This story was published in the SCMP’s Education Post on 27 September, 2016.
“China Business in the Global Economy”, a conference organised by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, brought together experts, academics, and 500 industry guests to share the latest market intelligence, innovation trends, and challenges facing the Chinese market as it moves into the future. Experts also mulled over Hong Kong’s role in that future, and assessed how the city’s professional and political relationship with the mainland will change. The conference took place at the Grand Hyatt in Wanchai on September 9.
Many of the speakers agreed that China, which is burgeoning due in part to the ambitious “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative and the country’s increasingly innovative outlook will offer great opportunities to Hong Kong, which has every chance to remain an important strategic hub as China shifts gears and looks towards Central Asia and the west. The city will be able to furnish professional services, support innovation, and provide global financial services for the mainland and its business connections.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah delivered the officiating speech and stressed that China and Hong Kong’s opportunities are one and the same. China’s success means Hong Kong will have the chance to grow a professional services and economic hub for international businesses under the one country, two systems principle.
Fondly referencing the opening scene of the TV show Star Trek, which was launched in 1966, the same year as CUHK’s MBA programme, Tsang said that Hong Kong “will boldly go where no other economy has gone before” in the future.
“China, nowadays, is more than just the world’s factory,” Tsang said. “It is also a worldwide leader in e-commerce, as well as an international hub for advanced telecommunication technologies and manufacturing.”
Read the full wrap up here.
Rebecca Simpson. Writer and editor. 