The Future of
Hong Kong Economy
Thursday, January 16, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Island Ballroom, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
About the Conference
HKU Business School is dedicated to Hong Kong economic policy research with an aim to create positive change in the community. Subsequent to the successful launch of the very first Hong Kong Economic Policy Green Paper and the inaugural conference of Thought Leadership Conference Series in 2021, the School will join hands with Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy (HIEBS) to host the fourth conference on the Future of Hong Kong Economy. The conference will serve as an exchange platform to foster discussion among well-regarded scholars, policy makers, business leaders and the community, with an aim to contribute to local, regional and global sustainable economic development in the long run.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
James Robinson, co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, is a renowned economist and political scientist awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation. His research addresses why some countries thrive economically while others fall into poverty, the implications of China’s unprecedented growth for America’s position as the world’s largest economy, and how man-made institutions influence economic success.
Robinson’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research, emphasizing that our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies. His latest book, The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—explores the tenuous conditions of freedom and why it flourishes in some states over others. This book has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, highlighting that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed.
His previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. It explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates back to the Roman Empire, crisscrossing the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and has made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.
James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Speakers
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
James Robinson, co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, is a renowned economist and political scientist awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation. His research addresses why some countries thrive economically while others fall into poverty, the implications of China’s unprecedented growth for America’s position as the world’s largest economy, and how man-made institutions influence economic success.
Robinson’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research, emphasizing that our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies. His latest book, The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—explores the tenuous conditions of freedom and why it flourishes in some states over others. This book has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, highlighting that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed.
His previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. It explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates back to the Roman Empire, crisscrossing the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and has made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.
James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
Professor Hongbin Cai is the Dean of the HKU Business School and Chair of Economics. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from Wuhan University in 1988, his M.A. in Economics from Peking University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University in 1997.
From 1997 to 2005, he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles. From December 2010 to January 2017, he served as Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. He joined the HKU Business School in June 2017 and serves as the Dean since July 2017. He is a National Chang Jiang Scholar (awarded by Ministry of Education of China) and a National Outstanding Young Researcher (awarded by National Science Foundation of China). Professor Cai has published many academic papers in top international journals in economics and finance, in a wide range of areas including game theory, Chinese economy, industrial organization and corporate finance.
Professor Cai was elected as a Fellow of the Econometric Society. He was a member of the National People’s Congress, and a member of the Central Committee of China Democratic League and Vice Chairman of its Committee of Economic Affairs. He was the founding president of The Chinese Finance Association (TCFA, overseas). He serves as an Independent Director on the boards of CCB International (Holdings) Limited and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation.
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
Mr. Ted Chan
Head of Hong Kong, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
Ted Chan is a Managing Director & Senior Partner and the Head of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Hong Kong. He also leads BCG’s Climate and Sustainability practice and the Travel, Cities, and Infrastructure (TCI) practice in Greater China.
With over 25 years of experience across the industrial, technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors, Ted has developed extensive expertise in guiding leading Chinese companies through significant transformation and globalization efforts. He also assists multinational corporations in formulating and executing strategies tailored for the Greater China market. Notably, in the Climate and Sustainability arena, Ted has supported clients on issues related to decarbonization, green energy, emerging green business opportunities, and navigating the global regulatory landscape.
Prior to rejoining BCG, Ted served as the Group Chief Strategy Officer at SF Express, a leading express delivery and logistics company in China, from 2014 to 2017. As a key member of the senior management team, he played a key role in the company’s successful public listing in early 2017, overseeing all strategic, investment, and partnership initiatives for the group.
Mr. Ted Chan
Head of Hong Kong, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
Prof. Edward K. Y. Chen, CBE, GBS, JP
Former Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
Educated at The University of Hong Kong for his first and second degrees and Oxford University for his doctorate in economics, Professor Chen started his teaching career at the Economics Department of The University of Hong Kong in 1970 and became Director of the Centre of Asian Studies in 1979 and a Chair Professor in 1986. In 1995, he was appointed President of Lingnan University (then College) and embarked on his mission to build a distinctive liberal arts institution in Hong Kong. Professor Chen is very fond of teaching and very much loved by his students. He persisted in teaching a few hours a week when he was President of Lingnan University, and insisted that he met with every single student over breakfast. Professor Chen retired from the position of President of Lingnan University in August 2007.
He was Chairman of HKU SPACE (School of Professional and Continuing Education) from 2013 to 2022. He has held visiting appointments at Yale, Oxford, Stockholm Universities, and the University of California (Davis Campus). He is also Honorary Professor of several universities in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, and a Fellow of the Academy of Finance of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He was President of Qianhai Institute for Innovative Research in Shenzhen (2014 to 2017). He served the Time Magazine Board of Economists and was a Distinguished Fulbright Scholar.
Professor Chen’s research interests focus on Asian economic development in general and foreign investment and technological change in particular. He pioneered studies in newly industrialized economies and published his book entitled Hyper-Growth in Asian Economies: A Comparative Study of Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan (Macmillan Publishers) in 1979. His other publications include Multinational Corporations, Technology and Employment (Macmillan, 1983); The New Multinationals (John Wiley,1983); Foreign Direct Investment in Asia (Asian Productivity Organization,1990); Transnational Corporations and Technology Transfer in Developing Countries (Routledge, 1994); and Asia’s Borderless Economy: The Emergence of Sub-regional Economic Zones (Allen and Unwin, 1997), and numerous articles in international refereed journals.
Professor Chen has extensive experience in both public and commercial sectors. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (1991-1992), and a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong (1992-1997). He was Chairman of the Consumer Council (1991-1997), laying the foundation for competition policy and eventually a competition law for Hong Kong. In commercial sectors, Professor Chen was a director of numerous companies including MTR, Peoples Telephone Company, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings, and is now a director of First Pacific Company, Wharf Holdings, and Delta-Asia Financial Group.
Prof. Edward K.Y. Chen, CBE, GBS, JP
Former Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
Prof. Zhiwu Chen
Chair Professor of Finance, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Zhiwu Chen is Chair and Cheng Yu-Tung Professor in Finance at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Professor Chen currently serves as director of both Hong Kong Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (HKIHSS) and Centre for Quantitative History (CQH). His research covers finance theory, the sociology of finance, economic history, quantitative history, emerging markets, as well as China’s economy and capital markets. Professor Chen was a former Professor of Finance at Yale University (1999-2017) and a Special-Term Visiting Professor at Peking University (School of Economics) and Tsinghua University (School of Social Sciences).
Professor Chen started his career by publishing research papers in top economics and finance journals on topics related to financial markets and theories of asset pricing. Around 2001, he began to expand research beyond mature markets by investigating market development and institution-building issues in the context of China’s transition process and other emerging markets. He successfully led efforts to construct historical financial and social databases from China’s historical archives and has written on economic/social history topics. In 2013, he started the annual Summer School for Quantitative History cum International Symposium on Quantitative History at Tsinghua University and continues to organize them at Peking University, with the goal of promoting quantitative historical research in China and beyond. In 2022, Professor Chen’s Quantitative History of China project was awarded HK$67.32 million (over US$8.5 million) under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme, marking a new record high for government funding raised for the HKU Business School since its establishment.
Professor Chen has been a member of the HKU Council since November 2018. He is on the board of directors of Bairong Inc. and GigaCloud Tech. He also served on the International Advisory Board of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) (2012-19), the Expert Advisory Board for the formation of the China Investment Corporation (2007), and the board of directors as an independent director at Noah Holdings (2013-24), IDG Energy Investment (2016-18), Bank of Communications (2010-18), PetroChina (2011-17), and Lord Abbett China (2007-15). He was on the Board of Trustees of the Yale-China Association, the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan Advisory Commission to the Beijing Municipal Government, and the Chief Academic Advisor to two 10-episode CCTV documentary series, “Wall Street” and “Money”. He was a co-founder and partner of Zebra Capital Management from 2001 to 2011. In Burson-Marsteller’s 2012 “G20 Influencers” report, Professor Chen was listed as one of the top ten political influencers in China.
Professor Chen is a frequent contributor to media publications in China on topics of economic policy, market development, institutional reform, and historical research. His work has been widely published and regularly featured in major newspapers and magazines in the United States, Hong Kong, China and many other countries. His Chinese books include: How Is Wealth Created? (2005), Media, Law and Markets (2005), Why are the Chinese Industrious and Yet Not Rich (2008), Irrational Overconfidence (2008), The Logic of Finance (2009), 24 Wealth Lectures (2009), Assessing China’s Economic Growth of the Past 30 Years (2010), On the China Model (2010), The Logic of Finance 2: Path to Individual Freedom (2015), Introduction to Finance (2018) and Introduction to Investment (2019). He has recently published a two-volume long history book in Chinese titled Logic of Civilization, that explores a number of human innovations, including mythology or magic and supernatural beliefs, technologies, social structures, cultural norms, religions, financial markets, and the welfare state. He has received research awards including the Graham and Dodd Award (2013), the Pacesetter Research Award (1999), the Merton Miller Prize (1994), and the Chicago Board Options Exchange Competitive Research Award (1994). He has also received a number of book awards in China and Hong Kong, among which are 23 awards for The Logic of Finance in China and Hong Kong, and the best book award from hexun.com for Why are the Chinese Industrious and Yet Not Rich.
Professor Chen received his PhD in financial economics from Yale University in 1990; MS in systems engineering from Changsha Institute of Technology in 1986; and BS in computer science from Central-South University in 1983. He was Assistant Professor of Finance at University of Wisconsin – Madison (1990-95); Associate Professor of Finance at Ohio State University (1995-99); and Professor of Finance at Yale University. He has been an endowed professor since joining HKU in July 2016. In July 2019, Professor Chen was conferred the title of Chair Professor of Finance in recognition of his contribution to finance.
Prof. Zhiwu Chen
Chair Professor of Finance, The University of Hong Kong
Mr. Daniel Fung, SBS, SC, KC, FCIArb, JP
Vice-Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Mr Fung comes from 49 years practice at the bar with experience in both public and private sectors and in academia, was called to the English Bar in 1975 and the HK Bar in 1977, participated in the process of Hong Kong’s constitutional transition from British Crown Colony to a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China as a member of the Basic Law Consultative Committee from 1985 to 1990, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990, was the first person of Chinese extraction to serve as Solicitor General of Hong Kong (1994-98) doing so under the last British Governor Chris Patten and the first Chief Executive CH Tung, following which he took up successive appointments as Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School (1998-99), Senior Visiting Scholar at Yale Law School (1999), Distinguished Fulbright Scholar (2000), Chairman of the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority (2002-8) and Visiting Professor of Law at respectively Sun Yat Sen University (2004-7) and Peking University (2007-9).
Mr Fung served for the maximum four terms totalling 20 years as National Delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (2003-2023), Mr Fung is concurrently Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, Chairman Emeritus of the Peace & Development Foundation as an official partner of the United Nations Development Program, President of the International Law Association (HK Chapter), Chairman of International Bridges to Justice, Vice-President of the Academy of Experts, Founding Chair of Cambridge Global Conversations, Senior Fellow and former Vice Chairman of the Salzburg Global Seminar and serves on the boards of respectively the East West Center (2006-2022), the China Law Society and the China-US Exchange Foundation. Mr Fung is also a member of the HK-Asean Foundation Advisory Council and a member of the International Advisory Board at the School of Public Policy of CUHK-Shenzhen, Chairman of Social Sciences Advisory Board of Lingnan University, Honorary Lecturer at HK University Department of Professional Legal Education, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK and an accredited expert to the World Economic Forum.
Mr. Fung has been honored by the United Nations for his contribution to China’s attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals and by the HK Government for his contribution to HK’s constitutional development.
Mr. Daniel Fung, SBS, SC, KC, FCIArb, JP
Vice-Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Ms. Wendy Gan Kim-see
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development), West Kowloon Cultural District Authority & Chief Executive Officer, WestK Enterprise Limited
Wendy GAN is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development) of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, overseeing the development of the infrastructure, arts and cultural facilities, and supporting facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District. She also has lead responsibility for formulating the overarching strategies for driving business development and for the hotel, office, residential as well as retail, dining and entertainment facilities of the District.
As Chief Executive Officer of WestK Enterprise, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Authority, Ms. Gan is responsible for mapping out the company’s business strategies to drive commercialisation and explore new revenue sources, leveraging
the Authority’s assets, resources and expertise.
Ms Gan was the Executive Director of Pacific Century Premium Developments responsible for the overall sales and marketing strategies of the company’s property assets in Greater China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Before joining Pacific Century Premium Developments, Ms Gan headed the sales and marketing teams of Swire Properties across its residential, office and retail portfolio.
Ms. Gan is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Hong Kong (“HKU”), a member of its Court and an Honorary Director of the HKU Foundation for Educational Development and Research. She is a member of the Business School Advisory Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a board member of Alliance Française Hong Kong and an Advisory Board Member of the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and International Chapter.
