On October 20th, the eleventh lecture of the "2020 Global Anti-Epidemic, Return to Work and Labor Relations Lecture Series " was held online, hosted by the University of Hong Kong and co-organized by the Labor Relations Branch of the China Society for Human Resources Development. Dr. Wu Qiubei, President of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and external supervisor of MPA Hong Kong class, got the invitation to give a lecture on "Hong Kong's Economy and Labor Market under the Epidemic" as the guest speaker. Prof. Liu Yufang, Vice President of the University, attended and presided over the lecture. More than 120 experts, scholars, teachers and students from inside and outside the University listened to the lecture online.

In the concluding speech, Vice President Liu Yufang expressed his gratitude to President Wu Qubei for his wonderful lecture. Mr.Liu pointed out that the lecture relied on information technology and innovation, making full use of high-tech, intelligent means of presentation, and big data analysis diagrams and other methods to enhance the sense of science and technology and interactivity of the lecture content. with a strong sense of inspiration and pertinence, and has important guiding significance for the university's future discipline construction and research direction.

In the lecture, Mr. Wu Qiubei analyzed the economic development trend and factors influencing the Hong Kong economy in the past year, as well as the current situation of the Hong Kong economy and changes in the labor market under the epidemic, and gave an insightful analysis on how to combat the epidemic and protect employment and labor rights at the level of the HKSAR government and trade unions. He pointed out that before the 2020 epidemic, the economy of Hong Kong had already started to show a downward trend. The outbreak of the epidemic not only aggravated the deterioration of the economic situation, but also aggravated the situation of a significant increase in unemployment rate. Moreover, it has caused a continuous decline in population and the working population, and a reduction in the number of people in employment. In response to the impact of the epidemic, the Hong Kong SAR Government has launched more than 100 billion dollars of anti-epidemic fund. Trade unions actively advocate the implementation of labor policies and safeguard labor rights. He said that the accelerated development of the digital economy under the epidemic has provided new opportunities for Hong Kong's economic transformation. By supporting the development of high-tech and high value-added industries, more quality jobs can be created and industrial upgrading can be promoted. In the future, the Hong Kong region will seize the development opportunity of the "Greater Bay Area" to actively integrate into the construction of the Greater Bay Area, promote cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and facilitate exchange of talents.

In the dialogue, Professor Liu Yuanwen from the Trade Union College of the University of China made a wonderful review of the government's governance capacity, protection of workers' rights and interests, and the solution of employment problems in the prevention and control of the epidemic. He also shared his insights on the construction of industrial workers' teams, and proposed new topics for future trade union research. During the interactive session, Associate Professor Qiao Jian, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department, Professor Xie Yuhua from the School of Business Administration of Hunan University and Professor Li Min from the School of Business Administration of South China University of Technology had an in-depth discussion with President Wu Qiubei on the collective consultation system construction in Hong Kong, anti-epidemic measures of large enterprises and the employment situation of university graduates.

Wu Qubei is the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, advisor of the Solidarity Hong Kong Foundation, standing Committee Member of the Xiamen CPPCC, external tutor of the Public Management (MPA) Hong Kong Class of the China Institute of Labor Relations. He was elected as the 12th Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) in 2012 and successfully re-elected to the 13th NPC in 2017. He has served as a part-time consultant to the central policy unit and has accumulated experience in political participation at the national level and Hong Kong affairs. He has served as a member of the Labor Advisory Board (representative of the labor side) and a member of the appeal board of the Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme (MPF). He has won the Silver Bauhinia Star. He has been devoted to trade union work for a long time. He often represents the Federation of trade unions and trade unions in different industries to give voice and suggestions on labor issues of social concern. He is concerned about the development of young people. In addition to being the director of Chuang Chi secondary school (former school for children of workers), he is also an honorary consultant to the Hong Kong Youth Association. Since the concept of "Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao big bay area" was put forward, he has devoted himself to the research on the construction and policy planning of the bay area, and has repeatedly sought for various policy suggestions related to the Great Bay area for the convenience of the people and the people.

(International Exchange and Cooperation Division (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Office))