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South China Morning Post

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Baby Danny parents to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

A Hong Kong couple whose baby was born at home and placed in court-ordered care has said they can visit their son for up to one hour a week while they work to prove their parenting capability, as they outlined three potential outcomes listed by social welfare authorities. The unmarried couple, Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, told the South China Morning Post on Sunday that they were scheduled to meet government social workers and be granted supervised visits in the coming week. During the...

South China Morning Post

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Calls grow to tighten child protection rules after baby Danny case in Hong Kong

A recent series of child protection controversies, including a couple refusing a DNA test to register their home-born baby, has prompted calls for Hong Kong authorities to review guidelines for identifying neglect, and to expand the list of professionals required to report suspected abuse. Under the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance – which took effect in January – people across 25 designated professions, including those in the social welfare, education and medical sectors, are...

Hong Kong Free Press

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A brief history of anonymously scattered leaflets

History, it is said, does not repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes. This may explain the sense of déjà vu that crept over me when I read about the case of Mr Raymond Wong – a 55-year-old construction worker, not the former newsman of the same name – who appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates Court a […]

South China Morning Post

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Norman Bethune’s story still holds lessons for China-Canada relations

I grew up in a classroom where the name Norman Bethune was invoked with reverence. Like every schoolchild in China, I could recite from memory Chairman Mao’s 1939 essay “In Memory of Norman Bethune”, which characterised Bethune as a man who had come from afar, who gave his life to the Chinese revolution, who embodied selflessness and internationalism. For years, I kept a poster in my office – the famous oil painting of Mao meeting Bethune in Yan’an – as a quiet tribute. As the years passed and...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong saves HK$69 million in first month after HK$2 fare scheme revamp

Changes to Hong Kong’s public transport subsidy scheme saved the government HK$69 million (US$8.8 million) in the first month, with fewer elderly and disabled commuters taking expensive long-haul routes for short trips, the welfare minister has said. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Saturday that, following revisions to the concessionary fare scheme that took effect on April 3, the average government subsidy for trips costing more than HK$10 fell from HK$4.90 in March...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Sun says HK$2 trip curbs having the desired effect

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Saturday that fewer people are opting to take long-route buses for short trips following revisions to the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme. Since April 3, those aged 60 and above and the disabled have been paying 20 percent of fares for trips costing more than HK$10 and a flat HK$2 fare for those costing less than that. Sun said the amount paid out in subsidies in April was HK$69 million less than that for March – the final month before the measures took effect. He also pointed out that April had fewer days than March and more public holidays. "If we look at the average subsidy for each trip, particularly rides costing more than 10 dollars, we can see that for each trip in March, it was HK$4.90. In April, the average was HK$4.50, meaning the amount that the government subsidised had become less," he said. "This also means that the number of people taking longer-route bus trips under the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme has fallen slightly." On another issue, Sun said social workers had, in the morning, met a couple who had been arrested on suspicion of child neglect involving their baby, Danny, to better understand their situation and keep them up to date on the latest developments concerning the one-and-a-half-month-old boy. The infant, who has been placed in a shelter under professional care, is in very good condition, he said. Sun noted that a court is processing a protection order for the baby which the Social Welfare Department is seeking. “For the next step, we have to wait for the court to approve an official protection order. "At the same time we have launched a multi-disciplinary system to assess Danny's condition, to understand the family situation,” he said. “After the multi-disciplinary group has carried out an assessment, we will propose to the court our next move.” Sun added that social workers would work out arrangements to accompany the parents on visits to baby Danny. Edited by Azam Khan

South China Morning Post

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Inside the crazy New York queues where people wait for hours for Insta-cred

In front of L’industrie Pizzeria, as at many other New York restaurants and shops, customers queue up behind barriers – in this case, all to grab a prized pizza slice. Not everyone in America’s biggest city finds standing in line to be a chore. The power of social media trends means that for some, waiting for hours is an attraction in itself. “It’s gotten pretty crazy in the city recently,” said food influencer Ali Chilton, who has 168,000 followers on Instagram. “Some would blame me for the...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Public urged to get jabs as flu cases spike

