Intel Corporation has filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against former software engineer Jinfeng Luo, accusing him of stealing approximately 18,000 confidential files, some marked 'Intel Top Secret,' shortly before his termination.

According to court filings, Luo, who joined Intel in 2014, was notified on July 7 of his dismissal as part of a wider round of corporate layoffs, with his employment ending later that month.

Intel alleges that on July 23, Luo attempted to transfer company files to an external drive, but security systems blocked the attempt.

Three days before his final day, he is said to have connected a home-based network-attached storage (NAS) device, enabling him to download tens of thousands of documents from Intel’s internal systems.

These reportedly included engineering documentation, internal testing data, source code, and technical plans for unreleased processors and architectures.

The company discovered the breach through routine information-security audits and immediately began an internal investigation.

Intel’s legal complaint states that for more than three months, the firm tried to contact Luo by phone, email, and certified mail at addresses in Seattle and Portland, but received no reply.

Luo’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Intel is demanding at least $250,000 in damages, the return of all stolen materials, and injunctive relief to prevent further use or disclosure of its trade secrets.

The case, filed under Intel Corporation v.

Luo (Case No. 2:2025-cv-02159), invokes the U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act and related state laws.

While the allegations are detailed, Luo has not yet responded publicly, and no criminal charges have been announced.

The lawsuit comes during a turbulent period for Intel, which has been restructuring amid fierce competition from AMD, Apple, and Nvidia.

The company has already laid off tens of thousands of workers since 2023 in an effort to stabilize profitability.

The alleged theft adds to Intel’s recent series of internal security breaches — including a previous case where another engineer was convicted of misusing confidential Intel data after joining Microsoft.

For Intel, the case highlights not only the risk of insider breaches during mass layoffs but also the critical importance of securing trade secrets in an era of rapid technological competition.

Whether Luo’s alleged actions were linked to future employment or external influence remains unclear.

For now, the company’s message is unmistakable: the protection of its intellectual property remains a top priority as it works to rebuild trust and maintain its strategic edge in the semiconductor race.

Standard Chartered is placing Hong Kong at the core of its digital-finance ambitions as the bank gears up for a blockchain-driven future, according to Chief Executive Bill Winters.

In a recent interview the banker emphasised the city’s “pioneering regulatory framework” that supports experimentation with tokenisation, central-bank digital currency and other innovations.

Winters praised the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) for its pilot programmes and regulatory sandboxes, which have enabled participants to safely work on projects such as tokenised deposits and stablecoins.

He added that Standard Chartered, as one of Hong Kong’s note-issuing banks, is actively engaging in the local fintech ecosystem and participating in the HKMA’s initiatives.

“We’re going to remain ahead on digital technology, and what we lose in margin, we’re going to make up in volume by providing a better service to our customers,” Winters said, signalling a shift in the bank’s operating model.

He noted that Hong Kong’s newly announced five-year fintech strategy will strengthen the city’s role as an innovation hub and aligns with the bank’s vision of a tokenised financial system.

For Standard Chartered, the commitment to Hong Kong fits within a broader push across Asia to deepen its digital and wealth-management franchises.

Winters has described the future of money as “fully digital” and predicted that virtually all transactions will eventually settle on blockchains.

Even as the timing of that transformation remains uncertain, he said, experimentation in Hong Kong offers a platform to shape how new settlement infrastructure and tokenised assets will operate.

Analysts observe that the move highlights Hong Kong’s renewed relevance in global finance as it seeks to reassert itself as a gateway to China and a platform for digital-asset innovation.

Standard Chartered’s strategy suggests that as banking income growth faces pressure, leveraging fintech and tokenisation may offer alternative growth pathways.

The bank’s focus on Hong Kong may also reflect confidence that the region will remain a favourable jurisdiction for experimentation in digital finance.

Winters reinforced that for the bank the question is no longer whether to invest in digital-asset infrastructure—but where and how.

With Hong Kong delivering a regulatory ecosystem that blends safety with innovation, Standard Chartered views the city as the natural anchor point for its digital-finance ambitions.

Bill Ford, chairman and chief executive of the U.S. private-equity firm General Atlantic, issued a stark warning to Western investors at an investment summit in Hong Kong, stating that avoiding China “at your own peril” risks missing “tremendous investment opportunities.” His comments reflect the firm’s perspective on China’s evolving role in global markets and underscore the strategic importance of engaging with the region’s innovation ecosystem.

During a week-long visit to China preceding the summit, Ford highlighted the rise of a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs pursuing global market leadership across sectors including industrial automation and medical technology.

He said their ambition to “be global leaders” marks a shift beyond serving exclusively domestic demand.

Ford further pointed to recent improvements in U.S.–China relations and the revival of the Hong Kong equity market as enhancing the appeal of Chinese and regional investment.

Ford’s remarks come as the orbits of geopolitics and capital converge.

Although trade and security issues remain, he said the current phase presents an “entry point” for Western capital to tap China’s growth trajectory.

He described the region not as a purely emerging-market play but as central to multiples strategies including digital infrastructure, climate tech and healthcare.

At General Atlantic, Ford has overseen expansion into more than 20 countries and asset-under-management growth to approximately US$114 billion, with China among its strategic geographies.

He emphasised that investors who “sit on the sidelines” may forgo participation in breakthrough valuation arbitrage and innovation flow from the region.

Analysts say Ford’s message reflects a broader recalibration of risk, where caution over China is giving way to selective engagement.

Challenges remain—ranging from regulatory opacity to decoupling concerns—but the narrative among some global managers is shifting toward identifying consistent entry points rather than full withdrawal.

Ford framed this as a timely moment.

He asserted that for Western investors, the question is no longer “whether” to engage with China, but “how” to do so smartly.

Ford concluded that China’s integration into global capital markets, when combined with Hong Kong’s renewed financial positioning and easing bilateral tensions, creates a compelling crossroads for investment strategy.

He stressed that the opportunity, in his view, merits serious attention from global allocators.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is moving to establish a nuclear-medicine production facility in the Northern Metropolis development area, with the goal of halving the cost of imported therapies and expanding access.

The initiative builds on successful clinical trials conducted by HKU using radioligand therapy (RLT) between 2020 and 2023 for neuroendocrine tumours, according to Professor Victor Lee Ho-fun, chairman of HKU’s Department of Clinical Oncology.

The proposed plant, to be sited in the Northern Metropolis megaproject zone in Hong Kong’s New Territories, will aim to manufacture isotopes and delivery agents for use in treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer—a disease notably prevalent in southern China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province.

Professor Lee pointed out that current therapies for nasopharyngeal cancer are “not very effective”, and the localised manufacturing would allow both innovation and cost-reduction.

