This course prepares students to evaluate the legitimacy of government power and actions and their impact upon fundamental human rights and civil liberties; and to discover the doctrine of separation of powers, the relationship between state and individual and the role of the courts and the legislature in defining and controlling the power of the administration.

The course is expected to have students examine and explore the national protection of human rights as given under the Basic Law (BL) and the Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) in the HKSAR, and the international protection of human rights as provided under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

On completing the course students should be able to:

• Understand the constitutional and legal framework of the HKSAR in relation to the individual;
• Understand fundamental human rights and civil liberties; and
• Identify violations of such right and liberties and the remedies available for such violations.

Grading of Student Achievement

Standard (A+, A, A-...F).

Grading is based on student performance in assessment tasks / activities.

Assessment will be by continuous assessment, by inter-active in-class exercises and by examination.

The apportionment of marks will be:-

Inter-active in-class exercises and presentations: 35%

Examination: 65%

Examination duration: Three hours

Grading pattern: Standard (A+ A A-...F)

To pass this course, students must obtain an aggregate mark of 40% and a minimum of 30% of the in-class exercises and the examination elements of the assessment. Coursework for this purpose means those ways in which students are assessed otherwise than by the end of session examination.

To enable the full benefit to be obtained from this course, students should attend all of the classes and activities. The course leader will announce whether the examination will be closed book or open book.