The 9th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges Kicks off

29 May 2014
-Agnes Kwok, Louis Liu

The officiating guests and participants of the 9th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges

The Centre for Judicial Education and Research organized the 9th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges from 26 May to 7 June this year. 29 senior judges from the high courts and intermediate courts in the mainland were recommended by the National Judges College to enroll in the programme.
The Opening Ceremony on 27 May 2014 welcomed this batch of eminent Chinese judges and was attended by Professor Arthur ELLIS, Provost, City University of Hong Kong; Justice LI Shaoping, Vice-President of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China; Professor HUANG Yongwei, President of National Judges College of the People’s Republic of China; Dr LI Guangxiang, Deputy Director-General of the Legal Affairs Department, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr JI Jianjun, Deputy Director-General, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Dr TIAN Lixiao, Director-General, Department of Treaties and Law, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR; Mr Daniel FUNG Wah-kin, Member of International Advisory Board of School of Law, City University of Hong Kong; Mr George TAM Siu Ping, Member of International Advisory Board of School of Law, City University of Hong Kong & Assistant Supervisor, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong; Professor LIN Feng, Acting Dean, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong; and Professor WANG Guiguo, Director of Centre for Judicial Education and Research & Chair Professor of Chinese and Comparative Law, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong.

Sponsored by CityU Law School, the Advanced Chinese Judges Programme is the joint effort of CityU Centre for Judicial Education and Research, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, and the National Judges College. During the two weeks of the programme, the judges will attend intensive classes taught by distinguished scholars. They will visit Hong Kong’s judicial organizations, including the courts, the Legislative Council, the Commissioner’s Office of China's Foreign Ministry, the Law Society, and the Bar Association. They will also meet the Hong Kong legal professionals, such as the judges of the Judiciary, and the president of the Legislative Council. It aims to give an opportunity for Chinese senior judges to acquire a good understanding of common law jurisdiction, the basic law, and also legal issues in relation to finance, commerce and intellectual property.

Professor Wang Guiguo delivered the welcoming remarks at the ceremony. He pointed out that the number of Chinese judges who are studying or have participated in the Chinese judges programme has almost reached 500 over the past seven years. As China is progressing at an unprecedented speed, it is pertinent that the rules of the country be well informed with the international communities. He hoped that through the two-week programme, judges will be able to compare the differences and similarities of the legal systems between the mainland and Hong Kong.

Professor Arthur Ellis said, “the programme is a very intensive learning experience for the judges. It effectively enhances exchanges between the two judicial systems and promotes general cultural development in China. You are joining us in the midst of a year-long celebration, as it is now CityU’s 30th anniversary. I wish all the judges a successful and inspiring experience during your stay here in Hong Kong.”

Justice Li Shaoping pointed out that to realize the new “China dream”, rule of law in China is indispensable. He hoped that the participating judges will be able to experience the spirit of the rule of law in Hong Kong, as well as the legal culture of Anglo-American jurisprudence. By adopting a comparative approach, the programme will further enrich the participating judges on their legal mentality and principles of legal practice.

Mr Daniel Fung Wah-kin said, “I trust that all of you will have a better understanding of issues such as the Basic Law, common law, judicial governance, and arbitration, through visits scheduled in the programme to the various judicial organizations. The programme facilitates the legal exchange between Mainland China and Hong Kong, thereby advancing the modernization of China’s law.”

Judge Wang Yong, Vice-President of Higher People’s Court of Guangdong Province and representative of the 9th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges, expressed heartfelt thanks to the organizers and supporters of the programme. “One country, two systems” is a great experiment of history, and the problems presented by the two different legal systems in Hong Kong and the mainland have brought tremendous challenge to the judges’ work. He hoped that the judges will take a proactive role to explore these problems during their stay in Hong Kong.

In his vote of thanks, Professor Lin Feng expressed gratitude to the Supreme People’s Court of China for its assistance in the selection of the Chinese senior judges. He extended his thanks to various persons and organizations of Hong Kong, particularly the Commissioner's Office of China’s Foreign Ministry and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government for their assistance in the programme arrangements.