Hong Kong Times

Hong Kong Home Prices Fall Further Amid High Borrowing Costs and Tax Concerns

Hong Kong residential property prices have declined again as elevated financing costs and concerns about possible mainland Chinese tax measures affecting cross-border capital flows weigh on market sentiment.

Hong Kong Plans Faster Border Clearance at Redeveloped Huanggang Control Point

Security Secretary Chris Tang says simplified co-location clearance arrangements will be introduced at the redeveloped Huanggang crossing to reduce travel friction between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Hong Kong Power Companies Raise Fuel Charges Despite Government Subsidies

CLP Power and HK Electric have announced increases in fuel-related electricity charges, adding to costs for households and businesses while government subsidies seek to soften the immediate impact.

Hong Kong Partners With Google and Microsoft on Free AI Training for Small Businesses

Hong Kong authorities are working with Google and Microsoft to provide free artificial intelligence courses for small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to help local companies improve efficiency and digital capabilities.

Fosun Explores Hong Kong IPO for Club Med

Fosun Tourism Group is considering a separate Hong Kong listing for Club Med as the Chinese conglomerate looks to raise capital for the resort operator’s international expansion.

Record Non-Local University Applications Fuel Debate Over Hong Kong Admission Quotas

A surge in applications from students outside Hong Kong’s traditional Diploma of Secondary Education system has prompted calls from local education advocates for quotas intended to protect university places for local students.

Hong Kong Lowers Heat-Warning Threshold to Protect Outdoor Workers

Authorities have revised the city’s heat-stress warning system so higher alerts are automatically triggered when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius across multiple urban districts.

US Sanctions Hong Kong-Based Kameng Trading Over Alleged Iran-Linked Transactions

The US Treasury Department has sanctioned Kameng Trading Limited, accusing the Hong Kong-based company of acting as a front to facilitate transactions that helped Iranian exchange houses circumvent international banking restrictions.

Decline in Chinese Medical Insurance Enrollment Prompts Calls for Greater Subsidies

Public-health experts are calling for increased government support for elderly and low-income rural residents after seven consecutive years of declining participation in basic resident medical insurance.

John Lee to Unveil Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan With September Policy Address

Chief Executive John Lee says Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year development blueprint will be released alongside his annual policy address on September 16, introducing a longer-term planning framework for the city’s economy and regional in...

Former Hubei Party Chief Jiang Chaoliang Sentenced to Life for Corruption

Former Hubei provincial party chief Jiang Chaoliang has been sentenced to life in prison after a two-year death-penalty reprieve over convictions involving $111 million in illicit bribes.

Chinese Local Governments Cut Civil-Service Hiring as Budget Pressures Mount

Municipal and provincial authorities are reducing entry-level public-sector positions as strained budgets leave university graduates competing for fewer government jobs and increasingly turning to rural assistance and gig-economy work.

Nepal-Tibet Mudslide Buries Gyirong Border Crossing and Disrupts Trade

An avalanche and mudslide have buried infrastructure at the Gyirong crossing between Tibet and Nepal, severing an important Himalayan trade route and prompting an emergency directive from President Xi Jinping to strengthen glacial monito...

China Tightens Standards for Electric-Vehicle Battery Health Displays

New recommended national standards limit errors in dashboard battery-health readings to 5%, seeking to improve transparency for electric-vehicle owners and establish more consistent benchmarks for aging batteries.

China Completes Preparations for 2026 International Fair for Trade in Services

China’s Ministry of Commerce says preparations are complete for the Beijing trade-in-services fair, which will focus on artificial intelligence, digital healthcare and support for Chinese companies expanding overseas.

Chinese Enterprise AI Usage Tops 500 Trillion Tokens a Day

Daily artificial intelligence token usage among Chinese enterprises has surpassed 500 trillion as Alibaba, Huawei, Baidu and Tencent compete for demand from companies deploying AI agents across their operations.

Chinese Biotech Startups Use AI to Develop New Gene-Editing Tools

Chinese life-sciences companies are using machine-learning models to design proprietary DNA-editing technologies as they seek alternatives to gene-editing systems involved in costly US patent disputes.

Hong Kong Raises 2026 Growth Forecast to as High as 4.5% on AI-Related Export Demand

Hong Kong has raised its 2026 real GDP growth forecast to between 3.5% and 4.5%, citing strong external trade and rising exports of electronic components linked to artificial intelligence demand.

China and US Discuss Preparations for Xi Jinping Visit to Washington

Foreign Minister Wang Yi met US Ambassador David Perdue in Beijing as Chinese officials worked to resolve obstacles to high-level exchanges and prepare for a reciprocal visit by President Xi Jinping to Washington during the September Uni...

China Removes Two Senior Generals From Central Military Commission

China’s National People’s Congress has removed General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and General Liu Zhenli following investigations into disciplinary violations, marking a major shake-up at the top of t...

Chinese Semiconductor Profits Surge 18.5-Fold as AI Demand Accelerates

China’s National Bureau of Statistics says profits across the domestic integrated-circuit industry increased 18.5-fold during the first seven months of the year, driven by rising computing demand and wider deployment of generative artifi...

Hong Kong Expands AI Adoption Across Businesses and Public Services

The Hong Kong Productivity Council has launched an AI adoption program for small and medium-sized businesses, while authorities plan a dedicated research institute, an ethical framework and artificial intelligence deployment across 100 p...

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Posts Record Half-Year Revenue and Profit

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing reported record first-half revenue of HK$16.7 billion and profit of HK$10.6 billion, driven by higher trading volumes, strong sovereign wealth fund participation and a robust pipeline of technology, biote...

Hong Kong Home Prices Rebound 18% From March 2025 Trough

Hong Kong's secondary residential property prices have risen 18% from their March 2025 low, according to J.P. Morgan Private Bank, supported by lower mortgage rates, stronger equities and mainland Chinese demand as retail sales also reco...

Hong Kong Exchange Plans Shein Options and Short Selling After September Debut

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing will permit short selling and introduce weekly and monthly options and derivative warrants for Shein following the fast-fashion retailer's scheduled September 1 trading debut.

Hong Kong Industries Federation Submits More Than 300 Policy Proposals to John Lee

The Federation of Hong Kong Industries has presented Chief Executive John Lee with more than 300 recommendations covering manufacturing upgrades, supply-chain digitalization and efforts to attract international capital and technology inv...

Hong Kong Completes First Passenger Drone Test Flight at Cyberport

An EHang electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft has completed a test flight over Cyberport's waterfront as Hong Kong explores autonomous passenger drones and other advanced urban mobility technologies.

Hong Kong MTR Targets 2030 Completion for Hung Shui Kiu Station

MTR Corporation plans to complete Hung Shui Kiu Station on the Tuen Ma Line by 2030, using a construction method designed to build the station on an operational railway viaduct while supporting development of the Northern Metropolis.

Hong Kong Extends IPO Application Validity to 12 Months Amid Listing Boom

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong has temporarily doubled the validity period for eligible listing applications from six to 12 months, giving issuers greater flexibility as the city's strong fundraising pipeline continues.

China's Lawyers Law Amendments Formalize Greater Bay Area Legal Practice Scheme

Amendments passed by China's National People's Congress Standing Committee provide a statutory basis for the Greater Bay Area lawyers scheme, expanding opportunities for Hong Kong legal professionals to provide services in mainland China.

Chinese Biotech Firms Use AI to Develop Proprietary Gene-Editing Tools

Chinese biotechnology startups are using artificial intelligence to design new DNA-editing systems as they seek proprietary alternatives to CRISPR-Cas9 and domestically controlled intellectual property for advanced biomedical research.

China and Poland Agree to Deepen Battery, Wind Power and Rail Cooperation

Chinese and Polish officials have agreed to expand investment and cooperation in power batteries, offshore wind and China-Europe freight trains following bilateral economic talks in Beijing.

Chinese Astronauts Complete 5.5-Hour Repair Spacewalk Outside Tiangong

Astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan completed a 5.5-hour spacewalk to repair a solar wing on China's Tiangong space station, restoring stable power for ongoing scientific experiments in orbit.

Foreign Investors Sell Beijing and Shanghai Commercial Property at Steep Discounts

Overseas institutional investors are accelerating sales of commercial real estate in China's two largest cities at significant markdowns as fund maturities and debt pressures contribute to falling valuations.

China's Knowledge-Intensive Services Exports Rise 12.8% in First Half

Knowledge-intensive services exports increased 12.8% and accounted for more than half of China's services trade in the first six months of the year, as Beijing prepares to promote sectors including digital healthcare and financial techno...

Chinese Energy Storage Battery Exports Surge as Manufacturers Turn to Europe

Overseas orders for Chinese energy storage batteries increased 83% in the first half, led by European demand as domestic deployment slows and access to North American markets becomes more difficult.

Former Hubei Party Chief Jiang Chaoliang Sentenced to Life for Bribery

Former senior official and state banking executive Jiang Chaoliang has received a life sentence without parole for accepting more than $111 million in bribes, while anti-corruption authorities have separately opened an investigation into...

Chinese Local Governments Cut Public-Sector Hiring Amid Fiscal Pressure

Financially constrained municipal governments are reducing recruitment for civil service and rural assistance programs, narrowing employment opportunities for university graduates already facing a difficult youth labour market.

China Launches Yearlong Safety Review of Auto Industry and Driver-Assistance Systems

Four Chinese government agencies have begun a joint inspection campaign covering vehicle safety, advanced driver-assistance systems and production standards amid regulatory concerns over rapid innovation and cost-cutting in the highly co...

China Passes Healthcare Security Law and Appoints New Civil Affairs Minister

The National People's Congress has adopted a healthcare security framework and appointed Li Changguan as civil affairs minister as China seeks to strengthen its social safety net amid mounting pressures from an aging population.

Glacial Collapse Devastates China's Gyirong Border Crossing With Nepal

A glacial collapse has buried the main trade and logistics crossing between Xizang and Nepal, killing hundreds, severing a key Belt and Road route and prompting a large People's Liberation Army rescue deployment.

Chinese AI Chipmakers Report Sharp Revenue Growth as Domestic Supply Chain Expands

Semiconductor companies including Cambricon, Hygon and Moore Threads reported record revenue growth in the first half as US export controls and demand from domestic artificial intelligence models accelerate China's shift toward locally p...

China Tightens Home Presale Rules to Reduce Risk of Unfinished Projects

New national regulations require residential developments to be structurally topped out before units can be sold, restricting developers' access to presale cash while seeking to prevent unfinished housing projects that have damaged buyer...

China Removes Two Top Generals From Central Military Commission

China's National People's Congress has removed General Zhang Youxia as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and General Liu Zhenli as a member following investigations into suspected serious disciplinary violations.

HKG Times