Latest from HKFP
HKFP
3 hours ago
- Science
- HKFP
‘Record-breaking year' for Hong Kong's university entrance exam, as student earns rare ‘ultimate top scorer' title
The city's assessment authorities have praised a 'record-breaking year' for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination, as students received their university entrance exam results on Wednesday. The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) said a total of 16 students earned the title of 'top scorers,' meaning they attained 5** – the highest grade – for at least six subjects in the HKDSE, including the three core subjects of English, Chinese, and mathematics. The top student was Henry Wang of Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College in Sai Wan Ho. He received 5** in eight subjects, making him an 'ultimate top scorer.' He took physics, chemistry, biology, and extended maths as his electives, as well as economics, which he self-studied, according to local media. It marks only the second time that there has been an 'ultimate top scholar' since the DSE exams began in 2012, replacing the old assessment, the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. The first time was in 2018. There were 10 'super scorers,' meaning they secured 5** in seven subjects, including an extended maths elective. The remaining five received 5** in six subjects. Wei Xiangdong, secretary-general of the HKEAA, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the results made this year a 'record-breaking year.' 'In terms of the number of top scorers, this year, I think, is [a] record-breaking year, the highest [in] the history of DSE examinations,' Wei said. He added, however, that the results were not directly comparable to previous DSE years due to a change in the syllabus that began in 2024. Last year, the core subject Liberal Studies was replaced by Citizenship and Social Development. While the former was a graded subject, the latter is a pass-or-fail subject. This means that students needed to secure a 5** in Liberal Studies to be top scorers, while now, they only need to pass the new subject. Aspiring doctors According to local media outlets, Wang came to Hong Kong from mainland China when he was three years old. He said he has wanted to be a doctor since he was in Form Four. He told reporters he did not attend tutorial classes while studying, relying only on his teachers' and friends' guidance. Wang also said he wished to stay in Hong Kong to study and was not considering going abroad or to the mainland. Among the 14 schools with top scorers, one school – St. Paul's Co-educational College in Mid-Levels – produced three super scorers. Two of them, Norris Kung and Calvin Wong, said they hope to go to Cambridge University in the UK. Kung aims to study economics, while Wong wants to pursue climate science, according to local media. The third student, Adrian Jung, said he wants to study medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Across the harbour, Wang Yuen-ting of Sheung Shui's Hong Kong Taoist Association Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School emerged as a top scorer. A cross-border student who lives in Lo Wu in Shenzhen, Wang Yuen-ting said her parents had enrolled her in schools in Hong Kong since kindergarten because they favoured the city's education system. An aspiring doctor, she also said she wants to study medicine at CUHK. 'The meaning of life lies in impacting the lives of others. If I become a doctor, I can serve people in society and in turn give meaning to my own life,' she said, according to HK01. University entrance requirements Around 42,700 school candidates took part in the DSEs this year, with over 38 per cent meeting the common entrance requirements for local undergraduate university programmes, according to the HKEAA's data. The requirements are set as attaining at least level 3 in Chinese and English, level 2 in mathematics, and a pass in Citizenship and Social Development. This was the second year that Citizenship and Social Development was assessed. The subject gradually replaced Liberal Studies starting in 2021, after then chief executive Carrie Lam and some pro-Beijing politicians accused the subject of fuelling the pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019. A total of 93.2 per cent of students received a pass in Citizenship and Social Development this year, down 0.9 per cent from the year before. The pass rate for the new subject was comparable to that of Liberal Studies, the HKEAA's Wei said, adding that the average pass rate for the old subject -meaning a grade of 2 or above – was around 92 per cent.
