On the afternoon of October 29th, 2013, Xueyuan Lu Campus held a ceremony to engage Mr. Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi, the Honorable Justice of HK Court of Final Appeal, as a CUPL distinguished professor. The ceremony coincided with the inaugural meeting for the Center of Hong Kong Law Research in CUPL. Leaders attending the ceremony included: The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee under NPC Standing Committee; The Department of International Cooperation and Exchange (Office for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs) under the Ministry of Education; and the Legal Department of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
On behalf of the university, CUPL Council Chairperson Shi Yajun extended a warm welcome for Mr. Justice Chan joining our faculty. Chairperson Shi recounted his meeting with Mr. Justice Chan at HK in September 2012. In his presentation he expressed the hope to send CUPL law students for internships in the HK Court of Final Appeal. Mr. Justice Chan immediately responded with a positive attitude towards the proposal. With Mr. Justice Chan’s vigorous support and promotion, our university dispatched the first batch of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral interns to the HK Court of Final Appeal at the end of January, 2013. Chairperson Shi expressed his admiration for the highly efficient work conducted by Mr. Justice Chan and by the HK Court of Final Appeal. To date, only CUPL students have enjoyed the privileged to intern with the Court among hundreds of law schools across Mainland China. On behalf of CUPL, Chairperson Shi expressed the heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Justice Chan once again. At last, he hoped that the Center of Hong Kong Law Research would carry out its teaching and research work in accordance with the set goals, and acquire high quality academic achievements in the future.
Towards the closing of the ceremony Mr. Justice Chan made an inaugural speech as the Distinguished Professor of our university. He said that it was a great honor for him to become a member of CUPL as a legal professor and was proud to be learning and researching with our teachers and students. He also pointed out that Mainland China and Hong Kong had a close relationship. The two legal systems both have their own strengths and weaknesses. As such both sides can learn from each other instead of highlighting their differences. The Codified Law System of the Mainland and the Common Law System of Hong Kong should act as the mutual supplements for each others' benefits. Mr. Justice Chan expressed his high expectations for the future cooperative working prospects for the Center of Hong Kong Law Research in CUPL.
