SSPS organises Policy Dialogue Series 2023-24 to spotlight critical social issues

The Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) and the Academy of Hong Kong Studies (AHKS) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), in cooperation with the Division of Public Policy of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), will be hosting the sixth annual Policy Dialogue Series. A total of five talks will be held throughout the 2023/24 academic year under the theme: “Hong Kong into a New Future: Reflect, Renew and Invigorate”. The two universities have co-hosted the Policy Dialogue Series since 2018/19 academic year.

Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, former Secretary for Transport and Housing (2012-17) and President of the then Hong Kong Institute of Education (2008-12), the predecessor of EdUHK, and now Advisor (Public Administration) at EdUHK and Adjunct Professor at HKUST, and Professor Lui Tai-lok, former Vice President (Research and Development) of EdUHK (2016-2021), and now Adjunct Research Chair Professor of Hong Kong Studies at EdUHK, will host the series of talks. In each talk, the two distinguished professors will be joined by other speakers in relevant fields to explore the critical issues and public policy challenges Hong Kong faces. The interactive series welcomes members from both EdUHK and HKUST communities and any members of the public concerned about Hong Kong’s future.

The inaugural talk titled “Hong Kong’s Economic Challenges and Opportunities: Human and Financial Capital, Innovation and Technology” was held on 28 October 2023 at HKUST. It was held with the background that Hong Kong’s post-Covid economic rebound has been somewhat lacklustre contrary to expectations. The views were that the less-than satisfactory recovery was partly due to the sluggish economic situation worldwide and partly the troubles on the mainland where the bursting of the real estate bubble and weakening investment and consumption moods were inducing a slowdown. The city’s aspirations to diversify its economic base, including grooming an innovation and technology hub, also face challenges in human and financial capital supply amid adverse geopolitics.

In the first talk, Professor Cheung and Professor Lui were joined by Professor Sung Yun-wing, an Adjunct Professor from the Economics Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and Dr Wendy Hong-wen, a Legislative Council member for the Election Committee constituency, to discuss how Hong Kong should re-strategise to meet new challenges and grasp new opportunities.

In the second talk “Hong Kong in Greater Bay Area: Pioneer or Follower?” held on 18 November 2023, Professor Cheung and Professor Lui were joined by Professor Wu Xun, Professor at the Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship Thrust at the Society Hub of HKUST (Guangzhou), and Professor Tang Heiwai, Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics from the Business School of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to discuss how Hong Kong, a major hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), can gain further strength in economic and social innovation and avoid becoming merely a “follower”.

All five sessions of the dialogue series will be held in-person at the Council Chamber Foyer, Room 7337 (Lift 13-15), Academic Building of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Livestream on Zoom and Facebook will also be available.

Details of the five scheduled sessions: