September 1964
February 1965
1966
1968
June 1969
September 1969
1971
1972
1973
1978
July 1984
1986
1987
December 1988
1989
1989
1993
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2001
2002
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2014
2016
2017
2019
2019
September 1964 */ ?>
The Department of Extra-mural Studies starts offering part-time evening courses which led to the external Bachelor of Laws (LLB) of the University of London.
Enrolment Form from 1967, where the study of law was initially offered at HKU in the Department of Extra-mural Studies
February 1965 */ ?>
Zelman Cowen, C L Pannam (Melbourne) and A G Guest (Oxford), submit a Report of Advisers on Law Studies to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Sir Lindsay Ride.
Letter from Maurice Heenan, the then Attorney General to the University’s Registrar in 1965, supporting the establishment of the Law Faculty.
Sir Lindsay Ride, Vice-Chancellor of HKU (1949 – 1964)
1966 */ ?>
A Working Party chaired by a senior judge recommends the establishment of an LLB degree at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) leading towards a Hong Kong professional qualification.
Legal education in Hong Kong : reports of the 1966 and 1969 Working Parties on Legal Education edited by Professor Dafydd Evans in 1974
1968 */ ?>
The University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) agrees in principle to establish a Department of Law at HKU.
June 1969 */ ?>
The then Chief Justice, Sir Michael Hogan and the Vice-Chancellor appointed a Working Party to consider the professional stage of legal education in Hong Kong.
Overseas Chinese Daily News (華僑日報) reported on 19 April 1969 that the Department of Law would be established in summer
Sir Michael Hogan, Chief Justice of Hong Kong (1955-1970).
September 1969 */ ?>
The Department of Law is established under the Faculty of Social Science, offering a 3 year full-time undergraduate programme leading to the honours degree of LLB. Dafydd Evans is the first Head of the Department. There are initially only 3 academic staff (Dafydd Evans, John Rear and Bernard Downey, later to be joined by Alan Smith). The initial intake is 40 students and the Department is located at 154-158 Caine Road, a 3-storey block of flats built in 1921 as police officers’ married quarters.

 

154-158, Caine Road, Hong Kong.
The First batch in 1969 including the 3 academic staff and Mr Malcolm Quinn the Law Librarian.
1971 */ ?>
The Hong Kong Law Journal is launched, with Henry Litton QC as the first Editor-in-chief.
1972 */ ?>
Following recommendations by a second working party, the one-year PCLL (Postgraduate Certificate of Laws) is introduced at the University of Hong Kong as a local professional qualification leading to legal practice.
The Law Association of HKU publishes Justitia, a journal run by law students (until 1986).
Justitia, a journal run by law students.
Overseas Chinese Daily News (華僑日報) reported on 24 February 1972 that the number of HKU law students rose to 115.
1973 */ ?>
The Department moves to the Knowles Building on the HKU main campus.
1978 */ ?>
The Department becomes an autonomous School of Law.
July 1984 */ ?>
The School of Law becomes a Faculty of Law. Dafydd Evans is elected the first Dean. The Faculty has two departments: the Department of Law, headed by Robert Allcock, and the Department of Professional Legal Education, headed by Peter Willoughby. The number of academic staff exceeds 30 and LLB intake is over 100 students.
Mr Robert Allcock
Professor Peter Willoughby in 1994.
1986 */ ?>
Introduction of a Master of Laws programme (LLM). The LLM focuses initially on Chinese and international trade law. In later years other specialist streams are introduced.
1987 */ ?>
Peter Rhodes succeeds Dafydd Evans as Dean.
December 1988 */ ?>
The Faculty moves to the KK Leung Building (3/F, 4/F & 5/F).
1989 */ ?>

The Faculty celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
1989 */ ?>
Yash Ghai is appointed the first Sir Y K Pao Chair in Public Law.
 Professor Yash Ghai
Sir Y K Pao
1993 */ ?>
Peter Wesley Smith succeeds Peter Rhodes as Dean.
The Eric Au Memorial Lecture is endowed in memory of the late Eric Au (LLB 1979, PCLL 1980), a strong advocate of the use of Chinese in Law.

