What's New

Hong Kong plays key role in national development

Exclusive interview on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) aired on 30 September 2024.

Andrew's April 2024 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletters go out to some 8,000 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my April 2024 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What is New on my website.)

Greetings! May I first wish you a forthcoming glorious summer! 

The world is at a rare inflexion point.  As many as 64 countries plus the European Union are having leadership elections this year, covering half of the world population and including those, like the U.S. and EU, of global consequence.

The U.S. is finding both feet stuck in deep mud over Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict with humunitarian disasters of biblical proportions.  The EU is struggling to cope with both a much-weakened economy and the looming prospects of an unpredictable second Trump-adminstration.

China has re-emerged from the economic ravages of a historically severe pandemic. It is beginning to,find its feet in a world economy transformed by the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions of borderless digitital connectivity. Howewver, the US-let Western camp is doubling down on anti-China "de-risking" or decoupling, friendly rhetoric and diplomatic overtures notwithstanding.  

Amidst the smoke and mirrors of this uncertain year, the following may hopefully offer some fresh food for thought. 

Hong Kong
Article 23 legislation: Debunking fearmongering myths (Op-ed in China Daily) 
Explaining Hong Kong's enactment of Article 23 on national security (Live TV interview on Aljazeera English Channel)
Hong Kong passes its own version of national security law - Article 23 (Live TV interview on CNA, a Singapore-based transmedia channel)_  
Speculation about the SAR’s impending demise is overexaggerated (Op-ed in China Daily) 
Financial Secretary Paul Chan's attendance of the Davos 2024 World Economic Forum (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK))
Xia Baolong's Hong Kong visit (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK))

United States 
Why the United States is losing the plot over Ukraine and Gaza (An in-depth analysis) 
The U.S. Double Standard that Weakens its Global Leadership (Op-ed in Rome-based World Geostrategic Insights, republished in French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. An earlier, shorter version, Gaza, Ukraine, TikTok: US double standards are eroding its global power appeared in the South China Morning Post.)

China
Beijing is debunking ‘China threat’ myth through trade and cooperation (Op-ed in the South China Morning Post) Republished in Rome-based World Geostrategic Insights with attribiution in in French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. An abridged version appeared in the bottom front pages of the China Daily Global Editon (1) (2))
"Two Sessions" Beijing meeting - debunking some myths about China's economy (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK))

Taiwan
Why Beijing needs to Sweeten the Carrot to Entice Taiwan’s People Towards Peaceful Unification (Op-ed in Rome-based World Geostrategic Insights, republished in French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic.  An earlier, shorter version How Beijing can make reunification more appealing for Taiwanese appeared in the South China Morning Post with its prinited version entitled Outside the Box. 
What Taiwan’s election outcome means for China, US and the world (A report by the Anadulo Agency in Ankara, Turkey)
Ruling party candidate Lai Ching-te emerges victorious in Taiwan's election - implications (Exclusive live interview on TRT World) 

Israel-Hamas Conflict
China's mediating role in the Israel-Hamas conflict (An in-depth analysis) 
Gaza crie de ceour at the Academy Award 2024 (Video clip) 

Ukraine, Russia
Why Beijing insists on Russia's inclusion in any peace talks on Ukraine; why Biden suddenly offers an olive branch over nuclear armament talks with Russia and China (Exclusive recorded TV interview (in English) with MIC Izvestia, the largest Russian-language multi-media channel based in Moscow) 

TikTok
US TikTok ban a double-standard excuse to appropriate a valuable Chinese asset (Recorded interview (in English) with Russian-language CBC TV Azerbijan)

Climate Change
Climate action: how China is accelerating the drive towards a net zero world (Op-ed in the South China Morming Post) See a a coincidedntal Time Magazine piece How 2024 Will Be a Watershed Climate Moment for China 

India
"China Knows India Isn't Weak" (Live TV panel discussion on NDTV)

World
2024: Year of Living Dangerously (A PowerPoint presentation) 
Megatrends To 2050: Geopolitical Fragmentation To Accelerate, Raising Global Risks  (Forecast by BMI, a FitchSolutions Company) .  

Cheer Up and Chill Out

A 10-point Multimedia Outlook on Life  (Music video)
Inspirational videos and excerpts for life's down-moments

Forhcoming summer sojourn in London
I will be staying in London from beginning of July through early September. I am open to any invitation to speak or get together in London or in the vincinity. 

