Award-winning author Ritu Hemnani joins us for a powerful conversation on writing as a tool for empathy and social change.

We begin with her poem, "Mind the Gap," which hijacks the London Underground's warning to frame the xenophobia faced by Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritu reveals how this mundane phrase becomes a metaphor for prejudice, bystander silence, and the fear of being targeted.

We explore her cinematic craft, moving from nostalgic Chinatown memories to a tense tube car confrontation, and how her drama background fuels her character-driven empathy.

The discussion expands to her mission as a children's author. She shares her journey to publication with the Partition-inspired verse novel Lion of the Sky and picture book Gope and Meera, driven by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in a book.

Ritu also offers practical advice for writers and a sneak peek at her upcoming narrative non-fiction picture book, 'Their Story is Our Story.'

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Ritu’s live reading of “Mind the Gap.”
• How a TEDx Talk secured her HarperCollins book deal.
• Why writing for children is her toughest and most important audience.
• Writing tips, from daily habits to breaking through blocks.
• Our Local Linguo segment on the Cantonese phrase 「請留意月台空隙」.

Featured in this episode:

• Ritu Hemnani: Website | Instagram
• Books Mentioned: Lion of the Sky | Gope and Meera: A Migration Story
• Publication: Imprint by The Women in Publishing Society (Hong Kong)

Episode Credits:

• Host & Producer: Julia Besnard
• Guest: Ritu Hemnani
• Audio clips: "President Trump Calls Coronavirus 'Kung Flu'" BBC clip; "Coronavirus: Racism towards Chinese people in the UK on the rise" video by The Telegraphh UK.
• Hong Kong Lit Club is a production dedicated to promoting the writers of Hong Kong. Follow us on Instagram.

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In this heartfelt episode, we explore Jennifer Wong’s short story "Burden", a poignant tale of family tension, cultural identity, and the silent struggles of aging in Hong Kong. Through the eyes of a child narrator, the story unveils the fractured relationship between a grandfather deemed a "fu lui" (burden) and his family, set against the cramped flats of Mei Foo and fleeting trips to Shenzhen. Writer Jennifer Wong joins us to discuss the autobiographical echoes in her work, the power of child narrators, and how Hong Kong’s spatial and economic pressures shape familial bonds.

In the Deep Dive segment, we explore the symbolic meaning of the black line drawn by the mother to exclude Grandpa from family life, how materialism and scarcity fuel tensions and mirror Hong Kong's economic strains, and why a child's voice captures family dynamics with raw honesty and inadvertent humour. We also discuss Shenzhen asa means to escape Hong Kong's cramped flats - which leads us to the "Local Linguo" segment, where Aidan and Julia unpack the meaning of "北上 (bei soeng)" – "Heading North" This phrase was inspired by Grandpa’s monthly Shenzhen trips, which echo Hong Kongers’ cross-border adventures—cheap haircuts, 24-hour hotpot, and the unspoken rivalry with mainland China. "It’s not just a direction; it’s a lifestyle!"

Where to Find Jennifer Wong

• Website/Linktree
• Instagram: @jenniferwswong
• Current Projects: A new poetry collection.

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In this episode, we explore A Personal History of Hong Kong as 39 Everyday Objects, a visually striking poem by Dr. Antony Huen that transforms mundane items—from bamboo scaffolding to Octopus cards—into a curated museum of collective memory. Blending personal nostalgia with cultural commentary, the poem invites readers to reconsider Hong Kong’s identity through the lens of the ordinary.

Dr. Huen joins Julia in the Deep Dive segment to discuss:

• Why objects, not people or places, became his framework for Hong Kong’s story.
• The tension between local, colonial, and global influences in the poem.
• How language choices (English, Cantonese, Japanese) reflect Hong Kong’s hybridity.
• Which object he’d preserve for future generations—and why.

We also hear from two Hong Kongers in their 60s about the iconic objects that define their city. Finally, in Local Lingo, we unpack the surprising global journey of the red-white-blue bag.

Featured Work & Further Reading

📜 Poem: A Personal History of Hong Kong as 39 Everyday Objects (original English version)

📚 Essay: Cosmopolitan Hybridity, Cultural Memory, and Curation in Hong Kong Poetry by Antony Huen and Felix Chow

👜 The Red-White-Blue Bag: Read journalist Christopher DeWolf’s article on how this humble tarp became a global icon.

🌐 Author’s Website: Visit here

📱Social Media: Follow Dr. Huen on Twitter/X or Instagram

Credits

🎙️ Voice Contributors: Moon, Biu, Sybil, and Jim

🏨 Recording Space: Special thanks to the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong.

📸 Cover Photo: Wiki Commons

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In this deeply personal episode, we explore Overseas Bride, a short story by Wong Yi that captures the emotional toll of migration, language loss, and the fragile ties between love and belonging. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s shifting identity, the story asks: What does it mean to leave home when home is a language?

Wong Yi reads an excerpt in Cantonese (followed by the whole story English), and joins Julia for a conversation about:

• Mother tongue as sacrifice – Why losing Cantonese can feel more devastating than physical displacement.
• Marriage as escape – How the story subverts romantic tropes with a pragmatic proposal.
• Hong Kong’s cultural paradoxes – Is the city truly a "cultural desert," or a place of vibrant artistic resilience?
• Writing in Cantonese vs. English – The challenges and joys of weaving colloquial idioms into literary fiction.

Featured work:

• Overseas Bride by Wong Yi (trans. Jennifer Feeley) – Read the story here.
• Companion essay: Mother Tongue Overseas – Wong Yi’s reflections on the story’s global resonance. Read here.

Where to Find Wong Yi: Follow her on Instagram @wongyiwrites

Challenge for listeners: Can you spot the theme linking this month's "Local Linguo" Cantonese phrase with the ones featured in Episodes #1 and #2? Tell us on Instagram @hongkonglitclub!

Subscribe for next month’s episode with Dr Antony Huen.

Host: Julia Besnard

Would you break the law for a taste of home?

In this episode, we explore dystopian food culture, sibling bonds, and the power of culinary memory through Rinkoo Ramchandani’s Pushcart Prize-nominated short story A Fistful of Feet. Set in a near-future New York where meat is illegal, the tale follows rule-following accountant Jane Chan as she risks prison to dine at an underground "eateasy" – and reconnect with her estranged brother.

In the "Deep Dive" interview section of the show, Julia and Rinkoo discuss the author's inspiration behind this speculative story, family dynamics when confronted with opposing values, comfort foods, and Hong Kong's literary communities.

Our "Local Linguo" section focusses on the Cantonese phrase 同枱食飯，各自修行 - "Eating at the same table, but walking separate paths".

About the Author: Rinkoo Ramchandani is an executive coach, creative writer, and committee member of Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society.

About the Host: Julia Besnard is a librarian and creative writer based in Hong Kong. Learn more about the podcast here.

Malaysian author Maureen Tai reads her prose poem Life We Can No Longer See, a text both poignant and lighthearted about a teenager grappling with the ageing of his beloved grandfather. The poem was inspired by the many evocative sounds of Hong Kong. In the discussion that ensues, In the conversation that ensues, Maureen and Julia delve into the complexities of caring for elderly loved ones, cultural attitudes towards death, and the evolving use of technology in maintaining human connections. The writer shares personal insights, the importance of being present, and the influence of diverse cultural backgrounds on her storytelling. Additionally, the episode emphasises using smartphones creatively and fostering a love for reading and literature among young people.

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Who is behind this episode?

Host: Julia Besnard

Find out more about the Hong Kong Lit Club Podcast here.

Guest: Maureen Tai

Read Maureen's featured story, Life We Can No Longer See, here.

Check out Maureen's website: https://maureentai.com/