Tag Archives: China

     â€‹Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (April 2) that it has assisted a leading Mainland e-signature services provider, eSign, to build its international headquarters in Hong Kong as part of the company’s global expansion strategy.
      
     The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said, “Hong Kong has long been recognised as an international business hub, attracting businesses and investors from around the world. It is common to use electronic signatures in the commercial or personal context, providing a solid ground for eSign to expand globally. These factors provide plenty of opportunities for eSign’s business to thrive in Hong Kong and beyond.”
      
     Founded in 2002, eSign offers comprehensive electronic signature services for corporates, governments and individuals. The Chairman of eSign, Mr Jin Hongzhou, said that the company is a market leader in electronic signatures on the Mainland with over 20 years of experience in the industry. It is the best time for the company to expand overseas via Hong Kong. 
      
     He said, “We see that more and more of our clients are expanding their business overseas. We have been providing our electronic signature services to them around the world. We need to upgrade our products and services to a more international level in order to meet the growing demand from our clients and provide them with better services. Hong Kong has such conditions and resources for us to do so.”
      
     He continued, “Hong Kong is a free port where East meets West. The city is not only close to the Mainland market, but also connected to the world. It provides us an excellent platform and opportunity for global expansion. As the development of the electronic signature business is closely related to the local legal environment, while Hong Kong has a mature legal system and a sound legal environment, it is an ideal place for our expansion.”
      
     He added, “We will use Hong Kong as the company’s international headquarters and develop it into our global sales centre, the third research and development centre and an international data centre within three years. After we build a solid business foundation in Hong Kong, we will expand our business into Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as well as countries along the Belt and Road.”
      
     To get a copy of the photo, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720315877242.
      
     For more information about eSign, please visit www.esign.cn.

  

   Hongkong Post announced today (April 2) that a special stamp issue and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Hong Kong Museums Collection – Selected Tea Ware from China and the World” will be released for sale on April 18 (Thursday).
 
   Chinese porcelain has an incredibly rich history and a high reputation, having been marketed worldwide. Similarly, Chinese tea culture possesses a deep-rooted historical legacy, with tea ware playing an integral part of Chinese ceramics. In order to meet the needs of diversified markets, including Europe, the United States and beyond, many innovative and unique pieces of export tea ware embracing Chinese and Western styles and characteristics have emerged since the Ming dynasty.
 
   Hongkong Post is continuing its Hong Kong Museums Collection series by issuing a set of six stamps, two stamp sheetlets in die-cut teapot shape and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Hong Kong Museums Collection – Selected Tea Ware from China and the World”, to present selected tea ware from the collection of the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, including Chinese export and western-styled tea ware, as well as foreign imitation Chinese tea ware, demonstrating the development and influence of Chinese tea culture in history.
 
   Official first day covers for “Hong Kong Museums Collection – Selected Tea Ware from China and the World” will be on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post’s online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from April 3 (Wednesday). This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and on ShopThruPost from April 18, while serviced first day covers affixed with the special stamps and postage prepaid picture cards (air mail) will be available at philatelic offices only.
 
   A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on April 18 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
 
   Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and in the ShopThruPost mobile app.

            

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the Duo Recital by Alice Hui (Flute) and Tommy Liu (Bassoon) as the first programme of the “Hong Kong Artists” Series, in May. The two local musicians will showcase their talents and unique styles by performing various musical compositions from the romantic era to the 20th century, offering music fans a new level of appreciation for woodwind chamber music.
 
     The duo, accompanied by pianist Charles Tam, will open their recital with Pietro Morlacchi and Antonio Torriani’s “Duetto Concertante on Themes of Verdi for Flute, Bassoon and Piano”. Hui will then perform with Tam the beautiful, contemporary repertoire, Lowell Liebermann’s “Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 23”, and the classical work by Oscar Klose, “Romanze, Op. 34”.
 
     The duo, together with harpist Judy Ho, will then bring audiences “Pastorales de Noël” for flute, bassoon, and harp by Andre Jolivet, followed by Liu’s bassoon solo performance of Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda’s “Morceau de Salon, Op. 230”. Finally, Hui and Liu will present Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion” and Francis Poulenc’s “Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, FP43” specially rearranged for this performance, showcasing new styles of woodwind chamber music that will draw the recital to a perfect ending.
 
     After graduating from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), Hui pursued further studies at Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, under the tutelage of international flautist Mihi Kim. During her years in Europe, she participated in many performances and recitals as a soloist. Hui has also collaborated with several orchestras including the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Asian Youth Orchestra and more. Hui is currently teaching the junior music programme at the HKAPA.
 
     Liu is currently the principal bassoon of Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He received his master’s degree at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany after graduating from the HKAPA. He has collaborated with various professional orchestras such as WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra. Liu is one of the founders of the chamber ensemble M•eureka!, and was the Chairman of the Bassoonion, a non-profit arts organisation.
 
     “Hong Kong Artists” Series: Duo Recital by Alice Hui (Flute) and Tommy Liu (Bassoon) will be staged at 8pm on May 1 (Wednesday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $200 and $240 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for ticket purchases with “Hong Kong Artists” Series programmes to be held during May to November. For discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1689.html.
 
     The LCSD has launched the new “Hong Kong Artists” Series with an aim to provide a new platform for local artists to showcase their remarkable talents. In addition to individual performances, the series also encourages cross-genre works to highlight their unique styles. This year’s series will first introduce six distinguished musicians in four stunning recitals, featuring the flute and bassoon, piano, and huqin, to bring enchanting music to the stage of Hong Kong City Hall and further enrich the diverse cultural ambience of the city. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1688.html.

      

     The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today (April 2) issued about 220 000 profits tax returns, 120 000 property tax returns and 310 000 employer’s returns for the year of assessment 2023-24. About 2.44 million tax returns for individuals will be issued on May 2. Taxpayers and employers are generally required to file their returns within one month from the date of issue of the relevant returns. For cases with tax representatives appointed, the deadlines for filing returns are set out in the Block Extension Letter posted on the department’s website.

     Members of the public can visit the department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk) for frequently asked questions and answers on how to complete tax returns. The department has gradually enhanced the functions of electronic tax filing to promote tax digitalisation and to enhance the efficiency, reliability and accuracy of return filing. Taxpayers are encouraged to file their tax returns through eTAX electronic services, details of which can be found on the webpage (www.gov.hk/en/residents/taxes/etax/services/index.htm). Guidance on electronic filing of employer’s returns is also available on the department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/err.htm). The eTAX services permit individuals to use the Government’s “iAM Smart” digital services to log in and sign the tax returns (signing is only applicable to holders of “iAM Smart” accounts with digital signing function). For information about the “iAM Smart” services, please visit the website (www.iamsmart.gov.hk).

     Last year, the department launched a new model of e-filing of Profits Tax returns where taxpayers can e-file the returns together with the supporting documents (including financial statements and profits tax computations) in inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) format. To facilitate taxpayers in preparing the required iXBRL data files, the department provides the IRD Taxonomy Package (the Taxonomy) and the IRD iXBRL Data Preparation Tools (the Tools) which are available for download from the website (www.ird.gov.hk/ixbrl) free of charge. The Taxonomy and the Tools have been updated and enhanced this year. Enhanced features include adding a roll-over function and increasing the gross income threshold for the use of Template Tool from $2 million to $5 million. The traditional Chinese edition of the Taxonomy and the Tools which enable taxpayers to convert their financial statements and profits tax computations compiled in traditional Chinese into iXBRL data files have also been launched.

     Taxpayers are encouraged to file their Profits Tax returns by e-filing. More details of new versions and enhanced features of the Taxonomy and the Tools can be found on the dedicated webpage (www.ird.gov.hk/ixbrl). For enquiries in relation to the iXBRL filing requirements and the use of the Tools, taxpayers may contact the department at ixbrl_reporting@ird.gov.hk or access e-Appointment (bkapp.ird.gov.hk/ixbrl/) on the IRD’s website to book in advance a specific timeslot for making enquiries via phone.

     The department reminds taxpayers and employers to pay sufficient postage for returns to be posted to the department to ensure timely delivery. Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the department. Postage rates can be found on Hongkong Post’s website (www.hongkongpost.hk). read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more