Justice Jiang Bixin encouraged the Chinese judge students to apply the insights and wisdom inherited from the course of China’s long history, and to understand the perspectives of both Eastern and Western cultures through the programme. They should strive to grasp the essence of the civil law and common law systems so that they can reflect on legal issues systematically; judges are now shouldered with the mission of establishing rule of law in China and in so doing create history.

Mr Ambrose Lam exemplified the assimilation and conflicts between the legal systems in mainland China and Hong Kong with Qianhai Special Zone construction and interpretation of the Law by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. It was his hope that against the backdrop of globalization, the Chinese judge students can assess and learn from the strengths and shortcomings of the common law system, and promote the development of China’s legal system into a fairer, more effective structure to satisfy the needs of the society.

Mr Paul Shieh quoted a British academic as saying: “one cannot accurately and fully reflect on the merits and pitfalls of one’s own system of constitutional organization without seeing it with others’ eyes”; just as understanding how we are viewed through others’ eyes will help us in enacting self-appraisal and realizing one’s real strengths. He also challenged the Chinese judge students to do more reading and research in their study, and experience for themselves the legal culture and the importance of an independent judiciary in Hong Kong.

As the representative of the 3rd Doctor of Juridical Science (Chinese Judges) Programme, Judge Jiang Xinhua, Vice-president of Higher People’s Court of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, trusted that the programme will provide precious chances and diverse channels for Chinese judges to gain an all-rounded understanding of the spirit of common law, think critically and learn cutting-edge legal concepts. The Chinese judges will strive for excellence in this once-in-a-lifetime challenge.

Professor Lin Feng expressed heartfelt gratitude to various sectors of society for their support to the programme. He was proud of the Chinese judges students who choose to be true to their belief and are determined to undertake further study in law in Hong Kong. The CityU Law School shall comply with the principles of “one country, two systems” and offer the judge students a mirror of common law, so that they will arrive at their own conclusion through independent thinking, and critical, comparative analysis.