RTHK：Video News podcast

#Video News #Hong Kong #RTHK.HK #News #Video #RTHK

7:38

Last summer, something monumental happened. One of Uncuffed's founding producers, Greg Eskridge, came home after more than 30 years in prison. In this episode we’ll bring you back to that emotional day last summer when he walked out of the San Quentin gates, free at last. Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you. Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.weareuncuffed.org Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook Transcripts are available within a week of the episode coming out at www.kalw.org/podcast/uncuffed…

RTHK：Video News

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Video news from Hong Kong and around the world.

210 episodes

RTHK：Video News

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updated about 12 hours ago

Series home•Feed

Video news from Hong Kong and around the world.

210 episodes

#Video News #Hong Kong #RTHK.HK #News #Video #RTHK

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RTHK：Video News

1
HK's IPO funds could double this year: FS

12 hours ago

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Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Wednesday hinted that the city could double the funds raised for its initial public offering (IPO) market this year compared to that of last year, as optimism over the nation’s tech sector grows. Chan made the remarks in a speech, during which he noted that the SAR will ramp up efforts to woo leading firms to list here. "I'm pleased to report that our IPO market has regained momentum. Last year, we raised some US$11 billion, ranking fourth globally," he told participants. "This year, we are benefiting from optimism in the tech sector, and the continued support from the central authorities in encouraging leading mainland companies to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. We are expecting to raise some US$17 to $20 billion this year." Separately, Chan noted that Hong Kong is on track to become a leading global technological and innovation centre. He said while the city's innovation and technology sectors are growing, the transition to become a leading tech hub will not be complete without the development of the Northern Metropolis, which will link the SAR with the "innovation powerhouse" that is the Greater Bay Area. "The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster has been ranked second globally in innovation by the World Intellectual Property Organization for each of the past five years," Chan said. "The Northern Metropolis will support Hong Kong's synergistic development with our sister cities in the GBA. Bordering Shenzhen and spanning nearly one third of the total landmass of Hong Kong, it comprises a 300-hectare I&T cluster that will be home to many strategic tech enterprises," he added.…

RTHK：Video News

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Govt optimistic over top talent scheme visa renewals

12 hours ago

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The government is optimistic about the number of people who will stay under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, labour chief Chris Sun said on Wednesday. More than 90,000 people have been granted visas of up to three years under the scheme since its launch at the end of 2022. Sun said the government is currently handling visa-renewal requests by more than 300 people who are here under the talent scheme. He added that about 10,000 visas are going to expire by the middle of the year. “We will analyse the situation by then." Sun said. "We think things will be more accurate and provide a much clearer picture regarding the situation about the talent's visa renewal, jobs and contributions to Hong Kong. There will be more data. But even with such small number of renewals at the moment, we are still satisfied with how things are going,” he said. The scheme allows successful applicants to stay in the SAR without proof of employment during their first visa granted under the talent scheme. For renewals, top talents also don't need to show a work contract, although they have to demonstrate their contributions to the city, such as by showing their income or other forms of economic benefits that their work brought.…

RTHK：Video News

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'Measures to cut construction costs to come this year'

13 hours ago

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Development secretary Bernadette Linn said reviewing construction standards and centralising procurement of materials are among concrete measures that the government will take to lower costs. Her bureau had conducted research last year on why construction costs are high by comparing projects here with those in other major cities around the world. Speaking on RTHK's Overview Policy programme on Wednesday, Linn said it's been quite some time since officials had taken a look at local construction standards, such as those on design and use of materials. "In the past, our standards tended to be closer to those in the UK or the European Union. But construction industries in many places in the world now have their own development," she said. "We can take reference from more places, including the mainland of course, and the advantage of this is that we can then turn them into our own standards and possibly open up more markets and sources [of materials] for ourselves." Linn stressed that suppressing local wages is not a way to lower costs, describing it as a hot potato social issue. But she added that by this year, officials will start on the central procurement of certain construction materials, as well as cutting red tape for project approvals. "The government uses a similar bunch of construction materials for a project, or a series of projects, such as steel. So we can centralise the procurement and buy in bulk at cheaper prices," Linn said. "As for streamlining the project approval process, we don't give empty promises, we'll look to come up with concrete measures to streamline the administrative process in the coming months." She said the time-saving move for administrative procedures comes after legal changes in 2023 to compress the statutory time needed for project approvals.…

RTHK：Video News

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Social workers board 'to review applications by law'

14 hours ago

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Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Wednesday he believes the Social Workers Registration Board will review any renewal application as required by law. Sun was speaking a day after social worker Jackie Chen was convicted of rioting during the 2019 protests. According to the board’s website, Chen’s registration as a social worker expired last month and that her renewal application is being considered. “The Social Workers Registration Ordinance states clearly that if certain designated offences are committed, the Social Workers Registration Board will fulfill its duties. I firmly believe the board will handle renewal applications in accordance with the law and the regulations, including Chen’s request,” Sun said after attending a radio programme. The ordinance states that the board may refuse to register people who committed a crime that “may bring the profession of social worker into disrepute and is punishable with imprisonment” as a social worker. Social workers who commit more serious offences, including murder, rape, as well as any offence endangering national security will be permanently removed from the registration list.…

RTHK：Video News

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Greenland votes in election eyed by Trump

18 hours ago

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Greenland voted on Tuesday in legislative elections that could yield a timeline for independence for the Danish self-governing territory coveted by US President Donald Trump. Possibly signalling a Trump effect, turnout was higher than usual in the sole polling station in the capital Nuuk, according to election officials who extended voting - which had been due to end at 8:00 pm - by half an hour to allow long lines of voters to cast their ballots. First results were expected several hours later. Trump, who has said he is determined to get his hands on the vast Arctic island "one way or the other", tried until the last minute to influence the vote, sparking astonishment, rejection, and, to a small degree, enthusiasm among the 57,000 Greenlanders, most of whom favour independence. After waiting in a long line with other voters, Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede - who celebrated his 38th birthday on Tuesday - cast his ballot shortly after polling statinos opened. "Our country is in the eye of the storm," he said in a video posted to Facebook just hours before the vote. "The international community is watching us closely, and we have recently seen how much they are trying to influence our country," said Egede, leader of the left-green party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA). The lead-up of the election to choose the 31-seat parliament, the Inatsisartut, was mostly marked by debates on healthcare, education, and future ties with Denmark, which still controls foreign, defence and monetary policy. Greenland's inhabitants - almost 90 percent of whom are Inuits - say they are tired of being treated like second-class citizens by their former colonial power, which they accuse of having historically suppressed their culture, carried out forced sterilisations and removed children from their families. All of Greenland's main political parties back independence but disagree on the timeframe. (AFP)…

RTHK：Video News

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'No plans for a comprehensive tax-regime review'

1 day ago

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Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Tuesday said the government does not plan to conduct a comprehensive review on the SAR's tax regime in the near term, despite calls to introduce new sources of revenue to tackle the city’s deficit. He was responding to questions at a luncheon held by the Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services in Wan Chai, where he also elaborated on his budget proposals. Chan said the government is very cautious in its approach to adjusting the tax system, as competition remains intense with neighbouring regions to woo global talent and investments. "We believe that at this point, the most important [task] for the society is to concentrate our energy on developing the economy, to fend off external risks, so we do not want to distract our minds at this time, to ignite other controversies due to discussions over the tax regime," he said. Separately, the finance minister said he expects the government to make extra cash in the coming financial year if Hong Kong's stock market continues to climb in the coming months. The SAR’s stock market has experienced a revival since the start of the year, with the average daily turnover for the first two months of 2025 at about HK$220 billion, an increase of 138 percent compared with HK$93 billion for the same period last year. "When I was calculating for the budget… I was assuming that the daily average stock turnover will be about HK$110 billion, but now we are talking about HK$200 billion," he said. "Every HK$100 billion of turnover brings me about HK$130 million of stock stamp duty, so that's about 10 percent of the total. And if the daily average turnover is about HK$200 billion, that means we'll get an extra HK$130 million of revenue each day, and there are 250 [trading] days in a year, which will be a lot of money," he added.…

RTHK：Video News

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NPC concludes annual session with call for unity

1 day ago

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The third annual session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded in Beijing on Tuesday. President Xi Jinping and other leaders attended the closing at the Great Hall of the People. But there was one notable absence: Zhao Leji, the NPC Standing Committee chairman, suffered a respiratory infection. His deputy, vice-chairman Li Hongzhong, took his place and presided over the ceremony. In his closing speech, Li declared the week-long session a success. “The meeting fully demonstrated democracy, and all work was conducted in strict accordance with the law. We identified our goals and tasks and also conveyed confidence and strength. It is a meeting about delivering real results through solid work, as well as forging unity,” he said. “Let us rally around the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, forge ahead with perseverance and diligence, and further contribute to the country’s modernisation with Chinese characteristics.” Nearly 2,900 NPC delegates in attendance passed seven draft resolutions, including one endorsing the annual government work report delivered by Premier Li Qiang last week. Hong Kong's sole delegate to the top legislature, Starry Lee, says it's a "responsible decision" for Zhao to skip the closing. The SAR deputy revealed the top official was also absent from two NPC presidium meetings. "We all understand that sickness is really difficult to control ... We noticed that he (Zhao) had been absent for two times already," she said. _____________________________ Last updated: 2025-03-11 HKT 18:00…

