Hong Kong Times

Hong Kong-Peru Free Trade Agreement Takes Effect With Tariffs Cut Across Most Goods

The trade pact removes or phases out duties on 98.3% of Peru’s tariff lines for qualifying Hong Kong exports, strengthening commercial links between Hong Kong and Latin America.

Hong Kong Records 5.46 Million Visitors in August, Highest Monthly Total Since Pandemic

Hong Kong received about 5.46 million visitors in August, up 6% from a year earlier and the strongest monthly figure since the pandemic, supporting the continued recovery of tourism and hospitality.

Western Scrutiny Expands to Chinese Connected Infrastructure and Energy Equipment

European and US regulators are increasingly examining security risks associated with Chinese-made connected infrastructure, including port equipment, electric transport systems and solar-energy technology.

Chinese Defense Minister Warns Against Militarism and Historical Revisionism

Defense Minister Dong Jun used the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing to warn against militarism and historical revisionism in remarks widely viewed as directed at Japan amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

China’s Semiconductor Imports Rise Sharply as AI Computing Demand Expands

Strong investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure is driving heavier Chinese demand for imported semiconductors, with South Korean chip shipments to China reaching record levels as overall imports surged in August.

Indonesian Wildfire Haze Disrupts Regional Aviation and Raises Supply-Chain Concerns

Severe forest-fire haze in Indonesia has disrupted flights and worsened air quality across parts of Southeast Asia, adding pressure to regional transportation and logistics networks.

Northern Metropolis Opens Pilot Cross-Border Data Access to AI and Biotech Firms

Around 10 artificial-intelligence and biotechnology companies in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen innovation hub are expected to receive early access to cross-border data flows under a new pilot program.

Hong Kong Unveils First Five-Year Plan to Align Growth With National Development

Chief Executive John Lee introduced Hong Kong’s first five-year economic and social development plan, setting longer-term priorities for the economy, housing and livelihoods while aligning the city more closely with China’s national deve...

Hong Kong and Dubai Form Working Group to Deepen Financial Market Links

Hong Kong and Dubai regulators and exchanges have established a joint working group covering Islamic finance, sustainable finance, capital markets and broader financial connectivity between Asia and the Middle East.

Hong Kong Targets Innovation Spending at 3% of GDP

Hong Kong plans to raise innovation and research spending toward 3% of gross domestic product while directing more investment toward artificial intelligence, biotechnology, aerospace and other advanced industries.

China’s New Home Prices Fall Again as Property Slump Persists

New home prices declined 0.1% in August from the previous month and 3% from a year earlier, keeping pressure on household confidence, consumption and local government finances.

Hong Kong Expands Tax Incentives for Commodity Traders and High-Value Businesses

The government plans preferential tax treatment for physical commodity trading and selected high-value enterprises as Hong Kong seeks to attract more regional headquarters, technology companies and supply-chain businesses.

China Urges US and Iran to Return to Islamabad Agreement and Resume Talks

Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Washington and Tehran to exercise restraint and restart substantive negotiations based on the Islamabad memorandum during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing.

China Blocks Meta’s Acquisition of AI Startup Manus

China’s National Development and Reform Commission ordered Meta’s acquisition of Manus to be unwound under the country’s foreign-investment review regime, highlighting tighter scrutiny of deals involving strategically important artificia...

China Tightens Exit Controls for Citizens Linked to Sensitive Technology

New rules allow Chinese authorities to restrict overseas travel when technology-transfer or export-control violations could threaten national industrial or technological security, extending Beijing’s safeguards around strategically impor...

Hong Kong Unveils First Five-Year Plan With Focus on Technology and Northern Metropolis

Chief Executive John Lee introduced Hong Kong’s first five-year economic and social development plan, placing artificial intelligence, innovation and the Northern Metropolis at the center of closer integration with national development.

Huawei Unveils New Smartphone Chip Architecture as China Pushes Technology Self-Reliance

Huawei’s latest Kirin smartphone processor uses a new vertically stacked architecture, marking another advance in the company’s effort to develop high-performance chips under continuing foreign technology restrictions.

Hong Kong Unveils First Five-Year Development Plan Alongside 2026 Policy Address

Chief Executive John Lee presented Hong Kong’s first five-year economic and social development plan, aligning priorities with China’s national strategy while emphasizing the Northern Metropolis, innovation and higher research spending.

Syngenta Files Confidentially for Potential $5 Billion Hong Kong IPO

Agricultural technology group Syngenta has submitted a confidential application to list in Hong Kong, targeting a potential $5 billion fundraising that would add another large multinational offering to the city’s equity market.

Hong Kong Hiring Outlook Improves as Employers Expand AI and Digital Recruitment

A ManpowerGroup survey showed Hong Kong’s net employment outlook rising 23 percentage points to 14% for the fourth quarter as companies increase hiring linked to artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

Hong Kong Introduces Healthcare and Labour Reforms Affecting Drug Approvals, Pensions and Minimum Wage

Hong Kong is establishing a new evaluation system for advanced medicines and medical devices while ending the Mandatory Provident Fund offsetting arrangement and moving minimum-wage reviews to an annual cycle.