Ms. Wendy Gan Kim-see
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development), West Kowloon Cultural District Authority & Chief Executive Officer, WestK Enterprise Limited
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy, HKU Business School & Director of the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
Guojun HE is an economist working on environmental, development, and governance issues. Currently, he is a professor in Economics and Management & Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He serves as the director of HKU-Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute, director of HKU Business School’s Shenzhen ESG Research Institute, and the associate director of HKU’s Institute of China Economy. He holds a concurrent appointment at the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago (EPIC) and leads research activities of its China center (EPIC-China). He is a co-editor of Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, a co-editor of China Economic Review, an associate editor of Management Science and servies on the editorial board of American Economic Journal: Applied Economics.
HE’s research tries to address some of the most challenging problems faced by developing countries and seeks to produce empirically-grounded estimates for optimal policy design. The majority of his work focuses on understanding the benefits and costs of environmental policies, while he also has a broader research interest in development and governance issues. His work has been published in leading economics journals (like QJE, AER, AER: Insights, AEJ: Applied) and science journals (like Science, PNAS, Nature: Sustainability, Nature Human Bahaviour, and The BMJ).
He has won multiple academic awards, including the European Achievement Award for Researchers in Environmental Economics under the Age of Forty, Zhang Pei-Gang Award for Outstanding Achievement in Development Economics (the highest award in China for development economics research) and the Gregory Chow Best Paper Award from the Chinese Economists Society. He was selected as a Young Scientist by the World Economic Forum in 2018.
He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from U.C. Berkeley and received undergraduate education from the School of Economics at Peking University. Before joining HKU, he worked at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Harvard University. In addition, He is a Fellow of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER), an external research affiliate of the Institute of Sustainable and Green Finance (SGFIN) at the National University of Singapore, a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago, and a consultant to the Asian Development Bank, CICC Research Institute and other institutions.
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy, HKU Business School & Director of the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
Dr. Wendy Hong Wen
Incumbent Member of the 7th Legislative Council of the HKSAR
Dr. Wendy HONG Wen is a current member of the 7th Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR, recognized for advocating the concept of an “olive-shaped society.” Her primary focus is on enhancing upward social mobility and cultivating a thriving middle class. Under this vision, Dr. Hong champions the development of comprehensive “housing ladders” tailored to the needs of young individuals and the sandwich class, empowering them with access to affordable housing and a secure living environment. Additionally, she promotes the diversification of Hong Kong’s industrial landscape, aiming to create “employment ladders” that support personal growth and fulfillment for individuals with varied talents and interests.
Beyond her legislative duties, Dr. Hong serves as the General Manager of the Research Department at New World Development Co., Ltd. She previously held the position of Vice President at Fung Business Intelligence and worked as a Senior Researcher at the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong SAR.
Dr. Hong is actively involved in various social roles. She serves as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Huajing Society and a Nonresident Fellow at the The Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) at the University of Hong Kong. Additionally, she is a part-time professor at the Belt and Road Research Institute of Hainan University and a member of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Dr. Hong is the author of “The Road to Bridging Two Hong Kongs” (《兩個香港的彌合之路》) (The Commercial Press, 2021) along with several other works.
Dr. Wendy Hong Wen
Incumbent Member of the 7th Legislative Council of the HKSAR
Ms. Alpha Lau
Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong
Ms Alpha Lau has been Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, the government department responsible for attracting and facilitating direct investment into Hong Kong, since November 2023.
She serves on the government’s Trade and Industry Advisory Board, International Business Committee, Expert Advisory Group on Legal and Dispute Resolution Services, Air Silk Road Task Force, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, Market Development Committee of the Financial Services Development Council, Task Force on Promoting and Branding Hong Kong, Mega Events Coordination Group, Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development, and on the Task Force on External Relations.
Prior to joining the government, Ms Lau held various senior roles in multinational and Chinese financial institutions, with experience in personal wealth and corporate coverage, risk management, fintech, transactional banking and M&A project management.
Ms Lau holds Bachelor and Master (Hon.) Degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford, and a Certificate in further education from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Ms. Alpha Lau
Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong
Prof. Terry Lum
Professor / Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Terry Lum is the Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration and the Professor of Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
His research focuses on long-term care, productive aging, and geriatric mental health. He is a member of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Expert Group. During the last decade, he led the development of new assessment instruments and service matching formulas for long-term care for frail older adults in Hong Kong. He advised the Hong Kong Government to develop the Community Care Service Voucher Program that introduced personal budget to community care; to launch the new Living Allowance Program that provided cash allowance for low income caregivers of both frail older people and people with disabilities; and to revamp the assessment protocol of the Disability Allowance to financially support people with disabilities. He also led the development of the Aging-inPlace Program for low income older adults living in public rental housing estates in Hong Kong. He is currently directing several large-scale intervention research projects to prevent physical frailty and geriatric depression, and various policy research projects to enhance the long-term care infrastructure and age friendliness in Hong Kong. Professor Lum is a member of the WHO’s Consortium on Metrics and Evidence for Healthy Aging and Global Network of Long-term care. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the Cash and Counseling Program, the first national consumer directed care program in the United States.
Professor Lum had taught in the University of Minnesota in the United States before he joined HKU. He was elected as a Fellow by the Gerontological Society of America in 2011 and was awarded the Career Leadership Award by the Association of Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) in 2016. Professor Lum is the Editor for Asia and Australasia of the Journal of Aging and Mental Health.
Prof. Terry Lum
Professor / Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Dr. Chaode Ma
Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP China
Dr. Ma Chaode joined UNDP China since Feb. 2011, he is Assistant Resident Representative and Director of Planet Pillar of UNDP China. Responsible for supervising international programming with more than 20 million USD annual budget by cooperation with around 10 ministries and most of provinces in China.
He worked in Ministry of Water Resources for nearly ten years focus on Soil & Water Conservation, in which he was Deputy-Division Chief for supervising ecological programmes. He was the first National UNEP-GEF Program Manager for Yangtze Flood Control and Ecological Conservation Project in FECO (Foreign Environmental Cooperation Office) of Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP). He has worked in World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Beijing Office for five years as Freshwater Programme Director.
Dr. Ma is Guest Professor of China Ocean University and Minzu University of China. He has 30 years experience in the fields of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, River basin and water resources management, Soil & Water Conservation. Dr. Ma was appointed as member of “Advisory Committee for Eco Forum Global Guiyang” by Guizhou Provincial Government. Dr. Ma was the Deputy Secretary General of Yangtze Forum and Chairman of Thematic Forum of World Oceanic Week in Xiamen for 10 years.
Dr. Chaode Ma
Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP China
Mr. Paul McComb
Executive Director, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Paul McComb is the Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong track record in business and commercial leadership. Paul has been actively involved in enhancing the Chamber’s support for its members. He has spearheaded numerous events and initiatives aimed at promoting business growth and fostering a collaborative business community.
Before joining the British Chamber of Commerce, Paul served as the Director-General of Trade and Investment at the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 2017 to 2021. In this role, he was instrumental in fostering trade relations between the UK and Hong Kong, driving significant investment initiatives, and supporting UK businesses in navigating the complexities of international markets.
Paul’s extensive experience also includes his tenure in the UK, where he played a pivotal role in helping businesses adjust to new trading dynamics post-Brexit and addressing the economic impacts of global events such as the war in Ukraine.
Mr. Paul McComb
Executive Director, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Prof. Patrick Nip, GBS, JP
Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Nip was a Principal Official of the fifth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government from July 2017 to June 2022. He was the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs from July 2017 to April 2020 and the Secretary for the Civil Service from April 2020 to June 2022. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Politics and Public Administration of The University of Hong Kong; an Honorary Professor of Faculty of Social Science of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; an Independent Non-Executive Director of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited and the Vice Chairman of World Vision China. Prof Nip is also the Convenor of the Advisory Committee for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Carer Space Project for Supporting Elderly’s Caregivers.
Prof Nip received a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from The University of Hong Kong and a Master in Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has also studied public administration at the Oxford University and attended national studies courses at the Chinese Academy of Governance.
Prof Nip joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong government in August 1986. Since then, he has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Deputy Chief Secretary’s Office, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Trade Department, the Chief Executive’s Office, the former Health and Welfare Bureau, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing and the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.
He was appointed the Director of Social Welfare in August 2009, the Director (Special Duties) of the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Private Office (on poverty alleviation and population policy) in June 2013, the Director of Information Services in February 2014 and the Permanent Secretary for Health in July 2016.
Prof. Patrick Nip, GBS, JP
Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Hon. Sunny Tan
Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council & Legislative Council Member
Hon Sunny Tan assumed the chairmanship of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in August 2022.
As a seasoned industrialist, he is currently a Member of the Legislative Council representing the Textiles and Garment functional constituency and Senior Advisor to Luen Thai Holdings Limited, a leading fashion and lifestyle apparel and accessories manufacturer, for which he has served for more than two decades. He is also Executive Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Executive Vice Chairman of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles. In 2013, he received the “Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong”.
Hon Sunny Tan has a strong record of public and community service. He is a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development; the Trade and Industry Advisory Board; the Vocational Training Council; and the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Design Centre. He is also a Standing Committee member of the Hebei Province Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Hon Sunny Tan obtained a Master of Science degree from Stanford University and Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Hon. Sunny Tan
Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council & Legislative Council Member
Professor Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School; Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics &
Director of Asia Global Institute
Heiwai Tang holds the Victor and William Fung Professorship in Economics at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he also serves as Director of the Asia Global Institute and Associate Dean for External Relations at the Business School. Before joining HKU, he was a tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University.
He is affiliated with the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo) in Germany, the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER) in Singapore, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, and the Globalization and Economic Policy (GEP) Center in the U.K. as a research fellow. Tang has consulted for organizations such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. He has also held visiting positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University.
Currently, he is the Managing Editor of the Pacific Economic Review and has previously served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics, and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has been involved with several public and regulatory bodies in Hong Kong SAR, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, the Industry Advisory Committee of the Insurance Authority, the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal, the Land and Development Advisory Committee, and the Minimum Wage Commission, among others.
Heiwai holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from UCLA. His research interests span a wide range of theoretical and empirical topics in international trade, with a specific focus on production networks, global value chains, and China. His research has been published in leading journals in economics, including American Economic Review and Journal of International Economics. His research and opinions have been covered by BBC, Bloomberg, China Daily, CNA, CNN, Financial Times, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy, South China Morning Post, and various think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Prof. Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School; Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics & Director of Asia Global Institute
Mr. Ken Wong
Partner and Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure
Ken Wong joined EQT Partners in October 2018 and is the Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure.
Prior to joining EQT, Ken worked at Affinity Equity Partners focusing on private equity investments in the technology, media, telecommunications and consumer sectors. Prior to Affinity, Ken worked at Macquarie Capital, based in Melbourne.
Ken holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from The University of Melbourne.
Mr. Ken Wong
Partner and Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure, EQT Partners
Programme Rundown
9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:30 a.m.
Welcoming Remarks
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
Professor Hongbin Cai is the Dean of the HKU Business School and Chair of Economics. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from Wuhan University in 1988, his M.A. in Economics from Peking University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University in 1997.
From 1997 to 2005, he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles. From December 2010 to January 2017, he served as Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. He joined the HKU Business School in June 2017 and serves as the Dean since July 2017. He is a National Chang Jiang Scholar (awarded by Ministry of Education of China) and a National Outstanding Young Researcher (awarded by National Science Foundation of China). Professor Cai has published many academic papers in top international journals in economics and finance, in a wide range of areas including game theory, Chinese economy, industrial organization and corporate finance.
Professor Cai was elected as a Fellow of the Econometric Society. He was a member of the National People’s Congress, and a member of the Central Committee of China Democratic League and Vice Chairman of its Committee of Economic Affairs. He was the founding president of The Chinese Finance Association (TCFA, overseas). He serves as an Independent Director on the boards of CCB International (Holdings) Limited and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation.
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
9:35 a.m.
Keynote Session
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
James Robinson, co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, is a renowned economist and political scientist awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation. His research addresses why some countries thrive economically while others fall into poverty, the implications of China’s unprecedented growth for America’s position as the world’s largest economy, and how man-made institutions influence economic success.
Robinson’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research, emphasizing that our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies. His latest book, The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—explores the tenuous conditions of freedom and why it flourishes in some states over others. This book has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, highlighting that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed.
His previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. It explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates back to the Roman Empire, crisscrossing the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and has made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.
James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
10:15 a.m.
Session 1 – Challenges and Opportunities: Hong Kong’s Economy and Beyond
Moderator:
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
Professor Hongbin Cai is the Dean of the HKU Business School and Chair of Economics. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from Wuhan University in 1988, his M.A. in Economics from Peking University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University in 1997.
From 1997 to 2005, he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles. From December 2010 to January 2017, he served as Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. He joined the HKU Business School in June 2017 and serves as the Dean since July 2017. He is a National Chang Jiang Scholar (awarded by Ministry of Education of China) and a National Outstanding Young Researcher (awarded by National Science Foundation of China). Professor Cai has published many academic papers in top international journals in economics and finance, in a wide range of areas including game theory, Chinese economy, industrial organization and corporate finance.
