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Experience World’s First-Ever Virtual Walk-Through of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu

Cityneon’s First Foray into Artefacts IP Exhibition – Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru Brings the Ancient Andean Civilization Back to Life

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 August 2021 – This October, visitors to the world’s premiere of the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition in Boca Raton, South Florida are set to be wowed, as they immerse themselves in the awe of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu and embark on a fascinating journey with the ancient civilizations of Peru through a full-motion 360-degree all-round interactive Virtual Reality (VR) experience like never before. The early access online ticket portal is now open to the public at BocaMuseum.org/Golden.

Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

With the exclusive approval granted by the Peruvian Government to fly drones through the magnificent site of Machu Picchu, Cityneon leveraged on the team’s state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology to capture the best-in-class cinematic and visual assets of the invaluable UNESCO World Heritage Site, to create an immersive experience consisting of outstanding virtual reality, sophisticated augmented reality system and in-person interaction elements.

To preserve this invaluable historical site, less than 1 million travellers are allowed entry into Machu Picchu every year. With the recent global pandemic situation, the need for social distancing and other measures, this number has further dipped to 250,000.


Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru
aims to bring this rare UNESCO World Heritage site to people from all over the world virtually. This one-of-its-kind exhibition will showcase the first-ever virtual walk-through of Machu Picchu through the utilization of globally-acclaimed patented VR motion chairs fully equipped with premium multi-sensory stimulation features such as high-resolution six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) VR headsets, haptic feedback on the backseats, scent dispensers and unlimited 360-degree rotation, allowing visitors to travel back time to see, hear, feel and even smell the mysterious city in the sky. Visitors will journey through the vast expanse of Andean history alongside the mythical hero Ai Apaec, to discover the mysteries of Andean cosmology.

Besides the unique VR experience, the exhibition also features the largest Andean gold collection ever to travel the world. This new museum experience highlights a selection of 192 artefacts from royal tombs, including objects that belonged to noble Andean lords, many never seen out of Peru before.

One of the exhibition’s highlights is a fully intact gold attire of a Chimú Emperor that dates to 1300 AD. With their longevity and engineering only rivalled by the Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, the Andean societies dominated a substantial segment of South America for over 3,000 years straight through the reign of the Incan Empire.

Cityneon’s Executive Chairman & Group CEO Mr. Ron Tan said, “It’s enthralling for Cityneon to have the opportunity to present to new audiences these remarkable pieces of rare Andean artefacts. Cityneon’s strong track record of staging immersive experiences globally with record-breaking visitor numbers reflects our strength in delivering high-quality experiences to visitors from around the world. Through this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with history in a way that has never been done before. With this exhibition, visitors can personally feel the magnificence of Machu Picchu like they are physically there, while exploring the ancient cultures who lived in this city 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains.”

“Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is an impressive and extensive exhibition that showcases the limitless potential of VR technology,” said Mr. Anthony Tann, President of World Heritage Exhibitions. “There are hundreds of ancient artefacts to admire, and I am excited to welcome visitors to experience this monumental period of human history through the lens of virtual reality. This exhibition was put together by many talented individuals and excellent technology, and I am certain it will be a memorable and enchanting experience for many to enjoy.”

In alignment to Cityneon’s corporate philosophy of “Big Ideas, Bigger Experiences”, the global experience entertainment company has put together an award-winning team behind this multi-million-dollar exhibition with one goal – to push limits and break boundaries to create the most immersive, breath-taking and realistic experience for audiences worldwide.

Cityneon currently partners with foreign governments, world-renowned museums, heritage organizations and major movie studios to hold exclusive IP exhibitions, creating iconic experiences for their visitors from all over the world. To date, the Group has toured their IP experiences in excess of 50 cities worldwide.


Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru
is Cityneon’s first artefact IP exhibition, and is made possible with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Peruvian Government, and through a close collaboration with its valued partners, the Museo Larco and Inkaterra Asociación, the World Heritage Exhibitions and the Boca Rotan Museum of Art.

MACHU PICCHU AND THE GOLDEN EMPIRES OF PERU EXHIBITION WORLD TOUR
World Premier Venue:  Boca Raton Museum of Art, Florida
Date: 16 October 2021
Online Ticket Portal:  
https://bocamuseum.org/golden

Cityneon Holdings

With its global reach and international partnerships, Cityneon has the capability to serve its clients anywhere in the world. Cityneon was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2005, and was privatized on February 2019 by West Knighton Limited, a company wholly owned by Cityneon’s Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Ron Tan, together with Hong Kong veteran entrepreneur and investor, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Johnson is a capital markets veteran and has held controlling interests and directorships in many listed companies. In May 2019, Cityneon welcomed CITIC Capital as a new shareholder, who holds approximately 9% shares in Cityneon. CITIC Capital is part of CITIC Group, one of China’s largest conglomerates, and has over US$29B of assets under its management across 100 funds and investment products globally. Other institutional shareholders of the Group include EDBI – a Singapore government-linked global investor, and Pavilion Capital – a Singapore-based investment institution which focuses on private equity investments, that made strategic investments to the Group in August and October 2019 respectively. In April 2021, Cityneon welcomed new investors Seatown Holdings International, Qatar’s Doha Venture Capital, which will now own approximately 4% of the Group, and other financial institutions and family offices, joining the already strong stable of shareholders to support the Group’s further expansion globally. For more information, please visit www.cityneongroup.com.

About World Heritage Exhibitions

World Heritage Exhibitions (WHE) is a worldwide leader in producing, promoting, and designing blockbuster exhibitions. WHE is renowned for producing the finest quality museum content that captivates, educates, and inspires visitors across the globe. With a combined 50-years of exhibition experience, the executive team is responsible for touring many of the world’s most valuable treasures, including objects from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, relics from Cleopatra’s Royal Palace, artifacts from the Titanic, items from the discovery of Pompeii, and more. Their exhibitions have now been enjoyed by over 30 million people, spanning six continents, and their collective expertise has come together in one of the most influential touring exhibition companies on the planet.

#Cityneon #World Heritage Exhibitions #WHE

OneDegree Completes Series B1 Funding Round in Major Step to Become Asia’s InsurTech Leader

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 August 2021 – OneDegree, one of Asia’s fastest growing InsurTech companies, today announces that it has raised USD28 million in a Series B1 funding round, as it accelerates to be the next-generation InsurTech leader in the region.

 

The latest round brings the total funds raised by OneDegree to date to over USD70 million, demonstrating investors’ strong reception to the growth delivered by the Group since its previous funding round. The new funds will be used for OneDegree’s investment in new technology, product development and expansion across both Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B) segments.

 

To complement its expansion in Asia, the Group plans to double its headcount to 300 over the next 12 months. At the same time, it is deepening its strategic partnerships in Asia Pacific and Europe, with the aim of becoming a global InsurTech business with presence in five continents within the next five years.

 

“OneDegree has been going from strength to strength. This latest funding round is a testament to our achievement and a vote of confidence from both our existing and new investors,” said Alvin Kwock, Co-founder of OneDegree. “Our ambition is to grow OneDegree Hong Kong into a top three general insurance providers in Hong Kong by 2025 and bring our proven consumer products to key markets across Asia.”

 

Alex Leung, Co-founder of OneDegree, said: “With our IXT technology solutions, OneDegree is already embarking on its plans to be a leading B2B technology player in the global insurance space. We see increasing demands for IXT, as more and more insurance ecosystem participants are partnering with OneDegree Global to leverage the power of our technology solutions to generate sales growth and deliver business results. The reach of OneDegree’s technology is global, bringing positive impact to insurance businesses and end customers.”

 

This Series B1 funding round includes participation from new investors, including the direct investment unit of Sun Hung Kai & Co. and AEF Greater Bay Area Fund, along with six existing investors.

 

Lincoln Yeh, Co-Head of Private Equity at Sun Hung Kai & Co. said: “The OneDegree team impressed us with the thoughtfulness behind their multi-line product roadmap, as well as their modular, enterprise SaaS offering. We believe that with the founding team’s deep expertise across insurance and technology, OneDegree is well-positioned to become a leading virtual insurer for markets across Asia. We are excited to partner with OneDegree as part of Sun Hung Kai & Co’s direct investments strategy.”

 

“We have been tracking OneDegree since its Series A Round, when Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF) first invested. Since then, we have been impressed by how OneDegree is delivering on its business growth. As OneDegree further expands in Asia, it makes perfect sense for us to select OneDegree as one of the first investments for the AEF Greater Bay Area Fund”, said Chibo Tang, managing partner of Gobi Partners, the general partner of the AEF Greater Bay Area Fund.

About OneDegree

OneDegree (“the Group”) was established in 2016 to accelerate technoloigcal innovations in the insurance industry and to make insurance more accessible to everyone. The Group has operations in Hong Kong, Taipei, Shenzhen and Singapore.

Its subsidiary OneDegree Hong Kong received a virtual insurer licence from the Hong Kong Insurance Authority in April 2020. It has a multi-line digital insurance business that offers protection for pet, e-commerce, and home for individuals and businesses. The other subsidiary, OneDegree Global, is a provider of modern insurance technology solutions, which have been well-received in the industry and are adopted by leading insurers in Asia seeking to accelerate digital transformation.

OneDegree has raised over USD70 million to date, with BitRock Capital, Sun Hung Kai & Co., AEF Greater Bay Area Fund, Cyberport Macro Fund, and Cathay Venture among its investors.

Notes to Editors

OneDegree Business Update

B2B – highly scalable tech solutions for insurers and enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions

  • OneDegree Global’s (ODG) technology solutions IXT and its modular solutions are already implemented by leading global insurers since the launch in Q3 2020. In addition, ODG has developed enterprise-grade Cymetrics cybersecurity solutions that are adopted by financial institutions, health tech and other enterprises in Asia.
  • The ODG technology solutions have significantly accelerated enterprise customers’ product innovations, enabling them to break-through existing system constraints, enhance operational agility and quicken new product time-to-market.

B2C – product innovation with strong market fit for consumers, demonstrated by strong customer engagement

  • Within the first year of launch, OneDegree Hong Kong (ODHK) has become a multi-line insurer with a growing portfolio across pet, home and e-commerce and it has quickly achieved market leading position in pet and e-commerce insurance.
  • ODHK recorded an average of 35% monthly sales growth and its strong product-market fit is demonstrated by over 90,000 paid customers to date (we believe this is the highest among the four virtual insurers in the market) and strong customer satisfaction and engagement, with over 90% of customers renewing their policies.
  • For its new initiatives, ODHK will be launching digital asset insurance, a bundled insurance and technology offering for digital asset service providers, together with the Cymetrics cybersecurity solutions. ODHK also has plans to launch its health and wellness products in Q4 2021 and other general insurance products in 2022.

