Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Ben Tse and Janice Lo2024-08-02
Friday
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Selected audio segments:
Zheng Qinwen reaches Olympic tennis singles final Listen
Hong Kong's top swimmers were in action in the heats at La Defense Arena on Day Six of the Paris Olympics. The SAR was also in the hunt for glory on the waves, with the city's sailors competing in the dinghy and windsurfing events. Elsewhere, it was another good day for the China national team as Chinese athletes bagged gold in shooting and athletics while Zheng Qinwen of China stunned the women's world number one to become the first player from the nation to reach an Olympic tennis singles final. Hailey Yip and Kelly Yu report from Paris:
Heroic return home for Olympic champion, Vivian Kong Listen
Fans gathered at the airport on Thursday to welcome back champion fencer Vivian Kong who won Hong Kong's first gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Elvis Yu reports:
61-year-old Auntie Ni winning hearts at Paris Games Listen
For any Olympian, there is no shame in losing to the world's best player. There is even less shame when that player was not even born when you first competed at the Games. That was exactly the situation in which 61-year-old table tennis player, Ni Xialian, found herself, when she lost in the last 32 of the women's singles. The Shanghai native represented the national team in the 1980s and was first picked for her adopted country of Luxembourg at the Games in 2000. That is the year her round-of-32 conqueror, Sun Yingsha of China, was born. To get to play Sun, Ni had already beaten a much younger Turkish player to become the oldest person to win an Olympic table tennis tie. Known affectionately as Auntie Ni, she has been winning hearts as she proves that age is just a number - even at the highest levels of sport. In an exclusive interview with RTHK, she told Hailey Yip that she had reached her goal by competing at the Olympics for a sixth time:
China looking for fifth shooting gold Listen
It will be a relatively quiet day for Team Hong Kong on Day Seven of the Paris Olympics. The women's swimmers will appear in their last event at the French capital while sailor Nicholas Halliday jumps back in his dinghy in Marseille. China, on the other hand, aim to add to their medal haul. Hailey Yip reports:
Fire authorities complete checks on 700 buildings Listen
The Fire Services Department says it has conducted around 6,900 checks at about 700 old residential and commercial buildings as of the end of last month. It said inspections were stepped up after a fatal fire in a Jordan residential block in April. Raymond Yeung reports:
Blocked and defective fire doors are 'common hazards' Listen
The target is to inspect 1,000 high-risk old buildings by the end of the year. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Michael Yung told Kimmy Lau what would happen to those who ignore warning notices:
HKMA extends fraud alerts on transactions Listen
Authorities are extending fraud warnings for people making banking transactions. From Sunday, bank customers making transactions either online or over the counter, will get an alert if they're about to make a transfer to a high-risk recipient. Carmen Chu, executive director in banking supervision at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority,. told Janice Lo that the extended alert mechanism will cover over 80 percent of payment channels frequently used by customers:
Stricter penalties over feeding wild animals Listen
Anyone caught feeding wild animals faces a fixed penalty of HK$5,000 starting from Thursday. The ban also covers feral pigeons. Georgina Lee reports:
Feeding wild animals can change their behaviour Listen
An ecology expert says bonding between humans and animals has led to the worrying behaviour of feeding wild animals. Professor Timothy Bonebrake from the University of Hong Kong says feeding wild animals could artificially increase their population and lead to a rise in transmissions of diseases between the animals, which could also affect humans. He told Charlie Chun about the negative consequences of feeding wild animals:
Green group calls for more resources to help coral reefs Listen
WWF-Hong Kong has urged the government to devote more resources to research the causes of coral bleaching. The group's Oceans Conservation Manager Kelvin So said the government should designate 30 per cent of Hong Kong waters as marine protected areas. He told Natasha Ho about the harm that can occur when corals start losing their colour:
Aspirin recommended as preventive preeclampsia tool Listen
Researchers from the Chinese University have called for a more proactive screening and prevention strategy to tackle the serious pregnancy complication known as preeclampsia. They recommended a low-dose aspirin as a preventive measure. Obstetrics professor Liona Poon told Kimmy Lau that the condition posed a serious threat to a mother and her unborn child:
John Lee signs eight MOUs in Vietnam Listen
Chief Executive John Lee says Vietnam's rapid economic growth offers lucrative business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises. Anne Chan reports:
President Xi's rare letter to HK entrepreneurs Listen
President Xi Jinping has encouraged Hong Kong entrepreneurs to make more contributions to Chinese modernisation and to further integrate into national reform and development. Chief Executive John Lee thanked President Xi for his response to the entrepreneurs, saying Xi's letter encourages them to contribute to national development. Natasha Ho reports:
At least 30 dead in Hunan downpour Listen
Torrential rains on the mainland have killed at least 30 people and left dozens more missing, as the country grinds through another summer of extreme weather. Confirmation of the deaths came on the same day that weather authorities said July was China's hottest month since records began six decades ago. Tony Sabine reports:
UK teen charged with murder of three young children Listen
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned social media companies to uphold laws that prohibit the incitement of violence online. It comes after misinformation around a fatal mass stabbing earlier in the week sparked violent scenes in a seaside town. Sean Kennedy reports:
Indonesia bans single cigarette sales Listen
Indonesia has raised the minimum age limit for purchasing cigarettes to 21 from 18. It is part of a series of changes to health regulations intended to curb the habit in a country with one of the world's highest smoking rates. Jacqueline Guico reports:
HK's retail sales fall 9.7 percent from a year ago Listen
Hong Kong's retail sales in June fell 9.7 percent from a year ago to just under HK$30 billion. As Aaron Tam reports, total retail sales were down 6.6 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year:
World Bank sounds warning over "middle-income trap" Listen
The World Bank has warned that more than 100 countries, including China, are at risk of entering a "middle-income trap" and failing to become wealthy nations. Sean Kennedy reports:
Instant noodles off the menu due to turbulence Listen
Korean Air says it will stop serving its popular instant noodles on long-haul flights because of increased turbulence incidents. Anne Chan reports:
Frances Yip celebrates 55 years as a recording artist Listen
Hong Kong Cantopop icon, Frances Yip, is marking her 55th anniversary in showbusiness with two concerts this weekend at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. She started out in 1969 and has recorded more than 100 albums. Annemarie Evans reports: