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Foreign travel advice Indonesia
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Indonesia.
Foreign travel advice Romania
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 24 April 2024 Updated: 23 April 2024 Latest update: Information related to drug offences and Romanian music festivals (under 'Laws and cultural differences' subheading on the 'Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice The Gambia
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Ferry services between Banjul and Barra have been suspended until further notice; The Islamic Summit of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will be held in Banjul on 4-5 May; road closures and delays at Banjul International Airport ('Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice China
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Updated information on flooding (‘Safety and security’ page).
Guidance Living in South Korea
Information for British citizens moving to or living in South Korea, including guidance on residency, healthcare, driving and more.
Announcement of Service Innovation Pilot Programmes
On 14 February 2016, China’s State Council announced its plan to conduct pilot programmes for the innovative development of services in 10 cities and 5 new zones under direct control of the central government (“state-level zones”) over the next 2 years.
The 10 cities are Tianjin, Shanghai, Hainan, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Suzhou and Weihai, while the 5 new state-level zones are Harbin, Jiangbei (in Nanjing), Liangjiang (in Chongqing), Gui’an (in Guizhou) and Xixian (in Shaanxi).
One of the programmes involves the extension of preferential tax policies to advanced technological service enterprises (ATSEs) within the pilot areas. The scope of enterprises entitled to the 15% Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate (reduced from the standard 25% rate) will be expanded beyond service outsourcing enterprises to include other high-tech and high value added service sectors as well. These enterprises are also allowed to use the 8% (of total employee expenses) deduction threshold for employee education expenses (under the CIT law, deductions for these expenses are generally limited to 2.5% of total employee expenses).
Apart from preferential tax policies, the government also offers other financial and administrative support such as financial subsidies for enterprises providing research and development (R&D), energy-saving, environmental protection and environmental services, which are urgently needed by China. Hence, service or trade enterprises that qualify for such government support should take advantage of it from financial and cost-efficiency perspectives.