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South China Morning Post

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Rival confirms he will challenge Starmer to be UK prime minister

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed for the first time his intention to challenge Keir Starmer to be Britain’s prime minister, drawing immediate criticism from the premier who vowed not to walk away from the job. “If I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence,” Burnham said in an episode of the BBC’s Question Time. He cited the ambitions of his top rival, former health secretary Wes...

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

South China Morning Post

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Chinese robot helps children with nerve disorder stand up for the first time

Some people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have never been able to stand on their own. SMA is a genetic disorder that causes the nerves that connect the brain and muscles to deteriorate over time, making it challenging or even impossible for those affected to contract their muscles. Over time, their muscles shrink through lack of use. Depending on the severity, this condition can confine individuals to a wheelchair or leave them bedridden. It can also make eating and even breathing...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Hong Kong, Uzbekistan move towards easing travel visa

The SAR government and Uzbekistan have agreed to begin detailed discussions on further relaxing travel arrangements, allowing travellers from both sides to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Chief Executive John Lee who is leading a business delegation visiting Central Asia held a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uzbekistan on Wednesday. Lee said on his social media page that they exchanged views on formalising the intent to advance the arrangement. Currently, HKSAR passport holders may visit Uzbekistan visa-free for 10 days, while Uzbek passport holders require a visa to enter Hong Kong. "The two governments will promptly advance the specific implementation measures to bring the arrangement into effect as soon as possible," Lee said. "I believe the implementation of visa-free arrangement will enhance exchanges between the two places, stimulate tourism, study and commercial cooperation and development, lay a solid foundation for long-term economic and trade relations for both sides, and assist Hong Kong in expanding into emerging markets in Central Asia," he added. Edited by Nazvi Careem

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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School principal embroiled in Singapore spat dismissed

A secondary school principal who is suspected of verbally abusing a security guard in Singapore has been relieved of his duties, after the school he worked for on Wednesday said they did not accept his resignation. The managers of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School said Lee Cheuk-hing's vulgar behaviour violated the Education Bureau's Guidelines on Teachers' Professional Conduct, and tarnished the school's reputation. In a statement, the school's incorporated management committee said it did not accept Lee's resignation on May 28, six days after the alleged incident took place during a school trip. If Lee's resignation was accepted, he would have stayed until the end of August. "If he were to stay on as principal until August 31, the school's normal operation would be severely impacted, hindering teachers and students from moving on as quickly as possible," it read. "The incorporated management committee therefore acted on the instruction of the [school's] sponsoring body ... by immediately dismissing Lee Cheuk-hing and relieving him of all his duties." Lee's position will be taken up by his deputy, while a search for his replacement will commence later. Moving forward, the committee will set up a task force of education veterans to review the school's administrative and personnel matters, and provide relevant suggestions. The committee also apologised to everyone in Hong Kong and Singapore, saying they would ensure that teachers uphold their professional conduct and be role models. Edited by Aaron Tam

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Coach apologises over alleged slapping incident

A basketball coach of a secondary school in Siu Sai Wan has apologised over a suspected case of corporal punishment. Secretary for Education Christine Choi said officials will follow up on the incident. A video circulating online purportedly showed the coach, Yung Kam-wah, holding the hand of a student and forcing him to slap himself in front of other youngsters. Writing on social media, Yung, who is also a former SAR basketball team player, apologised to the student. He admitted he should not have penalised anyone in this way under any circumstances. Yung said he would deeply reflect on the matter and promised not to repeat the mistake, noting that the incident caused discomfort and harm to the students. He also said he would cooperate with all investigations. In a statement, the incorporated management committee of Hon Wah College said the incident happened during 2023/2024 academic year. The committee said it has suspended the duties of Yung and launched an investigation. The police have been notified as well. The committee added that it has reached out to the affected student and arranged assistance. The school has issued a letter to all parents, offering assistance and support to students in need. Speaking to reporters, Choi said the Education Bureau attaches great importance to the incident and contacted the school immediately after the incident came to light. “We will also strictly follow up on the matter, and request the school to submit a report as soon as possible to give a detailed account of the incident,” she said. “We will also keep close contact with the school to provide appropriate assistance.” Choi added that the bureau offers guidelines to schools on teachers’ conduct and the management of coaches who are hired externally. She made it clear the welfare of students should always be the top priority. Edited by Edmond Fong

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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ID-limbo baby concern rises over 'Save Lily' couple

