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South China Morning Post

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What does Washington’s latest AI chip guidance mean for Chinese tech firms?

China’s Ministry of Commerce has lashed out at Washington’s latest guidance on advanced artificial intelligence chip exports, accusing the United States of abusing export controls and disrupting the global semiconductor supply chain. But trade lawyers and industry insiders said the actual fallout over the new document could be far more limited than the geopolitical fireworks suggest. The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued guidance on May 31, stating licences would be required to...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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CE wraps up 'fruitful' Central Asia visit

Chief Executive John Lee on Friday expressed confidence that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan will further advance their "win-win cooperation" as he concluded his week-long Central Asia trip. Speaking on the final day of his visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, Lee described his trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as fruitful, noting achievements have been secured in eight areas. These include the establishment of high-level contacts and ties between the SAR government and the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the respective sides reaching consensus on cooperation across multiple areas, he said. Lee added that a total of 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, involving investments exceeding US$1.65 billion, had been reached during his visit. Before returning to Hong Kong on Friday night, Lee attended a business exchange event and met again with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov. Lee said he looked forward to strengthening co-operation between the two places and laying a solid foundation in areas that include capital markets connectivity, infrastructure financing and green finance. The CE thanked the government of Uzbekistan for making arrangements for his visit, saying he was confident that the two places would open up a new chapter of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation. Earlier in the day, Lee attended a luncheon hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Yu Jun. There, he expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for its continued support and for making arrangements for the visit. Lee also visited the Center for Islamic Civilization – the country’s largest cultural, scientific, and educational complex – to learn about local efforts in cultural preservation, academic research and education promotion. During the visit, he noted that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan could further strengthen cooperation in arts and culture, people-to-people exchanges and museum collaboration. Edited by Edmond Fong

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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HK, Uzbek museums plan co-curated exhibitions in 2028

Hong Kong Palace Museum and the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan have begun discussions on co-curating exhibitions in late 2028, with plans to bring each other's collections to Hong Kong and Tashkent, according to Hong Kong Palace Museum director Louis Ng. Speaking during Chief Executive John Lee’s visit to Central Asia, Ng said the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, covering cooperation in research, exhibitions, education and talent training. Ng added that preliminary talks on the exhibition exchange have already taken place. “We will bring collections from the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan to Hong Kong,” he said. “On the other hand, we will bring our collections from the Hong Kong Palace Museum – including our ancient gold artefacts and textiles – to exhibit here in Uzbekistan.” He said the timeline is still subject to further negotiations between the two museum teams and depends on their respective schedules, as well as any other exhibition commitments for the Uzbek artefacts. Ng described Uzbekistan as an ancient civilisation and a “cultural hub” along the historic Silk Road and said the collaboration aims to bring Central Asian history to Hong Kong audiences. “We hope to take this opportunity to present the history of Central Asia, the history of Uzbekistan and the history of the Silk Road through an exhibition in Hong Kong,” he said. He also emphasised that the initiative supports both the Belt and Road Initiative and Hong Kong’s development into a centre for Chinese and international cultural and artistic exchanges. He said this marks the first time a Hong Kong museum has cooperated with a Central Asian counterpart. “Central Asian museums don’t know much about Hong Kong’s museums either,” Ng said, adding that he has invited Uzbek museum directors to visit Hong Kong in the coming year to share experiences and expertise. “Together, we can advance the development of our respective cultural and museum sectors more prosperously,” Ng said. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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China proposes nuclear-powered floating island to reshape global shipping

A Chinese shipbuilder has unveiled a blueprint for a massive, nuclear-powered floating island that will serve as a container transfer terminal and a charging station for vessels. The floating terminal will be powered by advanced molten salt reactors that use liquefied salt as both a fuel and coolant. These reactors can store vast amounts of thermal energy and cool without the need for water. Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, said the complex...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Uzbeks welcome HK's 30-day visa-free proposal

