International Law on Campus

On 29 September 2025, the International Law Enters Campus event, organized by the School of Law Research Centre for Chinese and Comparative Law (“CCCL”) of the School of Law, City University of Hong Kong (“CityUHK”), was held at the School of Law. The event featured three senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (“MFA”) of the People’s Republic of China, all with extensive experience in international negotiations, who shared insights into the latest developments in international law and China’s active participation in relevant negotiations and proceedings before the International Court of Justice. Their talks focused on major issues including climate change, the law of the sea, the ICJ’s advisory opinion on Palestine, and efforts to combat plastic pollution.

The event was moderated by Professor Wang Jiangyu, Director of CCCL. Professor Lin Feng, Dean of the School of Law and Chair Professor of Basic Law at CityUHK, attended and delivered welcoming remarks to guests and participants. Later, Professor Anderson Shum, Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK, also met with the keynote speakers and representatives of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (“OCMFA”) and delivered remarks of welcome.

The event centered on pressing issues of international concern. Mr. Shang Zhen, Special Representative for Climate Change Negotiations and Counsellor of the Treaty and Law Department of the MFA, opened with reflections on the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. He reviewed its important trajectory and significance within the international climate law framework, analyzed its role in promoting sustainable development, energy transition, and emissions reduction, and highlighted China's achievements and contributions in advancing green, low-carbon development and global governance.

Ms. Huang Yingni, Division Director of the Department of Treaty and Law (Ocean and Polar Affairs) of the MFA, followed by drawing on her first-hand experience to review negotiations of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). She elaborated on the negotiation's focal points and challenges, China’s position and role in the multilateral process, and offered in-depth perspectives on prospects for future cooperation.

Mr. Wei Xin, Deputy Director of the Department of Treaty and Law of the MFA, then provided analysis of the ICJ advisory opinion on Palestine and the ongoing negotiations for an international treaty to combat plastic pollution. From an international law perspective, he assessed their potential impact on the global governance landscape and outlined China’s contributions in these processes.

The event drew participation from numerous legal officers and scholars from Mainland China and Hong Kong. Representatives of the MFA, OCMFA, and CityUHK faculty and students engaged in lively exchanges on the future of international rule of law. The discussion was characterized by active questioning, insightful remarks, and mutual interaction between guests and students, making it both substantive and inspiring.

The event also gathered a strong delegation of officials from the OCMFA and the Hong Kong SAR Government, who interacted with academia on frontier topics of international law. The OCMFA delegation was led by Ms. Zhou Qian, Counsellor, Director of the Department of Treaty and Law, accompanied by First Secretary Ms. Cui Hongyu and Second Secretary Ms. Chen Xinyao. Representatives from various HKSAR government departments also attended, including the Department of Justice, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. Among them were Ms. Tam Hiu Yu, Assistant Secretary of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau; Ms. Fung Bun Bun, Deputy Principal Government Counsel of the DoJ, and Ms. Kiang Wun Qing, Senior Government Counsel of the DoJ; as well as Ms. Tsang Ka Yi, Assistant Secretary for the Environment and Ecology Bureau; Dr. Choi Man Yee, Senior Environmental Protection Officer; and Mr. Suen Pak Hang, Environmental Protection Officer. The Transport and Logistics Bureau was represented by Ms. Cheng Sze Ling, Principal Assistant Secretary, and Ms. Chung Hiu Wah, Assistant Secretary. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau was represented by Assistant Secretaries Ms. Chan Tse Kwan and Ms. Cheung Shin.

From City University of Hong Kong, Dean and Chair Professor of Basic Law Lin Feng, Professor Wang Jiangyu, Professor Fozia Nazir Lone, Professor Fang Meng, and Professor Yu Chen also attended and actively engaged with students. The presence of such a diverse group of practitioners and academics fostered meaningful dialogue, enriching both the breadth and depth of discussion, and underscored the academic value and exchange significance of the “International Law on Campus” series.

The event concluded on a cordial note. Participants widely agreed that the initiative not only deepened understanding of the latest developments in international law and multilateral governance but also created a vital platform for exchange between academia and practice. It further highlighted CityUHK and CCCL’s active role in advancing scholarly dialogue and talent cultivation in the field of international law.