Gala Dinner Brings CityU Law 35th Anniversary to a Close
2022 is a memorable year for CityU School of Law as it celebrates its 35th Jade Anniversary. The anniversary is a graceful opportunity for the School to showcase its well-founded tradition and enhance our connection with the legal profession, our distinguished alumni, friends of the School, and many other law-related sectors. Throughout the year, a wide array of activities were offered either via Zoom or in person, including the CityU Law 35th Anniversary Public Lecture Series, the 26th Goff Arbitration Lecture, and a number of international conferences.
As the anniversary celebrations come to a close, we are proud to have Lord Briggs of Westbourne, PC, Justice of the Supreme Court in the United Kingdom to join us as the guest speaker for the last lecture of the 35th Anniversary Public Lecture Series, titled “Are you avoiding me? The common law’s choice between void and voidable as its response to invalidity”. The public lecture was delivered by Lord Briggs via zoom on 23 September 2022, and attended by over 150 participants. It was moderated by our former Dean, Professor TAN Cheng-Han, SC.
In his lecture, Lord Briggs discussed the distinction between void and voidable, the consequence of voidability, some benefits of voidability, and problems caused by voidness. His Lordship ended his lecture by calling us to the task to “go on refining the principles by which equity works, to temper the rigidities of the common law, not just in England, but in all jurisdictions where it is applied and taught. Hong Kong has a long and distinguished tradition in making exactly that contribution and it has just been happening in this School of Law for 35 years.”
Finally, in the next evening, 24 September 2022, a long-awaited gala dinner took place to bring a joyful finale to the School’s year-long celebrations at the YMCA Salisbury Banquet Hall, Tsim Sha Tsui. The guests of honour included The Honorable Mr CHEUNG Kwok-kwan Horace, SBS, JP, the Deputy Secretary for Justice; Mr Roden TONG, the Vice-President of The Law Society of Hong Kong; Mr José‐Antonio MAURELLET, SC, the Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association; The Honorable Dr Rimsky YUEN Kwok-keung GBM, SC, JP, the Former Secretary for Justice and Chairman of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre; The Honorable Mr Martin LIAO Cheung-kong, GBS, JP, LegCo and ExCo member; Ms Priscilla WONG, SBS, JP, Council Chairlady of HKU; The Honorable Mr Ambrose LAM San-keung, JP, LegCo member; The Honorable Mr Lawrence TANG Fei, MH, LegCo member; Dr Thomas SO, JP, Partner of Grandall Zimmern Law Firm; and Professor FU Hualing, Dean of Faculty of Law, HKU. The occasion was also graced by the presence of Mr Lester HUANG, Council Chairman of CityU; Professor Way KUO, President of CityU; Professor Michael YANG, Vice-President (Research and Technology) of CityU; Professor Raymond CHAN, Vice-President (Student Affairs) of CityU; Professor LIN Feng, Acting Dean of School of Law, and The Honorable Dr Priscilla LEUNG, SBS, JP, LegCo member & Associate Professor of School of Law, among many other distinguished guests and alumni. All participants thoroughly enjoyed the food, reunions with friends, exciting conversations with new acquaintances, and were reluctant to leave the banquet until it was time for the hall to be closed.
Law has a far-reaching impact on the society and forms the basis of order and justice. The School of Law is endowed with the important mission to educate future lawyers and enhance mutual understanding between the two legal systems in Hong Kong and mainland China in both legal practice and research. We will continue to do groundbreaking work and nurture outstanding individuals answering the call of its niche to serve the community with professional skills and knowledge.
Jade is a strong stone symbolizing wisdom, strength, and good fortune. With the blessings of its Jade anniversary, CityU School of Law will continue to thrive and grow with the contributions in all forms from our colleagues, students, and alumni. See you all at the next, 40th anniversary!
2022年對城大法律學院來說是特別的一年。學院成立第 35載，舉辦了一連串線上及線下的大型活動，包括城大法律學院週年公開講座系列、第廿六屆戈夫仲裁講座，以及國際性的學術會議等等，一方面展示優秀的法學傳承，另一方面亦藉此際會，加強與業界人士、新舊校友、以及各方友好的人脈聯繫。
2022年9月23日，我院很榮幸邀得英國最高法院大法官布裡格斯勳爵作公開講座系列的壓軸講者。講座題為《你在逃避我嗎？普通法對無效合同的回應：是真的「無效」，還是「可以撤銷」？》，超過150人透過線上形式參加，並由城大法律學院前任院長陳清漢教授主持。
布裡格斯勳爵在講座中討論了「無效」和「可以撤銷」之間的區別，「可以撤銷」合同的好處和效果，以及定義合同為「無效」帶來的問題。他認為，不論身處哪個國家，只要是實施及傳授普通法制度的地方，持分者就應持續改善發展衡平法的法律原則。就好像擁有悠久歷史、優良傳統的香港，以及經過35年時間洗禮的城大法律學院，都一直在默默為優化普通法作出努力，協助發展出一系列的法律原則。
翌日(9月24日)傍晚，期待已久的週年晚宴假座尖沙咀香港基督教青年會舉行，同時也標誌著我院長達一年的慶祝活動終於來到尾聲。蒞臨晚宴的嘉賓包括律政司副司長張國鈞先生，SBS，JP、香港律師會副會長湯文龍先生、香港大律師公會副主席毛樂禮資深大律師、前律政司司長及香港國際仲裁中心主席袁國強資深大律師，大紫荊勳賢，JP、廖長江議員，GBS，JP、香港大學校務委員會主席王沛詩女士，SBS，JP、林新強議員，JP、鄧飛議員，MH、國浩律師事務所合夥人蘇紹聰律師，JP、以及香港大學法律學院院長傅華伶教授。主辦方香港城市大學出席的嘉賓則有校董會主席黃嘉純先生、城大校長郭位教授、城大副校長（研究及科技）楊夢甦教授、城大副校長（學生事務）陳漢夫教授、城大法律學院署理院長林峰教授、梁美芬議員及城大法律學院副教授，SBS，JP，並各界的貴賓、好友。一眾賓客享用晚膳之餘，與舊雨新知歡聚暢談，渡過一個愉快的晚上。
法律對社會發展影響深遠，為建立秩序、公義的根本。城大法律學院對培訓未來的法律專才、加深香港與中國大陸兩地司法系統彼此的理解任重道遠。我院將繼續尋求突破，致力培育傑出人才，以法律專業知識及技能回應業界的需求，回饋社會。
翡翠作為一種高端的寶石，亦象徵智慧、力量和豐盛。城大法律學院同仁的心思，盛載著35週年翡翠紀念的美好祝願，定志繼續傳承一眾師生、校友無私的付出，再創新高。各位友好，40週年紀念再會！