Keynote Address by The Honourable Mr Justice Jeremy Poon (Guest of Honour)
Dean Fu, Members of the Faculty, Graduates, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour to have been asked to say a few words at today’s Congregation.
Please allow me first to extend my warmest congratulations to all the graduates, your families and loved ones, and the Law Faculty. To the graduates, for your great achievements. Years of rigorous study and hard work have finally paid off. To your families and loved ones, for their love and unwavering support that made this day possible. To the Faculty and the staff, for producing yet another batch of law graduates who will, I am confident, serve our community with distinction in the years ahead.
I graduated from the Law School in 1985. The world has undergone tremendous changes since then. Globalization, once regarded as the norm for stable global economic development, is now under serious challenges. The world order has shifted from U.S. hegemony to multipolar competition, marked by geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts and trade realignments. Technology has advanced with an unprecedented acceleration. Smartphones, social media, AI, blockchain, and 5G (with 6G on the horizon) are reshaping our life and work rapidly. Innovation, with sustainability and digital transformation at the forefront, holds the key to the future.
Nearer to home, Hong Kong has gone through her ups and downs. We have time and again weathered the storm, thanks to the strong support of our Motherland, the unique advantages that we enjoy under the “one country, two systems” principle, and most importantly, the quality of the Hong Kong people that enables us to resile and excel even during the most challenging circumstances.
When I reflect on my own judicial career for the past three decades in the context of the above changes, I have distilled a few points which I would like to share with you. I hope you will find them useful when you are about to embark on the next phase of your journey in helping you navigate the uncharted waters where uncertainties, challenges and opportunities abound.
First, as law graduates, our calling is to uphold the rule of law. This is our primary responsibility, no matter what career path you are going to choose. The rule of law is the corner stone of our society. It has, and continues to help Hong Kong withstand tremendous difficulties. It is pivotal to our success and development as a modern, civilized society and international financial centre. It is a privilege that we can participate in this meaningful task. At a more personal level, I find, and hope you will also find, that the faith in the rule of law and the duty to uphold it, especially in difficult times, always prevails over doubts, challenges and even attacks.
Second, we must always serve with integrity. It is integrity of judges and lawyers that provides the backbone to the rule of law. Without integrity of those who practise and administer the law, the public will not have confidence in the rule of law. And without public confidence, there is no rule of law. So, we must always act in a manner that instills and enhances, rather than diminishes, public confidence in the rule of law.
Third, diligence is the mother of success. Diligence means that you are always prepared. You stay up to date on the development of the law, the latest changes in the market and how technology may help your work. As it has been famously said, there are no shortcuts to success.
Fourth, we can never afford to be complacent. Never settle for mediocrity. Remember that there is always room for improvement. This will drive you farther in your career advancement.
Fifth, understand your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. Understanding your strengthens emboldens you to venture outside your comfort zones, to find things that you are good at doing and that significantly interest you. Your passion will emerge through this exploration. Acknowledging your weaknesses means that you are honest with yourself, know your limits and when to ask for help. You will learn from your mistakes, incorporate the learning and move forward. You will be humbled through the process.
With these matters in mind, namely: to uphold the rule of law; to act with integrity; to always apply yourselves; to never settle; and to know your own strengths and weaknesses, no doubt you will all go far in your chosen callings! Remember that what you have learnt at law school goes beyond the black letter of the law. The principles and standards you have been taught go to the core of being a good lawyer, a good citizen, and a good person.
Finally, it remains for me to thank you for lending me your ears today. Congratulations again to all of the University of Hong Kong law graduates of 2025! You should take great pride in graduating from not only the top law school in Hong Kong, but one of the top law schools globally. We look forward to seeing all your accomplishments in future, and I wish you all the best in the many years to come.
傅院長、各位教職員、各位畢業生、各位嘉賓、各位先生女士：
能夠在今天的畢業典禮上發言，我深感榮幸。
首先，我想衷心祝賀所有畢業生、畢業生摯愛的家人朋友，以及法律學院。各位畢業生，恭喜你們多年來的努力耕耘終於得到成果。亦恭喜各位家人朋友,你們付出的愛與支持成就了今天。各位法律學院的教職員，恭喜你們又成功培養出新一批的法律人才，我相信他們未來將會在社會裡作出卓越貢獻。
我本人於1985年從法律學院畢業。自那時以來，世界經歷了巨大的變化。全球化曾經被視為穩定世界經濟發展的常態，如今正面臨嚴峻挑戰。世界秩序已經由美國霸權轉向多極競爭。地緣政治緊張、區域衝突與貿易重整已成為現今國際局勢的特徵。科技亦前所未有地高速發展，智能手機、社交媒體、人工智能、區塊鏈和5G（6G亦在望）不斷地重塑我們的生活與工作。以永續發展與數位轉型為首的創新精神，就是未來的關鍵。
在香港，我們也經歷了高低起伏。我們一次又一次地克服了挑戰，甚至在最艱難的時刻也能成功跨過。這都是憑藉祖國的堅實支持、「一國兩制」下享有的獨特優勢，以及最重要的就是香港人的素質。
畢業後你們會開始新的階段，當中充滿機遇、亦充滿挑戰和不確定性。在這個啓航之時我想與你們分享一些心得，是我回顧過去三十年司法生涯總結出來的，希望有助你們航行得更順暢。
首先，作為法律系畢業生，維護法治是我們的天職。無論將來選擇甚麼職業方向，這都是我們的首要責任。法治是社會的基石，它曾經守護香港渡過了重重難關，亦是我們作為現代化文明社會與國際金融中心的成功關鍵。能夠參與法律工作是一種榮幸。希望你們和我一樣堅信法治，守護法治。靠著這個信念, 即使在最艱難的時候,都能夠勝過懷疑、挑戰甚至攻擊。
其次，要正直忠誠。法官與律師的操守是法治的支柱。如果法律從業者都缺乏誠信，公眾就會對法治失去信心。公眾失去信心的話，就沒有法治可言。因此，我們行事為人要正直謹慎，以行動去增強，而非削弱，公眾對法治的信心。
第三，勤奮是成功之母。勤奮的人常常準備充足，緊貼法律的最新發展、留意市場的變化，思考如何利用科技提升工作效率。相信大家都聽過：成功沒有捷徑。
第四，絕對不能自滿。絕對不可以安於平庸，記住你永遠都有進步的空間。這個想法會推動力你一直突破自我，在事業上走得更遠。
第五，要了解自已的強弱。認清自已的優勢會令人有勇氣踏出安舒區，去發掘真正熱愛和擅長的事情。通過這種探索，會掌握到你的定位和使命。你亦要承認自已是有限制的，認清弱點，就懂得在適當的時候尋求幫助。從錯誤中學習，將教訓整合，然後繼續航行。過程不會一帆風順，但你會變得謙卑，亦會變得強大。
如果能夠記住以上的幾點 – 維護法治、正直忠誠、勤奮向上、追求卓越，自我認知 – 就必定可以在各自的軌道上走得更高更遠！在法律學院所學到的，不僅是各樣條文和規則，法規和原則的重心是栽培你們成為優秀的律師、負責任的公民和品格高尚的人。
最後，感謝各位的聆聽。再次祝賀2025年香港大學法律學院的全體畢業生！香港大學的法律系不僅是香港頂尖的法律學院, 更是全球最頂尖的法律學院之一。能夠在此畢業, 應該感到十分自豪。我期待見證你們未來的成就。祝願每一位都有璀璨的前程,豐盛的人生。