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RTHK
21-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Nine hotspots 'cater to new normal in tourism'
Nine hotspots 'cater to new normal in tourism' Warner Cheuk said the projects, like opening up the old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, should fit the appetite of mainland visitors' new travel patterns. File photo: RTHK The government said the nine projects to develop tourism hotspots that it unveiled on Tuesday should be able to accommodate the preferences of visitors under "a new normal" for travel patterns. The cost of the projects – which include setting up a Victoria Park bazaar and in-depth tours of Kowloon City and opening up the old Yau Ma Tei police station – will be between HK$20 million and HK$30 million. The figure does not include revitalisation costs for a freight yard in Hung Hom. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who heads a working group on the matter, said there have been more mainland travellers who are spending less and coming to Hong Kong on day trips. But he said on an RTHK programme that either they're now travelling in a more economical manner or there aren't enough tourism products that fit their appetite. Cheuk said the new hotspots should then fit right in. "Among projects that we've chosen, we try to cater for the preferences and travel patterns of visitors under the new normal," he said. "We know they value our local culture, whether they can get a taste of Hong Kong. "So we have all kinds of projects this time." Cheuk said a new trumpet tree garden near Tamar Park will allow visitors to get a different taste of Victoria Harbour, while "Four Peaks Tourism" goes with the rising popularity of local eco-tourism among hikers. He said the routes can link up with food and consumption places and that he's not too concerned about the routes getting too crowded or polluted, saying these can be resolved by educational and promotional campaigns on social media platforms such as RedNote. "For eco-tours right now, there are indeed people who litter, but the problem isn't that bad," Cheuk said. Speaking on Commercial Radio, the assistant director for country parks in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Jackie Yip, said a prerequisite for eco-tourism developments is environmental protection. She said the "four peaks" – The Peak, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Tai Mo Shan – all have relatively developed transport network and greater capacity.
RTHK
17-05-2025
- Health
- RTHK
Public urged not to be complacent amid Covid spike
Public urged not to be complacent amid Covid spike Experts urge people at high risk, especially the elderly, children and individuals with underlying illnesses, to stay up to date in Covid vaccinations as soon as possible. File photo: RTHK Hong Kong is experiencing a renewed rise in Covid-19 cases, driven by evolving virus strains and declining population immunity, according to an infectious diseases expert. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme on Saturday, Lau Yu-lung, chairman of the scientific committee on vaccine preventable diseases at the Centre for Health Protection, said that while the current toll of severe cases and fatalities remains below levels seen during last year's peak, public complacency should not set in. "The transmission rate has been relatively low over the past six months," he said. "During this time, most people in Hong Kong have not been infected with the virus, resulting in lower levels of antibodies in their blood. "With the emergence of a variant known as KP.3, a certain number of residents became infected, leading to more extensive transmission of the virus once it entered the community." Lau stressed that vaccines continue to offer robust protection against severe outcomes, urging high-risk groups – including the elderly and immunocompromised – to stay up to date in their vaccinations. For his part, Dr Mike Kwan, president of the Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Disease, encouraged children to get their vaccinations if they have not yet completed their primary series. He warned of the danger from multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a rare but serious condition affecting some minors weeks after recovery. "After recovering from a Covid-19 infection, children may experience high fevers lasting about two to six weeks, potentially reaching 39 degrees," he said. "Additionally, other symptoms can include rashes on the body, with some appearing as red spots. "Inflammation may also occur in various organs, such as the liver and heart." The Centre for Health Protection has expressed these concerns, urging residents to bolster hygiene practices and ensure timely vaccinations as key Covid indicators reach one-year highs.
RTHK
11-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
HK needs new markets despite a good Q1: FS
HK needs new markets despite a good Q1: FS Paul Chan believes this year's economic growth forecast won't see a big change. File photo: RTHK Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said Hong Kong still needs to explore new markets despite posting strong first-quarter economic figures. In the first three months of the year, GDP rose by a better-than-expected 3.1 percent and exports climbed 8.7 percent year on year. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Chan said the surge in exports might have been due to traders trying to beat US tariffs. He believes the increase would slow and Hong Kong needs to explore new markets amid the trade war. 'We have been responding to the tariff war in several ways. Of course, we have to maintain our position in the European and US markets as they are still important, but we also have to develop new markets, especially in places like Southeast Asia and the Middle East,' Chan said. 'However, this will take time as the US still accounts for a larger share in terms of export volume.' The government has projected full-year GDP growth of 2 percent to 3 percent, and Chan said he doesn't expect major changes to the forecast as the economic outlook remains uncertain. The finance chief said at the annual meeting of Asian Development Bank's board of governors in Milan last week, many developing countries expressed concerns that US tariffs and unilateralism would hinter global economic development. He also said he expects the Hong Kong financial market to boom this year as a lot of mainland enterprises are planning to list here.
RTHK
11-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
HK needs new markets despite a good Q1: FS
HK needs new markets despite a good Q1: FS Paul Chan believes this year's economic growth forecast won't see a big change. File photo: RTHK Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said Hong Kong still needs to explore new markets despite posting strong first-quarter economic figures. In the first three months of the year, GDP rose by a better-than-expected 3.1 percent and exports climbed 8.7 percent year on year. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Chan said the surge in exports might have been due to traders trying to beat US tariffs. He believes the increase would slow and Hong Kong needs to explore new markets amid the trade war. 'We have been responding to the tariff war in several ways. Of course, we have to maintain our position in the European and US markets as they are still important, but we also have to develop new markets, especially in places like Southeast Asia and the Middle East,' Chan said. 'However, this will take time as the US still accounts for a larger share in terms of export volume.' The government has projected full-year GDP growth of 2 percent to 3 percent, and Chan said he doesn't expect major changes to the forecast as the economic outlook remains uncertain. The finance chief said at the annual meeting of Asian Development Bank's board of governors in Milan last week, many developing countries expressed concerns that US tariffs and unilateralism would hinter global economic development. He also said he expects the Hong Kong financial market to boom this year as a lot of mainland enterprises are planning to list here.
RTHK
10-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
HK welcomes all kinds of visitors: Eric Chan
HK welcomes all kinds of visitors: Eric Chan Eric Chan says Hong Kong welcomes not just high-end visitors. Photo courtesy of Commercial Radio Hong Kong welcomes all kinds of tourists and will leverage technology to improve the experience for visitors, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said on Saturday. Chan was speaking after the city recorded around 1.1 million tourists during the recent Golden Week holiday, up 22 percent from the same period last year. Photos and footage of low-budget mainland backpackers spending nights at McDonald's went viral on social media. Speaking on a radio programme, Chan said the ultimate goal is to ensure visitors have a positive experience. "There are also tourists who prefer not to stay overnight and would rather spend their money on shopping," he said. "We have many different types of tourists. "I think we don't need to limit ourselves to only high-spending groups. "Even if someone isn't a big spender today, if they have a good impression of Hong Kong, in a few years when they find a job, they could become a high-spending visitor." On the use of technology to help visitors plan their itineraries, the government will use technology to provide real-time updates on queuing lengths at border checkpoints, Chan said. With many of the mainland visitors taking to hiking during their visit, he said the 60-kilometre Round-the-Island Trail on Hong Kong Island is expected to be 90 percent complete within two to three years. On US tariffs on Hong Kong goods, Chan said the SAR is actively seeking business opportunities elsewhere, including through the chief executive's delegation to the Middle East.
