TOPIC

/ company

WeChat

Released by Chinese web giant Tencent in 2011, WeChat is one of the largest messaging apps in the world, with more than 1 billion monthly active users, primarily in China. Originally confined to text messaging, WeChat has grown into an app platform, with gaming, payment, and social networking functions.

Chairman / President

Ma Huateng

CEO / Managing Director

Ma Huateng

CFO / Finance Director

John Lo

Industry

Social media

Website

wechat.com

Headquarters address

Tencent Binhai Towers, No. 33 Haitian Second Road,Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Stock Code

SEHK:2011

Year founded

2011

Mannings is one of Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty retailers. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Mainland China

Why retailers are beating a hasty retreat from mainland China

Hong Kong retailer Mannings will cease online operations from December 26 and close its physical stores after January 15.

17 Dec 2025 - 3:40PM

Artificial intelligence

Alipay and Rokid open up AI payment function on smart glasses to developers

15 Dec 2025 - 11:49AM

Nepal

‘Like a market’: Chinese marriage brokers hunt for brides in Nepal

9 Dec 2025 - 2:36PM

China’s private sector

ByteDance’s agentic AI smartphone dials up a digital backlash by China’s top apps

ByteDance’s new AI smartphone has run into resistance, as major Chinese platforms move to block its features citing fairness and security.

7 Dec 2025 - 10:00AM

ByteDance’s agentic AI on the Nubia M153, launched by ZTE, is facing a backlash from other apps over security and fairness concerns. Photo: Handout

Tencent

Elon Musk reiterates aim to transform X into a ‘WeChat++’ super app

Users ‘live their life on WeChat in China’ and there is no equivalent app elsewhere in the world, the entrepreneur says.

3 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

‘Feeling powerless’: Hong Kong internet users grieve over Tai Po blaze

As death toll rises, residents offer condolences to victims and call for support and blood donations.

27 Nov 2025 - 5:08PM

Tencent

Alibaba bets on ‘everything app’ Qwen to define AI era for global consumers

Qwen has the potential to become super-app, the same way Tencent’s WeChat defined the mobile internet age, analysts say.

19 Nov 2025 - 1:00AMvideocam

The Qwen app is designed to meet both the professional and personal needs of users, with capabilities including deep research, image generation and slide generation. Photo: Handout

Artificial intelligence

China’s tech giants to lead AI growth despite chip challenge: JPMorgan

The likes of Tencent and Alibaba are expected to focus on integrating AI features into their ‘killer apps’, benefiting downstream sectors.

14 Nov 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

Tencent

Tencent posts 19% jump in third-quarter profit on AI gains, beating estimates

Shenzhen-based tech giant, which has been doubling down on its AI efforts, sees more than a 20 per cent jump in research and development efficiency.

13 Nov 2025 - 9:27PM

Banking & finance

Hong Kong positioned as stablecoin bridge for mainland Chinese firms: Ebanx

Global digital payment services provider attracted by the city’s ‘transformational’ stablecoin framework.

4 Nov 2025 - 8:30AM

Joao Del Valle says China is an important market for Ebanx’s growth. Photo: Handout

US-China relations

Gangs in China exploiting US gift cards to move stolen cash, DHS says

Stolen cards are used to buy goods like iPhones, which are then sold in China, with the proceeds converted into digital currency.

19 Oct 2025 - 8:56AMvideocam

The proceeds are converted into digital currency and funnelled through Chinese payment platforms, creating what investigators describe as a hidden pipeline of American capital leaving the US. Photo: Shutterstock

Fragrances

To Summer, the cult Chinese perfume house, opens in Hong Kong

The proudly Asian brand’s Causeway Bay store is a 1960s-inspired tribute to the women of Hong Kong, filled with nostalgia-infused scents.

22 Sep 2025 - 6:00PM

US-China relations

China and US agree to target money launderers linked to fentanyl trade

Cracking down on finances from the illegal trade is an area of ‘extreme agreement’, Scott Bessent says after Madrid trade talks.

17 Sep 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

Opinion | AI-enhanced nutrition must enhance our agency, not undermine it

Artificial intelligence is powering a nutrition revolution in Asia. To ensure public trust, innovation must put consumers at the forefront.

17 Sep 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

A Grab delivery service worker receives a takeaway food order from a restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 25, 2021. Photo: AFP

Artificial intelligence

China’s social media sites rush to abide by AI-generated content labelling law

The law requires explicit and implicit labels for AI-generated text, images, audio, video and other virtual content.

2 Sep 2025 - 2:18AM

The new regulation on labelling AI-generated content reflects Beijing’s increased scrutiny of the technology’s use on social media. Photo: Shutterstock

Tencent

Tencent counts on Chinese AI tools demand to lift overseas cloud business

Tencent says there is a lot of opportunities to bring Chinese open-source AI models to overseas clients.

29 Aug 2025 - 1:32PM

Health in China

China cracks down on fake medical advice with new rules for health influencers

Industry suggests more than 92 per cent of China’s 1.07 billion short-video users consume health-related information online.

22 Aug 2025 - 5:47PMvideocam

Tencent

Tencent’s second-quarter earnings beat forecasts, bolstered by AI

Net profit rose 16 per cent to 56 billion yuan (US$7.81 billion ) while sales jumped 15 per cent to 184.5 billion yuan.

13 Aug 2025 - 11:07PM

Tencent’s AI investments are paying off. Photo: Shutterstock

Alibaba

Alibaba’s AI lab becomes target for talent poaching by Chinese rivals

Recent departures include Yan Zhijie and Bo Liefeng, two senior figures at Tongyi Lab, developer of the Qwen AI models.

10 Aug 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Tencent

WeChat and Uber offer seamless overseas ride-hailing for Chinese travellers

Tencent highlights the convenience of not having to download a stand-alone Uber app to hail rides overseas.

21 Jul 2025 - 6:45PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong tech and telecoms giants unite to combat online fraud

Seven social media platforms and six telecommunications firms commit to stricter checks and enhanced user safety under new charter.

9 Jul 2025 - 10:21PM

Representatives from financial regulators, technology companies and telecommunications firms at the launch of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Anti-scam Consumer Protection Charter 3.0. Photo: Elson Li

China economy

Opinion | Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

An ecosystem that combines e-commerce with social media, it turns users into marketers, breeds viral hits – and projects cultural power.

2 Jul 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

A person holds up Labubu dolls in a store during a press tour to Pop Land, a theme park opened by Chinese toy company Pop Mart, in Beijing, China, on June 2. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong in ‘critical stage of opening new chapter’, Beijing liaison chief says

Speaking on eve of handover anniversary, Zhou Ji also says tackling core issues and maintaining ‘bottom line’ of safety key for growth.

30 Jun 2025 - 11:21PM

Video gaming

Tencent-owned Supercell to launch titles like Clash Royale as WeChat mini games

The video game Brawl Stars is already available within WeChat, while Clash Royale will exclusively launch on the messaging app in September.

26 Jun 2025 - 8:00AM

Hong Kong economy

WeChat Pay records fourfold rise in mainland tourist taxi payments in Hong Kong

Tencent executive also says more than 20,000 taxi drivers in city now accept both local WeChat Pay HK accounts and the mainland version.

12 Jun 2025 - 9:06PM

WeChat Pay Hong Kong has been offering taxi drivers perks such as zero handling fees. Photo: Edward Wong

Malaysia

Malaysians demand action against Facebook group exploiting schoolgirls’ images

A social media influencer unmasked the ‘dirty group’ after discovering an old picture of herself in her school uniform posted on the page.

12 Jun 2025 - 3:46PM

Malaysia

Malaysia orders telecoms firms to hand over user data, raising privacy concerns

The government claims it’s for a mobile project, but critics cite data security risks.

6 Jun 2025 - 11:15PM

ByteDance

Douyin users in Hong Kong swell to 40% of city’s population: report

Douyin’s high adoption rate in Hong Kong reflects a broader trend among China’s Big Tech firms to expand services beyond the mainland market.

5 Jun 2025 - 7:19AM

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WeChat

Why retailers are beating a hasty retreat from mainland China

Hong Kong retailer Mannings will cease online operations from December 26 and close its physical stores after January 15.

Alipay and Rokid open up AI payment function on smart glasses to developers

‘Like a market’: Chinese marriage brokers hunt for brides in Nepal

ByteDance’s agentic AI smartphone dials up a digital backlash by China’s top apps

ByteDance’s new AI smartphone has run into resistance, as major Chinese platforms move to block its features citing fairness and security.

