Policy Research @ HKIAPS

Past Events: Public Policy Forums

Winning the War on COVID: Policy Insights from Computational Social Science 2 June 2021 \| 02:15–05:00PM (GMT+8, HK Time) \| Zoom
Welcoming Remark Prof. Chi-yue Chiu	Dean, Faculty of Social Science, CUHK
Keynote Speech Ms Annie Choi	Permanent Secretary for Innovation & Technology, HKSAR Government
Plenary Session Prof. Mei-po Kwan Prof. Tony H. W. Tam Prof. Ran Wei	Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, CUHK Chairman and Professor, Department of Sociology, CUHK Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, CUHK
Roundtable Discussion
Prof. Mei-po Kwan Prof. Tony H. W. Tam Prof. Ran Wei Mr Simon K. Y. Wong Mr Francis P. K. Fong Mr Simon K. W. Wong Dr Henry K. C. Ho	Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, CUHK Chairman and Professor, Department of Sociology, CUHK Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, CUHK Chief Executive Officer, Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) Honorary President, Convener of Fintech, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation President, Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association
Moderator Prof. Chi-yue Chiu Prof. Fanny M. Cheung	Dean, Faculty of Social Science, CUHK Convenor, Policy Research @ HKIAPS, CUHK
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives dramatically on the one hand and created actionable research and innovation opportunities on the other. To connect the policy impact of our colleagues’ innovative research in computational social science, a policy forum was organized to share the relevant results with policy stakeholders. The policy forum was divided into three parts, including a keynote speech, given by Ms Annie CHOI. Ms Annie CHOI illustrated how the government uses big data analytics to facilitate efforts to control the COVD-19 outbreak. For example, transportation data can be traced from Octopus to forecast the transmission of COVID-19 in the near term; health authorities could also use this data to determine health measurements. Also, e-wristbands could be used to monitor the status of a large number of people in quarantine. Furthermore, rumours, fake news, and inaccurate reports could be reduced by launching bid data analytics and social media platforms, where the government could immediately rebut fake news reports. By using technological and scientific analytics, the government could effectively monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. In the plenary session, three speakers from CUHK presented their latest research on the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. Mei-po KWAN shared her research on the function of geospatial technologies and her analysis of COVID-19 interventions. Her research highlighted the importance of geographic context and culture in shaping people’s privacy concerns in relation to their acceptance of various COVID-19 control measures. Prof. Tony H. W. TAM studied how to optimize interventions to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. His research focuses on how lockdowns work, the alternative to lockdowns, and behavioural changes during lockdowns, and policy interventions in the absence of herd immunity. Prof. Ran WEI analysed the impact of misinformation and its possible harm in containing the spread of COVID-19. His research indicates that spotting misinformation at an early stage and countering it with messages of correction are interventions that can contain the spread and harms of misinformation. The roundtable discussion focused on how innovation technology policies can enhance efforts to control COVID-19 infections and the potential social and economic concerns that could arise, with implications for policy-making. Discussants shared their professional experiences and visions regarding the importance of applying technology, communication, and the balance between the good of the public and individual rights. Prof. Mei-po KWAN stated that the risk of getting vaccinated could be one of the concerns of the Hong Kong public and that the government should provide more information on the side effects of the vaccines. Prof. Ran WEI commented that the media plays an important role in delivering information, and said that the government should provide correct information from authorities or professionals to clarify misinformation. Prof. Tony H. W. TAM commented that many factors led to the COVID-19 outbreak, and that the best form of protection is to try to optimize containment and intervention efforts. Prof. Chi-yue CHIU observed that we should identify the factors that are causing the public to be fearful about the side effects of vaccines, and determine how the media have shaped these fears. He also stated that he believes that communication is of supreme importance to achieving the collective good and to finding the solution to the low vaccination rate. Mr Simon K. Y. WONG shared the news that the LSCM R&D Centre is actively engaged in tracking the status of people in quarantine and examining available relevant data to inform the public on vaccines and the pandemic. Mr Francis P. K. FONG shared the pros and cons of working from home and commented that the implementation of the vaccine programme could be improved. Mr Simon K. W. WONG stated that industry welcomes any measures to control the pandemic. However, industry also faces challenges in cooperating effectively with government measurements due to different constraints. Dr Henry K. C. HO expressed the belief that the think tank could act as a bridge between the government and the public. He also discussed the issue of Hong Kong’s low vaccination rate. About 150 participants attended the policy forum. Videos: 1. Keynote Speech 2. Plenary Session 3. Roundtable Discussion Session Co-organizers Faculty of Social Science, CUHK Policy Research @ HKIAPS

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