Hong Kong Policy Research Institute

Hong Kong's return to China on July 1, 1997, was an important milestone in the development of both Hong Kong and China. In light of the important changes facing Hong Kong and its unique contribution to China's development, 17 people from various businesses, professional and academic backgrounds and several political parties came together to form PRI. The institute aims to assist Hong Kong and neighboring governments in coping with the changes facing Hong Kong and to enhance regional cooperation and communication. PRI upholds the following principles in serving the community: 1) to promote the development of Hong Kong based on the concept of `one country, two systems'; 2) to take into consideration the development of greater China; 3) to liaise with neighboring governments and related research institutions; 4) to take root in the community, promoting public discussion on social policies and proposing forward-looking ideas that are independent of the government and of political parties; 5) to be nonpartisan, nonprofit and not like a pressure group; 6) to be a policy research institution receiving funding from donations and commissioned research projects; and 7) to maintain independence, openness and a high degree of transparency in conducting research and in publishing results. As of 2001, the institute had 100 members and a network of about 5,000 individuals in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and elsewhere.