Central and Eastern European Society at HKU

Invitation to a movie screening followed by Q&A with the movie director Ady Walter

**Upcoming event – Nov. 8th 2023 (AAB707)**

HKBU European Studies German Stream is delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Frank Best from HTWG Konstanz - University of Applied Sciences for a visit and guest seminar on our campus next month. HKBU European Studies and HTWG Konstanz have been academic partners for more than 20 years, and HTWG has since been one of the most popular study destinations for students majoring in European Studies.

About the speaker:
Professor Best is the former Director of Operations for Northern Europe at French company Saint-Gobain, and an expert in International Management, Sales Management and Greenhouse Gas Pricing. If you want to join the seminar in room AAB707, please register via the QR code on the event poster! ALL ARE WELCOME!

HKBU Department of Geography 香港浸會大學地理系, Gis Hkbu, Hong Kong Baptist University - School of Business, HKBU European Studies / French Stream, HKBU Faculty of Social Sciences 香港浸會大學社會科學院

Former Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on 01/01 1993.

The decision to divide the country was not made by people, but by respective countries’ political representation. Due to its peaceful nature, the break-up has been often called Velvet Divorce. Two countries have maintained friendly relations and both became members of European Union on May 1, 2004.

Czechoslovakia: Czechs and Slovaks mark 30 years since Velvet Divorce Thirty years since their break-up, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have a harmonious relationship.

PM Mateusz Morawiecki: Ukrainian forces, countering a massive Russian attack, launched their missiles yesterday to shoot down Russian missiles. There are many indications that one of these missiles fell on Polish territory without any intention on either side.

Source: Consulate General of Poland in Hong Kong and Macau

Today we celebrate 33rd anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in the former Czechoslovakia.

On November 17th 1989, the state police used violence against a peaceful demonstration of students in the centre of Prague. Following their brutal action, witnessed by many foreign journalists, a news broke that one of the students was killed by the police. This was a trigger that led to spontaneous protests against police brutality and against communist regime all around the country.

Even though it later transpired that the news about the death of the student was false, it was not possible to stop the country-wide social movement without use of violence. However, the communist government decided not to call army to quash the growing wave of protesting citizens. Instead they started negotiations with representatives of the protesters and later transferred power to an interim government, paving way for the peaceful transformation from communist into democratic system.

The peaceful process of power transfer between the communist government and the newly elected democratic government has been described as Velvet Revolution. The first democratically elected President of the new Czechoslovakia was Mr. Václav Havel.

On November 7, we celebrate birthday of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, one of the most accomplished Polish scientists, whose achievements was twice awarded the Nobel Prize. She is credited for discovery of chemical elements of radium and polonium.

Maria Sklodowska was born in Poland’s capital Warsaw in 1867 and died in France in 1934.

EU’ s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seemed to be united. But will unity last? And was there really unity to start with?

If you are interested in answers to these questions, follow the discussion on this topic at the Foreign Correspondent Club tomorrow.

You can watch the debate in comfort of your home or a student’s hall today from 1:10 pm on this channel: https://youtu.be/hAn-FO7hxbQ

Invitation to a history seminar at HKU on Thursday, 3rd of November

We would like to invite you to a very unique exhibition of Czech photography of the 20th century that opens at Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai, tomorrow

Today, Russia invaded Ukraine. We strongly condemn this act of despicable aggression.