Radio Lantau News

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1. Govt slams Western remarks on Jimmy Lai case

   The Hong Kong government has strongly condemned organisations in the West for slandering and smearing SAR authorities for handling the national security case of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai and his custodial arrangements. In a statement on Wednesday, the administration said the remarks by foreign groups "fully exposed the malicious and despicable intentions of anti-China organisations and media from the US and Western countries to undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong". A government spokesperson said foreign organisations primarily from the United States and Western countries have made "false and misleading statements by fabricating information" about the treatment provided to Lai during his custody, in an attempt to "glorify criminal behaviour and exert pressure on the courts". "In fact, [Lai's] actual legal representative has already made a clarification earlier that [Lai] has all along been receiving suitable treatment and care in prison," the spokesperson said. "However, the organisations from the US and Western countries choose to turn a blind eye to these facts and evidence, and carry on with their malicious political manoeuvres with ulterior motives." The spokesperson went on to say the Correctional Services Department attaches great importance to the safety and health of people in custody, adding that arrangements for Lai were "no different" from those applicable to others. It also said the arrangement for the former media tycoon to be disassociated from others behind bars has "all along been made at his own request" and was approved by the department.

2. All taxis required to offer e-payment from April 2026

   All taxi drivers will be required to offer electronic payment options from as early as April next year, the government said on Wednesday, while in-car cameras, dashcams and navigation systems will soon be mandatory as well. Legislative amendments, which will be gazetted on Friday, are aimed at improving the taxi trade's service quality with technology and meeting public demand. From April 1 next year, it will be mandatory for taxi drivers to provide passengers with at least two forms of electronic payment. In a statement, officials said the fact that many cabs in Hong Kong only accept cash has "caused great inconvenience to passengers". "The [Transport Department] will actively coordinate with various e-payment platforms in arranging workshops or briefings to assist drivers in learning how to collect fares through e-payment means," a spokesperson said. Drivers will also be required to install a Journey Recording System that could capture videos with sound inside a taxi compartment, as well as provide clear front and rear views outside the vehicle. The system should "capture data concerning the location of the taxi via a global navigation satellite system" as well. "We believe that these functions will help deter taxi drivers' malpractices, enhance driving safety of taxis and safeguard the interest of drivers and passengers in the event of disputes," the spokesperson said. Recorded videos and data would be encrypted "to protect the privacy of passengers and drivers". The information could only be accessed "under specified purposes" such as investigating any conduct relating to a traffic-related offence, officials added. "The [Transport Department] will also carry out works relating to the authorisation of suppliers starting from the fourth quarter of this year, so that the trade may start installing the [Journey Recording Systems] inside taxi compartments in 2026," the spokesperson said.

3. Japan tourism numbers hit high despite HK plunge

   A record 21.5 million tourists visited Japan in the first six months of the year, a 21-percent increase year on year, official figures showed on Wednesday, despite visitors from Hong Kong dropping by a third over rumours of an earthquake. "The number exceeded 20 million in six months, the fastest pace ever," the Japan National Tourism Organization said. The figure in June alone jumped 7.6 percent to 3.4 million due to "increased demand to coincide with school holidays", it said. The number was boosted by a jump in tourists from mainland China, South Korea, Singapore, India, the United States and Germany. But the number of travellers from Hong Kong plunged 33.4 percent, with the Japanese travel body citing online rumours warning of a huge quake in Japan. People from the SAR made nearly 2.7 million trips to Japan in 2024. Tokyo has set an ambitious target of almost doubling tourist numbers to 60 million annually by 2030. Authorities say they want to spread tourists more evenly around the country, and to avoid a bottleneck of visitors eager to snap spring cherry blossoms or vivid autumn colours. But as in other global tourist magnets like Venice in Italy, there has been a growing pushback from residents in destinations such as the ancient capital of Kyoto. (AFP)

4. Culture chief pledges to take arts groups overseas

   The culture minister has vowed to assist Hong Kong performing arts groups and troupes to stage performances overseas, saying they can be a display of the city's "soft power". Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law told RTHK's Overview Policy programme that she was told by authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that they welcomed performers from Hong Kong to hold shows in their venues. "I hope to help [arts groups] to perform abroad so that they can let people know about the high calibre of Hong Kong's arts groups," she said. "As they continue to perform, I hope they will one day become famous internationally. "This is an output of our 'soft power'. "It would be great to do a two-stop tour in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both in the United Arab Emirates, which would also be a novel experience." Other than performing arts, Law said various museums in Hong Kong have held a number of exhibitions, including those staged in collaboration with France.

5. Arabic translations in HK digital publishing soon

   Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said on Wednesday that Hong Kong's enhanced digital publishing initiative will soon incorporate Arabic translations in the hope of strengthening cultural ties with the Middle East. Law made the announcement at a launch ceremony for Publishing 3.0+, where she highlighted the success of its predecessor, Publishing 3.0. That project enabled approximately 60 local publishers to convert paper publications into 5,000 bilingual e-books and audiobooks in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, capitalising on digital transformation. Building on this success, Publishing 3.0+ leverages artificial intelligence to further modernise the industry. Law said the enhanced initiative will utilise large language models to significantly improve multilingual translations and content conversion capabilities. "Publishing 3.0+ will refine the e-books and audiobooks converted over the past years and further deliver another 5,000 translated and converted copies of books," she said. "The fruitful expected outcome of 10,000 e-books and audiobooks will be showcased in Hong Kong pavilions at various international book fairs in the coming months." Law also confirmed plans to incorporate Arabic translations into the project. "During my official visit to the Middle East in April this year, I was deeply impressed by the region's rich cultural and historical heritage," she said. "I am most delighted that Publishing 3.0+ will contribute to our effort to realising closer cultural links and friendship between the Middle East and Hong Kong, aligning the shared visions of both regions." Sharon Wong, one of the chairs at Publishing 3.0+, said the first phase saw a 75 percent improvement in e-book conversion speed and that the new initiative enhances local publishers’ multilingual capabilities. "I hope that through this project, we can bring copyright holders, creators and AI developers together and work together in enhancing Hong Kong as a cultural centre or IP trading hub because we are under rapid AI development," she said. "That is to promote the publishing industry and to promote our cultural product overseas."

6. HK youths urged to get better understanding of country

   The head of the Foreign Ministry's Office in Hong Kong has underlined a need to gain an in-depth understanding of the country and integrate into the nation's legal developments, saying it's important for young people in the city to visit the mainland. Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, on Wednesday also told participants of a legal talent exchange programme they needed to learn more about the "history and reality" of the country to be able to tell a "good story" to the rest of the world. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, for his part, said one can only effectively safeguard national security and social justice by getting a full understanding of where the nation is heading in terms of its development on various fronts, such as the political system, economy and technology. Exchange participants will visit Beijing and Kashgar, Xinjiang, during the trip.

7. HK moves up in 'best uni student cities' ranking

   A UK-based higher education analytics firm has put Hong Kong as the 17th best city in the world to attend university. The SAR climbed five spots in the latest QS Best Student Cities ranking after coming in at 22nd place last year. The firm said Hong Kong has become a more desirable and affordable destination, while universities here have also climbed in world rankings. QS graded 150 cities across 58 countries and regions. Seoul topped the latest chart, swapping its spot with London which came third this time. Tokyo remained in second place. Beijing ranked 13th, jumping from 31st last year, while Shanghai leapt from 46th to 27th. The firm ranked cities based on six categories – how students think of the place, their student mix, affordability, desirability, employers' activity as well as how well the cities' universities did in rankings.

8. Police arrest man suspected of pushing boy into sea

   Police said they have arrested a man suspected of pushing a boy into the sea in To Kwa Wan last weekend. The suspect, 23, was arrested on Tuesday. Officers said the man and the boy, 9, do not know each other. At a press briefing on Wednesday, chief inspector Cheung Lok-chuen said officers will continue their investigation by looking into the man's background and mental state, as well as a possible motive. "The force would like to remind the public that assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a serious offence, with the highest penalty being three years imprisonment upon conviction," Cheung said. "It is fortunate that the boy suffered relatively minor injuries. Otherwise, the suspect will face more serious charges and punishment." Police said the boy and his mother were fishing at Hoi Sham Park on Saturday and was pushed into the sea when she was not looking. He managed to swim ashore on his own. Officers called on possible witnesses to come forward and provide more information.

9. Books on President Xi's thoughts rolled out

   Chief Executive John Lee attended a book launch on Wednesday, featuring the rolling out of the traditional Chinese version of three important books on President Xi Jinping's thoughts and ideas. Speaking at the ceremony, Lee said the three books, which recorded major speeches by Xi on the country's education and cultural development, laid the foundation and action guide for promoting cultural prosperity and building a nation that is strong in education. "The release of the traditional Chinese edition of the three key books in Hong Kong vividly showcases the achievements of cultural development in the new era, providing the Hong Kong public with a more comprehensive understanding of the spirits of Xi Jinping's thoughts on culture," Lee said. The director of the liaison office in Hong Kong, Zhou Ji, and the chairman of Bauhinia Culture Group, Xu Zhengzhong, also attended the ceremony.

10. Culinary theme gives Book Fair throng a lot to chew on

    Book lovers flocked to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Wednesday in a bustling opening day for the annual Hong Kong Book Fair. This year's event, themed "Food Culture, Future Living," uses cuisine as a cultural bridge. Through curated culinary literature, the fair invites visitors to explore the world and savour diverse experiences right from the dining table. A major draw is the "World of Art and Culture" zone, featuring the interactive exhibition "Book a Table, Food for Thought." Visitors whom RTHK spoke to expressed excitement about its eight distinct tables, showcasing global works on food, healthy living and culture. "There is a lot of people from around the world [here], and then you can get [an] approach to the cultures there. If I want to go to Turkey for travel, then I can get to know more about there," said a woman, Ngai. "There are a lot of dining tables here and then you can know more about [cultures]. It is a bright idea, like a new idea here, in the book fair." The scale of the fair impressed first-time visitor Mylnikova, director of a library in the United States. "My library is located on a nature reserve and we have a collection of tropical and exotic trees with fruits, so I'm interested in books [and] world studies on tropical trees with fruits," she said, hoping to find valuable additions for her institution. "I'm [also] looking for artists' books, self-published by artists." Local interests were also prominent, with a woman, Lee, hoping to purchase dessert cookbooks alongside Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education reference materials for her children. Booksellers that RTHK spoke to expressed optimism about sales. A woman, Cheung, from Joint Publishing, highlighted the company's focus on Hong Kong-related works and new titles commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. "I think people will likely be interested in that area," she said, adding that she hopes sales, contingent on visitor turnout, would exceed last year's. Eli Lau, from Sup retail, echoed this positive outlook, saying she expects steady sales and a weekend boost. "We remain optimistic this year: you can already see many customers arriving early," she added. The 35th Hong Kong Book Fair will run until Tuesday, July 22.