Hong Kong International Finance Centre Building

Posted on September 18, 2010 by admin



Within the myriad of skyscrapers and soaring buildings distributed on the islands, the International Finance Centre is the tallest building in Hong Kong. The International Finance Centre, which is branded as “IFC”, is an integrated commercial development on the famous waterfront area of Hong Kong’s Central District.

To be the tallest building in Hong Kong is of course, an international prestige, and the sheer size and height makes it a very prominent landmark on the Island. The International Finance Centre boasts of grandeur and splendor as it stands out from all the other tall buildings in the city.

IFC basically consists of two skyscrapers. Tower One consists of the IFC mall and the forty-storey Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. The 88 storey Tower Two International Finance Centre is the tallest building in Hong Kong, usurping the place that was once occupied by the infamous Central Plaza.

The complex was developed by a consortium lead by Sun Hung Kai Properties & MTR Corporation. In addition, the Airport Express Station Central is directly beneath it, providing more convenient transportation especially for traveling businessmen.

The One International Finance Centre was completed in 1998 and opened in 1999. Its height is 210 meters, has a 38-storey building with a four-floor trading, 18 high speed passenger lifts in 4 zones, and comprises 784,000 square feet, or approximately 72,850 square meters. The building currently accommodates approximately 5,000 people.

Of the two skyscrapers that make up the International Finance Center building, the Two International Finance Centre is the tallest building in the city. It was designed by Cesar Pelli and completed in 2003. Its height measures approximately at 415 meters. It has 88 storeys, which is an extremely auspicious number for the Cantonese culture.

True to its name it contains twenty-two high-ceiling trading floors. The Monetary Authority (HKMA) is located at the 55th floor. The whole complex is equipped with state of the art telecommunications, raised floors for flexible cabling management, and nearly column-free floor plans. The building expects to accommodate up to 15,000 people, when all offices and floors are fully occupied.

Due to Cantonese culture and beliefs, the 88 storeys of the building may not be exactly eighty-eight (88). Why? Because of superstitious reasons, “taboo floors” like 14 and 24 are omitted because these numbers, according to Cantonese culture, sound like “definitely die” and “easy to die” respectively.

The top floor of the Two IFC is only slightly higher than Hong Kong city’s landmark, the Peak. Two IFC is the third tallest building in the Greater China region and the 6th tallest office building in the world.

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Books on Business, Law and Finance

Posted on September 13, 2010 by admin



There are many different categories when it comes to the areas of business, law & finance. These would include accounting, careers, economics, management, personal finance, professional finance, sales & marketing and even small business & entrepreneurship. Each one of these sub-categories has their own rules and obstacles that you need to face and overcome. But, you may be wondering:

o What types of books can I find about these categories?
o Are there books on biographies and the history of business, law & finance?
o Can I get information on e-commerce?

You can get all of this information and so much more. You will find that there are also books available for reference and education as well. A few examples are Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer, Outliers: The Story of Success, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism and O C R Law for A S. These are all available plus many more for your educational and knowledge purpose. Of course, there are great authors that you can look for as well such as Steven D. Levitt, Richard H. Thaler, Larry McDonald and Glen Hutton. They have each written material in what they specialize in.

Looking At Your Personal Finances

Personal finance has a wide range of topics that could be of interest to you. Of course, this could be for either personal use or if you are trying to get into a profession to help people. There are many books that are at your disposal to help you learn how to manage your money better. This could be to plan for your retirement, get out of debt or just to learn how to invest to make some extra money. This could leave you asking questions.

o How do I learn about financial planning?
o Is there a way to organize for retirement planning?
o What is the best way to learn about stocks and shares?

Then there are other topics in this field that may interest you as well. Several books that are available are The Intelligent Investor, The Richest Man in Babylon, The Naked Trader: How Anyone Can Make Money Trading Shares, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I Can Make You Rich and Currency Trading. These can all be great resources for information on learning how to do something in a specific field. They have all been written by authors that feel they have something special to say. Other authors that have written great material are John Maynard Keynes, Catherine Dawson, Roger Lowenstein and Barbara Rockefeller. They talk about property development and day trading as well.

