Hong Kong Times

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

The new Pixel phones start at $899 alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and Google's first Pixel Tag tracker, as Google turns its devices into an increasingly integrated platform for Gemini.

Hong Kong to Lower Flags to Half-Staff for Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji

Hong Kong will fly national and regional flags at half-staff at Tamar headquarters, Government House and border control points on Tuesday to mark the cremation of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and honor his role in China’s economic i...

Extreme Heat Places Greater Pressure on Hong Kong Residents in Subdivided Housing

Severe summer temperatures are worsening living conditions for residents of subdivided and other substandard homes, adding pressure on the Hong Kong government to accelerate public housing delivery and address inequality despite the broa...

Hong Kong Baptist University Ransomware Attack Exposes Data of Nearly 1,800 People

A ransomware attack attributed to the hacker group TheGentlemen compromised personal data belonging to nearly 1,800 students and staff at Hong Kong Baptist University as Hong Kong records almost 3,000 privacy complaints in the first half...

Cathay Pacific Flight Returns to Hong Kong After Suspected Engine Overheating

A Cathay Pacific passenger flight to Jakarta returned to Hong Kong International Airport after a suspected engine malfunction, coinciding with the completion of a government review into earlier communication issues involving the airline.

Hong Kong Backs Airport Expansion as Financial Secretary Sees Stronger Second-Half Prospects

Financial Secretary Paul Chan has expressed cautious optimism about Hong Kong’s economic outlook for the second half of the year while reaffirming government support for expanding Hong Kong International Airport and strengthening its int...

Hong Kong Deploys 5,000 Personnel for Major Counter-Terrorism Drill at Huanggang Port

About 5,000 personnel took part in a large-scale operational exercise at Huanggang Port, testing passenger flows, logistics and emergency response as Hong Kong prepares for deeper cross-border integration with the Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong’s Five-Year Development Plan to Put Green Finance at the Center of Economic Strategy

Hong Kong’s upcoming five-year development plan will place greater emphasis on green transition policies and sustainable finance after a public consultation drew 16,000 submissions, reinforcing the city’s ambition to strengthen its posit...

Cyberport Reaches 50% Occupancy as Artificial Intelligence and Fintech Demand Remains Strong

Government-backed technology hub Cyberport has filled half of its newly available office space, reflecting continued demand from artificial intelligence, financial technology and digital asset companies seeking to expand their presence i...

Hong Kong Raises 2026 Growth Forecast to 3.5%–4.5% After Strong First-Half Expansion

Hong Kong has raised its full-year economic growth forecast to between 3.5% and 4.5% after the economy expanded 5.1% in the first half, with strong technology demand supporting growth despite external geopolitical risks.

Kowloon City Businesses Prepare for Economic Boost From Kai Tak Sports Park

Businesses and property investors in Hong Kong’s Kowloon City district are positioning for increased retail and hospitality demand as the Kai Tak Sports Park nears completion and international concert promoters prepare to expand large-sc...

China’s Central Bank Maintains Moderately Loose Monetary Policy to Support Technology and Private Firms

The People’s Bank of China has pledged to maintain ample liquidity in the second half of the year while encouraging financial institutions to support technology innovation bonds and strengthen credit mechanisms for small and medium-sized...

China Begins Weekly Arctic Freight Services to Europe Along the Ice Silk Road

Chinese state-owned logistics companies have begun regular weekly commercial freight operations through the Arctic Ocean to Europe, opening a polar shipping route that reduces reliance on the Strait of Malacca and other Indo-Pacific mari...

China’s Luxury Home Sales Rise 38% as Broader Property Market Remains Under Pressure

Sales of ultra-premium homes priced between 30 million and 50 million yuan rose 38% in the first half of the year, highlighting a sharp divide between China’s luxury property market and the broader housing sector’s continuing weakness.

Meta Abandons $2 Billion Acquisition of Chinese AI Startup Manus After Regulatory Intervention

Meta Platforms has dropped its planned multibillion-dollar acquisition of the Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus following regulatory intervention by Beijing, highlighting growing restrictions on cross-border deals inv...

Zhipu AI Launches New Foundation Model for Cybersecurity and Autonomous Agents

Chinese artificial intelligence developer Zhipu has introduced a new foundation model designed for cybersecurity applications and autonomous digital agents, as Beijing pushes for more standardized and domestically aligned approaches to A...

