Phase One: ‘Path Builders – Mentorship Programme’
Wrap-up Day Camp

Launched last June, Phase One of the ‘Path Builders – Mentorship Programme’ represents the Law Society’s major effort in educating secondary students on the damaging effects of drug-taking with the help of 53 solicitors and trainee solicitors who volunteered as mentors for over 90 secondary students from 11 schools in the Yuen Long District. Over a period of six months, the mentors developed rapport with their mentees through group activities coordinated by the Community Relations Committee or through individual contact using SMS, emails or outings.

Phase One of the mentorship programme came to a close on 30 January 2010 when the mentors and mentees gathered at the Po Leung Kuk Tai Tong Camp for the last time. Joining them were volunteers from the Young Planners Group of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners. Laughter and cheering filled the air on the playground and the activity hall when the mentors and mentees were engaged in exciting leadership games, strenuous kung-fu exercises, badminton and other sporting activities. At the sharing session that was scheduled for the close of the day, all mentees expressed great appreciation for having the opportunity to participate in the mentorship programme and befriending the mentors. They also spoke of the effectiveness of the mentorship programme in enhancing their knowledge on the benefits of staying away from drugs.

Mentors and mentees learnt the importance of teamwork through participating in leadership training games.

The success of the mentorship programme is a result of the concerted efforts of all mentors, mentees, school teachers and members of the Community Relations Committee. The support rendered by the Secretary for Justice, the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau, the Yuen Long District Secondary School Heads Association and other parties have also contributed to the smooth implementation of the programme.

Given the positive outcome of Phase One of the mentorship programme, the Law Society has decided to launch Phase Two in 2010. Another group of mentees will be recruited and more volunteers will be needed as mentors. Interested members may contact the Working Party overseeing the mentorship programme at mentorship2009@hklawsoc.org.hk.

Telephone conference to facilitate business networking and referrals

Secretary-Generals of lawyers/bar associations from Beijing, Guangdong, cities in the Pearl River Delta, Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau participated in a telephone conference in Hong Kong on 28 January 2010 to discuss the feasibility of developing a virtual platform to facilitate business networking and referrals between lawyers in
their regions. This was one of the consensuses reached by Presidents attending the Cross Strait Four Regions Lawyers Summit in November 2009.

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel Seminar

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel held a seminar on 10 November 2009 and it was attended by about 90 participants. Justice Geoffrey Ma, CJHC and Mr Robin S Peard, JP were the speakers and Mr Albert da Rosa Jr acted as the moderator.

Mr Peard spoke about the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and talked about the independent roles of the Law Society, the Tribunal and the Clerk in disciplinary proceedings.

Justice Ma highlighted the importance of drafting well-buttressed findings in disciplinary proceedings. He recommended that the statement of findings, the applicable law and reasons for any penalties imposed should be all clearly set out in the Tribunal’s order. He also stressed that there should be consistency in any penalties imposed especially where serious breaches were concerned.

During the questions and answers session, Justice Ma suggested that the nature of disciplinary proceedings was accusatorial rather than inquisitorial; that is, the Law Society has the role as the prosecutor whereas the Tribunal has the powers ‘to enquire into and investigate the matter’ under section 10(1) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance (LPO) (Cap 159). Rather than giving the Tribunal unlimited powers of investigation, it is really only meant to enquire and investigate within the parameters of the evidence presented by the parties. Justice Ma was also of the view that cases under section 9A (2) of the LPO should not be prosecuted by the complainants themselves but by the Law Society through independent prosecutors.

The seminar made for a fruitful evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank again our eminent speakers, panel members and all the participants for their support and contributions.

Amy Y K Liu JP
Tribunal Convenor

HKU Student Union’s Business Association

President Huen Wong is one of the Honorary Vice Presidents of the Advisory Board (2009-2010) of the University of Hong Kong Student Union’s Business Association. On 19 January 2010, members of the Business Association paid a courtesy call at President Huen’s office to introduce the activities of the Association.

Mainland Legal Affairs Committee

The Mainland Legal Affairs Committee had a brainstorming session on 16 January to discuss the way forward. After the session, President Huen Wong and Vice Presidents Mr Junius Ho and Mr Dieter Yih invited student helpers at the Cross Strait Four Regions Lawyers Summit to join in a lunch gathering in the afternoon.

A delegation of 37 Chinese senior judges visited the Law Society on 21 January; President Huen Wong together with members of the Mainland Legal Affairs Committee
and Mainland Interest Group greeted the judges at the Clubhouse.

Shenzhen Lawyers Association visit

Mr Junius Ho, Vice President of the Law Society of Hong Kong (front row, second from right); Mr Ludwig Ng, member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs (front row, left); and other members of the Mainland Legal Affairs Committee and the Mainland Interest Group received members of the Logistics Committee of the Shenzhen Lawyers Association during their visit to the Law Society on 2 February 2010.

Young Solicitors’ Group visits Shenzhen Prison

On the morning of 23 January 2009, about 30 young and excited solicitors were seated on the coach on their way to visit the Shenzhen Prison. After approximately two and a half hours of travelling, we arrived at prison greeted by the senior management of the Shenzhen Prison who gave us a warm welcome. After a brief introduction, we visited the inmate’s ward, the dining hall, reading area, activity area and living area. Throughout the tour, the management team explained to us how they operate the prison on a daily basis. Many of us had never visited a prison before. We were stunned by the high-tech equipment and the cosy environment of the prison.

Afterwards, we were led to the prison’s administration building to have an information session with the management team. During the session, we were provided with comprehensive information and statistics regarding the prison and it was also an opportunity to ask questions about the prison.

After lunch, we walked a short distance to the Shenzhen Lawyers Association and attended a three hour long seminar. Two distinguished speakers, Mr Chen Zheng Da, associate professor of the Shenzhen University School of Law; and Mr Stephen Hung, Council Member and chairman of Criminal Law and Procedure Committee of the Law
Society of Hong Kong spoke to us about Criminal Law.

In the first part of the seminar, Mr Chen provided an overview of the criminal procedure, the criminal law system and how a Mainland lawyer conducts a criminal case in Mainland China. Mr Chen also shared some of his experience and insight about dealing with criminal matters. He also spoke about the possibility of coorporation between Mainland China and Hong Kong in cross boarder criminal matters.

In the second part, Mr Hung spoke about how Hong Kong lawyers can assist Hong Kong citizens facing prosecution in Mainland China and the potential risks they face including other important issues. Mr Hung shared with us his practical experience and also reminded us of some of the traps that Hong Kong lawyers might easily fall into when faced with such a predicament. The content of both talks was certainly thought provoking and enlightening.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong for organising the Shenzhen Prison visit, the Shenzhen Lawyers Association for arranging the talks for the seminar and, last but not least, the YSG committee who devoted their precious time to organise this remarkable trip. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and hope that the YSG will organise more of these types of events in the near future, which would certainly broaden our horizons as young solicitors.

Kam Fai
Trainee solicitor
Liu, Chan and Lam