#OneDegree

Construction Management Awards 2020 honoured 66 winners for outstanding achievement in construction management

Cr Dr Conrad Wong, Vice President of Yau Lee Holdings, received “HKICM Outstanding Achievement” Award

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 August 2021 – The Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers (“HKICM”) hosted the “HKICM 23rd Anniversary Dinner cum Construction Management Awards 2020 Presentation Ceremony” on 27 August at JW Marriott Hong Kong at the officiation by the Ir LAM Sai Hung, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works). Cr Dr Conrad Wong was honoured with the HKICM Outstanding Achievement Award.

 

The Construction Management Award was inaugurated in 2016 and has since become one of the most prestigious accolades in construction management sector. The Awards aims to recognise the achievements of construction management teams and practitioners, uphold the pursuit of quality service and motivate industry development. Themed “New EraNew Challenge” this year, this third edition of the Award aims to acknowledge the construction industry for embracing a new era and thriving amidst the new challenges it brings. The Presentation Ceremony saw 66 construction teams and individuals receiving commendations, with the most prestigious Excellent Construction Team Awards granted to Hip Hing Construction Company Limited’s South Island Place project (New Works category) and Gammon Construction Limited’s Central Plaza Podium Extension project (A&A Works category).

 

Mr YU Tak Cheung, JP, our Head Juror of CMA 2020, mentioned, “The construction team of South Island Place managed the completion of a high-quality building within tight timeframe while displaying exceptional project management capability. The construction team of Central Plaza Podium Extension has put in creative ideas to meet client requirements. The team also collaborated extensively with various parties to minimize disruptions caused to the adjacent buildings.”

 

In terms of the individual awards, Young Construction Manager Award was given to Cr CHEN Fai Wing Phyllis from Gammon Construction Limited who owns 16 years of experience, and Cr Dr Conrad WONG received HKICM Outstanding Achievement Award. With over 30 years of experience in construction engineering, Cr Dr Wong’s devotion in developing robots and applications of artificial intelligence for construction has made tremendous contribution to the industry. On receiving this honour, Cr Dr Conrad WONG shared, “The duty of the Construction Manager is very challenging. There is a sense of excitement and accomplishment when the innovative ideas become reality and recognized by the construction industry. A great team is essential in the whole process. I am very grateful to my colleagues for their hard work and creativity in innovating new construction methods to build a better Hong Kong.”

 

Cr Tony ZA, President of HKICM and Cr Daniel SHUM, Immediate Past President, shared in their welcome remarks, “The pandemic has caused over 9 months’ delay to this presentation ceremony and posed difficulties to the judging process. Notwithstanding all the challenges from the pandemic, the construction sector has upheld professionalism and devoted to building a liveable city for everyone. We pay our tribute and respect to all practitioners, and thank them for their unswerving contribution.”

 

Construction Management Awards 2020 results:

Award

Company

Project

Awardee

Team Awards

Excellent Construction Team – New Works

Grand

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

/

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

/

Merit

CR Construction Company Limited

One Hennessy

/

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

/

Merit

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

/

Excellent Construction Team – A&A Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

/

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

/

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

/

Individual Awards

HKICM Outstanding Achievement Award

Grand

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

/

Cr Dr Conrad Wong, BBS, JP

Young Construction Manager Award

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

/

Cr Chen Fai Wing Phyllis

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

/

Cr Chan Wing Hong, Ronald

Merit

Sun Fook Kong Construction Limited

/

Cr Ir Ng Wai Hung

Construction Manager Award – New Works

Grand

CR Construction Company Limited

One Hennessy

Cr Wong Chung Yuen

Merit

Build King Construction Limited

Kowloon East Regional Headquarters and Operational Base cum Ngau Tau Kok Divisional Police Station

Ir Kwan Yee Kin, Keith

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Lo Ho Kwan, Kelvin

Merit

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

Mr Sare Ka Ming, Franklin

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Cr Tse Ka Cheung

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Cr Yeung Sin Kai, Eddie

Construction Manager Award – A&A Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

Cr Chen Fai Wing Phyllis

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

Cr Tsui Chun Tim

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

Cr Wan Moon Sing, Stephen

Site Manager Award – New Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

Mr Chow Che Leung

Merit

CR Construction Company Limited

One Hennessy

Mr Johnny Chan

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Cheung Kwok Wah

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Mr Lau Ka Ning

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Cr Lo Chi Wang, Lewis

Merit

Build King Construction Limited

Kowloon East Regional Headquarters and Operational Base cum Ngau Tau Kok Divisional Police Station

Mr Poon Chon Hei, Ronan

Building Services Coordinator Award – New Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

Mr Tong Kei Ho, Michael

Merit

CR Construction Company Limited

The St. Regis Hong Kong Hotel

Mr Chan Wai Ming

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Mr Cheng Wai Kit

Merit

Chinney Construction Company Limited

Jockey Club Postgraduate Halls 2 & 3

Mr Koo Wai Kit, Charles

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Mr Lai Chi Wai, Chris

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Lai Ho Yin, Stanley

Merit

Build King Construction Limited

Kowloon East Regional Headquarters and Operational Base cum Ngau Tau Kok Divisional Police Station

