As part of their Youth Public Participation Program, the NDI
partnered with the Department of
Government and International Studies (GIS) at Hong Kong Baptist University
(HKBU) to encourage youth participation in public policy areas by organizing a
series of Youth Parliaments. This program was launched in September 2007 and
ran until 20141. This program was organized by Professor Michael
DeGolyer at HKBU.
 |
| Professor Michael DeGolyer, organizer of the NDI programs at HKBU |
The following Youth
Parliaments were organized during this program:
2007 – Response to Green Paper Consultation on
Constitutional Development
In September 2007,
students from across Hong Kong reviewed and responded to the government’s Green
Paper Consultation on Constitutional Development.
2008 – Summit on Constitutional Reform, Environmental
Regulation and Education Reform
In November 2008,
NDI partners organized a summit for students from eight Hong Kong
universities. The students worked in
campaign teams to devise campaign strategies and materials, and took part in a
set of mock debates around the issues of constitutional reform, environmental regulation
and education reform.
2009 - Climate
Change Simulation of the UN Treaty Negotiation
In December 2009,
the NDI and its partners organized a climate change simulation with eight teams
of students each playing the role of a major country, negotiating their own
version of the United Nations (UN) treaty on climate change.
One of these partners was the Hong Kong-America Center (HKAC), who in
their Highlights of Fulbright/HKAC Special Projects 2009-2010, described their
participation in the event as follows:
HK Climate Change
Simulation of the UN Treaty Negotiation in Copenhagen, 2009
About 80 students from all eight HK
universities participated in a unique educational event in fall 2009
linked to the negotiation process that culminated in the UN Climate Change
Treaty in Copenhagen in December. HK Baptist University was our host for three
weekend meetings in the Council Chamber.
Each HK university team represented a country delegation, which included representatives from government, business and environmental NGO groups.
Students used parliamentary procedure to
negotiate terms for a treaty in November, and participated in a live
interactive “webinar” hosted by the Copenhagen Business School on December 19,
the day after the real treaty conference concluded. Several other universities
in Asia and Europe participated in the HK-Copenhagen webinar.
HK students got a realistic glimpse into the
complex dynamics of international treaty negotiation. The HK students appeared
to accomplish more in their simulation than the real delegates did in the
Copenhagen conference2.
 |
| 2009 NDI, HKBU, HKAC Conference |
2010 – Debate on Constitutional Reform
In February 2010,
local NDI partners organized a nonpartisan public debate on constitutional
reform in a Model UN format. After this exercise, the students reflected on
their own views to draft a consensual document representing their ideas and
aspirations for constitutional reform. Students learned parliamentary process
and negotiating skills by coming to consensus.
The students’ proposal was submitted to the government as part of the
public consultation process.
 |
| 2010 Conference Poster |
 |
| Text on 2010 Conference Poster |
One of these partners was the Hong Kong-America
Center (HKAC), who in their Highlights of Fulbright/HKAC Special Projects
2009-2010, described their participation in the event as follows:
Model Legco Debate on
Constitution Reform, 2010
Responding to the public consultation on
constitutional reform, about 60 HK university students gathered at HKBU in
early February to negotiate and vote on recommendations to the HK government
for constitutional development.
As part of the process, each student
role-played a Legco member to debate from the position of their respective
Legco members.
The NDI joined with the HKAC and HKBU Professor
Michael DeGolyer, our master of simulation, to organize this program.
This was responsible civic engagement by HK
university students at a high level!3
 |
| HKAC write up on the conference |
 |
| Although billed as an event for university students, some of these participants are clearly school children, a favored target of NDI programs |
The Department of Government and International Studies, HKBU recorded a
video as follows: Students
participated in a simulation of the Legco debate on constitutional reform in
2010. GIS/NDI/Hong Kong America Centre
video of student simulation:
 |
| HKBU Video of 2010 NDI, HKBU, HKAC Conference |
The video can be accessed here: http://gis.hkbu.edu.hk/programmesa.html
2012 - Youth Summit on the Chief Executive Election
In 2012, the NDI
sponsored a youth summit on the chief executive election. Participants
role-played the part of candidates, election committee members, media and civil
society;
2014 - Workshop and Simulation on
Constitutional Reform
In March 2014, the
NDI sponsored a two-day student workshop and simulation on constitutional
reform with representatives of political parties in Hong Kong and simulation of
Legco debate on constitutional reform, held at Kadoorie Farm.
This workshop was
described in the HKBU Department of Government and International Studies
Comparative Governance and Policy Research Centre (CGPC) Annual Report4
for 2011 to 2014 as follows:
"Let's Talk: A Workshop and Simulation on
Constitutional Reform," Hong Kong-America Centre, National Democratic
Institute for International Affairs, GIS Comparative Policy Centre all
university workshop with representatives of political parties in Hong Kong and
simulation of Legco debate on constitional reform, held at Kadoorie Farm
retreat of Hong Kong University in the New Territories (15-16 March 2014) 48
students and 10 workshop participants/facilitators.
References
1NDI Programs in Hong Kong. See link: NDI Programs in Hong Kong
2Hong Kong-America
Center (HKAC). Highlights of Fulbright/HKAC Special Projects 2009-2010. HK
Climate Change Simulation of the UN Treaty Negotiation in Copenhagen, 2009. See link: http://www.hk-ac.org.hk/hkac/hkac-programs/conferences-workshops/2009-2010/
3Hong Kong-America
Center (HKAC). Highlights of Fulbright/HKAC Special Projects 2009-2010. Model
Legco Debate on Constitution Reform, 2010. See link: http://www.hk-ac.org.hk/hkac/hkac-programs/conferences-workshops/2009-2010/
4HKBU Department of Government and International
Studies Comparative Governance and Policy Research Centre (CGPC) (Annual
Report: 1 July 2011 – 31 March 2014). See link: http://gis.hkbu.edu.hk/files/CGPC%20Centre%20Report%20%202011-2014%20(7%20April%202014).pdf
Video Credit
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Government and International
Studies. Students participated in
a simulation of the Legco debate on constitutional reform in 2010. GIS/NDI/Hong Kong America Centre video of
student simulation. Copyright © 2016, Department of Government and
International Studies, HKBU.
See video here: http://gis.hkbu.edu.hk/programmesa.html
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