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.