Professor Cai was elected as a Fellow of the Econometric Society. He was a member of the National People’s Congress, and a member of the Central Committee of China Democratic League and Vice Chairman of its Committee of Economic Affairs. He was the founding president of The Chinese Finance Association (TCFA, overseas). He serves as an Independent Director on the boards of CCB International (Holdings) Limited and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation.
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean and Chair of Economics, HKU Business School
Panellists:
Prof. Edward K. Y. Chen, CBE, GBS, JP
Former Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
Educated at The University of Hong Kong for his first and second degrees and Oxford University for his doctorate in economics, Professor Chen started his teaching career at the Economics Department of The University of Hong Kong in 1970 and became Director of the Centre of Asian Studies in 1979 and a Chair Professor in 1986. In 1995, he was appointed President of Lingnan University (then College) and embarked on his mission to build a distinctive liberal arts institution in Hong Kong. Professor Chen is very fond of teaching and very much loved by his students. He persisted in teaching a few hours a week when he was President of Lingnan University, and insisted that he met with every single student over breakfast. Professor Chen retired from the position of President of Lingnan University in August 2007.
He was Chairman of HKU SPACE (School of Professional and Continuing Education) from 2013 to 2022. He has held visiting appointments at Yale, Oxford, Stockholm Universities, and the University of California (Davis Campus). He is also Honorary Professor of several universities in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, and a Fellow of the Academy of Finance of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He was President of Qianhai Institute for Innovative Research in Shenzhen (2014 to 2017). He served the Time Magazine Board of Economists and was a Distinguished Fulbright Scholar.
Professor Chen’s research interests focus on Asian economic development in general and foreign investment and technological change in particular. He pioneered studies in newly industrialized economies and published his book entitled Hyper-Growth in Asian Economies: A Comparative Study of Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan (Macmillan Publishers) in 1979. His other publications include Multinational Corporations, Technology and Employment (Macmillan, 1983); The New Multinationals (John Wiley,1983); Foreign Direct Investment in Asia (Asian Productivity Organization,1990); Transnational Corporations and Technology Transfer in Developing Countries (Routledge, 1994); and Asia’s Borderless Economy: The Emergence of Sub-regional Economic Zones (Allen and Unwin, 1997), and numerous articles in international refereed journals.
Professor Chen has extensive experience in both public and commercial sectors. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (1991-1992), and a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong (1992-1997). He was Chairman of the Consumer Council (1991-1997), laying the foundation for competition policy and eventually a competition law for Hong Kong. In commercial sectors, Professor Chen was a director of numerous companies including MTR, Peoples Telephone Company, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings, and is now a director of First Pacific Company, Wharf Holdings, and Delta-Asia Financial Group.
Prof. Edward K.Y. Chen, CBE, GBS, JP
Former Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
Prof. Zhiwu Chen
Chair Professor of Finance, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Zhiwu Chen is Chair and Cheng Yu-Tung Professor in Finance at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Professor Chen currently serves as director of both Hong Kong Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (HKIHSS) and Centre for Quantitative History (CQH). His research covers finance theory, the sociology of finance, economic history, quantitative history, emerging markets, as well as China’s economy and capital markets. Professor Chen was a former Professor of Finance at Yale University (1999-2017) and a Special-Term Visiting Professor at Peking University (School of Economics) and Tsinghua University (School of Social Sciences).
Professor Chen started his career by publishing research papers in top economics and finance journals on topics related to financial markets and theories of asset pricing. Around 2001, he began to expand research beyond mature markets by investigating market development and institution-building issues in the context of China’s transition process and other emerging markets. He successfully led efforts to construct historical financial and social databases from China’s historical archives and has written on economic/social history topics. In 2013, he started the annual Summer School for Quantitative History cum International Symposium on Quantitative History at Tsinghua University and continues to organize them at Peking University, with the goal of promoting quantitative historical research in China and beyond. In 2022, Professor Chen’s Quantitative History of China project was awarded HK$67.32 million (over US$8.5 million) under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme, marking a new record high for government funding raised for the HKU Business School since its establishment.
Professor Chen has been a member of the HKU Council since November 2018. He is on the board of directors of Bairong Inc. and GigaCloud Tech. He also served on the International Advisory Board of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) (2012-19), the Expert Advisory Board for the formation of the China Investment Corporation (2007), and the board of directors as an independent director at Noah Holdings (2013-24), IDG Energy Investment (2016-18), Bank of Communications (2010-18), PetroChina (2011-17), and Lord Abbett China (2007-15). He was on the Board of Trustees of the Yale-China Association, the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan Advisory Commission to the Beijing Municipal Government, and the Chief Academic Advisor to two 10-episode CCTV documentary series, “Wall Street” and “Money”. He was a co-founder and partner of Zebra Capital Management from 2001 to 2011. In Burson-Marsteller’s 2012 “G20 Influencers” report, Professor Chen was listed as one of the top ten political influencers in China.
Professor Chen is a frequent contributor to media publications in China on topics of economic policy, market development, institutional reform, and historical research. His work has been widely published and regularly featured in major newspapers and magazines in the United States, Hong Kong, China and many other countries. His Chinese books include: How Is Wealth Created? (2005), Media, Law and Markets (2005), Why are the Chinese Industrious and Yet Not Rich (2008), Irrational Overconfidence (2008), The Logic of Finance (2009), 24 Wealth Lectures (2009), Assessing China’s Economic Growth of the Past 30 Years (2010), On the China Model (2010), The Logic of Finance 2: Path to Individual Freedom (2015), Introduction to Finance (2018) and Introduction to Investment (2019). He has recently published a two-volume long history book in Chinese titled Logic of Civilization, that explores a number of human innovations, including mythology or magic and supernatural beliefs, technologies, social structures, cultural norms, religions, financial markets, and the welfare state. He has received research awards including the Graham and Dodd Award (2013), the Pacesetter Research Award (1999), the Merton Miller Prize (1994), and the Chicago Board Options Exchange Competitive Research Award (1994). He has also received a number of book awards in China and Hong Kong, among which are 23 awards for The Logic of Finance in China and Hong Kong, and the best book award from hexun.com for Why are the Chinese Industrious and Yet Not Rich.
Professor Chen received his PhD in financial economics from Yale University in 1990; MS in systems engineering from Changsha Institute of Technology in 1986; and BS in computer science from Central-South University in 1983. He was Assistant Professor of Finance at University of Wisconsin – Madison (1990-95); Associate Professor of Finance at Ohio State University (1995-99); and Professor of Finance at Yale University. He has been an endowed professor since joining HKU in July 2016. In July 2019, Professor Chen was conferred the title of Chair Professor of Finance in recognition of his contribution to finance.
Prof. Zhiwu Chen
Chair Professor of Finance, The University of Hong Kong
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
James Robinson, co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, is a renowned economist and political scientist awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation. His research addresses why some countries thrive economically while others fall into poverty, the implications of China’s unprecedented growth for America’s position as the world’s largest economy, and how man-made institutions influence economic success.
Robinson’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research, emphasizing that our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies. His latest book, The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—explores the tenuous conditions of freedom and why it flourishes in some states over others. This book has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, highlighting that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed.
His previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. It explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates back to the Roman Empire, crisscrossing the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and has made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.
James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Prof. James A. Robinson
Awardee of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics
11:05 a.m.
Break
11:20 a.m.
Session 2 – Exploring New Frontiers: Uncovering Economic Potential for Hong Kong’s Transformation
Moderator:
Professor Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School; Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics &
Director of Asia Global Institute
Heiwai Tang holds the Victor and William Fung Professorship in Economics at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he also serves as Director of the Asia Global Institute and Associate Dean for External Relations at the Business School. Before joining HKU, he was a tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University.
He is affiliated with the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo) in Germany, the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER) in Singapore, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, and the Globalization and Economic Policy (GEP) Center in the U.K. as a research fellow. Tang has consulted for organizations such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. He has also held visiting positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University.
Currently, he is the Managing Editor of the Pacific Economic Review and has previously served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics, and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has been involved with several public and regulatory bodies in Hong Kong SAR, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, the Industry Advisory Committee of the Insurance Authority, the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal, the Land and Development Advisory Committee, and the Minimum Wage Commission, among others.
Heiwai holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from UCLA. His research interests span a wide range of theoretical and empirical topics in international trade, with a specific focus on production networks, global value chains, and China. His research has been published in leading journals in economics, including American Economic Review and Journal of International Economics. His research and opinions have been covered by BBC, Bloomberg, China Daily, CNA, CNN, Financial Times, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy, South China Morning Post, and various think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Prof. Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School; Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics & Director of Asia Global Institute
Panellists:
Mr. Daniel Fung, SBS, SC, KC, FCIArb, JP
Vice-Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Mr Fung comes from 49 years practice at the bar with experience in both public and private sectors and in academia, was called to the English Bar in 1975 and the HK Bar in 1977, participated in the process of Hong Kong’s constitutional transition from British Crown Colony to a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China as a member of the Basic Law Consultative Committee from 1985 to 1990, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990, was the first person of Chinese extraction to serve as Solicitor General of Hong Kong (1994-98) doing so under the last British Governor Chris Patten and the first Chief Executive CH Tung, following which he took up successive appointments as Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School (1998-99), Senior Visiting Scholar at Yale Law School (1999), Distinguished Fulbright Scholar (2000), Chairman of the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority (2002-8) and Visiting Professor of Law at respectively Sun Yat Sen University (2004-7) and Peking University (2007-9).
Mr Fung served for the maximum four terms totalling 20 years as National Delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (2003-2023), Mr Fung is concurrently Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, Chairman Emeritus of the Peace & Development Foundation as an official partner of the United Nations Development Program, President of the International Law Association (HK Chapter), Chairman of International Bridges to Justice, Vice-President of the Academy of Experts, Founding Chair of Cambridge Global Conversations, Senior Fellow and former Vice Chairman of the Salzburg Global Seminar and serves on the boards of respectively the East West Center (2006-2022), the China Law Society and the China-US Exchange Foundation. Mr Fung is also a member of the HK-Asean Foundation Advisory Council and a member of the International Advisory Board at the School of Public Policy of CUHK-Shenzhen, Chairman of Social Sciences Advisory Board of Lingnan University, Honorary Lecturer at HK University Department of Professional Legal Education, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK and an accredited expert to the World Economic Forum.
Mr. Fung has been honored by the United Nations for his contribution to China’s attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals and by the HK Government for his contribution to HK’s constitutional development.
Mr. Daniel Fung, SBS, SC, KC, FCIArb, JP
Vice-Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Ms. Wendy Gan Kim-see
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development), West Kowloon Cultural District Authority & Chief Executive Officer, WestK Enterprise Limited
Wendy GAN is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development) of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, overseeing the development of the infrastructure, arts and cultural facilities, and supporting facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District. She also has lead responsibility for formulating the overarching strategies for driving business development and for the hotel, office, residential as well as retail, dining and entertainment facilities of the District.
As Chief Executive Officer of WestK Enterprise, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Authority, Ms. Gan is responsible for mapping out the company’s business strategies to drive commercialisation and explore new revenue sources, leveraging
the Authority’s assets, resources and expertise.
Ms Gan was the Executive Director of Pacific Century Premium Developments responsible for the overall sales and marketing strategies of the company’s property assets in Greater China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Before joining Pacific Century Premium Developments, Ms Gan headed the sales and marketing teams of Swire Properties across its residential, office and retail portfolio.
Ms. Gan is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Hong Kong (“HKU”), a member of its Court and an Honorary Director of the HKU Foundation for Educational Development and Research. She is a member of the Business School Advisory Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a board member of Alliance Française Hong Kong and an Advisory Board Member of the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and International Chapter.
Ms. Wendy Gan Kim-see
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development), West Kowloon Cultural District Authority & Chief Executive Officer, WestK Enterprise Limited
Ms. Alpha Lau
Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong
Ms Alpha Lau has been Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, the government department responsible for attracting and facilitating direct investment into Hong Kong, since November 2023.
She serves on the government’s Trade and Industry Advisory Board, International Business Committee, Expert Advisory Group on Legal and Dispute Resolution Services, Air Silk Road Task Force, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, Market Development Committee of the Financial Services Development Council, Task Force on Promoting and Branding Hong Kong, Mega Events Coordination Group, Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development, and on the Task Force on External Relations.
Prior to joining the government, Ms Lau held various senior roles in multinational and Chinese financial institutions, with experience in personal wealth and corporate coverage, risk management, fintech, transactional banking and M&A project management.
Ms Lau holds Bachelor and Master (Hon.) Degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford, and a Certificate in further education from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Ms. Alpha Lau
Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong
Hon. Sunny Tan
Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council & Legislative Council Member
Hon Sunny Tan assumed the chairmanship of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in August 2022.
As a seasoned industrialist, he is currently a Member of the Legislative Council representing the Textiles and Garment functional constituency and Senior Advisor to Luen Thai Holdings Limited, a leading fashion and lifestyle apparel and accessories manufacturer, for which he has served for more than two decades. He is also Executive Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Executive Vice Chairman of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles. In 2013, he received the “Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong”.
Hon Sunny Tan has a strong record of public and community service. He is a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development; the Trade and Industry Advisory Board; the Vocational Training Council; and the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Design Centre. He is also a Standing Committee member of the Hebei Province Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Hon Sunny Tan obtained a Master of Science degree from Stanford University and Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Hon. Sunny Tan
Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council & Legislative Council Member
12:10 p.m.
Lunch
2:15 p.m.
Session 3 – Anchoring Sustainable Investment in an Unsustainable World
Moderator:
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy, HKU Business School & Director of the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
Guojun HE is an economist working on environmental, development, and governance issues. Currently, he is a professor in Economics and Management & Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He serves as the director of HKU-Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute, director of HKU Business School’s Shenzhen ESG Research Institute, and the associate director of HKU’s Institute of China Economy. He holds a concurrent appointment at the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago (EPIC) and leads research activities of its China center (EPIC-China). He is a co-editor of Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, a co-editor of China Economic Review, an associate editor of Management Science and servies on the editorial board of American Economic Journal: Applied Economics.
HE’s research tries to address some of the most challenging problems faced by developing countries and seeks to produce empirically-grounded estimates for optimal policy design. The majority of his work focuses on understanding the benefits and costs of environmental policies, while he also has a broader research interest in development and governance issues. His work has been published in leading economics journals (like QJE, AER, AER: Insights, AEJ: Applied) and science journals (like Science, PNAS, Nature: Sustainability, Nature Human Bahaviour, and The BMJ).
He has won multiple academic awards, including the European Achievement Award for Researchers in Environmental Economics under the Age of Forty, Zhang Pei-Gang Award for Outstanding Achievement in Development Economics (the highest award in China for development economics research) and the Gregory Chow Best Paper Award from the Chinese Economists Society. He was selected as a Young Scientist by the World Economic Forum in 2018.
He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from U.C. Berkeley and received undergraduate education from the School of Economics at Peking University. Before joining HKU, he worked at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Harvard University. In addition, He is a Fellow of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER), an external research affiliate of the Institute of Sustainable and Green Finance (SGFIN) at the National University of Singapore, a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago, and a consultant to the Asian Development Bank, CICC Research Institute and other institutions.
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy, HKU Business School & Director of the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
Panellists:
Mr. Ted Chan
Head of Hong Kong, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
Ted Chan is a Managing Director & Senior Partner and the Head of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Hong Kong. He also leads BCG’s Climate and Sustainability practice and the Travel, Cities, and Infrastructure (TCI) practice in Greater China.
With over 25 years of experience across the industrial, technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors, Ted has developed extensive expertise in guiding leading Chinese companies through significant transformation and globalization efforts. He also assists multinational corporations in formulating and executing strategies tailored for the Greater China market. Notably, in the Climate and Sustainability arena, Ted has supported clients on issues related to decarbonization, green energy, emerging green business opportunities, and navigating the global regulatory landscape.
Prior to rejoining BCG, Ted served as the Group Chief Strategy Officer at SF Express, a leading express delivery and logistics company in China, from 2014 to 2017. As a key member of the senior management team, he played a key role in the company’s successful public listing in early 2017, overseeing all strategic, investment, and partnership initiatives for the group.
Mr. Ted Chan
Head of Hong Kong, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
Dr. Chaode Ma
Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP China
Dr. Ma Chaode joined UNDP China since Feb. 2011, he is Assistant Resident Representative and Director of Planet Pillar of UNDP China. Responsible for supervising international programming with more than 20 million USD annual budget by cooperation with around 10 ministries and most of provinces in China.
He worked in Ministry of Water Resources for nearly ten years focus on Soil & Water Conservation, in which he was Deputy-Division Chief for supervising ecological programmes. He was the first National UNEP-GEF Program Manager for Yangtze Flood Control and Ecological Conservation Project in FECO (Foreign Environmental Cooperation Office) of Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP). He has worked in World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Beijing Office for five years as Freshwater Programme Director.
Dr. Ma is Guest Professor of China Ocean University and Minzu University of China. He has 30 years experience in the fields of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, River basin and water resources management, Soil & Water Conservation. Dr. Ma was appointed as member of “Advisory Committee for Eco Forum Global Guiyang” by Guizhou Provincial Government. Dr. Ma was the Deputy Secretary General of Yangtze Forum and Chairman of Thematic Forum of World Oceanic Week in Xiamen for 10 years.
Dr. Chaode Ma
Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP China
Mr. Ken Wong
Partner and Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure
Ken Wong joined EQT Partners in October 2018 and is the Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure.
Prior to joining EQT, Ken worked at Affinity Equity Partners focusing on private equity investments in the technology, media, telecommunications and consumer sectors. Prior to Affinity, Ken worked at Macquarie Capital, based in Melbourne.
Ken holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from The University of Melbourne.
Mr. Ken Wong
Partner and Head of Asia Pacific, Infrastructure, EQT Partners
3:05 p.m.
Session 4 – Sustainable Growth in Hong Kong: Enhancing Livelihoods for a Resilient Economy
Moderator:
Prof. Patrick Nip, GBS, JP
Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Nip was a Principal Official of the fifth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government from July 2017 to June 2022. He was the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs from July 2017 to April 2020 and the Secretary for the Civil Service from April 2020 to June 2022. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Politics and Public Administration of The University of Hong Kong; an Honorary Professor of Faculty of Social Science of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; an Independent Non-Executive Director of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited and the Vice Chairman of World Vision China. Prof Nip is also the Convenor of the Advisory Committee for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Carer Space Project for Supporting Elderly’s Caregivers.
Prof Nip received a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from The University of Hong Kong and a Master in Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has also studied public administration at the Oxford University and attended national studies courses at the Chinese Academy of Governance.
Prof Nip joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong government in August 1986. Since then, he has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Deputy Chief Secretary’s Office, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Trade Department, the Chief Executive’s Office, the former Health and Welfare Bureau, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing and the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.
He was appointed the Director of Social Welfare in August 2009, the Director (Special Duties) of the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Private Office (on poverty alleviation and population policy) in June 2013, the Director of Information Services in February 2014 and the Permanent Secretary for Health in July 2016.
Prof. Patrick Nip, GBS, JP
Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Panellists:
Dr. Wendy Hong Wen
Incumbent Member of the 7th Legislative Council of the HKSAR
Dr. Wendy HONG Wen is a current member of the 7th Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR, recognized for advocating the concept of an “olive-shaped society.” Her primary focus is on enhancing upward social mobility and cultivating a thriving middle class. Under this vision, Dr. Hong champions the development of comprehensive “housing ladders” tailored to the needs of young individuals and the sandwich class, empowering them with access to affordable housing and a secure living environment. Additionally, she promotes the diversification of Hong Kong’s industrial landscape, aiming to create “employment ladders” that support personal growth and fulfillment for individuals with varied talents and interests.
Beyond her legislative duties, Dr. Hong serves as the General Manager of the Research Department at New World Development Co., Ltd. She previously held the position of Vice President at Fung Business Intelligence and worked as a Senior Researcher at the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong SAR.
Dr. Hong is actively involved in various social roles. She serves as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Huajing Society and a Nonresident Fellow at the The Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) at the University of Hong Kong. Additionally, she is a part-time professor at the Belt and Road Research Institute of Hainan University and a member of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Dr. Hong is the author of “The Road to Bridging Two Hong Kongs” (《兩個香港的彌合之路》) (The Commercial Press, 2021) along with several other works.
Dr. Wendy Hong Wen
Incumbent Member of the 7th Legislative Council of the HKSAR
Prof. Terry Lum
Professor / Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Terry Lum is the Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration and the Professor of Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
His research focuses on long-term care, productive aging, and geriatric mental health. He is a member of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Expert Group. During the last decade, he led the development of new assessment instruments and service matching formulas for long-term care for frail older adults in Hong Kong. He advised the Hong Kong Government to develop the Community Care Service Voucher Program that introduced personal budget to community care; to launch the new Living Allowance Program that provided cash allowance for low income caregivers of both frail older people and people with disabilities; and to revamp the assessment protocol of the Disability Allowance to financially support people with disabilities. He also led the development of the Aging-inPlace Program for low income older adults living in public rental housing estates in Hong Kong. He is currently directing several large-scale intervention research projects to prevent physical frailty and geriatric depression, and various policy research projects to enhance the long-term care infrastructure and age friendliness in Hong Kong. Professor Lum is a member of the WHO’s Consortium on Metrics and Evidence for Healthy Aging and Global Network of Long-term care. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the Cash and Counseling Program, the first national consumer directed care program in the United States.
Professor Lum had taught in the University of Minnesota in the United States before he joined HKU. He was elected as a Fellow by the Gerontological Society of America in 2011 and was awarded the Career Leadership Award by the Association of Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) in 2016. Professor Lum is the Editor for Asia and Australasia of the Journal of Aging and Mental Health.
Prof. Terry Lum
Professor / Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong
Mr. Paul McComb
Executive Director, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Paul McComb is the Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong track record in business and commercial leadership. Paul has been actively involved in enhancing the Chamber’s support for its members. He has spearheaded numerous events and initiatives aimed at promoting business growth and fostering a collaborative business community.
Before joining the British Chamber of Commerce, Paul served as the Director-General of Trade and Investment at the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 2017 to 2021. In this role, he was instrumental in fostering trade relations between the UK and Hong Kong, driving significant investment initiatives, and supporting UK businesses in navigating the complexities of international markets.
Paul’s extensive experience also includes his tenure in the UK, where he played a pivotal role in helping businesses adjust to new trading dynamics post-Brexit and addressing the economic impacts of global events such as the war in Ukraine.
Mr. Paul McComb
Executive Director, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
3:55 p.m.
Networking Session
12:25 p.m.
Lunch & Keynote Session – An Entrepreneur’s Perception on the Future Opportunities of Hong Kong Economy (Keynote speech: 20 mins)
Speaker:
Mr. Vincent Lo
Founder and Chairman, Shui On Group
Mr. Vincent H. S. LO is the founder and Chairman of the Shui On Group which was established in 1971. The Group is principally engaged in property development, premium commercial properties’ investment and management, construction business with interests in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Mr. Lo is also the Chairman of Shui On Land Limited (SOL) and SOCAM Development Limited (SOCAM), both are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Mr. Lo was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in 2017, the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) in 1998 and appointed Justice of the Peace in 1999 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). He was named Businessman of the Year at the Hong Kong Business Awards in 2001, and won the Director of the Year Award from The Hong Kong Institute of Directors in 2002 and Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2004. Mr. Lo was honoured with “Ernst & Young China Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009” and also, as “Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009” in the China Real Estate Sector. Mr. Lo was made an Honorary Citizen of Shanghai in 1999 and Foshan in 2011. In 2012, the 4th World Chinese Economic Forum honoured Mr. Lo with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Property Sector. In 2022, Mr. Lo was named “Life Trustee” by Urban Land Institute.
In addition to his business capacity, Mr. Lo has been active in community services. He participated in the preparatory works of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, served as Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Chairman of The Airport Authority Hong Kong and a Member of The Board of Directors of Boao Forum for Asia. He currently serves as Honorary President of Council for the Promotion & Development of Yangtze, Economic Adviser of the Chongqing Municipal Government, the Honorary Court Chairman of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, among his other positions.
Mr. Vincent Lo
Founder and Chairman, Shui On Group
3:15 p.m.
Break
4:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Professor Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School; Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics &
Director of Asia Global Institute
Heiwai Tang holds the Victor and William Fung Professorship in Economics at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he also serves as Director of the Asia Global Institute and Associate Dean for External Relations at the Business School. Before joining HKU, he was a tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University.
He is affiliated with the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo) in Germany, the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER) in Singapore, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, and the Globalization and Economic Policy (GEP) Center in the U.K. as a research fellow. Tang has consulted for organizations such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. He has also held visiting positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University.
Currently, he is the Managing Editor of the Pacific Economic Review and has previously served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics, and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has been involved with several public and regulatory bodies in Hong Kong SAR, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, the Industry Advisory Committee of the Insurance Authority, the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal, the Land and Development Advisory Committee, and the Minimum Wage Commission, among others.
Heiwai holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from UCLA. His research interests span a wide range of theoretical and empirical topics in international trade, with a specific focus on production networks, global value chains, and China. His research has been published in leading journals in economics, including American Economic Review and Journal of International Economics. His research and opinions have been covered by BBC, Bloomberg, China Daily, CNA, CNN, Financial Times, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy, South China Morning Post, and various think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Prof. Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School & Director of Asia Global Institute
4:30 p.m.
End of Conference
*Panellists are in sequence of alphabetical order of surname. The rundown is subject to change.
Language: Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Green Papers
Previous Conference Highlights
Sponsors
Diamond Patron
Gold Patron
Silver Patron
Sequence of logos is in alphabetical order of company name.
Supporting Organizations
Sequence of logos is in alphabetical order of organisation name.
Remarks
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