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Seminar - A Macro History of Sino-Foreign Maritime Communication: Retrospect and Prospect By Professor Billy So

2015-10-17

Presentation Powerpoint of the seminar (Download here)

Recording of the seminar

　　To enhance public understanding of the historical, economic, and cultural significance of “The Belt and Road Initiative”, and to encourage individuals from different backgrounds as well as young people to seize the developmental opportunities provided under the Initiative”, the Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) held a public lecture entitled “A Macro History of Sino-Foreign Maritime Communication: Retrospect and Prospect” at Miller Theatre of Asia Society Hong Kong Center today (October 17). The speaker was Professor Billy K.L. So, Chair Professor and Head of Division of Humanities of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Mrs. Regina Ip, Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society, and Ms. Florence Hui, Under Secretary for Home Affairs, attended the event.

　　Mrs. Regina Ip, Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society, welcomed Prof. So and thanked him for sharing his research findings on China’s maritime trade with participants. The lecture was about the history of the development of China’s maritime trade, which provided firm evidence that Hong Kong could play an important role in implementing the Initiative. Hong Kong’s participation in implementing the initiative would be a win-win scenario for the nation and Hong Kong.

　　Mrs. Ip also presented a Certificate of Appointment to Ms. Helena Wai, Vice Chairman of CLSA Ltd., as Advisor of MSRS. Miss Wai would give advice on opportunities in the financial sector.

　　Ms. Helena Wai said that the nation's the Belt and the Road Initiative is a grand strategy that would jumpstart infrastructural development in Asia. The development of more roads, railroads, ports and pipelines would enhance connectivity within the region as well as between Europe, Asia and Africa. Hong Kong is well positioned to service the financing needs arising from the launching of such large-scale infrastructural projects.

　　Ms. Florence Hui, Under Secretary for Home Affairs, said that she was delighted to attend the seminar in the elegant setting of Asia Society’s Miller Theatre. She was thrilled to learn of the history of China’s maritime communications and the prospects for substantial further development in the 21st century.

　　Ms Florence Hui presented a souvenir to Prof. Billy So and Mrs. Regina Ip presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ms Florence Hui.

　　Today’s public lecture was given by Professor Billy K.L. So to a full house audience at the Miller Theatre. The lecture covered 5 topics:

  1. Macro history of Sino-foreign maritime communication and the 21st century maritime silk road;
  2. Maritime silk road – yesterday, today and tomorrow;
  3. Maritime silk road – self-interest and win-win perspective;
  4. Maritime silk road and 21st century Chinese Renaissance; and
  5. Maritime silk road and 21st century Hong Kong Renaissance.

 

Brief Biography of Professor Billy So

　　So Kee-long studied at New Asia College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and earned his doctoral degree from the Australian National University in 1983. He taught at National University of Singapore and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, serving in various capacities like Chairman of History Department and University Registrar and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Since 2011 he has been a chair professor and division head of the Division of Humanities at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.  He was a visiting scholar at Harvard-Yenching Institute and St. John’s College, Cambridge.

　　Author of Prosperity, Region, and Institutions in Maritime China: The South Fukien Pattern, 946-1368. (Harvard University Asia Center, 2001), he co-edited or edited volumes like Cultural Narratives of Urban Space in Republican Chinese Cities (Brill, 2013), The Economy of Lower Yangzi Delta in Late Imperial China: Connecting Money, Market, and Institutions (Routledge’s Academia Sinica on East Asia Series, 2012), Treaty-port Economy in Modern China: Empirical Studies of Institutional Change and Economic Performance (Berkeley, 2011), and Power and Identity in the Chinese World Order (HKU Press, 2003). His articles appeared in such journals as Tsinghua Law Journal, Hong Kong Law Journal, Faxue法學(Shanghai), Annales: Histoire, Sciences Sociales, Lishi yanjiu歷史研究 (Beijing), Journal of Economic and Social History of the Orient, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Annals of GIS, Applied Geography, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Journal of Sung & Yuan Studies, and T’oung Pao, among others.

 

- End -

 

Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms. Florence Hui (left) presented souvenir to the speaker Prof. Billy So.

 

Co-Chairman of Maritime Silk Road Society, Mrs. Regina Ip (right), presented the certificate of appreciation to Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms. Florence Hui.

 

Co-Chairman of Maritime Silk Road Society, Mrs. Regina Ip (left), presented the certificate of appointment to the advisor of Maritimes Silk Road Society, Ms. Helena Wai.

 

Prof. Billy So brought the audience to explore the history of maritime silk road.

 

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