On 25 February 2015, Prof. Jacky So, Director of APAEM and Dr. Glenn McCartney, Acting Program Director of APAEM were invited to join and served as keynote speakers at the Japan Hong Kong Society of the Kyushu 2015 Spring Symposium held in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. Mr. Seitaro Hattori, Vice Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, Mr. Susumu Ishihara, Chairman of the Japan Hong Kong Society of the Kyushu and Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Hong Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Committee, together with over 150 local economics and business representatives attended the symposium. During the symposium, Prof. Jacky So and Dr. Glenn McCartney spoke on the topics of “The Research on Dr. Sun Yatseng in Macau and UM” and “Hospitality Tourism in Macau” respectively.
The theme of this year’s symposium is “The Development of Pearl River Delta Regional Economy and the Prospect of the collaboration with Kyushu”. “UM played an integral role in controlling gaming tourism and developed the world class hospitality infrastructure in the city. By introducing the Kyushu’s partner university UM to the local business community it is hoped that the friendship and partnership between Kyushu and Pearl River Delta will be further developed.” the organizer said. Celebrating the 6th Spring since its establishment, the JHKS of the Kyushu has organized this large scale symposium in February 2015, to promote the spirit harnessed in the partnership between Kyushu and the Pearl River Delta, where Macau, the first time, shall be featured as a prominent tourism center, so effectively managing the gaming and heritage tourism.