Radioligand therapy uses radio-labelled molecules to deliver targeted radiation to cancer cells.

Hong Kong already widely utilises such nuclear-medicine techniques for prostate cancer.

HKU researchers are now adapting their RLT platform to tackle different tumour types.

A key enabler of the scheme is the Northern Metropolis initiative, which envisions new industrial infrastructure and innovation clusters across the region.

The government’s development plan states that the Northern Metropolis will support high-end professional services and innovation-technology industries, positioning it as a strategic site for advanced health-science manufacturing.

The university said the facility would contribute to the broader Hong Kong-Greater Bay Area ambition to establish a downstream production cluster for nuclear medicine and therapeutics.

By localising supply chains, HKU envisages cost savings and improved availability, particularly for cancers with regional concentration.

Observers say that if realised, the plant could add a layer to Hong Kong’s health-science ecosystem and reduce reliance on overseas imports of specialty isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.

HKU emphasised that project planning remains in early stages, including regulatory approval, manufacturing licensing and site-design work.

The next steps involve detailed feasibility studies, partnership discussions with industry and hospitals, and alignment with radiation-safety frameworks.

The university noted that its prior achievements in nuclear-medicine research and the strategic land-use potential of the Northern Metropolis make the plan timely and regionally strategic.

Should the production facility advance as proposed, it may mark a significant step in Hong Kong’s transition from research to manufacturing in the life-sciences sector, expanding access to advanced cancer therapies and reinforcing the city’s role in the Hong Kong–Shenzhen science corridor.

Guangdong province’s ambitious consumer subsidy initiative, which launched in early November with a headline commitment of 3.5 billion yuan (roughly 492 million US dollars), has so far failed to ignite broad consumer enthusiasm.

The scheme, which offers discounts on goods from smartphones to snowboards and will run until March, aims to spur domestic spending ahead of the 2026 National Games and key holidays.

The programme reflects Beijing’s broader effort to rebalance its economy by boosting consumption as exports face trade-tension headwinds and the property sector remains under pressure.

Guangdong – China’s most populous province and a major export hub of 128 million people – is seeking to generate a surge in foot traffic and spending through subsidised goods transactions.

However, on-the-ground feedback has been underwhelming.

Many locals say the vouchers do not deliver sufficiently generous discounts to overcome lingering caution in the face of job-market fragility and broader economic uncertainty.

One Shenzhen resident remarked that the incentive “wasn’t enough” to justify a large purchase.

In addition, some retailers said the promotional pricing was opaque, and that the discount layers were modest in practice.

Analysts observe that Guangdong’s difficulties underscore structural headwinds facing China’s consumer-led growth model.

Although consumption voucher programmes have shown near-term impact in past years, their success is heavily conditioned on underlying consumer confidence.

With youth unemployment elevated, property market policy still unsettled and external demand softening, households remain in wait-and-see mode.

Moving forward, Guangdong officials plan to pivot the voucher campaign toward major events and holidays – including the National Games and Spring Festival – in the hope of creating targeted “spikes” in spending.

But for the momentum to be sustained, experts say the region may need to expand the scheme beyond durable goods and appliances to services such as dining, tourism and leisure, which could engage a larger share of household budgets.

If consumer sentiment does not improve, Guangdong’s high-profile subsidy effort may struggle to close the consumption gap it was meant to address.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has initiated an internal investigation after a published academic paper, led by a PhD candidate, was found to contain multiple non-existent references apparently generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

The corresponding author, Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai of HKU’s Department of Social Work and Social Administration, issued an apology on Sunday on behalf of himself and the lead author, Ms Bai Yiming.

The issue was raised when a user on the social-media platform Threads flagged the paper’s reference list as potentially the output of “AI hallucination”—a term used to describe instances where AI systems fabricate plausible-looking but non-existent information.

Professor Yip acknowledged that Ms Bai had used AI to assist with the referencing process without individually verifying each citation, and he accepted oversight responsibility as corresponding author.

In his statement, Professor Yip asserted that while the agreement to submit the paper followed two rounds of peer review, he believed the paper’s findings were not themselves fabricated and therefore did not constitute academic misconduct in his view.

He noted that other co-authors served only in support roles and did not contribute to the reference validation process.

The university said that it had established stringent policies on AI use and had asked the relevant faculty to conduct a full assessment of the matter.

The case reflects wider challenges in higher education concerning the responsible integration of generative AI in academic workflows.

Universities globally are adapting policy frameworks to address risks such as reference fabrication, ghost-writing and other integrity concerns, and HKU’s investigation may yield precedents for emerging oversight mechanisms.

As the probe unfolds, attention will focus on the university’s governance response, the extent of policy enforcement and whether academic sanctions will follow.

HKU declined to comment on the disciplinary outcome but affirmed its commitment to upholding academic integrity and reviewing procedures for the use of AI tools in research.

The investigation is ongoing.

Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing successfully defended her women’s road-race title at the 15th National Games in Zhuhai on Sunday, completing the 138.7 km course in three hours, 19 minutes and 54 seconds.

She edged out Guangdong’s Wei Xiaoqing and Liaoning’s Sun Jiajun to provide Hong Kong with a second gold medal at this year’s Games, following the city’s earlier sailing victory.

In celebrating Lee’s achievement, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said she was “thrilled and excited” and that Lee had once again “brought glory to Hong Kong”, reinforcing the city’s capacity to compete strongly at the highest level of elite sport.

Lee’s victory also marks her distinction as the third athlete from Hong Kong to win gold more than once at the National Games, following the legacies of Wong Kam-po and Sarah Lee Wai-sze.

Lee is set to receive HK$750,000 (approximately US$96,000) from the Hong Kong Jockey Club in recognition of her title defence and outstanding performance.

Her victory is especially notable given the field’s heightened expectations: after claiming her first gold in Shaanxi in 2021, she entered the 2025 Games as a marked rider, yet she produced a decisive sprint to retain the crown.

With cycling Hong Kong’s most fruitful sport at the National Games—accounting for 23 medals since first competing in 1997—Lee’s win adds to the city’s proud record.

The road-race route, held partially in the Greater Bay Area, proved suited to her pacing strategy and sprint finish.

As Hong Kong’s cycling programme continues to evolve under international coaching leadership, Lee’s performance underscores the city’s growing strength and ambition.

Moving forward, Lee is expected to transition to the track events held in Hong Kong later in the Games, where she remains a strong medal contender.

Her back-to-back golds may well mark her emergence as a dominant figure in Hong Kong’s cycling future.

Hong Kong’s medical regulator has come under intensified scrutiny after it was revealed that the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) closed an inquiry into a patient who became vegetative following an endoscopy, raising fresh questions about professional oversight.

