#Hong Kong business regulations

[panchitacarmensita]

Aligning Corporate Strategy with Legal and Regulatory Standards in Hong Kong

When establishing and growing a company in Hong Kong, it is vital that business leaders factor in the region's complex legal and regulatory environment into strategic planning. Failure to adhere to employment ordinances, tax codes, intellectual property laws and other standards can undermine your entire China/HK growth agenda. This article provides best practices on aligning organizational strategy with key compliance benchmarks.

Start by Building a Legal/Regulatory Risk Profile

Gather input from your Hong Kong legal advisors on the primary laws and regulations that will impact core business functions based on your growth roadmap. Recruit specialists for insights across domains – an employment lawyer to advise on ordinances around pay, working conditions and termination requirements; a corporate attorney familiar with documentation needs as outlined under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO); and a team with nuanced understandings around taxation in Hong Kong/Mainland China.

Emphasize Governance and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

With your risk map complete detailing major compliance pressure points around formation, sales, trading, hiring, operations and more, use this framework to drive governance moves that harden the organization against illegal or unethical actions. Expand procedures around everything from acquiring entities in China to information sharing standards that prevent insider trading incidents that might imperil your HK stock listing. Appoint board oversight committees on ethics and regulatory policy.

Monitor Regulatory Trends Proactively

Laws and policies do not remain static – from 2023 increases to statutory severance pay to tightening rules against monopolistic practices among Mainland businesses by the State Administration for Market Regulation, regulations shift frequently. Continuously follow key policy proposals and moves by agencies like InvestHK, while participating in trade associations that can help represent your interests in government discourses.

Align Business Objectives with Compliance Mandates

Finally, let mandatory requirements guide corporate strategy itself by identifying opportunities. With crackdowns on corruption and tax evasion, build competitive advantage via best practices in transparency and disclosure around transactions, modeling anti-bribery across China operations. Where competitors resist minimum wage increases or workplace improvements, embrace these to attract top talent across Hong Kong and Shenzhen centers tapping young professional desire for purpose-driven leadership.

By viewing ongoing legal and regulatory reform as intrinsic to strategy rather than counterweights to growth, foreign companies can sustainably thrive across Hong Kong and mainland China's vast ecosystem, while accelerating competitive edge, financial performance and positive societal impact.

[darkautomaton]

Corporate Secretary in navigating legal and regulatory frameworks in Corporate Hong Kong

In the bustling corporate landscape of Hong Kong, the Corporate Secretary emerges as a pivotal figure. This professional's expertise lies in guiding companies through the complex maze of legal and regulatory requirements. In Hong Kong, a global financial hub, the importance of this role is magnified due to the stringent regulatory environment.

The Corporate Secretary ensures compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations, a critical task in Hong Kong's dynamic business environment. They are the custodians of corporate governance, ensuring that the company's operations align with legal standards and ethical norms. Their role extends beyond mere compliance; they also provide valuable counsel to the board of directors, influencing strategic decisions.

Advising on corporate governance is another key aspect of the Corporate Secretary's role. They stay abreast of changes in laws and regulations, ensuring that the company adapts swiftly to new requirements. This includes overseeing corporate policies, managing risk, and ensuring that the board's decisions are implemented effectively and legally.

In the realm of shareholder engagement, the Corporate Secretary plays a crucial role. They facilitate communication between the board and shareholders, ensuring transparency and fostering trust. This includes organizing annual general meetings, managing shareholder queries, and maintaining shareholder records. Their role is vital in enhancing investor relations and protecting shareholder interests.

Moreover, the Corporate Secretary is instrumental in corporate transactions. They oversee due diligence processes, manage regulatory filings, and ensure that all corporate actions are in compliance with legal requirements. Whether it's mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures, their expertise is indispensable in navigating these complex transactions smoothly.

In conclusion, the Corporate Secretary in Hong Kong is a linchpin in ensuring that companies navigate the legal and regulatory frameworks effectively. Their role is multifaceted, encompassing compliance, governance, shareholder relations, and transactional support. As Hong Kong continues to evolve as a global financial center, the importance of the Corporate Secretary in steering companies through this landscape cannot be overstated.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Bill Prutt for Slate:

On Jan. 8, 2004, just more than 20 years ago, the first episode of The Apprentice aired. It was called “Meet the Billionaire,” and 18 million people watched. The episodes that followed climbed to roughly 20 million each week. A staggering 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the first season finale. The series won an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and the Television Critics Association called it one of the best TV shows of the year, alongside The Sopranos and Arrested Development. The series—alongside its bawdy sibling, The Celebrity Apprentice—appeared on NBC in coveted prime-time slots for more than a decade. The Apprentice was an instant success in another way too. It elevated Donald J. Trump from sleazy New York tabloid hustler to respectable household name. In the show, he appeared to demonstrate impeccable business instincts and unparalleled wealth, even though his businesses had barely survived multiple bankruptcies and faced yet another when he was cast. By carefully misleading viewers about Trump—his wealth, his stature, his character, and his intent—the competition reality show set about an American fraud that would balloon beyond its creators’ wildest imaginations.

I should know. I was one of four producers involved in the first two seasons. During that time, I signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened. It expired this year. No one involved in The Apprentice—from the production company or the network, to the cast and crew—was involved in a con with malicious intent. It was a TV show, and it was made for entertainment. I still believe that. But we played fast and loose with the facts, particularly regarding Trump, and if you were one of the 28 million who tuned in, chances are you were conned. As Trump answers for another of his alleged deception schemes in New York and gears up to try to persuade Americans to elect him again, in part thanks to the myth we created, I can finally tell you what making Trump into what he is today looked like from my side. Most days were revealing. Some still haunt me, two decades later. [...]

Now, this is important. The Apprentice is a game show regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. In the 1950s, scandals arose when producers of quiz shows fed answers to likable, ratings-generating contestants while withholding those answers from unlikable but truly knowledgeable players. Any of us involved in The Apprentice swinging the outcome of prize money by telling Trump whom to fire is forbidden. [...]

Trump goes about knocking off every one of the contestants in the boardroom until only two remain. The finalists are Kwame Jackson, a Black broker from Goldman Sachs, and Bill Rancic, a white entrepreneur from Chicago who runs his own cigar business. Trump assigns them each a task devoted to one of his crown-jewel properties. Jackson will oversee a Jessica Simpson benefit concert at Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, while Rancic will oversee a celebrity golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Viewers need to believe that whatever Trump touches turns to gold. These properties that bear his name are supposed to glitter and gleam. All thanks to him.

Reality is another matter altogether. The lights in the casino’s sign are out. Hong Kong investors actually own the place—Trump merely lends his name. The carpet stinks, and the surroundings for Simpson’s concert are ramshackle at best. We shoot around all that. Both Rancic and Jackson do a round-robin recruitment of former contestants, and Jackson makes the fateful decision to team up with the notorious Omarosa, among others, to help him carry out his final challenge. [...]

Trump will make his decision live on camera months later, so what we are about to film is the setup to that reveal. The race between Jackson and Rancic should seem close, and that’s how we’ll edit the footage. Since we don’t know who’ll be chosen, it must appear close, even if it’s not.

We lay out the virtues and deficiencies of each finalist to Trump in a fair and balanced way, but sensing the moment at hand, Kepcher sort of comes out of herself. She expresses how she observed Jackson at the casino overcoming more obstacles than Rancic, particularly with the way he managed the troublesome Omarosa. Jackson, Kepcher maintains, handled the calamity with grace. “I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization,” Kepcher says to Trump, who winces while his head bobs around in reaction to what he is hearing and clearly resisting. “Why didn’t he just fire her?” Trump asks, referring to Omarosa. It’s a reasonable question. Given that this the first time we’ve ever been in this situation, none of this is something we expected. “That’s not his job,” Bienstock says to Trump. “That’s yours.” Trump’s head continues to bob. “I don’t think he knew he had the ability to do that,” Kepcher says. Trump winces again.

“Yeah,” he says to no one in particular, “but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?” Kepcher’s pale skin goes bright red. I turn my gaze toward Trump. He continues to wince. He is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson. Bienstock does a half cough, half laugh, and swiftly changes the topic or throws to Ross for his assessment. What happens next I don’t entirely recall. I am still processing what I have just heard. We all are. Only Bienstock knows well enough to keep the train moving. None of us thinks to walk out the door and never return. I still wish I had. (Bienstock and Kepcher didn’t respond to requests for comment.) Afterward, we film the final meeting in the boardroom, where Jackson and Rancic are scrutinized by Trump, who, we already know, favors Rancic. Then we wrap production, pack up, and head home. There is no discussion about what Trump said in the boardroom, about how the damning evidence was caught on tape. Nothing happens.

We attend to our thesis that only the best and brightest deserve a job working for Donald Trump. Luckily, the winner, Bill Rancic, and his rival, Kwame Jackson, come off as capable and confident throughout the season. If for some reason they had not, we would have conveniently left their shortcomings on the cutting room floor. In actuality, both men did deserve to win. Without a doubt, the hardest decisions we faced in postproduction were how to edit together sequences involving Trump. We needed him to sound sharp, dignified, and clear on what he was looking for and not as if he was yelling at people. You see him today: When he reads from a teleprompter, he comes off as loud and stoic. Go to one of his rallies and he’s the off-the-cuff rambler rousing his followers into a frenzy. While filming, he struggled to convey even the most basic items. But as he became more comfortable with filming, Trump made raucous comments he found funny or amusing—some of them misogynistic as well as racist. We cut those comments. Go to one of his rallies today and you can hear many of them.

If you listen carefully, especially to that first episode, you will notice clearly altered dialogue from Trump in both the task delivery and the boardroom. Trump was overwhelmed with remembering the contestants’ names, the way they would ride the elevator back upstairs or down to the street, the mechanics of what he needed to convey. Bienstock instigated additional dialogue recording that came late in the edit phase. We set Trump up in the soundproof boardroom set and fed him lines he would read into a microphone with Bienstock on the phone, directing from L.A. And suddenly Trump knows the names of every one of the contestants and says them while the camera cuts to each of their faces. Wow, you think, how does he remember everyone’s name? While on location, he could barely put a sentence together regarding how a task would work. Listen now, and he speaks directly to what needs to happen while the camera conveniently cuts away to the contestants, who are listening and nodding. He sounds articulate and concise through some editing sleight of hand.

Then comes the note from NBC about the fact that after Trump delivers the task assignment to the contestants, he disappears from the episode after the first act and doesn’t show up again until the next-to-last. That’s too long for the (high-priced) star of the show to be absent. There is a convenient solution. At the top of the second act, right after the task has been assigned but right before the teams embark on their assignment, we insert a sequence with Trump, seated inside his gilded apartment, dispensing a carefully crafted bit of wisdom. He speaks to whatever the theme of each episode is—why someone gets fired or what would lead to a win. The net effect is not only that Trump appears once more in each episode but that he also now seems prophetic in how he just knows the way things will go right or wrong with each individual task. He comes off as all-seeing and all-knowing. We are led to believe that Donald Trump is a natural-born leader.

Through the editorial nudge we provide him, Trump prevails. So much so that NBC asks for more time in the boardroom to appear at the end of all the remaining episodes. (NBC declined to comment for this article.) [... So, we scammed. We swindled. Nobody heard the racist and misogynistic comments or saw the alleged cheating, the bluffing, or his hair taking off in the wind. Those tapes, I’ve come to believe, will never be found.

No one lost their retirement fund or fell on hard times from watching The Apprentice. But Trump rose in stature to the point where he could finally eye a run for the White House, something he had intended to do all the way back in 1998. Along the way, he could now feed his appetite for defrauding the public with various shady practices. In 2005 thousands of students enrolled in what was called Trump University, hoping to gain insight from the Donald and his “handpicked” professors. Each paid as much as $35,000 to listen to some huckster trade on Trump’s name. In a sworn affidavit, salesman Ronald Schnackenberg testified that Trump University was “fraudulent.” The scam swiftly went from online videoconferencing courses to live events held by high-pressure sales professionals whose only job was to persuade attendees to sign up for the course. The sales were for the course “tuition” and had nothing whatsoever to do with real estate investments. A class action suit was filed against Trump.

That same year, Trump was caught bragging to Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush that he likes to grab married women “by the pussy,” adding, “When you’re a star, they let you do it.” He later tried to recruit porn actor Stormy Daniels for The Apprentice despite her profession and, according to Daniels, had sex with her right after his last son was born. (His alleged attempt to pay off Daniels is, of course, the subject of his recent trial.) In October 2016—a month before the election—the Access Hollywood tapes were released and written off as “locker room banter.” Trump paid Daniels to keep silent about their alleged affair. He paid $25 million to settle the Trump University lawsuit and make it go away. He went on to become the first elected president to possess neither public service nor military experience. And although he lost the popular vote, Trump beat out Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, winning in the Rust Belt by just 80,000 votes.

Trump has been called the “reality TV president,” and not just because of The Apprentice. The Situation Room, where top advisers gathered, became a place for photo-ops, a bigger, better boardroom. Trump swaggered and cajoled, just as he had on the show. Whom would he listen to? Whom would he fire? Stay tuned. Trump even has his own spinoff, called the House of Representatives, where women hurl racist taunts and body-shame one another with impunity. The State of the Union is basically a cage fight. The demands of public office now include blowhard buffoonery.

Bill Pruitt wrote in Slate that Donald Trump used the N-word on the set of NBC's The Apprentice in 2004 when referring to a Black contestant (Kwame Jackson)'s chances of winning the competition by saying "would America buy a n***er winning?"

This is yet another example of Trump's long record of anti-Black racism that dates back to the 1970s.

[telomeke]

MICHELLE YEOH – HER INSANE STUNTWORK

So Michelle Yeoh has won a best actress SAG award and has also been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

You may know her from her steely turn as Eleanor Young in Crazy Rich Asians, or from her charismatic portrayals of the elegant older woman in productions such as The Lady and Memoirs of a Geisha. Or her butt-kicking turns in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Tomorrow Never Dies (if your memory can reach that far back).

She's been in numerous other productions, but what many may not know is that when she first started out in Hong Kong showbiz (after winning the Miss Malaysia pageant in 1983) she was only allowed to be just another huaping or flower vase actress. The term huaping is pejorative, and refers to actresses whose role in a film is primarily decorative, i.e., they sit around and look pretty, but don't really mean much to the narrative, or have much else to do as characters themselves. (OK so there was a movie in 1985 called Yes, Madam where she got to stretch her range as a fightworthy police inspector, but that seems like more an exception.)

Anyway, after her marriage to HK magnate Dickson Poon ended around 1991, Michelle blew the harmful stereotype of the huaping actress totally out of the water when she returned to show business in Jackie Chan's movie Police Story 3: Supercop (she'd taken a hiatus from filmwork during her marriage).

She did her own stunts in that movie (filmed in Malaysia, Michelle's country of birth), and the stuntwork was beyond insane. It wasn't the hand-to-hand combat (although there are fight scenes). Michelle rides a motorcycle during a chase scene, and it completely obliterates the bike ride she shared with Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies. Plus there's a scene of her bouncing off a moving car too.

Not to spoil the surprise (and shock) but there's also a train involved somewhere – just watch the video clip that follows.

Michelle herself says she must have been insane to do all those stunts (and there's no way this would pass OSHA regulations today). Take a look at the following (remember – this was in 1992 and there was no CGI technology involved) and then don't miss the outtakes after (Jackie was really concerned for her).

You may close your mouth now. This lady kicks some serious ass! 👀

[mariacallous]

Shortly before noon on Aug. 19, 2023, a Russian cruise missile sliced past the golden onion domes and squat apartment blocks of the Chernihiv skyline in northern Ukraine. The Iskander-K missile slammed into its target: the city’s drama theater, which was hosting a meeting of drone manufacturers at the time of the attack. More than 140 people were injured and seven killed. The youngest, 6-year-old Sofia Golynska, had been playing in a nearby park.

Fragments of the missile recovered by the Ukrainian armed forces and analyzed by Ukrainian researchers found numerous components made by U.S. manufacturers in the missile’s onboard navigation system, which enabled it to reach its target with devastating precision. In December, Ukraine’s state anti-corruption agency released an online database of the thousands of foreign-made components recovered from Russian weapons so far.

Russia’s struggle to produce the advanced semiconductors, electrical components, and machine tools needed to fuel its defense industrial base predates the current war and has left it reliant on imports even amid its estrangement from the West. So when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, major manufacturing countries from North America, Europe, and East Asia swiftly imposed export controls on a broad swath of items deemed critical for the Russian arms industry.

Russia quickly became the world’s most sanctioned country: Some 16,000 people and companies were subject to a patchwork of international sanctions and export control orders imposed by a coalition of 39 countries. Export restrictions were painted with such a broad brush that sunglasses, contact lenses, and false teeth were also swept up in the prohibitions. Even items manufactured overseas by foreign companies are prohibited from being sold to Russia if they are made with U.S. tools or software, under a regulation known as the foreign direct product rule.

But as the war reaches its two-year anniversary, export controls have failed to stem the flow of advanced electronics and machinery making their way into Russia as new and convoluted supply chains have been forged through third countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, which are not party to the export control efforts. An investigation by Nikkei Asia found a tenfold increase in the export of semiconductors from China and Hong Kong to Russia in the immediate aftermath of the war—the majority of them from U.S. manufacturers.

“Life finds a way,” said a senior U.S. intelligence official, quoting the movie Jurassic Park. The official spoke on background to discuss Russia’s evasion of export controls.

Some of the weapons and components analyzed by investigators were likely stockpiled before the war. But widely available Russian trade data reveals a brisk business in imports. More than $1 billion worth of advanced semiconductors from U.S. and European manufacturers made their way into the country last year, according to classified Russian customs service data obtained by Bloomberg. A recent report by the Kyiv School of Economics found that imports of components considered critical for the battlefield had dipped by just 10 percent during the first 10 months of 2023, compared with prewar levels.

This has created a Kafkaesque scenario, the report notes, in which the Ukrainian army is doing battle with Western weapons against a Russian arsenal that also runs on Western components.

It is an obvious problem, well documented by numerous think tank and media reports, but one without an easy solution. Tracking illicit trade in items such as semiconductors is an exponentially greater challenge than monitoring shipments of conventional weapons. Around 1 trillion chips are produced every year. Found in credit cards, toasters, tanks, missile systems, and much, much more, they power the global economy as well as the Russian military. Cutting Russia out of the global supply chain for semiconductors is easier said than done.

“Both Russia and China, and basically all militaries, are using a large number of consumer electronic components in their systems,” said Chris Miller, the author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. “All of the world’s militaries rely on the same supply chain, which is the supply chain that primarily services consumer electronics.”

Export controls were once neatly tailored to keep specific items, such as nuclear technology, out of the hands of rogue states and terrorist groups. But as Washington vies for technological supremacy with Beijing while also seeking to contain Russia and Iran, it has increasingly used these trade restrictions to advance broader U.S. strategic objectives. For instance, the Biden administration has placed wide-ranging prohibitions on the export of advanced chips to China.

“At no point in history have export controls been more central to our collective security than right now,” Matthew Axelrod, the assistant secretary for export enforcement at the U.S. Commerce Department, said in a speech last September. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has described export controls as “a new strategic asset in the U.S. and allied toolkit.”

Russia’s ability to defy these restrictions doesn’t just have implications for the war in Ukraine. It also raises significant questions about the challenge ahead vis-à-vis China.

“The technological question becomes a key part of this story and whether or not we can restrict it from our adversaries,” said James Byrne, the director of open-source intelligence and analysis at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank.

In the Russian city of Izhevsk, home to the factory that manufactures Kalashnikov rifles, shopping malls are being converted into drone factories amid a surge in defense spending that has helped the country’s economy weather its Western estrangement. Arms manufacturers have been urged to work around the clock to feed the Russian war machine, while defense is set to account for one-third of the state budget this year.

“We have developed a concept to convert shopping centers—which, before the start of the SMO [special military operation], sold mainly the products of Western brands—to factories for assembly lines of types of domestic drones,” Alexander Zakharov, the chief designer of the Zala Aero drone company, said at a closed event in August 2022, according to the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti. “Special military operation” is what the Russian government calls its war on Ukraine. Zala Aero is a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Concern that, along with Zakharov, was sanctioned by the United States last November.

Defense companies have bought at least three shopping malls in Izhevsk to be repurposed for the manufacture of drones, according to local media, including Lancet attack drones, which the British defense ministry described as one of the most effective new weapons that Russia introduced to the battlefield last year. Lancets, which cost about $35,000 to produce, wreaked havoc during Ukraine’s offensive last year and have been captured on video striking valuable Ukrainian tanks and parked MiG fighter jets.

Like a lot of Russia’s weapons systems, Lancets are filled with Western components. An analysis of images of the drones published in December by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security found that they contained several parts from U.S., Swiss, and Czech manufacturers, including image processing and analytical components that play a pivotal role in enabling the drones to reach their targets on the battlefield.

“The recurring appearance of these Western products in Russian drone systems shows a keen dependence on them for key capabilities in the drone systems,” the report notes. Lancets are not the only drones found to contain Western components. Almost all of the electronic components in the Iranian Shahed-136 drones, which Russia is now manufacturing with Iranian help to use in Ukraine, are of Western origin, a separate analysis published in November concluded.

Early in the war, the Royal United Services Institute analyzed 27 Russian military systems, including cruise missiles, electronic warfare complexes, and communications systems, and found that they contained at least 450 foreign-made components, revealing Russia’s dependence on imports.

One of the principal ways that Russia has evaded Western export controls has been through transshipment via third countries such as Turkey, the UAE, and neighboring states once part of the Soviet Union. Bloomberg reported last November that amid mounting Western pressure, the UAE had agreed to restrict the export of sensitive goods to Russia and that Turkey was considering a similar move. Kazakh officials announced a ban on the export of certain battlefield goods to Russia in October.

Suspected transshipment is often revealed by striking changes in trade patterns before and after the invasion. The Maldives, an island chain in the Indian Ocean that has no domestic semiconductor industry, shipped almost $54 million worth of U.S.-made semiconductors to Russia in the year after the invasion of Ukraine, Nikkei Asia reported last July.

Semiconductor supply chains often span several countries, with chips designed in one country and manufactured in another before being sold to a series of downstream distributors around the world. That makes it difficult for companies to know the ultimate end user of their products. This may seem odd—until you realize that this is the case for many everyday products that are sold around the world. “When Coca-Cola sells Coca-Cola, it doesn’t know where every bottle goes, and they don’t have systems to track where every bottle goes,” said Kevin Wolf, a former assistant secretary for export administration at the U.S. Commerce Department.

While a coalition of 39 countries, including the world’s major manufacturers of advanced electronics, imposed export restrictions on Russia, much of the rest of the world continues to trade freely with Moscow. Components manufactured in coalition countries will often begin their journey to Moscow’s weapons factories through a series of entirely legal transactions before ending up with a final distributor that takes them across the border into Russia. “It starts off as licit trade and ends up as illicit trade,” said a second senior U.S. intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The further items move down the supply chain, the less insight governments and companies have into their ultimate destination, although sudden changes in behavior of importers can offer a red flag. In his speech last September, Axelrod, the assistant secretary, used the example of a beauty salon that suddenly starts to import electronic components.

But the Grand Canyon of loopholes is China, which has stood by Moscow since the invasion. In the first days of the war, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned that Washington could shut down Chinese companies that ignored semiconductor export controls placed on Russia. Last October, 42 Chinese companies were added to export control lists—severely undercutting their ability to do business with U.S. companies—for supplying Russian defense manufacturers with U.S. chips.

But as the Biden administration carefully calibrates its China policy in a bid to keep a lid on escalating tensions, it has held off from taking Beijing to task. “I think the biggest issue is that we—the West—have been unwilling to put pressure on China that would get China to start enforcing some of these rules itself,” said Miller, the author of Chip Wars.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) said: “Due to the restrictions imposed by the United States and key allies and partners, Russia has been left with no choice but to spend more, lower its ambitions for high-tech weaponry, build alliances with other international pariah states, and develop nefarious trade networks to covertly obtain the technologies it needs.

“We are deeply concerned regarding [Chinese] support for Russia’s defense industrial base. BIS has acted to add over 100 [China]-based entities to the Entity List for supporting Russia’s military industrial base and related activities.”

Export controls have typically focused on keeping specific U.S.-made goods out of the hands of adversaries, while economic and financial sanctions have served broader foreign-policy objectives of isolating rogue states and cauterizing the financing of terrorist groups and drug cartels. The use of sanctions as a national security tool grew in wake of the 9/11 attacks; in the intervening decades, companies, government agencies, and financial institutions have built up a wealth of experience in sanctions compliance. By contrast, the use of export controls for strategic ends is relatively novel, and compliance expertise is still in its infancy.

“It used to be that people like me could keep export controls and sanctions in one person’s head. The level of complexity for each area of law is so intense. I don’t know anyone who is truly an export control and sanctions expert,” Wolf said.

