Leading smart TV OS maker Whale TV opens R&D office in Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (October 31) that Whale TV, a leading smart TV operating system (OS) maker from Singapore, has officially opened its R&D (research and development) office in Hong Kong.
Whale TV's Hong Kong office will spearhead the research and development in cloud computing and Web3 technologies, delivering more personalised entertainment experiences for users while boosting monetisation and return on investment for TV brands, advertisers and content providers. The Hong Kong team will work on advanced technology projects such as decentralised identity authentication to strengthen user privacy and engagement.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, "We are thrilled to welcome Whale TV setting up an R&D office in Hong Kong. It is an encouraging endorsement of our world-class I&T (innovation and technology) and entertainment ecosystem. The focus on cutting-edge technologies like AI and Web3 aligns perfectly with Hong Kong's strategic goals, and we are confident that our city's unique advantages will provide the ideal base for their global innovation."
The Executive Chairman of Whale TV, Dr Jack Gao, said, "Hong Kong's strategic geographical location, robust intellectual property protection, unwavering government support for Web3, and deep talent pool in fintech provide a solid foundation for Whale TV to build its innovative entertainment solutions for our next generation. Furthermore, the city gathers top technical talents and research institutions from around the world, facilitating partnerships with top-tier R&D teams and integrating seamlessly with the international technology ecosystem."
Dr Gao added, "Hong Kong will be one of our company's international hubs, and we will actively explore market opportunities across Asia and the Middle East. To support the growth of our business in Asia, we may consider expanding our Hong Kong team beyond R&D to include more product, marketing, and sales professionals in the future."
Since its establishment in 2011, Whale TV partnered with over 400 global TV brands and has enabled more than 44 million monthly active households worldwide to discover, search and watch their favourite entertainment programmes. As an independent smart TV OS, Whale TV is driving innovation to build a unified smart TV ecosystem that connects consumers, TV brands, content providers and advertisers.
For more information about Whale TV, please visit: www.whaletv.com
To download photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720329959798/
Leading smart TV OS maker Whale TV opens R&D office in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Leading smart TV OS maker Whale TV opens R&D office in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
