

Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Janice Wong and Ben Tse2025-07-08
Tuesday
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Selected audio segments:
Trump unveils higher tariffs for Japan, South Korea
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US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 25 percent on Japan and South Korea, ramping up pressure on the two key US allies to reach trade deals with Washington. He issued similar letters to a dozen other trading partners, saying he'd slap duties on their products ranging from 25 percent to 40 percent. But their starting date of August 1 marks a delay in Trump's reimposition of steeper levies, which were originally due to take effect from Wednesday. Sophie Hui has details:
Brics nations hit back over Trump's tariffs threat
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Earlier, developing nations at the Brics summit brushed away an accusation from President Trump that they're "anti-American". Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said it was "irresponsible" for Trump to threaten Brics member nations with tariffs, adding that other countries had the right to reciprocate. Here's Sophie Hui again:
Trump's tariffs could signal HK opportunity
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Invest Hong Kong director-general Alpha Lau says the trade disruption caused by US tariffs is an opportunity for the SAR to attract more business. Charlie Chun reports:
New national security guidelines coming for civil servants
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New national security guidelines for government workers will be incorporated in courses offered by the Civil Service College, according to civil service chief Ingrid Yeung. This comes as the Security Bureau announced that a new set of guidelines on how civil servants can uphold national security in daily duties will be released in due course. Elvis Yu reports:
Fewer govt jobs requiring simple tasks to be offered
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The civil service chief also says there'll be fewer offers for government jobs which require repetitive and simple tasks. As part of a government-wide cost-saving plan, the civil service will be cut by two percent in each of the next two financial years. About 10,000 civil service jobs are expected to be slashed by April 1, 2027, as Elvis Yu reports:
Call for better awareness over protecting personal data
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The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) has spoken of the need for better employee awareness over data privacy. The office has had to intervene in eight separate personal data breaches in sectors ranging from a government department to medical institutions. Assistant Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Rebecca Ho, told Hailey Yip that organisations need clear and straightforward guidelines and need to boost employee awareness through targeted training:
Prison visit rules to be tightened on national security grounds
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Lawmakers have expressed support for the government's plan to tighten prison rules that would restrict or ban lawyers and religious personnel from visiting inmates. As Damon Pang reports, officials say the move will safeguard national security and ensure prison security:
DAB lists 10 proposals to attract funds to HK
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The DAB has called on the government to further relax company-listing rules so Hong Kong can remain a top fund-raising centre. Among the party's 10 suggestions to attract more firms to list in the SAR is to further ease the market capitalisation requirement for non-local enterprises with weighted voting rights structures from the current HK$40 billion to HK$20 billion. DAB legislator Rock Chen spoke to Natasha Ho about the party's proposals:
ESF pleased with its high rate of top scorers
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Fifteen students from six institutions under the English Schools Foundation (ESF) have scored top marks in the International Baccalaureate diploma exam. As Janice Lo reports, the average score of ESF students this year was higher than last year's global average:
Top IB scorer plans future in computer science
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One student who scored full marks says he didn't just have exam pressure to deal with. Kush Zingade spoke to Janice Lo about his plans to study computer science at Boston University in the United States:
ESF pleased with "extraordinary" achievement of students
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The English Schools Foundation says it's pleased with the result that its students achieved in the IB diploma exam. ESF's director of strategy and communications, Rob Shorthouse, says students had to deal with different challenges while preparing for the exam, such as disruptions caused by Covid-19. He spoke to Janice Lo:
CUHK researchers announce breakthrough in treating PsA
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Researchers at the Chinese University say they've found a therapy that helps patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to repair and prevent bone erosion that was thought to be irreversible. Doctor Isaac Cheng from the department of medicine and therapeutics made the finding after a one-year study of 40 patients. He told Matthew Hung how the latest finding will help such patients:
PLA fleet led by aircraft carrier Shandong depart HK
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The government has hosted a farewell ceremony for the People's Liberation Army naval fleet at the end of its five-day visit to Hong Kong. The fleet, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, sailed away on Monday, as Damon Pang reports:
Tesla shares dive after Musk announces plans for political party
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Shares of electric vehicle maker Tesla have dived 6.8 percent after its CEO Elon Musk announced plans to form a new political party. Musk said on Saturday that his ¡§America Party¡¨ could focus on just two or three Senate seats and eight to 10 House districts, which he suggested would be enough to serve as deciding votes. RTHK's San Francisco-based correspondent Mark Niu told Ben Tse how the decision came about:
Australia's mushroom murderer found guilty
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A trial that has captivated Australia has ended with a woman convicted of murdering her estranged husband's parents and aunt by treating them to a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms. 50-year-old Erin Patterson is awaiting sentencing, as Azam Khan reports:
Aust cop who shot indigenous teen was racist, coroner finds
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A coroner has found that an Australian police officer who fatally shot an indigenous teenager during an attempted arrest in 2019 was racist and worked in an environment "with hallmarks of institutional racism". Tom McAlinden reports:
Typhoon Danas kills two, injures more than 630
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A powerful typhoon has lashed western Taiwan, killing at least two people and injuring more than 630 others. The storm named Danas has been downgraded as it heads to the southern and eastern parts of the mainland, where precautions have been taken ahead of its expected arrival later on Tuesday. Sophie Cheung reports:
Bad start for China at EAFF E-1 Football Championship
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In football, China are off to a losing start in the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship. The national team were outclassed by five-time champions South Korea, as Elvis Yu reports:
China marks 88th anniversary of Japanese war
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China has held a ceremony marking the 88th anniversary of the entire nation's resistance against Japanese aggression. Chloe Feng reports: