The 17th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges

City University of Hong Kong has collaborated with the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China and its National Judges College since 2008. Together we have organized a number of programmes for Chinese senior judges and have educated elites in the field. The Opening Ceremony for Doctor of Juridical Science for Chinese Senior Judges, Master of Laws for Chinese Judges and Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges 2024 was successfully held on 23 September 2024 at 19/F, Lau Ming Wai Academic Building, CityUHK.

Group photo of officiating guests 

Prominent experts in the law field in Hong Kong and mainland China have attended the ceremony. The officiating guests included Mr. LI Chengyu, President of the National Judges College; Ms. WANG Xiaofang, Vice-President of the National Judges College; and Ms. ZHOU Qian, Director-General, Department of Treaty and Law of The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR.

In addition, we are also honoured to invite authorities from the Hong Kong government, Mr. Llewellyn MUI Kei-fat, JP, Solicitor General of The Constitutional and Policy Affairs Division of Department of Justice; The Hon Martin LIAO Cheung-kong, GBM, GBS, JP, Member of the Legislative Council and non-official member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR; Dr. Kennedy WONG, BBS, LLD, DCL, JP, Member of Legislative Council of the HKSAR and Managing Partner of Philip K H Wong, Kennedy Y H Wong & Co.; Mr Bryan CHONG Ka-lok, Director of Corruption Prevention of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The ceremony was also officiated by local legal profession including Mr. Victor DAWES SC, Chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association; Mr. Roden M.L. TONG, President of The Law Society of Hong Kong; Mr. CHEN Junsheng, Chairman of China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Mr. Lester Garson HUANG, SBS, JP, CityUHK Council Chairman; Professor Freddy BOEY, CityUHK President; and Professor LIN Feng, Dean of CityUHK School of Law, also attended and officiated the ceremony.

In his speech, Mr. LI Chengyu, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all colleagues of the CityUHK and School of Law, and thanked the organizations of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong and various sectors of the Hong Kong community for their long-term support of nurturing Mainland Judges. Mr. LI put forward three expectations for the Mainland Judges participating in the programmes: first, they need to concentrate on the needs of the trial and ultimately apply the new knowledge and skills to their trial practice; second, they should contribute to the development of academic disciplines and intellectual achievements at CityUHK. Additionally, they should engage in mutual learning through exchanges with colleagues at CityUHK, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of China's rule of law and judicial development, and explore how the rule of law can be used to promote social stability and the well-being of the people. Finally, they should prioritize addressing the key and complex legal issues related to promoting economic and social development. They should also continue to innovate, think critically, strengthen their judicial capabilities, and broaden their international perspective. The National Judges College is committed to enhancing and expanding Chinese Judges Programmes with the CityUHK as always.

Mr. HUANG extended a warm welcome to all the guests and expressed his honour in meeting the judges and legal professionals at CityUHK. He highlighted the significance of CityUHK's collaborative relationships with partner institutions in the mainland. This year marks the 16^th anniversary of the collaboration between CityUHK and the National Judges College of the Supreme People’s Court ofthe People's Republic of China. Mr HUANG said: “As the only academic institution in Hong Kong to provide training programmes for mainland judges, we are honoured to serve as a bridge to promote judicial exchange and mutual understanding between the two regions, contributing to the country’s judicial reform and the rule of law.”

President BOEY expressed his wish for all the judges to enjoy their time at CityUHK and achieve great success in the future. He mentioned that the judges from the mainland bring valuable insights to CityUHK and Hong Kong's legal community, providing a deeper understanding of the latest judicial developments in the mainland.

Finally, Professor LIN thanked the Supreme People's Court and the National College of Judges for their trust in CityUHK. He also thanked all the individuals and institutions that have helped us with the Chinese Judges programmes over the years.

Welcoming dinner following the opening ceremony 

The programme kicked off with a visit to the he Legislative Council and exchange meeting with The Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP. During the one-week programme, the participants have learnt about the legislative and judicial systems in Hong Kong through various visits, including visits to the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong S.A.R; High Court; the Court of Final Appeal; the Legislative Council; Department of Justice; the Correctional Services Department; the Independent Commission Against Corruption; Hong Kong Bar Association; and the Law Society of Hong Kong.

In addition, the Centre for Judicial Education and Research cum Identification of Hong Kong Law is also honoured to invite Mr. CUI Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong S.A.R; Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP, President of the Legislative Council; Mr. CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice; Hon Mr Justice Godfrey LAM Wan-ho, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; Hon Mr Justice POON Siu-tung, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; Mr. Llewellyn MUI Kei Fat, Solicitor General of Department of Justice Constitutional and Policy Affairs Division; Mr. NG Chiu Kok, CSDSM, Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services (Operations and Strategic Development); Mr. WONG Wai Kit, Assistant Director of Operations Department at Independent Commission Against Corruption; Mr. Jonathan CHANG SC of Hong Kong Bar Association; Ms. Careen H.Y. WONG, Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong; and Professor LIN Feng, Dean of CityUHK School of Law to meet and exchange views and ideas with the delegation of Chinese senior judges.

The 17^th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges successfully concluded on 30 September 2024. Participants of the programme enthusiastically joined the seminar held in the School of Law. The Chinese senior judges have concluded what they have learnt from the programme, as well as voiced their opinions and suggestions. The head of the delegation of this programme, Justice ZHAI Ruiqing, Vice President of the Higher People's Court of Shanxi Province, expressed his gratitude to the National Judges College and the CityUHK School of Law for the valuable opportunity at the closing ceremony.

Meeting with Mr. CUI Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong S.A.R.

Meeting with Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP, President of the Legislative Council

 

Visit to Department of Justice

Visit to Court of Final Appeal