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Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing’s commitment to North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un was “unwavering ” on Monday. The trip is Xi’s first foreign visit of the year, and during his talks with Kim in afternoon, Xi expressed strong support for the North Korean leader. “No matter how the international situation changes, the firm stance of the Chinese [Communist] Party and government in highly valuing the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of...

South China Morning Post

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4 jailed for rioting at Polytechnic University during 2019 unrest in Hong Kong

A Hong Kong court has jailed four men for up to three years and one month for rioting during the 2019 anti-government protests, in the latest round of sentences following authorities’ pledge to pursue those involved regardless of the time elapsed. The District Court on Monday sentenced the four defendants for their roles in clashes at and around Polytechnic University in Hung Hom, the site of some of the most intense confrontations between protesters and police during the unrest. Judge Edmond...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Southbound cars scheme opens for five more GBA cities

The government on Monday announced plans to expand a scheme that allows Guangdong residents to drive to Hong Kong to eventually cover the entire province. Starting July 25, five more Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities – Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing – will be included in the "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” arrangement, allowing approved vehicles entry into Hong Kong. Under the newly launched “Park & Visit” service, motorists from the province can leave their vehicles in automated car parks at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and then enter urban areas in the SAR with local public transport. Applications open at 9am on July 16. Motorists can also apply for the existing “Park & Fly” service, under which they can park their vehicles and transfer directly to an overseas flight at Hong Kong International Airport without having to go through SAR immigration. This expansion means the southbound travel scheme will now cover nine mainland GBA cities. Officials said the target is to expand the scheme to all 21 Guangdong cities by the first quarter of next year. The daily quota of cars permitted to enter Hong Kong urban areas under the scheme will be doubled to 200, also starting July 25, but their stay will still be limited to three days. Officials stressed that the scheme has been operating in a smooth and orderly manner since its inception half a year ago. As of the end of last month, about 8,400 applications for entry into Hong Kong urban areas had been approved, with a total of 6,700 bookings made. Officials stressed that they had taken into account port operations, overall road traffic conditions, user feedback and public adaptation before making the expansion decision. In a statement, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan expressed gratitude to her Guangdong counterparts and the central government for facilitating the expansion of the scheme. “The SAR government will continue to take forward the southbound travel scheme, enabling the inflow of additional tourists from more mainland cities ... to help drive Hong Kong's economic growth, and promote the integrated development of Guangdong and Hong Kong to a new level," she said. The chairman of the Legislative Council's transport panel, Ben Chan, welcomed the decision to expand the scheme to cover more GBA cities. However, he said improvements can be made before expanding the scheme to the whole of Guangdong. “These factors include our city’s development, and whether there is an explicit growth in the number of parking spaces," Ben Chan said. "On the other hand, regarding our border checkpoint facilities, there are constant traffic jams at the Zhuhai port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, especially during peak seasons. These facilities all need improvement.” Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Thai girl, 13, admits killing sister, 7, in fight over toy and mobile phone

A 13-year-old Thai girl has confessed to killing her seven-year-old sister while arguing over a toy and a mobile phone, in a case that has attracted attention online because of the young ages of the suspects. Police were called to a village in Sangkhla Buri district, Kanchanaburi province, on May 30 after seven-year-old Nong Agnoon went missing. Her body was found in a rubber plantation about 600 metres from her home three days later, according to ThaiPBS. There were no signs of a struggle or...

South China Morning Post

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As AI upends humanity, we must focus on what makes us human

“When we graduate, what can we do?” As a philosophy professor, questions like this – about employability – often crop up in my conversations with students. Indeed, with youth unemployment on the Chinese mainland standing at almost 17 per cent, and intense competition among those seeking employment, it is no wonder that the priority for many – even students graduating from elite universities – is actually securing a job. The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has only compounded such...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'No new offences under national security proposal'

The government said on Monday that proposed subsidiary legislation to clearly define the classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR” does not involve the introduction of any new offences. Under the proposal to be enacted under Section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), if the chief executive issues a certificate under the law confirming that a criminal act involves national security, the case shall be treated as one. And where a person is charged with – or convicted of – an alternative offence arising from the same act in a case involving a national security offence, that alternative offence shall also be classified as an offence endangering national security. At a Legislative Council panel meeting, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said there are no changes to the implementation details or scope of application of the SNSO or the Hong Kong National Security Law. “I want to emphasise that no additional powers, offences, or penalties are introduced," he said. "[I have to] particularly emphasise that the chief executive's certificate only involves determining whether or not acts already constituted as criminal offences involve national security. "As for whether a defendant is guilty or not, it still has to be ruled by a court following an independent trial conducted in accordance with the law, and the court will ensure that the defendant is given a fair trial.” Following the meeting, Lam said the chief executive’s certificate cannot be thrown out by the court. This is because in determining whether an incident involves security, it usually touches on very sensitive and highly confidential information, and the judicial bodies are not in a position to make such a determination when exercising their powers, he said, and that is why such a certificate is binding on the courts. Secretary for Security Chris Tang stressed that the move would not affect the general public at all or the “normal operations” of organisations and groups. He said that the authorities will keep reviewing the national security mechanism and propose improvements when necessary, through administrative measures and legislation. Edited by Edmond Fong

