Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1990

Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (HKIAPS) Left to right Front row : Ms. P.S. Wan, Dr. Fanny Cheung, Prof. S.K. Lau, Prof. Y.M. Yeung, Dr. T.T. Hsueh Back row : Dr. Y.C. Wong, Dr. M. Brosseau, Dr. K.S. Louie, Dr. K.S. Liao, Dr. P.W. Liu, Dr. N.S. Lee Background Since its inception The Chinese University has placed much emphasis on social science research. Research centres and units wer e established as early as the mid-sixties to promote interdisciplinary research b y faculty members. In view of the rapid development of the Asian Pacific region and the growing links between Hong Kong and Asian Pacific countries in recent years, there is an obvious and urgent need to strengthen and reorganize existing research units (i.e. the Institute of Social Studies and its two research centres: Centre for Contemporary Asian Studies and Centre for Hong Kong Studies) and to redefine their research orientatio n and emphasis. The outcome of such reorganization was the birth of the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies in September 1990. The institute aims to promote multidisciplinary research on the social, economic and political development of Hong Kong and the Asian Pacific region, with special emphasis on the role of Hong Kong in the Asian Pacific region and th e effects of their development on each other. Objectives The Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies aspires to develop into a research and academic centre of excellence in the interrelated study of Hong Kong , China and the Asian Pacifi c region, and to serve as a bridge between overseas and local scholars who specialize in Asian Pacifi c studies. Apart from academic pursuits, much emphasis will be laid on the policy implications of the research projects and the consultative role of the institute and its members. It is also the institute's objective to, through its various activities, contribute to improved understanding of the problems faced by Hong Kong in the run-up to 1997 and beyond, and to offer solutions to such problems, thereby increasing its adaptability and competitiveness in the Asian Pacific region. Organization and Funding The institute is governed by a management boar d comprising senior staff members appointed by the vice-chancellor, whose duties are to endors e the institute's annual budget and to supervise research directions. The institute has a simpler administrative structure than that of the former Institute of Social Studies. The director, Prof. Yeung Yue-man of the Department of Geography, and the associate director, Prof. Lau Siu-kai of the Department of Sociology, take charge of the planning and coordination of the institute's overall development. Thre e research officers, Dr. Maurice Brosseau, Dr. Louie Kin-sheun an d Ms. Wan Po-san, are responsible for the routine administration of documentation, external liaison, and publicatio n matters respectively. There are also seven research assistants and eight clerical staff. Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies 14