An expert on infectious diseases called on the public on Saturday to get vaccinated against influenza before the current batch of available jabs expires at the end of this month, as cases are on the rise. A recent serious case involved a 17-year-old who was left in a critical condition yesterday after developing complications, including severe pneumonia and shock from catching influenza B. He was not inoculated against the flu. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Professor Ivan Hung, head of the infectious diseases division at the University of Hong Kong and an honorary consultant at Queen Mary Hospital , said the hospital has also logged more flu cases among children and the elderly. “Right now we're seeing a rise in the number of cases in both flu A, which is [subtype] H3, and also flu B, with quite a number of older adults being admitted to hospitals with severe flu cases, and also for children as well. Recently, we have had a 17-year-old with a severe flu B infection,” he said after the show. “But whether it's peaking – it's not yet the so-called summer peak – I think we really have to wait for a few more weeks to see how the trend plays out. "I do recommend anyone who has not been vaccinated to get vaccinated before the end of June because the vaccine is going to expire by the end of June.” Hung urged the elderly, particularly those with chronic diseases, to wear masks in crowded places and use hand sanitisers. People do not have to be too worried over Covid-19, he said, adding that it has become endemic in the city. “I think the coronavirus itself is relatively benign. If you look at the variant, the latest is NB.1.8.1, it’s actually quite close to the LP.8.1, which is the vaccine candidate," Hung said. "Basically, I think it’s not a major concern in terms of coronavirus. “Overall, we have very, very few severe cases being hospitalised. For the last year or so, we didn’t really have a surge in Covid cases. In general, it’s very mild, even for the older adults.” However, those who are immunodeficient and suffer from chronic illnesses should get vaccinated regularly, Hung said, urging those who have not been inoculated against flu to take the jab without delay, as vaccines won’t be available for a short period until the next batch arrives in the fourth quarter. Edited by Robert Kemp

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong baby Danny’s future remains unclear despite birth registration progress

Baby Danny’s future remains uncertain despite having almost completed his birth registration in Hong Kong, as welfare authorities still had to assess the capability of his parents, who were earlier arrested for suspected child neglect and have a troubled parental history. Danny’s welfare sparked public concern over the past week after Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, who initially declined a DNA test for their home-born son’s birth registration on religious and privacy grounds. They only made a...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong parents of undocumented baby Danny confident of regaining custody

The Hong Kong parents of undocumented baby Danny have expressed confidence that they can obtain legal guardianship of their son, who is now in a care home, as immigration authorities could process his birth certificate as early as Saturday. The unmarried couple also said they saw a “glimmer of hope” in resolving the custody case of their four-year-old daughter Lily, whom Swedish authorities have taken into care over child welfare concerns. “We believe the social workers will handle the matter in...

South China Morning Post

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IT/기술

Huawei chips refine DeepSeek model in major leap for China’s AI self-reliance

A research team that includes Huawei Technologies says it has successfully used the firm’s Ascend 910C chips to complete post-training for the DeepSeek-V4-Pro model, marking a major step forward as China’s semiconductor industry tries to leap from supporting basic AI inference to more complex model training amid tightening US sanctions. While Chinese chipmakers have found success in supporting AI inference – the relatively simple process of running an already-finished model to answer user...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Chinese leader Xi to visit North Korea next week

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, his first trip abroad this year after hosting a series of leaders as Beijing asserts itself as a global diplomatic superpower. State broadcaster CCTV said Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim […]

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Tech MoUs highlight last day of CE's Central Asia trip

