Commentary

Traditionally, the summer months are the busiest for travel in Hong Kong.

The rapid adoption of the Internet has been impacting the community at large. In Hong Kong, the number of Internet users today has reached nearly 4.9 million, which accounts for 68% of total population, as revealed by the report, We are Social - 2012 Social, Digital and Mobile in Asia.

 

In Hong Kong and Singapore, as two of the most advanced Asian economies, knowledge-based work is increasingly important. At the same time, the number of business, charitable and government initiatives which are delivered through projects are increasing. So why is it that we still regard project management as a role--a job to be done by any manager or qualified professional--and not as a profession in its own right?

The prospect of returning to work after having a baby is sometimes quite daunting especially as there is a desire to stay at home with the new child rather than commute leaving baby behind.  Planning the transition back into the workplace or setting up a company instead need not be a frightening prospect or saga.

Getting ahead in Hong Kong business used to be about who you knew.

Apple’s newly unveiled iOS7 gives a dramatic re-work on the interface, and has some interesting new features under the hood, some that users will enjoy and some that will delight or frustrate your developers.

With the Hong Kong’s summer convention and exhibition season in full swing, many executives are thinking about their company’s next big or small events. But what’s the best strategy, to organise an event through an internal team or an outsourced event management company?

Data is increasingly described as the “new oil” of the 21st century. Few would argue the point that data is a valuable asset. However, in an unrefined state, data cannot really be used.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang has provided several indications of the increasing importance that government is placing on providing high quality healthcare services to the population of Hong Kong.

With only one real accelerator program in Hong Kong (AcceleratorHK focusing mainly on mobile startups, ChinaAccelerator in Dalian and JFDI in Singapore), where is a startup based in Hong Kong to go for seed funding and mentorship?

As Asia’s World City, Hong Kong plays host to a huge variety of events. While highly successful, some of these events may not be taking full advantage of the amazing technological and social opportunities offered by our incredible city. How can you make sure your business squeezes every drop of potential out of your next big event? Traditions can be hard to break and like people, some companies are resistant to change. ‘Tried and tested’ formulas, successful in the past, are still relied upon to generate future business. But the world is changing faster than anyone could have predicted. Driven by the incredible pace of innovation, particularly in the field of technology; some tried and tested events practices are in need of a little freshening up. That’s not to say that the convention, the product launch and the trade fair are becoming obsolete by any means, there certainly has been no drop off in venue bookings in the city! However, smart, hyper-advanced cities like Hong Kong, have an incredible suite of tools and excellent connectivity available to companies.

This is the first in a series of articles about this topic, social impact bonds. Check back with Hong Kong Business magazine for future updates and information.

In the movie “Ocean’s Thirteen” the villain Willy Bank (played by Al Pacino) owns a casino that utilizes a technology called “The Greco Player Tracker” that checks the legitimacy of winnings on the gaming floor by tracking the biometric movements of players.

With the recent rise of social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook in the workplace, it is becoming increasingly important for employers to consider their social media policies in order to adequately protect their business interests whilst upholding the employees’ personal data rights and freedom of speech.

In international business, Hong Kong is a financial centre, bridging the East with the West. Still, in many transactions, etiquette can be misunderstood or overlooked, and a misstep can quickly damage relationships. Through my experience teaching Western etiquette to clients from a range of industries and backgrounds, I have provided three of the most commonly asked questions – or complaints – and how to best deal with these situations in Hong Kong’s business culture.