Mr Tse Ho Kwong

Engineer Award – New Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

Mr Tse Chung Wai, Terence

Distinction

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Lau Chun Man, Samuel

Merit

CR Construction Company Limited

One Hennessy

Ms Moira Chen

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Cr Wong Ka Chun

Merit

Build King Construction Limited

Kowloon East Regional Headquarters and Operational Base cum Ngau Tau Kok Divisional Police Station

Ir Wong Kar Wai, Stan

Engineer Award – A&A Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

Mr Cheung Wai Hong

Distinction

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

Ir Ng Mo Yiu, Kim

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

Cr Ho Chin Choi

Quantity Surveyor Award – New Works

Grand

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Leung Yiu Tai

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Mr Chan Kwong Charn

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

Novi

Mr Lau Kai Chung

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Mr Leung Kwong Chi

Merit

CR Construction Company Limited

One Hennessy

Mr Tang Wai Shing

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

Proposed Commercial Redevelopment at K.T.I.L. 713, No. 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

Cr Wong Hui Chuen

Quantity Surveyor Award – A&A Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

Mr Cheng Tai Yau Ricky

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

Mr Choy Chi Wai, William

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

Mr Yiu Pun Cheong

EHS Officer Award – New Works

Grand

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Chiu Ka Chun, Zero

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Mr Leung Yiu Keung

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

Novi

Mr Lo Cheuk Hing, Dickson

Merit

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

Proposed Commercial Redevelopment at K.T.I.L. 713, No. 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

Mr Yip Man Ho

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Mr Yuen Kwong Sing

EHS Officer Award – A&A Works

Grand

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

Ms Choi Hiu Yan, Melody

Distinction

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

Mr Chan Tsz Fung

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

Mr Tang Kwok Wai Ellis

Construction Supervisor Award – New Works

Grand

Hip Hing Construction Company Limited

South Island Place

Mr Wong Man Hong, Ronnie

Merit

Hip Hing Joint Venture (SPX 1)

Hong Kong Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX 1)

Mr Chan Ching Yee

Merit

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

Novi

Mr Fong Chi Hon, Eddy

Merit

Gammon Construction Limited

The Quayside

Mr Lui Kin Leung, Wilson

Merit

Paul Y. Builders Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex, The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

Mr Ng Tin Shing

Construction Supervisor Award – A&A Works

Grand

Gammon Construction Limited

Central Plaza Podium Extension

Mr Tsui Chun Lok

Distinction

Cheung Kee Fung Cheung Construction Company Limited

The Eastmark

Mr Cheung Oi Sun, Tenny

Merit

Yau Lee Construction Company Limited

St. Joseph’s College – Special Project for Premises Extension

Mr Yuen Chi Keung

 

*In alphabetical order of company names

 

Construction Management Awards 2020 Jury Panel

We thank the following industry leaders for being the jurors of Construction Management Awards 2020.

Head Juror

Mr YU Tak Cheung, JP

Director of Buildings, Buildings Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

Juror Members

Ir Prof Albert P.C. CHAN

Associate Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development

Able Professor in Construction Health and Safety

Chair Professor of Construction Engineering and Management

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Mr CHAN Ka-Kui, SBS, JP

Chairman, Construction Industry Council

Ir CHAN Sau Kit, Allan

Past President, The Hong Kong Construction Association

Mr CHONG Kin Lit Paul, BBS, MH

Life President, The Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited

Cr SHUM Hau-tak, Daniel

Immediate Past President, Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers

Sr Edwin TANG

President, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

Ir Dr P L YUEN

Immediate Past President, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

*In alphabetical order of surnames

 

Photo captions

Photo 1: The Excellent Construction Team – New Works Award was given to the construction team of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited’s South Island Place project.

Photo 2: The Excellent Construction Team – A&A Works Award was given to the construction team of Gammon Construction Limited’s Central Plaza Podium Extension project.

Photo 3: Cr Dr Conrad Wong, BBS, JP received HKICM Outstanding Achievement Award from Cr Tony Za, Mr Yu Tak Cheung, JP, Ir Lam Sai Hung, JP and Cr Daniel Shum.

Photo 4: Cr Chen Fai Wing Phyllis received Young Construction Manager Award from Cr Tony Za, Mr Yu Tak Cheung, JP, Ir Lam Sai Hung, JP and Cr Daniel Shum.

Photo 5: Group Photo of Construction Management Awards 2020 Jury Panel

Photo 6: Group Photo of Ir Lam Sai Hung, JP and HKICM Committee Members

Download pictures of the Construction Management Awards Presentation Ceremony from below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XVvFnilH-0lX59zV11FCmdqbyL11KX_B

 

For more information about Construction Management Awards 2020 please visit http://www.hkicm-cma.com/

 

About Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers

Established in 1997, Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers is the only local professional institution representing the construction management profession in Hong Kong. The number of HKICM members reached 3,162, of which 1,188 were Corporate Members (including Fellows and Members).

Our objectives are to secure the advancement and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and expertise which constitutes and promotes the practice of and professionalism in construction management. The works of the Institute include setting standards for professional services and performance, establishing rules of conduct, promoting Registered Construction Managers and Construction Supervisors and promulgating the recognition of professional site supervisors. We believe that all construction sites need to be managed by registered professional construction managers to ensure compliance of operation with government laws, safety and environmental protection requirements. In order to improve the professional standard of technical personnel in an orderly manner, the government needs to register and recognize the professional qualifications of site supervisors.

#HongKongInstituteofConstructionManagers

New Covid-19 Death Reported in Savannakhet as Community Spread Rises

New Death from Covid-19 in Savannakhet

A new death has been reported by rescue workers in Savannakhet Province as community spread of Covid-19 increases around the country.

Q P Group Announces 2021 Interim Results: Total Revenue Increases by 16.6% to HK$589.6 million

Web Sales Business Revenue Surges 37.1% to HK$93.2 million

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 August 2021 – Q P Group Holdings Limited (“Q P Group” or the “Group“; Stock code: 01412), one of the leading manufacturers of paper-based tabletop games and paper-based greeting cards in the PRC, today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (“6M2021” or “the Period”).

 

During the Period, the Group recorded total revenue of approximately HK$589.6 million, representing an increase of around 16.6% from approximately HK$505.6 million for the six months ended 30 June 2020 (“6M2020”), which was mainly attributable to the increase in original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) sales. Net profit decreased by approximately 17.2% to approximately HK$32.5 million for 6M2021. Without taking into account the non-recurring listing expenses for 6M2020, the net profit would be decreased by approximately 19.6% for 6M2021 as compared with that of 6M2020.

 

The Board has resolved to declare an interim dividend of HK2.0 cents per ordinary share for 6M2021 (6M2020: HK2.0 cents).

Business Review

 

COVID-19 continued to pose extensive adverse effects to businesses across the globe during 6M2021. However, global economy has shown signs of recovery and retail activities have been resumed thanks to the effective disease control measures and growing vaccination rates. Still, the global supply chain faced extensive disruption due to the shortage of containers and port congestion problems partially caused by the blockage of the Suez Canal earlier this year as well as the restricted operations of ports in South China due to the implementation of more stringent COVID-19 control measures. As the U.S. and European markets are the Group’s primary delivery destinations, such disruption has affected its order fulfilment and the realisation of its sales revenue and financial performance.

 

Despite the challenges and uncertainties in the macro environment, the revenue from the Group’s OEM sales increased by 13.4% to approximately HK$496.4 million for 6M2021. The increase was primarily due to the recovery of the global retail market following the gradual easing of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in orders from the Group’s major customers who principally purchase greeting cards, tabletop games and puzzles.

 

Web sales also increased, with revenue rising from approximately HK$68.0 million in 6M2020 to approximately HK$93.2 million in 6M2021, representing an increase of approximately 37.1%. The increase was primarily due to the surging demand for playing cards during the pandemic-driven e-commerce boom.

For 6M2021, the Group’s gross profit was approximately HK$178.6 million, representing an increase of around 10.7% as compared with gross profit of approximately HK$161.4 million for 6M2020. The gross profit margin decreased from approximately 31.9% for 6M2020 to approximately 30.3% for 6M2021, primarily due to the appreciation of the renminbi against the Hong Kong dollar and the absence of reductions and exemptions of several corporate social insurance premiums for enterprises in the PRC during the Period.

 

Prospects

 

The web sales business remains the Group’s long-term strategic focus and growth driver. With its well-established foundation and broad customer base, the Group has been expanding its IT and digital marketing teams to support its goal of achieving greater market penetration and diversification. In alignment with its strategy of developing professional websites for high-potential product categories, the Group kicked off the development of another e-commerce website during the Period — the MakeToteBags (“MTB”). This web platform for personalised bags products is targeted to be officially launched in the third quarter of 2021.

 

Moreover, the Group is working on the development of a new business-to-business-to-consumer platform, the Q P Market Network (“QPMN”). Targeting global online markets, QPMN will make it possible for worldwide online shops and designers to offer print-on-demand services for personalised products to their end customers, powered by plugin programmes that connect with the Group’s backend systems and production facilities. The orders will be fulfilled by the Group to the end customers directly. The Group intends to launch QPMN’s first plugin programme in the third quarter of 2021 which will enable online shops to offer customised puzzles to their customers.

To achieve the long-term strategy of developing a new production base in Vietnam, the Group entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with a lessor in June 2021 in respect of the sublease of land in an industrial park in Ha Nam Province, Vietnam. With an area of approximately 40,000 m2, the land will be used to establish the Group’s first self-owned production plant outside the PRC. The plant will be equipped with comprehensive end-to-end production machinery and production lines. It will serve as the Group’s manufacturing hub in Vietnam and is expected to maximise the synergy of its supply chain in the region. Construction of the factory is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022 and the production plant is expected to commence operations in the middle of 2023.

 

Mr. Cheng Wan Wai, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Q P Group concluded: “The COVID-19 pandemic situation is expected to remain volatile and affect various economic activities, stunting global economic growth. We will stay highly alert to the challenges and uncertainties that arise in the economic and political environments, while remaining focused on internal operational improvement and steady business expansion. We will strive to consolidate our capacity, efficiency and cost-optimisation with enhancement of workflows and production planning as well as extended use of smart operations, with the ultimate aim of achieving better business performance and creating greater value for our shareholders.”

About Q P Group Holdings Limited (雋思集團控股有限公司; Stock code: 01412)

Established in Hong Kong in 1985, Q P Group is one of the leading paper-based tabletop games and paper-based greeting cards manufacturers in the PRC. It has established stable and long-term business relationships with major OEM customers including an international greeting cards publisher and multinational children educational products and toys brands. Its principal product categories include tabletop games, greeting cards, educational items and premium packaging, which are sold on an OEM basis or through online sales channels. It operates two key production sites in Dongguan and Heshan in the PRC.

The five major websites are: https://www.makeplayingcards.com

https://www.boardgamesmaker.com

https://www.createjigsawpuzzles.com

https://www.printerstudio.com

https://www.gifthing.com

For more information, please visit: https://www.qpp.com/

#QPGroup

Uni-Bio Science Group: 2021 Interim Results

Successful Turnaround to Profit-making with Record-High Turnover

Expanding R&D Activity in Nanobody Drug to Diversify Product Portfolio

HONG KONG SAR – EQS Newswire – 27 August 2021 – A fully integrated biopharmaceutical company – Uni-Bio Science Group Limited (“Uni-Bio Science”, together with its subsidiaries referred to as the “Group”, stock code: 0690.HK), is pleased to announce its interim results for six months ended 30 June 2021 (the “Period”), as well as its comparative figures for six months ended 30 June 2020.

 

Key Accomplishments in the First Half of 2021

During the Period, the Group achieved a spectrum of accomplishments, for both of its marketed products and innovative biologics. The key highlights include:

 

1.    Coupled with its ongoing cost control measures, the Group achieved a profit for the Period of HK$1.9 million as compared with a loss of HK$11.5 million for the corresponding period of last year. This is the first time that the Group has recorded profit solely from its core business operations. It signifies that the Group has started yielding fruits and has entered the path of sustainable profit growth.

 

2.    On 3 February 2021, the Group’s Pinup® (Voriconazole Tablets 50mg) was the first one to be selected among the same category in the Fourth Batch of the National Centralized Procurement. After being included in the volume-based procurement, Pinup® recorded a noticeable increase of 257.3% YoY in turnover from approximately HK$15.7 million to approximately HK$56.1million during the Period. Market access, especially hospital listing, had always been the biggest challenge to Pinup®. After being included in the volume-based procurement, Pinup® is in a great position to quickly penetrate into the public hospital markets. Moreover, being listed in the national volume-based procurement is the local regulator’s push to reduce intermediaries in the sales channel, further enhancing the efficiency and reducing the cost of the healthcare industry in China.


3.    During the Period, GeneTime® and GeneSoft® generated remarkable turnover, sales of GeneTime® and GeneSoft® registered significant increase of 116.8% YoY and 45.8% YoY respectively.The sales of GeneTime® exceeded the pre-epidemic level and the demand for the product was far beyond the supply during the first half of 2021.

4.    Boshutai® was officially approved for marketing in China by the National Medical Products Administration (“NMPA”) and being qualified for GMP manufacturing in 2020, the Group had started the production of Boshutai® in the first quarter of 2021 and the sales of Boshutai® had made immediate contribution to the Group during the Period.

 

5.    During the Period, the Group was in preparation for the bridging clinical trial for 2nd Generation liquid form Uni-PTH as planned. The clinical trial will be officially launched in August 2021 and is expected to be finished by the end of 2021, following by a New Drug Application (“NDA”) in 2022.

 

6.    The Group has been preparing for the clinical trial-related works for Uni-GLP, which is expected to carry out in the third quarter of 2021. The Group has been in constant communications with the NMPA regarding the optimization of the bridging clinical trials. If the results are satisfying, phase III of the clinical trials may not be needed and this will accelerate the approval process of Uni-GLP.

 

7.    During the Period, the Group developed strategic partnership with DotBio Pte. Ltd. (“DotBio”) to co-develop multi-specific nanobodies for people with retinal diseases. Leveraging on DotBio’s unparalleled technology capability in the ophthalmology space, together with the Group’s extensive experience in fermentation, purification, quality assurance and quality control of E.coli-expressed proteins, this partnership is able to diversify the Group’s pipeline and capture the rising needs of the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment market.

 

Interim Results

During the Period, the Group recorded a turnover of HK$ 157.0 million, representing a noticeable increase of approximately 132.8% year-on-year (first half of 2020: HK$ 67.4 million). The increase in turnover was mainly attributable to the strong rebounded sales of the Group’s core products after the effective pandemic control of COVID-19 in China and the resumption of hospital services. Turnover generated from GeneTime® reached HK$82.4 million, representing a significant increase of 116.8% from approximately HK$38 million in first half of 2020, mainly due to the strong recovery from hospital sales as well as the additional turnover from the digital marketing and pharmaceutical e-commerce platform. Sales of GeneSoft® had been fully recovered during the Period, recorded an increase in turnover from approximately HK$11.8 million to HK$17.2 million. Pinup® has recorded a noticeable increase of 257.3% in turnover from approximately HK$15.7 million to approximately HK$56.1million during the Period. Turnover of the Group’s newly launched product Boshutai® (Acarbose tablet) was approximately HK$1.3 million.

 

Gross profit was HK$124.4 million, representing an increase of 117.1% as compared with approximately HK$57.3 million for the first half 2020.  Gross profit margin was at 79.3% (first half of 2020: 85.0%) as the pricing of Pinup® for the centralized procurement was significantly lower but was partly offset by the economies of scale from mass production volume. The Group continued its strict control in general and administrative expenses, which only accounted for 14.2% of turnover for the Period as compared with 29.0% for the same period last year. The selling and distribution expense for the Period also decreased to 48.5% of turnover from 63.1% that of the same period last year due to the Group’s further optimization of its direct salesforce. The R&D expenses increased by 164.6% to HK$21.4 million and the amount was in step with the Group’s product research status.

 

For the Period, the Group recorded a profit of HK$1.9 million with a basic earnings per share of HK$0.03 cents, registering a turnaround from a loss of HK$11.5 million or a basic loss per share of HK$0.18 cents in the first half of 2020. This was the first half-year that the Group achieved a profit from operations, which marked the beginning of yielding fruits of the Group’s biopharmaceutical investment and efforts over the past years.

 

Prospects

China’s healthcare industry has been growing rapidly over the past few years and has become the second biggest in the world since 2016. The growth is not only driven by the aging population, which leads to an increasing number of people diagnosed with chronic diseases, but also with the support of government policies. As one of the innovative pharmaceutical companies in China, the Group believes that these catalysts will drive greater business growth in the future.

 

As the Group’s exclusive distribution and promotion rights of GeneSoft® with its partners, CR Zizhu, came to an end in June 2021, the Group has started leveraging its well-established direct sales team to promote GeneSoft® in multiple channels. With shared resources with GeneTime®, the sales as well as the profitability are expected to significantly improve going forward. To address the unmet need of medical aesthetic, the Group is in discussion with various potential partners to explore innovative formulations of EGF products. Leveraging on its innovative material technology, the Group is able to diversify the formulation of EGF products and potentially expand its application scope.

 

Looking into the future, Mr. Kingsley Leung, Chairman of Uni-Bio Science said, ” This was the first half-year that the Group achieved a profit solely from its core operations. It also marked the beginning of profit-making of the Group’s biopharmaceutical investment and efforts over the past years as it is expected to enter the path of sustainable profit growth. In order to expand the product capacity to meet the growing demands of GeneSoft® and GeneTime®, we decided to relocate the production site to Dongguan. The new production base will be equipped with new technology that would further reduce production and transportation costs as well as overheads while enhancing the overall production capacity. To explore new business opportunities in ophthalmology field, the Group is cooperating with Dotbio and potential partners to develop potential best-in-class therapeutic products that can compete in a global setting. To capture more value in the dermatology space, we may also develop a third molecule with Dotbio. The Group will also continue to focus on the research and development of the innovative drugs, including Uni-PTH and Uni-GLP. We believe that aforementioned strategies will enhance operational efficiency, accelerate product pipelines and sustain its growth momentum. These would in turn generate more fruitful returns for its shareholders.”

About Uni-Bio Science Group Limited

Uni-Bio Science Group Limited is principally engaged in the research and development, manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products. The research and development centre is fully equipped with a complete system for the development of genetically-engineered products with a pilot plant test base which is in line with NMPA requirements. The Group also has two GMP manufacturing bases in Beijing and Shenzhen. The Group also has a highly efficient commercialization platform and marketing network. The Group focuses on the development of novel treatments and innovative drugs addressing the therapeutic areas of endocrine such as diabetes and osteoporosis, ophthalmology and dermatology.

#Uni-BioScienceGroup

China Mobile Hong Kong Triumphs Hong Kong’s Fastest 5G Network Award by Ookla®

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 August 2021 – Hong Kong’s leading 5G network provider China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) has been recognised as Hong Kong’s Fastest 5G Network Award – First Half of 2021* by Ookla® the company behind Speedtest®.  This triumph follows its recognition by Ookla as the Fastest 5G Network in the Fourth Quarter of 2020 in Hong Kong**, and reaffirms CMHK’s commitment to leading Hong Kong into the new era of 5G.

According to the Hong Kong 5G network performance report awarded by Ookla, as of Q1 – Q2 2021, the median upload, download data speed of CMHK’s 5G network achieved market-leading results**.

 

 

CMHK 5G network median speed

Average market 5G network median speed

Percentage***

Upload (Mbps)

32.61

25.23

29% higher

Download (Mbps)

212.76

153.82

38% higher

 

CMHK’s latency is lower at 11ms versus average market 5G latency at 13ms.

Full report can be accessed https://www.speedtest.net/awards/hong_kong/

 

Ookla®, the company behind Speedtest®, is a global leader in data analysis for fixed and mobile network test applications. Over 10 million daily tests are actively initiated by users across all Speedtest® platforms, with nearly 37 billion tests completed to date. As a result, Ookla® boasts the most comprehensive analytics on internet performance and accessibility worldwide. Ookla® is available in over 30 languages for thousands of businesses, governments, universities and trade organizations, and is used by a significant number of internet service providers and mobile carriers around the world.

 

Mr Sean Lee, Director & Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, said: “After achieving a milestone of 5 million customers in June, we are proud to announce that CMHK’s 5G network speed has once again been recognized by Speedtest®. This award recognizes the resources and efforts we continue to invest in building a fast, high-quality and reliable 5G network for Hong Kong, and strengthens our commitment to being the city’s preferred digital partner. Through our state-of-the-art 5G network and other cutting-edge technology, CMHK will continue to provide leading 5G services to pave the way into a new era of connectivity and smart living in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”

 

“Speedtest Awards, presented by Ookla, are reserved for an elite delegation of network operators that have delivered exceptional internet performance and coverage within a market. It is our pleasure to present China Mobile Hong Kong with the award for Fastest 5G Network in Hong Kong. This recognition is a testament to their exceptional performance in the first half of 2021 based on Ookla’s rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest.” Attributed to Doug Suttles, CEO of Ookla.

*Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data Q1–Q2 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

** Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data on 5G median download and upload speeds in Hong Kong for Q4 2020.Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

***Based on analysis by CMHK of Speedtest Intelligence®️ data Q1-Q2 2021. Ookla®️ trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

About China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited

China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“CMHK”) is the wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited (HKEx: 941) (NYSE: CHL), which ranks 56th on the Fortune Global 500. CMHK was incepted in January 1997 and was the first mobile network operator to launch PCS services in Hong Kong.

The Company offers innovative and comprehensive communications services, including voice, data, IDD and international roaming through 5G, 4G LTE and 3GHSPA and other technologies. The Company is committed to the development of 5G with new technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud computing and big data, integrating 5G applications in different industries, and promoting the construction and development of smart city groups in the Greater Bay Area.

#ChinaMobileHongKong #CMHK

PolyU fashion design graduates shines at Fashion Show 2021 in Campus – Creative responses to the “New Normal”

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 August 2021 – The Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) staged the PolyU Fashion Show 2021 Award Ceremony on August 27 at the PolyU Alumni Atrium . In response to the pandemic, this year’s fashion show integrates online video broadcast and mini catwalk show at PolyU campus as a runway stage, to reveal students’ talents in a unique platform. Thirty show finalists have overcome multiple challenges during the pandemic, showcased their outstanding creations to the industrialists, fashion designers and fashionistas from all over the world, and competed for ten awards and scholarships.

The winner of the Overall Grand Award was Lee Pui Kwan, Cady. Her awarded design was titled “Emotion: The Shift Of The Self”. She was also the winner of Chamberlain Most Promising Idea Award, Scholarship of Creativity, and Lilian Kan Creativity Scholarship (see the Appendix for the list of awardees). Under the special circumstances this year, Cady gained valuable experience throughout her design development process. “It took me some time to adapt to the online design lessons at the beginning. In light of the shifted class delivery mode, the schedule is more flexible and it allows me to have an in-depth exploration about my creation and define goals clearly. “Cady recalled. “Although it is unfortunate that the graduation show cannot be held on a large scale as before, I still look forward to showcasing my works in this new hybrid mode and interacting with more audiences,” said Cady.

The judging panel was comprised of well-known fashion designers and seasoned practitioners of the fashion industry. They included: Ms Janet CHEUNG, Vice-Chairman, Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association; Ms Lu Lu CHEUNG, Creative Director, Rolls Group Limited; Mr Anthony KEUNG, President and C.E.O., Fenix Group Holdings Ltd; and Mr Walter MA, Director, Walter Ma & Co. Ltd.

The Show was officiated by Prof. WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost (DP) of PolyU, Prof. WONG Wai-yeung, Dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Applied Science and Prof. FAN Jin-tu, Chair Professor of Fiber Science & Apparel Engineering and Head of Institute of Textiles and Clothing, PolyU. Prof. FAN said, “This year, ITC has shown our prescience in response to the “New Normal” under the epidemic. Instead of organising the fashion show in a conventional way, we utilized PolyU campus as a runway stage for the catwalk models, to showcase our finalists’ designs through a creative journey in the exclusive online video. It breaks through the social, geographical and time constraints of the physical showcases. This is also a telling testament of the resilience of our students, which has inspired them to transform their experience into creative thinking, and to present the local designs from multiple perspectives on this interactive fashion stage. ”

Appendix

PolyU Fashion Show 2021 – List of awardees

Awards

Awardees

Collection

1

Overall Grand Award

Cady LEE Pui Kwan

Emotion: The Shift Of The Self

2

1st runner-up

Ken YEUNG Chun Shing

This Brutal World

3

2nd runner-up

Kunis CHEN Wai Ming

III

4

Excellence Award (sponsored by Fenix Group Holdings Limited)

Wa LEUNG Hiu Man

The Fool Dreamer

5

Chamberlain Most Promising Idea Award
(sponsored by Chamberlain Educational Services Centre)

Cady LEE Pui Kwan

Emotion: The Shift Of The Self

6

M.ORO INTERNATIONAL LTD. Award

(sponsored by M.ORO INTERNATIONAL LTD.)

Coco LAM TingTing

Take Your Cards

7

Tove & Libra Made Better Award
(sponsored by Tove & Libra)

Jane LI Wai Ping

nonameyet

8

Scholarship of Creativity

(sponsored by Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association)

1) Cady LEE Pui Kwan

2) Kunis CHEN Wai Ming

1) Emotion: The Shift Of The Self ;

2) III

9

Lilian Kan Creativity Scholarship (sponsored by KanaLili)

1) Cady LEE Pui Kwan

2) Debbie CHOI Ka Ling

3) Bloomy TSE Ting Ting

1) Emotion: The Shift Of The Self ;

2) DO NOT DISTURB, exploring the world ;

3) 404 NOT FOUND

10

Best Use of Australian Merino Wool Award

(sponsored by Flinders Merino Group)

Bailey TAI Pui Lei

Hometown

About the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of PolyU

Since its inception in 1957, ITC has developed into a world-renowned institution in fashion & textile education, research and technology transfer. More than thirty thousand alumni are the backbones of the fashion and textile industry in Hong Kong, China and beyond.


As one of the leading institutions in fashion, textiles and research, ITC’s mission is to nurture its graduates to be creative, critical, innovative and ethical leaders, to advance knowledge and push the boundaries in fashion, textiles and design. ITC supports and collaborates with fashion, textiles and design industries to achieve sustainable progress, and apply professional knowledge for the betterment of mankind.

PolyU ITC website: www.polyu.edu.hk/itc/

#InstituteofTextilesandClothing #ITC #PolyUITC