Chief Executive John Lee announced a series of innovation and technology agreements with Uzbekistan, following a visit to the Central Asian nation’s flagship IT hub on Friday. Writing on his social media, Lee detailed the delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan IT Park, a national special economic zone in Tashkent, where they met with Ayubkhon Sultanov, Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies. He said the IT Park serves as a core engine for Uzbekistan’s digital economic transformation, offering tax incentives and rental concessions and facilitating visa arrangements to attract tech enterprises and talent. The park, he said, is central to implementing the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy” and the country’s national AI Strategy. The CE noted that while Uzbekistan is accelerating its economic transformation and I&T development, Hong Kong — as an international financial centre — is actively building itself into a global innovation hub. “Leveraging its world-class financing platform, professional services and unique bridging role connecting the mainland and international markets, Hong Kong is highly complementary to Uzbekistan’s development,” the CE wrote. Both places, he added, are important partners within the Belt and Road Initiative and can strengthen exchanges of development experience. Lee said senior executives from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with IT Park during the visit. The agreements aim to establish platforms for startup incubation, acceleration programmes and cross-border market access. Under the deals, Uzbekistan’s I&T companies would gain a strategic gateway into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and global markets, while Hong Kong enterprises would be able to tap into Uzbekistan’s young IT talent pool for software development and innovative collaborations. “Going forward, we can further synergise the innovation and technology ecosystems of both sides, explore collaborative projects and achieve complementary advantages and win-win partnerships,” the CE said. Lee concludes his Central Asia trip on Friday. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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No cap on HK$2 transport scheme trips as costs outweigh savings: Hong Kong minister

Hong Kong authorities will not cap the monthly number of subsidised trips that eligible elderly and disabled people can take under a revamped transport fare scheme, largely because implementation costs would exceed the savings. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han revealed the decision on Friday, as data showed that an average of only about 450 people took more than 240 trips a month under the scheme between May last year and April this year, out of about 2.7 million...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Friday that the government will not implement a cap on the number of trips under the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme, citing the travel needs of people with disabilities. Starting from April 3, people aged 60 and above, as well as those with disabilities, pay a flat HK$2 fare for trips costing HK$10 or less. For more expensive journeys, they pay 20 percent of the fare. The government had planned to cap subsidised trips at 240 per person each month. On the Labour and Welfare Bureau Facebook page, Sun said some people with disabilities had voiced concern about the proposed cap because they need to transfer more often than other residents in order to reach the same destination. He said the latest figures show that on average, only about 450 people make more than 240 trips per month – a tiny number among the 2.7 million users of the transport subsidy. However about a fifth of those 450 people are people with disabilities. He said this proves that some disabled people do need more trips. "If we go ahead with the trip cap, it will inevitably affect some people with disabilities – including their need to see a doctor, attend rehabilitation services, go to work, and other daily necessities," he wrote. He added the cap could cause worry among some commuters – especially the elderly – about going over the limit, and would create unnecessary stress. Sun also said a cap would not be cost-effective, as limiting the subsidised trips would save only a few hundred thousand dollars, but updating the subsidy system to accommodate a limit would cost an estimated HK$30 million. He concluded that the government decided not to go ahead with the cap – hoping everyone can travel happily and integrate into society. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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스포츠

