Unauthorized migrants in Et District, Houaphanh Province have been granted Lao nationality by the provincial authorities to preserve their rights as Lao citizens.
New Protection Shelter for Domestic Violence Victims Opens in Attapeu
A new shelter for survivors of gender-based violence has opened in the province of Attapeu, with support from the governments of Japan, UNFPA, and Laos.
Road Accidents in April Claim 90 Lives in Laos
According to the traffic department report, 702 road accidents took place in April, resulting in 90 fatalities.
Daughter of Ousted Thai Prime Minister Could Win His Old Job

BANGKOK (AP) — She has confidence, she has charisma, but most of all she has the family name and a face that reminds many of her famous father. In the race to become Thailand’s next prime minister, opinion polls show Paetongtarn Shinawatra to be the heavy favorite to take the post after the 14 May general election.
Miramar Group Presents the First-Ever Gourmet Month Discover Hong Kong’s Best Culinary Delights
A Celebration of 65 Years with Five MIRAlicious Dining Experiences Curated by a Stellar Team of Culinary Chefs
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 May 2023 – Established in 1957 with root in hospitality, the Miramar Group has then expanded its portfolio to include stylish hotels and serviced apartments, property rental, food and beverage, and travel services both in Hong Kong and in Mainland China. Over the years, Miramar Group has become a leading industry player and a renowned brand in Hong Kong, with its fashionable design hotels and restaurants that loved and frequented by many locals. In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Miramar Group is launching a special promotion in May, showcasing the best of what Hong Kong’s F&B scene has to offer as the warmest welcome to diners from all around the world. Miramar’s Gourmet Month is a unique F&B activation that brings together five of the group’s award-winning restaurants, each featuring a limited-time menu of their most iconic and extraordinary dishes. From now on to 31 May 2023, the event features renowned chefs from Cuisine Cuisine (at ifc mall and The Mira Hong Kong), WHISK, Chinesology, and JAJA, creating a culinary experience that showcases exceptional food, outstanding service, and cutting-edge interior design. This is the first-ever group-focused F&B activation for Miramar Group, offering a chance for their chefs and serving teams to shine while inviting customers to gather, enjoy, and make every moment in Hong Kong MIRAlicious. Online bookings via Mira eShop (https://bit.ly/GourmetMonthEnPR) to enjoy service charge waived.

Cuisine Cuisine (The Mira Hong Kong) – Gourmet Month Special
Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira Hong Kong is an upscale eatery that offers the finest Cantonese and Chinese delicacies with a contemporary twist. Recommended by the Michelin Guide since 2012, the restaurant is celebrating the Gourmet Month with a special menu curated by Chef de Cuisine Edwin Tang. Known for his creative interpretations of authentic Cantonese cuisine, Chef Tang is showcasing reinterpretations of familiar staples such as Typhoon Shelter-style lobster made with spicy preserved vegetables and a touch of lemongrass, quick minute pasta and premium Japanese Ran Oh egg inspired by a sai pang xie, a Shanghainese stir-fried egg white dish, and shrimp toast elevated with plum wine jelly, sea urchin, and caviar. The special six-course tasting set is priced at HK$1,488 per person, offering a unique and elevated dining experience.
Cuisine Cuisine ifc – 18th Anniversary Celebration Feast
Under the leadership of Head Chef Chau Kin-yan, Cuisine Cuisine ifc, offers an authentic Cantonese dining experience using only the freshest seasonal ingredients and time-honored recipes that showcase the 36 cooking methods of Chinese cuisine. Located in Central business district with stunning views of Victoria Harbour, this elegant restaurant is celebrating both Gourmet Month and its 18th anniversary at ifc mall with a special six-course feast priced at HK$1,818 per person (minimum two guests). Highlights of the feast include Baguette topped with Suckling pig and Kaluga Caviar, Braised Pomelo Peel and Japanese Kanto Sea Cucumber with Shrimp Roe, and the famous house signature Sautéed Crystal King Prawn.

Chinesology – Flavours of Hong Kong
Inspired by the Tang Dynasty, Chinesology aims to explore the depth and complexity of Chinese cuisine through a contemporary lens. The restaurant in ifc mall is led by Hong Kong native Chef Saito Chau, who harbors a profound appreciation for local culture and has consistently aspired to showcase the city’s flavors and craftsmanship on a grander stage. To celebrate the Gourmet Month, Chef Saito has collaborated with well-established local brands Tiu Yuen Soy Company, Ser Wong Fun, Lee Hoong Kee and Kam Hing Noodles, each with a history spanning over 70 years in the city, to craft a 10-course themed menu titled “Flavors of Hong Kong” (HK$2,288 per person, minimum two guests). Drawing inspiration from the stories shared by each brand, the original and nostalgia-evoking dishes include abalone with pan-fried crispy noodles, lotus leaf-steamed wild Ma Yau Fish, Jinhua ham soup with pian er noodles, and fermented soybean paste ice cream.
WHISK (The Mira Hong Kong) – French GourMay 2023: Sparkling Finesse
Specializing in ingredient-driven dishes created with expert French cooking techniques and premium produce from around the world, WHISK is an innovative French-Japanese restaurant helmed by Chef William Lau. The award-winning eatery is offering a Gourmet Month tasting menu of up to 10 courses paired with French sparkling wines in an echo of “Bubble Up”, this year’s theme for French GourMay. New creations to be tasted include kombu-cured hamachi with tangy French sorrel served with crisp Crémant de Bourgogne from Domaine François Mikulski, and flavorful ocean trout bouillabaisse paired with Premier Cru “Fleur de Champagne” from Duval-Leroy. Guests can choose from three mains, ranging from French pigeon with berries and Japanese red cabbage to Kagoshima wagyu ribeye with compressed Agria potato and char-grilled berries, paired with opulent Moët & Chandon Rosé Grand Vintage 2006. The tasting menu is priced at HK$980 per person for six courses, HK$1,288 for 10 courses, and an additional HK$480 for four glasses of Sommelier’s Selection, offering a luxurious and exquisite dining experience.
JAJA – Fashionable Party Set for 4
A place where good vibes are shared and celebrated, JAJA serves up scrumptious and photogenic vegetarian delights amidst a whimsical and fanciful space inside Wan Chai’s Hong Kong Arts Centre. The always fun vegetarian restaurant invites guests to party in style during the Gourmet Month with its Fashionable Party Set for 4 (HK$638 for 4 people) featuring an array of starters, mains and side dishes. Signature dishes on offer include a delicious vegetarian margarita pizza, superfood-packed living maki platter and locally grown smoky corn ribs, all perfect for pairing with JAJA’s range of specialty milkshake, cocktails or non-alcoholic beverages. Whether for a fun night out or a stylish celebration, JAJA provides a vibrant and joyful dining experience.
Hashtag: #MiramarGroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, Limited
Established in Hong Kong in 1957, Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, Limited (Miramar Group) is a group with a diversified service-oriented business portfolio comprising stylish hotels and serviced apartments, property rental, food and beverage, and travel services in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Miramar Group has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1970 (HKEX Stock Code: 71) and is a member of Henderson Land Group.
Omnichat Rolls Out Customer Journey Automation: Meta, Sa Sa and Vita Green join to share WhatsApp Marketing
- Omnichat launches Social CDP to collect customer identities from various social media platforms and map them to a unique profile.
- Customised marketing messages for different shopping scenarios, say when customers’ purchases reach specific amounts or even target specific tiers of members.
- 88% of businesses surveyed by Meta and Forrester Consulting agreed that WhatsApp has brought in more revenue.
- Sa Sa achieved a 39-fold increase in coupon redemption rates compared to the general rate through WhatsApp & Omnichat.
- Vita Green is equipped with a new communication channel which has boosted our sales and enhanced the overall customer experience.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 May 2023 – Omnichat, a one-stop omnichannel messaging integration platform that offers conversational commerce solutions, recently hosted an offline event, “Future Commerce Summit cum New Product Launch”. Leading global social media giant Meta and several prominent retail brands, including beauty product retailing group Sa Sa and health supplements group Vita Green were invited to explore the recent retail trends in 2023 along with WhatsApp Marketing to foster conversions and sales while delivering a first-class customer experience.

