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Chinachem Group Teams Up with HKSTP to Accelerate Smart City, Startup Development and Pilot-first Technology Adoption in Hong Kong

Dedicated programmes to shorten the innovation to commercialisation gap, and bring Hong Kong’s cutting-edge technology closer to the community

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 March 2021 – Chinachem Group (the Group) and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today announced the launch of two dedicated programmes to support startups in the smart city space and drive Hong Kong’s cutting-edge innovation.

Chinachem Group Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi (3rd left); Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation CEO Albert Wong (3rd left); Belun Technology CEO Dr Lydia Leung (2nd left); Zeek Co-founder & CSO Vincent Fan (2nd right) ; Chinachem Group Director of Digital Transformation Damien Wu (1 st left); and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Head of Strategic Partnership Peter Mok (1 st right), take group photo.

This partnership between the Group and HKSTP, comprises two innovative initiatives designed to nurture property and retail startups, as well as reduce the gap between innovation and market deployment.

Donald Choi, Executive Director and CEO, Chinachem Group, said, “Technology is a core driver in our business and for the property industry. We are committed to not only harnessing it to benefit our business, but to also contributing to Hong Kong’s thriving innovation and technology ecosystem. We look forward to collaborating with HKSTP to create a virtuous cycle of collaboration, innovation and commercialisation in the property sector.”

Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP, said “With Hong Kong being an evolving urban environment, it is important we nurture innovations that support its sustainable growth. This partnership with Chinachem Group is significant as it removes one of the biggest barriers startups face, which is the gap between innovation and commercialisation. This programme reduces the time to market through our proven startup accelerator framework, together with Chinachem Group’s sector-specific expertise and properties for pilot testing.”

The first initiative under this partnership is the “CCG Accel – Powered by HKSTP” programme, which will be a pioneering pilot-first accelerator programme aiming to propel high potential startups through a pilot-to-mass adoption process. The programme features a series of three themed accelerator cohorts run by both the Group and HKSTP. Each cohort will have a different theme and provide extensive training, mentorship and support for up to 10 shortlisted startups. In addition to financial contribution, the Group will offer its experience to help these startups shape their solutions and trial their solutions at designated properties prior to general adoption. Startups will also benefit from promotion through HKSTP’s network and its value-added services. The first cohort will begin by Q3 2021. Further details of the cohorts including the themes will be announced in due course.

The second initiative is the “Inno Place @CCG” programme which pioneers a “Living Lab” concept that breaks away from traditional innovation labs where the testing of solutions is restricted to a fixed physical lab space. The programme will see the opening up of Chinachem’s network of properties as “Innovation Places” where selected innovations are trialed, starting with NINA MALL in Tsuen Wan. This real-world environment will allow startups to pilot and refine their solutions, while users can immediately benefit from them.

Successful innovations from the two programmes may be further adopted or invested in by the Group. Meanwhile, HKSTP will provide its expertise and knowledge in innovation and technology commercialisation. This includes providing support in technology solution sourcing, validation, hosting small scale proof-of-concept pilots, as well as identifying co-investment opportunities with HKSTP and its investment partners.

This builds upon existing technology by innovators from the Science Park that have already been adopted by Chinachem Group in its properties. These include Titanology, innovator of a self-sanitising door handle; Enertainer, a high-capacity battery system offering a cleaner and quieter alternative to diesel generators commonly used on construction sites; and ACX, a developer of secure building access solutions.

The Group and HKSTP also share a vision to foster the growth of Smart City, bringing technology innovated, designed and made in Hong Kong, closer to the community at designated Chinachem Group properties. This includes a showroom to feature the smart city concept, as well as a place to host technology talks, hackathons, and product launches.

About Chinachem Group

Since 1960, Chinachem Group has been a leading property developer in Hong Kong, with a portfolio covering residential, commercial, retail and industrial buildings for sales and investment, in addition to operating hotels and property management services. The Group actively seeks to make a positive contribution to society through its adherence to the “Triple Bottom Line”, a commitment that its activities will benefit People, bring Prosperity to the community and preserve the Planet.

https://www.chinachemgroup.com/en

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation


Comprising Science Park, InnoCentre and Industrial Estates, Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is a statutory body dedicated to building a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem to connect stakeholders, nurture technology talents, facilitate collaboration, and catalyse innovations to deliver social and economic benefits to Hong Kong and the region.