Elon Musk reiterates aim to transform X into a ‘WeChat++’ super app

Users ‘live their life on WeChat in China’ and there is no equivalent app elsewhere in the world, the entrepreneur says.

‘Feeling powerless’: Hong Kong internet users grieve over Tai Po blaze

As death toll rises, residents offer condolences to victims and call for support and blood donations.

Alibaba bets on ‘everything app’ Qwen to define AI era for global consumers

Qwen has the potential to become super-app, the same way Tencent’s WeChat defined the mobile internet age, analysts say.

China’s tech giants to lead AI growth despite chip challenge: JPMorgan

The likes of Tencent and Alibaba are expected to focus on integrating AI features into their ‘killer apps’, benefiting downstream sectors.

Tencent posts 19% jump in third-quarter profit on AI gains, beating estimates

Shenzhen-based tech giant, which has been doubling down on its AI efforts, sees more than a 20 per cent jump in research and development efficiency.

Hong Kong positioned as stablecoin bridge for mainland Chinese firms: Ebanx

Global digital payment services provider attracted by the city’s ‘transformational’ stablecoin framework.

Gangs in China exploiting US gift cards to move stolen cash, DHS says

Stolen cards are used to buy goods like iPhones, which are then sold in China, with the proceeds converted into digital currency.

To Summer, the cult Chinese perfume house, opens in Hong Kong

The proudly Asian brand’s Causeway Bay store is a 1960s-inspired tribute to the women of Hong Kong, filled with nostalgia-infused scents.

China and US agree to target money launderers linked to fentanyl trade

Cracking down on finances from the illegal trade is an area of ‘extreme agreement’, Scott Bessent says after Madrid trade talks.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | AI-enhanced nutrition must enhance our agency, not undermine it

Artificial intelligence is powering a nutrition revolution in Asia. To ensure public trust, innovation must put consumers at the forefront.

China’s social media sites rush to abide by AI-generated content labelling law

The law requires explicit and implicit labels for AI-generated text, images, audio, video and other virtual content.

Tencent counts on Chinese AI tools demand to lift overseas cloud business

Tencent says there is a lot of opportunities to bring Chinese open-source AI models to overseas clients.

China cracks down on fake medical advice with new rules for health influencers

Industry suggests more than 92 per cent of China’s 1.07 billion short-video users consume health-related information online.

Tencent’s second-quarter earnings beat forecasts, bolstered by AI

Net profit rose 16 per cent to 56 billion yuan (US$7.81 billion ) while sales jumped 15 per cent to 184.5 billion yuan.

Alibaba’s AI lab becomes target for talent poaching by Chinese rivals

Recent departures include Yan Zhijie and Bo Liefeng, two senior figures at Tongyi Lab, developer of the Qwen AI models.

WeChat and Uber offer seamless overseas ride-hailing for Chinese travellers

Tencent highlights the convenience of not having to download a stand-alone Uber app to hail rides overseas.

Hong Kong tech and telecoms giants unite to combat online fraud

Seven social media platforms and six telecommunications firms commit to stricter checks and enhanced user safety under new charter.

Opinion | Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

An ecosystem that combines e-commerce with social media, it turns users into marketers, breeds viral hits – and projects cultural power.

Hong Kong in ‘critical stage of opening new chapter’, Beijing liaison chief says

Speaking on eve of handover anniversary, Zhou Ji also says tackling core issues and maintaining ‘bottom line’ of safety key for growth.

Tencent-owned Supercell to launch titles like Clash Royale as WeChat mini games

The video game Brawl Stars is already available within WeChat, while Clash Royale will exclusively launch on the messaging app in September.

WeChat Pay records fourfold rise in mainland tourist taxi payments in Hong Kong

Tencent executive also says more than 20,000 taxi drivers in city now accept both local WeChat Pay HK accounts and the mainland version.

Malaysians demand action against Facebook group exploiting schoolgirls’ images

A social media influencer unmasked the ‘dirty group’ after discovering an old picture of herself in her school uniform posted on the page.

Malaysia orders telecoms firms to hand over user data, raising privacy concerns

The government claims it’s for a mobile project, but critics cite data security risks.

Douyin users in Hong Kong swell to 40% of city’s population: report

Douyin’s high adoption rate in Hong Kong reflects a broader trend among China’s Big Tech firms to expand services beyond the mainland market.

Opinion | AI-enhanced nutrition must enhance our agency, not undermine it