2018年8月28日 香港:中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇今日在香港舉辦題為「區塊鏈:塑造經貿未來」的專題研討會,四位來自金融科技領域的業界翹楚就此議題展開對話,互享觀點。 此次研討會由中國日報與香港大學專業進修學院合辦。中國日報特邀渣打銀行大中華及北亞地區交易銀行部主管及董事總經理許偉揚先生;TNG金融科技集團創辦人兼主席江慶恩先生;中新控股科技集團有限公司副主席兼首席執行官彭耀傑先生;以及VeriFi(香港)有限公司董事長黃平達先生擔任本次研討會演講嘉賓,由TechIDEAL總編輯楊彥春教授主持論壇,與在場逾百名參會嘉賓一起展望區塊鏈的發展。 區塊鏈技術是一項利用密碼學算法,以去中心化的方式集體維護一個可靠分佈式數據庫的新興技術。2017年,區塊鏈的概念逐漸為大眾所知,目前,區塊鏈的討論日趨白熱化,區塊鏈產業也正進入高速發展階段,不少企業和資本將目光投向區塊鏈領域。阿里巴巴、騰訊、京東等互聯網巨頭也紛紛入局區塊鏈技術的研究與應用,助推技術創新,優化產業佈局。 許偉揚在研討會上表示,對於銀行來說,作為財富管理者的核心使命並不會改變,但是營運模式可以相應轉型升級。日常交易將只是一小部分工作。銀行更多地還是會專注於深層次運營和財務危機處理。財務活動目前已經具備數位化的條件,日常業務將來實現全自動化以後,銀行就可以專職提供增值分析服務”。他承認,銀行業在接納區塊鏈技術進度遲緩,但必須迎頭趕上。 江慶恩表示,電子錢包就相當於一個全球通用的掌上迷你銀行,當你用手機錢包時,只需按一個鍵,在3秒內,你的款項就會顯示在異國的銀行賬戶中。通過區塊鏈這項新技術,我們能夠更快更低成本的轉賬。他認為業界普遍不熱衷於數據分享,銀行與企業現階段仍將數據視為資產的一部分,但是如果數據不能流通,不能發揮效用,那就失去其存在的意義。 彭耀傑認為,如果說互聯網是一條沒有記憶的信息高速公路,那麼區塊鏈技術則讓這條信息高速公路擁有了記憶。他說,區塊鏈在未來將會面臨四方面的挑戰:一,唯有制度方面的進展才能幫助區塊鏈取得更多的應用;二,支撐區塊鏈的技術尚未有一個統一的標準供所有人參考;三,對區塊鏈的定義、解釋與誤傳將會影響大眾對其的認知;其四,區塊鏈教育界魚龍混雜,誰夠資格成為真正的專家仍是問題。目前政府在這個領域的規管和支持力度都不夠,支援區塊鏈的技術也沒有既定標準,缺乏概念性依據可能會影響資訊的準確性,人才也有限。 黃平達則認為,「一帶一路」可以回答香港作為「超級聯繫人」未來應何去何從的問題。他說,伊斯蘭金融與綠色金融將是下一個契機。三分之一的「一帶一路」沿線國家都要求簽訂契約時必須符合伊斯蘭教法,這正是區塊鏈可以大展拳腳之處。此外,與環保相關的金融往來也為大眾所需。他呼籲香港業界應認真考慮區塊鏈技術的應用。他指出,在貿易戰中實現貿易再平衡,各方均需要技術手段以適應新形勢。誰解決了技術問題,誰就能塑造經貿的未來。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平台,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28Despite heavy rain, the latest China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable, co-organized by China Daily and the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU Space) Executive Academy, drew a full room of attendees. Held at the HKU Space Admiralty Learning Centre, a diverse group of speakers, academics and industry leaders gathered for the latest roundtable, themed “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business”, which highlighted the opportunities this increasingly influential technology has continued to generate. Ashwani Goel, general manager at Tata International, said he came to the event “as a student”. “I’m interested in learning more about blockchain and utilizing it in the trading of physical commodities. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable seems like a good place to learn more,” said Goel. And, those who spoke were too ready to paint a picture of the situation for the participants and audience. Zhou Li, editorial board member of the China Daily Group and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, pointed to the Chinese mainland’s advances in fintech as a sign that it’s ready to harness the benefits of blockchain technology. “China’s growing influence in the digital economy has seen even the citizens of its second- and third-tier cities use fintech in the wet market. Blockchain is the technology that can take these cashless transactions to the next level in future,” said Li. “From money to music, many things can now be stored, transacted and managed without an intermediary. People everywhere can trust each other and have peer-to-peer transactions,” he added. N.R. Liu, deputy director (Business and China) at HKU Space and principal of the HKU Space Executive Academy, brought attention to Hong Kong’s role in the regional consideration of these developments. “Hong Kong is now at a crossroads. It has a history of developing a village into a global financial center and helping China in many ways,” said Liu. This could prove to be the sector that will help Hong Kong repeat its historic rise. “In the financial sector, there’re lots of things emerging in the area of fintech, especially with regard to blockchain. The question is how we can use blockchain to help the financial sector and system,” he said. The panel of speakers at the roundtable had strong views of the transformative effects of blockchain technology, including the role and responsibilities of financial institutions. “For banks, the core mission of being a treasurer will remain unchanged, but its operating model will be transformed. Day-to-day transactions will become a small part of the operations. More of the focus will lie in managing drivers and addressing business risks,” said David W.Y. Koh, regional head of transaction banking for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong). “Treasury activities are ripe for digitization and once routine tasks are automated, we can focus on creating value-added analytics and services.” Koh conceded that banks have been slow in adopting blockchain, but stressed that it’s important for them to keep up. “We may not lead the race, but it’s important to keep pace,” he said. On the other side of the (bit)coin, blockchain is expected to play a big part in facilitating financial inclusion. Alex Kong, founder and chairman of TNG FinTech Group, has developed the TNGeWallet to help the unbanked access financial services. “Holding an eWallet is like carrying a global mini bank in your palm,” said Kong, a serial entrepreneur who’s experienced in technology and business solutions. “However, the issue is that many eWallets do not work with others. We want to facilitate frictionless global money transfers, which is what the unbanked needs. Blockchain can help with matters like e-KYC (know your customer), credit scoring and smart contracts.” Phang Yew Kiat, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group -- a Hong Kong-listed company that provides intelligent financial lifestyle services -- has invested more than $100 million in blockchain in the past three years. “If the internet is equivalent to info highway without memory, then blockchain is internet information with immutable transaction record,” said Phang. “But, the things that keep me awake are the challenges in the coming months and years. There are still not enough government regulations and endorsement; no one standard in the technology supporting blockchain today and in the future; a lack of definitions that could lead to misinterpretations; and not enough talents and qualifications.” Other worrying issues include the rise of cryptocurrencies and the possible displacement of traditional hubs of finance. “There are around 1,889 cryptocurrrencies as of August 24. A lot of it has been pump-and-dump scams,” said Pindar Wong, chairman of VeriFi (Hong Kong) -- an internet financial infrastructure consultancy -- and head of the Belt and Road Blockchain Consortium. “Hong Kong is the consummate middle person. What happens when that role disappears. How would it be affected?” he asked. He said the answer may lie in the Belt and Road Initiative. “Islamic finance and green finance might be where the next opportunities lie. One-third of the countries along the Belt and Road would require Shariah-compliant smart contracts, which is what blockchain can deliver. And, of course, environmental financing is needed by all,” Wong said. He urged Hong Kong to seriously consider using blockchain to solve the issue. “With the rebalancing of trade in the trade war, everyone requires tech that can account for the new flows of trade. Whoever solves the problem will help shape the future of business and trade,” said Wong. “The Belt and Road is the answer and Hong Kong has a role in dealing with the intangibles. With the verification benefits of blockchain, it also simplifies a geopolitical discussion.” Members of the audience were on the same page. Bruce Cheung, acting head of HKU Space’s College of Life Sciences and Technology, believes it’s important for Hong Kong to pick up on blockchain technology to be the “digital gateway” to China. “Hong Kong can act as the data storage hub for both international and Chinese businesses. It’s important for Hong Kong to learn how to fully harness and utilise the power of blockchain technology to be at the forefront of this revolution,” he said. “Blockchain is truly shaping the future of business and countries like the UK have invested heavily in it. Hong Kong has been a bit slow in adopting it despite a lot of discussions. But, we need to step it up,” he added.
2018-08-28中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛8月28日在香港举办题为“区块链:塑造经贸未来”的专题研讨会。香港当天倾盆大雨,但这并没有阻挡与会者参会的热情。四位来自金融科技领域的业界翘楚就此议题展开对话,与在场逾百名参会嘉宾一同展望区块链的发展前景。 前来参会的塔塔国际总经理阿施瓦尼•戈埃尔向《中国日报》表示,他是以一个“学生”的心态来的。“我对学习区块链技术非常感兴趣,我希望能将它应用于商贸,中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛能让我学到更多。” 此次研讨会由中国日报与香港大学专业进修学院合办。中国日报社编委兼亚太分社社长周立在致辞时表示,中国在金融科技领域迅猛发展,已做好准备迎接区块链技术的广泛运用。 周立说:“中国在数字化经济领域迅速成长,二、三线城市居民都可以轻松利用金融科技在网上支付,区块链无疑会将非现金支付带上另一个台阶。区块链技术致力于建立传输价值的互联网,从货币到音乐,通过区块链技术,人们可以就很多事务直接进行存储、交易和管理而无需中间人,无论双方身处何地,都可以完全信任对方,进行对等交易。” 香港大学专业进修学院常务副院长(商学及中国发展)兼企业研究院执行院长刘宁荣教授在致辞中指出,香港正迎来前所未有的历史机遇,区块链技术可助香港再创辉煌。 “香港正处于十字路口。历史上,香港从一个小小的渔村发展成为国际金融中心,为国家发展做出过多方面的贡献,”他说,“香港现在应思考区块链技术如何应用于科技金融领域。” 渣打银行大中华及北亚地区交易银行部主管及董事总经理许伟扬、TNG金融科技集团创办人兼主席江庆恩、中新控股科技集团有限公司副主席兼首席执行官彭耀杰,以及VeriFi(香港)有限公司董事长黄平达担任演讲嘉宾,论坛由TechIDEAL总编辑杨彦春教授担任主持。 许伟扬率先发表自己的见解。他说:“对于银行来说,作为财富管理者的核心使命并不会改变,但是营运模式可以相应转型升级。日常交易将只是一小部分工作。我们更多地还是会专注于深层次运营和财务危机处理。财务活动目前已经具备数字化的条件,日常业务将来实现全自动化以后,我们就可以专职提供增值分析服务。” 许伟扬承认,银行业在接纳区块链技术进度迟缓,但必须迎头赶上。 致力于为全球的无银行帐户群体提供金融服务,江庆恩的企业开发了多款电子钱包,通过区块链技术实现低成本跨境转账。 “电子钱包就相当于一个全球通用的掌上迷你银行,”江庆恩说,“但是众多电子钱包之间相互无法匹配。我们希望实现无壁垒的全球转账,尤其是对那些没有银行账号的人。” 彭耀杰认为,如果说互联网是一条没有记忆的高速公路,那么区块链技术则让这条信息高速公路拥有了记忆。 “但是,在未来的年月里挑战依然存在,”他说,“目前政府在这个领域的规管和支持力度都不够,支持区块链的技术也没有既定标准,缺乏概念性依据可能会影响信息的准确性,人才也有限。” 黄平达则认为,“一带一路”可以回答香港作为“超级联系人”未来应何去何从的问题。 他说:“伊斯兰金融与绿色金融将是下一个契机。三分之一的‘一带一路’沿线国家都要求签订契约时必须符合伊斯兰教法,这正是区块链可以大展拳脚之处。此外,与环保相关的金融往来也为大众所需。” 他呼吁香港业界应认真考虑区块链技术的应用。他指出,在贸易战中实现贸易再平衡,各方均需要技术手段以适应新形势。谁解决了技术问题,谁就能塑造经贸的未来。 “‘一带一路’即是问题的答案,香港在无形资产管理中可扮演重要角色。区块链亦可简化关于地缘政治的讨论,”黄平达补充说。 香港大学专业进修学院生命科学及科技学院代理总监张少能博士在接受记者访问时表示,香港需要掌握区块链技术,并打造中国的“数码门户”。 张少能说:“香港可成为中外企业的信息存储中心。掌握区块链技术,将其应用于这一技术革命的前沿,这对香港至关重要。区块链可以塑造经贸未来,英国就在这一领域大力投资。尽管一直在讨论,但香港对于接纳该技术显得略为迟缓。我们需要提速。” 区块链技术是一项利用密码学算法,以去中心化的方式集体维护一个可靠分布式数据库的新兴技术。2017年,区块链的概念逐渐为大众所知,目前,区块链的讨论日趋白热化,区块链产业也正进入高速发展阶段,不少企业和资本将目光投向区块链领域。阿里巴巴、腾讯、京东等互联网巨头也纷纷入局区块链技术的研究与应用,助推技术创新,优化产业布局。 中国日报社拥有报纸、网站、移动用户端、脸谱、推特、微博、微信、电子报等十余种媒介平台。在海外,通过每月发行《中国观察报》(China Watch),直达美国《华尔街日报》和《华盛顿邮报》、英国《每日电讯报》、法国《费加罗报》、泰国《民族报》、俄罗斯《俄罗斯报》、日本《每日新闻》等美、欧、亚主流读者群。 “中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛”旨在搭建一个由亚洲国家和地区的政、商、学界领袖和社会精英参与的高端对话和交流平台,至今已在香港、中国内地、亚洲国家举办近九十届论坛,围绕亚洲地区经济、商业、产业和社会发展等具有战略影响的重要议题展开讨论和分享见解,以增进中国与亚洲和西方国家的交流和理解。 媒体垂询: 洪梦求 小姐 电话:(852)3465 5427 电邮:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28With the much-hyped Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area set to lure talents and create a vast pool of business opportunities, the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) is offering programs focusing on Greater China for the region’s emerging entrepreneurs. Professor Ning R. Liu, principal of the HKU SPACE Executive Academy, gave his views on the development of the Bay Area and the role of academics in the region at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum themed “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business" held at HKU SPACE Admiralty Learning Centre on Tuesday. He sees great prospects in the Bay Area as it links up the advantages each region can offer and maximize them, stressing the role Hong Kong can play in the Bay Area, as well as the nation-led Belt & Road Initiative. “In blockchain technology, issues of trust and ethics are the important points. It’s the same in regional development, where Hong Kong can highlight its advantages as a regional financial hub,” said Liu. He believes that, in the fast-changing economies, it’s vital for educational institutes to provide young learners with updated knowledge. Currently, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE runs four categories of programs relating to human resources, innovation, finance and marketing management. “Besides imparting knowledge, it’s important for us to broaden learners’ horizons,” Liu said. “We have coaches from enterprises to give lessons based on their practical experience working in Asia,” Liu said. It was the third time China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable and HKU SPACE has cooperated in co-organizing the forum that focused on trending business topics. “In future, there’ll be more such events as both of us would like to go into issues concerning economics, business and social development,” Liu added. Established in 2016, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE provides professional and executive educational programs for professionals on the Chinese mainland. At present, it has are five centers -- in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen – offering such programs.
2018-08-28Aug 28, 2018, Hong Kong: Co-organized by China Daily and THE HKU SPACE Executive Academy, a co-branded forum was held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at the HKU SPACE Admiralty Learning Centre, Hong Kong, from 2pm-4:40pm. With the theme “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business”, prominent figures from the financial and technology fields examined a series of topics pertinent to this technological revolution and its impact on business. China Daily is delighted to have four distinguished speakers attending the forum: Mr. David W. Y. KOH, Regional Head, Transaction Banking, Greater China and North Asia, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; Mr. Alex KONG, Founder and Chairman, TNG Fintech Group; Mr. Yew Kiat PHANG, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group Limited; and Mr. Pindar WONG, Chairman, VerFi (Hong Kong) Limited. Blockchain is an emerging technology using cryptographic algorithms to maintain a distributed database in a decentralized way. The concept, which began making an impact on the financial and technological sectors last year, has sparked heated discussions, with the blockchain industry entering an era of rapid development. Many major tech enterprises and investors have set their sights on the industry with the aim of expanding its development. Chinese mainland internet giants, including Alibaba, Tencent and JD.com, have been involved in applying and researching blockchain technology to boost technological innovation and optimize industrial layout. Mr. David W. Y. KOH pointed out that for banks, the core mission of being a treasurer will remain unchanged, but its operating model will be transformed. Day-today transactions will become a small part of the operations. More of the focus will be on managing drivers and addressing business risks Mr. Alex KONG revealed that it’s just a matter of time before a peer-to-peer network break down the self-built barrier and link up different platforms all together. Mr. Yew Kiat PHANG said that today the Internet equivalent with the information highway without memory, blockchain is the information highway with all the memories, which is our understanding. Regulation, governance and endorsement are three things that will help to facilitate the growth of blockchain application; And then the technologies that support the blockchain today didn’t have one standard that everyone can work with; the third thing is, definitions, interpretations and misrepresentations are becoming an issue for what our beliefs is; the last thing is who is really qualify to be an expert. Mr. Pindar WONG believes that Islamic finance and green finance might be where the next opportunities lie. One third of the countries involved in the BRI would require Shariah-compliant smart contracts, which is what blockchain can deliver. And, of course, environmental financing is needed by all. About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. Media Contact: Ms. Melody Hong Tel: (852) 3465 5427 Email: melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28HONG KONG - If the internet is an information highway without memory, then blockchain technology will be the information highway associated with memory, says Phang Yew Kiat, chief executive officer of Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group. Chong Sing, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong’s Growth Enterprise Market board, is growing its blockchain research and development focusing on providing better financial services to small and medium-sized companies, merchants and individuals on the Chinese mainland and across Asia. As an online lending and payment platform, Chong Sing began its “blockchain exploration journey” some three years ago. As of June this year, the group’s blockchain segment had recorded revenues of 430.5 million yuan (US$63 million) for the first half of 2018, based on blockchain transaction verification, according to its interim results. Transaction verification is common in today’s bitcoin ecosystem. It means that when a person sends a bitcoin, the information on the transaction that’s posted on the blockchain and once verified is transparent to everyone and cannot be rewritten or changed. “The whole blockchain technology has many different variations. But, one of the concepts that everybody likes is the memory of the information highway,” Phang told China Daily. “The term we use is immutable.” “Looking back at the digital history, all of our transactions have relied on ‘trust parties’, such as banks, credit agencies, lawyers and other intermediaries, to keep records of our financial information and transactions,” he said. However, by introducing the concept of “smart contract”, which brings together on the internet two strangers who’ve never met before, it will be possible for investors to enjoy “trustless” transactions, said Phang. The Hong Kong-based financial services provider has bet on blockchain technology service providers Bitfury Group and Chainup through convertible bonds in its portfolio, which account for 0.24 percent and 0.15 percent of the total assets, respectively, according to Chong Sing. At present, markets tend to associate blockchain technology with the ups-and-downs in cryptocurrencies, with up to 80 percent of those who are familiar with the technology being speculators in digital currencies. But, Phang believes that only people who really know how to use the technology to do something good will turn out to be the eventual winners. “Cryptocurrencies are equivalent to the information highway in blockchain. You can drive a big truck called bitcoin; you can drive a small truck called ethereum, or you can even drive another small tiny bicycle called ripple. Which one is good, we don’t know,” Phang said. “But, the fact is that the information highway with memory is good.” Creating the right application of blockchain at the right time and with the right infrastructure is what society calls for, he added.
2018-08-28HONG KONG - Despite its disruptive power to reshape the business world, the much-trumpeted blockchain technology should not be overhyped, warns an industry expert. “Like any other technology we’re familiar with, blockchain technology is a normal one and should not be played up,” said Alex Kong Hing-yan, founder and chairman of TNG Fintech Group — a Hong Kong digital wallet operator founded in 2013. The go-to technology, defined as a decentralized ledger of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network, offers a series of networks of databases that allows information or records to be transferred and updated by participants in a trustworthy, secure and efficient way. “The craze for blockchain technology, the underlying technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, finds its roots in the legendary bull runs for bitcoin in recent years,” Kong told China Daily. “It’s the bitcoin boom that makes blockchain one of the biggest buzzwords in the technology scene.” The Malaysian entrepreneur believed the market today is showing signs of overheating, with bubbles beginning to take shape. “In the coming one or two years, the market will progressively wise up to the notion that blockchain is anything but a sexy new term,” he reckoned. Though the “blockchain fatigue” is beginning to set in among those who feel “its potentials have been over-communicated”, as a report from Deloitte noted, its real-world benefits remain trailblazing. To be sure, the financial services industry has been one of the first movers to test the huge potentials of the game-changing technology. Such distributed-ledger technology will give traditional financial institutions a leg up to establish more secure and trustworthy systems of credit scoring and KYC (know your customer). It can also be given full play in trade finance, Kong said. But, in the digital payment industry, where TNG has carved out a name for itself, Kong believed the technology plays virtually no big role in the immediate future. “The technology itself records and verifies every transaction. Given the sheer number of investors selling and buying bitcoins and the sheer size of trading volumes, it could take 45 minutes or even one hour to get the transaction done,” he noted. Some digital wallet operators may establish their own private blockchain-based network and facilitate transactions in a real-time manner due to the relatively low trading volumes. However, this is a close-end game where their platforms are disconnected with other players. For TNG, Kong does not see the “immediate need” to introduce blockchain into the front end of payment transactions. The company, which formed what it calls the “Global E-Wallet Alliance” to connect with more than 10 digital payment platforms and companies in Southeast Asia, established its own blockchain network to allow alliance members to record transactions and store information on the back end. The peer-to-peer network, currently covering 200-plus million uses with more platforms and companies losing no time to join in, allows customers to transfer money, send messages and make a call across the connected platforms. It will be officially launched by year end, Kong said. “The digital payment industry itself cannot see major platforms play games on their own ever and forever. It’s just a matter of time before a peer-to-peer network breaks down the self-built barrier and link up different platforms all together,” he said.
2018-08-28HONG KONG - Amid talk of the impeccable strength of blockchain technology, many banks have pulled off the feat in business transactions, but standardization remains a problem that needs to be tackled, says a banker from Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong). Among all banking services, transaction banking is always thought to be one that could embrace digital transformation most and deploy blockchain to make money move more efficiently. “A lot of things we do are fundamental pieces, like who owns what money, where and when,” says David W.Y. Koh, managing director and regional head of transaction banking for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered. He explains that transaction banks normally operate businesses like cash management, as well as trade and security services. Much of their operations are highly dependent on speed, verification, title and reconciliation. Koh cites the bill of lading — a document used in international trade to ensure that exporters are paid and merchandise delivered to importers. But, when the bill turns into the digital format, doubts follow. Questions that would arise include: Does the electronic document carry the same legal authority and rights as the physical document? How do both sides in a transaction ensure who would receive the right piece of information? “That’s where blockchain comes in,” says Koh. He deems that with its distributed ledger technology, a bank is able to offer customers another alternative to move money faster, almost instantaneously, and allow everybody access to blockchain to track money movements. Earlier this year, Asia-focused Standard Chartered launched a new business unit — SC Ventures — to help promote fintech innovation within the bank. The new unit also manages investments in fintech companies, such as those in blockchain company Ripple, which developed the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Sensing that Ripple would be one of the aggregators in the blockchain market, Standard Chartered plans to make full use of the advantage and Ripple’s position, says Koh. The lender has decided to use its connection with Ripple to develop its internal fintech innovation to draw market attention. Besides investment, Standard Chartered teamed up with Alibaba Group Holding’s Ant Financial Services for the online payment operator’s new blockchain cross-boundary remittance solution in June this year. As the core partner bank, Standard Chartered will provide instant foreign exchange rates and liquidity to enable real-time fund transfers between two digital wallets — Alipay HK and GCash in the Philippines. Although the bank has collaborated on many blockchain-related projects, Koh warns that different standards of blockchain technology in various countries could still be a barrier for banks with international footprints. “We move things from one market to the other, but how do we make sure that all these different platforms are able to talk with each other?” Koh suggests that well-established international bodies, like the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Monetary Fund, could take the lead in the standardization process. “A lot of them will have opinions. Hopefully, they could interact and reach an agreement with the governments concerned. Certainly, the banking system will be entirely aligned to (the standardization made).”
2018-08-28As Asia’s economy continues to improve on the strength of the region’s stability, the China-led Belt and Road Initiative will promote greater regional communication and cooperation for win-win outcomes. This was the underlying message at a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable hosted in Singapore on April 28. Panelists shared their views on how member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can benefit from the initiative through further cooperation. The theme of the session was The Asian Century and the Belt and Road Initiative: Where Do We Go From Here? Asia is now the world’s center of gravity, said Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, senior fellow of the Jakarta-based think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Wiryono, the session’s moderator, admitted that the region used to experience GDP growth that was below expectations. Nevertheless, he believes it will be the center of economic expansion in the 21st century. “We are hopeful that the situation will be improved, because what the region needs is continuous stability, not confrontation. We also need coexistence, not contradiction,” he said. The session was part of the 15th ASEAN Leadership Forum. With the theme Future Proof ASEAN: Strengthening Resilience, Promoting Innovation and Moving Forward the Digital Space, the event brought together leaders from government, business, academia, think tanks and civil society to discuss the future challenges facing ASEAN in the new global era. The ASEAN Leadership Forum is organized by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, a leading independent private think tank based in Kuala Lumpur, together with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore’s Social Innovation Park and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. The Belt and Road Initiative “is starting to prove to be a workable system … It can fit in the current context of the situation of the world,” said Wiryono. He said it has the potential to strengthen regional cooperation, adding that economic cooperation should be formed on the basis of dialogue. Wang Huiyao, president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a counselor to the State Council, China’s Cabinet, said the initiative helps strengthen the idea that Asia is the center of globalization and the world’s economic growth. “We need some new momentum for globalization so that we can maintain, sustain and improve the current global system and governance,” said Wang. “China is not going to change the system. Instead, just like President Xi Jinping has said, we want to enrich, safeguard and improve the existing system.” Huge potential This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. Wang said that while the past 40 years saw people from all over the world coming to China for investment, the next 40 years will probably see China sharing with the rest of the world what it has achieved, including in infrastructure, e-commerce, and its technologies. “We can see huge potential” for ASEAN’s prosperity, said Wang, through its sustained resilience and innovativeness. He said the ASEAN countries can better collaborate with China through the Belt and Road Initiative in infrastructure, as well as in people-to-people exchange. Taking education as an example, over 130,000 students from ASEAN countries are now studying in China, but only around 70,000 Chinese students are in ASEAN countries. Wang suggested a Belt and Road committee or coordinating group be set up between China and ASEAN to make sure that these nearby countries get early advantage and benefits from related projects. “The magnitude and size of the Belt and Road Initiative is breathtaking,” said Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, chairman of both Bank Muamalat Malaysia and the CIMB ASEAN Research Institute. “Third countries should participate vigorously in the Belt and Road Initiative to ensure it becomes what is more than just a China initiative,” said Mohd Munir, referring to a recent memorandum of understanding signed between Singapore and China for closer partnerships in third-party markets along the Belt and Road. He believes that third parties’ participation will help build standards concerning finance, the environment, society and project management. “The Belt and Road Initiative is a game changer for China, for ASEAN and for China-ASEAN relations,” said Tang Siew Mun, head of the ASEAN Studies Centre at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. He said that while infrastructure plays a big role in the initiative, it is important to note the plan’s four other key elements — policy coordination, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds. China-ASEAN bilateral trade totaled US$514.8 billion last year, up 13.8 percent year-on-year, the fastest growth pace between China and any of its major trading partners, according to Xinhua. China registered a trade surplus of US$43.4 billion with ASEAN countries, narrowing by 27.4 percent from 2016. As regional cooperation deepens in various areas, Tang expects China to come up with more supporting systems like an arbitration mechanism to resolve possible conflicts during the Belt and Road process. In addition, while links between China and ASEAN are enhanced with increasing investment, Tang said both sides should make sure this is win-win cooperation that can benefit society. China is projected to be the largest economy in the world by 2050, while five member states from ASEAN will rank among the top 30, according to a report by international consultancy and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Noting increased anti-China sentiment in Cambodia over the past few months due to lack of knowledge on Chinese infrastructure projects, Vannarith Chheang, vice-chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies and chairman of the Mekong Connect, said more local consultation should be conducted to build a positive perception of China. Building trust For better cooperation between China and ASEAN in terms of connectivity, Chheang said a regional standard should be created to ensure the quality of projects. Michael W. Michalak, senior vice-president and regional managing director of the US-ASEAN Business Council, and former US ambassador to Vietnam, said ASEAN countries should start to think about how to utilize the Belt and Road infrastructure projects once completed. “Once you have this kind of connectivity, it should provide opportunity for the rest of ASEAN, and ASEAN should be gearing up now to take advantage of that,” said Michalak, adding that achieving harmony on a free and open internet and its regulation is crucial to unleashing the potential of the initiative’s connectivity. “ASEAN plays a crucial role in helping to develop the kind of trust that is needed in order to bring in a broader participation in the Belt and Road,” said Michalak. Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said the future trend in the region, with the Belt and Road Initiative, should be active cooperation, co-discussion, co-construction and co-sharing. Moreover, countries that are not included in the Belt and Road routes are also welcome to participate, for joint cooperation. Xu said the 10 member nations of ASEAN are at different stages of economic development. Each of these countries has its own demands for growth, which are all considered in related Belt and Road projects, toward building a community with a shared future for mankind. ASEAN, as a regional bloc, aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate economic integration among its members. In 2015 it launched the ASEAN Community with three pillars, Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. “The majority of countries along the Belt and Road routes are developing countries, so they need financial support from China, whether it is from the Silk Road Fund or other project-based loans,” said Xu, adding that financial institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are formed under a multilateral basis and its investments are made through consensual decisions. Xu suggested that a comprehensive and detailed feasibility study is needed for Belt and Road infrastructure projects, focusing on project returns and environmental and social values for the sustainable development of the initiative. “The success of the ancient Silk Road lasted for about 1,700 years by creating wealth and encouraging the flow of people,” said Kho Choon Keng, group executive chairman of Singapore property developer Lian Huat Group. “I believe there is great wisdom in it, and it has shown it is a workable experience.”
