Hong Kong Documentary Explores the Roots of Dissent

A Q&A with Director Matthew Torne

By La Frances Hui on October 24, 2014

To many observers, Hong Kong’s “Umbrella Movement”—thousands of students and other citizens in the streets demanding to choose their own political leaders—seemed to unfurl, fully formed, out of nowhere. Residents of the former colony were supposed to care more about commerce than politics. The heart of the city was supposed to reside in the heights of its sparkling, climate-defying office towers, not in its sweaty streets.

Piin-Fen Kok

on October 24, 2014

Piin-Fen Kok is director of the China, East Asia, and United States program at the EastWest Institute (EWI). Based in New York, she is responsible for developing and managing EWI’s activities, focusing on building strategic trust between the United States, China, and key East Asian players. Kok has more than a decade’s experience in public policy analysis and government relations concerning China and Asia. She has written and commented on political, economic, security, and military aspects of the U.S.-China relationship, developments in the Asia-Pacific region, cybersecurity, and climate change. Prior to joining EWI, she had worked closely with governments and brand owners to develop and advocate trade-related intellectual property policies in China and across the Asia-Pacific region. Before that, she was a political journalist in Singapore covering national politics and foreign affairs in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Kok has a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. She is fluent in English and Chinese.

Chomping at the Bitcoin

By Kaiser Kuo & Jeremy Goldkorn on October 24, 2014

After a shocking expose of Jeremy Goldkorn’s criminal past, Sinica this week moves on to examine the Bitcoin phenomenon in China. Joined by Zennon Kapron, owner of the Shanghai consultancy Kapronasia and recent author of the book Chomping at the Bitcoin: The Past, Present and Future of Bitcoin in China, we delve into the driving forces behind the cryptocurrency revolution in China, as well as take a quick look at the various other kinds of innovation surfacing in China’s online financial sector.