Overview of the Center

Establishment

The Center for Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions was established in July 11th 2009. It is the first research entity specialised in Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau. The Center is under Shenzhen University’s direct management and is equivalent to faculties administratively. The Center has received generous support from a number of State and local government entities since its establishment and throughout its development. Cadres in leadership positions from the Committee of Hong Kong and Macau Basic Law of the People’s National Congress and the Guangdong Office of Hong Kong and Macau Work have paid multiple supervisory visits. The Center was selected as the Key Ministerial Research Base for Humanity and Social Science Studies in May 2011. It received positive written comment from Zhang Dejiang in January 2015. In April 2015 the Center was nominated as ‘Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland Development and Coordinative Innovation Center Shenzhen University Center” and was nominated as “Secretariat of the Hong Kong and Macau Basic Law Study Association of Guangdong Province Law Society”. In July 2018 the Center became a source think tank of the “China Think Tank Index” (CTII). In September 2018 the Center established “Legal Research Institute of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area Youth Development.”

Development Characteristics and Goals

The Center’s task closely revolves around the nation’s development strategy and the grand plan of Hong Kong and Macau work. It initiates academic research and policy advisory services; performs as a platform for academic networking, and endeavours to become the bases of Basic Law theoretical and implementation studies, talent education, archive and academic networking. It also aims at functioning as the think tank for decision making bodies. The Center has made significant contributions in academic research, policy consultation, data gathering, academic networking and talent education. Its achievements have received affirmative feedbacks from Hong Kong and Macau work related agencies from the State, Guangdong and Shenzhen governments. It has also built up a positive image among academic peers nation-wide, and has established constructive academic and social influences.

Academic team

The Center incorporates Qiao Xiaoyang, Li Fei, Zhang Shunrong, Chen Sixi, Zhu Yucheng, Huang Jin, Rao Geping, Tang Hao, Liao Jingshan, Zhang Yuqing, Dong Likun as academic consultants. Professor Xu Chongde serves as the Honorary Director and was the director of the first academic committee. Professor Han Dayuan was the director of the third academic committee. Professor Wang zhenmin and the other 27 renowned scholars make up the current academic committee. The Center has been chaired consecutively by Professor Dong Likun, Professor Li Jun and Professor Zou Pingxue. It is currently composed of 13 staff, including 5 professors, 1 deputy-researchers, 4 associate professors and 3 administrative staffs. The Centre has successively recruited a team of guest professors including Wang Fengchao, Zhang Rongshun, Cao Er’bao, Chen Yonghao, Ma Yaotian, Liang Meifen, and so on. It has also appointed 31 part-time researchers such as Ling Youshi, He Jianzong and Xu Haibo. Furthermore, the Center has managed to collaborate with 30 research personnel in and outside Shenzhen University through means including but not limited to joint research projects.

Academic Output

The Center has been in charge of 1 major project of the National Social Science Fund of China, 1 major project of the Ministry of Education Philosophy and Social Science Fund, 1 key project of National Social Science Fund of China, 1 of the general projects from the National Social Science Fund of China, 2 of the  youth projects from the National Social Science Fund of China, 34 provincial and ministerial projects, 3 municipal projects and 35 horizontal projects trusted by various provincial and municipal government departments. Staffs have published over 200 research papers in academic journals such as Chinese Journal of Law, 18 monographs, and over hundreds of articles in Hong Kong newspapers and journals discussing Basic Law implementation, which have generated significant social impact. Staffs have also received over 70 academic awards from the Ministry of Education, Chinese Law Society, as well as provincial and municipal level awards.

Policy consultative service

1. Contributing to the practical needs of Hong Kong and Macau work. Professor Zou Pingxue and Professor Zhang Dinghuai have been invited 3 times and 2 times respectively to participate in expert forums on Hong Kong and Macau work held by central CCP leaders. Staffs have been invited to Hong Kong and Macau work forums, internal meetings and work meetings of the Leading Small Group of Basic Law Study for over 20 times. More than 40 policy proposals have been officially commented by central CCP leaders or accepted by central departments and ministries.

2. Exerting impact on public opinion regarding major issues in Hong Kong and Macau in collaboration with the central CCP’s decision making. Staffs have been interviewed for over 240 times by Xinhua News, People Daily, CCTV, China News and Hong Kong news agencies, published over 500 commenting articles in Hong Kong’s mainstream media. They also frequently deliver public speeches in Hong Kong and dialogue with Hong Kong personnel from varies sectors.

3. Actively serving the building of democracy and rule of law, as well as social development at local level. The Center has been in charge of over 25 horizontal projects trusted by various provincial and municipal departments.

Archive Building

The Center’s archive takes up 80 square meter, it holds over 6000 latest research monographs on Hong Kong and Macau, with many written in non-Chinese. The Centre also developed and has been maintaining an online data base for Hong Kong and Macau studies.

Academic networking platform

The Center has hosted over 60 academic conferences and forums. It also runs ‘Hong Kong and Macau Forum’ as well as ‘Hong Kong Law Series Forum’, inviting established academics from Hong Kong and mainland, as well as legal practitioners as speakers.

Talent education

The Center has hosted Basic Law Study Course at the national level 3 times, and is the first education entity in China to set up online MOOC courses of ‘Hong Kong Basic Law’ and ‘Introduction to Hong Kong Law.’ The Center is also responsible for educating talents specialised in Basic Law. It has supervised 14 PhDs jointly with domestic and overseas universities and has had over 100 master graduates majored in Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau or politics in Hong Kong and Macau.