8 d. ago How China streamlines national labs into tech war machines: a case study of HK

Hong Kong’s once sprawling and diffuse network of state-backed research labs has undergone a surgical transformation – streamlined, repurposed and laser-focused on Beijing’s strategic technology ambitions. In a move emblematic of China’s broader overhaul of its national scientific apparatus, the city has dismantled underperforming labs, rebranded legacy institutions and launched three cutting-edge facilities dedicated to quantum materials and climate resilience – all under tightened alignment...

Events

8 d. ago How China streamlines national labs into tech war machines: the Hong Kong case

Hong Kong’s once sprawling and diffuse network of state-backed research labs has undergone a surgical transformation – streamlined, repurposed and laser-focused on Beijing’s strategic technology ambitions. In a move emblematic of China’s broader overhaul of its national scientific apparatus, the city has dismantled underperforming labs, rebranded legacy institutions and launched three cutting-edge facilities dedicated to quantum materials and climate resilience – all under tightened alignment...

Events

9 d. ago Hong Kong could attract big spenders ‘with global sports events for various ages’

Hong Kong could attract more high-spending visitors by hosting international sporting games for young, middle-aged and elderly competitors, a think tank has said, calling on authorities to establish a certification system to help fund innovative and emerging events. Our Hong Kong Foundation on Thursday released a research report on developing the city into a “mega sports events capital”. The proposals included setting up a special label for emerging events that would be subject to a funding cap...

Politics

1 week ago Denmark, Greenland apologise for historic mistreatment of Inuit women

Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday apologised for their roles in the historic mistreatment of Greenlandic Indigenous girls and women, including forced contraception, in cases that date back to the 1960s. Nearly 150 Inuit women last year sued Denmark and filed compensation claims against its health ministry, saying Danish health authorities violated their human rights when they fitted them with intrauterine devices (IUDs). The devices, fitted in the uterus, prevent sperm from fertilising an...

Politics

1 week ago Suicide rate among insured young people in Hong Kong surges to 25%, study finds

Suicide has become the leading cause of death among insured young people in Hong Kong, accounting for a quarter of all deaths in this group, a study on insurance claims has found, warning that term life policyholders are a high-risk group. The Actuarial Society of Hong Kong announced on Tuesday that its research found the suicide rate among residents under 25 had risen from nine per cent in 2001 to 25 per cent in 2022, with the incidence higher than in other age groups. The eight-year-long...

Events

1 week ago Suicide leading cause of death among insured Hongkongers aged under 25: study

Suicide is the leading cause of death among insured people under 25 in Hong Kong, accounting for a quarter of death-related insurance claims among the group, a professional body has said, warning that holders of term life policies are a high-risk group. The Actuarial Society of Hong Kong said on Tuesday that its research efforts showed that the suicide rate related to insurance death claims involving residents under 25 had risen from 9 per cent in 2001 to 25 per cent in 2022, with the incidence...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong researchers develop AI model that can detect fertile sperm

A team of Hong Kong researchers has developed an artificial intelligence model that can identify fertile sperm more accurately compared with traditional methods, paving the way for faster and more effective fertility treatments. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) said on Monday that the AI model had an accuracy rate of more than 96 per cent when it came to identifying fertile sperm after being trained with over 1,000 images of male sex cells. The team further developed the model...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong should ‘strengthen research, drive industrial upgrading’: Zhou Ji

Hong Kong should strengthen its scientific research and drive industrial upgrading with the support of the central government, Beijing’s top man in the city has said, as 15 state key laboratories were presented with plaques on Monday. Zhou Ji, director of Beijing’s liaison office, said at a presentation ceremony that the restructuring of the existing state key laboratories in Hong Kong demonstrated the central government’s strong support for the city’s technological development and its efforts...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong unveils 15 state key laboratories, as liaison chief touts research

Hong Kong unveiled 15 state key laboratories on Monday in a move to align with national development, as Beijing’s top man in the city called for a greater push in scientific research and industrial upgrading. The laboratories – three of which are newly established – were earlier approved by the central government’s Ministry of Science and Technology and began operating in July, according to the city’s innovation and technology minister. The twelve others are bolstered versions of pre-existing...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong urged to ramp up research and innovation to boost tech hub goals

Hong Kong’s state key laboratories must ramp up research and innovation to help develop the city into a tech hub through its international connections while aligning with the national strategy to boost China’s power on the global stage, top local and Beijing officials have said. China’s tech minister attended a ceremony in Hong Kong on Monday to present plaques to the directors of the facilities, as he urged the city to support national development through innovation. “I hope the state key...

Science

2 w. ago Knee surgery patients with ‘penicillin allergy’ face higher infection risk: study

Patients labelled as allergic to penicillin – usually incorrectly – are three times more likely to develop a serious joint infection after knee surgery as they receive weaker antibiotics, a Hong Kong study has found, with researchers urging them to seek an evaluation especially before their operation. A team from the University of Hong Kong, which released the findings of the study on Wednesday, said that about 90 per cent of patients recorded as being allergic to the commonly used antibiotic...

Science