Our Hong Kong Foundation

Our Hong Kong Foundation
Formation10 November 2014; 10 years ago (2014-11-10)
TypeThink tank
Headquarters19/F., Nan Fung Tower, 88 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong
Location
Honorary Chairman
Tung Chee-hwa
Chairman
Bernard Charnwut Chan
Vice Chairmen
Dr. Victor Fung
Dr. Henry Cheng
Websiteourhkfoundation.org.hk
Our Hong Kong Foundation
Traditional Chinese團結香港基金
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTyùhn git hēung góng gēi gām
JyutpingTyun4 git3 hoeng1 gong2 gei1 gam1

Our Hong Kong Foundation is a Hong Kong think tank focused on the city's social and economic development. It was established in 2014 by Tung Chee-hwa, a former chief executive and a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in response to the 2014 Hong Kong protests.[1]

As the largest think tank in Hong Kong, it conducts public policy research in land, housing, technology, social innovation, the economies of Hong Kong and mainland China, arts, and population. In addition to research, it serves as a group to connect to other interest groups.[2] In the University of Pennsylvania's 2016 Global Go To Think Tanks Report, Our Hong Kong Foundation ranked the highest amongst all Hong Kong–based think tanks[3] and listed in the Think Tank to Watch in 2017 achievement category.[4]

Portrait of Tung Chee-hwa wearing a black suit and a blue tie
Tung Chee-hwa, then a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in 2011

History

Tung announced the think tank on 10 November 2014 with 88 advisers that included businesspeople, athletes, academics, and former senior civil servants, including Jack Ma, Lee Wai Sze, Antony Leung, and Yang Chen-Ning. He said the foundation would help develop political leaders in Hong Kong and improve social mobility. Peacefully ending the sit-in protests against the 2014–2015 Hong Kong electoral reform was also described by Tung as one of the foundation's top priorities.[5]

Tung had been the chairman since the think tank was founded. As concerns over his health grew, he resigned as chairman on 28 September 2023 and was succeeded by Bernard Chan.[6] Tung then became the foundation's honorary chairman.[7]

Political position

Our Hong Kong Foundation has been described as "pro-establishment"[8] or "pro-Beijing".[9] Bernard Chan said his role as the think tank's chairman was to tell “good Hong Kong stories” and advocate for Hong Kong and mainland China internationally.[10] Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, said the foundation should help integrate Hong Kong into China's development and to work with partners around the world to tell good stories about China.[11]

Publications

The Foundation maintains a wide-ranging news website, ThinkHK.[12]

Other research and advocacy publications include (in approximately chronological order):

  • Maximizing Land Use to Boost Development, Optimizing Housing Resources to Benefit All[13]
  • The Ecosystem of Innovation and Technology in Hong Kong[14]
  • Social innovation for a Better Hong Kong[15] (2016)
  • Riding on Mainland’s Economic Development in a New Era[16]
  • Unleashing Our Museums, Reforms Toward a New Governance Model[17]
  • An Investment for the Celebration of Aging[18]
  • Rethinking Public Housing Policy, Building Sustainable Land Reserve[19]
  • Yes, Hong Kong CAN! (about economic development)[20]
  • From Large-Scale Reclamation to an Ideal Home[21]

References

  1. ^ Pao, Jeff (6 May 2020). "Beijing calls for more HK Coalition support". Asia Times. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  2. ^ Lo, Sonny Shiu-hing (2018). "Ideologies and Factionalism in Beijing–Hong Kong Relations". Asian Survey. 58 (3): 392–415. JSTOR 26494056 – via JSTOR.
  3. ^ Ng, Kang-chung (27 February 2017). "Five Hong Kong think tanks make it to list of region's top 90". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. ^ G, McGann, James (1 January 2017). "2016 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report". TTCSP Global Go to Think Tank Index Reports.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Cheung, Gary; Cheung, Tony (10 November 2014). "Former chief Tung Chee-hwa looks to future with launch of his think tank". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  6. ^ Chan, Kahon (28 September 2023). "Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa steps down as chairman of think tank he founded, amid health concerns". South China Morning Post.
  7. ^ Shum, Michael (29 September 2023). "Tung steps down as head of think tank". The Standard.
  8. ^ Lee, Ada H. Y.; Allmendinger, Phil (2024). "Consensus' as a Tool of Foreclosure: Hong Kong's Land Supply Consultation". Planning Theory & Practice. 25 (1): 9–28. doi:10.1080/14649357.2024.2313236.
  9. ^ Morris, Paul; Vickers, Edward (13 March 2022). "Accelerating Hong Kong's reeducation: 'mainlandisation', securitisation and the 2020 National Security Law". Comparative Education. 58 (2): 187–205. doi:10.1080/03050068.2022.2046878. hdl:2324/7164786.
  10. ^ Yau, Cannix (11 December 2023). "If you're visiting Hong Kong, bring a burner phone? Think tank chief Bernard Chan aims to dispel 'totally ridiculous' talk, tell 'good stories' about city". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  11. ^ Shao, Atlas (25 September 2024). "Think tanks urged to tell good stories about nation, HK strengths". China Daily. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  12. ^ ThinkHK
  13. ^ "Maximizing Land Use to Boost Development, Optimizing Housing Resources to Benefit All" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  14. ^ "The Ecosystem of Innovation and Technology in Hong Kong" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Social innovation for a Better Hong Kong" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Riding on Mainland's Economic Development in a New Era" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Unleashing Our Museums, Reforms Toward a New Governance Model" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. ^ "An Investment for the Celebration of Aging" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Rethinking Public Housing Policy, Building Sustainable Land Reserve" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Yes, Hong Kong CAN!" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  21. ^ "From Large-Scale Reclamation to an Ideal Home" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2017.