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New medical plan combines cashless inpatient protection across Hong Kong and Mainland China with embedded outpatient and preventive care in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Bupa Hong Kong today announced the launch of Bupa Care Bridge Health Insurance Scheme, a new medical insurance solution designed to support Hong Kong residents whose lives increasingly span Hong Kong and Mainland China, and who are seeking affordable, practical health protection that covers both major medical events and everyday healthcare needs.

Cross‑border healthcare has become a growing reality for many Hong Kong people. In 2024 alone, Hong Kong residents made approximately 700,000 medical visits in Shenzhen, reflecting rising familiarity with receiving medical services across the border for efficiency, convenience and follow‑up care. At the same time, most continue to rely on Hong Kong for routine outpatient consultations, ongoing care and long‑term health management.

Bupa Care Bridge is designed around this reality. The scheme provides inpatient coverage across Hong Kong and Mainland China, while anchoring outpatient and preventive care in Hong Kong, where everyday healthcare is most frequently accessed. Designed with affordability in mind, the scheme offers two plan levels and flexible deductible options that allow customers to balance premium levels with the degree of protection they need, making the plan relevant to young adults, cross‑border professionals and retirees, including those managing healthcare costs over the long term.

Rather than positioning outpatient care as an optional add-on, Bupa Care Bridge embeds outpatient services within the medical plan itself, helping customers manage everyday healthcare costs more predictably while maintaining comprehensive inpatient protection.

Key features of Bupa Care Bridge include:

• Cashless inpatient care at designated hospitals, subject to pre-authorisation, with entitlement to standard private room accommodation in Mainland China and semi-private room accommodation in Hong Kong, providing greater certainty and comfort during hospital stays.
• Inpatient coverage across Mainland China or Greater China (Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China and Taiwan), based on plan level, with worldwide coverage for emergency treatment to support major medical needs wherever they arise.
• Embedded outpatient care in Hong Kong, supporting everyday healthcare needs and follow-up care outside hospital settings (only applicable to Bupa Care Bridge Health Insurance Scheme Plus Plan). Covered services include general practitioner and specialist consultations, traditional Chinese medicine, physiotherapy, and X-ray and laboratory tests.
• Clear, predictable co‑payments for outpatient services, helping customers manage routine healthcare costs — with GP consultations from HK$40 per visit, specialist consultations from HK$60 per visit, and defined co‑payments for other outpatient services.
• Simplified underwriting with a streamlined health questionnaire, reducing friction at enrolment.
• Guaranteed lifetime renewal, providing long‑term certainty as healthcare needs evolve.
• Care coordination support for cross-border hospital treatment, including assistance with arranging transportation at discharge from hospital to home in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The scheme also supports preventive care, offering access to health check‑ups to encourage early detection and ongoing health monitoring, helping customers take a more proactive approach to managing their health rather than reacting only when serious illness occurs.

By combining affordable everyday outpatient care in Hong Kong with cashless inpatient protection across borders, Bupa Care Bridge supports both short‑term healthcare needs and longer‑term health planning in a more connected region.

Bupa Care Bridge Health Insurance Scheme is now available for enrolment. For more information, please visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/care-bridge.

Hashtag: #保柏香港 #BupaHongKong #跨境醫療 #CrossBorderHealthcare #GreaterChina

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Bupa – An international health insurance specialist

Established in 1947, Bupa’s purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are an international healthcare company serving over 68 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers. Bupa has businesses around the world, principally in Australia, the UK, Spain, Poland, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Bupa has been a health insurance specialist in Hong Kong since 1976, offering one-stop solutions across domestic and international health insurance, and healthcare services. Our comprehensive medical insurance schemes are tailored to meet individual needs, and we provide health solutions for companies of all sizes. We also have a team of registered nurses, health management professionals, and doctors who provide various expert healthcare support.

Our healthcare provision arm, Quality HealthCare Medical Services (QHMS), became part of Bupa in October 2013. QHMS offers Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics & Imaging, Physiotherapy, Mental Health and Wellness services via a network of over 1,650 provider service points in Hong Kong.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.

The sharpest pressure has fallen on long-dated Japanese government bonds, where the 30-year yield has climbed above 4 per cent, reaching a record since the maturity was introduced in 1999. The 10-year yield has also risen to around 2.8 per cent, its highest level in nearly three decades, marking a decisive break from the low-yield era that defined Japan’s markets for much of the post-deflation period.

The selloff has rippled across global debt markets. US Treasury yields have moved higher, with the 30-year yield testing levels above 5 per cent, while Germany’s benchmark bonds and UK gilts have also weakened. Bond prices move inversely to yields, meaning the surge in yields reflects heavy selling by investors who are demanding greater compensation for inflation, fiscal risk and uncertain central bank policy.

Rising oil prices are the immediate catalyst. Brent crude has moved above $100 a barrel as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt energy flows and heighten concerns over import costs for major economies. For Japan, which relies heavily on imported energy, the oil shock carries a particularly direct inflationary threat. A weaker yen has amplified the impact, increasing the local-currency cost of fuel, food and other imported goods.

Japan’s inflation backdrop has become more difficult for policymakers. Consumer prices have remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2 per cent target for an extended period, while corporate goods prices have shown persistent pressure from energy, raw materials and logistics costs. Investors are now pricing in a greater chance that the central bank will raise interest rates again, possibly as early as its next policy meetings, after years of extraordinary accommodation.

Fiscal concerns are adding to the strain. Tokyo is preparing additional spending to cushion households and businesses from rising fuel and utility costs, but fresh borrowing could worsen concerns over debt sustainability. Japan’s public debt is already among the highest in the developed world, making long-term bond investors more sensitive to any increase in issuance. The prospect of larger supply has hit demand for longer maturities, where insurers, pension funds and banks traditionally played a stabilising role.

The Bank of Japan faces a delicate balance. Raising rates too quickly could unsettle growth and worsen losses in bond portfolios held by financial institutions. Moving too slowly could allow inflation expectations to become entrenched and place further pressure on the yen. The central bank has already scaled back its dominance of the bond market compared with the period of yield-curve control, leaving prices more exposed to market forces.

Global investors are also reassessing the role of government bonds as a safe asset. During earlier market shocks, US Treasuries, German Bunds and Japanese government bonds often rallied as investors sought protection. The current episode is different because the shock is inflationary rather than deflationary. Higher energy prices reduce household purchasing power, raise business costs and complicate the task of central banks that had hoped to cut rates or keep policy steady.

The selloff has implications beyond financial markets. Higher sovereign yields raise funding costs for governments already facing pressure from defence spending, ageing populations, energy subsidies and climate-related investment. They also affect mortgage rates, corporate borrowing and equity valuations. Technology shares and other growth-sensitive assets tend to come under pressure when long-term yields climb, because future earnings are discounted more heavily.

Japan’s shift is especially important because its low yields long encouraged domestic investors to buy overseas bonds. As yields rise at home, insurers and pension funds have less incentive to take currency risk abroad, potentially reducing demand for US and European debt. That repatriation effect could intensify volatility in global markets if Japanese institutions continue to rebalance portfolios.

Tech Giants Microsoft, Adobe, BytePlus, HP, and iFLYTEK Headline the Event; Over 10,000 Professional Visits Expected to Bridge the “Deployment Gap” through High-Impact Exhibitions, Strategic Summits, and Hands-on Skills Labs

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – 2026 represents a definitive turning point as Artificial Intelligence transitions from experimental “pilot” phases to industrialized, enterprise-scale implementation. AI+ Power 2026, Hong Kong’s premier exhibition & conference for commercial AI applications, returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 4-5 Jun 2026. Now in its sixth edition, the event actively responds to the HKSAR Government’s “AI+” development strategy. Under the theme “AI+ Power in Action,” the expo focuses on how AI creates value and unlocks new market opportunities for enterprises. By showcasing a diverse array of AI solutions on-site, the event empowers businesses to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging business environment.

