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Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Samantha Butler and Ben Tse2024-05-29
Wednesday
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Selected audio segments:
First arrests made under new national security laws
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Six people have been arrested under the new Article 23 national security legislation, with police accusing the group of "offences in connection with seditious intention". Aaron Tam reports:
Waste charging scheme not abandoned, insists minister
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The government insists it has not abandoned its scheme to charge for household waste disposal, although it shelved a planned roll out in August. Green groups are unhappy with the decision to put the issue on the back burner, as Frank Yung reports:
Govt urged to turn South Lantau into 'resort town'
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Lawmakers have urged authorities to speed up a long-standing plan to turn South Lantau into a tourist spot, with some urging the government to make it a high-end vacation resort. Officials have said they are collecting public views over the next few months on building a pier and accommodations in Cheung Sha. Violet Wong reports:
Warning not to 'overbuild' infrastructure on Lantau
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An outdoor activities organiser says it is a good idea to build walkways and upscale camping sites for visitors to connect with nature in South Lantau. But Roland Sharman cautioned against large-scale infrastructure in the area. The founder of HKOutsider said over-building may disrupt the life and ecology on the island. He told Violet Wong that eco-tourism should make use of natural resources:
Govt wants stiffer penalties against illicit cigarettes
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Customs officials say they want to increase the maximum jail term for crimes involving illicit cigarettes to seven years from two - and to double the maximum fine to HK$2 million. The move comes after a 50 percent increase in cases this year, with the department recording over 7,000 cases in the first five months. An assistant commissioner, Lai Chi-wing, told Vanessa Cheng that more travellers were bringing illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong after the border reopened after the pandemic:
Half of HK firms expected to adopt AI
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Chief Executive John Lee expects half of the city's firms to be using artificial intelligence by the end of this year. Wendy Wong reports:
Conference discusses medicinal benefits of food
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A Baptist University scholar says he hopes a framework can be established on promoting food as medicine in the primary healthcare system. The university is hosting a two-day conference called FoodMed. Terence Lau, the university's Interim Chief Innovation Officer and chair of the conference, said Chinese medicine used many herbal components that people also consumed as food, such as ginseng. He said certain foods could alleviate chronic conditions or prevent certain diseases from developing. But he told Samantha Butler that a systematic approach was needed to integrate food into mainstream health practices:
Douyin cracks down on faked viral posts
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Chinese social media giant Douyin says it will start cracking down on posts that use so-called 'hot events' to boost views. These videos use scenarios, such as staged medical crises or domestic disputes in a bid to go viral. The move comes after state media on the mainland reported that accounts for multiple influencers, known for showing off their lavish lifestyles and wealth, had been blocked. Brigitte Pu reports:
Xi demands high-quality, sufficient employment
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President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to promote high-quality and sufficient employment and to further boost employment through development. Aaron Tam reports:
Shanghai, Shenzhen give more support to homebuyers
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Authorities in Shanghai have unveiled measures to provide further targeted support for homebuyers. It is the latest mainland city to do so in a bid to boost the property sector. Shenzhen also announced it would lower the minimum downpayment ratio required of first-time and second-time homebuyers by 20 and 30 percent respectively. The new rules take effect on Wednesday. Natale Ching reports:
Storm kills nearly 40 people in Bangladesh, India
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A powerful cyclone has killed at least 38 people in southern Bangladesh and northeastern India. As Jacqueline Guico reports, 30 million people in the region were left without electricity, while coastal villages were flooded:
Holes found in barrier erected to block Mount Fuji view
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A Japanese town that mounted a huge barrier to deter unruly tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji says around 10 small holes have already been poked in the mesh screen. The barrier was put up a week ago in a popular photo spot in Fujikawa-guchiko town, where residents had complained about streams of visitors breaking traffic and littering rules. The screen was erected to disperse crowds on a narrow pavement across the road from a convenience store. RTHK's Tokyo correspondent Julian Ryall told Annemarie Evans more about the Mount Fuji tourism controversy:
HK's Jason Ng books Paris Olympics trip in triathlon
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Hong Kong triathlete Jason Ng has beaten Ayan Beisenbayev from Kazakhstan for the last spot in the Paris Olympic qualification. He is the 32nd entry of the SAR delegation to the Games this summer. Hailey Yip reports: