Seminars

Los Angeles: A transit metropolis in the making? (11 April 2013)

Cross-Strait Political Economy: Relevance of Hong Kong-China Re-unification Experiences? (1 December 2005)

The Political Geography of the Macau-Hong Kong Bridge Proposals (27 June 2005)

Container Port Development in China: Where, How and Why (7 March 2002)

The Language and Politics of Discontent in New Millennium China (27 September 2001)

中國城市化戰略目標及其關鍵性對策 (25 September 2001)

Los Angeles: A transit Metropolis in the making? (11 April 2013)

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Presenter: Dr. He Ying Sylvia
Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Time and Venue:
02:30 p.m. to 04:00 p.m.
AAB1312 Multi-purpose Room, Academic and Administration Building
Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Abstract

The Los Angeles region epitomises polycentric urban form with highly fragmented and devolved governance. For a long time, the region has been cited as an example of urban sprawl. However, its pattern of employment is not really dispersed – as expected in sprawl – but, rather, organised in many decentralised or suburban ‘employment centres’. Suburban employment centres have grown and evolved over a long period. In the emerging urban form, the density gradient has multiple local maxima coincident with the suburban employment centres. The multimodal population density function and the underlying travel demand have gradually changed the way in which people travel, and how we make transportation plans so as to accommodate such traffic demand. We are witnessing a comeback in mass transit, both in initiatives and investment. Movement of people in this car-centric region, although still heavily reliant on its extensive highway network, may well be increasingly undertaken by public transport in the near future. Is the traditional notion that Los Angeles is a low-density, car-orientated city being challenged? A history review, a contemporary analysis, and an examination of the outlook for the future might lead us to an answer.

Cross-Strait Political Economy: Relevance of Hong Kong-China Re-unification Experiences? (1 December 2005)

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Presenter: Professor Reginald Yin-Wang Kwok
Professor in Asian Studies and Urban and Regional Planning from University of Hawaii

Time and Venue:
4:00 p.m. to 5:30:30 p.m.
Conference Room 905, Sir Run Run Shaw Building
Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Prof. Kwok gave his speech to the audience

The Centre and the Department of Geography co-hosted a seminar on 1 December 2005. The speaker, Professor Reginald Kwok, delivered a highly stimulated speech on "Cross-Strait Political Economy: Relevance of Hong Kong-China Re-unification Experiences?". The seminar was well attended by the Department students and lectures.

Prof. Kwok answered question from audience

The Political Geography of the Macau-Hong Kong Bridge Proposals (27 June 2005)

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Presenter: Professor Si-ming Li
Department of Geography and Director of the Centre for China Urban and Regional Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University

Time and Venue:
11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Conference Room 905, Sir Run Run Shaw Building
Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Inviting by the Hong Kong America Center, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Si-ming Li, the Director of the Centre, lectured on the topic "The Political Geography of the Macau-Hong Kong Bridge Proposals" on 27 June 2005. Some 20 American academics attended the lecture.

Prof. Li gave the seminar

Prof. Li said that Hong Kong, after playing an important intermediary role in China's foreign trade for decades, was having its hub status challenged by Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other Mainland cities following China's entry into the World Trade Organisation. However, the situation was changing with the renewed impetus to build a bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai. The bridge would strengthen Hong Kong's role as the transport hub of south China.

Participants of the seminar

Container Port Development in China: Where, How and Why (7 March 2002)

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Presenter: Dr. James Jixian Wang
Associate Professor
Department of Geography, the University of Hong Kong

Time and Venue:
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Conference Room 905, Sir Run Run Shaw Building
Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Abstract

You probably know that Hong Kong ranked number once again in 2001 among all container ports in the world. But you may not know that Shenzhen, a port of only less than 10 years in container handling business, ranked number eight in the world, followed by famous ports of long history - Hamburg, Germany and Long Beach, USA. The seminar presented by James Wang will provide information and explanations about where and how such an impressive port development has been happening in China, as well as why this development has so far formed the pattern as we see today. You are invited also to debate on the future directions of these ports, the development possibilities and difficulties, and of course, their impacts on Hong Kong.

Born, grown up, and worked in Beijing, Dr. Wang received his B.A. from the People's University of China, M.Phil. from HKU, and Ph.D. from University of Toronto. His major research interests include port and airport development, urban public transport, and retail environment. Since he jointed the Geography Department of HKU in 1993, the research projects he conducted or participated have a geographical focus on China, particularly the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Hong Kong. He is a member of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Hong Kong) (CILT), executive committee member of Hong Kong Society of Transportation Studies (HKSTS), member of Hong Kong Institute for Infrastructure Development, executive member of Economic Geography Group, Chinese Geographical Association, PRC, invited member of China Urban Transport Planning and Research Association, and editorial board member of Journal of Transport Geography.

The Language and Politics of Discontent in New Millennium China (27 September 2001)

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Presenter: Prof. Christopher Smith
Department of Geography and Planning, State University of New York at Albany

Time and Venue:
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Conference Room 905, Sir Run Run Shaw Building
Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Abstract

More than two decades ago, China launched a series of reforms to restrcuture its industry, its agriculture, its science and technology, and its defence capabilities. The term used at the time to describe this project, the "Four Modernizations", is no longer in everyday use, but over the years there have been few significant reversals in the reform trajectory. What began as a program of limited, almost haphazard reform, evolved gradually into a powerful force that has changed almost every facet of life in China. Extraordinarily, high rates of economic growth were reported throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and this trend has so far continued into the new millennium according to the National Bureau of Statistics. For example, the economy grew by an estimated 8 % in the year 2000, bringing the annual GDP to above 1 trillion yuan for the first time.

The presentation will highlight the other side of China's achievements associated with her transition - "narrative of
discontent", pointing not only to the successes of the modernization project of China, but also to the many difficulties associated with it. The language of discontent was firstly examined by exploring what is being communicated to the ordinary Chinese people about the less salutary events associated with the economic reforms. Assuming that discontent exists, it is also reasonable to expect some response from the Chinese people, either to accommodate it or to try to bring about change. Therefore, the politics of discontent was also investigated empirically, and so was the way of discontent being articulated through public "acts of resistance".

中國城市化戰略目標及其關鍵性對策 (25 September 2001)

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講者：
姚士謀教授, 中國科學院南京地理與湖泊研究所

時間與地點：
下午四時三十分至五時三十分
邵逸夫大樓905室
何善衡校園，香港浸會大學

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