China News Live: Hong Kong awards civil service teams for earthquake rescue and sports park opening

Two teams of civil servants have received Hong Kong's Chief Executive’s Award for Exemplary Performance, the South China Morning Post said in a report. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday that the award recognizes a team of rescuers sent to assist after an earthquake in Myanmar and an interdepartmental team responsible for the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the city's largest sports facility. Lee stated that the two teams reflect the outstanding capabilities of the government's civil servants.

Qatar Airways has cancelled its early morning flight from Hong Kong to Doha for two consecutive days, affecting more than 100 passengers, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Flight 815, scheduled to depart at 1:25 a.m., was cancelled on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The cancellations followed Qatar's decision to temporarily close its airspace as a precaution due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

The Yangtze River Delta region in eastern China is transforming into a national innovation hub to advance the country's goal of technological self-sufficiency, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. In the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, this trend is highlighted by startups like Magic Lab, which specializes in full-sized humanoid robots. The company exemplifies the push for domestic manufacturing by developing over 90% of its components in-house and sourcing them locally, including critical parts such as motors, control units, and dexterous robotic hands. This development is part of a broader regional effort to build a self-reliant domestic supply chain for advanced technologies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Chinese defense companies of being part of a network helping to sustain Russia's war against Ukraine, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Speaking at a NATO summit defense industry forum in The Hague on Tuesday, Zelensky stated that while Russia poses a long-term threat to Europe, it is not acting alone. He described a 'network of state and non-state actors' that are 'assuring the course of aggression,' directly implicating Chinese firms as part of this supply network.

The Pentagon has successfully tested a new long-range radar in Alaska designed to detect missile threats from China and Russia, Reuters said in a report. The US Department of Defense announced on Tuesday that the Long Range Discrimination Radar successfully performed key tasks, including acquiring, tracking, and reporting data on a missile target. Officials stated the radar could eventually be integrated as a sensor into the "Golden Dome," a conceptual missile defense shield.

Concern groups in Hong Kong have warned that proposed government regulations for licensed money lenders could inadvertently drive low-income debtors to unregulated operators, as per a report in the South China Morning Post. The warning came on Tuesday after the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau initiated a two-month public consultation on Monday regarding stricter rules for the money lending industry. The proposals, which include setting an aggregate borrowing cap, have raised fears that they will overly restrict access to credit for vulnerable populations, such as domestic helpers, potentially pushing them towards illegal loan sharks.

US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that China is permitted to continue purchasing oil from Iran, according to a report in Reuters. In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said, "China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran." He also expressed his hope that China would increase its energy imports from the United States, stating, "Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also."

The UK government has stated that while China's attempts to spy on and destabilize the country have increased, it remains an essential economic partner, according to a report in AP. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told lawmakers that China's power is an "inescapable fact" and that freezing relations with the world's second-largest economy is "not an option." He noted that China is the UK's third-biggest trading partner and the second-largest source of students for its universities.

A new report from the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlights the significant influence Chinese companies have established in port infrastructure throughout Latin America, according to a report in the Financial Times. The research documents the extent of Chinese corporate involvement in the region's ports, a development that is reportedly causing concern among policymakers in Washington over the strategic implications of this economic presence.

A Mexican woman named Carmen, who has resided in Shanghai for 12 years, has become a social media trend for teaching foreigners how to play the traditional Chinese game of mahjong, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. She reportedly holds classes every weekend at a local restaurant for overseas students. A viral video shows that while many of her students are not fluent in Chinese, they are able to understand the specific terminology of the game.

During a panel at the World Economic Forum’s "Summer Davos" in China, prominent US scholars suggested that America's economic outperformance is at risk due to its own tariff and immigration policies, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The discussion, held at the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, involved an assessment of the US economy's strengths and weaknesses. The scholars also debated whether the United States or China is better positioned to advance the technological frontier, considering the impact of current US policies.

Organizers of the 35th Hong Kong Book Fair hope to surpass 1 million visitors, aiming to break the previous event's record, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The fair, themed “Food Culture Feature Living”, is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 22 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Three other events will run concurrently at the same venue.

