39 h. ago Hong Kong’s latest office landmark nearly full as segment upturn simmers

The newest landmark office tower in Hong Kong’s main business zone is nearing full occupancy a year and a half after it welcomed its first tenants, suggesting improving fortunes in the city’s office property segment. The Henderson – the prime commercial development and namesake tower for one of Hong Kong’s largest developers – reached 90 per cent occupancy recently, Henderson Land said on Friday. The 36-storey building in Central counts among its tenants auction house Christie’s, alternative...

Politics

3 d. ago 73% of Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area firms speeding up expansion into Asean: survey

Nearly three-quarters of enterprises from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area cities will speed up their expansion into the Asean market as a primary strategy to mitigate risks from international trade frictions and shifting global supply chains, according to a survey. The survey and research findings, co-published by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Singapore-based United Overseas Bank on Wednesday, also revealed that about 98 per cent of enterprises are planning to keep or expand their...

Politics

4 d. ago Beijing calls on Hong Kong to take lead in globalising traditional Chinese medicine

China’s top health official has called on Hong Kong to serve as a key pillar in promoting traditional Chinese medicine globally, as the city’s leader pledged to align local policies with the national development strategy in the field. At a launch ceremony for the Chinese Medicine Hospital and nearby testing institute on Tuesday, National Health Commission head Lei Haichao offered advice for Hong Kong in advancing the development of traditional Chinese Medicine. “Serve the globe for the benefit...

Politics

4 d. ago Hong Kong’s SHKP secures HK$1.4 billion land deal in Northern Metropolis

One of Hong Kong’s largest developers, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), has entered into a land deal worth around HK$1.4 billion (US$179.5 million) with the government for a site in Kwu Tung South, setting up one of the biggest housing projects in the Northern Metropolis. The company said on Monday that the site could yield over 1.2 million sq ft (111,480 square metres) of floor area and more than 2,700 flats, making it the biggest residential development in the area in recent years. SHKP said...

Economics

7 d. ago Including suppliers in new Hong Kong rules on scaffolding nets ‘overreaching’

Hong Kong’s development minister has ruled out expanding an approval system for scaffolding nets to cover suppliers, saying it would amount to government overreach, while the first batch of accredited mesh is expected to be available to contractors next week. The accreditation of scaffold nets was among measures introduced to enhance fire safety at construction sites following the deadly Tai Po inferno in November. The government ordered the removal of all netting on about 420 buildings...

Politics

9 d. ago Mainland Chinese medicine firms tap Hong Kong capital to fuel global expansion

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturers are gearing up to go public in Hong Kong, aiming to tap the market for international expansion. TCM firms have joined the queue for initial public offerings (IPOs) in the city to test foreign investors’ appetite for their shares. The latest to join the queue are Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hong Kong-based Herb Standard. “Hong Kong will serve as our hub for capital, research and development, as well as international...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong developers rush new flats as sentiment lifts, pressuring fragile recovery

Hong Kong’s leading property developers are accelerating new residential launches, with two major firms unveiling plans to roll out more than 4,300 flats this year as sentiment shows signs of improvement, but analysts caution that a surge in supply may add fresh pressure to a market that has only begun to stabilise. Developers, including Wheelock Properties and Kerry Properties, are pressing ahead with large-scale launches, adding new supply on top of still-elevated inventory from previous...

Events

2 w. ago How Hong Kong can take on a more frontier role in China’s development

On December 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on receiving a work report from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, said the city should proactively align with the country’s 15th five-year plan and better integrate into, and serve, the national development agenda. In recent days, discussion of the coming plan across the Hong Kong government and wider society has underscored a growing consensus behind deeper integration with the mainland. While the 14th five-year plan spoke of “maintaining”...

Politics

2 w. ago Is Hainan the next Hong Kong? That’s the wrong question to ask

On December 18, China made a bold move on the global economic chessboard. It launched a massive free-trade experiment by turning the entire island province of Hainan – an area, comparable in size to Belgium, whose gross domestic product was US$113 billion last year – into a duty-free customs zone. A new narrative has now taken hold: with its free-trade port status, Hainan is on track to rival or even supplant Hong Kong. Having followed this development closely, I believe this comparison is...

