Hong Kong News
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Hong Kong News 2
The Housing Society plans to raise rents by 10% in October, marking the highest increase in 14 years. Reports suggest that the first three months of rent exemption necessitate an 11% increase to break even. It’s important to note that the rent hike by the Housing Society is based on the Housing Authority’s expectations of both a loss and profit over the next two years. During the tram road construction, two vehicles fell into a hole. Both Hong Kong University and the Chinese University are accepting teachers for the “National Excellence Program” teacher training, allowing mainland students to remain in Hong Kong to teach. It is emphasized that STEM education should be the focus. Selected candidates will undergo training at designated pilot universities. A former team leader faced ridicule for fundraising efforts. Pokémon GO was launched, astonishing the audience, with reports indicating that nearly 100 players in Hong Kong, including lawyers, doctors, and actuaries, joined the competition. This year, the sixth cinema will close, and Kowloon City Film Art will shut down next week. Representatives of students who have been convicted gather to question where the scales of justice lie if the Department of Justice chooses to appeal and prosecute again. Shi Taifeng urged Hong Kong to leverage its strengths to build bridges and promote reunification, highlighting that Hong Kong’s experience with “one country, two systems” serves as a valuable reference for national reunification. The government asserted that Taiwan-related matters would be managed in accordance with the one-China principle. The industry self-evaluation indicated that press freedom has reached a new low. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that better protection is afforded under the National Security Law. The mandatory provident fund for the period from February to June is being refunded. Jinji Catering still owes funds for July. A cancer patient at Tin Shui Wai Hospital did not receive a gift. A physiotherapist and elderly individuals will enjoy the two-dollar bus discount starting Sunday. A game card center has been found with methamphetamine valued at tens of millions. Thirty-nine restaurants are featured on “Dianping’s” must-try list, with snacks making up 20%. Twenty-eight new restaurants have been added. The number of mainland customers has risen by 30%. The official continues to investigate the dragon slaying case. Guidance on whether throwing petrol bombs constitutes terrorism will be determined by a jury; a defense lawyer in the white-shirt case applied for an English trial but was denied. A mainland man has been convicted of raping his wife out of fear, while a Hong Kong University student was found guilty of molesting his mother, with the judge noting the defendant’s untrustworthiness and clarity in the victim’s testimony, stating there was no violation of rules. A police superintendent has been accused of sexual assault while accompanying a victim home, who commented on preventing drunk driving and fatal incidents. An employer has allegedly raped a maid, claiming she took the initiative to get close and did not refuse. In recent hot topics in the Bay Area, an old computer mall in Guangzhou has closed, and department stores are seeking new avenues as tenants express their inability to compete with e-commerce, leading to transformations aiming to attract customers from restaurants and board game stores. The digitalization trend is on the rise in the Bay Area, while “computer building resorts” are declining in various locations. [Emily] MTR’s replica “White Head” train will depart from Choi Hung Station tomorrow afternoon, with Xuan Gong set to reproduce Danny Chan’s song “I bumped into her on the subway.” [Emily] Friends are advocating for the panda twins to change their names. Artist Lang Minwei and Pang Jianyip praised their creativity and will solicit name suggestions later. [Emily] Autonomous driving city buses plan to start carrying passengers in Ma Liu Shui next year. [Emily] The Boundless Asian Art Festival will kick off next month, adding a Middle East series. Kevin Yeung stated that they want tourists to feel the vitality of Hong Kong culture. [Emily] The airport passenger volume on August 28 reached 173,000, a new high since the epidemic. [Emily] Lo Wu Station has begun work ahead of schedule to install platform gates.
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<h3>Hong Kong News</h3>
</a>
<p>Wednesday, August 21, 2024</p>
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<h3 align="right">Hong Kong News Updates</h3>
<h2>Housing Society Rent Increase</h2>
<p>The Housing Society plans to implement a significant <strong>rent increase of 10%</strong> in October 2024. This marks the highest increase in 14 years. The rationale behind this decision stems from the Housing Authority's projections of potential financial losses and profits expected in the upcoming two years.</p>
<h3>Financial Implications</h3>
<ul>
<li>Initial three months of rent exemption reportedly require an 11% rent increase to break even.</li>
<li>The impending rent hike could affect low-income households and middle-class families, contributing to ongoing housing affordability issues in Hong Kong.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Tram Road Construction Incident</h2>
<p>In recent incidents tied to construction activities for tram networks, two vehicles fell into a hole. Such incidents highlight the ongoing infrastructural challenges in the city and raise concerns regarding construction safety measures.</p>
<h2>Education and Teacher Training Programs</h2>
<h3>National Excellence Program</h3>
<p>Hong Kong's educational landscape is evolving with initiatives like the <strong>National Excellence Program</strong>, where esteemed institutions such as <strong>Hong Kong University</strong> and <strong>Chinese University</strong> will accept Mainland students into teaching roles. This program focuses on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Prioritizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.</li>
<li>Training selected candidates through pilot universities.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Entertainment and Cultural Events</h2>
<h3>Pokémon GO Competition</h3>
<p>The recent <strong>Pokémon GO</strong> competition in Hong Kong attracted nearly 100 participants, including professionals like lawyers, doctors, and actuaries. The event showcases the vibrant gaming culture within the city.</p>
<h3>Cinema Closures</h3>
<p>As the entertainment sector shifts, the Kowloon City Film Art cinema is set to close next week, marking the sixth cinema to shut down this year. The evolution of film consumption and cinema attendance continues to pose challenges for the industry.</p>
<h2>Legal and Justice Sector Developments</h2>
<h3>Convictions and Legal Cases</h3>
<p>The judiciary is facing scrutiny as several high-profile cases make headlines:</p>
<ul>
<li>A police superintendent is accused of sexual assault, raising concerns about safeguarding victims.</li>
<li>Hong Kong University students facing convictions for various offences spark discussions on justice and rehabilitation.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Government Initiatives and Policies</h2>
<h3>Handling Taiwan-Related Affairs</h3>
<p>Officials assert the importance of addressing Taiwan-related affairs in alignment with the <strong>one-China principle</strong>, emphasizing Hong Kong's experience with the "one country, two systems" framework as a crucial reference for national unity.</p>
<h2>Current Challenges in Media</h2>
<p>The press freedom situation in Hong Kong has reportedly reached a new low, with industry insiders self-evaluating the environment as more challenging than ever. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has countered that the <strong>National Security Law</strong> helps to protect citizens and maintain order.</p>
<h2>Healthcare and Community Well-Being</h2>
<h3>Healthcare Facilities and Patient Rights</h3>
<p>Concerns have been raised regarding patient care at Tin Shui Wai Hospital, where a cancer patient did not receive expected gifts or support. Meanwhile, physiotherapists and the elderly will benefit from a new two-dollar bus discount starting this Sunday, aimed at enhancing community mobility.</p>
<h2>Culinary Scene Growth</h2>
<h3>New Dietary Highlights</h3>
<p>Hong Kong's culinary offerings are expanding, with 39 restaurants making it to the coveted <strong>"Dianping"</strong> must-eat list. The number of Mainland customers visiting local eateries has surged by 30%, emphasizing the city’s gastronomic appeal.</p>
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<thead>
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<th>Restaurant Name</th>
<th>Cuisine Type</th>
<th>Must-Try Dish</th>
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<tr>
<td>DimSum Delights</td>
<td>Cantonese</td>
<td>Har Gao</td>
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<td>Szechuan Spice</td>
<td>Szechuan</td>
<td>Mapo Tofu</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tokyo Ramen</td>
<td>Japanese</td>
<td>Tonakotsu Ramen</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<h2>Technological Innovations and Urban Planning</h2>
<h3>Autonomous Driving Initiatives</h3>
<p>Plans are underway for autonomous driving buses to operate in Ma Liu Shui next year, marking a significant milestone in urban mobility and transportation.</p>
<h3>Digitalization Trends</h3>
<p>In the Bay Area, there is an increasing focus on <strong>digitalization</strong> and e-commerce, impacting traditional retail landscapes as department stores adapt to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.</p>
<h2>Cultural Festivals and Engagement</h2>
<h3>Upcoming Boundless Asian Art Festival</h3>
<p>Next month, the <strong>Boundless Asian Art Festival</strong> is set to commence, featuring a series of programs aimed at showcasing Hong Kong's cultural vitality alongside a focus on the Middle East's art scene.</p>
<h3>Community Events</h3>
<p>As part of ongoing efforts to foster community connections, initiatives to gather resident feedback and input on city developments are being prioritized, ensuring that community voices are heard throughout planning processes.</p>
<h2>Transport Developments</h2>
<h3>MTR Platform Gate Installations</h3>
<p>In a significant upgrade to the transport network, Lo Wu Station started its upgrading works ahead of schedule, slated for installation of platform gates aimed at enhancing passenger safety and operational efficiency.</p>
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