Established in May 2001, HKSTP has been driving the development of Hong Kong into a regional hub for innovation and growth in several focused clusters including Electronics, Information & Communications Technology, Green Technology, Biomedical Technology, Materials and Precision Engineering. We enable science and technology companies to nurture ideas, innovate and grow, supported by our R&D facilities, infrastructure, and market-led laboratories and technical centres with professional support services. We also offer value added services and comprehensive incubation programmes for technology start-ups to accelerate their growth.

Technology businesses benefit from our specialised services and infrastructure at Science Park for applied research and product development; enterprises can find creative design support at InnoCentre; while skill-intensive businesses are served by our three industrial estates at Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

Southern Vientiane Railway Station To Be Complete This Year

Southern Vientiane Railway Station
A railway station under construction in Vientiane Capital.

Construction of the Southern Vientiane Railway Station is scheduled for completion at the end of this year.

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research unlocks the genomic secrets of organisms that thrive in extreme deep-sea environments

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 March 2021 – A study led by scientists at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has decoded the genomes of the deep-sea clam (Archivesica marissinica) and the chemoautotrophic bacteria (Candidatus Vesicomyosocius marissinica) that live in its gill epithelium cells. Through analysis of their genomic structures and profiling of their gene expression patterns, the research team revealed that symbiosis between the two partners enables the clams to thrive in extreme deep-sea environments.

Figure 1: The drawing shows a clam with its foot extending deep into the sediment to gain access to hydrogen sulfide. The foot and mantle of the clam are red due to the presence of haemoglobin for gas transport in the blood, which is an adaptation to the low-oxygen environment. (Drawn by HKBU student Hu Juntong)

Professor Qiu Jianwen (right) and his HKBU research team member Dr Ip Chi-ho (centre) and Dr Xu Ting collect the clam specimens at 1,360 metres below the sea level from the South China Sea.

The research findings have been published in the academic journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Due to the general lack of photosynthesis-derived organic matter, the deep-sea was once considered a vast “desert” with very little biomass. Yet, clams often form large populations in the high-temperature hydrothermal vents and freezing cold seeps in the deep oceans around the globe where sunlight cannot penetrate but toxic molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide, are available below the seabed. The clams are known to have a reduced gut and digestive system, and they rely on endosymbiotic bacteria to generate energy in a process called chemosynthesis. However, when this symbiotic relationship developed, and how the clams and chemoautotrophic bacteria interact, remain largely unclear.

Horizontal gene transfer between bacteria and clams discovered for the first time

A research team led by Professor Qiu Jianwen, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, collected the clam specimens at 1,360 metres below sea level from a cold seep in the South China Sea. The genomes of the clam and its symbiotic bacteria were then sequenced to shed light on the genomic signatures of their successful symbiotic relationship.

The team found that the ancestor of the clam split with its shallow-water relatives 128 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The study revealed that 28 genes have been transferred from the ancestral chemoautotrophic bacteria to the clam, the first discovery of horizontal gene transfer—a process that transmits genetic material between distantly-related organisms —from bacteria to a bivalve mollusc.

The following genomic features of the clam were discovered, and combined, they have enabled it to adapt to the extreme deep-sea environment:

(1) Adaptions for chemosynthesis

The clam relies on its symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria to produce the biological materials essential for its survival. In their symbiotic relationship, the clam absorbs hydrogen sulfide from the sediment, and oxygen and carbon dioxide from seawater, and it transfers them to the bacteria living in its gill epithelium cells to produce the energy and nutrients in a process called chemosynthesis. The process is illustrated in Figure 1.

The research team also discovered that the clam’s genome exhibits gene family expansion in cellular processes such as respiration and diffusion that likely facilitate chemoautotrophy, including gas delivery to support energy and carbon production, the transfer of small molecules and proteins within the symbiont, and the regulation of the endosymbiont population. It helps the host to obtain sufficient nutrients from the symbiotic bacteria.

(2) Shift from phytoplankton-based food

Cellulase is an enzyme that facilitates the decomposition of the cellulose found in phytoplankton, a major primary food source in the marine food chain. It was discovered that the clam’s cellulase genes have undergone significant contraction, which is likely an adaptation to the shift from phytoplankton-derived to bacteria-based food.

