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| Past Events: Public Policy Forums |
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Policy Forum on Global Chaozhou People and the Belt and Road Initiative
31 May 2023 | Cho Yiu Conference Hall, CUHK & Zoom
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Welcoming Speeches
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Mr Michael Wong
Deputy Financial Secretary, HKSAR Government
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Mr Guoyi Zhang
Deputy Director,
Department of Publicity, Culture, and Sports Affairs,
Liaison Office of the Central People's Government
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Ms Xuezhu Wang
Vice Mayor, Shantou City
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Prof. Wai-yee Chan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Development), CUHK
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Dr Winnie Pui-shuen Ko
Chairlady, Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations
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Keynote Speeches:
Chaoshan People and the Construction of the Belt and Road Initiative
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Moderator: Prof. Leonard K. Cheng
President, Lingnan University
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Prof. Chack-fan Lee
Director, Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole;
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Hong Kong
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Prof. Chunsheng Chen
Secretary, Party Committee, Sun Yat-sen University
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Thematic Speech (1):
Building the Socio-Economic Network
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Moderator: Prof. Yuen-sang Leung
Former Dean of Arts, CUHK
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Prof. Takeshi Hamashita
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo, Japan
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Prof. Hong Liu
Associate Vice President, International (Liaison & Coordination),
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Prof. Pui-tak Lee
Distinguished Professor, Research Institute of Global Chinese and
Area Studies, Huaqiao University
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Thematic Speech (2):
Engaging in International Trade
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Moderator: Prof. Chi-pang Lau
Associate Vice-President
(Academic Affairs and External Relations), Lingnan University;
Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government
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Prof. Chi-cheung Choi
Adjunct Professor, Department of History, CUHK
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Prof. Gordon C. K. Cheung
Associate Professor, School of Government and International
Affairs, Durham University, United Kingdom
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Prof. Guanmian Xu
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Peking University
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Roundtable Session (1):
Hong Kong, Chaoshan, and Belt and Road:
Economic Development
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Moderator: Mr Yat-ming Kwok
Vice-President, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists
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Dr Simon Hoey Lee
Chief Strategy Officer, China Resources Group (Greater Bay Area);
Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government
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Dr Zhou Fang
Research Director, One Country Two Systems Research Institute
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Dr Victor Zheng
Associate Director (Executive), HKIAPS, CUHK
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Roundtable Session (2):
Hong Kong, Chaoshan, and Belt and Road:
People-to-People Bonds
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Moderator: Mr Kam-lam Chan
Honorary Chairman,
Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations
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Prof. Jian Wu
Vice-President, South China Normal University
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Dr Wing-man Ko
Non-Official Member, Executive Council, HKSAR Government;
Former Secretary for Food and Health, HKSAR Government
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Prof. Chak Yan Chang
Former Department Head,
Department of Government and Public Administration, CUHK
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Closing Remarks
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Prof. Fanny M. Cheung
Senior Advisor, Faculty of Social Science and HKIAPS, CUHK
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Dr Kai-yum Ma
Chief Supervisor,
Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations;
Chairman, Hong Kong and Kowloon Chiu Chow Public Association
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The Policy Forum on Global Chaozhou People and the Belt and Road Initiative was held at Cho Yiu Hall, CUHK on 31 May 2023, organized by the Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations and supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. 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, Chairlady of the Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations delivered the opening speeches.
The forum consists of a keynote session, two thematic sessions and two roundtable sessions. During the keynote session, Prof. Chack-fan Lee stated that the Chaoshan area is 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 example 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 Hoey 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 their 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 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. ■
Videos:
1. Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speeches
2. Thematic Speech (1)
3. Thematic Speech (2)
4. Roundtable Session (1)
5. Roundtable Session (2) and Closing Ceremony
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Organizer
Federation of Hong Kong Shantou Community Organizations
Supporter
Policy Research @ HKIAPS
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