Hong Kong Times

Hong Kong Exchange Launches Four New Cross-Market ETFs

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing introduced four exchange-traded funds tracking cross-market indices, broadening the range of passive investment products available to retail and institutional investors.

China Golden Week Travel Tops 2.1 Billion Journeys as Bangkok Leads Outbound Destinations

Domestic travel during China’s National Day holiday reached 2.13 billion journeys, while Bangkok overtook Tokyo as the leading international destination for Chinese tourists.

JAC Motors Confirms Talks With Huawei and Stellantis on Maserati

JAC Motors said it is in discussions with Huawei and Stellantis over possible technology and manufacturing cooperation involving the Maserati brand.

Zhu Zhongming Elected Mayor of Shanghai

Shanghai’s municipal legislature elected former Vice Finance Minister Zhu Zhongming as mayor, placing the senior finance official in charge of China’s largest commercial and financial center.

Seres and Huawei Restructure Partnership Around Aito Electric Vehicles

Seres and Huawei reached a new agreement clarifying responsibilities for manufacturing and intelligent driving technology within their jointly developed Aito electric vehicle business.

Volkswagen and Gotion Expand Battery Partnership Across Europe and Morocco

Volkswagen and China’s Gotion High-Tech established three new joint ventures for lithium iron phosphate batteries and cathode materials in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco, strengthening electric vehicle supply chains.

China New Economy Index Falls as Technology and Capital Inputs Weaken

Caixin’s New Economy Index declined in September, with high-value-added sectors accounting for 34.1% of economic inputs as labor deployment and venture capital activity softened.

U.S. Firms Move to Drop Insider Trading Claims Against Futu and Tiger Brokers

American market makers began procedures to dismiss a $100 million insider trading lawsuit against major Chinese brokerages Futu and Tiger Brokers, narrowing the case to 45 individual investors.

China Halts October Fuel Exports as Global Energy Markets Tighten

Beijing suspended October export quotas for diesel, petrol and jet fuel to prioritize domestic supply, immediately tightening Asian fuel markets and lifting regional diesel price spreads.

People’s Bank of China Cuts Policy Lending Rate in Targeted Stimulus Move

China’s central bank reduced a benchmark policy lending rate as authorities step up selective economic support, including mortgage subsidies in Beijing aimed at reviving weak housing demand.

China Posts $378 Billion Current Account Surplus on High-Tech Exports

China recorded a $378 billion current account surplus, supported by strong exports of artificial intelligence hardware, electric vehicles and advanced manufactured goods despite ongoing trade tensions.

Evergrande Liquidators Seek More Than $2 Billion From Former Associates

Liquidators of China Evergrande Group launched legal action to recover more than $2 billion from former business partners and associates of founder Hui Ka Yan over alleged unpaid funds and undelivered services.

United States and China Agree $30 Billion Tariff Truce and Commodity Deals

The United States and China agreed to reduce tariffs on about $30 billion of each other’s goods and reached targeted arrangements covering coal, soybeans and artificial intelligence, although aviation disputes and a permanent trade frame...

Guangzhou Caps Housing Deposits at 5% in New Buyer Protection Rules

Guangzhou introduced rules limiting deposits on completed homes to 5% and delaying mortgage disbursement until construction is finished, tightening protections for residential property buyers.

Hong Kong Cancer Mortality Falls 40% Over Three Decades

Hong Kong’s health authorities say cancer-related mortality has fallen by 40% over the past 30 years, reflecting improvements in medical treatment and public health interventions.

University of Hong Kong Seeks Campus Expansion to Attract More Global Researchers

The University of Hong Kong is seeking additional land and infrastructure as it expands efforts to recruit international academic talent and support the city’s ambitions as a global higher education hub.

Hong Kong Tourism Sees Strong Golden Week Start Before Visitor Momentum Eases

Hong Kong recorded a sharp rise in mainland Chinese arrivals at the start of the National Day holiday, though traffic later moderated, prompting calls for more nighttime events to sustain visitor spending.

Hong Kong Raises Minimum Wage for Foreign Domestic Helpers to HK$5,200 a Month

Hong Kong has increased the mandatory monthly minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers to HK$5,200, reflecting higher living costs and the workforce’s important role in supporting local households.

Schroders Expands Hong Kong Wealth Management Business Following Nuveen Transaction

British asset manager Schroders plans to scale up its Hong Kong operations, reflecting continued international interest in the city’s family office and wealth management market.

Hong Kong Launches Wider AI and Digital Literacy Push

The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has outlined plans to strengthen digital skills across the population, with generative artificial intelligence positioned as an important tool for improving future economic productivity.

Kai Tak Hospital Begins Phased Operations in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Hospital has opened family medicine and specialist outpatient clinics, beginning a phased expansion expected eventually to serve nearly 2,000 patients a day in Kowloon East.

Hong Kong Strengthens Role as Leading Offshore Hub for Renminbi Internationalisation

Hong Kong continues to play a central role in Beijing’s efforts to expand international use of the yuan, providing deep offshore liquidity and a regulatory framework capable of supporting large cross-border renminbi flows.

Hong Kong IPO Fundraising Surges Past $388 Billion as Listing Pipeline Expands

Hong Kong’s capital markets raised more than $388 billion in the first nine months of the year, supported by renewed institutional demand and eight new listing applications from Belt and Road Initiative economies.

Hong Kong to Host APEC Finance Ministers Summit

Finance ministers and central bankers from across the Asia-Pacific are preparing to meet in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city’s role as a regional centre for multilateral financial and economic dialogue.

Hang Seng Index Climbs Above 24,000 as Technology Shares and Capital Inflows Strengthen

Hong Kong stocks extended their autumn rally as lower global oil prices and stronger investor confidence in Chinese technology companies pushed the Hang Seng Index above 24,000.

US Financial Firms Seek Dismissal of Insider Trading Cases Against Chinese Brokerages

Several major American investment firms have asked courts to dismiss insider trading lawsuits involving Chinese brokerages, potentially easing a source of financial-sector friction between the two countries.

Seres and Huawei Restructure Agreement for Aito Electric Vehicle Brand

Seres and Huawei have revised their operating agreement for the Aito electric vehicle business, clarifying their respective roles as Huawei deepens its position in automotive software and autonomous driving technology.

JAC Motors Confirms Talks With Huawei and Stellantis on Potential Cooperation

JAC Motors says it is holding exploratory discussions with Huawei and Stellantis over possible strategic cooperation, highlighting further links between Chinese automotive technology and established Western carmakers.

China’s New Economy Index Falls as Technology Investment and Labour Inputs Weaken

Caixin’s New Economy Index declined entering October as capital deployment and labour inputs softened in advanced industries, pointing to an uneven recovery in China’s technology-driven economy.

Golden Week Data Shows Steady but Cautious Recovery in Chinese Consumer Spending

Early National Day holiday data points to growth in domestic travel and retail activity, though per-capita spending remains restrained as households continue to favour experiences over large purchases.

Volkswagen and Gotion Expand European Battery Supply Partnership

Volkswagen and Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech have strengthened their agreement on local battery cell production for the German group’s European electric vehicle fleet.

CATL Starts Battery Production at Major Hungary Plant

Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited has begun commercial production at its new electric vehicle battery factory in Hungary, expanding its manufacturing presence inside Europe and bringing supply closer to continental automakers.

China’s Generative AI User Base Surpasses 700 Million

Domestic industry data shows more than 700 million people are now using generative artificial intelligence platforms in China, underscoring the scale and speed of consumer adoption across the country.

China Launches Major Water Network Plan to Strengthen Drought Resilience by 2030

The National Development and Reform Commission has announced a large-scale infrastructure programme to modernise China’s water network, with the aim of reducing drought risks and protecting agricultural supply.

Guangzhou and Wuhan Tighten Housing Rules to Support Existing Property Inventory

Authorities in Guangzhou and Wuhan have introduced new limits on buyer deposits and pre-sale practices, shifting policy toward protecting purchasers and stabilising unsold housing stock.

China Unveils 2026-2030 Technology Blueprint Focused on AI, Quantum Computing and Advanced Manufacturing

China’s State Council has set five-year priorities for heavier investment in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced manufacturing as Beijing pushes for greater technological self-sufficiency.

Huawei Launches Mate 90 Series With New Kirin 9050 Pro Chip

Huawei has released its Mate 90 smartphones with the domestically developed Kirin 9050 Pro processor and dual satellite communications, highlighting continued progress in China’s high-end semiconductor supply chain despite US export cont...

Hong Kong to Introduce Foreign Elderly Carer Pilot Scheme in 2027

The Hong Kong government will begin allowing the recruitment of foreign elderly caregivers in 2027 as the city responds to an aging population and labour shortages in care services.

HKG Times