AAS-in-Asia 2020 and Demonstrations in Hong Kong

Planning is well underway for our seventh AAS-in-Asia conference, which will be held in partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) next June. We are aware that for the past five months there have been ongoing protests in Hong Kong. As our members expressed in the survey on AAS-in-Asia we conducted earlier this year, nothing surpasses face-to-face interaction between scholars of diverse geopolitical, cultural, and academic backgrounds. Furthermore, the conference in Asia represents the primary opportunity for scholars who reside there and find it difficult to attend our annual meetings in North America to connect with colleagues from around the globe. Although the AAS has been and continues to be politically neutral, we understand that the work our members do, and the world in which we live, is not.

We are keeping a close watch on the protests in Hong Kong; our chief concern is with the safety of our members and the safety of those who would attend the conference. To the greatest extent possible, the AAS will work to ensure that all who want to attend the conference will be able to do so. Most foreign passport-holders can enter Hong Kong for short-term stays without a visa, and we will monitor the status of foreign visitors to Hong Kong. AAS will post updates here at #AsiaNow (and on the AAS-in-Asia Facebook and Twitter feeds) accordingly.  

Our colleagues in Hong Kong look forward to hosting the conference, and both AAS and CUHK are committed to an open academic exchange. Please feel free to contact the AAS Executive Director, Board of Directors Executive Committee members, or your Area Council representatives to share your thoughts or pose any questions you may have.

Updated November 6, 2019.