The world, China and Hong Kong included, seems to be veering towards tipping points on a number of fronts. Will China's apparently no-holds-barred anti-corruption campaign incite political instability? Or will it succeed in unfolding a brave new world of rule of law? How is an assertive and ascendant China reshaping global geopolitics? Will flareups in Europe and the Middle East distract America's Asian Pivot? Will Hong Kong become ungovernable as the pan-democrats dig in heels against Beijing over how to realize universal suffrage in 2017?
Amidst the global disconnect, turmoil and confusion, perhaps the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics Opening trailer ,"The Dream of Youth", captures what humanity needs for a better world in the 21st century!
Down to earth, though, I hope that you may be able to gather some clues to these vexing questions of our times from the following update. I will be off shortly to London to be with my daughter and first grandchild. I will send out a further update when I'm back in Hong Kong before the X'mas season.
China
- China Ascendant - Challenges and Opportunities for Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific (A week's sponsored speaking tour in New Zealand including PowerPoint presentation, and TV interviews on Firstline and WTV News (Mandarin-speaking)
- New Great Power Relations of a Rising China (PowerPoint presentation at the Ricci Institute, a Macao-based Jesuit research institute with affiliates in Paris and San Francisco andTV interview on Talk Show with TDM (Teledifusão de Macau)
- China's former public security chief Zhou Yongkang under investigation (TV interview with Singapore's Channel News Asia here)
- China's on the brink of digital revolution (a synthesis of the latest McKinsey research pieces)
Geopolitics
- Accommodating China's rise is America's only realistic option (SCMP Op-ed article of 18 June)
- Japan overturning pacificism? (A TV panel discussion on Inside Story with Aljazeera English)
- BRICS $100bn Development Bank (Two TV interviews with RT)
Hong Kong
- Cool heads needed to get Hong Kong on the right path towards democracy (Op-ed in the South China Morning Post of 25th August, based on my earlier analysis here)
- Beijing's White Paper lays down the red lines for Hong Kong (SCMP Op-ed article of 30 June)
- Hong Kong referendum: A showdown with China (Op-ed article commissioned by Aljazeera Online dated 30 June)
- Perspectives on 17th Anniversary of Hong kong's return to the motherland (TV interview with Beijing's CCTV here)
- Democracy in Hong Kong - 1st July demonstrations (TV interview with Singapore's Channel News Asia here)
-
Anti-Occupy Central Campaign in Hong Kong (TV guest appearance on Dialogue with Beijing's CCTV News)
- "China gasses up for a new Golden Age" (An update in the IEA Medium Term Gas Market Report)
Eco-cities
- Blue Skies and Eco-Cities - Success Factors (My sponsored presentation at a "Siemens Media Saloon")
-
Nicaragua canal to rival Panama’s is part of China's global infrastructural links (A brief overview)
My beloved elder sister Josephina recently passed away in Vancouver. Here is a Memorial Site with glimpses of her life and her art. Online respects may be paid and a message left if so desired.
Cheer up and chill out
To enable you to read this newsletter at leisure, it has also been uploaded to my web site here. If you wish to share it with your colleagues and friends, you are welcome to use the newsletter's web link via Facebook, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, WeChat, Twitter or other social media devices.
Throughout the year, subject to mutual agreement, I am open to invitations for speaking engagements or visiting lectures worldwide in English or Putonghua.
A business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong
As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives’ Global Network (EGN) Hong Kong, may I extend to you the opportunity of fielding a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong? This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support or that of your organization, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.
For background on EGN, please visit the following links -
Executives’ Global Network Click here
EGN Hong Kong Click here
Get-together in London
Following a speaking engagement on 1-2 September on the Ascent of the RMB at Gothenburg University in Sweden, I will be staying in London through November. If you or your colleagues would like to touch base with me or involve me in any event or discussions in London, please give me a shout at andrewkpleung@gmail.com .
Courtesies
Please allow me to benefit from your guidance, advice, comments, suggestions, and criticisms. Please feel free to share any of my papers, articles, presentations, and TV interviews with your colleagues or friends. You are welcome to publish any of them with full attribution. If you think that I may add value to your endeavours in any way, please do not hesitate to let me know. On the other hand, if for any reason you do not wish to receive my emails, please tell me to delete your name from my databank permanently.
Best personal regards,
Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA
International and Independent China Specialist
www. andrewleunginternationalconsul tants.com
Positions
Brain Trust Member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland
Senior Analyst, Wikistrat, an online global strategic consultancy
Gerson Lehrman Group (Global Experts) Council Member
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thompson Reuters
China Futures Fellow, Berkshire Publishing Group, Massachusetts, USA
Distinguished Contributor, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA) (global think-tank)
Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA)
Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs
Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University Business School
Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)
Senior Consultant, MEC International
Global Commercial Agent, Changsha City, China
Member, Board of Advisors of Denmark-based Executive Global Network (EGN), Hong Kong
Member, Board of Advisors of The Global Analyst, India
Member, Board of Multitude Foundation, a HK-registered charitable trust
(The following until 19 May 2010, on permanent relocation back to Hong Kong)
Governing Council Member, King’s College London, UK (2004-2010)
Advisory Board Member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)
Founding Chairman, China Group, Institute of Directors City Branch, London, UK (2006-2010)
Vice Chairman, 48 Group Club, UK (2008-2010)
Committee Member of RSA, London Region, UK (2006-2010)
Included in UK's Who's Who since 2002
Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in the July 2005 Hong Kong Honours List
