When families are intact and functioning, Family Law is slow to intervene or intrude into the family. What happens when cracks begin to show in familial relationships? Should the law intervene, and if so, how?

This course aims to equip students with a strong foundation of substantive family law in Hong Kong alongside some useful comparative perspectives (because of globalisation). It explores how Family Law seeks to resolve issues in this space, and what happens when relationships break down. The core issues which will be discussed during this course include the formation of valid marriages, separation and divorce (including nullity and judicial separation), domestic violence, issues in relation to the child, and financial provision on divorce (including financial provision for ex-spouses and children, property adjustment, and marital agreements).

In-person examination

• Students' understanding of the key concepts, as well as their ability to identify legal issues, apply the relevant legal principles and rules to hypothetical scenarios are tested.


• Students' ability to critically analyse and evaluate legal principles, doctrines, and social policy are tested.


• Students' ability to write clearly, concisely, and effectively are tested.

Grading of Student Achievement:

To pass this course, students must obtain an aggregate mark of 40% and a minimum of 30% in each of the continuous and the examination elements of the assessment. To ensure fair and comprehensive assessment of students' course performance, the pass mark requirement for the CA component will be waived for courses with a CA component equal to or less than 30%. This means students only need to achieve the pass marks for the final exam component AND the overall mark to pass the course. Continuous assessment for the purpose of this course refers to the ways in which students are assessed which are separate from the in-person examination at the end of the course.

During the first two weeks of the course, the course leader will announce whether the examination will be closed book or open book. Further information about continuous assessment tasks, including the submission schedule, will also be provided by the course leader.

To achieve all ILOs of this course, students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate actively in all lectures and tutorials.