Policy Forum on Global Chaozhou People and the Belt and Road Initiative
(全球潮人與一帶一路國際學術政策論壇)

31 May 2023   |   Cho Yiu Conference Hall, CUHK & Online

Speakers

Welcome Speeches

Mr Michael Wong
Deputy Financial Secretary, HKSAR Government

Mr Guoyi Zhang
Deputy Director,
Department of Publicity, Culture, and Sports Affairs,
Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government

Ms Xuezhu Wang
Vice Mayor, Shantou City

Prof. Wai-yee Chan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Development), CUHK

Dr Winnie P. S. Ko
Chairlady, Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations

Keynote Speeches: Chaoshan People and the Construction of the Belt and Road Initiative

Prof. Leonard K. Cheng (Moderator)
Former President, Lingnan University

Prof. Chack-fan Lee
Director, Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole;
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor,The University of Hong Kong

Prof. Chunsheng Chen
Secretary, Party Committee,
Sun Yat-sen University

Thematic Speech (1): Building the Socio-economic Network

Prof. Yuen-sang Leung (Moderator)
Former Dean of Arts, CUHK

Prof. Takeshi Hamashita
Professor in History,
Sun Yat-sen University

Prof. Hong Liu
Associate Vice President, International (Liaison & Coordination),
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Prof. Pui-tak Lee
Distinguished Professor,
Research Institute of Global Chinese and Area Studies,
Huaqiao University, China

Thematic Speech (2): Engaging in International Trade

Prof. Chi-pang Lau (Moderator)
Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations),
Lingnan University; Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government

Prof. Chi-cheung Choi
Adjunct Professor,
Department of History, CUHK

Prof. Gordon C. K. Cheung
Associate Professor,
School of Government and International Affairs,
Durham University, United Kingdom

Prof. Guanmian Xu
Assistant Professor,
Department of History, Peking University

Roundtable Session (1): Hong Kong, Chaoshan, and Belt and Road: Economic Development

Mr Yat-ming Kwok (Moderator)
Vice-President, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists

Dr Simon H. Lee
Chief Strategy Officer, China Resources Group (Greater Bay Area);
Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government

Dr Zhou Fang
Research Director, One Country Two Systems Research Institute

Dr Victor Zheng
Associate Director (Executive), HKIAPS, CUHK

Roundtable Session (2): Hong Kong, Chaoshan, and Belt and Road: People-to-People Bonds

Mr Kam-lam Chan (Moderator)
Honorary Chairman,
Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations

Prof. Jian Wu
Vice-President, South China Normal University

Dr Wing-man Ko
Non-Official Member, Executive Council, HKSAR Government;
Former Secretary for Food and Health, HKSAR Government

Prof. Chak-yan Chang
Former Department Head,
Department of Government and Public Administration, CUHK

Closing Remarks

Prof. Fanny M. Cheung
Honorary Senior Advisor , HKIAPS & Faculty of Social Science, CUHK

Dr Kai-yum Ma
Chief Supervisor, Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations;
Chairman, Hong Kong and Kowloon Chiu Chow Public Association

The Policy Forum on Global Chaozhou People and the Belt and Road Initiative was held at Cho Yiu Hall, CUHK on 31 May 2023. It was organized by the Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations and supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (HKIAPS). The Forum brought together domestic and international academics and politicians to discuss the relationship between the Chaozhou people and the Belt and Road Initiative from the perspectives of construction, socio-economics, trade, and people’s livelihoods. It also offered suggestions and recommendations for the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr Michael Wong, Deputy Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government; Mr Guoyi Zhang, Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity, Culture, and Sports Affairs of the LOCPG; Ms Xuezhu Wang, Vice Mayor of Shantou; Prof. Wai-yee Chan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Developments) of CUHK, and Dr Winnie Ko Pui-shuen, Chair of the Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations, delivered the opening speeches.

The Forum consisted of a keynote session, two thematic sessions, and two roundtable sessions. During the keynote session, Prof. Chack-fan Lee stated that the Chaoshan area was one of the important starting points of the Maritime Silk Road. He also emphasized the importance of the global Chaoshan community for the Belt and Road Initiative. To illustrate this, he explained the “five areas of connectivity” outlined in the Initiative’s blueprint. Furthermore, Prof. Chunsheng Chen highlighted the significance of the network built by the Maritime Silk Road and the advantageous geographical location of Chaozhou in maritime trade. He mentioned that this location could bring more opportunities for international trade to the people of Chaoshan, thereby cultivating the area’s excellent maritime trading tradition.

In the first thematic session, Prof. Takeshi Hamashita introduced the history of Chaoshan merchants based on the Chaozhou Chronicles compiled by Jao Tsung-i. He also analysed the trade relations between Shantou Port and other countries. In the following panel session, Prof. Hong Liu discussed Qiaopi trading and the Southeast Asia network of Chinese merchants based in Singapore; and Prof. Pui-tak Lee examined the history of Chaozhou merchants in Hong Kong’s financial industry, along with the examples of Liu Po Shan and Liu Chong Hing Bank.

In the second thematic session, Prof. Chi-cheung Choi explained a trade network that emerged from rice trading in Southeast Asia, which links up Chaoshan merchants in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Shantou. Following Prof. Choi, Prof. Gordon C. K. Cheung discussed the relationship between the Chaoshan people and the shark fin industry in the context of Hong Kong, and the challenges that they face, while Prof. Guanmian Xu shared his research on the development of the Chaoshan sugar industry and its trading network since the 18th century, which covers the entire mainland of China.

A total of three discussants participated in the first roundtable session. Dr Simon H. Lee began the session by providing background information on the Belt and Road Initiative and shared his personal views on the development of economic and trade strategies arising from that initiative. Meanwhile, Dr Zhou Fang investigated the importance and urgency of the strategic development of the Belt and Road Initiative in the context of China’s modernization and upheavals in international relations. Last, Dr Victor Zheng described the development of the Belt and Road Initiative based on the Global Competitiveness Index designed by the World Economic Forum.

In the last roundtable session where three discussants participated, Prof. Jian Wu shared the history and advantages of Hong Kong and Chaoshan in fostering people-to-people bonds in Southeast Asia, whereas Dr Wing-man Ko reflected on his personal work experiences and participation in activities in Chaoshan to explore how the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative could be achieved. Last, Prof. Chak Yan Chang underscored the importance of geography and resource development in Chaoshan, which has led to the development of flourishing industries in sugar, dried seafood, and spices in the region.

In the closing ceremony, Prof. Fanny M. Cheung, expressed gratitude towards the experts, academics, and guests who attended this Forum. She believes that research on cultural and economic development, as well as discussions on policies, will have a significant impact on the relevant areas. Dr Kai-yum Ma also expressed his aspiration for future cooperation with society, particularly with academia, to contribute to the success of the Chaoshan people and the Belt and Road Initiative based on the principles of interconnection, extensive consultations, and joint contributions.

About 300 participants attended the Forum.■