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the government is highly concerned about the controversial case involving a couple who refused DNA testing required for their baby's birth certificate following a home birth in Hong Kong. Speaking after an event on Tuesday, Sun said he hoped a health check and assessment of the baby boy, as well as a meeting with the parents, could be arranged as soon as possible. He said relevant departments have been following up on the case. "From last Thursday, we have been using different methods to get in touch with the parents and family involved," Sun said. "Our social workers had waited outside their home at various times of the day. They waited until late on one occasion. "We had also left different contact methods for the parents to reach us. "It wasn't until yesterday that our social workers were finally able to get in touch with the parents through email." The incident sparked concern over the internet after the couple opened a social media page called "Save Lily" in the hope of taking back their second daughter – who was born at home in Finland in 2021 and did not have a birth certificate – after she was put under a formal care order when the family was in Sweden in 2023. The couple then returned to Hong Kong and gave birth to their third son, Danny, at home. Speaking on a radio programme on Tuesday, the father, Tsang, said he and his partner have submitted a statement of self-delivery of birth at home. But the couple have not registered Danny's birth within 42 days of delivery – as required under the law – and refused DNA testing to verify their biological relationship with the infant, citing religious reasons. Tsang said he and his partner are unwilling to undergo such testing, saying that DNA information is highly sensitive, and hope to know the reasons for the required procedures. Sun said the Immigration Department would follow up on the issue regarding Danny's birth certificate and that it had also reached out to the Chinese embassy in Sweden through the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong to follow up on Lily's case. He also said the administration has a comprehensive mechanism for handling matters when it comes to child welfare and will take steps to address the situation as quickly as possible while taking into account all relevant factors. Sun added that appropriate support would be forthcoming should the family express any need for it. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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United Airlines flight to Spain turns back to Newark, US after possible security threat

A United Airlines flight bound for Spain from Newark Liberty International Airport turned around mid-flight on Saturday due to a possible security threat in-flight. The flight departed at around 6pm local time for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but landed back at Newark at 9.37pm, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The airline said there were 190 passengers and 12 crew members on the Boeing 767 aircraft. According to air traffic control audio, security came to inspect the...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Civil service reviews 'to start with some grades'

An enhanced appraisal system for civil servants will only cover some grades in the first stage, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said on Saturday. The revised system will be implemented starting October 1, under which about five to 10 percent of those deemed to have underperformed would not be granted a salary increment. Yeung told a television programme that a review would be conducted after two years to see if any adjustments needed to be made to the system as well as decide on the number of civil service grades to be included in the second stage of the system's implementation. The government, she added, is ultimately aiming to have all civil servants appraised under the system. "Our first phase does not cover all grades, but all departments have to participate," Yeung said. "Every department, based on their size, has to nominate one or two grades to participate. "These two grades must be from the core of the department, meaning that they carry out its core duties." Yeung was asked whether the move would affect cooperation within the civil service and morale as staff attempt to be the top performers. “In terms of morale, I think if an appraisal is too lenient, then it will affect the morale of those workers who really performed well," she said. "They may strive to perform well but if they get ratings that are equal to those colleagues who have a significant gap with them, this quite affects morale." Implementation of the enhanced appraisal system comes amid the recent release of pay trend survey findings – which the government references in deciding the pay rises for more than 170,000 civil servants in the city – that point the way to possible salary increments of 4.12 percent for seniors, 2.64 percent for middle-ranking staff and 1.17 percent for juniors. While the Executive Council has yet to make the final decision, as the result is only one of the factors that it has to consider, Yeung stressed that the government has to provide attractive salary levels in order to be able to compete with the private sector for talents and retain their services. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Controls on illicit tobacco products going smoothly'

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Saturday said the government would enter a new phase in its crackdown on illicit cigarettes and vapes, as part of its tobacco control measures laid out after a public consultation was conducted in 2023. A series of short, medium, and long-term measures were planned following the consultation, Lo said, which included 10 tobacco control measures rolled out in the beginning of this year. From April 30, the possession or use of alternative smoking products, such as vapes, e-cigarettes or heated tobacco in public has been prohibited. Speaking to reporters after attending a radio programme, Lo said the measures so far had been effectively implemented, and the next step would be to focus on duty stamps and uniform packaging. "These will be fully implemented by the end of next year, and there are very important counter measures against illicit smoking products," he said. "After all these measures, we will start implementing possible measures against all additives in tobacco products — which in fact attracts the younger generation, as well as a lot of women, into nicotine addiction," he added. The minister said the administration would then look into other medium and long term goals, such as charging those smoking while walking. Hong Kong logged an "historic low" smoking prevalence rate at 8.5 percent in 2025, missing the original target set at 7.8 percent. Lo said the SAR's goal was set in accordance to the World Health Organisation's initiative in reducing 30 percent of the global smoking rate, but the organisation postponed the target by three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Pay levels in recent years should also be considered'

