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Highlights of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit’s Selected Events in Recent Months

Highlights of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit’s Selected Events in Recent Months
December 1, 2023

1. Briefing for Members of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Expert Group on the Policy Address

On 31 October, the Chief Executive’ Policy Unit (CEPU) held a briefing session on the 2023 Policy Address to brief the Members of the CEPU Expert Group on the content of the Policy Address with a view to canvassing their opinions. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, thanked the Expert Group Members for their invaluable advice to the Government during the consultation period of the 2023 Policy Address. Members of the Expert Group were delighted to note that the Policy Address adopted the theme of “A Vibrant Economy for a Caring Community”, and generally agreed with the ambitious and risk-managing policy measures in the Policy Address covering both internal and external aspects. Dr Wong and his team also answered questions about the Policy Address raised by the Expert Group Members attending the briefing in person and online.

Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and his team briefed Members of the CEPU Expert Group on the 2023 Policy Address. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and his team briefed Members of the CEPU Expert Group on the 2023 Policy Address. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and his team briefed Members of the CEPU Expert Group on the 2023 Policy Address.
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and his team briefed Members of the CEPU Expert Group on the 2023 Policy Address.

2. Holding the second meeting of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers

The Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers (CECA), chaired by the Chief Executive Mr John Lee, held its second meeting on 8 November at the Central Government Offices. Having regard to the latest Policy Address, the meeting focused on how to enhance the role of Hong Kong in fostering regional and global economic and trade collaboration, as well as on the impact on Hong Kong with respect to various external factors including the global economic outlook and geopolitics in the coming year. Mr Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration; Mr Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary; Mr Paul Lam, SC, the Secretary for Justice; Ms Carol Yip, the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office; and Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, were also in attendance.

CECA is a high-level advisory body to advise the Chief Executive on the strategic development of Hong Kong. As the Secretariat of CECA, the CEPU provides research and secretariat support to the Council.

The second meeting of CECA was held at the Central Government Offices. The second meeting of CECA was held at the Central Government Offices.
The second meeting of CECA was held at the Central Government Offices.

3. Holding the International Forum on China’s Economy and Policy

The CEPU held the “China’s Stride towards High-quality Development - The Opportunities and Roles of Hong Kong” International Forum on China’s Economy and Policy 2023 at the Central Government Offices on 15 November. The Forum brought together more than 20 experts, academics, business leaders and government officials from the Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong to initiate in-depth discussions on the country’s economy and its way forward, Hong Kong’s unique advantages as well as changes in the global economic landscape and China’s high-quality opening up. The Forum has brought insights to Hong Kong on how to seize the boundless opportunities of our country’s high-quality development for giving full play to Hong Kong’s unique position and advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland on one hand and being closely connected to the world on the other. More than 400 experts, scholars and personnel from overseas institutions in Hong Kong as well as representatives from think tanks, the business sector, professional bodies and local and foreign chambers of commerce attended the meeting.

Mr John Lee, the Chief Executive, and Mr Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), delivered welcome remarks at the Forum, followed by an opening address by Dr Gao Xiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Dr Deng Zhonghua, President of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies; Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of the Fung Group; and Dr Gao Peiyong, Academic Division Member of the Academy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered keynote speeches on the high-quality development of the country, the new international trade landscape, and the macroeconomic policy setup of the country respectively. Mr Michael Wong, Acting Financial Secretary; and Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management of the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University and Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, Professor Michael Spence, were also invited to deliver special addresses to the Forum.

The Chief Executive stated in his welcome remarks that as a player, facilitator and beneficiary in the country’s reform and opening up, Hong Kong would continue to leverage its strength to expand the scope of co-operation and explore more development opportunities with the country, and to strive jointly to promote the building of a global community of shared future.

“China’s Stride towards High-quality Development - The Opportunities and Roles of Hong Kong” International Forum on China’s Economy and Policy 2023 brought together more than 20 experts, scholars, business leaders and government officials from the Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong to deliver speeches, and was attended by more than 400 participants.

