中國啟動進軍郵輪業的計劃：「沒有回頭路」 (1/2)

Recently Business Insider reported the following:

China kicks off its plan to take on the cruise industry: 'There's no turning back' (1/2)

Hannah Towey,Brittany Chang - Business Insider

Sat, September 30, 2023 at 2:55 a.m. PDT

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, once the world's largest cruise ship, was originally scheduled for year-round sailing from China.

Then COVID-19 shut down the cruise industry and China blocked sailings from international cruise lines.

Instead of launching its highly-anticipated Shanghai debut, Wonder of the Seas moved its home port across the world to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Royal Caribbean canceled plans for a hot pot restaurant on the ship, and instead installed a Southern-themed dining room serving fried chicken and jalapeño cornbread.

Now, after a three-year hiatus, international cruise lines can resume sailings from China. But this time, they'll have a new competitor.

While most Western cruise companies distanced themselves from the Asian market as they canceled sailings and took on massive debt, China moved forward on a 10-year plan to break into the multi-billion dollar industry with its own cruise line.

Enter the Adora Magic City, the first Chinese-built and operated cruise ship. The 5,200-passenger ship concluded its second sea trials in September and is scheduled to launch commercial service later this year.

The ship, which took four years to build, is part of a broader plan to boost Chinese tourism and manufacturing through the construction and operation of cruise ships.

China's entrance into the industry changes the landscape for foreign cruise lines. It's no longer a "free playground for the established international cruise operators," Kun Cao, a senior manager at the Finnish consulting firm Reddal, told Insider.

"The cruising industry is reviving in China, but this time, it starts with a different setup," he said. "The Chinese want a share of the cake."

The Luochuan Yangko dance troupe from Yan'an city, Shaanxi province, China aboard Princess Cruises' newest ship "Majestic Princess" sailing out of the Port of Civitavecchia on May 21, 2017 in Rome, Italy. Beginning a 49 day trip from Rome to Shanghai, China, the 143,000 tonne ship carrying 3560 guests will be the largest Princess ship ever to be deployed in Chinese waters.

China's cruise tourists are also big spenders on board, Royal Caribbean International's CEO said.James D. Morgan

China has a massive market of potential cruise customers

The size of the Chinese market "is just so significant that nobody can really ignore it," Cao said, adding that with Caribbean and European routes sufficiently tapped, Asia routes hold the most potential for growth.

With sailings resuming from Chinese ports, Joel Katz — Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) managing director in Australasia and Asia — said he expects China to "reclaim its position as a dominant cruise market very swiftly."

In 2019 (before the COVID-19 shutdowns), 2.4 million people in China went on a cruise, according to data from CLIA. That's the second largest share behind United States, which contributed 11.9 million passengers that year.

China's cruise tourists are also big spenders on board the ships, Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said on a May earnings call.

"The value of a Chinese customer is very high," Bayley told investors. "When you look at the net revenue from a Chinese consumer, it's typically around the same level as an American and slightly higher."

All the cruise giants agree: China is a jackpot worth fighting for. But they are all taking different approaches to win.

(to be continued)

Translation

皇家加勒比的海洋奇觀號 (Wonder of the Seas)曾經是世界上最大的遊輪，原定全年從中國出發。

隨後，新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 導致郵輪業關閉，中國也阻止了國際郵輪公司的航班。

海洋奇觀號沒有在備受期待的上海首次亮相，而是將其母港移至地球另一邊的的佛羅裡達州Fort Lauderdale。 皇家加勒比取消了船上火鍋餐廳的計劃，轉而設立了一個南方主題餐廳，供應炸雞和墨西哥辣椒玉米麵包。

現在，中斷三年後，國際郵輪公司可以恢復從中國出發的航行。 但這一次，他們將迎來新的競爭對手。

正當大多數西方郵輪公司因亞洲市場取消航班並承擔巨額債務而與它保持距離，中國卻在推進一項十年計劃，以自己的郵輪航線打入價值數十億美元的行業。

走進行業的阿多拉魔幻城號 (Adora Magic City)，是第一艘中國建造和營運的遊輪。 這艘可載 5,200 名乘客的遊輪於 9 月結束了第二次海上試驗，並計劃於今年稍後投入商業服務。

該船耗時四年建造，是透過遊輪的建造和運營去促進中國旅遊業和製造業發展的更廣泛計劃的一部分。

中國進入該行業改變了外國郵輪公司的格局。 芬蘭顧問公司 Reddal 的高級經理 Kun Cao 告訴 Insider，外國郵輪不再是「現有的國際郵輪營運商的自由樂園」。

他說: "郵輪業正在中國復甦，但這一次，它以不同的格局開始”; “中國人想分享這塊蛋糕” 。

2017年5月21日，來自中國陝西省延安市的洛川秧歌團乘坐公主郵輪最新郵輪「Majestic Princess」從義大利羅馬 Civitavecchia 港駛出。 這艘載有 3,560 名客人的 143,000 噸的郵輪開始了從羅馬到中國上海的 49 天旅程，在歷史上將成為在中國水域部署的最大的公主郵輪。

皇家加勒比國際郵輪公司首席執行官 James D. Morgan 表示，中國的郵輪遊客在船上的消費也很高。

中國擁有龐大的潛在郵輪客戶市場

Cao說，中國市場的規模「非常大，任何人都無法忽視」。他補充說，隨著加勒比海和歐洲航線的充分開發，亞洲航線擁有最大的成長潛力。

國際郵輪協會（CLIA）澳大拉西亞和亞洲董事總經理 Joel Katz 表示，隨著中國港口恢復航行，他預計中國將「迅速恢復其作為郵輪市場主導的地位」。

根據 CLIA 的數據，2019 年（在 COVID-19 關閉之前），中國有 240 萬人乘坐遊輪。 這是僅次於美國的第二大份額，美國當年貢獻了 1,190 萬名乘客。

皇家加勒比國際遊輪公司執行長 Michael Bayley 在 5 月的財報電話會議上表示，中國的遊輪遊客也是船上的高消費者。

Bayley告訴投資者: 「中國客戶的價值非常高」。 “當你觀察由中國消費者賺到的淨收入時，你會發現它通常與美國人處於同一水平，甚至略高一些。”

所有郵輪巨頭都同意：中國是一個值得爭奪的大獎。 但他們都採取了不同的方法來獲獎。

（待續）

Note:

Australasia (澳大拉西亞) is the continent and islands to the east of the Indian Ocean, the west of the Pacific Ocean, and the south of Asia.

德州頁岩油產量飆升，美國石油產量接近紀錄

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

US Oil Production Nears Record as Texas Shale Output Soars

Lucia Kassai and Devika Krishna Kumar

Fri, September 29, 2023 at 10:43 a.m. PDT

(Bloomberg) -- US crude production reached the second-highest level on record in July as output from Texas’s Permian Basin soared to an all-time high.

The nation’s output rose to 12.991 million barrels a day, the highest since a peak of 13 million barrels in November 2019, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. Most of the gain came from Texas, where drillers produced a record 5.63 million barrels a day.

The output growth comes even as explorers dial back activity. The number of rigs searching for oil in the US has contracted by 20% since late November, with the total falling by five this week to 502, according to data released Friday by Baker Hughes Co.

The increased production from the US had helped fill a void in global markets left by output cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia in recent months, with the country routinely exporting more than 4 million barrels a day. But so far it hasn’t been enough to ease crude prices as the constrained supply picture meets with rising global demand, and dwindling supplies at home may start to slow shipments abroad.

--With assistance from David Wethe.

