General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW1008 |
| Course name: | The Legal System of the Hong Kong SAR |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Designated research course: | Not applicable |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the principles of law governing the legal system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the only common law jurisdiction in East Asia. It encourages students to appreciate the underlying values of legal practice and the administration of justice in the context of wider global and regional developments. It explains the crucial role played by the rule of law in Hong Kong’s historic transition from a cluster of marginal fishing settlements into an international financial centre under Chinese sovereignty over the course of nearly two centuries.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Eric Ip | ericcip@hku.hk | CCT 705 | By email |
| Course tutor | Alexander Burg | alexburg@connect.hku.hk | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Sarah Cheng | sarahposan.cheng@gmail.com | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Michael Cheung | michaelmkcheung@hku.hk | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Ho Ching Him | himho@plowmanchambers.com | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Jeremy Lam | jjlam@connect.hku.hk | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Kin Lau | TBA | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Jean Lee | TBA | N/A | By email |
| Course tutor | Peter Zhu | peter.zhu@resolution-chambers.com | N/A | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Acquire a sound understanding of the key features of the Hong Kong legal system.
CLO 2 Acquire an understanding of the ways in which ideologies shape the structure, design and operation of the legal system and be able to critically assess the successes and failings of the system in light of these values.
CLO 3 Acquire an understanding of the common law legal system, its relationship with the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
CLO 4 Acquire an understanding of the role of case law, legal reasoning, legal personnel and the machinery of the courts as key features of the common law legal system.
CLO 5 Acquire an understanding of the recent issues requiring legal reform in the context of the Hong Kong legal system.
CLO 6 Acquire a sound foundation and context for the study of other substantive law courses.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Tutorial participation | TBC | 10% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | |
| Final exam | TBC | 90% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Lecture | 2 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Tutorial | 1 hour / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
LEARNING RESOURCES
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/