FCC Hong Kong Vice President and veteran broadcaster Karen Koh sits down with photojournalist Ben Marans in the Hughes Room to talk about a powerful new exhibition at the FCC main bar this April. The show features images captured by individuals who learned photography through workshops run by ImpactHK, an FCC charity partner, and led by Marans.

Through street photography, participants—many facing homelessness or economic hardship—share their personal perspectives on life in Hong Kong. Karen and Ben explore how the project gave them a platform to tell their own stories, build creative skills, and highlight the human side of social struggle.

This podcast has used generative AI to give voice to the stories written by participants which accompany each photo.

View the images of the exhibition at the FCC website as you listen:

https://www.fcchk.org/event/wall-exhibition-the-first-night-by-impacthk-and-ben-marans/

(15:50) Water - "I Never Thought I'd Be One of Them"

(23:21) Rhoda - "I Had Applied With Hope But I Left With Anger"

(29:09) Lee Jai - "Let It All Drift Away"

(34:09) Yong - "Empty Pockets and a Heavy Heart"

(40:17) Purple - "I Found Strength"

(45:21) Poon - "Is This Place Safe?"

(49:14) Hung Hung - "First Night at Mong Kok Civic Triangle"

(53:07) Ah Choi - "The Turning Point"

The exhibition, on display throughout April, invites the public to see Hong Kong and those dealing with homelessness - being unhoused - intense personal economic hardship - through new, compassionate eyes.

ImpactHK is one of the FCC Hong Kong's charity partners

- read more about their work here:

https://www.fcchk.org/charity/

Cover image by Ben Marans: https://www.instagram.com/benmaransphotography/

FCC podcast theme music composed by Allen Youngblood

Episode written, recorded and edited by Jarrod Watt

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The First Night: homelessness, photography and stories from the streets of Hong Kong

The Correspondent

The First Night: homelessness, photography and stories from the streets of Hong Kong