HKFP
5 hours ago
- Business
- HKFP
Nvidia CEO says China's open-source AI a ‘catalyst for progress'
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called China's open-source artificial intelligence a 'catalyst for global progress' and hailed the country's innovation in the sector as he addressed an expo in Beijing on Wednesday. Beijing is using this week's China International Supply Chain Expo as a forum to boost its image as the global defender of free trade — in contrast to the tariff chaos sparked by US President Donald Trump. Addressing the expo's opening ceremony, Huang — whose firm this week became the first to touch US$4 trillion in market value — hailed China's role in pioneering AI. 'China's open-source AI is a catalyst for global progress, giving every country and industry a chance to join the AI revolution,' he said in a reference to Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. 'AI is transforming every industry, from scientific research and healthcare to energy, transportation and logistics,' he said. Huang praised China's 'super-fast' innovation, powered by its 'researchers, developers and entrepreneurs'. Nvidia announced on Tuesday that it will resume sales of its H20 AI chips to China after Washington pledged to remove licensing restrictions that had halted exports. The California-based company produces some of the world's most advanced semiconductors but cannot ship its most cutting-edge chips to China due to concerns that Beijing could use them to enhance military capabilities. Nvidia developed the H20 — a less powerful version of its AI processing units — specifically for export to China. However, that plan stalled when the Trump administration tightened export licensing requirements in April. 'The US government has assured Nvidia that licenses will be granted, and Nvidia hopes to start deliveries soon,' the company said in a statement Tuesday, adding it was 'filing applications to sell the Nvidia H20 GPU again'. The announcement from Nvidia boosted tech firms around the world, with Wall Street's Nasdaq exchange rising to another record high and stocks in Hong Kong also rallying. 'Multiple risks intertwining' The tightened US export curbs come as China's economy wavers, with domestic consumers reluctant to spend and a prolonged property sector crisis weighing on growth. President Xi Jinping has called for greater self-reliance in the face of increasing external uncertainty. And in a thinly veiled swipe at Trump in his opening remarks at the expo, Vice Premier He Lifeng said: '… some countries are interfering in the market under the pretext of reducing risk, using measures such as imposing tariffs.' 'Global changes of a century are accelerating, with multiple risks intertwining and piling up,' he said. 'We need to further build a shared consensus on development, firmly oppose the politicisation… and over-securitisation of economic and trade issues, and work together to uphold an open and cooperative international environment.'
HKFP
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- HKFP
Hong Kong gov't proposes cap on e-hailing cars, but no limit specified yet
The Hong Kong government has proposed capping the number of e-hailing cars allowed in the city, though the regulatory framework proposal gives no details of the specific limit. The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Tuesday unveiled its proposal to regulate online ride-hailing services, after Chief Executive John Lee said the government must not delay tackling issues stemming from such services. According to the proposal submitted to the Legislative Council's Panel on Transport, the government suggests issuing licences to ride-hailing platforms that would be valid for five years and renewable based on the platform's service performance. The company operating the platform must be locally registered and have offices and staff based in the city. The government proposes that each platform meet a set of criteria, including operational experience, capital investment, and proof of financial capability. Companies would be required to pay an application fee and an annual licence fee. The government also proposed additional charges for each e-hailing ride, with the revenue used to support the taxi industry in improving service quality. The government estimated that 'a few' online ride-hailing companies would meet the application criteria. In addition to the platform licence, each vehicle and driver would be required to obtain separate licences to provide ride-hailing services. The vehicle permit would be valid for one year, on the condition that the car is no more than seven years old. The vehicle must also pass an annual inspection, and the permit holder must purchase third-party liability insurance. The government believes there is a need to impose a limit on the total number of vehicles providing online ride-hailing services. The proposal does not specify the cap. However, authorities said a supplementary legal amendment would be submitted in the first half of 2026 to outline the arrangement. 'When making decisions, we will take into account and balance multiple factors, including passengers' travel demand and experience, the capacity of the road network, the ecosystem of the public transport system, and the overall health and sustainable development of the personalised point-to-point transport services sector,' read the government's proposal, which is only available in Chinese. 'Improve competitiveness' Under the proposed framework, platforms would be allowed to set their own prices, but passengers must be informed of the fare arrangement prior to the ride. Drivers – who must be at least 21 years old and have held a private car licence for at least one year – may register with and accept orders from multiple platforms. The government proposed allowing ride-hailing platforms to include taxi-hailing services, saying this could 'improve the competitiveness' of taxi drivers and provide more options for passengers. Taxi licence holders would not be required to obtain a separate permit to offer ride-hailing services, the government suggests. The proposed framework is set to be discussed at the Panel on Transport meeting on Friday. Ride-hailing apps currently operate in a grey area in the city, which requires vehicles offering hailing services to have a hire car permit. Private vehicle owners who sign up with online platforms to provide hailing services without a permit could be punished by up to six months in jail and a HK$10,000 fine for the first offence. Ride-hailing services such as Uber have seen rising popularity amid long-standing dissatisfaction with taxi service standards. Last month, Uber, which has operated in Hong Kong since 2014, revealed that it had more than 30,000 drivers in Hong Kong in the past year. Andrew Byrne, the company's global head of public policy, warned that a cap on the number of drivers and vehicles allowed on the platform could result in longer wait times and higher prices, while limiting ways for people in Hong Kong to earn an income.
