HKU Team wins the Best Memorial for Prosecutor in The 24th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot

From left: Fung Chun Hei Justin, Kok Karina Ka Ying, Heng Adriel Wee Xin

Congratulations to Mr Justin Fung Chun Hei (BSocSc(Govt&Laws)&LLB 3), Ms Kok Karina Ka Ying (BA&LLB 3), and Ms Adriel Heng Wee Xin (BBA(Law)&LLB 3), for winning the Best Memorial prize for the Prosecutor in The 24th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot.

The Team takes this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to the team coaches, Mr Ernest Ng and Mr Jason Ko for their unfailing support and helpful guidance throughout. The Team would also like to thank Mr Chak Hei Lau, Mr Raphael Leung, Mr Jason Louie and Mr Kevin Lau, as well as members of the previous Red Cross Moot Teams, Ms Christy Suen, Mr Fergus Tam and Mr Martin Lau for their kind assistance.

HKU ranks 9th and wins M. Cherif Bassiouni Award – Top Memorials from the National & Regional Rounds for Written Memorial in the Jessup Moot in Washington DC

From left: Mr Thomas Lam (Coach), Mr Matthew See, Ms Cherie Cheung, Mr Jonathan Ho, Mr Evan Robinson, Mr Fergus Tam (Coach)

Congratulations to HKU Jessup team for winning the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award – Top Memorials from the National & Regional Rounds for Written Memorial, in the Jessup Moot in Washington DC.

After prevailing as the Overall Champion in the regional rounds of the 2026 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the HKU Jessup Team represented Hong Kong in the White & Case Jessup International Rounds held in Washington DC, USA from 28 March 2026 to 4 April 2026. 

Out of more than 700 teams who participated in National Rounds and Regional Rounds, 164 teams went on to participate in the White & Case Jessup International Rounds in one of the largest and most prestigious international mooting competitions in the world. 

This year, the Team captured the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award (known until 2025 as the Hardy C. Dillard Award) for ranking 9th worldwide out of more than 700 teams for its excellent combined scores of both the Applicant and Respondent memorials. This is the first time HKU has won the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award (or its predecessor) since 2006. 

The M. Cherif Bassiouni Award recognises excellence in Memorial writing. The Memorials of the Team with the highest total Memorial score in each National or Regional Round shall be entered to compete for the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award. Each Memorial eligible to compete for the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award is graded by five judges. 

This year’s Jessup moot problem concerned the issues of intervention of non-party states, indigenous rights, general principles of international law and immunities of state-owned enterprises. The 2026 HKU Team, consisting of Cherie Cheung (PCLL), Jonathan Ho (PCLL), Evan Robinson (PCLL), and Matthew See (LLB III), displayed excellence in both written and oral advocacy at all stages of the competition. 

The Team would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the coaches, Mr Fergus Tam and Mr Thomas Lam, for their valuable feedback and support in their final year of coaching HKU’s Jessup Team. The Team would also like to thank the guest judges, Ms Natalie So, Mr Ryan Cheung, Mr Raphael Leung, Mr Jason Louie, Mr Alex CH Chan, Mr Ambrose Yu, Ms Tiffany Ng, Ms Faith Lee, Ms Holly Leung, Ms Ally Chan, Mr Leo Pang, Mr Chung Hin Yue, and Ms Veronica Yu for their kind assistance, helpful advice and rigorous advocacy training before the Hong Kong regional round, as well as in preparation for the international rounds.

HKU Team enters the Quarter-Finals in Oxford International Intellectual Property Law Moot and wins Best Individual Mooter in the Preliminary Rounds

From left: Ms Kei Yin Audrey CHOW, Mr Zheng Yu CHOW, Ms Hin Ching Hillary LO

The University of Hong Kong was among the 32 teams—selected from a pool of over 70—that advanced through the written phrase of the 23rd Oxford International Intellectual Property Law Moot to compete in the oral phase held in Oxford.

During the Preliminary Rounds of the oral phase, the team faced: (i) Goethe Universität, Frankfurt (Germany); (ii) University of Virginia (USA); (iii) Australian National University (Australia); and (iv) King’s College London (UK). The team emerged victorious in all four match-ups, ranking within the top 4 of the 32 participating teams and qualifying for the knock-out stage of the oral phase. In the quarter-finals, the team were eliminated by Osgoode Hall Law School (Canada) following a closely contested round.

As recognition for Mr Zheng Yu Chow's excellent performance in the oral phase, Mr Chow was awarded 4th Place for Best Individual Mooter in the Preliminary Rounds.

The team would like to thank the team coaches, Associate Professor Alice Lee and Ms Phoebe Woo, for their invaluable guidance and mentorship. The team are also deeply grateful to the guest judges, Mr Norman Hui and Mr Byron Chiu, for generously volunteering their time and for providing insightful feedback during the practice sessions.

HKU Law Champion in HSF Competition Law Moot 2024

The oral rounds of the 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot were held at King’s College London on 14-15 June 2024. The HKU Team consisted of Chan King Hei (BBA (Law) & LLB 3), Connor Gregory (LLM (CFL)), Lee Zee Faith (LLB 4), and Wong Ching Ho (PCLL). Based on EU competition law, the moot problem raised several issues concerning potentially abusive practices under Article 102 of the TFEU, the scope of the single economic entity doctrine under Article 101 TFEU, and the applicable standard of proof in EU competition law proceedings.

After surviving the preliminary rounds and two elimination rounds, the HKU Team advanced to the final round against Utrecht University from the Netherlands. There, the Team defended its case against a series of challenging questions from the judging panel, chaired by The Right Hon Lady Rose of Colmworth, Justice of the UK Supreme Court. The HKU Team ultimately emerged as the Champion, marking the fourth time HKU has won the competition since its inauguration in 2015. 

The HKU Team with the judges of the final round.
(Left to right): Ronan Flanagan (judge), Connor Gregory, Chan King Hei, Lee Zee Faith, Wong Ching Ho, The Right Hon Lady Rose of Colmworth (judge), Professor Alison Jones (judge),  William Kovacic (judge), Stephen Wisking (judge) 

In addition, the Team took home 3 individual awards in recognition of their advocacy skills, including Best Advocate for Connor Gregory and honourable mentions for Lee Zee Faith and Wong Ching Ho. The team’s written pleadings were also ranked 2nd out of 49 participating teams.

The Team would like to express their sincerest gratitude to Professor Thomas Cheng, Professor Kelvin Kwok, and Ms Allison Wong for their support and guidance. The Team would also like to thank the practice moot judges, Mr Byron Chiu, Mr Peter Dong, Mr Alex Yeung, Ms Clara Wong, Mr Martin Lau, and Mr Zixin Jiang, for their kind assistance and constructive feedback.

(Left to right): Professor Thomas Cheng, Chan King Hei, Connor Gregory, Lee Zee Faith, Wong Ching Ho, Ms Allison Wong

HKU Wins Hong Kong Jessup Moot Regional Rounds 2021

The HKU Jessup Team won the Regional Champion title in the 2021 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 28 February 2021. Known also as the most prestigious international mooting competition in the world, this year’s Jessup problem concerned the issues of state responsibilities during a global pandemic, diplomatic asylum, jurisdiction of the ICJ, and international aviation law. The Team consists of Ryan Cheung (PCLL), Jason Louie (PCLL), Raphael Leung (PCLL), and Thomas Lam (LLB3). In addition to the Champion title, the Team was awarded the Best Written Memorial Prize for the Respondent, and Thomas Lam was ranked 3rd best oralist in recognition of his outstanding advocacy skills.

     After competing against other law schools in Hong Kong, the HKU Team advanced to the Grand Final, where oral submissions were heard before Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li GBM QC SC (the former Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal), Mr Jin Pao SC (Barrister at Temple Chambers), and Mr Wesley Wong Wai-chung SC (Solicitor General of the Department of Justice).

    The Team would like to take this opportunity to express their most sincere gratitude to the coaches, Ms Astina Au and Ms Natalie So for their valuable feedback and guidance. The Team would also like to thank Ms Deanna Law, Mr Jason Ko, and Mr Fergus Tam for their kind assistance and helpful advice.  The team now advances to the Global Rounds which will be held virtually this year over a five-week period in March 2021.

HKU Celebrates (Another) Victory in the HSF Competition Law Moot 2020

Congratulations to the HKU Law team, consisting of Jason Louie (LLB IV), Adrian Mak (PCLL), Clara Wong (PCLL), and Alex Yeung (PCLL), for winning the Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot 2020 hosted by King's College London! This is the third time HKU has won the championship in the Moot since its inauguration in 2014, and the first time that the oral rounds were held virtually via Microsoft Teams. The team was coached by Associate Professor Thomas Cheng, Assistant Professor Kelvin Kwok, and alumnus Allison Wong. We are particularly grateful to the practice moot judges, most of whom are mooting alumni representing HKU in past competitions, for their generous time and support.

HKU Law First Runner-up in the HSF International Competition Law Moot 2019

Continuing the proud tradition of HKU’s prior achievements in competition law mooting, the HKU team placed First Runner-up in the Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot 2019, which was held in King’s College London from 13 to 15 June 2019. The team consisted of four students: Ferrida Chan (PCLL), Matthew Chung (LLB 4), Rafael Pang (BBA(Law) & LLB 3) and Cherry Ng (BSc(G&L) & LLB 3). Rafael and Matthew also earned special commendation for their excellent advocacy skills, being the top 5 speakers in the preliminary rounds. 