Roberto Losada to lead HK, China football squad

Spaniard Roberto Losada has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the SAR football team, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) announced on Friday. The 49-year-old took charge of the SAR squad as interim boss in December, following the departure of former head coach Ashley Westwood. Over the past six months, Losada led the team through their final AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against India, as well as the annual Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup. Losada's official appointment comes as the SAR squad take on Mongolia in a friendly at Hong Kong Stadium on Friday. HKFA’s chairman Eric Fok said the association had high hopes for Losada. “We hope the new head coach will bring a clear direction to the team, including establishing a clear style of play, strengthening tactical organisation and improving in-game stability and discipline. We also hope that under the coach's guidance, team cohesion will be strengthened and our players will achieve a higher level of performance,” he said. Losada, who has lived in Hong Kong for 16 years and won three Coach of the Year awards while managing local Premier League club Eastern, said he would give more chances to local young players. “We are going to try to make our squad a little bit more dynamic, a little bit more young. We are not going to have too many naturalised players in the coming three, four years coming in for the squad, so we have to start to trust our young boys,” he said. “Our players that have been working hard to get into the squad, and they deserve the chance. We're going to do it a little bit steady and smooth, try to put some young boys coming up, integrate them in the team with the seniors that we have, and try in a couple of years to have a very competitive squad." A former professional player himself, Losada scored 27 goals in 113 appearances in Spain’s La Liga and won a Hong Kong Footballer of the Year award while playing with local Premier League club Kitchee. Meanwhile, the HKFA also announced that Hong Kong is set to host Division 2 of the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup across the months of September and October. The new tournament features a two-tier format, with Indonesia hosting the top-flight Division 1, and Hong Kong staging the second division, which will see six participating teams. Fok pointed out that the event would be the first time Hong Kong hosted a Fifa-sanctioned international football tournament, saying this is of great significance to football development in the SAR. “They are not just ordinary international friendly matches as the teams will need to compete continuously in a short period of time, facing different opponents under pressure and goals to achieve,” he said. Fok added that since the event is scheduled during the Fifa International Match Calendar, he believes the participating teams would send more complete lineups, further raising the level of competition. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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EPD aims to enhance environmental awareness

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on Friday said it was aiming to create a culture in which green living has become a way of life throughout the city. Principal environmental protection officer Jackie Ng said the department's current campaign aimed to make environmental protection accessible, convenient, and meaningful. The remarks came as the EPD this week launched a publicity campaign called "Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest", to celebrate World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, and the department's 40th anniversary. Speaking on RTHK's Backchat programme, Ng said this week's environmental activities could foster a deeper emotional connection in which hands-on involvement becomes part of people's routines. "It [hands-on involvement] helps make the experience more engaging and memorable for everyone, transforming environmental protection from some abstract concepts into personal experience and action," Ng said. To strengthen environmental education for young people, Ng said the department has partnered with Ocean Park to deliver both on‑site and in‑school activities, where they can learn more about how to protect the environment and natural conservation. "The programme combines not only fun activities and also educational materials, making the concept more accessible and memorable, and these activities also provide them some opportunities to do some self-direct learning and exploration," he said. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Competition Commission hoping to stamp out bid-rigging

Newly appointed Competition Commission chairman Jat Sew-tong on Friday said the body hopes to come up with proposed amendments to the Competition Ordinance regarding bid-rigging within this legislative year. This comes after bid-rigging over a building maintenance project was suspected to have taken place at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po where a massive blaze last year claimed 168 lives. Jat, who took office in May, said the commission is considering different ways to improve the law, such as through introducing criminal liability or increasing civil penalties. “We are looking at all possibilities to see how we could make the ordinance effective and have a sufficient deterrent effect to this kind of behaviour and we hope we could achieve a situation where this kind of behaviour would no longer continue,” he said. The barrister noted that the government has already included a "non-collusion" clause in large-scale renovation project tenders as a way to prevent bid-rigging. “I understand that the government may consider making a requirement that in tenders of that kind, the non-collusion clause will be in the form of a statutory declaration,” he said. “Whoever puts in the tender will have to make a statutory declaration that they are doing it independently, without collusion with any other party. Therefore, making that statutory declaration would by itself attract criminal liability if it is a false declaration.” Jat also said that from July, members of the public will be allowed to attend part of the commission's meetings, as a way to enhance transparency. He said the body is open to suggestions as to how it can carry out its work better. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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DNA confirms parents of unregistered baby: police

