Blackpaper

Blackpaper, also known as Blackpaper Magazine or 黑紙, was a Hong Kong magazine founded in 2009 by Roy Tsui, Luk Ka Chun and Yiu Ka Ho and owned by Most Kwai Chung. It was designed as a compact, highly accessible publication for younger Hong Kong readers, particularly people born in the 1980s and 1990s. Rather than presenting itself as a conventional long-form periodical, Blackpaper used short texts, visual jokes, interviews, statistics and thematic editorial devices to encourage readers to pay attention to public affairs, entertainment and their own social environment. The magazine was issued twice a month, on the first and fifteenth days, and was distributed through 7-Eleven outlets. Its physical format was distinctive: an A5 sheet folded in half, producing a small publication that was inexpensive and easy to carry. The concise format and use of Cantonese expressions familiar to teenagers helped it develop a recognizable voice. The publication also extended the brand beyond periodicals through merchandise such as T-shirts and books. Blackpaper changed its editorial concept from year to year. In 2010 it presented itself as a faux-literary magazine, with issues generally carrying one-word titles and relying chiefly on a recurring feature called the “black sentence,” a short, often sarcastic line built around the issue’s theme. In 2011 it adopted the identity of a faux entertainment magazine and added the “black interview,” frequently featuring celebrities and other public figures. Its grayscale cover and portrait treatment became part of that year’s visual language. In 2012 the magazine was framed as a faux advertising magazine. Issues commonly used two-word titles and combined “black sentences” and interviews with other forms of verbal and graphic creation. The following year’s faux-romance concept used titles beginning with “I hate … the most,” while its editorial components included “black statistics.” In 2014 it adopted a faux-times format centered on people presented as influential figures of the era. Although entertainment personalities were prominent cover subjects, Blackpaper was also notably engaged with Hong Kong public life. Its recurring June Fourth issue addressed the memory of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Other editions expressed criticism or skepticism concerning local political developments, including the 2012 Chief Executive election and the 2012 Legislative Council election. The publication also addressed education, copyright legislation and other issues affecting Hong Kong society. Its political and social orientation sometimes brought it into direct contact with civic movements. A special edition opposing the proposed Moral and National Education curriculum was distributed to demonstrators outside the Central Government Complex at Tamar in September 2012, and copies were displayed by students and supporters of Scholarism. Blackpaper’s “Parody” issue, associated with public debate over the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011, used detachable paper glasses as a participatory visual joke. Readers were encouraged to photograph themselves using the glasses, and the idea circulated through social media and was reproduced by public figures. The brand also inspired unofficial derivative publications and promotional adaptations, demonstrating how its compact format and visual conventions could be imitated. The magazine’s deliberate brevity attracted criticism from some online commentators, who argued that Blackpaper and the related publication 100Most might encourage weaker long-form writing among teenagers. The founders responded that the purpose was not to replace extended reading, but to provide an approachable entry point that could make young readers more attentive to society and themselves. Blackpaper sold approximately 160,000 copies in Hong Kong in 2010 according to the cited reference material. Publication ended on 1 January 2017.

Blackpaper was founded in Hong Kong in 2009 by Roy Tsui, Luk Ka Chun and Yiu Ka Ho and was owned by Most Kwai Chung. Its format was intentionally small and direct: an A5 sheet folded in half, published on the first and fifteenth of each month and sold through 7-Eleven. The publication used short Cantonese-language pieces and familiar youth slang to make reading feel accessible to younger audiences, especially readers associated with Hong Kong’s post-1980s and post-1990s generations. The magazine’s editorial identity was rebuilt annually through a sequence of self-conscious “faux” formats. The 2010 faux-literature concept centered on short black sentences. The 2011 faux-entertainment edition introduced black interviews and used grayscale visual presentation. In 2012 the faux-advertising format incorporated interviews, black sentences and occasional graphic or verbal experiments. The 2013 faux-love concept used recurring “I hate … the most” titles and added black statistics, while the 2014 faux-times concept presented interview subjects as notable people of their era. Blackpaper combined celebrity culture with social and political commentary. It regularly marked the anniversary of the June Fourth events, and it published issues responding to Hong Kong elections, education debates and copyright legislation. During the 2012 campaign against Moral and National Education, the founders produced a special issue calling for the policy to be withdrawn. Copies were distributed at the Tamar protest and displayed by students and Scholarism supporters. An earlier “Parody” issue connected to debate over the Copyright (Amendment) Bill used paper glasses as a participatory joke that spread through social media. The magazine’s concise style produced both recognition and criticism. Some commentators argued that its short-form approach, together with that of the related magazine 100Most, could weaken teenagers’ ability to write or read longer pieces. The founders said the publication was intended as an entry point into reading and public awareness rather than a substitute for substantial writing. In addition to magazines, the brand sold books, T-shirts and other merchandise and inspired unofficial derivative versions. Blackpaper ceased publication on 1 January 2017.

