Opening and Graduation Ceremony for mainland judges

Due in part to the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong has become a prime education destination for members of the Chinese judiciary studying common law and international law. The pioneering programme for Chinese judges offered by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is the first legal programme of its kind outside the mainland. It creates a platform for exchanges about judicial development and legal education between the two jurisdictions. It also marks a milestone for legal education in Hong Kong while widening exposure of China’s judiciary to international legal information that enables them to better deal with foreign-related cases.

The School of Law of CityU today (8 January) held the Opening Ceremony for the “Master of Laws (LLM) Programme for Chinese Judges” and the “Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges”. It also held the Graduation Ceremony for the first batch of LLM Programme for Chinese Judges. Graduates and new students attended the ceremony to commemorate their achievements and share their experience with guests, sponsors and the School’s members.

The second batch of the LLM Programme for Chinese Judges is being held in 2010, with 29 graduates returning to their posts in mainland China and 30 students commencing their 12-month studies in January. The programme is customised for Chinese judges under the tripartite agreement between the School of Law of CityU, the National Judges College of the Supreme People’s Court of China and the School of Law of Columbia University.

Meanwhile, another 34 Chinese judges from the “Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges” will begin their four-week studies at CityU in common law systems and international legal concepts.

Officiating guests of the ceremony include Justice Wan Exiang, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court of China; the Hon Leung Chun-ying, Council Chairman of CityU; Professor Way Kuo, President of CityU; Mr Adrian Fu, Chairman of the Fu Tak Iam Foundation; Mr Philip K H Wong, Chairman of Philip K H Wong Foundation; Ms Ada Wong, Philip K H Wong, Kennedy Y H Wong & Co; Professor George A Bermann, Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law & Walter Gellhorn Professor of Law, the School of Law of Columbia University and Professor Wang Guiguo, Dean of SLW.

Other prestigious guests at the ceremony include the Hon Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal; Mr Wang Zhimin, Deputy Director, Law Department, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; the Hon Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, President of the Legislative Council; Dr Simon Ip Sik-on, Co-Chairman of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of the School of Law; and Mr Andrew Liao, member of the IAB of the School of Law.

“China is on the rise in world stage. We have to keep pace with the rapidly evolving legal system,” said Professor Way Kuo at the ceremony. “CityU is an ideal education destination in terms of faculties and facilities. I am confident the programme will endow the Chinese judges with a deeper understanding of international legal practices and make a huge contribution to the legal system in China. The success of our programmes should be hailed as one of the most imaginative initiatives.” Professor Kuo also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Fu Tak Iam Foundation, JSM, Philip K H Wong Foundation and Philip K H Wong, Kennedy Y H Wong & Co for the donations supporting the programmes.

Justice Wan Exiang said the Supreme People’s Court of China partnered with CityU’s School of Law because of its reputation as a forward-looking and innovative legal education centre. He added that, “Columbia Law School is a top-notch law school. We are grateful to see the first batch of judges going back to their posts and the second batch here widening their international legal knowledge.”

Professor Wang Guiguo said, “The success of these programmes is of historical significance in legal education as well as in regards to the Chinese judiciary. CityU empowers the Chinese judges to meet complex challenges through knowledge gained from the well-designed and intensive programmes. I trust they will make important contributions to the betterment of the judiciary members in China.”

Mr Zhao Junping is one of the graduates attended the ceremony. He will resume his work in the Intermediate People’s Courts in Hohhot of Inner Mongolia after the graduation. He said the legal programme was timely. “Foreign-related cases have increased rapidly in recent years. The programme helped develop my competence in handling these cases. Studying at CityU allows me to have access to excellent facilities and research resources.”

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