General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3044 |
| Course name: | Public International Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Designated research course: | No |
| Specialization: | International trade and economic law |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | Not applicable |
| Course offered to non-law students: | Yes |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
In this survey course of public international law, we start by looking at the nature and role of international law and how it is made and applied, with particular emphasis placed on the law of treaties. We then shift our focus to discussing the different subjects of international law, starting with states, international organizations, and individuals, among others. With this introduction, we are prepared to explore the pressing issues in the important fields of international human rights law, international environmental law, the law of the sea, sovereignty over territory, jurisdictional sovereignty, and immunities from national jurisdiction. Special attention also is paid to state responsibility, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, the international law relating to the use of force, and the UN collective security system. All of these topics will be explored using a case-study method involving current events. Competing policy considerations and purposes of international law will be explored in addressing each case study. By the end of the course, students will not only be able to advise future clients and employers on the basic rules and characteristics of public international law, they will have the problem-solving skills needed to analyze and resolve many of the legal problems that have plagued and that currently plague the international system.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | James Fry | jamesfry@hku.hk | CCT 712 | By email |
1.4 Course Outline (for elective course)
| Please click the link here for the course outline (HKU Portal login required). |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of public international law in relation to current events.
CLO 2 Demonstrate critical reasoning and writing skills through in-class debate, a mid-term exam and a final paper.
CLO 3 Evaluate international law in light of the perceived needs of international society and the alleged purposes of international law.
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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Mid-term exam | 50% | 1, 2, 3 | |
| Research paper | 50% | 1, 2, 3 |
| *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
- 50% – in-class, open book, mid-term examination on Oct. 10 during the first 1.5 hours of the class. It will be a hand-written examination. Immediate feedback and discussion of the exam questions will be provided during the second half of the class after a break.By “open book”, I mean you can refer to any non-AI materials whatsoever, both electronic and hardcopy. The use of AI will NOT be allowed. You also MUST NOT consult other people, whether in person, electronically or otherwise. Anti-plagiarism standards will apply to the exam.
- 50% – a research paper, submitted through Moodle and email to jamesfry@hku.hk by 11:59pm on 19 December 2025 sharp, on a topic to be agreed upon. The research paper must be within 3000 and 6000 words (including footnotes but not bibliography). Papers that fall outside of this word limit will not be accepted. Late papers will receive a penalty of 4 points for each day they are late, starting at 12am on 20 December 2025. In other words, please prepare ahead of time. HKU anti-plagiarism standards will apply to the research essay. Turnitin Similarity Scores will not be available prior to final submission. The use of AI will NOT be allowed. You will be expected to clear the topic with Dr. Fry via email by October 31, 2025, ideally with a one-page proposal and short bibliography, which will receive feedback. Further feedback on preliminary progress will be provided through office-hour meetings.
See also Course Outline above.
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
| Seminar | 3 hours / 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 the convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core textbook: | Martin Dixon, Robert McCorquodale & Sarah Williams, Cases & Materials on International Law (7th ed. 2024), e-copy available at https://global.oup.com/academic/product/cases-and-materials-on-international-law-9780198846895?lang=en&cc=af; hardcopy available through the Academic and Professional book Centre (A&P) at their online platform https://apbookshop.com/hku. It also will be on reserve in the HKU Law Library. |
| Recommended reading list: |
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5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/