#Hong Kong: Sun Yat-sen at 160: Revisiting His Political Legacy a Century On at HKU

How should we understand Sun Yat-sen’s political legacy today—and what can the evolution of his ideas tell us about China’s place in the world?

These questions framed our lecture, “Sun Yat-sen at 160: Revisiting His Political Legacy a Century On”, held at the University of Hong Kong on 7 November 2026. Organised to mark the 160th anniversary of Sun’s birth, the event offered an opportunity to look beyond familiar historical narratives and examine the development of his political thinking.

Our Director, Dr Michael Luk, guided participants through Sun’s intellectual and political journey, situating his evolving ideas within the historical events, challenges and choices that shaped them. Rather than treating Sun’s political thought as a fixed set of principles, the lecture explored how his aspirations and ideas developed in response to changing circumstances.

This historical approach was central to the discussion. Understanding a political thinker requires more than knowing what they advocated; it also means asking when particular ideas emerged, what problems they sought to address, and how experience influenced their development. By tracing these connections, Dr Luk provided a framework for understanding both Sun’s ambitions and the complexities of his legacy.

The discussion also extended beyond Sun’s own lifetime. It considered how the concepts and aspirations associated with his political thought remain relevant to contemporary Chinese politics, as well as debates about China’s international role and agenda. The value of revisiting this legacy lies not in drawing simple parallels between past and present, but in examining the continuities, reinterpretations and differences between them.

Thank you to Dr Luk for an insightful lecture, and to everyone who joined us at HKU. We are grateful to the Hong Kong University Graduates Association and the Joint Publishing Cultural Fund for co-organising the event, and to Our Hong Kong Foundation for its support.

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