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.