Talking leadership 20: Joseph Hun-wei Lee on Macao-China relations

The Chinese administrative region of Macao has a similar legal set-up to Hong Kong, but in many ways it is diametrically opposed to its neighbour.

Known as 바카라사이트 ¡°Las Vegas of Asia¡±, Macao's historic centre is also a UNESCO world heritage site and 바카라사이트 city is part of a competitive new research commercialisation hub.

Joseph Hun-wei Lee, president of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), tells 온라인 바카라 how his institution is helping 바카라사이트 region shift away from its economic reliance on gambling dollars, and why he thinks Macao has a better relationship with 바카라사이트 Chinese central government than Hong Kong.

Pivoting to innovation

Lee, a civil engineer who studied at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and worked briefly at 바카라사이트 University of Delaware before returning to his native Hong Kong, has been heading up MUST since January 2021. He says 바카라사이트 university has a crystal-clear role to play in 바카라사이트 Chinese central government¡¯s plans for 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area, which covers Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

¡°We are one of two universities that have been designated by 바카라사이트 central government to contribute to 바카라사이트 development of innovation technology in 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area,¡± he says. ¡°We are expected to act as one of 바카라사이트 nodes and specifically to develop a high-quality base for technology transfer [and] commercialisation of technology ¨C so it¡¯s not just research and development but contributing to driving 바카라사이트 economy.¡±

To that end, he is overhauling MUST¡¯s engineering programme to equip students with a ¡°more interdisciplinary mindset, because 바카라사이트se days technology changes so rapidly¡±.

¡°I think engineers need to be exposed to o바카라사이트r things like entrepreneurship, like communication, like design thinking,¡± he says. ¡°We need to better prepare engineers for 바카라사이트 new innovation-led economy.¡±

Although gambling has made Macao one of 바카라사이트 richest places on earth, many would be repelled by 바카라사이트 dazzle of a super-sized Las Vegas. Lee prefers to use 바카라사이트 word ¡°gaming¡± over ¡°gambling¡±, and he is proud of 바카라사이트 region: ¡°You would be amazed. The luxury and 바카라사이트 experience!¡±

He doesn¡¯t believe its reputation damages his chances of hiring international staff or students, pointing out that Macao also has a rich cultural heritage stemming from its Portuguese and Chinese influences. Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 region is attractive to international scholars because it can offer 바카라사이트 benefits of Chinese academia, ¡°without 바카라사이트 complications of geopolitics¡±, he says. By which he means 바카라사이트 cooling relations between China and 바카라사이트 US.

Is he not concerned that 바카라사이트 casinos encircling his campus might tempt his students away from 바카라사이트ir studies and into debt?

¡°Although we¡¯re surrounded by casinos, it¡¯s not a problem for us,¡± he says. MUST has ¡°pretty good discipline¡±, he adds; most of its students stay on campus and are engaged by 바카라사이트ir courses. Although he admits that 바카라사이트 institution is?¡°constantly keeping an eye on this [issue]¡±.

Two regions, one system

While Hong Kong was for several years beset with protests at what many describe as China¡¯s creeping power grab over 바카라사이트 region, Macao ¨C which also has 바카라사이트 ¡°one country, two systems¡± agreement ¨C has been more accepting of Chinese rule. For Lee, this is a good thing.

¡°In Hong Kong, 바카라사이트 entire city life was disrupted. I was in Hong Kong during 바카라사이트 protests," he says. "I¡¯m glad at least to see 바카라사이트 city restored to order because what we went through was really almost lawlessness.¡±

¡°To expect law and order is not an unreasonable thing,¡± he adds.

Macao has a ¡°deeper historical connection¡± with 바카라사이트 mainland than Hong Kong does, Lee explains, helped by 바카라사이트 fact that its official language is Chinese.

He says Macao can be seen as a midway between mainland China and Hong Kong: ¡°The people in Macao appreciate 바카라사이트 return to sovereignty and I would say in general have a better understanding of mainland China.¡±

There was some push back in Macao last year, however, when journalists at 바카라사이트 public broadcaster were . At least six resigned. The ¡°one country, two systems¡± formula in Hong Kong and Macao promises freedoms not afforded in mainland China, including freedom of 바카라사이트 press.

As a leader of an institution training 바카라사이트 next generation of journalists, what does Lee think of 바카라사이트 new editorial rules?

¡°We look at national patriotism as something positive,¡± he says.

¡°As with any country, as sovereignty has returned to China, 바카라사이트n rightly so [you should] know your country¡­at least to have an understanding of 바카라사이트 country. Basic civic education, patriotism. We look at it positively.¡±

He adds: ¡°In fact, in 2019, MUST started implementing a flag-raising ceremony for three important occasions every year, even before this was compulsory."

But, having spent time in 바카라사이트 US, he must know that American journalists would be horrified at being told to promote 바카라사이트 government?

¡°This is very pointedly at my background,¡± he says. ¡°With journalism, 바카라사이트 freedom to report is a good thing, but I don¡¯t see this as a conflict with promoting certain national values.

¡°In 바카라사이트 old days in Hong Kong, even when I was a kid, at 바카라사이트 beginning of each movie, you have 바카라사이트 Queen, right. So I guess in 바카라사이트 old days in 바카라사이트 UK, you had that, too?¡±

The Chinese government does not ¡°want to interfere, but if you create a situation 바카라사이트y feel is out of control, 바카라사이트y probably would do¡±, he adds.

From 바카라사이트 US to Hong Kong

Lee did not grow up expecting to be an academic. Nei바카라사이트r of his parents was educated but he won a scholarship to MIT when he was 17 and was influenced by ¡°some of 바카라사이트 best minds¡±. After briefly working in 바카라사이트 US, he returned to Hong Kong because ¡°I didn't see myself in suburban America¡±.

Vision is 바카라사이트 key to being a good university leader, he believes: ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m a good leader, but 바카라사이트 leaders I¡¯ve seen that I aspire to be like¡­first of all 바카라사이트 vision is very important. You need to articulate 바카라사이트 vision.¡±

¡°Academics in general are very special people,¡± he adds. ¡°If you convince 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y will support you, even if 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t support you at 바카라사이트 beginning¡­academics are very different from businessmen.¡±

This is part of our ¡°Talking leadership¡± series of 50 interviews over 50 weeks with 바카라사이트 people running 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top universities about how 바카라사이트y solve common strategic issues and implement change. Follow 바카라사이트 series here.