International investment opportunities
I am on the International Advisory Board of Silk Road Partners, an international investment firm. Mr Yves Leterme, ex-Prime Minister of Belgium (November 2009 to December 2011) has joined the same Board. If you are interested in getting in touch with us, please give me a shout.

Consultation services
Please email me at [email protected] or text my Hong Kong mobile +852 98198987.I can also be reached on Skype at andrew.k.p.leung, LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andrewleunginternational, Whatsapp at (852) 98198987, WeChat at Andrewkpleung, Facebook at andrewkinpongleung, and Twitter at @Andrewkpleung

Business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong
As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives' Global Network Hong Kong, I welcome your suggestion of a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong. This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.

RSS feed and weblinks
My posts are regularly uploaded under my three blogs CHINAwatch, Publications and What's New .A collection of leading China media and research sites can be found under China Links.

Please feel free to save my website on your computer, laptop, tablet, iPhone or iPad as a reference resource. If you wish instant access as soon as my postings appear, just click on “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” under RSS Feed on top of the right-hand column of each blog. Select the appropriate Google feed option. It is free of charge.

This newsletter is uploaded to my website here.You may save it for reference or reading at leisure. You are free to share it on Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Twitter or other social media devices.

Courtesies
I look forward to your guidance, advice, comments, suggestions, and criticisms. You may share the above contents with colleagues or friends. You are also welcome to publish any of them with full attribution.

If you think that I may add value to your endeavors in any way, please let me know how I may help.If for any reason you do not wish to receive my emails, just ask me to delete your name from my data bank permanently.

Best personal regards,

Andrew K. P. Leung, SBS, FRSA  
International and Independent China Strategist
Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Company Limited

Positions

Chairman and CEO, Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Limited

(Founded in London, now re-incorporated in Hong Kong; name changed from Andrew Leung International Consultants Limited as from 10 July, 2017) 

China Futures Fellow, Berkshire Publishing Group, Massachusetts, USA (2011-13)
Brain Trust member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland

Gerson Lehrman Group (Global Experts) Council Member
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thomson Reuters 

Senior Analyst, Wikistrat, a cloud-sourced global strategic consultancy based in Tel Aviv and Washington D.C. 

Download Wikistrat Excellence Award

Senior Consultant, MEC International (a UK-based global strategic energy consultancy) 

Distinguished Contributor, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA) (global think-tank)

Professor of Practice, Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (2018-20)  

Download Certificate of Appointment as Professor of Practice

Certified Sustainable Development Planner, World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners

Download Certificate of Recognition as Certified Sustainable Development Planner

Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA)
Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Contributing author, Politics Today

Think-tank Research Fellow, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, PRC (14.4.2017-13.4.2020) 

International Advisory Board Member, Silk Road Partners

Download Silk Road Partners - corporate profile 24-06-2022 

Download Silk Road Partners 2023

Advisory Board member, The e-Centre , European Centre for e-Commerce and Internet Law, Vienna 

Honorary Adviser, International Institute of Management (IIM) 

Advisory Board member, The Global Analyst, India

Honorary President, China Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association (from 28 March, 2016) 

Download 中國香港國際經貿合作協會簡介和組織架構 (28.03.2023)  

Download A brief introduction to the China-Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association

Global Commercial Agent, Changsha City, China

Hong Kong Advisory Board member, Denmark-based Executive Global Network (EGN)

Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University Business School 

Governing Council Member, King’s College London, UK (2004-2010)
Advisory Board member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)

Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)
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 

Experiencing Tangier, Rabat, Chefchaouen (Blue City), and Casablanca

MEDays 2022 post-Forum 6-9 November interlude - music video slides. 

Download MEDays 2022 - Tangier Rabat Blue City Casablanca (with Arabic music)

Hong Kong's Employment Support Scheme during the pandemics

Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) on 11 April, 2022 (My intervention is all in the top bar)

Hong Kong's national security law and freedom of speech

Backchat discussion with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) on 10 July, 2020 (My intervention starts from time counter 18:00 on the top recorded bar) 

Is China to blame for Covid-19 pandemic?

After some initial fumbling in December 2019, when the nature of the virus became more certain, China started to notify the WHO and the United States on 3 January, 2020, including sharing of findings in prestigious scientific journals.

