Y.C. Richard Wong
Prof. Y.C. Richard WONG, SBS, JP
Economics
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Chair of Economics
Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy
Philip Wong Kennedy Wong Professor in Political Economy

2859 1122

KK 1021

Academic & Professional Qualification
  • Ph.D., A.M., A.B., University of Chicago
Biography

Professor Y.C. Richard WONG, SBS, JP received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1981.  He was Visiting Scholar at the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago in 1985 and at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University in 1989.  He joined the School in September 1992, served as Director (1997-2000) of the School of Business, Dean (2001-04) and Acting Dean (2004-07) of the Faculty of Business and Economics (now HKU Business School), and Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2004-2010, 2019-).

Professor Wong is founding Director of the Hong Kong Centre for Economic Research (1987-) and the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy (1999-); a recipient of the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for his work in advancing economic research on policy issues in Hong Kong; and principal investigator of the Area of Excellence Grant in economic policy and business strategy awarded by the University Grants Committee in 1999; Chairman of the Council of the Becker-Friedman Institute, University of Chicago (2015-19).

He had served on a number of public bodies, including, the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, Housing Authority, Industry and Technology Development Council, and University Grants Committee; and on the Central Policy Unit, Chief Executive’s Commission on Innovation and Technology, Commission on Strategic Development-Committee on Economic Development and Economic Cooperation with the Mainland, Council of Advisors on Innovation and Technology, Dental Council, Economic Advisory Committee, Hospital Authority, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (Hong Kong Committee), Land and Building Advisory Committee, Financial Secretary’s Services Promotion Strategy Group, Research Themes under the Research Endowment Fund Steering Committee, and Commission on Poverty Task Force on Social Security and Retirement Security.

Professor Wong was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 1999 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in recognition of his contributions to education, housing, and industry and technology development.  He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2000.

He has been Chairman of the Judging Panel of the DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards since 2006.

His current research focuses are public housing in Hong Kong, inequality and intergenerational mobility in Hong Kong, early childhood intervention, the political economy of laissez faire in Hong Kong, and regional economic development in China.

His research on public housing studies the welfare effects of the government public housing strategy and recommends government to correct capital market imperfections in the mortgage loans market to help the public to purchase publicly provided for sale units. It also recommends the sale of existing public rental units to the sitting tenant and new financial arrangements for the unpaid premium on existing publicly provided for sale flats. The policy changes aims to improve efficiency and equity, restore the broken housing ladder, and promote social harmony and stability.

He is studying the political economy for the economic success in Hong Kong during the post-war period focusing on the policy of positive non-interventionism.  It includes a detailed analysis of all major facets of the Hong Kong economy and society.  Structural transformations of Hong Kong’s economy and the new division of labour have given rise to numerous highly vocal special interest groups.  The research is devoted to the articulation of the challenges and opportunities presented by the opening of China, the integration of Hong Kong with China under one-country two-system, the rising competition from regional neighbours amidst rapid structural transformation of the Hong Kong economy, and the globalization of world markets, with special emphasis on social mobility and intergenerational inequality.

Professor Wong has led pioneering efforts in studying regional economic development in the Pearl River Delta and Yangzi River Delta regions following China’s economic transformation.  His research focused on the critical role of Hong Kong in regional and national economic development from the perspective of institutional change and innovation.

He previously wrote a column for the Hong Kong Economic Journal and South China Morning Post.  He maintains a blog at http://www.wangyujian.com/.

Research Interest
  • Economics of Human Resources
  • Economics of Housing and Land
  • Economic Policy and Reform
Selected Publications
  • Fixing Inequality in Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, February 2017, 316 pages.
  • 《面對不均再創奇蹟》Fixing Inequality in Hong Kong,
    Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, April 2016, 327 pages (in Chinese).
  • “「一帶一路」建設中的香港新興產業平台” (Hong Kong’s Emerging Industry Platform),  『一帶一路與香港』,
    in Hong Kong in the Belt and Road Initiative, 林建忠主編,三聯書店(香港)有限公司 Hong Kong Joint Publishing Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, March 2016, pp. 248-279 (in Chinese).
  •  “如何用經濟學方法在香港實踐扶貧和解決老人貧困” (The Economic Approach to Tackling Poverty and Elderly Poverty),
    in 《經濟說、信仰話》 (Economics and Religion),  林潔珍、廖柏偉、宋恩榮主編,宣道出版社, Alliance Press, Hong Kong, July 2015, pp. 26-35 (in Chinese).
  • “如何用經濟學方法扶貧和解決老人貧困” (The Economic Approach to Tackling Poverty and Elderly Poverty),
    in 《經濟、金融與基督教視角》(Economics, Finance and Christianity),  林潔珍、黃元山主編,上海社會科學院出版社, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, May 2015, pp. 109-115 (in Chinese).
  • Hong Kong Land for Hong Kong People: Fixing the Failures of Our Housing Policy,
    Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, January 2015, 219 pages.
  • 《芝大經濟學派與市場社會秩序》Chicago School of Economics and the Market Social Order,
    Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, July 2014, 287 pages (in Chinese).
  • “重拾政改動力,如期普選特首” (Hong Kong Must Regain Momentum to Deliver a Popularly Elected Chief Executive in 2017),
    in 《香港,2014 - 名人眼中的香港政局》,  薛龍樹選編, 中華出版社,Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, December 2014, pp. 70-72 (in Chinese).
  • “香港民主政制的三大主流論說” (Three Narratives on Hong Kong’s Democratic Political Development),
    in 《香港,2014 - 名人眼中的香港政局》, (Politics in Hong Kong 2014),  薛龍樹選編, 中華出版社,Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, December 2014, pp. 67-69 (in Chinese).
  • 《香港奇蹟已經幻滅?》Has Hong Kong Lost Its Magic?,
    Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, September 2013, 127 pages (in Chinese)
  • Diversity and Occasional Anarchy: On Deep Economic and Social Contradictions in Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, May 2013, 216 pages.
  • 《香港長遠房屋策略和港人港地》Long Term Housing Strategy and Homes for Hong Kong Residents,
    Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, April 2013, 218 pages (in Chinese).
  • 《香港深層次矛盾》Deep Contradictions in Hong Kong,
    Chung Hwa Book Co., Hong Kong, Aug 2012, 227 pages and China Renmin University Press, Beijing, November 2015, 227 pages (in Chinese).
  • “The Importance of Migration Flow to Hong Kong’s Future”,
    (with K F Wong), in HFH Siu and A Ku (eds.), Hong Kong Mobile: Making a Global Population, HKU Press, Hong Kong, 2008, pp. 89-116.
  • Made in PRD: Challenges & Opportunities for HK Industry
    (with AKF Siu, GSW Choi and EKY Chan), commissioned by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and sponsored by 118 manufacturing companies, Hong Kong Centre for Economic Research, April 2007, 131 pages.
  • “The Asian Financial Crisis, Deflation, and Structural Change in Hong Kong”,
    (with A. Siu) in Y Shimizu (ed.), Economic Dynamism of Asia in the New Millennium, World Scientific Publisher, 2007, pp. 31-50.
  • Retaking Economic Center Stage – Integration and Transformation of the Yangzi River Delta Economic Region
    (with X Lu, Z Tao et al), Shanghai People’s Press, Shanghai, PRC, 2007, 272 pages (in Chinese).
Recent Publications
賽馬會辦「疫中求變」研討會 開發App、互動遊戲創新家庭服務

