New Asia College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

In view of China's rapid growth in recent years, the College held the "New Asia Lectures on Contemporary China" starting from 2012, with the aim of arousing public awareness and discussion on the development of China. Scholars and public figures from various professions will be invited to deliver lectures on issues related to the economy, society and environment of Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The first lecture of the New Asia Lectures on Contemporary China 2015/16 was held in the Sir Run Run Shaw Hall, CUHK on 9 October this year.

It was our honor to have the Head of the China Business Centre, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr. Chan Man-hung as the speaker. The topic of the lecture was "Blueprint of 'One Belt One Road' and the Future of Hong Kong". Dr. Chan delivered his view of China's new strategy, which was jointly building Silk Road Economic Belt (the Belt) and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (the Road), as well as how Hong Kong could become involved in the strategy.

Dr. Chan summarized his lecture from historical, economic and political perspectives concluding that, "One Belt One Road" the grand strategy for China to revive both land and sea routes of the Silk Road, could build a new economic pattern that guarantees mutual trading and mutual benefit, and challenges the US hegemony. He felt that the time was ripe for China to put forward the strategy peacefully, since she now had enough political-economic resources and confidence. At the end, he sent word to Hong Kong that she should nurture more international labor so as to grasp the new opportunities brought by "One Belt One Road", or she would be reduced to a podium that merely supports others to develop.