18 h. ago China nears Airbus deal, famous Hong Kong restaurant chain closes: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Most Chinese exporters to stay in Vietnam after US tariff deal, analysts say Chinese manufacturers in Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, after Washington and Hanoi agreed a “better than expected” trade deal that will...

Society

22 h. ago Hong Kong ‘tourism hotspots’ show promise, now to ensure visitors come and stay

In this two-part series we take a look at Hong Kong’s efforts to boost its tourism industry. Part one examines the government’s moves to reinvent tourism with nine hotspot attractions and whether they will make a difference. Tourist Jessie Wu was enthralled and swept up in nostalgia as she made her way through an exhibition that transported her to Hong Kong’s past. Featuring a canopy of criss-crossing electricity cables, the visitor from mainland China paused at a shop that was both a hair salon...

Politics

34 h. ago Apple’s China iPhone sales face headwinds in second half: Counterpoint

Demand for Apple’s iPhone in mainland China is expected to encounter headwinds in the second half of 2025, after sales of the device received a strong boost in recent months on the back of promotions in the world’s biggest smartphone market. In the second half, “iPhone sales in China will stumble amid weak consumer spending and an ageing iPhone 16 cycle, while tepid iPhone 17 upgrades won’t spark demand”, Counterpoint Research senior analyst Ivan Lam said on Thursday. He added that efforts by...

Politics

38 h. ago Economist Huang Yiping floats Hong Kong as stablecoin staging ground

Issuing a stablecoin pegged to the offshore yuan in Hong Kong may be more feasible than in mainland China due to the latter’s capital controls, a central bank adviser has said. The comments from Huang Yiping, also dean of Peking University’s National School of Development, came as worries arise in Beijing’s policy circles that Washington could gain an upper hand through the cryptocurrency offshoot as a means of consolidating US dollar dominance. “As China’s capital account is not fully...

Politics

58 h. ago Mainland China chipmaking capacity to outstrip Taiwan by 2030: report

Mainland China is on track to surpass Taiwan in semiconductor foundry capacity by 2030, according to a report from Yole Group, underscoring Beijing’s progress in its push for chip self-sufficiency amid ongoing US tech restrictions. The mainland’s share of global foundry capacity is projected to reach 30 per cent by the end of the decade, up from 21 per cent in 2024, the French market research firm said. Taiwan is currently the market leader with a 23 per cent share last year, while mainland...

Politics

68 h. ago Hong Kong stocks gain amid surge in mainland fund inflows, Beijing pledge

Hong Kong stocks gain amid surge in mainland fund inflows, Beijing pledge  South China Morning Post

Politics

3 d. ago Beijing sanctions Manila’s South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has announced sanctions on former Philippine Senate leader Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended yesterday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

3 d. ago Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has sanctioned the former Senate leader of the Philippines Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended on Monday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

4 d. ago JCB has launched contactless subway payment services in Shanghai and Beijing, marking the first such service in mainland China

JCB has launched contactless subway payment services in Shanghai and Beijing, marking the first such service in mainland China  TradingView

Politics

5 d. ago Nvidia taps two young Chinese AI experts to strengthen research

US chip giant Nvidia has hired two prominent artificial intelligence (AI) experts who hail from China, underscoring the rising global recognition of talent from the mainland and their key contributions to the field’s advancement. Zhu Banghua and Jiao Jiantao, both alumni of China’s Tsinghua University, said on their respective social media accounts that they joined Nvidia, sharing photos of themselves with Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of the company. Zhu, who received his bachelor’s degree...

Science

5 d. ago Nvidia taps 2 young Chinese AI experts to strengthen research

US chip giant Nvidia has hired two prominent artificial intelligence (AI) experts who hail from China, underscoring the rising global recognition of talent from the mainland and their key contributions to the field’s advancement. Zhu Banghua and Jiao Jiantao, both alumni of China’s Tsinghua University, said on their respective social media accounts that they joined Nvidia, sharing photos of themselves with Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of the company. Zhu, who received his bachelor’s degree...

