Pru plots move to Hong Kong

[DodgyAgent]

Import taxes on sales from jurisdictions that have very different taxes/labour rates/laws.

Anybody who is big enough exporters would need to incorporate in relevant country and pay relevant taxes.

After that if they want to move to Asia because their main market is Asia then fair enough, but if they want to be in cheap zone but sell back to where they left then they should not gain any advantages.

Why not do it the other way round and make this country worth staying in or locating it to? What is with this "controlling mentality" - punishing businesses for leaving? Is this something from the Soviet era you cannot shake off. Companies have no obligation to anyone but their shareholders.

[BrilloPad]

Why not do it the other way round and make this country worth staying in or locating it to?

Absolutely! Geographically we are well sited - and our forefathers left us with rich legacies like the English Language and the centre of world time zone. But we should be a competitive world nation not because of our past - but what we can offer now and in the future. Instead of keeping the masses happy with premiership football.

[bobspud]

Why not do it the other way round and make this country worth staying in or locating it to? What is with this "controlling mentality" - punishing businesses for leaving? Is this something from the Soviet era you cannot shake off. Companies have no obligation to anyone but their shareholders.

How do we make it more enticing for them to stay? They probably pay less UK tax than most small businesses thanks to our tax system. They are protected by our laws (wouldn't bet any patents are honoured in China) , They can abuse the ICT system as much as they like. What do you think we could do to bend over more?

I think maybe it's time to let them go...

[doodab]

Companies have no obligation to anyone but their shareholders.

And that is the problem. They have the power to affect the lives of people and communities deeply, yet little in the way of obligations towards them. The moment one suggests they might have such an obligation they threaten to do a runner. If they were a parent or spouse they would be roundly condemned but because they are a faceless "legal" person they are venerated. This is ****ed up.

Let them walk. The short term pain will be worth the long term gain.

[TimberWolf]

I think maybe it's time to let them go...

Followed by a boot up the arse.

[doodab]

Followed by a boot up the arse.

WTWS

[sasguru]

It's a bit childish to get all het up about a company that does (or soon will do) most of its business in Asia to want to move there.
It's logical for them to do so and to want to avoid onerous European laws.

[eek]

It's a bit childish to get all het up about a company that does (or soon will do) most of its business in Asia to want to move there.
It's logical for them to do so and to want to avoid onerous European laws.

WSGS why should a company have to subject all its subsidiaries to rules that local companies would not have to follow. It would only make those subsidiaries totally uncompetitive.

[doodab]

It's a bit childish to get all het up about a company that does (or soon will do) most of its business in Asia to want to move there.
It's logical for them to do so and to want to avoid onerous European laws.

Exactly. So why should we concern ourselves with enticing them to stay?

[sasguru]

Exactly. So why should we concern ourselves with enticing them to stay?

Who said we should? As a shareholder, I would be happy if they went wherever they could prosper.
The world is a global place and presumably there would still be employment opportunities for people who wanted to live in HK