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. lost child wristband24 hour wristbands coupon codecustom printed wristbandsbatman wristband1 inch wide rubber bandsjordan wristband rubber
General Wei Fenghe, China's defense minister, meets with his US counterpart James Mattis in Beijing, June 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] Militaries from China and the United States will enhance communication and properly manage differences and risks, senior military officials said on Wednesday. China resolutely follows the path of peaceful development, and the Chinese military will adamantly protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, General Wei Fenghe, China's defense minister, said while meeting his US counterpart James Mattis in Beijing, according to a release by the Ministry of National Defense. Wei also expressed China's stance and concerns to the US top defense official over issues regarding the South China Sea, Taiwan and Korean Peninsula. China and the US can only achieve joint development by upholding mutual respect, win-win cooperation and nonconfrontational attitudes, Wei said. The two militaries should fulfill the consensus reached by both countries' State leaders, increase mutual trust and cooperation, properly manage risks, and make Sino-US military-to-military relations truly a stabilizing factor for bilateral relations, he added. Mattis said China's development is beneficial for the US and the world, and both countries should get along in harmony, according to the release. The US side values Sino-US military relations, and is willing to optimize communication channels with China to facilitate open dialogues and improve risk management, he added. It is believed that the US and China, two great nations, can facilitate world peace and development through cooperation, he said. Mattis is conducting his first visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday. It is also the first visit to China of a US defense secretary since Chuck Hagel in April 2014.
