In the Media

環境、社會及管治（Environmental, Social, and Governance，簡稱ESG）近年好似雨後春筍般，已經無處不在。當眾人還分不清這3個字母順序的時候，ESG早已牽動無數跨國公司的重大決策，也深刻影響各國政府的監管決定。

The “Thought Leadership Conference Series: The Future of Hong Kong Economy” concluded successfully on 18 January. Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean and Chair of Economics of HKU Business School, has emphasized the school's dedication to conducting economic policy research for many years, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of Hong Kong's economy. To shape a better future for Hong Kong, society needs to focus on vision, policies, housing, and land. This year's Green Paper and conference have achieved remarkable results, receiving enthusiastic feedback from participants and affirming their value and impact.

Chen Zhiwu, chair professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong, said restoring confidence would be key, but that it would take much more than just talk. “The really useful and meaningful way to boost household and private business confidence is to depoliticise both economic policymaking and the business sector,” he said. “Otherwise, the ‘3D’ challenges – deflation, debt and deleveraging – will continue.”

Chen Zhiwu, a chair professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong, said headwinds such as risks of a global recession and US-China tensions would continue to exert “extraordinary pressures” on China’s hi-tech push. “The US tech war has largely thwarted Chinese tech companies’ [initial public offering] opportunities. Even if these tech manufacturers succeed in going public, the potential sanctions would affect their market valuations,” said Chen. He added China’s weak economic momentum is also weighing on the market’s overall willingness to invest, with hi-tech manufacturing just one element. “The rapid development of hi-tech industries over the past 20 years has provided China with a massive boost to its economic boom, this was partly due to the impact of a stable external environment on investor confidence,” Chen said.

2023年9月發布的《全球金融中心指數》報告指出，香港在全球金融中心排名維持第四位，整體評分為741分，較2022年上升19分，僅以1分之微落後於第三位的新加坡。香港的整體評分顯著上升，而且在營商環境、人力資本、金融業發展水平，以及聲譽和綜合等四方面的排名，上升至全球第四，反映在新冠疫情後，香港作為國際金融中心的持久優勢和韌性均備受肯定。

出書，演講，評論，他觀察中國，也參與中國，溶金融邏輯於中國水土。 在資本的海洋中，他俯身細看數字背後的人文，用簡潔的經濟學語言，解釋文明演進與社會建構。 他談理想宏願，唯萬家燈火，是其經濟學思想的倒影，仍未倦，且駐講台，傳道授業解惑。 在東西方思想交會處，他篤定，做兩者的橋樑。

HKU Business School today announced the "Hong Kong Economic Policy Green Paper 2024" ("Green Paper"). The Green Paper was prepared by HKU faculty members, researchers and other internationally renowned scholars, who have conducted in-depth policy analysis and proposed recommendations for various pressing issues in Hong Kong.

中美建交至今年元旦剛好45年，但當前的中美關係，大概是建交以來最惡劣的情況。就在一個月前，美國國會參議院一個特設委員會，推出一份如何讓美國贏得中美經濟競爭的報告，概括了共和民主兩黨議員對中美經濟關係的主要觀點，並列舉一系列美國應採取的政策建議來對付中國。

最近上映的電影《奧本海默》，講述原子彈之父奧本海默（J. Robert Oppenheimer）在原子彈研發成功之後，如何因為反戰立場和曾經的左傾活動而遭受迫害。 其實，這不僅是他個人的悲劇，更是全體人類共同的悲劇。 核武的發明、擴散和競賽，讓這個世界變得極不安全。 俄羅斯對烏克蘭軍事行動受挫之際，就曾多次暗示迫不得已時會使用核武。