The legal regulation of bio-safety has become a vital topic in today’s environmentally-aware society, arousing deep concerns within green organizations throughout the world.
In order to facilitate an open exchange of views among mainland and regional scholars, environmentalists and leading experts on legal issues concerning bio-safety protection, the
Centre for Chinese and Comparative Law (RCCL),
School of Law (SLW), City University of Hong Kong; and the Research Institute of Environmental Law,
Wuhan University, jointly organized an
International Conference on Legal Issues Relating to the Protection of Bio-safety
at CityU, 23-24 August.
The Conference underscores the mission of the RCCL to provide a platform for a diverse group of scholars from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and other jurisdictions to foster scholarly discussion and a co-operative research culture.
Officiating at the opening ceremony were
Professor Wang Shuyi, Chairman of Environment and Resources Law Society of China Law Society,
Professor Cai Shou Qiu, Deputy Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Research Institute of Environmental Law, State Environmental Protection Administration and Wuhan University;
Mr Zhai Yong, an official from the Legal Affairs Division of the Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Special Committee of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee;
Ms Yan E, an official from the Policy and Legislature Affairs of State Environmental Protection Agency;
Professor Shen Zhuang Hai, Director of the Social Science Research Division at Wuhan University;
Professor Peter Malanczuk, Dean of CityU SLW and RCCL Director; and
Dr Lin Feng, Associate Professor of SLW and Associate Director of RCCL.
At the start of the Conference, Professor Wang said environmental problems worldwide had become more serious. “Issues on bio-safety protection are now on the agenda of international societies. They have become an integral part of national security and national policy in many countries,” he said, adding that he hoped the Conference would be able to direct more attention to legal regulation of bio-safety in China.
The two-day Conference’s participants consist of representatives from 23 higher education institutions on the mainland including Wuhan University; Renmin University; East China University of Politics and Law; Northwest University of Politics and Law; Jilin University; and Chongqing University. Participants undertook a thorough discussion on a wide range of topics, such as bio-safety legislation, bio-safety law, and eco-environmental safety and security. They also exchanged opinions on suggestions over environmental policy.
Over the past decade, the SLW has established itself as the premier centre for research into Chinese and comparative law in the Asia-Pacific region, hosting conferences and conducting research on contemporary issues. Two SLW staff members, Dr Lin Feng, Associate Professor, and Ms Charu Sharma, Lecturer, are both working on research projects in relation to bio-safety protection and trade.
