At its annual general meeting held on May 21, HKT-SS (06823) Chairman Richard Li stated that artificial intelligence is accelerating its adoption, moving from concept to daily life. Management is proactively addressing this new landscape, including exploring how to leverage AI to better serve customers and having relevant reserves for operational costs. He further noted that HKT operates robustly, enabling the group to navigate various challenges while maintaining resilient performance.
Li pointed out that with the rapid development of AI, the group is accelerating its evolution from a traditional communications service provider to a comprehensive data and smart technology platform for both enterprise and individual customers, creating an end-to-end innovative value chain. To achieve this goal, the company is continuously expanding related services, devices, and training to help customers build personal AI assistants. He mentioned that in the first quarter, the user base for 2500M broadband services grew by 78% year-on-year.
Regarding innovation and technology development, he stated the group will actively align with and support the national "15th Five-Year Plan" and the strategy to establish Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub. It aims to seize opportunities from the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, accelerating the commercialization of R&D achievements in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and low-earth orbit satellites. He expressed that the group continues to deepen its technological development, striving to secure a favorable position within the innovation ecosystem and build a unique advantage in the competitive telecommunications market. The company recently collaborated again with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute to establish a joint R&D laboratory in the Hetao area and is also partnering with a well-known mainland robotics firm to apply physical AI solutions in fields such as construction and education.
Concurrently, with an uncertain outlook for the Middle East situation and ongoing distortions in the global energy market, Hong Kong's economy is facing various challenges. When asked whether the sharp rise in oil prices coupled with potential US interest rate hikes would impact the group's business, Li stated that throughout past trials, the group has demonstrated strong resilience with its performance only slightly affected. He remains fully confident in the group's future performance, operations, and profitability.
According to the 2025 results announced by HKT, the group's total revenue increased by 5% year-on-year to HK$36.553 billion. Profit attributable to holders of stapled units rose by 4% year-on-year to HK$5.286 billion. Basic earnings per stapled unit were 69.76 HK cents, with a final distribution per stapled unit of 47.97 HK cents. Adjusted funds flow also increased by 4% to HK$6.199 billion.
Regarding the group's share price, he noted that amid an unstable global and economic environment, HKT's profits and revenues remain stable. He emphasized that AI is a significant theme, and group management is actively responding to this new situation, particularly focusing on how to utilize AI to serve Hong Kong enterprises and meet the relevant home service needs of both new arrivals and existing Hong Kong elites.
Looking ahead, he indicated that with Hong Kong's financial market gradually stabilizing, capital market activity increasing, the residential property market beginning to recover, and the government continuing to promote innovation, technology, the digital economy, and new industrialization, he believes this will create a broader space for corporate technology investment and digital transformation. The group maintains strong confidence in the medium- to long-term development of Hong Kong's digital economy.