

Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Janice Wong and Samantha Butler2022-10-17
Monday
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Selected audio segments:
Xi Jinping lays out vision for next five years
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President Xi Jinping has hailed the ruling Community Party's achievements and called on all party members to help build a modern socialist China. In a speech to open the 20th party congress in Beijing on Sunday, he noted that China had eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society. Xi also highlighted efforts to fight Covid-19, saying the "dynamic zero" policy had protected people's health and safety to the greatest possible extent. Maggie Ho reports:
Mainland's Covid policies a 'safe move'
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A commentator says one of the reasons why Chinese officials want to maintain strict Covid regulations is because they do not want the country's healthcare system to be overrun. Jean-Pierre Cabestan from the Department of Government and International Studies at the Baptist University spoke to Aaron Tam:
Beijing won't rule out using force over Taiwan
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Xi Jinping says the central government will continue to help Hong Kong and Macau integrate into the national development. He hailed the success of the One Country Two Systems principle and made it clear it would be adhered to in the long term. And as Aaron Tam reports, Xi said Beijing would not rule out the use of force in reunifying with Taiwan:
CE says Xi's speech shows Beijing values HK
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The chief executive says Xi Jinping's remarks on Hong Kong will serve as a pillar of the SAR's development. John Lee also says Xi's speech showed the central government values the city a great deal. Violet Wong reports:
No major political reforms expected for HK
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The City University's Assistant Professor at the Department of Public and International Affairs, Liu Dongshu, told Aaron Tam that President Xi's remarks on the SAR meant there probably would not be major political reforms for the city in the near future:
China seeks to lift birth rate
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President Xi has also stressed that the mainland will enact policies to boost its birth rate. It comes as policymakers worry that a decline in China's population could hurt its economy - the world's second-biggest. Joanne Wong reports:
Xi displays firmer tone amid 'headwinds' over Taiwan
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A senior fellow at a Beijing-based think tank says President Xi's message is a continuation of what was laid out five years' earlier, except with a more firmer tone given the 'headwinds' over Taiwan. Einar Tangen from the Taihe Institute also downplayed speculation over who the new leadership team might be, saying Beijing's consensus system would ensure no major changes would occur. He spoke to Janice Wong:
DAB party wants timetable on easing Covid rules
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Attracting overseas manpower and businesses to the SAR are expected to be among the main themes of the Chief Executive's maiden policy address on Wednesday. The biggest party in Hong Kong, the DAB, has called on John Lee to update the Quality Migrant Scheme and do more to try to keep mainland university students here after graduation, as part of efforts to attract more talent. DAB lawmaker Holden Chow also told Damon Pang that the CE should give a clear timetable on the further relaxation of Covid rules:
Turn quarantine facilities into transitional homes: NGO
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The chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service has called on the government to turn quarantine facilities into transitional housing to benefit people on the public housing waiting list. Chua Hoi-wai wants the Chief Executive John Lee to tackle the city's housing woes in his upcoming policy address. Violet Wong reports:
SoCO calls for border reopening with mainland
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The Society for Community Organisation has called on the Chief Executive John Lee to prioritise resuming quarantine-free travel with the mainland in his maiden Policy Address. It is among a raft of measures proposed by the NGO as members petitioned outside government headquarters in Tamar on Sunday. The society's deputy director, Sze Lai-shan, says the pandemic has made life very difficult for those who work or have families on the mainland. She also told Kelly Yu that the government should address the housing needs of low-income families, such as shortening the wait for a public flat:
New amber code rule for Cathay crew
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Hong Kong recorded 5,564 new Covid cases yesterday, 385 of them imported. Five more Covid patients died. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific says flight crew will be given the choice to spare them from being restricted by an amber code on their vaccine pass. Ada Au reports:
Foodpanda couriers strike over pay
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A group of Foodpanda couriers held a two-day strike over the weekend over a pay dispute. The row has to do with a new map system on the online delivery platform. Kelly Yu reports:
Market pessimism over UK political, financial turmoil
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The British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has been the country's leader for just over 40 days and she has already caused chaos on the financial markets, sacked her finance minister, and performed a U-turn on her flagship tax policy. Now there is speculation that she will not even last this week as the party's leader. Three governing Conservative Party MPs have become the first to publicly call for her to resign. Britain's financial markets will get a fresh opportunity to pass judgement on Truss when they open on Monday, without the support of the Bank of England's emergency bond-buying programme, which expired on Friday. RTHK's US economics correspondent, Barry Wood, in Washington told Samantha Butler that President Biden has since labelled Truss' original policies a mistake: