Traditional public procurement policies mainly consider cost, quality, and user needs. In order to effectively support sustainable development and promote environmental protection in the public sector, the concept of “sustainable public procurement” has gradually become mainstream internationally. This concept emphasizes a balance of environmental, social, and economic benefits, and aims to promote sustainable development through government procurement activities.

In this study, the researchers explored how firms determine whether to disclose their costs by analysing the impact of various costs on competitive dynamics connected to their suppliers. Using a duopoly model, the study reveals that disclosure strategies depend on the type of competition and market structure, challenging conventional wisdom in the field. The findings highlight the importance of considering market context and supplier relationships when making cost-disclosure decisions.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) and the virtual asset market are important sectors of the Web 3.0 ecosystem and a must-win battle for global financial cities. They bring changes to traditional investment methods, but also give rise to concerns of network security and regulations. DeFi-related investment activities often involve market participants from multiple jurisdictions, resulting in varying regulatory standards. While operators and service providers can take advantage of regulatory loopholes, regulators also find it difficult to collect relevant information. There is also a lacking of unified definitions and classification standards for cryptocurrencies, making it challenging for financial regulators in different countries to

How can we leverage voluminous and critical data to gain insights into Hong Kong’s macro-economic landscape? In today’s data-driven world, diverse stakeholders often arrive at vastly different conclusions by examining various datasets through unique lenses and methodologies. However, Dr. Chi Pui Ho advocates that to truly comprehend the overall economic trends, we should employ economic time series analysis, leveraging clear visualisations as a starting point. This, when combined with consistent relevant theories, can paint a nuanced picture of the trends and upcoming challenges across different economic landscapes.

The current economic growth and limited land supply have driven up housing demand and long-term property price appreciation. However, due to the geopolitical tensions between China and the US, changes in Mainland Chinese tourists’ spending patterns, as well as increasingly fierce competition from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, both office and retail vacancies have reached high levels. Where should Hong Kong’s economic development go from here?

One of the indicators of whether a city can be considered as an international metropolis is perhaps the English proficiency of its residents. According to the EF English Proficiency Index report in 2023, Hong Kong ranked fourth among 23 countries and regions in Asia. However, there are two examples of different attitudes towards English in developed areas of Asia.

As distributing cash dividends has been a growing trend in A-share market, related regulations and taxation have also become issues of concern for investors. In recent years, the China Securities Regulatory Commission has implemented a series of measures to enhance the regulation of distributing cash dividends by listed companies, and encourage the increase of dividend pay-out ratios, which reflects the regulator’s commitment to protecting the interests of individual investors.

In mature stock markets, many listed companies distribute cash dividends to provide investors with recurrent income and boost their confidence in the companies. Last year, a total of 3,859 A-share listed companies proposed to pay out cash dividends, increased by 565 companies compared to two years before. The total cash dividends amounted to 2.24 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.16% from the previous year. This trend can be attributed to the policy guidance of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.