Over the past four decades, China’s reform and opening up has not only profoundly changed the country, but also greatly influenced the whole world. And Hong Kong has played a significant and unique role and made historic contribution in the national reform and opening up endeavor. On 29 October 2018, the Better Hong Kong Foundation and the Office of Commissioner of the PRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR jointly organized a conference entitled “China’s 40 Years of Reform and Opening up: Implications for the world and Role of Hong Kong”, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. At the conference, international political leaders, senior officials of both the central government and the HKSAR government, prominent scholars across the world and business leaders who have witnessed and participated in the journey of reform and opening up shared their insights on the global implications of China’s reform and opening up, Hong Kong’s role and contribution, and visions for the future.
(Front row, L to R) Prof. Lawrence Lau, Dr. Jusuf Wanandi, Prof. Martin Jacques, Commissioner Xie Feng, Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Mr. Dominique De Villepin, Mrs. Carrie Lam, Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, Ms. Charlene Barshefsky, Mr. Ronnie Chan, Mr. Tan Tieniu and Prof. Harry Harding; (Back row, L to R) Dr. Peter Qiu, Deputy Commissioner Yang Yirui, Mr. Patrick Nip, Mr. Edward Yau, Mr. Merlin Swire, Mr. Joseph Yam, Dr. Yuan Peng, Mr. Gao Yingxi, Ms. Teresa Cheng, Mr. John Lee, Mr. Feng Tie, Deputy Commissioner Song Ru’an and Ms. Karen Tang
The conference was officiated by Commissioner Xie Feng and the Foundation’s Executive Committee Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan, and the Chief Executive of the HKSAR Mrs. Carrie Lam. The former French Prime Minister Mr. Dominique De Villepin, former Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, former Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Li Zhaoxing and former U.S. trade representative Ms. Charlene Barshefsky delivered keynote addresses at the conference.
The Foundation’s Executive Committee Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan gave an opening remark
The Chief Executive Mrs. Carrie Lam shared her views at the conference
Former Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Li Zhaoxing
Former French Prime Minister Mr. Dominique De Villepin
Former Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Yukio Hatoyama
Former U.S. trade representative Ms. Charlene Barshefsky
Other prominent speakers from overseas and the Mainland China included Prof. Martin Jacques from University of Cambridge, Prof. Harry Harding from University Virginia, Dr. Jusuf Wanandi from Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Yuan Peng from China Institute of Contemporary International Relations and Dr. Peter Qiu from Phoenix TV. From Hong Kong, the Chief Secretary for Administration Mr. Matthew Cheung, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority Mr. Joseph Yam, Chairman of John Swire & Sons Mr. Merlin Swire, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive of Bank of China Mr. Gao Yingxi and notable economist former Vice-Chancellor & President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Prof. Lawrence Lau also shared their thoughts. At the luncheon, we were honoured to have invited Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR to address the audiences.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa spoke at the luncheon after the conference
(L to R) Prof. Martin Jacques, Prof. Harry Harding, Dr. Jusuf Wanandi, Dr. Yuan Peng and Dr. Peter Qiu
(L to R) Mr. Matthew Cheung, Mr. Joseph Yam, Mr. Merlin Swire, Mr. Gao Yingxi and Prof. Lawrence Lau
Over three hundreds participants including senior government officials, foreign consuls in Hong Kong, business leaders from international chambers of commerce as well as representatives from local business, academic, youth and media attended the conference. The Foundation’s Trustee Tan Sri Dato’ David Chiu; Council Members Dr. Roy Chung, Mr. Thomas Woo, Mr. Joseph Yu, Dr. Raymond Leung, Mr. Chan Yim-kwong, Dr. Frankie Yeung, Ms. Alice Au, Mr. Alex Yip and Ms. Rosana Wong; and Executive Director Ms. Karen Tang participated in the conference.
