Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Samantha Butler and Ben Tse2023-11-01
Wednesday
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Selected audio segments:
CE says 'scheduling issues' will keep him away from Apec Listen
The government says Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, will lead Hong Kong's delegation to the Apec leaders' summit in San Francisco. It cited 'scheduling issues' as the reason the chief executive himself could not attend. There had been speculation over his attendance due to sanctions imposed on him by the US that Beijing has deemed illegal and unreasonable. Natale Ching reports:
'Fierce' competition expected in district polls Listen
Chief Executive John Lee says competition in December's District Council election will be fierce. Election officials have confirmed they have received 171 nominations for 88 directly-elected seats in geographical constituencies and 228 nominations for 176 district committee seats. Frank Yung reports:
Patriots administering HK "is a must" Listen
The head of the liaison office says people who are not patriots, let alone those opposing China and disrupting the SAR, should not be allowed to take part in elections. Zheng Yanxiong's comment came as Hong Kong prepares for district elections in which no opposition candidates were able to secure nominations. Kelly Yu reports:
FTU calls for more support for imported labour Listen
The Federation of Trade Unions has urged the government to boost support for non-local workers. FTU lawmaker Michael Luk noted there were some 4,000 care workers imported from the mainland to work at elderly homes across the SAR through the Supplementary Labour Scheme. He said they were vulnerable to exploitation. Altis Wong reports:
China drops Covid health code Listen
Mainland officials have confirmed reports that they will drop one of the last Covid border-control measures from Wednesday. This means travellers will not have to fill a health declaration form and present a QR code at the border when they enter the mainland. Elvis Yu reports:
Dropping health code should reduce border 'bottlenecks' Listen
The DAB party has welcomed the decision to drop the mainland's "black code" Covid health declaration requirement for cross-border travellers. It said it was the “final step” in Hong Kong's return to normality following the pandemic. DAB lawmaker Kennedy Wong, who is a member of the National People's Congress, spoke to Elvis Yu:
Land set aside for growth of logistics sector Listen
The government says 19 hectares of land have been earmarked for the development of the logistics sector in the next four years. Authorities also pledged to tackle a manpower crunch in the industry, as Natale Ching reports:
HK's Q3 rebound fuelled by tourism Listen
Hong Kong's economy has rebounded in the third quarter, fuelled by a recovery in inbound tourism and consumption. Year-on-year GDP growth surged from 1.5 percent in the previous quarter to 4.1 percent. Chief Greater China Economist at ANZ Bank, Raymond Yeung, told Anne Chan that the economic growth was in line with his expectations:
JLL says flexible rents will attract retailers Listen
A senior director at Jones Lang LaSalle says landlords should offer flexible rent options to tenants to attract more unique shops and hopefully boost foot traffic at malls. A report by JLL says local retailers are facing a number of post-pandemic challenges, such as higher rents, outbound tourism, and a change in inbound tourists' spending habits. Cathie Chung, senior director of research at JLL in Hong Kong, says landlords need to rethink their relationship with tenants to be more of a partnership. She spoke to Ben Tse:
Flags to be lowered for Li Keqiang's funeral Listen
The remains of former Premier Li Keqiang will be cremated on Thursday. Flags will fly at half-mast across the country in mourning for Li, who has been praised as an "outstanding" leader. Wendy Wong reports:
Shenzhou-16 return capsule lands safely Listen
Three taikonauts from the Shenzhou-16 space mission have returned to Earth after six months aboard the nation’s orbiting Tiangong space station. As Natale Ching reports, the mission has been hailed a "complete success":
Key aides criticise Johnson's Covid response Listen
An official inquiry into the Covid pandemic in the UK has heard a claim that the then-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, believed older people should accept their fate so the young could boost the economy. The statement came from the diary of a former Chief Scientific Advisor, Patrick Vallance. Two of Johnson's top aides have also been giving evidence. RTHK's London correspondent Gavin Grey told Samantha Butler that the testimony so far showed chaos in government, with internal rows over the pandemic response: