Law man

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Over the past few years, Clark has been a columnist for China.org.cn, a multilingual news website in China. He writes and comments on 21st-century China, including the country's legal and political reform, education, as well as the economy and life in general.

Clark says his research sources are multifaceted, including recent books about China, discussions with others that lead to a joint article, law review articles, media reports of developments in China, and international conferences.

His articles on law and education enjoy a significant readership. Several times, his articles became the website's most-read opinion pieces of the week.

Some of the articles were selected for publication in the book Reflections on 21st Century China, which was published in 2015. Now a second edition of the book is being prepared in both Chinese and English this year.

"I am excited about that," says Clark.

As a law expert, Clark has done research on China's internet law developments. He has been most impressed with the great legislative strides that have occurred to facilitate the development of e-commerce in China.

The changes have included legal reforms governing consumer protection, privacy protection, intellectual property protection, establishing of specialist IP courts, enforceability of e-contracts, promotion of international arbitration, development of e-government, and especially the use of social media, he says.

The uptick of e-commerce is playing a major role as China shifts from an externally focused manufacturing economy to a more internally focused service-based economy, he says.

He suggests that Chinese administrative agencies and standard-setting groups must "provide useful and necessary guidance" to help with the interpretation and enforcement of the law in the future.

He is working as the dean of a law school of a private education institution in Australia that is owned partly by Chinese investors. Most of its students and employees are Chinese or of Chinese origin. It plans to establish a center that will engage in research and scholarship focused on China.

"I'll continue to research and learn about China," says Clark, who has many Chinese friends in both countries. "China will always be in my heart and memories."