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First Annual Hong Kong Public Interest Law Conference: Advancing Social Justice

15 Jan 2014

 

The Centre for Comparative and Public Law at the University of Hong Kong (www.law.hku.hk/ccpl), with support from the international law firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, are hosting Hong Kong’s First Annual Public Interest Law Conference on January 18, 2014 (Saturday) to encourage and support the growth of public interest law in Hong Kong.  The conference will bring together civil society and non-governmental groups with the legal profession in Hong Kong to engage in an open dialogue on advancing public interest law and practice in Hong Kong.

The conference will begin with a keynote address by Mr. Colin Gonsalves, the Founder of Human Rights Law Network in India and a Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India.  

The conference will then include the following three panel discussions led by local champions of public interest law: 1) What is the need in Hong Kong – Identifying the Gaps in Access to Justice; 2) What are the obstacles to meeting the need – Access to the Law and Public Interest Lawyers; 3) Where do we go from here – Advancing a Public Interest Law Culture in Hong Kong. 

The day will conclude with a keynote address by Honorable Mr. Justice Kemal Bokhary, Former Permanent Judge, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.

This conference aims to promote best practices and innovation in advancing social justice, connect lawyers with public interest groups, and promote a culture of public service in the legal profession. 

Welcome Remarks:  Ms. Puja Kapai, Director, Centre for Comparative and Public Law (The University of Hong Kong)

Keynote Speakers:

• Mr. Colin Gonsalves, Founder, Human Rights Law Network, and Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India
• Hon. Mr. Justice Kemal Bokhary, Former Permanent Judge, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal

Panel Chairpersons:

• Ms. Alia Eyres, CEO - Mothers Choice
• Mr. Peter Barnes, Human Rights Lawyer
• Mr. Azan Marwah, Barrister at Law

The panel speakers include:
Kylie Uebergang, Co-founder – PathFinders
Aleta Miller, Executive Director – HKRAC
Annie Li – Unison
Fiona Woodhouse – SPCA
Richard Tsoi, Community Organizer - Society for Community Organization
Mark Daly, Principal - Daly and Associates
Philip Dykes, SC, Barrister at Law
Winston Chu, Founder and Former Chairman - Society for the Protection of the Harbour
Alan Schiffman, Partner - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Tze-wei Ng, Director for Hong Kong - PILnet.
Robert Precht, Founder – Justice Labs
Geoffrey Yeung, Vice President 2013-14, Queer Straight Alliance
Lindsay Ernst – University of Hong Kong, Centre for Comparative and Public Law

This event is free and open to the public.
When:    18 January 2014 (Saturday)
Time:      8:45 am - 5:00 pm
Where:   Academic Conference Room, 11/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower HKU
Keynote Issues:  Access to Justice and Public Interest Law in Hong Kong

For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Flora Leung, Centre for Comparative and Public Law, HKU (Email: fkleung@Hku.hk).