RTHK：Video News

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'President Xi gave reassurance to private enterprises'

1 day ago

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An entrepreneur who founded China's largest seed supplier Shandong Denghai Seeds said President Xi Jinping's speech at a symposium last month provided much-needed reassurance to the nation's private enterprises. Li Denghai, known as "the father of hybrid corn", attended the symposium on February 17 – which also included tech giants Alibaba, Huawei and Tencent, as well as emerging tech company DeepSeek – at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It was the first meeting between Xi and private entrepreneurs in six years. Li quoted the president as saying China will unwaveringly encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector economy. "This has made us more confident and determined in developing private enterprises. It felt like a reassurance," he told RTHK in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the "Two Sessions" in Beijing. "We learned that capable private companies can work on important national projects, and have a platform or opportunity to serve the country and show what we're capable of doing. We're excited that we can play a part in the country's development." When asked about challenges, the National People's Congress deputy said growing his seed business isn't easy because of strict rules for land use. "In terms of the overall development process, we need to have land and build facilities, which require government approval. This is still quite challenging, right? Currently, land control is quite strict," Li said. He said manpower is another issue because fewer young people want to work in agriculture these days. Beijing will formulate the private economy promotion law to strengthen legal protections and policy support for private enterprises, as stated in the work report released by the National People's Congress Standing Committee. Chairman of Muyuan Foodstuff Qin Yinglin, who also attended the symposium last month, said the new law showed the country's determination to create a fairer business environment. In a written reply to RTHK, Qin said he hopes the government will continue to improve the legal environment, so private enterprises can dedicate themselves to developing their business. Wei Gejun, an adviser to the People's Bank of China, said the central bank is working with commercial banks to support private enterprises, such as making it easier for companies to get loans. Wei said private companies will continue to get loans at low interest rates for the next few years and have better access to different types of funding.…

RTHK：Video News

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'Restaurants may need to pay more to delivery firms'

1 day ago

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A catering sector representative on Tuesday said he was concerned restaurants would need to pay higher fees for using delivery platforms in future. This came a day after online food delivery platform Deliveroo announced it would shut down its Hong Kong operations next month, leaving Foodpanda and mainland-based Keeta in the sector. Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said eateries might still get away with paying less for the moment, but that would probably not continue. “In the short term, I believe there will be intense competition between the two companies, Foodpanda and Keeta. But in the end when they find a balance where neither can defeat the other, then restaurants may have to accept that there will be fewer discounts,” he told an RTHK radio programme. Meanwhile, a marketing professor from Hang Seng University said the delivery market in Hong Kong is saturated and the city could only accommodate two to three delivery platforms at most. Kenneth Kwong told the same programme that delivery platforms need to think of other forms of business opportunities. “The delivery platform operators should come up with new ideas, for example working more closely with restaurants, as well as expanding their business. Can they also deliver household items as well? I think this will open up more space for development in the market,” he said. The scholar thinks Deliveroo made the decision to exit Hong Kong market purely on commercial considerations. He said the operating costs for delivery platforms are quite high as they need to update their software and hardware on a regular basis.…

RTHK：Video News

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'Snooker hiccup not a problem for National Games'

1 day ago

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A local deputy to the National People's Congress has stressed that Hong Kong is ready to co-host its first National Games in November, despite a recent hiccup at a major snooker tournament in Kai Tak. Herman Hu, a former vice-president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, told RTHK in an exclusive interview in Beijing that the organisers had "learned a lesson" after spectators were booted before the end of a match. The newly-opened Kai Tak Sports Park - the venue from where fans enjoying the World Snooker Grand Prix were ejected - is set to host a number of National Games competitions. "I'm quite sure that [the Kai Tak Sports Park] is already ready," said Hu. Speaking on the sidelines of the "Two Sessions" in the capital, he said organisers could learn from what happened during the snooker tournament. "That is not a big problem. I’m sure all the people concerned have ways to tackle that," Hu said. Over 13 days later this year, Hong Kong will host the nation's top athletes in cycling, fencing, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, golf, triathlon, men's handball and men's under-22 basketball. Hu urged officials to better promote these sports and educate the public on "how to appreciate" the competitions, such as organising district tournaments. Additionally, the SAR will help organise cross-border events, including a marathon and road cycling competition. According to Hu, there was room for further collaboration with counterparts across the border. "I personally had a conversation with the Guangdong province's sports bureau and they welcome us to go there anytime. And especially they have a lot more facilities and high-quality coaches, world-class athletes, that can work with our youngsters," Hu said. Zhaoqing, one of nine municipalities which make up the Greater Bay Area along with Hong Kong and Macau, will kick-start test events in May. In a written response to RTHK, Zhaoqing mayor Xu Xiaoxiong said the authorities were fully pushing forward preparatory work "in a state similar to a 100-metre sprint". Xu also said the Games could attract 150,000 spectators and tourists to the city, bringing in hundreds of millions of yuan. Authorities from Shantou, a coastal city in eastern Guangdong which will also get a piece of the action, saw the Games as an "important opportunity" to promote regional cooperation and enhance its influence.…

