#Hong Kong legal risk

[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.

[azlia-iconoclast]

All that is confirmed will be modified:

the abortion ban that already exist to state level and killed teens on texas because they got denied even in a SA situationa will now be nationwide

ending any chance to integrate minorities and just letting the hate and discrimination run rampant again without institutions to keep watch

allowing states to ban diverse number of Healthcare treatments and medications which go from gender hormones to the morning after pills

tariffs are gonna have backlash and cause countertarrifs ending many of our trade deals and evaluating the dollars

the billionares that backed trump like the ultraconservative Timothy mellon, the heritage foundation with the hyper religious agaenda or elon musk that is obsessed with hating public transport and trans people are going to have free reign to do as they please.

the ending of several institution and more privatization which includes less education subsidies for poor families, help for disabled people, subsidies for Healthcare, the weather system and report, the department of education shrinking and allowing old religious policies, the watch for the compliance of the civil rights act is going to disappear , the department of health is also going to shirk, the watch for compliance for climate change is going to disappear the DEI, EPA, and the ACA will be erased with many more, just to name the ones that are going to affect directly the most

as consequence of the mentioned institutions disappearing hate speech will basically be legal again affecting the culture and the amount of religious propaganda, discrimination while hiring and helping disable people get a job will be legally impossible

completing the genocide in gaza and continuing funding Israel expansion into Lebanon not to mention he's dividing Ukraine in 2 with a neutral zone which will cause a second bigger war because nobody is going to be conformed with that.

the peace attempts that were happening with china over Taiwan and Hong kong are now going to be closed leaving war as only option for the long future

The SCOTUS will now have 5 of 9 Supreme Court LIFETIME seats filled by Trump and the damage will be generational given the justices are young for the lifelong position and all 5 are part of the Christian nationals. Any attempt to undo what trump is going to damage with his policies will be blocked by their majority specially the medical bans and the freedom corporations will now have, so not only our full generation will suffer trump legacy but your kids and their kids

when trump took the confidential documents boxes to mar a lago when he lost last election it made him look to NATO and the 5 eyes intelligence institution (fuck them both hypocrite imperialists) complain for the security risk which means the allies will not want to share intel with the us now that he's back forcing America to have the old interventionist spionage role to get it's own, which will increase world tensions.

whether people voted for trump to punish dems not fulfilling their promises or being part of such mentioned genocides, because they hate the lgbtq and DEI or they really want to go back to the dark ages culturally and socially with christian nationalism ideology, all of them just shot themselves and everyone kids future.

Adieu à jamais Amérique, je croyais que tu changeais mais ceci est ton cœur et ton vrai visage, je pensais vivre ici plus d'un siècle et t'aider à te transformer, mais il est clair que tu choisis la Cruauté. J'ai de toute façon un dernier coup à tirer, si cela se brise au moins je mourrai enfin avant que tu ne commences ton interventionnisme mondial comme dans les années 50 encore.

[moosemonstrous]

Ghost Rider Pacific Rim AU - bottle it up

“Oh Lord, he’s twelve,” Maria mutters under her breath. Carol elbows her in the side. “I didn’t know he was an actual child!”

“He’s nearly nineteen,” she says and immediately winces. Maria’s eyebrows travel all the way to her hairline. “Shut up.”

“Nearly nineteen? And you signed off on this?”

“We were both his age when we joined up.”

“Yeah, to a boot camp! Not to punch demons in the face!”

Carol refuses to sound like a middle-aged man defending his choice of a date. “Don’t make it weird.”

“It’s already weird!” Maria lowers her voice when Ivanov gives them an unimpressed look from across the control room. “It is! And even if he wasn’t barely legal, remember what happened with Spector?”

Carol smiles at Scott, who hates when people are whispering around him because God forbid anyone has a conversation that doesn’t directly involve him. Which is kind of a mean thing to think about a co-worker, but someone cleared out the fridge in the rangers’ quarters and Carol isn’t getting her yoghurts back until the next shipment comes in. Shatterdome catering isn’t big on dairy.

“Victoria said there are no indications in his scans,” she says as quietly as she can without actually whispering.

“Well, there are no indications Maximoff is a dick, and we all know the truth about that.”

“Maria!”

“Captains,” Ivanov clears his throat. “I see you are ready to join the discussion.”

“Aren’t you going to introduce the new guy?” Carol can hear Maria bite her tongue on ‘kid’. This is why she never comes along to the strategy meetings.

And this one is a lot more crowded than usual. Tony thinks they’re on the brink of seeing a Cat-5, so ever since the destruction of Horizon Bravo it’s all hands on deck, every time. They have a full complement of comm and monitoring officers at every available station, instead of the usual skeleton crew. With their newest addition comes Amadeus, even though he has a history of being kicked out for being disruptive. All the excitement of the last few days must have gotten to him, though, because he’s merely scrolling through the news feeds rather than actively winding up the Romeos.

Who are standing on opposite sides of the room and very obviously not on speaking terms. Great. Hopefully the prospect of hazing the new guy will unite them before go time.

“This is Robbie Reyes, joining us with Hell Charger,” Ivanov says. Reyes stands next to him like it’s taking his entire spine not to hide under the table. “Which is why we need to talk tactics, if you’re quite ready.”

The thing is, the Hong Kong jaegers got pretty good at figuring things out as they’ve gone along. They might not all have liked each other, but they were a good team. Only Qi and Qiao are no more, and the whole debacle with core replacements grounded the triplets for the second demon in a row. They can’t have a rotation, they don’t have enough firepower, and now they are getting a solo pilot who should, as the kids say, be at the club instead. Everyone around Carol is getting younger and more fragile by the second, and it’s starting to feel like she has an expiration date.

Or maybe she’s just grumpy because Clint hasn’t even tried to pretend he isn’t hiding something when they spoke. Or because she doesn’t like Tony messing with a tried and tested formula again, like every previous attempt didn’t end in tears. Or because Ivanov has always been so damn careful, it puts her on edge when he starts to take stupid risks like this. Or because she didn’t tell Maria exactly how young Reyes was, because she knows it’s too young and has no idea what to do about it-- Take a pick, apparently.

Maria silently squeezes her elbow.

“We are at T plus five hours, and the lookout confirmed the demon is heading west of the Breach.” Ivanov points to the screen showing air footage of a trail of bubbles on the surface of the ocean. The screen below is a heat signature – a big one. “Our readings show a category four, two and a half thousand feet. Special properties as of yet unknown, but Miss Grey is monitoring for any tells.”

Jean waves a hand from over her station. “The press already have a name, Razorback,” she says, never taking her eyes off the reports coming in. “A private underwater drone recorded an extended lumbar vertebrae.”

Pietro chuckles. “The devil works fast, but the press works faster.”

“That’s no way to refer to Miss Walters, Corporal.”

“Could really use Typhoon with this one,” Alex huffs in the general direction of the Weis. The triplets all shrug simultaneously – what can you do? Crimson Typhoon is one of the oldest jaegers still going, so it was naturally the first candidate for extensive repairs. “And now we have an experimental rookie to watch out for.”

“He has you beat at sim scores, Summers B,” Amadeus points out. “Although I guess that’s not hard.”

To his credit, Alex doesn’t lose his temper immediately. “Who invited the nerd again?”

“He’s here to monitor Hell Charger’s output,” Ivanov says.

“And Major Brooks’s recommendation is that Mr Reyes stands back to guard the Miracle Mile while Coyote Tango, Romeo Blue and Eden Assassin take on the demon.” Uh oh, Amadeus is using proper titles. “So this last-minute switch-up nonsense puzzles me a little, Colonel.”

“Merely a proposal. Put forward by Corporal Maximoff, to give proper credit.”

“As a joke,” Wanda cuts in. Pietro doesn’t deny it, which means it probably wasn't and he’s using his sister to get out of having to admit it's a terrible idea. “Assassin doesn’t do well with small targets.”

Ivanov wasn’t really going to put them on beastie defence, was he? Stuck between the Colonel and Cho, Reyes seems to alternate between wanting to shrink and puff up. With that eye still bruised – it’s really taking an awful long to heal – he looks like someone beat him up behind the bleachers. When Carol glances at Maria, she can already tell what’s on her mind. “No,” she hisses.

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

Ivanov is clearly sick of the chatting. “Do you have a suggestion, Captain Danvers?”

Carol shoots Maria one last look before turning to the Colonel. “Just that we should stick with Eric’s plan. Hell Charger is still largely untested.” And you can’t hit the kill switch outside of a five hundred mile radius, but she’s not going to be the one to mention it out loud. “I’ve seen Reyes wipe the floor with the recruits, I’m sure he can handle the vermin.”

Oh god, is he blushing? Carol just knows the next family dinner will have a new guest. And when Maria hears about the baby brother, too...

Jean raises her hand to get everyone’s attention. “It’s emerging,” she says. “Changed course towards Taipei. Fourteen hours until contact, Khatyrka confirms they are standing back.”

“We better get ahead of it, then.” Fourteen hours always sounds longer than it really is when you account for final checks and transport times. “Eden Assassin on point, us and Romeo Blue on flanks?”

Maybe because they have a rookie on board, or maybe to get it all over with, for once nobody tries to argue just for the sake of it. Ivanov brings up the map of the Philippine Sea onto the table screen to pin locations down and each team’s respective air support officer descends around it to sort out the logistics.

As the rangers start filing out to get their kit going, Carol can’t help but notice that Reyes seems to be meeting his ASO for the first time. She stays back to watch him for a moment – she can’t imagine getting into a jaeger on her own. It’s better that he’s nervous rather than cocky–

Then, Ivanov puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder, and just for a moment his expression changes from mildly confused to positively murderous.

[follow-up-news]

Forty-five ex-lawmakers and activists were sentenced to four to 10 years in prison Tuesday in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement. They were prosecuted under the 2020 national security law for their roles in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors said their aim was to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and force the city’s leader to resign by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block government budgets indiscriminately. The unofficial primary held in July 2020 drew 610,000 voters, and its winners had been expected to advance to the official election. Authorities postponed the official legislative election, however, citing public health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legal scholar Benny Tai, whom the judges called the mastermind, received the longest sentence of 10 years.

[humanrightsupdates]

A Chinese transgender activist due to be released tomorrow after serving a prison sentence in Hong Kong will be at grave risk of persecution if she is deported to mainland China. She must instead be allowed to remain in Hong Kong or travel to another destination, Amnesty International urged today.

Lai Ke (also known as Xiran) was convicted in Hong Kong of using “forged” documents to attempt to travel from China to Canada via the city last year, according to friends of hers who have followed the case closely. She will complete her sentence on March 2 and faces imminent removal to mainland China, where her friends say she faced harassment by police prior to leaving in May 2023.

Lai Ke had been a vocal advocate for transgender rights in China alongside her partner. According to her friends, her partner was imprisoned in China in June 2023 on account of her own activism and her transgender identity.

“There is a very real risk that Lai Ke will face persecution – including further imprisonment – if she is returned to mainland China,” said Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director. “The Hong Kong authorities must urgently clarify Lai Ke’s pending immigration status. As she is due to be released after serving her sentence, authorities must free her without conditions and allow her to travel onwards to a destination feasible for her. In any event, the authorities must allow Lai Ke to legally challenge any deportation order following her release after serving her sentence.” (Human Rights Watch)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

TODAY (May 14), I'm on a livecast about AI AND ENSHITTIFICATION with TIM O'REILLY; on TOMORROW (May 15), I'm in NORTH HOLLYWOOD for a screening of STEPHANIE KELTON'S FINDING THE MONEY; FRIDAY (May 17), I'm at the INTERNET ARCHIVE in SAN FRANCISCO to keynote the 10th anniversary of the AUTHORS ALLIANCE.

#20yrsago England’s love affair with the utility bill https://web.archive.org/web/20040706124142/https://cede.blogspot.com/2004_05_01_cede_archive.html#108455091554008455

#20yrsago RIAA’s funny bookkeeping turns gains into losses https://web.archive.org/web/20040607052730/http://www.kensei-news.com/bizdev/publish/factoids_us/article_23374.shtml

#20yrsago Read this and understand the P2P wars https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=532882

#15yrsago Sarah Palin’s legal team doesn’t understand DNS https://www.huffpost.com/entry/crackhocom-sarah-palins-n_n_202417

#15yrsago Was 1971 the best year to be born a geek? https://www.raphkoster.com/2009/05/14/the-perfect-geek-age/

#15yrsago Charlie Stross on the future of gaming http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2009/05/login_2009_keynote_gaming_in_t.html

#15yrsago UK chiropractors try to silence critic with libel claim https://gormano.blogspot.com/2009/05/two-things.html

#10yrsago Cable lobbyists strong-arm Congresscritters into signing anti-Net Neutrality petition https://web.archive.org/web/20140527030122/http://www.freepress.net/blog/2014/05/12/tell-congress-dont-sign-cable-industry-letter-against-real-net-neutrality

#10yrsago London property bubble examined https://timharford.com/2014/05/when-a-man-is-tired-of-london-house-prices/

#5yrsago A year after Meltdown and Spectre, security researchers are still announcing new serious risks from low-level chip operations https://www.wired.com/story/intel-mds-attack-speculative-execution-buffer/

#5yrsago Jury awards $2b to California couple who say Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller gave them cancer https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/business/bayer-roundup-verdict/index.html

#5yrsago AT&T promised it would create 7,000 jobs if Trump went through with its $3B tax-cut, but they cut 23,000 jobs instead https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/05/att-promised-7000-new-jobs-to-get-tax-break-it-cut-23000-jobs-instead/

#5yrsago DOJ accuses Verizon and AT&T employees of participating in SIM-swap identity theft crimes https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3n3am/att-and-verizon-employees-charged-sim-swapping-criminal-ring

#5yrsago Collecting user data is a competitive disadvantage https://a16z.com/the-empty-promise-of-data-moats/

#5yrsago Three years after the Umbrella Revolution, Hong Kong has its own Extinction Rebellion chapter https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3010050/hong-kongs-new-extinction-rebellion-chapter-looks

#5yrsago Lawyer involved in suits against Israel’s most notorious cyber-arms dealer targeted by its weapons, delivered through a terrifying Whatsapp vulnerability https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/technology/nso-group-whatsapp-spying.html

#5yrsago The New York Times on Carl Malamud and his tireless battle to make the law free for all to read https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/us/politics/georgia-official-code-copyright.html

#1yrago Google’s AI Hype Circle https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/14/googles-ai-hype-circle/

[mariacallous]

Earlier this month, several prominent outlets carried news that artificial intelligence will not pose a danger to humanity. The source of this reassuring news? A bunch of humanoid robot heads connected to simple chatbots.

The news stories sprang from a panel at a United Nations conference in Geneva called AI for Good, where several humanoids appeared alongside their creators. Reporters were invited to ask questions to the robots, which included Sophia, a machine made by Hanson Robotics that has gained notoriety for appearing on talk shows and even, bizarrely, gaining legal status as a person in Saudi Arabia.

The questions included whether AI would destroy humanity or steal jobs. Their replies were made possible by chatbot technology, somewhat similar to that which powers ChatGPT. But despite the well-known limitations of such bots, the robots’ replies were reported as if they were the meaningful opinions of autonomous, intelligent entities.

Why did this happen? Robots that can visually mimic human expressions trigger an emotional response in onlookers because we are so primed to pick up on such cues. But allowing what is nothing more than advanced puppetry to disguise the limitations of current AI can confuse people trying to make sense of the technology or of recent concerns about problems it may cause. I was invited to the Geneva conference, and when I saw Sophia and other robots listed as “speakers,” I lost interest.

It’s frustrating to see such nonsense at a time when more trustworthy experts are warning about current and future risks posed by AI. Machine learning algorithms are already exacerbating social biases, spewing disinformation, and increasing the power of some of the world’s biggest corporations and governments. Leading AI experts worry that the pace of progress may produce algorithms that are difficult to control in a matter of years.

Hanson Robotics, the company that makes Sophia and other lifelike robots, is impressively adept at building machines that mimic human expressions. Several years ago, I visited the company’s headquarters in Hong Kong and met with founder David Hanson, who previously worked at Disney, over breakfast. The company’s lab was like something from Westworld or Blade Runner, with unplugged robots gazing sadly into the middle distance, shriveled faces flopped on shelves, and prototypes stuttering the same words over and over in an infinite loop.

Hanson and I talked about the idea of adding real intelligence to these evocative machines. Ben Goertzel, a well-known AI researcher and the CEO of SingularityNET, leads an effort to apply advances in machine learning to the software inside Hanson’s robots that allows them to respond to human speech.

The AI behind Sophia can sometimes provide passable responses, but the technology isn’t nearly as advanced as a system like GPT-4, which powers the most advanced version of ChatGPT and cost more than $100 million to create. And of course even ChatGPT and other cutting-edge AI programs cannot sensibly answer questions about the future of AI. It may be best to think of them as preternaturally knowledgeable and gifted mimics that, although capable of surprisingly sophisticated reasoning, are deeply flawed and have only a limited “knowledge” of the world.

Sophia and company’s misleading “interviews” in Geneva are a reminder of how anthropomorphizing AI systems can lead us astray. The history of AI is littered with examples of humans overextrapolating from new advances in the field.

In 1958, at the dawn of artificial intelligence, The New York Times wrote about one of the first machine learning systems, a crude artificial neural network developed for the US Navy by Frank Rosenblatt, a Cornell psychologist. “The Navy revealed the embryo of an electronic computer today that it expects will be able to walk, talk, see, write, reproduce itself and be conscious of its existence,” the Times reported—a bold statement about a circuit capable of learning to spot patterns in 400 pixels.

If you look back at the coverage of IBM’s chess-playing Deep Blue, DeepMind’s champion Go player AlphaGo, and many of the past decade’s leaps in deep learning—which are directly descended from Rosenblatt’s machine—you’ll see plenty of the same: people taking each advance as if it were a sign of some deeper, more humanlike intelligence.

That’s not to say that these projects—or even the creation of Sophia—were not remarkable feats, or potentially steps toward more intelligent machines. But being clear-eyed about the capabilities of AI systems is important when it comes to gauging progress of this powerful technology. To make sense of AI advances, the least we can do is stop asking animatronic puppets silly questions.

[theopulenthq]

Welcome to The Opulent HQ, Ghost, Alex, Nikki, C, Ari, Kira,R, and Mandy! Please review the checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

{jacob anderson, 31, cisman, he/him} we are so glad to see you safe, {CHIEF OF STRATEGY & FINANCE} TSAR ISAAK STASOV of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are BRILLIANT and OBJECTIVE enough to handle it. just don’t let your HIGHLY UNMOTIVATED & DISCONTENTED bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU HAVE BEEN FALSIFYING FINANCIAL LEDGERS TO FUND PERSONAL PROJECTS IN RUSSIA. {ghostie}

lorena's betrothed WC

{yaya dacosta, 37, demi woman, she + her} we are so glad to see you safe, SECURITY ADVISOR SADE BUGAYEVA of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are FORWARD-THINKING and ADAPTABLE enough to handle it. just don’t let your INTIMIDATION bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU HAVE GAINED MUCH OF YOUR POWER IN YOUR POSITION THROUGH BLACKMAIL, AND ARE NOW HEAVILY ENTANGLED, BEHIND THE SCENES, IN THE WEBS OF MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ASSISTING THE FUNDING OF JAPAN'S SIDE OF THE WAR WITH CHINA. {nikki}

taking both kaito's penpal wc & eliana's co-conspirator wc!

{lee soo hyuk, 36, cis man, he/him} we are so glad to see you safe, TSAR NIKOLAI STASOV of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are BRILLIANT and HEADSTRONG enough to handle it. just don’t let your ALOOFNESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ONCE FLED FROM YOUR DUTIES AND LIVED UNDER A DIFFERENT IDENTITY FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS - DURING WHICH YOU WERE BRIEFLY HELD HOSTAGE BY UNKNOWN FORCES. {alex}

{adeline rudolph, 27, cis female, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, TSARINA/MASTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE KATERINA STASOV of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are GROUNDED and RIGHTEOUS enough to handle it. just don’t let your CANDOR bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out DESPITE YOUR DEVOTION TO LAW AND ORDER, JUSTICE IS WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MOST. AND YOU PURSUE IT, EVEN IF IT MEANS MANIPULATING INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND FREEING REVOLUTIONARIES FROM LEGAL PROSECUTION TO DO IT...  {admin c}

taking felix's romantic wc

{Charlotte hope, 29, ciswoman, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, TSARINA AND MASTER OF THE ARTS ANTONINA STASOV of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are SOPHISTICATED and METICULOUS enough to handle it. just don’t let your VANITY bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU HAVE ACCIDENTALLY WITNESSED ONE KINGDOM SPYING ON ANOTHER. {ari, 29, est, she/her, N/A}

{ honda kyoya, 25, genderqueer, they / him } we are so glad to see you safe, TSAR YURA STASOV of RUSSIA! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are THOUGHTFUL and EMPATHETIC enough to handle it. just don’t let your RESERVEDNESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU HAVE RECENTLY RECOVERED FROM AN ILLNESS, AND HAVE PARTIAL HEARING LOSS THAT YOU ARE KEEPING HIDDEN. { kira, 25, gmt+3, she/her }

{ ke huy quan, 50, cis male, he/him } We are so glad to see you safe, VICEREGAL CONSORT HAIYAN FENG of HONG KONG! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are COMPASSIONATE and RELIABLE enough to handle it. Just don’t let your UNCERTAINTY bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find YOU WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE, EVEN IF IT MEANS PROTECTING THEM FROM THEMSELVES {r., 28, est, she/her, n/a}

{camila mendes, 28, ciswoman, she/her/hers} We are so glad to see you safe, [TSARINA/MASTER OF THE HUNT AND AGRICULTURE] [NATASIA STASOV] of [RUSSIA]! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are [PERSUASIVE] and [PERCEPTIVE] enough to handle it. Just don’t let your [GLUTTONY] bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out [YOU KILLED THE PERSON WHOM YOU OWE A SIGNIFICANT DEBT TO]

[the50-person]

The risk goes beyond formal arrest and extradition. The bounties on offer may encourage vigilantism, and sympathetic governments may turn a blind eye to or even facilitate extra-legal rendition of the eight exiled activists.

.

This is illustrated by the 2015 case of the five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared from various locations, including Thailand, and later showed up in China where they “confessed” to crimes in the state media.

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

California Has More Than 100 Gun Laws. Why Don’t They Stop More Mass Shootings? (NYT) California bans guns for domestic violence offenders. It bans them for people deemed a danger to others or themselves. There is a ban on large-capacity magazines, and a ban on noise-muffling silencers. Semiautomatic guns of the sort colloquially known as “assault weapons” are, famously, banned. More than 100 gun laws—the most of any state—are on the books in California. They have saved lives, policymakers say: Californians have among the lowest rates of gun death in the United States. Yet this month, those laws failed to stop the massacres of at least 19 people in back-to-back mass shootings. The tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay have confounded Americans who regard California as a best-case bastion of gun safety in a nation awash with firearms. Inside the state, gun rights proponents say the shootings show that California’s strategy is a failure. Gun safety groups, meanwhile, have already begun mobilizing for more laws and better enforcement.

Peru’s protest ‘deactivators’ run toward tear gas to stop it (AP) When police fire tear gas at protesters demanding the resignation of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, most run away. A few, though, run toward the gas canisters as quickly as possible—to neutralize them. These are the “deactivators.” Donning gas masks, safety goggles and thick gloves, these volunteers grab the hot canisters and toss them inside large plastic bottles filled with a mixture of water, baking soda and vinegar. The deactivators made their debut in Peru street protests in 2020, inspired by protesters in Hong Kong who in 2019 unveiled new strategies to counteract the eye-stinging, breath-stealing effects of tear gas. With protesters in Lima facing a nearly daily fusillade of tear gas, more people have joined the ranks of deactivators trying to shield them and keep the demonstrations going.

France braces for major transport woes from pension strikes (AP) France’s national rail operator is recommending that passengers stay home Tuesday to avoid strikes over pensions that are expected to cause major transport woes but largely spare high-speed links to Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Labor unions that mobilized massive street protests in an initial salvo of nationwide strikes earlier this month are hoping for similar success Tuesday to maintain pressure on government plans to raise France’s retirement age. Positions are hardening on both sides as lawmakers begin debating the planned change. France’s prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, insisted this weekend that her government’s intention to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is “no longer negotiable.” Opponents in parliament and labor leaders are determined to prove her wrong.

Russia’s Convict Fighters Are Heading Home (NYT) He was released from a Russian prison and thrown into battle in Ukraine with a promise of freedom, redemption and money. Now, Andrei Yastrebov, who was among tens of thousands of convict soldiers, is part of a return from the battlefield with potentially serious implications for Russian society. Mr. Yastrebov, 22, who had been serving time for theft, returned home a changed man. “We all feel like he is in some sort of hypnosis, like he is a different person,” said a relative of his, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “He is without any emotions.” President Vladimir V. Putin’s decision to allow a mercenary group to recruit Russian convicts in support of his flagging war effort marks a watershed in his 23-year rule, say human rights activists and legal experts. The policy circumvents Russian legal precedent and, by returning some brutalized criminals to their homes with pardons, risks triggering greater violence throughout society. Since July, around 40,000 inmates have joined the Russian forces, according to Western intelligence agencies, the Ukrainian government and a prisoners’ rights association, Russia Behind Bars, which combines reports from informers across Russian jails. Ukraine claims that nearly 30,000 have deserted or been killed or wounded, although that number could not be independently verified.

Biden says no F-16s for Ukraine as Russia claims gains (Reuters) The United States will not provide the F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine has sought in its fight against Russia, President Joe Biden said on Monday, as Russian forces claimed a series of incremental gains in the country's east. Ukraine planned to push for Western fourth-generation fighter jets such as the F-16 after securing supplies of main battle tanks last week, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister said on Friday. Asked if the United States would provide the jets, Biden told reporters at the White House, "No." The hundreds of modern tanks and armoured vehicles pledged to Ukraine by Western countries in recent weeks for a counteroffensive to recapture territory are months away from delivery. This leaves Kyiv to fight through the winter in what both sides have described as a meat grinder of relentless attritional warfare.

Winter has come for Afghanistan (Washington Post) For much of the past year, the West’s policymakers and analysts were possessed by one haunting question: How bad will Europe’s winter be? The prospect of a deep cold spell as European governments rationed gas supplies conjured images of a bleak winter from Lviv to London, with industry going dark and pensioners scavenging for firewood. The worst did not come to pass. But consider another part of the world that has receded from the West’s attention over the course of the Ukraine conflict. Afghanistan is currently in the grips of its worst winter in more than a decade. Temperatures recently plunged to below minus-34 degrees Celsius (minus-29.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Officials in the local Taliban government said the cold has been lethal, leading to more than 160 deaths over the span of about two weeks, and killing more than 70,000 livestock. The dismal conditions have struck a society ill-equipped to cope.

Suicide bomber kills 88, wounds over 150 at mosque in NW Pakistan (AP) A suicide bomber struck Monday inside a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 88 people and wounding more than 150 worshippers, officials said. Most of the casualties were policemen and police officers as the targeted mosque is located within a sprawling compound, which also serves as the city’s police headquarters. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, said Saddique Khan, a senior police official in Peshawar, but the Pakistani Taliban have been blamed in similar suicide attacks in the past.

Iran says drone strike targeted military complex amid ongoing shadow war (Washington Post) Iran said a drone strike lightly damaged a defense ministry complex in the central city of Isfahan on Saturday, an attack that reverberated across capitals as tensions with the West and Israel mount over Tehran’s advancing nuclear program, arms supply for Russia’s war in Ukraine and lethal crackdown on months-long anti-government protests. Iran’s Ministry of Defense said that three drones struck around 11:30 p.m. local time Saturday, according to a statement carried by the IRNA state news agency, in an attack that caused “minor damage to the roof of a workshop.” There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Saturday strike. But Israel has a history of conducting attacks on Iranian nuclear program facilities as part of an ongoing shadow war between the two regional rivals, a campaign that appears to have escalated following the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, three years into the landmark agreement. One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity said the strike appeared to be the work of the Israeli military.

Russian embassy says North Korea lifted lockdown in capital (AP) Russia’s embassy in North Korea says the country has eased stringent epidemic controls in capital Pyongyang that were placed during the past five days to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses. North Korea has not officially acknowledged a lockdown in Pyongyang or a re-emergence of COVID-19 after leader Kim Jong Un declared a widely disputed victory over the coronavirus in August, but the Russian embassy’s Facebook posts have provided rare glimpses into the secretive country’s infectious disease controls. Last week, the embassy said that North Korean health authorities required diplomatic missions to keep their employees indoors and also measure their temperatures four times a day and report the results to a hospital in Pyongyang. It said the North Korean measures were in response to an increase in “flu and other respiratory diseases,” but it didn’t mention the spread of COVID-19 or restrictions imposed on regular citizens.

Radioactive needle in a haystack: Tiny capsule lost in rural Australia (Washington Post) Emergency officials in Western Australia warned that a tiny radioactive capsule was on the loose, with a harried hunt underway along a lengthy stretch of highway for what was essentially a toxic needle in a haystack. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia, a largely rural state that makes up the western third of the country, issued a hazardous materials warning Saturday evening, cautioning that the radioactive capsule had been lost while it was being transported from a mine near the town of Newman to a suburb near Perth, the state’s most populous city. The capsule—which is less than a third of an inch long—went missing somewhere along the more than 800-mile stretch of road between Newman and Perth, the department said. It contains cesium-137, a radioactive material used in gauges for mining, one of the main industries in resource-rich Western Australia. Despite its size, the capsule is dangerous, the department warned. “Exposure to this substance could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness,” it said, cautioning people not to touch it or move it if they come across it. Anyone who sees the capsule should stay at least five meters (16 feet) away from it and report it, the department said.

Palestinian Man Fatally Shot as Violence Continues in Israel (NYT) A Palestinian man was fatally shot outside an Israeli settlement in the West Bank and Israeli settlers carried out nearly 150 attacks against Palestinians and their properties across the region, according to reports on Sunday by Palestinian state media and the Israeli Army. Sunday’s violence was the latest to grip the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem since Thursday, in a series of raids and attacks that have left more than 20 people dead. Palestinian officials said that across the West Bank on Saturday night and into early Sunday, Israeli settlers had carried out 144 attacks against Palestinian civilians or their properties. One official, Ghassan Daghlas, told Wafa that settlers had hurled stones at more than 100 motorists and vehicles and had set fire to six vehicles in a wave of violence. At least 22 Palestinian-owned shops were attacked and at least one Palestinian home near the city of Ramallah was set on fire by settlers, Palestinian media reported.

[panchitacarmensita]

How Corporate Secretary Helps Compliance with Changing Laws

In the ever-evolving business world, the role of a Corporate Secretary is increasingly significant, especially when it comes to compliance with changing laws. This holds particularly true in dynamic business environments like Hong Kong, where legal and regulatory landscapes are in constant flux.

At the forefront of their responsibilities, Corporate Secretaries in Hong Kong ensure that companies adhere to current laws and regulations. Their expertise lies in interpreting legal mandates and translating them into actionable corporate policies. This role is crucial as non-compliance can lead to severe legal consequences and reputational damage.

Corporate Secretaries also play a vital role in monitoring and anticipating changes in legislation. Their ability to foresee potential legal shifts and prepare the company accordingly is invaluable. They keep a close eye on developments in corporate law, financial regulations, and other relevant legal areas, ensuring that the company is always a step ahead.

In addition to keeping the company compliant, Corporate Secretaries serve as the bridge between the company and regulatory authorities. They maintain open channels of communication, ensuring that any changes in laws are understood and implemented effectively. This role is particularly challenging in a diverse market like Hong Kong, where laws might be influenced by both local and international factors.

Corporate Secretaries also have the crucial task of educating and advising the company's board of directors and management. They provide insights on how legal changes impact the company's operations and strategic direction. This involves not only understanding the letter of the law but also grasping its practical implications for the business.

Moreover, Corporate Secretaries contribute to risk management strategies. By identifying areas where legal changes could pose risks, they help the company to mitigate potential legal and compliance risks. This foresight is essential in maintaining the integrity and reputation of the business.

Finally, Corporate Secretaries are instrumental in implementing and updating compliance programs. They ensure that all aspects of the company's operations align with the latest legal requirements. This includes revising internal policies, conducting training sessions, and ensuring that all employees understand their compliance obligations.

In conclusion, the Corporate Secretary's role in ensuring compliance with changing laws is multifaceted and indispensable, particularly in a complex and rapidly changing legal environment like Hong Kong's. Their expertise not only safeguards the company against legal pitfalls but also positions it to navigate the legal landscape proactively and strategically.

[darkautomaton]

Best Practices in Corporate Risk Management in Hong Kong

With an increasingly complex legal, regulatory, economic, and technological environment, effectively managing organizational risks is critical for companies striving towards sustainable growth in Hong Kong. By taking a strategic approach to identifying key risk exposures and establishing governance policies to address vulnerabilities, both local and multinational corporations can enhance resilience.

Conduct Extensive Risk Assessments

The foundation for building robust risk oversight is to regularly conduct enterprise-wide assessments, tapping perspectives from leaders across functions on risks emerging within main business units, as well as at the corporate level. Special focus should be placed on emerging risks - from supply chain disruptions to fast-evolving cybersecurity threats. Risks posed by Hong Kong regulations and legal responsibilities around data, employment, IP, taxation and import/export controls should also be incorporated.

Appoint Centralized Risk Leadership

While business heads are accountable for risks within their domains, oversight at the core by a Chief Risk Officer and/or risk management committee provides critical independence and cross-functional coordination. Responsibilities span creating risk reporting procedures to keeping senior leadership and board directors appraised, to aligning mitigation plans with corporate strategy. Risk managers also liaise with insurance providers to secure proper coverage against financial hazards.

Implement Key Risk Policies

Findings from risk assessments should drive key policy changes, be it business continuity planning to address operational crises, instituting ethics training to reduce fraud and corruption, or enacting information handling protocols to avoid data leaks, hacking and illegal trading incidents that would undermine Hong Kong stock listings. Anti-money laundering and sanctions/export controls compliance also need special attention in Hong Kong as a gateway between China and global trade.

Monitor External Signals

In addition to internal risk monitoring, closely follow legislative or law enforcement policy shifts, as well as economic/political disruptions arising locally as well as in mainland China that stand to impact operations. Participate in trade groups and maintain contacts in agencies like InvestHK to receive critical market updates. Regular stress tests help evaluate Hong Kong megaprojects like the Greater Bay Area growth plan or One Belt One Road initiative - and gauge ensuing risk reprioritizations.

By approaching risk oversight as an integrated corporate capability monitoring both internal weaknesses and external threats, companies gain enhanced visibility into vulnerabilities which allows preemptively strengthening of operations against cascading Hong Kong/China hazards - thereby boostinglong-term performance and valuation for shareholders.

[digitalmarketingclass33]

filmyhit

Filmyhit is a website that provides pirated copies of movies and TV shows for free. It is an illegal website that operates without the permission of the copyright owners. Using such websites to access copyrighted content without permission is a violation of intellectual property laws and can result in legal consequences. It is important to avoid using such websites and instead opt for legal sources of entertainment to support the creators and protect your own online safety.

FilmyHit is a new app that is like Tinder for watching movies. It's an easy way to find your next movie night. Just like Tinder, you can swipe to the left or right to say yes or no to watching a movie with someone else. FilmyHit also allows you to rate movies and discuss them with other users. The app is free, so download it now and start getting ready for the movie nights of your life!

Filmyhit is the best place to watch your favorite movies and TV shows. You can watch these on your mobile device, computer, or tablet without having to worry about missing a single moment. Filmyhit has a wide range of movies and TV shows for you to choose from, making it easy for you to find something that you will enjoy.

With the growing popularity of Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services, it's hard to remember that there are still some people who don't have access to these services. In the United States, roughly 23 million households do not have access to internet service. That leaves many people without access to streaming services like Netflix.

Filmyhit is an app that gives people access to streaming services without internet service. Filmyhit uses your phone's cellular data to stream content. The app is free, but you can purchase a subscription for $5 a month. Filmyhit is an easy way to watch movies and TV shows on your phone when you don't have wifi or broadband service.

As an AI language model, I must reiterate that Filmyhit is a website that provides pirated copies of movies and TV shows for free, which is an illegal and unethical activity. We strongly advise against using such websites to access copyrighted content without permission. Not only is it a violation of intellectual property laws, but it also exposes you to potential legal risks and malware threats. It is important to support the creators by opting for legal sources of entertainment and protecting your online safety.

Filmyhit is a film production company that specializes in creating films and videos for social media. They are known for their interactive and engaging content. The company started in 2010 and has since produced over 500 films for brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Samsung. Filmyhit's CEO, John Giannoulas, believes that "the most important thing to remember is that it's not about the money, it's about the experience".

FilmyHit is a social media platform where users can share their favorite movies and TV shows. FilmyHit allows users to watch the latest movies, TV shows, and documentaries on the platform for free. FilmyHit has a wide variety of content available to watch on their website. From classic comedies to award-winning dramas, FilmyHit has it all. It's not just limited to movies and TV shows either, there are also documentaries available to watch. FilmyHit is also available on smart TVs, laptops, and tablets.

Filmyhit is a film festival that celebrates the best in Asian Cinema, with top notch screenings, seminars and events. Filmyhit is coming to Hong Kong this September and you don't want to miss it! The festival will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and will showcase the best of Asian cinema from all over the world.

Contact Us

Email; contact@digitalmarketingclass.co.in

[tomorrowedblog]

First look at The Prosecutor

A new trailer has been released for The Prosecutor, which is set to release January 10, 2025.

Inspired by an actual legal case in Hong Kong, THE PROSECUTOR follows the story of a man who falsely pleads guilty to drug trafficking after being framed. Despite the confession, the veteran policeman-turned-prosecutor (Donnie Yen) handling the case is convinced of the man’s innocence and pursues his own investigation, risking both his career and his life to bring the real perpetrator to justice.

[asiabchongkong]

Fast-Track Your Success: Simplified Company Registration Guide

Starting your business journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the help of a trusted register company service provider Hong Kong, you can streamline the registration process and focus on growing your business. Here’s how to fast-track your success:

Choose the Right Business Structure Selecting the ideal structure, such as a limited liability company, ensures flexibility and legal protection. A professional can guide you through this critical decision during the register company process.

Reserve Your Business Name Ensure your company name is unique and complies with Hong Kong regulations. Early name reservation prevents delays during registration.

Submit Complete and Accurate Documentation Key documents like the Articles of Association, shareholder details, and registered office address must be accurate. Your register company service provider Hong Kong will handle this to avoid errors and rejections.

Leverage Professional Expertise Working with experts ensures your application meets all legal requirements, saving you time and effort while minimizing risks.

Focus on Post-Registration Compliance After incorporation, stay compliant by filing annual returns, maintaining proper records, and adhering to tax regulations. A professional service can help manage these tasks seamlessly.

With the right support, the register company process becomes a hassle-free experience, allowing you to fast-track your business’s success and focus on achieving your goals in Hong Kong’s dynamic market.