The case involves Mr Andy Chan Suk-wai, aged fifty, who visited a Kowloon clinic in July 2021 and saw his blood pressure and oxygen levels collapse within minutes of anaesthesia.

He was subsequently transported to hospital after suffering pulseless electrical activity and remains in a vegetative state.

Mr Chan’s sister, Ms Kitty Chan, publicly accused the MCHK of handling the investigation “haphazardly” after a four-year wait and absence of action.

She confirmed she has launched civil proceedings against both a general surgeon and an anaesthetist in respect of alleged professional misconduct.

The incident follows another high-profile case in which the council terminated its hearing into a paediatrician accused of causing lifelong disability in a child, prompting the government health chief to order a review of the council’s process.

The government has since announced an investigation by the city’s ombudsman into the administrative support provided to the medical-regulation bodies after a fifteen-year delay surfaced in that past inquiry.

In its response, the council acknowledged it would review its own handling of the paediatric case and said it remains committed to safeguarding patient interests.

Meanwhile, patient-rights advocates say the endoscopy incident underscores longstanding concerns about transparency, timeliness and accountability in the disciplinary system.

Analysts observed that the twin episodes create a pivotal moment for Hong Kong’s healthcare governance.

While the council’s statutory powers permit investigations into professional misconduct, the public’s confidence hinges on visible outcomes and adequate procedural safeguards.

As the review proceeds, all eyes are on whether systemic reform will follow, and whether the latest allegation will lead to meaningful disciplinary action.

The case of Mr Chan and the broader governance challenge suggest that for patients in Hong Kong, the standards of oversight and remedy in serious medical‐error incidents remain very much in the spotlight.

China’s merchandise trade has shown resilience this year, expanding by around six per cent in yuan terms for the first nine months of 2025. This growth momentum reflects steady external demand and an evolving trade structure aimed at mitigating reliance on any single market.

However, the regional performance has been uneven.

Exports to the United States fell by 27 per cent year-on-year in September, while shipments to the European Union rose 14.2 per cent.

Exports to Africa surged 56.4 per cent, and trade with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region increased 15.6 per cent, highlighting Beijing’s push for greater diversification.

Within this shifting landscape, Hong Kong’s role has gained strategic importance.

Official data show goods trade between mainland China and the city stood at US$261.56 billion in the first nine months of 2025, with mainland imports from Hong Kong climbing 86.6 per cent year-on-year in dollar terms.

Mainland China’s exports to Hong Kong also rose by 12.6 per cent, outpacing last year’s growth.

Survey data from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council indicate a marked improvement in exporter sentiment: in the third quarter the confidence index rose decisively above the fifty-point threshold for current and expected conditions, with 64 per cent of respondents anticipating stable or improving profit margins.

Many cited the mainland and ASEAN markets as key growth drivers.

Analysts say Hong Kong is increasingly acting as a trade “accelerator” for China’s pivot away from traditional Western markets towards the global south and intra-Asian corridors.

Its deep integration with the mainland, robust service and logistics infrastructure, and liberal trade regime afford the city a unique intermediary function.

The city is poised to leverage this in upcoming initiatives such as joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and expanding Belt-and-Road linkages.

While headwinds such as trade tensions, global slowdowns and competition from other regional ports remain, Hong Kong’s evolving role suggests it could harness its free-port status and gateway position to support China’s broader trade strategy.

Its success will depend on how effectively it moves beyond bottlenecks and enhances value-added services to maintain its standing in the changing architecture of global commerce.

Hong Kong’s travel sector is ramping up for a significant influx of visitors as the city prepares to co-host the 15th National Games of China from November 9 to 21 alongside Guangdong and Macau.

Travel agencies are offering bespoke packages aimed primarily at mainland Chinese tourists, with the region expecting around one hundred thousand additional visitors during the event.

The bespoke travel offerings focus on high-spend sports tourists and include four-star to five-star hotel stays, chartered transport and access to events such as rugby sevens, golf, beach volleyball and basketball.

Tour operators say the premium demographic is particularly drawn to the multifaceted experience—combining high-profile sport with Hong Kong’s famed leisure and hospitality scene.

Accommodation deals have already emerged, such as one at a flagship hotel near Kai Tak Sports Park, offering exclusive rates and benefits for National Games ticket-holders.

Meanwhile, mainstream agencies are promoting customised itineraries that bundle sports event access with luxury dining, retail and regional experience, positioning Hong Kong as a destination for more than just leisure tourism.

Independent travel, however, is expected to dominate the visitor mix.

Because ticketing for many events requires individual registration under the event organisers’ rules, large group tours face constraints.

Travel firms anticipate that many visitors will self-book their tickets and then seek premium accommodation or local experiences, resulting in strong spill-over for hospitality, retail and food & beverage sectors.

Economists caution that while this surge presents a window of opportunity for Hong Kong’s tourism industry, the long-term economic uplift may be modest.

Shared hosting with Guangdong and Macau diffuses direct financial gains for the city and high accommodation costs may discourage longer-stay mainland visitors.

Even so, tourism authorities hope the National Games will enhance the city’s sports-tourism profile and attract a more mature, high-value visitor segment in the years ahead.

As the city prepares for the Games, travel agencies and hotels alike are betting on sports tourism to accelerate Hong Kong’s repositioning as a destination for premium leisure, business and event travel alike.

Hong Kong is firmly in action ahead of the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games of China on November 9, serving as co-host alongside Guangdong and Macau for a historic multi-jurisdiction sporting event that runs until November 21. The city will stage eight competitions and is already seeing “sell-out” crowds and high anticipation.

Major venues such as Kai Tak Sports Park and Victoria Park have been prepared for events ranging from beach volleyball to men’s handball and rugby sevens.

One official noted that day-passes for key events featuring fencing champion Cheung Ka-long have already been snapped up, and shopping centres across all eighteen districts are set to livestream the action as for the Paris Olympics.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki described the arrangement as enhancing Hong Kong’s reputation, saying that the central government’s “high degree of trust” in the city underlines its capability to deliver large-scale competition.

He added that hosting the Games will deepen cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region, promote tourism and help bolster economic development.

Observers say that co-hosting the Games is not just about sport.

It symbolises the city’s growing role within the Greater Bay Area initiative and the integration of infrastructure, talent and jurisdictions across the three regions.

While there remain significant organisational and logistical demands—border coordination, venue readiness and large crowds—Hong Kong’s preparation appears well advanced.

As the Games kick off in earnest, the success of Hong Kong’s hosting efforts will be closely watched—not only by athletes and spectators, but by regional planners assessing the city’s place in the evolving Greater Bay Area framework.

Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem has grown significantly over the past decade, and the special administrative region’s government is now looking to artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and tokenisation as key drivers for the next phase of innovation.

The city’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau Director, Xu Zhengyu, spoke publicly about the shift after marking ten years of FinTech Week.

Xu noted that startups in the city have increased from about 1,600 to nearly 5,000 over ten years, with around 1,200 fintech firms now active—representing consistent year-on-year growth.

He said the quantitative expansion was now giving way to qualitative changes, as the ecosystem matures and embraces new technologies.

Turning to the future, Xu identified AI, blockchain and tokenised assets as “the current phase” of fintech development.

He pointed to examples such as converting long-term rental income into tokenised investment products and using blockchain to underpin asset-income streams like electric-charging stations.

According to Xu, these real-world applications signal that fintech is moving beyond pilot stage into implementation.

Xu also addressed the aftermath of the JPEX cryptocurrency case, which saw losses exceeding HK$1.5 billion (about US$190 million) after an unlicensed digital-asset platform restricted withdrawals.

He acknowledged that rapid growth presents challenges, especially in investor education and understanding of new products, and stressed the importance of strengthening awareness and transparency as the city develops its technology-driven finance agenda.

The commentary coincides with the launch of a five-year plan dubbed “Fintech 2030”, with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s roadmap identifying data infrastructure, AI, resilience and tokenisation as its four strategic pillars.

Industry observers say the renewed focus positions Hong Kong to leverage its role as an international finance centre and to integrate the mainland-Hong Kong market with new digital-asset protocols.

Xu concluded that although the journey is far from complete, the city is well-placed to harness the intersection of finance and technology: “We can also see qualitative changes as the ecosystem becomes richer and more mature,” he said—adding that education and cautious rollout will be key to ensuring innovations benefit investors and businesses alike.

President Xi Jinping has directed Guangdong province to take a leading role in advancing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative, calling for stronger cooperation with the two special administrative regions in innovation, infrastructure, regulation, and governance.

His comments, delivered during an inspection tour of the province, mark his most detailed remarks on the Greater Bay Area since the Communist Party’s Central Committee outlined priorities for China’s next five-year development plan.

Xi told senior Guangdong officials that developing the Greater Bay Area is both a major responsibility and a rare opportunity, urging them to expand ties with Hong Kong and Macau in areas such as technology, infrastructure connectivity, market regulation, and judicial collaboration.

The Greater Bay Area, which includes Hong Kong, Macau, and nine Guangdong cities, aims to build an integrated economic and innovation hub to rival global metropolitan regions such as Tokyo Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The initiative is a cornerstone of Beijing’s broader effort to modernize China’s southern economy and foster cross-border synergy under the 'one country, two systems' framework.

Xi’s call for deeper alignment follows recent progress in joint Guangdong-Macau projects, including the Hengqin Cooperation Zone, which has advanced cross-border business integration and talent exchanges.

Analysts say the new emphasis underscores Beijing’s intent to solidify Guangdong’s role as the anchor of China’s high-tech and manufacturing transformation.

However, aligning distinct legal and financial systems between the mainland and the two special administrative regions remains a complex challenge.

Xi’s message makes clear that Guangdong’s mission is to turn policy ambitions into practical outcomes, reinforcing the Greater Bay Area as a pivotal driver of national growth.

Only forty-five, or twenty-eight per cent, of the one hundred and sixty-one candidates for Hong Kong’s upcoming Legislative Council election have declared professional occupations such as teaching, law, accountancy, engineering or architecture—a ten-percentage-point decline compared with the previous election cycle.

The drop occurs despite an overall rise in nomination numbers and signals a shifting candidate profile ahead of the 7 December poll.

The most pronounced decline is in the sector-based functional constituencies, where the number of professional candidates has fallen from twenty-five in 2021 to just fifteen in the current contest.

In nearly all of the twenty-eight functional constituencies there are only two contenders each, compared with multiple-way races in the past.

For example, in 2021 some seats such as the medical and health services and accountancy sectors attracted five-way and four-way contests respectively; such competition has now nearly vanished.

Across all constituencies, nineteen professionals are standing in the Election Committee constituency and eleven in the geographical constituencies, showing slight shifts in candidate placement though a general retreat from the professions in the functional blocs.

Among the professional-background contestants are twelve from the legal sector—including Thomas So Shiu-tsung, a former president of the Law Society—and eleven academics or teachers such as Ray Cheung Chak-chung of City University.

Analysts suggest the reduction in professional-sector participation may reflect changes in the electoral environment and candidate dynamics since the 2021 reforms.

With fewer competitors in each functional-sector race and more district-councillors and local community figures seeking nomination, observers note a change in the mix from sector-based professional representation to broader civic-layer candidacies.

The 2025 election will also feature a high-number of newcomers and retirements, making it a critical test of the legislature’s evolving composition.

The nomination period closed with 161 valid forms submitted, already slightly higher than in the prior cycle.

Returning officers are now vetting eligibility under the Candidate Eligibility Review mechanism, with final lists set to be published in the Government Gazette within 14 days.

Voting will proceed on 7 December for the full 90-member legislature under the reformed electoral system.

Hong Kong’s travel agencies are capitalising on the upcoming 15th National Games by introducing specialised tour packages for mainland Chinese visitors, coinciding with a broader tourism rebound in the city.

The Games, jointly hosted for the first time by Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau, are projected to draw more than 100,000 visitors to local venues throughout the month.

Tour operators said the focus is on premium packages that combine attendance at sporting events with leisure activities.

Golf and rugby sevens have proven the most popular attractions.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said mainland tour groups are generally smaller and composed of a more mature demographic with higher spending power.

The city will host eight disciplines of the Games, including fencing, track cycling, triathlon, beach volleyball, men’s handball, men’s under-22 basketball and golf.

Packages typically include dining, shopping and sightseeing to extend visitor stays and enhance economic impact.

Industry representatives noted that limited ticket allocations for tour groups could pose a challenge but expressed optimism that flexible arrangements and additional travel permits would help meet demand.

Tourism analysts said the National Games present a valuable opportunity to position Hong Kong as both a sports and leisure destination, strengthening its international appeal.

The event marks a milestone for the city’s sports tourism sector, blending large-scale athletic competition with cultural and recreational experiences designed to boost long-term visitor engagement.

A Singapore-based battery-recycling start-up has claimed the overall title at the ninth edition of EPIC 2025 (Elevator Pitch International Competition), hosted by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

More than one hundred semi-finalists from 28 economies gathered to compete for a top cash prize of US$60,000 and exposure to the region’s leading investors.

The winner, a Singaporean venture specialising in battery-recycling technologies, impressed judges with its circular-economy model and will receive the US$60,000 prize.

The competition also honoured winners in three tracks: fintech, digital healthtech and greentech.

Singapore’s Belli, which develops air-cargo software, took the fintech prize of US$20,000, while Canada’s KA Imaging secured the digital healthtech award after presenting a spectral X-ray system able to differentiate materials.

EPIC 2025 drew a record load of applications — nearly 1,200 start-ups from over 70 countries entered this year’s edition, reflecting the event’s growing status as Asia’s top pitch competition.

As part of the programme, finalists participated in networking and investor-matching sessions during EPIC Week at Kai Tak, with the Grand Finale broadcast globally.

HKSTP officials described the event as a showcase of Hong Kong’s ambition to serve as a launchpad for innovation into the Greater Bay Area and wider Asia.

The success of the battery-recycler underscores the growing interest in greentech solutions targeting the circular-economy and energy-storage sectors — areas that are increasingly strategic for Asia’s technology and sustainability agenda.

Investors and won-up participants alike noted that the competition provided a rare platform for smaller clean-tech start-ups to access capital, mentorship and regional market opportunities.

With EPIC now firmly established on the global start-up calendar, the spotlight is on how the winners convert their pitch success into commercial and regional growth.

Chinese renewable energy manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co. has filed for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to raise approximately $126.7 million through the sale of 338 million shares.

The listing is designed to strengthen its capital base for investment in next-generation solar and energy storage technologies while expanding production and research capabilities overseas.

The move highlights Sungrow’s growing pivot from its traditional inverter business toward broader energy solutions.

In the first half of 2025, Sungrow reported revenue of $6.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of around 40 percent, while net profit rose by roughly 56 percent.

For the first time, international markets accounted for 58 percent of total sales, surpassing domestic revenue.

The company’s energy storage systems business has surged, growing 127 percent year-on-year to $2.45 billion, and now makes up more than 30 percent of total revenue.

In contrast, the contribution of inverters has declined to about 35 percent.

In its prospectus, Sungrow cited “uncertainties associated with tariffs, international trade regulations, and geopolitical tensions” as key business risks.

Analysts say the Hong Kong listing will help diversify Sungrow’s access to global capital while reducing exposure to policy constraints linked to the ongoing U.S.–China trade dispute.

Industry observers view the IPO as part of a wider transformation among Chinese clean energy manufacturers.

Increasingly, companies are expanding beyond single-technology products into integrated renewable systems such as solar-plus-storage and hybrid energy plants.

Sungrow’s evolution mirrors this shift, positioning it as both a leading technology provider and a participant across multiple segments of the clean-tech value chain.

By securing funds in Hong Kong, Sungrow aims to accelerate its global manufacturing buildout and consolidate its position as one of the world’s foremost renewable technology companies amid a rapidly evolving market landscape.

Altamura Distilleries, the premium Italian vodka producer crafted from 100 % Puglian wheat, has signalled a formal launch into Asian markets, beginning with distribution partnerships in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In Hong Kong, the brand has appointed Six Days Distro to manage channel placement across luxury hotels, cocktail bars and curated retail environments.

In mainland China, Elire HK will drive introduction via Shanghai with plans to expand into Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Co-founder James Goggin said the company views Asia as “one of the most exciting growth opportunities” and lauded Hong Kong and Shanghai as global hubs of gastronomy, cocktails and luxury culture.

The partners were selected for their shared ethos of provenance, authenticity and craft.

Altamura’s Asian debut follows recent expansion in India through a distribution agreement with a Delhi-based firm.

The brand emphasises its unique production process—distilled from wheat linked to a PDO-certified bread region in Altamura, Italy—and positions itself in the ultra-premium vodka segment.

For Hong Kong, Six Days Distro brings strong ties to boutique spirits and a network embedded in the city’s high-end hospitality scene.

Altamura will target leading cocktail bars and luxury hotel outlets as part of its roll-out strategy.

In China, Elire’s Shanghai headquarters and access to luxury lifestyle venues provides the brand with a platform to address sophisticated consumers seeking imported spirits with provenance.

As global vodka consumption evolves and Asian markets grow in importance for premium spirits, Altamura’s entry underscores both the appeal of Italian craft vodka and the belief that the region remains fertile for growth.

The success of the launch will depend on brand storytelling, on-trade activation and the ability to differentiate in a competitive premium category.

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2025, scheduled from November 7 to 9 at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, will feature twelve international teams, including leading cricketing nations and several rising Associate members.

The event, known for its rapid six-a-side format, marks a major revival of a Hong Kong sporting institution first launched in 1992.

The Sixes, sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, is now positioned as a key development platform for smaller cricket nations to compete alongside top-tier sides.

Associate teams such as Hong Kong, Nepal, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates will join established participants including India, Australia, England, and South Africa.

Organisers believe the 55-minute matches, featuring six-over innings, will provide valuable exposure for emerging players while keeping the format exciting for fans.

Anurag Bhatnagar, a senior administrator at Cricket Hong Kong, said the event’s revival is driven by a renewed emphasis on inclusivity and growth.

“This is a unique product, the only tournament of its kind that is truly nation versus nation,” he said.

“It’s about cricket development, giving players from Associate countries the opportunity to play alongside big names.”

The tournament has received significant institutional support, with Hong Kong’s Major Sports Events Committee granting it official status and matching private sponsorships with public funds.

This recognition aligns with the city’s strategy to strengthen its profile as a regional sports hub.

The Sixes’ return also means Hong Kong is unlikely to relaunch its previous Twenty20 franchise league, which ended in 2018.

With televised coverage and a growing global audience, the Hong Kong Sixes is set to combine nostalgia with new purpose.

For emerging cricket nations, it offers more than just a showcase — it provides a gateway to higher-level competition and renewed ambition within the international cricket community.

Diabetes poses a mounting public-health challenge in Hong Kong, with over 700,000 residents living with the condition and more than 570 deaths recorded in 2023 alone.

Health authorities and researchers alike emphasise that lifestyle changes, early diagnosis and effective management remain pivotal to preventing the serious complications associated with the disease.

In a major prevention drive, the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has launched a screening scheme targeting 9,000 adults aged under 44 who have at least one identifiable risk factor, such as obesity, family history of diabetes or inadequate physical activity.

As of early November, more than 3,300 participants have been tested and about 45 % of them flagged as high-risk.

The initiative is timed to address the growing prevalence of young-onset type 2 diabetes, which research shows carries a higher burden of complications and an elevated risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Complementing the screening programme, CUHK scientists in collaboration with the University of Oxford have developed the first Chinese-tailored predictive tool for diabetes-related complications.

The model—based on data covering over 21,000 diabetes patients and validated against a cohort of 170,000—can evaluate an individual’s lifetime risk of developing ten major complications including stroke, end-stage kidney disease and cancer.

The tool is designed to help doctors personalise treatment plans and guide cost-effective resource allocation by predicting outcomes in a way that reflects population-specific risk profiles.

Research conducted by CUHK has also quantified the substantial economic and productivity losses associated with diabetic disease in Hong Kong.

A modelling study estimated that working-age adults with type 2 diabetes face productivity-adjusted life-year (PALY) losses of 17 % for men and 28 % for women over their working lifetimes, translating into a combined gross-domestic-product loss of approximately HK$232 billion.

The impact was found to be especially severe among younger patients.

To bolster efforts, the Government launched a three-year pilot scheme in 2023 that subsidises private-sector screening and treatment for diabetes.

Officials say that alongside medical interventions, public-health messaging must reinforce the role of balanced diet, regular exercise and weight control in delaying or preventing onset of the condition.

With World Diabetes Day on November 14 flagged as a critical reminder, experts urge the community not to ignore early warning signs of the disease.

If the city is to bend the curve of its diabetes epidemic, researchers argue that combining targeted screening, predictive analytics and lifestyle-based prevention constitutes the most promising approach.

David Wong Ka-chuen, Johnny Wong Koon-wah and Andy Cheng Man-nam are set to represent Hong Kong in the men’s tennis team draw of the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, under the category of mass-participation events.

Their selection highlights a pathway for non-professional athletes to compete on a national stage.

Both Johnny Wong and Andy Cheng only picked up competitive tennis in their late thirties and forties.

Cheng, the eldest of the trio at 53, exemplifies the late-starter model, while Johnny Wong, previously a recreational volleyball player, began training after discovering his aptitude.

David Wong had played in his teens but paused for more than thirty years before returning to the sport.

“The reason I play now is for health,” Johnny Wong explained.

“I cannot handle the big jumps volleyball demands with age.” He added that performance fluctuates: “Maybe I had a really good week and kept winning, but this week I just cannot get into that state.” David Wong stressed the additional effort required: “Before, I did not stretch at all.

Now I have to stretch as soon as I wake up and again before going to bed just to keep my body ready for tennis, especially matches.”

The mass-participation events of the Games cover nineteen sports and are designed to offer everyday athletes the opportunity to experience national competition without preliminary rounds.

Hong Kong’s delegation to the Games will be exempted from preliminary rounds in these events.

While most media attention focuses on elite stars such as tennis prodigy Coleman Wong and Olympic fencing champion Cheung Ka-long, this trio’s trajectory offers a different narrative: one of perseverance and regional representation beyond professional rank.

Their inclusion underscores the Games’ message of “benefit ordinary people, make a healthy China.”

Hong Kong’s mass-participation athletes say they hope their participation will inspire broader public engagement in sport, and show that competitive experience is accessible even in mid-life.

Their event will take place alongside the main competition events in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area from November 9–21 2025.

Hong Kong’s top athletes preparing for the upcoming 15th National Games have offered a rare glimpse into their nutrition routines—and the “cheat” foods they reserve for special occasion.

Cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing admits cheesecake is her weakness, rugby-sevens standout Cado Lee Ka-to opts for double cheeseburgers, and sprinter Alton Kwok Chun-ting confesses to loving milkshakes.

Triathlete Hilda Choi Yan-yin describes her dietary regimen as largely rice-and-meat based, noting: “I’ll eat any meat alongside; I’m not picky and don’t follow a special diet; I just make sure I get all the nutrients I need.” On her cheat day she enjoys Hong Kong egg-puffs (gai daan jai).

Each athlete stressed the high demands placed on them—ample carbohydrates, lean protein, supplements such as iron (for women) and magnesium (for recovery)—while acknowledging that indulgence plays a role in maintaining morale.

“Coming from an Asian culture, I love eating rice; I have it every day for lunch and dinner,” Choi said, underlining the cultural comfort of staple foods even at the elite level.

Their honesty highlights how sport science frameworks embrace both rigid training plans and human flexibility.

The athletes’ ‘cheat’ choices underline that high-performance regimes can integrate moments of normalcy—not purely sanitised menus.

With the National Games now less than a week away for many Hong Kong competitors, nutrition discussion is front-of-mind across disciplines.

The athletes’ candour also offers a public relations boost to local sport, showing the city’s high-performance talent as both disciplined and relatable.

How much these dietary approaches translate into success will be watched closely during the event—but for now, the combination of sacrifice, staple diet and well-earned treat is firmly on the menu.

China’s insurance markets regulator, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), has issued new guidance prompting domestic insurers and reinsurers to establish collateralised “sidecar” structures in Hong Kong.

The move is aimed at deepening access by Chinese re-/insurers to international capital via Hong Kong’s insurance-linked securities (ILS) ecosystem and enhancing risk-transfer capacity for disaster and large-loss exposures.

The NFRA’s Notice on the Issuance of Insurance-Linked Securities on the Hong Kong market (October 2025) outlines steps to encourage quota-share vehicles and special-purpose insurers that can issue equity or debt-type securities to investors, funding reinsurance obligations of Chinese cedants.

These vehicles would sit alongside catastrophe bonds already issued by mainland sponsors such as Taiping Reinsurance Company (“Silk Road Re”, US$35 million, Dec 2024) and PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited (“Great Wall Re”, US$32.5 million, 2022).

According to the NFRA, the initiative supports three objectives: enriching channels for risk diversification, improving domestic insurance-market resilience and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.

The regulator stated that solvency treatment of sidecar structures would align with reinsurance-counterparty risk measures, and listed management requirements referencing its existing cat-bond ILS framework.

Industry observers view the launch of sidecar guidance as the next evolutionary step in China’s ILS journey—providing Chinese insurers with a more flexible tool than excess-of-loss catastrophe bonds and enabling quota-share and retrocession business to tap global capital markets via Hong Kong.

One data point noted by the community: outstanding collateralised reinsurance sidecar structures globally have surpassed US$17 billion as of mid-2025, showing investor appetite for this format.

The development comes amid broader liberalisation of the Chinese insurance-financial sector.

Earlier this year the NFRA removed the requirement for Hong Kong and Macau financial institutions to have at least US$2 billion in assets before investing in mainland insurers (effective March 2025).

That reform is seen as complementary to the sidecar initiative, signalling Beijing’s intent to deepen cross-border risk-and-capital linkages in insurance markets.

While details of future sidecar transactions remain emergent, the guidance positions Hong Kong as a growing ILS hub and offers Chinese cedants an avenue to alleviate rising catastrophe-exposure pressures.

The success of the initiative will depend on regulatory clarity, investor take-up and the ability of Chinese insurers to adopt quota-share models with sufficient transparency and capital-market depth.

