LLAW3093

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code: LLAW3093
Course name: Administrative Law
Programme offered under: LLB Programme
Semester: Second
Designated research course: Not applicable
Specialization: Not applicable
Prerequisites: Constitutional Law
Course offered to non-law students: No
Credit point value: 6 credits

1.2 Course description

The course will introduce Hong Kong law on judicial review of administrative action. Topics that may be covered in any particular year include: theories of administrative decision-making, grounds of judicial review (errors of law and fact, procedural impropriety, errors in the exercise of discretion, legitimate expectations), the public-private divide, the practical aspects of bringing an action for judicial review, and non-curial means of control and scrutiny of administration action (Ombudsman, Administrative appeals, public enquiries). The course will guide students on how to apply the law in factual scenarios and encourage students to reflect upon various theoretical issues in Administrative Law.

1.3 Course teachers

Name E-mail address Office Consultation
Course convenor / tutor Julius Yam yamj@hku.hk CCT 303 By email
Course convenor Ernest Ng ernest.cy.ng@gmail.com N/A By email
Course tutor Cora Chan corachan@hku.hk CCT 805 By email
Course  tutor Jason Ko TBA N/A By email
Course tutor P Y Lo pylo@lopyhk.page N/A By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1 Understand the nature of administrative law, administrative powers, administrative processes and judicial review.

CLO 2 Explain the doctrine of ultra vires and reflect on its suitability as a theoretical basis of judicial review.

CLO 3 Explain the law of Hong Kong on established grounds of judicial review, including illegality, procedural impropriety, irrationality and legitimate expectations, apply such law in fact situations, critically evaluate such law, and assess the desirability of judicial recognition of new grounds of review.

CLO 4 Explain, apply and evaluate the basic legal procedures for challenging administrative actions.

CLO 5 Examine the impact of judicial review on administrative practices and processes and ascertain the relationship between judicial review and good governance.

CLO 6 Critically analyze the court’s reasoning and approach in administrative law cases.

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
Mid-term assessment 4 Mar 2023 15% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Final in-hall exam 11 May 2023 85% 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: 2 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks
Private study time: 8.5 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: Stephen Thomson, Administrative Law in Hong Kong (Cambridge University Press, 2018)
Recommended reading list:
  • Swati Jhaveri, Michael Ramsden, and Anne Scully-Hill, Hong Kong Administrative Law (Hong Kong: Lexis Nexis Butterworths, 2nd edn, 2013)
  • Craig, Administrative Law (Sweet & Maxwell, 8th edn, 2016)
  • Lord Woolf et al, De Smith’s Judicial Review (Sweet & Maxwell, 8th edn, 2018)
  • Mark Elliott and Jason N. E. Varuhas, Administrative Law: Text and Materials (Oxford University Press, 5th edn, 2016)
  • Cane, An Introduction to Administrative Law (5th edn, 2011)
  • Wade and Forsyth, Administrative Law (Oxford University Press, 11th edn, 2014)
  • Gordon and Mok, Judicial Review in Hong Kong (Hong Kong: LexisNexis, 2nd edn, 2014)

5.2 Links

Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/