2018-05-08Panelists consider challenges that must be overcome to ensure tech-driven disruptive change is used for the good of society Innovation is a word used frequently in this era of disruption. But aside from the excitement of all the technological advancement, of equal importance is how to harness it to promote humanity, harmony and stability. Nicholas Ho, deputy managing director of Hong Kong-based hpa (previously known as Ho & Partners Architects Engineers & Development Consultants) sees the conflicts in innovation as coming from trade and society. His company undertakes projects across Southeast Asia, the United States, Britain and elsewhere. “The vision (of innovation) has to be set right,” said Ho, speaking in Singapore on April 28 at a panel session during the 15th ASEAN Leadership Forum. The session was themed Innovation That Matters: How Innovation Can Transform Societies, Business and Social Enterprises. Ho took one of hpa’s projects, the New Manila Bay-City of Pearl, as an example. Though the government will play a vital role in it, the 407-hectare reclamation project in the Philippines gives half of its land to participants from the private sector and actively engages in public consultation. Innovative programs have also been formed under the public-private partnership framework to encourage technology companies to set up training programs with local universities as a way to improve education, according to Ho. As one of the key China-Philippine projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, the New Manila Bay-City of Pearl aims to be a high-tech commercial and tourism center. “Government has a very visible hand in trying to support the society’s vision and the people’s vision, especially in cities that see constant changes,” said Ho. Laurence Lien, cofounder and CEO of the Singapore-based Asia Philanthropy Circle and chairman of the Lien Foundation, said instead of figuring out what innovation is, the bigger issue is to work on the culture, the mind-set, the fears and anxieties that prevent people from changing. “What is more important is to create an ecosystem that will make the innovation sustainable,” he said. “The impact that you can address in the social enterprise can be at the micro or SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) level,” said Aman Neil Dokania, managing director and head of Accenture Cloud for Asia Pacific. He said there is huge potential for tremendous business outcomes. Meanwhile, Dokania said that NGOs need to reflect back on their business models to be more relevant, and they should leverage disruptive change for themselves. One possible way is to look for collaborations with the private sector and governments for broader impact. “Governments really need to think carefully about having their resources, their money, their people work harder on this matter,” said Kate Duff, Australia’s deputy high commissioner to Singapore. “We have to be clear about the fact that social and economic productivity, harmony and stability are pins on a more inclusive approach.” For countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), it is crucial to think about how to make use of the region’s talent pools, whether as consumers or inventors that bring about new innovations, said Jose Luis Yulo, Jr, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands and former secretary-general of the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Established in 1967, ASEAN grew to embrace today’s 10 member states — Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia. “Today, innovation serves as the driving force for economic growth. It is the internal impetus for companies to sustain and develop,” said Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council. Noting that 2018 is China-ASEAN Innovation Year, Xu said he expects deeper cooperation in innovation, between China and ASEAN as well as other countries, to promote regional economic growth, a more harmonious society, closer relationships between neighboring countries and, most importantly, to build a community with a shared future for mankind. “Innovation that matters is at the heart of everything we do,” said Penny Low, president and founder of Singapore’s Social Innovation Park. “At the end of the day, it is about promoting humanity. It is not just about something functional, machines or factories, but it gets into the ecosystem as well as our daily lives.”
2018-05-08由港股100強研究中心主辦, 財華社承辦, 騰訊新聞、新浪財經、今日頭條、中國日報、大公文匯戰略支持的第二屆香港上市公司發展高峰論壇暨2017「港股100強」頒獎典禮將於2018年4月19日在香港金鐘JW萬豪酒店三樓宴會廳舉行,並且本次活動將舉行港股100強研究中心成立儀式,本次論壇主題為「洞悉世界經濟,引領創新發展」,邀請了眾多業界大咖出席論壇, 共同探討在世界經濟格局風雲變化之時,資本市場的挑戰、變革、創新與風險。 論壇亦受到了香港中國倂購公會、香港中國金融協會、香港中資證券業協會、香港上市公司商會、香港中資基金業協會、證券商協會、香港投資者關係協會等多個香港知名金融團體的鼎力支持。 「港股100強」評選活動始於2012年,由騰訊與財華社發起舉辦。歷年活動規模及影響力逐年擴大,深受專業機構及市場認同信賴。「港股100強」活動一直致力於為投資者發掘具有投資價值的股票,促進香港資本市場的健康繁榮發展,將「港股100強」榜單打造成為最權威最具公信力的香港上市公司排行榜。 2017「港股100强」,擬在「港股100強」活動的基礎上進一步昇華品牌,成立港股100強研究中心,推出港股100強指數、研究報告等研究成果。「港股100強」以營業額、總市值、稅後淨利潤、股本回報率、總回報率五個指標為評選標準,堅持公平、中立的原則,力求為投資者量身打造最優質的價值投資指標。 港股100強研究中心是一個擁有堅實學術背景及專業專家團隊的非盈利性學術研究機構,由財華社及內地眾多知名媒體聯合發起,匯集內地與香港兩地的金融機構高層、經濟學家、知名律師、會計師、學者教授以及財經媒體人等,組成顧問委員會。港股100強研究中心將秉承客觀、公正的宗旨,旨在將「港股100強」品牌科學化、學術化、專業化。未來,研究中心將逐步推出港股100強研究報告、港股100強指數等成果,為香港資本市場提供有價值的觀點,為投資者提供投資參考,樹立專業化的投資指引,促進香港資本市場的健康繁榮發展。
2018-04-172018年4月13日 香港:中國日報今天在香港會議展覽中心舉辦題為「投資者對談:引領初創成就非凡」的研討會,逾300名參會嘉賓分享見解並互動交流參加討論,共同探索互聯網經濟下的初創企業發展機遇。 此次論壇由中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇與「2018互聯網經濟峰會」 合辦。數碼港主席林家禮博士、國際科技公司主席尤西•瓦爾迪先生、Illumio行政總裁及共同創辦人安德魯•魯賓先生,以及英菲尼迪資本管理有限公司副主席許東威先生四位主講嘉賓分享了他們的見解。 當前,隨著互聯網經濟蓬勃飛速發展,網絡經濟正帶動線下傳統經濟,兩種經濟模式的逐步融合正為各行各業帶來新的發展機遇。在「大眾創業、萬眾創新」的背景下,中國內地互聯網領域掀起一股創業潮,誕生了一批為大眾所熟知的互聯網產品和估值不菲的優秀企業,為年輕創業者及初創企業打開了新的大門。 本次論壇匯聚的知名初創項目投資者,深入剖析了初創投資的最新趨勢,以及未來數年最具投資潛力和投資回報率的熱門科技項目,還向在場嘉賓分享初創企業如何吸引海外投資,共謀紅利的成功之道。 林家禮博士認為,助力初創企業發展,最重要的不僅是培養創業精神,更需要以指引和資金來給創業者提供幫助。這就要求我們眾志成城,政府部門、商界及社會各方都應參與進來。 尤西•瓦爾迪先生表示,當今社會僅僅處在一場技術大變革的開端,大數據讓我們擁有參與技術變革、改變世界潮流的潛力。 安德魯•魯賓先生在論壇上強調了“講故事”的重要性。他說,對於一家企業而言,在籌集資金時,敘事能力顯得格外重要。企業需要通過事實和例證讓投資者相信,他們所投入的這家企業有能力在未來創造更大的價值和經濟效益。 許東威先生表示,如今資本市場正在發生巨大的變化,除了經濟金融科技外,市場亦非常看重生物科技,這兩個領域對香港相關領域都非常關鍵。香港社會應創造良好的環境以培育這兩個領域,這也正是英菲尼迪在過去一段時間以來所投入的重點。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500餘萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-04-132018年8月28日 香港:中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇今日在香港舉辦題為「區塊鏈:塑造經貿未來」的專題研討會,四位來自金融科技領域的業界翹楚就此議題展開對話,互享觀點。 此次研討會由中國日報與香港大學專業進修學院合辦。中國日報特邀渣打銀行大中華及北亞地區交易銀行部主管及董事總經理許偉揚先生;TNG金融科技集團創辦人兼主席江慶恩先生;中新控股科技集團有限公司副主席兼首席執行官彭耀傑先生;以及VeriFi(香港)有限公司董事長黃平達先生擔任本次研討會演講嘉賓,由TechIDEAL總編輯楊彥春教授主持論壇,與在場逾百名參會嘉賓一起展望區塊鏈的發展。 區塊鏈技術是一項利用密碼學算法,以去中心化的方式集體維護一個可靠分佈式數據庫的新興技術。2017年,區塊鏈的概念逐漸為大眾所知,目前,區塊鏈的討論日趨白熱化,區塊鏈產業也正進入高速發展階段,不少企業和資本將目光投向區塊鏈領域。阿里巴巴、騰訊、京東等互聯網巨頭也紛紛入局區塊鏈技術的研究與應用,助推技術創新,優化產業佈局。 許偉揚在研討會上表示,對於銀行來說,作為財富管理者的核心使命並不會改變,但是營運模式可以相應轉型升級。日常交易將只是一小部分工作。銀行更多地還是會專注於深層次運營和財務危機處理。財務活動目前已經具備數位化的條件,日常業務將來實現全自動化以後,銀行就可以專職提供增值分析服務”。他承認,銀行業在接納區塊鏈技術進度遲緩,但必須迎頭趕上。 江慶恩表示,電子錢包就相當於一個全球通用的掌上迷你銀行,當你用手機錢包時,只需按一個鍵,在3秒內,你的款項就會顯示在異國的銀行賬戶中。通過區塊鏈這項新技術,我們能夠更快更低成本的轉賬。他認為業界普遍不熱衷於數據分享,銀行與企業現階段仍將數據視為資產的一部分,但是如果數據不能流通,不能發揮效用,那就失去其存在的意義。 彭耀傑認為,如果說互聯網是一條沒有記憶的信息高速公路,那麼區塊鏈技術則讓這條信息高速公路擁有了記憶。他說,區塊鏈在未來將會面臨四方面的挑戰:一,唯有制度方面的進展才能幫助區塊鏈取得更多的應用;二,支撐區塊鏈的技術尚未有一個統一的標準供所有人參考;三,對區塊鏈的定義、解釋與誤傳將會影響大眾對其的認知;其四,區塊鏈教育界魚龍混雜,誰夠資格成為真正的專家仍是問題。目前政府在這個領域的規管和支持力度都不夠,支援區塊鏈的技術也沒有既定標準,缺乏概念性依據可能會影響資訊的準確性,人才也有限。 黃平達則認為,「一帶一路」可以回答香港作為「超級聯繫人」未來應何去何從的問題。他說,伊斯蘭金融與綠色金融將是下一個契機。三分之一的「一帶一路」沿線國家都要求簽訂契約時必須符合伊斯蘭教法,這正是區塊鏈可以大展拳腳之處。此外,與環保相關的金融往來也為大眾所需。他呼籲香港業界應認真考慮區塊鏈技術的應用。他指出,在貿易戰中實現貿易再平衡,各方均需要技術手段以適應新形勢。誰解決了技術問題,誰就能塑造經貿的未來。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平台,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28Despite heavy rain, the latest China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable, co-organized by China Daily and the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU Space) Executive Academy, drew a full room of attendees. Held at the HKU Space Admiralty Learning Centre, a diverse group of speakers, academics and industry leaders gathered for the latest roundtable, themed “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business”, which highlighted the opportunities this increasingly influential technology has continued to generate. Ashwani Goel, general manager at Tata International, said he came to the event “as a student”. “I’m interested in learning more about blockchain and utilizing it in the trading of physical commodities. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable seems like a good place to learn more,” said Goel. And, those who spoke were too ready to paint a picture of the situation for the participants and audience. Zhou Li, editorial board member of the China Daily Group and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, pointed to the Chinese mainland’s advances in fintech as a sign that it’s ready to harness the benefits of blockchain technology. “China’s growing influence in the digital economy has seen even the citizens of its second- and third-tier cities use fintech in the wet market. Blockchain is the technology that can take these cashless transactions to the next level in future,” said Li. “From money to music, many things can now be stored, transacted and managed without an intermediary. People everywhere can trust each other and have peer-to-peer transactions,” he added. N.R. Liu, deputy director (Business and China) at HKU Space and principal of the HKU Space Executive Academy, brought attention to Hong Kong’s role in the regional consideration of these developments. “Hong Kong is now at a crossroads. It has a history of developing a village into a global financial center and helping China in many ways,” said Liu. This could prove to be the sector that will help Hong Kong repeat its historic rise. “In the financial sector, there’re lots of things emerging in the area of fintech, especially with regard to blockchain. The question is how we can use blockchain to help the financial sector and system,” he said. The panel of speakers at the roundtable had strong views of the transformative effects of blockchain technology, including the role and responsibilities of financial institutions. “For banks, the core mission of being a treasurer will remain unchanged, but its operating model will be transformed. Day-to-day transactions will become a small part of the operations. More of the focus will lie in managing drivers and addressing business risks,” said David W.Y. Koh, regional head of transaction banking for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong). “Treasury activities are ripe for digitization and once routine tasks are automated, we can focus on creating value-added analytics and services.” Koh conceded that banks have been slow in adopting blockchain, but stressed that it’s important for them to keep up. “We may not lead the race, but it’s important to keep pace,” he said. On the other side of the (bit)coin, blockchain is expected to play a big part in facilitating financial inclusion. Alex Kong, founder and chairman of TNG FinTech Group, has developed the TNGeWallet to help the unbanked access financial services. “Holding an eWallet is like carrying a global mini bank in your palm,” said Kong, a serial entrepreneur who’s experienced in technology and business solutions. “However, the issue is that many eWallets do not work with others. We want to facilitate frictionless global money transfers, which is what the unbanked needs. Blockchain can help with matters like e-KYC (know your customer), credit scoring and smart contracts.” Phang Yew Kiat, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group -- a Hong Kong-listed company that provides intelligent financial lifestyle services -- has invested more than $100 million in blockchain in the past three years. “If the internet is equivalent to info highway without memory, then blockchain is internet information with immutable transaction record,” said Phang. “But, the things that keep me awake are the challenges in the coming months and years. There are still not enough government regulations and endorsement; no one standard in the technology supporting blockchain today and in the future; a lack of definitions that could lead to misinterpretations; and not enough talents and qualifications.” Other worrying issues include the rise of cryptocurrencies and the possible displacement of traditional hubs of finance. “There are around 1,889 cryptocurrrencies as of August 24. A lot of it has been pump-and-dump scams,” said Pindar Wong, chairman of VeriFi (Hong Kong) -- an internet financial infrastructure consultancy -- and head of the Belt and Road Blockchain Consortium. “Hong Kong is the consummate middle person. What happens when that role disappears. How would it be affected?” he asked. He said the answer may lie in the Belt and Road Initiative. “Islamic finance and green finance might be where the next opportunities lie. One-third of the countries along the Belt and Road would require Shariah-compliant smart contracts, which is what blockchain can deliver. And, of course, environmental financing is needed by all,” Wong said. He urged Hong Kong to seriously consider using blockchain to solve the issue. “With the rebalancing of trade in the trade war, everyone requires tech that can account for the new flows of trade. Whoever solves the problem will help shape the future of business and trade,” said Wong. “The Belt and Road is the answer and Hong Kong has a role in dealing with the intangibles. With the verification benefits of blockchain, it also simplifies a geopolitical discussion.” Members of the audience were on the same page. Bruce Cheung, acting head of HKU Space’s College of Life Sciences and Technology, believes it’s important for Hong Kong to pick up on blockchain technology to be the “digital gateway” to China. “Hong Kong can act as the data storage hub for both international and Chinese businesses. It’s important for Hong Kong to learn how to fully harness and utilise the power of blockchain technology to be at the forefront of this revolution,” he said. “Blockchain is truly shaping the future of business and countries like the UK have invested heavily in it. Hong Kong has been a bit slow in adopting it despite a lot of discussions. But, we need to step it up,” he added.