Uzbeks in the capital of Tashkent voiced enthusiasm about the prospect of closer ties with Hong Kong on Thursday. Earlier, the SAR and Uzbek governments had agreed to begin detailed talks on a 30-day visa-free stay for travellers on both sides. Currently, HKSAR passport holders may visit Uzbekistan visa-free for 10 days, while Uzbek passport holders require a visa to enter Hong Kong. Uzbek citizens told RTHK that the proposed arrangement, revealed by Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday night during his Central Asia visit, would significantly ease current travel restrictions and that the news could not come soon enough. "It’s a big opportunity for our nation, for our population, for our locals," said Jasur Abdumavlonov, an English teacher in Tashkent. "China is the fastest developing country. It develops very fast." Abdumavlonov, who described himself as eager to learn, said he hopes to visit Hong Kong within the next five years, drawn by curiosity about its food and people. He predicted the visa-free scheme would spark a two-way exchange of traditions and world views. "A lot of people will exchange their traditions, their point of view," he said. "They’re going to learn a lot about Asia, about Central Asia. And our people will learn a lot about Chinese [people]." For younger Uzbeks, Hong Kong’s pop culture has already built a powerful pull. Yasmin Kholmurodova said she has wanted to visit the city for a long time, inspired by its cinema, books and music. "That’s great news. I wish to come to Hong Kong for a very long time," she said. Kholmurodova said that the more visa-free destinations available to Uzbek travellers, the better. She also added that the proposed deal would foster prosperity through greater people-to-people contact. "Let’s be friendly, let’s visit each other’s countries, let’s be more global," she said. "I think it will definitely be more prosperous." Beyond tourism, business ties are already emerging. Khurshid Shomurotov said his brother travelled to Hong Kong just 10 days ago to meet potential partners. He said he now plans to visit Hong Kong himself in the future, adding that business discussions with partners in the city had gone well. The chief executive said the two governments would promptly advance the specific implementation measures to bring the arrangement into effect as soon as possible. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Hong Kong, Uzbekistan move towards easing travel visa

The SAR government and Uzbekistan have agreed to begin detailed discussions on further relaxing travel arrangements, allowing travellers from both sides to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Chief Executive John Lee who is leading a business delegation visiting Central Asia held a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uzbekistan on Wednesday. Lee said on his social media page that they exchanged views on formalising the intent to advance the arrangement. Currently, HKSAR passport holders may visit Uzbekistan visa-free for 10 days, while Uzbek passport holders require a visa to enter Hong Kong. "The two governments will promptly advance the specific implementation measures to bring the arrangement into effect as soon as possible," Lee said. "I believe the implementation of visa-free arrangement will enhance exchanges between the two places, stimulate tourism, study and commercial cooperation and development, lay a solid foundation for long-term economic and trade relations for both sides, and assist Hong Kong in expanding into emerging markets in Central Asia," he added. Edited by Nazvi Careem

South China Morning Post

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US House votes to stop Iran war in rebuke to Trump

The Republican-led House voted on Wednesday to halt the war with Iran, breaking with US President Donald Trump on an unpopular foreign conflict that is taking an escalating economic toll on Americans. The 215-208 vote showed worries over the war spreading in the president’s own party five months before congressional elections. Last month, a Senate resolution to end the war also advanced past a procedural hurdle for the first time, though that legislation has not yet come to a formal vote. The...

South China Morning Post

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China, EU slam proposed US tariffs, reject forced labour allegations

The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from China and dozens of other trading partners, using a forced-labour investigation to advance what analysts see as a bid to rebuild its tariff regime after recent court setbacks. The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Tuesday that China and 59 other economies failed to prohibit or adequately restrict US imports made with forced labour, subjecting them to punitive action...

South China Morning Post

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China’s PL-15 missile has downed Rafale jets. Is the PL-16 even more powerful?

China’s latest air-to-air missile, the PL-16, could have a range of more than 300km (186 miles) thanks to a variable-thrust rocket motor, according to an unverified image being circulated online. It comes weeks after the first image emerged of the US Air Force’s new AIM-260 air-to-air missile – a joint advanced tactical missile with a range of at least 193km (120 miles). It is not clear when the AIM-260 will enter service, but US officials have cited China’s PL-15 missile as a key driver for the...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Same result for pupils despite school place SMS error

