Olympic Opportunity: China on the Road to a Responsible Country

Date: 5 April, 2008 (Sat)
Time: 12:45 - 15:15
Venue: LT 14, The City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

The 2008 Summer Olympics will be celebrated in August 2008 in Beijing, People's Republic of China. As one of the greatest international events, the Olympics brings honor to Beijing but also political pressure on its human rights, environmental, social issues. Protestors and non-governmental organizations have taken this event as a golden opportunity to pressure the PRC government in areas such as, the Tibetan independence, promoting press freedom, issues in the Darfur and Myanmar conflicts, environmental protection, human rights protection and other such issues. Some protestors have even advocated a boycott of the Beijing Olympics as their way of expressing their concerns.

Rundown:
12:45 – 13:00: Registration

>> Part I Guests’ Speeches:
13:00 – 13:05: Opening by ZHOU Zhixing, President, Leaders Magazine
13:05 – 13:15: Speech by Ms. Clara LAW, Campaign Manager of Amnesty International in Hong Kong
13:15 – 13:25: Speech by Ms. Cyd HO, Chairperson of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
13:25 – 13:35: Speech by Mr. Albert HO, Chairman of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group
13:35 – 13:45: Speech by Mr. LEUNG Kwok-hung, Members of April Fifth Action
13:45 – 13:55: (last minut withdrawal) “Beyond 2008: Taking the Olympics platform to promote a green development in China” Mr. LO Sze-Ping, Campaign Director of Greenpeace(China)
13:55 – 14:05: Speech by Dr. SU Hao, Director of Centre of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese Foreign Affairs University
14:05 – 14:15: Speech by Prof. CHEN qi, Associate Professor, Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University
14:15 – 14:25: Refreshment

>> Part II Discussion:
14:25 – 15:00: Should we take Beijing Olympics as opportunity to motivate changes in China’s social and political status, and what should PRC government should do to improve its social and political status?
15:05 – 15:15: Question and Answer Section
15:15: End of the Event

2008 is a crucial year for every single Taiwanese truly because of the coming Presidential Election. Although Ma Ying-jeou has led his party Kuomingtang to victory in the election for the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan, he still minds his every step badly cautiously. How does Hsieh Chang-ting, leader of Democratic Progressive Party which was totally defeated in the election, fight for the place of President under such rigorous situation? Who will win in this Presidential Election and release Taiwan from a piece of mess and chaos? Regarding a series of unanswered questions, Knowledge Walker, affiliated partner of Roundtable, is going to take you to solve these queries during the forthcoming Easter Holiday. To feel the power of one-person-one-vote, to dialogize with the political parties, scholars and the media, to experience the atmosphere of this election which you may not experience in the future, why do you still hesitate?

Date:
20 March—24 March 2008

Target Participants:

1. Local university students
2. Young local party members

“Beholding Labrang: Chinese Imaginings of Tibet and Things Tibetan”
by Dr. Juha Komppa, DPhil Candidate, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford and Visiting Scholar, Centre of Asian Studies, The University of Hong Kong

Date / Time: Monday, 28 April 2008 / 4:30 p.m.
Venue: The Reading Room, Centre of Asian Studies, Tang Chi Ngong Building, Room G-4 (Ground Floor)
Organized by: The Centre of Asian Studies, HKU

Abstract:?
For some time now, there has been a new interest in China for Tibet, seen above all in tourism and travel – not only to Tibet itself, but also in the Tibetan areas ranging from Qinghai through Gansu and Sichuan to Yunnan. While the Chinese image of Tibetan culture continues to remain highly superficial – focused on the visual spectacle, rather than involving any deeper understanding of what one is beholding – there is a marked shift in the attitudes and interests: from Liberation to Commodification and Consumption, as the change might perhaps be summarised. The Chinese rediscovery of Tibet and things Tibetan is largely a search for authentic cultural experience – for the unspoiled, pristine, genuine, untouched and traditional – and says more ‘about us than about others’. In the context of Tibet/China, authenticity also becomes a means of controlling representation. One of the key questions, therefore, is what Tibetan culture actually implies or should imply. Labrang/Xiahe in Gansu is a case in point.

Anyone interested are welcome to attend.
Please visit http://www.hku.hk/cas/wnew.html for forthcoming activities.

USC Luncheon Seminar

Date / Time: Various Talks
Venue: 8/F Tin Ka Ping Building, CUHK
Organized by: University Service of China’s Studies, CUHK
Lunch fee: Free Participation, HKD20.00 for Lunch
For more information: http://www.usc.cuhk.edu.hk/seminar/seminar.asp

Seminars:
“Market and Networks in China:The sugar Industry in Guangxi in the Context of Globalization” by Prof. Louis Augustin-Jean, Tsukuba University
On April 9, 2008 (Wed) 12:00

“從蔣介石日記看他的早期思想”
by中山大學 袁偉時教授 以 普通話 主講
2008年4月10日, 星期四: 12:00

“A general overview of U.S.-China relations”
By U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL HONG KONG Mr. Jeffrey Zaiser
On April 11, 2008 (Fri) 12:00

“中國的艾滋病問題與民間組織的發展”
By 全國艾滋病信息資源網路 高琦 博士 以 普通話 主講
2008年4月14日, 星期一: 12:00

What is Global Elites?

Introduction 
As an annual key program of Roundtable Community, Global Elites serves to bring innovative perspectives to local high school students on globalization and its effects on various aspects such as international relations, culture, religion, media development, etc. The program includes a series of seminars and workshops as well as an overnight camp. Ultimately, Global Elites aims to groom the young generation of Hong Kong to gain stronger grasp and better articulation on the above-mentioned issues.

Objectives  

1. Through a series of seminars and workshops, participants will develop a better understanding of macroscopic field of views, and discover the challenges and opportunities of Hong Kong as part of the global village.
2. Participants in the program will be introduced to international relations, culture, religion, media development. Various speakers bring different insight to related issues which will enhance participants’ multi-dimensional thinking ability. 
3. To encourage inter-disciplinary learning of students by leading them to integrate their knowledge of different academic disciplines and generate more thorough insights into different social issues. 
4. There will also be opportunities for participants in the program to develop their critical thinking, interpersonal skills, leadership skills and problem-solving skills through the overnight camp.

Target: Secondary grade 4 to 7

For enquiries
Tel: 2111 5882
Fax: 2111 5883
Email: globalelites@roundtablecommunity.org.hk
Address: Unit 605, 6/F, Cameron Commercial Centre, No. 458-468 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

For details, please go to Global Elites Websites:

GE08 to be launched in June 2008!!!

GE07 website:
http://www.roundtablecommunity.org.hk/global_elites07/index.html

GE06 website:
http://www.roundtablecommunity.org.hk/global_elites06/index.htm

The Interschool Debate Competition on International Affairs

Forthcoming Matches:

Everyone are welcome to attend!!!

Heep Yunn Secondary School
Vs.
Li Po Chun United World College

Date:12 April 2008

Venue: UCC 312, CUHK

Time: 15:00 -17:00

*******

Grand Final and Ceremony

Date: 27 April 2008

Venue: The Chiang Chen Studio Theatre (CCST), Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Time: 14:30 - 18:30

Confirmed Honourable Adjudicators:

Mr. Chan-yau Chong, MBE.
(Director of Student Development, HKU; Former Executive Director of Oxfam Hong Kong).

Ms. Claudia Mo
(Experienced Journalist, Part-time Lecture in CUHK and HKBU).

Prof. Simon Shen
(Research Assistant Professor, HKIAPS, CUHK).

Mr. Joseph WP Wong, GBS, JP.
(Former HKSAR Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology; Former HKSAR Secretary for Civil Service).

For any enquiries, please feel free to contact Mr. Wilson Chan (9131-9517)
or
Mr. Dennis Ng (6405-7758)

Results of the matches to date are as follows:

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META03: Discussion on the future of Hong Kong broadcasting.

Editor-in-chief: Joseph Li

Selling price: $20

Pages: 72

Publication dates: To be published soon.

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the most traditional public broadcasting company in Hong Kong has been going through a paradoxical situation. Some say it should be reformed and some say it should close down. Thus, the destiny of RTHK is debatable. Should they use NHK or BBC as examples? Should the public get involved? META 03 has invited Chen Yun (陳雲), Dora Choi (徐岱靈), and an anonymous insider to criticize and analyze the master plan of RTHK. Other than broadcasting issues, Qiu Liben (邱立本), the Editor-in-Chief of “Yazhou Zhoukan”, discusses the future of Asia’s publication sector, Pan Guoling (潘國靈), a culturalist, shares his experience in an International Essay Project written at the Iowa University and his cultural impact from New York’s educational tour. Last but not least, Zeng Zhiho (曾志豪), a chair of “Headliner”, introduces the book "Next Station, Stephen Chow".