   The team’s journey began in November 2018, where all four speakers were selected after a rigorous selection process. The team ranked third in its written pleadings and advanced to the oral rounds in London together with 11 other teams. Prior to travelling, the team underwent multiple practice moots to further improve their advocacy skills. Special thanks go to various practitioners and past mooters including Sunny Chan, Tinny Chan, Tommy Cheung, Byron Chiu, Peter Dong, Brian Fan, Joshua Kanjanapas, Martin Lau, Grace Lee, Euchine Ng, Michael Ng, Sakinah Sat, Howard Wong and Tiffany Wu for their invaluable assistance and feedback. 

   Most importantly, thanks must be given to the team coaches, including Thomas Cheng, Kelvin Kwok and Allison Wong for their unending support and guidance throughout the competition.

HKU Team Wins Hong Kong Regional Jessup Round 2019

For the third consecutive year, the HKU Jessup Team won the Regional Champion title in the 60th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 29th February 2019. The Team was also awarded the Best Written Memorial Prizes for both the Applicant and Respondent.

     The Team consists of five students – Kaley Chan Yauting (LLM), Harrison Chung Wing Fung (PCLL), Jonathan Hsu Yau Yung (PCLL), Mathilda Kwong Yuan Shang (LLB5) and Myranda Lai Wun Chi (PCLL). Since October 2018, the Team intensely discussed and researched this year’s moot question on state responsibility for corporate actions, human rights violations, environmental degradation and appropriation of traditional knowledge for commercial purposes. By drafting two 9,000 word memorials and numerous advocacy trainings, the Team improved substantially their writing, researching and advocacy skills. 

     The Team takes this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to the team coaches Ms Astina Au and Ms Natalie So for their valuable feedback and helpful guidance throughout. The Team would also like to thank the guest judges, Mr Victor Lui, Mr Jeff Chan, Ms Alice Leung, Ms Angel Cheng, Mr Sunny Hor, Mr Henness Leung and Mr Jason Ko, for their kind assistance. The Team will continue to work hard in preparation for the international rounds in Washington DC in April 2019, in which they will represent Hong Kong in competing against fellow advocates from nearly 100 countries and jurisdictions around the world. 

HKU Law Students Excel in Mooting Competitions (Maritime Law and Competition Law)

L-R: A Fung, J Ma, K Lee, F Chan,
R Cheung

The 19th International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot 

Competing against 29 universities from 14 overseas jurisdictions, the HKU Maritime Law Moot Team was awarded the 1st Runner-Up of the Oral Hearings held in Brisbane, Australia from 29 June to 3 July 2018. The 2018 Maritime Law Moot Team consisted of Alex Fung (PCLL), Justin Ma (PCLL), Ferrida Chan (BBA-Law) and Ryan Cheung (LLB), coached by Mr. Ken Lee. 

L-R: K Lee, R Cheung, A Fung, J Ma,
F Chan

    During the group stages, the Team came in 6th overall and later defeated both the National University of Singapore and University of Malaya to advance into the grand finals held in the Federal Court of Australia in Brisbane. Our heartfelt thanks go to Professor Anselmo Reyes, Dr Felix Chan, Mr. Winky So and the previous award-winning team for their comments in various practice sessions; and Mr. Ken Lee, our team coach, for his unwavering support throughout the year. 

HKU Competition Law Team Captured Best Written Pleadings Award 

The HKU Competition Law Team won the Best Written Pleadings Award for the written round on route to the semi-finals of the annual Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot from 15 to 16 June 2018. Guided by Mr. Thomas Cheng and Mr. Kelvin Kwok, the 2018 Competition Law Moot Team comprised of 4 PCLL students –Yuet Yi Cheng, Law Wai Tsun Hazel, Ng Chun Wai Jonathan and Karen Tsang Nga Yue. The Team advanced to the oral rounds hosted by King’s College London based on the strength of its written memorandum. 

L-R: J Ng, H Law, T Cheng, YY Chen,
K Tsang

     After winning all its moots in the preliminary stage with Wai Tsun Hazel capturing an oralist award, the Team subsequently lost in the semi-finals to KCL which was ultimately the winner of this year’s competition. The Faculty is grateful for the valuable support from team coaches Thomas Cheng and Kelvin Kwok and various practitioners and ex-mooters including Mr. Sunny Chan, Ms. Tiffany Chan, Ms. Jasmine Cheung, Mr. Tommy Cheung, Mr. Byron Chiu, Mr. Joshua Kanjanapas, Mr. Kevin Lau, Mr. Joe Lee, Ms. Rosa Lee, Ms. Allison Wong, and Ms. Stephanie Wong for their kind assistance. 

HKU Team Awarded Powell Gilbert Runner-up Prize at Oxford IP Law Moot 2018

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L-R Kelvin Cheung, Esther Mak, Cedric Yeung, Alice Lee (coach)

Congratulations to HKU IP Moot Team which was awarded the Powell Gilbert Runner-up Prize for Best Written Submissions (Joint 2nd Place) in the 16th Annual Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot 2018​.
     The 16th Annual Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot 2018 was successfully held in Oxford from 15th to 17th March 2018. This year the Moot was extremely competitive, having received a record high of 66 written entries. The HKU Team consisted of Cheung Siu Hin Kelvin (PCLL), Mak Hoi Kay Esther (PCLL) and Yeung Chi Chung Cedric (LLB 4), and was coached by Ms Alice Lee and Mr Jason Yu. The HKU Team successfully proceeded to the oral rounds, beating University College London, University of Ottawa and University of Alberta in the preliminaries and was awarded the runner up prize for Best Written Submissions. ​ 

   The Team would like to express their sincere gratitude to Professor Anselmo Reyes, Ms Winnie Tam SC and past members of the HKU IP Moot Teams for their kind assistance. The Team must also give their heartfelt thanks to their two Team Coaches, who gave continuing support and guidance to the Team throughout the competition. ​

HKU Jessup Team Ranks 11th in Washington DC and Wins Top Oralist Award

From left: Coach Ms Astina Au, Jason Ko, Natalie So, Brian Lee, Michelle Sum, and Sakinah Sat

Congratulations to the HKU Jessup Team for achieving 11th place in the preliminary round of the 59th Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Competition, held in Washington, DC from 1-7 April 2018, where 121 teams competed. Demonstrating outstanding advocacy skills, team member, Natalie So, was crowned the top oralist in the International Rounds Top 100 Oralists. "The Jessup" is known internationally as the most prestigious public international law mooting competition for law students, where teams, having won their respective regional round, represent their country in a mock case before the International Court of Justice. The 2017-2018 competition problem involved a dispute between two fictional countries, Anduchenca and Rukaruku, concerning issues related to the validity of an arbitral award, the law of the sea, international arms disarmament, and the use of force.

    This year 600 law schools from 100 jurisdictions competed in the competition.  The HKU team won the Hong Kong regional championship in February 2018, capturing the best memorial prizes for both the applicant and respondent teams.
     At the International Rounds, the team defeated Argentina, Pakistan, Indonesia and Armenia in the preliminary round, before losing to the United States in the advanced rounds. The team members, Jason Ko Lun, Natalie So Tsz Ching, Brian Lee Chun-Hin, Michelle Sum Hiu-Yan, and Sakinah Sat are all students studying in the PCLL programme.  Brian and Jason ranked 17th and 75th respectively in the the list of top 100 best oralists.
     The team thanks Professor Po Jen Yap, Eva Sit, Tim Parker, Lester Lee, Adrian Lai, Terrence Tai, Kevin Lau, Isaac Chan, Jeff Chan, Winky So, Victor Lui, Sunny Hor, Henness Leung, Angel Cheng and Jonathan Lee for their kind assistance, and express their indebtedness to team coaches, Astina Au and Peter Barnes, barristers at Parkside Chambers, for their unfailing support.

HKU Team Wins Hong Kong Regional Jessup Round and Heads to Washington Finals

 

From left: Brian Lee, Natalie So, Jason Ko, Coach Ms Astina Au, Michelle Sum, and Sakinah Sat

Continuing the success of HKU last year, the HKU Jessup Team has won the Regional Champion in the 59th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 25th February 2018. The Team was also awarded with the Best Written Memorial Prizes for both the Applicant and Respondent.

     With participants from 700 law schools in 100 different jurisdictions, the world’s largest moot competition is based on a fictional case before the International Court of Justice. This year’s problem concerns international arbitration, law of the seas, nuclear disarmament, and use of force. It requires a thorough understanding of public international law, an increasingly important area of law in 21st century.

     The Team consists of 5 PCLL students – Ko Lun Jason, Lee Chun-Hin Brian, Sat Sakinah, So Tsz Ching Natalie, and Sum Hiu-Yan Michelle. Since the selection round in September 2017, the Team has been researching extensively on international conventions and customs. Further, numerous oral practice sessions were held before the Moot, through which the Team has tremendously benefitted from rigorous questions and comments on advocacy style. For this, the Team would like to express sincere gratitude to Mr Isaac Chan, Mr Jeff Chan, Mr Victor Lui, Mr Henness Leung and Ms Angel Cheng for their kind assistance.

     Last but not least, thanks must be given to Ms Astina Au and Mr Peter Barnes (team coaches), and Mr Sunny Hor (student coach), for their unfailing support all along. The Team will be representing Hong Kong in the upcoming international rounds in Washington DC in April 2018.