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'HK yacht trip a breeze under new scheme'

Oct 16, 2026

Hong Kong waters are clean and beautiful and the sail down from Shenzhen was a breeze, visitors on Guangdong yachts said on Friday after docking here under a new scheme that allows them to moor, go ashore and explore the city. A ship owner surnamed Sheng travelled to the SAR on his 46-foot catamaran with four to five friends. "In the past, we couldn't dock or moor, and we couldn't go ashore. "But now, with the travel scheme, yachts can sail south – and we can actually dock, go ashore and spend money here," he said. A ship master surnamed Zhou said he received about two days of training on Hong Kong water rules and berthing facilities before departure. He believes the fast clearance and application procedures will significantly boost mainland yacht owners' willingness to come to Hong Kong. A passenger on another yacht, Eric Wang, told RTHK he and his friends are staying in the SAR for three days. “The journey was around two to three hours. The weather was really nice, it was a pleasure. The scenery was really nice,” he said. Wang said his group of about 12 plans to go golfing and expects to spend several thousand Hong Kong dollars each. “Me and my friends want to go to golfing and explore around Hong Kong where cars can't go to. “Maybe we want to drift around Victoria Harbour to see the city views, and maybe get off the boat and do some shopping.” Edited by Edmond Fong

Oct 16, 2026

New TV Drama to Mark PLA's 100th Anniversary in 2027

As China prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2027, a new television drama, Bring You Home, will tell a story of military history, family ties and the legacy of veterans.

Oct 16, 2026

Why China’s rockets carry the name Long March

From the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, southwest China, Long March rockets continue to propel satellites and spacecraft into orbit. The name can be traced back to the Red Army's Long March in the 1930s, one of the most defining episodes of modern Chinese history. As China's space program grew over the decades, this name travelled alongside its rocket family.

'Missing fire door frames unacceptable'

Oct 16, 2026

A surveyor said on Friday that it is rare that fire-resistant door frames were missing from 48 newly installed lifts at two public housing estates, and that the situation was unacceptable. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has referred the lift contractor – Taizoom Elevator Company (HK) Limited – to the police for possible fraud after inspections found that the components were missing from 39 lifts at Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin and nine lifts at Tsui Ping (North) Estate in Kwun Tong. The department said the firm submitted fire-resisting rating certificates for the doorsets, but only the fire doors themselves had been installed – the corresponding door frame components were missing. Vincent Ho, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Safety told RTHK that the installation of lift doors requires fundamental skills only, saying that the incident reflected the lack of supervision. He explained that door frames function together with a landing door that is installed at each floor of a building to provide fire resistance. “This door frame is basically to complete the fire [resistance] functions. Without it, it would not perform the long-term fire resisting function of the lift door, so it must be an integral installation with the lift door,” he said. “So as a whole, the door frame has to be installed.” The veteran surveyor went on to say that a complete elevator installation will prevent fire or strong smoke from entering the lift shaft. With decades of experience in the industry, Ho said he has never come across situations like this in the past, adding that only professionals will see the door frames that are located inside the lift shaft. He said the installation of door frames is not a difficult task. Such a procedure for one building would only take days if the elevators can be suspended for a sufficient amount of time. Electrical and building services engineer Ho Wing-ip, for his part, has expressed disappointment over the incident, saying that it showed the failure of the industry’s inspection and oversight mechanisms. He believes the frontline workers, supervisors, the firm, as well as government departments involved should carry out a serious review and explore improvement measures. Edited by Aaron Tam

Oct 16, 2026

EU backs trade ‘kill switch’, China exports surge, third-quarter GDP

European Union leaders supported creating a tool to potentially shut out Chinese goods as a growing flood of low-cost imports pushed the bilateral trade deficit to a record. Officials could start work on developing a trade “kill switch”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signalled to EU leaders at a Brussels meeting on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unidentified people briefed on the talks. Leaders requested a proposal by year-end, Bloomberg News said....

Oct 16, 2026

UN warns global biodiversity action off track, urges implementation

Four key tourism projects to be rolled out

Oct 16, 2026

The government will roll out a new batch of signature tourism projects starting from the fourth quarter of the year, featuring industrial brand tours, a miniature city exhibition and immersive temple culture tours, the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots announced on Friday. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who leads the working group, said the nine tourist hotspot projects launched in the first phase have been well received. The new phase will cover themes such as industrial brands, miniature art, and religious, cultural and local characteristics to showcase Hong Kong's unique cultural heritage and landscape. "In response to the growing pursuit of in-depth tourism experiences by visitors to Hong Kong, the government has been committed to identifying and integrating tourism resources with potential," he said in a statement. One of the new projects includes Phase Two of the Hong Kong industrial brand tourism scheme, which will feature depots of Kowloon Motor Bus, the MTR "Station Rail Voyage: Explorer" exhibition, and Beijing Tong Ren Tang's Hong Kong production and research base. Visitors will be able to tour the facilities through a "group-in, group-out" mode. The visits are expected to roll out from the fourth quarter. Separately, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will recreate the "Hong Kong Miniature City Exhibition" at the Peak Tower, featuring new miniature art exhibits that showcase the city's landmark buildings and customs. On religious and cultural tours, the Chinese Temples Committee will install QR code display boards at its temples and allow visitors to learn about temple antiquities and redeem souvenirs through a mobile app. The government will further explore creating itineraries connecting temples with historical buildings across various districts. In Yuen Long, the District Office will launch the "Seasons of Yuen Long" project, encouraging visitors to explore the district's urban-rural landscape under different themes year-round, including the Tin Hau Festival parade and natural attractions such as red leaves and migratory birds. Cheuk said the government will continue to promote cross-sectoral collaboration to enrich visitors' experiences and encourage them to extend their stays in the SAR. Edited by Aaron Tam

Oct 16, 2026

Xi Jinping congratulates Hunan University on its centenary

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday extended congratulations to faculty, students and alumni of Hunan University as it marks its 100th anniversary.

Oct 16, 2026

Shared love of pickleball draws young Americans and Chinese together

Oct 16, 2026

Former Norwegian MP sees green shipping potential in Arctic Route

During a visit to Tianjin Port as part of a friendly exchange forum, Thore Vestby, former mayor and member of Norway's Parliament, praised the port's clean environment and smart, zero-carbon operations.