Subsequent actions and events have taught everyone a valuable lesson about how China operates. Due to the highly infectious nature of the Covid Omicron variants, giving an inch will cause it to take a mile. The policy announcements were made at a time of ever-increasing cases. How are the provincial authorities going to introduce these new steps from Beijing while maintaining the overarching Zero Covid policy?

Different provinces, different rules

Every province interpreted the mixed messaging in their own way. Some cities such as Shijiazhuang, under the financial strain of never-ending centralized covid testing, decided to drop many requirements for testing and travel. Other provinces implemented the policies but then created ‘special area exceptions’. Which then listed huge swathes of China – effectively tightening the restrictions and making them more localized. This is the opposite of what was intended by the policy changes.

As an example of this – the Kinyu Management Team has had to travel to Changsha in Hunan Province, before travelling to Tianjin. The reason is that travellers to Tianjin who have been to Guangzhou, a ‘special area’, in the last 7 days must quarantine in a centralized hotel for 3-5 days. However, the authorities in Changsha are more lenient. There is also a difference in application depending on the mode of transport. When driving, entering cities is more convenient, but when taking the high-speed train, the authorities are extremely strict.

Shanghai has also issued a policy. This means anyone from outside Shanghai travelling in, will not be allowed to enter any public space for 5 days. This is implemented regardless of where you have come from.

Overall, the policy changes to make the country more open have resulted in the complete opposite.

Desperate measures

Another consequence of vague but powerful edicts coming from above has meant that unlawful and arbitrary practices are then used by local authorities to keep cases low. The most poignant of which has been the blocking of fire exits and doors to buildings – sometimes with chains. It is an attempt to curb the increase of cases at all costs, including, unfortunately, the cost of some lives. This act is seen not just in small, far-flung towns, but in tier 1 cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou. There has been widespread backlash to this remorseless approach, with scenes not seen in over 30 years.

Again, this is the result of a lack of clarity when implementing policies. It should be noted that unlawful and arbitrary practices such as this have been condemned centrally. However, only as an afterthought.

International travel

Part of the policy changes which can be seen as universally positive is international travel. The mandatory hotel quarantine has been reduced from 7 days to 5 days, and the circuit breaker for international flight routes has been dropped. This does provide much more stability for cross-border travel, but only for Chinese citizens and existing residents in China.

It is interesting to note that policies that are implemented at a national level are done so in a smooth and efficient manner, compared to policies implemented domestically. This is due to international border policy and its administration being managed centrally. This compared to domestic policy, which is issued centrally but administered locally.

The Lesson Learnt?

The aim of the 20 covid policy changes policy announcements was to create national alignment and remove the requirement for mass lockdowns. However, China is a prominent place, with mindsets and priorities differing across the country. The potential for misinterpretation is too big. An action that seemed to be in good spirits has resulted in a policy quagmire, which must be addressed with detailed clarification.

Feel free to reach out for more clarity and support in your China Operations here.

The post Kinyu SCM CEO comments on China’s 20 Covid-19 policy changes appeared first on Kinyu.

What is China’s Role in Cutting Energy Costs?

The economic headwinds have caused a decrease in global consumer purchasing power. Whilst this is generally bad news for the world’s factories, one sector is full steam ahead. The China Project stated, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to high gas and electricity prices across Europe”. Moreover, the piece continues, “people are buying many low-cost Chinese electric blankets, heaters, heat pumps, and other products to battle the coming cold”. As a result, China has aggressively increased their production of various winter goods. Factories are currently mass-producing everything from electric blankets to low-energy heaters to help homeowners battle the cold this winter.

Pictured: This factory operates 24 hours daily to meet market demand for heated blankets.

While the cost of living crisis is a complex one, there are some things that we can do to help make a difference. This blog focuses on the actionable steps you can take to reduce energy consumption. Here are some quick and easy tips to minimise the impact of your impending utility bills.

Cost-Cutting Tips:

Join SaveMoneyCutCarbon:

Cost-cutting platforms can be a lifesaver. As the leading Money-saving and sustainability platform in the UK, SaveMoneyCutCarbon is an excellent tool for reducing carbon and energy consumption. Through eco-friendly product recommendations and top tips, SaveMoneyCutCarbon has saved its customers 24,196,037 carbon Miles and 31,959,109 kWh of energy. We highly recommend checking out the platform to receive advice on everything from LED lighting to Electric vehicles. 

Get a smart thermostat:

A smart thermostat can help you save money by automatically adjusting the temperature in your home based. These adjustments adapt to your usage patterns for maximum efficiency. This small purchase can also significantly save money on energy bills and ensure you have a comfortably heated home.

Educate your family and friends about conserving energy:

One of the best ways to reduce energy costs is by teaching those around you about saving electricity. Show them how easy it is to preserve power without significant changes and see how much of the bill they can save each month.

Seal any cracks or gaps around your home:

Another way to conserve energy and save money is by ensuring your home is well-insulated. Sealing cracks or gaps around doors and windows will help keep the heat and cold air out. If you can’t spot any apparent cracks or crevices, draught excluders can be a very effective alternative.

Tin foil, the unsung hero:

A recent cost-cutting article by Energy Live News also suggests adding Tin foil behind your radiators. As strange as it may sound, this simple addition can “reflect warmth back into the room, and a roll costs as little as 65p”. Whilst it might not match the wallpaper, there is a method to the madness. Camden council and Winchester City Council have endorsed this hack, which is particularly effective in smaller spaces. An additional recommendation by former Conservative MP Edwina Currie is “Moving the sofa away from the radiator, you don’t want to be heating the sofa, you want to be heating the room.”

Consider investing in solar panels:

Solar panels are a great way to generate electricity and reduce energy costs. In addition, solar panels can provide a significant portion of your electricity needs if you live in a sunny area. Although pricey to install initially, investing in solar panels can lead to substantial savings on your monthly energy bill.

Use LED light bulbs:

LED light bulbs use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer. This simple swap means you’ll save money on your energy bill and won’t have to replace the bulbs as frequently.

How do you dry?

Many of us love tumble dryers, and for a good reason. When they’re not shrinking your clothes, they can be a fast and effective way to warm your wet washing. However, a recent statistic in The Times states, “the cost of one cycle is about £1.57”. Their solution? “A heated airer is a good budget option. These are plug-in clothes horses with heated bars that dry your clothes in a few hours. Turning one on for five hours uses 1.2kWh of electricity, costing 40.8p. You can buy them for as little as £40 too.” 

