China News Highlights, 10 August 2025: Seventeen rescued after ride malfunctions at Hong Kong's Ocean Park

US chipmakers Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the U.S. government 15% of their revenue from specific chip sales in China in order to obtain export licenses, the Financial Times reported. The revenue-sharing agreement applies to Nvidia's H20 chips and AMD's MI308 chips, which are semiconductors specifically designed to comply with existing US export controls targeting China.

Seventeen people were rescued after being stranded mid-air for more than an hour when the "Wild Twister" ride at Hong Kong's Ocean Park malfunctioned on Sunday evening, South China Morning Post said in a report. Emergency services were dispatched to the theme park, and firefighters conducted the rescue operation. All riders were brought down safely, and no one required medical treatment.

E-payment service provider AlipayHK will continue to waive fees for Hong Kong taxi drivers in an effort to increase the low penetration rate of its system, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The company stated the move is a response to cabbies’ persistent reluctance to adopt digital payments. AlipayHK has also implemented other measures to boost adoption, such as enhancing the ride-hailing experience within its app and providing drivers with QR codes that carry no fees.

Three hikers were hospitalized in Hong Kong on Sunday after being attacked by bees in two separate incidents on Yuk Kwai Shan, a hill in the southern part of the city, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Police reports prompted the Government Flying Service to dispatch helicopters to the scene. One of the incidents involved a 14-year-old boy and his 76-year-old grandfather who were hiking in the area.

China is preparing to begin construction on a major railway project linking Xinjiang and Tibet, with work expected to start this year, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company has been formally registered with 95 billion yuan (US$13.2 billion) in capital. The new entity, which will manage the construction and operation of the line between Hotan and Lhasa, is wholly owned by the China State Railway Group.

Police in Hong Kong arrested 67 individuals following an undercover operation targeting a prostitution ring run by the Sun Yee On triad group. The operation dismantled a network operating through membership clubs and bars that brought in sex workers from Thailand, Taiwan, and mainland China. A senior triad member, known as “Little B,” was among those targeted and is also allegedly linked to a separate HK$40 billion money laundering syndicate that was dismantled by police in July.

Hong Kong authorities have launched an investigation following the death of a 63-year-old man employed by a Highways Department contractor, South China Morning Post said in a report. The department was notified on Saturday that the worker had collapsed around 10 a.m. while performing cleaning duties on a footbridge in Wong Tai Sin. According to police, the man was unconscious when he was transported to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po and was later pronounced dead.

Hong Kong police have arrested two men, including the alleged mastermind, in connection with the theft of two luxury watches worth a combined HK$4 million, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The victims, two merchants from mainland China, reported that a Patek Philippe and a Richard Mille watch were stolen from them during a transaction on Monday in a fake repair shop located in Tsim Sha Tsui. The police announced the arrests on Saturday.

A large-scale rehearsal for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was held in central Beijing from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The rehearsal, which involved approximately 22,000 people, took place near Tiananmen Square, leading to parts of the city center being blocked off. According to China's state news agency Xinhua, the preparations are for the main parade scheduled for September 3.

A recent survey of 31 households in Hong Kong's subdivided flats revealed indoor temperatures can reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with the average highest daytime temperature recorded at 30.8 degrees Celsius, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The study, conducted by concern groups CarbonCare InnoLab and Kwai Chung Subdivided Units Kai Fong Association, has led to calls for the Hong Kong government to provide a summer electricity allowance to tenants living in these substandard housing conditions to help them cope with the extreme heat.

Hong Kong's government will intensify its efforts to attract foreign investment and explore new markets in response to geopolitical challenges, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated on Sunday that the city will team up with mainland Chinese businesses to pursue international opportunities. This announcement coincides with Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po revealing that the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (Oases) has successfully brought 100 firms to the city and is preparing to announce a fifth group of such enterprises.

A residential project in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district drew significant buyer interest on Sunday, with mainland Chinese buyers making up half of the purchases, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. As of Sunday evening, 21 of the 30 units offered at the '33 Kennedy Road' project had been sold. The development is a joint venture between The Development Studio, owned by former Swire Properties chairman Keith Kerr, and Fu Hop Investment.

Police in Hong Kong and Shenzhen arrested 12 people and dismantled a cross-border syndicate involved in a fake ticket scam, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The criminal group allegedly operated a workshop in Shenzhen to produce counterfeit tickets for concerts and sports events, defrauding victims of more than HK$100,000 (US$12,740). The fraudulent tickets reportedly included those for shows by high-profile performers such as K-pop star G-Dragon and Cantopop singer G.E.M.