Some parents on Wednesday said they received the same result for their children who applied for a school place through the primary one central allocation system, even though a text message was mistakenly sent a day ahead of schedule due to a system error. According to the Education Bureau, a total of 16,345 pupils took part in this year’s primary one central allocation – about 86.2 percent, or more than 14,000 of them, were given their top three choices. Combined with discretionary places, the overall satisfaction rate stood at 93.6 percent. Some parents, including a man surnamed Chung, decided to go door-knocking at their preferred school even though his daughter was allocated the top choice in the school net they live, consistent with the text message mistakenly sent earlier. He said the text message that the bureau sent out a day ago did not affect his plan at all. “When I got the text message, I was shocked. But the Education Bureau sent another message to tell us to disregard it," Chung said. "But it didn't make a difference to my plans because I had already planned to go door-knocking at another school net." A mother surnamed Choi said she decided to try her luck by door-knocking, as her child was given the fifth choice – the same as the text message she received a day ago, only in a different language. "I was mentally prepared, as I expected the result to be the same," she said. "Getting the result a day earlier – or a day later – made no difference to my preparatory work, as I had prepared in advance." Polly Chan, principal of Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road), said only a few parents contacted her school earlier over the text message (SMS) error. “Just a few families asked about the earlier SMS notification. They wanted to know whether the result was [an] official confirmation or just a false message,” she said. “I don’t think we have any chaos and confusion on the ground because our frontline staff were well-prepared.” She added the school had a quota of 10 to 13 spots for door-knocking parents, meaning that about 30 pupils will compete for a place. The bureau reminded parents to register their child with the school allocated during school hours on June 9 or 10. “If they are unable to complete the registration procedures on the above dates due to important matters, they should contact the person-in-charge of registration at the school allocated in advance to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they will be considered to have given up the school place allocated,” a spokesman added. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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IT/기술

Trump’s AI order seeks security safeguards without slowing race with China

US President Donald Trump signed a long-awaited executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) on Tuesday, which asked technology companies to voluntarily share advanced models before they are released, signalling a shift in the administration’s largely laissez-faire approach to the industry. The voluntary framework allows the government to vet powerful new AI systems up to 30 days before their public release, but stops short of mandating review regulations, which were reportedly considered. It...

South China Morning Post

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Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Chinese researchers have developed an environmentally friendly method to extract caesium from brine, a process they say could boost China’s supply of the strategic resource. Caesium, a rare metal, is a critical strategic resource used in satellite atomic clocks, missile thermal imaging sensors and advanced speciality glass. China and the United States are the top consumers of caesium, yet both rely heavily on imports. It is primarily found in the Earth’s crustal ores as well as salt lake brines...

South China Morning Post

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Prabowo’s overseas visits spark debate in Indonesia over benefits for citizens

Indonesia’s deepening ties with France have given President Prabowo Subianto a chance to advance Jakarta’s defence modernisation, strengthen relations with Europe and expand its international footprint. But analysts say the Paris visit has also fuelled a debate at home on whether deals and diplomatic goodwill arising from Prabowo’s frequent foreign trips can translate into benefits for ordinary Indonesians. Prabowo, who has visited France four times as president, met his French counterpart...

South China Morning Post

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Senators blast Trump for allowing AI chips to be sent to overseas units of Chinese firms

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim on Monday slammed the Trump administration for potentially allowing advanced American AI chips to ‌be sent to overseas units of Chinese firms, and called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify to Congress on the issue, according to a statement. In a surprise move, the Department of ⁠Commerce, which oversees US exports, on Sunday issued guidance to ‌close a potential loophole that may have led companies to export the world’s most advanced...

South China Morning Post

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China team drafts ‘comprehensive’ sanctions list targeting US, allies on 63 tech sectors

Since US President Donald Trump launched a tariff war against China during his first term in office, Washington has steadily expanded restrictions on Chinese access to advanced technologies, targeting semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, aerospace systems, supercomputers and a broad range of dual-use technologies. These export controls are aimed at slowing China’s rise in high-end manufacturing and frontier science. But Beijing’s rapid progress in a number of...

South China Morning Post

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Chinese EV makers recover in May but competition remains fierce amid overcapacity woes

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China recovered on solid footing in May, as new models fitted with higher-performance batteries and more advanced driver assistance systems drew consumers amid intensified competition. Zeekr, a premium EV brand owned by Geely Auto, the country’s second-largest carmaker, and Stellantis-backed Leapmotor rewrote their monthly delivery records, the latest sign that local government subsidies have whetted consumers’ buying appetite for big-ticket items. Although...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'New HKUST medical dean brings experience'

