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Tag: Hong Kong

  • Hong Kong Sends Bankers Home

    Hong Kong Sends Bankers Home

    Tighter government COVID-19 restrictions from Saturday already prompted UBS and other banks to re-impose workplace limits.

    The Hong Kong government yesterday announced a raft of new COVID-19 restrictions yesterday following a number of untraceable Omnicron variant cases, a step that is already prompting UBS and other banks to ask bankers to resume working from home.

    The government says on its website that the enhanced restrictions will take effect from January 7 and last for 14 days. Group gatherings of more than four people will be prohibited and restaurants will have to close at 6pm.

    All leisure and sports facilities, gyms and bars will be fully closed. It has also suspended all flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, and the U.S.

    UBS is splitting its 2,500 workforces into groups, with one working from home and the other in the office in an alternate fashion, according to a report, citing an internal memo.

    Employees have also been asked to curtail movement in the office and sharply limit socialization outside their direct teams, the memo indicates. Other banks taking similar steps include HSBC, Bank of America, and Standard Chartered, the news outlet said.

    Others are expected to follow as the restrictions come into effect.

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  • Retail sales in Hong Kong continue to recover slowly

    Retail sales in Hong Kong continue to recover slowly

    Hong Kong’s economy lost some momentum in the second quarter but still expanded by 7.5% from a year earlier, as domestic and global activity continued to recover from last year’s pandemic-induced slump.

    Despite some slowdown in robust export growth, the government said the city’s economic recovery remains on track as global demand picks up and local coronavirus fears ease.

    The preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) estimate released on Friday compares with a revised growth rate of 8% in the first quarter and forecasts of 8.4% by DBS and 8.5% by ING.

    On a quarterly basis, the economy contracted by a seasonally adjusted 1% in April-June, its first decline since the second quarter of 2020. That compared with a revised 5.5% growth in the previous quarter.

    “The global economic recovery should continue to support Hong Kong’s exports of goods in the near term, though there may be some moderation from the exceptionally strong performance in the first half of 2021,” a government spokesman said in a statement along with the GDP figures.

    “Exports of services should likewise sustain growth,” the spokesman said, adding that a stabilized pandemic situation locally and a consumption voucher scheme will help stimulate consumer demand.

    For the first half of 2021, the economy grew by 7.8% over a year earlier. The government maintained its full-year growth forecast at 3.5%-5.5%.

    Analysts caution, however, that the recovery will be uneven. While consumer spending is improving as coronavirus worries ebb, international travel restrictions will continue to weigh on tourism and related retail and services sectors.

    The trade-reliant city is also benefiting from mainland China’s swift recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, though China’s growth rates are slowly returning to more normal levels.

    Hong Kong’s economy fell into its longest recession on record in early 2019, weighed down by huge anti-government protests followed by the pandemic in 2020.

    Seasonally adjusted unemployment slipped to 5.5% in April-June, from 6% in March-May and 6.4% in February-April. Exports jumped 33% in June, their eighth straight month of growth.

    Retail sales rose 10.5% in May from a year earlier, the fourth consecutive monthly gain, but growth lagged pre-pandemic levels as inbound tourism is virtually non-existent.

    Hong Kong reported two new imported COVID-19 cases on Friday, with no local community infections recorded in over 50 consecutive days.

    The government has urged more people to get vaccinated to pave the way for a reopening and broader based economic recovery. About 35% of the population has received the recommended two doses and 47% have had their first dose.

  • WeLab Acquires Indonesian Commercial Bank

    WeLab Acquires Indonesian Commercial Bank

    Hong Kong-headquartered virtual lender WeLab has acquired Indonesia’s PT Bank Jasa Jakarta as part of broader expansion plans across Asia.

    A WeLab-led consortium Welab Sky raised $240 million which will be used to fund the transaction to acquire the Indonesian commercial bank, according to a statement, with J.P. Morgan acting as its financial advisor.

    Welab Sky has entered into a share purchase and subscription agreement with all the shareholders of Bank Jasa Jakarta (BJJ) to acquire the remaining stakes to become the bank’s sole shareholder, pending regulatory approval.

    Welab Sky has already completed a strategic investment for a 24 percent stake in BJJ.

    Since officially launching in 2020 as Hong Kong third licensed virtual bank, Welab has expanded in the region, including in Southeast Asia where it opera rests a licensed online lending app through a joint venture with Astra International.

