OCT 2015
China
A guide to dual citizenship ScandAsia.dk
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Coming Events
Swecham Shanghai: Connect, inspire and motivate your clients Where: Xiangshan Road, no. 33, house 3 (Close to Ruijin 2nd Road) When: 22 October, 09:00 – 12:00 Tailored training for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai with Stefanie Vallee, certified executive coach. Listen to more than what the client says and share compelling client’s case studies that sells. You will learn about the five layers of listening to apply a key coaching skill to their selling process with their clients. You will also learn about a powerful storytelling model, called RAC, simple to use in an impromptu situation to connect, inspire and motivate to action. The target participants for this workshop are middle managers, who will learn how to effectively communicate with the top management.
DCC Hong Kong: Evening with Amin Jensen - Comedy VS. Opera Where: Mariners Club, 3/F, 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui When: 27 October, 18:45 – 21:30 This evening the great Danish entertainer Amin Jensen will give you a taste of his latest show Comedy Vs. Opera. Please note that the show will be in Danish Run Down for the evening: 6:45pm: Doors will open 7:00-8:00pm: Smoerrebroed is served 8:00-9:00pm: Amin Jensen Show 9:00-9:30pm: Mingle and Good night
DCC Hong Kong: A Night at the race track Where: Happy Valley Racecourse, Happy Valley Jockey Club When: 11 November, 18:30 – 22:00 Join us for an exciting evening of horse races at the Happy Valley Jockey Club. DCC invites you to join us for an exciting evening of Horse Racing at the Happy Valley Racecourse. Seats have been reserved at the racecourse lounge Adrenaline for you to enjoy the perfect view of all the races and easy access to buying your winning tickets. The price of HKD 370 includes access to Tapas buffet and choice of one signature drink or house drink.
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SwedCham Hong Kong: For new Swedes in town – Välkommen till Hong Kong! Where: Club Royal at LG5, Bar Lounge, 23 Old Peak Road, Mid-Level, Hong Kong When: 27 Oct, 18:30 – 20:30 New in Hong Kong? Then you are welcome to meet other new Swedes, but also those who have been around for a while. Representatives for our Swedish organisations here in Hong Kong will also present themselves during the evening, including Sweden’s General Consul, Business Sweden, SWEA and Swedish Church. Snacks will be served.
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News Brief
Swedish minister signs sustainable business MoU in China
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ikael Damberg, Sweden’s Minister of Enterprise and Innovation, signed on Wednesday 9 September 2015 a new Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable business between Sweden and China, as he visited Beijing. This MoU intends to deepen the two countries’ cooperation on sustainable enterprise, according to the Swedish minister. The agreement is part of the government’s raised ambition in this area. Ultimately it is about increasing understanding of sustainability issues between Swedish and Chinese companies, said Mikael Damberg. Sweden has a unique collaboration with China on sustainable business conduct and since 2007 an agreement on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). The CSR Center at the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing is a platform for information-oriented activities and training where hundreds of key persons linked to Chinese government agencies, state-owned companies, 4 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
industrial associations and local- and regional administrations have already participated. The government decided this summer to provide additional resources of 3 million SEK for the Centre to continue its work. The new MoU, signed on China’s side by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen expand this cooperation on CSR with issues like procurement, waste and water management, human rights, entrepreneurship, transparency and responsible investments. “China is the largest trading partner in Asia and one of the markets that the government attaches a high priority in trade promotion.There are around 500 Swedish companies active on site, a figure that is increasing, while more than 10 000 Swedish companies deal with China. Sweden’s total trade with China last year totalled nearly 90 billion SEK,” he wrote in a press release. “At the same time, we see that the Chinese economy is slowing down. It is worrying for Sweden and for the entire world economy, given
the importance of China’s growth has on the rest of the world. Although the slowdown in China will be soft Sweden will be affected. We will feel the consequences of that Chinese demand for Swedish products decreases and also indirectly due to that several of our major trading partners will see lower economic growth due to China’s lower demand.” In addition Mikael Damberg signed another MoU on sustainable mining, together with Minister Jiang Daming, Ministr y of Land and Natural Resources. Minister Damberg also visited during the day even Swedish Chamber of Commerce and met with representatives of the Swedish business community in China. On 11 September Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg continued from China to Hong Kong, where the schedule for the day was busy and included some Swedish business milestones. Minister Damberg visited Karolinska Institutet (the Swedish educational institute) for a breakfast meeting, followed by a company visit to H&M in Hong Kong, where the clothing retail store giant presented their work within CSR- and sustainability issues. He then met with members of the board of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SwedCham) and a few Swedish companies, who got the opportunity to hear more about the new Swedish Export Strategy and Minister Damberg was in turn briefed by the companies about their businesses in Hong Kong. A curtesy meeting was held with Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung as well as a bilateral meeting with the Ministers counterpart in Hong Kong Mr Gregory So Kam-Leung, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. And two significant events had the honour of the Swedish Minister’s attendance: the inauguration of Business Sweden’s new expanded trade office in Hong Kong, and Scandinavian Airlines’ new direct flight between Stockholm and Hong Kong arriving the same day.
News Brief
China bids on Swedish high-speed railway
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n a secret offer to the Swedish Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, a Chinese company recently caught the attention of Swedish politicians. Leaked to Sweden’s national TV broadcaster, SVT, China Railway Construction is said to offer to build Sweden’s planned high-speed railway in five years fewer, and for $3bn less, than was originally estimated by the Swedish Transport Administration’s calculations. The large Chinese rail contractor propose to build and elevated railway on bridges, five meters above ground. This is the predominant
construction method in large parts of Asia, and especially those in China and Japan. “The bridge structure for the elevated railway consists in prefabricated elements that are between twenty to thirty meters long, and placed and connected on of the bridge piers,” says railway expert Per Corshammar. According him the cost of risk for the state is high in building on the ground, as one often end up in unforeseen situations with long unstable land sections. This can be avoided when building an elevated railway. In addition, less material consumption,
virtually no land purchases and a less expensive construction technique mean that the cost of the Swedish high-speed line according to the experts can be reduced by approximately SEK 25 billion – based on the elevated railway solution. “They say that they can build the entire Swedish high-speed network in just five years and it’s very interesting for us. We will of course need to review their claims, but we see that they themselves build their own railways in their own country and in other countries at rapid pace,” said Karin Svensson Smith (MP), Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport. Swedish politicians are so impressed by the proposal that they will travel to China to learn more. But China may have competition because, according to Karin Svensson Smith, half the committee will go to Japan, the world’s other high-speed rail heavyweight. Source: SVT
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October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 5
News Brief
Ambassador attends opening of B&O’s first Beijing Flagship store
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mbassador Carsten Damsgaard attended the opening of a flagship store in Beijing by the Danish electronics producer Bang & Olufsen on 16 September. Par ticipating in the ribbon cutting were also Bang & Olufsen Global CEO Tue Mantoni, Greater China CEO Lars Hardboe Galsgaard and the pianist Li Yundi, who is a brand ambassador for Bang & Olufsen. Mr. Mantoni said that China is a very important market for B&O, and currently is the biggest market for B&O PLAY products around the world; in the future the company will put more resource in China to create more product display forms for Chinese consumers. Hundreds of guests were invited to visit the store and experience the products. They also enjoyed a surprise with several pairs sound speakers turned up from a piece of wall made of black and grey cubes in the store. They also had the opportunity to enjoy performances played through the B&O limited editions “The Love Affairs” speakers. Bang & Olufsen is regarded as leader of Danish creativity. It works with independent designers and tries to change the traditional concept of how audio and video products look
like. Its products aim to include technology, quality, design and functionality, in order to enhance daily quality of life. The new Beijing flagship store is located at Yaolai Luxury World at Huamao Center, Beijing. This is the second B&O flagship store in China and the first one in Beijing. Source: Embassy of Denmark, China
Saxo Bank opens in China and unrestricted foreign currency exchange, and a tax-free period of 10 years for the businesses in the area, writes Financemagnates.com. In a joint statement, the broker’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, laid out the strategic rationale for the opening of the new office in Shanghai. “The People’s Republic of China (PRC) will become one of the most important markets globally. With China’s initiation of the Silk Road land route and maritime equivalent … a new phase of expansion and economic development will increase demand for financial services.” The mainland China office will be headed up by Echo Zhao, a long-time employee of Saxo Bank, beginning her career with Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen over a decade ago. A native of mainland China, she will repor t to Adam Reynolds, CEO Asia Pacific. Sources: Danish Embassy in China, Financemagnates.com
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he Danish investment bank Saxo Bank opened their new office premises on 10 September 2015 in Lujiazui, Shanghai – an area commonly regarded as the centre of China’s financial industry. “The opening of these new offices in the Lujiazui area shows Saxo Bank’s strong willingness to be part of the financial reform in China and to contribute to its fur ther development by sharing Danish experience and knowhow with its Chinese business partners and clients,“ said Consul General Nicolai Pr ytz in his opening 6 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
speech. Apart from the Consul General, the event was attended by a wide range of members of the Chinese press and by the top management of Saxo Bank including Kim Fournais, CEO, and Dennis Malamatinas, President International. The new office is located in the Shanghai World Financial Centre, Lujiazui, within the Shanghai free-trade zone. Lujiazui has been developed specifically as a new financial district of Shanghai and the free-trade zone, which was established in 2013, permitting yuan convertibility
News Brief
Sino-Danish Centre students prepared for and welcomed to China
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n 4 September 2015, Denmark’s newly appointed ambassador to China, A. Carsten Damsgaard, held presentation for 75 so called SDC students who study in china. SDC stands for Sino-Danish Centre. In collaboration between eight Danish universities and Chinese Academy of sciences, SDC offers seven different undergraduate courses in china. During his presentation the ambassador informed about how the embassy and consulates on behalf of Denmark operate in china.
Prior to coming to China a seminar held in Middelfart, Denmark, prepared the students for going to Beijing. On 19 August the Danish SDC students met each other and the SDC secretariat at Severin Conference Center for some final information prior to departing for China. The goal was to make the students feel ready for departure, stated Morten Laugesen, Deputy Director at Sino-Danish Center. “One of the main reasons for arranging this 24hr seminar for our new SDC students is
that we want them to be fully prepared for the adventures in Beijing. Studying at SDC is not like studying at a Danish university from which most of our students have graduated.” “In a couple of weeks, their everyday life will be completely different. They’ll find themselves in a classroom with Chinese students, who see things very differently. They’ll be instructed by Chinese lecturers in ways that are different from what they are used to. They’ll live in a metropolis of more than 20 million inhabitants in which everyday life is organized in ways they are not familiar with.” The seminar gives us an oppor tunity to inform the students of all this and at the same time it provides the students with an opportunity to ask all kinds of questions.” The seminar introduced: - Living and studying in Beijing, by former SDCstudents - China’s educational system - Embracing cultural differences - Information about the Master’s Programmes - The SDC secretariat in Beijing, their role and how they can help students
Visitors could ‘Try Swedish’ at Hong Kong trade show
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ear & Carrot – SverigeShoppen, together with The Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong exhibiting at the Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong show 8 – 10 September. Supporting this event the Swedish Consulate hope to raise awareness of the fantastic food produced in our Sweden and to get more people in Asia to try it. With a clean environment and strict animal rights laws, Sweden produce some of the best food in the World, stated the consulate. A range of Swedish food products were on display at the Restaurant & Bar Show in Hong Kong 2015 Swedish food producers are gaining
market with the growing focus in Asia on quality and uniqueness. The trade show is a hotspot for over 20,000 F&B buyers, chefs, sommeliers, hoteliers, restaurant operators and industr y peers to socialize and enjoy. The show offers visitors to explore the new products, and attend the seminars, competition and award ceremonies. Participating brands: Norrtelje Brenneri, Dragon Blood, Västerbottensost, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky, Gäsene Mejeri, Chapters of Ampers, LissEllas senap, SverigeShoppen and Wasa Sverige.
October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 7
A guide to dual By Maria Andreasdottir
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ast year Denmark passed a dual citizenship bill. On 1st September 2015 the law became effective and it is now possible for foreign nationals living in Denmark to become naturalized citizens while keeping their foreign citizenship. The law also allows Danes living abroad to become naturalized citizens of their new country of residence and still keep their Danish citizenship. But the nationality law of the foreign country must of course be observed. Together with Danish Consul Birgit Sarah Kondrup-Palmquist, we will in the following article guide you through the rules and regulations regarding the dual citizenship The new law of dual citizenship concerns you if • you have applied for a foreign citizenship and consequently resigned your Danish citizenship • you are under 22 years and are a child of at least one Danish parent and born outside Denmark • you have been naturalized Danish and consequently resigned your original citizenship Be aware, though, that dual citizenship is not something you have the right to obtain. In all cases it is something you must apply for and there are some conditions to be fulfilled. Furthermore, you must always keep in mind if the other nationality permits dual citizenship. “I think it’s great Denmark has passed the bill for having two citizenships, but this does not mean the other country allows having dual citizenship. Danish law cannot dictate other countries’ laws,” says Consul Birgit Sarah Kondrup--Palmquist. “It is up to each individual to check if the other country allows dual citizenship, too.”
Case 1: You applied for a foreign citizenship and consequently resigned your Danish citizenship If you changed to another citizenship many years ago or applied to get the other citizenship before 1 September 2015 you now have the possibility to apply to get your Danish citizenship back again. The deadline for submitting this application is 31 August 2020. If you applied for citizenship of another country after 1 September 2015 you will not need to give up your Danish citizenship (from a Danish point of view) – but the other country might not accept dual citizenship.. No matter if you applied before the law became effective or just recently applied, you will be asked to: • Provide evidence of your affiliation to Denmark. You need to document you have some association to Denmark, to the Danish culture and/or language. • You must not have been convicted during the time after having lost the Danish citizenship until applying for obtaining the Danish citizenship again.
Case 2: Your father or mother is a Danish citizen and you are born outside Denmark A child born outside Denmark and with either a Danish father or mother – or both being Danish - has the Danish citizenship until the age of 22. To retain this Danish citizenship beyond the last 8 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
citizenship day in the 21st year, it is imperative that the person applies for keeping the Danish citizenship before it turns 22. Like Group 1, the applicant must provide evidence of a strong connection to Denmark and you must have lived in Denmark at least 1 year before turning 22. If you are a Danish parent to a child born outside Denmark, it is recommended by the Danish Embassy to collect all kinds of evidence throughout the years of upbringing, like flight tickets to Denmark, boarding passes, list of dates, where and who the child has been visiting, diplomas from the Danish Summer School and any other Danish related documents. All this will help proving the affiliation to Denmark and thereby strengthen the chances of keeping the Danish citizenship.
Case 3: You became Danish citizen and gave up your first nationality Every year, a list of people who have applied for Danish citizenship is presented to the Danish parliament and passed as a bill. It has so far been a condition, that each person renounces their former citizenship. If you are included in the list after April 2015 you do no longer have to resign from your original citizenship – seen from a Danish point of view. If you are already a naturalized Dane you have the next 2 years counted from 1 September 2015 to reapply for a Danish citizenship - which you will be granted - without the condition that your will have to resign from your old citizenship. This means that you can reapply to have back your former citizenship together with the Danish citizenship, but do keep in mind, your former country might not accept dual citizenship. Do check it before applying for your former citizenship, so that you don’t have to renounce your Danish citizenship and your troubles will start all over again.
