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SCMP Exclusives

SCMP Exclusives
The latest news, analysis and opinion on SCMP Exclusives. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The Netherlands’ trade minister, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, is expected to visit Beijing and Shanghai soon. Photo: EPA
China trade

Exclusive | China’s date with Dutch trade minister on cards for early July: source

The Netherlands’ trade chief and his delegation will come at a pivotal diplomatic moment, as The Hague faces pressure from US tech-export laws.

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Hong Kong transport

Exclusive | Hong Kong airport set for volume shift after flights rejigged amid fuel crisis

Diplomacy

Opinion | Serbia can help build bridges between Europe and China

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Education in Hong Kong

Graduates of top vocational school spared brunt of AI impact, new chairman says

Jeffrey Lam explains how he will steer Vocational Training Council as job market changes rapidly and reveals plans for Northern Metropolis campus.

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The VTC offers programmes across multiple academic levels, ranging from secondary school qualifications and associate degrees to full bachelor’s degrees provided by member institutions. Photo: Felix Wong
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | ‘We really do not trust each other’: ex-US envoy on wary new phase in China ties

Max Baucus says the new phase of wary ‘constructive stability’ represents a diplomatic holding pattern, not a durable thaw.

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Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Northern Metropolis industrial park draws ‘global interest’ from AI, green firms

Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company chairman Jeffrey Lam targets July 2027 launch as ‘gift’ for 30th anniversary of return to Chinese sovereignty.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | Will US defence strategy architect Colby pave the way for Hegseth’s China visit?

Sources say the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy could arrive in Beijing ‘within weeks’ to finalise arrangements for defence chief’s trip.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth accompanied the president on his state visit to China last week. Photo: dpa
Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Kazakhstan to deepen financial services cooperation with Hong Kong, consul says

Envoy Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov attributes growth of local Kazakhstani community to Belt and Road Scholarship programme launched in 2016.

Artificial intelligence

Exclusive | US AI outlay to yield returns despite open-source Chinese rivals: Goldman Sachs

A wave of demand for agentic AI will prove to be a pivotal ‘inflection point’ and vindicate high capital expenditure, Eric Sheridan says.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong to test first flying cars carrying heavy cargo within 6 months

Passenger flights could be next if electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft trials moving building materials to New Territories succeed.

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AutoFlight’s vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can hover like a helicopter and transition to flying like an aeroplane. Photo: Handout
China-Russia relations

Exclusive | Russia’s Putin is heading to China next week, days after Xi-Trump summit

The Russian leader’s one-day visit, tipped for May 20, is unlikely to feature the pomp and elaborate details of the US president’s trip.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in September last year. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong politics

Exclusive | Hong Kong to launch public consultation on 5-year blueprint ‘by early June’

Large-scale publicity campaign to promote consultation includes television advertisements, banners and other public announcements, sources say.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Takeover of Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy’s Central club postponed by 2 months

Source says delay of merger with Carlyle & Co follows meeting of HKGTA members.

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | US first lady not travelling to China with Trump

Melania Trump skipping Beijing trip as US president heads to China alone for first state visit since 2017.

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US first lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan hold up Chinese calligraphy written by students at Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017. Photo: AP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | Melania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation

Sources close to the filmmaker say he will be working on preparations for latest sequel of Rush Hour action-comedy franchise.

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US first lady Melania Trump’s life in the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration has been documented in the film Melania. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong society

Exclusive | Hong Kong may broaden at-risk elderly support after recent deaths, minister says

Welfare chief Chris Sun says support could be extended after recent deaths expose gaps in identifying vulnerable households.

Hong Kong society

Exclusive | Cigarette butts ‘strong evidence’ of smoking ban breach at work sites: Chris Sun

Labour chief reveals further details of proposed ban and lays out other priorities, including injury compensation mechanism for online delivery workers.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | Buoyed by rare earths, China approaches Trump summit with fresh confidence

Sources say Beijing believes it has the ability to retaliate if Washington steps up the trade pressure.

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Beijing has grown bolder since playing its rare earths card in October and is now less worried about tariffs, according to sources. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong society

Exclusive | Hong Kong to seek more elderly care places in Guangdong, Chris Sun says

Welfare chief tells SCMP number of older residents moving into mainland care homes under government scheme has risen ninefold in recent years.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | 100 Hong Kong-linked ships ‘stranded in Strait of Hormuz’ amid Middle East war

Industry leader says figure suggests 2,300 seafarers trapped in strait, with sector’s biggest priority being keeping them supplied.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy members reject Central takeover by Carlyle & Co

Some members of exclusive sports club object to Town Club operations transfer, complaining about unfair access and incompatible patron profiles.

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Carlyle & Co, a private members’ club, will take over the operations of the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy’s Town Club in Central on June 8. Photo: Handout
Swimming

Exclusive | Ariarne Titmus: Olympic champion on retiring at 25 and Siobhan Haughey

Australian superstar swimmer reflects on ‘defining point in my life’, fearless work ethic and ‘eating pressure for breakfast’.

Ariarne Titmus having fun during a Laureus visit to Renaissance College in Ma On Shan. Photo: Laureus
Artificial intelligence

Exclusive | DeepSeek to soon close first external fundraising in US$50b valuation: sources

Backers include AI-focused affiliates under the third phase of the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, sources say.

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Semiconductors

Exclusive | Baidu chip unit eyes US$14.7b valuation in Hong Kong IPO: sources

The company is seeking to list on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board, also known as the Star Market, of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Accidents and disasters in China

Exclusive | Was China’s ‘fireworks capital’ rushing its July 4 orders when deadly blast hit?

Industry insiders say Liuyang factories were under pressure to meet deadlines ahead of summer production ban.

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Smoke is seen at the site of a fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang in central China’s Hunan province on May 5. Photo: Xinhua
Accidents and disasters in China

Exclusive | Wounded volunteer tells of risky clean-up at Chinese fireworks blast scene

Witnesses describe overwhelming smell of burnt gunpowder from site of explosion as authorities assess damage to nearby houses from the blast.

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Rescue work has been completed after an explosion at a fireworks plant in Liuyang, Hunan province. The explosion on Monday left 26 people dead and 61 others injured, authorities said. Photo: Xinhua
China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU sounds out industry over new trade weapon against China’s overcapacity

Brussels is polling business groups ahead of commissioners’ meeting but few details of the proposed instrument have been revealed.

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Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Why CY Leung thinks Hong Kong needs to strengthen maritime-related sectors

Former city leader sits down for wide-ranging interview and calls for city to develop shipping insurance and management capabilities.

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