On April 10, the 3rd session of the Hong Kong Law Lecture Series was successfully convened in Room C208 of the Lijiao Building of Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai. The lecture was delivered by Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang, a part-time professor at Beijing Normal University. The session featured a panelist Barrister Shu Wenhao, and was moderated by Chair Professor Zhao Wenzong from the Law School of Beijing Normal University. The event drew an attentive audience comprising undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from the Law School.

This event is the third session of the Hong Kong Law Lecture Series. This series of activities aims to help students understand Hong Kong law and strengthen communication between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. In the coming sessions, the series will welcome a range of Hong Kong legal experts, including judges from the Court of First Instance of the High Court of Hong Kong, prominent barristers, and leading partners from Hong Kong law firms, to offer a multifaceted exploration of the Hong Kong legal system.

Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang was admitted to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1993, elevated to the rank of Senior Counsel in 2016, and successfully completed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Bar Examination in 2021. He currently holds the position of Special Judge at the Court of First Instance of the High Court of Hong Kong, serves as Co-Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Standing Committee of the Hong Kong Bar Association, and is a member of the Academic Committee for the Law Professional Certificate Program at both the University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong.

Barrister Shu Wenhao was recognized as a barrister in Hong Kong in 2016 and passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Bar Examination in 2023. He focuses on research in fields such as commercial law, corporate law, and land law.

The lecture, titled "Cross-Border Arbitration: Rules and Procedures," was delivered by Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang. He delved into the fundamentals of arbitration, highlighting the distinctions and benefits of arbitration over traditional litigation. From an international standpoint, he guided the audience through the process of initiating arbitration proceedings and the selection of arbitration tribunals by esteemed bodies such as the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and the London Court of International Arbitration. Drawing from his three decades of professional expertise, Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang candidly shared with the students the array of challenges they might face in arbitration, along with strategic countermeasures to address them.

During the discussion session, Barrister Shu Wenhao focused on the issue of arbitration jurisdiction and discussed with the students the differences between the law applicable to arbitration agreements, jurisdictional disputes, and admissibility disputes based on specific cases. Through teaching, students will understand that determining arbitration jurisdiction is a complex but crucial issue in cross-border arbitration.

Subsequently, Professor Zhao Wenzong summarized the lecture. Professor Zhao introduced Hong Kong's position and development history in the field of international arbitration, encouraging students to actively engage in this field through participating in international simulated arbitration competitions and other means.

Following the lecture, Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang, Barrister Shu Wenhao, Professor Zhao Wenzong, and Teacher Wu Qian from the Center on the Rule of Law and Development at BNU Zhuhai engaged in a lively discussion and exchange with the students at Lishengxuan. Teacher Wu Qian initiated the conversation by drawing on his own study abroad experiences, urging students to expand their vistas, take courageous steps forward, and enhance their legal acumen through continual self-improvement. The students responded with enthusiasm, actively participating in the dialogue and raising questions on various topics, including the preparation for international mock arbitration competitions, the attributes necessary for a legal career in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and planning for future professional paths. The guests offered their insights and recommendations in response. Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang delved into a discussion with the students about the professional prospects for lawyers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a focus on the opportunities and challenges within the realm of international legal services, such as cross-border arbitration. He underscored the importance of not only possessing a robust foundation in legal knowledge but also cultivating an international outlook and cross-cultural communication skills in the context of globalization.

In conclusion, Professor Zhao Wenzong extended his heartfelt thanks to Senior Counsel Xu Weiqiang, Barrister Shu Wenhao, and Teacher Wu Qian for their invaluable contributions to the session. The students conveyed that they had not only gained an in-depth insight into cross-border arbitration but also a broader perspective on their prospective careers. They were committed to applying the knowledge and advice garnered from this event to their ongoing studies and future professional endeavors. With this, the session drew to a successful close.