Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2010 in Hong Kong

On 11 January 2010, 17 representatives of law societies and bar associations from five countries including South Korea, Malaysia, France, the Philippines and Singapore, and nine cities including Taipei, Macau, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Foshan, and Zhuhai were in Hong Kong attending the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year at the invitation of the Judiciary. Apart from attending the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year, the delegates also participated in hospitality programmes organised especially for them by the Law Society on 12 January 2010. The programmes included a lunch reception where Mr Roderick Woo, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, delivered a speech entitled ‘Introduction to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance’; a visit to the High Court for observing court proceedings and attending a briefing by the Hon Mr Justice Alan Wright and the Hon Mr Justice Louis Tong on the Hong Kong Judiciary System; and a dinner reception jointly hosted by the Law Society and the Bar Association of Hong Kong. The Chief Justice Mr Andrew Li and Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung, SC were the guests of honour at the dinner.

Visit by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) delegation

Visit by members of the Chongqing Lawyers Association

Mr Song Xiaojiang (third from right), chairman of the Disciplinary Commi t tee of the Chongqing Lawyers Association, and members of the Committee visited the Law Society, on 11 January 2010, on a study mission on the disciplinary and conduct measures adopted for the legal profession in Hong Kong.

Guest speakers

Law Society Live Band Christmas Concert 2009

Christmas came early on 20 December 2009, when Law Society members and their family and friends packed into the ground floor of the Fringe Club for the Law Society Live Band Christmas Concert. The live band comprising of lead guitars, keyboard, drums and vocalists entertained the audience with traditional
Christmas carols and popular Christmas tunes. A special appearance by Law Society President Mr Huen Wong rocked centre stage with his guitar and vocals when he and the band got the audience dancing by playing popular Hong Kong ballads from the 1960s.

A drinking competition was also held with participants young and old vying to be the fastest drinking champion and Mr Norman Yeung took the honours, winning a prize for his efforts. Overall, it was an afternoon of great music and entertainment. The concert provided an opportunity for members to showcase their musical talents and celebrate the seasonal festivities.

Formed in 2009, the Law Society live band conducts weekly rehearsals and has performed at the 4th Recreation and Sport Night and the Law Society Staff Christmas Party. Members who are interested in joining the live band should contact Florence Tsang at 2846 0570 for more information.

34th New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championships

We have once again chosen a fascinating way to kick-start 2010 – in icy waters! It has been the 3rd year running that the swimming team of the Law Society has participated in the New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championship organised by the Hong Kong Life Saving Society. Over 2500 swimmers took part in the event this year on 1 January. The race distance from Middle Bay Beach to Repulse Bay Jetty was approximately 600 metres.

Our members for this event participated in the ‘leisure group’ category. The team this year consisted of Eliza Chang Lai Shan, Chan Tze Chin, Eugene Wong, May Tam, Derek Lau, Andrew Li Siu Fung, Pierre Lui, Kwan Man Kwong, Tai Siu Ching, Kenneth Yip Kai Kut, Eric Yuen Siu Kei and Billy Cheng Ka Ho. In addition, we are very proud to announce that three little brave children of our members all aged eight also joined in this event and successfully completed the
whole course on their own.

Each participant was given a beautiful gold medal inscribed with a tiger, as 2010 will be the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese zodiac, and a certificate in recognition for participation. The event has now become a yearly ritual for our team members and we would very much like to collect a complete set of gold medals inscribed with all 12 Chinese zodiac animals.

The swimming team would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of the legal profession a healthy, cheerful and prosperous 2010 in the year of the tiger.

Come along and join us for next year’s ‘Icy New Year Splash’ on 1 January 2011!
 

Eliza Chang Lai Shan
Cheng, Yeung & Co
Captain of the Swimming Team