Keynote Address by Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau, SBS (Guest of Honour)
Executive Vice-President, Professor Tien
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Fu
Distinguished Guests, Professors, Graduands, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s a great honour to be invited to address the Class of 2024 of the Faculty of Law. Seeing such an energetic and vibrant cohort of graduands here today with their proud families and loved ones gives me immense joy.
First of all, let me congratulate all the graduands on your achievement. After years of hard work, many sleepless nights, and countless assignments and tests, you have successfully reached this significant milestone. Over the past 55 years, the Faculty of Law has produced many of the sharpest legal minds, who have gone on to play definitive roles in shaping the development of our city. You are now a part of the team. As you stand on the cusp of new beginnings and look forward to the journeys ahead, remember that the education and experiences you have gained are not just accolades but also tools to shape your future and impact the world around you.
I also want to take this opportunity to give thanks to all the families and loved ones here today who have stood by the graduands and given them support every step of the way. You all deserve recognition on this momentous occasion. So, congratulations to you all!
Standing here today, I can’t help but think back on my own journey into the legal profession. Although I did not study law for my first degree, I developed a passion for the law after working for a few years following graduation. During that time, I saw that the law shapes all aspects of our society, and becoming a lawyer means having the tools to make a real impact on people’s lives, whether through participating in advocacy, creating policies, legislation, or ensuring equal access to justice for all.
Using the law to serve the public has become my mission. It led me to join the Department of Justice and work there for close to three decades after I was called to the English Bar and Hong Kong Bar in 1991. During my time in the Department of Justice, I had the privilege of working in different legal divisions and the opportunities to advise the Government on a wide range of issues in the areas of criminal, civil, and international law. Even after all these years, I am still driven by the same mission as I work with different stakeholders in the community to tackle various forms of discrimination as the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission.
The legal profession is absolutely demanding but it is also infinitely rewarding. As you are all about to embark on a new journey, allow me to share with you a few key “ingredients” to help strengthen your personal mission and belief to meet the challenges ahead.
Upholding the Rule of Law in Challenging Times
I’m sure you all agree that the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success and one of our greatest strengths. It protects the rights and freedoms of every individual in our community. It provides the foundation for institutions to function and operate with certainty. It allows us to trust in the independence, objectivity, and impartiality of the judiciary to resolve differences and disputes in a fair and just manner. In short, we owe our past, present, and future progress and achievements to the rule of law.
In his important speech marking the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, President Xi Jinping affirmed the centrality of the common law system in the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. As he said in the speech, “The Central Government fully supports Hong Kong in its effort to maintain its distinctive status and edges, to improve its presence as an international financial, shipping, and trading centre, to keep its business environment free, open, and regulated, and to maintain the common law, so as to expand and facilitate its exchanges with the world”.
It is indisputable that the rule of law remains robust in Hong Kong. Yet, with growing geopolitical division and tension, this fundamental truth about our society is being tested, giving rise to baseless claims about the erosion of the rule of law in our city.
Being a member of the legal profession is a privilege. At the same time, it’s incumbent upon you to remember that this privilege comes with responsibilities, the chief of which is to remain steadfast in promoting and upholding the rule of law.
Discharging this duty will require courage to speak the truth, resolve to correct misconceptions, and wisdom to navigate complexities. Your legal training has already equipped you with everything you need to fulfil this tall order. Whatever paths you take going forward, I hope you will embrace this calling and give your all to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our legal system. As the next generation of the legal profession, you will be the custodians of this precious foundation of our city’s stability and prosperity for decades to come.
Act with Integrity
Throughout my career, I have worked with many lawyers. Regardless of their speciality or years of practice, those who consistently achieve results and make a positive impact share three characteristics.
The first is that they act with integrity. Practising law is not just a technical endeavour. Knowing cases like the back of your hand or having the ability to spot potential loopholes in the fine print are, of course, essential skills to have. But more importantly, being able to build trusting relationships, whether it is with those you advise, your opponents or the community at large, will be key to determining your success. Just like planting seeds in fertile soil, when you act with integrity, trust will follow.