Science

7 d. ago Xiaomi’s SU7 SUV a hit with mainland Chinese motorists as bookings reach 240,000

Chinese smartphone and electric-vehicle (EV) maker Xiaomi has been flooded with orders for its YU7 SUV, with analysts saying the car could challenge the dominance of the Tesla Model Y, the bestselling SUV on the mainland. The company said that it received 200,000 pre-orders for the YU7 in just three minutes after bookings opened at 10pm on Thursday, with the number rising to 240,000 by 4pm on Friday. The 240,000 bookings for the YU7, priced from 253,500 yuan (US$35,366) to 329,900 yuan, are...

Events

8 d. ago Murder suspect’s girlfriend charged over abetting his escape from Hong Kong

The girlfriend of a murder suspect has been charged and remanded in custody in Hong Kong on suspicion of helping the alleged offender flee to mainland China by boat as police continue to search for the missing woman. Police also recovered a mobile phone believed to belong to the missing Vietnamese national in Ma Wan, a source confirmed on Friday, but efforts to uncover human remains have been unsuccessful so far. The suspect, Nguyen Minh Nghia, is believed to have fled Hong Kong after allegedly...

Events

8 d. ago An hour swimming class with China sports star auctioned for US$14,000 for charity

A one-hour swimming class with top Chinese athlete Fu Yuanhui has been auctioned for 100,001 yuan (US$14,000), with the proceeds donated to a local charity. The auction, which garnered significant attention on mainland China’s social media, took place on June 18 on a leading platform, according to Elephant News. Zhejiang Ruoque Group, a hi-tech firm based in Hangzhou, secured the winning bid after 19 rounds of competitive bidding for the exclusive package, which includes a one-hour swimming...

Economics

1 week ago Elderly Hongkongers can use vouchers at 2 Zhuhai hospitals from Thursday

Elderly Hongkongers will be able to use healthcare vouchers for medical services at two hospitals in mainland China’s Zhuhai later this week under a government subsidy scheme, part of a plan to expand the coverage of the project across the border. The Hong Kong government on Monday announced that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme would be launched at Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Zhuhai People’s Hospital on Thursday. The latest additions will...

Politics

1 week ago Hongkongers, mainland residents embrace Payment Connect service on first day

Hongkongers and mainland residents jumped at the chance to send money across the border via a new electronic payment service on its first day of operation on Sunday. The so-called Payment Connect was operating smoothly, with 2,000 Northbound and 7,400 Southbound transactions just after noon, according to a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). The People’s Bank of China and the HKMA announced the linkage on Friday. Connecting Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) to the...

Politics

1 week ago China’s property slump drives Hong Kong investors to Japan amid yen weakness

Global investors, including those based in Hong Kong, are channelling their funds into Japan’s residential property market as returns from assets in mainland China sag in the midst of a four-year slump, according to market consultants. They ploughed in US$11.2 billion of capital into Japanese real estate in the first quarter, or 6 per cent above the five-year average, according to data compiled by Colliers, making it the fifth largest recipient globally. Investors from the US, Singapore and Hong...

Economics

1 week ago Old, alone and barely getting by: the plight of Hong Kong’s poorest seniors

Auntie Ha left her village in mainland China and moved to Hong Kong to join her son and his family. But not long after, they emigrated and left her alone in the city. To support herself, she got a job as a cleaner and she rents a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong’s poorest neighbourhood. Although in her 70s, Auntie Ha is unable to retire, because Hong Kong’s basic old age allowance and social assistance are not enough for her to live on. Her story is one example of the lack of support...

Politics

1 week ago Focus on how to improve Hong Kong, fencing star Vivian Kong tells youngsters

Focus on what you can do to improve Hong Kong and mainland China instead of their shortcomings, Olympic gold medallist Vivian Kong Man-wai has told the city’s youngsters. The fencing star also urged young Hongkongers on Saturday to understand their identity, as she shared her experience of studying international relations at Stanford University in the US during a forum commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed national security law. “My biggest takeaway is that Americans do not...

Politics

2 w. ago Senior Chilean lawmaker investigated over actions involving Chinese businessman

A high-ranking Chilean lawmaker is facing renewed scrutiny after records showed she helped arrange for a Chinese businessman to join an official parliamentary trip to China, where he coordinated logistics and took part in meetings with mainland authorities. Messages revealed by investigators on Thursday showed Karol Cariola, a member of Chile’s Communist Party and former president of the country’s Chamber of Deputies, may have used her position to benefit a Chinese national on several...

Economics