utf_hex_html_entities_decode

demo.php

<?php

/**
 * Converts a string like "The &#x00740069;me is:" to "The time is:"
 * 
 * @param string $input Your string that might have UTF-8 characters that are html encoded.
 * @return string A cleaned string
 */
function utf_hex_html_entities_decode($input)
{
    return preg_replace_callback("/&#x([0-9a-fA-F]{8});/", function($m){return hex2bin($m[1]);}, $input);
}

echo utf_hex_html_entities_decode("&#x0066006b;\n"); //"fk"
echo utf_hex_html_entities_decode("&#x0066006C;owers\n"); //"flowers"
echo utf_hex_html_entities_decode("af&#x00660069;liate\n"); //"affiliate"
echo utf_hex_html_entities_decode("&#x00740069;me is\n"); //"time"