South China Morning Post

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Delta resumes direct Hong Kong-US flights despite higher fuel costs

United States carrier Delta Air Lines has resumed direct flights to the city after the pandemic, launching a daily Hong Kong-Los Angeles service amid surging fuel prices. Jeff Moomaw, the airline’s vice-president for Asia-Pacific, said on Monday that it would take some time to increase services connecting the city to more destinations as the carrier remained focused on current demand. “Our focus right now is making sure that this flight is a success,” Moomaw said. “As it grows over time, and we...

South China Morning Post

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Chinese team injects desert moss gene into Xinjiang cotton to beat fungus, boost output

Chinese scientists who inserted a gene from desert moss into cotton say their innovation can boost yields by nearly a quarter through protection against a pervasive fungal disease that threatens crops worldwide. The team, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), inserted a stress-resistance gene from a species of steppe moss that thrives in the deserts of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region into cotton plants. The resulting...

South China Morning Post

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Real-name booking planned for Hong Kong geopark trail to curb scalping, no-shows

Visiting the popular Po Pin Chau trail in Hong Kong’s geopark will require real-name reservations under a pilot scheme aimed at preventing scalping and no-shows, officials have told lawmakers concerned about its effectiveness. Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong Shuk-han told the Legislative Council subcommittee on ecology and tourism on Monday that authorities would not use a first-come-first-served model and were studying a ballot mechanism to prevent scalping. “We will...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Hong Kong couple arrested for child neglect receive son’s birth certificate, face parental assessment

A Hong Kong couple arrested on suspicion of child neglect have said they were granted a birth certificate for their infant but will only be allowed to take him home once they are deemed “safe parents.” Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, the parents of a two-month-old infant, Danny, collected the birth certificate from the Immigration […]

South China Morning Post

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Has a diplomatic feud prompted China to press pause on Japanese film and music?

A diplomatic feud between Beijing and Tokyo appears to have spilled over to the arts, with what looks like an unofficial boycott on Japanese film, music and books. China has slapped official restrictions on tourism and trade with Japan since the row erupted in November, but so far there has been no official ban on the cultural sector. However, the Shanghai International Film Festival, which begins this Friday, does not have any Japanese films on its line-up for the first time in 20 years. It...

South China Morning Post

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K-drama stars IU, Lee Dong-wook dragged into South Korean ballot protest

A South Korean protest calling for a redo of last Wednesday’s local election over ballot shortages at polling stations has taken an unexpected turn, with some protesters demanding that actress and singer IU send coffee to the rally. The demand appears to stem from IU’s decision in 2024 to provide prepaid food and drinks for demonstrators calling for the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed martial law bid. The protesters calling for a new election, who are widely seen as...

South China Morning Post

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Peru faces drawn-out count as presidential race goes down to the wire

Peru faced a drawn-out count in its bitterly contested presidential run-off after results showed the race for the ninth head of state in 10 years was too close to call. Figures released by electoral authorities showed conservative politician Keiko Fujimori with a modest lead over nationalist congressman Roberto Sanchez with 58 per cent of ballots tallied in a contest overshadowed by people’s concerns about surging crime. The outcome, expected to be tight, may not be known for days. The figures...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Lots of cooperation opportunities' after C Asia trip

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau described the recent visit to Central Asia by a delegation led by the SAR chief executive as a great success, saying it has led to significant collaboration opportunities with the two countries. During the visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the 70-strong delegation reached 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving more than US$1.65 billion in total. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Monday, Yau, who was in the delegation, said the two countries are actively seeking economic diversification. "They are very proactive and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration with the SAR government, particularly in finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, green development and tourism," he said. "They are developing very well in many aspects. There are plenty of cooperation opportunities with us." Yau said the volume of SAR trade with Central Asia is currently not very large as the city's focus used to be more on Europe, the United States and Asean. But its trade with Central Asia is on the rise, he said, noting that total merchandise trade stood at HK$2.53 billion last year – a rise of 27 percent compared with 2020. Yau said the two countries and Hong Kong have launched discussions on a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement and agreed to push ahead with discussions on an investment promotion and protection agreement. The move will step up investors' confidence and further strengthen trade ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, he said. With the city poised to initiate direct flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan next year, Yau said he believes they would make business travel much more convenient. Wingco Lo, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, who was also part of the delegation, said markets in Central Asia were not just interested in traditional trading opportunities in Hong Kong. They placed more emphasis on the SAR's role as an international financial centre and a platform of professional services. The association signed two MoUs during the visit, Lo added, and would arrange a trip to Central Asia again this year to allow members to find out which sectors and industries they need to gain a deeper understanding of and discuss collaboration details. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Docs face disciplinary action over unauthorised X-ray

