Mr Sha Hailin, President of the Shanghai Chinese Overseas Friendship Association, led a delegation to visit Lingnan University yesterday (1 March 2015) and officiated the opening of the Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Centre together with Mr Harvey Lee, Vice Chairman of Goldin Group, Mr Andrew Yao Cho-fai, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association, Mrs Loretta Shuen Leung Lai-sheung, Council Treasurer of Lingnan University, Dr Frank Law Sai-kit, Court Chairman of Lingnan University, Prof Albert Ip Yuk-keung, Chairman of Institutional Advancement Committee of Lingnan University and Prof Leonard K Cheng, President of Lingnan University.

With the generous donation of HK$10 million from Mr Pan Sutong, Chairman of Goldin Group, Lingnan University has established the Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Centre in collaboration with the Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association to strengthen research on issues related to the economic and financial development of Mainland China and Hong Kong.



In his address at the Ceremony, President Cheng said that Prof Wei Xiangdong, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, and Prof Ho Lok-sang, Head of Department of Economics, have been appointed the Director and Advisor of the Research Centre respectively. They will lead a team of experienced colleagues to engage in a series of research projects regarding the economic and financial development of Mainland China and Hong Kong.

The Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Centre will synergise resources and outstanding economic research expertise in Mainland China and Hong Kong to strengthen research on salient issues related to the economic and financial development of the two places. It will also provide research consultations on industry and economic policies, in addition to offering policy consultations and advice to foster the mutual prosperity of Mainland China and Hong Kong. Its research efforts in the years ahead will centre around a number of key issues including the development strategy for internationalisation of Renminbi, policy direction of the "free trade zone" and its impact on the economies of Mainland China and Hong Kong, and financial innovations and market supervision.

The Research Centre will organise a high level economic forum annually and invite renowned experts and academics to look into related issues together, and report to the public its latest research findings. It will also provide relevant policy intelligence and recommendations to the public and government agencies on a regular basis. Establishment of the Research Centre will further strengthen Lingnan University's competitive edge in public policy research.