News & Announcements

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (SCMP)

China’s moralising of public policy risks eroding gains in human welfare

Professor Donald How Tian Low conducted an in-depth analysis of the risks of eroding gains in human welfare generated by China's ideologizing and moralizing of public policy; he pointed out that its patronizing reaction to youth unemployment could be disastrous to youth in China. Extrapolating from zero-COVID policy, Professor Low identified three problems with moralizing public policy: 1. Lazy paternalism; 2, Impediment to timely policy change due to moralism; and 3, Utopian thinking and delusional optimism.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (SCMP)

Fukushima waste water release: how mainland China and Hong Kong got it wrong

Professor Julien de Troullioud de Lanversin, expert on nuclear physics and policy, voiced that the recent seafood ban is based on unfounded fear of the treated waste water discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant; what should be of real concern is the impact of the nuclear industry’s long-term use of the environment, the latter is neither expandable nor inert.

Achievements & Competitions

Professor James Wong Received the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2022

Featured Article

Hong Kong at the Frontstage of the Atomic Age

On July 20th of this summer, the movie “Oppenheimer” was released in cinemas worldwide. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film narrates the life and achievements of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, and it reminds the audience that humanity still lives with the aftermath of his creation: the promises of low-carbon nuclear energy to mitigate global warming and the threat of total annihilation from a nuclear war. These formidable issues can only be addressed with approaches that combine bold policy ideas supported by strong technological insights. With its unique geographical position and relevance as a global center for ideas, Hong Kong and HKUST can be at the forefront of discussions on how humanity will deal with the legacy of the atom.     J. Robert Oppenheimer with a snapshot of a nuclear explosion cloud   Many people in Hong Kong might wonder what makes nuclear science and policy relevant in this city. The connection becomes clearer when one remembers that ¼ of the electricity consumed in Hong Kong comes from a nuclear reactor located on the mainland. Besides, with pressing objectives to decarbonize its electricity sector, Hong Kong is considering increasing the share of imported nuclear electricity to more than 50%, making Hong Kong one of the most nuclear-dependent cities in the world. A look at the locations of nuclear power plants in the region also shows that Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area are surrounded by many nuclear power plants, making the megalopolis all the more vulnerable to a nuclear accident. Finally, China is on course to become the world leader in nuclear technology, a shift that will bring fundamental changes to the nuclear industry and its practices worldwide. Whether it is to better prepare for a nuclear future domestically or to understand the changes to come for the global nuclear sector under Chinese leadership, Hong Kong and HKUST have a unique role to play in participating in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.   The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in the Guangdong Province provides 25% of the electricity consumed in Hong Kong   As the movie “Oppenheimer” shows, nuclear technology confronts us with existential threats. The Doomsday clock, which indicates how close humanity is to a nuclear apocalypse, is now set 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the fatal hour. Most concerning for experts is the rising confrontation between China and the U.S. and the nuclear arms race they have engaged in. Many fear that a nuclear war between the two powers could be triggered by an accident during a clash in the South China Sea or near Taiwan. Nuclear arms control treaties and exchanges between nuclear experts from rival states have been crucial in the past to mitigate the risks of nuclear conflicts. However, there has been an alarming collapse of nuclear arms control frameworks and a shutdown of communication between nuclear experts from China and the U.S. in recent years. Hong Kong is geographically located at the doorstep of possible military conflicts between the U.S. and China and cannot escape the deadly impacts of such clashes. Yet, the city has a compelling asset that it can leverage to contribute to preventing these nightmarish outcomes. As the city where “East meets West”, Hong Kong can help restore the vital connections between nuclear experts and act as a platform where they can discuss policy frameworks to reduce the risks of a nuclear conflict between the two countries. The city of Hong Kong has a responsibility to its people and the world to work toward avoiding a nuclear war between the two rivals.     About the Author     Prof. Julien de Troullioud de Lanversin   Prof. Julien de Troullioud de Lanversin is Assistant Professor in the Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Princeton University. Prof. de Troullioud de Lanversin’s scholarship combines technical solutions and policy analysis to address the dangers of nuclear technologies while promoting its peaceful use as low-carbon energy. He is interested in nuclear energy’s role in decarbonizing the electricity sector in Hong Kong and China while addressing public concerns over safety issues. Prof. de Troullioud de Lanversin also works toward understanding and addressing the risks of nuclear war, especially in the context of the U.S.-China rivalry. Together with the academic community at HKUST, he is striving to place Hong Kong at the front stage of discussions on how the atom will impact humanity’s future.  

Achievements & Competitions

Professor Naubahar SHARIF Received the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2022- Honorary Mention

Official Announcement: Congratulations to Professor Naubahar Sharif for receiving an ‘Honorary Mention’ for the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2022.   On 8 June 2023, Professor Sharif was awarded an Honorary Mention by the Undergraduate Core Education Team in appreciation of his efforts in designing and teaching the common core course PPOL 2110 Science, Technology and Society in China. The Committee on Undergraduate Core Education (CUCE) commended Professor Sharif's teaching philosophy, which prioritizes building strong partnerships with students and empathizing with their perspectives to support their academic and personal growth throughout his classes. His course design includes thoughtfully curated content and a well-balanced mix of assessment activities tailored to accommodate diverse student backgrounds and educational objectives. Moreover, Professor Sharif's innovative approach to adopting various digital platforms and technologies, coupled with the creation of high-quality course videos for this blended-learning course, has transformed students from passive recipients to active, lifelong learners.   About the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award   The Common Core Teaching Excellence Award is established to recognize outstanding common core course instructors who have made substantial contributions to the design and/or the teaching of exemplary common core courses.   The nominees for the awards are evaluated based on three broad criteria: (a) Excellence in course design (including the development of a new course or the refinement or redevelopment of an existing course) and teaching innovation; (b) Delivery of an exemplary common core course; and (c) Innovative assessment of student learning.   A cash prize of $10,000 is awarded to a maximum of three Honorary Mentions each year as a token of recognition and appreciation.    

ThinkChina

Is the Greater Bay Area still China's answer to Silicon Valley?

"Greater centralized technological leadership is a double-edged sword...despite its benefits, may impede business development agility if the government misapplies its power. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in Beijing’s ability to fulfill its commitment to let the market "play a decisive role in resource allocation..."  in his recent article "Is the Greater Bay Area still China's answer to Silicon Valley?" for ThinkChina, Professor Naubahar Sharif carried out an in-depth analysis of the current innovation business situation and challenges faced by the Greater Bay Area.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (SCMP)

How gambling hub Macau could cultivate stronger economic ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries

Professor Naubahar Sharif commented on Macau's "Tourism Plus" development in a recent South China Morning Post interview on "How gambling hub Macau could cultivate stronger economic ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries" under China's Belt and Road Initiative. He stated that Macau can benefit from its status as a free-trade port, its vast hotel complexes, and its unique culture as a former Portuguese colony to hold international conferences, exhibitions, sports, and entertainment events.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (SCMP)

China’s Belt and Road Initiative to pursue 'small but beautiful' projects as strategy turns 10

Professor Naubahar Sharif shared his insights into China's pursuit of 'small but beautiful ' projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, pointing out that smaller projects would allow Hong Kong and Macau to play bigger roles in the Belt and Road, and private enterprises will be leading the way in particular.

Call for Applications : PhD in Public Policy for the 2023/24 Fall Intake

The Division is recruiting PhD students (4 Positions) for the 2023/24 Fall Intake with 4-year full scholarship fully funded and under his supervison. Deadline 15 Apr 2023

Achievements & Awards

Prof. Pengyu Zhu Awarded the Inaugural CLP Research Fellowship 2022/23

Congratulations to Prof. Pengyu Zhu, Associate Professor of the Division of Public Policy at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) who has received the inaugural CLP Research Fellowship Programme Award for 2022-23. This awarded project aims to develop a planning model for an EV charging infrastructure based on trip trajectories and Point of Interest (POI) density, using a combined method of optimization algorithms and spatial econometric models., to develop a year-by-year plan for establishing charging stations (CSs) in Hong Kong in the coming 5 years.   Prof. Zhu received his PhD in Policy, Planning and Development from the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California in 2011. His research focuses on the Transportation--Land Use--Economic Development Policy nexus and has been published in major academic journals such as Landscape and Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Annals of Regional Sciences, Transportation, Transportation Research Part D, Urban Geography, Cities, Regional Science and Urban Economics, and International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, his instrumental work has also been highlighted in an array of major scientific media such as Wall Street Journal, Slate Magazine, CityLab, Per Square Mile, and Reason Foundation. In January and February 2017, Prof. Zhu was ranked the top 5% and 3% of researchers on Academia.edu by 30-day views of his research articles. In the past few years, Prof. Zhu has received over USD $500,000 (equivalent) in research grants. Due to his exceptional work in the field of Regional Science, Prof. Zhu was awarded the 25th Charles M. Tiebout Prize in Regional Science in 2011 and the Regional Science Springer Prize in 2014.   About CLP Research Fellowship Programme Award   CLP Research Fellowship Programme Award is inaugurated in 2022 to support academic R&D projects in the energy-related sector and based at Hong Kong universities. The nature of this programme is to support a variety of energy-related projects, such as pilot or feasibility studies, collection of preliminary data, secondary analysis of existing data, self-contained research projects and development of new research technology/methodology.   Each award gives 100% sponsorship to a single Principal Investigator of up to HK$400K research funding, lasting for a period of 12 months.