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HKT participates in e-HKD Pilot Programme with healthcare, travel, education and e-commerce merchants

Completes ring-fenced payment test to provide input on use case

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – HKT (SEHK:6823) – Under HKT, HKT Payment, participating recently as part of a cross-industry consortium in the e-HKD Pilot Programme of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), has invited innovative enterprises from different fields, including Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Trip.com, Hong Kong Management Association, The Club and Club Travel[1], to take part in the “tokenised property-backed secured lending with ring-fenced usage” use case to test the ring-fenced payment feature of the hypothetical e-HKD loan and provide input to the HKMA.

(Left to right) Felix Tsui, Chief Strategy Officer, Digital Ventures, HKT; Anthony Lam, Vice President, The Club, Digital Ventures, HKT; Terri Yang, Vice President, Loyalty and Strategic Business Development, Digital Ventures, HKT; Grace Wong, Director (Administration and Planning), Hong Kong Baptist Hospital; Monita Leung, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Ventures, HKT; Eddy Yip, Product & Marketing Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan & Territory Manager, Hong Kong, Trip.com; Titania Woo, Executive Director, Hong Kong Management Association; Heidi Chan, Alternate Chief Executive, HKT Payment Limited.
(Left to right) Felix Tsui, Chief Strategy Officer, Digital Ventures, HKT; Anthony Lam, Vice President, The Club, Digital Ventures, HKT; Terri Yang, Vice President, Loyalty and Strategic Business Development, Digital Ventures, HKT; Grace Wong, Director (Administration and Planning), Hong Kong Baptist Hospital; Monita Leung, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Ventures, HKT; Eddy Yip, Product & Marketing Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan & Territory Manager, Hong Kong, Trip.com; Titania Woo, Executive Director, Hong Kong Management Association; Heidi Chan, Alternate Chief Executive, HKT Payment Limited.

In the “tokenised property-backed secured lending with ring-fenced usage” use case, the user goes through a process involving different parties of the cross-industry consortium. The process includes tokenising a property belonging to the user and using the resulting token[s] to apply for a ring-fenced secured loan. Leveraging the programmability feature of the hypothetical e-HKD, the loan is then disbursed through HKT’s hypothetical e-HKD wallet as payment to merchants in the designated fields of healthcare, travel, education and e-commerce.

Ring-fencing the hypothetical e-HKD loan in the use case may help improve credit assessment and provide the user with more personalised offers, benefitting consumers and merchants alike.

Monita Leung, CEO, Digital Ventures, HKT, said, “Consistently at the forefront of technology, HKT, through HKT Payment and HKT Merchant Services, has advocated the development of fintech and the digital economy by supporting the government’s Consumption Voucher Scheme, the HKMA’s Faster Payment System (FPS) and the recent e-HKD Pilot Programme. We strive to collaborate with members of different industries to embrace and apply fintech and explore more payment possibilities. In the event that the HKMA confirms the implementation of the e-HKD in future, HKT will be in a position to offer timely support for merchants and broaden the realm of e-HKD payment.”

HKT Merchant Services is committed to providing merchants and small- and medium-sized enterprises with innovative one-stop payment services, including the Smart POS device which supports multiple mainstream payment acceptance methods and comprehensive FPS payment solutions.


[1] The Club Travel Services Limited (Club Travel) is a licensed travel agency under HKT. (Licence number: 350873)

Hashtag: #HKT

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About HKT

HKT is a technology, media, and telecommunication leader with more than 150 years of history in Hong Kong. As the city’s true 5G provider, HKT connects businesses and people locally and globally. Our end-to-end enterprise solutions make us a market-leading digital transformation partner of choice for businesses, whereas our comprehensive connectivity and smart living offerings enrich people’s lives and cater for their diverse needs for work, entertainment, education, well-being, and even a sustainable low-carbon lifestyle. Together with our digital ventures which support digital economy development and help connect Hong Kong to the world as an international financial centre, HKT endeavours to contribute to smart city development and help our community tech forward.

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Laos-Vietnam Railway Project Officially Approved

Representational image: a train in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

A new railway project between Laos and Vietnam is ready to kick off. The train will establish a direct link between the countries and aim to become a primary source of economic and infrastructure development in the region.