(3) Adaptation to sulfur metabolic pathways

The genome of the symbiont also holds the secrets of this mutually beneficial relationship. The team discovered that the clam has a reduced genome, as it is only about 40% of the size of its free-living relatives. Nevertheless, the symbiont genome encodes complete and flexible sulfur metabolic pathways, and it retains the ability to synthesise 20 common amino acids and other essential nutrients, highlighting the importance of the symbiont in generating energy and providing nutrients to support the symbiotic relationship.

(4) Improvement in oxygen-binding capacity

Unlike in vertebrates, haemoglobin, a metalloprotein found in the blood and tissues of many organisms, is not commonly used as an oxygen carrier in molluscs. However, the team discovered several kinds of highly expressed haemoglobin genes in the clam, suggesting an improvement in its oxygen-binding capacity, which can enhance the ability of the clam to survive in deep-sea low-oxygen habitats.

Professor Qiu said: “Most of the previous studies on deep-sea symbiosis have focused only on the bacteria. This first coupled clam–symbiont genome assembly will facilitate comparative studies that aim to elucidate the diversity and evolutionary mechanisms of symbiosis, which allows many invertebrates to thrive in ‘extreme’ deep-sea ecosystems.”

The research was jointly conducted by scientists from HKBU and the HKBU Institute for Research and Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the Sanya Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, and the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey.

Comba Telecom Launches Multi-RAT Multi-Band Open Radio Solution

  • Industry’s first Open RAN multi-RAT, multi-band RRU for 1800MHz and 2100MHz
  • Boost Global Trials with its Energy Efficient Open RAN Radio Units

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 March 2021 – Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited (“Comba Telecom” or “the Group”, SEHK stock code: 2342), a leading global solutions and services provider of wireless and information communication systems, announced the launch of the industry’s first Open RAN multi-RAT, multi-band Remote Radio Unit (“RRU”) that supports 1800MHz and 2100MHz, promoting widespread adoption of emerging open standards in the globe.

The RRU is designed to minimize the total cost of ownership (“TCO”) for operators and neutral hosts in macro deployments through fast and easy deployment, energy savings, improved coverage and throughput, smaller footprint and easy maintenance. Engineered for efficient high power (320W) operation, the multi-RAT multi-band 4T4R RRU minimizes the environmental footprint and reduces the energy spend for the operator.

As a first in the Open RAN industry the GSM/UMTS/LTE/5G NR multi-mode operation makes it ideal for simple upgrades of legacy sites without compromises. The 4T4R radio supports two LTE/5G NR carriers per band and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (“DSS”). This enables operators to serve arising 5G traffic demand without additional spectrum or removing LTE service.

Comba has a long-standing collaboration with major industry partners and alliances and has participated in the initial Open RAN trials and lab projects in different regions. With all in-house expertise in interoperability and optimizing radio designs for market specific criteria, Comba enables mobile operators to accelerate time to market, and mitigate the overall technology risk when adopting to Open RAN strategy in their next generation of RAN.

Ms. Annabel Huo, Executive Director, Senior Vice President of the Group and President of Comba Telecom International said, “Comba’s open radio solutions are taking shape by adding future-proof technical features to answer the calls from the markets. The launch of the multi-RAT multi-band RRU is expected to boost an increasing adoption of Open RAN at global scale, and to build more proven cases in different scenarios. Seeing a massive growth of the Open RAN market over the coming years, the open technologies will become mature enough for widespread deployment.”

Comba’s Open RAN solution series will be extending band options with both high power and lower power radios for multi-service scenarios and heterogeneous networks. For the update about Comba’s Open RAN Solution, please visit https://www.comba-telecom.com/en/openran-solutions.

About Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited

Comba Telecom is a leading global solutions and services provider of wireless and information communications systems with its own R&D and manufacturing base, and sales and service teams. The Company offers a comprehensive suite of products and services including antennas and base station subsystems, wireless access, wireless enhancement, and wireless transmission to its global customers. Headquartered in Hong Kong, with manufacturing bases in China and R&D centers in both China and the United States, Comba Telecom provides wireless communication solutions and information application services to customers in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Comba Telecom was included in the MSCI Hong Kong Small Cap Index in November 2019. Furthermore, the Company was included as a constituent stock of Hang Seng Composite SmallCap Index, Hang Seng Internet & Information Technology Index and other Hang Seng Family of Indexes, and the China-Hong Kong Stock Connect under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect in September 2020. For further information, please visit: www.comba-telecom.com.

Rhenus Logistics Thailand Opens New Free Zone Warehouse at KM 23

The warehouse is part of Rhenus’ plans to synergise its operations to provide added convenience and improved quality at lower costs for its customers.