Sergey Sinkins, a Latvian adjudicator at the World Games in Chengdu, has become a viral sensation on Chinese social media, South China Morning Post said in a report. During the Latin dance contest on Friday, social media users were drawn to his tall stature, straight posture, and elegant appearance in a black suit. His online popularity earned him the nickname "Mr Ferrari" from Chinese fans.

China has urged Australian authorities to 'severely punish' those responsible for an attack on a Chinese student in Tasmania last week, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Tasmanian police announced on Friday that two 14-year-old girls have been charged with serious assault in connection with the incident, which occurred at a Hobart shopping precinct on Tuesday. The victim, a 33-year-old man, is being treated for head injuries at Royal Hobart Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

A group of Chinese scientists has developed a new gene-editing tool that can precisely manipulate millions of base pairs, the building blocks of DNA, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. This development addresses a challenge that has stumped biologists for decades. The innovation was described as "very significant progress" by Yin Hao, a gene editing specialist at Wuhan University’s medical research institute who was not involved in the research, and is expected to help lay the foundation for future advances in genetic engineering.

Hong Kong is set for inclement weather next week as an intensifying severe tropical storm is projected to pass within 400km of the city on Thursday, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The Hong Kong Observatory stated that Tropical Storm Podul, which means willow tree in Korean, was centered approximately 1,140km from the city as of its latest update.

A group of middle-aged women were filmed performing square dancing in a sleeping carriage on a train bound for Changchun, China, on July 27, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. A passenger, complaining that his rest was being disturbed by the loud music and singing, recorded a video of the incident. The clip subsequently went viral on social media, attracting numerous critical comments from the public regarding the disturbance in a shared space.

China has aired a six-episode historical documentary titled 'Zuo Zongtang Recovers Xinjiang' as part of an effort to counter Western narratives and bolster national identity, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The documentary, produced and broadcast by Hunan province's state media, focuses on the story of Zuo Zongtang, a late Qing dynasty general who led the re-conquest of Xinjiang from foreign-backed forces in the late 19th century. The broadcast is described as Beijing's latest move to use historical narratives to strengthen its claims and control over ethnic minority border regions.

A recent surge in Chinese commercial aerospace firms planning or reviving initial public offerings highlights the sector's significant need for capital, the South China Morning Post says in a report. The trend coincides with Beijing's stepped-up support for innovation-focused businesses seeking to raise funds through public markets. Among the companies pursuing this path is LandSpace Technology, which in 2023 launched the world’s first methane-fueled rocket into orbit.

Chinese hurdler and national record holder Wu Yanni has sparked a social media discussion by confidently addressing rumors about her having had cosmetic procedures, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The athlete, who competes for the Chinese National Athletics Team in the 100-metre hurdles, responded to online gossip by stating, “I look good; that is why they say I had plastic surgery!” Wu also encouraged others to embrace their own choices, saying, “Do what you think is beautiful,” which has led to wider conversations about confidence and modern beauty standards in China.

More than 90% of Hong Kong students studying at four designated schools in mainland China have met the minimum requirements for university entry in the city's public exams, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. This success rate is substantially higher than the 38% average recorded for all candidates who took the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams. The four schools, all located within the Greater Bay Area, are the only institutions on the mainland that the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has approved to register students as official school candidates for the DSE.

Shenzhen surgical robot start-up Yuanhua Tech plans to set up an assembly facility in Hong Kong to boost overseas sales and aims to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the city's bourse to fund further development, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The company's founder and chairwoman, Li Aili, stated these plans in an interview. As background, in 2022, Yuanhua Tech received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration to market its self-developed orthopaedic robot systems for joint replacement surgeries within China.

A fire in a commercial building in Hong Kong's busy Mong Kok district on Sunday morning was extinguished without any casualties, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Police received multiple reports of smoke at Ko’s House around 7:48 a.m., and firefighters put out the blaze on the third floor by 8:12 a.m. Authorities confirmed there were no evacuations necessary, though glass fragments from the fire were found on the nearby Nathan Road, leading to a temporary lane closure.

Hong Kong's food and beverage sector is expected to continue experiencing significant tenant churn in the coming months, with prominent restaurants closing down while more affordable eateries and fast-food chains expand, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Analysts attribute this trend to persistent economic uncertainty and job insecurity among local residents. This development comes after the city's F&B operators endured an economic slump that saw retail sales decline for 14 consecutive months before a slight rebound was recorded in May and June, based on official data.

