Published: 19:39, December 23, 2020 | Updated: 07:15, June 5, 2023
Major HK law group set to boost legal awareness among youth
By Chen Zimo

In this Jan 13, 2020 file photo, Hong Kong judges and legal professionals attend the ceremonial opening of the legal year at City Hall. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Law Society of Hong Kong announced on Wednesday that it would prioritize nurturing a commitment to law and order, and a thorough and accurate understanding of Hong Kong's constitutional order in its future promotion of the rule of law among teenagers.

The law professional group, which represents the city’s nearly 10,000 solicitors, launched a series of online events in mid-December to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Teen Talk”, its flagship platform to promote the rule of law among young people and the broader community.

This year, the Law Socceity of Hong Kong adopted the theme “Law & Enforcement” to promote the significance of law and discipline as well as mutual respect among the city’s secondary school students

This year, it adopted the theme “Law & Enforcement” to promote the significance of law and discipline as well as mutual respect among the city’s secondary school students.

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This followed an astonishingly high involvement among students in illegal and violent protests in 2019, greatly concerning the local community. Students have accounted for about 40 percent of the 9,000-plus who were arrested in the social unrest between June 2019 through May over the now-withdrawn extradition bill. Hong Kong police said 18 percent of the arrestees were minors.

The Law Society planned to organize visits for local students to seven local discipline forces to experience and learn more about law enforcement in Hong Kong.

Melissa Pang Kaye, president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, earlier told a news conference of the event, saying that abiding by the law is a crucial part of the rule of law. 

The local residents’ respect, confidence, and compliance with its judiciary are an important part of the rule of law in a jurisdiction, Pang said.

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Following an online quiz of the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a seminar on the relationship between the two documents was hosted by Thomas So Shiu-tsung, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body. So is also a former president of the Law Society.

So told the young audience that the close relationship of the two laws can be seen via our daily lives.

The veteran lawyer cited the example of the juxtaposition arrangement at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station that provides a one-stop clearance procedure. The arrangement was made possible in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law.

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