November 21st, Thurs 19:00 | Salon No. 10, Arbuthnot Road, Central (map) | Sign up on Facebook or Eventbrite
Into the fifth month of continuous protests in almost every district of the city, the Hong Kong government has scheduled the next District Council election to be held on 24th November 2019. Since the beginning of the nomination period in October, there were temporary signs of protests de-escalating on the streets, signs the administration has long thirsted for. However, there were also comments that the government should postpone this election to a later date.
General elections are often seen as resolutions to major political disputes, and snap elections (bringing a scheduled election forward) are often arranged when an existing government cannot handle a certain pressing issue in society. However, very few people are seeing snap elections, or the election system of Hong Kong as a whole to be useful in bringing the current political turmoil to an end.
In this meeting, we will discuss: 1) On what circumstances should a government consider postponing an election? 2) What does ‘executive dominance’ mean to politicians and voters in Hong Kong? 3) Will a snap election for the Legislative Council be beneficial to the stalemate we face today?
Join the upcoming event titled “EconClubHK Special: Elections in Hong Kong”, which will be held on Nov 21st, Thurs, from 19:00 to 20:30 at Salon 10 (Arbuthnot Rd, 10).
Fee: It’s free to attend, but we would buy a drink as a courtesy to the venue.
RSVP via Facebook or Eventbrite | November 21st, Thurs 19:00 | Salon No. 10, Central
Meeting Format: The host will welcome you at the venue and start with an introduction about the community and the topic of choice. Depending on how many people will attend, we split into sub-groups of 4-5 people for more detailed discussions. Within each subgroup, we will introduce ourselves (name, profession, hobby and fun fact) and begin a free-flowing discussion on the theme. That’s why it is important to prepare and read the suggested materials prior to the meeting. Questions, new paths for discussion, personal experience, and opinions are highly encouraged. We conclude the event with everyone sharing their takeaways on the subject.
The Economic Club of Hong Kong is a community of intellectually curious people. Events are organized by a group of passionate volunteers.
Here is a kind reminder on the upcoming community event of The Economic Club of Hong Kong “Cashless Society: Lessons From China and Sweden”, which will happen next Tuesday on November 12th, 19:15 at Salon No.10 (10 Arbuthnot Road, Central).
Cashless Society: Lessons From China and Sweden
November 12th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Arbuthnot Road, Central (map) | Sign up on Facebook or Eventbrite
For the past 3,000 years, when people thought of money they thought of cash. But the direction of travel is clear, and in some cases, the journey is nearly complete. Cash is dying out because of two forces. One is demand—younger consumers want payment systems that plug seamlessly into their digital lives. But equally important is that suppliers such as banks and tech or telecoms companies are developing fast, easy-to-use payment technologies from which they can pull data and pocket fees. Yet set against these benefits are a bundle of worries. Electronic payment systems may be vulnerable to technical failures, power blackouts and cyber-attacks. Further, the poor, the elderly and country folk may be left behind. And eradicating cash, an anonymous payment method, for a digital system could let governments snoop on people’s shopping habits and private titans exploit their personal data. What can we learn from first movers like China and Sweden?
Join the upcoming event by The Economic Club of Hong Kong themed “Cashless society – Lessons from China and Sweden”, which will be held on Nov 12th, Tue, from 19:15 to 20:45 at Salon 10 (Arbuthnot Rd, 10).
Fee: It’s free to attend, but we would buy a drink as a courtesy to the venue.
RSVP via Facebook or Eventbrite | November 12th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Central
HK’s Housing Crisis: The Root Cause of Social Unrest?
November 26th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Arbuthnot Road, Central (map) | Sign up on Facebook or Eventbrite
We continue our series on local Hong Kong issues:
Many political commentators and media outlets specifically listed unaffordable housing as the root cause for protests that rock the city. The administration surely depends on land premiums and stamp duty as its main revenue source (42% of the total HK government revenue in 2018/2019). The call for a resolution to address the housing problem has grown louder.
Think tanks, committees and interest groups have floated various proposals. For example, the Lantau land reclamation project with a projected duration of 30 years and cost of HKD500 billion appears to be a long shot. Also, rezoning farmland or country parks, selling subsidized public housing flats, or developing brownfield sites seems unwelcome by many citizens. Furthermore, the proposal by Chief Executive Carrie Lam to ease mortgage rules was greeted with criticism than applause.
People are not short of ideas, but all of them require political will and the grit to take on established interests. In this meeting we are going to discuss: 1. Is the housing crisis, i.e. lack of affordable housing, the root cause of the social unrest and dissatisfaction with HK’s administration? 2. Do you agree with any of the proposals think tanks and/or public interest groups published or, what do you think could be a way forward to address the housing shortage? 3. Is it realistic to expect affordability of housing, without crashing market and valuations enjoyed by current property owners?
Join the upcoming event by The Economic Club of Hong Kong themed “HK’s Housing Crisis – The Root Cause of Social Unrest?”, which will be held on Nov 26th, Tue, from 19:15 to 20:45 at Salon 10 (No. 10 Arbuthnot Rd, Central).
Fee: It’s free to attend, but we would buy a drink as a courtesy to the venue.
RSVP via Facebook or Eventbrite | November 12th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Central
Meeting Format: The host will welcome you at the venue and start with an introduction about the community and the topic of choice. Depending on how many people will attend, we split into sub-groups of 4-5 people for more detailed discussions. Within each subgroup, we will introduce ourselves (name, profession, hobby and fun fact) and begin a free-flowing discussion on the theme. That’s why it is important to prepare and read the suggested materials prior to the meeting. Questions, new paths for discussion, personal experience, and opinions are highly encouraged. We conclude the event with everyone sharing their takeaways on the subject.
The Economic Club of Hong Kong is a community of intellectually curious people. Events are organized by a group of passionate volunteers.
Geoffrey Cheng 