CityUHK holds Opening Ceremony for 2026 Chinese Judges Programmes, joined by national judicial leaders and legal luminaries

Him Chak

30 Sep 2026

CityUHK School of Law and the JERI hold the Opening Ceremony for the Doctor of Juridical Science Programme for Chinese Senior Judges, the Master of Laws Programme for Chinese Judges, and the Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges on 21 September.

The City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) School of Law and the Centre for Judicial Education and Research cum Identification of Hong Kong Law (JERI) held the Opening Ceremony for the Doctor of Juridical Science Programme for Chinese Senior Judges, the Master of Laws Programme for Chinese Judges, and the Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges on 21 September.

The ceremony was graced by an esteemed group of officiating guests, including Mr Sun Zhenping, Head of the Political Department of the Supreme People’s Court of the People's Republic of China (PRC); Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, GBS, SC, JP, Secretary for Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Mr Zhang Junwen, Deputy Head of the Political Department of the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC; Mr Liu Chunhua, Director-General of the Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Zhou Jiahai, Director General of the Research Office of the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC; Mr Li Chengyu, President of the National Judges College and President of the Judicial Case Academy of the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC; Ms Liu Changchun, Chairman of China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.; Ms Si Yanli, Deputy Director General of the Research Office of the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC; Mr Xu Guangming, Vice-President of the National Judges College; Mr Victor Dawes SC, Former Chairman and Current Co-chairman of the Standing Committee on Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Bar Association; and Mr Roden M.L. Tong, BBS, President of the Law Society of Hong Kong.

CityUHK representatives officiating at the ceremony included Mr David Ho Chi-hoo, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of the Council; Professor Chun-Sing Lee, Acting President; Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise); and Professor Lin Feng, Dean and Chair Professor of Basic Law of the School of Law.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lam praised CityUHK for its long-standing dedication to providing training programmes for Chinese Mainland judges, noting its continuous contributions to the nation’s cultivation of foreign-related legal talent. “Over the years, CityUHK has organised Doctor of Juridical Science and Master of Laws programmes, as well as Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges, deepening their understanding of the common law, international law and Hong Kong’s legal system, while providing rich opportunities for learning and exchange,” said Mr Lam. He congratulated the judge participants on the successful commencement of this year’s programmes and wished them fruitful learning outcomes to enrich their knowledge of foreign-related adjudication.

In his address, Professor Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Supreme People’s Court and the National Judges College for their enduring trust and high regard for their partnership with CityUHK. “With this steadfast support, CityUHK will continue to contribute our modest efforts to the nation’s cultivation of foreign-related legal talent in the judicial realm,” he said. “As the only higher education institution in Hong Kong offering training programmes for Chinese judges, CityUHK feels a profound sense of responsibility and immense honour.”

He added that CityUHK has consistently strived to serve as a bridge facilitating mutual learning and exchange between the judicial systems of Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, aspiring to provide robust support for the country’s judicial reform, the advancement of the rule of law, and the cultivation of foreign-related legal talent.

Mr Ho expressed his gratitude to the distinguished legal authorities in attendance, stating, “Following nearly two decades of development, the Chinese Judges Programmes have seen more than 1,000 outstanding judges from across the country come to Hong Kong for advanced studies. This initiative has established itself as a landmark initiative for cultivating national foreign-related judicial talent and legal professionals in the Greater Bay Area. CityUHK sincerely wishes all participants fruitful studies in the coming months and earnestly hopes that everyone will make full use of CityUHK’s academic resources and Hong Kong’s legal environment to broaden their horizons and inspire their thinking.”