Programme
Thinking about 2007
(A workshop on constitutionally related issues facing Hong Kong)
Venue:
Time:
Multi-Media Conference Room, Cheng Yick-chi Building, City University of Hong Kong,
Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
8:30 am – 6:00 pm
9:00-05
Welcome by organizers/thanks to sponsors
Morning Session
Institutions
I
Constitutional experiences and histories
(1 presentation of 15 minutes, Q&A of 25 minutes)
Chair:
Mr Frank Ching
Presenter:
Professor Rudiger Wolfrum (Max Plank Institute of Comparative Public Law
and International Law, Heidelberg University)
9:05-9:45
(Plenary session, Q&A with speaker)
(Comparative, historical accounts of how other entities have dealt with judicial, executive, legislative
balance and governmental interrelations and of these with society and other political institutions (such as
parties). Overall success or failure of written constitutions and relationship with a society’s history and
socio-economic context. Emphasis on constitutional transition experiences, such as in southern and eastern
Europe.)
Break 9:45-10:00
II
10:00- 10:30 Constitutional models and theories
(1 presentation of 15 minute)
Chair:
Professor H C Kuan
Presenter:
Professor Michael C Davis (Department of Government & Public
Administration, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
(Advantages and disadvantages of various systems and some analysis of possibilities in HK. Should we
allow “tradition” to fill in a flexible text, or can we rationally discuss better or best means to “interpret” the
flexible guidelines of the Basic Law?)
10:40-12:00
12:10-12:40
Focus and Discussion groups on issues of sessions I and II
Reassemble, Focus and discussion group summaries
(Focus and Discussion group recorders will summarize main points raised and/or main points of agreement
or disagreement, about 2 minutes from each group. Lunch will then be a continuation of focus groups issues
raised.)
Lunch break 12:45-1:45
Afternoon Session
Processes
III
Electoral systems and parties
(2 presentations of 10 minutes each)
Chair:
Dr Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
Presenter:
Professor David Farrell (Department of Government, University of
Manchester)
Presenter:
Professor Nigel Roberts (School of Political Science and International
Relations, Victoria University of Wellington)
2:00-2:30
(Summaries of effects, advantages, and disadvantages of various electoral systems. Role of parties in getting
out vote, socialization of citizens, interest identification and so on.)
2:40-4:00
Focus and Discussion groups on issues of session III
Break 4:00-4:15
4:15-4:45
Reassemble, Focus and Discussion group summaries
(Focus and Discussion group recorders will summarize main points raised and/or main points of agreement
or disagreement, about 2 minutes from each group.)
IV
4:45-5:30
Participatory processes and public-government interactions
(Panel will consist of Hong Kong representatives, 1 main speaker for 10 minutes on the issue,
then plenary Q&A and audience suggestions/interactions with speakers and each other).
Chair:
Dr Jane Lee
Presenter:
Mr Peter Manikas (Senior Associate & Regional Manager, of Southern Africa
Programmes National Democratic Institute of International Affairs, USA)
Discussants: Christine Loh (Civic Exchange)
Dr Michael DeGolyer (Hong Kong Transition Project)
(Broad principles of government-citizen interaction in a democracy and specific examples of practices for
involving citizens in politics and decision-making)
V
5:30-5:45
Ways forward and thanks
(Open plenary forum taking suggestions for follow-up, invitation to participate in web-based discussion once
the green paper from this workshop is online, and perhaps invitation to subscribe to newslist/discussion
group on constitutional affairs?)
Focus and Discussion Groups
To maximize interaction: after presentations, we will break into six Focus groups of 15 pre-invited persons each and
two Discussion groups (one Chinese language and one English language) to accommodate the rest of the audience.
Each Focus and Discussion group will have its own facilitator and a separate recorder to record the essence of
comments and report back to the main meeting.
10 minutes to assemble in Focus and Discussion groups, 60 minutes for discussion, 10 minutes to reassemble in
larger group, for 80 minutes total.
30 minutes to deliver summaries of each of the groups (about 2 minutes for each smaller group, with written notes
collected at end)