HKU Conference: Hong Kong Political Reform Series: Will it Break the Deadlock. January 2010

In 2004 the National Democratic Institute (NDI) collaborated with the Centre for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL) to sponsor the first of a series of events in the NDI’s Developing Political Parties program.

Hong Kong Political Reform Series

This was expanded in 2009, when the NDI partnered with the CCPL to launch the Hong Kong Political Reform Series, a conference series that promotes dialogue on political reform among different sectors of the Hong Kong community, including citizens, politicians, academics, and think-tanks.  Source: http://designdemocracy.hk/about-us/?lang=en

The following conferences/seminars were held in this series:

• Breaking the Deadlock. October 2009,
• Will it Break the Deadlock? January 2010,
• Deadlock Broken – What Next? November 2010,
• New Voices on Hong Kong Political Reform. February 2011,
• What is Happening to Our Political System? April 2012. 

In terms of this partnership, the NDI got access to the name, brand and reputation of HKU to legitimize and expand their programs, whilst Professor Johannes CHAN continued in his role of powerbroker in Hong Kong politics.

Some of the ‘guests’ at these events were also prominent journalists and political commentators, which allowed the NDI to control the narrative by subverting the press in Hong Kong. 

Conference poster

Conference details

Date: 9 January 2010

Venue: Meng Wah Complex, HKU.

Organisers: CCPL, NDI and Centre for Civil Society and Governance.

Speakers

·         Anson CHAN, Convenor, Citizen’s Commission on Constitutional Development;

·         Prof Johannes CHAN, Dean of Law, HKU;

·         Prof Albert CHAN (HKU), Member, Basic Law Committee;

·         Prof Anthony CHEUNG, Executive Council Member;

·         Frank CHING, Political Commentator;

·         Sandeep Chalani, best student debater of Uni summit on Constitutional Reform;

·         Prof Michael DeGolyer, Director, Hong Kong Transition Project;

·         Stephen LAM, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs;

·         Alan LEONG, Legislative Councillor, Vice Chair, Civic Party;

·         Christine LOH, CEO, Civic Exchange;

·         Ruy YEP, Research Director, Synergy Net;

·         Prof Simon YOUNG, Director, Centre for Comparative and Public Law.

Conference photographs

The following are some of the photographs taken at this conference:

Anson CHAN, Speaker

Eliza LEE, Frank Ching, Ruy YEP and Michael DeGolyer

Professor Michael Davis panel

Professors Albert CHAN, Michael Davis, Simon YOUNG and CHAN Kin-man

Micheal DeGolyer, Eliza LEE, Political Commentator Frank CHING and Ruy YEP

Alan LEONG Kah-kit, Vice-chair, Civic Party

Professor Richard Cullen and Alan LEONG Kah-kit

Journalist Francis Moriarty interviewing Alan LEONG Kah-kit. The NDI's Belinda Winterbourne is in the background

Political commentator Frank CHING

Eliza LEE

Professor Simon YOUNG

Albert CHAN

CHAN Kin-man

Professor Michael DeGolyer

Professor Richard Cullen

Eric CHEUNG Tat-ming asking a question

Benny TAI asking a question

Journalist Francis Moriarty asking a question

Photo credits

Centre for Comparative and Public Law Facebook Page. The 2009 Consultation Document - Will it Break the Deadlock? Posted on 9 Jan 2010 https://www.facebook.com/ccplhk/photos?ref=page_internal