2018-08-28中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛8月28日在香港举办题为“区块链:塑造经贸未来”的专题研讨会。香港当天倾盆大雨,但这并没有阻挡与会者参会的热情。四位来自金融科技领域的业界翘楚就此议题展开对话,与在场逾百名参会嘉宾一同展望区块链的发展前景。 前来参会的塔塔国际总经理阿施瓦尼•戈埃尔向《中国日报》表示,他是以一个“学生”的心态来的。“我对学习区块链技术非常感兴趣,我希望能将它应用于商贸,中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛能让我学到更多。” 此次研讨会由中国日报与香港大学专业进修学院合办。中国日报社编委兼亚太分社社长周立在致辞时表示,中国在金融科技领域迅猛发展,已做好准备迎接区块链技术的广泛运用。 周立说:“中国在数字化经济领域迅速成长,二、三线城市居民都可以轻松利用金融科技在网上支付,区块链无疑会将非现金支付带上另一个台阶。区块链技术致力于建立传输价值的互联网,从货币到音乐,通过区块链技术,人们可以就很多事务直接进行存储、交易和管理而无需中间人,无论双方身处何地,都可以完全信任对方,进行对等交易。” 香港大学专业进修学院常务副院长(商学及中国发展)兼企业研究院执行院长刘宁荣教授在致辞中指出,香港正迎来前所未有的历史机遇,区块链技术可助香港再创辉煌。 “香港正处于十字路口。历史上,香港从一个小小的渔村发展成为国际金融中心,为国家发展做出过多方面的贡献,”他说,“香港现在应思考区块链技术如何应用于科技金融领域。” 渣打银行大中华及北亚地区交易银行部主管及董事总经理许伟扬、TNG金融科技集团创办人兼主席江庆恩、中新控股科技集团有限公司副主席兼首席执行官彭耀杰,以及VeriFi(香港)有限公司董事长黄平达担任演讲嘉宾,论坛由TechIDEAL总编辑杨彦春教授担任主持。 许伟扬率先发表自己的见解。他说:“对于银行来说,作为财富管理者的核心使命并不会改变,但是营运模式可以相应转型升级。日常交易将只是一小部分工作。我们更多地还是会专注于深层次运营和财务危机处理。财务活动目前已经具备数字化的条件,日常业务将来实现全自动化以后,我们就可以专职提供增值分析服务。” 许伟扬承认,银行业在接纳区块链技术进度迟缓,但必须迎头赶上。 致力于为全球的无银行帐户群体提供金融服务,江庆恩的企业开发了多款电子钱包,通过区块链技术实现低成本跨境转账。 “电子钱包就相当于一个全球通用的掌上迷你银行,”江庆恩说,“但是众多电子钱包之间相互无法匹配。我们希望实现无壁垒的全球转账,尤其是对那些没有银行账号的人。” 彭耀杰认为,如果说互联网是一条没有记忆的高速公路,那么区块链技术则让这条信息高速公路拥有了记忆。 “但是,在未来的年月里挑战依然存在,”他说,“目前政府在这个领域的规管和支持力度都不够,支持区块链的技术也没有既定标准,缺乏概念性依据可能会影响信息的准确性,人才也有限。” 黄平达则认为,“一带一路”可以回答香港作为“超级联系人”未来应何去何从的问题。 他说:“伊斯兰金融与绿色金融将是下一个契机。三分之一的‘一带一路’沿线国家都要求签订契约时必须符合伊斯兰教法,这正是区块链可以大展拳脚之处。此外,与环保相关的金融往来也为大众所需。” 他呼吁香港业界应认真考虑区块链技术的应用。他指出,在贸易战中实现贸易再平衡,各方均需要技术手段以适应新形势。谁解决了技术问题,谁就能塑造经贸的未来。 “‘一带一路’即是问题的答案,香港在无形资产管理中可扮演重要角色。区块链亦可简化关于地缘政治的讨论,”黄平达补充说。 香港大学专业进修学院生命科学及科技学院代理总监张少能博士在接受记者访问时表示,香港需要掌握区块链技术,并打造中国的“数码门户”。 张少能说:“香港可成为中外企业的信息存储中心。掌握区块链技术,将其应用于这一技术革命的前沿,这对香港至关重要。区块链可以塑造经贸未来,英国就在这一领域大力投资。尽管一直在讨论,但香港对于接纳该技术显得略为迟缓。我们需要提速。” 区块链技术是一项利用密码学算法,以去中心化的方式集体维护一个可靠分布式数据库的新兴技术。2017年,区块链的概念逐渐为大众所知,目前,区块链的讨论日趋白热化,区块链产业也正进入高速发展阶段,不少企业和资本将目光投向区块链领域。阿里巴巴、腾讯、京东等互联网巨头也纷纷入局区块链技术的研究与应用,助推技术创新,优化产业布局。 中国日报社拥有报纸、网站、移动用户端、脸谱、推特、微博、微信、电子报等十余种媒介平台。在海外,通过每月发行《中国观察报》(China Watch),直达美国《华尔街日报》和《华盛顿邮报》、英国《每日电讯报》、法国《费加罗报》、泰国《民族报》、俄罗斯《俄罗斯报》、日本《每日新闻》等美、欧、亚主流读者群。 “中国日报亚洲领袖圆桌论坛”旨在搭建一个由亚洲国家和地区的政、商、学界领袖和社会精英参与的高端对话和交流平台,至今已在香港、中国内地、亚洲国家举办近九十届论坛,围绕亚洲地区经济、商业、产业和社会发展等具有战略影响的重要议题展开讨论和分享见解,以增进中国与亚洲和西方国家的交流和理解。 媒体垂询: 洪梦求 小姐 电话:(852)3465 5427 电邮:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28With the much-hyped Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area set to lure talents and create a vast pool of business opportunities, the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) is offering programs focusing on Greater China for the region’s emerging entrepreneurs. Professor Ning R. Liu, principal of the HKU SPACE Executive Academy, gave his views on the development of the Bay Area and the role of academics in the region at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum themed “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business" held at HKU SPACE Admiralty Learning Centre on Tuesday. He sees great prospects in the Bay Area as it links up the advantages each region can offer and maximize them, stressing the role Hong Kong can play in the Bay Area, as well as the nation-led Belt & Road Initiative. “In blockchain technology, issues of trust and ethics are the important points. It’s the same in regional development, where Hong Kong can highlight its advantages as a regional financial hub,” said Liu. He believes that, in the fast-changing economies, it’s vital for educational institutes to provide young learners with updated knowledge. Currently, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE runs four categories of programs relating to human resources, innovation, finance and marketing management. “Besides imparting knowledge, it’s important for us to broaden learners’ horizons,” Liu said. “We have coaches from enterprises to give lessons based on their practical experience working in Asia,” Liu said. It was the third time China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable and HKU SPACE has cooperated in co-organizing the forum that focused on trending business topics. “In future, there’ll be more such events as both of us would like to go into issues concerning economics, business and social development,” Liu added. Established in 2016, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE provides professional and executive educational programs for professionals on the Chinese mainland. At present, it has are five centers -- in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen – offering such programs.
2018-08-28Aug 28, 2018, Hong Kong: Co-organized by China Daily and THE HKU SPACE Executive Academy, a co-branded forum was held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at the HKU SPACE Admiralty Learning Centre, Hong Kong, from 2pm-4:40pm. With the theme “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business”, prominent figures from the financial and technology fields examined a series of topics pertinent to this technological revolution and its impact on business. China Daily is delighted to have four distinguished speakers attending the forum: Mr. David W. Y. KOH, Regional Head, Transaction Banking, Greater China and North Asia, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; Mr. Alex KONG, Founder and Chairman, TNG Fintech Group; Mr. Yew Kiat PHANG, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group Limited; and Mr. Pindar WONG, Chairman, VerFi (Hong Kong) Limited. Blockchain is an emerging technology using cryptographic algorithms to maintain a distributed database in a decentralized way. The concept, which began making an impact on the financial and technological sectors last year, has sparked heated discussions, with the blockchain industry entering an era of rapid development. Many major tech enterprises and investors have set their sights on the industry with the aim of expanding its development. Chinese mainland internet giants, including Alibaba, Tencent and JD.com, have been involved in applying and researching blockchain technology to boost technological innovation and optimize industrial layout. Mr. David W. Y. KOH pointed out that for banks, the core mission of being a treasurer will remain unchanged, but its operating model will be transformed. Day-today transactions will become a small part of the operations. More of the focus will be on managing drivers and addressing business risks Mr. Alex KONG revealed that it’s just a matter of time before a peer-to-peer network break down the self-built barrier and link up different platforms all together. Mr. Yew Kiat PHANG said that today the Internet equivalent with the information highway without memory, blockchain is the information highway with all the memories, which is our understanding. Regulation, governance and endorsement are three things that will help to facilitate the growth of blockchain application; And then the technologies that support the blockchain today didn’t have one standard that everyone can work with; the third thing is, definitions, interpretations and misrepresentations are becoming an issue for what our beliefs is; the last thing is who is really qualify to be an expert. Mr. Pindar WONG believes that Islamic finance and green finance might be where the next opportunities lie. One third of the countries involved in the BRI would require Shariah-compliant smart contracts, which is what blockchain can deliver. And, of course, environmental financing is needed by all. About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. Media Contact: Ms. Melody Hong Tel: (852) 3465 5427 Email: melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-08-28HONG KONG - If the internet is an information highway without memory, then blockchain technology will be the information highway associated with memory, says Phang Yew Kiat, chief executive officer of Chong Sing Holdings FinTech Group. Chong Sing, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong’s Growth Enterprise Market board, is growing its blockchain research and development focusing on providing better financial services to small and medium-sized companies, merchants and individuals on the Chinese mainland and across Asia. As an online lending and payment platform, Chong Sing began its “blockchain exploration journey” some three years ago. As of June this year, the group’s blockchain segment had recorded revenues of 430.5 million yuan (US$63 million) for the first half of 2018, based on blockchain transaction verification, according to its interim results. Transaction verification is common in today’s bitcoin ecosystem. It means that when a person sends a bitcoin, the information on the transaction that’s posted on the blockchain and once verified is transparent to everyone and cannot be rewritten or changed. “The whole blockchain technology has many different variations. But, one of the concepts that everybody likes is the memory of the information highway,” Phang told China Daily. “The term we use is immutable.” “Looking back at the digital history, all of our transactions have relied on ‘trust parties’, such as banks, credit agencies, lawyers and other intermediaries, to keep records of our financial information and transactions,” he said. However, by introducing the concept of “smart contract”, which brings together on the internet two strangers who’ve never met before, it will be possible for investors to enjoy “trustless” transactions, said Phang. The Hong Kong-based financial services provider has bet on blockchain technology service providers Bitfury Group and Chainup through convertible bonds in its portfolio, which account for 0.24 percent and 0.15 percent of the total assets, respectively, according to Chong Sing. At present, markets tend to associate blockchain technology with the ups-and-downs in cryptocurrencies, with up to 80 percent of those who are familiar with the technology being speculators in digital currencies. But, Phang believes that only people who really know how to use the technology to do something good will turn out to be the eventual winners. “Cryptocurrencies are equivalent to the information highway in blockchain. You can drive a big truck called bitcoin; you can drive a small truck called ethereum, or you can even drive another small tiny bicycle called ripple. Which one is good, we don’t know,” Phang said. “But, the fact is that the information highway with memory is good.” Creating the right application of blockchain at the right time and with the right infrastructure is what society calls for, he added.