Five postgraduate students from Harvard University have accepted scholarship offers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) following recent US government sanctions on international student admissions, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. A spokeswoman for HKUST confirmed that the university had extended admission offers to a total of six postgraduate students and offer holders from Harvard. The students' research areas span science and technology.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has stated that 'soft resistance' continues to be a threat in the city, urging residents to stay vigilant against 'villains' attempting to undermine national security, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Lee specified that criticism of the government is permissible only if it lacks the intent to compromise national security. This warning follows a statement from Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, who said authorities would increase scrutiny to guard against such resistance.

Chinese airlines have a key operational advantage on China-Europe routes as escalating conflict in the Middle East forces widespread flight diversions, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. While most international carriers are now avoiding airspace over Iran and other parts of the region due to safety concerns from the Iran-Israel conflict and US military strikes, Western airlines face a compounded problem. They remain barred from using Russian airspace as a retaliatory measure for sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Chinese carriers, which are not subject to the Russian airspace ban, can continue to fly more direct routes, giving them an edge in flight time and operational costs.

Sai Kung district councillor Angel Chong, who is the youngest person to hold such a post in Hong Kong, is participating in the Miss Hong Kong Pageant, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Chong was seen at the first round of interviews for the contest on Tuesday. In response, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen stated that Chong must remember to fulfill her public duties. Mak also left open the question of whether Chong would be required to step down from her council position if she were to win the pageant.

Hong Kong's Department of Health is investigating a carbon monoxide poisoning incident after a 31-year-old man lost consciousness from smoking shisha at a Mong Kok bar, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The man also sustained a head injury from the fall. However, the bar named in the report has denied the incident, stating it stopped selling shisha in mid-2024 and has not had any customers faint recently. Authorities conducted a spot check at the location but did not find any illegal smoking activity.

A central bank adviser has urged China to implement a more proactive fiscal policy in response to growing global uncertainties, particularly the conflict in the Middle East and ongoing trade war risks, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Huang Yiping, who is also the dean of Peking University’s National School of Development, stated on Tuesday that while fiscal discipline is important for long-term sustainability, current circumstances may require a different approach to support the economy.

China has unveiled details for its upcoming Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission, which aims to bring at least 500 grams of Martian material to Earth by 2031, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The mission will feature a novel approach by pairing a stationary lander with a helicopter drone to extend its sample collection range. Scientists also detailed plans to mitigate biological contamination risks associated with returning samples that may contain signs of life from Mars.

A new survey indicates growing interest in the Chinese yuan among central banks as doubts about the US dollar's future persist, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The Global Public Investor poll, released by the London-based Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), found that a net 14% of reserve managers intend to increase their exposure to the yuan over the next two years. However, the report also clarifies that this shift in sentiment is not substantial enough to challenge the US dollar's long-standing dominance in global reserves.

Zou Jiayi, China's former vice-minister of finance, has been elected president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The announcement was made on Tuesday at the Beijing-based bank's annual meeting, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary. Zou will serve a five-year term, leading the institution which has US$100 billion in capital and representatives from 110 member states.

Japan's foreign ministry has lodged an official protest with Beijing after China began installing a new structure in the East China Sea. The ministry's statement on Tuesday called it "extremely regrettable" that China is proceeding with unilateral development. The action is taking place on the west side of the geographical equidistance line that Japan proposes as the maritime boundary between the two countries.

In response to heightened competition from domestic rivals in China, Apple has joined the country's national subsidy program to help increase sales, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The US technology company announced on Tuesday that consumers in Beijing and Shanghai can receive discounts of up to 2,000 yuan (US$278) on certain products. The subsidies are applicable to select models of the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook when purchased directly from Apple.

Andrew Yao Chi-chih, dean of Tsinghua University’s College of AI, warned that failing to manage the risks from deceptive artificial intelligence could lead to 'existential risks' for humans, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Speaking at a university forum on Monday, Yao highlighted that the industry has already seen instances of deceptive behavior from large language models (LLMs). He stated that once these models become sufficiently intelligent, they will inevitably deceive people.

The China Labor Bulletin (CLB), a prominent labor rights organization based in Hong Kong, has abruptly shut down, as per a report in Radio Free Asia. The group, founded by Chinese labor activist Han Dongfang, focused on advocating for and tracking workers' rights issues within mainland China. The organization stated that its closure was due to financial woes.