Translation

（彭博）—隨著德州二疊紀盆地的產量飆升至歷史新高，美國 7 月原油產量達到有記錄以來的第二高水準。

根據能源情報署的數據，該國日產量增加至 1,299.1 萬桶，這是自 2019 年 11 月 1,300 萬桶峰值以來的最高水準。 其中大部分增產來自德州，該州的鑽探商每天生產創紀錄的 563 萬桶石油。

儘管勘探者減少了活動，但產量仍在增加。 Baker Hughes 公司週五公佈的數據顯示，自 11 月底以來，美國尋找石油的鑽井平台數量已減少 20%，本週總數減少 5 座，至 502 座。

美國產量的增加有助於填補近幾個月來沙地阿拉伯和俄羅斯減產造成的全球市場空白，該國通常每天出口超過 400 萬桶。 但到目前為止，這還不足以緩解原油價格，因為供應緊張與全球需求不斷增長相相出現，國內供應減少可能開始減低海外輸出。

So, US crude production reached the second-highest level on record in July. The increased production from the US could only partially helped fill a void in global markets left by output cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia. Global oil price will not change much unless there is a drop in demand.

China Evergrande Group's crisis deepens as it defaults on debt payments again

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

中国恒大集団の危機、深まる　債務支払いを再び不履行

2023.09.27 Wed posted at 10:33 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 経営再建中の中国不動産大手、中国恒大集団の本土部門、恒大地産集団は２５日、４０億元（約８１５億円）の元本と利息の支払いを履行しなかった。深圳証券取引所への提出書類で明らかとなった。中国不動産危機の震源地である同社の先行きに疑念が増している。

恒大集団は６月末時点で３２８０億ドル（約４９兆円）の負債を抱える。最初に不履行を起こしたのが２０２１年で、その後中国の不動産市場全体に危機が波及した。

同社は２４日、恒大地産集団への当局の捜査が原因で債務再編の取り組みに支障が出ていると報告し、投資家の懸念が高まっていた。恒大集団によると、同社金融部門への刑事捜査が進められており、同社が巨額の債務再編を完遂できるのか疑念が増している。

恒大集団の株価は２６日、前日比７％安となった。２５日には２２％安を記録していた。他の不動産開発企業も軒並み株価が下落している。

同社の債務再編が失敗し、海外の債権者と新たな合意が成立しなければ、会社が清算される可能性もある。無秩序に同社が倒産した場合、長年不動産市場に成長を依存してきた中国経済にさらなる損失を与えうる。

ＳＰＩアセットマネジメントのスティーブン・イネス氏は、中国経済の安定性に対する懸念が再び出ていると指摘する。

「同国の不動産市場は改善の兆候ではなく悪化していて、金融安定性のリスクが増しているとの懸念に再び火が付いている」（イネス氏）

同氏はさらに、中国当局が経済全体を支えるのに十分な措置をとるのか、不安感が増しているとも言及。政府の優先事項は単純な経済成長の追求から技術の自己完結性や金融安定性へとシフトし、「優先事項の組み合わせの変化が中国当局により複雑で微妙なバランスの行動をもたらす」との見方を示す。

恒大集団は２４日、恒大地産集団への捜査が原因で新たな債券発行が出来ないと発表、投資家を驚かせた。中国の証券当局は先月、恒大地産集団が投資家への情報開示での法令違反をした疑いで捜査を開始したという。

中国警察は今月、恒大集団が投資家への償還を実施しなかった後に資産運用部門のスタッフ数人を拘束。同社が２年前に債務危機に見舞われて以来、初の刑事捜査となった。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) On the 25th, Evergrande Group being the mainland division of China Evergrande Group and as a major Chinese real estate company undergoing restructuring, defaulted on principal and interest payments up to 4 billion yuan (approximately 81.5 billion yen). This was revealed in a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. There were growing doubts about the future of the company, which was at the epicenter of China's real estate crisis.

Evergrande Group had debts of $328 billion (approximately 49 trillion yen) as of the end of June. The first default occurred in 2021, after which the crisis spread throughout China's real estate market.

On the 24th, the company reported that its debt restructuring efforts were being hampered due to the authorities' investigation into Evergrande, raising investor concerns. According to Evergrande Group, a criminal investigation into its financial division was underway, raising doubts about whether the company could be able to complete its massive debt restructuring.

On the 26th Evergrande Group's stock price fell 7% from the previous day. It had fallen 22% on the 25th. Stock prices of other real estate development companies had also fallen across the board.

If the company's debt restructuring failed and a new agreement could not be reached with overseas creditors, the company could be liquidated. If the company went bankrupt in a chaotic manner, it could cause further damage to the Chinese economy, which had long relied on the real estate market for growth.

Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management pointed out that there were renewed concerns about the stability of China's economy.

"The country's real estate market is deteriorating rather than improving, reigniting concerns that financial stability risks are increasing." (Innes said)

He also said there was growing uncertainty about whether Chinese authorities would take enough measures to support the economy as a whole. The government's priorities had shifted from the pursuit of simple economic growth to technological self-sufficiency and financial stability; he held the view that ``the changing mix of priorities will lead to more complex and delicate balancing acts on the part of Chinese authorities.''.

On the 24th, Evergrande Group surprised investors by announcing that it would not be able to issue new bonds due to the investigation into Evergrande Local Products Group. Last month, Chinese securities authorities began investigating Evergrande Group for allegedly violating laws and regulations in disclosing information to investors.

This month, Chinese police detained several staff members of Evergrande Group's asset management division after the company failed to make refunds to investors. This was the first criminal investigation since the company was hit by a debt crisis two years ago.

So, Evergrande Group reported that its debt restructuring efforts were being hampered due to the authorities' investigation into Evergrande, raising doubts about whether the company will be able to complete its massive debt restructuring.  If the company goes bankrupt in a chaotic manner, it could cause further damage to the Chinese economy, which has long relied on the real estate market for growth. On expert suspects that the China’s priorities have shifted from the pursuit of simple economic growth to technological self-sufficiency and financial stability that will require more complex and delicate balancing acts on the part of Chinese authorities. Let's wait and see whether China will achieve its goals.

About 100,000 servings of scallops to be provided free for school lunch due to import suspension – Morimachi of Hokkaido (2/2)

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ホタテ約10万食分 給食に無償提供へ 輸入停止で 北海道 森町 (2/2)

2023年9月22日 19時05分

(continue)

保管場所なくなる懸念も

北海道森町の水産加工会社「カネキチ澤田水産」では、中国に輸出する予定だった冷凍のホタテおよそ50トンが冷凍庫に保管されたままで、来月にも加工した冷凍ホタテを保管する場所がなくなる懸念も出てきているということです。

この水産加工会社の澤田光社長は「年間でおよそ10億円分のホタテを中国向けに輸出していました。輸出できないと相当厳しく、ことしは電気代も上がっているので大変です」と話しています。

さらに、中国への輸出ができなくなった分、国内でホタテの流通量が増え、この1か月で市場の価格が下がっているということで、澤田社長は「ホタテを消費者に届けていくという使命感を持っています。工場で働く従業員の生活もあるので、なんとか危機を乗り越えたい」と話していました。

6年前からホタテの特別給食を提供

ホタテの養殖が盛んな北海道森町では、6年前から子どもたちに地元の水産業について興味を持ってもらおうと、小学校や中学校などでホタテをメニューに入れた特別給食を提供しています。

提供されるのは年2回ほどで、来月13日にもホタテの給食がふるまわれる予定だということです。

町が今回、ホタテおよそ10万食分を全国の学校給食に無償で提供する方針を固めたことについて、町の学校に給食を届けている「森町学校給食センター」の石岡丈宜センター長は「全国の子どもたちにぜひホタテをおいしく食べてもらいたい」と話していました。

森町岡嶋町長「影響計り知れない」

北海道森町の岡嶋康輔町長は、22日、中国への輸出ができなくなった地元の水産加工会社を訪れ、現状の聞き取りなどを行いました。

この中で、水産加工会社の澤田光社長は岡嶋町長に対し「水産業は森町の基幹産業で、今回の中国の禁輸措置の影響は計り知れない」などと訴えました。

これに対し、岡嶋町長は、輸出できずに冷凍庫で保管されたままになっている大量のホタテを全国の学校給食に無償で提供する方針を固めたことを伝え、「品質のよい北海道のホタテの価値を世界中に発信していきたい」などと話していました。

聞き取りを終えた岡嶋町長は「国の基金を活用し、ホタテの販路を拡大していくことも視野に入れていますが、まずは全国の子どもたちが給食を通してホタテに親しみを持ってくれたらうれしいです」と話していました。

Translation

(continue)

Concerns about running out of storage space

At Kanekichi Sawada Fisheries, a seafood processing company in Morimachi of Hokkaido, approximately 50 tons of frozen scallops that were scheduled to be exported to China were still stored in the freezer, and there were concerns that there could be no place to store the processed frozen scallops next month.

The president of this seafood processing company, Hikaru Sawada, said, ``We used to export about 1-billion-yen worth of scallops to China every year. If we can't export them, it's going to be very difficult,  our electricity bills are going up this year, so it's going to be tough.''

Furthermore, since exports to China were no longer possible, the amount of scallops distributed domestically had increased, and market prices fell over the past month. "We have a sense of mission to deliver scallops to consumers. The employees working at the factory have a livelihood, so I want to somehow overcome this crisis."

We have been offering special school lunches of scallops for the past 6 years

For the past six years Morimachi in Hokkaido, where scallop farming was popular, had been offering special school lunches with scallops on the menu to elementary and junior high schools in an effort to get children interested in the local fishing industry.

It only offered up to twice a year, and it was said that a school lunch of scallops could be served on the 13th of next month.

This time, regarding the town's decision to provide approximately 100,000 scallops for free to school lunches nationwide, Takeyoshi Ishioka the director of the Morimachi School Lunch Center which delivered school lunches to schools in the town said “I want children all over the country to enjoy scallops."

Morimachi Mayor Okajima: ``The impact is immeasurable.''

On the 22nd, Mayor Kosuke Okajima of Morimachi in Hokkaido visited a local seafood processing company that was no longer able to export to China and conducted interviews about the current situation etc.

In the meeting, Hikaru Sawada the president of a seafood processing company appealed to Mayor Okashima to say that ``Fisheries are Mori Town's core industry, and the impact of this Chinese embargo is immeasurable.''

In response, Mayor Okajima announced that they had decided to provide free scallops for school lunches across the country, including large quantities of scallops that could not be exported and being stored in freezers. He said among other things that " I want to spread the value of high-quality Hokkaido scallops to the world."

After the interview, Mayor Okashima said, ``We are considering using national funds to expand the sales channels for scallops, but first we would be happy if children all over the country become familiar with scallops through school lunches.''

              So, China’s measures to completely suspend imports of Japanese marine products have severely impacted the fisheries in many areas in Japan. One of them is Mori-machi of Hokkaido where scallop farming is popular. In response, a policy has been decided to provide free scallop to school as lunches across the country up to about 100,000 servings. I always suspect that China’s suspension to import Japanese marine products is politically motivated.

About 100,000 servings of scallops to be provided free for school lunch due to import suspension – Morimachi of Hokkaido (1/2)

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ホタテ約10万食分 給食に無償提供へ 輸入停止で 北海道 森町 (1/2)

2023年9月22日 19時05分

中国が日本産の水産物の輸入を全面的に停止する措置を取ってから24日で1か月です。各地で大きな影響が出る中、ホタテの養殖が盛んな北海道森町は、輸出できずに保管中のホタテおよそ10万食分を全国の学校給食に無償で提供する方針を固めました。

東京電力福島第一原発にたまる処理水の放出で、中国が日本産の水産物の輸入を全面的に停止したことを受けて、生産・加工するホタテの多くを中国に輸出していた北海道森町は対応を検討してきました。

中国の輸入停止から24日で1か月となるのを前に、町は輸出できずに水産会社の冷凍庫で保管されている大量のホタテを買い取り、全国の学校給食で食べてもらうため無償で提供する方針を固めました。

