Campus Digest

School of Business organises workshop to explore the future of Hong Kong’s electricity market

06 May 2015

Ms Christine Loh, the Under Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, delivers her opening remarks at the workshop Ms Christine Loh, the Under Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, delivers her opening remarks at the workshop
Ms Christine Loh, the Under Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, delivers her opening remarks at the workshop

 

The Department of Economics of the School of Business organised a workshop entitled “Hong Kong’s Electricity Future: Lessons from the US market reform experience” last Wednesday (29 April). Co-sponsored by the School of Accounting and Finance of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) HK PES Chapter, and the Hong Kong Association for Energy Economics (HKAEE), the workshop brought together US and local professionals and experts to discuss and share their experiences on related topics. 

 

In his opening remarks, Professor Allan Chan, Associate Vice-President and Interim Dean of the School of Business, said that HKBU has been playing an active role in promoting discussions on public policies which exert impact on Hong Kong residents and businesses. Ms Christine Loh, the Under Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, highlighted the need to align various stakeholders’ interests when formulating related policies so as to achieve the overarching objectives of reliable supply, affordable price, environmental protection and reasonable returns for the electricity industry.  

 

At the workshop, Professor CK Woo of the Department of Economics, School of Business, offered an overview of the US electricity market reform while Mr Paul O’Rourke, former energy practice lead at various energy consulting companies, was invited to share his views on US experiences over the 20 years since the start of the reform. Dr Jay Zarnikau, Adjunct Professor of Public Policy of The University of Texas at Austin, and Dr Lorna Greening, Research Fellow of The University of Tennessee and former Editor of Energy Policy, explained the electricity markets in Texas and the middle States respectively.  

 

Concluding the workshop was a panel session moderated by Dr Larry Chow, President of HKAEE, with Mr Donald Ng, Environment Bureau, HKSAR Government; Dr Victor Hung, Hong Kong Consumer Council; Mr Jacobus Ngai, IEEE HK PES Chapter; Mr TC Yee, Hongkong Electric Company Limited; and Mr Joseph Law, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited as the guest speakers.