How and where to apply? Group 1: Danes naturalized in a foreign country who have obtained a different nationality than the Danish You have to apply before 31 August 2020. You have to apply through The Danish State Administration (=Statsforvaltningen). You can download the declaration on their website www.statsforvaltningen.dk. It costs 1100 DKK to apply and you have to send the declaration via airmail. If you want the Danish Embassy in Bangkok to send it for you there is a fee of 1100 THB. Group 2 +3: Children of Danes and naturalized Danes of a former, foreign nationality You have to apply through the Danish Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing (=Ministeriet for Udlændinge, Integration og Bolig). It costs 1200 DKK and you can download their declaration at www.uibm.dk and send it via mail. Similar to Group 1 you can have the Danish Embassy send it for you for a fee of 1100 THB. If you need further help from the Danish Embassy, for example a closer scrutiny of the documents, the Embassy will charge you its hourly rate of 5300 TBH. This could easily be worthwhile in more complicated cases. The Danish Consul recommends that you follow the respective homepages guiding rules for application as they may change over time.
Denmark releases new worldwide travel app
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re you ready to travel? With the new app from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs you will be. The travel app ”UM Rejseklar” (=ready to go) will make you feel safer traveling everywhere. The app, which is in Danish, will provide you with: • contact information to the Danish Embassies and Consulates worldwide • travel advices • travel directions to the Embassy or Consulate nearest to your current location • easy access to “Dansker-listen” (=the list of Danes) This list is made to let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contact Danes abroad in emergency situations • Push-messages about impor tant news or warnings in the country where you are travelling. The app was released 21 September 2015 and can be downloaded to both smartphones and tablets and on iOS, Android and Windows devices. The content of the app is continuously being updated to keep up with developments around the World. You have to accept Location Services to get the full benefit of the app. It is a common problem to travel apps that people tend to switch off their location on their mobile devices, and that way the different apps are less useful. ”UM Rejseklar” has been under production for a long time to make it work perfectly. The Danish Embassy in Thailand has been one of the testers of the new app – and has endorsed it. The app will ensure that you as a Danish citizen can reach help 24 hours a day. If you call your local Danish embassy outside office hours you can request your call to be diverted to The Global Control Centre. Visit the url below to download the app : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dk.um.danesabroad&hl=en
PREPARATIONS FOR APPLYING FOR DANISH CITIZENSHIP: To show evidence of your strong connection to Denmark the following could be used: • Flight tickets to Denmark • Boarding passes • Diplomas for attending the Danish Summer School • Danish contacts and dates of the child’s visit to Denmark • Pictures from stays in Denmark with relatives • A language tests October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 9
Swedish design emerging in Hong Kong Text: Joakim Persson Photos: squarestreet, Malin Ohlsson
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he Sweden-Living Design exhibition showcasing some of the forefront of Swedish design participated last year in Hong Kong’s Inno Design Tech Expo. ScandAsia talks to Alexis Holm and Malin Ohlsson, both from Sweden, about the flourishing Scandinavian design scene in HK. Alexis Holm in 2010 established squarestreet - a Scandinavian lifestyle label on Square Street in HK’s creative district of Sheung Wan. Here he develops elegant contemporary timepieces with one foot in minimalist modernity and the other firmly rooted in traditional wristwatch aesthetics. All squarestreet products - which also covers other accessories - carry that distinctly Scandinavian touch. “Squarestreet does not follow, nor does it lead. Instead, it lives by its own laws of simplicity, functionality and beauty,” Alexis states on the brand’s website. Malin Ohlsson is a HK-based Swedish silversmith and jewellery brand and designer. She has exhibited her work in Europe and across Asia. Having trained both in Sweden and the UK, Malin is a master craftsman whose work ranges from statement objet d’art through to conceptual yet wearable jewellery.
Q: How has your Hong Kong saga been so far? Alexis Holm: “I started coming to HK around 2006 for the first time. After I started my shoe brand ‘gram’ in Stockholm 2005 I wanted to make sure things were done right so I started travelling to the factory in China on a regular basis. In 2008 I met a fellow Swede over here who suggested I’d move permanently and share an office in Sheung Wan, so at the end of October 2009 I arrived, suitcase in hand. That was six years ago and I’ve been living in the same area since the beginning.” Malin Ohlsson: “I moved here almost 4 years ago and didn’t know anything about the jewellery market in HK. It was very different from Europe where most jewellery makers are individual designers, with their own small workshops where they do their own jewellery. HK is all about big brands and big productions. So it took me a year to actually find a workshop that I 10 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
would be able to work from. And that is when I found Hatton Studios (www. hattonstudios.com), which is a co working space for jewellery designers.” “We all sit and make our jewellery by hand. It’s a fantastic creative environment. I also started teaching jewellery making in the studio. From there I was able to create my different jewellery collections and to establish my brand. I have taken part of design fairs and exhibitions and it has all gone surprisingly well since I established my brand and I won the Spot Design Award at In Bed with Designer.”
Q: What distinguishes you on the market? AH: “The fact that there’s no one else doing what I do? In a way that answers the question, but to be more precise, I think squarestreet offers a retail intimacy and selection of goods that people are not use to here. Store staff that are actually knowledgeable about the products, the owner himself explaining the design philosophy behind a watch or a bag, this is not something that actually exists anywhere else in HK and it does truly set us apart. Then there are other small factors such as great pricing, value for money and limited quantities of everything that other bigger shops and chain stores can’t compete with either.” MO: “There are few jewellers in HK that makes their own jewellery. It’s usually mass-produced. As a trained silversmith my main focus is on unique designed pieces and the craft itself. I want to make people appreciate the tradition of my craft so that it’s not forgotten.”
Q: What makes HK a preferred choice? AH: “Exotic location, low tax, better weather, good business prospects and beautiful women. Take your pick. Pollution and population density are not among HK’s redeeming features however.” MO: “Why I love HK so much is because it is such a vibrant city. You can stand in a street corner and you can be sure that something interesting will happen. People are for most part friendly and it’s a melting pot of people from all over the world. And being able to say that the best weather is in November is a luxury in itself, if you are from Sweden.” October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 11
Q: How has building a business in Hong Kong been? AH: “Hong Kong makes it fairly easy for you, in comparison to Sweden for example. The rules are simple, there’s an agent to help you with every step, bookkeeping is a piece of cake and inexpensive. People here are also both curious and certified shopaholics, which is definitely good for business.” MO: “The most amazing thing about HK is that people are so open to meet and share their experiences with you. And even if you can talk to someone that is more established than you they are always ready to hear your ideas, I’ve been able to take part in several great collaborations because of it.”
Q: In your view how has Hong Kong evolved as a centre for design? AH: “I don’t think Hong Kong is a centre for design at all! Some people might want it to be, but it’s a far cry from any European city in terms of culture and art. Don’t get me wrong, they’re trying, but it’s too little too late.” “Also, true creativity needs to be nurtured from a very young age and has to start at home. Hong Kong parents tend to prioritise academic studies for their kids to assure their own survival when they get old.” MO: “In the four years since I moved here I have seen a big difference. I can see it just looking at Hatton Studios. It started out in a tiny studio in Sai Ying Pun but has now moved in to much bigger spaces in Sheung Wan and the interest is growing every day. And in general I can see that more and more people are taking an interest in different crafts and unique designs.“
Q: Is there a precise interest in Scandinavian design? AH: “I’d say there is. Scandinavian or Swedish design in particular seems to resonate quite well with HK tastes. After all, Swedes are sometimes referred to as the Japanese of Europe, and Japanese aesthetics and lifestyle is definitely something that captivates over here.” 12 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
MO: “Compared to how small our population is in Scandinavia I would say there are many boutiques in HK selling Scandinavian design. Our cleanstraight-lines design DNA you might say is quite straightforward and easy to differentiate from other designs and easy to like.”
