Behind the grand event of the Special Olympics, there is a group of unsung heroes silently supporting! Coaches, parents, and teachers dedicate their time, money, and emotions to accompany athletes with disabilities onto the international stage. The Hong Kong government has increased resource investment to optimise the training system, enabling more individuals with disabilities to engage in sports.

In our first episode of The Current, we dive into the "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" model for the redeveloped Huanggang Port, unpack a simpler process for Mainland Chinese residents moving to Hong Kong, and explore the city's growing pet culture, including pet-friendly restaurants, the upcoming Cat Expo, and why pet insurance matters. The Current is RTHK's English current affairs programme with expert panels and audience participation.

RTHK's Evening News in English

The Fencing World Championships, hosted by Hong Kong for the first time, will be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo from 22 to 30 July. Over 1,000 top fencers from 120 countries and regions will compete for a total of 12 men’s and women’s individual and team foil, épée, and sabre events. The Hong Kong team will feature 24 players at home. Recently risen to a new high of world’s third, Men’s foil team will feature Cheung Ka Long, Ryan Choi, Leung Chin Yu and Harris Ho. As for individual events, defending champion Ryan Choi has returned from injury, while two-time Olympic gold medalist Cheung Ka Long is fighting for his first World Championships title. The women’s team will see Daphne Chan and her teammates competing for the best.

Come with us to the Paris of days gone by, where music filled the air, from the bustling Avenue des Champs-Élysées to the city’s grandest concert halls. Along the way you’ll experience a rich melodic tapestry, from timeless pop to classical elegance. Presenters: Laetitia Shern-ying Perrin Guillaume Shern-yung Perrin Performers: Yuki Ip (soprano) Ariele Zanini (piano) Vanessa Wong Wai-yin (piano) Cong Quartet Presented by RTHK Radio 4 Associated project of French May Arts Festival 2026

Studio interview Part 1: Learn about the Start-up Express programme and how it’s helping local tech businesses go global from an HKTDC representative and the co-founder of a medtech company. Guests: Silas Chu, Associate Executive Director, HKTDC Taranjit Singh, the co-founder and CTO, MedTech Start-up #StartUpExpressProgramme #LocalTechBusinesses #HKTDC #MedtechCompany #HongKongMedtech #SilasChu #TaranjitSingh Part 2: The Head of Gallery & Exhibitions at Asia Society Hong Kong Center joins us to spotlight the organisation’s cultural work and introduce their current exhibition on contemporary ink art. Guest : Chris Wan, Head of Gallery and Exhibitions, Asia Society Hong Kong Center #AsiaSocietyHongKongCenter #GalleryAndExhibitions #InkArt #HongKongInkArt #ChrisWan Features: Start-up Express 2026 Wayne McGregor: On The Other Earth Singing and Dancing with Brush and Ink #StartUpExpressProgramme #LocalTechBusinesses #HKTDC #MedtechCompany #HongKongMedtech #SilasChu #TaranjitSingh #AsiaSocietyHongKongCenter #GalleryAndExhibitions #InkArt #HongKongInkArt #ChrisWan #WayneMcGregor #OnTheOtherEarth

This episode traces Lin Zexu’s road into exile in Xinjiang, setting out from Xi’an, passing through mighty Jiayuguan and the austere Xingxing Gorge, and on into the Tianshan. His parting vow—“I shall dedicate myself to the interests of the country in life and death”—is set against the ache of departure, while the Gobi’s snow and wind make plain the loneliness and grind of the long march. Visits to the Hami Hui King’s city and the Liaodun beacon towers draw out his work in Xinjiang: redressing wrongful cases and offering sound counsel. Through scholars’ eyes, the film shows how a former guardian of the coasts turned to the security of the frontier, warned of Russian designs along the border, and, amid adversity, kept faith with the people and the realm, showing the breadth of his concern.

This episode explores the life cycle and sustainable renewal of Hong Kong’s urban trees, by visiting Y Park and wood recycle workshop. The programme also examines the sustainable reuse of timber through “use-appropriate” processing, showing how urban natural resources can be thoughtfully transformed. Together, these stories illustrate how the life cycle of trees can continue, promoting environmental value and urban–nature coexistence.

The food ingredient featured in this episode covers a wide range of food types including beans, grains and dairy products, but their common characteristic is that they are not readily available, and it takes some time to prepare them. This ingredient is fermented food. Some people are afraid of their strange taste, while others have a special liking for them. In recent years, fermented food has been called “miracle food” because the fermentation process produces probiotics and short-chain fatty acids, which are good for health; yet, there are concerns about the marination process and the excessive sodium content of some fermented food, and such food is considered evil. Should we accept it or stay away from it? The dietician will debunk these myths for us. The “Food Fanatics” take us to Mui Wo to learn about the process of making sourdough bread, quite a popular type of fermented food in recent years. The chef host Mabel designs three snacks using sourdough bread and several fermented foods. The host Icy invites Professor LEUNG Wai-keung, specialising in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, to taste the snacks and explain the advantages and disadvantages of fermented food, as well as the dietary advice for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Hosts: Icy WONG, Mabel HO (Chef) Guest: Dr LEUNG Wai-keung (Gastroenterology & Hepatology/Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong)

Located at the corner of the Clear Water Bay Peninsula of Sai Kung, Po Toi O is surrounded by the mountains on three sides and shaped like a sack, thus earning its name Po Toi (meaning a “sack”). Po Toi O still retains the rustic charm of the fishing village, with over ten fishermen’s families living in the stilted houses along the coast. Over 60 years ago, the fisherman PO Sui and his wife went ashore and moved back to Po Toi O. He erected a three-storeyed house next to the pier on his own, and ran a restaurant in the form of a shophouse. As boat people relied on water as a means of living, he would go fishing during the break between lunch time and dinner time every day, so as to provide “catch of the day”, in addition to daily dishes, for the restaurant to support a family of seven. Half a century later, the family-operated restaurant has been passed down from the father to the son, and from the son to the grandson. The third-generation successor is PO Ka-wing from the post-90s generation. The POs complement each other in running the small seaside shop. Being hospitable, the whole family has made friends with many customers and will get together with them for a catch-up. Apart from the seafood, Po Toi O Chuen still retains its unique traditional culture. Villagers worship the Deities of the Sea – Tin Hau and Hung Shing. The Hung Shing Temple in the village was built in the early years of the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty. It is one of the oldest Hung Shing Temples in Hong Kong. In the eighth lunar month every year, villagers will hold grand celebratory events, and villagers who have moved out will come back to join the events. The Floral tribute societies nearby will also come to celebrate the Hung Shing Festival. Fishermen from Clear Water Bay, Shau Kei Wan across the sea, and as far as Lamma Island, will attend the annual gathering here.