Caritas Medical Centre on Monday said it is launching an investigation into an incident in which a trainee doctor used medical equipment to conduct an X-ray of her knee without authorisation. The investigation was launched after the trainee doctor posted images of the X-ray on her own social media account, reportedly describing the act as a "perk" of being an intern doctor. In a statement, the Hospital Authority said preliminary investigations by the centre found the trainee doctor had committed the act and that the incident was "inappropriate". The centre confirmed that the X-ray was taken in a room while strict radiation-protection controls, including warning lights and notices, were in place. It said monitoring systems showed that all areas remained within safety standards and that patient services had not been affected. The authority said it would take disciplinary action against the intern as well as a resident doctor in accordance with protocols. The resident doctor, who holds a valid radiation equipment operating licence, was found to have helped carry out the X-ray on the trainee doctor, according to authorities. The authority said the issue would be "seriously" followed up as it attaches great importance to the professional ethics of medical staff. It also reiterated that medical equipment is strictly reserved for authorised clinical purposes and that all staff are prohibited from using hospital instruments for personal reasons at any time. It also said that it would "seriously" follow up on reports that the same trainee doctor was suspected to have asked a doctor at another hospital to perform an examination on a patient at Ruttonjee Hospital – when she was interning there. The authority said it had looked into the issue earlier and found that patient services were not affected. It added the trainee had been given a stern warning and would now be closely monitored for the rest of her internship. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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New subsidiary legislation to clarify NSL offences

The Security Bureau and the Department of Justice have announced plans to introduce subsidiary legislation to clearly define the classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR,” as stipulated under the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO). In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the bureau and department emphasised the necessity of codifying this mechanism through subsidiary legislation to ensure consistent and effective implementation of provisions relating to national security offences under both statutes. The move, they said, aims to strengthen legal clarity, enhance procedural efficiency, and enable timely prevention and response to national security risks. "Amid the present complicated geopolitical landscape, national security risks still exist. Stating clearly the above mechanism by way of subsidiary legislation can improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security," the security bureau and the department of justice said in paper submitted to Legco. Under Article 47 of the HKNSL and Section 115 of the SNSO, the Chief Executive holds the authority to issue binding certificates determining whether a particular act or matter involves national security — a power that courts are legally bound to accept. The government noted this certification mechanism is uniquely suited to classify “other offences endangering national security” under Section 7(d) of the SNSO, as such classification hinges on whether the criminal act in question implicates national security. The proposed subsidiary legislation, to be enacted under Section 110 of the SNSO, will set out two key principles. If the Chief Executive issues a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or Section 115 of the SNSO confirming that a criminal act involves national security, the case shall be treated as one concerning an offence endangering national security under Article 41 of the HKNSL. Any offence investigated, arrested, or charged in relation to that act shall be deemed an offence endangering national security under Section 7(d) of the SNSO. And, where a person is charged with — or convicted of — an alternative offence arising from the same act in a case involving a national security offence, that alternative offence shall also be classified as an offence endangering national security. "The HKSAR should complete the legislative process of the relevant subsidiary legislation as soon as possible, the earlier the better, in order to safeguard national security effectively," the paper added. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Cambodia’s ‘performative’ crackdowns fail to stop scam centres: Amnesty

Cambodia has failed to dismantle much of its online scam industry despite a year-long crackdown that authorities said would eliminate it, according to an Amnesty International report that challenges official claims of success. The London-based rights group said it identified 86 scam compounds operating across Cambodia as of April, up from 53 a year earlier, and found evidence of state intervention at only 24 sites during the government’s campaign. That contrasts with official statements that...

South China Morning Post

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Japan museum under fire for ‘rewriting history’ with Nanking ‘incident’ label

A museum in Japan is facing accusations of “rewriting history” for replacing the Nanking massacre with the word “incident”, drawing criticism and reviving anger over the country’s wartime aggression. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, which previously resisted revisionist attempts, appeared to have capitulated to a civic group’s pressure campaign, following Thursday’s release of proposed exhibit changes by its operations council. Other amendments announced by the museum, opened in 1996, include...

South China Morning Post

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Teachers behaving badly should prompt reflection in Hong Kong

Educators have received quite a bit of unwanted attention lately. First came a Hong Kong school principal losing his temper during a study trip in Singapore over parking a coach bus. The man was caught on camera hurling abusive language at security guards in the presence of a busload of students. That lapse of judgment was met with a stern response. The principal eventually tendered his resignation and apologised, admitting his error and trying to use it as his last lesson to his students. The...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong tycoon bets China will overtake US economy ‘in next decade or so’

Hong Kong property tycoon Gordon Wu Ying-sheung has predicted that China will overtake the US as the world’s largest economy in the next decade or so, propelled by rapid technological advances while Washington is weighed down by massive defence expenditure and national debt. Yet the 90-year-old founder and chairman of Hopewell Holdings, who rarely speaks to the press, said Hong Kong should look past geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington to build closer ties with the United States,...

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RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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