Bulletin Spring 1988

Conference series International Symposium on the General Principles of Civil Law of the PRC in Comparative Perspective By Byron S J. Weng* In celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the above-captioned symposium was co-sponsored by the Chinese Law Programme of The Chinese University and the Goethe Institut, Hong Kong and held on the University campus from 25th to 29th March, 1988. Twenty-one scholars, including several of the world's most prominent in the field, presented papers. A number of other academics and practising lawyers served as discussants. They came from eleven countries or areas in North America, Western and Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Among the audience, who filled the Cho Yiu Conference Hall for many of the sessions, there were not only local solicitors, barristers, government legal workers, and university lecturers, but also professors and lawyers from Germany and from mainland China who came to Hong Kong just for the occasion. They all took part in lively discussions over the key themes about the PRC's General Principles of Civil Law. Judging from the comments volunteered by the participants, the symposium was quite a remarkable success. The head of a law department said, ‘Every session was informative and interesting.' Many a scholar appreciated the presence of Professors Tong Rou and Xie Huaishi from the PRC whose familiarity with the subject matter and whose willingness to give frank personal views were apparently of immense value to the symposium. A leading German participant told Jean Hung, 'It's the most beautiful conference I have ever attended.' More than a few busy individuals who made a ‘courtesy show' for the opening session ended up staying and came again the next day. Professor Jerome A. Cohen observed that The Chinese University is really a fine venue for such an event and he would like to help convene other similar conferences. This year's symposium was the eighth annual conference organized by the Chinese Law (Research) Programme of the Centre for Contemporary Asian Studies (CCAS), The Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is the second such ymposium resulting from cooperative efforts of the Chinese Law Programme and the Goethe Institut. The opening session was presided over by Sir T.L . Yang ， Chief Justice of Hong Kong and Coordinator of the Chinese Law Programme. Professor Charles K. Kao, Vice-Chancellor of the University, welcomed the participants. 'Although this conference hall has hosted quite a number of international seminars and conferences, it is the first time that it is honoured by the presence of scholars from Yugoslavia and Hungary ,' he said with delight, referring to Professors Kresimir Sajko and Tamas Sarkozy. Dr. Erhard Stadtler, Director of the Goethe Institut, Hong Kong, and Mr. Wang Zhongfang, President of the Chinese Law Association, also made opening remarks. To facilitate comparative analysis, whenever possible, sessions were organized so that, at each session, there was one theme with two views and a critical discussant. This proved to be a formula conducive to natural comparisons and lively, pointed discussions which clearly bridged theory and practice. There was also a roundtable moderated by Dr. Byron SJ. Weng. The participants were given a chance to recapture some key themes or comment on pertinent matters not adequately covered by other sessions of the symposium. It also served as a closing session in which matters relating to the publication of symposium proceedings were briefly discussed. The quality of the papers was unusually high. Most of them were very readable and substantial and 4