    We continue the journey that we started in 2018 to build one of the first pan-Asian digital banking platforms, first in Hong Kong and now in Indonesia, said WeLab founder and group chief executive Simon Loong.

    WeLab combines its advanced digital banking technology with the BJJ network to further grow the Bank’s business towards a bright digital future.

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  • Facebook opens its first pop-up store in Hong Kong

    Facebook opens its first pop-up store in Hong Kong

    Facebook has opened doors to its first pop-up store in Hong Kong to educate consumers on how to personalize their Facebook experience and unlock exciting possibilities while maintaining their online privacy and safety. From December 3 to 7, Preface Coffee & Wine in Central, the F&B and lifestyle concept space, will be transformed into a temporary “Facebook home” to showcase the true benefits of technology and demonstrate the different ways users can personalize their Facebook – the way they want it – through digital experience and AR filters.

    Inspired by the way people customize their homes, Facebook last week launched “Your Profile, Your  Home” a digital consumer experience to educate people on Facebook settings that enable personalization, and to reinforce Facebook’s commitment to protecting the privacy and safety of users.

    Along with Preface Coding, Facebook has transformed Preface Coffee & Wine (Central) into a pop-up store that showcases the app’s privacy control and settings. With the tagline “What makes a perfect home?”, the pop-up store is set to be the newest Instagrammable spot in Central. Renowned local celebrity Alfred Hui attended the kick-off event to demonstrate the customizable settings.

    From December 3 to 7, anyone can visit the “Your Profile, Your Home” pop-up store and play with two fun and interactive AR filters developed by Preface Coding, including photo-taking with an avatar of Alfred Hui. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the “Your Profile, Your Home” digital experience, in which they’ll have tools to build and design their very own home as they explore the exciting possibilities of personalization on Facebook. Visitors can test their knowledge of Facebook’s new privacy settings with an on-site quiz; the first 10 winners of each day will receive Alfred Hui’s autographed gift.

    In November, Meta, also formerly known as Facebook said it plans to remove its detailed targeting options from January 2022 onwards. With this move, advertisers will not be able to target users who have interacted with content related to health causes, sexual orientation, religious practices, political beliefs and social issues, among others.

    While this move limits the way Meta’s targeting tools can be abused, VP of product marketing, Graham Mudd said the company is aware that this change may negatively impact some businesses and organizations. “We have heard concerns from experts that targeting options such as these could be used in ways that lead to negative experiences for people in underrepresented groups,” he explained. He added, “It is important to note that the interest targeting options we are removing are not based on people’s physical characteristics or personal attributes, but instead on things like people’s interactions with content on our platform.”

    According to Mudd, this decision was not simple and required a balance of competing interests where there was advocacy in both directions. While some of Meta’s advertising partners have expressed concerns about these targeting options going away because of its ability to help generate positive societal change, others understand the decision to remove them. He added, “Even after we update our targeting options, people may still see ad content they aren’t interested in, which is why we are also working to expand the control that allows people to choose to see fewer ads about certain types of content. Today, people can opt to see fewer ads related to politics, parenting, alcohol, and pets. Early next year, we will be giving people control of more types of ad content, including gambling and weight loss, among others.”

    Meanwhile, Meta said it will maintain its commitment to helping small businesses, non-profits, and advocacy groups reach their audiences. Meta will be working to expand the control that allows users to choose to see fewer ads about certain types of content, said Mudd. Today, users are able to opt to see fewer ads related to topics such as politics, parenting, alcohol and pets. Early next year, Meta aims to give users control on more types ad content which includes gambling and weight-loss, among others.

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  • Uber Eats leaving Hong Kong at the end of 2021

    Uber Eats leaving Hong Kong at the end of 2021

    Food delivery giant Uber Eats revealed on Tuesday it would wind down its Hong Kong operations by year’s end after seeing slower-than-expected growth.

    “Uber Eats has unfortunately not grown as expected in Hong Kong,” the company said in response to a Post inquiry. “This decision has been made independent of the global pandemic, and is in line with our broader strategy on Uber Eats.”

    One of the city’s three main food delivery platforms – along with Deliveroo and Foodpanda – Uber Eats launched in Hong Kong in October 2016 and has seen a sharp rise in orders throughout the coronavirus pandemic over the past two years.