Police in China have launched a crackdown targeting authors of online erotic fiction, according to a report in Radio Free Asia. The move has drawn criticism from legal scholars who contend that law enforcement agencies are punishing writers outside of their proper jurisdiction. These scholars characterize the police actions as an overreach of authority, raising concerns about the application of law in the country's ongoing efforts to control online content.

Veteran Chinese dissident Chen Yunfei is being subjected to ongoing police harassment despite his release from prison in March, according to a report in Radio Free Asia. Since being freed, Chen has reportedly endured multiple rounds of questioning by authorities. He is also under repeated surveillance, consistent with a broader pattern of monitoring individuals deemed sensitive by the state even after they have served their sentences.

Imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong is facing a new charge of 'foreign collusion' under the National Security Law, Radio Free Asia says in a report. Wong, a prominent figure in the city's past pro-democracy movements who is already serving sentences for other protest-related offenses, now faces a charge that could potentially carry a life sentence. The development has drawn condemnation from rights groups, who view it as a politically motivated action to silence one of the city's best-known activists.

Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud computing division is set to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) services to its international data centres within the year, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The plan involves offering its flagship Qwen large language models and the Model Studio platform to its global infrastructure. This move aims to accommodate increasing demand from both foreign companies and domestic clients seeking to expand their operations worldwide.

A court in Hong Kong sentenced a mother, Stephanie Tam Wai-man, to nine months of inpatient psychiatric treatment at a prison facility, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The High Court's decision on Tuesday followed recommendations from two psychiatrists. Tam had previously admitted to killing her 16-month-old son in May 2022 when she attempted suicide and had been held on remand for over three years.

China's Ministry of Commerce has strongly opposed the European Union's decision to exclude Chinese firms from public tenders for multi-million-euro medical devices, the latest development in growing trade friction between Beijing and Brussels, according to a report in South China Morning Post. A ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday that the EU disregarded China's goodwill conveyed through bilateral dialogues and that Beijing is "strongly dissatisfied with the decision and resolutely opposes" it. This action adds medical equipment to an expanding list of items at the center of trade disputes between the two economic blocs.

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy is scheduled to brief the UK parliament on the 'China Audit' on June 24, 2025, according to a report in Reuters. The briefing will detail the findings of an in-depth appraisal of the UK's strategic engagement with China. This comprehensive policy review examines the role of the world's second-largest economy within Britain's supply chains to inform future government strategy.

Chen Shijiang, a man from China's Shandong province, has offered a 500,000-yuan (US$70,000) reward on social media for clues leading to the arrest of the person who committed a murder for which he was wrongfully convicted, the South China Morning Post says in a report. In 1998, Chen was wrongly convicted at the age of 22 for killing a woman in his village. He is now seeking public help to find the actual perpetrator.

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD is expanding its export capabilities by adding two new car-carrying ships to its fleet, a move aimed at countering intense competition in its home market, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The Shenzhen-based company, the world's largest EV maker, recently took delivery of the BYD Changsha and the Xi'an, its fifth and sixth vessels. Each of the new ships has the capacity to transport 9,200 vehicles, bringing the company's total fleet capacity to 45,600 vehicles across six roll on/roll off vessels.

China has deployed large steel cages and a former oil drilling rig in the Yellow Sea, raising significant security concerns in South Korea, according to a report in The New York Times. South Korean officials are worried the installations, described as dual-use infrastructure, could potentially serve military functions such as surveillance, intelligence gathering, or logistical support for naval vessels. The action by Beijing increases maritime tensions between the two nations in a strategically important waterway and highlights ongoing disputes over activities within Exclusive Economic Zones.

Japan's army announced it conducted a missile test for the first time on Japanese territory on Tuesday, firing a Type-88 surface-to-ship short-range missile in Hokkaido, as per a report in AP. The test is part of Japan's accelerating military buildup aimed at acquiring strike-back capabilities to serve as a deterrence to China. In the past, Japan has conducted missile tests overseas, including in the territories of its defense partners.

During a five-day official visit to China by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the two nations to collaborate and "stand on the right side of history," as per a report in the South China Morning Post. Xi's remarks on Tuesday, which come as the countries mark 35 years of diplomatic relations, urged a joint push for an equal multipolar world. The meeting is part of Beijing's broader effort to present itself as a stabilizing force amid escalating global geopolitical and trade tensions.