Get a Heated Blanket:

According to new statistics from Observer Network, European homeowners are on a heated-blanket buying frenzy. Data from the China Household Electrical Appliances Association shows that the export of multiple heating devices has dramatically increased. “Electric blankets became the hottest item, leading other categories with a growth rate of 97%”. The appeal is simple; They’re cost-effective. “Ofgem announced that it costs roughly 28p per kilowatt hour (kWh)” for a typical customer paying by direct debit.

Almost all of us feel the pressure of the increased cost of living crisis, but small changes can help make a difference to your energy costs this winter. As a result, we recommend trying out some of our tips and making a few simple changes to keep your home comfortable all season long.

The post Battle of the Appliances: Pain-free Ways to Cut Energy Costs This Winter appeared first on Kinyu.

As a British national, it was inevitable that I would be travelling back and forth between the UK and China at some point. It was also a much-dreaded eventuality that we would have to navigate the arduous processes in place for China to maintain its ‘Zero Covid Policy’. It was a challenge, to say the least. However, with careful planning and organisation, it is possible to make the trip indeed possible. As a result, travelling to China has gone from “virtually impossible” to “possible but particularly arduous”. 

Our route taken was via Hong Kong. We chose Hong Kong because it has better flight stability than China (they have dropped their flight route suspension policy). The flights are also much cheaper and less restrictive than travelling directly to mainland China.

Since 26th September, the Hong Kong government has revised its requirements for overseas travellers. Throughout this blog, we have highlighted the fundamental changes and Hong Kong’s current requirements from Pre-boarding to Quarantine. The images below outline the current procedure.

Here are our tips for navigating the restrictions:

UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES:

The first and arguably most important step is understanding the policies in place. Before the “0 +3” policy outlined above, there was a “3 +4” policy in place for all travelling internationally: 

• 3 days in designated quarantine hotels 
• After obtaining a negative test result on the morning of day 3, travellers must relocate home or to a non-designated hotel for 4 days of medical surveillance. 

It is essential to note the arrival date counts as day 0.

We needed a Designated Quarantine Hotel booking confirmation to board our flight to Hong Kong. Without this booking confirmation, we would not have been able to go to Hong Kong. However, As of 26th September, travellers arriving from overseas do not have to quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. Instead, there are three days of self-medical surveillance, which inbound passengers can complete at home or in their own pre-booked accommodation.

FLIGHTS

As mentioned earlier, booking flights and travelling to Hong Kong is much easier than booking to mainland China. You can also do transfers without consequences, provided your test result is valid within 48 hours – so don’t opt for too big a transfer! We chose to fly with Finnair, with a 1 hr transfer to Helsinki. These flights were quite a lot cheaper than travelling directly with Cathay pacific. Another good option is Qatar Airways. Since our trip, Hong Kong has dropped a restriction on aircrew having to quarantine on arrival, which has triggered the reopening of more airlines flying to Hong Kong, like British Airways. Therefore flights should be more and more available.

PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE:

Before the amendments to Hong KoKong’sntry requirements, we needed to ensure we had the following ahead of our departure: 

• Obtained the necessary vaccines. Without a vaccine, entry into Hong Kong was prohibited.

Whilst international travellers must still be vaccinated, HK residents and children under 11 can board the plane regardless. Unvaccinated individuals just won’t receive a vaccine pass.

• A negative covid test that is no more than 48 hours old.

Instead of a PCR, Travellers departing for Hong Kong can take a negative rapid antigen 24 hours before departure.

• Providence for your departure from Hong Kong. The government only permits Chinese nationals 7 days of residence.

Some carriers like Cathay Pacific will not require this, as they know that many Chinese travellers must arrive in Hong Kong before bidding for a Shenzhen hotel room/Zhuhai bus ticket. However, some airlines, like Finnair, will revert to standard procedure, asking for a return ticket. You can either try to explain to them or book a cheap ticket to Thailand from Hong Kong as a backup. (We explained to them when we arrived in Helsinki, so did not have to buy another ticket).

ARRIVING AT HONG KONG AIRPORT

To streamline your journey through border control, we recommend printing off your documents. The paper documents we needed were: 

• Booking Confirmation for your Quarantine hotel in Hong Kong
• Covid-19 test report 
• Vaccination Certificate
• A Hong Kong phone number so we could receive our PCR test at the airport. (If you don’t have a Hong Kong number, you can buy a virtual one online – you only need it to receive SMS.)

Whilst you still need these things (minus the hotel confirmation), we recommend submitting the Hong Kong Health & Quarantine Information Declaration. This declaration will confirm your rapid test result and vaccination record and can help to speed up your journey through the airport if you complete it in advance. The system will then generate a green Health Declaration QR code. You will need to present this green Health Declaration QR code at check-in for verification by airlines for boarding and at border control. The QR code is valid for 24 hours.

The airport process took 2-3 hours, as we had to go through testing and receive our Quarantine notice. When we left the airport, there were two transport options: we could take the hotel quarantine shuttle buses, which went via various quarantine hotels or take a special quarantine taxi. We took a taxi because we were exhausted from travelling, and it only cost us $380 HKD to get to our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The Hong Kong government have since revised this process. When landing in Hong Kong, travellers can complete a one-stop registration by scanning their Health Declaration QR code at the specimen collection stations. According to the government website, this station is located on the arrival level of Terminal 1. Arrivals can then undergo PCR testing on the spot. This will significantly cut down the queue and wait times. You do not need to wait at the airport for your results; if you test negative, the LeaveHomeSafe contact tracing app will issue you an amber QR code.

QUARANTINE IN HONG KONG

3 days hotel quarantine

Please note that hotel quarantine is no longer required as of 26th September. For more information on Hong KoKong’sost-arrival protocol, scroll down.

As hotel quarantining was mandatory at our time of travel, we booked the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, which was in the middle of the range – it wasn’t too expensive, but the room was quite big. The food was rubbish, but the food is rubbish in all the quarantine hotels, even the 5-star hotels. Thankfully, you could order takeaway food online, which staff will send to your hotel door, and you could also order gym equipment from the hotel.

For the first three days, you had to self-test every day and upload your results to the health system. After that, there was a mandatory four-day medical surveillance. 

• To upload your self-test result and book your covid test, you must go to the Medical Surveillance System (eCMSS) website. 
• You cannot leave your room, as you may be prosecuted for breaking the law.

4 days of Health Monitoring

According to the revised travel laws in Hong Kong, arrivals must undergo three days of self-medical surveillance, which you can complete at home or in pre-booked accommodation. During this period, arrivals must take a daily Rapid Antigen Test. On the second day of medical surveillance, you will have to take a PCR-based nucleic acid test (after obtaining your daily negative lateral flow result). If you consistently test negative for all three days, your amber code restrictions will end at 9 a.m. on Day 3. You can read more on what an amber code means below.

During this time, you will have to download the app: Leavehomesafe app. Once you have input all your information, the code will be yellow. This means you can go on public transport, to shopping malls and office buildings. But you cannot enter catering venues, such as cafes, bars and restaurants. In the hotel you are staying at, you will be unable to have breakfast outside your room. You can enter catering venues to order a takeaway but cannot dine in.

We were able to get out and about with a yellow code in Hong Kong but were not able to sit in restaurants or bars

HONG KONG TO SHENZHEN BAY

The next leg of our journey involved travelling from Hong Kong to Mainland China. 

There are 3 options for travel:

• Fly from HK airport to the mainland – flights are very few, expensive and usually booked weeks/months in advance.
• Bus to Zhuhai – You can purchase tickets seven days in advance, and they go on sale every Tuesday at 8pm. The tickets are also very difficult to book due to capacity and the high volume of applicants. Many people use an agent, but if you choose this approach, prepare to pay few thousand RMB for a bus ticket!
• Walk across the border at Shenzhen Bay.

We walked across the border at Shenzhen Bay. This method has the most vacancies but also the most people applying for slots. Below are the steps that one needs to go through.

1. Book your quarantine hotel room in Shenzhen through the government website. 

To do this, you need to register. If you are travelling with family, you must add their information to your account as 同行人 (travel partner). Completing this step will ensure you can stay together during the quarantine. The system works as a random lottery; you can apply up to seven days before travelling. Applications are open between 9:00- 18:00, and the results are posted at 20:00. There are only 2000 slots available per day, so keep attempting until the system accepts your application.

We were lucky to get our slot on the 3rd attempt, but it usually takes about 6 or 7 attempts. N.B., you can leave Hong Kong during your 4 days of medical observation.

2. Preparing to cross the border

To successfully cross the border, you need: 

• A negative PCR test report from no more than 48 hours prior – N.B. You must print this report in colour.
• A PCR test booking confirmation at Shenzhen Bay. You can book both of these tests on the Community Test website. 

You will also need a series of codes. Officials will check your first code upon arrival. You need to prepare three codes; green/ black/ blue, and we recommend using coloured paper documents. 

• Green code: Shenzhen Slot (quarantine hotel room) booking confirmation. The hotel will issue this on the day. 

• Black code: the code for China Customs 

• Blue code: which you can obtain here 

OUR JOURNEY

Travelling across the border: HK- Shenzhen Bay

• 7:00am 

Leaving the hotel, we booked a taxi in advance. Driving from Yau Ma Tei to Shenzhen Bay takes at least 40 mins in the morning. 

• 7:40am 

Arrived at Shenzhen Bay with the PCR test booking confirmation (we booked at 8:00am) and 48 hours test report. The staff let us in, and we waited in the queue to get the test. 

• 8:00am- 9:20am 

We queued to register for the test, and once we had finished (it is pretty painful, by the way- like scratching your brain!), we received a call-pick-up electric ring bell. 

We waited outside of the gate for almost 1 hour. Finally, the bell started to ring, we went to hand it back, and the staff gave us a green paper bracelet. With this, we went into customs. 

• 9:20am -11:30am

Officials at the immigration desk stopped us as we were leaving Hong Kong due to the uncertainty of the quarantine policy change. In HK, the ‘3+4’’ policy was not started until 12th  August, but we arrived on 11th August. In the end, we had to wait in the customs office for more than one hour whilst they double-checked with the health bureau that we had completed our quarantine. 

Once the officers confirmed this, they brought us to go straight to the entrance of the Shenzhen section. We showed the codes to pass, and then there is another PCR test on ShShenzhen’side. 

After the PCR test, there is no need to wait for the result, we went straight to the mainland China immigration. The queue was not long, so it took us 30 mins. 

11:30 – 14:30

Having passed the immigration, we arrived on the Shenzhen side. You will receive the stickers with the name of the chosen district, and then you just have to wait for your bus to go. There are 2 districts in Shenzhen that people mentioned with better quarantine hotels:

• Nanshan district – you will be able to select the hotel levels at the customs and therefore have the choice to pay more to get a better environment.
• Guangming District- remote from the city centre with more spacious and newer hotel rooms. N.B. Almost all of the Shenzhen quarantine hotels do not accept food delivery. 

Also, you won’t be able to choose the hotel, but you can get into the district you prefer by filling in your address within the district you would like to go to when registering the black code (the code for China Customs). You can input another hotel address within the same district.

We chose to go to the Guangming district, and our queue was much smaller than in the Nanshan district. We waited about 20 mins, and the staff told us to go on the bus. 

14:30 – 17:00

It was a long journey and quite nerve-wracking, as you don’t know which hotel they have chosen for you until you arrive there! There are always some bad hotels you don’t want to be chosen for you. Finally, we arrived at the hotel. Luckily, it was one of the better ones in the district. The price was 580 rmb for two people, including three daily meals. You can receive 3 deliveries during the seven days to buy necessities. 

7 days Quarantine

And so our wait began. During this time, I just focused on getting a lot of work done and practised my Chinese by watching Chinese sitcoms with my wife! It is essential to do some exercise, so we found the Chinese version of Joe Wicks and got cracking. A couple of good books won’t go amiss, either.

We stocked up on goodies from M&S in Hong Kong. What is particularly important is buying some ground coffee and a french press – don’t expect any coffee from the hotel!

The hotel food was ok – standard Cantonese food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was better than Hong Kong’s because you cannot get food delivered in Shenzhen.

Every morning at 9am Nurses clad in hazmat suits will ring the bell on your door for a Covid test or a temperature check. Again it’s important to stress: you cannot leave your room for any reason.

After 7 days: 3 days of health monitoring

If you have a residential address in China, you must ask your building management before travelling home for the final 3 days of quarantine. We opted to do our final 3 days in Changsha with our family, and the building management accepted. N.B, not all building communities will allow you back, so you may have to do the final 3 days in the quarantine hotel!

As we were leaving the hotel, we had to hand over a load of documentation regarding quarantine and health declaration before officials escorted us to the train station. At the train station entrance, officials placed us in a separate queue from everyone else and had to wear a face shield and a mask. However, once we were inside the station, no one followed us – so when we took them off and went to Starbucks!

Final 3 days quarantine at home.

These final 3 three days will vary massively depending on where you live. In tier 1 cities, it is likely to be very strict. You cannot leave your home, and Covid personnel will come to take a test at your door. However, it is pretty relaxed in other cities (like Changsha), and we just had a yellow code. This meant travelling to the hospital twice in 3 days to take Covid tests, but could freely walk outside (similar to Hong Kong).

And that’s all, folks!

You are now in China and subject to the same rules as everyone else (which can be challenging!) The domestic restrictions could change as China grapples with the highly infectious Omicron variant. You can follow us on Linkedin to receive our weekly China Covid updates and how it impacts domestic travel.

Are you planning a return to China? Get in touch here for more travel advice.

Useful Links

Before boarding for Hong Kong:

1. Book QT hotel in HK  – We recommend looking for booking status and possible openings (Do not enter dates you wish to travel. Skip this step and click on each hotel’s link and calendar). You can also contact each hotel directly to find available rooms.  Follow the news and HK government website for daily updates, as more hotels may be added to this cycle later https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html 
2. Vaccination certificate – List of recognized vaccines by HK https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf 
3. Health Declaration Form HK: https://hdf.chp.gov.hk/dhehd/?lang=en-us  The code you receive will be PINK. In the section for your residency address in HK, write the address of your QH (random room and floor number) and fill out the section for the actual QH address. This is in case you haven’t looked at the other hotels for your stay after the 3 days of quarantine. The best way to do this is to fill it in on the day of your flight, once you get the boarding pass and not 3 days in advance. You will also need to enter your seat numbers. 
4. Download the LeaveHomeSafe app – The quarantine order with the QR code and vaccination record will be issued on paper when you arrive at HKIA ( HK International Airport ). You can scan the documents using the Leave Home Safe app and digitally get the QR code. You will need to follow up on your code status during the first 7-10 days in HK. You will also need it to scan public venue codes on entry doors or when you go to Community Testing Centre for PCR testing after the quarantine. When you check in to the DQH, you can ask the medical staff to help you with the app. It is an easy 1-minute process, but they can assist you if you have any issues.
   
   When arriving in Hong Kong:

1. Shenzhen Bay slot booking – When you get to your QHotel, register  RIGHT AWAY for a Shenzhen bay slot. Currently, only the system only allocates 2000 slots per day. The system doesn’t work anymore as a first come, first served, but it acts as a random lottery! The lottery is published at 20:00 every night for the same-day application. This means you can book a day/days when you wish to cross the border for up to 7 days in advance. Since you will be in the QH for the next 7 days, you will only be able to check for slots after your 7th day. So keep trying every day for another next day after your quarantine. You must add each member to your account during registration if you plan to travel with your family. Once you apply for the first lottery, you won’t be able to add members to your account. You cannot make an account for each member to better your chances, as the system tracks everyone by passport info input. 
2. Zhuhai bus ticket booking – another way to get from HK to Mainland is via Zhuhai Macao bridge. The bus rides were reduced to 3 buses daily due to covid spread in Zhuhai as of 18th July 2022, but a NEW UPDATE IS COMING FROM 01.08.2022 that there is an increase of 10 buses daily again. Info and schedule can be found on the ticket site under the bus direction options, or add them at WECHAT: hzmbus. No need for a slot reservation but need to secure the bus ticket. After registering, you will be able to try and purchase a ticket. Tickets go on sale every Tuesday at 20:00 on a first come, first served and are valid for 7 days, a week after (not the same week when you’re trying to buy the ticket ). TRY TO BOOK THIS DURING THE QUARANTINE STAY. It is preferable to find an agent to book the tickets for around 95hkd but count on the agent’s fee of around 2000-4000rmb. The limit for the luggage is 10kg (free of charge), but you can purchase extra luggage at the counter when you collect your ticket collection for your bus ride. Around 50-65hkd ( 8euros ) for each piece of luggage. News to follow on updates: site above, https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192108/Online-booking-system-for-NAT-at-Shenzhen-Bay-Port-set-to-roll-out-this-week:-Govt or https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#Useful_Information , https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong 
   
   After HK quarantine:

1. PCR TESTING – at one of CTC ( community testing centres ): (240HKD public, 880HKD private). You can make an appointment online, but walk-ins are also available. You must remember to check in at the centre for travelling. You will not need to show proof of ticket/slot/visa, but you must BRING YOUR PASSPORT. If you test between 8.30 – 13.30, the test result will arrive at 20.30. If you test between 14.30 – 18.30, the test will be available the next day at 8.30. YOU MUST PROVIDE A LOCAL NUMBER. You can give a friend’s number or purchase a SIM card at any 7/11 store for around 50hkd ( 7 euros ). The text will contain the link and password to open your test result pdf to print it out ( 2 pages ). If you can’t get the local number, you can come back the next day to the same CTC to print out your test results. CTC centres work 7 days a week.  
2. There are 2 PCR tests for flight trips. You will have to take one of the tests 48h before travelling, and you will need to take the 2nd PCR at HKIA on the morning of your flight. The 2nd test is free, but you must book it in advance via https://projectscreen.co/en/predeparture-china. You can call them and make the reservation via phone if you need it at the last minute, but testing slots go fast, so book in advance. Make sure you arrive 6-8h before your flight to test at the airport. Once you have tested and shown officials your itinerary for exiting HK, personnel will direct you to the Prenetics lab for PCR testing. The results are ready in 2h, and if negative, staff will issue you your boarding pass. If you are flying out on the day you leave your HK quarantine, you can do the first test within 48h and the free test at the Prenetics lab at HKIA. Some airlines don’t require 48h PCR, only the one on the day of the flight so check with your airline or agent about the PCR requirement.
   
   Exiting HK:

1. Full-fill exit/entry Declaration Form for China: Border is open 9:00 – 20:00, but the latest arrival time must be before 18:00 to finish with all checkpoints by 20:00 on the other side (in China) 
2. As of 14th July 2022 – MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR NAT AT SZ BAY BORDER (nucleic acid test) as there is no more first come, first seated system to prevent overcrowding at the border. Only those who secured the SZ bay crossing slot ( a quota at the Shenzhen Health Station/quarantine ) can make this test appointment free of charge. If you have not booked an appointment and only have a crossing slot, border control WILL NOT PERMIT travelling across the border into China! You must input your full name, identification document number ( passport ) and reservation number of the Shenzhen quarantine hotel (booking appointment number from your slot lottery draw on the slot app ) when booking online. Anyone travelling can reserve time slots for NAT in the coming seven days through the booking site  https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info. Those who choose to go to the CTC for self-paid testing can make an appointment at the CTC for self-paid testing 24h before the trip and free special rapid NAT at the Shenzhen Bay Port through the reservation system. Passengers should arrive at the Shenzhen Bay Port early according to the reserved time slot and MUST PRESENT THE SMS message or screenshot of the webpage confirming the reservation to the staff present before conducting the special NAT.