Wuhan, a metropolis of 11 million people, was first locked down on 23 January, sending an unmistakable signal to the world of a massive virus outbreak. However, it seemed that the initial alarm bells were not taken seriously enough by the United States and other Western countries. When the pandemic finally  exploded in their faces, they found themselves caught with their pants down.

Against accusing fingers, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Madam Hua Chunying aired a rebuttal on 31 March, detailing relevant timelines.

Former US Deputy National Security Adviser Nadia Schadlow and scholar Kishore Mahbubani joined Fareed Zakaria on CNN on 19 April to debate President Trump's accusations against China, echoed by supporting politicians.

Responding to a class-action law suit filed in the state of Florida suing China for Coronavirus compensations, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang pointed out its fallacy on 20 April, reminding the world that no compensation was sought from the United States for spread of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-10. Click here  (Similarly, no question of compensation was ever raised for the world financial crisis spawned in the United States in 2008-9).

Conjectures about the origin of Coronavirus abound, including conspiracy theories about lab-engineered "biowarfare" by either side, notwithstanding the fact that the Wuhan virology lab, first established in 1956, has a long history of international scientific collaboration, including the University of Texas's Galveston National Laboratory on biocontainment. Click here

In face of growing demand by world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel to know the truth, a more independent and international investigation is called for than US partisan or bipartisan committees bent on a "China witch hunt". It is also becoming evident that the virus was spreading in the United States much earlier than the Wuhan outbreak. 

What the world needs is peer-reviewed global scientific research, ideally involving professionals from both China and the United States - to find out exactly: 

(a) regardless of initial spread, where did the current Coronavirus first originate, taking into account various strains of the same virus;

(b) whether the infected cases in some European countries and the US originate from the same virus strain obtaining in China;

(c) whether the World Health Organisation could have alerted the world earlier of this pandemic;

(d) how the WHO could be made even more independent and transparent;

(e) how the world should cooperate in finding an affordable vaccine for Covid-19, poised to ravage the developing world;

(f) how the developing world can be helped to fight this exploding human catastrophe;

(g) what global measures should be put in place to contain Covid-19, including the probability of resurgence with changing of seasons;

(h) what protocols should be adopted by communities and businesses to cope with a new normal of Coronavirus;

(i) what measures should be adopted across the globe to safeguard health and security of international travel, both air, sea and overland;

(j) how international protection against the ravages of pandemics should be funded and managed for the common good and not just big pharmaceutical.

corporations.

 

On Feature Story News, an interantional broadcast agency, I made the point on 23 April, 2020 that to end all speculations, and indeed, to expose unfounded accusations, China should benefit from a truly independent and international joint investigation as outlined above, perhaps under the aegis of the United Nations.

Download News Clip (Radio)

The Coronavirus could usher in a Brave New World

China Is Maneuvering for International Leadership as the United States Falters, notes an article in Foreign Affairs dated 18 March, 2020 - The Coronavirus Could Reshape Global Order.

The piece flags up China's initial coverup and its subsequent turning of the table on Western narratives. Boosted by its position as the world's dominant producer of critical anti-virus equipment and supplies, China is positioning itself as a global saviour as much of the West, especially the United States, is overwhelmed by sheer lack of preparedness, worry over economic interests, and a certain amount of wishful thinking. 

The EU has recently sounded warning bells about China's geopolitical ambitions as it emerges from the crisis. While many countries are benefitting from China's timely supply of medical equipment, especially life-saving ventilators, there is growing international momentum involving China and other countries to coordinate efforts, and share experience, expertise and research for an effective vaccine. The G20 video conferencing on 26 March is an important milestone. 

As the Southern Hemisphere is beginning to stand on edge, the crisis seems just unfolding. There is critical demand for more WHO monitoring, openness of testing statistics, joint research into the virus's origin and behaviour, more emphasis on human lives, and greater leadership of the world's two superpowers - the United States and China.

What's more, it's important to remember viruses have no borders. Before raising accusing fingers, it is instructive to recall where the 2009-10 global H1N1 "swine fever" first started to spread, infecting some 1.3 billion people worldwide and causing well over half a million deaths. 

In any event, when the crisis is all over, the world will not be the same again.

A new world order is already emerging. Economic gravitas has been shifting away from developed countries. They are no longer key drivers of global growth. More countries will become sensitive to external dependence, especially on critical health and security architecture.

On the other hand, the whole world will become even more connected thanks to new digital technologies. Supply and value chains may change but they have become intricately intertwined across the globe that complete decoupling is unlikely to be possible. More people will become aware of each other country's interdependence, thanks to the Coronavirus and growing threats of Climate Change. 

China, for one, seems more prepared than others to embrace a looming Brave New World. China in a new Era of Global Disruptions, my latest PowerPoint presentation, may offer more food for thought. 

Over 500 passengers allowed to leave ship after being tested negative for Covid-19

Live interview with PressTV on 22 February, 2020

Economic impact of Covid-19 on global economy

TV interview of 12 February 2020 on Ren TV of Moscow, one of the largest federal broadcasters watched daily by 15 million Russians, over 22 % of the Russian population over 4 years of age. 

Andrew's March 2020 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletter goes out to some 8,500 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my March 2020 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What's New on this website) 

Greetings from Hong Kong!

We are still in the grip of somewhat overlapping crises, epidemic and political. The Motherland is facing an unprecedented double-whammy. The economic fallout from a bitter trade war with the United States is far from over. At the same time, death of a prominent Covid-19 epidemic whistle-blower exposed the fault lines of China's top-down model for all to see, both within and outside China. This hands convenient ammunition to "China hawks" across the aisle on Capitol Hill at a time of sharpening contest between a US-led liberal world order and its perceived challenger. 

In a way, Hong Kong is an epitome of a disrupted world on all fronts. These include widening political divides, clamour for social justice, epidemic black swans, Climate Change, vulnerability to over-globalization and one-sided supply chains, and collateral damage resulting from intensifying US-China rivalry, not to mention disruptive technologies like 5-G and artificial intelligence. 

How these crises and disruptions unfold will not only re-configure economies, businesses, and international relations across the globe, but will likely re-shape the world order and people's daily lives in decades to come. 

Hopefully, the following may offer a little food for thought.

Covid-19 Crisis 

Latest development on the coronavirus crisis in Hong Kong and the Mainland  (Live radio panel discussion on Backchat with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)

China injects $173 billion to stabilize economy following virus outbreak (Live interview with PressTV) 

WHO declares international health emergency on Wuhan novel coronavirus  (Live interview with PressTV)

Hong Kong under political stress

Six powerful reasons for Beijing to rethink how Hong Kong should be governed, in the interests of long-term stability (South China Morning Post Op-ed) 

Hong Kong should enact national security laws, then seek a more liberal way to elect the chief executive (South China Morning Post Op-ed) 

Tsai’s win won’t help HK protests (Quoted in The Strait Times) 

China sanctions US NGOs in China in retaliation of the enactment of Hong Kong Human Rights & Democracy Act (Sputnik News radio interview and article) 

The Brief: Hong Kong Protests: behind the smoke and mirrors (In-depth live interviews with A News Television of Turkey). 

End of siege of HK Polytechnic University, discovery of cache of petrol bombs and weapons and HK Human Rights and Democracy Act (Live interview with RT) 

Hong Kong protests after Beijing's Fourth Plenum (Two-part TV interview on Talk the Walk with HKIBC (Hong Kong International Business Channel) 

Over 200 demonstrators arrested after weekend of increased violence  (Live TV interview on RT) 

 

US-China Rivalry

 

Trump threatens to cut off intelligence sharing with countries using Huawei (Live interview with PressTV)

After UK, France allows Huawei on 5G participation, with stringent safeguards (Live interview with PressTV)

China raps US defense bill targeting its firms (Live interview with PressTV)

US National Security Commission Report on Artificial Intelligence (Interim Report for Congress, November 2019) 

What does the new US-China trade deal mean? (Live interview on Indus News) 

China’s largest utility plans a national power grid integrating Internet of Things technologies (A South China Morning Post report) 

Abe re-sets relations with China despite obstacle over East China Sea (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News) 

China has agreed with US to cancel tariffs in phases (Live TV interview with Channel News Asia (CNA))

Is Trump using Hong Kong unrest as leverage in trade talks with China? (Quoted in RT article) 

 

China in the 2020's

 

China in the 2020's - Expect Game-Changing Developments (Feature article in The Global Analyst) 

The article also appears on World Geostrategic Insights

The seven trends that will define China in the 2020s (Op-ed in South China Morning Post) 

 

Global Distrust Crisis

 

MEDays Forum 2019 - 13-16 November, 2019, Tangier, Morocco (Presentations (Speaking Notes) and photos) 

 

7th International Conference on Eurasian Politics & Society on 14th–15th May 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal.

 

Subject to exigencies, I am scheduled to present at the above international conference my full-length Paper How will Eurasian Integration of China's Belt & Road Initiative fare in defending a Multipolar World Order. Should this materialize, I will upload my Paper and PowerPoint presentation to this website afterwards. 

 

A wet and wintry autumn family break in Cadiz and environs 

 

(A short music video capturing some special moments)  

 

Cheer up and chill out

A repertoire of inspirational music, videos, songs and words. There is also a collection in Chinese.

Invitation for expressions of interest in investment opportunities

An upended world abounds with fresh BUY and SELL investment opportunities on many fronts across the globe, including new technologies, new markets and new businesses. If you wish to avail yourself of my business network worldwide, please drop me a line on a strictly no-commitment basis initially. 

Consultation services

Please email me at [email protected] or text my Hong Kong mobile +852 98198987.  I can also be reached on Skype at andrew.k.p.leung, LinkedIn at andrewleunginternational, Whatsapp at (852) 98198987, WeChat at Andrewkpleung, Facebook at andrewkinpongleung, and Twitter at @Andrewkpleung

Speaking and lecturing invitations

I am also open to invitations or proposals for speaking engagements, visiting lectures and tailor-made electives as a visiting/adjunct professor. 

Business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong

As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives' Global Network Hong Kong, I welcome your suggestion of a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong. This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.

RSS feed and weblinks

My postings are regularly uploaded under my three blogs CHINAwatch, Publications and What is New on www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  A collection of leading China media and research sites can be found under China Links.

Please feel free to save my website on your computer, laptop, tablet, Blackberry, iPhone or iPad as a reference resource. If you wish instant access as soon as my postings appear, just click on “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” under RSS Feed on top of the right-hand column of each blog. Select the appropriate Google feed option. It is free of charge.  

This newsletter is uploaded to my website here. You may save it for reference or reading at leisure and to share it on Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Twitter or other social media devices.

Courtesies

I look forward to your guidance, advice, comments, suggestions, and criticisms. You may share the above contents with colleagues or friends. You are also welcome to publish any of them with full attribution. 

If you think that I may add value to your endeavours in any way, please let me know how I may help.  If for any reason you do not wish to receive my emails, just ask me to delete your name from my databank permanently. 

Best personal regards, 

Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA

International and Independent China Strategist

www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  

Positions  

Chairman and CEO, Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Limited

(Founded in London, now re-incorporated in Hong Kong; name changed from Andrew Leung International Consultants Limited as from 10 July, 2017) 

China Futures Fellow, Berkshire Publishing Group, Massachusetts, USA (2011-13)
Brain Trust member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland

Gerson Lehrman Group (Global Experts) Council Member
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thomson Reuters

Senior Analyst, Wikistrat , a cloud-sourced global strategic consultancy based in Washington D.C.

Senior Consultant, MEC International (a UK-based global strategic energy consultancy) 

Distinguished Contributor, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA) (global think-tank)

Professor of Practice, Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (2018-20)

Download Certificate of Appointment as Professor of Practice

Certified Sustainable Development Planner, World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners

Download Certificate of Recognition as Certified Sustainable Development Planner

Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA)
Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Think-tank Research Fellow, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, PRC (14.4.2017-13.4.2020) 

Advisory Board member, The e-Centre , European Centre for e-Commerce and Internet Law, Vienna 

Honorary Adviser, International Institute of Management (IIM) 

Advisory Board member, The Global Analyst, India

Honorary President, China Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association (from 28 March, 2016) 

Download 中國香港國際經貿合作協會簡介和組織架構  

Download A brief introduction to the China-Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association

Global Commercial Agent, Changsha City, China

Hong Kong Advisory Board member, Denmark-based Executive Global Network (EGN)

Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University Business School 

Governing Council Member, King’s College London, UK (2004-2010)
Advisory Board member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)

Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)
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