 

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 29 March 2021 – Leading global logistics service provider Rhenus Logistics announced a new free zone warehouse at Bangna Trad KM 23, Bangkok in Thailand. Strategically located within a 10-kilometre radius of three existing warehouses at KM 19 (General Cargo) and KM 22 (Dangerous Goods), it allows Rhenus to offer a wider range of services to key industries including Manufacturing, Medical Devices and Healthcare, while offering better value for customers. Located within Bangkok’s Free Trade Zone, customers can also enjoy duty exemptions. The warehouse provides added convenience to customers who conduct business in the nearby Bangkok metropolitan city, with its close proximity to key freight hubs at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Thailand’s major sea ports.

The facility is outfitted with the latest technology from Rhenus, with an eco-friendly design. Electronics and Medical Device customers with specific storage requirements can safely and securely tap on its 450 square-metre temperature and dust-free controlled room, ambient storage facilities and the anti-static testing room. The warehouse supports pallet storage for standard cargo and block space for oversized cargo up to 3 tons, offers flexible in-transit capacity for large shipments, with comprehensive 24-hour security measures within and around the facility.

“The new warehouse in Thailand affirms our commitment to synergise our storage options and solutions to better serve a wider range of industries. With its strategic proximity to the Bangkok Free Trade Zone, we hope to better support evolving warehousing needs by providing more space options, improving quality and all while reducing operational costs for our customers,” said Tim Burger, Director Warehousing and Transport, Rhenus Logistics Thailand.

For more information on Rhenus warehouses in Thailand, please visit https://www.rhenus.com/en/th/our-services/warehouse-logistics/ .

About Rhenus

The Rhenus Group is a leading logistics service provider with global business operations and an annual turnover of EUR 5.5 billion. Rhenus has business sites at 750 locations worldwide and employs 33,000 people. The Rhenus Group provides solutions for a wide variety of different sectors along the complete supply chain; they include multimodal transport operations, warehousing, customs clearance as well as innovative value-added services.

Four-Car Pileup on Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway

Four two-car pileups on Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway in one day

Several road accidents occurred throughout the country over the weekend, with three deaths reported, including a four-car pileup on the Vang Vieng Expressway on Sunday night.

Thai Pigs Smuggled Into Cambodia Via Laos

Thai pigs smuggled into Cambodia via Laos
Authorities test health of Thai pigs smuggled into Cambodia via Laos (Photo: Phnom Penh Post)

Over 100 pigs originating in Thailand have been smuggled into Cambodia via Laos.

JH Education Announces 2020 Annual Results: A Sharp Increase of 51% in Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company

Enrollment Scale and Business Network continues to expand Leading Position in Regional Industry is consolidated

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 26 Mar 2021 – JH Educational Technology INC. (“JH Education” or the “Company“, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“, stock code: 1935.HK) is pleased to announce its audited annual results for the year ended 31 December, 2020 (the “Year“).

During the Year, the revenue of the Group increased by 16% to RMB561.3 million, the gross profit rose by 30% to RMB334.3 million, and the profit for the Year increased 43% to RMB325.6 million. Due to the increase in the number of new student enrollment and student enrollment, profit attributable to owners of the Company recorded a significant increase of approximately 51% to RMB265.9 million as compared to the same period last year. And the Group recorded a core net profit of approximately RMB331.8 million during the Year. The Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of HK5.00 cents and a special final dividend of HK6.25 cents per ordinary share for the Year.

Enrollment Scale Continues to Expand and the Leading Position in Regional Industry is Continuously Consolidated

Benefited from the widely-recognized educational quality and smooth progress of the campus expansion plan of the Group during the Year, new student enrollments of schools operated by the Group experienced a significant growth. New enrollment of Zhejiang Changzheng Vocational & Technology College (“Changzheng College”) in Zhejiang Province in 2020/2021 school year was 13,542 students, an increase of 18% year-on-year, which was ranked No. 1 among student enrollment programs of private junior colleges in Zhejiang province. The new enrollment of Zhengzhou College of Economics and Business (“College of Economics and Business”) in Henan Province in the 2020/2021 school year increased 12% year-on-year to 24,147 students, which was top-ranking among all undergraduate enrollment programs of private undergraduate colleges in Henan province. Over the years, the Group is committed to providing high-quality private education to students, dedicating resources to designing comprehensive and diversified curriculums for equipping students with readily applicable and practical skills, and creating and regularly updating major offerings with labor market orientation. Therefore, the employment rates for graduates from Changzheng College and College of Economics and Business have been consistently higher than similar colleges in the respective provinces.

