It's Budget week in Hong Kong and Radio 3 will be providing special coverage. Financial Secretary Paul Chan will deliver his 2020/21 Budget speech on Wednesday and from 11am. Radio 3 will have live coverage from Legco with commentary and analysis from Hugh Chiverton and Peter Lewis. On Thursday’s Money Talk from 8 am, Peter Lewis is joined by a special panel of guests to provide expert analysis of the package of measures announced in the 2020/21 Budget. Then on Friday morning, it’s your chance to put your questions directly to the Financial Secretary. Paul Chan will be in the Radio 3 studio with Hugh Chiverton and Peter Lewis from 8 to 9 am. You can speak to him live by calling 2338 8266.

We are delighted to announce that Operation Santa Claus 2019 raised a total of just over $15.2 million. RTHK Radio 3 and our partners in Operation Santa, the South China Morning Post, would like to thank all of our generous donors - corporate and individual - as well as schools, community groups and others who helped us to raise a very respectable total, during a challenging period for Hong Kong. Those great efforts will help fund special projects run by the 13 worthy beneficiaries which are being supported by OSC this time around. Well done to everyone involved! Read more here.

We had a fantastic response to our annual English-language writing competition, Hong Kong’s Top Story 2019, with a total of 317 entries!  The judges selected eight prize winners – four in the junior category and four in the adult – with the results announced on the 123 Show on February 14, 2020. The aim of the exercise, which is held every year, is to encourage and promote writing talent among the public. It was clear from the standard of the entries that talent and love of writing exist in abundance!   

The competition was open to secondary students aged 12 to 17, as well as adults aged 18 and over. This year, entrants were invited to write an original story with the theme of “Festival”. The winners in both categories were rewarded with book vouchers, and the First Prize winners will also receive a one-hour consultation with renowned British author Paul French.

The winning entries will also be published on our website and later broadcast on RTHK Radio 3.

Thanks to everyone who took part, and congratulations to the winners:

Junior Group:

First Prize: Annika Yiu Restless

Second Prize: Chu Lui Sum Kristen Untitled

Third Prize: Jocelyn Tsang Festival: Reflections of a newborn dragon

Most Creative Award: Olivier Lee The Forgotten Festival

Adult Group:

First Prize: April Fung Family Dinner

Second Prize: Nancy Leung The Festival

Third Prize: Marcus Leung-Shea Edges

Most Creative Award: D. Wong Out, Brief Lantern

This Saturday morning (February 29th) at 8.30, another chance to hear Hong Kong based singer and band leader Pete Moore, as he brings you twelve Tales from The Penthouse, which was first broadcast in 2015. He calls it "a little exposé of some of the great singers. Iconic male vocalists, who've got the gift". Through classic songs, that may have even been a soundtrack to your life at some stage, spend the next few weeks in the company Pete, and some of the greatest crooners that ever lived. This week, in episode 5, he'll feature the unforgettable crooner...Bing Crosby. (Saturdays, 8.30-9am)

Produced by Phil Whelan

Vintage Chart Toppers: Join us for a packed show of spectacular twists and turns as we explore the top bands and orchestras of today, stylishly performing the wild and wonderful music of the Jazz Age.

(Every Sunday, 8.30am-9am)

This coming Saturday afternoon at 12.05, join us for more Good Ol' Country with Michael Lance. Apart from being one quarter of the amazing Metro Vocal Group, he's lived and breathed country music since he was small. Michael was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised on beef, corn, and potatoes. At a young age, he travelled North America with his family's Country and Western band, and developed a love for those great story driven songs, sung by some of the greatest story tellers of all time. Stand up, find a partner, and dance the two-step to some....Good Ol' Country. (Saturdays, 12.05pm-1pm, Facebook: @nebraskamike)