BREXIT, a Commonwealth Opportunity?
BREXIT Forum at 4pm on 3 Nov, please save the day!
BREXIT, A COMMONWEALTH OPPORTUNITY?
Could the Commonwealth become a powerful economic force in the world once again? How might Hong Kong benefit as an ‘associate’ member and how would China likely react to a new economic force?
(October 12, 2017) — The Royal Commonwealth Society, Hong Kong Branch, will host a forum on the subject of ‘Brexit, a Commonwealth Opportunity’ on November 3rd at 4.00 pm at the Hong Kong Club in Central.
The clock is ticking for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union by March 2019, and it is now seeking to position itself as a leader in global free trade.
Over the last few decades, the UK has tended to downplay its former strong relationship with the 52 members of Commonwealth, which are bound together by a shared language, legal and parliamentary system.
Can the UK succeed in diversifying its trade with this powerful global network of 2.3 billion people with a combined GDP of $10 trillion, including countries such as Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa?
Keynote speaker at the forum, The Rt. Hon Lord Howell of Guildford, Chairman of the House of Lords International Relations Committee, says “The UK sees its global future as one of networks – networks of security, of trade, of culture and of peoples. The modern Commonwealth is evolving to fit this pattern perfectly and to be one of the world’s largest engines of peace and prosperity”.
Panel members from the European Union Office in Hong Kong and the Chambers of Commerce will provide a different and possibly controversial perspective, such as the possibility for China to open a dialogue with the Commonwealth, and the potential impacts of Brexit on overseas students in the UK.
Programme Rundown
4.15pm: Welcome: Dr Aron Harilela, Patron, Royal Commonwealth Society, HK Branch
4.20pm: Keynote Address by the Rt. Hon. Lord Howell of Guildford
(Chairman, House of Lords International Relations Committee)
4.50pm: Panel Discussion:
– Mr Alessandro Paolicchi (Head of Trade, EU Office in HK)
– Mr Marc Castagnet (Europe Committee, HKGCC)
– Mr Andrew Seaton (Executive Director, Britcham and former British
Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau)
5.30pm: Q&A Session and Vote
6.15pm: Closing Remarks
6.30pm: Cocktails
An audience poll will be taken at the start and finish of the event on the proposition: “Will Brexit offer new opportunities for business, trade and cultural exchange between UK and the Commonwealth?”
The forum will be held from 4.00-6.30pm at the Hong Kong Club – Harcourt Suite followed by a cocktail party. Tickets for the event will be HKD500 including the forum and cocktails. Additional details about the forum can be found at www.rcshk.com
About the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS)
Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), Hong Kong Branch was established by former Chief Secretary and Chief Justice, Sir Denys Roberts, in 1983. The society organizes many events to promote friendship and understanding between people of different cultural backgrounds. Although Hong Kong ceased to be a formal member of the Commonwealth in 1997, it still has strong business, legal and sporting links.
Issued on behalf of the RCS HK Branch by GHC Asia:
For media inquiries, contact:
Alice Ma
Tel: 3163 0114