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal from Adam Ma Chun-man, who sought to overturn a decision barring him from early release, according to a report in South China Morning Post. Ma, the first person to mount a legal challenge against the city's domestic national security law, was previously sentenced to imprisonment for inciting secession. The court ruled on Tuesday that the Correctional Services Department was not obligated to consider granting early release, stressing that any reduction in a sentence is a discretionary power and not a right.

A 64-year-old man in China’s Anhui province had a toothbrush surgically removed after it was discovered in his intestine 52 years after he swallowed it, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The man, surnamed Yang, told doctors he remembered swallowing the object when he was 12 but was too afraid to tell his parents. He had not experienced any significant issues until recently feeling a strange sensation in his stomach, which prompted the hospital visit and subsequent discovery.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated that 20 of the 21 Hong Kong residents who were in Israel or Iran have safely departed the countries, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The city's Immigration Department received inquiries from the 21 individuals as of Monday and will continue to assist the one person who remains. Lee added that the escalating tensions in the Middle East will not impact Hong Kong's efforts to develop markets in the region.

China's foreign ministry will hold its daily news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, June 24, as per a report in Reuters. These routine briefings serve as a key platform for the Chinese government to state its official positions on politics and international affairs, and to respond to questions from the media.

Chinese researchers have developed the country's first highly parallel optical computing integrated chip, named “Meteor-1,” which aims to provide hardware acceleration for artificial intelligence and data centers, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The development is presented as a milestone in using light to perform a large number of operations simultaneously. The chip reportedly achieves a theoretical peak computing power of 2,560 tera-operations per second (TOPS) at a 50GHz optical frequency.

The Chinese government on Tuesday called on consumers to "rationally resist bad content" from the boom in online extreme eating shows, citing concerns over "heartbreaking" food waste and the spread of "unhealthy" ideas about food, according to a report in Reuters. These popular shows, which have featured people consuming large quantities of items like instant noodles, dumplings, and hamburgers, are being targeted as part of a government effort to promote more responsible consumption habits.

The president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Xiang Zhang, has expressed his goal for the institution to rank among the world's top 10 before his term concludes in 2028, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. His comments follow the university's recent rise to 11th place in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) global rankings. Zhang stated he was happy with the achievement and stressed that it was vital for the university to contribute to China's national talent development.

China will stage a military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The event marks 80 years since what China describes as its victory over Japan and the global victory against fascism, as announced by Hu Heping, a deputy head of the Communist Party’s propaganda department. This will be the second time the People’s Liberation Army has staged a Victory Day parade, following the first one held a decade ago in 2015.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will embrace the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and establish a new school of government and public policy, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. HKU President Xiang Zhang stated that universities must adopt AI to survive what he expects to be a reshaping of the higher education sector over the next decade. Zhang described AI as a significant opportunity and said the new school of government and public policy is intended to attract young leaders to Hong Kong.

Gan Khai Choon, who has led the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau since its establishment in 2014, is expected to transition into a new, less hands-on senior role, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The potential move was discussed after the chamber's annual general meeting on Monday, during which Gan was reelected to the executive committee. Gan stated that a leadership change would help to revitalise the business organisation.

Hong Kong bakery chain Taipan Bread and Cakes, the inventor of snowy mooncakes, has permanently closed all its branches after 41 years in business, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Notices posted at various locations on Tuesday announced the company would officially cease operations effective immediately. The company's notice cited "many unpredictable and irresistible shocks recently" as the reason for the closure and apologized for the inconvenience.

The inland Chinese city of Chongqing is operating as a major rail logistics hub, connecting China with Europe, Russia, and Southeast Asia as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. At the Tuanjie Village facility, cargo trains are loaded with exports such as electric vehicles and components, while separate lines handle imports like tropical fruits and raw materials from Southeast Asian nations. The rail links provide an alternative to traditional maritime shipping and are particularly significant for trade with Russia amid Western sanctions, facilitating the movement of a wide range of goods including cars, meat, wine, and dairy products.

China's shipments of high-tech goods to the European Union increased significantly in May, coinciding with a major drop in similar exports to the United States, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Analysis of recent Chinese trade data shows that exports of products such as batteries, laptops, smartphones, and solar panels to the 27-member EU bloc reached unprecedented levels for some member countries. This trade flow diversion suggests that the ongoing trade and technology disputes between Washington and Beijing are impacting global supply chains and redirecting Chinese goods toward the European market.