Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, Ltd. (HK: 1725) (HKATG), a leading aerospace firm traded on the Hong Kong stock exchange (HKEx) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Gang Hang Ke (Shenzhen) Space Technology ("SZ Gang Hang Ke") has entered into a second satellite launch service confirmation agreement with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a state-owned enterprise in Mainland China.

Under the agreement, SZ Gang Hang Ke is tentatively scheduled to launch the two satellites, Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 3 and Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 4, in July of this year. The continued launching of satellites is expected to speed up the timetable for the completion the Golden Bauhinia Constellation project as well as enhance the operations of the smart city in the process of being rolled out in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). HKATG plans to launch 25 satellites in 2022.

According to HKATG's official website, the group's aerospace commercialization efforts focus on two segments: the build out of the satellite constellation and the precision manufacturing of satellites. Golden Bauhinia is an active-passive hybrid low-orbit high-frequency satellite constellation that combines optical remote sensing and synthetic aperture radar to form an all-weather and near-real-time dynamic monitoring system equipped with specialized applications. The system is driven by real-time satellite communication and navigation functions that provide full-cycle monitoring of the construction of GBA's smart city of the future and supporting infrastructure so as to assure the conservation and sustainability of the local environment.

The Golden Bauhinia constellation project was launched in 2021. SZ Gang Hang Ke signed satellite launching and confirmation agreements with CGWIC in August, October, and December of last year. Five satellites including Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (01), Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (02), Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 2, Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 5 and Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (03) were launched in April, October and December.

This year, HKATG plans to significantly accelerate the rate of expansion of the constellation. According to the latest announcement, besides the planned launches of Golden Bauhinia Satellites No. 3 and No. 4 in July of this year, the group will launch a total of 25 satellites in 2022. The growth in the number of satellites will allow for the collection of substantially more data as well as vastly increase data transmission speed, which, in turn, will enhance the quality of the data and application services being provided by the constellation. The effort will facilitate the development of various industrial and commercial activities related to remote sensing data processing, software development, and other professional value-added services in Hong Kong.

Following on HKATG's expansion in the scope of operations last year, the firm is expected to usher in major breakthroughs on the road to commercialization this year. In October and November of last year, the group inked contracts for the procurement and servicing of complete assembly equipment as well as for equipment configuration and installation with CGWIC and the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen (RITS). The fulfillment of the contracts is seen as a massive breakthrough in HKATG's satellite manufacturing and testing capability.

This year, the Group's first satellite constructed in its Hong Kong facilities is expected to be launched in July, simultaneously with the planned launches of Golden Bauhinia Satellites No. 3 and No. 4.

HKATG expects to soon achieve scale commercialization in both its satellite constellation and aerospace businesses, less than two years after the group's founding in September 2019 and backdoor listing on the HKEx in April of last year.

With a market potential that reaches some trillions of dollars, HKATG foresees substantial growth year after year following the huge breakthroughs achieved last year.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced its plans to further expand its portfolio across Asia Pacific, targeting to open its 1000th property in the region in late 2022. The company expects to open nearly 100 properties in the region this year. With a vision to deliver exceptional and distinctive travel experiences, Marriott is committed to bringing the benefits of good travel to its guests, owners and communities in Asia Pacific.

Craig S. Smith, Group President, International for Marriott International, said, "I am very pleased with our 2021 development results in Asia Pacific. We have worked closely with our owners throughout the last two years to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic, adapt quickly, and grow. Last year in Asia Pacific, we signed two new development deals a week on average, with deals signed in 13 different markets across the region. This year, we expect to continue to drive demand and growth which is a testament to our talented teams committed to operational excellence, and the relationships we have with the customers we're privileged to serve and the developers, owners, franchisees and partners we're honored to do business with."

According to research by ILTM Asia Pacific, Greater China's affluent population contributes to half of Asia Pacific's total spending on airfare and lodging. Affluent travelers in Greater China continue to look for luxury travel in new and emerging destinations. Greater China remains an engine for the company's growth, as it accounts for more than half of the company's anticipated luxury openings in Asia Pacific in 2022. Ritz-Carlton Reserve anticipates expanding its highly curated portfolio in Greater China, debuting its first rare estate in the historic Jiuzhaigou valley later this year. Additional expected luxury openings in 2022 include JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau - Studio City.

Research by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests that leisure travel demand has been booming at an accelerating rate. In 2022, as leisure demand continues to outpace business travel, Marriott is poised to strengthen its presence across several leisure destinations. In South Korea, the company expects to bring its JW Marriott brand to Jeju with the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in May 2022. The expected opening of W Sydney in late 2022 will mark the third W hotel in Australia.

With wellness and well-being remaining a continued priority for many travelers, the company's leading wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is expected to celebrate two new debuts in Yokohama and Cam Ranh in 2022.

Marriott's select service portfolio is driving momentum for growth, providing a wide-range of amenities and offerings across well-established brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, AC Hotels and Moxy Hotels. In Greater China, the openings of select service hotels will further expand consumers' travel choices, bringing guests a diverse range of experiences in emerging Chinese destinations. Four Points by Sheraton expects to continue its growth with five planned openings throughout the year, while Moxy Hotels anticipates continuing to share its playful spirit in destinations such as Suzhou and Xi'an.

Outside of Greater China, the company expects to debut its AC Hotels brand in Korea with AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam and in Australia with AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. In Japan, Fairfield by Marriott expects to continue to strengthen its presence with six new properties planned to open across Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo along 'Michi-no-Eki' roadside stations aimed at revitalizing the country's local sightseeing spots and well-hidden rural destinations.

Marriott is committed to inspiring travel and strengthening its relationship with its more than 55 million Marriott Bonvoy members in the region. In 2021, Marriott Bonvoy introduced several innovative initiatives:

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program.

Mike Moh is certainly not an "ordinary" young man. Yes, here's the modern-day 21st century Bruce Lee. At a relatively tender young age, Mike has proved that- with enough effort- anyone can achieve what they want in life. Such commitment inevitably pays off. Think back to the time when the first teaser for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," a film by Quentin, Tarantino was dropped. Many people noticed that the film featured the legendary character Bruce Lee. Inevitably, the next question was, "so who plays Bruce Lee?" And that's the moment Mike Moh stepped in. It was a poignant moment, pregnant with expectation.

Jacket by Frame: Mike Moh kicked off his career as a martial artist. At the time, the lad was just 14 years old. So, in 2006 Mike received a phone informing him that Jackie Chan was trying to find an American martial artist who could help out on the movie he was working on. 14 days later, Mike was on the plane heading to Hong Kong. He was going to join Jackie Chan's stunt crew for the film "Rob-B-hood." But the short experience was all Moh needed to catapult his career to the next level. Soon, Moh got himself an agent, went on to do some commercials, and also took acting classes.

Moh's star started rising as soon as he landed a plum role as Ryu in the series "Street Fighter: Ressurection." The film was based on a video going by the same name. Moh's TV profile increased by leaps and bounds when he took up the role of Triton in Marvel's "Inhumans" and played Steve Cho in the hit drama "Empire." But the big turning point for Moh came that year in the spring. When Moh's manager got off the phone with Tarantino's casting director, Moh bought a ticket and flew away to California.

Asked by one fan what he felt about landing the role of Brue Lee in the film "Once Upon a Time (the fan knew Moh as a fanatical Bruce Lee man)" the actor replied: "Thank you! Yes, Bruce has been my hero since I was a little kid. For me, to get the opportunity to play Bruce Lee is a dream come true. And the fact that the movie is directed by Quentin Tarantino is way beyond what I could ever dream of." Another fan asked Moh about the casting process for the role. He wanted to know whether Moh knew from the start he'd land the big role. Moh replied: "Yes, from the beginning of the auditions process, I knew the entire thing was a big hunt for Bruce Lee. Of course, I had to fight tooth and nail to secure the role. Keep in mind that the casting process actually took two months- you can imagine it- this was perhaps the longest 60 days of my life!"

So, are there any special preparations required before the filming starts? According to Moh, absolutely! Any time an actor takes on a well-known true-life character, there's that added pressure; the audience already has some idea about how the character should be portrayed. And the fact that the character is legendary ( like Bruce Lee) multiplies the pressure several times. I had two spend countless hours studying Bruce Lee's mannerisms, movements, voice, and the nature of his mentality both as an artist and a person living in the 1960s well before he came to achieve the superstar status. I had to consume not just Bruce Lee's filmography; I had to access the few recorded interviews with Bruce Lee, the man.

And, just how is it like working in a star-studded film in the mold of "Once Upon a Time?" Moh says it's a humbling experience. He feels highly honoured to be a part of all this, a part of the cast. Well, as he says, he still "gets a kick out of merely seeing my name cast alongside that of veterans like Al Pacino! As was evident in the first track of the movie, Moh was fortunate enough to have a chance to work with the legendary Brad Pritt. The actor describes him as such a great joy to work with' a true professional.

Who does Moh most admire among the big movie's characters? The actor quickly replies: "Brad Pritt." Simply because he says, he was put in a pivotal position to see how much time and effort Brad put into perfecting his character. Brad spent hours mastering the character's fighting style; he's pretty savvy on the matter of character development, "Bruce Lee" says. Brad attributes such admirable qualities as a massive contributor to Brad's runaway success as an accomplished actor. And Moh found that the legendary character is down-to-earth, a team player, and a selfless performer.

Have you heard about the Jade Market in the middle of Hong Kong? This is a retail street located in the Kowloon region. Jade Market is famous for its large number of stores stocking jade stones of all sizes and shapes. Jade Market is divided into two main sections: The Eastern part and the western part. But most of the stores are located in the eastern region. Do not be deceived by the name Jade Street- this is not an open street market. At Jade Street, the stores are actually indoors. Apart from jade, you'll find many other types of precious stones here. Indeed, you can get all kinds of jewelry; amulets, bangles, pendants, good luck charms, and bracelets. This place also goes by the name Jade Hawker Bazaar or Yau Ma Tei.

The story of Jade Market really starts in the early 1950s; the place was first developed by migrated jade traders from Guangzhou. Therefore, the Hong Kong Jade Market started at Guangzhou Street with a few stalls located on the ground. Later on, in 1984, the government opened up the area to the north of Gansu Street and constructed the current Jade Market with more than 400 stalls or shops. Jade Market primarily serves people who want to buy affordable jewelry or jade stones. This means we should keep in mind that there cannot be too many stores here that sell top-quality jade. This is because the most expensive jewelry are usually kept by private collectors.

Just like you'd find in any other street market, you need to master a specific art- negotiation. This is the key to making the most out of your money. Beware while visiting Jade Market- most sellers are adept at creating an artificial discount as you negotiate the price. This is how they inflate the jewelry prices way above the normal. So, you can deal with this by bringing down the price, making it as low as possible. At the same time, some sellers try to offer fake jade to buyers in an attempt to defraud them. Buyers, therefore, must know how to differentiate between what's genuine and what's fake. Just inspect the jade as closely as possible. Try to see whether there are bubbles inside the jade. If you see some bubbles, this means the jade has been made impure. Such fraudsters use silicone or plastic to manipulate the jade. It's easy to identify the natural jade stone- it usually feels cold and smooth on touch; it also takes a little time to warm up. If you carried genuine jade, try to clink it with the stone being sold. If you hear a sound much like what is usually generated when you tap plastic beads against each other- it means the stone you're trying to buy is actually fake.

At Jade Market, you can buy jade ware of all varieties and grades. It's not advisable to visit the Jade Market at night. At such times the stores are usually closed. Most of them open between 10 am and 4 pm. As soon as they open their doors, the store owners are generally keen to do business. They also try to close a deal as fast as possible immediately after opening. Why? It seems many store owners believe it's "lucky" to try and sell merchandise as early as possible- it doesn't matter how small it is. They believe this is the secret to inviting "good luck" throughout the day. For this reason, those who visit the stores early in the morning have a great chance of swaying negotiations favorably and cutting a deal real quick.

How do you get to the Jade Market? You can hop onto the Hong Kong subway MTR and proceed to the Yau Ma Tei station; at this point, take the Exit C. Other travelers use another route- they go all the way to the Jordan MTR station and use Exit A. It doesn't matter much whether you arrive at the Yau Ma Tei or the Jordan station-both of these are located just a few minutes' walk from the Jade Market.

As noted, since the locals believe jade brings good luck, you'll likely see many locals (especially the elderly) wearing rings, bangles, pendants, and earrings made from jade. If you get high-quality jade from some of the street's permanent shops, you might also receive a certificate that indicates the jewelry's grade. Jade Market is a beautiful place to buy various gifts and souvenirs. Many booths sell drawings, Chinese fans, trinkets, and swords. Yes, even those who may not be interested in purchasing jade stone might still find it worth their time to take a walk down Hong Kong's Jade Street Market.