Brief

Hong Kong is presented with an opportunity to redefine its global role beyond being "Asia's World City" and instead become a central hub for multilateral organizations. This potential arises as international governance structures shift away from Western dominance, with the United States reducing its engagement and China increasing its leadership. The United Nations' decentralization efforts, moving agencies out of traditional hubs due to funding cuts, further create an opening for Hong Kong to attract these organizations. AI

A growing body of empirical research is challenging the long-held development sector belief that war is an inevitable force, particularly in developing countries. New studies, leveraging large datasets and methods from development economics, are beginning to identify effective strategies for preventing cycles of violence, especially among non-state actors. While challenges remain in evaluating peacebuilding interventions due to the chaotic nature of conflict, this shift from an 'art' to a 'science' approach aims to provide more cost-effective and predictable methods for conflict prevention. AI