BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

Hong Kong said recently it will recognise overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependent visas, more than two months after the city’s top court ruled that a British lesbian should be granted a spousal visa in a landmark judgment.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

Hong Kong said on Tuesday it will recognise overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependent visas, more than two months after the city’s top court ruled that a British lesbian should be granted a spousal visa in a landmark judgment.

International banks and law firms operating in the global financial hub have been keen to see the easing of visas rules for partners in same-sex relationships in the interests of strengthening Hong Kong’s ability to attract global talent.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

 

The policy revision announced on Tuesday includes same-sex civil partnerships, same-sex civil unions, same-sex marriage, opposite-sex civil partnerships or opposite-sex civil unions entered into outside Hong Kong, the government said.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

A dependent visa for such relationships would be considered so long as the person satisfied normal immigration requirements.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!
 

“The policy allows those who are able to provide care and financial support to their dependents to sponsor their non-local dependants to come to reside in Hong Kong,” the government said.

“The policy also ensures that Hong Kong will continue to attract and retain people with the right talent and skills to come to and remain in Hong Kong by giving them the choice of bringing in their non-local dependents to live with them.”

The revision, which was prompted by a Court of Final Appeal ruling in July, will take effect on Wednesday.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

 

Hong Kong’s top court ruled in July that a British woman should be granted a spousal visa – which allows dependents to work without the need for a separate visa – after her partner was offered work in the financial hub.

The pair had entered into a civil partnership in Britain.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!

The unanimous ruling by five judges brought to an end the case involving rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which won support from more than 30 global banks and law firms, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

BREAKING! Dependent Visa for Same Sex Couples Allowed!
 

Hong Kong is a popular destination for expatriates, many of whom work in the city’s financial services and legal sectors.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1991, although marriage is legally defined as a monogamous union between a man and a woman. Hong Kong does not recognise same-sex marriage.

China to Crack Down on Foreign Teaching Material in Schools!

The Chinese Ministry of Education announced recently that they will begin a nationwide inspection of educational teaching materials used in elementary and middle schools.

China to Crack Down on Foreign Teaching Material in Schools!

© Image | Google

 

Why to Implement This Inspection?

The ministry provided reasons for implementing this short-term inspection, citing concerns over alterations made to textbook content, as well as schools using textbooks that have not been approved for use.

The education ministry, based in Beijing, has called on the education departments of every region to inspect the teaching materials used by students from first to ninth grade to ensure every schoolbook is congruent with the country’s historical and cultural viewpoints. The examination will be carried out until October 15, at which point each local education department will report back to Beijing with their findings.

China to Crack Down on Foreign Teaching Material in Schools!

© Image | CYOL.COM

 

They have also requested every relevant publication company examine their previously authorized materials to see if any content does not align with the compulsory education course curriculum standard that was implemented in 2011.

The ministry will then have a team of experts review any school materials that have been altered and provide feedback to the bureau. After that, the relevant publications will need to make edits based on the Ministry of Education’s input before the start of the 2019 spring term. They will also perform nonscheduled inspections throughout the spring term.

Which Schools Are Suitable 

For This Rule?

According to the Financial Times, “the current inspections now apply to international schools as well, which enroll only students holding foreign passports.” This latest announcement by the Chinese Education Ministry makes it clear that substituting national standard teaching materials for foreign-based materials is a violation.

China to Crack Down on Foreign Teaching Material in Schools!

© Image | 苹果日报

That’s reached out to two international school administrators working in Guangzhou schools on Saturday, September 22, and both stated they have not received word of the policy changes.  

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The tariff rate lowered & the port charges greatly reduced!

 

There was some good news issued at the State Council executive meeting on September 26: 

from November 1st, the import tariff rate of 1585 items of industrial products such as tax items will be reduced; at the same time, the port charges will be greatly reduced, and the import and export of containers will drop by more than US$100!

 

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© Image | Google

 

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© Image | PEOPLE.CN

 

[Among them]

• The average tax rate for mechanical and electrical equipment such as construction machinery and instrumentation, which are in high demand in some domestic markets, will drop from 12.2% to 8.8%.

• The average tax rate for textiles, building materials, and other commodities will drop from 11.5% to 8.4%.

• The average tax rate for some resource commodities and primary processed products, such as paper products, will drop from 6.6% to 5.4%, and the tax rate for similar or similar goods will be also reduced.

Sudden! A fully loaded container ship was stranded and facing serious delays!

CMA officially announced that a large container ship named “APL LOS ANGELES” had a serious stranding accident in the waters of Fujian! The latest news shows that the container is still stranded in the Fujian waters. 

 

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© Image | GoogleMAP

 

According to the shipping schedule originally planned by the shipping company, APL LOS ANGELES should arrive at the port of Manila in the Philippines today (28th), and the delay may be very serious! This stranding accident may also have a great impact on domestic cargo owners!