HKFP
5 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong privacy watchdog launches criminal probe into AI-generated porn scandal at HKU
Hong Kong's privacy watchdog has launched a criminal probe into an AI-generated porn scandal at the city's top university after a student allegedly created indecent images of more than 20 women. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) 'has launched a criminal investigation into the incident and has no further comment at this stage,' the watchdog said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement was released days after a male law student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) was accused of creating pornographic images of around 20 to 30 women, including his classmates and teachers, without their consent. The student allegedly used photos he found on the women's social media accounts to generate pornographic 'deepfake' images using free online artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Citing the city's privacy laws, the Tuesday statement said that it is illegal to disclose a person's personal data without their consent, causing harm to the subject or their family members. A disclosure of personal data without consent, with an intent to cause 'specified harm,' or if the offender was reckless as to whether any harm would, or would likely be caused, also constitutes an offence. The announcement was also made just hours after Chief Executive John Lee said that most local laws applied to online behaviours, including offences under the Crimes Ordinance and the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. The chief executive did not mention any proposal for legislation regarding AI but urged Hong Kong universities to handle student misconduct 'seriously.' 'While some misconduct may be dealt with under internal university rules, any act that may contravene the law should be reported to law enforcement agencies for action,' he said. HKU said in a statement on Saturday that the university had issued a warning letter to the student and demanded that he formally apologise to the women. The incident was not handled by the university's Disciplinary Committee, after HKU told three anonymous victims that the male student likely did not commit an offence that could be addressed by the committee.
HKFP
12 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Beijing slams BBC Chinese, Nikkei Asia over ‘distorted reports' on Hong Kong nat. sec law
China's foreign ministry office in Hong Kong has condemned articles published by BBC Chinese and Nikkei Asia, accusing the foreign media outlets of 'smearing' the city's national security law as it marked its fifth anniversary last month. In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said reports, commentaries and editorials published by 'certain foreign media outlets,' including BBC Chinese and Nikkei Asia, had 'discredited the successful practice of One Country, Two Systems' in the city. Without referring to specific articles, the spokesperson called on the two media organisations to 'respect facts, not lies,' and 'uphold fairness, not double standards.' The office said that since the national security law was implemented on June 30, 2020, Hong Kong 'has regained stability' and the city's economic development 'has returned to the right track,' adding that enacting national security legislation is a 'common international practice.' 'Yet, while being conspicuously quiet about their own national security laws, these outlets maliciously attack the Hong Kong National Security Law, which once again exposed their hypocrisy and double standards,' the statement read. Last month, BBC Chinese published at least five reports relating to the fifth anniversary of the national security law. One article featured interviews with journalism scholar Francis Lee, as well as a journalist and a political commentator, both using pseudonyms, on their views about public opinion in the city after the national security law took effect. Lee said some Hongkongers may avoid news because they felt 'disappointed' in the social environment. Meanwhile, the journalist said he did not want to become the 'mouthpiece' of the government, but, at the same time, struggled to include opinion from 'appropriate interviewees' following a wave of disbandment of political parties and civil society groups. BBC Chinese also produced a video report about national security education in the city. The UK-based news outlet spoke with local secondary school and university students, teachers responsible for coordinating national security education, and members of the public about the effectiveness of patriotic education. Some interviewees said society became more 'harmonious' after the government stepped up national education, while others said it amounted to 'brainwashing' and did not make them more patriotic. On June 30, Nikkei Asia published an article about the emergence of the Chinese-language publishing scene in Tokyo after the national security law was implemented in Hong Kong. The legislation has 'undermined' Hong Kong's 'uncensored book scene,' the report read. The Japan-based outlet also published a report on July 1 – the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's Handover to China – about the city's press freedom following the enactment of the national security law. The report featured an interview with Washington-based journalist Barry Wood, who suspected that his dismissal from government-funded broadcaster RTHK earlier this year was linked to a column about the 2019 protests he wrote years earlier. It also interviewed journalist Lam Yin-pong, who founded a one-man outlet, reNews, after losing his job at Stand News nearly four years ago. Stand News was forced to shut down in December 2021, following the arrest of its top editors and a police raid. Lam told Nikkei Asia that he 'strikes a balance between caution and conviction' when reporting. He said he would review past court rulings to 'avoid crossing red lines' but would not self-censor. Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the 2020 and 2024 security laws. Watchdogs cite the arrest and jailing of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city's government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows. In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was 'in the pocket' of Hongkongers but 'nobody is above the law.' Although he has told the press to ' tell a good Hong Kong story,' government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
