005). Retrieved 11 October 2005.