TOPIC COLLECTION

Engineering & Construction

Included topics:
The Wang Fuk Court blaze claimed 161 lives. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Housing anxiety impeding Hong Kong fire trauma recovery: mental health experts

Many Wang Fuk Court residents displaced by the deadly inferno are now living in hotels, youth hostels or transitional housing.

videocam
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Northern Metropolis can combine best of central planning and free market

Semiconductors

The great chip leap: China’s semiconductor equipment self-reliance beats targets

22

Chinese firms, led by AgiBot, outpace US rivals in 2025 humanoid robot shipments

‘Chinese vendors are setting benchmarks in large-scale production,’ Omdia analyst Lian Jye Su says.

videocam
Global humanoid robot shipments reached 13,318 units in 2025, led by Chinese manufacturers. Photo: Shutterstock

1 killed, 38 missing after sudden garbage avalanche at Philippines landfill

Landfills and dumpsites in the Philippines have long posed safety risks, especially where poor residents scavenge for food and recyclables.

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Outside In | To root out corruption, Hong Kong fire probe must go beyond scapegoats

Public procurement failures often reflect government responsibility, and Hong Kong’s fire investigation must confront that reality.

videocam
Members of the independent investigation committee of the Wang Fuk Court fire, wearing protective suits, inspect the fire scene on December 23. Photo: Jelly Tse

China’s shipyards still lead the world, but US threats took a toll in 2025

Chinese shipbuilders saw their market share dip for the first time in five years in 2025, as uncertainty over US port fees roiled the industry.

videocam

Letters | As Hongkongers unite around Tai Po, the fire probe must deliver

Readers discuss how to sustain social cohesion in Hong Kong, the kindness of Hongkongers, and why the world must respond to the Venezuela raid.

China’s consumer prices stay flat in 2025 amid focus on price wars

Beijing has been intensifying efforts to combat industrial overcapacity and fierce competition in key sectors, aiming to stabilise the economy and support growth.

A shopper browses shelves at a supermarket in Beijing. China’s consumer prices stayed flat in 2025, official data showed. Photo: AFP

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame sees AI-driven appliances run household chores

The firm’s ambition is to become a ‘world-class technology company’, global president Chang Xinwei says.

People at the CES trade show watch Dreame’s prototype Cyber X robot vacuum cleaner, the first such product designed to climb up and down an entire flight of stairs and handle multilevel cleaning. Photo: AFP

China’s Xpeng unveils hybrid SUV boasting world’s longest driving distance

Launch of new G7 edition underscores Xpeng’s go-global push and rising competition with Tesla and BYD.

Shanghai steps up oversight of delayed payment practices hurting suppliers

Task force set up to protect supply-chain vendors and stabilise manufacturing amid fierce price wars.

Faulty appliance sparks fire at Hong Kong housing estate, prompting 300 to flee

Fire at Lam Wai House in Lam Tin Estate triggered by a short circuit in an electrical appliance.

The fire broke out at Lam Wai House of Lam Tin Estate. Photo: Handout

China semiconductor expert suggests vigilance in buying Nvidia’s H200 AI chips

The US has an inconsistent stance on advanced chips, alternating between limited easing and renewed pressure, Wei Shaojun says.

4
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang speaks at the CES trade show in Las Vegas on January 6, 2026. Photo: AFP

China seeks ‘safe and reliable’ AI supply as global tech race heats up

Special action plan to promote application of three to five large AI models in manufacturing sector.

China sends 0.1-second blackout recovery tech to protect grids in 12 nations

Grid protection technology enables faults to be isolated and restored within hundred-millisecond window, compared with hours previously.

videocam
8
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

BYD’s win, Tesla’s defeat, Ford’s pivot: the widening gap in US-China EV markets

From wavering policy to cost gaps, analysts say decades of state backing have given China a decisive edge over US rivals.

videocam
Cars come off the assembly line at BYD’s plant in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province. Photo: Xinhua

Xiaomi’s refreshed SU7 turns up the heat on Tesla in China’s EV race

Updated SU7 model offers longer range – more than 900km (560 miles) on a single charge – and other advanced features.

Hong Kong firms set to return to projects as new scaffolding nets expected soon

Deadly Tai Po blaze triggered the citywide removal of protective mesh at around 420 buildings undergoing renovations.

videocam

Explainer | Trump says Greenland is ‘surrounded’ by Chinese ships. What’s the real story?

China has engaged with Greenland in areas ranging from oil and minerals to tourism. But its footprint is far smaller than Trump claims.

videocam
51
Icebergs float in the water off Nuuk, Greenland. The United States aims to acquire Greenland, which is a self-governing Danish territory. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Sino Land and Great Eagle secure Kowloon site for US$206 million

Acquisition of 41,226 sq ft plot – which could yield 570 homes – reflects confidence in the property market’s recovery as sales rebound.

Sino Land says the site will benefit from an extensive transport network and strong connectivity to major commercial hubs. Photo: Jelly Tse

Opinion | Why Shein doesn’t have to be the model for the fashion industry

Although the fast fashion label had a bumper 2025 while familiar brands faced collapse, the industry should not conclude that speed and scale are everything.

videocam

China discourages trend-chasing among officials, warning of ‘involution’

Communist Party newspaper says authorities should avoid ‘policy bandwagons’ that could lead to economic imbalances, urging plans based on local strengths.

5

Tai Po housing site ‘viable option’ for fire victims: Hong Kong councillors

Lo Hiu-fung says government should consider plot, about 1.5km from fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, if it wants to help victims resettle as soon as possible.

The fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in late November last year killed at least 161 people. Photo: Dickson Lee

Chinese robot conducts complex operation on pig without human intervention

The robot completed 88 per cent of the steps on its first attempt, followed by real-time adjustments and corrections to finish the surgery.

A surgical robot performs an operation in Beijing. Photo: Handout

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for January 9-11

Indulge in a culinary journey this weekend, from limited-time yakitori to a Nordic-inspired afternoon tea, and a brand new weekend Mediterranean brunch.

China, South Korea sign US$44 million in trade deals after years of friction

High-level summit strengthens bilateral ties after years of strained relations, as China shores up regional relationships amid row with Japan.

videocam
13
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Engineering & Construction
The latest news on engineering and construction, including civil engineering and infrastructure projects. Also covers the steel industry, building regulations, construction safety and architecture, plus homebuilding, renovation and land reclamation.