-------------------------
2019 World Philanthropy Forum
Jointly hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Tsinghua University and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and co-hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, the 4th World Philanthropy Forum was held in Shenzhen on 5-6 September 2019.
Themed 'Philanthropy in the Bay Area for Better Life", the Forum explored the roles of different professional sectors in various aspects of philanthropy under the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It is aspired to bring together expertise and philanthropic experiences for the promotion of regional and global charity advancement. The Forum encompassed 2 speeches by the Guests of Honor, 10 keynote speeches, 6 thematic sessions, 3 high-level roundtable forums, 1 closed-door roundtable forum and 5 collaboration initiatives.
At the opening ceremony hosted by Ms. Li Xiaoli, President of CPAFFC, Ms. Li Bin, Vice-Chairperson of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Dr. Péter Medgyessyz, Former Prime Minister of Hungary, gave speeches as the Guests of Honor to kick off the Forum. Prof. Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R., Mr. Ai Xuefeng, Vice Mayer of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Ms. Chen Xu, Chairperson of the University Council of Tsinghua University, Prof. Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK and Prof. Terry Au, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU also delivered remarks at the ceremony,
Keynote addresses were then delivered by Mr. Wang Aiwen, Vice Minister of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Dr. Anthony Chow, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Mr. Gary Stahl, Director of Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships of UNICEF. The Forum attracted over 300 guests from the government, enterprises, charities, tertiary institutions and UN-related organizations of 22 countries and cities in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
CUHK members including Prof. Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wong Suk-ying, Associate Vice President and Prof. Steven Ngai, Department Chairman of Social Work shared views with the audience at thematic sessions concerning children's wellbeing and talent nurturing. Prof. Ngai also took this precious opportunity to announce jointly with Tsinghua University the latest collaboration plan on social service leading talents training at the closing ceremony.
Since 2016, the World Philanthropy Forum has been held annually with commitment to promotion and implementation of philanthropic services, academic exchange, policy advocacy and experience sharing of charities worldwide. Previous forums were held in Beijing and Shanghai with themes on "New Ecology and New Public Welfare", "Collaboration" and "Building a Sustainable Community of Shared Future for Mankind".
-------------------------
Department of Geography and Resources Management of CUHK Conducts Research at Mainland Resource-based Cities
Funded by the Early Career Grant Scheme of the Regional Studies Association (RSA), Professor He Ying Sylvia from the Department of Geography and Resource Management (GRM) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) led a research team to conduct field work in seven resource-based cities in mainland China from June to August 2, 2019.
This project is titled "Population Change, Economic Revitalization, and Urban Livability in China's Resource-based Cities". Through interviews with government officials and state-owned enterprises (SOE), field visits and survey, the research team was able to gain first-hand data in several mining cities in mainland China which are at the risk of population shrinkage and economic slowdown.
The seven Chinese cities visited are all resource-based cities with different levels of economic growth and livability. They include Qingyang in Gansu Province, Tongchuan and Weinan in Shaanxi Province, Liaoyuan and Tonghua in Jilin Province, Benxi in Liaoning Province and Jixi in Heilongjiang Province. The team acquired policies' details on how the local governments developed strategies tailored to local conditions. Academic support will be provided to offer policy recommendations for economic transformation. Field visits were also paid to oil wells and mining areas. The research team not only collected data from different resource-based cities on potential depopulation and economic stagnation, but also discussed the pragmatic challenges which will further integrate academic research and practice frontiers to provide development strategies.
