CNN Launches New Show ‘On China’ Hosted By Kristie Lu Stout

‘On China’ premieres Wednesday October 17 at 5.30pm HKT and takes viewers inside the Chinese Communist Party, with insights from:

Hung Huang, influential Chinese media personality, respected publisher, blogger
Victor Gao, former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, English translator for Deng Xiaoping
John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator
Preview Video http://on.cnn.com/SVnMtW

HONG KONG, Oct. 16, 2012 significant leadership transition in decades, CNN today announces the launch of its first ever regular series focused on the country, the first by any international television news network. The new monthly show hosted by CNN correspondent and anchor Kristie Lu Stout provides viewers with a unique insider’s view of China from within its own borders.

CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout
Shot on location in Hong Kong at the historic Hullett House, in each 30-minute show Lu Stout sits down with thought and business leaders from within China’s borders for a roundtable discussion about what really drives this world power and economic giant.

With China’s leadership transition expected within a month, the first episode delves into the Chinese Communist Party, exploring how membership is obtained, factions within the party, the personality traits of China’s presumed next leader, and the impact of the ongoing Bo Xilai scandal. At the table helping to demystify the Chinese Communist Party is Hung Huang, a celebrated Chinese media personality and publisher brought up among China’s political elite, Victor Gao, a former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry and English translator for Deng Xiaoping and John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator.

“The world is watching China more than ever and our new show delivers in-depth, intelligent insights on its economic, political and cultural drivers,” said Mike McCarthy, Senior Vice President, CNN International. “We’re proud to be the first international news network to dedicate a regular show to China, enabling viewers within China’s borders and around the world to better understand the country and its people.”

“China is a country of dramatic change, political intrigue, and dynamic economic growth,” added Kristie Lu Stout, CNN anchor/correspondent and host of’On China’. “I’ve been writing and reporting about China since the late 1990s, and the nation continues to fascinate me. I’m excited to host a regular discussion on current affairs and trends inside China.”

The November episode of’On China’looks at the growing strength of Chinese consumerism and in December, the show focuses on Chinese exploration.

Excerpts from the first episode of’On China’: Inside the Chinese Communist Party

Hung Huang, Chinese media personality, well-known publisher and blogger:

“With the advance of technology and the Internet I think that people know a lot more about the party than actually it was willing to let people know. And the party also knows, through the Internet and Weibo, a lot more about how people feel about the party than it probably wants to know. So I think, given that interaction happening, you’re pushing the party toward some kind of reform or game-changer.”

“The Chinese, some of us… kind of live with the idea that the Cultural Revolution is a thing of the past, that no one in China will be crazy enough to go the populist route. To recreate a political movement that turns the country upside down, so much suffering, so much unbelievable destruction of culture and wealth… but the Bo Xilai thing seem to have hit a very sensitive note in the Chinese memory and psyche to say that actually, people actually are thinking about taking that route – and that is really scary.”

“The young people, they are very independent-thinking, they are not particularly enamored, especially after 2008, with an American style political system. I think that chapter has definitely turned its page.”

Victor Gao, former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry and English translator for Deng Xiaoping:

“Many people from outside of China tend to look at the Communist Party of China as a monolithic group of people. But in reality, it is not. First of all, personalities do matter. Secondly, these so-called political camps do exist. You have these people in higher positions, which belong to different traditions. You have different mentors, you have different associations.”

“If you look at China over the past 30 years in a dynamic way you are confident, you have the optimism; you have the hope that tomorrow China will be better than today because today China is better than yesterday.”

“I think that the Communist Party of China will remain the ruling party for many years – if not for many decades – to come. However, that doesn’t mean that there will be no increasing amount of democracy or democratic participation… It may not be the same as in the United States or in Britain or in European countries etc, it will be very much of Chinese characteristics and that will set China apart from other developed countries for decades to come.”

John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator:

“We’re entering a new period of uncharted waters, where China’s facing, going to face an enormous amount of challenges. Challenges from very charismatic and populist figures like Bo Xilai, challenges from the bottom up, for people demanding more predictability in their lives, a legal system that will protect their property, a good school for their kids, clean or at least trustable food for their children, clean air to breathe… I think politics will now be very important. And how new leadership deals with politics is going to be enormous.”

“It’s not simply a meritocracy. If your parents are Communist Party members and have a certain amount of connections to the center, chances are you are going to be in the party regardless of your… school studies.”

“The party understands now that the people… want to participate, but the party is struggling to give them a voice while at the same time maintaining total control.”