China’s Renewed Anti-Gang Campaign Raises Private Sector Concerns Over Enforcement

China’s latest campaign against criminal syndicates and online extortion has prompted legal experts to warn that arbitrary enforcement targets and improper seizures of corporate assets could further weaken confidence among private busine...

China Tests One-Megawatt Perovskite Solar Farm With Higher Efficiency Than Silicon Panels

Chinese researchers have demonstrated a one-megawatt perovskite solar installation that outperformed traditional silicon panels in industrial-scale testing, providing a boost to efforts to commercialize the next generation of solar techn...

Southern Chinese Cities Offer Incentives to Retain Artificial Intelligence Talent

Municipal governments in Guangdong are introducing financial and operational incentives to retain artificial intelligence engineers and founders after high-profile departures from leading startups raised concerns over talent moving to co...

China Expands Electricity Spot Trading as Wind and Solar Capacity Drives Price Volatility

The rapid expansion of wind and solar power is pushing China’s electricity system toward broader real-time spot trading as grid operators contend with greater fluctuations in supply, prices and balancing costs for industrial users.

DJI Wins New Judicial Review Opportunity in U.S. Defense Department Blacklist Case

Shenzhen-based drone maker DJI has secured a new opportunity to challenge its inclusion on the United States Defense Department’s investment blacklist, potentially affecting the company’s access to restricted American supply chains and f...

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 98, Marking the Passing of a Reform-Era Leader

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a key figure in China’s economic reforms and its accession to the World Trade Organization, has died at 98 and will be cremated in Beijing following a state funeral, prompting reflection within China’s ...

China Tightens Immigration and Border Controls Under New Regulations Taking Effect in September

China will introduce stricter immigration and border-control rules in September under a State Council decree signed by Premier Li Qiang, giving authorities greater scrutiny over entry and exit applications and expanded powers to reject t...

Yangtze Memory Enters Global Top Three Flash Memory Suppliers With 14% Market Share

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation has reached an estimated 14% share of the global flash-memory market, placing the Chinese chipmaker among the world’s top three suppliers despite United States export controls and underscoring the ...

China’s C919 Jet Program Faces Supply Bottlenecks as Domestic Airline Demand Rises

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China is struggling to keep pace with growing domestic orders for its C919 narrow-body passenger jet, with aviation executives pointing to supply-chain constraints that extend beyond long-standing diffi...

Chinese Electric Vehicle Sales Fall at Home as Overseas Shipments Jump 148%

China’s electric vehicle market is showing a widening split between weaker domestic sales over the first seven months and a 148% surge in overseas shipments, intensifying international concerns over Chinese manufacturing capacity and tra...

Hong Kong Pushes Ahead With Northern Metropolis Development as Costs Top HK$360 Billion

Hong Kong is accelerating land clearance and infrastructure work for the Northern Metropolis, a major development intended to create a technology and residential hub in the New Territories with stronger links to Shenzhen. Analysts estima...

Hong Kong Tourism Board Launches Summer Rewards Campaign to Support Local Retail

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has launched a citywide summer rewards campaign with major digital payment platforms, offering discounts on dining, hotels and shopping through late August. The initiative is aimed at encouraging spending by r...

Hong Kong IPO Proceeds Reach $41 Billion, Surpassing Full-Year 2025 Total

Hong Kong’s initial public offering market has raised $41 billion by early August, already exceeding the amount raised during all of 2025. The rebound strengthens Hong Kong’s role as a major international fundraising center as technology...

Hong Kong Exchange Fund Foreign Assets Rise to HK$3.69 Trillion

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority reported that foreign assets held by the Exchange Fund rose to HK$3.694 trillion in July. The larger reserves provide additional financial-system protection against geopolitical uncertainty, changes in Un...

Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Doubles Private Jet Capacity With Airport Expansion

The Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre has opened an expanded terminal at Hong Kong International Airport featuring an all-weather canopy and upgraded VIP customs facilities. The expansion doubles private jet handling capacity as the air...

Hong Kong Exchange Launches Five-Year Chinese Government Bond Futures

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing has launched five-year Chinese Government Bond futures, giving international investors a standardized tool for managing interest-rate risks linked to mainland Chinese sovereign debt. The new contract adds...

