Hong Kong Times

Hong Kong and Hainan Deepen Tourism and Free Trade Port Cooperation

Senior officials from Hong Kong and Hainan have launched a joint cultural and business initiative aimed at promoting investment and travel links while positioning Hong Kong as a gateway to the rapidly developing Hainan Free Trade Port.

Henderson Land Launches New Phase of Hung Hom Redevelopment Project

The property developer has released 263 residential units under the latest phase of its Midtown South development, signaling continued confidence in urban renewal projects despite elevated borrowing costs.

Hong Kong Police Dismantle HK$320 Million Illegal World Cup Gambling Network

The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau arrested 150 people and intercepted HK$320 million in illicit betting proceeds during a three-day operation targeting unauthorized bookmakers during the global football tournament.

Mandatory Provident Fund Authority Launches AI Chatbot to Modernize Retirement Investment Education

Hong Kong's pension regulator has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered assistant to provide personalized guidance to scheme members, marking a further step in the digital transformation of retirement savings services.

Hong Kong Tourism Board Launches HK$20 Million Summer Campaign to Boost Visitor Spending

Working with travel platform Trip.com, the tourism authority has introduced discounts on transport and attractions to encourage international arrivals and support the continued recovery of the city's hospitality sector.

Citigroup Names JianXun Toh to Lead Corporate Banking Across Key Asia-Pacific Markets

The banking group has appointed JianXun Toh to oversee corporate banking in Japan, Asia North and Australia, underscoring Hong Kong's continuing importance as a regional management centre for multinational financial institutions.

Hong Kong Unemployment Holds at 3.7 Percent as Consumption and Services Remain Resilient

Official data for the March-to-May period showed the jobless rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent, reflecting stable domestic demand and continued momentum in trade and service industries despite global economic uncertainties.

Hong Kong IPO Market Set for Six-Year High as Industry Group Moves to Improve Small-Cap Trading

Initial public offerings in Hong Kong are projected to raise more than US$43 billion this year, driven largely by artificial intelligence companies, while a new industry task force seeks to address weak liquidity among more than a thousa...

AIA and Prudential Expand Hong Kong Wealth Management Teams to Capture Rising Asian Affluence

The two insurance groups have created new wealth management positions in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's role as a key hub for serving high-net-worth individuals and managing growing pools of private capital across Asia-Pacific.

Hong Kong Approves Two Percent Pay Increase for Civil Servants

The Chief Executive in Council approved a uniform 2 percent salary increase for all categories of civil servants, retroactive to April 1, as authorities seek to maintain public sector competitiveness while exercising fiscal restraint.

China Warns Japan's Military Expansion Threatens Regional Security

China's Ministry of National Defense criticized Japan's rising defense spending and relaxation of weapons export restrictions, describing Tokyo's pursuit of long-range strike capabilities as a destabilizing development in the Asia-Pacifi...

China's Humanoid Robotics Industry Faces Growing Fears of Destructive Price Competition

Industry founders and investors are warning of intensifying price wars as more than 140 Chinese companies compete for market share ahead of government targets for large-scale commercial deployment of humanoid robots by the end of 2026.

China's Retail Sales Unexpectedly Contract in May as Consumer Demand Remains Weak

Official data showed retail sales fell 0.6% from a year earlier in May, missing expectations and highlighting persistent weakness in household spending despite targeted stimulus measures and recent signs of manufacturing softness.

China and Indonesia Launch Nationwide Cross-Border QR Payment System Using Local Currencies

The People's Bank of China and Bank Indonesia have activated a comprehensive payment network allowing transactions to be settled directly in renminbi and rupiah, reducing reliance on the US dollar and deepening financial integration betw...

China's Legislature to Review Financial Stability and Central Bank Laws Later This Month

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will meet in Beijing from June 23 to 26 to consider revisions to the People's Bank of China Law and a draft Financial Stability Law aimed at strengthening oversight of the country'...

Chinese Solar and Technology Firms Penalized for Illegal Exports of Restricted Critical Minerals

Chinese authorities said at least eleven companies, including a subsidiary of JA Solar, were punished this year for exporting unlicensed graphite and rare earth materials to Vietnam, signaling tighter enforcement of Beijing's critical mi...

Heatwaves in Northern China Put Pressure on Power Grids and Accelerate Renewable Energy Projects

Early-summer heat across northern China is testing electricity networks and prompting provinces to accelerate direct renewable power connections for industrial users in an effort to avoid manufacturing disruptions.

SAIC to Invest €200 Million in Spanish Electric Vehicle Factory Amid EU Tariffs

Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC will invest €200 million to build an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Spain, accelerating the localization of production in Europe despite rising trade barriers from the European Union.

Chinese Deep-Sea Robotics and Marine Artificial Intelligence Move Into Commercial Use

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and domestic technology companies reported broader deployment of underwater robotics, marine artificial intelligence models and autonomous sensors off Hainan, advancing China's ambitions in ocean technolog...

Beijing Tightens Technology Transfer Controls and Authorizes Retaliatory Measures Against Foreign Sanctions

China has introduced sweeping new regulations restricting overseas transfers of domestic technologies and granting authorities legal powers to respond to foreign governments that block Chinese investments, underscoring Beijing's efforts ...

Hong Kong Consumer Watchdog Reports Sharp Rise in Hotel Booking Complaints

The Consumer Council recorded a 34% year-on-year increase in accommodation disputes, warning that booking errors and unclear liability arrangements on third-party platforms could weigh on confidence in the city's tourism recovery.

China Evergrande Liquidators Challenge Hong Kong Regulator Over PwC Compensation Settlement

Liquidators for the collapsed developer have filed a judicial review against the Securities and Futures Commission's HK$1 billion shareholder compensation agreement with PwC, opening a new chapter in the legal disputes surrounding Evergr...

Hong Kong to Tighten Foreign Labour Rules With Stricter Local Hiring Requirements

Authorities plan to introduce a two-tier approval system that will raise the required ratio of local to imported workers to three-to-one, beginning with the catering sector as the government responds to domestic employment concerns.

Hong Kong Secures HK$73 Billion in Investment Commitments From 124 Strategic Enterprises

Hong Kong's Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has signed agreements with more than 100 companies across six batches, with the projects expected to create about 25,000 jobs and strengthen the city's position as a hub for technol...

Hang Seng Index Falls Despite Broader Market Rally on Middle East Peace Agreement

Hong Kong equities underperformed regional and US markets, with the Hang Seng Index slipping 1.25% to 24,533 points after surrendering early gains despite optimism surrounding the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Hong Kong Launches HK$20 Million Summer Tourism Subsidy Campaign

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with major travel platforms to offer discounts on attractions and transport services, aiming to boost visitor spending and support the retail and hospitality sectors during the peak travel season.

Wheelock Properties to Launch Major Kwu Tung Residential Project in Northern Metropolis

The developer is preparing to release nearly 800 homes in Kwu Tung, with the project expected to provide an important gauge of buyer demand and investor confidence in the government's flagship Northern Metropolis development.

Chinese Snack Maker Liuliumei Surges on Hong Kong Stock Market Debut

Shares of the mainland fruit snack producer nearly tripled on their first day of trading, highlighting continued investor appetite for mid-sized consumer companies listed in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Expands Cross-Border Elderly Care Programme in Greater Bay Area

The government has added three residential care facilities in Shenzhen and Dongguan to its subsidised retirement scheme, increasing the number of approved providers to 29 and deepening social integration with neighbouring mainland cities.

South China Morning Post and Astana International Financial Centre Sign Connectivity Partnership

The agreement aims to promote investment flows and business cooperation between Central Asia, Hong Kong and mainland China by strengthening links between financial and media institutions.

Hong Kong Court Awards HK$6.29 Million to Dancer Injured in 2022 Concert Accident

A district court ordered compensation to be paid by a dance studio to a performer seriously injured in a stage accident, setting an important precedent for workplace safety and liability in the entertainment industry.

China Welcomes United States-Iran Peace Memorandum as Strait of Hormuz Reopening Nears

Beijing welcomed the diplomatic understanding between Washington and Tehran and said the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would support global energy security and help ease imported inflation pressures on China's manufacturing s...

China Unveils Three-Year Plan to Cut Emissions Across Heavy Industries

Chinese authorities have launched a new decarbonization program covering steel, cement, aluminium and coal-fired power generation, requiring operational upgrades and carbon reductions by 2028 as Beijing pursues its climate goals and comp...

Chinese Courts Rule Companies Cannot Replace Workers Solely With Artificial Intelligence Avatars

Chinese judicial authorities have established a legal precedent that employers cannot dismiss workers solely to replace them with artificial intelligence-generated personas, responding to rising concerns over automation and employment se...

Nio Chief Executive Warns China's Passenger Vehicle Market Could Shrink by 20 Percent

Nio founder William Li said China's passenger vehicle market may contract by 20 percent this year as demand shifts from first-time buyers toward replacement purchases concentrated in major cities, signaling deeper competition and industr...

China Intensifies Financial Anti-Corruption Campaign With Investigation Into Former Bank of China Executive

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has launched an investigation into a former Bank of China executive linked to a major bad-loan case, extending scrutiny of the financial sector and reinforcing accountability for past lend...

China Introduces Real-Time Digital Invoicing System for Fuel Retail Sector

China's tax authorities have ordered all fuel stations to connect point-of-sale systems to a centralized digital platform by November, aiming to improve tax compliance and strengthen local government revenues through real-time data monit...

DJI and Insta360 Expand Patent Dispute Into United States Courts

The legal battle between Chinese drone maker DJI and camera manufacturer Insta360 has broadened into the US judicial system, highlighting intensifying competition over imaging technologies and market share amid increasing regulatory pres...

China and Indonesia Launch Cross-Border Digital Payment Network Using Local Currencies

The central banks of China and Indonesia have activated a quick-response code payment linkage that allows transactions to settle directly in renminbi and rupiah, expanding bilateral financial connectivity and reducing dependence on dolla...

China Records First Retail Sales Decline Since 2022 as Weak Consumer Demand Contrasts With Industrial Growth

China's retail sales fell 0.6 percent in May from a year earlier even as industrial production rose 5.4 percent in the first five months of the year, underscoring an increasingly uneven recovery driven by manufacturing and artificial int...

China Orders State Firms to Deploy 10,000 Humanoid Robots by End-2026

China's industry ministry and state asset regulator have directed local governments and state-owned enterprises to integrate humanoid robots and embodied artificial intelligence into manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, creating a va...

China Achieves Breakthrough in Mass Production of Quantum Computing Material

A research institute under China National Nuclear Corporation has independently achieved mass production of ultra-pure silicon-28 isotope with a purity exceeding 99.99 percent, strengthening China's capabilities in quantum information sc...

China Expands Technology Restrictions Dispute as WuXi AppTec Challenges US Military List

WuXi AppTec has sued the US Department of Defense over its inclusion on a list of Chinese military-linked companies, as Washington broadened the registry to include major firms such as Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, increasing pressure on ...

Hotel Complaint Cases Rise Sharply as Tourism Recovery Strains Hospitality Services

Hong Kong's Consumer Council reported a 34% increase in complaints related to hotel bookings and reservation platforms. The increase highlights operational pressures facing the hospitality sector as international and mainland Chinese vis...

Former Police Deputy Commissioner Albert Yuen Set for Senior Public Health and Hygiene Role

The Hong Kong government is preparing to appoint former police deputy commissioner Albert Yuen to a senior municipal hygiene position. The move continues a pattern of assigning retired security officials to leadership roles in civilian d...

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