    “After five years of partnering with restaurants and delivery people in Hong Kong, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue Uber Eats in Hong Kong on December 31, 2021,” the company said earlier in the day.

    Uber Eats said its priority was now to support its employees, restaurant partners, delivery people, and customers as it moved towards shutting down, but added it was “more committed than ever” to growing its ride-hailing services in the city.

    “We will keep investing and serve more riders and drivers in coming years by bringing the very best technology to Hong Kong,” the company, which operates in a legal grey area in the city, said.

    The spokesman said the company would continue providing support to customers and partners until the end of January.

    Uber Eats employs 5,000 delivery workers, some of whom signed up after losing their jobs amid the pandemic, and its service covers 16 of the city’s 18 districts.

    In July, Uber Eats launched a campaign in support of the small and medium-sized restaurants that use its platform, snagging celebrity endorsements from singers Alfred Hui and Joyce Cheng.

    In recent months, with almost no local transmission of the coronavirus, Hong Kong’s restaurant industry, along with other businesses such as hotels, have seen signs of recovery, and bookings are healthy for the year-end holiday season.

    Although social-distancing restrictions limiting the number of people permitted at venues such as bars and restaurants remain in place, about a third of the city’s 16,000 restaurants can now seat up to six per table, as long as diners have received at least one dose of a vaccine and use the government’s “Leave Home Safe” risk-exposure app.

    The latest data from SevenRooms, a booking platform used at more than 350 of Hong Kong’s high-end restaurants, showed people were dining out and spending more this year when compared with two years ago, before the pandemic hit.

    Earlier this month, Foodpanda couriers, upset with a cut to their delivery fees and other issues, went on strike for two days.

    The strike ended after the company agreed to make changes to its mobile app and fee calculation system as well as look into other demands

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  • DLA Piper Hires New Partner in Hong Kong

    DLA Piper Hires New Partner in Hong Kong

    Over the past couple of years, DLA Piper has welcomed several new partners to its Asia Corporate practice. Now the firm announces another hire.

    Global law firm DLA Piper continues to strengthen Asia capital markets offering with new partner hire in Hong Kong, the firm announced Monday. George Wu was appointed as a capital markets partner in its corporate practice. He joins the firm from Herbert Smith Freehills in Hong Kong.

    He advises on corporate and securities transactions including IPOs, debt offerings, private equity, M&A, and compliance matters. He represents issuers of securities as well as investors, underwriters and placement agents for both public and private offerings.

    Wu has particular experience advising on initial public offerings, follow-on offerings in Hong Kong and U.S. capital markets, as well as debt offering transactions including investment-grade and high-yield bonds, convertible and exchangeable bonds, and medium-term note programs. He also brings in-depth industry knowledge to the table, having advised clients on dozens of corporate transactions in various sectors, including healthcare and life sciences, technology, and consumer goods, among others.

    A native Mandarin speaker, Wu is also fluent in Cantonese and English having lived and worked in Shanghai, New York, and Hong Kong.

    George Wu’s arrival closely follows that of capital markets partner Arthur Tso who joined the Hong Kong office in March 2021. Over the past couple of years, DLA Piper has welcomed several new partners to its Asia Corporate practice including Philip Lee and David Kuo in Singapore, and Samata Masagee in Bangkok.

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  • Canada Goose names new Asia-Pacific president

    Canada Goose names new Asia-Pacific president

    Canada Goose has appointed Paul Cadman as its new president for the Asia-Pacific region.

    In his new role, Cadman will oversee the business’ activities including commercial, financial, and marketing across Apac markets, including Greater China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

    “Paul is a trusted brand advisor, having consulted for us for years,” said Dani Reiss, president, and CEO of Canada Goose. “His extensive knowledge in the luxury sector and his deep experience in developing brands across the region has provided our team with a valuable perspective.”

    Cadman has more than 30 years of strategic luxury goods experience and held leadership positions with global brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, Asprey & Garrard, Bvlgari, and Estee Lauder.

    “Paul’s experience, entrepreneurial nature, and regionally-specific industry knowledge make him the best fit for the role as we strengthen our brand presence and further execute against our long-term growth strategy,” said Reiss.

    Cadman also founded PMC Global Hong Kong, a strategic management and business consultancy focused on the luxury goods industry.

    The appointment is in line with Canada Goose’s strategy to deepen its influence in the Apac region, including its recent store openings in Harbin, Nanjing, Ningbo, Beijing, Taipei, and Macau.

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  • HSBC Reshuffles Commercial Bank

    HSBC Reshuffles Commercial Bank

    HSBC has reshuffled senior management at its commercial banking arm in Asia and the U.K. Amanda Murphy and Frank Fang have been named co-heads of the APAC commercial banking business, according to a statement, reporting to global commercial banking chief executive Barry O’Byrne.

    The current head of commercial banking for HSBC U.K., Murphy will relocate to Singapore to become head of commercial banking, South and Southeast Asia to oversee the local commercial banking franchises in India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and international markets.

    Frank Fang will maintain his role as head of commercial banking, Hong Kong and Macau.

    Murphy and Fang will also serve on the global and APAC commercial banking executive committees.

    Succeeding Murphy’s role as head of commercial banking for HSBC U.K. is Stuart Tait, subject to regulatory approval, who led the APAC commercial banking franchise since 2016.

    I would like to thank Tait for growing our business in Asia Pacific over the last five years – his customer-centricity will be equally instrumental in his new role, O’Byrne said.

    Focusing on Asia for growth, investment and capital deployment is a strategic priority for our global business. We aim to grow our market share in the Greater Bay Area, India and Southeast Asia, expanding our customer base and digitizing at scale to help our clients and business to capture global opportunities.

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  • Citi Adds Prime Brokerage Duo in Hong Kong

    Citi Adds Prime Brokerage Duo in Hong Kong

    Citi has hired two new directors from BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs for its prime brokerage unit in Hong Kong.

    Drew Kuech and Oliver Law join Citi as directors of the prime services sales trading team, according to a statement, reporting to APAC head of prime services sales trading Daniel Millwood.

    Kuech has 13 years of prime finance and delta one experience, most recently with BNP Paribas. Previously, he also worked for Societe Generale and Santa Fe-headquartered hedge fund Thornburg Investment Management.

    Law has 14 years of APAC prime finance and delta one experience and he joins from Goldman Sachs. Previously, he also worked for RBS and Credit Suisse.

    We are pleased to welcome two strong additions to our Prime Services trading team as we continue to focus on building out our hedge fund trading and client servicing areas, Millwood said in the statement.

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  • Talks for Hong Kong-China Border Reopening in Final Stages

    Talks for Hong Kong-China Border Reopening in Final Stages

    Authorities from Hong Kong and China are reportedly nearing a final decision on travel resumption, despite a fresh outbreak on the mainland.

    A second meeting is expected soon between Hong Kong and mainland China authorities to make a final decision on travel resumption, according to a report by local media «Sing Tao» citing unnamed sources.

    The focus of the discussion is on whether or not Hong Kong will adopt the mainland’s health code system which classifies individuals as red, yellow or green – the latter color being the only classification cleared for travel to the mainland.

    Other rules being discussed include initial quarantine-free travel and a «circuit breaker» to immediately suspend the system in the event of an emergency.

    The latest update occurs in the backdrop of growing concerns from the international business community that called for Hong Kong to reopen borders to foreign countries and learn to coexist with the virus.

    Chief executive Carrie Lam responded by reiterating the city’s two major priorities: reopening with mainland China and a zero-Covid policy.

    Meanwhile, China, which has also adopted a zero-Covid policy stance, is reportedly experiencing its worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic with more than 600 local infections recently found in 19 out of 31 provinces.

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  • HSBC Singapore Rolls Out Dart Platform for Corporates

    HSBC Singapore Rolls Out Dart Platform for Corporates

    The bank’s new online platform for corporate customers simplifies receivables collection and improves transparency and monitoring capabilities.

    HSBC Singapore is launching another digital solution for corporate customers – Dart, or the Digital Accounts Receivables Tool, which connects businesses to their customers by enabling the exchange of invoice and payment information, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.

    According to the bank, receivables reconciliation remains a key challenge for treasury functions that receive and process large volumes of payments on a daily basis, particularly when identifying payers and matching with invoices.

    Supply chain resilience has become synonymous with digitization, and the receivables reconciliation process is a prime candidate for transformation, Winnie Yap, HSBC Singapore head of global liquidity and cash management, said.

    Digital Capabilities

    HSBC has rolled out a number of digitally-driven solutions for its corporate customers in recent months, including a multi-currency digital wallet for corporate customers, Omni Collect – a one-stop digital solution for all payment collections needs.

    The bank said it will progressively widen the capabilities available on Dart, as it optimizes its digital services to support customers.

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  • Hong Kong’s Retykle opens in Singapore

    Hong Kong’s Retykle opens in Singapore

    Hong Kong kidswear resale platform, Retykle, is set to expand its presence into Singapore, marking the brand’s first foray into an international market.

    The Singapore launch follows Retykle’s latest round of seed funding earlier this year, which will support the retailer’s expansion plan in Singapore and Australia. Shoppers in Singapore now can sell and purchase pre-loved children’s designer clothing, gear and toys, and drop off their outgrown clothes at a physical store.

    “With its growing appetite for eco-conscious fashion and lifestyle choices, Singapore was a natural second market for Retykle,” said founder Sarah Garner. “We are looking forward to empowering parents to conveniently reduce children’s fashion waste by transforming the way they shop.”

    Retykle houses more than 2500 childrenswear brands, including Bonpoint, Jacadi, Petit Bateau, Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren and Burberry, as well as a selection of maternity wear.

    Since its launch in 2016, more than 150,000 products have been recycled through Retykle. Innately focused on sustainability, Retykle was certified carbon neutral last year and plans to continue to be certified neutral or positive in future years.

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  • Deutsche Bank Adds Greater China Wealth Vet from HSBC

    Deutsche Bank Adds Greater China Wealth Vet from HSBC

    Deutsche Bank has hired a former HSBC executive as a managing director in its wealth management unit.

    Tse Yi-Mun joins Deutsche Bank Wealth Management as a managing director and group head for North Asia, according to a statement.

    Based in Singapore, she reports to North Asia head of wealth management Kanas Chan.

    Tse has 23 years of private banking experience, most recently with HSBC Private Banking where she was its market head for Hong Kong. Previously, she also worked for DBS and ABN AMRO covering the Greater China market.

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  • Hong Kong and Macau Announce Wealth Connect Bank List

    Hong Kong and Macau Announce Wealth Connect Bank List

    China’s two special administrative regions announced their list of eligible banks to participate in the cross-border wealth management scheme.

    In Hong Kong, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citi and more were amongst those on the list of 19 approved banks, according to an announcement yesterday from the city’s central bank.

    Three banks – Bank of East Asia, DBS and Dah Sing Bank – were only allowed to sell products via the southbound route.

    Considering that it will be the first time for retail investors to conduct cross-boundary investments, we will closely monitor the operation of the cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect and step up investor education and investor protection work together with the industry, said Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Eddie Yue Wai-man in a statement.

    Concurrently, Macau’s central bank also announced its list of seven lenders approved for the cross-border scheme earlier this week.

    Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Construction Bank, China Guangfa Bank, CMB Wing Lung Bank, ICBC and Luso International Banking were approved to launch services in the Wealth Connect program as of yesterday, according to the Monetary Authority of Macau. z

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  • Noodle Shop Tamjai SamGor Mixian to launch in Japan

    Noodle Shop Tamjai SamGor Mixian to launch in Japan

    Hong Kong noodle chain Tamjai SamGor Mixian is to expand its international reach with its Japanese debut early next year.

    Marking the brand’s second overseas entry after Singapore, the Japan launch follows its IPO in Hong Kong last week, the proceeds of which will be used to fund its global expansion plan, including its launch in Japan and Australia. The noodle chain aims to double its store network to 330 by 2024, with 25 new Japanese stores and 15 restaurants in Australia.

    “With the support of its major shareholders, Tridor Holdings, Tam Jai International has laid a solid foundation for further overseas expansion,” said Darren Lau, CEO of Tam Jai International. “We will continue to deliver the taste of Tamjai and our unique food culture not only in Japan but all over the world.”

    Beside its signature dishes, the Japan restaurants will also feature toppings dedicated to Japanese customers.

    “We hope that many people in Japan will know the charm of Tamjai SamGor Mixian and develop it as a store that can be used on a daily basis,” said Takaya Awata, President and CEO of Toridoll Holdings Corporation, parent company of Tam Jai International.