Export controls, experts say, are at best speed bumps designed to make it harder for Russia’s defense industrial base to procure Western components. They create “extra friction and pressure on the Russian economy,” said Daniel Fried, who as the State Department coordinator for sanctions policy helped craft U.S. sanctions on Russia after its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia is now paying 80 percent more to import semiconductors than it did before the war, according to forthcoming research by Miller, and the components it is able to acquire are often of dubious quality.

But although it may be more cumbersome and expensive, it’s a cost that Moscow has been willing to bear in its war on Ukraine.

Western components—and lots of them—will continue to be found in the weapons Russia uses on Ukraine’s battlefields for the duration of the war. “This problem is as old as export controls are,” said Jasper Helder, an expert on export controls and sanctions with the law firm Akin Gump. But there are ways to further plug the gaps.

Steeper penalties could incentivize U.S. companies to take a more proactive role in ensuring their products don’t wind up in the hands of the Russian military, said Elina Ribakova, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “At the moment, they’re not truly motivated,” she said.

Companies that run afoul of sanctions and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a U.S. federal law that prohibits the payment of bribes, have been fined billions of dollars. Settlements of export control violations are often an order of magnitude smaller, according to recently published research.

In a speech last month, Axelrod said the United States would begin issuing steeper penalties for export control violations. “Build one case against one of the companies extremely well, put out a multibillion-dollar fine negotiation, and watch everybody else fall in line,” Ribakova said.

And then there’s the question of resources. BIS has an annual budget of just $200 million. “That’s like the cost of a few fighter jets. Come on,” said Raimondo, speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum last December.

The agency’s core budget for export control has, adjusted for inflation, remained flat since 2010, while its workload has surged. Between 2014 and 2022, the volume of U.S. exports subject to licensing scrutiny increased by 126 percent, according to an agency spokesperson. A 2022 study of export control enforcement by the Center for Strategic and International Studies recommended a budget increase of $45 million annually, describing it as “one of the best opportunities available anywhere in U.S. national security.”

When it comes to enforcement, the bureau has about 150 officers across the country who work with law enforcement and conduct outreach to companies. The Commerce Department has also established a task force with the Justice Department to keep advanced technologies out of the hands of Russia, China, and Iran. “The U.S. has the most robust export enforcement on the planet,” Wolf said.

But compared with other law enforcement and national security agencies, the bureau’s budgets have not kept pace with its expanding mission. The Department of Homeland Security has more investigators in the city of Tampa, Florida, than BIS does across the entire country, Axelrod noted in his January speech.

On the other side, you have Russia, which is extremely motivated to acquire the critical technologies it needs to continue to prosecute its war. The Kremlin has tasked its intelligence agencies with finding ways around sanctions and export controls, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a speech last year. “We are not talking about a profit-seeking firm looking for efficiencies,” the second senior U.S. intelligence official said. “There will be supply if there is sufficient demand.”

[thepastisalreadywritten]

(CNN) — Jack Latham was on a mission to photograph farms in Vietnam — not the country’s sprawling plantations or rice terraces but its “click farms.”

Last year, the British photographer spent a month in the capital Hanoi documenting some of the shadowy enterprises that help clients artificially boost online traffic and social media engagement in the hope of manipulating algorithms and user perceptions.

The resulting images, which feature in his new book “Beggar’s Honey,” provide rare insight into the workshops that hire low-paid workers to cultivate likes, comments and shares for businesses and individuals globally.

“When most people are on social media, they want nothing but attention — they’re begging for it,” Latham said in a phone interview, explaining his book’s title.

“With social media, our attention is a product for advertisers and marketers.”

In the 2000s, the growing popularity of social media sites — including Facebook and Twitter, now called X — created a new market for well-curated digital profiles, with companies and brands vying to maximize visibility and influence.

Though it is unclear when click farms began proliferating, tech experts warned about “virtual gang masters” operating them from low-income countries as early as 2007.

In the following decades, click farms exploded in number — particularly in Asia, where they can be found across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond.

Regulations have often failed to keep pace: While some countries, like China, have attempted to crack down on operations (the China Advertising Association banned the use of click farms for commercial gain in 2020), they continue to flourish around the continent, especially in places where low labor and electricity costs make it affordable to power hundreds of devices simultaneously.

‘Like Silicon Valley startups’

Latham’s project took him to five click farms in Vietnam.

(The click farmers he hoped to photograph in Hong Kong “got cold feet,” he said, and pandemic-related travel restrictions dashed his plans to document the practice in mainland China).

On the outskirts of Hanoi, Latham visited workshops operating from residential properties and hotels.

Some had a traditional setup with hundreds of manually operated phones, while others used a newer, compact method called “box farming” — a phrase used by the click farmers Latham visited — where several phones, without screens and batteries, are wired together and linked to a computer interface.

Latham said one of the click farms he visited was a family-run business, though the others appeared more like a tech companies.

Most workers were in their 20s and 30s, he added.

“They all looked like Silicon Valley startups,” he said. “There was a tremendous amount of hardware … whole walls of phones.”

Some of Latham’s photos depict — albeit anonymously — workers tasked with harvesting clicks.

In one image, a man is seen stationed amid a sea of gadgets in what appears to be a lonely and monotonous task.

“It only takes one person to control large amounts of phones,” Latham said. “One person can very quickly (do the work of) 10,000. It’s both solitary and crowded.”

At the farms Lathan visited, individuals were usually in charge of a particular social media platforms.

For instance, one “farmer” would be responsible for mass posting and commenting on Facebook accounts, or setting up YouTube platforms where they post and watch videos on loop.

The photographer added that TikTok is now the most popular platform at the click farms he visited.

The click farmers Latham spoke to mostly advertised their services online for less than one cent per click, view or interaction.

And despite the fraudulent nature of their tasks, they seemed to treat it like just another job, the photographer said.

‘There was an understanding they were just providing a service,” he added. “There wasn’t a shadiness. What they’re offering is shortcuts.”

Deceptive perception

Across its 134 pages, “Beggar’s Honey” includes a collection of abstract photographs — some seductive, others contemplative — depicting videos that appeared on Latham’s TikTok feed.

He included them in the book to represent the kind of content he saw being boosted by click farms.

But many of his photos focus on the hardware used to manipulate social media —webs of wires, phones and computers.

“A lot of my work is about conspiracies,” Latham said. ” Trying to ‘document the machines used to spread disinformation’ is the tagline of the project. The bigger picture is often the thing we don’t see.”

Click farms around the world are also used to amplify political messages and spread disinformation during elections.

In 2016, Cambodia’s then-prime minister Hun Sen was accused of buying Facebook friends and likes, which according to the BBC he denied, while shadowy operations in North Macedonia were found to have spread pro-Donald Trump posts and articles during that year’s US presidential election.

While researching, Latham said he found that algorithms — a topic of his previous book, “Latent Bloom” — often recommended videos that he said got increasingly “extreme” with each click.

“If you only digest a diet of that, it’s a matter of time you become diabetically conspiratorial,” he said.

“The spreading of disinformation is the worst thing. It happens in your pocket, not newspapers, and it’s terrifying that it’s tailored to your kind of neurosis.”

Hoping to raise awareness of the phenomenon and its dangers, Latham is planning to exhibit his own home version of a click farm — a small box with several phones attached to a computer interface — at the 2024 Images Vevey Festival in Switzerland.

He bought the gadget in Vietnam for the equivalent of about $1,000 and has occasionally experimented with it on his social media accounts.

On Instagram, Latham’s photos usually attract anywhere from a few dozen to couple hundred likes.

But when he deployed his personal click farm to announce his latest book, the post generated more than 6,600 likes.

The photographer wants people to realize that there’s more to what they see on social media — and that metrics aren’t a measurement of authenticity.

“When people are better equipped with knowledge of how things work, they can make more informed decisions,” he said.

“Beggar’s Honey,” co-published by Here Press and Images Vevey, is available now.

[bloghrexach]

🇨🇩 … there is so much to learn!! So much is happening in this world!!

By: LaillaB, founder of ‘Reclaim the Narrative’, from LinkedIn …

“Western imperialism continues to leave a dark and enduring legacy across the globe, from The Congo to Palestine.

The devastating effects of exploitative inequality persist in these regions, corrupting communities and wreaking havoc on generations of natives.

Through the theft of land, exploitation of resources, and imposition of foreign rule, Western powers have left a trail of devastation in their wake.

The state of Israel was created on land that was illigitamelty taken from the Palestinian people, leading to decades of human rights violations and displacement against the natives.

The ongoing colonisation of Palestine continues to fuel violence and instability in the region, with devastating consequences for the Palestinian people … Genocide.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has long been a victim of Western exploitation, with its vast mineral wealth being plundered by foreign powers for centuries.

During “The Butcher of Congo”, Belgium’s King Leopold II's brutal colonisation of the Congo Free State, estimates suggest that up to 10 million Congolese lost their lives and their rights are still being sacrificed as the wealth around them is stripped away.

Growing demand for so-called clean energy technologies has created a corresponding demand for certain metals, including copper, and cobalt, which is essential for making most lithium-ion batteries. The DRC has the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, and the seventh largest reserves of copper.

… Israel’s the worlds leader in exporting diamonds.

The intrusion by israel in 1997 marked a turning point as the DRC spiralled into chaos, highlighting the perilous consequences of external economic interests in politically fragile regions.

“Israel turns over about $28 billion in diamonds a year,” the Jerusalem Post pointed out, solidifying the industry's position as a cornerstone of the nation's economic power.

Israeli companies import rough diamonds for cutting and polishing, adding significantly to their value, and export them globally via distribution hubs in Antwerp, London, Hong Kong, New York and Mumbai.

Despite the introduction of the Kimberley Process in 2003 to regulate the trade of conflict diamonds, the narrow definition excludes cut and polished diamonds, allowing the flow of revenue to fund contentious activities.

This loophole enables the trade of de facto blood diamonds from Israel to persist in the global market, perpetuating a cycle of deceit and destruction.

Candy Ofime and Jean-Mobert Senga, Amnesty International researchers said: “We found repeated breaches of legal safeguards prescribed in international human rights law and standards, and national legislation, as well as blatant disregard for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”

From The Congo 🇨🇩 to Palestine 🇵🇸 …

“The greatest menace to the world today is the growing, exploiting, irresponsible imperialism”

Mahatma Gandhi.

#reclaimthenarrative — 🍉���� — #FreePalestine … #FreeCongo … @hrexach

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm coming to BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

#20yrsago European copyright extension: protecting Elvis to the detriment of everyone else https://web.archive.org/web/20040906201355/http://www.indexonline.org/news/20040812_unitedstates.shtml

#15yrsago Photos of science fiction writers’ nests http://www.whereiwrite.org/index.php

#15yrsago Guerilla gardens in newspaper boxes https://web.archive.org/web/20090806033424/http://www.bladediary.com/flyerplanterboxes-5/

#15yrsago Lethem and EFF on why Google Book Search needs privacy guarantees https://www.npr.org/2009/08/12/111797207/google-deal-with-publishers-raises-privacy-concerns

#15yrsago Movie industry wants the right to take your house off the net without full judicial review https://torrentfreak.com/movie-studios-want-own-version-of-justice-for-3-strikes-090812/

#10yrsago Biology student in Colombia faces jail for reposting scholarly article https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/colombian-student-faces-prison-charges-sharing-academic-article-online

#10yrsago Former NSA spook resigns from Naval War College in dick-pic scandal https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/08/snowden-critic-resigns-naval-war-college-over-online-penis-photo-flap/

#10yrsago Profile of Flickr and Slack founder Stewart Butterfield https://www.wired.com/2014/08/the-most-fascinating-profile-youll-ever-read-about-a-guy-and-his-boring-startup/

#10yrsago DOJ slams Riker’s Island for horrific violence against young inmates https://www.techdirt.com/2014/08/11/doj-report-details-massive-amount-violence-committed-rikers-island-staff-against-adolescent-inmates/

#10yrsago Profiles of brutalized laborers building Abu Dhabi’s Louvre and Guggenheim https://web.archive.org/web/20140806033053/https://www.vice.com/read/slaves-of-happiness-island-0000412-v21n8

#10yrsago NZ TV won’t air ads for geo-unblocking ISP https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/mediaworks-joins-sky-tvnz-in-banning-slingshot-ads/QI7UJYTMZBALFI6E7W32WYYMTU/?c_id=3&objectid=11304231

#10yrsago Weaseling about surveillance, Australian Attorney General attains bullshit Singularity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1ryLGs2ws

#5yrsago WordPress is buying Tumblr https://www.axios.com/2019/08/12/verizon-tumblr-wordpress-automattic

#5yrsago Your phone is a crimewave in your pocket, and it’s all the fault of greedy carriers and complicit regulators https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/08/who-owns-your-wireless-service-crooks-do/

#5yrsago The real meaning of plantation tours: American Downton Abbey vs American Horror Story https://afroculinaria.com/2019/08/09/dear-disgruntled-white-plantation-visitors-sit-down/

#5yrsago New York City raised minimum wage to $15, and its restaurants outperformed the nation https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a6170fa466dd7c8eed0aab6be/files/b2f3acd5-3884-42a7-a0bf-fa410b2b6544/Final_CNYCA_NELP_NYC_Min_Wage_Restaurants.pdf?mc_cid=5ce3fba121

#5yrsago Prior to Amazon acquisition, Ring offered “swag” to customers who snitched on their neighbors https://www.vice.com/en/article/ring-told-people-to-snitch-on-their-neighbors-in-exchange-for-free-stuff/

#5yrsago Stephen Wolfram recounts the entire history of mathematics in 90 minutes https://soundcloud.com/stephenwolfram/a-very-brief-history-of-mathematics

#5yrsago All flights in and out of Hong Kong canceled as protesters flood the airport https://twitter.com/erinhale/status/1160786319804493827

#5yrsago Rule of Capture: Inside the martial law tribunals that will come when climate deniers become climate looters and start rendering environmentalists for offshore torture https://memex.craphound.com/2019/08/12/rule-of-capture-inside-the-martial-law-tribunals-that-will-come-when-climate-deniers-become-climate-looters-and-start-rendering-environmentalists-for-offshore-torture/

#1yrago Paying consumer debts is basically optional in the United States https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/12/do-not-pay/#fair-debt-collection-practices-act

Community voting for SXSW is live! If you wanna hear RIDA QADRI and me talk about how GIG WORKERS can DISENSHITTIFY their jobs with INTEROPERABILITY, VOTE FOR THIS ONE!

[jourdepluie91]

Kowloon: inside Hong Kong's lawless 'walled city' — the most crowded place on Earth for 40 years

Written by Harrison Jacobs for Business Insider

Slightly north of Hong Kong Island there once stood one of the most densely populated places on earth.

From the 1950s until 1994, over 33,000 people lived and worked in Kowloon Walled City, a massive complex of 300 interconnected buildings that took up a city block.

Caught between China and the British-run Hong Kong government, the city was essentially lawless, equally known for its opium dens and organized crime as its dentists' offices. 

Photographer Greg Girard spent years investigating and documenting the strange place before it was demolished. 

The city began as a low-rise squatter village during the early 20th century. After World War II, Hong Kong experienced a massive influx of Chinese immigrants. This led to a lack of housing in the city. In response, entrepreneurs and those with "squatter's rights" in Kowloon built high rise buildings on the space to capitalize on the housing demand.

At its peak, more than 33,000 people lived in the 6.4-acre city. It was considered by many to be the most densely populated place on earth.

While located in Hong Kong, the Walled City was legally a Chinese military fort. This put the settlement in legal purgatory as both China and the British-run Hong Kong government ignored it.

Laws, regulations, and building codes were not enforced.

"There was never any top-down guidance or planning about how the place should be. It grew as an organic response to people's needs," says Girard.

The only regulation enforced at Kowloon was the height of the building. Because the airport was so close, the building was not allowed to be taller than 13 or 14 stories.

The Walled City was controlled by the Chinese mafia, called the Triads, from the 1950s through the 1970s. It gained a reputation as a haven for prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

But by the time Girard explored the city in 1987, it had become considerably safer. "The city normalized, but the reputation stayed until the end. It was a place your parents told you to never go to," says Girard.

The streets and alleyways of the Walled City were narrow. Most were barely wider than six feet and some were so narrow that one had to walk sideways through them. A massive network of passageways in the upper levels also made it possible to travel the distance of the city without walking on a ground level street.

The Walled City was not the kind of place that you wanted to wander around, especially at night. Most residents stuck to the roads or alleys that they knew best on their way to work and home.

Mr. Lui, the city's postman, was assigned to Kowloon in 1976. By the time that Girard met him, he was one of the few people who knew all the ins and outs of the city. He wore a hat to protect him from the constant dripping from the ceiling.

Because regulations and licenses weren't enforced in the city, it was easy to set up a business. Rents, primarily controlled by those with "squatter's rights," were low compared to the rest of the city.

Many businesses took advantage. Ho Chi Kam ran a hairdressing salon with his wife in the city until 1991. After Ho was forced out of the Walled City, he had to go back to working for others because he could not afford the rent elsewhere.

Doctors, dentists, and other accredited professionals who emigrated from China found that their licenses were not valid in Hong Kong. Many took up offices in the Walled City because laws were not enforced there.

The city became known as a place where Hong Kong's working class went to the doctor or dentist. Appointments were cheaper because the doctors and dentists could not practice anywhere else in the city.

The lack of regulations was even more important for the many meat processors in Kowloon.

Food was a big part of the Walled City’s culture. Hong Kongers often visited to eat at one of the city's many dog-meat restaurants. Dog-meat stew, traditionally made from six-month-old Chow puppies, was a popular dish in Hong Kong until it was banned by the British.

Hui Tuy Choy opened his noodle factory in 1965. He chose the Walled City because the rents were low and you didn’t need a license to open a store. In Hong Kong, shop owners had to get licenses from the labor, health, and fire departments.

Kowloon was a major manufacturing center for many businesses in Hong Kong. One of its biggest products was fishballs, which were sold to restaurants around the city.

This rubber factory was run entirely by two men.

Often, commercial spaces like this grocery store would double as a living room or a space for the children to do homework after the working day was over.

According to Girard, the Walled City had a village culture because of the tight living and working quarters. 90-year-old Law Yu Yi lived with her son's wife in a cramped third-floor apartment. It is typical for women to look after her in-laws.

The Walled City had its own micro-climate, according to Girard, due to the massive amounts of tubing, wires, and open gutters snaking through the building. The lower levels were constantly hot, humid, and damp.

Because of the smelly, humid conditions down below, the rooftops of Kowloon would turn into a communal hangout during the afternoons and evenings. People would hang out, do laundry or homework, or practice instruments.

"It was like a strange, urban garden. There was tons of household refuse. It was a bit of an eyesore, but compared to the area below, the air was light and breezy. It was nice to come up there after living and working on the lower floors," says Girard.

After evicting the 33,000 residents over the next five years, demolition began in 1993. Residents were given monetary compensation, but many protested that it was not enough.

Photos by Greg Girard

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 6.16 (after 1910)

1911 – IBM founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in Endicott, New York. 1922 – General election in the Irish Free State: The pro-Treaty Sinn Féin party wins a large majority. 1925 – Artek, the most famous Young Pioneer camp of the Soviet Union, is established. 1930 – Sovnarkom establishes decree time in the USSR. 1933 – The National Industrial Recovery Act is passed in the United States, allowing businesses to avoid antitrust prosecution if they establish voluntary wage, price, and working condition regulations on an industry-wide basis. 1940 – World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français). 1940 – A Communist government is installed in Lithuania. 1948 – Members of the Malayan Communist Party kill three British plantation managers in Sungai Siput; in response, British Malaya declares a state of emergency. 1955 – In a futile effort to topple Argentine President Juan Perón, rogue aircraft pilots of the Argentine Navy drop several bombs upon an unarmed crowd demonstrating in favor of Perón in Buenos Aires, killing 364 and injuring at least 800. At the same time on the ground, some soldiers attempt to stage a coup but are suppressed by loyal forces. 1958 – Imre Nagy, Pál Maléter and other leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising are executed. 1961 – While on tour with the Kirov Ballet in Paris, Rudolf Nureyev defects from the Soviet Union. 1963 – Soviet Space Program: Vostok 6 mission: Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space. 1963 – In an attempt to resolve the Buddhist crisis in South Vietnam, a Joint Communique was signed between President Ngo Dinh Diem and Buddhist leaders. 1972 – The largest single-site hydroelectric power project in Canada is inaugurated at Churchill Falls Generating Station. 1976 – Soweto uprising: A non-violent march by 15,000 students in Soweto, South Africa, turns into days of rioting when police open fire on the crowd. 1977 – Oracle Corporation is incorporated in Redwood Shores, California, as Software Development Laboratories (SDL), by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner and Ed Oates. 1981 – US President Ronald Reagan awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, for helping six Americans escape from Iran during the hostage crisis of 1979–81; he is the first foreign citizen bestowed the honor. 1989 – Revolutions of 1989: Imre Nagy, the former Hungarian prime minister, is reburied in Budapest following the collapse of Communism in Hungary. 1997 – Fifty people are killed in the Daïat Labguer (M'sila) massacre in Algeria. 2000 – The Secretary-General of the UN reports that Israel has complied with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, 22 years after its issuance, and completely withdrew from Lebanon. The Resolution does not encompass the Shebaa farms, which is claimed by Israel, Syria and Lebanon. 2002 – Padre Pio is canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. 2010 – Bhutan becomes the first country to institute a total ban on tobacco. 2012 – China successfully launches its Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, carrying three astronauts, including the first female Chinese astronaut Liu Yang, to the Tiangong-1 orbital module. 2012 – The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a classified 469-day orbital mission. 2013 – A multi-day cloudburst, centered on the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, causes devastating floods and landslides, becoming the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. 2015 – American businessman Donald Trump announces his campaign to run for President of the United States in the upcoming election. 2016 – Shanghai Disneyland Park, the first Disney Park in Mainland China, opens to the public. 2019 – Upwards of 2,000,000 people participate in the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, the largest in Hong Kong's history.

[tinazb]

Completing career placement over the kiosk as a customer service representative at YYZ, terminal#3 with Cathay Pacific Airways has provided a fantastic experience and feeling.

Technically, it is my second week working as a customer service representative at Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is an excellent opportunity to grow my knowledge and experience in the workplace with such a successful and popular airline as Cathay Pacific.

There are many passengers every day who are looking for their boarding passes and bag tags by the kiosk and our job is to handle with them.

Let’s have an in-depth look at various classes of tickets in CX airline. It breaks down into by Economy, which has three subsequences;

light, essential, flexi

Premium Economy,

Business class

And it’s good to know that Cathay Pacific Airways is a Part of One world alliance with memberships like Emaraled, diomond, gold, silver, Ruby.

According to transport Canada and based on the Cathay Pacific policy and regulation each passenger in Economy light class is allowed to have one piece of checked bag no more than 23 Kilograms and also can have one hand bag and one cabin bag no exceeding than 7 kilograms in total. However, all passengers in premium economy and essential and flexi economy + business class can carry 2 checked bags and 2 pieces of cabin bags with the weight limit of 15 kilograms.

Here is my scenarios with two passengers who were traveling to Hong Kong while one of them had a luggage with broken handles at two sides and I had an issue to place the tag on his bag which has only one strap around it that looks firm enough to be tagged on. Anyway, I tagged it and sent him to the drop bag counter and I just reported his bag with that condition at the counter.

Another passenger was a young student who wanted to check her carry 0n through the kiosk. I took her a bag tag and stuck it on the carry-on’s hand, but I missed checking another side of the bag, which already had an old tag. I usually check the bags for any old tags to be removed before they get the new ones, but I forgot to check about this one, and it caused me a notice and reminder from the manager on duty. So, every day is a new experience and learning new things. “Never stop learning since life never stops teaching. “😊🌹

[panchitacarmensita]

A Guide to Navigating Corporate Legal Requirements in Hong Kong

Operating a business in Hong Kong comes with ample opportunities but also an array of legal and regulatory requirements that corporations must comply with. Failing to adhere to the rules around company formation, securities trading, taxation, employment and other key areas can land your business in hot water. This guide outlines the major legal landscape that HK corporations should be aware of.

Choosing a Business Structure

One of the first steps is deciding how you will formally constitute your HK company. Common structures for small to mid-sized companies include a Private Limited Company and Limited Company. Key legal paperwork includes filing Articles of Association and a Memorandum that specifies company objectives and structure. You’ll also need to formally issue company shares and understand share classes as well as share types like ordinary or preference shares with varying ownership rights. Statutory meetings must be held annually.

Following Securities Trading Laws

If your company seeks investment from the public, then you must comply with Hong Kong securities regulations around registering prospectuses, issuing financial reports and disclosing shareholder equity changes, governed overall by the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO). Listed firms face continuing regulatory burdens around price sensitive information – any data that may impact share prices must be announced. Insider trading is also tightly regulated under SFO, least employees use undisclosed financial information for profit.

Paying Taxes and Filing Returns

As a HK corporation, key taxes will include Profits Tax on company earnings as well as potential Withholding Tax on payments like royalties or service fees sent overseas. Proper calculation of tax residency status is essential to determine tax exposure. Audited accounts may be required, and tax returns generally must be filed annually under strict guidelines. FAILURE_DETECTED

Meeting Employment, Payroll Regulations

Critical employment law issues span offering employment contracts that meet government standards on pay, overtime, leave policies and more per Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance. Preventing discrimination and sexual harassment is also mandated. Retirement schemes equivalent to at least the Minimum Wage level (currently HK$37.5 hourly) must be provided. Consult deeply on hiring and termination best practices.

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights

Register trademarks and patents early to establish legal ownership over key company innovations and brands in the Hong Kong market. Also enact document management procedures focused on retaining contracts, transaction records, board minutes and other materials that may be involved in potential disputes or investigations for 6-7 years as best practice.

The regulatory pressures on HK corporations are significant, but with proper legal guidance around formation, trading, hiring, tax policies and IP rights, your company can securely navigate the Hong Kong landscape. Government agencies like InvestHK provide additional resources on ongoing compliance requirements as corporate policies evolve. Taking a conservative approach with oversight from your company secretary or legal team is wise as your business grows and expands.

[s4g2]

Harnessing Global SEO Power: Tailoring Strategies to Flourish in International Markets

The world is more connected than ever. Businesses, irrespective of their size, have the potential to reach a global audience. But as opportunities expand, so does the complexity of tapping into new markets. Each country, with its distinct cultural and digital footprint, demands a unique SEO approach. At S4G2 Marketing Agency, we delve deep into these intricacies, crafting tailor-made strategies for each nation. Let's embark on a journey across the world, exploring our specialized SEO services for various countries.

Australia and New Zealand: SEO Down Under

Whether it's Sydney's bustling marketplaces or Auckland's thriving hubs, businesses in the Australasian region need a unique approach. Localized content that resonates with the ANZAC spirit combined with mobile-optimized strategies makes for a winning formula here.

European Majors: France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain

Europe is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and digital behaviors. Each country, be it the fashion-centric Parisians or the tech-savvy Berliners, demands a distinct strategy. Our approach leans into cultural nuances while respecting GDPR and other regional regulations.

Emerging Powerhouses: India, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia

Rapidly growing economies with a vast digital footprint, these countries present immense opportunities. Local languages, mobile-first approaches, and understanding the pulse of the youth are key here.

Asian Tigers: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia

With a strong emphasis on technology and innovation, businesses here need to be ahead of the curve. Incorporating the latest in tech trends, like AI and AR, into SEO strategies can be particularly rewarding.

North American Giants: United States and Canada

Arguably the most competitive markets, the US and Canada require a blend of localized and broad-reaching strategies. Keeping up with the ever-evolving algorithms of major search engines is paramount.

Nordic Nations: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark

Known for their tech-savviness, the Nordic countries appreciate well-structured, user-friendly websites. Transparent, ethical SEO practices resonate well with the audience here.

Eastern European Blend: Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria

A mix of languages and cultures, Eastern Europe demands regional and local SEO. Focusing on local directories and integrating with regional social networks can yield great results.

Middle Eastern Gems: UAE, Israel, Iraq

Businesses looking to penetrate these markets need to understand the delicate balance of modernity and tradition. Multilingual SEO, especially with Arabic content, is key.

African Potential: South Africa, Zimbabwe

While still in the nascent stages of the digital revolution, Africa presents vast opportunities. Mobile-focused strategies, combined with local content, are the way forward.

Latin American Charm: Mexico, Belize, Brazil

Spanish, Portuguese, and a host of indigenous languages make this region unique. Engaging with local influencers and creating culturally resonant content is vital.

Rest of the World: From Austria to Vietnam

Every nation, be it the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland or the bustling streets of Tokyo, has its own digital signature. At S4G2 Marketing Agency, we understand and respect these distinctions. By crafting bespoke strategies, we ensure businesses don't just reach their target audience; they resonate with them.

Conclusion:

In today's digital age, the world is your marketplace. But global reach demands global understanding. At S4G2 Marketing Agency, our expertise spans continents, ensuring your business's voice is heard, understood, and appreciated, no matter where your audience is. Dive into the world of possibilities with our tailored global SEO solutions.

Find SEO Services & SEO Expert on Facebook Below:

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[viact1]

Revolutionizing Industrial Monitoring: Computer Vision for Predictive Maintenance and Compliance

The world of industrial activities is quite fast-paced, and in order to stay more efficient and safe at a reduced cost, companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi look forward to this. Whether in manufacturing, construction mining, food & beverage, or automotive & EV, the same trend is followed: AI-enabled solutions are only going to be the future of industrial operation. Among some of the most transformative today are computer vision for predictive maintenance and environmental monitoring compliance- two game changers that help industries operate competitively, safely, and sustainably.

In this blog, you will understand how these technologies change the horizon of monitoring, maintenance, and compliance in the organisation and why you need to start introducing these technologies within your operation now.

Computer Vision Revolutionizes Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is far away from the traditional "run-to-failure" or time-based maintenance strategies on its own. Computer vision in predictive maintenance allows companies to monitor equipment in real time and identify potential problems before they become serious instead of waiting for equipment to fail.

For example, in production and construction industries, losses related to machinery downtime are accompanied by threats arising from a potential risk associated with safety at the workplace.

Computer vision is in; cameras and advanced analytics of images have been attached to the machines, and their data streams are monitored 24/7 for signs of probable failure or hazardous operating conditions. This data will then run in real-time to generate alerts which facilitate adjustments or repairs before time.

For example, with the camera system, anomalies in motor vibrations or excessive heat would be detected and raised by an alarm to operators and thus action before a potential breakdown occurs. Companies ahead of any possible failure book repair work on nonpeak hours, keeping downtime down and operations running uninterrupted.

What is Predictive Maintenance all About?

Benefits of computer vision with predictive maintenance include:

Reduced Downtime: Capturing issues before they grow into failures means that machines run for longer periods and with better efficiencies without the surprise shutdown.

Savings: Preventive maintenance is cheaper than a repair. Predictive maintenance, therefore, saves companies money on emergency repairs, spare parts, and man-hours.

Longer Machinery Life: Maintenance on predictive data ensures that the machines are at optimal working conditions and that the life of equipment would be more extended.

Improved Safety: You could avoid overheating machines, malfunctioning equipment, or workers entering a danger zone if you knew beforehand that something bad was going to happen. This will contribute to the improved safety of the workplace.

The implementation of AI-powered predictive maintenance systems will greatly help industries like automotive and EV manufacturing and facility management to improve the productivity of the machinery as well as ensure the safety and well-being of employees.

Environmental Compliance Monitoring: Save the Planet and Your Bottom Line

Increased stringent environmental regulations all over the world, especially in the fast-emerging markets of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, are being tightly watched by the governments of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to protect the environment and meet international standards. In that respect, manufacturing food & beverage, construction, and mining businesses have to be very vigilant regarding environmental compliance.

Today, with the introduction of AI-based environmental compliance solutions, companies can undertake the entire monitoring process. For example, cameras, sensors, etc., gather data through them to track real-time statistics such as the amount of air pollution, emissions and waste. If the emitting level crosses a safety point, the system automatically contacts the concerned department, which can easily take corrective measures on immediate notice.

This proactive stance prevents companies from incurring penalties due to non-compliance, and besides that, it helps sustainably decrease quantities of waste, emissions, and resource consumption in the long run.

Benefits of Environmental Compliance Monitoring

Real-time Monitoring: Emissions, water use, and waste management will always alert us of non-compliance.

Saves Cost: Automated monitoring makes way for manual inspection, which saves a lot of time and resources. This prevents expensive fines for non-compliance.

Sustainability: Optimization of resource use and minimisation of waste help reduce the environmental footprint; thus, businesses can achieve sustainability goals along with a corporate image.

Regulatory assurance: Continuous observation will enable your business to know what is happening locally and avoid penalties and reputational loss pain-free.

Environmental compliance monitoring can play a very important role in reducing environmental impact while at the same time meeting both regulatory requirements and customer expectations for industries such as construction, facility management, and manufacturing.

Conclusion

It is no longer an option but rather a stringent need for businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, and so on to take on computer vision solutions for predictive maintenance and advance with AI-powered solutions. Leasing these smart systems will lead to downsizing the downtime, optimising resource use, and following regulatory requirements to increase profit margins. See how viAct is changing industries around the world at your fingertips: real-time monitoring and proactive problem-solving bring greater operational efficiency.

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HOW MOVERS IN HONG KONG HANDLE CROSS-BORDER RELOCATIONS WITH MAINLAND CHINA

Hong Kong has a strategic location and enjoys the status of an international business hub, sharing with Mainland China one of the most special relationships. The frequency of relocation across the border is particularly high to or from Mainland China because this territory is one of the major gates between the East and the West. A cross-border move, though simple in words, involves the unearthing of complex logistics, regulatory, and cultural differences. Professional movers in Hong Kong, specifically those with vast experience handling cross-border relocations, are indispensable in ensuring that such a transition is well-oiled and efficient.

In this paper, we delve into the intricacies involved in cross-border relocation between Hong Kong and Mainland China, talking about how professional movers go about these challenges to make it as seamless and trouble-free as possible for their clients.

Navigating Customs Regulations and Import/Export Laws

Of all the hassles that come with any cross-border relocation, customs are arguably one of the largest. Hong Kong and Mainland China have their own unique customs requirements, and professional movers would need to understand both to make the transition smooth.

Hong Kong Customs Clearance:

Although Hong Kong is a free port, there are still regulations governing the export of certain items, including antiques, items of value, and electronic equipment. Movers specializing in cross-border moves make sure that all items are properly documented and declared before leaving Hong Kong. This will help avoid any unnecessary delays at customs checkpoints, especially if the items to be moved are very valuable or subject to special regulations.

Import Regulations in Mainland China:

When it comes to Mainland China, the challenges are different. China allows the import of everything, starting from household goods to electronics, art pieces, and vehicles, but all under strict regulation. High-value items  may need special documentation with the Chinese government; moreover, some goods will come under import duties. The professional movers know all these regulations and, therefore, help the client in this process of documentation by ensuring the forms are correctly filled out and advising on various extra taxes and duties.

Besides, movers can assist in the procurement of customs brokers who liaise directly with Chinese authorities and make the process as smooth as it could get. Doing all the paperwork, permits, and fees means that professional movers take all that hassle off their clients' shoulders and see through customs without any delays.

Quarantine Regulations: Understanding and Management

Quarantine is another critical dimension in the movement of goods between Hong Kong and Mainland China. Items such as plants, animals, and food products, because they can carry diseases and pests that can be spread to other areas, require quarantine measures to be taken.

Household Item Management:

For household goods, movers should also ensure that such items as wood products, carpets, and upholstery are clear of strict quarantine controls in Mainland China. Professional movers can handle fumigation or certification to ascertain that the products are free from pests before crossing the border. They ensure the paperworks that are necessary are available for avoiding fines or delays in the process of inspection.

Moving with Pets:

Migrating pets to Mainland China from Hong Kong has a lot of pre-planning to be done, especially since quarantine policies are firm and must be strictly followed. Professional movers in cross-border shifting tie up with local pet relocation firms to conduct necessary vaccination procedures and seek appropriate permits and health certificates from Hong Kong and Mainland China. They arrange all quarantine facilities and transportation modes so that the pets can be relocated safely and in comfort.

Solving Infrastructure and Transport Issues

Although Hong Kong is closer to Mainland China, its infrastructures and transportation systems are largely different. Therefore, understanding the difference will be handy for a smooth cross-border relocation.

Transportation Networks:

Hong Kong has a well-developed transportation network, easily accessible via its ports, airports, and highways. However, to move into Mainland China, there is a need to cross borders at officially recognized checkpoints, like Shenzhen, and to deal with different road rules and conditions. Movers will have to work out efficient routing, taking into account variable transportation infrastructure, divergent traffic flow, and even diverse road safety measures.

Cross-Border Trucking and Logistics:

Hong Kong movers often partner with trucking companies that are duly licensed to operate across Mainland China. Not every moving company is licensed to drive its trucks across the border, so employing local logistics providers in Mainland China is often required to carry goods once they have crossed the border. This requires the necessary coordination between Hong Kong-based movers with their counterparts in Mainland China to make sure that the handoff is seamless and there are no delays with goods at the border.

In addition, movers consider the delays at border checkpoints. This may include strategizing extra time in case of inspections or any other holdups due to customs processing. The experienced movers find their way around such challenges by adjusting their schedule and thus ensure that the clients will not be kept waiting for their belongings.

Language and Cultural Differences

Language and cultural differences between Hong Kong and Mainland China can also pose difficulties in cases of cross-border relocation. These differences require much more than mere logistical expertise but an understanding of the local culture and how to conduct business across the border.

Bilingual Communication:

Expat movers specialized in cross-border relocation will typically employ staff who are fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin. This will ensure communication is clear with customs officials, transport providers, and clients. They can also manage the documentation, which at times needs to be prepared in both English and Chinese.

Cultural Sensitivities:

Cultural nuances may also influence the moving process. For example, some customers have cultural preferences or ways of handling personal items, particularly in instances where they contain religious items or are family heirlooms. Professional movers take this into consideration and thus deal with all items responsibly. They also advise clients on any local customs or practices that they will face while trying to settle in Mainland China.

Managing High-Rise Buildings and Limited Space in Hong Kong

High-rise building moves out of Hong Kong are jobs comprising several tricky tasks, especially when bulky items like furniture, appliances, or even commercial equipment are to be moved. For example, access to elevators needs to be coordinated; parking in a busy urban area needs to be harnessed, and a plan needs to be made regarding how items will pass through narrow corridors or staircases. Experienced movers know just how to handle such challenges in Hong Kong's metropolitan environment.

Building Management Coordination:

Most residential and commercial buildings in Hong Kong require advance notice well in advance, especially if large items will have to be moved through the shared spaces via elevator or loading docks. The movers will contact building management to reserve elevators or service lifts so that minimal disruption will occur to other residents or tenants. They are also supposed to see that any security deposits or insurance requirements imposed by building management are handled before the moving day.

Storage Solutions Provided for Cross Border Moves

Many cross-border relocation cases between Hong Kong and Mainland China require temporary or even long-term storage. While the customer waits for his house or office to be ready, he may need a place to store his goods. Professional moving companies provide secure storage facilities both in Hong Kong and Mainland China to keep your items safe and in good condition until one is ready to move them to their final destination.

Short and Long-term Storage:

To clients who may not have secured housing or office space in Mainland China, movers offer flexible storage solutions where belongings can be stored temporarily. Moving companies ensure that storage facilities have climate control and other security installations, such as 24/7 monitoring, to ensure no item gets damaged or stolen.

Customs Bonded Warehousing:

Sometimes, cargo needs to be cleared and can be held in customs-bonded warehouses. Moving companies provide goods to be housed in bonded facilities for orderly customs clearance and final delivery to the destination address.

Conclusion

Relocation across the border between Hong Kong and Mainland China is a very complex process encompassing everything from customs regulations and quarantine standards to transport challenges and cultural differences. The professional movers in Hong Kong play a pivotal role in managing such challenges, hence ensuring that every aspect of relocation is dealt with in a very precise and cautious manner. A mover, with years of experience, bilingual skills of communication, and knowledge of both localities, ensures that your cross-border move is as seamless and efficient as possible. Whether it be for work, family, or business, engaging professional movers is one of the surer ways to make the move a successful one.

For more information please visit Asiantiger Hong Kong movers

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Registration Redefined: Innovative Tips for Starting Your Business

Starting a business is an exciting journey, and the register company process is your first step toward success. To help you stand out, here are innovative tips for simplifying the Hong Kong register company process and setting your business up for growth.

Go Digital for Efficiency

Utilize online tools to handle documentation and filing. By submitting forms digitally, you can streamline the register company process, saving time and reducing errors.

Choose a Future-Ready Structure

Opt for a limited liability company, which offers flexibility for growth and protects your personal assets. This business structure is ideal for startups with global ambitions.

Engage a Professional Service

A professional service can guide you through the Hong Kong register company requirements, ensuring that all legal obligations are met while allowing you to focus on your business strategy.

Use a Virtual Office

To fulfill Hong Kong’s registered office requirement, consider using a virtual office. It provides a professional business address without the overhead costs of a physical office space.

Stay Compliant with Local Regulations

Hong Kong’s regulatory environment is dynamic, so keeping up with legal changes is essential. Set up reminders or use services that offer ongoing compliance support to ensure your business stays on track.

By rethinking the register company process with these innovative tips, you can simplify registration and start building your business with a strong, forward-thinking foundation.