Chinese app firm Newborn Town sets up global HQ in Hong Kong for AI work, overseas push

Hong Kong-listed Chinese app company Newborn Town will open a global headquarters and set up an artificial intelligence (AI) research centre in Hong Kong as a pivotal step in its overseas expansion strategy.

“The landing of the global headquarters in Hong Kong marks a new stage in the company’s globalisation strategy and an important milestone of our company’s development,” said chairman Liu Chunhe at an opening ceremony in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Newborn Town said it would focus on developing AI applications for social entertainment in its headquarters in the Hong Kong Science Park. It would also take advantage of the city’s international business environment, mature capital markets and top talent resources, Liu said.

Founded in 2009, Beijing-based Newborn started expanding offshore with its social-media apps Mico, Yoho, TopTop and Sugo in 2013.

Listed since 2019, it has more than 20 operational centres in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“We will focus on two directions in Hong Kong,” said Song Pengliang, senior vice-president. “One is to explore the in-depth application of AI in different scenarios. And we will set up an AI research centre here, hoping to bring together talent from around the world.”

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

All nine victims have been sent to North Lantau Hospital for treatment. Photo: Winson Wong

9 injured in collision involving taxi, private car near Hong Kong Disneyland

Nine people, including a one-year-old girl, were injured after a taxi and a private car collided near Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island on Saturday. The incident occurred at an intersection on Magic Road at 2.21pm, when the driver of the Kowloon-bound private car attempted to make a right turn at a junction before hitting

7 June 2025
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has the IOM convention is “very respectful of every sovereign country”. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong’s mediation centre could help solve territorial, sovereignty disputes

Hong Kong’s new global mediation centre can help resolve territorial or sovereignty disputes if participants are willing to come to the table, the city’s justice minister has said. Last month, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi presided over a landmark signing ceremony for the establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in the city. Thirty-three

7 June 2025
Hong Kong’s top judge urges new senior counsels to defend rule of law

Hong Kong’s top judge urges new senior counsels to defend rule of law

Hong Kong’s top judge has called for newly minted senior counsels to defend the rule of law when it is under threat and ensure “unimpeded” access to the city’s courts for every individual to safeguard public trust in the legal system. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, who spoke separately at the senior counsel admission

7 June 2025
Hong Kong constable’s condition improving after fall from bridge: police chief

Hong Kong constable’s condition improving after fall from bridge: police chief

The condition of a Hong Kong police officer who fell 10 metres (33 feet) off a bridge to escape a crash is improving after he underwent an operation, the force’s commissioner has said, adding that the man remains in an intensive care unit. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming on Saturday also expressed his gratitude

7 June 2025
Hong Kong minibus goes up in flames on highway after suspected engine trouble

Hong Kong minibus goes up in flames on highway after suspected engine trouble

A Hong Kong minibus has been engulfed in flames on a highway after its engine potentially overheated, with passengers narrowly managing to get out in time. Police said the vehicle was travelling along Yuen Long Highway and bound for Tuen Mun’s San Hui when smoke started emerging from the minibus at 6.28am on Saturday. Passengers

7 June 2025
Hong Kong’s easier redomiciling policy ‘attracts 150 inquiries from companies’

Hong Kong’s easier redomiciling policy ‘attracts 150 inquiries from companies’

Authorities have received about 150 inquiries from companies about transferring their legal domicile status to Hong Kong after the recent passage of a law making it easier for businesses to establish themselves in the city, the treasury minister has said. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu also said on Saturday that

7 June 2025
Hong Kong warned of possible low-pressure area near Luzon that may affect region

Hong Kong warned of possible low-pressure area near Luzon that may affect region

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of the possible development of an area of low pressure near Luzon in the Philippines next

7 June 2025
Why is Hong Kong slow to tackle ‘ticking time bomb’ of ageing water pipes?

Why is Hong Kong slow to tackle ‘ticking time bomb’ of ageing water pipes?

