Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist and Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Institute of Environment and Division of Environment and Sustainability, recently spoke to Bright Hong Kong about the role of Hong Kong in the national context of an emerging China as world power and the growing importance of a dialogue with Beijing to design a shared future from the perspective of mutual interest.
Ms Loh is well qualified to speak to these issues, having been a legislator in pre- and post-colonial Hong Kong, before starting Hong Kong’s first independent think tank and then joining the government as the Under Secretary for the Environment (2012-17). More here.
Ms. Loh is also an accomplished author and her bibliography includes Underground Front. The Communist Chinese Party in Hong Kong, published in 2010. The second edition of this book will be soon in circulation with updated content.
Her presentation, “Rethinking Hong Kong’s relations with Mainland China”, included her analysis of the role of Hong Kong in China, its projection into the international arena and the tenacious regional economic competition that could become a serious challenge.
Ms Loh also analysed the contradictions that exist in Hong Kong. One of those contradictions lies in the economic inequality in what has been called the world’s freest economy.
“Some sectors of society in Hong Kong,” said Christine Loh, “are lagging behind and that can create a certain degree of concern.” She also stressed the urgent need to rethink the Hong Kong’s role in the national context. If it fails at this task, it could well be left out of the opportunities presented by an increasingly vibrant China with ambitious plans to make its presence felt in the world.
The event was attended by Ambassador Carmen Cano, Head of the European Union in Hong Kong and Macau, and Damián Martínez Tagueña, Consul General of Mexico.
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