基層家庭疫下面臨前所未見的挑戰,善用資訊科技能否有助推動創新家庭服務?由香港賽馬會慈善信託基金策劃及捐助的「賽馬會智家樂計劃」舉辦一連四日的研討會,主題為《疫中求變: 創意思維、融入科技,促進家庭及兒童抗逆力》,匯聚政府、學術界及社福界等不同界別的專業人士及機構代表,進行跨界別深度交流,探討如何以創意思維融入科技,提升家庭幸福感及抗逆力。

重推租置增自置率 促社會安定

過去兩屆特區政府都將房屋問題視為重中之重,曾提出及推行不同解決方案,如明日大嶼、郊野公園邊陲地帶建屋、興建過渡性房屋等,更在3年多前進行「土地大辯論」。然而,過去十多年,試問誰不知道香港房屋問題水深火熱?只可惜無論政府多努力覓地建屋,房屋問題仍然持續惡化,絕對值得我們反思過去是否用錯了方法。

工總:藉「香港製造」及生產性服務業推動經濟發展

香港工業總會(「工總」)今日(14日)舉辦《香港製造:香港工業啟新章》研究報告(「研究」)發布及知識交流論壇(「論壇」)。是次研究為工總六十周年鑽禧項目,由工業貿易署「工商機構支援基金」撥款資助,並由香港大學香港經濟研究中心研究團隊進行,檢視港資製造企業在香港內外的經營狀況和發展策略。工總在論壇上發布主要研究成果,並就研究所得,提出對香港未來工業發展的政策建議。論壇上邀得多位業界及學界專家出席,探討香港產業政策及港資製造業發展路向等議題。

83歲火箭總師在港開講,動情處3次起身令人動容

中國青年報客戶端香港6月24日電(中青報·中青網記者邱晨輝)今天上午10時許,83歲的中國工程院院士、長征系列火箭總設計師龍樂豪在香港大學陸佑堂開講,主題是《長征火箭與中國航天》。這是內地“宇宙天團”訪港的第3天,也是與香港學校師生交流的第3場講座。

香港政經學家熱議RCEP:突破美國封鎖、鞏固自由貿易

涵蓋15個成員國的區域全面經濟夥伴關係協定(RCEP)去年11月間簽署,全球最大的自由貿易區宣告誕生。10日,多名香港政治、經濟領域內學者熱議RCEP,認為其是中國突破美國“封鎖”的階段性成果,將鞏固自由貿易,亦有利於香港強化離岸人民幣樞紐地位。

逾6成在內地生活港青 較2年前更願赴大灣區發展

香港廣東青年總會調查發現,具內地經驗者更願意到大灣區內地城市發展。64.6%在廣東省的港青表示,較2年前,更願意到大灣區內地城市發展,原因包括「香港市場較小」、「大灣區已開放更多便利港人的措施」等。

王于漸:重推租置計劃可為政府帶來4萬億財富

要在短時間內緩解香港的問題,王于漸教授認為可參考新加坡「組屋」模式,全面重推優化版「租置計劃」,將現有公屋單位以極其便宜的價格出售予現有租戶,使業主擁有單位的全部業權。

王于漸:疫情下的經濟衝擊與身心健康 (2020.11)

新冠肺炎疫情下,香港大學首席副校長、經濟學講座教授兼黃乾亨黃英豪基金教授(政治經濟學)王于漸,就疫情帶來的經濟衝擊接受鏡新聞訪問。王于漸教授稱,在大灣區融合下的發展態勢中,香港長遠必須開發新的產業及服務業增長點和亮點。香港最有優勢的產業是金融業,另外就是在創新科技配合、教育產業發展、醫療創新、科學創新等方面的優勢。香港與深圳未來將強強聯手,創造大的作為。

How Hong Kong Common Law reinforce the business environment in Shenzhen by Prof. Richard Wong

Prof. Y.C. Richard WONG, SBS, JP, Philip Wong Kennedy Wong Professor in Political Economy, shared his views on Hong Kong Common Law and Shenzhen's business environment.