RTHK wins 11 accolades at New York Festivals
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) scored a remarkable achievement at the prestigious New York Festivals RadioAwards andTV & Film Awards on May 21 (New York time), capturing a total of 11 accolades, comprising one Silver Tower, two Bronze Towers and eight Finalist Diplomas. The result attests to the international recognition of RTHK's production standards and underscores RTHK's unwavering commitment to telling the world good stories of Hong Kong through the power of sound and image.
The Silver Tower, presented under the "Entertainment: Music Special" category of the Radio Awards, went to the "Concert in the Park - A Salute to Love", produced by RTHK Radio 4. Staged on Christmas Eve last year, the concert celebrated the bonds and affinities between composers, conveying messages of love and hope through stirring melodies. The programme showcased Hong Kong's unique charm as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, offering audiences around the world a musical window into the city's rich and multifaceted character.
The radio drama "Dragon's Return to the Homeland", co-produced by RTHK Radio 1 and the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network, claimed a Bronze Tower in the "Entertainment: Drama Special" category of the Radio Awards. Set against the backdrop of the mass participation events of the 15th National Games and inspired by the intangible cultural heritage of dragon boat racing, the drama features the voice talents of professional hosts and artistes from both cities, vividly portraying the cultural exchange and integrated way of life among the people of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. RTHK's Production Services Division also captured a Bronze Tower in the "Craft Films/Production: Use of Technology" category of the TV & Film Awards, in recognition of its innovative integration of extended reality and augmented reality technologies in the special programmes of the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games. The accolade highlights RTHK's adoption of cutting-edge media technologies and its forward-looking approach to programme production.
A further eight RTHK programmes received Finalist Diplomas, spanning a diverse range of subjects including humanities documentaries, social issues, sports promotion and in-depth news features. Members of the public are welcome to revisit these award-winning productions on the RTHK website.
The Director of Broadcasting, Ms Angelina Kwan, remarked that these multiple international honours stand as solid testimony to RTHK's world-class standards in content creation, production craftsmanship and journalistic professionalism. She affirmed that RTHK will continue to uphold its mission as a public service broadcaster, dedicating itself to producing quality programmes that tell good stories of Hong Kong and the country through diverse themes and innovative formats. RTHK aims to further elevate Hong Kong's international communication capacity, share with the world the depth and richness of the city's cultural heritage, and foster greater people-to-people connectivity.
Founded in 1957, the New York Festivals is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished awards in the global broadcasting industry, drawing entries each year from broadcasters across the world. It is recognised as a leading international benchmark for excellence in radio, television and film production.
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), Photo source: RTHK
Update on mosquito-borne diseases, dengue fever and chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 22) announced the latest situation regarding dengue fever (DF) and chikungunya fever (CF). As temperatures rise and humidity increases, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding, members of the public are reminded to take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Dengue fever
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From May 15 to yesterday (May 21), the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. During the incubation periods, one of the patients had travelled to Malaysia, while the other patient had been to multiple countries, namely Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
Hong Kong has recorded 19 DF cases so far this year, including 18 imported cases and one local case. A total of 59 DF cases were recorded last year (2025), all of which were imported cases. In 2024, 161 DF cases were recorded, including 156 imported cases and five local cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2024, the WHO recorded over 14 million cases, which was a record number. From January to July 2025, over 4 million cases and over 3 000 DF-related deaths were reported in 97 countries/territories.
DF is prevalent in many neighbouring tourist destinations. In 2025, Indonesia, India and Vietnam each recorded over 120 000 cases; Malaysia and Thailand each recorded over 50 000 cases; and Singapore recorded over 4 000 cases. Meanwhile, as of May 10, the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 97 cases in Guangdong Province this year, including eight locally infected cases. Guangdong Province recorded over 3 500 locally infected cases in 2025.
Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP'swebsite.
Chikungunya fever
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From May 15 to yesterday, no new cases of CF had been recorded. Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed CF cases so far this year, both of which were imported cases. Hong Kong recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Meanwhile, as of May 10, the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded four cases in Guangdong Province this year, including one locally infected case.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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According to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year.With the increase in rainfall in May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further. Therefore, the CHP reminded members of the public to maintain good environmental hygiene, and to take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as DF and CF are endemic in various countries worldwide. The risk of importation persists. Members of the public should check the situation at their destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, whether travelling or not, members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic, and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