Other Links

9. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192108/Online-booking-system-for-NAT-at-Shenzhen-Bay-Port-set-to-roll-out-this-week:-Govt or
10.  https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#Useful_Information ,
11. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong

The post UPDATED: Travelling from the UK to Mainland China via Hong Kong appeared first on Kinyu.

As a British national, it was inevitable that I would be travelling back and forth between the UK and China at some point. It was also a much-dreaded eventuality that we would have to navigate the arduous processes in place for China to maintain its ‘Zero Covid Policy’. It was a challenge, to say the least. However, with careful planning and organisation, it is possible to make the trip indeed possible. Travelling to China has gone from ‘virtually impossible’ to ‘possible but particularly arduous’. 

Our route taken was via Hong Kong. We chose Hong Kong because it has better flight stability than China (they have dropped their flight route suspension policy). The flights are also much cheaper and less restrictive than travelling directly to mainland China. If you want to read about a recent journey directly to China, click here:

Here are our tips for navigating the restrictions:

UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES:

The first and arguably most important step is understanding the policies in place. In Hong Kong, there is a“3+4” policy in place for all travelling internationally: 

• 3 days in designated quarantine hotels 
• After obtaining a negative test result on the morning of day 3, travellers must relocate home or to a non-designated hotel for 4 days of medical surveillance. 

It is essential to note the arrival date counts as day 0. You must have a Designated Quarantine Hotel booking confirmation to board your flight to Hong Kong. Without this booking confirmation, you will not be able to go to Hong Kong. We highly recommend booking the hotel. Having this in place will help you to confirm the flight date. The list of designated quarantine hotels is on the Hong Kong government website.

If you are not a Hong Kong resident, we highly recommend checking with the hotel before booking your 4 days of medical surveillance, as exclusions may apply. 

FLIGHTS

As mentioned earlier, booking flights and travelling to Hong Kong is much easier than booking to mainland China. You can also do transfers without consequences, provided your test result is valid within 48 hours – so don’t opt for too big a transfer! We chose to fly with Finnair, with a 1 hr transfer in Helsinki. These flights were quite a lot cheaper than travelling directly with Cathay pacific. Another good option is Qatar Airways. Since our trip, Hong Kong has dropped a restriction on aircrew having to quarantine on arrival, which has triggered the reopening of more airlines flying to Hong Kong, like British Airways. Therefore flights should be more and more available.

PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE:

Before your departure, you need to ensure that you have: 

• Obtained the necessary vaccines. You can view the complete list of Hong Kong-recognized vaccines here. Travelling to Hong Kong without a vaccine is prohibited, so you must show proof of vaccination.
• A negative covid test taken no more than 48 hours prior. A good tip is to browse the Cathay pacific website for options. Cathay Pacific is Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, so information on its website will align with Hong Kong regulations. They also have some discount codes for various test centres.
• Providence for your departure from Hong Kong. The government only permits Chinese nationals 7 days of residence. Some carriers like Cathay Pacific will not require this, as they know that many Chinese travellers must arrive in Hong Kong before bidding for a Shenzhen hotel room/Zhuhai bus ticket.
  • However, some airlines, like Finnair, will revert to standard procedure, asking for a return ticket. You can either try to explain to them or book a cheap ticket to Thailand from Hong Kong as a backup. (We could explain to them when we arrived in Helsinki, and so did not have to buy another ticket).

ARRIVING AT HONG KONG AIRPORT

To streamline your journey through border control, we recommend printing off your documents. The paper documents you will need at hand include: 

• Booking Confirmation for your Quarantine hotel in Hong Kong
• Covid-19 test report 
• Vaccination Certificate
• A Hong Kong phone number to receive your PCR test is required at the airport. (If you don’t have a Hong Kong number, you can buy a virtual one online – you only need it to receive SMS.)

To further speed up the process, apply for the Hong Kong Health & Quarantine Information Declaration.

The airport process will take about 2-3 hours, as you have to go through testing and receive your Quarantine notice. When leaving the airport, you can take the hotel quarantine shuttle buses, which will go via various quarantine hotels, or take a special quarantine taxi. We took a taxi as we were exhausted from travelling, and it only cost $380 HKD to get to our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

QUARANTINE IN HONG KONG

3 days hotel quarantine

We booked the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, which was in the middle of the range – it wasn’t too expensive, but the room was quite big. The food was rubbish, but the food is rubbish in all the quarantine hotels, even the 5-star hotels. You can order takeaway food online, which staff will send to your hotel door, and you can also order gym equipment from the hotel.

For the first three days, you must self-test every day and upload your results to the health system. After that, there will be a mandatory four-day medical surveillance. 

• To upload your self-test result and book your covid test, you must go to the Medical Surveillance System (eCMSS) website. 
• You cannot leave your room, as you may be prosecuted for breaking the law.

4 days of Health Monitoring

During this time, you will have to download the app: Leavehomesafe app. Once you have input all your information, the code will be yellow. This means you can go out and on public transport, into shopping malls and office buildings. But you cannot enter catering venues, such as cafes, bars and restaurants. In the hotel you are staying at, you will be unable to have breakfast outside your room. You can enter catering venues to order a takeaway but cannot dine in.

We were able to get out and about with a yellow code in Hong Kong but were not able to sit in restaurants or bars

HONG KONG TO SHENZHEN BAY

The next leg of our journey involved travelling from Hong Kong to Mainland China. 

There are 3 options for travel:

• Fly from HK airport to mainland – flights are very few, expensive and usually booked weeks/months in advance.
• Bus to Zhuhai – You can purchase tickets seven days in advance, and they go on sale every Tuesday at 8pm. The tickets are also very difficult to book due to capacity and the high volume of applicants. Many people use an agent, but if you choose this approach, prepare to pay few thousand RMB for a bus ticket!
• Walk across the border at Shenzhen Bay.

We walked across the border at Shenzhen Bay. This method has the most vacancies but also the most people applying for slots. Below are the steps that one needs to go through.

1. Book your quarantine hotel room in Shenzhen through the government website. 

To do this, you need to register. If you are travelling with family, you must add their information to your account as 同行人 (travel partner). Completing this step will ensure you can stay together during the quarantine. The system works as a random lottery; you can apply up to seven days before travelling. Applications are open between 9:00- 18:00, and the results are posted at 20:00. There are only 2000 slots available per day, so keep attempting until your application is accepted. 

We were lucky to get our slot on the 3rd attempt, but it usually takes about 6 or 7 attempts. N.B., you can leave Hong Kong during your 4 days of medical observation.

2. Preparing to cross the border

To successfully cross the border, you need: 

• A negative PCR test report from no more than 48 hours prior – N.B. You must print this report in colour.
• A PCR test booking confirmation at Shenzhen Bay. You can book both of these tests on the Community Test website. 

You will also need a series of codes. Officials will check your first code upon arrival. You need to prepare three codes; green/ black/ blue, and we recommend using coloured paper documents. 

• Green code: Shenzhen Slot (quarantine hotel room) booking confirmation. The hotel will issue this on the day. 

• Black code: the code for China Customs 

• Blue code: which you can obtain here 

OUR JOURNEY

Travelling across the border: HK- Shenzhen Bay

• 7:00am 

Leaving the hotel, we booked a taxi in advance. Driving from Yau Ma Tei to Shenzhen Bay takes at least 40 mins in the morning. 

• 7:40am 

Arrived at Shenzhen Bay with the PCR test booking confirmation (we booked at 8:00am) and 48 hours test report, the staff let us in and waited in the queue to get the test. 

• 8:00am- 9:20am 

We queued to register for the test, once the test was done (which is quite painful, by the way- like scratching your brain!), we received a call-pick-up electric ring bell. 

We waited outside of the gate for almost 1 hour. Finally, the bell started to ring, we went to hand it back, and the staff gave us a green paper bracelet. With this, we went into customs. 

• 9:20am -11:30am

We got stopped by officials at the immigration desk as we were leaving Hong Kong due to the uncertainty of the quarantine policy change. In HK, the ‘3+4’ policy was not started until 12th  August, but we arrived on 11th August. In the end, we had to wait in the customs office for more than one hour whilst they double-checked with the health bureau that we had completed our quarantine. 

Once the officers confirmed this, they brought us to go straight to the entrance of the Shenzhen section. We showed the codes to pass, and then there is another PCR test on Shenzhen’s side. 

After the PCR test, there is no need to wait for the result, we went straight to the mainland China immigration. The queue was not long, so it took us 30 mins. 

11:30 – 14:30

Having passed the immigration, we arrived on the Shenzhen side. You will receive the stickers with the name of the chosen district, and then you just have to wait for your bus to go. There are 2 districts in Shenzhen that people mentioned with better quarantine hotels:

• Nanshan district – you will be able to select the hotel levels at the customs and therefore have the choice to pay more to get a better environment.
• Guangming District- remote from the city centre with more spacious and newer hotel rooms. N.B. Almost all of the Shenzhen quarantine hotels do not accept food delivery. 

Also, you won’t be able to choose the hotel, but you can get into the district you prefer by filling in your address within the district you would like to go to when registering the black code (the code for China Customs). You can input another hotel address within the same district.

We chose to go to the Guangming district, and our queue was much smaller than in the Nanshan district. We waited about 20 mins, and the staff told us to go on the bus. 

14:30 – 17:00

It was a long journey and quite nerve-wracking, as you don’t know which hotel they have chosen for you until you arrive there! There are always some bad hotels you don’t want to be chosen for you. Finally, we arrived at the hotel. Luckily, it was one of the better ones in the district. The price was 580 rmb for two people, including three daily meals. You can receive 3 deliveries during the seven days to buy necessities. 

7 days Quarantine

And so our wait began. During this time, I just focused on getting a lot of work done and practised my Chinese by watching Chinese sitcoms with my wife! It is essential to do some exercise, so we found the Chinese version of Joe Wicks and got cracking. A couple of good books won’t go amiss, either.

We stocked up on goodies from M&S in Hong Kong. What is particularly important is buying some ground coffee and a french press – don’t expect any coffee from the hotel!

The hotel food was ok – standard Cantonese food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was better than in Hong Kong because you cannot get food delivered in Shenzhen.

Every morning at 9am Nurses clad in hazmat suits will ring the bell on your door for a Covid test or a temperature check. Again it’s important to stress: you cannot leave your room for any reason.

After 7 days: 3 days of health monitoring

If you have a residential address in China, you must ask your building management before travelling home for the final 3 days of quarantine. We opted to do our final 3 days in Changsha with our family, and the building management accepted. N.B, not all building communities will allow you back, so you may have to do the final 3 days in the quarantine hotel!

When leaving the hotel, there was a load of documentation handed over regarding quarantine and health declaration, then we were taken to the train station. At the entrance of the train station, we were placed in a separate queue from everyone else and had to wear a face shield in addition to a mask, however, once inside the station, no one follows us – so when we took them off and went to Starbucks!

Final 3 days quarantine at home.

These final 3 three days will vary massively depending on where you live. In tier 1 cities, it is likely to be very strict. You cannot leave your home, and Covid personnel will come to take a test at your door. However, it is pretty relaxed in other cities (like Changsha), and we just had a yellow code. This meant travelling to the hospital twice in 3 days to take Covid tests, but could freely walk outside (similar to Hong Kong).

And that’s all, folks!

You are now in China and subject to the same rules as everyone else (which can be challenging!) The domestic restrictions could change as China grapples with the highly infectious Omicron variant. You can follow us on Linkedin to receive our weekly China Covid updates and how it impacts domestic travel.

Are you planning a return to China? Get in touch here for more travel advice.

Useful Links

Before boarding for Hong Kong:

1. Book QT hotel in HK  – The best is to look for booking status and possible openings ( do not enter dates you wish to travel, skip this, and click on each hotel’s link and calendar ). You can also contact each hotel directly to find the available rooms.  Follow the news and HK government site for daily updates and if more hotels will be added to this cycle at later dates  https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html 
2. Vaccination certificate – List of recognized vaccines by HK https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf 
3. Health Declaration Form HK: The code you receive is PINK. In the section for your residency address in HK, write the address of your QH (random room and floor number) and the section for the actual QH address. This is in case you haven’t booked the other hotel for your stay after the 3 days of quarantine.  The best is to fill it in on the day of your flight, once you get the boarding pass, not 3 days in advance. You need to input your seat numbers. 
4. Download the LeaveHomeSafe app – The quarantine order with the QR code and vaccination record will be issued to you on paper upon arrival at HKIA ( HK International Airport ) you can scan with the Leave Home Safe app and get the QR code on your app. This will be needed to follow up on your code status during the first 7-10 days in HK. You will also need it to scan public venue codes on entry doors or when you go to Community Testing Centre for PCR testing after the quarantine.   Also, upon checking in the DQH, you can ask the medical staff to help you with the app, it’s an easy 1min process, but if you don’t know how just ask them.
   
   When arriving in Hong Kong:

1. Shenzhen Bay slot booking – When you get to your QHotel, register  RIGHT AWAY for Shenzhen bay slot to book a slot for crossing the border at SZ Bay: For now, only 2000 slots are given daily. The system doesn’t work anymore as first come, first served, but it acts as a random lottery! The result of each day’s lottery are published at 20:00 every night for the same day application. This means you can book a day/days when you wish to cross the border for up to 7 days in advance. Since you will be in the QH for the next 7 days, you will only be able to check for slots after your 7th day. So keep trying every day for another next day after your quarantine. You must add each member to your account during registration if you plan to travel with your family. Once you apply for the first lottery, you won’t be able to add members to your account. You cannot make an account for each member and add yourself to their account to enhance the chance to get the slot, as everyone will be tracked by passport info input. 
2. Zhuhai bus ticket booking – another way to get from HK to Mainland is via Zhuhai Macao bridge. The bus rides were reduced to 3 buses daily due to covid spread in Zhuhai as of July 18, 2022, but a NEW UPDATE IS COMING FROM 01.08.2022 that there is an increase of 10 buses daily again. Info and schedule can be found on the ticket site under the bus direction options or add them at WECHAT: hzmbus. No need for a slot reservation but need to secure the bus ticket. Register first, and the ticket purchase can be made every Tuesday at 20:00 on afirst come, first served and for rides for 7 days a week after ( not the same week when you’re trying to buy the ticket ) . ALSO TRY TO BOOK THIS DURING THE QUARANTINE STAY. In this case, it is preferable to find an agent to book the tickets that are around 95hkd but count on agent’s fee around 2000-4000rmb. Limit for the luggage is 10kg ( free of charge ) but extra luggage  can be purchased at the counter upon ticket collection for your bus ride. Around 50-65hkd ( 8euros ) each luggage .  News to follow on updates : site above, https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192108/Online-booking-system-for-NAT-at-Shenzhen-Bay-Port-set-to-roll-out-this-week:-Govt or https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#Useful_Information , https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong 
   
   After HK quarantine:
    

1. PCR TESTING – at one of CTC ( community testing centre ) : (240HKD public, 880HKD private). You can make an appointment online, but walk-ins are also available. Must note to the check-in at the centre that it is for travelling. No need for proof of ticket/slot/visa. BRING PASSPORT. If you test between 8.30 – 13.30, the test result will arrive at 20.30. If you test between 14.30 – 18.30, the test will be available the next day at 8.30. YOU MUST PROVIDE A LOCAL NUMBER. You can give a friend’s number or purchase a SIM card at any 7/11 store for around 50hkd ( 7 euros ). The text will contain the link and password to open your test result pdf to print it out ( 2 pages ). If you can’t get the local number, you can come back the next day to the same CTC to print out your test results. CTC centres work 7 days a week.  
2. There are 2 PCR tests for flight trips. You will have to take one of the tests 48h before travelling, and you will need to take the 2nd PCR at HKIA on the morning of your flight. The 2nd test is free, but you must book it in advance https://projectscreen.co/en/predeparture-china.  You can call them and make the reservation via phone if you need it at the last minute, but testing slots go fast, so book in advance. Make sure you get 6-8h before your flight to do the test at the airport, show your itinerary for exiting HK, and personnel will direct you to the Prenetics lab for PCR testing. The results are ready in 2h, and if negative, staff will issue you your boarding pass. If you are flying out on the day you leave your HK quarantine, you can do the first test within 48h and the free test at the Prenetics lab at HKIA. Some airlines don’t require 48h PCR, only the one on the day of the flight so check with your airline or agent about the PCR requirement.
   
   Exiting HK:

1. Full-fill exit/entry Declaration Form for China: Border is open 9:00 – 20:00, but the latest arrival time must be before 18:00 to finish with all checkpoints by 20:00 on the other side ( Chinese side ) 
2. As of July 14, 2022 – MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR NAT AT SZ BAY BORDER  ( nucleic acid test ) as there is no more first come, first seated system to prevent over-crowd at the border at one time. Only those who secured the SZ bay crossing slot ( a quota at the Shenzhen Health Station/quarantine ) can make this test appointment free of charge. If you have not booked an appointment and only have a crossing slot, border control WILL NOT PERMIT travelling across the border! You must input your full name, identification document number ( passport ) and reservation number of the Shenzhen quarantine hotel (booking appointment number from your slot lottery draw on the slot app ) when booking online. Anyone travelling can reserve time slots for NAT in the coming seven days through the booking site  https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info. Those who choose to go to the CTC for self-paid testing can make an appointment at the CTC for self-paid testing 24h before the trip and free special rapid NAT at the Shenzhen Bay Port through the reservation system. Passengers should arrive at the Shenzhen Bay Port early according to the reserved time slot and MUST PRESENT THE SMS message or screenshot of the webpage confirming the reservation to the staff present before conducting the special NAT.

Other Links

9. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192108/Online-booking-system-for-NAT-at-Shenzhen-Bay-Port-set-to-roll-out-this-week:-Govt or
10.  https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#Useful_Information ,
11. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong

The post Travelling from the UK – Hong Kong – Mainland China: Our Firsthand Experience appeared first on Kinyu.

Kinyu is pleased to announce the launch of its flagship function: The China Desk. 

Founder and CEO Benjamin King has spent many years analysing supply chain outsourcing services in China. Quickly, he recognised a need for a transparent model with the control of an internal team and a cost-effective setup. What started as part-time representation for UK companies has led Benjamin to develop a scalable version of his approach. 

The China Desk will search, hire, manage and empower team members for client companies. This function turns the ‘man on the ground’ stereotype into ‘management’ on the ground. It includes employee engagement, supply chain monitoring and access to Kinyu’s Resource Platform of third-party services.

In times of significant change and disruption to global supply chains, companies need tools to plan ahead. The China Desk is a value-add function for companies that do not have a presence in China, helping them take advantage of the Chinese market. In addition, this solution eliminates the need to set up an entirely new and dedicated team with a workspace in China.

The premise behind The China Desk is surprisingly straightforward within the complex landscape of the China marketplace. In a world where you must balance operational efficiency with cultural considerations, Kinyu offers its clients space and resources to strengthen their supply chain. Benjamin and his team in China have combined three critical assets- personnel, advisory and relationships- into one comprehensive service. The result? Each client has access to all the benefits of having a China-based team- without the additional consideration of setting up a team supplemented by an office and its supporting requirements. 

Kinyu’s clients take advantage of a range of value-add services, such as an extensive Supply Chain Network, personalised HR Management, and expert support for clients in the form of NEDs- assisting them in navigating this challenging market. 

With global supply chains’ challenges, the need for a function such as The China Desk is more pressing than ever. The situation across China regarding the Covid-19 pandemic remains highly changeable. With an established team on the ground, Kinyu’s clients receive weekly intelligence on the developing logistical conditions and can adjust their planning accordingly. 

‘Reconsider your global strategy, secure your supply chains, continue to diversify, plan in scenarios, get your business case right.’

– The German Industry Association, April 2022

Strengthening the supply chain is a crucial point addressed by The China Desk. This flagship operation aims to bridge the communication gaps within cross-cultural cooperation. Further, this high level of integration also assists business owners in achieving further transparency across their supplier’s various staff, management, and upstream supply chain to maintain vision and protect their IP.

With new offices in Tianjin and Guangzhou, Kinyu is already hiring people on the ground for UK companies. Through The China Desk, clients can now hire Supplier account managers. These account managers act as key coordinators on the ground and specialist engineers to fill the gaps in technical support. This function has benefitted both SMEs who need cost-effective support and multinationals who value flexibility. No two businesses are the same, so whatever your needs- we can deliver them through The China Desk’s pick-and-choose Model. 

For more information and an overview of the packages available, please visit https://www.kinyu.co.uk/china-desk/. You can also get in touch via info@kinyu.co.uk or give them a ring at +86 181 7315 8445.

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This profile will look at Ben’s backstory and give insight into what has motivated him to build his business.

Have you looked back in your life and realised how some random and unrelated events changed your life’s path forever? This theory is known as the ‘butterfly effect’,. The notion of this effect is that the most minor, seemingly insignificant action can cause a considerable knock-on effect. Although not always the case, sometimes what transpires create some incredible and unique results.

“I find it fascinating how an Earthquake in Japan led me on a path to China!”
                        Benjamin King, CEO, Kinyu Supply Chain Management

Ben has had his version of a butterfly effect with the evolution of his Asia-based journey. First, his internship in a Tokyo-based finance company was cut short by Japan’s 2011 Earthquake and nuclear fallout. So Ben flew to Hong Kong, where he had an unlikely reunion with an old school friend, Yu Zhenze. This unlikely meeting led him on a path to China, living in 5 different cities, building a business, and starting a family.

While he always had a keen interest in Asia and Chinese culture, Ben wanted to discover Mainland China. So he returned to university and laid the groundwork for his future business. Throughout his time at university, Ben personally funded trips to China and worked to bridge the cultural gap. He also set about learning the intricacies of the Chinese business landscape.

The China Journey Begins

After graduating with his Master’s degree, which focused his dissertation thesis on the concept of ‘guanxi’ and relationships in China, Ben took a leap of faith and bought a one-way ticket to Changsha in Central-South China. Despite having little Chinese language ability, he became involved in developing e-commerce and supply chain finance companies as a partner with his old school friend.

The move to China proved challenging. Despite his dedication to understanding the Chinese business process, he faced steep learning curves. Ben initially underestimated the drive and knowledge required to build a business in China. In fact, it was this underestimation and policy changes that he feels contributed to the failure of his eCommerce business.

“I felt like I wasn’t in control of it from the beginning and felt naive in believing you could just come to China and make money.”

Fortunately, the supply chain company Ben had invested in went on to thrive. In part, this was the result of offering Chinese factories advanced tax rebates to solve cash flow issues. This experience was a great launchpad. As a direct result, Ben could build a network of suppliers and understand China’s export and logistics process. However, this business did not fulfil Ben’s mission of supporting foreign companies on the ground.

At this point, Ben switched his focus to representing UK companies in China, particularly around supplier relationships and procurement strategy. It started with a single client in the oil and gas industry, which took Ben to Beijing for two years. Ben gradually got more clients until Covid-19 shocked the world and its supply chains. As a supply chain consultant in China during a global pandemic, Ben provided the support on the ground desperately needed by companies large and small. Kinyu SCM officially launched in 2020, and Ben wanted to find a way to scale his client representation. “I love solving all types of problems for these companies, but there are only 24 hours in the day!” This love formed the premise of The China Desk.

Building a scalable business model in China

The China Desk hires personnel in China for foreign companies, which Ben and his senior management team oversee. The aim is to engage with and empower local employees who may often work remotely for companies thousands of miles away. In addition, there is a focus on supply chain management so that industry experience can be concentrated and delivered as additional advisory services for clients. This contemporary offering presents an ideal solution for organisations that want to immerse their business into the Chinese market but do not want to navigate the complications of setting up an entirely new, dedicated team or discovering and organising a suitable workspace in China.

“I am truly driven by building relationships with people in China, understanding their skills and resources and then solving problems together with them.”

This new model, which focuses more on people than the supply chain, suits Ben’s passions in China. Whilst the supply chain issues are fascinating; Ben has solved a wide range of complex issues such as sourcing, ESG, compliance, logistics and payments. In addition, Ben wanted to find a way to offer services to a broader audience from multiple sectors.

Navigating China and its complexities

Building relationships requires a deep understanding of China. Life in China is a place of many extremes: Living in China can be cheap yet expensive. The rules are stringent yet relaxed. Things can happen quickly and yet very slowly. It is prosperous but also poor. There is high-quality manufacturing and low-quality manufacturing. Despite tremendous opportunities, Ben believes this creates an element of inconsistency, mirrored in how information flows from suppliers and buyers. Ben wants to provide this consistency with a clear path down the middle. This consistency will allow foreign companies to navigate the China market more effectively.

After living across the North, East and South parts of China, Ben has settled in Guangzhou with his wife, whom he met in Changsha. Ben attributes his comprehensive immersion in Chinese culture to meeting his wife. “Through her, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of what it is like to be a part of Chinese society and everyday life in China. She taught me about traditional values and customs while also giving me first-hand insight into some of the challenges Chinese people face today.” With the support of his wife and through many years of dealing with Chinese suppliers, Ben is now fluent in Chinese, which helps him build stronger relationships with suppliers and partners.

Kinyu SCM has offices in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Tianjin, and The China Desk supports clients across many sectors. Book a consultation with Ben today to find out more about how to hire personnel in China.

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