Latest news with #RTHK
RTHK
17 hours ago
- Business
- RTHK
Property plays help Hang Seng Index end higher
Property plays help Hang Seng Index end higher The Hang Seng Index has ended the day up 149 points, or 0.62 percent, at 24,221. File photo: RTHK Mainland Chinese stocks were flat on Wednesday as investors weighed persistent global trade tensions and refrained from placing massive bets, while Hong Kong shares closed higher. The Hang Seng Index ended the day at 24,221, up 149 points or 0.62 percent, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which tracks Chinese H-shares listed in the city, gained 0.5 percent. The local property sub-index added two percent, helping to boost the markets. Cash-strapped property giant New World Development surged nearly 10 percent after closing a HK$88.2 billion refinancing deal. On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed down 0.09 percent at 3,454 while the Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.61 percent lower at 10,412. Their combined turnover was 1.38 trillion yuan, down from 1.47 trillion yuan on the previous trading day. Shares in the papermaking and cement industries led the gains, while those in aircraft manufacturing and electronic information sectors suffered the most. The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 1.13 percent to close at 2,123. Defensive sectors helped lift the markets onshore, with the banking sector sub-index up 0.8 percent while liquor distiller sector advanced 0.6 percent. Tech shares weighed on the markets, with the semiconductor sector and AI-related shares losing around two percent each. Caution prevailed across the region as investors await developments in trade talks, after US President Donald Trump said he was not considering extending the July 9 deadline for countries to negotiate trade deals with the United States. (Reuters/Xinhua)
RTHK
20 hours ago
- Business
- RTHK
'Blockchain tech will be used in building smart port'
'Blockchain tech will be used in building smart port' Mable Chan says the government will make use of blockchain technology in establishing a smart port. Photo: RTHK Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the government will take the lead in setting up a platform to provide value-added services when it comes to promoting the development of a smart port. Speaking on RTHK's Overview Policy aired on Wednesday, Chan said that apart from allowing the flow of data among stakeholders to shorten the time needed for clearances, the administration also hopes the platform can offer value-added services for cargo operations. She said this can be done by using blockchain technology to make it more convenient to provide various services, such as insurance and legal protection, by tracking down shipments. The technology will enable the integration of other high-value-added services and ultimately facilitate the establishment of a smart port, Chan said. On the further shortening of the Northern Metropolis Highway's underground section to five kilometres, she said the administration aims to save as much money as possible by reducing costs, given the fiscal constraints. The transport chief also called on the public to voice their concerns and worries over the development of a low-altitude economy as her bureau is actively planning the second phase of the project.
RTHK
a day ago
- Health
- RTHK
'More care places needed for abused kids with new law'
'More care places needed for abused kids with new law' Lawmaker Connie Lam says there may be more reported child abuse cases when a new laws takes effect in January 2026. Photo: RTHK A lawmaker has called for additional care places to be made available for youngsters subject to suspected abuse in Hong Kong, as more cases are expected to come to light when a new law takes effect next year. Lawmaker Connie Lam, who's also a social worker, said on Wednesday there could be more reported cases once the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance comes into effect in January. Official data showed more than 1,500 newly registered child abuse cases were recorded last year, a slight increase compared with 2023. "When it comes to serious physical abuse or other forms of abuse of children, people tend to prefer to over-report, rather than under-report, in hopes of protecting the children around them," she told RTHK's "In the Chamber" programme. "Temporary accommodation services are currently insufficient, with children in need having to wait. "The number of places has to be increased." The law sets out how 25 types of professionals, including doctors, social workers and teachers, will face a maximum punishment of three months in prison and a $50,000 fine if they fail to tell the authorities when they suspect a child is suffering physical, psychological or sexual abuse.
RTHK
a day ago
- Business
- RTHK
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students'
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students' Christine Choi says the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector is reflected by the latest QS World University Rankings. Photo: RTHK University applications from non-local students have been flooding in, the education chief says, as Hong Kong seeks to attract international students whose study plans may have been affected by Washington's shifting policies towards their own tertiary institutions. Secretary for Education Christine Choi also pledged both funding and policy support for the tertiary sector so that the SAR can develop into an international hub for post-secondary education. In an interview marking the third anniversary of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Choi said local universities have already made offers to dozens of students having second thoughts about studying in the United States. "The institutions have responded quickly to the government's call to assist these students. They provided different convenience measures based on their own situation, including a dedicated email address for interested students wishing to make enquiries," she said. As of late last month, eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee received 850 enquiries. Those, Choi revealed, translated into "hundreds" of applications, while some schools even reported a near two-fold jump in the number of applicants. Around 40 offers have since been made altogether. According to the latest QS World University Rankings, five SAR institutions made it to the top 100, led by the University of Hong Kong at 11th, up six places from the previous year. "The results are very encouraging. Nearly all of our universities have recorded a major improvement, including our first University of Applied Sciences," she said, referring to the self-financing Hong Kong Metropolitan University which made its debut in the rankings in the 781–790 range. "This demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector. We have what it takes to attract world-class scholars." Choi also brushed off suggestions that the government is scaling back support to the institutions, after the UGC-funded universities were asked to return HK$4 billion in grants to the government. "Our support to universities goes beyond funding. For example, if you look at our policies and resources, it seems rather unfair to focus only on the return of that HK$4 billion," she argued. "We've relaxed the quota for postgraduate students, and for that purpose we allocated additional resources to the universities, and boosted our scholarship programmes. All these measures benefited the institutions. We also have the new round of Research Matching Grant Scheme coming up." Choi emphasised the government's determination to lure in more overseas students, citing a new Development Bureau initiative to encourage private developers to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories.
RTHK
a day ago
- Business
- RTHK
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students'
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students' Christine Choi says the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector is reflected by the latest QS World University Rankings. Photo: RTHK University applications from non-local students have been flooding in, the education chief says, as Hong Kong seeks to attract international students whose study plans may have been affected by Washington's shifting policies towards their own tertiary institutions. Secretary for Education Christine Choi also pledged both funding and policy support for the tertiary sector so that the SAR can develop into an international hub for post-secondary education. In an interview marking the third anniversary of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Choi said local universities have already made offers to dozens of students having second thoughts about studying in the United States. "The institutions have responded quickly to the government's call to assist these students. They provided different convenience measures based on their own situation, including a dedicated email address for interested students wishing to make enquiries," she said. As of late last month, eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee received 850 enquiries. Those, Choi revealed, translated into "hundreds" of applications, while some schools even reported a near two-fold jump in the number of applicants. Around 40 offers have since been made altogether. According to the latest QS World University Rankings, five SAR institutions made it to the top 100, led by the University of Hong Kong at 11th, up six places from the previous year. "The results are very encouraging. Nearly all of our universities have recorded a major improvement, including our first University of Applied Sciences," she said, referring to the self-financing Hong Kong Metropolitan University which made its debut in the rankings in the 781–790 range. "This demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector. We have what it takes to attract world-class scholars." Choi also brushed off suggestions that the government is scaling back support to the institutions, after the UGC-funded universities were asked to return HK$4 billion in grants to the government. "Our support to universities goes beyond funding. For example, if you look at our policies and resources, it seems rather unfair to focus only on the return of that HK$4 billion," she argued. "We've relaxed the quota for postgraduate students, and for that purpose we allocated additional resources to the universities, and boosted our scholarship programmes. All these measures benefited the institutions. We also have the new round of Research Matching Grant Scheme coming up." Choi emphasised the government's determination to lure in more overseas students, citing a new Development Bureau initiative to encourage private developers to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories.
