Radio Lantau News
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Xia meets business leaders, learns about tourism
A top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs met a group of business leaders and visited Ocean Park and Lamma Island on day three of his inspection trip to the SAR. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, met with representatives of the commercial and financial sectors at the Central Government Offices on Friday morning. Those present included chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Choi, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Wingco Lo, Hong Kong Gold Exchange chairman Haywood Cheung, Henderson Land co-chairman Peter Lee, Wharf Holdings chairman Stephen Ng and executive director of New World Development Sonia Cheng. Zhou Ji, director of the central government's liaison office, deputy directors Yin Zonghua and Qi Bin, along with Chief Executive John Lee and Financial Secretary Paul Chan attended the meeting. Xia on Friday also learned about Hong Kong's major tourism development projects. He paid an afternoon visit to Ocean Park, home to giant pandas gifted by the central government and the first locally-bred cubs. Xia was accompanied by the liaison office director and the chief executive. The senior Beijing official then took a boat trip to Lamma Island to learn about the development plan of the former quarry site there, and was briefed on major tourism development projects. On Thursday, Xia met with a group of political leaders and local university chiefs, and on Saturday he will attend a forum on national security. _____________________________ Last updated: 2025-06-20 HKT 23:01 -
Building curbs eased in race for student dorms
Private developers will be allowed to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories easier, the Development Bureau said. The government is proposing the process be streamlined in an effort to boost student hostel supply to develop the SAR into an international education hub. According to government statistics, there are 44,000 student dormitory units in Hong Kong in the current academic year. That is far lower than the 190,000 full-time undergraduate and post-graduate students, among which nearly 80,000 are from outside Hong Kong. The bureau said there is an urgent need to provide more student accommodation as SAR is expected to welcome more non-locals. Currently, developers have to get approval to turn commercial buildings into student dormitories, whose classification as residential institutions excludes them from the "always permitted" purpose for these buildings. To ease the restriction, the bureau is proposing the definition of hotel be expanded to include student hostels. Under the new arrangement, developers will no longer need to go through any planning procedures to build student dormitories at these sites or convert existing buildings into such facilities. In addition, the bureau will also encourage developers to utilise space by easing restrictions on floor area ratio. A Development Bureau spokeswoman said the government hopes the new arrangement can boost the supply of privately-funded student dormitories in the short term. She also said the government would not set standard rates for charges at these private dormitories. But developers must comply with government requirements in lighting and ventilation. Developers interested in the scheme can file applications with the Education Bureau starting mid-July. -
HKers can use FPS for payments up north from Sunday
Residents from Hong Kong and the mainland will soon be able to use a new fast payment tool to conduct cross-border transactions involving small sums in real time from Sunday, with monetary authorities from both sides hailing the launch as a milestone in deepening connectivity. The announcement came after the People's Bank of China and Hong Kong Monetary Authority's launch on Friday of the cross-border payment method, Payment Connect, which links the electronic payment network developed by the latter – Faster Payment System (FPS) – with the mainland's Internet Banking Payment System. The linkage allows cross-bank transactions using simply the recipients' mobile numbers or account numbers, with small-value payments settled instantly at any time. "I'm very much looking forward to Sunday when we will further connect the fast payment systems between Hong Kong and the mainland using Payment Connect, as it breaks through the boundaries of time and place," Monetary Authority chief executive Eddie Yue said at the launching ceremony in Beijing. "Residents from both places will only need to click on our phones, enter the recipient's mobile phone number, and they can easily make small personal remittances or pay for various living expenses [using it], achieving simple and immediate transfers," he said, adding that the FPS system has been very popular among Hong Kong residents since 2018. Under the new service, residents can use FPS to transfer small sums of up to HK$10,000 each day per account to the mainland, while the total annual remittance limit is set at HK$200,000. And such transfers will not affect another 80,000 yuan of northbound daily quota set for local residents. While there's no limit set for mainland residents using the tool for southbound transfers, they will still be subject to the current annual foreign exchange quota of US$50,000 per person. The launch of the tool also comes as the number of FPS users approaches 17 million, with one million new accounts being set up in the first five months of the year. The number of registered users is far more than the total population of Hong Kong as an individual can have more than one account. For his part, People's Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng said the launch marks another milestone in the deepening of financial connectivity between Hong Kong and the mainland, as Beijing highly values the SAR as a global financial centre. "The cross-border Payment Connect, which is directly connected to the infrastructure of the monetary authorities of the two places, provides online fast bilateral local currency and bilateral renminbi remittance services for residents of the two places, which will further enhance the efficiency and experience of cross-border payments," he said. "It'll also provide convenience for economic and trade cooperation as well as personnel exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland, injecting new vitality into Hong Kong's development while further promoting the internationalisation of the renminbi," he added. The two sides have been working on the service since August. The new tool will see six SAR banks join the first batch of institutions to provide such services – Bank of China (Hong Kong), HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of East Asia, as well as two state-backed lenders. There'll also be six mainland banks supporting the tool. -