Some lawmakers said the government should take into consideration the impact of salary freezes for civil servants in recent years when deciding their pay this year. The latest pay trend survey – released on Thursday – pointed to a pay rise of 4.12 percent for senior staff, 2.64 percent for middle-rank and 1.17 percent for juniors. It's one of six major factors that will be taken into account when the Executive Council makes the final pay decision, which also include the state of the economy, cost-of-living changes, staff pay claims, civil service morale and the government's fiscal position. Unionist legislator Chau Siu-chung said the latest pay trend findings were in line with expectations. He pointed out that in the past six years, civil servants have experienced three pay freezes and two pay rises that were lower than the survey findings, and that their salary adjustments lagged behind the private sector. “After the pay freeze last year, [the city] has actually experienced two years of inflation. Salary can be frozen, but inflation won’t be frozen. Two years of inflation have added up to as much as 3.8 percent,” he said. “So I think that, on top of taking reference to the pay trend survey result, I hope the government can, after considering other factors, offer an increment for civil servants that is slightly higher than the findings.” Chau, of the Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions, said such a move would help maintain morale among civil servants and prevent their salary gap with the private sector from widening. DAB legislator Nixie Lam also said civil service salaries had not caught up with inflation or private sector pay increment. She added that when it comes to a pay decision, the government needs to adopt a prudent approach in ensuring the city is financially sound in the long run while making sure the quality of public services is sustainable. Tsoi Koon-lung, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, said it's too early to comment on the possible increment because the Executive Council will make a final decision later. “The figure appears to be pretty good, but what matters most is whether this number will be endorsed. Regardless of whether the figure is high or low, we must ensure it is derived through rigorous scientific methodology and is reliable,” Tsoi said. “Whether the result is favourable or not, if we confirm it was obtained through strict scientific procedures, we must accept it as one of the key factors for consideration.” Edited by Edmond Fong

South China Morning Post

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Spanish police search headquarters of PM Sanchez’s ruling party

Spanish police are searching the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party as part of an ongoing investigation into possible financial wrongdoing, the Civil Guard said on Wednesday. The raid on the office in central Madrid is another blow to the party of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose Socialists have been hammered by a series of corruption scandals. The Civil Guard said the police were under judicial orders to find material relevant to a National Court probe into accusations of corruption...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong justice secretary fears possible leak in allegations against prosecutor

Hong Kong’s secretary for justice has raised concerns that online accusations against the new public prosecutions director may have been based on information that came from inside his department, urging staff to come forward about the source of the allegations. The internal letter from Paul Lam Ting-kwok surfaced on Wednesday after US-based Hong Kong fugitive activist Frances Hui Wing-ting posted it on social media, four days after she cited “insiders among prosecutors” in accusing newly...

Hong Kong Free Press

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HKFP Lens: Crowds flock to Cheung Chau for annual bun festival race and Pui Sik Parade

The Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition attracted around 1,650 spectators on Sunday, as 12 finalists fought to gather as many buns as possible from a 14-metre tower within a three-minute time limit. Kwok Ka-ming won the men’s championship, according to a Sunday government press release, whilst Kung Tsz-shan won the women’s contest at Pak Tai […]

South China Morning Post

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Philippine rescuers race to free workers trapped after hotel collapse

Philippine rescuers were racing against time on Monday in a search for possible signs of life more than 24 hours after the collapse of a building under construction in the city of Angeles, with crews carefully removing rocks and surrounding debris by hand. The painstaking manual operation around 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital Manila underscored the difficulty of the rescue effort, ‌carried out under scorching heat, with authorities unable to rely on excavators and other machinery for fear...

South China Morning Post

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Possible fissure in California chemical tank may help prevent explosion, official says

Experts trying to prevent a tank of hazardous chemicals from exploding in southern California found a “potential crack” in the container that might be reducing the pressure, a fire official said on Sunday. Since Friday, officials have warned that the tank, which contains methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical used in plastics and manufacturing, could ‌rupture and spill up to 26,500 litres (7,000 gallons) of toxic material or explode and endanger other tanks on the GKN Aerospace...

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타임라인 키워드

Rival confirms he will challenge Starmer to be UK prime minister

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

Chinese robot helps children with nerve disorder stand up for the first time

Hong Kong, Uzbekistan move towards easing travel visa

School principal embroiled in Singapore spat dismissed

Coach apologises over alleged slapping incident

ID-limbo baby concern rises over 'Save Lily' couple

United Airlines flight to Spain turns back to Newark, US after possible security threat

Civil service reviews 'to start with some grades'

'Controls on illicit tobacco products going smoothly'

'Pay levels in recent years should also be considered'

Spanish police search headquarters of PM Sanchez’s ruling party

Hong Kong justice secretary fears possible leak in allegations against prosecutor

HKFP Lens: Crowds flock to Cheung Chau for annual bun festival race and Pui Sik Parade

Philippine rescuers race to free workers trapped after hotel collapse

Possible fissure in California chemical tank may help prevent explosion, official says