Hong Kong: Local data AI model unveiled, set to transform public service

HKGAI VI — the city’s first generative artificial intelligence model — was unveiled on Feb 25. The model integrates DeepSeek’s parameters with the local data pool, showcasing Hong Kong’s innovative capabilities.

Five specialized systems for the model’s application in document processing, meeting assistance, legal analysis and environmental insights are embedded in the model.

After a successful six-month trial in government departments, the model is anticipated to be introduced to public services by the end of the year.

Macao: Group travelers surge while hotel guests fall amid trends

The Macao Special Administrative Region saw a year-on-year 79.2 percent surge in the number of inbound package tour visitors in January, reaching 239,000, according to the city’s Statistics and Census Service.

Number of group tour members from the Chinese mainland hit 217,000 for the month — a year-on-year increase of 88.4 percent — while international tourist figures climbed 3 percent to 18,000.

However, the number of hotel guests declined 4.7 percent from last year to about 1.26 million, mainly because of shrinking demand for five-star-hotel accommodations.

Guangzhou: Robotaxi services launched, linking key city transit points

Guangzhou-based Pony.ai launched its self-driving robotaxis services on Feb 21, linking multiple venues in the city center with Baiyun International Airport and the Guangzhou South Railway Station.

As the sole operator of such services, the company aims to promote large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility.

Initially, four routes are in operation — connecting LN Garden Hotel Guangzhou and Baiyun International Airport; Canton Tower and Guangzhou South Railway Station; and Zhujiang New Town (Xiancun Metro Station) with the airport and railway station.

Shenzhen: Plan aims to enhance regional integration and collaborations

The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has issued a 2025 action plan for integrated development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The plan focuses on accelerating integration in people’s livelihoods, aligning rules and mechanisms, and establishing an integrated market between the two cities.

Hong Kong’s views have been widely adopted in the plan, reflecting Qianhai’s determination to strengthen cooperation with the special administrative region, said Gary Wong Chi-him, chief Hong Kong and Macao liaison expert at the Qianhai Authority.

Zhuhai: Program speeds up investor registration, eases paperwork

Zhuhai has made big strides in helping Hong Kong investors by enabling them to register their businesses within a half-hour.

The city has introduced a program for Hong Kong-funded enterprises to register online, reducing the volume of paperwork by about 40 percent.

Official statistics show that Zhuhai was home to 198,200 domestic enterprises and almost 20,000 foreign-funded firms as of late January.

Foshan: Alliance helps public firms obtain merger and acquisition loans

Last week, Foshan’s financial organizations and listed companies association signed an initiative to set up an alliance to help public enterprises obtain loans for mergers and acquisitions.

The move is geared to promote the city’s high-quality development by leveraging the capital market.

Currently, the city has 83 listed companies, with the highest total market capitalization among prefecture-level cities in Guangdong province.

Huizhou: City’s 18 policies to foster digital sector expansion, innovation

Huizhou has rolled out 18 polices to promote development of the digital industry, banking on advanced technologies to drive economic growth.

The policies focus on scaling up the digital sector, improving quality, strengthening platform carriers, enhancing innovation capability, and promoting the application of digital technologies.

New-generation electronic information manufacturing firms that have doubled their output value within three years would be eligible for a one-off reward of up to 1 million yuan ($138,000).

Dongguan: Self-service kiosk in operation to facilitate Hong Kong residents

A Hong Kong cross-boundary public services self-service kiosk and a counter dedicated to iAM Smart mobile app self-registration went into operation at Dongguan’s citizen service center on Feb 21.

Aimed at streamlining the integration of public services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the new facilities enable Hong Kong residents in Dongguan to access more than 70 types of public services without having to travel home.

Zhongshan: New ferry route connects ports, cuts travel time to 35 minutes

The transportation network between Zhongshan and Shenzhen has been further enhanced with the launch of a new ferry route on Feb 28.

The route, linking Zhongshan Passenger Port and the Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal, enables passengers to travel between the two cities in 35 minutes, with three round trips daily.

It’s the second point-to-point direct waterway route between Zhongshan and Shenzhen to be launched since Zhongshan Passenger Port entered service last year.

Jiangmen: 83.1b yuan investment aims to accelerate key economic projects

Jiangmen plans to invest 83.1 billion yuan ($11.5 billion) in key projects in 2025 to accelerate economic growth.

The 563 projects concern three key areas — infrastructure engineering, industrial engineering and livelihood. There are 148 infrastructure engineering projects worth 28.2 billion yuan; 361 in industrial engineering worth 46.3 billion yuan; and 54 livelihood projects worth 8.6 billion yuan.

Zhaoqing: City targets 5% GDP growth for 2025, boosts new-energy autos

Zhaoqing has set a GDP growth target of about 5 percent for this year — at more than 300 billion yuan ($41.5 billion) — according to the city’s fifth session of the 14th municipal people’s congress, held on Feb 20.

The meeting celebrated last year’s achievements, including a notable 57.1 percent increase in industrial investments in fixed assets.

The city government aims to strengthen its position in the new-energy vehicle sector and continue supporting the growth of associated businesses.