'Media should not abuse press freedom'
Veteran journalist Lo Wing-hung said while press freedom is important, it should not be abused and the media should always take a moderate stance. "It's like walking on a tightrope," he told RTHK's NSL Chronicles III programme. "I always think the 'middle-of-the-road' approach is the best for society's overall interests." He said press freedom comes with responsibility, describing the relationship between the two as that of "twin brothers". Lo, who's also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said media outlets won't easily violate security laws so long as they're not "politically-driven". For those with a "strong political agenda", he said they'll have to make a choice going forward, either to stop doing what they are doing or run the risk of committing a crime. -
HK$10 toll for Central Kowloon Route 'the best option'
The transport chief has defended a plan to charge motorists HK$10 for using the Central Kowloon Route after several lawmakers called on the government to consider adjusting the across-the-board fee. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday said the authorities are trying to strike a balance between striving to recover costs and ensuring public usage in coming up with a suitable toll level. The administration had considered various options for the route, including toll-free access as well as fees of HK$10 or HK$17. A Yau Ma Tei section is expected to open this year. A number of lawmakers complained that the proposed fee level was too high, with one of them, Chau Siu-chung, raising the possibility of halving the charge to HK$5. Fellow legislator Bill Tang urged the government not to rush into charging motorists but to instead let them use the route for free initially. "How about we wait until it opens at the end of this year and monitor actual traffic flow before deciding on the toll?" he said. "And if the government is setting a fee level, depending on whether the community accepts it, how does HK$8 sound?" Chan said a cheaper toll fee might not be the best option. "We need to spare some capacity when the traffic load increases," she said. "We need to be prepared. "In terms of diverting traffic and capacity, charging HK$8 is definitely not as ideal as a HK$10 fee... But of course, it's most important that residents will use the route. "Otherwise, it's not worth it to simply charge tolls to the point where residents will not use the route." If lawmakers approve the proposal, the government plans to charge road users in the middle of next year, when the entire bypass is scheduled to be completed. Officials also plan to raise tolls at Aberdeen and Shing Mun tunnels from HK$5 to HK$8, citing the fact that the fees have not been increased in 34 years. The new charges for the two existing tunnels could take effect within a month upon approval by the legislature. Separately, the government said time-varying tolls implemented in late 2023 at the city's three harbour crossings would remain unchanged for now amid further monitoring of the situation. Since the tolls shake-up at the tunnels, traffic flows at Western Harbour Crossing have increased by 19 percent to around 104,000 vehicles per day, according to official figures. To handle the increased traffic load, transport authorities plan to construct an additional lane at the tunnel's exit on the Hong Kong Island side. The work is to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. -
Substandard flats' accreditation fee 'not low at all'
A concern group of subdivided flat owners said on Friday the proposed accreditation fee for homeowners is not low at all. Under its plan to regulate substandard flats, the Housing Bureau has proposed a one-year period to allow landlords to register their flats for rectification starting from March. The proposed HK$3,000 accreditation fee for each unit can be waived or reduced if they complete the rectification and alteration works before a 36-month grace period expires in February 2030. A report by professionals is also required to prove that the property meets the minimum standards: for example, each unit has to be at least eight square metres in size and has to come with an enclosed toilet. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Hayson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Housing Units Operators Association, said the grace period provides sufficient time for homeowners to make the necessary changes. However, he is concerned about the cost of accreditation. "For example, splitting one flat into four would mean HK$3,000 multiplied by four," Chan said. "But when you add in the certification fees charged by professionals, and from what I hear from some professionals, they all said the fees would be at least tens of thousands of dollars. "I also saw that the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors had stated that the minimum cost ranges from HK$15,000 to HK$30,000. "So, the total will add up to at least HK$40,000 to HK$50,000." Chan hopes that the government can offer more details as to how the certification has to be carried out. As for whether landlords would pass on the additional costs to tenants, he said that would depend on the market situation. The bill has been gazetted, and it will be tabled to lawmakers next month. -
Rosanna Law committed to enhancing her bureau's work
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said she is committed to strengthening Hong Kong’s cultural, sports and tourism offerings with the aim of creating enriching experiences for both residents and visitors. Speaking to RTHK to mark the third year of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Law expressed deep enthusiasm for her work, emphasising the fulfillment she finds in her position. She said her bureau still has significant work ahead and numerous opportunities to explore. “I really want to ensure that Hong Kong's culture, sports and tourism events not only uphold a good reputation but also achieves tangible results," Law said. "These results can be economic benefits, notable achievements or how we showcase positive aspects to the public, including our various artists and athletes gaining recognition internationally. “However, the most important point is that culture, sports and tourism [events] should bring joy to people. "If citizens and tourists find happiness in participating in our cultural and sports activities, I will already be very satisfied.” The tourism chief said many new attractions like Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen and Kai Tak Sports Park have drawn a significant number of visitors to the city, but there is still a need to manage surges in tourism. “What we need to work on is managing crowd movements during peak times, especially at popular spots like, for example, the High Island Reservoir East Dam,” Law said. “We definitely need better management when it comes to distributing the flow of people effectively because Hong Kong’s capacity to accommodate visitors should be completely fine.” Law said plans are underway to deploy real-time crowd monitoring and alert systems at key sites to better manage crowds. “In the future, we hope to establish alerts for certain scenic spots,” she said. "If there are too many people, we could use red and green indicators to inform travellers. “We often talk about 'off-peak travel,' encouraging people to visit when it's less crowded or to leave before peak times. "Even for travel dates, if we can promote off-peak options, it would help manage the situation better.” Looking ahead, Law said the Tourism Board is leveraging artificial intelligence capabilities to tailor experiences for visitors based on demographics and preferences while factoring in real-time attraction capacity and crowd conditions. -
'HK is ready to host National Games'
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said Hong Kong is confident of its readiness to co-host the upcoming National Games, stating that all test events are now complete. For the first time, Hong Kong will co-host the Games in November alongside Guangdong and Macau, overseeing eight sports, including fencing and basketball. Speaking to RTHK to mark the third year of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Law said the trials helped determine standards and identify improvements needed to ensure the events’ success this year. “The goal of our test events was to identify areas for adjustments," she said. "For example, in the recent fencing event, everyone felt the venue was excellent, providing an atmosphere that had never been experienced in Hong Kong before. “However, we noted that the changing rooms and warm-up areas may need to be larger, and the air-conditioning settings should be adjusted to ensure that athletes compete comfortably, as their uniforms are quite heavy. "But we need to make adjustments to ensure it won’t be too cold for the audience as well. "Many different events will have similar considerations.” Law expects a turnout of around 100,000 tourists and spectators. She said authorities are committed to delivering events "on schedule, smoothly, safely, fairly and justly". Law added: “This involves many aspects, including the venue, detailed arrangements, security and technology applications. "On the other hand, we hope to attract as many local citizens as possible to participate fully since Hong Kong is one of the hosts. “We also want to encourage more people from the Greater Bay Area and other provinces in the mainland to come to Hong Kong to watch the events, while also experiencing the latest developments in the city. "Of course, it’s also very important that our Hong Kong representative teams achieve good results.” Law emphasised the Games’ tourism potential, citing opportunities to offer travel packages or multi-stop itineraries to attract visitors to all three host regions. She also aims to introduce cultural and artistic experiences beyond sports to visitors in Hong Kong. -
Robbery suspect caught in Thailand, brought back to HK
A man who fled to Thailand after allegedly stealing goods including handbags and a necklace worth nearly HK$3 million has been brought back to Hong Kong, police said on Thursday. The force alleged that the suspect first entered a shop in Tsim Sha Tsui on Wednesday claiming to buy a bag but left to withdraw cash. After he returned to the shop, he started looking at other bags before allegedly covering a female employee's face, causing her to lose consciousness. The suspect left the store with 14 handbags, one necklace as well as two mobile phones totalling HK$2.97 million, officers added. Police learnt that the man had left the SAR and flew to Bangkok, where he was later apprehended and sent back to the city. "We would like to thank Thai police for their assistance, in quickly intercepting the suspect," said assistant district commander Ching Chi-yan of Yau Tsim District. The suspect was picked up by local officers at the airport in the SAR on suspicion of robbery on Thursday evening. -
Landlords can list subdivided flats from March 2026
Subdivided unit landlords will from as early as March be able to register their flats for rectification, as the government moves to regulate such properties. The Housing Bureau on Thursday submitted to the legislature proposals on how to regulate the shoebox flats to only allow those that meet official standards to remain on the market. According to authorities, enforcement of these standards is expected to begin on March 2027. A landlord who leases a subdivided flat without valid registration and accreditation can face a maximum fine of HK$300,000 and up to three years in prison. But before this, these landlords will have a year – from March 2026 to February 2027 – to register their homes for rectification. Once registered, they will have a 36-month grace period until February 2030 to make changes to meet a number of requirements, such as a minimum size of eight square metres and get accreditation to prove that their properties meet the standards. To prevent the "procrastination of alteration works" and encourage early rectification, the bureau could reduce or waive the HK$3,000 accreditation fee for owners who complete works early. Landlords would be barred from signing new tenancy contracts during the six months leading to the end of the grace period, officials added. The government aims to table the bill on July 9 and have the new law passed before the end of the current Legislative Council term.