As many of you are about to start your legal career, you will quickly find that making difficult decisions is part and parcel of the job. How will you uphold the truth when it may conflict with your client’s expectations? Will you maintain your commitment to the law even when you are under intense pressure to compromise? Would you put legal victory or short-term gains before the ethical implications of your actions? These questions will come to the fore time and again throughout your career, and sometimes, it will be tempting to take the easy way out. But when you put integrity as your guiding principle, you will find the strength and determination to take the right path, even when it is more challenging.
Embrace Diversity
The second key characteristic is the openness to diversity in thought and perspectives. We are living in a world that is increasingly defined by tribalism. The echo chambers of social media and the fragmentation of the media landscape are also making people more entrenched in their positions. Certainty and moral absolutism, rather than nuance and complexity, dominate public discourse.
In this climate, it is more pertinent than ever that you practise the art of listening and seek out opportunities to engage in dialogue with those who are different from you. Legal training teaches us to be objective when analysing facts and propositions. But the reality is that we all have individual biases and blind spots that are informed by our own upbringing and experiences. Staying in our comfort zone and surrounding ourselves only with those who agree with us will only desensitise us to these dispositions and reinforce such inclinations.
So, don’t be afraid to have your perspectives challenged. Instead, embrace it. Because every time it happens, it gives you an opportunity to refine your thinking, broaden your horizons, and gain new analytical tools. When you meet someone who holds views that are diametrically opposed to yours, engage with them with humility and kindness. You’d be surprised to find that you will learn far more than simply keeping them at arm’s length and treating them as mere adversaries.
Serve with a Greater Purpose
The third key characteristic is to serve with a greater purpose. Renowned psychiatrist and holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl once wrote that “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose”. In other words, no amount of personal success or achievements can bring you satisfaction or happiness in the long-run unless your actions are underpinned by a greater purpose or meaning. I find from my personal experience that this axiom holds true when it comes to building a career.
With your legal training, you will have many opportunities to advance your career in the years ahead. Your professional worth will grow, and you may even receive personal accolades and recognition on your journey. There is nothing inherently wrong with these rewards, but it would serve you well not to make them the only goals you are chasing after. Instead, always bear in mind that your legal education can serve a greater purpose in society.
As law graduates, you will be in a unique position to shape social norms, influence policy, and effect change both at the micro and macro levels. The community will look to you for guidance on matters related to ethics, morality, and legality, relying on your expertise and judgement to navigate complex issues that affect individual lives and social structures. This is not only true for those who choose a career path in the public sector or those who decide to focus on areas such as administrative law, human rights, or environmental law. Other lawyers, such as commercial lawyers can also practise law with purpose by advocating fairness, encouraging ethical conduct, and contributing to a legal environment where businesses and enterprises can thrive on a level-playing field.
Cultivating a sense of purpose starts with understanding how your work affects not just your client or your immediate community but also individuals you may not even have direct contact with. This will come naturally when you attune yourselves to the pressing challenges our society and different communities face, and think deeply how your skills and field of expertise can contribute to potential solutions. In turn, this process will imbue your daily work, no matter how ordinary or mundane, with greater significance.
I still feel motivated every day, as I continue to work towards my mission to make positive impact on people’s lives. All of this is to say that when you work to build a career with a purpose, you won’t just become more successful. You will also become more fulfilled and satisfied.
Conclusion
Today is a day to celebrate your achievements. It is also a day to reflect on the values and mission that will guide you in the next chapter of your lives. I am truly grateful and honoured to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and experience with you at this critical juncture.
Before I conclude, I have one final piece of advice for you. Finding your personal mission takes time, and it is an ongoing process. Every experience you have, no matter good or bad, will be invaluable in guiding you to walk your own path. So, don’t be afraid of failure. Instead, work to build your resilience. And always stay humble, for growth cannot happen without humility.
Allow me to once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you and your families. You all have an exciting journey ahead, and I wish you great success in your future endeavours.
Thank you very much.
田之楠副校長
傅華伶院長
各位嘉賓、各位教授、各位畢業生、各位先生、女士：
很榮幸獲邀出席香港大學法律學院學位頒授典禮，向2024年畢業生致辭。看到在座各位朝氣勃勃的畢業生，以及你們喜悅自豪的親友，我也感到非常高興。
首先，我在此衷心祝賀所有畢業同學，經過多年的刻苦學習、許多挑燈夜讀的晚上、無數功課及測試的洗禮，今天終於達到這個重要的里程碑。過去55年，香港大學法學院孕育出很多非常優秀的法律精英，畢業後為香港的發展作出重要的貢獻。在座各位畢業生亦是這班精英的一份子。在即將展開人生新一頁之際，請緊記你們在港大收穫的，不只是學位頭銜，更是可以創造未來、改變世界的知識、技能。
我亦希望藉此機會感謝今日在座的畢業生親友，一直以來在陪伴各位畢業生，沿途給予支持。在今日這個重要時刻，你們也同樣值得表揚。恭喜你們！
今天站在這裡，令我不禁回想起自己投身法律界的歷程。我的第一個學位並非修讀法律，但畢業後工作了幾年，我對法律產生濃厚的興趣。我注意到法律塑造了社會的各個範疇，而成為律師，即代表有能力透過參與訟辯、制定政策、立法，或確保所有人都有平等的渠道尋求司法公正等，切實影響人們的生活。
因此，我立志透過法律服務社會。我在1991年取得英國大律師資格及香港大律師資格後，加入律政司工作了近三十年。在律政司任職期間，我有幸曾在不同法律科工作，有機會就刑事、民事及國際法領域的廣泛議題向政府提供意見。即使歷經多年，現在我以平等機會委員會主席的身份，與社會上不同的持份者協作，處理各種歧視問題，這份使命感仍然是推動我前行的動力。
法律專業的要求無疑是十分嚴格，但法律工作同時也是極具意義的。各位同學，在你們即將展開新旅程之際，容我跟大家分享幾個原則，希望有助大家日後面對挑戰時，能夠堅守初心及信念。
無懼挑戰 維護法治
我相信各位都會同意，法治是香港賴以成功的基石，也是香港最大的優勢之一。法治保障社會上每一個人的權利及自由；是不同機構穩定運作的基礎；令我們信任司法制度是獨立、客觀及公正的，會公平公正地解決分歧及糾紛。簡而言之，香港過去、現在、未來的進步及成就都要歸功於法治。
習近平主席在慶祝香港回歸祖國25周年的重要講話中，肯定了普通法制度是成功落實「一國兩制」的關鍵之一。正如習主席在講話中所說：「中央政府完全支持香港長期保持獨特地位和優勢，鞏固國際金融、航運、貿易中心的地位，維護自由開放規範的營商環境，保持普通法制度，拓展暢通便捷的國際聯繫。」
香港的法治健全是不爭的事實。然而，隨着地緣政治分化，局勢日趨緊張，這個事實受到了質疑，甚至有人毫無根據地聲稱香港的法治受到侵蝕。
能夠加入法律界，是我們的榮譽。同時，我們須緊記，這種榮譽也附帶着責任。我們首要的責任之一，就是要堅定不移地推動和維護法治。
要履行這個責任，必須有勇氣道出真相，有決心糾正誤解，有智慧拆解難題。你們受過法律培訓，已經具備一切所需的知識及技能，應對這項艱巨的任務。日後無論你們走哪條路，我希望你們也會欣然接受這項使命，竭盡全力維護香港法律制度健全、有效運作。你們是法律界的生力軍，在未來數十年，捍衛香港繁榮穩定的基礎的責任，就交到你們手中。
秉持誠信
在我的職業生涯中，曾與許多律師共事。我發現，無論他們的專業是哪一個領域、年資如何，能夠屢創佳績、帶來正面改變的律師都有三個共通點。
第一個共通點，就是他們秉持誠信行事。從事法律執業，所需的不單是專業知識及技能。對案件瞭如指掌，又或者能夠洞悉細節中可能出現的漏洞，固然是律師必備的技能。然而，更重要的是，能夠與尋求法律意見的人、你的對手、以至社會整體建立互信關係，才是成功的關鍵。就像在肥沃的土壤中播下種子一樣，當秉持誠信行事，就會萌生信任。
