The Hong Kong Friends of Tel Aviv University (TAU) hosted a fascinating talk at the Jewish Community Centre on 12 December. Well over 120 people attended the evening’s event, including local Hong Kong Chinese and Jewish community members, TAU alumni, business leaders and academics.

Also present were Sharon Ser, Chairperson of Friends of TAU; Michal Mor Shtorch, Executive Director of Friends of TAU; Sagi Karni, Israel Consul General to Hong Kong, and Meir Buber, Head of Resources Development in English Speaking Countries TAU.

The guest speaker was Professor Roger King, the Founder & Director of the Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of Tel Aviv University.

In his talk, titled “Overseas Chinese & Jewish Diasporas: A Comparative Study”, Professor King explained that there are many similarities between the overseas Chinese and the Jewish diasporas. Both communities are close-knit, self-reliant, hardworking wealth accumulators, and they value education and family. And both have at times had to survive discrimination, prejudice and atrocities in their countries of residence.