Hong Kong Today
Description:
RTHK's morning news programme. Weekdays 6:30 - 8:00
Presenter:
Janice Wong and Janice Lo2024-12-23
Monday
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Selected audio segments:
Restaurateurs look forward to busy holiday season 
Listen
ListenShenzhen residents visiting Hong Kong have given restaurants a much-needed boost over winter solstice. A representative of the sector says he's expecting this momentum -- which began after the resumption of the multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents -- to continue over the Christmas and new year period. Priscilla Ng reports.
Airport to step up services for Christmas break Listen
ListenThe Hong Kong International Airport said it's stepping up services as people begin to fly out for the Christmas break. It had earlier said it expected to handle around 200,000 passengers daily over the Christmas period, reaching pre-pandemic levels. Charlie Chun reports.
Govt could exempt some illegal structures subject to removal Listen
ListenDevelopment minister Bernadette Linn said she expects at least a third of the 36,000 illegal housing structures subject to removal orders to be exempted, if legal amendments to the Buildings Ordinance are passed. However, serious or large-scale violations would be subject to stiffer penalties, as Damon Pang reports.
Govt to boost SAR's financial markets: FS Listen
ListenFinancial Secretary Paul Chan says the government is looking to boost the capacity and liquidity of the SAR's financial markets. In order to do this, he said authorities will roll out more innovative products, systems and enhance cross-border cooperation. He was responding to earlier comments from President Xi Jinping, who said that both Hong Kong and Macau need to continue to expand global connections and enhance their attractiveness. Damon Pang reports.
Hospital Authority ready for patient surge Listen
ListenThe Hospital Authority says it's beefing up manpower and bed capacity in response to a potential in-patient surge during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. This comes as the Centre for Health Protection reported a mild increase in both Covid and influenza cases locally. The HA has now activated its peak-period arrangements, boosting manpower by up to 20 percent, and relaunching a special refund arrangement for accident and emergency services. Dr Larry Lee, a chief manager with the HA, spoke to Kelly Yu.
Sulphites found in dried fruits: CFS Listen
ListenA survey conducted by the Centre for Food Safety has found that dried fruits have the highest level of sulphites, a common type of food preservative that, if ingested excessively, can cause stomach irritation and affect the central nervous system in experimental animals. However, researchers said there's little cause for concern as the population’s overall intake of the chemical substance had been very low. The centre's consultant for community medicine, risk assessment and communcation, Dr Terrence Cheung, explained the findings to Natasha Ho.
Police arrest man suspected to be behind multiple burglaries Listen
ListenPolice say they've arrested and charged a 46-year-old man on suspicion of, and attempted burglary, in connection with a string of cases over the past few months. Priscilla Ng has more.
No casualties after train hits crane in Shanghai Listen
ListenA moving train has hit part of a crane in Shanghai. No casualties were reported after the incident on Sunday morning...but as Damon Pang reports, railway officials are expecting that repairs will take some time.
Germany mourns victims of Christmas market attack Listen
ListenGerman authorities say they received a tipoff last year about the suspect in a car attack at a Christmas market in the country on Friday. More details have been emerging about the five people who have so far died from the from the attack – while at least a further 200 people were injured. The suspect is being held in police custody, as authorities investigate him. Jamie Clarke has more.
US minister raises alarm over public support for Mangione Listen
ListenThe head of the US Homeland Security Department has expressed alarm at an upwelling of public support for the man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a New York Street earlier this month. Sean Kennedy has more.
US averts pre-Christmas government shutdown Listen
ListenPresident Joe Biden has signed a bill into law, averting a government shutdown, and bringing a final close to days of upheaval after the US Congress approved a temporary funding plan. The deal funds the government at current levels through March 14 and provides US$100 billion in disaster aid and US$10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers. But as Barry Wood -- our Washington correspondent -- told Janice Lo, there was last-minute legislative wrangling by incoming president Donald Trump, who along with influential billionaire Elon Musk, had pressured Republicans to abandon an earlier funding compromise. He explained why they tried to torpedo the earlier plan.
More deaths reported from Nigeria stampedes Listen
ListenPolice say the death toll from stampedes during two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased from 13 to 32. The victims, including at least four children, collapsed during crowd surges as people grew desperate for food items while the country grapples with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Jamie Clarke reports.
Protests hit Serbia's capital Listen
ListenTens of thousands of people have streamed into a central square in Serbia’s capital for a rally against the country’s populist president and his government. President Aleksander Vucic’s tight grip on power has been challenged by weeks of street protests led by university students. They were prompted after a railway station canopy collapsed at the start of November – as Jamie Clarke reports.
Christmas market opens in Damascus Listen
ListenA Christmas market has sprung up in Damascus, the capital city of Syria. It's opening takes place just less than two weeks after the ouster of the now former President Bashar al-Assad's regime as Natale Ching reports.
Squid Game hype hits a high in Indonesia before season two premiere Listen
ListenIn Indonesia, fans of the Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ have braved the rain to play a real-life adaptation of the show’s iconic ‘Red Light Green Light’ game. It’s part of the streaming service’s local publicity efforts before its flagship show’s second season, which releases this Thursday. Jamie Clarke has more.
Bournemouth defeats Manchester United 3-0 Listen
ListenIn football, this weekend saw Ruben Amorim's Manchester United crash to a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, while defending champions Manchester City's struggles continued with their ninth defeat in 12 matches at the hands of Aston Villa. Our football correspondent, Tim Bredbury, has more details on all the action from around the Premier League.