在座很多同學即將展開法律事業。你們很快便會發現，工作上常常要作出艱難的決定。當真相可能與客戶的期望有所衝突時，你會否捍衛真相？當面對極大的妥協壓力時，你會否堅守法律的原則？在案件勝利或短期利益面前，你會否放下道德考量？你將會在事業生涯上一次又一次地面對這些問題。有時候，我們會想選擇較容易的出路。但如果你以誠信為原則，即使正確的路較為難行，亦會給予你力量及決心走下去。
接納多元
另一個共通點，就是他們思想開明，願意聆聽不同的想法及觀點。在現今世代，部落主義日益嚴重，加上社交媒體的同溫層效應及媒體碎片化，令人們更容易偏執己見，難以容納各種不同的觀點，變得非黑即白，壁壘分明。
在這種大氣候下，我們更需要學會聆聽，積極與不同看法的人溝通。法學培訓教導我們客觀地分析事實及主張。但事實上，我們每個人都有自己的偏見及盲點，而這些偏見及盲點是由我們的成長背景及經歷形成的。留在舒適區，只與想法相同的人為伍，只會令我們更固執己見而不自覺。
所以，不要害怕他人質疑你的觀點；相反，要樂於接受。這樣你才有機會鍛煉思維，擴闊視野，學習嶄新的分析技巧。當你遇上觀點與你截然不同的人，不妨虛心友善地與他們交流。如是者，你會意想不到地發現，相比起與他們保持距離，視他們為敵，你學到的會更多。
訂立更遠大的目標
第三個主要共通點，就是他們會訂立更遠大的目標。著名精神科醫生及納粹大屠殺倖存者維克多·法蘭克曾寫道：「令生活難熬的從來不是環境，而是沒有人生意義及目標。」換言之，一個人無論有多少個人成就，如背後沒有一個更遠大的目標支持，長遠亦無法感到滿足快樂。從我親身經驗所得，這句話也可套用在建立事業上。
法律系畢業後，未來你們會有很多機會發展事業，逐漸獨當一面，甚至獲得各種個人殊榮及嘉許。這些報酬及獎項本身沒有問題，但不應是你們追求的唯一目標。你們要緊記你們所學的法律知識，能夠在社會發揮更大用處。
作為法律系畢業生，你們具備得天獨厚的優勢，可在微觀及宏觀層面上，塑造社會規範、左右政策、推動變革。社會大眾會就倫理、道德及法律的事宜尋求你們的意見，依靠你們的專業知識及判斷，解決影響個人生活以至社會結構的複雜問題。以上所指的，不僅是那些決定在公營界別發展，或準備專攻行政法、人權法或環境法的畢業同學；其他律師例如商事律師也可透過提倡公平、鼓勵道德操守，以及協助建立公平營商的法律環境，賦予法律工作更大的意義。
要建立使命感，首先要明白，你的工作不只影響你的客戶或身邊的群體，亦會影響那些與你沒有直接接觸的人。當你了解社會及不同群體面對的挑戰，並深入思考你的技能及專業如何能夠幫助解決這些問題時，使命感便會自然而然產生。這個過程也會讓你的日常工作，無論多麼平凡或瑣碎，都變得更有意義。
直到今天，我每日仍然充滿動力實踐我的使命，努力為人們的生活帶來正面的轉變。總而言之，為事業訂立更遠大的目標，不單會推動你做得更好，亦會為你帶來更大的成就感及滿足感。
結論
今天是慶祝各位畢業生學有所成的日子，也是大家思考哪些價值觀及使命感能夠引領你們進入人生下一個篇章的日子。我有幸可以在這個重要的場合，跟大家分享一些想法及經驗，實在非常感激和榮幸。
在完結之前，我還有最後一個建議給大家。尋找人生使命是一個漫長、持續的過程。每段經歷，不論是好是壞，都是引領你走出自己的路的過程，彌足珍貴。所以，不要害怕失敗，要努力建立抗逆能力。同時，要保持謙卑，因為沒有謙卑的心，就很難成長。
在此再次向各位畢業生及你們的家人致以最衷心的祝福。你們即將展開精彩的旅程，祝願各位前程似錦，鵬程萬里！
謝謝各位。