Professor Shahla Ali Awarded HKU Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award 2019

Congratulations to Professor Shahla Ali who was awarded the University of Hong Kong's Faculty Knowledge Exchange (KE) Award 2019 (Faculty of Law). The award recognises the impact her research has had on access to consumer financial dispute resolution in Hong Kong in the interests of consumers. The impact from "Increasing Access to Consumer Financial Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong" ("增加香港消費者金融糾紛解決的可及性​") was summarised as follows:

"Dr. Shahla Ali’s research supported the enhancement of access to justice for injured financial investors in Hong Kong by contributing to a revised set of rules for the Hong Kong Financial Dispute Resolution Centre (“FDRC”). In January 2018, the FDRC adopted new rules enhancing services through raising the maximum claimable amount for aggrieved consumers from HK$500,000 to HK$1,000,000 and extending the limitation period from 12 to 24 months. These rules changes have resulted in expanded accessibility and strengthened investor protection in Hong Kong, reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. Her research also informed consumer financial policy design in Mainland China and Egypt."

     The Faculty KE Awards were introduced in 2011 in order to recognise each Faculty’s outstanding work demonstrating economic, social or cultural benefit to the community, business/industry, or partner organisations. Nominations are considered by an Ad Hoc Faculty KE Award Selection Committee whose members include the Dean (chair), the Faculty representative serving on the KE Working Group, one of the Associate Directors of the Knowledge Exchange Office (KEO), and a member from outside the University. The selection criteria include evidence of the KE project’s link with excellence in research or in teaching & learning of HKU; evidence of an effective engagement process with the non-academic sector(s); and evidence of demonstrable benefits to the community, business/industry, or partner organisations.