Innovative Teaching Methods and Stable Operation during the Pandemic

There was an outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) across China in early 2020. The Group strictly accorded top priority to the personal safety and health of its teachers and students and comprehensively implemented the requirements under “level 1 response” to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic into the campus. Closed-end management has been adopted for the campus and the time for students to return to school for the spring semester has been postponed. During the outbreak of the pandemic, the Group strengthened the tutoring for students and implemented the policy of suspension of classes but no suspension of learning. Teaching plans and management plans during this special period have been formulated scientifically by actively utilizing the “Internet+” model to launch remote educational and teaching activities or online learning programs. Benefited from the innovative teaching methods and reasonable measures adopted by the Group, the remote academic tutoring was launched in an orderly manner. All teaching goals have been completed on schedule and the Group’s operation was stable. Upon evaluation, the Group considered that the outbreak of COVID-19 has had no obvious negative impact on the operation and financial condition of the Group.

The Strategy of “Acquisition + Campus Expansion” accelerates the Business Expansion

To strengthen the position as the largest private provider of formal higher education in Zhejiang province, the Group actively promotes the dual cultivation of “Acquisition + Campus Expansion” in order to accelerate the expansion of the school network and meet the growing demand for school quotas.

On one hand, the Group actively seeks potential investment opportunities in the market and plans to acquire or invest in schools that offer higher education with relatively low utilization rates and/or have substantial growth potential in the PRC. The Group prefers to acquire qualified undergraduate colleges and/or junior colleges whose school sponsors have elected them to be for-profit private schools in central China, eastern China and southern China. At present, the acquisition plan is preparing and advancing steadily.

On the other hand, except for acquisitions, the Group plans to establish a new campus of College of Economics and Business in Kaifeng, Henan Province, that will primarily offer undergraduate courses. The estimated student capacity is approximately 15,000 students. Moreover, the Group plans to establish a new campus of Changzheng College with an aggregate expected enrollment of not less than 5,000 students. Given the continuous expansion of enrollment scale, the Group also actively promotes the expansion of the campus and extends the school network to provide guarantee for the expansion of enrollment. In 2020, the Group completed the expansion of the main campus of College of Economics and Business by constructing three additional student dormitories and two new teaching buildings with an aggregate gross floor area of 27,000 sq.m.. From the new school year beginning in September 2020, student capacity of College of Economics and Business has increased to 24,809 students. In 2020, the Group completed the expansion of the existing campus of Changzheng College and the student capacity of Changzheng College has increased to 13,900 students starting from 2020/2021 school year. The Group is planning to further expand the main campus of College of Economics and Business and Changzheng College to increase the student capacity.

Mr. Chen Yuguo, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of JH Education said, “Education is a never-ending business. In 2020, in face of complex economic environment, people’s demand for education have never diminished. The growing demand for education promotes the development of quality education. In order to better meet the needs of talent training and labor market, the state has continuously introduced favorable policies to support the development of education. Over the years, JH Education has adhered to the educational philosophy of ‘people-oriented education, moral cultivation, serve the society and pursuit of excellence’, and is committed to providing high-quality private higher education. Looking forward, JH Education will continue to focus on providing high-quality private higher education, seize the market opportunities, actively achieve sustainable development, expand the business scale and school network, optimize the operation, and bring substantial returns to shareholders.”

About JH Educational Technology INC.

JH Educational Technology INC. (“JH Education”) is a leading private higher education institution in Zhejiang Province. In addition to providing higher education services, JH Education also provides secondary education services to high school students in Zhejiang Province. There are three subsidiary schools controlled and operated by JH Education, including Zhengzhou College of Economics and Business, Zhejiang Changzheng Vocational & Technology College and Yueqing Jingyi Secondary School, which provides students with high-quality education including undergraduate education, junior college education and high school education. With more than 20 years’ private school operating experience and teaching quality, the subsidiary schools operated by JH Education have received many awards and commendations from the people’s governments at all levels and relevant education bureaus, including the “Outstanding Private School” awarded by the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government to Zhejiang Changzheng Vocational & Technology College , and the “Outstanding Private School” awarded by the Henan Provincial Department of Education to Zhengzhou College of Economics and Business.