1. 2017Publication ends

   Blackpaper ceased publication on 1 January.

   Source
2. 2014Faux-times format introduced

   The magazine shifted to a faux-times concept focused on people portrayed as influential figures of the era.

   Source
3. 2013Faux-love format introduced

   Issues adopted titles beginning with “I hate … the most” and used black statistics alongside interviews and black sentences.

   Source
4. 2012Faux-advertising format and civic special edition

   The annual concept became faux advertising, while a special edition opposed Moral and National Education and was distributed during a related protest.

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5. 2011Faux-entertainment format adds interviews

   Blackpaper added its recurring black interview feature and adopted grayscale presentation for covers and interview portraits.

   Source
6. 2010Faux-literature identity introduced

   The magazine’s annual concept presented it as a faux-literature publication centered on short black sentences.

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7. 2010Reported Hong Kong circulation reaches 160,000 copies

   Reference material reports sales of approximately 160,000 copies in Hong Kong during the year.

   Source
8. 2009Blackpaper founded

   Roy Tsui, Luk Ka Chun and Yiu Ka Ho established the Hong Kong magazine, which was owned by Most Kwai Chung.

   Source

A compact, Cantonese-language Hong Kong youth magazine positioned between popular entertainment, satire, social commentary and civic engagement. Its faux-magazine concepts, celebrity interviews and deliberately concise writing made current issues more approachable to younger readers.

• Blackpaper MagazinePrint magazine2009

  The core product was a twice-monthly A5 publication folded in half and distributed through 7-Eleven in Hong Kong. It used concise Cantonese copy, youth-oriented language, celebrity interviews, thematic surveys or statistics, satire and commentary on current affairs. Its format and visual treatment changed according to the annual editorial concept.

• Blackpaper special editionsSpecial-interest publication2012

  Special issues extended the magazine’s social and political role. The documented September 2012 edition presented arguments for withdrawing Moral and National Education and was distributed at a related protest near the Central Government Complex at Tamar.

• Blackpaper merchandiseBranded merchandise

  Beyond periodicals, the company sold branded merchandise including T-shirts and books. These products extended the magazine’s identity into physical goods, although detailed ranges and sales information are not documented in the supplied sources.

• 2012Moral and National Education withdrawal campaign

  Hong Kong

  Blackpaper produced a special edition presenting 11 reasons that Moral and National Education should be withdrawn. Copies were distributed at the protest outside the Central Government Complex at Tamar on 7 September and were displayed by students and Scholarism supporters.

  Outcome. The edition became part of the public-facing campaign against the proposed curriculum. The supplied sources do not attribute the eventual policy outcome solely to Blackpaper.

  Source
• 2011“Parody” copyright-debate activation

  Hong Kong

  An issue titled “Parody,” associated with public debate over the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011, included paper glasses and invited readers to use them in recreated images.

  Outcome. Reader photographs circulated on Facebook, including images associated with public figures such as Shawn Yue and James Tien Pei-chun.

  Source

• 2017Ended magazine publicationStrategy

  After operating as a twice-monthly Hong Kong magazine for several years, Blackpaper discontinued its periodical.

  What changed. Publication ceased on 1 January 2017.

  Aftermath. The Blackpaper magazine became a defunct publication brand; no later operating status is documented in the supplied sources.

  Source
• 2012Issued a political special editionOther

  Public opposition to Hong Kong’s proposed Moral and National Education curriculum generated protests and youth activism.

  What changed. Blackpaper published a special issue arguing that the curriculum should be withdrawn and distributed it at the Tamar protest.

  Aftermath. The magazine was used as protest material and displayed by students and Scholarism supporters.

  Source
• 2010Adopted annual faux-magazine conceptsStrategy

  Blackpaper sought to distinguish itself from conventional magazines while communicating with younger readers through compact, themed issues.

  What changed. It rebranded its editorial identity annually, beginning with a faux-literature concept in 2010 and later moving through faux-entertainment, faux-advertising, faux-love and faux-times formats.

  Aftermath. The changing concepts became a central part of the brand’s identity and visual system.

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• 2017Blackpaper ceases publication

  The magazine ended publication on 1 January 2017.

  Other
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• 2012Special edition distributed during Moral and National Education protest

  A special edition arguing for withdrawal of Moral and National Education was distributed at a protest outside Hong Kong’s Central Government Complex at Tamar.

  CampaignRegulation
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• 2010Blackpaper reports approximately 160,000 copies sold in Hong Kong

  The magazine reached reported sales of approximately 160,000 copies in Hong Kong during 2010.

  Other
  Source
• 2009Blackpaper launches as a compact Hong Kong youth magazine

  Blackpaper was established by Roy Tsui, Luk Ka Chun and Yiu Ka Ho and published under Most Kwai Chung.

  Product launch
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1. Blackpaper
2. Blackpaper official website