RTHK：Video News

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25 dead in two Mexican bus crashes

1 day ago

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At least 25 people were killed in two separate bus crashes in Mexico on Monday, authorities said. In the country's north, 14 people died in a fiery collision between a tractor-trailer and a bus carrying passengers from the US state of Texas, civil protection authorities in Durango state said. Of the 24 people travelling in the bus, only 10 managed to get out alive, it said. In southern Mexico, a bus turned over along a highway in Oaxaca state, killing 11 people, authorities said. Twelve others were taken to the hospital with injuries, two of them in critical condition, the Oaxaca state government said in a statement. "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, to whom we will provide the necessary support and assistance during this difficult time," Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said on social media. In a interview on local radio on Monday afternoon, the state's interior minister, Jesus Romero, said the bus was carrying more than 40 people and was en route to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico's south. Romero said it seemed that the passengers were heading home after attending a rally held on Sunday by President Claudia Sheinbaum in the capital Mexico City. Authorities will launch an investigation into the cause of the accident, which happened near the community of Santo Domingo Narro, it said. (Agencies)…

RTHK：Video News

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New Canada PM 'should be pragmatic in China policy'

2 days ago

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China hopes that the incoming government in Canada will adopt a positive and pragmatic approach towards Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday after Mark Carney's victory in the leadership race for Canada's ruling party, paving the way for him to succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister. Speaking at a regular press conference, Mao congratulated the former central banker on his win, while urging Canada to work with China to promote improvement and development of relations. "We expect Canada to adhere to an objective and rational understanding of China and pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards China," she said. Mao also said the two countries should develop relations based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Carney's victory came after Beijing announced tariffs on over US$2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products on Saturday, in retaliation against levies Ottawa introduced in October. The levies, scheduled to take effect on March 20, match the 100 percent and 25 percent import duties Canada imposed on China-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products. (Xinhua/Reuters)…

RTHK：Video News

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EU says US not engaging to make deal to avoid tariffs

2 days ago

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The United States does not appear to want to make a deal with Brussels to avoid hefty tariffs against the EU, the bloc's trade chief said on Monday, days before US steel and aluminium levies kick in. "The US administration does not seem to be engaging to make a deal," said Maros Sefcovic, who travelled to Washington last month in the hopes of reaching an agreement to avert a trade war. President Donald Trump has taken aim squarely at the European Union, charging last month that the bloc was formed "to screw" the United States. On Wednesday, Trump's 25-percent tariffs across steel and aluminium imports are due to take effect, affecting the EU as well as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea and other trading partners. The EU has said it will respond firmly if the levies come into force. "As the US is watching over their interest, so is the European Union. Therefore, we will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariffs because we know that they expect no less from us," Sefcovic told reporters in Brussels. But the trade commissioner stressed that the EU remained open to dialogue. "We want to have a constructive and positive relationship with the United States of America. And therefore, I would highlight once again that our doors are open for constructive engagement," Sefcovic said. He also insisted the "overall picture" showed EU-US trade relations were balanced and mutually beneficial. The United States is Europe's largest investor, and vice versa, with US$5.7 trillion worth of investment in each others' markets based on 2022 data, according to EU figures. (AFP)…

RTHK：Video News

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Deficit not a big problem for HK: Wang Linggui

2 days ago

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A deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on Monday said he does not believe the SAR's fiscal deficit is a major concern, citing the size of the city's economy. Wang Linggui, who's also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), felt Hong Kong remains in a strong position despite an estimated deficit of HK$87.2 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31. "Hong Kong's economic situation is not weak among developed economies in the world. Its economic growth exceeded two percent last year," he told reporters in Beijing. "A deficit of [around] HK$100 billion shouldn't be a big deal for an economy of Hong Kong's size." Wang noted the central government rolled out preferential policies for Hong Kong last year, adding more will come in the future. For instance, he said a multi-entry visa scheme will continue to expand to make it easier for mainland residents to visit the SAR. But he urged Hong Kong residents to be prepared for a rise in arrivals, including the need to draw up crowd control measures.…

RTHK：Video News

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Unity key to tackling HK's fiscal deficit: Qiu Hong

2 days ago