Three new Hong Kong think tanks promise to invigorate a crowded field

Hong Kong has a profusion of think tanks but most analysts would be hard-pressed to recall their contribution - even during the height of the heated political debate over electoral reform in the past year.

Now, the scene is about to get more crowded. Three new think tanks are joining the stable of 30 that have been around for over a decade, prompting questions as to whether they can add vibrancy or will just as quickly fall into line as one of the also-rans.

The men behind the new initiatives insist their outfits will be different. Outgoing lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah says his new Path of Democracy will aim to gather moderates to find a "third way" between the two polarised political camps to achieve universal suffrage and improve strained relations with Beijing.

"Mine is different from other traditional think tanks which focus on policy research," says Tong, who has been busy raising funds and arranging meetings with officials. He aims to run his think tank for at least three years with an annual operating cost of around HK$2 million.

Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing will join Tong on the think tank scene when he launches his Advocacy group next year. His think tank plans to actively promote ideas among the public to push for good policymaking and governance.

"Now our role will be different. We won't aim at bidding projects from the government but selling our policy ideas to the public," says Andrew Fung Ho-keung, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute who is helping Tsang.

Fung believes think tanks need to pursue new and aggressive thinking in delivering their ideas. "Creating a noise in society is very crucial," he says. "We will be the master of our own think tank and we set our own agenda. We won't be counting on someone or a particular political party for survival. All donations made to us must be unconditional."