Editorial | A win-win as Beijing mends ties with Hong Kong Bar
- Hong Kong’s barristers are once again running courses on the common law at Peking University, a move that will benefit the judicial and business sectors on both sides of the border – and more importantly, build cooperation and trust
The revival of a course on the common law run by Hong Kong’s Bar Association at Peking University is a welcome sign that relations between the organisation and Beijing are back on track.
Victor Dawes, chairman of the association, which represents barristers, hailed a “complete resumption of ties” after returning from Saturday’s graduation ceremony.
The 10-week course, taught by more than 20 of the city’s barristers, was suspended in 2018, at the beginning of a five-year freeze in relations after the Bar adopted a vocal stance on sensitive issues, including criticism of the national security law.
Ties have warmed since the election of Dawes last year and the ice was broken with a trip by a Bar delegation to Beijing in April, which included meetings with senior officials.
Hong Kong is the only part of China with a common law system, featuring the doctrine of precedent and an independent judiciary. President Xi Jinping, when visiting the city last year, said the system should be maintained.
There is much to be gained by providing students at top mainland universities with a good grounding in the common law. Dawes has pointed out that this can help China in its dealings with other jurisdictions.