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Monday said the newly appointed founding dean of the city’s third medical school possesses relevant experience. The government welcomed the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s appointment of physician-scientist King Li, who had the same role at Carle Illinois College of Medicine of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. Li possesses “invaluable practical experience” in establishing a new medical school, Lo said. “I look forward to the HKUST's medical school continuing to smoothly advance the relevant preparatory work under his leadership, including the recruitment of the teaching and research team, the formulation of teaching programmes, and participation in the overall planning of the Ngau Tam Mei campus and the new integrated teaching and research hospital, deepening collaboration with local healthcare institutions and teaching partners, as well as full co-operation with the Medical Council of Hong Kong throughout the accreditation exercise for the curriculum,” Lo said. He stressed that establishing a third medical school is important for Hong Kong’s healthcare system. Secretary for Education Christine Choi said she hopes Li will lead the medical school to develop a forward-looking and internationally oriented education model with his global vision and connections in the international medical community. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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Beijing appoints Yuan Gujie as deputy director of Hong Kong liaison office

Beijing has appointed Yuan Gujie, a former senior Guangdong official who vowed to advance rules and mechanisms connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, as deputy director of its liaison office in Hong Kong. State news agency Xinhua announced the appointment on Monday. Yuan, 58, will succeed diplomat Liu Guangyuan, who is expected to retire at 61. The liaison office’s top leadership includes director Zhou Ji and four deputies. Yuan headed the provincial Political and Legal Affairs Committee and...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Economy shows resilience as AI electronic exports boom

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Monday Hong Kong’s economy remained resilient when it moved into the second quarter. This, he said, followed robust growth of 5.9 percent in gross domestic product in the first quarter. Speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s financial affairs panel, Chan said the SAR saw year-on-year growth in merchandise exports of nearly 43 percent in April, driven by export of AI-related electronics products. The city also welcomed more tourists in April and during the Labour Day Golden Week holiday, in addition to seeing improvements in the labour market. However, Chan warned of uncertainties brought about by the Middle East stalemate. "Although the conflict has limited impact on Hong Kong’s economy, it has pushed up international oil prices and inflation pressure," he said. "The ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran is not on solid ground. If tensions escalate again, it is expected to exacerbate volatility in global financial markets, weaken external demand and pose downside risks to global and local economic outlook. "But strong global demand for advanced electronics and AI-related products is expected to help boost exports." Chan also said Hong Kong exports of services would remain robust with tourism booming, cross-border financial activities thriving and demand for business services remaining stable. He also urged the retail and catering sectors to transform themselves to match new consumption trends. "Consumption patterns have changed and people’s expectations are different from before," Chan said. "As a result, some of the big traditional restaurants may find it difficult to survive in the current environment if they continue with their past practices," he said. "At the same time, however, there are distinctive shops and cafes opening up in many districts, and some of them are doing well. Therefore, we encourage the industry to transform." Chan said the government would offer assistance in funding and training to aid in the sectors' transformation. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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IT/기술

Beyond Nvidia: how US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry

Under the weight of sustained US export controls on advanced semiconductors, China’s AI chipmakers are battling to forge a self-reliant silicon ecosystem capable of breaking Nvidia’s stranglehold on the market. At the centre of this rivalry is a fundamental design debate: Should the country rely on the versatile graphics processing unit (GPU) or pivot to the highly specialised application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)? The fight is no longer about finding a single Nvidia clone; it is about...

뉴스

타임라인 키워드

What does Washington’s latest AI chip guidance mean for Chinese tech firms?

CE wraps up 'fruitful' Central Asia visit

HK, Uzbek museums plan co-curated exhibitions in 2028

China proposes nuclear-powered floating island to reshape global shipping

Uzbeks welcome HK's 30-day visa-free proposal

Hong Kong, Uzbekistan move towards easing travel visa

US House votes to stop Iran war in rebuke to Trump

China, EU slam proposed US tariffs, reject forced labour allegations

China’s PL-15 missile has downed Rafale jets. Is the PL-16 even more powerful?

Same result for pupils despite school place SMS error

Trump’s AI order seeks security safeguards without slowing race with China

Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Prabowo’s overseas visits spark debate in Indonesia over benefits for citizens

Senators blast Trump for allowing AI chips to be sent to overseas units of Chinese firms

China team drafts ‘comprehensive’ sanctions list targeting US, allies on 63 tech sectors

Chinese EV makers recover in May but competition remains fierce amid overcapacity woes

'New HKUST medical dean brings experience'

Beijing appoints Yuan Gujie as deputy director of Hong Kong liaison office

Economy shows resilience as AI electronic exports boom

Beyond Nvidia: how US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry