Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong – OCBC Hong Kong has announced that it has entered into an agreementto sell its entire 33.33% stake, represented by 290,000,000 ordinary shares in the capital of Hong Kong Life Insurance to Yue Xiu Enterprises.

The net asset value of the entire Hong Kong Life was HK$1,024m as at 31 December 2023 (approximately S$180m). The consideration for the sale shares is HK$589.3m (approximately S$103m), payable upon completion and will be satisfied wholly in cash. 

“The consideration was arrived at following arm’s length negotiations on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, taking into account among others, factors such as the net asset value and the embedded value,” OCBC said in a statement.

The completion of the transaction will be conditional upon customary closing conditions including but not limited to regulatory approvals. 

Upon completion of the sale of the Sale Shares, Hong Kong Life will cease to be an associated company of OCBC Hong Kong and OCBC Bank. 

The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of OCBC Group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. 

Hong Kong – Canon Hong Kong Company Limited has announced the immediate appointment of Gary Lee as its new chief executive officer, ushering in a new chapter of leadership for the company.

Lee brings more than 30 years of expertise in accounting and finance, having joined Canon Hong Kong in 1997. Throughout his tenure, he has held several senior management roles across diverse business units and regions, establishing a strong foundation of leadership and strategic insight.

In his new role, Lee will lead Canon’s business operations across Hong Kong, Macau, and the Greater Bay Area, driving strategic growth and innovation in these key markets.

Lee holds a Business Administration degree from Hong Kong Baptist University (1992) and an Executive MBA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2012). Renowned for his forward-thinking approach, he advocates for leveraging advanced technologies to drive operational efficiency and digital transformation.

In 2011, Lee was promoted to senior director of managing finance, IT, supply chain, and legal across Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Mongolia. From 2017 to 2024, he served as vice president and CFO of Canon India, overseeing finance, legal, corporate communication, government relations, and procurement. With his global perspective and strategic insight, Lee is poised to drive Canon’s growth and competitiveness in a fast-evolving industry.

“Canon Hong Kong has had a deep bonding with Hong Kong people for over 50 years. Leveraging the city’s unique geographical advantage as a gateway to Macau and the Greater Bay Area, we have achieved remarkable growth in both local and cross-border business with the immense support of our customers and business partners,” Lee shared. 

He added, “I look forward to striving for new heights with the talented team. We will continue to drive digital transformation for our customers through innovative imaging technologies and intelligent business solutions. At the same time, we remain committed to our corporate philosophy of “Kyosei” to create greater value for society and move towards a sustainable future with other stakeholders.”

Hong Kong – McDonald’s Hong Kong has partnered with DDB Group Hong Kong to launch a nostalgic 50th-anniversary campaign, featuring the iconic Ronald McDonald benches popping up at 50 locations citywide, kicking off a year-long celebration of the brand’s enduring legacy.

As part of the campaign, DDB Group HK and McDonald’s HK have launched a citywide treasure hunt spotlighting 50 beloved Ronald McDonald benches. The hunt extends online via social media and the McDonald’s app, where participants can scan QR codes at each bench to register their finds and unlock fun facts, along with access to over 500,000 giveaways, including menu items and downloadable digital assets.

The treasure hunt’s grand prize offers a free Big Mac meal every day for a year, awarded to the first 50 participants who successfully collect all 50 stamps.

Additionally, a video featuring Softhard, the iconic Hong Kong rap duo associated with McDonald’s in the early 90s, showcases the pair placing benches in iconic locations across the city, serving as a captivating invitation for Hongkongers to join the treasure hunt. Complementing this, eight shorter videos will be released daily during the first week of the year, each spotlighting the historical significance of these locations while promoting a special daily value menu offer for customers.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, beloved McDonald’s characters like Grimace, Birdie, and Hamburglar will also make a grand return, appearing prominently across major outdoor media throughout the city. Adding to the festivities, a special Star Ferry wrapped in the campaign’s iconic imagery offered free rides to all passengers on the launch day, further amplifying the celebratory spirit.

Speaking on the campaign, Tina Chao, chief marketing and digital experience officer, said, “We are so excited to be celebrating 50 years in Hong Kong in a way that we hope will provide both some comfort of the past and optimism for the future. The fun treasure hunt will be a great way to kickstart our celebration. I’m really looking forward to everyone experiencing what we have planned for further festivities; it’s going to be a fantastic year!”

Andreas Krasser, CEO at DDB Group Hong Kong, added, “This is a very important milestone for one of Hong Kong’s most beloved brands, and we wanted to do something that really connected emotionally with customers. We know from social listening that for many Hong Kongers, the Ronald McDonald bench is somewhat like a time machine, allowing them to walk down memory lane. So, it was a no-brainer to start the 50th anniversary celebration with the bench.”

The Ronald McDonald bench, a globally recognised icon, embodies the cherished familiarity McDonald’s holds in the hearts of its customers. The treasure hunt and anniversary launch campaign will run until February 5th, spanning outdoor, TVC, print, in-store, social, and online media. 

Hong Kong – As the peak travel season approaches, Uber Hong Kong, in collaboration with Omelette Digital, has launched the ‘Airport Code War’—a two-week interactive social media campaign spotlighting the travel hurdles Hong Kongers face when journeying to the airport from different districts.

The campaign kicked off with an Instagram Reel featuring local celebrity Neo Yau, who shared his frustration over the challenges of getting to the airport while preparing for the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Pledging to help fellow travellers, Yau promised to work with Uber HK to secure promotional codes.

The next day, Yau announced he had secured 5,000 promo codes and officially launched the Airport Code War. Hosted on the newly created Instagram page @airportcodewar, the campaign invited residents from all 18 Hong Kong districts to vote for their neighbourhoods to win geo-targeted promo codes. Humorous, district-specific content further engaged the audience and fuelled the friendly competition.

Created by Omelette Digital, Uber HK’s campaign unfolded with unexpected twists and surprises over its two-week run. A playful rivalry within Neo Yau’s production company, Trial and Error, added to the drama as Hui Yin and So Chi Ho—staunch supporters of Kwun Tong—challenged Yau, who backed Tuen Mun.

The competition gained momentum as more social influencers joined, championing their neighbourhoods and urging residents to vote for promo codes. Two rally events further amplified awareness, sparking lively discussions and widespread sharing across local district Facebook groups.

Eric Ling, demand growth lead at Uber HK, shared, “December stands as the peak month for airport activity with the highest volume of both inbound and outbound traffic. This promo-driven campaign enables us to influence riders’ decisions when selecting their mode of transportation to the airport.”

Andrea Choi, creative director at Omelette Digital, also said, “It all started with a simple local insight, and it has been a rewarding experience to leverage Hong Kongers’ affection for their districts and witness the unfolding of this fun-filled battle. For us, this campaign feels like an experiment – anything could have happened despite our meticulous planning and intensive research. We cannot thank the client enough for the unwavering trust.”

The Airport Code War wrapped up on December 18, with Sha Tin District claiming victory and earning 2,500 50%-off promo codes. To celebrate the travel season, Uber HK also released 15,000 25%-off promo codes as a merit reward for all Hong Kongers gearing up for their vacations.

Hong Kong – Deliveroo has launched its latest retail offering, ‘Deliveroo Shopping,’ expanding its on-demand services to include a broader range of shopping categories alongside its established food and grocery deliveries.

Deliveroo Shopping represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth, seamlessly extending its services to meet the diverse needs of consumers across a wider range of occasions.

With this launch, consumers gain access to an expanded selection of retail products across categories such as baby, pet, toys, florists, pharmacy and nutrition, and home and kitchen. These items are available with the same on-demand convenience that customers enjoy when ordering food and groceries on the platform.

Deliveroo has partnered with trusted local and international retail brands, including Watsons, Watsons Baby, LEGO, Qpet, Pet Line, SLOWOOD, EUGENEbaby, Hing Fat Florist, Natures Village, and more. These key partners were carefully selected for their wide range of everyday essentials, offering over 10,000 SKUs at launch to cater to customers’ diverse needs.

Commenting on the partnership, Simmy Chung, general manager of Pet Line, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Deliveroo Shopping to bring pet owners across Hong Kong quick and convenient access to our premium pet supplies. This collaboration allows us to reach more pet lovers and ensure they can get what they need for their furry friends at a moment’s notice.” 

Samuel Lee, managing director of Watsons Hong Kong, added, “Our partnership with Deliveroo Shopping aligns perfectly with our mission to make health and beauty products more accessible to all at our O+O (offline plus online) platform. We are excited to be the first large-scale health and beauty retail chain to join hands with Deliveroo. By leveraging our extensive physical store network and advanced digital experience, this innovative platform of Deliveroo enables us to offer our customers an additional convenient way to shop for their favourite health and beauty products from Watsons, delivering right to their doorstep.” 

All retail partners and products are integrated into the ‘Shopping’ section of the app, featuring dedicated tools and a user-friendly interface to provide a convenient one-stop shopping experience.

Deliveroo is also introducing a new gifting feature, allowing users to select a gift, mark it as such at checkout, and send a trackable link with an animated greeting card. Ideal for sending flowers, surprise gifts, baby essentials, or even comfort food to a friend in need.

The platform’s machine-learning search and discovery feature enables users to easily browse for gifting occasions, such as birthdays, and instantly receive a curated selection of gift options.

Marco Ng, general manager of Hong Kong and Macau Retail of Kidsland International Holdings Limited (which operates a LEGO Certified Store in Hong Kong), said, “Our partnership with Deliveroo Shopping echoes with our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, colleagues, partners, and the world we live in. The ‘gifting function’ on the platform is an ideal way to bring more magical moments to homes across Hong Kong. With our beloved LEGO® Minifigures and sets now just a few taps away, customers can surprise and delight families, making it easier than ever to share the joy of creative play.” 

Jonathan Kan, new verticals director at Deliveroo Hong Kong, shared, “Deliveroo Shopping is a major milestone in our growth journey. It is the result of extensive research that identified a significant demand for convenient on-demand delivery in specific non-food categories. We are excited to elevate our consumer value proposition by offering customers the opportunity to order both food and non-food items from a unified platform. We are confident that Deliveroo Shopping will transform the non-food shopping experience, making last-minute gifts, kitchen essentials, toys for the little ones, and more accessible at the click of a button.” 

Before this launch, Deliveroo introduced Deliveroo Shopping in Singapore, partnering with merchants like LUSH, Xpressflower, and Pet Lovers Centre. The company plans to further expand its selection and partner network, aiming to enrich the on-demand delivery experience and cater to a broader spectrum of consumer needs.

Singapore – Max made its debut across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong with regional activations across seven markets – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

The series of creative and immersive outdoor marketing efforts showcased the streaming service’s rich collection of blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic hits, best-in-class real-life stories, and family favourites, inviting fans to feel, experience, and become part of the stories, connecting with local audiences through dynamic and culturally relevant campaigns. 

On November 19, Max celebrated its arrival with a spectacular regional light-up moment across all seven markets. Scenes from Warner Bros. Discovery’s beloved brands and franchises, including ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ and ‘Barbie’ were projected on prominent buildings and landmarks. 

Moreover, audiences were invited to join in local launch celebrations, where fans in the Philippines explored ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘House of the Dragon’ themed Christmas trees and were treated to a magical Harry Potter Christmas tree light-up countdown by James and Oliver Phelps, followed by an amazing fireworks display. In Thailand, audiences were captivated by a life-size “Krathong” installation during the Loi Krathong Festival, as well as on-ground pop-ups inspired by ‘Barbie,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Friends’ and ‘Harry Potter.’

In Taiwan, pop-ups of iconic Warner Bros. Discovery brands including Game of Thrones and Harry Potter allowed guests to step into the world of their favorite shows. 

Upping the ante, Max also took over prominent train stations, transportation, billboards and building projections across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, transforming daily commutes into Warner Bros. Discovery-inspired journeys.

To connect viewers in Asia with Max, a series of creative social content brought iconic characters from Max’s loved shows into the heart of each market, incorporating characters into Asia’s vibrant culture, where characters ‘react’ to hyperlocal landmarks, dishes and cultural experiences. 

“The extensive launch campaign generated significant excitement, fostered emotional connections, and positioned Max as the region’s newest streaming experience. The campaign has successfully launched Max on an upwards trajectory in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, deeply connecting with local audiences in the region,” the streaming service said in a press statement.

Hong Kong – Swire Coca-Cola, a beverage company serving Greater China and Southeast Asia, has implemented SAP S/4HANA to streamline its operations in Hong Kong, marking a significant step forward in its digital transformation journey.

With support from SAP Customer Services and Delivery, Swire Coca-Cola’s implementation of SAP S/4HANA aims to maintain its competitive edge while addressing operational challenges in Hong Kong.

Swire Coca-Cola operates on a vast scale, producing, bottling, and distributing a diverse portfolio of 60 beverage brands to a franchise population exceeding 956 million customers.

The solution allows Swire Coca-Cola to streamline its complex operations with greater flexibility, speed, and insights, helping it address current challenges and seize future opportunities in Hong Kong. By optimising processes such as manufacturing, sourcing, financing, customer ordering, pricing, warehousing, and delivery, the company ensures seamless service and gains real-time visibility into automated pricing and offerings.

Matthew C.M. Wong, general manager of digital & IT for SEA, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Swire Coca-Cola Limited, said, “At Swire Coca-Cola, we strive for collective success by consistently supporting our employees, partners, community, and the planet. Having the right partner to deliver exceptional results is imperative as they strive to understand our unique needs, provide innovative solutions, and consistently exceed our expectations. We found these impressive qualities with the SAP Customer Services & Delivery Greater China team, who seamlessly integrated its solutions into our organisation’s system to deliver only the best to both our internal and external stakeholders.”

Yee-Ching Wang, head of customer services and delivery for SAP Greater China, added, “We are delighted to take the lead to transition Swire Coca-Cola’s ERP to SAP S/4HANA. SAP S/4HANA is the ideal platform to support such a complex and vast operation while minimising disruption, maximising efficiency, and providing cross-functional visibility to better serve Swire Coca-Cola’s customer base and seize new opportunities in Hong Kong.”

She further shared, “SAP Customer Services & Delivery’s mission is to support our customers in their transformation journeys through the adoption of SAP solutions and innovations and to help address the challenges across multiple business units, processes, and technical architectures by providing key outcomes for their strategies, thereby maximising their business values.” 

Swire Coca-Cola’s implementation required managing multiple end-to-end operations simultaneously. Following extensive discussions, the SAP Customer Services & Delivery team outlined key deployment milestones and stationed on-site consultants to refine and implement hundreds of system enhancements, ensuring a smooth and successful rollout.

Esmond Tong, managing director of SAP Hong Kong and Macau, explained, “Companies seeking to improve operations and efficiency should leverage SAP S/4HANA to accelerate their business transformation. With SAP S/4HANA’s comprehensive capabilities and scalability, companies can adjust the scope and pace of their transformation to align with business strategies and adapt to fast-changing market conditions. We look forward to helping more companies adopt SAP’s latest innovations and unlock new business potential.”

Hong Kong – In an unconventional twist to promote its app, 7-Eleven has teamed up with creative agency Noah to unveil a bold activation: a series of eye-catching graffiti-style artworks delivering a reverse message—“Don’t Download the App.”

The campaign uses reverse psychology to showcase the unique benefits of the 7-Eleven app, with playful messaging that taps into Cantonese slang, urging customers to reconsider what they might be missing out on.

For this campaign, Noah collaborated with graffiti artists to “bomb” bold messages across the city. The use of graffiti creates a striking contrast: while graffiti draws people to the streets, the 7-Eleven app is all about the convenience of staying home. This juxtaposition adds an edgy twist to the campaign’s launch.

Noah enlisted renowned artists, including Hong Kong’s Plumber King, Bunny, Spy, and Yu Wan, to create graffiti art displayed in unexpected locations. From price tags and coffee cups to an iconic wall at select 7-Eleven stores, the artworks were designed to blend seamlessly into the environment.

Gloria Shiu, head of marketing at 7-Eleven Hong Kong & Macau, said, “At 7-Eleven, we’re always looking for innovative ways to connect with our customers. We are determined to break away from conventional marketing and engage audiences with wit and creativity. By telling people not to download the app, the campaign aims to inspire them to explore its features and experience the convenience for themselves.”

Rachel Wong, co-founder of Noah, also shared, “By embedding art into everyday 7-Eleven elements, we’ve transformed ordinary moments into opportunities for discovery. Collaborating with artists like Plumber King ensures the visuals to be as bold and thought-provoking as the campaign’s message.”

Asawin Bear Phanichwatana, creative partner of Noah, added, “This disruptive campaign has already proven that sometimes the best way to say ‘yes’ is to start with ‘no.’”

Hong Kong – Brands and influencers from Hong Kong are redefining the country’s identity in the new ‘Hong Kong Never Normal’ campaign.

Hong Kong brands, in collaboration with creative agency TBWA, has launched the platform alongside a campaign that celebrates the countries’ diverse cultures.

Through the campaign, brands, content creators, and influencers are sharing ‘never normal’ stories about Hong Kong’s culture and experiences. It aims to spark conversations through social content on Instagram. 

In support of the campaign, various personalities are sharing their perspectives, including film director Stephen Fund, business influencer Allan Zeman, Olympic swimmer Stephanie Au, singer/songwriter Serrini Leung, and comedians Jordan Leung and Vivek Mahbubani.

Various brands are uniting under the platform, spanning industries such as art, beauty, entertainment, food and beverage, media, and technology among others.

Joanne Lao, chief executive officer of TBWA, said, “Our ambition is to rekindle the pride HongKongers deserve to have towards their remarkable home city. While this launch phase aims to build awareness, engage and ignite buzz, future phases will involve more collaboration activities with our ‘Hong Kong Never Normal’ community of brands, creators and influencers.”

Hong Kong – Citybus has launched ‘HK City Sightseeing,’ a new tourism brand designed to support the Hong Kong Government’s strategy to boost the tourism sector and drive economic growth.

The ‘HK City Sightseeing’ open-top bus serves as a flagship offering, showcasing Hong Kong’s rich cultural experiences. Featuring a bold new logo and vibrant livery crafted by renowned local illustrator Don Mak, the design blends traditional Hong Kong aesthetics with depictions of the city’s iconic attractions.

Citybus has redesigned the buses to offer tourists a refreshing and immersive experience. The fully refurbished vehicles feature panoramic glass sunroofs, sliding windows, new seating, and advanced onboard technology, ensuring comfort and reliable operations throughout the year.

The launch of the new buses coincides with the debut of the ‘HK Sightseeing’ mobile app, offering an unparalleled experience and a captivating story of Hong Kong. 

The new all-in-one mobile app allows tourists to easily explore Hong Kong, plan their trips, and purchase a Citybus+ Sightseeing Pass, all within one platform, providing convenient access to various tourism offerings.

It also provides an immersive experience with real-time multilingual commentary on sightseeing routes, recommendations for attractions, and links to major sites, along with special discounts from partners in tourism, retail, hospitality, and F&B.

Along with the launch of ‘HK City Sightseeing,’ Citybus introduced the ‘Citybus+’ sightseeing passes. These bundles offer unlimited rides on the bus network, including the exclusive hop-on-hop-off open-top buses, with departures every 8 minutes to key attractions, retail outlets, and Hong Kong’s diverse food and beverage options.

Citybus marked the launch of the new bus with a grand ceremony at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, officiated by Mr. Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and Hon. You Pak-leung, MH, JP, Legislative Council Member for the Tourism Functional Constituency, alongside several distinguished guests from the government and industry.

Richard Hall, managing director of Citybus, highlighted that the new tourism brand aims to accelerate Hong Kong’s economic growth. He noted that the chief executive’s recent policy address to boost tourist arrivals, especially from mainland China, presents exciting opportunities. With the launch of the Citybus+ ticketing solution, Citybus is enhancing Hong Kong’s already world-class public transport system.

“HK City Sightseeing will be seen as the “super connector” through enhancing every visitor’s experience by connecting up every aspect of their journey and visit to Hong Kong. After extensive research and consultation, we are proud to be not only providing a product and services that physically link up all the key tourism destinations and attractions, but also establishing strong partnerships and collaborations across the tourism, retail, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors along with other supporting organisations to generate prosperity and drive success for all and Hong Kong,” Hall added.