Author: winn

Hundreds of Hong Kong contract dockworkers entered their seventh day of strike today.  The union is lobbying for a 20 percent pay raise to compensate for recent years’ pay cuts.  Hutchison International Terminals, the employer, is only offering a 5 percent raise.  Workers make about $90 a day, or $2,200 a month.  Some workers claim… Continue reading Dockworkers Strike in Hong Kong →

A recent article in the China Daily looked at the struggling theme park industry in China.  The state-owned enterprise Overseas Chinese Town Group (OCT) is one of the few organizations turning a profit in the industry.  The state-owned company focuses on the culture industry, focusing on: amusement parks, resorts, and miniaturized scenic spots. The OCT… Continue reading State-Owned Theme Park Expands in China →

In Country Driving, Hessler observed how cities rapidly developed into manufacturing centers.  Recently, Beijing’s government is planning to move away from reliance on these types of industries and develop high-end industries like tech and commerce.  Two of the means to achieve these ends are government investment in infrastructure and zoning areas. Beijing’s 2010-2013 economic plan… Continue reading Southern Beijing’s 2013-2015 Economic Plan →

Early last month, China’s central government revealed a plan to increase the country’s minimum wage.  As noted in Hessler’s Country Driving, the minimum wage differs across the country according to variances in the cost of living (see minimum wage map).  Not only does the minimum wage differ from province to province, but it can also… Continue reading China Raises Minimum Wage →

China’s government is moving toward tighter regulations on the country’s exported and imported dairy products.  The inspiration for the regulations came after traces of the potentially harmful chemical dicyandiamide was found in imported dairy products from New Zealand.  These regulations show the government is conscious of its citizens’ health and intent to raise their standard of… Continue reading China Increases Regulation on Dairy Imports and Exports →