Hong Kong Raises 2026 Growth Forecast to 3.5%-4.5% as AI-Driven Exports Surge

Hong Kong has raised its 2026 economic growth forecast to between 3.5% and 4.5% after the economy expanded 5.1% in the first half. Strong domestic consumption and a 28.8% increase in goods exports, driven by global demand linked to artif...

Hong Kong Reappoints Clement Cheung as Insurance Authority Chief Executive Through 2029

Hong Kong has reappointed Clement Cheung as chief executive of the Insurance Authority for another three-year term through 2029. The regulator is focusing on expanding regional business, implementing a new risk-based capital regime and d...

China Reports Record July Contraction in Bank Lending as Regulators Shut Hundreds of Rural Lenders

New bank lending in China contracted sharply in July as weak demand from companies and households continued to weigh on borrowing. At the same time, financial regulators have eliminated more than 700 legal-entity financial institutions, ...

SMIC Considers Unplanned Capacity Expansion as AI Chip Demand Pushes Utilization to 93.7 Percent

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation reported second-quarter factory utilization of 93.7 percent and is considering additional production equipment at existing facilities. The company also warned of potential price incre...

China’s Central Bank Unveils First Stand-Alone Five-Year Financial Plan for 2026-2030

The People’s Bank of China has released its first stand-alone five-year plan, setting out measures to expand international use of the renminbi, strengthen macro-prudential regulation and upgrade financial infrastructure including the dig...

China’s AI Adoption in Large Manufacturers Surpasses 30 Percent as State Council Pushes Industrial Deployment

More than 30 percent of designated large manufacturing enterprises in China are now using advanced artificial intelligence, according to official data. State Council guidelines for the Artificial Intelligence Plus initiative call for bro...

Xi Jinping Calls for AI and Satellite Technology to Strengthen China’s Disaster Prevention

President Xi Jinping has called for greater use of artificial intelligence and satellite remote sensing to improve China’s flood-control and disaster-prevention systems. In an essay published by Qiushi, Xi said global warming is increasi...

China’s Coastal Export Hubs Pull Further Ahead of Inland Provinces as AI and Green Technology Demand Grows

Economic indicators show a widening divide between coastal manufacturing centers benefiting from global demand for artificial intelligence components and green technologies and traditional inland regions facing weak domestic demand and l...

China Tightens Exit, Entry and Immigration Consulting Rules Under New State Council Decree

State Council Decree Number 841 will take effect in September 2026, introducing stricter requirements for cross-border travel and immigration services. The rules include enhanced verification of foreign visas, formal compliance obligatio...

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 98

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a leading figure in China’s economic reform era, has died at the age of 98, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council announced. Zhu was credited with guiding China through th...

CK Hutchison Profit Surges on European Asset Sales as Group Maintains Cautious Outlook

CK Hutchison reported first-half net profit of twenty-six point eight billion Hong Kong dollars, up sharply because of gains from selling stakes in United Kingdom utilities and telecommunications assets, while underlying profit rose seve...

Hong Kong Completes Consultation on First Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan

The Hong Kong government has concluded a two-month consultation on its first five-year plan for 2026 to 2030, which aims to align the city’s development with China’s national planning priorities while strengthening innovation, technology...

Hong Kong Home Prices Rise Eight Percent in 2026 as Property Market Recovery Gains Ground

Hong Kong residential property values increased three percent in the second quarter, taking the year-to-date gain to eight percent as lower interest rates, the removal of market-cooling measures and renewed demand from mainland Chinese b...

Hong Kong Launches First Regulated Hong Kong Dollar Stablecoin With Institutional Access

Anchorpoint Financial, backed by Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands and HKT, has launched HKDAP, a regulated stablecoin pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, initially for institutional and professional investors with retail access planned for...

High-Speed Rail Trips Between Hong Kong and Mainland China Surpass Twenty Million

Passenger journeys on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed rail network exceeded twenty million by the second week of August, reaching the milestone eleven days earlier than last year as tourism, cross-border business and consumer...

MTR Reports Strong First-Half Revenue as Railway and Property Businesses Support Growth

MTR Corporation recorded first-half revenue of twenty-six point two billion Hong Kong dollars and underlying profit of fifteen point six billion Hong Kong dollars, beating market expectations as its railway operations and property busine...

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