A graduation ceremony was held on 23 July on CityU campus for graduates of the Master of Law (LLM) programme jointly offered by CityU and Renmin University of China (Renmin U) which aims to nurture a new breed of specialists on the mainland legal system.

CityU and Renmin U launched the LLM programme in 1995 in response to the need for more specialists on the mainland legal system. The programme, renowned in the fields of education and law, is approved and recognized by the Ministry of Education on the mainland.

The graduation ceremony was officiated by Professor Wu Xiaoqiu, Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Renmin U; Professor Wang Liming, Dean of the Law School at Renmin U; and Professor Long Yifei, Associate Dean of the Law School at Renmin U. Altogether 24 students graduated from the programme this year.

CityU academics invited to witness the ceremony included Professor (Chair) Roderick Wong, Vice-President (Research)/Dean of Graduate Studies; Professor (Chair) Peter Malanczuk, Dean of School of Law; and Dr Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, Associate Dean of School of Law.

At the ceremony, Professor Wong said CityU and Renmin U had trained more than 200 legal specialists since the LLM programme was set up 10 years ago. “CityU and Renmin U have established a close collaboration through the LLM programme, and I hope future collaborations will contribute more to legal education in Hong Kong and mainland,” he said.

Professor Malancuzk praised Renmin U for its achievements and

contributions to Chinese legal education on the mainland. According to Professor Malanczuk, the Law School at Renmin U is one of the leading law schools on the mainland, moving towards becoming a world-class law school. He added that the collaboration between CityU and Renmin U enhanced exchanges between academic staff.

Professor Wang congratulated the graduates, saying a degree marked the end of one learning stage in life, but symbolized the beginning of a new one. “I hope all of you can make good use of your legal knowledge to serve the country and the community, and to attain equity and justice in society,” he said.

At an inauguration ceremony on the same day, Professor Wang and Mr Zhuang Zhongxi, Chairman of the Hong Kong Renmin University Alumni Association, were invited to be the Honorary Chairmen of the Renmin

University of China (Hong Kong) Law Postgraduate Alumni Association. Dr Zhu Guobin, Director of the External Liaison and Cooperation Office at CityU, and Dr Leung were invited to be Honorary Vice-Chairmen.

The aim of the Renmin University of China (Hong Kong) Law Postgraduate Alumni Association is to bring together alumni from the School of Law at Renmin U in Hong Kong. In the coming year, the Association is planning to hold conferences and joint exchange activities between mainland universities and their alumni to enhance the understanding of legal development in Hong Kong and the mainland.