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

The Silk Road’s cultural & religious diversity

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“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

China’s position and approachPrefer 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)

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 attractiveGermany’s view:• China should respect “One-Europe

Policy”• Human Right differences with China

remain unresolved

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 Post7 October 2017

Hong Kong – China’s most international city: HK’s rule of reputation in the light of Nancy Pelosi’s statement

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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

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

“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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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

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“One China, One Europe”,

Sigmar Gabriel, German Foreign

Minister

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 JianweiXu, 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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