IBSM 2007. Memories. Emotions. Thoughts

Part 1: Hong Kong

Day 1:

Finally, the long awaited day arrived.
I would have taken baoyi's lift to the airport
but my family had decided to send me there instead.

The tour guide introduced himself to us.
Mr Yao
Saw many fellow IBSM-mates with their parents.
I suppose all parents are just concern about their children.

Wensong's parents came to tok to us
mini pri sch gathering =)
i think his father still looks the same over the years

mom. sis and me, right before checking in

waitingwaitingwaiting.

Winnie had to sit beside me when we were on e plane.
Poor her.
I think she could haf just shut my mouth with an apple for screaming 19581925023 times
It was my second time taking an airplane,
and it's to the same desination - HONG KONG!

@ Hong Kong:

at HK airport

winnie. me. andrea in our blazers

Group 3 at HKTDC
i realise that it's our only group pic

the accountancy gals

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC)

Set up in 1966, the mission of this government related organisation is "To create and facilitate opportunities in international trade for Hong Kong companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to promote a positive image of Hong Kong.".

A talk on TDC by one of the personnel.
We learn that TDC helps in:
1) Providing information
2) Connecting customers
3) Matching partners.
The organisation has a strong database to match investors to the different partners overseas.
Not only it is the chief drivers of Hong Kong’s trade, the TDC is also expertised in bringing more businesses to the PRD.

After that, we toured the council and its library.

There were magazines, telephone directories, free internet and fax (for local dialing) serivces, multimedia collection, travel guides, dictionaries, trade fair catalogues and etc.

At the HK business area, statistics, year books, annual reports can be found.
NEW: periodicals, journal, IT, chinese medicine.
They are arranged according to various topics, years or industries, thus faciliate users' research process. Yellow pages are also avaliable for users to find the relevant contacts for the various trade fairs.

Up at the second level, it is the SME business development collection, TDC photos, newspaper and clippings collection, fashion & design and word procession counters (requires registration).

and then, it's our turn to do our research in the library.
The references my group used were from the Pearl River Delta corner where there were about 4 shelves of books.

I researched on CEPA and development of the PRD since I feel that we have the least knowledge about it. This policy is to faciliate businesses in Macau and HK to set up businesses in China.
Economically, it is to help HK's service industries move faster to Mainland China, thus resulting in an increase in service industries in Mainland China. On the other hand, politically, CEPA will lead Hong Kongers to focus on middle forces, which sets a good example to Taiwan.

Benefits and Privileges:
1) entering the China market earlier than what was being complied with in the WTO agreement (HK service industry)
2) zero tax rate (HK investors in Mainland China)
3) Investment agreement (HK investors: lesser requirements)

The above content is being translated as the book was in Chinese. Sorry if I had not translate them well ;(

Another information I read on was PRD key challenges - overinvestment, shortages and preferential policies. These may be just information we read from books, but in one of the company visits (which I will write about later), the company indeed faces problem on shortages.
Hence, we can see that no matter how blooming the PRD's economy is, there will bound to have problems along the way.

China Trade and Investment Advisory Service
It is a verbal information counter where businessman/investors can consult the professionals regarding setting up business in China. Examples are the law and regulations, tax issues, marketing strategy and other policies.
An appointment is needed. As to how long will they get an appointment will depend on the type of questions being asked, since different advisors will focus on different expertise. I feel that this is very effective for SMEs as it zooms into problems directly, and getting a definite answer on the spot.

From here, we can see that the TDC has provided a very conducive environment for their local/foreign investors. It is a very all-rounded service, I would say. I definitely see very useful and effective assistance being provided by the council. Furthermore, TDC does not just not stop their assistance after helping SMEs establish their businesses, but provide continuous support for them. The TDC will also collect feedback from the existing SMEs so that they can improve and continue to help other SMEs.

On the whole, I definitely see the importance of going global because this IS the 21st century, which countries are interdependent on one another.

at night, was free and easy =)

andrea led the way and we ended up at avenue of stars

starbucks! =)

love the night scenery

LALALALALA

miss the good times;