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.
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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.
