EFN Asia Conference 2012 Programme

How Welfare Populism Destroys Prosperity: the Populist Challenge to Economic Freedom
5-8 November 2012 Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East Hotel, Hong Kong
Day
Monday

Date
05.11.12

Time

Programme Arrival of International Delegates

Details

Tuesday

06.11.12

08.30 09.00 09.00 09.15

Registration of Delegates

Welcoming Remarks - Bill Stacey, Chairman, the Lion Rock Institute (LRI) - Wolf-Dieter Zumpfort, Deputy Chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Board of Directors - Rainer Adam, Regional Director FNF Southeast and East Asia

09.15 09.40

Opening Keynote Address

How Welfare Populism Destroys Prosperity: the Populist Challenge to Economic Freedom
Abhisit Vejjajiva, Leader of Democrat Party, Former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

09.40 10.30

Setting the Tone of the Discussion: Identifying todays debates of populism in economic and political perspectives
- Parth Shah, President, Centre for Civil Society, India - Neric Acosta, Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection / Secretary General, Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), the Philippines

Moderator: Jules Maaten, Project Director the Philippines, FNF

10.30 10.45 10.45 12.00

Refreshments

Moderator: Neric Acosta, Presidential Adviser on Perspectives from Environmental Politicians:Can Protection / Reasonable Economic Secretary Policies Survive in General, Populist-dominant Council of Culture? Asian Liberals and Democrats (Followed by Q & A) (CALD), the Philippines - Kiat Sittheeamorn, Democrat Party, Thailand

Panel I: Populist Challenges

- Ng Lip Yong, Parti Gerakan Rakyat, Malaysia - Bi Khim Hsiao, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan - Sigfrido Tinga, Liberal Party, the Philippines - Harsha De Silva, United National Party, Sri Lanka

12.00 14.00

Panel Luncheon Energy, Environment and Sustainability: Case Studies - Barun Mitra, Director, Liberty Institute, India - Feng Xingyuan, VicePresident, Cathay Institute for Public Affairs, China - Richard Lancaster, Managing Director, CLP Power Hong Kong

Moderator: Bill Stacey, Chairman, LRI

14.00 15.30

Panel II: Populist Challenges Perspectives from Economists: How Welfare Populism Destroys Prosperity?
(Followed by Q & A)

Moderator: Tricia Yeoh, Pakatan Rakyat, Malaysia

- Francisco Exposito, Professor in the Graduate Institute of the Americas of Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan - Choi Byung-il, President, Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), Korea - Deunden Nikomborirak, Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation - Peter Wong, Executive Director, LRI - Barun Mitra, Director, Liberty Institute, India Followed by an introduction by Siegfried

Herzog, Regional Director, FNF South Asia, about the format of the next session

15.30 15.45

Refreshments

15.45 17.00

Strategic discussion in groups with resource persons of Panel I (politicians) and Panel II (economists): 5 Groups

Facilitator: Siegfried Herzog, Regional Director, FNF South Asia

What can advocates of free markets do to counter-attack populism?

Group 1: Sigfrido Tinga and Barun Mitra Discussion facilitator: Subodh Kumar Rapporteur: Adinda Muchtar Group 2: Ng Lip Yong and Choi Byung-il Discussion facilitator: Punchada Sirivunnabood Rapporteur: Philip Stevens Group 3: Bi Khim Hsiao and Duenden Nikomborirak Discussion facilitator: Luis Abad Rapporteur: Jamyang Tashi Group 4: Harsha De Silva and Francisco Exposito Discussion facilitator: Sonam Tashi

Rapporteur: Nonoy Oplas Group 5: Peter Wong and Tricia Yeoh Discussion facilitator: Muhammad Husni Thamrin Rapporteur: P.D. Kaushik End of First Day Main Conference 18.30 19.00 Transportation to the dinner venue, the Hong Kong Jockey Club The bus provided by the organiser, leaves the hotel at 18.30 sharp to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Shatin Clubhouse

19.00 21.30

Welcome dinner speech Wolf-Dieter Zumpfort, Deputy Chairman of the FNF Board of Director

21.30 22.00 08.30 09.00

Transportation back to the hotel

Wednesday

07.11.12

Registration of delegates

09.00 09.15

The Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) Report 2012 Introductory Remarks Fred McMahon, Vice President International Policy Research and Director of the Centre for Trade and Globalization Studies Fraser Institute, Canada

Introduction: Wolf-Dieter Zumpfort, Deputy Chairman of the FNF Board of Director

09.15 09.20

Presentation of EFW Report 2012 to John Tsang, The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong

Introduction: Andrew Work, Director, LRI

09.20 09.35

Special Address John Tsang, The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong

09.35 10.15

EFW Report 2012 Briefing, Q&A Fred McMahon, Vice President International Policy Research and the Director of the Centre for Trade and Globalization Studies Fraser Institute Fraser Institute, Canada

10.15 10.30 10.30 11.00

Refreshments

A New Birth of Economic Freedom for Asia Razeen Sally, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy

11.00 12.15

Case Studies - Economic Freedom of India Index by Bibek Debroy, Centre for Policy Research, India - Indonesian Case Study: Fuel-Oil Subsidy as a Delusion Policy in Indonesia by Akbar Dachlan, The Indonesian Institute - Welfare Populism in China by Mao Shoulong, Academy of Public Policy, Renmin University of China - The Culture of Dependency by Simon Lee, LRI

Moderator: Dan Ryan, Director of Board, LRI

12.15 13.30 13.30 14.00

Lunch

Presentation of the Group Results from the Previous Day

6 Minutes per each group, by Group Hosts

14.00 15.45

Drafting of EFN 2012 Statement on Liberal Views on Populism

Facilitator: Simon Lee, Founding Director, LRI Head of drafting committee: Barun Mitra, Director, Liberty Institute, India

15.45 16.00

Refreshments

16.00 17.00

Synopsis of EFN 2012 and Closing Ceremony Tom Palmer, Vice President for International Programs, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, USA

Facilitator: Bill Stacey, Chairman, the Lion Rock Institute (LRI) and Rainer Adam, Regional Director FNF Southeast and East Asia

End of Main Conference 17.30 18.00 Transportation to the dinner venue, Organic Life Caf and Restaurant The bus provided by the organiser, leaves the hotel at 17.30 sharp to Organic Life Caf and Restaurant

18.00 21.00 21.00

Farewell Dinner

Transportation back to the hotel

Thursday

08.11.12

Departure of Delegates