LLAW2001 – Course Profile

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code:	LLAW2001
Course name:	Constitutional Law
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

Constitutional law is a core component of a legal system. It also constitutes the foundation of a legal system, because it stipulates what are the sources of law in the legal system and how the law is made; it establishes, empowers and constrains the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government; and it regulates the relationship between these organs of government as well as the relationship between the government and the people. From the perspective of the people, constitutional law guarantees and protects their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In Hong Kong, constitutional law also performs the important function of regulating the relationship between Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People Republic of China (PRC) and the Central Government Authorities of the PRC. Constitutional law in Hong Kong is therefore the legal foundation of ne Country, Two Systems It is also an area of the law which is often the focus of public and media attention. Constitutional law cases and controversies often appear in the Hong Kong press as frontpage news stories. The outcomes of constitutional litigation sometimes not only change the lives of the parties to the case, but also have wide and deep impact on the Hong Kong community and its public and social policies, or the political relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Constitutional law is closely related to politics, political philosophy and history. In your previous legal studies, you have already come across aspects of constitutional history and constitutional theory (e.g. in the Law and Society course), as well as some constitutional controversies in Hong Kong (e.g. in the Legal System course). We hope that this course on constitutional law will provide for you the opportunity to study the subject more systematically and intensively. However, as it is only a one-semester course, it can do no more than opening the door for you, so that those of you who are interested in a broader and deeper understanding of the subject may acquire a solid foundation for your future studies in this interesting, exciting and challenging domain of public law.

1.3 Course teachers

	Name	E-mail address	Office	Consultation
Course convenor / tutor	Albert Chen	albert.chen@hku.hk	CCT 309	By email
Course convenor / tutor	Cora Chan	corachan@hku.hk	CCT 805	By email
Course tutor	Jason Ko	TBA	N/A	By email
Course tutor	Carter Chim	cchim@hku.hk	N/A	By email
Course tutor	Jeffrey Tam	TBA	N/A	By email
Course tutor	Richard Yip	richardyip@outlook.com	N/A	By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1 Explain the history and development of constitutionalism in Hong Kong, dating back from its colonial roots till its current unique status within the ne Country, Two Systems Framework.

CLO 2 Describe the functions and operations of the key branches of government in Hong Kong and their relationship with one another.

CLO 3 Analyze the major constitutional and electoral reforms in Hong Kong in the course of its democratization.

CLO 4 Evaluate the nature of Hong Kong autonomy and of the constitutional relationship between Hong Kong and the Central Authorities in Beijing.

CLO 5 Identify and critically comment on the constitutional issues in the key Basic Law cases decided by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and the lower courts, and to synthesize and apply the legal principles to hypothetical fact scenarios.

CLO 6 Acquire skills in reading constitutional law cases, and, in particular, in identifying the relevant issues, understanding the arguments of counsel, critically assessing the reasoning of the judge(s), articulating alternative lines of analysis, and critically evaluating the decision and the effect of the case upon the development of constitutional law doctrine.

CLO 7 Explain the manner of application of key international human rights instruments in Hong Kong, in particular, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

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	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLO 7	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Assessment(s)

3.1 Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Due date	Weighting	Feedback method*	Course learning outcomes
Take home essay		30%	1 or 5	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
In-hall exam		70%	1	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

*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 11 teaching weeks
Tutorial:	2 hours every two weeks for 10 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 the course convenor(s).

Learning Resources

5.1 Resources

Reading materials:

Reading materials are posted on Moodle

Core reading list:

Albert HY Chen and Po Jen Yap, The Constitutional System of the Hong Kong SAR: A Contextual Analysis (Hart, 2023)