China Defence Minister Warns Against Hegemonism as Wang Yi Meets Iranian Counterpart

China’s defence minister used the Beijing Xiangshan Forum to warn against militarism and hegemonism, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate talks with Iran’s foreign minister in Beijing.

Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Reach Nearly 37 Million Ahead of Golden Week

Hong Kong received almost 37 million visitors during the first eight months of the year, up 11% from a year earlier, with August recording the strongest monthly total since the pandemic.

Younger Hong Kong Investors Shift From Property Toward More Liquid Assets

Market analysts report that younger wealthy investors in Hong Kong are reducing their reliance on real estate in favour of more liquid investments as weakness in commercial property pushes landlords to seek new technology and financial-s...

Biren Technology Weighs $1 Billion Hong Kong Share Sale

Chinese artificial intelligence chipmaker Biren Technology is considering raising about $1 billion through a Hong Kong share placement to fund further development of its semiconductor business.

Hong Kong Approves 50 Corporate Redomiciliation Applications

Hong Kong has approved 50 of more than 80 applications from companies seeking to redomicile in the city under a regulatory framework intended to attract international businesses and capital.

Hang Lung Opens Amoy Footbridge Linking Kowloon Bay With MTR Station

Hang Lung Properties has opened the privately funded Amoy Footbridge in Kowloon Bay, providing a 24-hour pedestrian connection to the local MTR station as redevelopment continues across Kowloon East.

Guangzhou Schools Cut Contract Teaching Jobs as Student Numbers Decline

Public schools in Guangzhou are beginning to reduce contract teaching positions as falling birth rates translate into lower primary-school enrolment and changing staffing needs.

China Launches More Qianfan Satellites in Consecutive Sea and Land Missions

China used the sea-launched Gravity-1 rocket and land-based Zhuque-2E to place Qianfan network and technology-test satellites into low-Earth orbit as deployment of its satellite internet constellation continues.

Chinese Regulators Order 20% Reduction in Digital IOU Balances

Chinese financial regulators have required a 20% reduction in digital IOUs used in supply-chain financing as authorities target delayed payments and financial risks affecting small and medium-sized companies.

China’s Top-Tier Secondary Home Prices Extend Modest Gains

Pre-owned housing prices in major Chinese cities are showing signs of stabilization after years of declines, although large inventories of unfinished homes continue to weigh on prospects for a broader property recovery.

Chinese Automakers Consolidate as Seres Takes Full Control of Aito

Chinese automakers are moving toward greater consolidation amid intense price competition, while electric vehicle maker Seres has acquired full ownership of the Aito brand from Huawei.

China Moves to Overhaul Blood Donation Rules Amid Supply Shortages

Chinese lawmakers are revising national blood donation regulations to modernize collection systems, encourage participation and address shortages as healthcare demand increases.

Hong Kong Unveils First Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan

Chief Executive John Lee introduced Hong Kong’s first five-year development plan for 2026 to 2030, with priorities including innovation investment, international talent and closer economic integration with mainland China.

China Opens Pinglu Canal to Shorten Trade Routes to Southeast Asia

China has opened the Pinglu Canal in the south of the country, creating a shorter waterway from inland manufacturing areas to the Gulf of Tonkin and reducing shipping distances to Southeast Asian markets.

China Credit Growth Slows Sharply as Industrial Output Rises 5.2%

China reported a contraction in aggregate financing and new lending as weak consumption and property investment weighed on demand, while August industrial output grew 5.2% on stronger manufacturing investment and exports.

Huawei Unveils Tri-Fold Smartphone With Mass-Produced Proprietary Chip

Huawei introduced a new tri-fold smartphone powered by its own mass-produced logic-folding semiconductor, highlighting continued development of domestic chip capabilities despite restrictions on access to advanced foreign technology.

Moonshot AI Open-Sources Kimi K3 as Chinese AI Competition Intensifies

Chinese artificial intelligence developer Moonshot AI has released its Kimi K3 large language model as open source after strong domestic demand temporarily forced the company to pause new user registrations.

MTR Plans Half-Price Fare Day to Support Local Spending and Cross-Border Travel

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will offer half-price fares on an October promotional day across its main rail network and selected East Rail border services to encourage domestic consumption and Greater Bay Area travel.

Hong Kong Investigates HK$14.7 Million Credit Card Fraud Linked to iPhone Pre-Orders

More than 700 Hong Kong cardholders reported unauthorized transactions totaling HK$14.7 million around the latest Apple product launch, prompting consumer and banking authorities to call for stronger safeguards during major online sales ...

Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Top 5.4 Million in August as Tourism Recovery Strengthens

Hong Kong received 5.46 million visitors in August, up 6% from a year earlier, bringing arrivals in the first eight months to 36.7 million and supporting the recovery of the city’s hospitality and retail sectors.

ZA Bank Moves to Causeway Bay as Lower Office Rents Draw Technology Firms Into Premium Districts

Hong Kong virtual lender ZA Bank is relocating to Causeway Bay in partnership with Hysan Development, reflecting a broader shift as financial technology companies take advantage of lower Grade-A office rents.

JD.com Expands Hong Kong Retail and Logistics Footprint With More Than $1.3 Billion Invested

JD.com has invested more than $1.3 billion in Hong Kong logistics and retail assets over two years as the mainland Chinese e-commerce group expands its physical network and challenges traditional property and retail models.

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