具体的には、町とつながりがあったり要望を寄せたりした全国の自治体を対象に、小学校や中学校の学校給食用としてホタテおよそ10万食分を提供するということです。

町は財源として、政府が風評被害対策として設けた上限1億円の基金を活用することにしていて、来月の町議会で補正予算案が可決されれば、年内にも学校給食への提供を始めたいとしています。

森町の岡嶋康輔町長は「この地域は1次産業で成り立っているので水産関係者の心配は大きい。北海道のホタテは質がよくおいしいので、まずは味を知ってもらい課題の解決につなげたい」と話しています。

(to be continued)

Translation

The 24th marks one month since China took measures to completely suspend imports of Japanese marine products. Amidst the severe impact in many areas, Mori-machi of Hokkaido where scallop farming was popular, had decided a policy to provide free scallops to school as lunches across the country approximately 100,000 servings that could not be exported and were being stored up.

Morimachi of Hokkaido, which had been exporting to China most of the scallops it produced and processed, was considering how to respond after noting that China stopped importing Japanese seafood due to the release of treated water from the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Ahead of the 24th which would mark one month since China suspended imports, the town purchased many scallops that could not be exported and were being stored in the freezers of seafood companies. It had decided on a policy to provide the food free of charge so that it could be eaten in school lunches across the country.

Specifically, it would provide approximately 100,000 servings of scallops for elementary and junior high school lunches to local governments across the country that had connections with the town or had made requests.

The town has decided to use a fund of up to 100 million yen, set up by the government as a countermeasure against reputational damage, as a source of funds. If a supplementary budget bill was approved at next month's town council, it would like to start providing school lunches within the year.

Kosuke Okajima, the mayor of Mori Town said, ``This area is built on primary industry, so there are a lot of concerns for those involved in the fisheries industry. Hokkaido scallops are of good quality and delicious, so I would like people to get a taste of them and help solve the problem.''

(to be continued)

One in ten Japanese people is over 80 years old, announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

日本人の１０人に１人が８０歳以上　総務省発表

2023.09.19 Tue posted at 16:00 JST

東京（ＣＮＮ） 高齢化が進む日本で、８０歳以上の人口が初めて１０％を超えたことが、総務省の推計で明らかになった。

総務省が１８日の「敬老の日」に合わせて発表した人口推計によると、６５歳以上の高齢者も全人口の２９．１％と、過去最高の割合を占めている。

日本は世界トップクラスの平均寿命を誇る一方、出生率の低下と労働人口の減少が目立ち、年金制度や医療体制への影響が懸念されている。

日本政府は対策の一環として、高齢者や専業主婦の就労を促してきた。総務省の発表によると、６５歳以上の就業者数は１９年連続で増加し、９１２万人を記録。就業者全体に占める割合は１３％を超えた。日本の高齢者の就業率は、主要国の中で最上位に入る。

だが少子高齢化対策は決して十分とはいえない。岸田文雄首相は今年１月の施政方針演説で、日本は社会機能を維持できるかどうかの瀬戸際にあると述べ、子育て支援を最重要課題と位置付けた。

近隣の中国、韓国、シンガポール、台湾も少子化問題に直面し、対策に苦慮している。

Translation

Tokyo (CNN) According to estimates from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan's population was aging, and the number of people over 80 had exceeded 10% for the first time.

According to population estimates released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the occasion of Respect for the Aged Day on the 18th, elderly people aged 65 and over accounted for 29.1% of the total population, the highest percentage ever.

While Japan boasted one of the world's highest average life expectancies, the decline in the birth rate and the working population were noticeable, and there were concerns about the impact on the pension system and medical care system.

As part of its countermeasures, the Japanese government had encouraged the elderly and professional housewives to work. According to an announcement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of employed people aged 65 and over had increased for 19 years consecutively, reaching 9.12 million. This exceeded 13% of the total employed population. Japan's elderly employment rate was among the highest among major countries.

However, countermeasures against the declining birthrate and aging population were by no means sufficient. In his policy speech in January, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that Japan was on the verge of whether social functions could be sustained, and put supporting child-rearing as an issue of top priority.

Neighboring countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan were also facing the problem of declining birthrates and were struggling to take countermeasures.

So, Japan is facing the population aging problem with the number of people over 80 exceeding 10%. As part of its solution, the Japanese government has been encouraging the elderly and professional housewives to work. Probably other major Asian countries such as China will do the same to deal with their aging population problems.

北京要求香港領事館提交本地員工信息

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Beijing Asks Hong Kong Consulates to Submit Info on Local Staff

Bloomberg News

Tue, September 19, 2023 at 12:02 a.m. PDT

(Bloomberg) -- China has asked consulates in Hong Kong to submit information on locally hired employees, including their home addresses, a move giving Beijing stepped up oversight of the city.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry wants the missions to provide a copy of local employees’ ID cards and details including job titles, employment start date, permanent residency status and visa information, according to a letter and form sent to consulates in Hong Kong on Monday and seen by Bloomberg News.

The documents tell missions to comply with the request by Oct. 18 and submit information on new staff within 15 days of their first day. The form also indicates the personal data provided can be shared with other bureaus and departments.

The Hong Kong Free Press reported earlier on the letter. Representatives from the Hong Kong government and China’s Foreign Ministry based in the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other nations ask missions for similar information about locals they employ, and embassies on the mainland must hire Chinese nationals through a government-controlled agency. Still, the move by China appears to be in step with its focus on national security in the former British colony. Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in mid-2020 in response to mass protests against the government.

In 2019, the UK summoned the Chinese ambassador after a former employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong said he was beaten for information about protesters while detained on the mainland. China criticized then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and warned that interference in its affairs “will eventually harm UK interests.”

This summer, Hong Kong officials placed a HK$1 million ($127,900) bounty on eight overseas activists, alleging they committed offenses under the law even after leaving the financial hub. The US said extraterritorial applications of the law set “a dangerous precedent” that threatens people’s rights and freedoms.

Last year, the Financial Times reported that Beijing had asked foreign diplomats for floor plans of all properties rented by foreign missions in Hong Kong.

Translation

（彭博）—中國已要求駐香港領事館提交本地僱用僱員的信息，包括他們的家庭住址，此舉讓北京加強了對香港的監管。

根據彭博新聞社也看過在週一發給駐香港領事館的一封信和表格，中國外交部希望使館提供當地僱員的身份證複印件以及包括職務、就業開始日期、永久居留身份和簽證信息在內的詳細信息。

文件要求各特派團在 10 月 18 日之前依從要求，如新員工要在入職後 15 天內提交信息。 表格亦註明所提供的個人資料可與能被與其他決策局及部門分享。

香港自由新聞 早些時候報道了這封信。 香港政府和中國外交部駐香港的代表沒有立即回應置評請求。

其他國家要求使團提供有關其僱用的當地人的類似信息，而大陸的大使館必須透過政府控制的機構僱用中國公民。 儘管如此，中國的舉動似乎與其對這個前英國殖民地的國家安全的關注保持一致。 北京於 2020 年中對香港實施國家安全法，以回應針對政府的大規模抗議活動。

2019年，英國駐香港領事館一名前員工表示，他在大陸被拘留期間被毆打以榨取有關抗議者的信息，隨後英國傳喚了中國大使。 中國批評時任外交大臣Dominic Raab，並警告稱，干涉中國事務「最終將損害英國的利益」。

今年夏天，香港官員對八名海外活動人士懸賞 100 萬港元（合 127,900 美元），指控他們在離開香港後仍觸犯法律。 美國表示，該法律的域外適用開創了 “一個危險的先例” ， 威脅到人們的權利和自由。

去年，《金融時報》報道稱，北京已要求外國外交官提供外國使團在香港租用的所有房產的平面圖。

So, China askes consulates in Hong Kong to submit information on locally hired employees and also indicates that the personal data provided could be shared with other bureaus and departments. I think it is a move for Beijing to step up oversight of the city.