Which neighbourhood (s) is/are musts to discover for design and art in Hong Kong when visiting? AH: “My neighbourhood of Sheung Wan for sure, parts of Wanchai, in particular St. Francis Street and Sau Wa Fong, but also more outlying areas such as Chai Wan with its growing population of creatives.” “But as I pointed out earlier, Hong Kong is not really about the arts and design, anyway, so don’t miss out on walking through Mongkok, Sham Shui Po and the dried seafood markets of Sheung Wan to experience the real culture of this old British colony.The most fascinating thing about Hong Kong is Hong Kong itself; the buildings, the smells, the sounds and the people.” MO: “Definitely Sheung Wan, for all the small design boutiques and antique shops.”
Q: What’s next (for you and/or for HK)? MO: “My brand is relatively new and I am still building it. My aim is to continue to grow and to also try and create a silverware collection.” AH: “Next for me is a mix of Sweden and HK. After 6 years I feel the need to return to my homeland, but will never be able to leave HK permanently. So a 50/50 split would be ideal for life & work.” “Next for HK is harder to predict, but definite changes are coming with a weakening Chinese economy, less mainland tourist dollars being spent in HK and Singapore soon to be running laps around us as world financial hub.”
You can not substitute all the hours you ought to speak to your child. In China there is nothing called ‘’quality time’’, it is just time. The more the better!
Xinxin continues to introduce Chinese norms to Denmark
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hinese-born Xinxin Ren Gudbjörnsson has stirred up a debate among Danes about their approach to education. It all star ted in 2013 and since then she has starred several TV-programmes advocating how Chinese norms could benefit Danish schoolkids. Her second book “Find motivationen” (=Find the motivation) was published on 28 August 2015 about motivating people in general by using Chinese values. She is determined to continue giving Danes the advantages of Chinese lifestyle. The Danes were first introduced to Xinxin when she appeared on a ‘’homework diet’’ television programme where the “demanding Chinese” was called ‘’Tiger Mum’’ because of the strict Chinese way that she demanding that the students did 2 hours of homework everyday and quit watching television, playing computer games and playing with friends. She believed a hard Chinese discipline could make the Danish students even better in school. Her message was to inspire Denmark with Chinese values and make Danish children work harder and raise their grades in school. Her diet eventually succeed. “It is not the matter of talent, it is the matter of willpower,” Tiger Mum said. She thinks parents has the responsibility to equip their children’s with skills through a more
strict upbringing. She feels that both teachers and parents lack commitment to make their children fulfill their skills in school. “There is too many bad excuses not to bring up your children properly here in Denmark. If an illiterate night shift factor y worker in China can bring up her children properly, then it is only a matter of will for a Dane to do it too,” she says. She mentions a tendency among Danish parents wanting to be super-humans by being everything and doing everything. But instead they should be better to prioritize their children, especially regarding doing homework. “You can not substitute all the hours you ought to speak to your child. In China there is nothing called ‘’quality time’’, it is just time. The more the better!” she says. It is not only the Danish school system and the Danish parents who need some Chinese values according to Xinxin Gudbjörnsson. She believes Chinese values could benefit Danes in many other areas. She mentions how Danes are too good to praise each other for everything but forget to give criticize their children, which will later have some negative consequences for their personality later in life. ‘’Danish children are very insecure because they are not used to be evaluated that much. Therefore they have no idea what they are good at and what they are not good at. When they later begin working and meets criticism
they totally lose their self-confidence. It can be a shock to some,” she says. With her new book her mission is to motivate Danes in a Chinese way. “It has become very clear to me that many people in Denmark have not been given some basic knowledge and help regarding motivation in contrast to Chinese people. In Denmark they say ‘’the passion drives the work’’, but what if there is no passion? They also say ‘’put yourself together’’, but what if you don’t know how?” she asks. By implement a Chinese way of thinking she believes she can motivate the Danish people. “I believe anyone wanting to be motivated can be motivated. You can not force it. I know many Danes do not fancy the Chinese model, but I want to break with the prejudice because I think only a few know how it really works” she says. Even if she has met a lot of criticism for being too tough, Xinxin guarantees her strict Chinese values are a great advantage to Denmark. She says it makes life less painful when children are prepared to meet and handle criticism. It makes life easier when know how to work with motivation. Xinxin wants to bring the best out of the Danish people by continue giving them Chinese norms and values to apply in their daily lives. Sources: www.viauc.dk www.kristeligtdagblad. dk & www.dr.dk www.jyllands-posten.dk October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 13
News Brief
Danish Design Showroom expo in Chongqing, China
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ince 7 September and running until 30 November Chinese people in the mega city of Chongqing have the opportunity to explore no less than 21 Danish design brands as part of Danish Design Showroom. The nearly three-month exhibition was opened jointly by the new Danish Ambassador to China, A. Carsten Damsgaard and the Danish Consul General In Chongqing Anja Villefrance. “Chongqing is a good example of economic growth taking and that have taken place in China over the last few decades, and I am happy to see this Danish design exhibition opening in 14 ScandAsia.China • October 2015
Chongqing,” said the Ambassador at the opening. The Consul General highlighted the possibility of learning more about Danish design and for it to become better known in China. “This exhibition is the best place to understand and show the possibilities of having Danish design in one’s home,” she said. The exhibition showcases pieces of Danish furniture and accessories, in a venue that covers an area of 248 square meters. During, pieces of furniture and accessories will illustrate the concept of Danish design featuring mixes of functionality, simplicity and utter aesthetics. Ambassador A. Carsten Damsgaard opened the exhibition together with Anja Villefrance, Danish General Consul in Chongqing. “Chongqing is a good example of the economic growth miracle that China has undergone in the past couple of decades. I am very excited to see this Danish Design Showroom open in Chongqing,” said Ambassador Damsgaard. “Functionality, attention to details and simplicity are strong elements of Danish interior design. This design philosophy has influenced not only high-end Danish furniture design, but is also strongly reflected in other Danish design products.” The showroom is hosted by the Danish Consulate General in Chongqing, Himalaya River’s Club, household product manufacturer Mexarts and Tonino Lamborghini Hotel Chongqing. “Our showroom is the best place to interpret
and explain those features. It is an opportunity for residents in Chongqing to learn about the living design of Danish style,” said General Consul Anja Villefrance. “Danish design is not only significant to the national identity of Danes, but also part of Danish life,” said the Consul General, adding that she saw the essence of Danish design as simple, elegant and classic. The showroom has been in close cooperation with Chinese interior designer Feng Huanhui, who gave it a Chinese touch. Feng Huanhui, who had a unique opinion about Danish Design, said he is very honoured to be the interior designer of the Danish Design Showroom and to get the opportunity to display the Danish beauty in an Asian designer’s eyes. The exhibition is located in the Himalaya River’s Club at Chongqing’s Nanbin Road and includes Danish brands such as Mexarts, Bang and Olufsen, Askman Furniture, Finn Juhl, Flexa, Flow Design, Georg Jensen, Jacob Jensen, JYSK, Karakter Copenhagen, Lyngby Porcelæn, Lightyears, Linedyr, Linie Design, OK Design, Roon & Rahn, Rosendahl, Skandinavisk and Studio Thomas Peter Lund. Chongqing (in West China) is one of four municipalities (large cities that are not part of a province but report directly to the national government, the other three are Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin). Chongqing municipality is technically the largest city in China in surface area. Source: Embassy of Denmark, China
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October 2015 • ScandAsia.China 15
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