With an enhanced monitoring system in place, Hong Kong people may have less need to worry about local food and pharmaceutical safety. But they do have to worry about the cost. Not only is grocery shopping more expensive, but in some districts the much loved and cheaper fresh food markets are disappearing in the name of upgrading services. With us in the studio is the Chief Executive Officer of The Link Reit, George Hongchoy. Last month’s revelation that two million doses of expired or badly stored vaccine had been sold across China since 2011 once again exposed glaring loopholes in the country’s monitoring of food and pharmaceutical products. Even official government outlets expressed outrage: Xinhua warned that the faulty vaccines could have caused disabilities and death. Many people are asking why it took the authorities five years to do anything. Others are voting with their feet. They want to bring their children to Hong Kong for safer vaccinations. The Medical Council of Hong Kong was set up to help regulate medical services, investigate complaints, and conduct disciplinary enquiries. It has sometimes been accused of doing this at a snail’s pace. In his most recent policy address, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying proposed amending the Medical Registration Ordinance and reforming the council by appointing more outside members. Finally just a thought.. If you do happen to be flying out of Hong Kong in the near future. Don’t forget your carry-on luggage. If you leave it outside, once you’ve passed through security, I’m sorry to say it’s unlikely you’ll receive the same assistance one rather special passenger received at the end of March. So, without baggage of any kind, we’ll see you next week. Goodbye.

The Covid-19 virus has swept across the world with no end in sight. Because of uncertainties over testing in some countries, the full impact of the virus is uncertain, however it is widely estimated that there are now more than half a million cases worldwide, causing more than 24,000 deaths. Many countries have declared a state of emergency or imposed lockdowns. Governments have poured money into relief packages to save businesses and markets, and to help laid off workers. This week, The Pulse reports from New York City, London, and one of the worst-affected areas in Northern Italy: Lombardy.

Ricky Wong’s HKTV has given up on its dream of free TV for now, and settled for transmission over the mobile network he has acquired from China Mobile Hong Kong Corporation, a subsidiary of state-owned China Mobile. So why is he still facing problems? The $142 million deal between China Mobile Hong Kong and HKTV was completed on December 20th last year. Two weeks after the transaction, China Mobile Hong Kong’s parent company, China Mobile Communications Corporation in Beijing announced on its website that it was launching an internal probe into whether the deal complied with the parent company’s internal management rules and state regulations. Ricky Wong’s licence to broadcast a mobile TV network is effective until August, 2025. However, the transmission heavily relied on six transmission stations leased by Television Broadcasts to China Mobile for its mobile television service. That contract expires on July 6th and TVB announced this week that it would end the lease. This could strike a heavy blow to Wong’s planned launch on July 1. During the initial controversy over the government’s refusal to allow HKTV a free-TV licence, the Ming Pao Daily played a major role in revealing some of the behind the scenes dealing that had contributed to that decision. Now, the Chief Editor Kevin Lau has been relieved of his post. And some think they see a connection. Is China headed for a debt crisis that could be as devastating as the one that almost toppled world economies in 2008? Some worry that it might be so. The reason? China is sitting on a mountain of debt. And to make things worse, it may lack the ability or will to control that debt for political reasons, and because it doesn’t want to slow down its own economic growth. With us in the studio are Francis Lun, CEO of GEO Securities, and Albert Cheng Associate Director of Quamnet Research. 

Over the past few weeks, pan-democrats have been organising demonstrations against the 2012 package. Government officials have also been out on the street telling people to Act Now. Over the past seven days, the pro-Beijing organisations have been determined to show democrats they aren’t the only ones who can draw a crowd, even if it has to be "encouraged" to come.