The Many Faces of Law

Learning the law can seem like an endless road that never has a stop sign. However, there are a few specific categories that people are interested in when it comes to law. These include but are not limited to General AAS, English, International, European Union (EU), Scots Law and For the Layperson. Of course, you will also be able to find encyclopedias as well that can help with the definition of certain terms and aspects that have you stumped.

o What types of books can I find?
o There are several different ones that I can get?
o Are there people that I can talk to about the information available?

You may be wondering these things and many more. There are several different books that are available on this topic. These include but are not limited to The Idea of Justice, EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials, The English Legal System, Water Regulations Guide and A Q A Law for AS (A Level Law). There are also wonderful authors on these topics as well. These include Hughes, Jacqueline Martin, Guy Blundell and Nicholas J McBride. These are people that have experience in their field of choice.

As you can see, there is an extensive list of categories and sub-categories for each subject when it comes to the wonderful world of law. Whether you are new to the field, student or a professional, you can have the opportunity to be able to learn from others during a group discussion on a book that everyone has read.

This gives you the opportunity to be able to ask questions, give answers to something that you know and to just share your opinion on something that you have read. Being able to participate in a group discussion is the perfect opportunity to be able to learn from others and get answers to something that you may have not understood in the book. Getting the opportunity to participate like this is a great way for people to share. Think of it as a group study like you did in high school or college. It can be a lot of fun while at the same time you are getting the chance to learn from others and maybe even teach something that you know about as well.

It is also the perfect opportunity to be able to learn about other books that you can read in your field of choice. Once you read one of those, you may be able to once again join in on a group discussion about that one as well and repeat the entire learning process. This can actually make the learning process a lot easier and simpler. It can also become something that you enjoy and want to participate in on a regular basis.

Joining in on a book club can also bring you new friends. It is a great way to meet people that have the same type of interest that you do so you have something in common and something to talk about. Who knows, it could be the new dating service. So, with all of the questions that you probably have on your desired topic, consider speaking with others that may have some of the same questions as you and will have other questions that may be of interest to you and others as well. It could be a lot of fun.

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Business 101: Financing

Posted on September 13, 2010 by admin



So, you’ve finally decided to put that faith in yourself and you’re starting your own business. Perhaps you’ve got an idea that you’ve wanted to make into a reality for years, or perhaps you have just stumbled upon an opportunity you truly believe in. either way, the time has come to put your money where your mouth is, but the problem is that you don;t exactly have the money…yet. Applying for a business loan is the most common method of getting financing for your dreams, but though it is tempting to go for one of the many instant cash loans available you need to do your research, educate yourself about what’s out there and most importantly, manage to get the right loan product for your needs! Here are a few tips to help you out along the way…

Have a Detailed Business Plan

Like any investment (which is what a bank will be making if they agree to give you a loan), the more information you can provide about it, the safer they will feel putting their faith and their money in you. A bank wants proof that you are able to turn a profit from the business you’re proposing, or at the very least make enough money to cover the repayments you’ll owe them. The best thing to do is to put together a detailed outline of the way you plan to roll out your business and the steps that you’re going to take to achieve your goals. This is a valuable thing to have in any business whether or not financing is involved, because it is a way to stay on track with your objectives and to predict problems, challenges or opportunities that could arise before they do.

Collateral

Ideally you will be able to offset the loan against assets that you already own. Your house, (or the equity therein), your car and any other cash or assets that you have will be taken into consideration. It’s crucial that you weigh up your options and consider what you stand to lose should the business fail as well as its long term prospects so that you make wise decisions rather than decisions based on your immediate desire to bring in money.

History

A lot of business loan products will require you to have been in business for some time already. This is why many people feel they have no option other than to go with the easiest fast loan they can get their hands on, because it can seem otherwise impossible to get a foot in the door. The important thing to remember is that anything you borrow will have to be paid back and that you’ll have to do so under the conditions of the loan which may or may not be achievable. Always try to remain calm and objective about the decisions you make in this area–the heat of the moment dies off very quickly when the repayments start rolling around, and you don’t want to be stuck with a debt you can;t pay back. Always do your research and have a plan—and then a plan B!

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