HPAIR

HONG KONG
2016

HARVARD PROJECT FOR ASIAN

AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

CONFERENCE
PRIMER

WHAT IS HPAIR?
Since 1991, HPAIR is a student-run conference that has continuously
brought together established leaders and top students to engage in
dialogues regarding the most pressing issues facing Asia.
Our delegates consistently represent the
highest-performing students from prestigious
universities around the world. In addition, our
conference speakers come from a wide variety of backgrounds,
including academia, business, and government.
Altogether, our program intends to achieve three goals:
- Provide a dynamic forum of
exchange on international issues vital to Asia
- Foster long-term relationships among young leaders
from around the globe
- Connect talented delegates with
todays leaders in academia,
business, and government

The HPAIR ASIA CONFERENCE is a fiveday event held in the most prestigious cities
around Asia like Dubai, Singapore, Taipei,
Seoul, and Tokyo. In the conference proper,
key issues from varying fields are discussed by
the best speakers in the field. These issues cover
a wide variety of fields, from the recent disputes in
the South and East China Seas and the specialization of
financial markets and private equity in Asia to the state of
disruptive innovation in the East compared to the West or
how the need for water and energy will continue to mold the
relationships between Asian countries.

The conference itself has been graced by people like UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon, Goldman Sachs Asia President Philip Murphy,
Malaysian President Mahathir Mohammad, and Frank Jurgen Richter,
director of the World Economic Forum.
The conference proper includes activities intended to provide a forum for
brainstorming and interaction between the delegates and speakers. These
include plenaries with keynote speakers addressing the delegates at large,
tracks for specific topics where speakers and delegates have free exchanges and
discussions, and case studies where the knowledge gleaned by the participants is put
to the test with engaging scenarios designed around current issues.

THE ASIA CONFERENCE

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Since HPAIRs inception in 1991, we have brought
together thousands of bright young minds from all over
the world to discuss and engage critically with the most
pressing issues of our day. In 2016, we will continue to
carry on this tradition, but with a renewed vision and
purpose.
In the past year, we have witnessed the worst
humanitarian crisis of our time in the Syrian civil war and
its ensuing refugee crisis, devastating disasters such as
the earthquake in Nepal, and deepening global income
inequality. Yet we have simultaneously witnessed
extraordinary advancements technological and business innovations that change
the way we interact with the world, the first-ever observation of gravitational
waves, the historic Paris Agreement on climate change, and the understated
resilience of refugee, marginalized, and underrepresented communities
spanning the entire region. Recognizing the need for not only discussion, but
action, HPAIRs 25th anniversary at the 2016 Asia Conference in Hong Kong will
translate conversations into action points and ideas into reality through our impact
challenge program and with a greater emphasis on speaker mentorship of our
youth delegates.
With the conference theme of Empower., this years conference will serve as a
call to action to our 550 delegates and 80 speakers to shape global conversation
on critical issues as well as to enact lasting change. Now, more than ever, we
must empower each other, our communities, and the world and we must do it
together. On behalf of the organization, we welcome you to HPAIR 2016.
Kami Choi
Executive Director
Asia Conference

empower.
Challenges of our time are not defined by our
limitations, but serve as a platform to gather ideas,
to maximize capacities, to delegate resources, to
innovate spirits, and to embrace our world. With the
theme of empowerment, together, we ignite curiosity,
bridge divides, and discover room for innovation.
Our five in-depth tracks address a wide spectrum of
issues from humanitys most urgent needs to its very
paramount of aspirations. Focusing on knowledge
application through our new and improved HPAIR
Impact Challenge, HPAIR Asia Conference 2016 Hong
Kong aims to empower our delegates to make a
difference in the communities around them and the
world as a whole to create a movement of change.
Join us in Hong Kong. Empower yourself. Empower
your community. Empower the world.

AUGUST 19 - 23, 2016

THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY
OF HONG KONG

PAST SPEAKERS

Our past speakers embody a variety of fields and range in

expertise - they come from fields as diverse as government,
entertainment, corporate management, and human rights.

BAN KI MOON

Secretary General,
United Nations

KEVIN RUDD

JOAN CHEN

Former Prime Minister,

Australia

Celebrated Actress

KIM DAE JUNG

Former President,
Republic of Korea

SAMIR AL-RIFAI

ROBIN CHASE

Former Prime Minister,

Jordan

Co-Founder,
Zipcar

SURIN PITSUWAN
Former ASEAN
Secretary-General

THIS YEARS SPEAKER LINEUP

JOHN CHEN

Executive Chairman &

CEO, Blackberry Ltd.

MARTIN YAN

Celebrity Chef

RAVI AGRAWAL

Bureau Chief, CNN India

SARA HOSSAIN

Lawyer, Supreme Court

of Bangladesh

TAWAKKOL KARMAN
2011 Nobel Peace
Prize Winner

DANIEL TRUST

Rwandan Genocide
Survivor; CEO, The Daniel
Trust Foundation

ALSO FEATURING...
Bill Guttentag
Academy Award-winning
Filmmaker
Shukla Bose
Founder and CEO of the
Parikrma Humanity Foundation

HAN SEUNG-SOO

Former Prime Minister,

Republic of Korea;
Former President, United
Nations General
Assembly

ANTONY LEUNG

Former Financial
Secretary, Hong Kong;
Former Chairman,
Blackstone Group Asia

Victor Fung
Chairman, Li & Fung Group
Poman Lo
CEO / Founder of Century
Innovative Technology;
Vice Chairman and Managing
Director of Regal Hotels Group

TRACK DESCRIPTIONS

GOVERNANCE AND DIPLOMACY

The role of the state is in constant flux. In order to address the ever-changing landscape of international
diplomacy, states must adapt and cooperate to ensure their security. The world operates through built
bridges and sovereign states. Through an examination of transitional governments, the role of outside
actors in state and international affairs, and the role of religion in politics throughout the Asia-Pacific
region, the Governance and Diplomacy track serves to expand knowledge on and evaluate the processes
addressing complex transnational issues. Through the wide lens of governance and diplomacy, how does a
sovereign state proceed to govern after times of crisis? What roles do non-state actors play in the complex
transnational collective-action problems? And how do cultures impact the role of governance and the
advancement of international cooperation and diplomacy?

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY

Asia is buzzing with more potential, interconnectivity, and ambition than ever before. With opportunities
abound, the region has become the leading force for modern entrepreneurship and technology. This new
age of entrepreneurship in Asia is defined by the energy of emerging innovation, which encompasses
everything from disruptive start-ups to social innovations to cutting-edge technology, attracting the attention
of global investors, inventors, and entrepreneurs. The boom of unprecedented growth raises questions
concerning long-term sustainability, environmental impact, and social potential. As growth skyrockets
forward, the eyes of the world watch on with anticipation.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Human development has been causing adverse impacts to the environment greatly since the Industrial
Revolution. With their rapid development in the previous decades, Asian countries attitudes in development,
energy use and waste reduction would be critical to humans future on the blue planet. When Asian
developing countries are so eager to develop their economy, how will we balance both the economic and
environmental sustainability? As there are voices that clean energy should be in a wide adoption, what are the
concerns behind? On an account of global justice, how is a states usage of the domestic resources justified?

HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Parallel to Asias fast, but complex development over the recent years, these countries have also seen
various and intricate influxes of humanitarian issues, ranging from the refugee crisis to the health-related
consequences of environmental disasters. While Asia currently stands as an impressive region of innovation,
movement, and growth, there still exists an urgent societal, national, and global call to action in finding
effective ways to hear the voices of the underrepresented and to attend to the needs of all inhabitants. In
our current interconnected, globalized stage, there are more creative means in raising awareness, inciting
policy change, allocating needed resources, and so forth. Therefore, this track hopes to not only bring to
light ongoing issues of the 21st century, but also to open new creative channels for all individuals from
investigative journalists to activists and to policymakers. The humanitarian affairs tracks ultimate role is to
serve as an enlightening dialogue space and incubator for sustainable ideas and discourse.

BUSINESS AND THE WORLD ECONOMY

In the 21st century as Asias economies expand, the business world is changing at an exponential rate:
the numbers on the stock board flicker forward and backward, regions establish policies to encourage
economic collaboration, and companies implement changes to stay innovative and competitive. In such
a fast-evolving and competitive environment, changes in Asias business landscape have highlighted
the need for leaders to adapt existing industry and management practices in order to account for new
technologies and the rise of emerging economies. In this panel, we examine the internal strengths,
external opportunities, and external threats that factored into these successes and the important steps
countries take to overcome economic setbacks with the goal of a more prosperous future.

WHO ARE THE DELEGATES?

75

countries
represented

MOST REPRESENTED COUNTRIES

Austria | China | Germany | India | Indonesia | Japan |
Singapore | South Korea | Philippines | Taiwan | USA
DELEGATE PROFILES
Youth Leaders | Undergraduate Students | Graduate
Students | Startup Founders | Civil Engagement
Leaders | National Scholars | Inspirational Speakers

continents
represented

INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
University of Oxford | Harvard University
University of Tokyo | Keio University | Waseda
University | Peking University | Tsinghua
University | Seoul National University | Korea
University | IIT | Hong Kong University |
National Taiwan University

HOUSING AND AMENITIES

CUHK DORMITORY

HYATT REGENCY HONG KONG

For $25-35 a night, you may choose to stay at one of CUHKs

campus dormitories. These double or triple rooms are fully
furnished with twin beds, chairs, desks, and closets. We will
be providing morning shuttle services from the dormitories
to the main conference venues, as well as nighttime shuttle
services back to the dormitories. Students who choose to
stay at a dormitory will have 1-2 roommates and will be living
on the same floor as other HPAIR delegates to maximize
the potential to form lasting connections and friendships.

You may also choose to stay at the on-campus

Hyatt Regency Sha Tin hotel for $92 a night
(double rate) or $82 a night (triple rate).
The Hyatt Regency is a short 5 minute walk
from the main conference venue at CUHK,
and is 2 minutes from the MTR train station.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
SAT 8/20

SUN 8/21

Breakfast

Breakfast

Breakfast

9:00-10:00

8:30-10:00

8:30-10:00

Registration

Welcome

Skills Workshop

9:30-4:30

10:00-11:00

10:00-11:00

Introductory
Activity

Coffee Break

FRI 8/19
DAY 1

9:00
10:00
11:00

2:00

Preconference

9:00
10:00
11:00

12:30-1:30

12:30-1:30
Panels
1:30-3:30

Coffee Break
Panels
3:30-5:00
Impact
Challenge
Workshops
5:30-6:30

Opening
Ceremony
Flavors of
Hong Kong
Reception
8:30-10:00

Lunch

Lunch

1:00-2:00

1:00-2:00

Keynote
2:00-3:00
HPAIRx

Impact
Challenge
Workshops
3:45-5:15
Dinner
5:30-6:30

Impact
Challenge
Presentations
2:00-4:00

3:00-4:30
Coffee Break

Impact
Challenge
Work Time
5:30-7:30

6:00-8:30

8:00

10:00-11:30

11:45-1:00

1:30-3:00

6:00

10:00-1:00

Panels

Lunch

12:00-4:00

5:00

Breakfast +
Career Fair

DAY 5

Lunch

Keynote

4:00

7:00

Keynote

DAY 4

11:30-12:30

Tours

3:00

DAY 3

TUES 8/23

Impact
Challenge
Workshops

11:00-12:30

12:00
1:00

DAY 2

MON 8/22

International
Booths
7:15-8:15

6:30-10:00

Hong Kong
Nightmarket
7:30-10:00

Closing
Ceremony
7:00-9:30

International
Night
8:45-11:00

Entertainment
Night
10:00-11:30

OUR ADVISORS
David C. Lee
Entrepreneur, Investor, Ex-Google Director,
Google Asia Pacific

William C. Kirby
T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies
Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration

Ezra F. Vogel
Henry Ford II Professor of Social Sciences Emer- Roderick MacFarquhar
itus
Leroy B. Williams Research Professor of History
and Political Science
John S. Park
Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School of
Dwight H. Perkins
Government
Harold Hitchings Burbank Professor of Political
Economy Emeritus
Richard N. Cooper
Maurits C. Boas Professor of International Eco- Susan J. Pharr
nomics
Edwin O. Reischauer Professor of Japanese
Politics
Carter J. Eckert
Director of the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations
Yoon Se Young Professor of Korean History
of the Weatherhead Center for International
Affairs
Andrew D. Gordon
Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Professor of History Anthony J. Saich
Daewoo Professor of International Affairs
Alastair Iain Johnston
Director of the Ash Center for Democratic GovGovernor James Albert Noe and Linda Noe
ernance and Innovation
Laine
Professor of China in World Affairs
Richard Vietor
Paul Whiton Cherington Professor of Business
Administration

OUR INVITATION TO YOU AND TO THE WORLD

As a cultural melting pot and the international financial centre of the world, the
city of Hong Kong adapts to a diversified cultural environment that makes it a
golden opportunity for delegates to explore the compelling possibilities and
challenges that Hong Kong promotes. We invite you to join us at the HPAIR Asia
Conference in sparking the conversation for hundreds of delegates this summer.

JOIN US IN
HONG KONG.