Airtimes for’On China’

First Episode: Inside the Chinese Communist Party
Wednesday, October 17 at 1730 HKT
Saturday, October 20 at 1230 HKT
Sunday, October 21 at 1930 HKT
Saturday, October 27 at 1930 HKT
Sunday, October 28 at 1230 HKT

Second Episode: Chinese Consumerism
*Note that from November onwards the show will air one hour later due to the time change in the U.S.
Wednesday, November 21 at 1830 HKT
Saturday, November 24 at 1330 HKT
Sunday, November 25 at 2130 HKT
Saturday, December 1 at 2130 HKT
Sunday, December 2 at 1330 HKT

Third Episode: Chinese Exploration
Wednesday, December 19 at 1830 HKT
Saturday, December 22 at 1330 HKT
Sunday, December 23 at 2130 HKT
Saturday, December 29 at 2130 HKT
Sunday, December 30 at 1330 HKT

Related Links:
Twitter: #CNNOnChina

CNN is the world’s leading global 24-hour news network and one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. The CNN brand is available to two billion people via 18 CNN branded TV, internet and mobile services produced by CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc and a Time Warner company. CNN International is the international directorate of CNN Worldwide and distributes news via 14 services in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 280 million households and hotel rooms in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, including over 44 million across the Asia Pacific region and online at http://www.cnn.com/international.

Get the latest social media updates from CNN at:
facebook.com/cnninternational
@cnnasiapr

Follow Kristie Lu Stout at:
@klustout
facebook.com/KristieLuStout
gplus.to/klustout

SOURCE CNN International

Panerai Opens Exclusive Exhibition in Honour of 10th Anniversary of LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique

HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ — Fine Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai celebrates a decade of success for its LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique in Hong Kong on October 3 with the opening of a week-long exclusive exhibition of iconic Panerai timepieces from the past 10 years. The Panerai LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique was the brand’s first boutique in Asia when it opened in 2002 and was the second worldwide after the historic Panerai boutique in Florence, Italy.

10th Anniversary of LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique Exhibition
The exhibition, which will be opened to the public at the Landmark Atrium in Central until October 9, was unveiled to a selection of VIPs, business partners and media from the Asia Pacific Region with a cocktail, followed by a private dinner at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana under the ministrations of the celebrity chef Umberto Bombana, the only Italian 3 Michelin Stars Chef outside Italy and a veritable ambassador of Italian taste and culture worldwide.
The display of 48 exclusive timepieces was made possible by the generosity of private collectors who selflessly shared their prized timepieces for the exhibition, thereby presenting a rare and exclusive opportunity for visitors to admire these remarkable pieces of innovation under one roof in Hong Kong.
Visitors who stepped within the three-sided semi-transparent walls surrounding the central booth innovatively shaped like a Luminor case were immediately transported to Panerai’s world of Italian heritage and design. The top of the booth shows the iconic simple Luminor dial with Super-LumiNova® effects on the hour indices.
The 48 iconic timepieces are housed within two double-sided showcases divided into four different zones located at each linear hour index. The outer faces of all 8 showcases are also lit by the glow of Super-LumiNova® effects. The four zones reflect the brand’s fundamental values, the authenticity, exclusivity and rarity of its products and the brand’s outstanding identity that embodies a unique mix of classic Italian design and innovative Swiss technology and craftsmanship.
Zone A — History enables visitors to step into Officine Panerai’s rich Italian heritage with 12 vintage pieces including the Radiomir – 47mm (PAM00021) and the Mare Nostrum – 52mm (PAM00300).
The Radiomir — 47mm was Panerai’s first special edition timepiece after the brand’s acquisition by the Richemont group in 1997. The timepiece was a re-edition of the first Radiomir produced in 1938 and was the first to carry the Radiomir name. Introduced in 2010, the Mare Nostrum — 52mm was a special re-edit of the chronograph that had originally been designed as a deck officer’s watch for the Italian Navy in 1943.
Zone B — Exclusivity celebrates some of the most exclusive pieces in the past decade and includes the Luminor Marina Militare — 47mm (PAM00217) and the rare Luminor Marina — 44mm (PAM00412) among the exhibited 18 timepieces.
The Luminor Marina Militare — 47mm (PAM00217) is the first Panerai left-handed timepiece with a Luminor 1950 case, a special edition highly sought after by collectors. Also, the Luminor Marina – 44mm (PAM00412) is a boutique special edition created for and only available in Panerai’s Hong Kong boutiques. The caseback is personalized with the intricate engraving of the Hong Kong skyline featuring the Bank of China Tower in the foreground.
Zone C — Technicality pays tribute to Panerai’s sophisticated movements with 9 technical timepieces that include the Luminor Submersible 1950 Amagnetic 3 Days Automatic Titanio — 47mm (PAM00389) as well as the L’Astronomo — Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Oro Bianco — 50mm (PAM0036502).
Part of the Contemporary Collection, the Luminor Submersible 1950 Amagnetic 3 Days Automatic Titanio (PAM00389) is powered by the in-house automatic P.9000 calibre and is the latest novelty of the Italian brand, presented for the first time in the Asia Pacific Region. The special construction of the titanium case makes it remarkably resistant to magnetic fields and the case was inspired by the models made by the Panerai for the Egyptian navy in the 1950s. The L’Astronomo (PAM0036502) is the most complicated wristwatch ever created by Panerai. Fitted with the in-house hand-wound mechanical P.2005/G movement, the watch was created as a tribute to Galileo Galilei and features the Tourbillon function, tailor made with a sky chart, sunrise and sunset indicators and equation of time.
Zone D — Innovation features groundbreaking developments in special materials exemplified by 9 models, including the Radiomir Composite Marina Militare 8 Giorni — 47mm (PAM00339) and the Radiomir 8 Days GMT Oro Rosso — 45mm (PAM00395).
The Panerai Composite is formed through a complex process of plasma micro-arcs ceramisation that results in a unique material that guarantees comfort, great aesthetics, lightness and resistance to knocks, scratches and high temperatures. The Red Gold for the casing of the PAM00395 was only introduced by Panerai in 2012 and is the 5NPt, a special alloy that holds an unusually high percentage of copper and platinum, thus giving it both depth of color as well as preventing oxidation.
The last highlight of the exhibition is the special display of the creation of the Radiomir case in Ceramic, which had previously been displayed at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2012 earlier this year, to reveal once again the Panerai commitment to research innovative and performing new materials.
To date, Panerai has 46 of boutiques around the world, 17 of which are in the Asia Pacific region.
The exhibition, which is exclusive only to Hong Kong, is open to the public from 11:00 to 22:00 daily until October 9th, 2012.
Exhibition: 10th Anniversary of LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique Exhibition
Venue: Landmark Atrium
Location: G/F, The Landmark, 16 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
Date: October 3rd – 9th 2012
Time: 11:00 to 22:00

Free admission
For more information, please contact LANDMARK PRINCE’S Boutique: +852-2522-9373.
Source: Officine Panerai

The Peninsula Hotels Revitalizes its Brand with New Global Marketing Campaign, Flagship Renovation and Pioneering New Guestroom Technology

‘Peninsula Moments’ showcases hotels and destinations in a glamorous new light; The Peninsula Hong Kong unveils dramatic new interior design and technology concept
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — The Peninsula Hotels, Asia’s oldest hotel brand, today ushered in a new era with three landmark debuts, the launch of “Peninsula Moments”, a new multi-million-dollar global brand campaign, the new PenCities online travel journal and a HK$450 million revitalization of its flagship hotel, The Peninsula Hong Kong, featuring advanced in-room technology that will set new standards of guest personalization.

New look unveiled – Grand Deluxe Harbour View Suite, The Peninsula Hong Kong
Peninsula Moments
Conceived and developed in house, the global campaign showcases the magic that The Peninsula brings to its guests using photography, video and behind-the-scenes footage, with each image and scene telling a story. Moments and memories to remember, each reflecting an authentic sense of destination, are brought to life with images of stunning architecture, thoughtful service and the genuine desire of Peninsula staff to showcase the very best of their cities.
“As one of the world’s oldest hotel groups, Peninsula icons throughout our hotels showcase the brand’s heritage, personal service and continued commitment to inspire, surprise and delight, and these new images and videos capture this spirit perfectly,” said Peter C. Borer, Chief Operating Officer.
Audiences can see Peninsula Moments in print, online and tablet versions of top luxury, lifestyle, travel and business magazines worldwide beginning in September. The first in a series of 10 90-second films was unveiled today on YouTube showcasing the flagship Peninsula Hong Kong. Subsequent films to be released from September 2012 through March 2013 will transport viewers to each of the nine cities where Peninsula has hotels.
To capture “Peninsula Moments,” Peninsula tapped Russel Wong, a Singapore-based photographer known for his celebrity portraits and his photography for major motion pictures such as Underworld, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero and The House of Flying Daggers.
“I wanted it to appear very narrative, almost like scenes from a movie,” said Wong. “I tried to inject a romantic notion into the overall campaign, and hopefully it’s all uniquely Peninsula.”
Complementing the still photography are the films produced by Ridley Scott Associates and directed by Jean-Claude Thibaut and Antony Crook, whose previous work has included videos for Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Boss. Each film evokes a sense of destination and luxury, inspiring the viewer to see Peninsula destinations as never before through scenery and music.
“My main objective was to amaze the audience with real stories and authentic moments to capture the overall magic of The Peninsula Hotels, fueled by the staff’s genuine desire to inspire, with their unique approach to their work giving an original view on each city,” said Thibaut.
Peninsula fans can go behind the scenes of each shoot by connecting with the brand at http://www.peninsula.com/moments, YouTube and on each hotel’s Facebook page. “The Making of Peninsula Moments” tells the story of each scene through photos, videos and interviews that highlight what makes Peninsula unique.
PenCities Online Luxury Lifestyle Journal
Travelers planning a visit to any Peninsula destination can access insider travel and lifestyle information in the new PenCities, a new online luxury lifestyle journal making its debut today at http://www.peninsula.com. Developed exclusively for The Peninsula Hotels by LUXE City Guides, PenCities presents a selection of insider recommendations covering the latest openings, restaurants, galleries, bars, classic favorites, special events, seasonal celebrations and smart things to do in each of The Peninsula Hotels’ cities worldwide, plus emerging new luxury lifestyle and travel trends.
The Peninsula Hong Kong HK$450 Million Renovation
Also today, Peninsula’s legendary flagship hotel, The Peninsula Hong Kong, unveiled the first phase of its landmark HK$450 million room enhancement program, featuring a stunning new interior design and pioneering guest technology.
“Today, we’re celebrating both the re-launch of an icon, as well as cementing this hotel’s place firmly in the future,” said Peter Borer. “Innovation is part of The Peninsula’s DNA, and the guest-focused technology we are unveiling will elevate guest stays to a whole new echelon of experiential luxury.”
Conceived by the in-house design team of The Peninsula Hotels, assisted by Gettys interior design, the new rooms and suites feature a bespoke luxury aesthetic that references the glamour of private yachts, motorcars and jets. Simple details and custom-made Cassina furnishings work in elegant synchronization — from streamlined entertainment centers to the beige leather-finish and glossy patina of walnut writing desks and vanity tables with retractable illuminated mirrors — discerning guests have everything they need at their fingertips.
Complementing the glamorous bespoke furnishings of its rooms is the next generation of in-room technology, enabling new standards of guest personalization. Renowned for its pioneering technology, Peninsula introduces its next generation of intuitive in-room enhancements, which include:
Interactive digital touch-screen tablets pre-set in one of five languages: English, French, Traditional and Simplified Chinese and Japanese, allowing guests to personalize all room controls, signage and information to their preferred language.
Full control of all in-room functions via bedside and desk tablets and wall panels, enabling access to the guest compendium of in-room dining menus, hotel services, streaming television, Internet TV and radio, mood lighting, curtains, temperature and more.
Complimentary long-distance VOIP phone calls from guest rooms and from the hotel’s Rolls-Royce fleet.
Advanced audio-visual center in each guest room featuring a 46-inch flat-screen, Blu-ray LED television — with a 55-inch model in all suites, Internet TV, iPod/iPad docking station, memory-card reader and soundbar speaker system delivering surround-sound experience.
Wireless connection to personal electronic devices and to the all-in-one printer/photocopier/scanner/fax, enables the seamless functionality of a home office
Signature marble bathrooms with LED touch-screen panels located on the wall and bath-side, enable viewing of terrestrial and Internet TV and radio and Spa button delivering a luxurious, integrated light and sound experience for indulgent relaxation.
For more information on Peninsula Moments or The Peninsula Hong Kong, please visit The Peninsula Hotels’ new Media Room on http://www.peninsula.com/mediaroom and connect at The Peninsula Hong Kong’s Facebook page.
About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of transport, club management and other services. The hotel portfolio of the Group comprises The Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manila and Paris (opening in 2013). The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and The Peak Tramways, St. John’s Building, The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ms Sian Griffiths
Director of Communications
The Peninsula Hotels
Tel: (852) 2840 7239
Fax: (852) 2840 7499
E-mail: siangriffiths@peninsula.com
Website: http://www.peninsula.com
Source: The Peninsula Hotels