Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of LLMArbDR Programme

On 20 November 2025, the School of Law at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) hosted a distinguished cocktail reception to commemorate the 35^th anniversary of its prestigious Master of Laws in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (LLMArbDR) programme. The event brought together over 130 esteemed guests, including judges, judicial officials, legal practitioners, esteemed faculty, proud alumni, and students, to celebrate a legacy of shaping the future of dispute resolution in Asia and beyond.

Distinguished guests included:

• The Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China;
• The Honourable Mr. Justice Lee Hing-nin, District Judge of the HKSAR;
• Mr. Patrick Lau Hui-ping, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council;
• Mr. Sean Lin, Assistant District Commander (Administration) (Western District) of the Hong Kong Police Force;
• Dr. Lester Garson Huang, SBS, JP, Co-Chairman and Partner at P. C. Woo & Co., former Chairman of the CityUHK Council, and CityUHK Honorary Doctor of Laws;
• Mr. Roden Tong Man-lung, President of the Law Society of Hong Kong;
• Mr. Horace Wong, SC, JP, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Arbitration at the Hong Kong Bar Association;
• Professor Peter Malanczuk, Council Member of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Former Dean of School of Law at CityUHK; and
• Professor Petra Butler, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Canterbury

Also present were Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityUHK, Professor Kevin Downing, Secretary to the Council; Professor Lin Feng, Dean and Chair Professor of Basic Law at the School of Law; and Professor Christopher To, Adjunct Professor and Programme Director of the LLMArbDR programme.

The formal programme began with opening remarks from Professor Freddy Boey, who stated, "The success of the LLMArbDR programme vividly reflects Hong Kong’s dynamism. Hong Kong has become a world-class hub for commerce and legal services, and CityUHK is proud to have contributed to this journey."

Professor Peter Malanczuk

Professor Christopher To

The programme proceeded with a dedicated session of reflections, during which our guests of honour shared their thoughtful insights. Mr. Neil Kaplan, CBE, KC, SBS, widely regarded as “the father of Hong Kong arbitration”, and Mr. Philip Yang, Past Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, captivated the room with heartfelt pre-recorded messages prepared exclusively for the occasion, while foundational leaders of the programme, Professor Peter Malanczuk and Professor Christopher To delivered live addresses from the stage.

Shortly after, Professor Lin Feng delivered a sincere vote of thanks on behalf of the School of Law, recognising everyone in attendance and expressing appreciation to the legal partners for their enduring support.

The second half of the evening turned the spotlight on to the living embodiment of the programme. Alumni Ms. Xie Huilun Daniella and Ms. Wang Hao shared personal anecdotes about how the LLM programme had shaped their careers, before current students Ms. Liu Lu and Mr. Chiu Yui Hang Henry offered spirited perspectives, representing the next generation ready to carry the torch forward.

The formal proceedings concluded with a powerful remark by Dr. Lester Huang. He framed the programme's success within the broader context of the university's growth and Hong Kong's strategic position, providing an inspiring conclusion to the celebrations.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed a curated display of faculty publications from the School of Law, a proud testament to its academic excellence. The evening drew to a close with a vibrant cocktail reception, where old friends reconnected and new connections to form, as guests celebrated a cherished shared history and a bright future ahead.

About the LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (LLMArbDR) at CityUHK
Established in 1991, the LLMArbDR at the City University of Hong Kong was the first Master’s degree programme in arbitration and dispute resolution in Asia. The programme aims to develop expertise in domestic and international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, and to foster original research in arbitration and ADR.