The head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has given a vote of confidence to the city's innovation and technology development. Xia Baolong conducted an inspection tour of the Northern Metropolis on day one of his two-day visit to the SAR. Elvis Yu reports.

The government says Hong Kong's first five-year plan will serve as a strategic development blueprint, with the support of the policy address and budget. A two-month public consultation is now under way. Wallis Wang with that story.

The Chief Executive in Council has approved a two percent pay hike for all civil servants, backdated to April the first. Eugenia Ma reports.

Lawmakers have come out in support of the government's decision to grant a two percent pay increase to all civil servants. But several expressed disappointment over what they viewed as an inadequate adjustment that failed to keep pace with inflation and private sector trends. Hailey Yip reports.

The ICAC says "structural issues" in the building management and maintenance sector have made follow-up action on corruption complaints difficult. That's according to Bernard Chan, chairman of the anti-graft body's operations review committee, following a report submitted by the ICAC to the independent committee investigating last year’s fatal blaze at Wang Fuk Court. The body also revealed that more people have lodged renovation-related graft complaints following the tragedy. Elvis Yu reports.

A former department head and a former senior human resources officer of the Chinese University Medical Centre have been charged by the ICAC over fraud and leaking confidential details of an investigation. Charlie Chun reports.

China has told Myanmar that both countries must continue to crack down on criminal activities such as telecom fraud and online gambling. This came in talks between President Xi Jinping and his counterpart from Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, who's on a state visit to China. Raymond Yeung reports.

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers is calling for stronger safety awareness at construction sites following a recent spate of fatal workplace accidents. The body has made a series of recommendations to the industry to better implement the Smart Site Safety System, commonly known as 4S. The system involves the early identification of site hazards and continuous monitoring of high-risk construction activities. Institution member David Lau spoke to Eugenia Ma.

China's retail sales in May fell for the first time in over three years, highlighting persistent weakness in domestic demand. But industrial production remained strong. The data prompted suggestions that extra stimulus measures are needed to deal with what officials describe as an "acute imbalance". Chloe Feng reports.

One thousand restaurants are preparing to welcome dogs and their owners starting on July 9. The eateries were among 2,000 that applied for the special licences. Maurice Kong, chairman of the Institute of Dining Professionals, told RTHK's Backchat programme that health and safety issues are among the main concerns.

Justice chief Paul Lam says Hong Kong is committed to advancing digital development through artificial intelligence while combating data misuse and privacy breaches, as outlined in the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan. Charlie Chun reports.

One of the world's top chess events makes its debut in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium will run until Sunday. Forty-two teams and over 300 top players from around the world will be taking part. Wadim Rosenstein, chairman of elite club WR Chess, said his team was well-prepared and believes that Hong Kong has huge potential to host other chess events. He spoke to Matthew Hung.

The National Immigration Administration has projected an 11.7-percent year-on-year increase in border entries and exits during the Tuen Ng, or Dragon Boat Festival break, with a daily average of 2.2 million crossings nationwide. Janice Lo reports.

G7 leaders have expressed optimism for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war after a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States. Jamie Clarke has details.

The Israeli military has taken more territory in Gaza and killed at least two people in the enclave. That's brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since an October truce to nearly 1,000. Meanwhile, it's also seized powers over a flashpoint place of worship in the West Bank from Palestinians. Jamie Clarke again.

Fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah continues, even after the announcement of an interim peace deal between the US and Iran. Israel has said it was not party to the US-Iran agreement. Fresh Israeli drone strikes have killed at least four people in southern Lebanon. Despite the continued attacks, residents who had fled the conflict have been returning home - as Jamie Clarke reports.

France, the 2022 runners-up, have hit the ground running, opening their World Cup account with a 3-1 win over Senegal. Kylian Mbappe was the star for Les Bleus, who overcame a shaky start before the skipper scored twice in the second half to put the contest to bed. Nazvi Careem has more.