Past Events

Footprints of Life: An Express Arts Therapy & AMD Workshop. To support the legislation and promotion of Advance Medical Directives (AMD), Alongside has launched a series of public education initiatives, through seminars, workshops, and summits, to help people from all walks of life understand the new law and its significance in empowering medical autonomy. It is Alongside’goal that everyone can walk their final journey with dignity. One of these events, “Life’s Footprints: Expressive Arts Therapy & Advance Medical Directive Workshop,” was co-organized by Alongside, Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Center, and Grey & Pride. The workshop created a safe and nurturing space through various expressive modalities including music, movement, 【WORKSHOP-004】 07/12/2024 Footprints of Life: An Express Arts Therapy & AMD Workshop To support the legislation and promotion of Advance Medical Directives (AMD), Alongside has launched a series of public education initiatives, through seminars, workshops, and summits, to help people from all walks of life understand the new law and its significance in empowering medical autonomy. It is Alongside’goal that everyone can walk their final journey with dignity.   One of these events, “Life’s Footprints: Expressive Arts Therapy & Advance Medical Directive Workshop,” was co-organized by Alongside, Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Center, and Grey & Pride. The workshop created a safe and nurturing space through various expressive modalities including music, movement, drawing, body expression, and visual arts. Participants were invited to reflect openly on their thoughts and emotions around life cycles, aging, and death. Through creative exercises, they enhanced their emotional awareness and empathy, while easing fears and anxieties around end-of-life topics.   Dr. Nick Tsui, co-founder of Alongside, also introduced the core concepts and practical uses of AMD, encouraging participants to begin their own journey of thoughtful and proactive end-of-life planning.   We sincerely thank the SIE Fund for funding this event, and Eaton HK for their generous venue sponsorship.

Reflective Life Through Death: An Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop. In this workshop, Alongside created a safe and inclusive space for participants to explore and express their thoughts and emotions around life, death, and grief through various forms of expressive art, such as music and painting. Led by Mr. Aleck Kwong, a registered expressive arts therapist, the session invited participants to engage in creative reflection and emotional exploration. Through guided art-making and sharing, participants were encouraged to confront death as an inevitable part of life, while gaining insight into what truly matters to them. This introspective journey helped participants face death with greater calmness and awareness, rethink the meaning of life, and consider how to consciously plan for the future. 【WORKSHOP-003】 29/09/2024 Reflective Life Through Death: An Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop In this workshop, Alongside created a safe and inclusive space for participants to explore and express their thoughts and emotions around life, death, and grief through various forms of expressive art, such as music and painting.   Led by Mr. Aleck Kwong, a registered expressive arts therapist, the session invited participants to engage in creative reflection and emotional exploration. Through guided art-making and sharing, participants were encouraged to confront death as an inevitable part of life, while gaining insight into what truly matters to them. This introspective journey helped participants face death with greater calmness and awareness, rethink the meaning of life, and consider how to consciously plan for the future.   Through the transformative power of art, the workshop aimed to break taboos around death and inspire thoughtful, personal approaches to end-of-life planning.

Reflecting on Life & Legacy: a workshop on Last Notes & Advance Medical Directives. In this workshop, participants were guided by Mr. Chen Pui Hing, founder of GoodGriefHK and funeral director, to read different last notes filled with emotion and love. Through these texts, they explored the values and perspectives on life and death expressed by the authors, and reflected on who and what truly matter in their own lives. Many participants deeply connected with the authors’ words, feeling emotionally moved while also reflecting on their own experiences. The creative exercises provided a space for emotional release and personal expression. 【WORKSHOP-002】 11/08/2024 Reflecting on Life & Legacy: a workshop on Last Notes & Advance Medical Directives In this workshop, participants were guided by Mr. Chen Pui Hing, founder of GoodGriefHK and funeral director, to read different last notes filled with emotion and love. Through these texts, they explored the values and perspectives on life and death expressed by the authors, and reflected on who and what truly matter in their own lives. Many participants deeply connected with the authors’ words, feeling emotionally moved while also reflecting on their own experiences. The creative exercises provided a space for emotional release and personal expression.   In the second half of the workshop, Dr. Nick Tsui, co-founder of Alongside, introduced the concept of Advance Medical Directives (AMD), explaining how AMD can help safeguard medical autonomy in one’s final stage of life. The session encouraged every participant to face end-of-life planning with greater calmness and preparedness.

How to Draft a Will Workshop – Tailored to LGBTQIA+. As one of the Pride Month events, Alongside hosted two sessions of the “Will Drafting Workshop” tailored for the LGBTQIA+ community, led by co-founders Mr. Yves Leung and Dr. Jensen Yiu. The workshops were fully booked. Each session began with an introduction to key considerations when drafting a will, including asset distribution, dependent arrangements, and the appointment of executors. Participants then engaged in group discussions based on fictional yet realistic scenarios, where they were invited to design wills for the characters.Participants were highly engaged—many fully immersed themselves in the roles, even re-enacting dramatic inheritance disputes. 【WORKSHOP-001】 30/06/2024 How to Draft a Will Workshop – Tailored to LGBTQIA+ As one of the Pride Month events, Alongside hosted two sessions of the “Will Drafting Workshop” tailored for the LGBTQIA+ community, led by co-founders Mr. Yves Leung and Dr. Jensen Yiu. The workshops were fully booked. Each session began with an introduction to key considerations when drafting a will, including asset distribution, dependent arrangements, and the appointment of executors. Participants then engaged in group discussions based on fictional yet realistic scenarios, where they were invited to design wills for the characters.Participants were highly engaged—many fully immersed themselves in the roles, even re-enacting dramatic inheritance disputes.   Through this interactive process, they gained a deeper understanding of the legal challenges and risks LGBTQIA+ individuals may face in estate planning, and recognized the importance of early preparation and seeking professional support.   We sincerely thank the SIE Fund for funding this event, and Eaton HK for their generous venue sponsorship, enabling meaningful discussions in an inclusive and welcoming space.

LGBTQIA+ End-of-life Rights: WHERE ARE WE NOW after years of Judicial Reviews? As the first event of Pride Month, Alongside co-hosted a public seminar with law firm Daly & Associates, focusing on the post-death legal rights of same-sex couples. Hosted by Alongside Brand Ambassador Louis, the event featured Ms. Kitty Chong, a lawyer with extensive experience in judicial review cases. She explained, in clear and accessible terms, whether same-sex partners can inherit estates, handle end-of-life arrangements, or inherit public housing in Hong Kong. She also unpacked the implications of the Court of Final Appeal’s decision in the Jimmy Sham case on future legal frameworks. The event was fully booked, with an engaged audience actively raising questions. It was made possible with funding support from the SIE Fund and venue sponsorship from Eaton HK, in strong support of LGBTQIA+ issues. 【SEMINAR-002】 02/06/2024 LGBTQIA+ End-of-life Rights: WHERE ARE WE NOW after years of Judicial Reviews? As the first event of Pride Month, Alongside co-hosted a public seminar with law firm Daly & Associates, focusing on the post-death legal rights of same-sex couples. Hosted by Alongside Brand Ambassador Louis, the event featured Ms. Kitty Chong, a lawyer with extensive experience in judicial review cases. She explained, in clear and accessible terms, whether same-sex partners can inherit estates, handle end-of-life arrangements, or inherit public housing in Hong Kong. She also unpacked the implications of the Court of Final Appeal’s decision in the Jimmy Sham case on future legal frameworks. The event was fully booked, with an engaged audience actively raising questions. It was made possible with funding support from the SIE Fund and venue sponsorship from Eaton HK, in strong support of LGBTQIA+ issues.

From screen to reality: after-life challenges of the LGBTQIA+ community. Alongside’s second public event, the special screening of All Shall Be Well, was successfully held at Eaton HK. Directed by Ray Yeung, known for his previous film Suk Suk, the movie tells the story of a lesbian couple who, after forty years together, face painful family conflict when one partner passes away without a will. The screening was followed by a full-house post-film discussion, moderated by Alongside’s Head of External Affairs, Ms. Lisa Lam, alongside co-founder Dr. Nick Tsui and director Ray Yeung. The dialogue explored issues such as inheritance, identity, and the definition of family. The event highlighted the importance of advance planning and will-making, while raising awareness of the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ individuals face in end-of-life matters. 【 All Shall Be Well 】Movie Screening 25/04/2024 From screen to reality: after-life challenges of the LGBTQIA+ community Alongside’s second public event, the special screening of All Shall Be Well, was successfully held at Eaton HK. Directed by Ray Yeung, known for his previous film Suk Suk, the movie tells the story of a lesbian couple who, after forty years together, face painful family conflict when one partner passes away without a will. The screening was followed by a full-house post-film discussion, moderated by Alongside’s Head of External Affairs, Ms. Lisa Lam, alongside co-founder Dr. Nick Tsui and director Ray Yeung. The dialogue explored issues such as inheritance, identity, and the definition of family. The event highlighted the importance of advance planning and will-making, while raising awareness of the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ individuals face in end-of-life matters. The event was made possible with funding support from the SIE Fund and venue sponsorship from Eaton HK.

How can the Existing Legal Tools Empower the Life-long Autonomy of the LGBTQIA+ Community: Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directives. Alongside successfully hosted its first educational seminar, drawing nearly 70 attendees from the public. The event focused on “Financial and Medical Autonomy,” with Dr. Nick Tsui and Mr. Yves Leung, co-founders of Alongside, joined by Erica Kwan, Partner at Hastings & Co., to share how wills, enduring powers of attorney, and advance medical directives can empower lifelong 【SEMINAR-001】 01/03/2024 How can the Existing Legal Tools Empower the Life-long Autonomy of the LGBTQIA+ Community: Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directives Alongside successfully hosted its first educational seminar, drawing nearly 70 attendees from the public. The event focused on “Financial and Medical Autonomy,” with Dr. Nick Tsui and Mr. Yves Leung, co-founders of Alongside, joined by Erica Kwan, Partner at Hastings & Co., to share how wills, enduring powers of attorney, and advance medical directives can empower lifelong autonomy for the LGBTQIA+ community. The strong turnout highlighted a clear service gap in Hong Kong around inclusive end-of-life planning. The event was made possible with funding support from the SIE Fund and the generous collaboration of Hastings & Co., Eaton HK, and PrideLab.