Hong Kong Times

Hong Kong Police College to Launch Accredited Bachelor’s Degree

The Hong Kong Police College will introduce a Bachelor of Policing in Security and Criminal Investigation by year-end, becoming the first government unit in the city to offer an accredited undergraduate degree.

Hong Kong and Beijing Prepare State Funeral for Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa

Hong Kong and central government authorities are preparing official funeral arrangements for Tung Chee-hwa, the city’s first chief executive, who died at 89 after a public career spanning the handover era and Asian financial crisis.

Hong Kong Same-Sex Couples Remain in Legal Limbo a Year After Court Ruling

Hong Kong has yet to implement an alternative legal framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships one year after the Court of Final Appeal required the government to create one, prolonging uncertainty for affected couples.

Former China Merchants Bank Vice President Placed Under Disciplinary Investigation

Chinese anti-corruption authorities have detained a former senior China Merchants Bank executive, bringing to five the number of top-level officials investigated at the lender amid continued scrutiny of the financial sector.

Hong Kong Anti-Graft Agency Charges Former HKEX Executive

The Independent Commission Against Corruption charged a former Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing vice-president over alleged failures to declare financial assets, bringing fresh regulatory scrutiny to the city’s financial-market instituti...

Hongkong Post Ends Permanent Civil Service Contracts for New Hires

Hongkong Post will stop offering permanent civil servant contracts to new employees as the loss-making postal service shifts toward a more flexible employment model amid declining traditional mail volumes.

Hong Kong Belt and Road Summit Secures US$3.1 Billion in International Agreements

More than 6,200 government and business representatives from 70 countries signed over 60 agreements and memoranda at Hong Kong’s Belt and Road Summit, with investments focused heavily on ASEAN and Middle Eastern markets.

Hong Kong IPO Fundraising Surges 161% to More Than HK$360 Billion as Shein Lists

Hong Kong raised more than HK$360 billion through 108 new listings, including Shein’s US$1.74 billion debut, marking a sharp revival in the city’s equity fundraising market despite a substantial valuation reset for the fast-fashion company.

China Offers 36 Infrastructure Projects to Private Investors

The National Development and Reform Commission is promoting transport, logistics, water and energy projects worth more than 61 billion yuan, seeking about 15.6 billion yuan in private capital.

Enflame Technology Surges 188% in Shanghai Trading Debut

Chinese artificial intelligence chipmaker Enflame Technology jumped 188% on its STAR Market debut as domestic investors continued directing capital toward semiconductor companies developing alternatives to restricted foreign processors.

Qingdao Shipyard Cargo Vessel Fire Kills 25

A major fire involving a commercial vessel at a shipyard in Shandong province killed 25 people, prompting high-level investigations into safety standards at the maritime manufacturing facility.

Chinese Clean-Energy Exports to Southeast Asia Reach Record $20 Billion

Southeast Asian purchases of Chinese solar, wind and battery technology rose 50% in 2026 to a record $20 billion as trade flows increasingly shift toward regional markets amid higher Western barriers.

China Publicly Names Local Officials Over Hidden Government Debt Violations

Central authorities have identified municipal and provincial officials accused of accumulating illegal off-balance-sheet debt, reinforcing Beijing’s campaign to tighten fiscal discipline as local governments face persistent funding press...

People’s Bank of China Tests Market-Based Overhaul of Corporate Loan Pricing

China’s central bank has begun pilot programs linking commercial lending rates directly to money-market benchmarks, aiming to make corporate borrowing costs more responsive to interbank liquidity conditions.

Former Shanghai State Executive Gets Suspended Death Sentence in Corruption Case

A Shanghai court handed a suspended death sentence to a former president of Shanghai Industrial Investment Company after finding that he embezzled public funds and accepted bribes exceeding 175 million yuan.

Ant Group Launches AI Payment System for Agent-Based Commerce

Ant Group has introduced an automated escrow and payment-verification system designed for artificial intelligence-driven commerce, extending AI integration into China’s consumer payment infrastructure.

Shenzhen Residential Land Sale Draws 125% Premium Despite Property-Sector Strains

A China Overseas Land and Investment unit secured a sought-after residential site in Shenzhen’s Futian district at a 125% premium, showing continued demand among well-capitalized developers for scarce prime-city land.

China Orders State Companies to Pay Small Suppliers in Cash

The State Council has instructed state-owned enterprises to stop using commercial acceptance bills when paying small and medium-sized suppliers, seeking to ease private-sector liquidity pressures and improve domestic cash flow.

ByteDance Secures $29.6 Billion Loan Facility to Accelerate AI Expansion

ByteDance has obtained $29.6 billion in institutional debt financing to fund artificial intelligence infrastructure and development as the Chinese technology group increases spending on computing capacity.

China Halts New Battery Project Approvals as Government Reviews Overcapacity

Chinese regulators have suspended approvals and construction of new battery manufacturing facilities while assessing industry utilization and developing an early-warning system to contain mounting overcapacity risks.

Chinese Vehicle Exports Surpass Full-Year 2025 Total in First Eight Months

Chinese automakers exported more than one million vehicles for a third consecutive month in August, pushing shipments for the first eight months beyond the total for all of 2025 despite rising international tariff barriers.

China Introduces Cost Rules to Curb Destructive Manufacturing Price Wars

The National Development and Reform Commission has introduced new cost-control measures aimed at preventing predatory pricing as Beijing seeks to protect corporate profitability and stabilize domestic manufacturing supply chains.

Hong Kong Event Industry Urges More Realistic Targets for Kai Tak Sports Park

Tourism and event-management executives are calling for more practical operating and financial targets for Kai Tak Sports Park, warning that demanding early benchmarks could discourage international promoters during its launch period.

Hong Kong Plans New Consumer Protection Rules for Gym and Beauty Contracts

Hong Kong authorities are preparing legislation to regulate prepaid contracts and curb coercive sales practices in the fitness and beauty industries after years of consumer complaints.

Hong Kong Jails Three Former June 4 Vigil Organizers Under National Security Law

Three former leaders of the disbanded group that organized Hong Kong’s June 4 vigils were sentenced to prison for constitutional subversion, as Security Secretary Chris Tang reiterated that authorities would prosecute coordinated attempt...

Hong Kong Medical Council Rejects Proposed Overhaul of Disciplinary Procedures

The Medical Council formally rejected proposed government reforms that would impose stricter timelines and restructure disciplinary oversight, highlighting continued disagreement over healthcare accountability and complaint handling.

Hong Kong Expands Silver Bond Issuance After Record HK$119 Billion in Applications

The latest government Silver Bond offering attracted a record HK$119 billion in subscriptions, prompting authorities to increase the final issuance size as Hong Kong raises funding for infrastructure and capital works.

Z.AI Launches $5 Billion Hong Kong Fundraising With Shares and Convertible Bonds

Beijing-based artificial intelligence company Z.AI launched a $2 billion share placement and $3 billion convertible bond offering in Hong Kong, adding to the city’s role as an offshore fundraising center for Chinese technology companies.

Hong Kong Retail Sales Growth Slows to 2.3% as Consumer Spending Remains Uneven

Hong Kong retail sales rose 2.3% year on year in July, the weakest annual growth in more than a year, as falling clothing and footwear purchases offset stronger spending on jewelry and watches.

Hong Kong to Unveil First Five-Year Development Plan on September 16

Chief Executive John Lee is preparing to release Hong Kong’s first comprehensive five-year development blueprint, with biomedicine, healthcare technology and innovation expected to feature alongside closer alignment with national economi...

Hong Kong Belt and Road Summit Produces New Financial Agreements With Central Asia

The 11th Belt and Road Summit concluded with several cross-border agreements, including memorandums linking Chinese investment banks with government economic and finance authorities in Laos and Uzbekistan.

Hong Kong Foreign Exchange Reserves Ease to $442.9 Billion in August

Hong Kong’s official foreign exchange reserves slipped slightly to $442.9 billion in August, leaving the city with a substantial liquidity buffer to support its linked exchange rate system during periods of global market volatility.

Generative AI Becomes Top Technology Investment Priority for Hong Kong Banks

More than half of Hong Kong financial institutions now rank generative artificial intelligence as their leading technology investment priority, with banks looking to automate wealth management and customer operations.

Hong Kong and Kazakhstan Sign Transport and Low-Altitude Aviation Cooperation Deal

Hong Kong and Kazakhstan agreed to establish a joint transportation laboratory and explore commercial opportunities in low-altitude aviation, expanding economic and technology cooperation between the two markets.

Hang Seng Extends Losses as Oil Prices and Bond Yields Pressure Hong Kong Stocks

Hong Kong equities remained under selling pressure as higher crude prices and bond yields fueled global inflation concerns, weighing particularly on technology and financial shares.

Stronger Yuan Draws Foreign Investors Back to Chinese Bonds and Equities

The Chinese yuan’s gradual appreciation against the US dollar is helping stabilize capital outflows and attract foreign institutional investors back to mainland markets, while giving the central bank more room to adjust interest rates.

German Companies in China Expect Slowest Wage Growth in More Than a Decade

A German Chamber of Commerce in China survey found European manufacturers expect their weakest wage increases in more than 10 years while pausing planned job cuts, reflecting tight cost controls in an intensely competitive market.

DeepSeek Launches Lower-Cost Flash AI Model With Strong Coding Performance

Chinese artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek released a new Flash model designed to sharply reduce computing costs while delivering strong results on coding and software engineering benchmarks.

China’s Export Value Surges as Higher Chip Prices Mask Weak Volume Growth

Chinese customs data showed a 25% increase in August export values and a record trade surplus, though analysis cited in the notes indicates much of the rise reflected higher semiconductor and electronics prices rather than stronger shipm...

China’s State Capital Budget Revenue Jumps 40% on Higher SOE Profit Payments

Revenue from China’s state capital budget rose 40% in the first seven months as state-owned enterprises increased profit remittances, providing additional support for public finances weakened by falling municipal land-sale income.

China Cuts Seaborne Crude Imports and Draws on Strategic Oil Reserves

China has reduced seaborne crude purchases and increased use of strategic reserves during heightened Middle East tensions, while electric vehicle adoption has displaced an estimated 1.5 million barrels a day of domestic oil demand.

China Considers Single Local Surtax to Replace Multiple Provincial Levies

China’s National People’s Congress is reviewing legislation that would allow provincial governments to consolidate various local fees into a single surtax of between 11% and 13%, seeking a more transparent and stable regional revenue sys...

China Orders State-Owned Enterprises to Pay Small Suppliers in Cash

China’s State Council has directed state-owned companies to settle outstanding payments to small and medium-sized suppliers in cash rather than commercial acceptance bills, aiming to ease liquidity pressures on private manufacturers.

Qingdao Cargo Ship Fire Kills 25 and Prompts Maritime Safety Review

A fire aboard a foreign-flagged commercial vessel undergoing maintenance in Qingdao killed 25 people and injured dozens, prompting expectations of wider inspections of maritime and industrial safety standards.

China Sets Unified Cost Rules to Curb Industrial Price Wars

China’s top economic and market regulators published a national methodology for identifying illegal below-cost pricing, targeting damaging price competition across electric vehicles, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

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