
China's drone warfare exercise, warning over spy souvenirs: SCMP daily highlights
subscribing
China has staged a warfare demonstration using a full spectrum of uncrewed systems, underscoring its role as a leading global drone supplier, according to a state media report.
GDP growth is on pace to meet leadership's goal for China, but a stubborn property slump, trade complications and deflationary pressure persist.
Key rings, backpack charms, necklaces and earrings are among the items that might contain hidden spy functions, according to China's Ministry of State Security. Photo: Shutterstock
China's top anti-spy agency has advised citizens travelling abroad to be cautious while accepting souvenirs that could have surveillance capabilities.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
11 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Mainland Chinese hotel brands poised to reshape Hong Kong's hospitality scene, analysts say
Mainland Chinese hotel operators are expected to significantly increase their presence in Hong Kong's hotel industry , potentially replacing established brands in the coming years, according to analysts. Currently, Western and international operators dominate Hong Kong's hotel landscape, while Chinese ones have a minor presence. Among some of the more notable mainland players, BTG Homeinns operates both upscale and mid-market hotels in Hong Kong, including the Wharney Hotel in Wan Chai, Oasis Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Oasis Aurum 181 in Sai Ying Pun. However, mainland brands had significant potential for growth, said Hannah Jeong, executive director and head of valuation and advisory services at CBRE Hong Kong. 'The Chinese operators are increasing their footprint and it's a global trend,' said Jeong, adding that because 70 per cent of tourists in Hong Kong came from the mainland, Chinese hotels 'must show their presence' in the city. The shift reflects the growing ambition of Chinese hotel operators to expand beyond the mainland, which could give them a competitive edge in attracting hotel asset owners, according to CBRE. Tourists at the Observation Deck of the Peak Tower. Photo: Elson Li Hotel operations typically follow several business models, such as a master lease – where the hotel owner leases the asset to an operator – or hotel service management, whereby the operator manages the hotel on behalf of the owner.


HKFP
28 minutes ago
- HKFP
3 democrats released after serving jail terms in Hong Kong's largest nat. security trial
Three Hong Kong pro-democracy figures have been released after serving four years and five months in prison – the latest democrats convicted in the city's largest national security case to be freed. Frankie Fung, a pro-democracy activist, returned to his Kowloon City home in a police vehicle on Monday morning, according to an HKFP reporter at the scene. Fung was seen carrying a bag of belongings and did not respond to questions from reporters. Two other activists, Carol Ng and Lau Chak-fung, arrived home in police vehicles on Monday morning, local media reported. Lau was seen entering his residential building carrying two bags of belongings, also without responding to questions from reporters. The trio, who had been detained since 2021, were sentenced in November to four years and five months in jail after pleading guilty to subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law. They were among a group of 47 opposition figures charged with the offence. A total of 45 were convicted in May last year, while two were acquitted. The case revolves around an unofficial primary election in July 2020 that aimed to help the pro-democracy camp win a controlling majority in Hong Kong's legislature. The 47 opposition figures were accused of conspiring to subvert state power after they planned that, once a legislative majority was obtained, they would threaten to indiscriminately veto the government budget to force it to accede to political demands, such as universal suffrage. In the verdict, three trial judges ruled the scheme would create a 'constitutional crisis.' After Fung, Ng and Lau were released on Monday, a total of 11 democrats in the case have completed their prison terms, including ex-lawmaker Claudia Mo in late April and LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham in late May. Meanwhile, 34 others are still serving their sentences, including ex-law professor Benny Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years behind bars – the heaviest penalty in the case. The Court of Appeal earlier this month heard the appeal submissions from 12 democrats in the case, including ex-lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho, as well as from the government, which sought to overturn the acquittal of Lawrence Lau. The judges presiding over the appeals hearing said they would rule within nine months. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must grow ‘exponentially' to match Shenzhen: outgoing Science Park CEO
Hong Kong will have to grow 'exponentially' before it can be compared to the likes of Shenzhen with its innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, a goal that can be achieved by bringing in talent and capital, the Science Park's outgoing CEO has said. Advertisement In an exclusive interview before he steps down on Friday, Albert Wong Hak-keung said the government-backed innovation hub at Pak Shek Kok had come a long way from its early days about two decades ago, from first being seen as simply a landlord to now staking its claim as a start-up incubator for the city's future growth. 'At the beginning, we were struggling to determine whether Science Park is a real estate project or what we are,' said Wong, who joined the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation in 2016. He will be succeeded by Terry Wong Ping-sau, who has 30 years of global executive leadership experience across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. The outgoing CEO said he had not yet made any future plans. Advertisement The Science Park supports 700 to 1,000 start-ups at any given time with incentives such as allowing them to operate rent-free in the first year, and provides communal facilities including semiconductor, biomedical and robotics labs, along with an extensive incubation programme.