On today's The Current, we look at Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, and what its trade, innovation and industrial policies could mean for businesses and the wider economy. We also discuss plans to redevelop Victoria Park Centre Court into ad larger all-weather venue, with ambitions to bring higher-level tennis tournaments and major events to the city.

RTHK's Evening News in English

The annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival is being held at the Victoria Park and the Cultural Centre Piazza from now until 27th September. In Victoria Park, there’s also the debut “International Lantern Spectacular” by the Tourism Board, bringing together over 3,000 characteristic lanterns from 20 countries and regions. The highlights include the “Shadowlight”, an 8-metre banyan tree installation, tailored made with the national intangible cultural heritage, Qinhuai lantern. On the “World Lantern Boulevard”, there’re silk lanterns from Jinju in South Korea, multicoloured patchwork lanterns from Brazil, Polish folk lanterns and more.

Sound Travel

With its vibrant visual layers and bold, striking flavors, the allure of Thai cuisine has swept across Asia. In this episode, Chef Art Sinlaparkorn shares his personal culinary philosophy and the delicate balance of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet that defines traditional Thai gastronomy. Inspired by his grandmother as a child, Chef Art developed a deep fascination with the culinary arts of his homeland, setting him on the path to becoming a professional chef. Today, he faithfully recreates the authentic Thai flavors of his upbringing right here in Hong Kong, inviting host Andy Dark to savor iconic street food delicacies such as green papaya salad (Som Tum), drunken noodles (Pad Kee Mao), and Thai coconut pancakes (Khanom Krok). Having left his hometown to pursue his dreams, Chef Art was also fortunate enough to meet his significant other in Hong Kong. Together with a close-knit circle of friends and fellow expatriates, they have gradually built a warm "home away from home" in this bustling city.

The life of Dr. Henry Hu Hung Lick is a perfect embodiment of scholarship, moral integrity, and profound compassion. In his early years, he traveled to Paris and the United Kingdom, earning his Doctorate in Law and qualifying as a barrister respectively. He subsequently practiced in Hong Kong, earning immense respect within the legal profession. During the 1960s and 1970s, he actively campaigned for the legal status of the Chinese language and championed nine-year free education, opening up more equitable opportunities for society. In their fifties, he and his wife, Dr. Chung Chi Yung, resolutely relinquished their fame and fortune, dedicating the vast majority of their life savings and 35 years of their lives to establish Hong Kong's first private university—Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Their steadfast dedication to providing educational opportunities for young people has created a legacy of nurturing talent that spans over half a century. From humble beginnings in a modest three-storey house in Happy Valley to today’s fully-fledged Braemar Hill campus, this journey testifies not only to the rise of a university, but also serves as a portrait of an educator's lifelong perseverance—safeguarding the pure conviction of "serving the nation through education" amidst a bustling metropolis. Featuring Interviews with Dr. Hu Fai Chung (Son of Dr. Henry Hu Hung Lick; President, Hong Kong Shue Yan University) Professor Catherine Sun Tien Lun (Senior Vice President, Hong Kong Shue Yan University) Dr. Kaman Lee Ka Man (Associate Vice President and Alumna, Hong Kong Shue Yan University) Dr. Francis Cheung (Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors and Alumnus, Hong Kong Shue Yan University)

Hong Kong's "more women than men" trend continues, the number of never‑married women exceeds that of men. An increasing number of women hold university degrees, and their work abilities are not inferior to men's. This group of highly educated, high‑position, high‑income "three‑high" women—will they find it difficult to find partners or ultimately choose to remain single? How will Hong Kong women plan their lives?

Studio Discussion Part 1: Since its launch in 2022, Hong Kong’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises — OASES — has attracted more than 120 companies to establish or expand operations in the city. The government expects these businesses to bring around 73 billion Hong Kong dollars in investment and create some 25,000 jobs over the coming years. Guest: Peter Yan, Director-General, Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises Part 2: One of the most anticipated annual events in Hong Kong’s cultural scene is the Asia+ Festival, which is now in its fourth year. As a platform that brings the diverse cultures of Asia as well as the Belt and Road regions together, it will delight audiences once again with over 100 performances and activities from September to November. Guests: Linda Lee, Senior Manager (Festivals), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Susanna Wong, Manager (Festivals), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Segments: - Clearwater Bay Tennis Academy - Flag Presentation Ceremony for the 5th Asian Para Games - CAVALLUNA #OASES #TheOfficeForAttractingStrategicEnterprises #HongKongEnterprises #HongKongAI #Fintech #PeterYan #Asia+Festival #Performances #TraditionsRecast #LindaLee #SusannaWong #LCSD #ClearwaterBayTennisAcademy #AsianParaGames #CAVALLUNA

Chief Executive Phone-in 2026

In a landscape where public and non-public economic sectors coexist, how does the state ensure joint development and shared prosperity? Articles 6 and 11 of the Constitution state that the country takes socialist public ownership as the foundation, while at the same time encouraging diverse forms of ownership, such as individually owned and private businesses, to develop together, so as to promote the sound operation of the socialist market economy. This episode explores how, under the safeguard of the Constitution, private enterprises fulfil their social responsibility and contribute to the nation in the context of a capitalist market, embodying the strength of coordinated economic development.