Hong Kong authorities’ hands are tied when it comes to tackling the “ticking time bomb” of the city’s ageing water pipes due to a lack of resources and resistance to disruptions to traffic and supply caused by replacement works, experts have said. Experts and lawmakers told the Post that the city’s high population density and

7 June 2025
Hong Kong private estate pool told to close over fake lifeguard credentials

Hong Kong private estate pool told to close over fake lifeguard credentials

A swimming pool at a private estate in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley has been ordered to close immediately after a lifeguard allegedly used a fake certificate, with the case also being reported to police. The incident came to light on Friday after the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department last month implemented a raft of measures

7 June 2025
AICT’s products are used in sensing robots, intelligent traffic systems and autonomous driving. Photo: Handout

Why Hong Kong is China’s undisputed hub for global finance, at Shanghai’s expense

When Yan Jun was looking around last year for a stock market to raise capital for his Beijing-based traffic-control software company, the engineer and chairman thought he was spoiled for choice. He could sell shares of his 10-year-old company AICT on one of the three mainland exchanges – Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – that together

7 June 2025
AICT’s products are used in sensing robots, intelligent traffic systems and autonomous driving. Photo: Handout

Why Hong Kong is China’s undisputed hub for global finance, at Shanghai’s expense

When Yan Jun was looking around last year for a stock market to raise capital for his Beijing-based traffic-control software company, the engineer and chairman thought he was spoiled for choice. He could sell shares of his 10-year-old company AICT on one of the three mainland exchanges – Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – that together

7 June 2025
How ‘crazy guys’ of Hong Kong football fan club Chi Sin Lo get their kicks

How ‘crazy guys’ of Hong Kong football fan club Chi Sin Lo get their kicks

Ahead of the Hong Kong football team’s first match at the newly minted 50,000-seat main stadium in Kai Tak Sports Park against India in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier on June 10, some fans are gearing up to support the home squad with rapturous cheering. One such fan is loudspeaker-wielding Chester Cheung, who for years

7 June 2025
newsletter

Hong Kong Tracks System That May Develop into First 2025 Typhoon

Hong Kong’s weather bureau is tracking a tropical disturbance spinning in the warm waters east of the Philippines, which may develop into the first typhoon of the season next week. The low-pressure system may enter the South China Sea and move toward the southern coast of mainland China around the middle of next week, according

6 June 2025
Hong Kong police launch first drone patrols in urban areas

Hong Kong police launch first drone patrols in urban areas

Hong Kong police have launched their first drone patrols in urban settings, with the unmanned aerial vehicles able to inspect an area the size of 13 football pitches in 25 minutes. The force on Friday deployed a drone to cover a 96,000 square metre area around Yau Ma Tei and Jordan in Kowloon. Carlos Shum

6 June 2025
‘Embarrassing’: how Hong Kong’s response to bitumen in water supply shows ‘flaws’

‘Embarrassing’: how Hong Kong’s response to bitumen in water supply shows ‘flaws’

Hong Kong officials have faced criticism over their handling of the discovery of a banned substance in the water supply of two public housing estates, as lawmakers and experts accuse the administration of being slow to respond, failing to show accountability and lacking awareness. A veteran political analyst also called the government’s response “embarrassing”, saying

6 June 2025
CX route

Cathay Pacific launches new flights from Hong Kong to Rome

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has made its long-awaited return to the Italian capital city of Rome with the commencement of new summer seasonal flights between the two cities. The addition of Rome to the carrier’s network brings its total number of destinations served to almost 100, with other new routes planned for later in 2025.

6 June 2025
US consulate expands social media checks on Hongkongers seeking student visas

US consulate expands social media checks on Hongkongers seeking student visas

The US consulate in Hong Kong has stepped up screening of students’ social media accounts when processing their visa applications by checking their activities on other platforms apart from Facebook and Instagram, according to an education consultancy. Litz USA Student Service, a Hong Kong-based education consultancy specialising in US education since 1989, said on its

6 June 2025
Hong Kong’s food delivery scene soars with drone services to Ma On Shan

Hong Kong’s food delivery scene soars with drone services to Ma On Shan

Food delivery in Hong Kong has reached a new height as a major provider has started to use drones to send orders, cutting waiting time by 35 minutes. The service, provided by Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of mainland Chinese food delivery giant Meituan, delivers orders from two fast-food restaurants in Science Park to a landing

6 June 2025
Hong Kong police to take down fake news report about Andy Lau resembling SCMP

Hong Kong police to take down fake news report about Andy Lau resembling SCMP

Police will take down a fake news report purporting to be from the South China Morning Post about superstar actor Andy Lau Tak-wah being sued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority over his investment advice, the Post has learned. A police source said on Friday that the force’s cyber security and technology crime bureau was

6 June 2025
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x