Bybit Web3 IDO Adds Pop Social (PPT) to Its Roster, Enabling Access to the Ultimate Web3 AI Social Experience

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange, is excited to announce the launch of Pop Social on its Web3 IDO platform. Bybit users can now participate in the token sale of Pop Social (PPT), the ultimate Web3 AI social media platform, and be part of the groundbreaking community.

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Pop Social aims to revolutionize the social media landscape by fostering an engaging, social experience driven by user-generated content. By democratizing content ownership and empowering the AI creator economy, Pop Social bridges the gap between conventional social media platforms and the Web3 shared social experience. Bybit is proud to support this innovative project and welcome the next billion users into the world of Web3.

“Bybit is dedicated to advancing innovation in crypto and driving global adoption of Web3,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “The launch of Pop Social on our IDO platform gives users early access to promising projects at the forefront of social media’s transition to AI and blockchain technologies. Our community can now help guide emerging ventures and be part of building the future of this exciting industry.”

During the Bybit IDO, a total of 500,000 PPT tokens will be allocated, representing 0.25% of the total max supply. Bybit users can purchase PPT tokens at a price of 0.1 USDT per token, making it accessible to join. To participate in the Bybit Web3 IDO, users must possess a Bybit Wallet with a minimum balance of 250 USDT (BNB Chain) and 0.1 BNB (BNB Chain). For more information, please visit here.
Hashtag: #Bybit #TheCryptoArk

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, esports teams Astralis, Alliance, Made in Brazil (MIBR), and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports.

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Under the theme “Flickering Shores, Sea Imaginaries”, Sea Art Festival in Busan runs until November 19

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – Organized by the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee, Sea Art Festival is one of the most seminal and accessible outdoor art exhibitions in South Korea. The festival celebrates Busan’s coastline as a source of inspiration, and is held at Ilgwang Beach and nearby indoor venues between October 14 and November 19, 2023. The festival opens to the public for free.

Yasuaki Onishi, Layer of Boundary at Sea Art Festival 2023
Yasuaki Onishi, Layer of Boundary at Sea Art Festival 2023

It aims to explore the roles of coastal cities and communities as an interconnected global network and considers the sea’s recovery and the potential therein. Through various mediums, such as sculpture, installation, video, and two-dimensional art, the participating artists invite viewers to imagine shared values and actions for an alternative future of coastal communities.

UK-based Greek curator, Irini Papadimitriou, leads this year’s edition as Artistic Director. Under the title “Flickering Shores, Sea Imaginaries”, the festival attempts to look at the reality of our relationship with the sea in a new way, while generating inclusive, creative, and innovative ideas rooted in symbiosis and collectiveness. In essence, this exhibition allows visitors to reimagine our relationship with the ocean, its species, and its environment through arts and culture. It features 31 teams (43 people) from 20 countries, including artists Yang Jazoo, Muhannad Shono, Ari Bayuaji, Kim Doki, Jang Seungwook, and more.

The Sea Art Festival Lab is a space for research and creative work on explorations of the sea, art, and science, and linking art and cultural institutions with the marine ecosystem. Papadimitriou explains, “Art is a great force for changing our attitudes and perspectives. Our hope here is to connect fields such as art, research, industry, and marine science in order to open up new possibilities.”

In addition to the exhibition, a manifesto project, academic symposium, and public programs led by participating artists will also be held. The manifesto project invites experts across different fields, including Korean and international oceanographers, scientists, artists and environmentalists, to gather to write a manifesto, starting with a common framework for restoring sustainable relationships between marine communities. The manifesto will be used as a design element for the indoor exhibition venue to reflect the themes and message of the festival, which artists have incorporated into their artworks.
Hashtag: #busanbiennale #seaartfestival #busan

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Chinese Films Shine at TIFF 2023 and Alibaba Pictures Participates in Promoting Multiple Overseas Masterpieces

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – The 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (“TIFF 2023”) will open on October 23. The organizers previously announced that Chinese director Gu Xiaogang has garnered the “2023 Kurosawa Akira Award”, and Chinese actress Zhao Tao will serve as a fellow juror under the International Competition Jury section. Several Chinese films, including “Dwelling by the West Lake” (草木人間), “Snow Leopard” (雪豹), “A Long Shot” (老槍) and “Fly Me to the Moon” (但願人長久), have been shortlisted, reflecting the significant presence of Chinese-language films and filmmakers at this year’s festival.

Alibaba Pictures Group Limited (“Alibaba Pictures” or the “Company”, HKEX: 1060), a leading Internet film and television company in China under the Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, not only boasts robust production capabilities but also excels in film promotion. The Company has effectively supported the promotion of numerous Japanese films, achieving remarkable success in the Chinese film market.

In addition to the competition films, the Chinese Film Week hosted by TIFF 2023 has also generated great anticipation among film fans. It is worth noting that films such as “Lost in the Stars” (消失的她), “Chang An” (長安三萬里), and “One and Only” (熱烈) have achieved both significant box office revenue and positive word-of-mouth in China this year, with Alibaba Pictures involved in their production. The film “All Ears” (不虛此行), invested by Alibaba Pictures, has also been shortlisted under the World Focus section of TIFF 2023.

Japanese films have had a significant impact on the Chinese film market this year, with animated films such as “Suzume” (鈴芽之旅), “Slam Dunk” (男兒當入樽), “Castle in the Sky” (天空之城) and “Doraemon: Stand by Me 2” (哆啦A夢:伴我同行2), all surpassing RMB100 million in box office revenue. Thanks to the marketing campaign by Road Pictures and the distribution capabilities of Alibaba Pictures and Road Pictures, “Suzume” broke the first-day box office record for animated films in China and ultimately grossed over RMB800 million in box office revenue, becoming the highest-grossing romantic film of the year. It also surpassed the previous box office record of a Japanese film in China, held by Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” (RMB575 million).

Previously, Alibaba Pictures has been involved in the marketing and promotion of numerous classic overseas films with diverse themes. As early as 2017, Alibaba Pictures strategically collaborated with Amblin Entertainment on “A Dog’s Purpose” (為了與你相遇), breaking the box office record for pet-themed films in the Chinese film market.

In 2019, the film “Green Book” (綠簿旅友) won three major awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Alibaba Pictures, as an investor in the film, became the first Internet film and television company globally to produce an Oscar-winning Best Picture.

As a co-producer of the film, Alibaba Pictures accurately predicted the market value of this film. After “Green Book” won the awards, Alibaba Pictures immediately introduced it to the Chinese market. The deep friendship between the two main characters in the film transcending cultural differences touched many Chinese audiences. Thanks to Alibaba Pictures’ marketing and distribution capabilities, “Green Book” became a dark horse, grossing RMB478 million at the box office in China and receiving a high rating of 8.9 on Douban.

In the same year, “Capernaum” (星仔打官司) a Lebanese art film introduced by China Film Group, received a tailored marketing strategy from Road Pictures to highlight emotional resonance. It targeted the Chinese audience’s interest in the topic of the original family and relied on high-quality preview screenings to generate word-of-mouth. It also leveraged platforms like Douyin (TikTok) to generate buzz and discussion around the film.

By leveraging the nationwide distribution capability of Alibaba Pictures, and measures such as strategic scheduling and precisely targeted screenings by both Road Pictures and Alibaba Pictures, the campaign successfully helped this niche film transcend the boundaries of the film audience. Despite being released around the same time as “Avengers: Endgame” (復仇者聯盟4), it achieved impressive results with a box office of RMB376 million and a high rating of 9.1 on Douban.

Not only does Alibaba Pictures excel in the promotion of new films, they also re-introduced a growing stable of overseas classic films to the big screen.

In 2019, the Italian classic film “The Legend of 1900” (聲光伴我飛), jointly marketed and promoted by Hishow Entertainment and Alibaba Pictures, re-released in China and achieved a box office of RMB143 million. The 4K high definition restored version also received positive reviews from fans. In 2021, Star Alliance Movies and Alibaba Pictures collaborated to bring the film “Love Letter” back to Chinese audiences after a 22-year absence from the screen. They chose to release it on May 20 (China’s Valentine’s Day), satisfying the audience’s demand for romantic films and ultimately grossing over RMB65 million at the box office.

For the classic and niche Japanese film “Departures” (禮儀師之奏鳴曲), Alibaba Pictures planned a series of short video marketing campaigns, including interviews with funeral professionals, post-screening audience story sharing, and “Heavenly Messages Interaction” through platforms like Douyin, which are popular among young audiences, to convey the film’s social issues and humanistic sentiments.

Through an innovative marketing perspective, the film “Departures” achieved remarkable success on Douyin, garnering over 1.2 billion views, receiving more than 26 million official likes, and surpassing industry expectations with a total box office of over RMB60 million.

In the field of international documentary film promotion, Alibaba Pictures has taken a different approach by targeting the vertical audience for documentary films.

For the extreme sports documentary “Free Solo” (赤手登峰), Alibaba Pictures leveraged the strong promotion capabilities of Taopiaopiao and Beacon which has strengthened the influence of KOLs in the rock-climbing field and attracted members of over 200 rock climbing gyms to watch the film in theaters. With the positive feedback and appreciation from the audience during the initial screenings, the film piqued the curiosity of passersby and ultimately achieved a box office attendance of over one million viewers.

Leveraging precise targeting of the core audience, Alibaba Pictures emphasizes the real-life significance of protagonists’ perseverance and positivity in film promotion. This approach has resulted in strong word-of-mouth, boosting the film to become the second highest-grossing documentary in 2019 with a box office of RMB36.4 million.

Compared with previous marketing strategies for foreign films, Alibaba Pictures goes beyond relying solely on Hollywood blockbusters and emphasizes on high-quality films featuring relatable characters and captivating stories instead. By introducing diverse genres and themes, the content available in Chinese cinemas is enriched and catering to the varied preferences of the audience.

In traditional promotion practices, non-Hollywood imported films often struggle to achieve commercial success due to low awareness and niche themes. Through the digital promotion products offered by Taopiaopiao and Beacon, Alibaba Pictures identifies precise marketing strategies for various films, allowing great content to reach a wider audience and achieve both box office success and positive reception.

This exemplifies the positive changes that Alibaba Pictures seeks to bring to the industry by empowering the film industry with “new infrastructure” like Internet promotion and constantly exploring innovative avenues for film promotion. It is clear that a growing number of international film and television companies are eager to engage in deep collaborations with Alibaba Pictures. In terms of boosting box office revenue and influence within the Chinese film market, Alibaba Pictures has emerged as a significant and influential force that demands attention and cannot be overlooked.

Hashtag: #AlibabaPictures

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Alibaba Pictures

Alibaba Pictures was incorporated in Bermuda and its shares are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange. The Company is an entertainment platform driven by the Internet at its core, with full coverage across the industry chain. The core business of the Group includes three major segments: content, technology and IP merchandising and commercialization. These segments encompass (i) investment in and production and distribution of entertainment content, such as film and drama series, both domestically and internationally; (ii) digitalization in the entertainment sector, including platform ticketing, digital intelligence business and other technology products; and (iii) centered around content IP, provision of professional services such as IP development and operation, and production and distribution of IP derivatives, respectively.

For more information, please visit

FBS Welcomed 200 Traders at Its Seminar in Lagos, Nigeria

LAGOS, NIGERIA – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – FBS, a leading global broker, successfully ran an exhaustive trading seminar in Lagos, Nigeria, having launched a series of FBS-hosted expert events in the country. The first seminar attracted approximately 200 guests seeking opportunities to enhance their proficiency in trading and financial markets.

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“Running our trading seminars in Nigeria, FBS follows our mission to create opportunities for traders worldwide, helping them enhance their knowledge and skills. Our FBS team was particularly excited to welcome many guests at the first event. The success of this seminar in Lagos inspires FBS to continue providing our traders with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the financial markets. We look forward to seeing even more participants in the future,” said Diego Lima, FBS Business Development Lead in the African Region.

During the insights part of the seminar, FBS’s experts spoke about the role of income source diversification and leveraging principles to achieve financial goals. The guests could also improve their knowledge of financial markets, Forex, CFD trading, risk management tactics, and financial market analysis, which are equally crucial for novice and experienced traders.

Not only was this seminar full of insights and free of charge, but it also had a dynamic and interactive atmosphere created by FBS. Following its unique approach to equipping traders with relevant trading tools and knowledge, FBS offered a bunch of entertaining brand activities for its audience. Guests could participate in giveaways and raffles, where lucky traders won an iPhone, bonus coupons for trading, and FBS merchandise kits.

“I was absolutely impressed with the quality of content and the speakers’ presentation skills. FBS’s commitment to transparency was evident throughout the seminar. I will use my lucky coupon to test the strategies covered at the event,” said Akeem Richard Ailoje, trader and FBS seminar guest.

To learn more about FBS, its initiatives, and upcoming events, visit www.fbs.com.

Hashtag: #FBS #seminar #trading


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About FBS

FBS is a licensed global broker with over 14 years of experience and more than 75 international awards. FBS is steadily developing as one of the market’s most trusted brokers, with its traders numbering more than 27,000,000 and its partners exceeding 500,000 around the globe. The annual trading volume of FBS clients is over $8.9 trillion. FBS is also the Official Partner of Leicester City Football Club.

Healthcare Professionals in Laos Under Scrutiny for Low Quality Services

Healthcare Professionals in Laos Under Scrutiny for Low Quality Services
FILE: patients waiting for their queue at a hospital in Laos (photo: Laos Tours)

Social media users shed light on the recurrent issues they face when seeking healthcare in a number of hospitals across Laos. These concerns stem from the apparent lack of dedication from healthcare workers, inadequate compensation, and poor training, according to the critics.

Anlev Achieves New Milestones for Global Expansion

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Analogue Holdings Limited (“Analogue” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”) (stock code: 1977), a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering service provider in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce its global brand of lifts, escalators and moving walkways, Anlev Elevator Group (“Anlev“), has completed the acquisition of two lift companies in the United Kingdom, achieving another milestone in its strategy to go global.

When Anlev was founded in 1991, it was envisaged “A New Lift and Escalator Vision” and therefore named Anlev. Over the years, Anlev has been expanding its business with the mission to provide safe, comfortable, energy efficient and reliable lifts and escalators to global market. Anlev’s strategy into building alliances outside of Hong Kong began in 2019 through an equity acquisition of Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI“), one of the largest independent lift and escalator companies in New York. Meanwhile, Anlev (UK) Limited was set up in 2020 to gain a foothold in Europe. Today, Anlev products from its own manufacturing facilities in Nanjing, China are exported to over 20 countries covering six continents serving millions of customers, gaining their long-term trust and support.

To further its global expansion strategy, Anlev has recently completed two acquisitions in the UK market. Anlev now owns 51% of JCW Lifts Limited (“JCW“) and 100% of Precision Lift Services Limited (“Precision“), both successful lift businesses in the UK. JCW is based in Yorkshire with focus in London, Manchester, Leeds and other major cities, and a reputation for its skills to install all types of high-rise passenger and goods lifts. Based in Essex, Precision sells and modernises all types of lifts with repair, routine and comprehensive services across the South East England.

Dr Otto Poon Lok-to, Chairman of Analogue Holdings Limited, said, “I am delighted to note our recent success in securing and executing sizeable lift contracts in Manchester, Birmingham and London. With the acquisitions of JCW and Precision, Anlev Elevator Group will provide comprehensive one-stop lift and escalator services for customers in the UK, as well as establishing our position in Europe.”

JCW and Precision will be given considerable autonomy while Anlev will provide these two companies with access to a wider array of designs and products to further strengthen their capabilities and businesses – a win-win for all.

“Anlev will continue to explore suitable synergistic business partnerships that align with our strategic goals and values, and seek new distributors to further our global expansion plan,” Dr Poon concluded.

Hashtag: #AnalogueHoldingsLimited

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Analogue Holdings Limited

Established in 1977, Analogue Holdings Limited is a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering service provider headquartered in Hong Kong, with operations in Macau, Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom. Serving a wide spectrum of customers from public and private sectors, the Group provides multi-disciplinary and comprehensive E&M engineering and technology services in four major segments, including Building Services, Environmental Engineering, Information, Communications and Building Technologies (“ICBT”) and Lifts & Escalators.

The Group also manufactures and sells Anlev lifts and escalators internationally and has entered into an alliance with Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI”), one of the largest independent lifts and escalators companies in New York, the United States. The Group’s associate partner, Nanjing Canatal Data Centre Environmental Tech Company Limited (603912.SS), specialises in manufacturing of precision air conditioners.

About Anlev Elevator Group

Anlev Elevator Group (“Anlev”) is a subsidiary of ATAL Engineering Group, specialising in provision of one-stop services from design, manufacturing, sales, installation, service, modernisation to maintenance of all forms of vertical or horizontal transportation systems around the world. Engineered for comfort, safety and energy efficiency, Anlev’s complete range of lifts, escalators and moving walkways provide reliable and efficient transport systems for passengers in Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.