Speakers
The Future of
Hong Kong Economy
January 18, 2024
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2001
Joseph E. Stiglitz is an American economist and a professor at Columbia University. He is also the co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress at the OECD, and the Chief Economist of the Roosevelt Institute.
Stiglitz was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001. He is a former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank and a former chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. In 2000, Stiglitz founded the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, a think tank on international development based at Columbia University. In 2011 Stiglitz was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Known for his pioneering work on asymmetric information, Stiglitz’s research focuses on income distribution, climate change, corporate governance, public policy, macroeconomics and globalization.
He is the author of numerous books including, most recently, People, Power, and Profits, Rewriting the Rules of the European Economy, and Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited.
Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2001
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
Sequence of speakers is in alphabetical order of surname.
Welcoming Remarks
Prof. Richard Wong
Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy,
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HKU
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, 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-).
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/.
Prof. Richard Wong
Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy,
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HKU
Speakers
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean of 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 of HKU Business School
The Honourable Bernard Charnwut Chan
Vice Chairman of the Board, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Hon. Chan is the Chairman & President of Asia Financial Holdings Ltd., Chairman of Asia Insurance Co. Ltd., Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation and Chairman of M Plus Museum. He is also Chairman of the Hong Kong – Thailand Business Council, a director of Bumrungrad Hospital Public Company in Thailand and an advisor to Bangkok Bank (China) Co. Ltd.
He previously served as a Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, the Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council, Member of the Legislative Council, Chairman of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University, the Council for Sustainable Development and the Antiquities Advisory Board. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2006 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2020.
The Honourable Bernard Charnwut Chan
Vice Chairman of the Board,
West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Ms. Jayne Chan
Head of StartmeupHK at Invest Hong Kong
Jayne is Head of StartmeupHK at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government department responsible for attracting and retaining Foreign Direct Investment into Hong Kong. Her role at StartmeupHK is to attract innovative startups, investors and other stakeholders to Hong Kong, provide information and connections to support these companies setting up in the city, and help build the ecosystem to transform the city into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining InvestHK, Jayne was Executive Director at the HK chapter of TiE, a global non-profit network focused on fostering entrepreneurship in the markets in which they operate. She has been an award winning producer on interactive programmes at 4A’s & digital agencies, managed product development for a number of startups at Hong Kong’s first tech startup incubator, and filled marketing roles in manufacturing and architectural companies.
Ms. Jayne Chan
Head of StartmeupHK at Invest Hong Kong
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy of HKU Business School & Director of the ESG 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’s 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 and China Economic Review.
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 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 of HKU Business School &
Director of the ESG Research Institute
Laurence Li, SC, JP
Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Mr Laurence Li, SC is the Chairman of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC). The FSDC is an advisory body to the HKSAR Government on all matters relating to the development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. It engages the industry in formulating proposals to promote the further development of the financial services industry of Hong Kong and to map out the strategic direction for the development.
Mr Li’s profession is a practicing barrister. He focuses on banking, commercial, company, and securities law. Prior to being called to the Hong Kong Bar, he served in several positions within the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong and, before that, worked in a law firm in New York.
Mr Li is a Judge of the International Court and Regulatory Tribunal in Doha, Qatar. He is also a Fellow of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an Honorary Fellow of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law at The University of Hong Kong, and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Mr. Laurence Li
Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
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
Prof. Christoph H Loch
Professor of Operations & Technology Management, Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Chinese Management; Former Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School and Editor-in-Chief of Management Science
Professor Dr. Christoph H. Loch is Professor of Operations and Technology Management at the Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS), and from 2011-2021 he served as the Director (Dean) of the school. A university business school combines academic activities (published research and degree teaching) with commercial activities in competitive markets (programmes and executive education). Under his leadership since 2011, CJBS has grown in revenues from £24m in 2011-12 to £60m in 2019-20, breaking even every year while continuing to make a financial contribution to the University of Cambridge. On the teaching side, CJBS’ ranked programmes (MBA, EMBA, Master of Finance, and Executive Education) are now all ranked in the FT Global top 20 (from only one of them in 2011). On the research side, the 2021 Research Evaluation Framework (REF) exercise that the UK government conducts every six years ranked CJBS as the best research school of all UK business schools (after a second place in 2014). This performance was enabled by a research strategy emphasizing problem-solving engagements with organisations (commercial or non-profit) to connect knowledge creation with practical impact, fostering a positive reinforcement between teaching and research.
For example, CJBS has 14 research centers that are thought leaders in their areas and reach out to organizations to help them. In this context, CJBS has become a leader in entrepreneurship impact and education (both technology and social ventures), supporting the Cambridge Cluster (the largest entrepreneurial cluster in Europe).
As an academic, Professor Loch has continued to teach and conduct research. His experience lies in the management of innovation in organizations, project management, and the emotional side of motivation of professional personnel. He was identified as one of the top ten Innovation researchers worldwide in the Journal of Product Innovation Management in 2012, and he was identified as one of the top ten researchers worldwide in Operations Management in the journal Decision Sciences in 2020.
Prof. Christoph H Loch
Professor of Operations & Technology Management, Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Chinese Management; Former Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School and Editor-in-Chief of Management Science
Mr. Paul Loo
Chief Operating Officer, Lalamove
As Chief Operating Officer of Lalamove, Paul is responsible for the global operations, strategic planning and business development of the company and has been instrumental in the rapid growth of the Lalamove business.
Paul brings more than 30 years of global management experience to Lalamove, having worked in Hong Kong, Middle East, the Philippines, Japan and Mainland China. His experience and leadership have been focused on delivering business services and solutions, providing outstanding client services, and driving profitable and sustainable revenue growth.
Before joining Lalamove, Paul held several senior executive roles at Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways. Most recently, he was the Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay Pacific, where he was in charge of commercial, fleet & network planning, information technology, customer experience design and delivery, and international affairs.
Paul graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Engineering Science, and the University of Michigan with a Master of Business Administration. He also graduated from the Senior Executive Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Paul Loo
Chief Operating Officer, Lalamove
Mr. Ben McQuhae
Vice President & Honorary Advisor, Hong Kong Green Finance Association; Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co
Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co (www.bmcquhae.com), a Hong Kong-based corporate, commercial & regulatory law firm for sustainability and innovation that has been described as the only true ESG law firm on the planet and is Winner of the INSEAD Business as a Force for Good Award. The firm only accepts mandates that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ben is an industry leading lawyer, a recognized leader in sustainable finance and green fintech, and a pioneer in carbon markets and decarbonization. Qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales (1999) and Hong Kong (2003).
Founder, Venturis (www.venturis.eco) an ESG strategy, implementation, coaching and intelligence advisory firm. Ben McQuhae & Co and Venturis provide a unique offering that combines legal solutions and sustainability solutions to help drive global sustainability efforts.
Mr. Ben McQuhae
Vice President & Honorary Advisor, Hong Kong Green Finance Association; Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co
Ms. Anna Ng
Regional Head of Operations for East Asia and Pacific, IFC
Anna Ng is the International Finance Corporation’s Regional Head of Operations for East Asia and the Pacific and Head of Office for Hong Kong SAR, China. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. As Regional Head of Operations, Ms. Ng is responsible for strategy formulation, facilitation and oversight of investment and advisory programs, and fundraising efforts in East Asia and the Pacific. As Head of Office for Hong Kong SAR, she works closely with regional investment and advisory teams to help drive cross-border investments and capital mobilization between Hong Kong SAR-based companies and financial institutions in emerging markets and developing economies globally. She also leads knowledge-sharing events for the benefit of IFC’s clients and partners, in close collaboration with the Hong Kong government and other local and regional development partners. Ms. Ng has more than 20 years of experience managing policy advocacy, international relations, multi-stakeholder negotiations and business development with the private sector.
Ms. Anna Ng
Regional Head of Operations for East Asia and Pacific, IFC
Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2001
Joseph E. Stiglitz is an American economist and a professor at Columbia University. He is also the co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress at the OECD, and the Chief Economist of the Roosevelt Institute.
Stiglitz was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001. He is a former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank and a former chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. In 2000, Stiglitz founded the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, a think tank on international development based at Columbia University. In 2011 Stiglitz was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Known for his pioneering work on asymmetric information, Stiglitz’s research focuses on income distribution, climate change, corporate governance, public policy, macroeconomics and globalization.
He is the author of numerous books including, most recently, People, Power, and Profits, Rewriting the Rules of the European Economy, and Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited.
Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2001
Mr. Chris Sun, JP
Secretary of Labour and Welfare, HKSAR Government
Mr Sun was appointed as the Secretary for Labour and Welfare on 1 July 2022. Mr Sun joined the Administrative Service in 1994 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in 2022. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Finance Branch, the former Constitutional Affairs Bureau, the former Finance Bureau, the Home Affairs Department, the former Home Affairs Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau and the former Food and Health Bureau. He was appointed as Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health) in 2011, Head (Healthcare Planning and Development Office) in 2012, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) in 2017, and the Commissioner for Labour in 2020.
Mr. Chris Sun, JP
Secretary of Labour and Welfare, HKSAR Government
Ms. Ellie Tang
Director, Sustainable Investing at Fidelity International
Based in Hong Kong, Ellie is responsible for the integration of sustainability considerations into Fidelity’s real estate investments and supporting the firm in areas including proprietary sustainability ratings, engagement and voting activities with investee companies, as well as sustainability product offerings.
Ellie joined Fidelity from the Hong Kong-listed real estate company, New World Development, where she was Head of Sustainability. Previously, she held sustainability positions at Link Asset Management and HSBC.
Ellie holds a Master of Public Administration degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Environmental Studies from Emory University. She serves on the Urban Land Institute Hong Kong Executive Committee and is also a WELL AP.
Ms. Ellie Tang
Director, Sustainable Investing at Fidelity International
Professor Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School & Director of Asia Global Institute
Heiwai Tang is Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, Director of the Asia Global Institute, as well as Associate Director of the Institute of China Economy and the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Prior to joining HKU, he was tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. He is also affiliated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (U.S.), the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESIfo, Germany), the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (Germany) and the Globalization and Economic Policy Center (U.K.) as a research fellow. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank; and held visiting positions at the IMF, Stanford, MIT, Harvard. He is currently Managing Editor of Pacific Economic Review, and Associate Editor of the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has served on a number of public bodies, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the HKMA’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee and the Minimum Wage Commission in Hong Kong.
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
Professor Anna Wai-kwan WONG
Professor of Practice, HKU Business School
Professor Wong is a Professor of Practice in Finance at the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Programme Director of the Bachelor of Finance (Asset Management and Private Banking) at The University of Hong Kong. She teaches financial regulations, compliance and credit risk management at the Faculty.
Professor Wong has extensive experience in banking and finance. She had worked in major financial institutions including Citigroup, HSBC, Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas and the Chase Manhattan Bank, covering private banking, asset management, securities brokerage, corporate and commercial banking, credit and risk management. Professor Wong was the Head of Private Bank, Greater China at Credit Suisse and the CEO of HSBC Broking Services (Asia) Limited.
Professor Wong is an independent non-executive director of the MTR Corporation Limited, a member of the Audit Committee and chairlady of the Risk Committee of Bank of China International Limited. She is also a non-executive director of the Insurance Authority, a member of each of the Competition Commission, the Finance Committee of the Housing Authority, the Investment Committee of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Process Review Panel for the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council and the Human Capital Committee of the Financial Services Development Council. She was previously a member of the Advisory Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission, and a director of both of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and the Hong Kong Securities Association Limited.
Professor Wong is a Senior Fellow of Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and a Fellow of St John’s College, The University of Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Hong Kong, a Master of Business Administration degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Hong Kong.
Prof. Anna Wong
Professor of Practice,
HKU Business School
Prof. Richard Wong
Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy,
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HKU
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, 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-).
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/.
Prof. Richard Wong
Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy,
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, HKU
Dr. Allan Zeman
Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group
Dr. Allan Zeman, GBM, GBS, JP, FCPA (Aust.) is the Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, a major property owner and developer in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong Area, one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist and entertainment districts.
Lan Kwai Fong Group in recent years, has expanded to various cities in China which include Chengdu and the GBA area. Dr. Zeman is also the owner of Paradise Properties Group, a property developer in Thailand which includes the award-winning Andara Resort and Villas in Phuket, a luxury golf resort and villa development called the Aquella and the condominium development named Sudara.
Dr. Zeman serves as a director of the “Star” Ferry Company, Limited. He is also the Non-Executive Director of Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited and is an independent non-executive director of Sino Land Company Limited, Tsim Sha Tsui Properties Limited, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and Fosun Tourism Group, all of which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Dr. Zeman is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Wynn Macau Limited, a prominent gaming operator in the US and Macau.
Having lived in Hong Kong for over 50 years, Dr. Zeman has been very involved in government services as well as community activities. Besides having been the Chairman of Hong Kong Ocean Park, a major theme park in Hong Kong, from July 2003 to June 2014 and its Honorary Advisor from 2014 July to 2022 June. Dr. Zeman was a member of the Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, and the chairman of its Performing Arts Committee from 2008 to 2016 and is now the Honorary Advisor and the Chairman of its Commercial Letting Panel. Dr. Zeman was a Board Member of the Airport Authority of Hong Kong and the Chairman of its Business Development Committee from 2015 to 2022 June. During that time, we have seen the completion of the 3rd runway of the HK international Airport and an upgrade of the retails space of the HK intercontinental Airport.
Dr Zeman is appointed as a member of the HKSAR Chief Executive Council of Advisors. The Council is a high-level advisory body to advise the Chief Executive on the strategic development of Hong Kong, leveraging on opportunities from national and global developments.
Dr Zeman is a member of the HKSAR Human Resources Planning Commission which is chaired by the Chief Secretary of HK. It is aimed to consolidate resources and efforts of the Government and various sectors to examine, review and co-ordinate policies and measures on human resources in a holistic manner.
Dr Zeman is appointed as a member of the Task Force on Promoting and Branding Hong Kong in January 2023. The Task Force is led by Financial Secretary Paul Chan. It will advise the Government on the overall strategy of promoting Hong Kong’s advantages, and on the promotional plans and activities that will take place overseas and in the Mainland.
Dr. Zeman is appointed as a member of the Culture Commission aims at advising the HKSAR government on policy, strategy and initiative for HK’s art, cultural and creative industries development.
Dr. Zeman was invited by former HKSAR Chief Executive Mr. CH Tung to be a Governor to Our Hong Kong Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting the long-term and overall interests of Hong Kong.
Dr. Zeman is a member of the Board of Governors of The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Dr Zeman is also a board director of The Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund launched by the Alibaba Group. Dr. Zeman also serves as a Board Member of the Clinical Governance Committee of the Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital.
In 2001, Dr. Zeman was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2004 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2011. In 2008, Dr. Zeman was awarded Business-Person of the Year by the Hong Kong Business Award.
In 2008, Dr Zeman renounced his Canadian citizenship and became a Chinese citizen. Dr Zeman received a home-return permit card and a Hong Kong SAR passport.
Dr Zeman received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from University of Western Ontario, Canada. In 2012, Dr. Zeman was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees of Business Administration from City University of Hong Kong and University of Science and Technology of Hong Kong. Dr Zeman was awarded as the Honorary Member of the CPA Australia in February 2016.
In 2019, Dr Zeman was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees of Business Administration from Open University of Hong Kong, now known as the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
In 2022, Dr Zeman was awarded Honorary Fellowship by Social Enterprise Research Academy (SERA) in recognized of Dr Zeman’s distinguished contributions to global sustainable development.
Dr. Allan Zeman
Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group
Sequence of speakers is in alphabetical order of surname.
Moderators
Prof. Hongbin Cai
Dean of 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 of HKU Business School
Speaker Name
Job Title
Biography
Prof. Guojun He
Professor in Economics, Management & Strategy
Laurence Li, SC, JP
Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Mr Laurence Li, SC is the Chairman of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC). The FSDC is an advisory body to the HKSAR Government on all matters relating to the development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. It engages the industry in formulating proposals to promote the further development of the financial services industry of Hong Kong and to map out the strategic direction for the development.
Mr Li’s profession is a practicing barrister. He focuses on banking, commercial, company, and securities law. Prior to being called to the Hong Kong Bar, he served in several positions within the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong and, before that, worked in a law firm in New York.
Mr Li is a Judge of the International Court and Regulatory Tribunal in Doha, Qatar. He is also a Fellow of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an Honorary Fellow of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law at The University of Hong Kong, and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Mr. Laurence Li
Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
Professor Heiwai Tang
Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School & Director of Asia Global Institute
Heiwai Tang is Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, Director of the Asia Global Institute, as well as Associate Director of the Institute of China Economy and the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Prior to joining HKU, he was tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. He is also affiliated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (U.S.), the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESIfo, Germany), the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (Germany) and the Globalization and Economic Policy Center (U.K.) as a research fellow. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank; and held visiting positions at the IMF, Stanford, MIT, Harvard. He is currently Managing Editor of Pacific Economic Review, and Associate Editor of the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has served on a number of public bodies, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the HKMA’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee and the Minimum Wage Commission in Hong Kong.
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.