This course aims to 

1.  Enable students to: 
   1. learn, comprehend, apply, evaluate and reflect upon the rules and principles of international environmental law. 
   2. Identify and critically analyse the links between international environmental law, energy resources and economic development. 
   3. Understand and analyse the links between the international environmental law principles and the applicable environmental laws at Hong Kong. 
2. Promote an attitude of critical and reflective learning of environmental law within common law context, Hong Kong public law and international environmental law to understand its theoretical underpinnings and its historical and political context; 
3. Impart advanced skills to students to discover and assess in comparative context the rules of state responsibility & dispute settlement procedures for environmental law claims including environmental protection and right to development before courts/tribunals and develop their own independent thesis/advice/opinion; 
4. Conduct advanced legal research in this area by identifying and using sources appropriate for high-level professional and/or post-graduate academic legal work

Examination (Typewritten) - The use of Generative AI tools is not allowed.

Applicable to students admitted before Semester A 2022/23 and in Semester A 2024/25 & thereafter

Students must obtain a minimum mark of 40% in examination and an overall mark of 40% in order to pass the course.

When University facilities and resources are available, students are required to take a computer-based examination in computer labs. During the examination, students are blocked from access to the Internet.

Applicable to students admitted from Semester A 2022/23 to Summer Term 2024

Students must obtain a minimum mark of 50% in examination and an overall mark of 50% in order to pass the course.

When University facilities and resources are available, students are required to take a computer-based examination in computer labs. During the examination, students are blocked from access to the Internet.

Assessment

Participation during the classroom interaction, such as Q&A session will allow students to demonstrate their capacity to understand, analyse and apply rules and principles to the problem concerned. Some of the more difficult questions will require students to demonstrate their ability to synthesise international and local environmental law material and be able to advise clients or companies in novel situations. Responses in these sessions will enable students and teachers to assess the adequacy of learning and how to improve it where necessary. Students will also receive comments which will allow them to fill gaps in their knowledge. Students' performance during the class interaction will be assessed. This will count as 10% of the assessment.

Students will also be divided into groups to make a presentation on an assigned topic relating to energy and environmental law. This will assess their ability to synthesise primary and secondary material into a coherent and persuasive argument, which will count as 20%. Students will receive comments from the course leader. Other students are also encouraged to provide the feedback to presenter(s).

The remaining 70% of assessment is in the form of an examination. This will test knowledge and understanding of the rules and principles and ability to apply these rules and principles to particular sets of circumstances.

Core General Skills Assessment

The core general skills assessment will include developing student's ability to:

• select, evaluate, analyse, summarise and process relevant print and electronic data/resources;


• develop and express in a coherent and cogent manner relevant arguments; 


• demonstrate critical, original and independent thinking; 


• select, use and cite relevant sources appropriately, focusing on academic and legal works; 


• select appropriate content and language to suit context and intended audience; and 


• communicate ideas clearly, coherently and accurately in their own words and in plain English.