Club Lunch: Brexit or Bremain? The United Kingdom’s Referendum on its E.U. Membership, and why it matters for business in East Asia

Wednesday, June 15, 2016
12:30pm for 12:45pm – lunch
1:15pm – address
1st Floor

Speaker: Andrew Seaton
Executive Director, British Chamber of Commerce
Former British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau

On 23 June 2016, the U.K. will hold an in/out referendum on its membership of the European Union. Why is this happening? What is the debate about? The speaker spoke on the background to and reasons for the decision to hold a referendum; discussed the current state of the debate, looked at the main issues and the arguments being put forward by the two sides; and considered the outcome’s potential implications for business, including in Hong Kong and the surrounding region.

Mr. Seaton assumed his current position in April 2015. His previous career was as a member of the UK Diplomatic Service, and included being the British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau in 2008/2012; the Head of the Foreign Office China Department, and the Commercial Secretary at the British Embassy Beijing.