Recent years have seen the explosive development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology raising heated debates and deep-seated concerns worldwide about whether AI can replace human workers and result in job destruction. Back in 2016, the late British physicist Stephen Hawking already made the prediction that “the rise of artificial intelligence is likely to extend this job destruction deep into the middle classes, with only the most caring, creative, or supervisory roles remaining”

Recently, Chinese Mainland e-commerce giants Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo have upped their game by incorporating Hong Kong into their free shipping zones. In the past, Hongkongers relied on transshipment consolidation to facilitate the receipt of their ordered goods. Little wonder that customers have warmly welcomed the new one-stop shopping services.

Despite resource constraints and pressures coming from a growing population, can emerging economies improve healthcare access and reduce costs – without sacrificing the quality of healthcare services? Based on field visits and joint research on public health, Prof. Sundara Natarajan Panchanatham, Assistant Professor in Innovation and Information at HKU Business School, revealed that medical practices in emerging economies “can transform healthcare systems, making them more resilient and responsive to the demands of their populations.”

Further to the 12.2 million visitor arrivals in Hong Kong registered in the first quarter of 2025, a new quarterly high since the coronavirus pandemic, Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week ushered in another 1.1 million visitors, representing a 22% increase year-on-year. Of course, a rise in visitor numbers alone does not necessarily indicate that all is well. With a slackening global economy and consumption downgrade, many visitors come and go in a single day, while some have even “invented” a new money-saving travel strategy―spending the night at 24-hour fast-food restaurants.

To the surprise of most, consensus was readily reached on a truce at the recent tariff talks between China and the US in Geneva. For the time being, tariff rates have reverted to the levels prior to the so-called “Liberation Day”, though the international landscape can hardly return to its previous state. The US president Donald Trump has been manipulating “negotiation tactics”, with the asking price constantly fluctuating―now high, now low; now real, now fake.

Have you noticed how, historically, industrial revolutions across various nations mainly impacted low-income jobs? What’s different now is that the current wave in artificial intelligence seems different. AI not only automates entry-level positions but also has the potential to replace high-skilled, high-income roles. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), AI could affect up to 40% of global employment. That figure could be as high as 60% in developed economies like Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has long recorded successful performance in its four pillar industries, comprising trading and logistics, financial services, professional and producer services, and tourism. According to research by the Hong Kong SAR Government, they contributed close to 60% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and almost half of the total employment before COVID 19. However, all four of these pillars have experienced a decline in their respective areas as a result of the rapid changes in market needs and user behaviour, regional and global competition, the development of new value chains, the impact of advanced technologies, and changes in the

Released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April 2025, the World Economic Outlook significantly lowered global economic growth forecast from 3.3% in January 2025 to 2.8%. The report identifies China and India as the main growth engines, with the two countries predicted to contribute 23% and over 15% respectively to global economic growth in the next five years. The estimated contribution from America, nevertheless, has been lowered to 11.3% in view of the uncertainties surrounding its tariff policy.