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Okta Appoints Celestine Tan as Vice President, APAC Marketing

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – Okta, the leading independent identity provider, has appointed Celestine Tan as Vice President for Asia Pacific (APAC) Marketing, effective immediately.

Celestine Tan, Vice President, APAC Marketing at Okta
Celestine Tan, Vice President, APAC Marketing at Okta

Celestine will oversee and lead Okta’s entire marketing function in the region, including end-user, channel and field marketing, and corporate communications.

Prior to Okta, Celestine was Vice President of Global Field and Partner Marketing at Splunk, where she led an 85-person team and drove end-to-end marketing to generate demand and build the sales pipeline globally.

Earlier in her career, Celestine spent 16 years at Sun Microsystems where she rose through the ranks to become the Global Vice President of marketing for Sun’s global software unit. During her tenure, she received the coveted Marketing Leadership Award from Sun Microsystems and was a graduate of the Sun Leadership Institute.

Celestine has also held senior marketing positions at CA Technologies and Pivotal.

John Zissimos, Chief Marketing Officer, Okta, said: “I am thrilled to have Celestine join the team. She brings an incredible amount of experience working in technology companies of all sizes, and will be an invaluable support to our sales leadership as we take our brand and business in the region to the next level.”

“Many APAC firms have not fully tapped digital identity to secure, modernise and transform their enterprise,” said Celestine Tan, Vice President, APAC Marketing, Okta. “I am excited at the prospect of leading a high performing team to navigate the dynamic markets here, bringing Okta’s innovative identity expertise to our fast-growing pool of customers.”

About Okta

Okta is the leading independent identity provider. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With more than 7,000 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta provides simple and secure access to people and organizations everywhere, giving them the confidence to reach their full potential. More than 15,000 organizations, including JetBlue, Nordstrom, Siemens, Slack, Takeda, Teach for America, and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.

#Okta

Spackman Media Group Artist Son Suk-ku’s Film, THE ROUNDUP, Post The Highest Ticket Reservation Record For A Korean Film In The Past Three Years

  • THE ROUNDUP, a sequel to the 2017 box office hit THE OUTLAWS headlined by Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku, continues to claim #1 in national box office ticket reservations in Korea
  • THE ROUNDUP achieved the highest ticket reservations record for a Korean film in the past three years since PARASITE (2019) and the 4th highest opening day reservation volume in the history of the Korean box office
  • THE ROUNDUP, which shall be released today in Korean theatres, was pre-sold to 132 countries around the world, including Singapore, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and France, as well as the regions of North America and Eastern Europe

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that THE ROUNDUP, a sequel to the 2017 box office hit THE OUTLAWS starring Son Suk-ku of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), continues to dominate Korea’s box office ticket reservations.

THE ROUNDUP achieved the highest ticket reservations record for a Korean film in the past three years since PARASITE (2019) and the 4th highest opening day reservation volume in the history of the Korean box office.

According to data from the Korean Film Council, THE ROUNDUP recorded 18,788 reservations and 74.8% of real-time reservations, surpassing DOCTOR STRANGE as of May 18, 8 AM Korea time.

Alongside Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) of Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS (2021), Son Suk-ku stars in THE ROUNDUP, which is scheduled to premiere today. In the film, Son Suk-ku takes on the role of extreme villain Kang Hae-sang where he confronts Detective Ma Suk-do, played by Ma Dong-seok. THE ROUNDUP is also directed by Kang Yoon-sung of THE OUTLAWS.

THE ROUNDUP was pre-sold to 132 countries around the world, including Singapore, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and France, as well as the regions of North America and Eastern Europe.

Previously, the Group’s subsidiary, Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd., co-presented and distributed the 2017 box office hit THE OUTLAWS. THE OUTLAWS broke the all-time highest Video On Demand sales record in Korea in 2018.

Son Suk-ku is represented by SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group.

Son Suk-ku of SBD Entertainment starred in the romance comedy film, NOTHING SERIOUS (2021), which reached #1 at the box office in Korea last year, and K-dramas, Netflix’s D.P. (2021), DESIGNATED SURVIVOR: 60 DAYS (2019) and MATRIMONIAL CHAOS (2018). He also starred in the American Netflix drama series SENSE8, which was written and produced by the Wachowski sisters.

Other than Son Suk-ku, SBD Entertainment also represents one of Korea’s rapidly rising young actors, Han Ji-hyun of popular K-drama THE PENTHOUSE 3, who won the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea and endorsed luxury brand Gucci in April 2021.

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.

The Company was founded in 2011 by renowned media and technology investor Charles Spackman who served as the Company’s Executive Chairman until 2017. For the past two decades, Mr. Charles Spackman has been a powerhouse in the Korean entertainment industry starting in the early 2000’s with the pioneering success of Sidus Pictures, the largest movie production company at the time and the first to be listed in Korea. Mr. Spackman is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the global investment firm, Spackman Group. For more information, please visit and .

Since its founding, SEGL had produced more than 30 major motion pictures including a number of the highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).

Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. Generally, we release our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

Production Labels

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release THE GUEST in the second half of 2022 and A MAN OF REASON, with the previous working title GUARDIAN in 2022 tentatively.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.

The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.

Talent Representation

The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Cho-hee, Park Keun-rok), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Hye-ri, Kim Ji-young, Wang Ji-won), Play Content Co., Ltd. (Kang Min-ji, Hwang-hwi) and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Baek Si-won, Shin Ji-woong). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

Strategic Businesses

The Company also operates a café-restaurant, Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

For more details, please visit

#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

Daikin and SP Group form new joint venture to build Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling system

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – Daikin Singapore (“Daikin”) and SP Group (“SP”) announced the formation of a new joint venture (JV), in conjunction with an earlier announcement by STMicroelectronics (ST) and SP to establish Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling system for ST’s Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark. The JV will build the district cooling system (DCS) which will have a cooling capacity of up to 36,000 refrigerant tonnes (RT). When completed in 2025, it will help ST achieve 20 per cent savings in cooling-related electricity consumption annually and support ST’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2027.

Daikin and SP also signed a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the potential of district cooling in other Southeast Asian countries, starting with Indonesia. Under the MOU, Daikin and SP will combine their expertise, experience and resources to bring this sustainable cooling solution to the various markets to help lower their energy consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.

The expanded collaboration between both companies signifies their commitment to empower smart, low-carbon cities across the region, and to support Singapore’s sustainability ambitions under the Singapore Green Plan 20301.

“We are excited to collaborate with SP Group, and we look forward to working together closely towards greater environmental sustainability”, said Mr Yoshihiro Mineno, Member of the Board and Senior Executive Officer of Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Moving towards a greener, cleaner future

This project aligns with Daikin’s mission to build upon Singapore’s ongoing roadmap for greener buildings as well as the longer-term vision for a Singapore Smart-city that includes sustainability in its advocacy. The JV will be 70 percent owned by SP and 30 percent by Daikin. It will build the new district cooling plant for ST Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Technology Park at Daikin’s AMK premise. By centralising chilled water production, the new facility is designed to optimise chiller efficiency and deliver a 24/7 chilled water supply to meet ST’s wafer fabrication needs.

In addition, Daikin will be deploying one of its most efficient 2,000-tonne HFO Chiller for this project. HFO or Hydrofluro-Olefins is the new generation of synthetic refrigerants with zero ozone depletion effect and is designed to significantly reduce the Global Warming Potential2.

Group Chief Executive Officer of SP Group, Stanley Huang, said, “We are honoured to partner Daikin in this joint venture to provide district cooling to STMicroelectronics at AMK TechnoPark. We look forward to a broader collaboration in Southeast Asia with Daikin.”

Reducing carbon footprint and moving towards sustainability

In line with the nation’s green vision, Daikin hopes to achieve net-zero by the year 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is constantly working towards this goal. The company plans on achieving this by making conscious changes in its entire value chain: life cycle of products, manufacturing, work processes through solution propositions, innovative technologies, and the use of IoT and AI. The ultimate goal here is to contribute toward a cleaner, safer environment to combat climate change issues and move towards a sustainable future.

Daikin Singapore has been working with a keen focus on lowering its carbon footprint. As such, the company plans on leveraging its latest chiller software and optimisation expertise3 for this project. Daikin is also planning to launch other green initiatives, including a solution that uses chemical-free water treatment4 that leverages applied electrochemistry and an intelligent controller to enhance system performance, providing a sustainable and scalable solution to large building HVAC systems and industrial chiller circuits, but also saves energy, water, maintenance and chemical costs in cooling water management.

“Daikin fully supports our national directions and is keen to play an active role in this journey, especially in going Green, Smart and Sustainable in the Living Environment. With this project, we are excited to take another step towards our goals for a sustainable smart nation,” said Mr Liu Shaw Jiun, CEO of Daikin Airconditioning Singapore Pte Ltd.

Daikin and SP first collaborated back in 2020 to bring Singapore’s first large-scale residential centralised cooling system to the upcoming Tengah HDB Town. Both companies will continue to explore future opportunities to help create energy-saving models and help Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia move towards a resilient, sustainable future.

1 https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/splash
2 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/905/1/012070/pdf

About Daikin Singapore

In the beginning, Daikin Singapore has placed its strategic focus on HDB, building a stronger sales channel by developing Daikin Proshop and thereby differentiating itself from its competitors. With more than 50 years of history in Singapore, Daikin also drove expansion by launching differentiated products such as Remote Monitoring System (RMS), which provides energy optimization and predictive analytics. In Applied Product equipment (AP), which is mainly used in the commercial or industrial sector, it expanded sales by focusing on highly efficient products like magnetic-chiller products and airside using EC motors. Its services business was solely related to the repair and supply of spare parts and since with the acquisition of BMS Engineering, the company has started to focus on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Eco-Friendly Maintenance, where it aims to support green building projects. Daikin will then optimize AC equipment and other building equipment implementation before moving towards providing a full suite of services by adding Energy Management to its portfolio to manage equipment for the whole building. The expansion of Daikin technology and know-how in the cooling industry has enabled Daikin to scale up their green projects to build District Cooling Networks for Tengah and now STMicroelectronics

Website:

About SP Group
SP Group is a leading utilities group in the Asia Pacific, empowering the future of energy with low-carbon, smart energy solutions for its customers. It owns and operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses in Singapore and Australia, and sustainable energy solutions in Singapore, China and Vietnam.

As Singapore’s national grid operator, about 1.6 million industrial, commercial and residential customers benefit from its world-class transmission, distribution and market support services. These networks are amongst the most reliable and cost-effective world-wide.

Beyond traditional utilities services, SP Group provides a suite of sustainable and renewable energy solutions such as microgrids, cooling and heating systems for business districts and residential townships, solar energy solutions, electric vehicle fast charging and digital energy solutions for customers in Singapore and the region.

For more information, please visit or for follow us on Facebook at , on LinkedIn at and on Twitter

#DaikinSingapore #SPGroup

Far East Hospitality pivots to Australian brands to accelerate growth

Leverages long-standing joint venture partnership with TFE Hotels (Toga Far East Hotels) to bring new brand experiences – Vibe Hotels and Adina – to Singapore

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – Far East Hospitality, one of the leading operators of hotels and serviced residences, today announces its pivot to the Australian market. The homegrown company, committed to transforming from a local mid-tier operator to a world-class manager of lifestyle brands, will be bringing contemporary Australian hospitality to Singapore through two established brands – Vibe Hotels and Adina. This is part of the company’s endeavour to achieve its target of 25,000 rooms by 2025 globally.

Artist’s impression of the lounge area at Adina Serviced Apartment Singapore Orchard
Artist’s impression of the lounge area at Adina Serviced Apartment Singapore Orchard

Arthur Kiong, Chief Executive Officer of Far East Hospitality said, “As international borders reopen, Australia is a natural key target market given that it was amongst Singapore’s top five inbound markets before the pandemic. The return of the Kangaroo route, which refers to the flight paths between Australia and the United Kingdom with stopovers in Singapore, also offers us an opportunity to not only encourage more stopovers, but to attempt to lengthen their stay with new experiences.”

Artist’s impression of Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard – Deluxe Room
Artist’s impression of Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard – Deluxe Room

“Traveller expectations have also evolved, with many looking for unique and meaningful experiences. The two new brands that we are bringing into Singapore will provide an Australian twist to what Singapore, as a destination, has to offer,” Mr Kiong added.

Despite the pandemic, Far East Hospitality has continued to introduce new brand experiences over the last two years. In 2021, the company launched The Clan Hotel Singapore, catering to guests who seek authentic experience, and Oasia Resort Sentosa for guests who prioritise health and wellness.

Bringing Australian-inspired hospitality into Singapore

Delivering on the organisation’s promise to become a manager of lifestyle brands, Far East Hospitality will be leveraging its long-standing collaboration with joint venture partner TFE Hotels (Toga Far East Hotels). Both parties will tap on mutual strengths, networks and platforms to grow the business, intensify knowledge sharing, and scale up staff training.

Efforts to target the Australian market started in 2021 when Far East Hospitality brought the Quincy brand to Melbourne. Since its launch in March last year, Quincy Hotel Melbourne has been extremely well-received. “Loved every minute of our stay”, “Fabulous and fun”, and “Colour delight” were among the many positive reviews by guests on TripAdvisor. The property also clinched the VIC Tourism Awards in the Resilience Award category and was recognised as Best City Break Hotel at the Alluxia (Blog) Awards 2022.

In the coming months, Far East Hospitality will be bringing the brands – Vibe Hotels and Adina – to Singapore through the rebranding of existing properties The Elizabeth Hotel and the Regency House (serviced residence) respectively.

Adina Serviced Apartment Singapore Orchard targets corporate expatriates as well as leisure travellers seeking transient accommodation. The property, slated to open in July this year, will have a total of 88 keys.

Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard, designed with character and personality with spaces and experiences for guests to socialise freely, will fully open in the last quarter of this year. The 256-room property will cater to Australians and travellers seeking a taste of the contemporary Australian lifestyle.

“With the launch of Quincy Hotel Melbourne last year, TFE has succeeded in bringing the sights and sounds of Southeast Asia to Melbourne and now looked forward to bringing a touch of contemporary Australian hospitality to Singapore across both Adina and Vibe Hotels,” said Antony Ritch, Chief Executive Officer of TFE Hotels. “We have always envisioned and planned for Adina to be a truly global brand, so a move into Asia really was the next step for us.”

On bringing Vibe Hotels to Singapore, Mr Ritch adds, “Vibe Singapore is the first of the brand outside of Australia. And with Australian-inspired dining concepts, a mini bar and amenities to set the tone and our relaxed and casual style of Australian hospitality, I believe it’s the start of a new chapter Vibe Hotels.”

Strengthening the Singaporean core and leveraging platforms

Manpower in the hospitality industry has been severely impacted since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a move aligned with the government’s push to strengthen the Singaporean core, Far East Hospitality will be embarking on a human resource programme alongside TFE Hotels to boost staff capabilities.

Called the Sharing Talents Across Regions (STARS) programme, the initiative will see up to a dozen local hoteliers deployed to Australia for a period of six to 12 months. TFE Hotels will also be sending Australian staff members to Singapore. On top of skills and knowledge exchange, the cross-learning and exposure will provide talents with hands-on experience in cultural management. These individuals will then return home to share their learnings with colleagues and implement best practices.

Both Far East Hospitality and TFE Hotels will also continue to collaborate in the areas of sales and marketing through cross-selling of properties on respective brand websites and cross-promotion of sales campaigns.

About Far East Hospitality

Far East Hospitality Holdings Pte Ltd (Far East Hospitality) is an international hospitality owner and operator with a diverse portfolio of 10 unique and complementary brands of hotels, serviced residences and apartment hotels, including Oasia, Quincy, Rendezvous, Village, Far East Collection, A by Adina, Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Travelodge Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels.

Far East Hospitality owns more than 10 hospitality assets and operates a combined portfolio of more than 18,000 rooms under its management across over 105 hotels and serviced residences in nine countries – Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore, with more in its development pipeline. In 2020, the group ranked amongst the top 100 hotel companies by HotelsMag.

Far East Hospitality is a 70-30 joint venture formed in 2013 between Far East Orchard Limited (a listed company under Far East Organization) and The Straits Trading Company Limited. In the same year, Far East Hospitality, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Far East Hospitality Investments (Australia) Pte Ltd, completed a 50-50 joint venture with Australia’s Toga Group to form Toga Far East Hotels (TFE Hotels).

For more information, visit

#FarEastHospitality

About TFE Hotels

TFE Hotels is an international hotel group headquartered in Sydney and operating in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Austria… and opening in Switzerland in 2023. It has a portfolio of five established hotel brands – Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Travelodge Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels including The Calile Hotel, The Hotel Britomart, Hotel Kurrajong and The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, and debuted A by Adina and Quincy Hotels in Australia in 2021.

About Adina Apartment Hotels

The Adina brand comprises 40 Adina Apartment Hotels and Adina Serviced Apartments in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. The former offers stylish apartment living with the services and amenities you’d expect from a hotel property including 24-hour reception, pools, free WiFi, intimate meeting spaces or gym facilities. By contrast, Adina Serviced Apartments offer fully equipped serviced apartments and offer on-call service, homely comforts, and comfortable living. Serviced Apartments are the ideal choice for those wanting a home away from home that’s a perfect fit for one or more.

About Vibe Hotels

Vibe Hotels are hotels designed to connect guests to their work, their fellow guests and the local area. Each has spaces and experiences that allow guests to be inspired, with innovative interior design in bright rooms and cool communal areas. Drink and dining offerings emphasise fresh and local, allowing guests to connect with their inner foodie.

Vietnam to Build New Public Park in Vientiane Capital

Yen So Public Park in Hanoi, Vietnam
Yen So Public Park in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vietnam has agreed to support Laos in the construction of a new public park that will be located in Vientiane Capital.

“Wild, threatened, farmed: Hong Kong’s Invisible Pets”, a report by the ADM Capital Foundation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – An extraordinary four million exotic animals, from all corners of the world were imported into Hong Kong between 2015 and 2019, compounding risk of species extinction, a new report has found.

Credit.jpg

Photographs by Paul Hilton for Earth Tree Images. Further press materials available here

The ADM Capital Foundation report, “Wild, Threatened, Farmed: Hong Kong’s Invisible Pets” says the exotic pet trade in the city is contributing to extreme pressure on hundreds of species worldwide.

The report comes as global conservationists sound the alarm over a biodiversity crisis, driven by land-use and climate change, pollution and overexploitation.

“With at least four million animals imported in just five years, Hong Kong’s exotic pet trade has an outsized ecological footprint. Our demand for species like the Yellow spotted river turtle, African spurred tortoise and Pancake tortoise exacerbate unsustainable pressures on wild populations,” said Sam Inglis, the report’s lead author. “The trade is fast-moving and high volume, comprising hundreds of species, both captive-bred and wild-caught, originating from almost every biome. Many are threatened with extinction.”

The trade has expanded significantly in recent years, with rollbacks in regulations in the mid-2000s suspected to have played a role. Analysis revealed that while fewer than 15,000 CITES[1] regulated exotics were imported in 2000, this number had increased to nearly 800,000 by 2016.

The research highlights the complex needs of exotics in the trade at every point along the supply chain, and provides evidence suggesting a fragmented and outdated regulatory regime that is insufficient to ensure environmental, animal and public health.

Among various issues discussed is the suitability of many as pets given their specific husbandry needs and characteristics. Popular pets include African spurred tortoises that can live up to a hundred years; Common green iguanas that can reach two metres in length; and Alligator snapping turtles that have powerful jaws and a tendency to bite. African grey parrots require substantial mental stimulation, social interaction and space that is hard to satisfy. Mentally deprived parrots are prone to harmful behaviors such as anxiety, aggression and self-mutilation.

Concerns are compounded by the emergence of ‘Trash Pets’, where the cost of adequate care and veterinary treatment far exceeds the cost of purchase and the ability and/or willingness to pay. These animals are often considered ‘disposable’.

“There is a misconception that exotic pets that are smaller-sized entail cheaper costs of veterinary and home care,” said Christie Wong, report co-author, “however, treatment and surgeries for exotics require specialised skills, and to maintain an appropriate environment that supports good health for exotics with complex needs is by no means inexpensive.”

The exotics in trade were found to be largely untraceable. Re-exports appear to have been minimal, with fewer than half a million officially departing the city, suggesting that a large number may remain in Hong Kong’s households and pet shops. Likely many animals have died. Alternatively, large numbers of exotics may have been smuggled out of the city. It is not possible to determine which of these scenarios is true, with implications for managing many aspects of the trade, including the transmission of pathogens.

Exotics are also sourced and sold for mercy release, which is a continuing and unregulated activity in Hong Kong. The practice raises animal welfare concerns and increases the risk of invasive species and pathogens being introduced into the city, presenting an ecological threat.

“Hong Kong’s lack of a positive list of acceptable exotic pets and failure to look behind imports of large numbers of animals from suspicious source countries, which should set off alarms for law enforcement agencies, encourages the importation of smuggled animals for the pet trade and is sending species that are at serious risk of extinction more quickly towards that fate” said HKU Associate Professor Amanda Whitfort. “Our current policies and laws undermine the objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity” she added.

The report aims to stimulate review of regulations related to Hong Kong’s exotic pet trade. Its call for enhancing Hong Kong’s One Health approach to ensure a holistic and pragmatic regulatory regime sets the scene for a raft of recommendations. These are wide-ranging in scope, including amendments to existing statutes, changing and implementing policies where the powers to do so are vested with the Director of AFCD, and promoting better practices within the trade and by conscientious pet owners.

They include:

  • Introducing a ‘positive list’ of exotics that comprise pre-screened and pre-approved species that can be traded as pets
  • Amending the Posession License system for endangered species
  • Requiring permits for private pet owners to sell exotics, modelled on the requirements introduced to the dog trade in 2017
  • Reviewing biosecurity protocols and ensure strict border control for exotic pets
  • Implementing traceability mechanisms such as microchipping
  • Introducing schemes to positively incentivise the trade to improve practices


[1]Animals regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fauna

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

2 in 3 working Singapore Residents concerned about losing job due to illness and/or disability: AIA Disability Income Survey 2022

Insights from survey led to creation of AIA Pay Protector; first in market to offer a simplified disability income plan which provides fixed monthly payouts regardless of any sources of income received during disability and any changes to insured’s income level prior to disability, and claimable upon inability to specifically perform own occupation

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – While two-thirds (66 per cent) of Singapore’s local workforce are worried about job loss due to illness or disabilities, more than half (53 per cent) do not have any disability income protection, according to findings from the AIA Disability Income Survey 2022.

The survey, conducted in April 2022 amongst more than 1,000 respondents[1] consisting of full-time working Singapore Residents aged 18 and above, also revealed that:

  • Our workforce understands and recognises the value of disability income protection.
    • Aside from cutting down on spending (66%), the local workforce would look to survive the financial implications of a job loss due to an illness or injury by:
      • Relying on savings (63%)
      • Finding another job where other tasks or duties can be done (58%)
      • Claiming from insurance (50%)
    • More than 4 in 5 (84%) know that disability income protection exists though blue collar workers (42%) deem it to be very important to have such coverage compared to white collar workers (29%).
    • Top 2 reasons for getting disability income (DI) protection are to have peace of mind should anything happen (53%), and to ensure that there is financial support for loved ones if unable to work (51%).
    • More than half of the respondents aged 18 and above purchase DI coverage for peace of mind. From this group, those aged 45- 54 (52%) value DI coverage most for its ability to provide financial support for self and loved ones if unable to work.
  • Simplicity and certainty of payouts are top priorities when choosing a disability income policy.
    • 9 in 10 highlight the importance of having mental health conditions covered in disability income policies.
    • Most valued features of a disability income policy identified are:
      • Monthly payouts if unable to specifically perform own occupation due to illness, mental conditions, or injuries (91%).
      • Fixed monthly disability income regardless of whether there are any sources of income during disability[2] (90%).
      • Fixed monthly disability income regardless of any future changes in income prior to disability e.g. pursuing a role which may pay less[3] (90%).
  • Key barriers to purchasing disability income policies include product complexity, complicated processes and high premiums.
    • 1 in 4 (25%) of females cite the cost of premiums as a reason for not having DI protection compared to less than 1 in 5 (16%) of males. This was the most selected reason amongst females.
    • However, 22% of men said they did not have DI protection because they don’t think they need it – the most selected reason amongst males. Only 13% of women chose this reason.


Melita Teo, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, AIA Singapore
, said, “Losing one’s job and becoming dependent on others due to an unexpected accident or illness is painful and places heavy financial and emotional burdens on a person and their loved ones. Understanding the pain points of disability income plans allows us to better address Singaporeans’ concerns which range from affordability, to ease of getting insured and making a claim. These are key priorities which informed how we developed the AIA Pay Protector to make disability income protection accessible to even more members of the community.”

In 2021, a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) report noted that workplace injuries have risen to pre-covid levels, with construction, transportation and storage sectors accounting for the highest number of fatalities[4]. The gap in disability income protection is a cause for concern, especially among blue-collared workers who are at a higher risk of disability due to the nature of their work.

AIA Pay Protector – first-in-market simplified disability income plan offers lower premiums, fixed monthly benefits regardless of income fluctuation or any sources of income and simplified processes

Designed with insights and feedback from customers and AIA Insurance Representatives, the AIA Pay Protector addresses key concerns and barriers around product complexity, vague definitions, and claims uncertainty arising from declaration of earnings and income fluctuation.

AIA Pay Protector is the first-of-its-kind in the market that promises payouts will not be offset by any sources of income or other disability income insurance payouts and will not be affected by any changes to income prior to disability, giving customers a peace of mind and ample support to reboot their careers while they recover from illness.

Customers can select their desired fixed monthly payouts from a range of $1,000 to $5,000[5] where benefits will be paid out for up to 5 years[6] in the event where they are unable to perform material duties of their own occupation due to illness or disability (physical or mental).

With fixed payouts, claim processes are streamlined and become more efficient due to the elimination of calculation when claims are eventually made.

AIA Pay Protector also provides payouts in the event of job loss due to mental health conditions, paving the way for destigmatising mental health within the workplace.

This echoes the growing focus on mental health and well-being amongst Singaporeans as they emerge from a prolonged pandemic. As a leading insurer, AIA Singapore recognises the need for the inclusion of mental health in different types of insurance coverage, and as a reason for job loss across occupations. In 2019, AIA Singapore is the first insurer to cover mental health in its critical illness plan, AIA Beyond Critical Care.

Irma Hadikusuma, Chief Product Proposition Officer, AIA Singapore, said, “It is important for us to recognise and help people address their protection gaps with simple, innovative solutions. The pandemic has accelerated the need for greater financial independence – regardless of whether you’re single or have a family to care for. AIA Pay Protector responds to this demand by promising continuity of this independence with certainty of income in the short term for the unexpected event of job loss due to mental illnesses or physical disabilities.”

Customers who are keen to apply for AIA Pay Protector can do so directly from My AIASG app or contact an AIA Insurance Representative. The hassle-free application process includes a simple medical history questionnaire that customers can fill out on their own. Customers are neither required to disclose their actual income amount nor submit their payslip in the process of application via our digital direct sales platform.

For more information on AIA Pay Protector, and AIA’s comprehensive disability proposition, please visit: https://www.aia.com.sg/en/our-products/disability-income-protection/aia-pay-protector.html [7]

[1] The AIA Disability Income Survey 2022 was conducted in April 2022 with a total of 1004 Singapore Residents – Singaporeans and Permanent Residents working full time.
[2] Example: A customer, 40 years old, earns S$4,000 as a Telco Customer Service Officer. To protect his livelihood from unexpected illness or injury, he takes up AIA Pay Protector with a monthly income payout of S$3,000. One day, John suffers a rare viral condition that leads to vocal cord paralysis, causing him to lose his ability of speech and subsequently his job. Upon disability, the plan pays him S$3,000 monthly benefit (i.e. the coverage he bought). The following year, despite his disability he managed to find a new job as a Data Entry Clerk that pays him S$1,500 a month. The plan continues to pay him S$3,000 monthly benefit (i,e no offset of any income).
[3] Example: A customer’s income was S$5,000 at the point of purchase of the AIA Pay Protector plan and his sum assured is S$3,000 (monthly benefit). A few years later (prior to disability), his income declined to $2,500. Upon disability, the plan still pays him S$3,000 monthly benefit (i.e. the coverage that he bought) regardless of his income level prior to the disability.
[4] ‘Workplace injuries in the first half of 2021 comparable to pre-COVID-19 levels, but fatal accidents a ’cause for concern’: MOM’ (8 Oct, 2021). Channel News Asia. Ian Cheng. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/workplace-injuries-first-half-2021-pre-covid-19-levels-mom-2230331
[5] Customers can pick and choose the fixed monthly payout they would like to receive from 5 packages, where monthly benefit is fixed at $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000 and $5,000, subject to 75% income replacement ratio of their average monthly income in the last 12 months.
[6] Subject to a 90-days deferment period.
[7] This insurance plan is underwritten by AIA Singapore Private Limited (Reg. No. 201106386R) (“AIA”). All insurance applications are subject to AIA’s underwriting and acceptance. This article is not a contract of insurance. The precise terms and conditions of this plan, including exclusions whereby the benefits under this plan may not be paid out, are specified in the policy contract. You are advised to read the policy contract. You may wish to seek advice from an AIA Financial Services Consultant for a financial analysis before purchasing this policy. Should you choose not to seek advice from an AIA Financial Services Consultant, please consider whether the product is suitable for you, and you take responsibility to ensure that this plan is appropriate to meet your financial needs and insurance objectives. You may wish to terminate the policy according to the free-look provision if you find that the policy is unsuitable after purchasing it, and AIA may recover from you any expense incurred in underwriting the policy.
Buying health insurance products that are not suitable for you may impact your ability to finance your future healthcare needs. You are discouraged from switching from an existing accident and/or health insurance policy to a new one without considering whether the switch is detrimental, as there may be potential disadvantages with switching. A penalty may be imposed for early policy termination and the new policy may cost more or have fewer benefits at the same cost.
Protected up to specified limits by SDIC. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
The information is correct as at 18/05/2022.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$340 billion as of 31 December 2021.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

Notes:
1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.

#AIA

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

Spot by NetApp Delivers Cloud Desktop-as-a-Service Solution for Service Providers, Enterprises and Today’s Distributed Workforce

Spot PC provides MSPs and enterprises with a comprehensive managed cloud desktop solution with the security, reliability and flexibility businesses need to succeed

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 May 2022 – NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), a global, cloud-led, data-centric software company, today announced the general availability of Spot PC, the managed cloud Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution — with security, automation, observability and optimization designed for the public cloud and for the needs of today’s remote and distributed working environments.

Available today, Spot PC provides Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and their customers with a cloud desktop solution optimized for security, privacy and infrastructure efficiency, with predictable pricing to reduce overall support burdens and allow existing staff to deliver and support many more desktops, increasing profitability.

With the rapid acceleration of hybrid work environments, organizations have been compelled to evolve their IT infrastructure to support remote work environments, building distributed teams, and enabling hybrid offices while navigating supply chain issues and cyber security threats. In fact, according to Gartner’s 2021 Market Guide for Desktop as a Service (DaaS), Gartner expects the global DaaS market to grow nearly 253 percent from 2021 to 2024.

But the most common solutions available to deliver remote desktops, based on traditional virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) were never designed for the public cloud and therefore require significant effort for administration, management and troubleshooting. As a result, today’s remote desktop offerings come with significant operations burdens, can be time consuming and complex to set up, migrate to, and manage, and are expensive to deploy and operate.

“Service providers and enterprises today require the right tools and solutions that are built for the cloud for optimal efficiency of their resources,” said Anthony Lye, Executive Vice President of Public Cloud Services at NetApp. “With Spot PC, we’re equipping MSPs and enterprises to bring differentiated, profitable cloud desktop solutions to market to meet growing demand from their customers and enabling them to deliver flexible, secure and fit-for-purpose remote work experiences to a variety of users across multiple locations and regions.”

Spot PC delivers a comprehensive as-a-service solution to these challenges, enabling MSPs and enterprises to provide secure, reliable, and fully optimized cloud desktops to support a broad range of needs.

Spot PC provides MSPs and enterprises with the ability to:

  • Deliver cloud desktops with speed, flexibility and agility across multiple locations and regions to support a wide range of tasks for knowledge and technical computing users
  • Ensure that cloud desktop environments meet security, availability and performance requirements without overburdening IT staff
  • Provide predictable cost structure using patent-pending AI and machine learning automated optimization

“We are really excited for Spot PC and the benefits and automation it will provide us and our clients,” said Derek Anderson, President at Biztek Solutions. “We see Spot PC as the go to solution for secure, cloud hosted desktops that will enable businesses to adopt remote and hybrid work environments that easily scale with their business.”

“Working with NetApp has meant that Cloud PC as a Service has become an exciting prospect for our clients to enjoy Spot PC, combined with complete support for the virtual desktop and the office suite that our clients use,” said Peter Beglan, CEO at Cloud PC Ltd & HyCloud Ltd. “We are so confident that this combined virtual desktop solution will be eagerly received in the UK that we have already made plans to start offering Cloud PC as a Service within the European marketplace.”

Spot PC is available today, direct from NetApp for enterprises and service providers with a fixed pricing structure per user per month.

Additional Resources:

About NetApp

NetApp is a global, cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation. The company provides systems, software and cloud services that enable them to run their applications optimally from data center to cloud, whether they are developing in the cloud, moving to the cloud, or creating their own cloudlike experiences on premises. With solutions that perform across diverse environments, NetApp helps organizations build their own data fabric and securely deliver the right data, services and applications to the right people—anytime, anywhere. Learn more at or follow us on , , , and .

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

#NetApp