Presentation at Hong Kong Political Science Association annual conference -- Hong Kong and Globalisation on 21 oct 2017

1. Does Hong Kong have an informal diplomatic role for China on
The New Silk Road?
Hong Kong Political Science Association
“Hong Kong and Globalisation Conference”
Saturday 21 October 2017
Alan Ka-lun LUNG , Governor, Path of Democracy 1

2. The Silk Road’s cultural & religious diversity
2
“the world’s great religions burst into lives, where Judiaism,
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism
jostled with each other”
The Silk Roads, A New History of the World
by Peter Frankopan

3. China’s position and approach
Prefer the Westphalia concept of sovereignty and project financing
(i.e. not ownership)
No territorial ambition:
• Prefer project financing in
the Middle-East because of
perceived risks
• Intends to be a more
inclusive global economic
development model
Put emphasis on economic
benefits:
• As an outreach towards
Asian countries for
resolving territorial and
maritime disputes
• US$1.7 Trillion/Year
needed
• The AIIB initiative intends
to yield economic return
The Ratification of the
Treaty of Münster, 15
May 1648 after Europe’s
Thirty Years War (1618-
1648)

4. Europe’s position on OBOR: undecided
There’s limit on how much China could invest
Negative views:
• OBOR could prolong China’s state
capitalism
• No Joint Statement from Belt &
Road Forum (Beijing, 14 May 2017)
Positive views:
• Bring Europe closer to China
• Projects in Europe are attractive
Germany’s view:
• China should respect “One-Europe
Policy”
• Human Right differences with China
remain unresolved

5. Challenges on The New Silk Road:
CCP’s atheism versus extreme cultural and religious diversity
Major
business issue:
Investor
Protection
and
Rule of Law
“You know how Tajik shoot pigeons?” he asked.
“ They scatter some food on the ground and then
wait around the corner with a shotgun. When
pigeons come, they just blast away from a short
distance. That’s the dire situation facing Chinese
businessmen here.”
South China Morning Post
7 October 2017

6. Hong Kong – China’s most international city:
HK’s rule of reputation in the light of Nancy Pelosi’s statement
6
Secretary of Justice Rimsky Yuen defends Hong Kong’s rule of law and
mentions Hague Convention’s activities in Hong Kong at Path of
Democracy’s Speak Luncheon (22 September 2017)
Pelosi’s Statement on
unjust Re-
sentencing of
Joshua Wong:
This injustice
offends the basic
notions of
freedom and
democracy, and
deserves the
swift and unified
condemnation of
the international
community

7. PACOM (Pacific Command of the US Military):
Hong Kong is more than a trading and finance centre
7China allows USS Ronald Reagan port call in Hong Kong on 2 October 2017

8. “World Order”, “China” and “Pacific Community”
C.H.Tung and Kissinger launched Pacific Community Initiative Project
at Johns Hopkins University (6 October 2016)
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9. Hong Kong at a turning point:
Use HK’s soft power to help the West get a better understanding of China’s rise
or get rid of the “bad foreign influences” in HK
9
“One China,
One Europe”,
Sigmar Gabriel,
German Foreign
Minister

10. List of references:
Books
“The Silk Road. A New History of the World’, Peter Frankopan”, Bloomsbury, Publishing 2015
“On China”, Henry Kissinger, Penguin Books, 2011
“World Order”, Henry Kissinger, Penguin Books, 2014
Research Reports
“Europe and China’s New Silk Road”, A Report by the European Think-tank Network on China
(ETNC), December 2016
“China’s Belt and Road initiative: can Europe expect trade gains”, Alicia Garcia Herrero and Jianwei
Xu, Bruegel Working Paper, 2016
“One Belt, One Road, An Opportunity for the EU Security Strategy”, Clingendael, Netherlands
Institute of International Relations, December 2015
“One Belt, One Road (OBOR), China’s regional integration initiative”, European Parliament Research
Service (EPRS), July 2016
Articles
“EU backs away from trade statement in blow to China’s ‘modern Silk Road’ plan”, The Guardian,
15 May, 2017
“MTR, China Railway team up for overseas jobs”, SCMP, 12 September 2017
“German seeks Belt and Road equality”, SCMP 7 October 2017
“ One China – One Europe? German Foreign Minister’s Remarks Irk Beijing”, The Diplomat,
9 September 2017
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