As the WhatsApp Business Solution Provider of Meta, Omnichat also announced the launch of its latest social commerce solutions comprising Automated Customer Journey, Social Customer Data Platform (Social CDP), In-Chat Payment, in tandem with “Omni AI”, its latest integration with ChatGPT. The features are designed to empower retail business driving efficient customer service and better engagements with customers, thus improving sales conversion rate from online and offline.
Meta endures to build technologies that help people connect. Adam Bowden, Partner Lead, GCR & Global Partners of Meta, stated that 70% of consumers worldwide utilise instant messaging software to communicate with businesses. This finding indicates that customers expect more interactive and genuine communications with businesses beyond the “hard information” presented on their websites. “Meta has provided WhatsApp Business Platform to businesses, enhancing the relationship between merchants and customers as well as encouraging consumption. With monthly active users reaching 2.5 billion, WhatsApp has a global presence in 180 countries,” Adam said.
According to the survey conducted by Meta & Forrester Consulting, 88% of surveyed businesses said that WhatsApp has brought in more revenue. Claudia Chiu, Senior Strategic Partner Manager, Greater China Region of Meta, noted that the WhatsApp has empowered businesses to establish a complete shopping journey. “WhatsApp Business Platform can tailor-made different messages to customers based on their characteristics or scenarios, such as new customers, repeated customers, and potential customers. Businesses can also include different response buttons and product catalogs in WhatsApp messages.”
Sa Sa proactively integrates its offline and online businesses to deliver a customer-centric omni-channel shopping experience. Hong Li, Director of eCommerce of Sa Sa, mentioned that using Chatbot auto-reply feature of Chat Commerce has significantly reduced the response time of customer service, enabling the team to solve the problems of other customers, thereby increasing sales conversion rates. “During the last Lunar New Year and 3.8 International Women’s Day, we delivered game messages and exclusive coupons to customers via WhatsApp and Omnichat’s Chat Commerce platform. Through this way, not only the customer engagement rates can be increased but also a 39-fold increase in coupon redemption rates compared to the general rate,” Hong added.
Vita Green has been continuously increasing member engagement and digital marketing automation capabilities through technology advancement. Terrence Siu, Head of IT of Vita Green, shared that their iconic brands, Vita Green and Tea Château have been utilizing WhatsApp to precisely send customised marketing and promotional messages to their loyal members. Through Omnichat, salespersons can also be bound to their respective customers for providing one-on-one services, including product recommendations and customer enquiries. “Thanks to WhatsApp and Omnichat’s platform, our team is equipped with a new communication channel for member engagement which has boosted our sales and enhanced the overall customer experience,” Terrence said.
Across WhatsApp Business Platform, Facebook Messenger and Instagram, Omnichat empowers brands to deliver seamless online and offline communications for customers. Alan Chan, Founder and CEO of Omnichat, remarked, “Our merchants can use Social CDP to collect customer identities from various social media platforms and map them to a unique profile, building a more comprehensive customer database. Together with the automated customer journey solutions, customised marketing messages can be automatically sent out in accordance with different shopping scenarios, say when customers purchase specific amounts or designated products, or even target specific tiers of members. We expect the function will empower merchants to achieve over 20% revenue growth. With the integration of ChatGPT, we further optimize the handling of customers’ enquiry, product recommendations as well marketing campaign planning. The In-Chat Payment function is also available for merchants to send payment links and deliver a seamless Chat-and-Buy customer shopping experience.”
Omnichat offers a free trial for customer service and marketing automation to all subscribers, sign up in 1 mins and start automated WhatsApp Marketing.
Hashtag: #Omnichat #Meta #SaSa #VitaGreen
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Omnichat:
Founded in 2017 with its headquarter in Hong Kong, Omnichat is an omni-channel chat commerce solution provider that centralises customers’ conversations from WhatsApp Business Platform, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, LINE, WeChat and website live chat into a single platform to enhance efficiency.
Omnichat’s vision is to convert visitors to customers through chat. With presence in Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, the company has built a solid reputation in serving local and international retail and e-commerce brands.
Leveraging online-merge-offline(OMO) sales integration, marketing automation, chatbots as well as customer service platform, Omnichat is committed to empowering brands to deliver personalised shopping experience and drive smart retail transformation.
Website: https://www.omnichat.ai/hk/en
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/85291925071/?text=EnquiryForSocialCDP
LinkedIn: https://hk.linkedin.com/company/omnichat-easychat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmnichatAI
Communications Manager
Email: lily.yeung@omnichat.ai
Top experts share insights at Wealth Management Expo 2023 presented by Bank of China (Hong Kong) and organized by Metro Finance FM 104

Mr Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) said, ” Despite the fact that the global economy has been complex and challenging in the past year, the outlook of 2023 remains uncertain amid a number of political and financial factors. A multi-disciplinary panel of experts will discuss a wide range of topics including wealth creation opportunities in the Greater Bay Area under the national strategic development blueprint; the latest trends of digital economy and ESG investment; and how Hong Kong can leverage on its competitive advantages to stand out in the Asian economy etc. at two thematic forums and a series of workshops. We hope that clients participating in the Expo can gain a better insight from our top panel on their investment and wealth management strategies.”
The Honourable Henry Tang Ying-yen, GBM, GBS, JP, attended the Expo as the Guest-of-Honour and presented the keynote speech. He was joined by Mr Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), Mr Sung Man-hei, Managing Director of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited and the bank’s senior management team, including Ms Mary Lo, General Manager of Personal Banking and Wealth Management Department of Bank of China (Hong Kong); Mr Wilson Tang, Chief Executive of BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited; Mr Huang Jinyue, General Manager of BOC Credit Card (International) Limited; Mr Edmund Kam, General Manager of Private Banking, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Mr Arnold Chow, Deputy General Manager of Personal Digital Banking Product Department of Bank of China (Hong Kong) to officiate at the Opening Ceremony.

