CHINAwatch

China's former public security chief Zhou Yongkang under investigation

I was interviewed live on the topic on Singapore's Channel NewsAsia on 29 July, 2014 here while  the Channel's own presenter appeared here.

More revealing details of the Zhou Yongkong saga may be accessed from my latest resume "The power struggle behind China’s corruption crackdown" - A Reuters Report - here

China's on the brink of digital revolution

A McKinsey report of July 2014 shows that China's internet economy at 4.4% % of 2013 GDP ranks fifth in the world, ahead of the United States (4.3%), France (4.2%) and Germany (4.2%) but behind the United Kingdom (6.7%), Korea (5.9%), Japan (5.6%), and Sweden (5.0%).

China has 632 million internet users, compared with 277 million in the United States. However, China's smart phone penetration is 54% (US 69%), social netwodrking penetration 60% (US 73%), enterprise cloud adotpion 21% (US up to 63%), and SME adoption only at 20-25% (US up to 85%).

So far, China's internet has been largely consumer rather than enterprise driven. The Report shows that internet adoption will have huge potential in six sectors -

Consumer electronics - connected devices, digital media

Automotive - supply-chain logistics, connectivity-enabled services

Chemicals - demand forecasting and production planning, customized systems, Internet of Things, precision farming

Financial Services - non-performing loans, marketing and customer services

Real Estate - material sourcing and sales marketing

Healthcare - remote diagnosis and e-commerce of across-the-counter treatment and pharmaceuticals

In particular, there is much room for adoption by SMEs.

When fully utilized, enterprise-driven internet adoption is forecast to contribute up to 22% of GDP and productivity growth by 2025, according to the McKinsey Report. It is expected to generate 46 million new jobs, more than enough to offset any job losses due to enhanced efficiency, and will be a key driver for the country's trajectory towards greater innovation, productivity and consumption.

Download Chinas Digital Transformation Executive Summary, McKinsey & Co, July 2014

Download Chinas Digital Transformation - Full Report, McKinsey & Co, July 2014

 

Democracy in Hong Kong - interview with Channel NewsAsia

TV interview  with Between the Lines on Channel NewAsia, Singapore's leading English-language TV channel, broadcast on 2 July, the day following a massive public demonstration in the streets of Hong Kong on the 17th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China as a Special Adminstrative Region.

To view, press "View my playlist". My appearance is in the second part of the show.

For reference, please visit an article in the Financial Times dated 8 July 2014 by Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to Britain, explaining why Hong Kong's political reform must conform with the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

Perspectives on 17th Anniversary of Hong kong's return to the motherland

While the two sides of One Country Two Systems have become more and more intertwined economically, the hearts and minds of Hong Kong's younger generation remain more estranged from, than returned to, the motherland. That was my take at an interview on CCTV English based in Beijing aired on 2 July, 2014.