Police on Thursday said DNA testing has confirmed that a couple who were arrested on charges of child neglect are indeed the biological parents of a 1.5-month-old baby boy, who was reportedly delivered via homebirth and has no birth certificate. The parents initially refused the test and were arrested for suspected child neglect after the case went viral online. Meanwhile, a children's rights advocate on Thursday said authorities need to carefully decide when would be the right time to return the baby boy to his parents, after he was temporarily moved to a shelter. Priscilla Lui, former head of the Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights, said professionals would keep following the case and assess if the baby was getting proper care if he was sent back to his parents. "When the child goes back, is he safe? Does the family have the ability to care for him? This shouldn't be a rushed decision. And when he does go back, there will be a period of follow-up by professionals – social workers, and medical staff if needed – who will visit him," she said. Lawmaker Peter Koon, who heads Legco's social welfare panel, said authorities have to make sure the child is safe and well looked after, especially with so many people watching the case closely. "There's been a lot of public discussion about this case, and the overwhelming view is that we must act in the best interest of the baby," he said. "So before the child is returned to full parental care, a very thorough assessment should be done to make sure there won't be any problems because if problems arise after the child is returned, that would be very difficult to handle." Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Uzbeks welcome HK's 30-day visa-free proposal

Uzbeks in the capital of Tashkent voiced enthusiasm about the prospect of closer ties with Hong Kong on Thursday. Earlier, the SAR and Uzbek governments had agreed to begin detailed talks on a 30-day visa-free stay for travellers on both sides. Currently, HKSAR passport holders may visit Uzbekistan visa-free for 10 days, while Uzbek passport holders require a visa to enter Hong Kong. Uzbek citizens told RTHK that the proposed arrangement, revealed by Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday night during his Central Asia visit, would significantly ease current travel restrictions and that the news could not come soon enough. "It’s a big opportunity for our nation, for our population, for our locals," said Jasur Abdumavlonov, an English teacher in Tashkent. "China is the fastest developing country. It develops very fast." Abdumavlonov, who described himself as eager to learn, said he hopes to visit Hong Kong within the next five years, drawn by curiosity about its food and people. He predicted the visa-free scheme would spark a two-way exchange of traditions and world views. "A lot of people will exchange their traditions, their point of view," he said. "They’re going to learn a lot about Asia, about Central Asia. And our people will learn a lot about Chinese [people]." For younger Uzbeks, Hong Kong’s pop culture has already built a powerful pull. Yasmin Kholmurodova said she has wanted to visit the city for a long time, inspired by its cinema, books and music. "That’s great news. I wish to come to Hong Kong for a very long time," she said. Kholmurodova said that the more visa-free destinations available to Uzbek travellers, the better. She also added that the proposed deal would foster prosperity through greater people-to-people contact. "Let’s be friendly, let’s visit each other’s countries, let’s be more global," she said. "I think it will definitely be more prosperous." Beyond tourism, business ties are already emerging. Khurshid Shomurotov said his brother travelled to Hong Kong just 10 days ago to meet potential partners. He said he now plans to visit Hong Kong himself in the future, adding that business discussions with partners in the city had gone well. The chief executive said the two governments would promptly advance the specific implementation measures to bring the arrangement into effect as soon as possible. Edited by Tony Sabine

뉴스

타임라인 키워드

Baby Danny parents to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

Calls grow to tighten child protection rules after baby Danny case in Hong Kong

A brief history of anonymously scattered leaflets

Norman Bethune’s story still holds lessons for China-Canada relations

Hong Kong saves HK$69 million in first month after HK$2 fare scheme revamp

Sun says HK$2 trip curbs having the desired effect

Inside the crazy New York queues where people wait for hours for Insta-cred

Public urged to get jabs as flu cases spike

Hong Kong baby Danny’s future remains unclear despite birth registration progress

Hong Kong parents of undocumented baby Danny confident of regaining custody

Huawei chips refine DeepSeek model in major leap for China’s AI self-reliance

Chinese leader Xi to visit North Korea next week

Tech MoUs highlight last day of CE's Central Asia trip

No cap on HK$2 transport scheme trips as costs outweigh savings: Hong Kong minister

Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

Roberto Losada to lead HK, China football squad

EPD aims to enhance environmental awareness

Competition Commission hoping to stamp out bid-rigging

DNA confirms parents of unregistered baby: police

Uzbeks welcome HK's 30-day visa-free proposal