New regulations for Kenyan ports

 

At the request of Kenya, all containers destined for the port of Kenya will be designated by KPA (KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY) as the clearing point. The CFS will no longer be designated by the customers. 

 

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© Image | Google

 

Therefore, the bill of lading and manifest will no longer display CFS IN TRANSIT CLAUSE. According to the latest announcement of KPA (KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY), the goods are not available in Kenyan nominated yard, and the bill of lading cannot be displayed to XXX CFS.

The US imposes an additional 25% tariff on Chinese products

 

Recently, the US government officially issued a notice to impose additional tariffs on 200 billion Chinese products, which has taken effect on September 24 and will set at 10% before the end of the year. From January 1, 2019, tariffs will rise to 25%. The move is to give US companies time to shift the industry chain.

THE alliance to upgrade liner service in the Mediterranean to the east coast of the U.S.

 

THE Alliance, which is composed of Japan Ocean Network Shipping (ONE) and Hapag-Lloyd and Yangming Shipping, recently reached a strategic cooperation agreement with CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping and OOCL to upgrade the liner service in the Mediterranean to the east coast of the United States.

Malaysia levies up to 10% sales tax on imported goods

 

After Indonesia’s import tariff on 1147 items was raised to 10%, another important Southeast Asian market, Malaysia, also announced a 10% sales tax on imported goods! Recently, the Malaysian government announced the re-launch of the “sales service tax” (SST) to replace the GST, about 40% of goods and services will be taxed. 

 

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See You MCC! No More MCC!

Among them: the sales tax rate is 5%-10%; 5,612 kinds of goods are subject to a 10% sales tax, 793 kinds of goods are subject to a 5% sales tax; the service tax rate is 6%.

Dangerous goods loading new regulations

 

After a thorough review of current safety regulations and policies for the loading of dangerous goods, Maersk recently implemented new dangerous goods loading regulations to improve the safety of container fleets. In March of this year, a serious fire broke out in the “Maerskhorn South” round. 

 

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Since then, Maersk has taken measures and implemented additional regulations on the loading of dangerous goods. The introduction of a new risk-based control program for dangerous goods is designed to minimize the risk of the crew, cargo, the environment and the ship in the event of a fire.

CMA CGM and Mediterranean Shipping announce adjustment of fuel surcharge

 

On the 24th, CMA CGM announced that the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) low-sulfur fuel regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2020, requiring all shipping companies to reduce their sulfur emissions by 85%. In order to cope with this additional cost, CMA will be apportioned by collecting or adjusting fuel surcharges based on trade routes. 

 

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In addition, on the same day, Mediterranean Shipping also announced that they would introduce a new Global Fuel Surcharge from January 1, 2019, to replace the existing fuel surcharge mechanism.

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Maersk recently announced that since October 1, 2018, Maersk’s three shipping brands engaged in regional transportation, including MCC Transport, Sealand, Seago Line will enter the market under the brand name “Sealand-a Maersk Company”

 

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Officially from Maersk, after the merger of the brand, Sealand – a Maersk Company will continue to operate independently of Maersk!

Maersk to merge shipping business and supply chain management services

 

Maersk Group announced on the official website on the 19th that in order to better serve customers and tap the growth potential of logistics services, Maersk Group will combine shipping business and supply chain management services to provide customers with more comprehensive and all-round end-to-end logistics solution. 

 

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This is an important step for the Maersk Group to achieve a globally integrated container shipping and logistics company. To this end, Damco’s supply chain management services will be integrated with Maersk Line’s shipping services from January 1, 2019.

Train Ticket Purchase New Rules!

It was learned from China Railways 12306 that starting from September 21, the time limit for the purchase of train tickets was increased. When purchasing two or more train tickets through:

• Internet,

• Phone,

• Ticket vending machines,

• Window, etc.

The two tickets purchased by the passengers must be separated by more than 40 minutes, otherwise the ticket will fail.

Train Ticket Purchase New Rules!

© Image | GOOGLE

 

For Example

According to the 12306 customer service example, if the passenger bought a ticket from Beijing South Railway Station to Tianjin Station at 0:00 today, the train arrived at Tianjin at 0:30. 

 

If the passenger wants to transfer from Tianjin Station to another station, then he must purchase the ticket after 40 minutes, which is the ticket after 1:10 on the same day.

If the ticket purchase interval is less than 40 minutes, then the system will pop up a prompt: 

 

Train Ticket Purchase New Rules!

© Image | 12306

 

“The ticket is unsuccessful. The time between the two purchased ticket is too short. In order not to affect your travel, please fully consider the impact. For the transfer factor, please buy another number of runs.”

Reasons of the New Rules 

12306 customer service told reporters that the regulations have been implemented since the 21st of this month. The reason for the new regulation is that some stations do not have a fast transfer service actually. 

 

Train Ticket Purchase New Rules!

© Image | 花城网

 

Some passengers have been unable to catch the train because the time interval they purchased two tickets that were too short. In order to avoid the above situation, the Chinese railways impose restrictions on the interval between train tickets.