Events

In the 2022 Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee echoes the point made by President Xi Jinping that “Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive” (青年興則香港興). The government aims to assist young people in overcoming hurdles in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and home ownership. It will also encourage youth participation. Yet, according to a survey conducted by the Youth I.D.E.A.S think tank of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (report, July 2022), only 37.9% of the youth respondents are optimistic about their own prospects and 46.9% are pessimistic about the future development of Hong Kong. Does the government have a good grasp of what our young people care and are worried about? How can we give hope to them so that they have something to strive for?

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) is the organizer of the seminar "Trafficking Data: How China is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty". The seminar is presented by Professor Aynne KOKAS and moderated by Professor Masaru YARIME on Friday, 9th December 2022. Everyone is welcome to join us via Zoom.

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) is the proud co-organizer of the Data for Policy conference in the Asia region this year. The conference will take place at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Venue: Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study Lo Ka Chung Building) on Monday, 5^th December 2022.

No-one would dispute the need to protect our ecological environment and achieve sustainable development. At the same time, there are growing social and economic demands for expanding development in housing, transport, and other public infrastructures. Balancing development and environment often involves a tradeoff. Reclamation, and using lands within green belt zones and at the fringe of country parks, or even part of the Fanling golf club, for housing development are highly controversial. Are we caught in an irreconcilable dilemma?

Hong Kong is caught in a conundrum where its Covid regime seems neither here nor there—not stringent enough for reopening to the mainland and too stringent for reconnecting to the world. A policy breakthrough is needed otherwise the city risks losing its vibrancy and international competitiveness. Hence the newly relaxed “0+3” requirement for inbound visitors is a much-welcomed step forward. But is it enough? Is an endgame in sight?

Organizer: Division of Public Policy (PPOL)

HKUST PPOL is organizing an online info session about our taught postgraduate programs (MPM & MPP) and the HKUST Public Policy Fellowship Program. 

The webinar is jointly organised by The Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education (LAPP), and The Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

As emerging separatism became a significant concern of the central government, a 'return of hearts' and establishing a Chinese national identity became top priorities in addition to national security. Nevertheless, is 'identity' the root of political polarization and confrontation in recent years, or is it instead a framed articulation of various socioeconomic grievances and anxieties? On 30 April 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. LOH, and Mr. TSANG, who are experienced participants in Hong Kong's pre-1998 transition and post-1997 governance, sought to unravel the critical issues and myths

In addition to courses, one major component of the MPP program is the Client-based Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE), a capstone module. PAE is an eight-month. PAE is an eight-month-long project in which second-year students work in teams of three to five people on challenges, issues, and problems facing real-world organizations. Supervised by faculty members and mentors from client organizations, students will apply the knowledge and skills that they have learned to analyze policy issues, develop solutions and produce professional reports for the client organizations.

Recently, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) became an important subject that attracts great attention from all sectors across society. The “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” designates five strategic positioning of the region: a vibrant world-class city cluster; a globally influential international innovation and technology hub; an important support pillar for the Belt and Road initiative; a showcase for in-depth cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, and a quality cycle for living, working, and traveling. On 19 March 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. LOW, and Prof. TANG discussed how Hong Kong could leverage its institutional advantages and unique resources in utilizing the GBA platform to facilitate economic transformation and shape a more promising future.

The LAPP Distinguished Lecture "Singapore's experience living with Covid: Policy lessons for Hong Kong?" explains the differences in approaching the public health crisis among the two cities. 

PPOL is organizing an online info session for admission to 2022-23 cohort. Our faculty members will introduce to you our taught postgraduate programs (MPM & MPP) and the related admission information.

According to the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, Housing in Hong Kong has since 2010 been the least affordable among the world’s major metropolitan housing markets. Its house price-to-income ratio is 20.7, three times higher than Singapore’s. The deteriorating housing affordability has led to lengthy debates across society. The government has also attempted to manage demand and increase land supply. However, a tremendous gap between demand and supply remains. Is unaffordable housing in Hong Kong caused by the shortage of land, planning restrictions, or community politics? Is Singapore’s experience applicable to Hong Kong? On 19 February 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. LOW, and Dr. WONG shared their views and offered prospective solutions to the problem

COVID-19 is not only the most savage health crisis in a century, but it also poses a devastating threat to the global economy. Two years after the outbreak, there is still no consensus about the optimal solution to the pandemic. Nevertheless, some societies in Asia and Oceania have apparently performed better than other places in controlling the disease. Recently, as mass vaccination has been accomplished in several countries, “co-existence” rather than “zero-tolerance” has been adopted as an exit strategy. On 15 January 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. FUNG, and Prof. WU offered policy suggestions, comparing the performances of anti-COVID strategies between Hong Kong and the rest of the world.