General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3285 & LALS3017 |
| Course name: | Law and Colonialism |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme / BA&LLB Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Designated research course: | Yes |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | Yes |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
How might European colonialism still shape the world today, from the crisis of climate change in the Pacific Ocean to the crisis of consumerism in Pacific Place, from the international development policies of the World Bank to the international legal practices of The Hague, from the presence of domestic workers in Central to the absence of Indigenous Americans in Central Park…?
When it comes to Hong Kong, you know the usual story: in the summer of 1997, the People’s Republic of China resumed sovereignty over the region, marking one of the last major events in the decolonisation of the British Empire. Sure, some colonial names and statues remain, but as relics of a bygone era. And yes, more than names, the English language remains, as a language of the law; and more than statues, English statutes remain, as a law of the land. But the site of Tai Kwun exemplifies even their transformation, from bedrock institutions of colonial oppression and violence to media of local expression and re-creation.
Or so the story goes. But is that how decolonisation works? At the stroke of midnight, one flag comes down, another goes up, and Hong Kong is post-colonial, even while the law remains “basically unchanged”? If that seems too simple, then how might colonialism persist after decolonisation, in Hong Kong and around the world? Conversely, how has colonialism been countered, and broken with for good? And what does law have to do with it?
The purpose of this course is to grapple with these questions: with the endurance of colonialism after decolonisation, and the ways in which law is implicated, as a continuing colonial form as much as an anti-colonial force. The focus will be on the relationship between law, colonialism and decolonisation, but each of these things – law, colonialism, decolonisation – will be approached heterogeneously, and as a matter of culture, ideology, and the social imaginary. As such, the course will cross several fields, most prominently law and literature, sociology of law, international law, legal history, and critical legal theory, with an emphasis on scholarship oriented by, and to, the ‘Global South’.
The mode of teaching will combine close reading of scholarly texts as well as literature, film, and visual art, with an emphasis on interactive discussion, and at least one field trip in the city.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Shane Chalmers | chalmers@hku.hk | CCT 809 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain contemporary debates in the field of Law and Colonialism.
CLO 2 Engage critically in these debates, and contribute original thinking through discussion and research.
CLO 3 Analyse and critique information from a wide variety of sources and contexts, and develop a sustained argument.
CLO 4 Communicate effectively through written and oral media, and engage constructively with peers in giving and receiving feedback.
CLO 5 Engage respectfully with a plurality of viewpoints and cultural contexts.
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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | N/A | 20% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Final research paper proposal | 14 Oct 2024 | 20% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Research paper | 4 Dec 2024 | 60% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *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
| 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 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/