Dolphin-Watching Trip (Mar 12)

Prof. LAM Kin Che and Prof. XU Yuan, course teachers of MPUP5422 Environmental Policy Analysis organized a Dolphin-Watching Trip on 12 March 2023 (Sun) for MPUP and CUHK students to take a cruise trip in Lantau Northern Waters of Hong Kong to study the impacts of infrastructure projects on the marine environment and biodiversity of the area.

The cruise trip was guided by staff from the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society (HKDCS), who introduced to the students the impacts of human activities on Chinese White Dolphins in Hong Kong and current conservation approaches.

Students considered the trip a valuable out-of-the-class learning opportunity to explore the nature of Hong Kong and enrich their understanding of the interplay between the environment and policies on urban development.

As the semester is approaching its end, MPUP organized a half-day boat trip to Sai Kung with an ecological theme for teachers and students to get together on 22 April 2023 (Saturday).

We are proud to have Ms. Mei NG (the former Chairperson of the Friends of the Earth (HK)), Mr. Felix Chung (a former member of the Legislative Council), Mr. Derick Lee (the ex-President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong) and Mr. Mike Rowse (the founding Director-General of InvestHK) as our special guests for the term-end gathering.

To taste the rich geodiversity of Sai Kung Geopark, the guided tour first explored the unique hexagonal volcanic rock columns, the coastal erosion landforms, and some sea caves.

The boat stopped at Kau Sai Wan Mariculture Raft, where the recreational fishing activities will not interfere with the other mariculture operations.

Following that, participants had a freshly cooked lunch and mingled with guests on the boat before arriving at Sharp Island, the last stop of the journey.

A beach cleanup was carried out to mark the programme’s vision on sustainability and Earth Day 2023.

* A big thank you goes to MPUP student LI Yingying, who made a vlog about this special day.

Enjoy it: https://shorturl.at/rCI14

1. Public Lecture by Prof. Gunter Schubert, Chair Professor of Greater China Studies at the University of Tübingen
   Topic: How Western (and Chinese) Scholars Understand Chinese Policymaking in the Xi Jinping Era
   Date: 12 October 2023 (Thur)
   Time: 2:30– 4:00 pm
2. Admission Q & A for 2024/25 Entry: MSSc in Public Policy (MPUP) and MSSc in Government and Politics (Greater China)
   A great chance to learn about the programme and receive feedback from our programme management team. The Programme Director will be here to answer any questions you may have and share with you the tips to be successful in these two master programmes.
   Date: 12 October 2023 (Thur)
   Time: 4:10 – 5:00 pm

Registration:

Registration | Public Lecture & TPg Admission Q & A (MSSc in Government and Politics (Greater China) and MSSc in Public Policy) (cuhk.edu.hk)

Prior registration is required. A confirmation email along with the Zoom link / venue will be sent to your email address on the event date morning.

Aspiring to nurture future leaders in society, MPUP invites professional practitioners from various public policy sectors from time to time to share their experiences and insights with students.

Thanks to Professor Annie Tam’s coordination, we were delighted to have Mr. Clement Woo Kin-man, JP, Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) to deliver a guest sharing session for students of MPUP5803 Topical Study in Public Policy III on 27 September 2023.

Mr. Woo has been dedicated to the community and made notable contributions to society over the years. Before joining the CMAB, he was a member of the Tai Po District Council and participated in various government statutory and advisory bodies, which include the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, the Family Council and the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, etc.

During the sharing, Mr. Woo shared the most up-to-date work of the CMAB. Mr Woo highlighted how Hong Kong uses its strategic position to participate in policy initiatives that promote Greater Bay Area opportunities.

By exchanging views with Mr. Woo in the Q&A session, students further consolidated the knowledge they learned in class.

Mr. Kelvin So, Class Representative of MPUP2023-24, presented the thank-you card to Mr. Woo.

We always value career support to achieve the mission to nurture future competent policy professionals and leaders. With the acclaim gained over the past years, we have once again invited Ms. Wong Ming Lok, a professional and experienced trainer who conducts series of AO/EO trainings, to deliver a workshop on the HKSAR Government Joint Recruitment Examination (JRE) exclusively for students of the Department of GPA from October to early November this year.

At the first session, Ms. Wong introduced basic knowledge including strategies and skills for taking the examination to participants so that they would have a clearer picture of the examination to set a focus for their self-preparation. A mock test was then arranged for participants, followed by an in-depth feedback session on their performance. Participants were given hands-on feedback from a former practitioner’s perspective to further enhance themselves for the coming examination.

Thanks Ms. Wong again for the fruitful workshop!

MPUP regularly invites policymakers to interact and exchange views with students. Last Saturday, our course teacher Dr. Mark Michelson invited Mr. Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP, the former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to discuss with students and alumni of MPUP and its sister programmes.

The Taught Postgraduate Programme Office of the Department of GPA held a tea reception on the morning of 25 November to welcome all participants. After receiving a warm welcome from Prof. Carlos Lo and his colleagues, Mr. Yau generated the conversation by asking “How come free trade has become a taboo, and is international trade an olive branch or a weapon of war?” Then, he shared his policy ideas and experience in trade and economics as both a veteran member of the industry and a former Principal Official of the GovHK.

The face-to-face discussion with the top policy maker in the field provided a valuable opportunity for students in public policy to understand why free trade matters to the U.S., Hong Kong, Mainland China, APEC, and the wider economic world. Students and alumni of different programmes also took the opportunity to bond and learn about each other.

MPUP and the MSSc in Government and Politics (Greater China) (GPGC) co-organized the Alumni Day & Career Sharing Session on 3 February 2024 at the Harmony, Lee Woo Sing College.

Seven alumni as below from the two programmes attended the sharing session and shed light on their unique career experiences and practical tips on preparation for the recruitment process. Some alumni also provided job postings from their respective institutions.

The sharing session attracted more than 40 students who appreciated the valuable opportunity to make connections with and learn from the alumni. Students benefited from their predecessors’ advice on a growth mindset and good workplace etiquette, which are key factors to fresh graduates’ career development.

MPUP co-organized the HKSAR Government Executive Officer (EO) Experience Sharing Session with the Career Planning and Development Centre of the Office of Student Affairs, CUHK on 6 February (Tue) for CUHK students. The event aimed to equip students with the job nature of the position and strategic approaches throughout the recruitment process.

We were delighted to invite HO Sin Ping (Anna), HUANG Qi Ming (Andy), KWONG Hong Pak (Calvin), and LAM Ho Fung (Justin), all MPUP part-time students who are currently serving as EOs in HKSAR Government to be the guest speakers. Through the speakers’ sharing, participants improved their understanding of the job nature, possible challenges, and career satisfaction of civil service.  They were also reminded of the pitfalls to avoid in the interviews and had the opportunity to interact with the speakers during the Q&A sessions.

The event would not have been so successful without the time, energy, and enthusiasm of our students! Thank you!

At the invitation of Mr Tang Fei, an alumnus of the Department of GPA and a current member of the Legislative Council, students of the two master’s programmes of MPUP and GPGC visited the Legislative Council on 1 March (Friday). Mr. Tang has been involved in the education industry for many years. He has served as a secondary school principal, assisting in the Curriculum Reform in New Senior Secondary Education, and has also hosted countless lectures and seminars for education reform topics. In 2013, he was awarded the Medal of Honour of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

On the day of the visit, Mr. Tang first gave a detailed introduction to the history of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in the History Gallery, then took a group photo with the participants, and then led the participants to visit the main venues including the Legislative Council Chamber. During the one-and-a-half-hour guided tour, Mr. Tang broadened students’ horizons and stimulated their interest in exploring the history of Hong Kong’s political system with his rich knowledge and insights on modern Chinese history and Hong Kong history.

Thanks to the coordination of Dr. CHAN Chee Hon, MPUP is delighted to have Dr. Jessica Tam, the Business Director of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (香港社會服務聯會) to share her valuable insights on contemporary governance issues within the social welfare sector during the lecture of MPUP5111 Public Policy Process on 15 March 2024.

Dr. Jessica Tam is the Business Director of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and a member of the Social Enterprise Summit’s Organising Committee and Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Project Fund of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Tam has successfully led numerous innovative initiatives in collaboration with government bodies, businesses, and NGOs, earning recognition for her notable contributions. She received the Secretary for Home Affairs’ commendation in 2018 and was selected for the AVPN Policy Fellowship program in Singapore in 2019. In 2020, she was named to Tatler’s Asia Impact List, which recognizes the 100 most influential people in Asia.

We thank Dr. Tam for providing students with an insightful exchange and reinforcing their understanding of the topics covered in class.