GREAT Trade & Investment News
Hong Kong & Macao
April 2023
For a comprehensive round up of the latest UK-Hong Kong and Macao Trade and Investment news, insights and information kindly refer to the April Newsletter below:
Great HK & Macao TI Newsletter April 2023
China Direct would like to thank the Trade and Investment team at the British Consulate in Hong Kong for kindly sharing this information.
CBI member, Arup has published its 2019 edition of The Arup Journal. The journal contains two key features that may be of interest to China Direct readers.
Arup played a key role in designing the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge, the world’s longest sea crossing, connecting over 70 million across China’s Greater Bay Area. The construction consultancy also recently completed a new headquarters for one of South Korea’s biggest cosmetics labels, Amorepacific.
Case study: Strengthening connections: Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge
On 23 October 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the world’s longest sea crossing, the 55km Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macao Bridge. Until then, travelling between Hong Kong and Macao/Zhuhai involved either a one-hour ferry ride (sometimes through bad weather conditions) or a four-hour detour over the Humen Bridge, a crossing to the north of the Pearl River Delta. With the opening of the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge (HZMB), it is now possible to make the journey by car in a mere 40 minutes.
Arup performed a range of roles on the project, including creating and developing the concept and preliminary design for the main bridge and tunnel, and proposing environmentally friendly reclamation solutions for artificial island construction. Arup also worked on roads, tunnels, viaducts and other associated infrastructure. Along the way, the firm had to be mindful of the scheme’s impact on the surrounding environment and wildlife, the effect of extreme weather conditions on the programme and design, and the logistical challenges of coordinating and completing such a large and ambitious scheme – the HZMB took nine years to construct.
A detailed case study can be found here on page 5.
Case study: Beauty & Innovation: A sustainable modern building that draws on traditional Korean design for one of Asia’s largest cosmetics companies
Arup has delivered a new headquarters for one of the largest beauty and cosmetics companies in South Korea, Amorepacific. The new building is an elegant 110m tall cube centred around a courtyard, part of which is glazed to provide natural light into the atrium below. With its striking outer façade of vertical fins, the building is a distinctive and innovative take on office accommodation.
Inspired by references to traditional Korean courtyard architecture and with energy efficiency and wellbeing at the centre of its design, the building is punctuated by three large openings on the 5th, 11th and 17th floors. These are landscaped with gardens and terraces, and open onto an inner central courtyard that features a reflecting pool. The openings allow natural light and ventilation to enter the heart of the building, and frame dramatic views across Seoul.
Read more about this ground-breaking project here on page 51.
CBI member BHP Billiton recently completed the sale of its 8.33% interest in the East Browse Joint Venture and 20% interest in the West Browse Joint Venture, located offshore Western Australia, to PetroChina International Investment (Australia) for US$1.63 billion.
All required approvals were secured and relevant documents signed in Beijing to
finalise the transaction.
Please click here
to read the full press release by BHP Billiton.
[Image courtesy of www.mottmacdonald.com]
CBI member Mott MacDonald was recently appointed as the lead contractor’s designer for the 9.4 kilometre-long viaduct section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in southern China. The HK$12.867 billion project is the largest single design and build contract ever awarded in Hong Kong.
The bridge will support a dual three-lane carriageway over the Pearl River Estuary. Mott MacDonald will design substantial sections of the viaduct as well as being responsible for geotechnical, highways, electrical and mechanical, utilities, and other civil engineering services.
Dr. Mark Swales, Mott MacDonald's transport division manager in Hong Kong, said, "This is a fantastic project for Mott MacDonald in Asia, and we are proud to be part of the Joint Venture's team. The project will enable us to showcase and draw upon our worldwide experience in the design of major bridges; it will be both challenging and rewarding for all involved."
Please click here to read the full press release by Mott MacDonald.
[Image courtesy of www.bmw.com]
CBI member BMW Group reported that its 2011 sales surpassed 250,000 units for the first time ever in Greater China.
In mainland China, the BMW Group maintained strong growth, delivering a total of 232,586 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers, up 37.6% year-on-year. China strengthened its position as the third largest market of the BMW Group.
The flagship BMW 7 Series solidified its position as segment leader for the third time in a row, with sales increasing 26.2%, reaching 33,500 vehicles last year. The BMW X family also continued to perform well, with a total of 46,042 cars sold, representing an increase of 27.8%.
The all-new BMW 5 Series further extended the huge success since its launch, with sales soaring to 70,850 units, up 68.4%. The phenomenal growth of the BMW 5 Series is reshaping the premium business car market in China.
The BMW Group's MINI brand set another new record after surpassing the 10,000 unit threshold in 2010, with sales increasing 47.7% to reach 15,518 vehicles in 2011.
In the Greater China market, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao, the BMW Group delivered 250,658 units of BMW and MINI cars, with a year-on-year growth of 37.2% in 2011.
Please click here to read the English-language press release by the BMW Group on its 2011 China sales and here for the Chinese version.
In additional news, the BMW Group also has the MINI E China field project, which is under the Sino-Germany Economy and Technology Forum. The project represents a joint effort by BMW, its Chinese partners, and the Chinese government to understand electric vehicle user habits, the acceptance level of electric cars, and infrastructure requirements.
Please click here to read the English-language press release by the BMW Group on its MINI E China field project and here for the Chinese version.
[Image courtesy of www.knightfrank.com]
Leading global real estate and property service firm Knight Frank recently released its Greater China Hotel Report for the first half of 2011.
The report provides an overview and outlook of hotel markets in the following five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau. Highlights include:
• 2010 marked the beginning of a recovery for China's hotel market.
• In 2010, revenue per available hotel room in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou
rose 34.9% in 2010.
• In 2010, the total number of overnight visitors across China reached 55.7 million, up 9.4% from
2009.
• In the first half of 2011, the number of overnight visitors across China continued to rise, increasing
1.1%.
• In the first half of 2011, hotel operators continued to strengthen their presence in the Greater China
region. Among the five cities covered by Knight Frank's report, Macau was the most active market.
• In the first seven months of 2011, Beijing received 2.9 million overnight visitors from overseas.
Please click here to access the full report by Knight Frank.
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