|
 
Comparative National Experiences of Autonomy:
Purpose,
Structures and Institutions
9 April
2005
PROGRAMME
Panel I: Purposes of Autonomy
Moderator: Yash Ghai |
Lord David Steel First Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and member of the UK House of Lords |
Stephen Lam, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Hong Kong SAR Government |
Hon Bob Rae Former Premier of Ontario |
| |
Panel II: Institutions of autonomy
Moderator: Sonny Lo (TBC) |
Dr. Oskar Peterlini Italy/South Tyrol |
Christopher Himsworth Scotland/UK |
Dr. Markku Suksi Finland/Aaland Island |
| |
Panel III: Autonomy in three Asian giants
Moderator: Ling Bing |
China: Dr. Ao Junde |
India: Dr. Rekha Chowdhary |
Indonesia: Dr. Ryaas Rasyid |
| |
Closing remarks & commentary on the day’s discussion
Albert Chen
Joseph Cheng |
 Participants
at the conference explored structures and institutions of
various autonomous regions, with the aim of providing guidance
on which methods are most effective in achieving the objectives
of autonomy. The conference concentrated on thematic issues,
the choice of which was influenced by the arrangements for
and experience of Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong's system
has recently come under considerable stress as Hong Kong people
seek a greater measure of democracy and accountability that
cannot be accommodated under the current arrangements. The
comparative perspectives at this conference
were intended to point to institutional solutions to some
of the challenges now facing the Hong Kong SAR.
Markku Suksi and Christopher Himsworth
Mr
Stephen Lam, Hong Kong's Secretary for Constitutional Affairs,
opened the session with an outline of Hong Kong 's autonomy.
He was joined on the first panel by Lord David Steel, who
spoke about autonomy in the context of Europe 's changing
political architecture; and Hon. Robert Rae, who explored
federalism in the Canadian context and beyond as a solution
to the kinds of problems often addressed by autonomy systems.
Two other panels covered institutions of autonomy and autonomy
in some major Asian countries. There was a summary at the
end of the day by two Hong Kong academics. The day was well
attended by scholars, students, legal practitioners, and government
officials.
 More
photos
|
