The School of Law (SLW) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) hosted a public lecture entitled “Issues Concerning International Treaties Applicable to Hong Kong” on 22 September. The guest speaker was Mr Hu Zhiqiang, Director of the Department of Treaty and Law at the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in HKSAR.

As part of the School’s Eminent Speakers Lecture Series, the talk focused on the legal status of international treaties in Hong Kong and the region’s relationship with the laws of the mainland. Mr Hu explained the applicability of international treaties in Hong Kong and their context in regard to mainland China. He also addressed the Central Government’s approach to international treaties that implicate Hong Kong laws. Consolidating on the close links between CityU and the Foreign Ministry, Mr Hu’s lecture also served to clarify details about international treaties signed by Hong Kong and the Chinese Government respectively under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

“The lecture series provides a public forum in which the University can interact with the wider community and examine legal issues,” said Professor Wang Guiguo, Dean of SLW. “This lecture helped participants better understand the implications of international treaties on our political and social development. It also widened our students’ views and could prove very useful in their future professional careers.”

Mr Hu pointed out that the Central Government handles issues concerning international treaties applicable to Hong Kong based on the principles of “one country, two systems” and the legal mechanism of the Hong Kong Basic Law. The return of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to the mainland has instilled new ideas about the practice of China’s legal treaties and laid a good foundation for international law in China. Mr Hu said the special arrangements made by China through the application of international law have had a positive effect on the application of international treaties in China.

Mr Hu is currently a Council Member of the International Law Association under the Beijing Law Society, Council Member of the Chinese Society of International Law, Council Member of Beijing Law Society, and Member of the China Law Society. A graduate from the Beijing Language and Culture University with a bachelor degree in French literature, Mr Hu received his masters degree in international law from the University of Geneva.