Early childhood education in Hong Kong has become big business, attracting more entrepreneurs and increased investment in the industry. [Provided to China Daily] Trade wars and rising interest rates have taken away much of the shine of stocks and properties. If you, like many other Hong Kong investors, are thinking of selling out while the times are still good, you may want to know there's a new game in town that has whetted the interest not only of local entrepreneurs but also millionaire investors on the Chinese mainland. You don't have to be an educator or a social analyst to notice the obsession of many parents in Hong Kong and on the mainland with giving their toddlers a head start. Many children as young as two years of age are drilled by their eager parents to prepare for examinations to qualify for admission to some of the most prestigious nurseries and kindergartens. The strong demand has turned pre-school education into a big business, sucking up hundreds of millions of new investment funds from entrepreneurs, as well as investors who have grown wary of the stock and property markets. As a result, some of the better known play schools and kindergartens have become prized take-over targets. Even the special schools, especially those that teach local pre-school children usage of the English language, are in demand. Investors in pre-school education reportedly include young entrepreneurs who are interested in running the schools. There's no shortage of passive investors who are interested only in the earnings potential of these facilities. A mainland investor has reportedly bought a well-known kindergarten in Hong Kong because he can't get over the fact that he couldn't find a good kindergarten for his children when they were young. In Hong Kong, all kindergartens are privately owned and operated although they have to register with the government and subject to regular inspections by the Education Bureau. Since the introduction of the Quality Assurance Framework in 2012, the government regularly publishes a set of Performance Indicators for public reference. But, it's word of mouth that determines the popularity of a kindergarten. The more famous one can charge a fee of up to several thousand dollars per student. That's good business. personalised festival wristbandsjordan wristbandcustom rubber bandspersonalized rubber braceletswristband creationmotivational wristbands for athletes
President urges mutual trust and proper handling of disagreements President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to strengthen mutual political trust and properly handle disagreements in a congratulatory message on Wednesday to the newly elected president of the Republic of Korea. Noting that he has always attached great importance to China-ROK relations, Xi wrote Moon Jae-in that the two countries should push forward the healthy and stable development of ties under the basis of mutual understanding and respect. Moon, of the liberal Democratic Party, won the presidential election by a landslide on Tuesday to replace ousted president Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in December on charges of bribery and abuse of power. Analysts said Moon is likely to seek to mend China-ROK relations damaged by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system led by the United States. In the message, Xi said the development of China-ROK relations has not only brought tangible benefits for the people of both countries, but also made positive contributions to regional peace and stability. Xi pointed out that China and the ROK are important neighbors. Relations have been comprehensively developed in the 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, he said. Xi said he would like to work with Moon to help China-ROK relations better benefit the two countries and their people. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference that China's stance on the deployment of THAAD is consistent. He called on the ROK to attach importance to China's concerns and handle the THAAD issue properly. Moon said in his inaugural speech that he will sincerely negotiate with the US and China over the deployment of THAAD. During his campaign, Moon argued for a parliamentary ratification and public consensus for the THAAD installation that can influence the country's society from diplomatic, security and economic perspectives. Part of the US missile-interception system has been transported to the deployment site in the country's southeastern region, causing strong protests from anti-THAAD activists and residents. Huang Youfu, a Korean studies professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, said it's impossible for the ROK's new government to withdraw the deployment given the current situation of the Korean Peninsula. But Moon is highly likely to take measures to improve the relations with China, and Beijing will welcome such moves, he said. Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said Moon faces challenges on the THAAD issue as he has to balance domestic public opinions while also coordinating the relations with both China and the US. China and the ROK should create opportunities now to enhance strategic mutual trust and improve relations, he said.