The 2026 Enterprise Imperative: Beyond Prompting – Agentic AI Enters the Era of Autonomous Execution

For today’s business leaders, the challenge is no longer understanding AI — it is choosing the right tools and applying them effectively. According to Gartner’s 2026 Strategic Trends, the enterprise landscape has moved beyond the initial GenAI hype into the era of Agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of independent decision-making and workflow execution. While most enterprises have begun AI deployment, the ultimate differentiator for 2026 is achieving the transition from “conversation to execution” and securing a measurable Return on Investment (ROI).

Culsin Li, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of AI+ Power, noted: “In 2026, the most critical executive skill is becoming leaders who can strategically direct AI adoption. With AI applications entering the ‘no-code’ era, technical implementation is no longer the primary hurdle; the focus for leadership returns to the core of business: identifying operational pain points and defining strategic needs. AI+ Power 2026 serves as a premier platform where attendees can gain insights from expert-led case studies and source ready-to-deploy AI solutions to immediately resolve bottlenecks. We provide a comprehensive one-stop ecosystem, enabling decision-makers to transition seamlessly from strategic inspiration to procurement and final implementation.”

AI+ Power 2026 features six high-impact pillars designed to accelerate AI adoption:

Pillar 1: AI+ Summit – Strategic Roadmaps for Vertical Transformation

The AI+ Summit features a formidable roster of global pioneers, including Microsoft, HP, Adobe, BytePlus, and iFLYTEK, who will dissect the shift from smart office revolutions to autonomous AI agents.

To address the critical pillars of corporate governance and financial practice, the Summit has curated two flagship strategic forums:

• CEO Panel: AI Transformation for Hong Kong’s Legacy Leaders — Moderated by Dr. Toa Charm, Chairman of the Data and AI Literacy Association (DALA), this session explores how C-suites navigate AI strategy and talent governance while balancing technological innovation with business value creation. It also examines how leaders can accelerate the scalable adoption of AI across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and Asia to ensure AI visions translate into tangible organizational impact.
• FinTech 2.0: From Future of Work to Agentic Workflows — Moderated by Mr. Peter Koo, Convenor, FinTech Specialist Group of Hong Kong Computer Society. Partners from the “Big 4” (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC) will share the stage for a rare joint session to dismantle how Agentic AI automates KYC and risk monitoring, and explores “Data-to-Revenue” pathways. The forum will also address the convergence of AI with Tokenisation, Stablecoins, Digital Assets, and RegTech.

The Summit will also cover MarTech, enterprise productivity, retail, and education, featuring leaders from MTR Lab, HSBC, Maxim’s Group, Hong Yip, HKT, PrimeCredit, and Logitech, alongside academic representatives.

Pillar 2: AI+ Expo – The Modern Workplace & Smart Living Revolution

Industry leaders Canon HK, Logitech, Shure, and iFLYTEK will demonstrate how AI-driven hardware eliminates operational friction, allowing teams to focus on core creativity.

Pillar 3: AI+ Skills Lab — Zero-Barrier Mastery for Decision Makers

To address the enterprise talent gap, the AI+ Skills Lab has been launched this year to provide hands-on, practical training. Led by a team of veteran practitioners including Arik Chan from GDG HK (CISSP-certified), Frankie Wu from GDG HK and also Founder of Nexamind AI, and Roland Leung, Director of Datality Lab, the lab is tailor-made for non-technical decision-makers. It emphasizes a “small-class, laptop-ready” approach; featured highlights include OSINT-driven fraud detection using Google Gemini, the deployment of privacy-safe enterprise AI agents, and rapid AI-powered commercial video creation using Seedance 2.0 and KlingAI 3.0. This practical experience empowers participants to “Learn Today, Apply Tomorrow,” transforming AI into real-world productivity.

Pillar 4: Embodied AI & Robotics — The First “Smart Living Experience Zone”

Breaking away from pure software solutions, the event debuts the first “Smart Living Experience Zone,” presenting the physical manifestation of AI integrated with robotics in environmental management, medical rehabilitation, and gerontech. Highlights include environmental robots capable of automatic waste classification and autonomous cleaning; medical assistant systems for physical therapy and ward delivery; and non-invasive “passive fall detection” care solutions. These innovations are setting new benchmarks for automated operations across the property management, healthcare, and social welfare sectors.

Pillar 5: AI Strategic Advisory Hub & Industry Networking — Unlocking New Business Opprtunities

The event proudly presents the “AI Strategic Advisory Hub,” a flagship initiative designed to disrupt the traditional one-way nature of business matching. Technical experts from leading providers will transform into “Consultants”, offering decision-makers immediate diagnostics and tailored deployment advice. Navigating a vast array of technical choices can be overwhelming; this “Advisory Hub” is dedicated to helping enterprises pinpoint high-ROI implementation pathways, ensuring that technology investments translate directly into tangible profitability. Furthermore, the two-day event features exclusive industry networking sessions to foster deep dialogue and strategic exchanges between technology pioneers and enterprise leaders.

Pillar 6: AI+ Power Awards 2026 — Recognizing the Future Leaders of Commercial AI

The AI+ Power Awards 2026, a highly anticipated flagship event, returns to honor the region’s most innovative, impactful, and commercially viable AI applications. This year has seen an unprecedented level of competition, and the first-round finalists have officially been announced. Shortlisted organizations in key categories such as “AI+ in Business” and “AI+ Project of the Year” include industry pioneers such as Maxim’s Group, CITIC Telecom CPC, iFLYTEK, ASTRI, and Lingnan University. The final winners will be grandly unveiled in late May.

Capturing the Momentum of AI Scaling: Building a New Era for Innovation

AI+ Power 2026 responds proactively to the HKSAR Government’s “AI+” strategy, embodying the core spirit of “AI+ Power in Action.” We are committed to transforming policy vision into commercial reality, helping enterprises successfully transition from AI “observers” to “active practitioners.”

Through high-level summit exchanges, immersive exhibition experiences, step-by-step practical training, and prestigious award recognition, we empower every attendee to seize first-mover advantages in the age of AI scaling. Together, we are driving Hong Kong’s evolution into the premier Asia-Pacific hub for commercial AI innovation.

Secure Your Advantage: Register Now

Online pre-registration for AI+ Power 2026 is now officially open. Trade visitors and industry professionals are invited to register for free admission and pre-book seats for keynote summits and hands-on Skills Lab workshops. Please note that workshop seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register Now: https://bit.ly/3R9W3fC

Event Details:

• Date: 4-5 June 2026 (Thursday–Friday)
• Venue: Hall 5FG, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
• Admission: Free for trade visitors (Pre-registration required; group registration available)
• Official Website: www.aipluspower.com

Hashtag: #AIPower #AIPower2026

https://www.aipluspower.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About AI+ Power’s Organizer – Baobab Tree Event Management Co., Ltd.

Baobab Tree Event Management Co., Ltd. (BTE) is a Hong Kong–based event and exhibition organizer founded in 2011, with offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. With over 20 years of industry experience, the company specializes in event management, exhibition operations, marketing, sales, and on-site delivery.

The company manages the delivery of Hong Kong’s signature mega events, including the Hong Kong Chinese New Year Parade and the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, both organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, while also developing and managing professional exhibitions across multiple industry sectors such as AI and digital technology, Food & Beverage, Veterinary, Non-Woven, Professional AV, and PCB & electronics manufacturing, serving regional and international markets.

Committed to sustainable development, the company integrates ESG principles into its operations and has completed an independent ESG assessment, achieving Level 1 status under an assessment framework developed by the The University of Hong Kong and ESG Development Co., Ltd.

Official website: www.baobab-tree-event.com

State Administration for Market Regulation said the agenda would focus on removing market barriers, promoting a unified national market, improving law enforcement practices and curbing destructive price wars that have weighed on corporate margins. The measures form part of a broader policy push to reassure entrepreneurs after years of regulatory tightening, weak domestic demand, a property downturn and intense competition across technology, retail and manufacturing.