Franklin Templeton has introduced what is described as Hong Kong’s first fully tokenised money-market fund for professional investors, marking a significant step for the city’s fintech ambitions and token-economy build-out.

The fund—known as Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund—invests in short-term U.S. Treasuries and utilises blockchain tokens registered in Luxembourg for ownership records.

The initiative aligns with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s FinTech 2030 strategy, which includes more than forty measures to support tokenisation, digital-asset infrastructure and artificial-intelligence integration.

Franklin Templeton’s entry into Hong Kong follows earlier landmarks such as Singapore’s approval of its retail tokenised fund and Luxembourg’s tokenised UCITS vehicle.

The fund leverages Franklin Templeton’s proprietary Benji Technology Platform, which enables features such as intraday yield distribution and continuous, wallet-to-wallet transfers of tokenised shares.

In its June 2025 announcement the firm highlighted that such tokenised money-market funds can offer greater utility and quicker settlement than traditional structures.

Despite the ambitions, observers note that while the product is tokenised, its current availability is limited to professional investors and it remains to be seen how Hong Kong retail rollout will proceed.

The city’s regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), has published guidance on tokenised investment products but secondary trading and full retail access are still evolving.

The fund’s launch underscores Hong Kong’s efforts to position itself as a hub for real-world-asset tokenisation and digital finance.

At the same time, Beijing’s wider caution over cross-border tokenisation and real-world-asset flows means the regulatory environment remains attentive.

Industry participants say that success will depend on adoption by institutional investors, alignment with settlement infrastructure and clarity of regulation.

For now, the fund represents a bold step in blending traditional cash-management instruments with blockchain rails, and signals that global asset managers view Hong Kong as a strategic frontier for tokenised fund innovation.

China has embarked on formulating its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and for Hong Kong this next phase presents not merely opportunities but an imperative for strategic realignment and deeper integration.

From the vantage point of a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, an adviser to the Ministry of Finance and a veteran investor in emerging technologies, the 15th-FYP offers a definitive blueprint for Hong Kong to solidify its unique advantages, catalyse industrial upgrading, expand its tax base, and amplify its role as the indispensable bridge for mainland enterprises venturing globally—all while strengthening the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and contributing significantly to national objectives.

Hong Kong’s traditional prowess in finance, trade and logistics remains foundational.

However, the 15th-FYP’s emphasis on new quality productive forces—driven by technological innovation and high-end manufacturing—demands that Hong Kong proactively diversify and upgrade its economic structure.

Our strengths in intellectual property protection, common law, free flow of capital and information and world-class universities position us uniquely to become a global hub for the emerging industries crucial to the 15th-FYP.

In sectors such as artificial intelligence and digital assets, Hong Kong can leverage its robust financial infrastructure and regulatory agility to become a leading centre for AI-driven fintech, responsible digital-asset development and Web3 innovation.

Clear, forward-looking regulation is key to attracting global talent and capital in these fields.

By establishing dedicated clusters—for instance expanding Cyberport’s mandate—Hong Kong can gain the critical mass needed to foster these ventures.

In biotechnology and health-tech, with strong research capabilities, a sophisticated healthcare system and IP safeguards, Hong Kong is primed to be a Greater Bay Area and Asian leader in biotech R&D, clinical trials and health-tech commercialisation.

Deepening collaboration with Shenzhen’s biomedical hubs and leveraging the Northern Metropolis for R&D facilities is essential.

Green-finance and tech also form an important plank.

Aligned with the national “dual-carbon” goals, Hong Kong must scale its green-finance leadership.

This involves not just facilitating green bonds, but actively investing in and incubating climate tech, sustainable infrastructure solutions and carbon-market mechanisms—thus attracting environmental-social-governance-focused global capital.

A broader, more resilient economy naturally expands the tax base.

At the same time, proactive measures aligned with the 15th-FYP can further enhance fiscal sustainability: targeted policies to attract regional headquarters, treasury centres, R&D hubs and high-growth tech firms (especially in AI, biotech and green tech) will broaden corporate tax revenues beyond traditional finance and property.

Successfully capturing the industrial upgrade outlined earlier will be essential.

Leveraging family offices and wealth-management hubs can bring not only management fees but stimulate investment in local ventures and philanthropy, creating a virtuous cycle.

Modernising tax policy—while maintaining a simple and low-tax regime—by exploring modern concessions for R&D spending or specific green/social investments can stimulate desired activities without compromising our fundamental attractiveness.

Stability and predictability remain paramount.

The 15th-FYP also intensifies the push for mainland enterprises to expand internationally, enhancing brand presence, securing global resources and integrating into global value chains.

Hong Kong’s role here is irreplaceable: its world-class legal, accounting, consulting, risk-management and fundraising expertise is critical for cross-border mergers, listings, compliance and dispute-resolution.

Hong Kong provides a stable, familiar platform for mainland firms to test international waters, manage currency- and geopolitical risks, and access global capital markets and partnership networks before venturing further afield.

As the world’s largest offshore RMB hub, Hong Kong is central to facilitating cross-border trade and investment settlements in RMB—reducing forex risk for mainland companies and supporting the currency’s global role.

Deepening integration with the Greater Bay Area is a key component of realising this vision.

Hong Kong must act as its international R&D front-end and fundraising centre.

Shenzhen, Guangzhou and others provide scale-up manufacturing and vast market access.

Breaking down residual barriers to talent, capital and data flow across the border is crucial.

Cross-border recognition of professional qualifications is vital.

We must avoid duplication and instead focus on complementarity—Hong Kong’s global connectivity, IP framework and professional services aligning with the mainland’s industrial capacity, huge talent pool and cutting-edge research infrastructure.

The Northern Metropolis policy is a tangible opportunity to create this synergy on the ground.

The 15th-FYP is not a distant policy document—it is the road-map for the country’s next transformative leap.

For Hong Kong, embracing this plan with strategic urgency is not optional—it is essential for its future relevance, prosperity and continued contribution to national advancement.

By aligning its development trajectory tightly with the national vision, focusing on industrial upgrading, sustainable revenue streams and amplifying its super-connector role, Hong Kong can secure its own vibrant future while making an unparalleled contribution to the realisation of the Chinese Dream.

A total of 161 candidates, many younger in profile, are now competing for 90 seats in Hong Kong’s upcoming Legislative Council election, marking a roughly five-per-cent increase over the previous poll and leaving no seat uncontested.

The nominations window closed on Thursday, ahead of the December 7 election — the second under the revamped “patriots-only” system.

Among the most striking developments is that up to 35 incumbent lawmakers, including long-serving member Paul Tse Wai-chun who entered the legislature in 2008, have chosen not to seek re-election — the largest number since 1997. Notably, all incumbents aged 70 or over have stepped aside, clearing the way for a new generation of aspirants.

Competition is especially intense in the city’s directly elected geographical constituencies.

In the newly redrawn configuration, up to 51 contenders are vying for 20 seats — a significant rise from 35 candidates in 2021 and an increase of 45.7 per cent.

In several constituencies candidates number five or six for each pair of seats, reflecting heightened contestation within the limited electoral tier.

In the New Territories North and New Territories South-East regions, the entire candidate field consists of newcomers, with no sitting lawmakers seeking re-election.

By contrast, veteran politicians from larger parties have withdrawn, citing age or a desire for renewal.

Analysts view the influx of new entrants and exodus of veterans as part of Beijing’s broader strategy to rejuvenate the legislature and align it more closely with governance and performance-focused mandates.

While the increased candidate numbers suggest more engagement, observers remain cautious over whether competition in a system tightly managed by the Candidate Eligibility Review mechanism will translate into meaningful electoral choice or higher voter turnout.

With the nomination period concluded, attention now turns to the campaign phase and whether the new-look legislature will inject fresh perspectives into the city’s policy-making process.

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways announced that it will repurchase the entire 9.57 per cent stake currently held by Qatar Airways, subject to independent shareholder approval.

The buy-back will cost approximately HK$6.96 billion (about US$896 million) and covers 643.07 million shares at a price of HK$10.8374 each.

The transaction comes after Qatar Airways expressed its intention to sell its entire holding in the airline, prompting Cathay to move swiftly.

The share price offered represents a discount of roughly 3.9 per cent to the previous close of HK$11.28, and about 0.5 per cent above the thirty-day average of HK$10.78. On the morning following the announcement, Cathay’s shares rose about 3 per cent to HK$11.62.

Cathay said the purchase will be funded via internal resources and existing credit facilities, reflecting the company’s view of its financial strength and outlook.

In a statement, chairman Patrick Healy said the move “reflects our strong confidence in the future of the Cathay Group and underscores our commitment to the development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub.”

The deal will see Qatar Airways exit its six-year investment in Cathay, which began in 2017 when it initially acquired a similar level of shares.

With the repurchase completed, the airline’s ownership structure will further consolidate, reinforcing the positions of the key shareholders, including Swire Pacific and Air China.

Analysts interpret the transaction as a strategic step for Cathay to bolster its control and reduce minority-shareholder influence, while signalling confidence amid strong passenger recovery and investment in fleet and network expansion.

The carrier has in recent months reported rising profits, placed large aircraft orders and resumed its full-service focus as global travel rebounds.

Execution of the buy-back remains conditional on independent shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting.

Once cleared, the transaction will complete the exit from Qatar Airways and solidify Cathay’s path towards its next phase of growth and hub development in Asia.

At five months pregnant, Daisy* was suddenly asked to leave her employer’s home in Hong Kong. The Filipino domestic helper says she was shown the door in the middle of the night, abandoned and terrified with no family or support in the city.

Daisy’s experience reflects a broader pattern among the city’s domestic helpers, who face numerous barriers when they become pregnant while working in Hong Kong. A report by the charity PathFinders – published in September 2025 – found large knowledge gaps among employers regarding legally mandated maternity protections, highlighting how foreign domestic helpers are often dismissed, isolated or left in limbo despite legal safeguards. The study found that fifty-one per cent of surveyed employers were unaware of maternity rights and eighty-four per cent wrongly believed helpers could be legally dismissed for pregnancy.

The rights of migrant domestic workers to pregnancy and maternity leave are enshrined in labour legislation. They are protected by the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and must receive notification procedures and, once eligible, fourteen weeks of paid maternity leave if they have served at least forty weeks in employment. Yet enforcement and awareness remain deeply inconsistent.

Many pregnant helpers who are unlawfully dismissed become uninsured, lose their visa status, and cannot access subsidised public hospital care – even though delivery costs without eligibility can exceed HK$90,000 (US$11,500). Charities have documented that the city’s shelters are increasingly accommodating expectant domestic workers who have nowhere else to go, cannot afford healthcare and face imminent deportation or joblessness.

Advocacy groups say that the deeper issue lies not with legislation but with a system where the live-in requirement, complex immigration rules and financial uncertainties place pregnant helpers in vulnerable positions. Even well-intentioned families often report not knowing how to manage maternity situations for live-in helpers and resort to informal “mutual termination” agreements rather than following statutory pathways.

For Daisy, returning home was not a simple option due to high airfare and social stigma linked to pregnancy out of wedlock. The absence of affordable maternity insurance, limited options for maternity leave outside employer homes and precarious visa status combine into a situation that sees pregnant domestic workers caught between legal rights and practical realities in Hong Kong.

Supporters of the helpers say that addressing the crisis will require mandatory employer education programmes, reform of live-in requirements, affordable maternity insurance schemes and more accessible shelter services. With domestic helpers making up a vital part of Hong Kong’s workforce, their wellbeing and rights are increasingly viewed as both a humanitarian concern and a matter of social-economic stability.

*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s identity.

China’s significant higher-education expansion has triggered measurable ripple effects at U.S. universities, a new study reveals.

Researchers found that as China lifted annual undergraduate enrolment from about one million in 1999 to 9.6 million by 2020, every additional 100 Chinese graduates led to approximately 3.6 Chinese graduate students enrolling in U.S. institutions.

The study further found that for every 100 Chinese master’s students in the U.S., American universities introduced around one new STEM master’s programme, concurrently raising the number of American and other international master’s students.

The authors described this as a “crowding in” effect, challenging the notion that Chinese students simply displace U.S.-domestic ones in postgraduate programmes.

Analysis also showed positive spill-overs beyond campuses: U.S. college towns hosting international students experienced increased job creation in non-university sectors, suggesting broader economic benefits from global student inflows.

The researchers leveraged detailed quota-based admissions data from China and visa records from U.S. institutions to identify causal links between China’s domestic education policy and the international flows of students.

These findings come amid growing political debate in the U.S. about foreign student presence, especially from China, in key science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Some lawmakers have argued that wealthy international students crowd out U.S. peers; the new evidence counters that view, indicating the expansion of Chinese talent may have enabled U.S. universities to expand programmes and intake rather than restrict opportunities.

While the paper has not yet undergone full peer review, its findings illuminate how interconnected global education systems have become, and how policy shifts in one country can reshape academic and economic landscapes abroad.

The results underscore that rather than a zero-sum contest for global talent, the flow of Chinese students into the U.S. may have catalysed growth in graduate-education capacity and supported local economic activity in university regions.