The 18th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges

The Research Engagement Centre for Judicial Education and Research cum Identification of Hong Kong Law (JERI) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) 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 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 2025 was successfully held on 16 September 2025 at Benjamin & Anny Kwok Conference Room, 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 Ms. CHEN Chunmei, Vice-President of the National Judges College; Mr. ZHENG Rujun, Secretary of Committee for Discipline Inspection at National Judges College; Mr. LIU Chunhua, Director-General, Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKSAR); 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 were also honoured to invite authorities from the Hong Kong government, Mr. LAM T K Paul, GBS, SC, JP, Secretary for Justice 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; Ms. LAM Mei Sau, Linda, SBS, Chairperson of Equal Opportunities Commission. The ceremony was also officiated by local legal professionals including Mr. Roden M.L. TONG, President of The Law Society of Hong Kong; Ms. Eva SIT, SC, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association; and Ms. LIU Changchun, Chairman of China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Mr. Michael NGAI CityUHK Council Chairman; Professor Chun-Sing LEE, CityUHK Provost and Deputy President; Professor Kevin DOWNING, CityUHK Council Secretary; and Professor LIN Feng, Dean of CityUHK School of Law, also attended and officiated the ceremony.

In her speech, Ms. CHEN Chunmei, expressed sincere 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-standing support of nurturing mainland judges. Ms. CHEN put forward three expectations for the mainland judges participating in the programmes: First, to persist in applying knowledge to practice, closely integrating theoretical knowledge with judicial work. Second, to promote two-way exchange, contribute to the development of the discipline, and jointly advance the integration and innovation of legal theory and judicial practice. Finally, she hoped that the judges would be guided by serving national strategies, keenly grasp the pulse of the society, and conduct in-depth research on the legal obstacles to socio-economic development, thereby contributing to the development of rule of law. The National Judges College is committed to enhancing and expanding Chinese Judges Programmes with the CityUHK as always.

Mr. NGAI extended a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished guests, stating that he was deeply honoured to have gained the trust of the National Judges College and its emphasis on the great importance placed on the close collaboration with the CityUHK. This year marks the 18^th anniversary of the partnership between CityUHK and the National Judges College in training mainland judicial talents. Mr. NGAI remarked, "I am confident that through the sincere cooperation between the National Judges College and CityUHK, our Chinese Judges Programmes will continue to keep pace with the times and strive for excellence, nurturing more judicial elites proficient in common law and international law for the country."

Mr. LAM first expressed gratitude to the CityUHK for the invitation and extended a welcome to the judges from the Chinese Mainland. Mr. LAM stated “Over the years, CityUHK, in particular the School of Law and the Research Engagement Centre for Judicial Education and Research cum Identification of Hong Kong Law, has collaborated with the Supreme People’s Court, the National Judges College and other institutions to organise training programmes of various forms and scopes for mainland judges. The results are obvious to all and their experience is unquestionable. I express my appreciation and gratitude for this.” He also expressed his hope that the judges would enhance their legal knowledge through classroom learning and exchange visits. And he wished for them to build friendships and embrace the vibrant culture of Hong Kong, ultimately becoming bridges connecting the legal systems of the two places upon completion of their studies.

Finally, Professor LIN conveyed his gratitude to the Supreme People's Court and the National Judges College for their trust in CityUHK. He thanked the University for its support of the School of Law and expressed appreciation for the consistent support from all the individuals and institutions that have helped us with the Chinese Judges programmes over the years. He expressed hope that the Chinese Judges Programmes would continue to foster exchanges between the legal communities of both places.

Welcoming dinner following the opening ceremony

The programme kicked off with a visit to the Legislative Council and exchange meeting with The Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP. During the two-week programme, 32 senior judges from 29 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across mainland China have learnt about the legislative and judicial systems in Hong Kong through various visits. Visited organizations included the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; the Commissioner's Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR; High Court; the Court of Final Appeal; the Legislative Council; Department of Justice; the Correctional Services Department; the Customs and Excise Department; the Equal Opportunities Commission; Hong Kong Bar Association; the Law Society of Hong Kong, China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd; and the Association of China-Appointed Attesting Officers Limited.

In addition, we were honoured to invite different legal professionals to meet and exchange views and ideas with the delegation of Chinese senior judges. They included Mr. PAN Yundong, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR; Mr. LIU Chunhua, Director-General, Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP, President of the Legislative Council; Dr. CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice; Hon Ms Justice Carlye CHU Fun-ling, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court; Hon Mr Justice AU-YEUNG Ho Wing, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; Hon Mr Justice David LOK, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court; Mr Rimsky YUEN Kwok-keung, GBM, SC, JP, Former Secretary for Justice; 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 (Rehabilitation and Management); Ms. TANG Wai Ngan, Senior Staff Officer (Prosecution and Management Support) of the Customs and Excise Department; Ms. LAM Mei Sau, Linda, SBS, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission; Mr. Roden M.L. TONG, President of The Law Society of Hong Kong; Mr. Jose-Antonio MAURELLET, SC, Chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association; Mr. ZHAO Zhenhua, Vice President and General Manager of China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.; Mr. HUI Man Kit, Patrick, President of Association of China-Appointed Attesting Officers Limited; and Professor LIN Feng, Dean of CityUHK School of Law .

The 18^th Advanced Programme for Chinese Senior Judges successfully concluded on 26 September 2025. 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 WU Tao, Vice President of the Higher People's Court of Sichuan Province, expressed his gratitude to the National Judges College and the CityUHK School of Law for the valuable opportunity at the closing ceremony.