 

From left: Professor Johannes Chan SC (Hon), Peter Wesley Smith and Professor Albert Chen in 1999.
1995 */ ?>
 The Centre for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL) is established to promote research in the fields of public and comparative law.
1996 */ ?>
 Albert Chen succeeds Peter Wesley Smith as Dean.
1997 */ ?>
The Master of Common Law programme, with an associated Postgraduate Diploma in Common Law, is launched.
1998 */ ?>
Introduction of the Doctor of Legal Science (SJD) degree, based on the American model, a postgraduate programme combining coursework with a substantial research component.
1999 */ ?>
The Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL) is established.
The Hochelaga Lectures Series is inaugurated.
Launch of the first LLB double degree programme – BBA(Law) and BSS (Government and Law).
The Faculty celebrates its 30th Anniversary
 
2001 */ ?>
The Report on the Legal Education and Training in Hong Kong: Preliminary Review is released, recommending the introduction of a 4-year LLB
Launch of the first Peter Willoughby Memorial Lecture Series.
2002 */ ?>
Johannes Chan succeeds Albert Chen as Dean.
The first Jerome Chan Memorial Lecture is inaugurated in memory of Jerome Chan (LLB 1974, PCLL 1975) one of the first HKU law graduates to be appointed to the High Court bench.
Introduction of the Law Mentorship Programme.
2004 */ ?>
Introduction of the 4-Year LLB programme.
Establishment of the China Technology and Law Centre (now known as the Law & Technology Centre).
The Faculty is selected by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its designated partner in Asia for the first Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course (RTPC), offering training to the representatives of 31 countries in the Region.
  Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course in 2003.
 
2005 */ ?>
CLIC (Community Legal Information Centre) website (www.clic.org.hk) is launched.
The Common Law Lecture Series is inaugurated.
2007 */ ?>
Albert Chen is appointed Chan Professor in Constitutional Law.
Philip Smart is appointed Harold Hsiao-Wo Lee Professor in Corporate Law.
Kerry Holdings Professorship in Law and Paul K C Chung Professorship in Jurisprudence are established.
 Professor Albert Chen (left) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Professor Johannes Chan SC (Hon), the then Dean of Law.
Professor Scott Veitch (left) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Mr Paul Chung in (2010).
Professor Lusina Ho (right) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Mrs Christina Lee in (2011).
Professor Michael Tilbury (right) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Professor Johannes Chan SC (Hon), the then Dean of Law in (2010).
2008 */ ?>
The Faculty receives a $400-million donation from Dr Cheng Yu-Tung, Chairman of the New World Development Company Limited.
Establishment of the Trans-Pacific LLB-JD programme with the University of British Columbia.
Launches of a double master degree with the University of Zurich.
 Dr Cheng Yu-Tung (middle) at the Dedication Event in 2018.
2009 */ ?>
The Faculty enters into the first double undergraduate degree arrangement with King’s College London.
Introduction of the Juris Doctor (JD) Programme.
Establishment of the Centre for Chinese Law
Introduction of the Clinical Legal Education Programme.
The Faculty celebrates its 40th Anniversary
 
2010 */ ?>
JD-LLM double degree agreement with the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Establishment of a double master’s degree in law with Peking University.
2011 */ ?>
Introduction of a double degree in Law and Literary Studies (BA(Literary Studies) & LLB).
2012 */ ?>
The Faculty moves to a new purpose-built 11-storey building, Cheng Yu Tung Tower on the Centennial Campus.
Establishment of the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) compiles its first world ranking of law schools, with HKU Law ranked 16th in the world.
2014 */ ?>
Michael Hor succeeds Johannes Chan as Dean.
2016 */ ?>
Dual Degree arrangement agreed with University College, London.
2017 */ ?>
The Times Higher Education (THE) compiles its first World University Rankings by Subject. The Faculty comes first among law schools in Asia and 18th in the world.
2019 */ ?>
Douglas Arner is appointed Kerry Holdings Professor in Law.
Fu Hualing is appointed Warren Chan Professorship in Human Rights and Responsibilities.
  Professor Douglas Arner (right) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Professor Michael Hor.
  Professor Fu Hualing (right) receiving the Appointment Certificate from Mr Warren Chan SC.
2019 */ ?>
The Faculty celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

 

  Dr the Hon Sir David Li (middle), the HKU Pro-Chancellor, and other officiating guests officiated the HKU Faculty of Law 50th Anniversary Kick-off Ceremony on 25 June 2018.