Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Hailey Yip and Ben Tse2024-05-22
Wednesday
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Selected audio segments:
UK national security suspect linked to HK found dead Listen
British police are investigating the unexplained death of a man who was charged earlier this month with assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service. Matthew Trickett was due to appear in court on Friday, accused of violating the British National Security Act. Damon Pang reports:
Air passenger dies following severe turbulence Listen
One person has died and several others have been critically injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence. The Boeing 777 plane was diverted to Bangkok. Vanessa Cheng reports:
HKU Business School probes suspected admissions fraud Listen
The University of Hong Kong has warned it will take action against those who used forged documents in a bid to enrol in its business school. The school has launched an investigation into "a small number of such cases", saying it has zero tolerance for any acts of dishonesty or academic misconduct. Wendy Wong reports:
Admissions fraud needs thorough investigation Listen
An education concern group says the suspected admissions fraud at the University of Hong Kong's Business School should be thoroughly investigated. Mervyn Cheung from the Hong Kong Education Policy Concern Organisation says if true, those concerned should face legal consequences. He called for extensive public education, including naming and shaming anyone involved, to deter students from considering using dishonest means to gain a university place. He spoke to Hailey Yip:
Cabbies urged to leave law enforcement to police Listen
People without proper training have been advised not to carry out sting operations. Speaking at his regular media briefing on Tuesday, the Chief Executive John Lee warned that such actions could be breaking the law. He was commenting after several taxi drivers posed as passengers in order to report rival ride-hailing services to police. Frank Yung reports:
Govt 'values' public views over waste scheme Listen
Chief Executive John Lee says the government cares about people's views on its upcoming waste charging scheme. He was commenting after a survey by a newspaper found the vast majority of respondents opposed the plan. Officials are preparing to present their plan to the Legislative Council next week. Elvis Yu reports:
CE says online platforms removing links to protest song Listen
The chief executive says internet service providers are complying with a court injunction against the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong". As Natale Ching reports, John Lee also said authorities would continue to monitor for any non-compliance:
'Indonesian domestic helpers more prone to abuse' Listen
A study led by a communications professor at Polytechnic University suggests Indonesian domestic workers in Hong Kong are more likely to be abused. Over the past two years, Professor Hans Ladegaard and his team spoke to 132 domestic workers who said they had been abused and 95 percent of them were from Indonesia. He told Elvis Yu that this may be because many migrant workers from Indonesia were not as aware of their rights as workers from the Philippines:
HK to host more than 210 mega events this year Listen
Hong Kong is to host even more mega events this year, which are expected to bring in billions of dollars to the economy. This means the SAR will see such events every two days. Frank Yung reports:
Mega events will boost travel trade: consultant Listen
Shaman Chellaram, a Senior Director in Valuation and Advisory Services at Colliers Hong Kong, says mega events will lift the SAR's tourism industry. He told Anne Chan these events would bring in many visitors:
Govt to fund health and AI projects Listen
The government is to fund more than 20 projects in a number of sectors, including health and artificial intelligence. As Chloe Feng reports, this comes amid efforts to boost the commercialisation of scientific research work:
ICC's pursuit of Hamas, Israel leaders 'largely symbolic' Listen
Israel is seeking to contain the international fallout from a request at the world’s top war crimes court for arrest warrants targeting both Israeli and Hamas leaders. The move has garnered support from three European countries, including Israel's key ally, France. The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court cited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “use of starvation as a method of warfare,” a charge they and other Israeli officials deny. The prosecutor also accused three Hamas leaders of war crimes over killings of civilians in the group's October 7 attack on Israel. Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University in the UK, told Annemarie Evans about the ramifications of the ICC recommendations:
Assange case 'a test of journalism rights' Listen
Australia's prime minister has called for an end to Julian Assange's imprisonment, after the UK High Court granted the WikiLeaks founder permission to appeal his extradition to the United States. Following the ruling, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was "nothing to be served" by Assange's "ongoing incarceration". Washington wants to put the 52-year-old Australian hacker on trial for leaking US military secrets. He has been detained since 2019, after spending seven years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy. RTHK's UK correspondent, Gavin Grey, told Annemarie Evans that the long legal saga was not just about espionage, but also a test of journalism rights:
Govt seeks to turn Walled City film set into tourist attraction Listen
The government is considering turning the film set of the movie "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" into a tourist site. The kung fu film is based in the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City. Anne Chan reports:
Barrier erected at popular Mt Fuji photo spot Listen
One of Japan's most famous tourist spots, from where to snap a photo of the country's famous Mount Fuji, has now been blocked. Authorities erected a giant black barrier to obscure the view after local residents complained about the mass of visitors and their refusals to obey littering and parking rules. Damon Pang reports:
Egyptian beekeepers finding it hard to keep busy Listen
An Egyptian village in the Nile Delta of Gharbia is known for its beekeeping and honey industries. But residents of the area say they are struggling to keep business buzzing amid growing challenges of rising production costs and climate change. Azam Khan reports: