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Small Luxury Hotels of the World pushes on with Expansion in China with 4 New Hotels

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 21 October 2021 – Small Luxury Hotels of the World continues its expansion as the brand welcomes 4 member hotels including 3 new openers to its China portfolio. SLH now has 20 hotels in Greater China (including 15 hotels in mainland China), making it the largest collection of members in the Asia-Pacific.

Mark Wong, Senior Vice-President Asia-Pacific of SLH said: “At SLH we champion independently-owned hotels and make sure we provide them with the best possible platform to connect with independently minded travellers. We are delighted to welcome our new members in China, all quality homegrown brands which we are proud to introduce to the world. Over the past four years we have worked hard to expand our foothold in mainland China, and we are now well-placed throughout China to appeal to local guests looking for enthralling luxury getaways for now, as well as international guests wanting to experience diverse facets of Chinese culture when travel borders re-open imminently.”

 

Resort

Jangala Dunhuang (Gansu, Dunhuang)

25 rooms from CNY1,700 with breakfast

Opened 15 September 2021

 

As the first ultra-luxury hotel in Dunhuang along the ancient Southern Silk Road, Jangala Dunhuang aims to create a modern private retreat with a blend of local culture. Drawing inspiration from the Silk Road and the area’s most famous UESCO landmark Mogao Grottoes, its Jangala namesake signifies “oasis in the wilderness” in Sanskrit. Located near Mingsha Mountain’s Crescent Moon Spring in the scenic Qili Town, the hotel covers a vast area of 10,000 square metres. With environmental preservation being a key consideration, the hotel adopts natural building materials, minimalist design aligned with its surroundings, the use of natural lighting and renewable energy in addition to environmentally-friendly amenities. At the same time, the desert retreat comes with its own vineyard and organic vegetable garden. The Living Room fuses minimalist marble décor with cosy sofas, and is also a boutique and art exhibition space. Outside, the Water View Theatre puts on a range of shows all year round, while the spacious rooms and suites make luxurious exhibits of desert and sky. For guests wanting to up the romance, the Courtyard Suite comes with a TV projection wall on its outdoor terrace, in addition to a stargazing telescope. Its rooftop Mirage Bar, also the city’s first international bar, is the best place to catch Dunhuang’s spectacular golden sunsets.

 

SLH Insider Tip: There is plenty to do for guests wanting to immerse in the local culture and customs, from exploration tours and mural research expeditions to the Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟), Mingsha (Sighing Sand) Dunes (鸣沙山) and nearby Crescent Moon Spring  (月牙泉), desert camping, camel rides, desert cycling to wine brewing workshops, meditation sessions and private sunset dinners.

 

Country House

Qiushui VillaHangzhou

11 rooms from CNY7,900 with breakfast

Opened 6 August 2021

 

A century-old villa turned lakeside retreat on the shores of Hangzhou’s West Lake, everything about Qiushui Villa is designed to press pause on the bustle of modern life. Built by the founder of the influential newspaper” Shanghai News” Shi Liangcai for his wife Shen Qiushui, the revitalized building fuses the very best of China’s rich history with well-appointed contemporary comforts. The implicit beauty of Chinese culture comes through its landscaping inspired by ancient Jiangnan architecture – flanked by stone statues and vibrant flowers, the central courtyard sets the scene of the owner’s poignant love story. The arched cornices and wooden lattice windows on the original building are now protected as cultural relics. The rooms and suites continue this theme, with modern design touches and handpicked antique furniture. Each suite is named after historical personalities such as Feng Zikai (Chinese painter) and Zhang Ailing (novelist), each decorated in a different style. The spacious garden deck is perfect for holiday reading, while a state-of-the-art fitness suite is available for personal workouts. Add to the mix unique French cuisine, a never-too-much-to-ask butler service and a stunning infinity pool, and you have a truly luxurious escape.

 

SLH Insider Tip: Watch mist rise from the serene waters of the West Lake’s famed Broken Bridge right from your room in the morning, step out and explore its many winding causeways and bridges by bike, or simply revel in the poetic charm of the mansion’s surroundings. Fun fact: the owner was very fond of “Dream of Red Mansions” and reproduced the protagonist Jia Baoyu’s Yihong Courtyard at Qiushui Villa.

 

Country House

Valllie HotelHangzhou

8 rooms from CNY5,800 with breakfast

 

Hidden in the heart of the lush forest by the South Yangtze River, serenaded by the chimes of the tower bells of nearby Liuhe Pagoda, Vallie Hotel embodies a combination of nature’s charm and the inclination towards simplicity, making it feel like a picturesque romantic escape from another era. Guests looking for utmost privacy would appreciate its location and quietude. Once homes for local tea farmers, the restored buildings blend beautifully into the tree-filled landscape. Minimalist furnishings, white linens and exposed wooden beams make each generously-sized room a calm and relaxing space. All rooms come with 24-hr heated private pools filled with water from the nearby Hupao Tiger Spring, and some also feature private courtyards and living rooms for entertaining guests. For those who would like to explore the surroundings, the hotel is in close proximity of Liuhe Pagoda, which towers above the trees and offers stunning views over the Qiantang River.  

 

SLH Insider Tip: The low-key hotel’s French gastro lounge SHIJIU (溪畔十九) is highly lauded on social media, and has guests specially coming to the secluded valley to visit. By day the gastro lounge serves a sumptuous afternoon tea encircled amongst nature while it transforms into a fine-dining setting when night falls. For those celebrating special occasions, private dining set within the hotel’s French-style garden can be arranged.

  

With the addition of two new Hangzhou members, SLH now has a total of four hotels in this ‘city of heaven’, each with its unique character and surrounding leisure highlights to suit the independently-minded traveller. Beyond Hangzhou’s picturesque West Lake vistas and cultural sites, idyllic mist-covered tea hills, an unpretentious food scene, lively shopping streets and buoyant nightlife make the city easily one of the most popular holiday destinations in mainland China. SLH recommends the best sights with our Hangzhou city guide. For those wishing to explore further, combine the journey with nearby Shanghai and Nanjing.

 

Resort

Yulongwan Lakeview Hotel (Kunming)

132 rooms; Rates TBC

Soft Opening early Q1 2022

 

Surrounded by dense, green forest, rolling mountains and clear waters, SLH’s first member hotel in the capital city of Yunnan province is a haven of natural beauty. Overlooking the Yulongwan river, the Lakeview Hotel resides in the mountain valley of Kunming – affectionately known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ for its year-round spring-like temperatures, always-in-bloom flowers and low air pollution. From floor-to-ceiling windows to terrace-style balconies, every aspect of this hotel designed by Norihiko Shinya, former Vice President of Japanese design company SUPER POTATO, has been designed to showcase its surroundings. Meanwhile inside, Japanese-inspired minimalism effortlessly combines simplicity with luxury: picture cool neutral tones, wood panelling and enviable lake and mountain views from every room. All elements converge to create a lakeside living experience for guests to savour the art of slow travel and its natural surroundings, and ultimately leave with a better quality of life.

 

SLH Insider Tip: With 870,000 square meters of dense green forest and rolling mountains as well as 200,000 square meters of crystal lake water, Yulongwan Lakeview Hotel is abuzz with adventure. Home to over 30 horse breeds, Yulongwan Equestrian Club – complete with indoor equestrian venues, dressage pastures and outdoor competition venues – is the perfect place to learn a new skill or reignite a forgotten passion.  Wildlife trails, water-sports and famed Yulongwan golf course are also nearby. Or if you feel like venturing further afield, the hotel is well-placed to visit Kunming’s famous local attractions.

 

More information and images can be downloaded here or via www.slhimages.com

 

About Small Luxury Hotels of the World:

Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) is the most desirable community of independently minded travellers and independently spirited hotels in the world. We turned the luxury boutique hotel into a phenomenon and selected the distinctive, the diverse and the downright delightful. People, places and experiences with individual character, intimate charm and inherent class. We’ve personally visited, vetted and verified over 520 hotels in more than 90 countries. We are envisioning a future where people experience the world with intention, experience its intensity and protect its integrity. Be part of the community – join us at INVITED, visit us at www.slh.com, contact a travel agent or call the Small Luxury Hotels of the World VIP Desk. Click here to view a full contact listing by country.

I: @smallluxuryhotels / F: @smallluxuryhotelsoftheworld / T: @SLHLuxuryHotels

#smallluxuryhotels

edotco Group launches inaugural Infrastructure Design Competition in collaboration with University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Expecting more than 100 entries from top engineering universities across 16 Asia countries

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 21 October 2021 – edotco Group (‘edotco’), the region’s leading telecommunications infrastructure services company, is organising the first in Asia, Infrastructure Design Competition in collaboration with the University Community Transformation Centre under Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (‘UCTC-UKM’). The competition is open to Year 3, Year 4, and postgraduate Engineering students who are currently studying in universities based in Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, and China.

 

edotco is organising the first Infrastructure Design Competition in Asia, in collaboration with the University Community Transformation Centre under Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (‘UCTC-UKM’).

 

Themed “Infrastructure for Tomorrow: Designing the Future”, this competition is edotco’s annual commitment to provide today’s aspiring youths with a platform to engage with experienced leaders, gain industry knowledge and attain technology exposure while applying their skills to create innovative solutions. The competition was piloted in Bangladesh last year to nurture talents within the student community in the country and successfully garnered a total of 28 contestants from 7 teams.

 

UKM is edotco’s academia partner in organising and leading the university-student engagement initiatives. Both parties will join hands in the industry-academia mentorship sessions to coach and mentor participants throughout the competition process to ensure the outcomes align with the judging expectations.

 

Adlan Tajudin, Chief Executive Officer of edotco Group said, “As a regional towerco, we acknowledge the importance of nurturing innovation and cultivating the importance of sustainability amongst the youth. Through this competition, we aim to spearhead innovation while upskilling youths across Asia. It is a part of edotco’s ongoing efforts on fostering a future-ready workforce that is capable of building next-generation technologies for the telecommunications industry.”

 

“The technical focus of the competition brings together innovation, cost efficiency, feasibility & functionality, and environment-friendly solutions. Education institutions play an important role in shaping future telecommunication talents, and we are delighted to work with UKM on creating this platform for skills development. We look forward to involving these university students in our efforts of developing a sustainable and efficient future, and we are excited to see the creative ideas that are about to come,” he added.

 

More than 100 submissions will be accepted at the competition. To participate, students must form teams of 2 to 4 participants consisting of at least 1 student from the Civil Engineering major. Upon successful registration, teams will be required to design a tower and foundation that fits the next generation of telecommunication infrastructure criteria based on the given Technical Framework. Over a period of 65 days, edotco and Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment of UKM will conduct mentorship sessions to coach participants on their projects and proposals.

 

The Top 5 entries will be selected for a presentation to the panel of judges, consisting of experts from edotco, the industry, and academicians from UKM, at the virtual Grand Finale that will take place in March 2022. A total of 3 winners with innovative ideas will win cash prizes totalling up to USD 5,000.

 

Registration for the competition opens from 14 October to 24 October 2021. For more information about the Infrastructure Design Competition or to register, visit: https://uctc.ukm.my/news/edotco-infrastructure-design-competition/.

About edotco Group

Established in 2012, edotco Group is the first regional and integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company in Asia, providing end-to-end solutions in the tower services sector from tower leasing, co-locations, build-to-suit, energy, transmission and operations and maintenance (O&M).

edotco Group operates and manages a regional portfolio of over 41,700 towers across core markets of Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines and Laos. edotco strives to deliver outstanding performance in telecommunications infrastructure services and solutions. Its state-of-the-art real-time monitoring service, echo, has driven significant improvements in field operations while maximising operational efficiencies in terms of battery, energy and fuel consumption for telecommunications infrastructure.

#edotcoGroup

Chubb Gold Fortune Deferred Annuity Plan offers stable inflation-proof retirement income

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 October 2021 – Life expectancy of Hong Kong’s men and women is expected to increase to 83 and 89 respectively by 2024,1  adding further pressure on savings already hit by low interest rates in recent years.  As people live longer, there is a strong need for stable inflation-proof income for the retirement life.

 

In response to the challenge above, Chubb Life Hong Kong has launched “Chubb Gold Fortune Deferred Annuity Plan” (“Chubb Gold Fortune”) which offers increasing guaranteed income over time.

 

This gives customers greater financial certainty, with the knowledge that they will be able to enjoy a certain standard of living during retirement. Chubb Gold Fortune offers customers a secure income stream for retirement with a guaranteed monthly annuity income that increases by 5% annually from the 2nd year of the annuity period.

 

Wai Kit Chan, Chief Marketing Officer of Chubb Life Hong Kong said “We understand that customers value choice and flexibility, so we have designed two premium payment terms – five years and 10 years. Customers are also allowed to start receiving their annuity income at the age of 55 or 65.  Also, the projected breakeven period of the policy can be as short as 8 years2 and customers can apply for premium holidays.  Additionally, it makes financial sense from a tax perspective as the policy owner can claim up to HK$60,000 tax deduction from the qualifying deferred annuity premiums paid per tax assessment year.3

 

Chubb Gold Fortune offers further peace of mind with an additional 10% of the guaranteed monthly annuity income in the unfortunate event of the insured being diagnosed with total and permanent disability before the annuity period starts.  A lump sum is paid to the beneficiary(ies) providing financial security if the insured passes away. If there is only one beneficiary, he/she can opt to receive the remaining monthly annuity income instead of a lump sum.

 

Further product information can be found at: https://www.chubb.com/hk-en/personal/chubb-gold-fortune-deferred-annuity-plan.html

 

Remarks:

1.        <Hong Kong Population Projections 2020-2069>, The Census and Statistics Department, The Government of the HKSAR

2.       The number of years to reach breakeven point is for reference only and it is subject to the premium payment mode, premium payment term as well as the actual amount of non-guaranteed benefits which are determined by us from time to time and based on our experiences and expectation of a series of factors including but not limited to investment return, claims, policy surrenders and expenses.

3.        The maximum tax-deductible limit is an aggregate of qualifying deferred annuity premiums and MPF tax-deductible voluntary contributions. Taxpayers must meet all the eligibility requirements for tax deductions for qualifying deferred annuity policy set out in the Inland Revenue Ordinance and any guidance issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to claim this tax deduction. Please refer to the website of the IRD (www.ird.gov.hk) or contact the IRD directly for any tax related enquiries.

 

About Chubb Life Hong Kong

Chubb Life is the international life insurance division of Chubb. In Asia, Chubb Life operates in Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, and participates in a joint-venture in China. Chubb Life has been in Hong Kong since 1976. To meet the financial protection and wealth management needs of its broad range of customers, Chubb Life Hong Kong (Chubb Life Insurance Company Ltd.) offers a range of life protection, savings, accident and health insurance solutions through agents and brokers. Additional information can be found at: http://life.chubb.com/hk

About Chubb

Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com

#ChubbLife #Chubb

The Enabling Festival 2021: Trigger our food memories via Taste to enable and support persons living with dementia and their caregivers

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 October 2021 – Enable Asia, a local social enterprise focused on advocacy for persons living with dementia and their caregivers, kicks off its fourth instalment of the Enabling Festival today.  Supported by The Majurity Trust and Agency for Integrated Care, the annual event focuses on building awareness and facilitating discussions around dementia, as well as provides a channel of support and enablement for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health with her mother, Mdm Kasmawati preparing mee siam for the Master Cook Series, a campaign to inspire persons living with dementia and their caregivers to connect through shared memories involving their favourite foods, in support of the Enabling Festival 2021.

Perceiving dementia in new ways, online

This year’s festival hones in on showcasing the experiences of persons living with dementia and caregivers to foster greater awareness around how persons living with dementia and their caregivers perceive dementia and navigate the world around them. The theme for this year is on Taste. Taste is a powerful sensory experience that triggers a rush of memories from long ago, or even seemingly forgotten. Food memory is a powerful time machine that can teleport a person to another time and place. It can also unearth deep-rooted memories of a person loved and treasured in the past. These memories are often strong because they utilise each of the senses. Most people have probably experienced a deep memory just by smelling something such as clean laundry, air after the rain or frying of belachan in the kitchen. When the senses of taste, smell, sight, sound and touch are combined while eating, the memory is made more vivid.

The two-week long festival will run from 22 October to 4 November 2021. Given the current pandemic, the festival programme (see Annex) will be held online to reach the wider community, amid safety measures in Singapore. Enabling Festival Artistic Director, Jeremiah Choy, said, “I am most delighted to reprise my role for the fourth time and see the festival grow from strength to strength. It has been a very challenging year, and because we are going fully virtual, we have to grapple with more online technical and technological issues. Thankfully, everyone is full hands-on deck and we are happy to roll out a festival that is informative, engaging and fun.”

Caring for persons living with dementia and their caregivers in a digital post-COVID future

As dementia becomes a growing concern among the ageing population in Singapore, the Enabling Festival also serves as a digital platform to engage persons living with dementia and their caregivers, and offer insightful recommendations on how they can guide their rehabilitation and self-care routines in the digital age. As more individuals are taking steps to adopt technology and go digital, Enable Asia aims to find innovative ways to enable and empower persons living with dementia and caregivers with information and online events. These initiatives will keep vulnerable groups connected to sources of care services and support in the community, to co-create a more dementia-friendly and socially inclusive society as Singapore progresses.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Advisor of Bukit Batok East constituency, also Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health, will grace the Launch of the Enabling Festival as Guest-of-Honour this year. “We are indeed seeing more residents living with dementia in the community. In Bukit Batok East, our volunteers together with the social service agencies, community partners and the Agency for Integrated Care are looking into how to better support our residents living with dementia and their caregivers. We have set up Dementia Go-To Points, Caregiver Support Network and activities to engage persons living with dementia to co-create a safe and inclusive Dementia-Friendly Community in Bukit Batok East. Beyond our localised community, I am very glad that others such as Enable Asia are also doing their part to engage persons living with dementia. The Enabling Festival has a wide variety of programmes and I look forward to participating in the Master Cook Video Series to share my personal food memory,” shared Ms Rahayu Mahzam.

“As sole primary caregivers to our parents with dementia, we, together with a very small group of fellow caregivers, are keenly aware of the support that caregivers need in order to continue to provide care for their loved ones sustainably. More needs to be done to understand and address this often-silent group in the community, whose responsibilities have weighed more heavily especially during the pandemic period,” said Daniel Lim and Danny Raven Tan, Co-founders, Enable Asia. “We are honoured to have sponsors and partners in this journey to influence social policy and improve the quality of life for both persons of dementia and their respective caregivers, and even strengthen their place in the social fabric of a close-knit community.”

Register for Enabling Festival 2021: https://enablingfestival2021.eventbrite.sg

Access the Enabling Festival 2021 programme brochure in PDF here: https://bit.ly/3AOspP7

ANNEX – ENABLING FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Food Memory Project – The Launch of a Master Cook Video Series

This is a video series that aims to catalogue unique shared experiences through personal cooking sessions. In line with Singaporean culture which has unique stories of local food, the series also looks into possibilities of cognitive rehabilitation by re-enacting fond memories and re-kindling deep connections between caregivers and persons living with dementia, keeping their memories alive in videos.

Art-Based Activity – The Launch and Sale of a Colouring Book “Colour Our Memories”

Studies have shown that performing art-related activities with caregivers, including colouring, has positive benefits to dementia-related behaviour. Colouring as a recreational activity helps to ease agitation or aggression in persons living with dementia as it is therapeutic and calming. The colouring book aims to provide an avenue for caregiver and persons living with dementia to connect meaningfully through a shared and relaxing activity, as they relive nostalgic memories together by colouring in the illustrations of their favourite local dishes.

Science Behind the Impact of Taste and Food Memory on Dementia

Clinicians and nutritionists will discuss gut health and share insights on the impact of taste and food memory on dementia and discuss how caregivers and persons living with dementia can seek respite from the debilitating situation.

Tackling Early Onset of Dementia

As The Enabling Festival 2021 is set to launch, the festival recounts the bravery and resilience behind the human stories that continue to make this festival possible. Ms Emily Ong is a strong advocate for education on Young Onset of Dementia (YOD). Her dementia journey began with the French toast incident, where she completely forgot the ingredients to prepare her children’s favourite dish. She believes advocacy is about using one’s lived experience and story to call for a social change and to improve the quality of life for persons living with dementia. She personally videoed a dish on the Master Cook series.

Connecting to seniors and caregivers in their own language

To further expand the reach of the Enabling Festival and engage with senior persons living with dementia directly in their own dialects, programmes have been curated in Hokkien and Cantonese, as well as Malay.

 

About Enable Asia

Enable Asia is a Singaporean Social Enterprise founded by two caregivers to persons living with dementia, who are passionate in educating and raising awareness about the caregiving journey and also to enable those living with dementia.

They envision working with an inclusive community to identify problems and co-create solutions through various key initiatives such as The Enabling Festival to achieve their objectives.

#EnableAsia

Boat Racing Festival Cancelled in Vientiane Capital

Scaled-down Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane

The Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane Capital has been canceled this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.

Kerry Logistics Network and Hengan Group Form Joint Venture To Enhance Synergistic Competitiveness in Healthcare Products Market

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2021 – Kerry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics Network’ or ‘KLN’; Stock Code 0636.HK) and Hengan International Group Company Limited (‘Hengan Group’; Stock Code 1044.HK), the leading producer of hygiene consumables in China, have set up a joint venture company to create synergy in the business-to-business (‘B2B’) bulk distribution and wholesale market of medical, healthcare and hygiene products. By combining KLN’s strengths in domestic logistics and distribution and Hengan Group’s industry-leading sourcing power and comprehensive portfolio in hygiene products, the joint venture company will have unique competitiveness in meeting the new demands of medical institutions and public facilities.

 

The joint venture company was established to explore a closer collaboration and provide innovative solutions to customers in both the public and private medical and healthcare sectors. While it is looking to expand its business into other Asian countries and territories going forward, the joint venture will also have full support of the “Banitore” brand of products, which are owned by Hengan Group, in the Hong Kong market.

 

William Ma, Group Managing Director of KLN, said, “We are pleased that KLN is joining forces with Hengan Group, a leader in hygiene consumables in the China market. This joint venture will not only enable the two companies to explore more growth opportunities in the medical, healthcare and hygiene products market, but also create a unique competitive edge for us to support our customers in meeting new challenges through the pandemic.”

 

Tommy Hui, Executive Director of Hengan Group, said, “This partnership marks the coming together of the best in two industries, leveraging Hengan Group’s leading position in the production of hygiene consumables in the China market and KLN’s established network in China and the rest of Asia, broad customer base as well as trusted track record in domestic logistics in Hong Kong. Our ongoing collaboration with KLN has been fruitful and we have high hopes for this new venture.”

 

In 2020, KLN and Hengan Group worked together to meet the community’s high demand for pandemic-related medical, healthcare and hygiene products including masks, gloves and toiletries.

About Kerry Logistics Network Limited (Stock Code 0636.HK)

Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), industrial project logistics, to cross-border e-commerce, last-mile fulfilment and infrastructure investment.

With a global presence across 58 countries and territories, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world’s emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations.

Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$53 billion in 2020 and is the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

#KerryLogistics

About Hengan Group (Stock Code 1044.HK)

Hengan Group was established in 1985. It is principally engaged in production, distribution and sales of personal hygiene products in mainland China. The shares of Hengan International have been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1998. The Group has become a Hang Seng Index constituent since June 2011. Under the Hengan Group, BANITORE was founded in 1978 and is Hong Kong’s leading brand in First Aid supplies. Its products have been extended to most pharmacies, supermarkets, chain-stores, hospitals and clinics.

Oxford University Press (China) Hosts Education Leadership Forum to Celebrate 60 Years of Empowering Teachers and Learners

Pioneering publisher is committed to publishing leading thoughts and content for educators and learners to become future-ready

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2021 – The pandemic has brought significant changes to the local education sector, challenging the ways we teach and learn. Since the school lockdown in February 2020, schools have evolved and relied more on education technology and digital resources to keep up with the pace of learning. Oxford University Press (China) (OUP), as a leading publisher, has put in extra efforts to support teachers’ changing needs and respond to the unpredencented challenges.

 

Today, Oxford University Press (China) announced the findings and insights of the “Are Teachers and Students Ready for Future of Education?” survey. (From left to right) Ms. Mei Mei Ng, Managing Director of Oxford University Press (China), Mr. Chu Wai Lam, Principal of Fung Kai No.1 Primary School, Ms Jenny LEUNG Head of 21st Century Learning Design Tai Kwong Hilary College, Mr. Albert Wong, Chairman, Association of IT Leaders in Education (AiTLE) and Ms. Masian Leung, Corporate Marketing Director of Oxford University Press (China) shared their responses to the findings and how they tackled the challenges of future education.

OUP furthers its supports to future-proof teaching and learning by hosting the Education Leadership Forum on 5 and 6 November which will gather over 20 international and local thought leaders to share inspiring insights in 18 webinars on a dynamic series of topics about future education, pedagogies and best practices. This Forum is well informed and shaped by the survey titled “Are Teachers and Students Ready for Future of Education?” conducted in September 2021, capturing the views of nearly 400 teachers from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools on future learning challenges and opportunities.

 

The survey shows that teachers have been positive in embracing digital transformation and proactive in sharing recommendations to further improve support in teaching and learning. These are crucial considerations when it comes to empowering the education community to take the necessary steps and embrace the opportunities that blended learning offers.

 

Key finding No. 1: The pandemic has accelerated the use of agile teaching and learning practices, including digital and IT tools, as well as blended learning

The average frequency of using digital and IT tools in teaching has increased from 3.2 times (during pandemic[1]) to 5.5 times (post-pandemic[2]) per week among respondents. Meanwhile, the ratio of teaching in classroom to remote learning has jumped 30%:70% from 90%:10%. The application of digital and IT tools and blended learning is clearly trending, and nearly three quarters of teachers (73%) claimed that they feel ready for the challenges brought by future education. However, they expect to take 2.8 years on average for overall teachers in Hong Kong to become future-ready. Science and Mathematics teachers showed greater confidence than language teachers.

 

Respondents ranked the top three elements necessary to enable the Hong Kong teachers to become future-ready:

  • Decreased workload to free up time to experiment new teaching approaches and education technology, exchange ideas and learn from peers (79%)
  • Adaptable teaching resources that can support different models of teaching and learning, including remote, blended and traditional (72%) 
  • Flexible curriculums to accommodate different models of teaching and learning (67%)


Key finding No. 2: Teachers are positively embracing digital transformation for future education, but expect more support

Despite of the challenges faced by teachers during the pandemic, the survey indicates a positive sign. In the post-pandemic era, confidence in teaching in the “new normal” has jumped from 59% to 80%. Besides, the teachers shared that the level of support in teaching after the pandemic has become more adequate that the satisfaction level has increased from 48% during the pandemic to 64%.

 

As the pandemic has evolved, teachers have shifted their priorities from essential items to support with more sustaining and forward-looking impacts, like more digital teaching resources from publishers (84%) and additional manpower to identify teaching resources (67%). The findings indicates that quality online education resources offered by publishers remains the major and most reliable resort for teachers as the pandemic evolves, reflecting a recognition of the publishing industry’s committed efforts in offering quality teaching resources to support teaching and learning.

 

Meanwhile, it is encouraging also to see teachers appreciating the benefits of leveraging digital and IT tools to tackle challenges in future education.

  • 88% are happy to have upskilled themselves in response to evolving learning needs
  • Blended learning makes teaching models and content more dynamic (84%)
  • 81% are positive about E-assessment tools which consolidate learning data, helping to address learning differences and enhance effectiveness of teaching and learning
  • More dynamic teaching models increase the level of student engagement (78%)
  • Teaching models and pedagogies can help address the needs of future education (65%)

Key finding No. 3: Time for the education sector to step forward and understand the needs and capabilities of both teachers and students, as well as embracing the effectiveness and opportunities brought by blended learning

As the end of the pandemic approaches, there has been a drop in use of digital tools from 76% to 62%. However, that figure still reflects the growing use of digital technology in education after the resumption of physical classes. While blended learning has now become an inevitable trend, the three key benefits of leveraging different teaching models and tools cited by teachers include:

  • Wider variety of teaching content and activities, such as multi-media and interactive tools (6.4 points)
  • Timely support to students, with consolidated learning data for evaluation and follow-up (5.8 points)
  • Higher flexibility in curriculum design (5.7 points)

Apart from benefits, they also pointed out some drawbacks, including workload in class preparation (6.9 points) and class management more challenging (6.6 points).

 

Nevertheless, more than two-thirds of teachers (71%) believe that students are ready for future education but strengthened training of soft skills will be the key to make the most of new ways of learning and working. The top skills named were communication skills (75%), analytical ability (68%), agility (68%), adaptability (67%), followed by collaboration and team spirit (67%).

 

OUP facilitates future-readiness with holistic support

OUP and its professional teams have strived to proactively provide quality teaching resources and support to schools, teachers, students and parents in the hope of ensuring they all become more future-ready.

 

“Since its inception 60 years ago, Oxford University Press (China) has been committed to furthering the University’s objective of excellence in scholarship and education with quality publishing for schools and the general public. Today, we are deploying our resources to support learning, teaching and research to make a significant and sustainable difference,” said Mei-mei Ng, Managing Director of Oxford University Press (China).

 

“As a close partner of the education sector, we fully understand the pressing needs faced by the community. We see ourselves not only a university publisher, but as a stakeholder with strong connections to everyone in the education ecosystem. It is fulfilling to witness how positively the entire education community has reacted to unprecedented changes with innovation, resilience and agility. Not to mention how much they appreciate the support offered by the publishing sector,” she added.

 

“Looking forward, we hope to work hand-in-hand to transform our expertise in teaching resources to enable more effective teaching and learning. In the Education Leadership Forum, which forms part of Oxford University Press China’s 60th Anniversary, education thought leaders will be invited to exchange their insights on the latest education trends. The goal is to inspire innovative ideas and spark actions for the future readiness,” she concluded.

 

Topics of the two-day Education Leadership Forum are tailored for educators from kindergartens to secondary schools, covering latest education trends, for instance, “The Strategic Priorities to Support Local Schools to Become Future-ready” and “Leading School and System Change in Post-Pandemic Time”, as well as subject-specific topics for Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, Science and Music.

 

The Education Leadership Forum cum Oxford University Press China’s 60th Anniversary is now open for educators to enrol for free. Please register at:

https://www.oupchina.com.hk/en/education-leadership-forum/

[1] February 2020 – August 2021

[2] After school started in September 2021

About Oxford University Press (China) Ltd

Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford, and the world’s largest university press. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing quality books, dictionaries, and other materials worldwide. Oxford University Press (China) Ltd (OUP China) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OUP.

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Symphony is securely connecting clients to their private banks in Asia via WhatsApp and WeChat

London, United Kingdom – News Direct – 20 October 2021 – HSBC Global Private Banking has engaged Symphony – the leading markets’ infrastructure and technology platform- to develop and deploy HSBC GPB Chat, a client engagement platform that enables the private bank’s clients to interact with their relationship management team via one-to-one chat, group chat, document sharing and video/audio conferencing on WhatsApp or WeChat, in a secure and compliant way.

Symphony was the technology vendor selected due to its ability to deliver secure, compliant collaboration technology at scale; its expertise in audio-video conferencing; and its open architecture. This architecture has powered an integration that seeks to enrich the client experience.

Digitalization – as well as competition from non-traditional players – is raising the expectations of banking clients, who now benchmark their online experiences against the convenience of digital apps in their daily lives. This has created a demand for increased personalisation and a need to engage with banking clients on their preferred chat platform.

Symphony CEO Brad Levy said: “We are proud that our WhatsApp and WeChat integrations are allowing institutions like HSBC to connect with their clients through their preferred channel of communication and in a secure and compliant way.”

Symphony’s CONNECT solutions – with integrations for WhatsApp and WeChat – reduces the digital distance between a financial firm and its clients, and offers compliant connectivity regardless of the client’s choice of platform.

About Symphony

Symphony is the most secure and compliant markets’ infrastructure and technology platform, where solutions are built or integrated to standardize, automate and innovate financial services workflows. It is a vibrant community of over half a million financial professionals with a trusted directory and serves over 1000 institutions. Symphony is powering over 2,000 community built applications and bots. For more information, visit www.symphony.com.

Company Website

https://symphony.com/