Private firms remain central to China’s economic model, accounting for more than half of tax revenue, over 60 per cent of economic output, about 70 per cent of technological innovation, more than 80 per cent of urban employment and the bulk of registered enterprises. Beijing’s latest move signals that policymakers see the sector as essential to stabilising growth, sustaining jobs and advancing innovation under the 2026–2030 development blueprint.

The 34-point programme places particular emphasis on equal treatment for private and state-backed enterprises. Regulators are expected to expand checks on local protectionism, discriminatory procurement rules, hidden entry restrictions and administrative practices that prevent companies from competing across provincial borders. The objective is to make China’s internal market function more like a single national marketplace rather than a patchwork of local systems shaped by regional preferences.

Fair competition has become a sharper policy concern as price wars spread across food delivery, electric vehicles, e-commerce and consumer services. Authorities have described extreme discounting and subsidy battles as “involution-style” competition, a term used in China to describe intense rivalry that consumes resources without producing sustainable gains. Regulators are now seeking to distinguish legitimate competition from practices that damage suppliers, workers and smaller rivals.

The plan also strengthens the legal dimension of private sector support. It follows the Private Economy Promotion Law, which came into force in May 2025 and formally placed protections for private business within the legal system. That law sought to address long-standing complaints over unequal access to finance, arbitrary penalties, delayed government payments, inconsistent enforcement and barriers to participation in infrastructure and public procurement.

Beijing is under pressure to show that those commitments can be enforced beyond policy slogans. Private entrepreneurs have frequently complained that local officials apply rules unevenly, with smaller companies facing heavier compliance burdens than larger state-linked groups. The latest regulatory agenda calls for more standardised enforcement, fewer unnecessary inspections and better coordination among agencies, reducing the risk that overlapping regulatory demands disrupt business operations.

The emphasis on efficient regulation also reflects a change in tone after the sweeping crackdowns that reshaped China’s platform economy from 2020 onwards. Internet groups, education providers, fintech companies and delivery platforms faced tighter controls, large fines and abrupt policy shifts, weakening investor sentiment. Although authorities continue to insist that capital must operate within defined boundaries, the current message is more focused on predictability, confidence and growth.

Financial support remains another pillar of the wider policy framework. China has encouraged banks and financial institutions to increase lending to private firms, particularly in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, green technology, biotechnology and other strategic sectors. Large banks have announced multi-year financing pledges for the private economy, while policymakers have called for broader fundraising channels and lower financing costs for smaller enterprises.

The regulatory agenda fits into China’s 2026 economic strategy, which prioritises stable growth, stronger domestic demand, technological self-reliance and risk control. The government has set a growth target range of 4.5 to 5 per cent for 2026, lower than earlier expansion rates but still demanding at a time of weak household confidence, subdued inflation and pressure from external trade frictions.

Private firms are especially important in technology and advanced manufacturing, where China is seeking to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. Companies such as Huawei, BYD, CATL, Tencent and Alibaba remain closely watched as indicators of the relationship between the state and enterprise sector. Beijing’s message to these firms is twofold: innovation is encouraged, but expansion must align with national priorities and regulatory boundaries.

Foreign investors will watch whether the new priorities translate into measurable changes. China has pledged to widen market access and improve the business environment, but concerns remain over data rules, cross-border flows, procurement access, security reviews and policy transparency. For multinational companies and domestic entrepreneurs alike, the credibility of the 34-point programme will depend on implementation by local authorities as much as central-level messaging.

The market regulator’s plan also gives Beijing a mechanism to address deflationary pressures caused by excessive competition. Food delivery platforms, online retailers and electric vehicle producers have all faced pressure from aggressive pricing campaigns. While consumers may benefit from lower prices, sustained discount battles can weaken profitability, reduce wages across supply chains and discourage investment in quality improvements.

By Nitya Chakraborty Now that the U.S. President Donald Trump is back to Washington DC. After his two day summit talks in Beijing on May 14 and 15, it is appropriate to decode the gains of the summit. There were four major issues– Taiwan, Iran war, trade deals and facilitating more business for the American […]

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