Politics

2 w. ago Jimmy Lai verdict and Panama port saga: what shaped Hong Kong’s 2025 political scene

A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong. Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing. Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong developer SHKP nudges up prices on latest Sierra Sea flats on offer

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong’s largest developer, has priced the next batch of units on offer at its massive Sierra Sea residential project about 5 per cent higher than previous phases, signalling a welcome improvement in the city’s housing market. The 148 units in Phase 2A of the development in Sai Sha Wan, Sai Kung, were priced from HK$3.43 million (US$440,961), with an average discounted price of HK$10,968 per square foot, according to sales documents released on Tuesday. The...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong private subsidised flat scheme suffers new blow as Tung Chung site reassigned

A residential site, originally earmarked for a pilot scheme allowing private developers to build subsidised homes, will be allocated to Hong Kong’s second-largest public housing provider, marking the latest setback for a venture aimed at boosting the supply of affordable flats. The government said on Tuesday that the site in Tung Chung, originally designated for the Private Subsidised Sale Flat Pilot Scheme, would be handed over to the Hong Kong Housing Society. The announcement marks yet...

Politics

2 w. ago China’s Zhipu AI launches US$560 million share sale as Hong Kong’s IPO tech race heats up

Chinese artificial intelligence firm Zhipu AI kicked off a share sale on Tuesday to raise HK$4.35 billion (US$560 million), moving closer to becoming the first large language model (LLM) developer listed in Hong Kong amid a surge of technology initial public offerings (IPOs). The start-up, officially known as Knowledge Atlas Technology and marketed overseas as Z.ai, set its offer price at HK$116.20 for more than 37 million shares, with 10 per cent allocated to retail investors. The company plans...

Economics

2 w. ago Hong Kong to close roads in Central at 2pm on New Year’s Eve ahead of countdown

Hong Kong police will close roads in Central starting from 2pm on New Year’s Eve ahead of a countdown event at the Chater Road pedestrian zone, featuring music and light shows to replace fireworks displays after the deadly inferno in Tai Po. Mason Hung Chung-hing, the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s lead adviser for event and product development, said on Monday that organisers hoped the event, themed “New Hope, New Beginning”, could foster a sense of renewal. “We will use a new format that combines...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong to close roads in Central from 2pm on New Year’s Eve ahead of countdown

Hong Kong police will close roads in Central starting from 2pm on New Year’s Eve ahead of a countdown event at the Chater Road pedestrian zone, featuring music and light shows to replace fireworks displays after the deadly inferno in Tai Po. Mason Hung Chung-hing, the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s lead adviser for event and product development, said on Monday that organisers hoped the event, themed “New Hope, New Beginning”, could foster a sense of renewal. “We will use a new format that combines...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong’s development role to be discussed in top legislature’s annual session

China’s top legislative body will deliberate the nation’s next five-year development plan in its annual session in March, where Hong Kong’s role in contributing to national development is also expected to be discussed, according to the city’s sole delegate to the body. Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said on Saturday that the proposed agenda for the session – which includes the 15th five-year plan, as well as the government’s work report...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong’s role to be discussed in China’s top legislature annual session

China’s top legislative body will review the nation’s next five-year development plan in its annual session in March, where Hong Kong’s role in contributing to national development is also expected to be discussed, according to the city’s sole delegate to the body. Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said on Saturday that the proposed agenda for the session – which includes the 15th five-year plan, as well as the government’s work report and...

Politics

3 w. ago Back reforms and align with nation, outgoing Legco chief tells new Hong Kong lawmakers

Incoming lawmakers should prioritise helping the Hong Kong government advance policy reforms and strengthen integration with national development, the outgoing Legislative Council president has said as he prepares to step down. Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also said on Saturday that the new lawmakers would need to assist the government in devising a prudent and pragmatic budget, set to be unveiled in February, and tackling the aftermath of the Tai Po fire that broke out on November 26 and claimed at...

Politics

3 w. ago Back reforms and align with nation, Legco chief tells new Hong Kong lawmakers

Incoming lawmakers should prioritise helping the Hong Kong government advance policy reforms and deepen integration with national development, the outgoing Legislative Council president has said as he prepares to step down. Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also said on Saturday that new lawmakers would need to assist the government in devising a prudent and pragmatic budget, set to be unveiled in February, as well as tackling the aftermath of the Tai Po fire that broke out on November 26 and claimed at...

Politics

3 w. ago Chinese AI chipmaker Biren kicks off bookbuilding for US$624 million Hong Kong IPO

Shanghai Biren Technology has started bookbuilding for its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), aiming to raise up to HK$4.85 billion (US$624 million), as Chinese chipmakers rush to list amid rising investor interest. Biren, the mainland’s first graphics processing unit (GPU) developer to go public in Hong Kong, will start trading on January 2 – becoming the first new listing of 2026. The firm was offering 247.7 million shares between HK$17 and HK$19.60 each, according to its exchange filing...

Economics