Published in China News on 13.05.2024
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, in partnership with Roland Berger, released its European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2024 (BCS). The annual survey shows that despite the re-opening of China’s borders in early 2023, business confidence in the market continued on a downward trend.
Published in Hong Kong News on 07.05.2024
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has officially published the list of public holidays for the year 2025. In total, there will be 17 days of public holidays, with only two falling on Saturdays – the day after Good Friday and Tuen Ng Festival.
Published in Hong Kong News on 02.05.2024
The Hong Kong government has officially accepted the recommendations put forth by the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) regarding the review process for the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) in the city.
Under the new guidelines, the SMW rate will be reviewed on an annual basis, ensuring that adjustments are made regularly. The MWC has proposed a formula for conducting these reviews, taking into account two key indicators: inflation and the economic growth factor.
Published in China News on 30.10.2023
Employees can anticipate an extended Chinese New Year holiday of up to eight days. The State Council of the People's Republic of China has published the public holidays calendar for 2024.
Published in China News on 01.11.2023
Effective today, November 1, 2023 (Wednesday), individuals travelling to or from Mainland China will no longer be obligated to complete the Mainland China health declaration form, as officially announced by China Customs. This decision marks the removal of all travel restrictions related to COVID-19.
Published in Hong Kong News on 11.10.2023
Currently, only 30% of enterprises in Hong Kong have integrated AI tools into their operation processes, such as marketing and customer services, based on data from HKPC Digital Transformation.
Published in China News on 09.10.2023
Recently, Guangdong released the latest edition of Invest Guangdong, an annual foreign investment guidebook, presenting a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment and inviting global investors to share business opportunities.
Published in China News on 21.09.2023
In the last couple of months, the news from and or about China was not very favourable. Too many voices, and too many opinions but no clear picture as to how to keep the business with China going. As a matter of fact, de-coupling from China is no option! But what does China want from us? To provide a clearer picture and some guidance the European Chamber of Commerce in China has released its European Business in China Position Paper 2023/2024 (Position Paper 2023/2024), shedding light on the perplexing messages emanating from Chinese authorities. This contradictory messaging has left European businesses uncertain about the nature of China's desired relationship with them.
Published in Hong Kong News on 21.08.2023
Hong Kong has been easing immigration rules left and right to attract more foreign workers into the city.
However, one problem — as pointed out by Mathew Gollop, managing director of Connected Group — is that some firms still fail to hire talent from overseas due to limiting factors such as language requirements.
“A candidate of mine took on a new role. His role is to look at talent as part of their diversity program and his first conversation with the talent function was to say, ‘Why do so many of our job descriptions have ‘must speak Cantonese?’ The response was: ‘We don’t know, that’s just what it says on the job description,’” Gollop told Hong Kong Business.
“Of course, many jobs in the local market will require Cantonese as a language but that’s a huge limiting factor when we know that the local talent market is decreasing. If we’re looking outside of that, then we’re going to have to be more flexible on some of these language requirements,” he said.
Published in ASEAN News on 19.08.2023
Hong Kong stands among a list of cities in Asia Pacific (APAC) that are expected to see office rentals decrease over the coming 12 months, according to new research.
The other cities identified on this list, published in the Knight Frank's Asia-Pacific Prime Office Rental Index for Q2 2023, are: Guangzhou, China; Shenzhen, China; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Published in Hong Kong News on 18.08.2023
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) has announced the release of an updated set of population projections on August 15th.
These projections, compiled by the C&SD, cover the period from 2022 to 2046, with the mid-2021 population serving as the base. In addition to the baseline population projections, the C&SD has also included high and low population projections for reference. While the baseline projection scenario is based on assumptions regarding fertility, mortality, and movement that are considered the most likely to occur at the time of compilation, the two additional projection scenarios explore potential outcomes under more aggressive or conservative assumptions.
According to the data, under the baseline population projections, the Hong Kong Resident Population is expected to reach 8.19 million by mid-2046. However, the high and low population projections indicate potential figures of 8.96 million and 7.76 million, respectively.
Published in ASEAN News on 07.02.2022
They are followed by China, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Thailand. However, looking at the global ranking, the top three countries with the best pension systems are: Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Published in Hong Kong News on
The coronavirus crisis has proved a catalyst for digital transformation through financial technology - or fintech. As Hong Kong recovers from the Covid 19 pandemic, the city's tech sector is boosting confidence in the economy's "new normal" and helping businesses and individuals embrace new ways of doing business.
Published in ASEAN News on 16.09.2021
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that the country will reopen more cities to foreign tourists who are fully vaccinated from 1 October. Destinations to be given the green light to reopen under the second phase of the schedule include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Published in Hong Kong News on 26.08.2021
In light of recent developments in the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, the Government has made sudden changes to quarantine requirements for residents flying into Hong Kong. As The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, we felt it is our obligation to express our opinions in an open letter to the Hong Kong Government. Please find the enclosed letter that was sent to the Chief Executive, the Secretary for Food and Health, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Government to express the international community’s concerns towards sudden changes on quarantine regulations for several European countries and beyond.
