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Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Carol Musgrave and Ben Tse2024-06-07
Friday
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Selected audio segments:
E-cigs, smoking while queueing to be banned
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Regulations over smoking are tightening again, this time with the government cracking down on flavoured cigarettes and people who smoke while queuing. Fines for lighting up in smoke-free zones will also be doubled and offering cigarettes to under 18s will become illegal. Wendy Wong reports:
Expert calls for another tobacco tax hike
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An expert in tobacco control has hailed the government's measures in bringing down the smoking rate, but says it will still be a challenge to further reduce the figure to 7.8 percent next year. Judith MacKay, the director of the Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control, said authorities needed to be more innovative and impose another tobacco tax hike. But she told Violet Wong the short-term measures, including banning flavoured cigarettes, were spot on:
'Not hard to catch people smoking in a queue'
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An anti-smoking campaigner says there should not be an issue to implement a smoking ban on people in queues. Henry Tong, who chairs the Council on Smoking and Health, said the ban would send a signal to the public that the act is "undesirable". He told Carol Musgrave that the ban on flavoured cigarettes would also make smoking seem less attractive:
Three arrested over insulting anthem at football match
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Police have arrested three people who allegedly insulted the national anthem ahead of a World Cup qualifying match. Frank Yung reports:
'JR king' arrested over fraud: sources
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RTHK understands that an 85-year-old man, known for challenging government policies in court, has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. The suspect, Kwok Cheuk-kin, has previously been described in the media as the King of Judicial Reviews. Damon Pang reports:
Two of top court's non-permanent judges resign
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The Judiciary says two non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal - Lord Collins of Mapesbury and Lord Sumption, both from the UK - have tendered their resignations. Todd Harding reports:
Watchdog dismisses complaints against exams body
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The privacy watchdog has dismissed complaints by public exam candidates, who had accused the SAR's exams regulator of breaching privacy laws. They said the regulator had overcharged them for requesting to see an electronic version of their marked papers. Damon Pang reports:
NGO calls for Cantonese immersion for Nepalese
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A group advocating for racial equality is calling on the government to offer Cantonese immersion programmes early in school for Nepalese people in Hong Kong so it is easier for them to integrate into society. But John Tse, the executive director of Hong Kong Unison, said mutual support and friendship were crucial for the integration of ethnic minorities. He spoke to Ben Tse about the struggles of Nepalese youth:
HK-born Nepalese recalls discrimination, language struggles
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A Nepalese youth who was born and raised in Hong Kong said she personally struggled with discrimination and learning Cantonese while growing up. Limbu Eliza told Hailey Yip that this made schooling and finding a job very difficult:
HK, Macau and Guangdong join hands to promote culture
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Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong are joining forces to promote culture in the Greater Bay Area. As Elvis Yu reports, Hong Kong is allocating HK$135 million to support art groups and artists in the region:
Cathay to relaunch direct Hong Kong-Riyadh flights
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Cathay Pacific will resume direct passenger flights between Hong Kong and the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, on October 28. Anne Chan reports:
'Direct route benefits both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia'
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Hong Kong's flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, which comes under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism. The Saudi programme's CEO, Majid Khan, told Anne Chan that the launch of direct flights would benefit both places:
Dozens killed at UN school sheltering Palestinians
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An Israeli air strike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza has reportedly killed dozens of people at the United Nations site. Israel said it had targeted a Hamas compound in the school. But the Palestinian group accused Israel of lying to cover up attacks on those who were displaced. Frank Yung reports:
Japan to erect fence at popular Mount Fuji photo spot
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Japan is expected to put up another anti-tourism measure. This time, it is going to install a tall metal fence to control unruly tourists who have annoyed locals at a popular Mount Fuji Dream Bridge photo spot. Vanessa Cheng reports:
Iran beat HK in World Cup qualifier
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The Hong Kong, China team went down 4-2 to Iran in Thursday evening's 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Hong Kong Stadium. The SAR side only had pride to play for in Group E, while Iran are still aiming to win the group. Jamie Clarke spoke to RTHK's Asian football correspondent, Chris KL Lau, who was at the match:
Tough Olympic medal hopes for national hockey team
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The Chinese women's hockey team is aiming to reach the podium at the Paris Olympics this summer, even though they have a tough road ahead to clinch a medal. They will play reigning champions - the Netherlands - in the group stages. But as Frank Yung reports, the team is ready to battle for glory on the pitch:
Ceremonies mark 80th anniversary of D-Day
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Ceremonies have been held to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Three years ago, Annemarie Evans interviewed two D-Day veterans who were aboard a destroyer at the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 in Northern France. One was a regular fixture in Hong Kong over the past 20 years, John T. Siewert: