Two years ago, we wrote the article “Commercialization of Intellectual Property Benefits High-quality Economic Development” in this newspaper column and, together with the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, published the “IP Commercialization: A Boost for Hong Kong Re-Industrialization Strategy” research report.

Starting in 2024, a doll named Labubu—with pointy little ears, devil-like large eyes, and a grin revealing nine sharp fangs—took the world by storm.

Entering the last quarter of 2025, the rekindling of the China-US trade war dispelled the atmosphere of truce in the wake of four rounds of bilateral trade talks. The current focus of the global economy is on potential talks and possible agreement between the Chinese and US leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, scheduled for the end of this month in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been developing in leaps and bounds in recent years. Reams of academic studies have shown that human-AI collaboration is conducive to enhancing efficiency and creativity across different work settings.

US president Donald Trump recently signed an executive order announcing that, effective 21 September 2025, foreign first-time applicants for H-1B work visas will be required to pay a staggering US$100,000 visa fee. This policy shift took American companies and overseas talent by surprise, with those in the technology sector bearing the brunt in particular.

Last week, the Chief Executive released his Policy Address 2025, covering the full gamut of Hong Kong’s economic and livelihood development, from promoting fertility and regulating non-local workers to supporting the space economy. By focusing on a few highlights from the Policy Address, I would like to offer my two cents’ worth to readers for future reference.

Using a novel dataset where institutional investors explain their votes—voting rationales—the researchers uncovered direct evidence on the motivations behind votes in director elections. This approach helps to increase governance-related transparency, and voting rationales offer a unique communication tool. The researchers also determined that institutional investors’ attention to voting decisions is more widespread than previously documented.

Hong Kong was once famed worldwide as a “Shopping Paradise,” with retail serving as a key pillar of its economy.