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Dozens of international and private schools in China are closing or merging, industry executives said, weighed down by tighter regulation, a slowing economy and dwindling foreign student numbers. A rapid expansion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic drove a surge of privately run bilingual schools in China offering a western exam curriculum. Dulwich College operates nine schools in China including bilingual schools catering to Chinese nationals that have been hit hardest by regulatory changes. It mandated that Chinese compulsory education be taught in private schools, aligning the curriculum more closely to public schools and making parents question the need to pay private school fees when their children can attend free government schools. Authorities have also moved to control the number of private schools.

Persons: Aly, Julian Fisher, Fisher, Dulwich, Xi, It's, Frank Feng, Jimmy Chin, Nicholas Burns, Mathias Boyer, Casey, Roxanne Liu, Dorothy Kam, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Dulwich College, Venture Education, Strategic, Education, Motion, Dulwich, British, Authorities, Dulwich's, Victoria Kid House, Western International School of, Everpine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of Science, Technology of, International School of Beijing, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, British, Asia, China's, Beijing, Dulwich, Singapore, South Korea, U.S, Britain, Canada, Lucton, Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen, Eton, Guangzhou, Western International School of Shanghai, Xi'an, Technology of China, Anhui, Hong Kong

[1/5] China's and Hong Kong's flags are seen on the pedestrian footbridge as decorations for the celebration of National Day, at the financial central district in Hong Kong, China October 3, 2023. "The last few years have created a very negative image of Hong Kong," said Inaki Amate, chairman of the European chamber in Hong Kong, one of the speakers at the M+ event. Executives point to the changing fabric of Hong Kong with mainlanders making up more than nine-out-of-ten of all those approved to work under government talent schemes. "If we believe that Hong Kong will be able to recover its most international Asia city status by continuing on this trend, we are very wrong," said Amate. “You’ve got what happened with the national security law, the pandemic and now you’ve got a pretty big problem with China’s economy.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Inaki Amate, Paul Chan, haven’t, ”, Tara Joseph, “ You’ve, you’ve, Hong, Robert Walters, Patrick Ip, David Baverez, Baverez, Dorothy Kam, Scott Murdoch, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Tyrone, European Union, Hong, Monetary, American Chamber of Commerce, Colliers, Companies, National Bank Australia, ASEAN Investment Cooperation, COVID ., COVID . Asia Pacific, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Hong, British, Asia, Singapore, Dubai, COVID, COVID . Asia, Europe, “

[1/4] Couples prepare to get their photo taken during a wedding photography shoot on a street, in Shanghai, China September 6, 2023. "The traditional Chinese wedding industry is probably in for tough times." "People are more inclined to go for a simple and niche wedding," said Chen, adding that a decade ago, it was common for couples to spend millions of yuan. 'NICHE, NICHE, NICHE'The economic downturn has hit the middle class, and the youth, the hardest, resulting in high jobless rates and low household spending. Our strategy has been to stay niche, niche, niche," said Wang.

Persons: Aly, Yuan Jialiang, Ben Cavender, Frank Chen, Chen Feng, Chen, Chow Tai Fook, It's, Xueyi, Jewel Wang, Vera Wang, Wang, Oscar de la, Carolina Herrera, Casey Hall, Xihao Jiang, Farah, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Market Research, Daxue Consulting, COVID, Jewellery, HK, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Xi'an, Hong Kong

[1/2] US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a lunch meeting with women economists in Beijing, on July 8, 2023. Pedro Pardo/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoHONG KONG, July 10 (Reuters) - A group of Chinese female economists who met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over the weekend have been lambasted on Chinese social media by some netizens who accused them of treason for meeting her and being "radical feminists". Yellen, a trailblazer in the field of economics, had lunch with six female economists in Beijing on Saturday, an effort to spotlight gender diversity following meetings with China's largely male government leaders. Some users called Yellen an "obviously dangerous person" asking why she was allowed to be officiated as a public guest in the country, while others called out the female economists as being pro-American. "Look at the bunch, the anti-espionage law might come in handy," wrote a user called Shan3847, while another user wrote "Everyone around the table should be caught, no one is innocent.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Pedro Pardo, China's, Hao Jingfang, Yellen, Hao, Xi, Communist Party's, Devika Organizations: U.S, Treasury, American, U.S . Federal Reserve, Communist, Thomson Locations: Beijing, HONG KONG, China, U.S, United States

HONG KONG, June 27 (Reuters) - A series of brutal attacks in Hong Kong is shining a light on mental health in a city that has suffered from particularly acute strains while lacking sufficient resources to provide proper care for all who need it, mental health groups say. A city government spokesman, asked about the state of mental health, referred Reuters to a meeting the administration organised this month aimed at exploring more ways to address mental health problems and support people who suffer from severe mental disorders. Mental health experts point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor in the increase in mental health issues, as it has been in many places. 'EXHAUSTION'Judy Blaine, a researcher and consultant on mental wellbeing, says it is the compounding of stresses that takes a toll on Hong Kong's people. Carol Liang, deputy CEO of the group Mind Hong Kong, said waiting times for cases deemed non-urgent can be as long as 90 weeks in the Hospital Authority system.

Persons: Abby Choi, Judy Blaine, Hong, Blaine, Carol Liang, Hong Kong, Farah Master, Anne Marie Roantree, Robert Birsel Organizations: Hong Kong Foundation, Organization, Reuters, Hospital Authority, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong

New rules imposed in February force infant formula makers to invest heavily to re-make, test, certify and re-register their products for China, before potentially conducting new marketing campaigns. “The new standard requires higher product quality as well as stronger manufacturing techniques which are expected to eliminate many small-to-medium-size players,” said Quinn Mai, analyst at Euromonitor International, which estimates China’s infant formula market will fall 12.5% to $21 billion by 2025 due to shrinking demand. China's National Health Commission (NHC) cited infant safety when announcing the latest rules. Celia Ning, director at the nutrition research institute of formula maker Junlebao, said the registration process could "easily" take a year. Another, Fonterra (FCG.NZ), said it was progressing through the re-registration process but that infant formula made up a relatively small part of its China business, with declining birth rates and regulation driving industry consolidation.

Persons: ”, Quinn Mai, Jane Li, Li, Celia Ning, Junlebao, Ning, SAMR, Nestle, Marius Zaharia Organizations: Euromonitor, Health Commission, NHC, State Administration, Market, “, Unicef, Companies, Abbott Laboratories, Reuters, New Zealand's Ministry, Primary Industries, Milk, Global, Nestle, Danone, HK, “ Companies, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Auckland, “ Beijing, India, U.S, Hong Kong, Beijing, Lincoln

HONG KONG, June 16 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong said resolutions passed by the European Parliament on Thursday related to the Chinese controlled territory were a "despicable act" and "trampled" on the principles of international law. The European Parliament's resolution titled "The deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai" urged Hong Kong's government to release and drop charges against the pro-democracy tycoon and other activists. It also called for the European Council to introduce "targeted sanctions" against city leader John Lee and other officials "responsible for the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Hong Kong". Government officials in Beijing and Hong Kong say that the law only targets a small number of "troublemakers" who threaten national security and that the rights and freedoms of ordinary Hong Kong people are protected. Lai, who is in prison, is facing four charges under the security law and a colonial era sedition law.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Hong, John Lee, Lee, Lai, Lai's, Sebastien, Farah Master, Jessie Pang, Anne Marie Roantree, Gerry Doyle Organizations: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Council, United, Government, National Security Law, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, China

[1/3] A man looks at job information at an employment fair beside a street in Zhengzhou, Henan province, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Jason LeeHONG KONG, June 1 (Reuters) - China's Henan province has unveiled a 100-day plan to "dynamically clear" youth unemployment as concern grows over record levels of joblessness among young adults, with millions more students due to graduate this year. The goal is to ensure "zero-dynamic clearing" for long-term unemployment and the "smooth employment of college graduates", the provincial Department of Education said in a social media post this week. Economists expect youth unemployment to become increasingly common in coming years as graduates enter the job market. The "dynamic zero clearing" term the education department used is reminiscent of the language authorities used in the fight against COVID, reflecting the level of concern about unemployment.

Persons: Jason Lee HONG, Farah Master, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Department of Education, COVID, Thomson Locations: Zhengzhou, Henan province, Jason Lee HONG KONG, Henan, China, Beijing

HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - An absence of women among China's top leadership is concerning, the United Nations said in a report, as it recommended China adopt statutory quotas and a gender parity system to quicken equal representation of women in government. The committee said that while China's representation of women in political and public life has increased, it was concerned that women only represent 26.54% of deputies to the 14th National People's Congress. It urged China to increase the number of women in all government bureaus including the judiciary and foreign service, particularly at decision making levels. The committee said it was concerned about the excessive restrictions on the registration of non-governmental organisations as well as reports of intimidation and harassment against women human rights defenders. Feminist voices have also been muzzled and in recent years, the government has increasingly emphasized the value of traditional roles for women as mothers and carers.

Persons: Xi, Martin Pollard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: United Nations, quicken, UN, Leste, National People's, Communist, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Germany, Iceland, Sao Tome, Principe, Slovakia, Spain, Timor, Venezuela, Beijing

President Xi Jinping recently attended a meeting concerned with population development, it added with the newspaper describing population development as a major event linked to China's "great rejuvenation". Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades last year and its rapid ageing, the government has urgently embarked on measures to lift the country's birth rate including financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities. China will double the number of childcare centres by 2025, state-backed broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday, with the headline "It is no longer difficult to take care of a baby". Gender discrimination and traditional thinking that places the burden of caring for children mostly on women are still widespread throughout the country. Opening up fertility services to unmarried women may help to boost the country's fertility rate, the government's political advisers proposed in March.

HONG KONG, May 15 (Reuters) - China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment, the latest move by authorities to boost the country's falling birth rate. Promoting marrying, having children at appropriate ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and curbing high "bride prices" and other outdated customs are the focus of the projects, the Times said. The association already launched projects in 20 cities including Beijing last year, the Times said. "The society needs to guide young people more on the concept of marriage and childbirth," demographer He Yafu told the Times. Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese baby product firms seek to age up, sell more abroad as population falls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Farah Master | Thomson Reuters | Farah Master Is A Senior Correspondent At Reuters Where She Focuses On Health | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

HONG KONG, May 11 (Reuters) - For many of China's manufacturers of baby and children's products, painful reverberations from last year's historic decline in the country's population are already upon them. Hong Kong-listed Health and Happiness (H&H) (1112.HK), which gains nearly half of its revenue from baby products such as infant formula, food and diapers, is one such company. China's market for baby food and diapers is the world's largest at $37.9 billion, accounting for around a third of global sales annually, according to research from Euromonitor. Adult diaper revenue, however, shot up 13% - highlighting how China's rapidly ageing population is prompting shifts in consumer spending. Reuters GraphicsShares for the three firms now trade between a third and a fifth of their all-time highs.

HONG KONG, May 8 (Reuters) - China wants to work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to oppose the politicisation of sports, Premier Li Qiang said, amid demands on the sporting body to exclude athletes from Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Premier Li made the comments at a meeting with IOC head Thomas Bach in Beijing over the weekend, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has already offered to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete at the Asian Games in China this year. "Li said that China is willing to work together with the IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports and to make greater contribution to the Olympic movement," Xinhua reported. Bach said China plays an important role in maintaining world peace and promoting mutual development and IOC is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to promote the development of the Olympic movement.

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