City University of Hong Kong (CityU) School of Law today (19 June) held its closing ceremony for the Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges, involving 28 senior judges from different mainland China provinces.

After an intensive but fruitful four-week advanced legal programme, the elite members of the mainland judiciary acquainted themselves with the common law system and key international legal concepts through a series of lectures, visits to Hong Kong’s legal enforcement and judicial organisations and video-link lessons by the School of Law of Columbia University, US. Representatives of the Chinese senior judges also conducted a legal seminar for Hong Kong law professionals, promoting legal cooperation between Hong Kong and China.

Apart from the 28 senior judges, the closing ceremony was attended by Justice Wang Xiuhong, Member of the Judicial Committee of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Zhan Yongxin, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR; The Honourable Dr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal; Ms Elaine Y M Lo, Asia Chair and Senior Partner of JSM; Dr Norman Leung Nai-pang, CityU Pro-Chancellor; Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, and Professor Wang Guiguo, Dean of the School of Law, CityU.

“This is not simply an academic exchange. Most importantly, it allows judges in Hong Kong and China to better understand and respect each other’s political and economic and culture,” said Justice Wang Xiuhong.

Professor Way Kuo said CityU derived much pride from the role it was playing in bringing about this interaction between two different, but increasingly interconnected, legal systems. “Why should there be two separate legal systems when we are all equal?” he said.

“I congratulate both CityU and all participating elite judges for making this significant legal programme a tremendous success. I am proud of CityU offering a far-reaching contribution to perfecting the Chinese legal system,” Dr Norman Leung.

Generously supported by JSM, this is the second collaboration between CityU and the National Judges College of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, providing a pioneering, systematic and tailor-made legal advancement programme for Chinese senior judges. This programme aims to promote mainland-Hong Kong judicial development and legal exchange.

“As a donor, we are delighted to see that all participating senior judges have shown great eagerness in comprehending the essence of the common law system. They have temporarily set aside their huge workload on the mainland and focused on their studies here. We are privileged to have the opportunity to support this advanced programme and also gained a good understanding of the development of Chinese law and the Chinese judicial system through our interaction with them,” said Ms Elaine Lo.

“The advanced programme reflects our flexibility and ability to provide a shortened but substantive mode of education to suite the training needs of senior judges. They have taken away with them an in-depth understanding of common law and the global economy,” Professor Wang Guiguo added.

During the tailored four-week programme designed by CityU, the judges have conducted visits to the Legislative Council, Court of Final Appeal, Department of Justice, ICAC, Police Headquarters and other institutions. They have also observed trials and exchanged views with Hong Kong judges, Legco Members and officials of various legal enforcement departments.

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