2018-08-28HONG KONG - Despite its disruptive power to reshape the business world, the much-trumpeted blockchain technology should not be overhyped, warns an industry expert. “Like any other technology we’re familiar with, blockchain technology is a normal one and should not be played up,” said Alex Kong Hing-yan, founder and chairman of TNG Fintech Group — a Hong Kong digital wallet operator founded in 2013. The go-to technology, defined as a decentralized ledger of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network, offers a series of networks of databases that allows information or records to be transferred and updated by participants in a trustworthy, secure and efficient way. “The craze for blockchain technology, the underlying technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, finds its roots in the legendary bull runs for bitcoin in recent years,” Kong told China Daily. “It’s the bitcoin boom that makes blockchain one of the biggest buzzwords in the technology scene.” The Malaysian entrepreneur believed the market today is showing signs of overheating, with bubbles beginning to take shape. “In the coming one or two years, the market will progressively wise up to the notion that blockchain is anything but a sexy new term,” he reckoned. Though the “blockchain fatigue” is beginning to set in among those who feel “its potentials have been over-communicated”, as a report from Deloitte noted, its real-world benefits remain trailblazing. To be sure, the financial services industry has been one of the first movers to test the huge potentials of the game-changing technology. Such distributed-ledger technology will give traditional financial institutions a leg up to establish more secure and trustworthy systems of credit scoring and KYC (know your customer). It can also be given full play in trade finance, Kong said. But, in the digital payment industry, where TNG has carved out a name for itself, Kong believed the technology plays virtually no big role in the immediate future. “The technology itself records and verifies every transaction. Given the sheer number of investors selling and buying bitcoins and the sheer size of trading volumes, it could take 45 minutes or even one hour to get the transaction done,” he noted. Some digital wallet operators may establish their own private blockchain-based network and facilitate transactions in a real-time manner due to the relatively low trading volumes. However, this is a close-end game where their platforms are disconnected with other players. For TNG, Kong does not see the “immediate need” to introduce blockchain into the front end of payment transactions. The company, which formed what it calls the “Global E-Wallet Alliance” to connect with more than 10 digital payment platforms and companies in Southeast Asia, established its own blockchain network to allow alliance members to record transactions and store information on the back end. The peer-to-peer network, currently covering 200-plus million uses with more platforms and companies losing no time to join in, allows customers to transfer money, send messages and make a call across the connected platforms. It will be officially launched by year end, Kong said. “The digital payment industry itself cannot see major platforms play games on their own ever and forever. It’s just a matter of time before a peer-to-peer network breaks down the self-built barrier and link up different platforms all together,” he said.
2018-08-28HONG KONG - Amid talk of the impeccable strength of blockchain technology, many banks have pulled off the feat in business transactions, but standardization remains a problem that needs to be tackled, says a banker from Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong). Among all banking services, transaction banking is always thought to be one that could embrace digital transformation most and deploy blockchain to make money move more efficiently. “A lot of things we do are fundamental pieces, like who owns what money, where and when,” says David W.Y. Koh, managing director and regional head of transaction banking for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered. He explains that transaction banks normally operate businesses like cash management, as well as trade and security services. Much of their operations are highly dependent on speed, verification, title and reconciliation. Koh cites the bill of lading — a document used in international trade to ensure that exporters are paid and merchandise delivered to importers. But, when the bill turns into the digital format, doubts follow. Questions that would arise include: Does the electronic document carry the same legal authority and rights as the physical document? How do both sides in a transaction ensure who would receive the right piece of information? “That’s where blockchain comes in,” says Koh. He deems that with its distributed ledger technology, a bank is able to offer customers another alternative to move money faster, almost instantaneously, and allow everybody access to blockchain to track money movements. Earlier this year, Asia-focused Standard Chartered launched a new business unit — SC Ventures — to help promote fintech innovation within the bank. The new unit also manages investments in fintech companies, such as those in blockchain company Ripple, which developed the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Sensing that Ripple would be one of the aggregators in the blockchain market, Standard Chartered plans to make full use of the advantage and Ripple’s position, says Koh. The lender has decided to use its connection with Ripple to develop its internal fintech innovation to draw market attention. Besides investment, Standard Chartered teamed up with Alibaba Group Holding’s Ant Financial Services for the online payment operator’s new blockchain cross-boundary remittance solution in June this year. As the core partner bank, Standard Chartered will provide instant foreign exchange rates and liquidity to enable real-time fund transfers between two digital wallets — Alipay HK and GCash in the Philippines. Although the bank has collaborated on many blockchain-related projects, Koh warns that different standards of blockchain technology in various countries could still be a barrier for banks with international footprints. “We move things from one market to the other, but how do we make sure that all these different platforms are able to talk with each other?” Koh suggests that well-established international bodies, like the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Monetary Fund, could take the lead in the standardization process. “A lot of them will have opinions. Hopefully, they could interact and reach an agreement with the governments concerned. Certainly, the banking system will be entirely aligned to (the standardization made).”
2018-08-28As Asia’s economy continues to improve on the strength of the region’s stability, the China-led Belt and Road Initiative will promote greater regional communication and cooperation for win-win outcomes. This was the underlying message at a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable hosted in Singapore on April 28. Panelists shared their views on how member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can benefit from the initiative through further cooperation. The theme of the session was The Asian Century and the Belt and Road Initiative: Where Do We Go From Here? Asia is now the world’s center of gravity, said Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, senior fellow of the Jakarta-based think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Wiryono, the session’s moderator, admitted that the region used to experience GDP growth that was below expectations. Nevertheless, he believes it will be the center of economic expansion in the 21st century. “We are hopeful that the situation will be improved, because what the region needs is continuous stability, not confrontation. We also need coexistence, not contradiction,” he said. The session was part of the 15th ASEAN Leadership Forum. With the theme Future Proof ASEAN: Strengthening Resilience, Promoting Innovation and Moving Forward the Digital Space, the event brought together leaders from government, business, academia, think tanks and civil society to discuss the future challenges facing ASEAN in the new global era. The ASEAN Leadership Forum is organized by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, a leading independent private think tank based in Kuala Lumpur, together with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore’s Social Innovation Park and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. The Belt and Road Initiative “is starting to prove to be a workable system … It can fit in the current context of the situation of the world,” said Wiryono. He said it has the potential to strengthen regional cooperation, adding that economic cooperation should be formed on the basis of dialogue. Wang Huiyao, president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a counselor to the State Council, China’s Cabinet, said the initiative helps strengthen the idea that Asia is the center of globalization and the world’s economic growth. “We need some new momentum for globalization so that we can maintain, sustain and improve the current global system and governance,” said Wang. “China is not going to change the system. Instead, just like President Xi Jinping has said, we want to enrich, safeguard and improve the existing system.” Huge potential This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. Wang said that while the past 40 years saw people from all over the world coming to China for investment, the next 40 years will probably see China sharing with the rest of the world what it has achieved, including in infrastructure, e-commerce, and its technologies. “We can see huge potential” for ASEAN’s prosperity, said Wang, through its sustained resilience and innovativeness. He said the ASEAN countries can better collaborate with China through the Belt and Road Initiative in infrastructure, as well as in people-to-people exchange. Taking education as an example, over 130,000 students from ASEAN countries are now studying in China, but only around 70,000 Chinese students are in ASEAN countries. Wang suggested a Belt and Road committee or coordinating group be set up between China and ASEAN to make sure that these nearby countries get early advantage and benefits from related projects. “The magnitude and size of the Belt and Road Initiative is breathtaking,” said Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, chairman of both Bank Muamalat Malaysia and the CIMB ASEAN Research Institute. “Third countries should participate vigorously in the Belt and Road Initiative to ensure it becomes what is more than just a China initiative,” said Mohd Munir, referring to a recent memorandum of understanding signed between Singapore and China for closer partnerships in third-party markets along the Belt and Road. He believes that third parties’ participation will help build standards concerning finance, the environment, society and project management. “The Belt and Road Initiative is a game changer for China, for ASEAN and for China-ASEAN relations,” said Tang Siew Mun, head of the ASEAN Studies Centre at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. He said that while infrastructure plays a big role in the initiative, it is important to note the plan’s four other key elements — policy coordination, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds. China-ASEAN bilateral trade totaled US$514.8 billion last year, up 13.8 percent year-on-year, the fastest growth pace between China and any of its major trading partners, according to Xinhua. China registered a trade surplus of US$43.4 billion with ASEAN countries, narrowing by 27.4 percent from 2016. As regional cooperation deepens in various areas, Tang expects China to come up with more supporting systems like an arbitration mechanism to resolve possible conflicts during the Belt and Road process. In addition, while links between China and ASEAN are enhanced with increasing investment, Tang said both sides should make sure this is win-win cooperation that can benefit society. China is projected to be the largest economy in the world by 2050, while five member states from ASEAN will rank among the top 30, according to a report by international consultancy and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Noting increased anti-China sentiment in Cambodia over the past few months due to lack of knowledge on Chinese infrastructure projects, Vannarith Chheang, vice-chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies and chairman of the Mekong Connect, said more local consultation should be conducted to build a positive perception of China. Building trust For better cooperation between China and ASEAN in terms of connectivity, Chheang said a regional standard should be created to ensure the quality of projects. Michael W. Michalak, senior vice-president and regional managing director of the US-ASEAN Business Council, and former US ambassador to Vietnam, said ASEAN countries should start to think about how to utilize the Belt and Road infrastructure projects once completed. “Once you have this kind of connectivity, it should provide opportunity for the rest of ASEAN, and ASEAN should be gearing up now to take advantage of that,” said Michalak, adding that achieving harmony on a free and open internet and its regulation is crucial to unleashing the potential of the initiative’s connectivity. “ASEAN plays a crucial role in helping to develop the kind of trust that is needed in order to bring in a broader participation in the Belt and Road,” said Michalak. Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said the future trend in the region, with the Belt and Road Initiative, should be active cooperation, co-discussion, co-construction and co-sharing. Moreover, countries that are not included in the Belt and Road routes are also welcome to participate, for joint cooperation. Xu said the 10 member nations of ASEAN are at different stages of economic development. Each of these countries has its own demands for growth, which are all considered in related Belt and Road projects, toward building a community with a shared future for mankind. ASEAN, as a regional bloc, aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate economic integration among its members. In 2015 it launched the ASEAN Community with three pillars, Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. “The majority of countries along the Belt and Road routes are developing countries, so they need financial support from China, whether it is from the Silk Road Fund or other project-based loans,” said Xu, adding that financial institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are formed under a multilateral basis and its investments are made through consensual decisions. Xu suggested that a comprehensive and detailed feasibility study is needed for Belt and Road infrastructure projects, focusing on project returns and environmental and social values for the sustainable development of the initiative. “The success of the ancient Silk Road lasted for about 1,700 years by creating wealth and encouraging the flow of people,” said Kho Choon Keng, group executive chairman of Singapore property developer Lian Huat Group. “I believe there is great wisdom in it, and it has shown it is a workable experience.”
2018-05-08Panelists consider challenges that must be overcome to ensure tech-driven disruptive change is used for the good of society Innovation is a word used frequently in this era of disruption. But aside from the excitement of all the technological advancement, of equal importance is how to harness it to promote humanity, harmony and stability. Nicholas Ho, deputy managing director of Hong Kong-based hpa (previously known as Ho & Partners Architects Engineers & Development Consultants) sees the conflicts in innovation as coming from trade and society. His company undertakes projects across Southeast Asia, the United States, Britain and elsewhere. “The vision (of innovation) has to be set right,” said Ho, speaking in Singapore on April 28 at a panel session during the 15th ASEAN Leadership Forum. The session was themed Innovation That Matters: How Innovation Can Transform Societies, Business and Social Enterprises. Ho took one of hpa’s projects, the New Manila Bay-City of Pearl, as an example. Though the government will play a vital role in it, the 407-hectare reclamation project in the Philippines gives half of its land to participants from the private sector and actively engages in public consultation. Innovative programs have also been formed under the public-private partnership framework to encourage technology companies to set up training programs with local universities as a way to improve education, according to Ho. As one of the key China-Philippine projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, the New Manila Bay-City of Pearl aims to be a high-tech commercial and tourism center. “Government has a very visible hand in trying to support the society’s vision and the people’s vision, especially in cities that see constant changes,” said Ho. Laurence Lien, cofounder and CEO of the Singapore-based Asia Philanthropy Circle and chairman of the Lien Foundation, said instead of figuring out what innovation is, the bigger issue is to work on the culture, the mind-set, the fears and anxieties that prevent people from changing. “What is more important is to create an ecosystem that will make the innovation sustainable,” he said. “The impact that you can address in the social enterprise can be at the micro or SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) level,” said Aman Neil Dokania, managing director and head of Accenture Cloud for Asia Pacific. He said there is huge potential for tremendous business outcomes. Meanwhile, Dokania said that NGOs need to reflect back on their business models to be more relevant, and they should leverage disruptive change for themselves. One possible way is to look for collaborations with the private sector and governments for broader impact. “Governments really need to think carefully about having their resources, their money, their people work harder on this matter,” said Kate Duff, Australia’s deputy high commissioner to Singapore. “We have to be clear about the fact that social and economic productivity, harmony and stability are pins on a more inclusive approach.” For countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), it is crucial to think about how to make use of the region’s talent pools, whether as consumers or inventors that bring about new innovations, said Jose Luis Yulo, Jr, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands and former secretary-general of the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Established in 1967, ASEAN grew to embrace today’s 10 member states — Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia. “Today, innovation serves as the driving force for economic growth. It is the internal impetus for companies to sustain and develop,” said Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council. Noting that 2018 is China-ASEAN Innovation Year, Xu said he expects deeper cooperation in innovation, between China and ASEAN as well as other countries, to promote regional economic growth, a more harmonious society, closer relationships between neighboring countries and, most importantly, to build a community with a shared future for mankind. “Innovation that matters is at the heart of everything we do,” said Penny Low, president and founder of Singapore’s Social Innovation Park. “At the end of the day, it is about promoting humanity. It is not just about something functional, machines or factories, but it gets into the ecosystem as well as our daily lives.”
2018-05-08由港股100強研究中心主辦, 財華社承辦, 騰訊新聞、新浪財經、今日頭條、中國日報、大公文匯戰略支持的第二屆香港上市公司發展高峰論壇暨2017「港股100強」頒獎典禮將於2018年4月19日在香港金鐘JW萬豪酒店三樓宴會廳舉行,並且本次活動將舉行港股100強研究中心成立儀式,本次論壇主題為「洞悉世界經濟,引領創新發展」,邀請了眾多業界大咖出席論壇, 共同探討在世界經濟格局風雲變化之時,資本市場的挑戰、變革、創新與風險。 論壇亦受到了香港中國倂購公會、香港中國金融協會、香港中資證券業協會、香港上市公司商會、香港中資基金業協會、證券商協會、香港投資者關係協會等多個香港知名金融團體的鼎力支持。 「港股100強」評選活動始於2012年,由騰訊與財華社發起舉辦。歷年活動規模及影響力逐年擴大,深受專業機構及市場認同信賴。「港股100強」活動一直致力於為投資者發掘具有投資價值的股票,促進香港資本市場的健康繁榮發展,將「港股100強」榜單打造成為最權威最具公信力的香港上市公司排行榜。 2017「港股100强」,擬在「港股100強」活動的基礎上進一步昇華品牌,成立港股100強研究中心,推出港股100強指數、研究報告等研究成果。「港股100強」以營業額、總市值、稅後淨利潤、股本回報率、總回報率五個指標為評選標準,堅持公平、中立的原則,力求為投資者量身打造最優質的價值投資指標。 港股100強研究中心是一個擁有堅實學術背景及專業專家團隊的非盈利性學術研究機構,由財華社及內地眾多知名媒體聯合發起,匯集內地與香港兩地的金融機構高層、經濟學家、知名律師、會計師、學者教授以及財經媒體人等,組成顧問委員會。港股100強研究中心將秉承客觀、公正的宗旨,旨在將「港股100強」品牌科學化、學術化、專業化。未來,研究中心將逐步推出港股100強研究報告、港股100強指數等成果,為香港資本市場提供有價值的觀點,為投資者提供投資參考,樹立專業化的投資指引,促進香港資本市場的健康繁榮發展。
2018-04-172018年4月13日 香港:中國日報今天在香港會議展覽中心舉辦題為「投資者對談:引領初創成就非凡」的研討會,逾300名參會嘉賓分享見解並互動交流參加討論,共同探索互聯網經濟下的初創企業發展機遇。 此次論壇由中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇與「2018互聯網經濟峰會」 合辦。數碼港主席林家禮博士、國際科技公司主席尤西•瓦爾迪先生、Illumio行政總裁及共同創辦人安德魯•魯賓先生,以及英菲尼迪資本管理有限公司副主席許東威先生四位主講嘉賓分享了他們的見解。 當前,隨著互聯網經濟蓬勃飛速發展,網絡經濟正帶動線下傳統經濟,兩種經濟模式的逐步融合正為各行各業帶來新的發展機遇。在「大眾創業、萬眾創新」的背景下,中國內地互聯網領域掀起一股創業潮,誕生了一批為大眾所熟知的互聯網產品和估值不菲的優秀企業,為年輕創業者及初創企業打開了新的大門。 本次論壇匯聚的知名初創項目投資者,深入剖析了初創投資的最新趨勢,以及未來數年最具投資潛力和投資回報率的熱門科技項目,還向在場嘉賓分享初創企業如何吸引海外投資,共謀紅利的成功之道。 林家禮博士認為,助力初創企業發展,最重要的不僅是培養創業精神,更需要以指引和資金來給創業者提供幫助。這就要求我們眾志成城,政府部門、商界及社會各方都應參與進來。 尤西•瓦爾迪先生表示,當今社會僅僅處在一場技術大變革的開端,大數據讓我們擁有參與技術變革、改變世界潮流的潛力。 安德魯•魯賓先生在論壇上強調了“講故事”的重要性。他說,對於一家企業而言,在籌集資金時,敘事能力顯得格外重要。企業需要通過事實和例證讓投資者相信,他們所投入的這家企業有能力在未來創造更大的價值和經濟效益。 許東威先生表示,如今資本市場正在發生巨大的變化,除了經濟金融科技外,市場亦非常看重生物科技,這兩個領域對香港相關領域都非常關鍵。香港社會應創造良好的環境以培育這兩個領域,這也正是英菲尼迪在過去一段時間以來所投入的重點。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500餘萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2018-04-13