The Inaugural Summit was held shortly after the Opening Ceremony. Themed “New Economic Order in Asia”, the Summit was moderated by Mr Alaric Chu Chi-chiu, General Manager – Programme and Channel Operations of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited. Guest speakers included Dr Rocky Cheng, Chief Information Officer, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; Mr Justin Chiu Kwok-hung, Executive Director of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited; Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, GBS, JP, Chairman of Sunrise Diagnostic Centre Limited; Ms Irina Fan Yuen-yee, Director of Research of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Professor Emeritus Francis Lui Ting-ming, BBS, JP, former Head of the Department of Economics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The Inaugural Summit provided participants with invaluable insights from different perspectives, including macroeconomics, international relations, the outlook of the Asian economy, as well as industry specific analysis such as healthcare and the property market, so that they could navigate the investment opportunities more confidently in the recovery regime.
Moderated by Ms Michelle Ngai Mei-chun, programme host of Metro Finance FM 104, another forum themed “Capitalizing wealth management opportunities through venturing into the Bay Area” was held in the afternoon. Guest speakers included Mr Raymond Yip Chak-yan, Hong Kong Chief Liaison Officer, Nansha New Area; Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung, MH, Associate Professor of Department of Economics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Mr Simon Wong Ka-wo, BBS, MH, Chairman of Kampery Group; Dr Simon Lee Hoey, MH, JP, Chief Strategy Officer (Greater Bay Area), China Resources Group; and Mr Alex Shih, Chief Executive Officer of Centaline Group. The speakers shared their practical experiences and discussed how the Country’s development plan for Greater Bay Area could bring about exciting new opportunities to different trade sectors such as finance, retail, and real estate; as well as individual and enterprises in the region.
Four workshops covering a wide range of topics such as carbon neutral investment opportunities; equity and debt income; retirement and asset allocation strategies as well as China’s growth potential amid signs of global economic recession etc. were held simultaneously at the Expo, which provided participants with forward-looking information on stock markets, funds, stocks, mortgages, insurance and cross-border financial management. Additionally, a securities session with the theme “Hottest Stock Picks for the Second Half of the Year.” and a cross-border session (conducted in Mandarin) with the theme “Investment Decoding. Creating Wealth” were conducted concurrently as two special sessions.
Furthermore, a futuristic-looking Digital Lab was set up in the Expo for participants to gain a deeper understanding of various innovative digital wealth management tools developed by BOCHK through an immersive experience.
Exclusive to Private Wealth customers, BOCHK also announced the product launch of the premium “Star Legacy Private Wealth Whole Life Plan”by Cantopop superstar and BOCHK Private Wealth Brand Ambassador Mr Hacken Lee, who shared his views and experience on protection and legacy planning at the launching ceremony.
“Forecasting Economic and Trade Trends, Embracing Wealth Opportunities.”
Wealth Management Expo 2023 |
Inaugural Summit
Theme: New Economic Order in Asia Moderator: Mr Alaric Chu Chi-chiu, General Manager – Programme and Channel Operations of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited Speakers:
Forum Theme: Capitalizing wealth management opportunities through venturing into the Bay Area Moderator: Ms Michelle Ngai Mei-chun Speakers:
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Workshop 1:
Moderator:Ms Lam Kit-ying Theme 1: 2060 Carbon Neutral. Multi-Perspective Investment Opportunities [Alliance Bernstein] Theme 2: Debt Investment opportunities: Setting Sail [J.P. Morgan Asset Management] Workshop 2: Moderator:Ms Lam Suk-man Theme 1: Capturing Global Trends. Seizing Thematic Opportunities [Schroders Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited] Theme 2: Threats and Opportunities in the Second Half of The Year. A Comprehensive View of Equity and Debt Income. [Franklin Templeton] Workshop 3: Moderator:Ms Lam Kit-ying Theme 1: Asset Allocation. The Offensive and Defensive Strategy. [Bank of China (Hong Kong) |Wealth Strategy & Insights Division] Theme 2: Activating Real Estate Assets. Realizing Retirement Plans [Mr Lam Kei-chun, The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited] Workshop 4: Theme 1: Asian Revenge Consumption: How Can You Benefit from it [Invesco] Theme 2: China’s Incremental Growth Potential in the Context of Global Economic Recession Risk [BOCI-Prudential Asset Management]
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Securities Session
Theme: Hottest Stock Picks for the Second Half of the Year Moderator: Ms Lam Suk-man Speaker: Ms Agnes Wu Mang-ching Cross-boundary Session (Mandarin) Theme: Investment Decoding. Creating Wealth Moderator: Mr Chu Ming-leung Speakers:
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Hashtag: #BankofChina(Hong Kong)#MetroFinanceFM104 #WealthManagementExpo2023 #TheGreaterBayArea #StarLegacyPrivateWealthWholeLifePlan #Henrytangying-yen #HackenLee
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says It’s No Longer Emergency

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions of people worldwide.