With the rising popularity of AI chatbots in China, a new approach called generative engine optimisation (GEO) has emerged as a significant strategy for brands seeking visibility, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Unlike traditional search engine optimisation (SEO), which focuses on improving rankings in search results, GEO aims to have a brand's content cited, summarized, or recommended within the limited-word answers generated by AI models, directly influencing the information provided by the AI.

Dr. Libby Lee Ha-yun, the new chief executive of Hong Kong’s public hospitals, has pledged to foster a 'speak-up' culture among staff to enhance patient safety, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Taking office at the beginning of August, Dr. Lee stated on Friday that she hopes to create an environment where no one feels the need to be a whistle-blower. She also emphasized that services should be offered more from the patients' perspective and that their opinions should be given greater consideration.

Chinese AI firm Z.ai, formerly known as Zhipu AI, has made its GLM artificial intelligence models compatible with Huawei Technologies’ semiconductors, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The Beijing-based company stated its models now support Huawei’s Ascend processors, which are used in AI servers, as well as the Kirin chips integrated into smartphones and laptops. This move aligns with the country's broader strategy to build a self-sufficient domestic technology ecosystem.

Police in Hong Kong arrested 42 people for the illegal use of electric bicycles during a crackdown in western Kowloon earlier this week, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The force stated on Saturday that the group consisted of 39 men and three women, ranging in age from 18 to 66. Among those arrested were 11 food delivery riders, including one asylum seeker, and 10 of the individuals were non-locals. All 42 electric bikes were also seized by the authorities.

Top artificial intelligence talent from Alibaba Group Holding’s Tongyi Lab, which develops the widely used open-source Qwen models, has become a key target for poaching by rival Chinese tech giants, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The heated recruitment race has led to several high-profile departures from the lab, including senior figures Yan Zhijie and Bo Liefeng. Yan, who had been with Alibaba since 2015 and led Tongyi's speech lab, reportedly left the company in February.

An investigation has been launched in Hong Kong after a 63-year-old employee of a Highways Department contractor died on Saturday, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The man collapsed around 10 a.m. while carrying out cleaning work on a footbridge in the Wong Tai Sin district. Police reported he was unconscious when transported to a local medical center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Hong Kong police have arrested two men, including the alleged mastermind, in connection with the theft of two luxury watches valued at HK$4 million (US$512,820), according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The victims, two mainland Chinese merchants, reported that a Patek Philippe and a Richard Mille watch were stolen from them during a transaction at a bogus Tsim Sha Tsui repair shop on Monday. Police announced the arrests on Saturday following an investigation into the incident.

A hotel in central China has launched a "pet sleep-accompanying" service that has attracted social media attention, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The Biguiyuan Phoenix Hotel in Wuhan, Hubei province, allows customers to pay 499 yuan (US$70) for a pet-themed room and sign an agreement to have a dog accompany them. However, a lawyer has issued a warning that the hotel would have to bear full legal and financial responsibility if one of the dogs were to bite a guest.

Anchorpoint Financial, a new joint venture created by Standard Chartered Bank, Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT), is applying for a stablecoin license in Hong Kong, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The company announced on Friday, August 8, 2025, that it had formally expressed its interest to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on August 1, the day the city's new stablecoin ordinance took effect. This move makes Anchorpoint the first entity to officially begin the application process under the new regulatory framework.

Hong Kong stocks fell on Friday, ending a four-day rally due to disappointing corporate earnings and persistent concerns over deflation in China, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The Hang Seng Index declined 0.9% to close at 24,858.82, while the Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.6%. Despite the daily loss, the main benchmark managed a 1.4% gain for the week, supported by investor expectations of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut following weaker labor market data.

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia is looking to expand its network connectivity in Hong Kong and is also considering a potential listing on the city's stock exchange next year, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The airline's owner, Capital A Berhad, aims to capitalize on Hong Kong's status as a major financial and investor hub. In May, Capital A had previously announced that a potential secondary listing in Hong Kong was part of its strategy to broaden its access to global capital markets, a decision that followed a meeting with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.

An intense promotional war between Chinese food delivery giants Alibaba Group Holding and Meituan is causing a significant spike in orders, as per a report in the South China Morning Post. Consumers are taking advantage of offers for free drinks and discounted meals, leading to a surge in demand. One delivery rider in Shanghai reported his daily order count doubling to nearly 100 on Thursday, describing it as one of the "craziest days" he has experienced. The competition involves both Alibaba's Ele.me platform and Meituan.