HIGHLIGHTS
Offline Vs Online E-Commerce (10 Mar)
SCMP and Hong Kong Economic Journal carried sponsored supplements on the new season of the HKUST Business Insights Presentation Series. The articles reported on the presentations made by two speakers from the Department of ISOM, Professor Theodore Clark and Assistant Professor Xiaojun Zhang. They shared strategies with participants on how to capitalize on e-commerce opportunities and outlined challenges. Meanwhile, Professor JT Li, Senior Associate Dean, was quoted as saying that the event provided a platform for interactive engagement and two-way knowledge transfer between the business community and our faculty.
Expert Opinions on Radio Program (10 Mar)
RTHK 3 Radio Program Backchat discussed the Chinese economic growth following the country’s latest trade figures released. Guest speakers including Professor Albert Park, Department of Economics, shared their views on mainland outlook and its impact on the region. Professor Park takes a pessimistic view over China’s near-term prospect, expressing concern that the country has returned to the old method of expansionary lending. He added that China is unlikely to provide a strong impetus to the world’s recovery. On a separate topic, Professor David Cook, also from the Department of Economics, was invited to speak about the future of Octopus Card. He commented on the position of the Octopus Card in Hong Kong as well as other emerging electronic payment methods, including mobile phone and its potential. He noted that the Octopus Card has taken a dominant position in local public transport, where other players may find very limited space to grow. Link (at 9:15 and 9:20)
OTHERS
Environmental Initiatives: Mainland Economy Stimulus (30 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, discussing the environmental issues in China. He talked about the concept of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), saying that the environment in a country tends to get worse as modern economic grows until average income reaches a certain point. EKC can explain the relationship between environmental quality and economic development in China today and in history. China is at a turning point where environment-related projects and technology will see much room to further develop owing to, expectedly, a growing demand in coming decades. Link
Create Shared Value (29 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Associate Professor Christine Chow, Department of Finance. She talked about a conference held in London called “Big Social 2016”, in which she and other participants exchanged views on supporting social entrepreneurs. The conference was held by a UK-based organization Unltd that supports and provides consultation service to social enterprises. Professor Chow discussed the mission of Unltd: “Creating Shared Value” and suggested social enterprises to follow several principles including “creating products and services that the society needs”, “redefining the productivity value chain”, and “building a stronger community”. Link
MOOC Poses Challenges to Traditional Teaching (22 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor Tam Kar Yan, Chair Professor of ISOM, on online teaching and learning. Professor Tam talked about Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), stressing the cost-effectiveness benefits of this up and coming initiative and the flexibility it can offer to learners. MOOC is set to be a trend that poses far-reaching impacts on the future ways on learning and teaching and creates new opportunities. Link
Restlessness of Hongkongers (22 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary by Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. He talked about the World Happiness Report 2015 by well-known economist Jeffrey Sachs and attempted to find out why Hongkongers were ranked 72 – lower than many people would have expected. Citing a concept called “relative deprivation” which is an objective comparison between the situation of an individual compared to the rest of society, Professor Lui explained the grievances and dissatisfaction among Hongkongers. To address the problem, he said the Government should improve the people's livelihood first, which will provide a more accommodating platform for people with different views to sit down and communicate better. Link
Hong Kong Outlook (21 Mar)
Mainland newspaper the 21st Century Business Herald interviewed Professor Francis Lui, Department of Economics, on the outlook of local economy. Professor Lui said he was getting more pessimistic over the short and medium-term of Hong Kong as the city was continuously and adversely affecting by for example low fertility and aging population. The structural problem of its population will continue to put pressure on the Government budget. He also commented on the strengths of the city including the rule of law, labor capital and free market as well as some problems such as a lack of upward mobility among the young generation. Link
How to Define Hongkongers? (18 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Times carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. He voiced his opinions on the Hong Kong Indigenous, a new and radical localist political group, and doubted the core value the group tries to promote which goes against the principle of the “universal value”. Link
Health Risks and Implications for the Healthcare Industry (16 Mar)
SCMP Education Post published a research summary by Professor Jaideep Sengupta, Chair Professor, Department of Marketing. His research examines how people perceive their health risks will influence consumer decisions, and also economic and public policy. Link
Analysis on Suicides (15 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, amidst a number of youth suicides in Hong Kong. Professor Lui compared the numbers of suicides in the city and the that released by WHO. He said while the figures were similar, more suicides among young Hongkongers in recent months did sound an alarm, and that the Government should take steps to prevent. Link
Innovation and Technology in China and HK (15 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen looked into the achievements Shenzhen and Shanghai have made in innovation and technology development, which is very important for any city to succeed in the new economy. Commenting on innovative and technology industries in Hong Kong, he said the city lagged behind, but the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Institute (ASTRI) can play a more important role to catch up. Link
Pranks at Legco (11 Mar)
Sky Post carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui talked about the adverse results of the repeatedly playing pranks on filibustering and quorum in the Legislative Council. He called on Hongkongers to look carefully into the objectives of some politicians and think independently on government policies. Link
Downward Pressure on Global Economy (8 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen pointed out several underlying risks on the investment market globally, including the downward pressure in China, uncertainties in the US, the influx of refugees in Europe and the referendum in the UK on its exit from the European Union. Link
Hong Kong Independence Movement (8 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried an article by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, commenting on the independence movement in Hong Kong. Professor Lui reminded people of the harsh and enormous consequence Hong Kong could have faced. Unlike Singapore when it first formed close bonds with neighboring countries before fighting for independence in the past, Hong Kong today is overwhelmingly reliant on the mainland and is difficult to sustain on its own. Link
Big Data Analytics Give Value to Text (7 Mar)
Global Network for Advancement Management (GNAM) carried a research summary by Assistant Professor Rong Zheng, Department of ISOM. His research looks into the potential of “text” by using Big Data analytics, which means trawling through masses of data and discerning trends and new information from it. Link
The Strategic Sharing of Information in Supply Chains (3 Mar)
SCMP Education Post published a research summary by Professor Zhang Hongtao, Department of ISOM. He research examines how retailers in competing supply chains might strategically disclose information about sales demand to get manufacturers to lower the wholesale price. Link
How to stabilized RMB (1 Mar)
Ta Kung Pao carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui suggested several ways that could help stabilize RMB amid the volatile market. They include avoidance of a declining foreign reserve, boosting the public confidence on RMB, and the use the “Link Exchange Insurance Instrument” that Hong Kong used before during the Asian financial crisis. Link
Impact of China on World’s Economy (1 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor Edwin Lai, Department of Economics. Professor Lai discussed the volatility of the global market and the role China has played. To resume public confidence, he said Beijing should takes steps to stabilize RMB, improve the transparency of its exchange and monetary policies, introduce stimulus, and speed up the country’s structural reform. Link
The Budget Follows the Old Routine (1 Mar)
Oriental Daily News carried an article by Assistant Professor of Business Education Siu Kam Wing, Department of Economics. Professor Siu commented on the Budget announced by the Government expressing concern over a lack of focus to drive local economy in future and the negative consequence of sweeteners. Link
The Economy Amid Growing Confrontation (1 Mar)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui discussed the growing political conflicts among the young generation and politicians and their impact on local economy. He said Hong Kong would face a bleak future with growing opposition and dispute from different extreme camps. Link