Hong Kong

AIA acquires Blue Cross for $1.53b

AIA acquires Blue Cross for $1.53b

This is set to expand the scope of the Bank of East Asia’s existing partnership with AIA. 

Around 5 of 10 FIs use robotic process automation

This is expected to grow as 31% plan to adopt RPA in the next 6 months.

Hong Kong falls 19 places to 77th in latest liveability rankings

COVID-19 restrictions and tightened press freedom contributed to the dip in the list. 

Fifth Covid wave to lower residential sales volumes and retail sales: Moody's

Companies are expected to weather out disruptions for up to 6 months.

About $1.26b of budget earmarked for tourism support

This follows the $3.8b earlier investment to make HK a tourism destination.

Grade A office rents vacancy rates down 0.2% to 9.4% for January

This continues a four-month streak of positive net absorption. 

Here are the 5 key trends that will shape the labour market

This is against the backdrop of an era-defining hybrid phenomenon, IWG said.

6 of 10 SMEs face logistical challenges

56%, meanwhile, look to increase the use of on-demand delivery.

HKMA records 0.4% increase in total deposits in December 2021

Local currency deposits, meanwhile, decreased by 0.8%.

88 Robinson Road completes sale by public auction

JLL served as the auctioneer for the property.

Social distancing measures to see 14-day extension

The period covered will be from 21 January to 20 February.

'Vaccine measures won't be lifted anytime soon': Carrie Lam

Areas of concern include the quarantine hotel and pet shop clusters.

HK visitor arrivals down 97.4% YoY in December

The tourism board attributes this to anti-epidemic measures involving border control. 

Northern Metropolis project to house 2.5 million people

But the number of homes to be built under the project are 'fewer than expected'.

Why Hong Kong needs a corporate wellness paradigm shift now

By mid-June of 2021, more than 2.4 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered to populations in 180 countries, according to data collected by Bloomberg. While that may be encouraging news on its face, a return to ‘business as usual’ remains a distant and uncertain prospect; though COVID transmission rates are down in some countries, they have skyrocketed in others, causing yet more rounds of lockdowns and bringing economic activity to a virtual halt.

Hong Kong rubber stamps first standard patent by original grant

The country’s new grant system now allows a direct route for patent protection.