“China’s Stride towards High-quality Development - The Opportunities and Roles of Hong Kong” International Forum on China’s Economy and Policy 2023 brought together more than 20 experts, scholars, business leaders and government officials from the Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong to deliver speeches, and was attended by more than 400 participants. 		Mr John Lee, the Chief Executive, delivered welcome remarks at the Forum.

Mr John Lee, the Chief Executive, delivered welcome remarks at the Forum. 		Mr Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, delivered welcome remarks at the Forum.

Mr Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, delivered welcome remarks at the Forum.
Dr Gao Xiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered an opening address at the Forum.

Dr Gao Xiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered an opening address at the Forum. 		Dr Deng Zhonghua, President of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum.

Dr Deng Zhonghua, President of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum. 		Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of the Fung Group, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum.

Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of the Fung Group, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum.
Dr Gao Peiyong, Academic Division Member and former Vice-President of the Academy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum.

Dr Gao Peiyong, Academic Division Member and former Vice-President of the Academy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum. 		Session I of the Forum, “China’s Economy - Present and the Future”, was moderated by Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU. Speakers included Dr Wang Yiming, Vice Chairman of China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), Former Vice President of Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council; Professor Richard Wong Yue-chim, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Member of the CEPU Expert Group; Dr Fan Hengshan, former Vice Secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission; Mr Andrew Sheng Len-tao, Member of the International Advisory Council of the National Financial Regulatory Administration and Member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers; and Dr Li Xuesong, Director of the Institute of Quantitative and Technological Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Session I of the Forum, “China’s Economy - Present and the Future”, was moderated by Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU. Speakers included Dr Wang Yiming, Vice Chairman of China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), Former Vice President of Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council; Professor Richard Wong Yue-chim, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Member of the CEPU Expert Group; Dr Fan Hengshan, former Vice Secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission; Mr Andrew Sheng Len-tao, Member of the International Advisory Council of the National Financial Regulatory Administration and Member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers; and Dr Li Xuesong, Director of the Institute of Quantitative and Technological Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 		Session II of the Forum, “Hong Kong’s Unique Advantages and Functions”, was moderated by Dr Ni Pengfei, Director of the Centre for City and Competitiveness of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Speakers included Dr He Dexu, Director of the National Academy of Economic Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Dennis Lo, Associate Dean of Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), President of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, and Member of the CEPU Expert Group; Mr Zhang Yueguo, President of the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences; and Dr Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of the China Development Institute and Member of the CEPU Expert Group.

Session II of the Forum, “Hong Kong’s Unique Advantages and Functions”, was moderated by Dr Ni Pengfei, Director of the Centre for City and Competitiveness of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Speakers included Dr He Dexu, Director of the National Academy of Economic Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Dennis Lo, Associate Dean of Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), President of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, and Member of the CEPU Expert Group; Mr Zhang Yueguo, President of the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences; and Dr Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of the China Development Institute and Member of the CEPU Expert Group.
Session III of the Forum, “Changes in the Global Economic Landscape and China’s High-quality Opening Up”, was moderated by Mr Chang Ka-mun, Senior Advisor of Fung Business Intelligence and Member of the CEPU Expert Group. Speakers included Dr Yu Yongding, Academic Division Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Ms Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group and Member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers; Dr Xu Qinhua, Vice Dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, the Renmin University of China and Honorary Professor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Ms Dong Mingzhu, Chairman of Gree Electric Appliances, Inc.

Session III of the Forum, “Changes in the Global Economic Landscape and China’s High-quality Opening Up”, was moderated by Mr Chang Ka-mun, Senior Advisor of Fung Business Intelligence and Member of the CEPU Expert Group. Speakers included Dr Yu Yongding, Academic Division Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Ms Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group and Member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers; Dr Xu Qinhua, Vice Dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, the Renmin University of China and Honorary Professor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Ms Dong Mingzhu, Chairman of Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. 		Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management of the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and Member of CECA, Professor Michael Spence, delivered special address at the Forum.

Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management of the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and Member of CECA, Professor Michael Spence, delivered special address at the Forum. 		Mr Michael Wong, Acting Financial Secretary, delivered a special address at the Forum.

Mr Michael Wong, Acting Financial Secretary, delivered a special address at the Forum.

4. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, introduced the Policy Address to expatriate professionals residing in Hong Kong

Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, attended a luncheon hosted by Project Chambers to introduce the visions and major initiatives of the Policy Address to a number of experienced expatriate professionals. The attendees came from various professional fields, and had rich experiences in construction, design as well as project and facilities management.

Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, introduced the Policy Address to expatriate professionals residing in Hong Kong. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, introduced the Policy Address to expatriate professionals residing in Hong Kong.
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, introduced the Policy Address to expatriate professionals residing in Hong Kong.

5. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, moderated the Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Forum

Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, attended the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Entrepreneurs Forum 2023 and moderated a keynote session titled “Promoting Entrepreneurship and Opening New Horizons for Integrated Development of the GBA”. Guests attending the forum included Ms Marjorie Yang, Member of CECA, as well as Professor Xiao Geng and Professor Zheng Yongnian, both were Members of the CEPU Expert Group. Dr Stephen Wong remarked that as a core city of the GBA, Hong Kong could fully leverage its unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland while also being closely connected to the world under the principle of the “One Country, Two Systems” in order to consolidate its role as the super-connector in the GBA. He was pleased to note that there were increasing discussions on the win-win co-operation between Hong Kong and other GBA cities in the local community.

Dr Stephen WONG, Head of the CEPU, attended the Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Forum 2023 and moderated the keynote session titled “Promoting Entrepreneurship and Opening up New Horizons for Integrated Development of the GBA”. Dr Stephen WONG, Head of the CEPU, attended the Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Forum 2023 and moderated the keynote session titled “Promoting Entrepreneurship and Opening up New Horizons for Integrated Development of the GBA”.
Dr Stephen WONG, Head of the CEPU, attended the Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Forum 2023 and moderated the keynote session titled “Promoting Entrepreneurship and Opening up New Horizons for Integrated Development of the GBA”.

6. Introducing the Policy Address to Hong Kong businessmen and representatives of GBA enterprises in Shenzhen

Mr Nicolas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended a seminar titled “A Vibrant Economy and New Opportunities for Hong Kong” in Shenzhen to introduce the Policy Address to over 100 Hong Kong businessmen and representatives of GBA enterprises. He also analysed future development trends of and new opportunities for Hong Kong and the GBA, as well as the new business opportunities brought by the GBA regional co-operation. The event was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong, the Shenzhen Finance Institute of CUHK (Shenzhen), the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Productivity Council Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Centre (Futian), the GoGBA Business Support Centre (Futian) and the PRD Council of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.

Mr Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended a seminar titled “A Vibrant Economy and New Opportunities for Hong Kong” to introduce the Policy Address to over 100 Hong Kong businessmen and representatives of GBA enterprises. Mr Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended a seminar titled “A Vibrant Economy and New Opportunities for Hong Kong” to introduce the Policy Address to over 100 Hong Kong businessmen and representatives of GBA enterprises.
Mr Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended a seminar titled “A Vibrant Economy and New Opportunities for Hong Kong” to introduce the Policy Address to over 100 Hong Kong businessmen and representatives of GBA enterprises.

7. Attending the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academic Conference in Guangzhou

Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academic Conference 2023” in Guangzhou to discuss how the high-quality development in the GBA could chart the way to Chinese-style modernisation. Dr Wang listened to the views of experts and scholars from the Mainland and Macao at the conference, and pointed out that Hong Kong had three key elements of innovation in place, viz. an environment for innovation, a structure for innovation, and an open and collaborative culture. He believed that interactions between Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA would stimulate further innovation and creativity.

Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academic Conference in Guangzhou to discuss how the high-quality development in the GBA could chart the way to Chinese-style modernisation. The photo was taken with Professor Huang Ping, Member of the CEPU Expert Group.

Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academic Conference in Guangzhou to discuss how the high-quality development in the GBA could chart the way to Chinese-style modernisation. The photo was taken with Professor Huang Ping, Member of the CEPU Expert Group.

8. Dr Stephen Wong attended the Silver Jubilee Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the HKU Clinical Trials Centre

Dr Stephen Wong attended the Silver Jubilee Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the HKU Clinical Trials Centre (HKU-CTC) to celebrate the Centre’s achievements, with leading figures from the professional fields of medicine, biotechnology and the academia, etc.

In his opening address, Dr Wong commended the work of HKU-CTC for making significant contribution to the healthy living of the public and bringing tremendous public benefits to the community. He further remarked that the District Council Election to be held on 10 December, a territory-wide election to improve district governance and reform the District Councils of the HKSAR, was very important as it affected the well-being of every citizen. He called upon everyone to fulfil his/her civic responsibility to cast their votes on 10 December with his/her families, relatives and friends to help build a better community together!

Dr Stephen Wong showed the promotional leaflet of “1210 Cast your vote at DC election” at the event.

Dr Stephen Wong showed the promotional leaflet of “1210 Cast your vote at DC election” at the event. 		Dr Stephen Wong delivered a speech at the Silver Jubilee Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the HKU-CTC.

Dr Stephen Wong delivered a speech at the Silver Jubilee Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the HKU-CTC.

9. Dr Stephen Wong attended the promulgation event of the research report titled “Developing Hong Kong into Asia’s Clinical Innovation Hub”

Dr Stephen Wong attended the promulgation event of launching the latest research report titled “Developing Hong Kong into Asia’s Clinical Innovation Hub” issued by Our Hong Kong Foundation in collaboration with the Hong Kong Science Park. Dr Wong also acted as the moderator of the panel discussion.

Dr Stephen Wong acted as the moderator of the panel discussion, which was attended by practitioners of the biomedicine industry, experts and scholars as well as think tank representatives. The panellists included Mr Raj Bhatti, Vice President and General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Limited (Hong Kong and Macao); Professor Ivan Hung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine of HKU; Dr Dennis Lam, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of C-MER Eye Care Holdings Limited and Legislative Council Member; Dr Grace Lau, Head of Institute for Translational Research of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Mr Kenny Shui, Vice President cum Co-Head of Research of Our Hong Kong Foundation; and Dr Michael Wong, Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority. Dr Stephen Wong acted as the moderator of the panel discussion, which was attended by practitioners of the biomedicine industry, experts and scholars as well as think tank representatives. The panellists included Mr Raj Bhatti, Vice President and General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Limited (Hong Kong and Macao); Professor Ivan Hung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine of HKU; Dr Dennis Lam, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of C-MER Eye Care Holdings Limited and Legislative Council Member; Dr Grace Lau, Head of Institute for Translational Research of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Mr Kenny Shui, Vice President cum Co-Head of Research of Our Hong Kong Foundation; and Dr Michael Wong, Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority. Dr Stephen Wong acted as the moderator of the panel discussion, which was attended by practitioners of the biomedicine industry, experts and scholars as well as think tank representatives. The panellists included Mr Raj Bhatti, Vice President and General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Limited (Hong Kong and Macao); Professor Ivan Hung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine of HKU; Dr Dennis Lam, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of C-MER Eye Care Holdings Limited and Legislative Council Member; Dr Grace Lau, Head of Institute for Translational Research of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Mr Kenny Shui, Vice President cum Co-Head of Research of Our Hong Kong Foundation; and Dr Michael Wong, Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority.
Dr Stephen Wong acted as the moderator of the panel discussion, which was attended by practitioners of the biomedicine industry, experts and scholars as well as think tank representatives. The panellists included Mr Raj Bhatti, Vice President and General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline Limited (Hong Kong and Macao); Professor Ivan Hung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine of HKU; Dr Dennis Lam, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of C-MER Eye Care Holdings Limited and Legislative Council Member; Dr Grace Lau, Head of Institute for Translational Research of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Mr Kenny Shui, Vice President cum Co-Head of Research of Our Hong Kong Foundation; and Dr Michael Wong, Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority.