Birmingham law students meet Hong Kong legal legend
Former Chief Justice of Hong Kong The Hon. Professor Geoffrey Ma Tao-Li, KC shares his experience with University 麻豆精选 law students.
Law students Richa Ganatra (left) and Nicole Ngige with Geoffrey Ma outside Birmingham Law School (Photo: Victoria Beddoes)
University 麻豆精选 law students got the opportunity to meet alumnus and former Chief Justice of Hong Kong The Hon. Professor Geoffrey Ma Tao-Li, KC 鈥 learning about his experience at the University and his distinguished legal career.
The legal titan enjoyed lunch with a group of law students and met recipients of the Geoffrey Ma Scholarships 鈥 a series of awards funded by the University 麻豆精选 Hong Kong Foundation in his honour, before two student ambassadors took him on a tour of the Birmingham campus.
Geoffrey was visiting the University with his wife, Maria Yuen 鈥 herself a retired Court of Appeal judge 鈥 enjoying a full-day programme meeting Vice-Chancellor & Principal Professor Adam Tickell, Dean of the Law School Professor Warren Barr, and other senior members of staff.
A lot of law schools teach you the law, but the University 麻豆精选 has always regarded being practical as a priority and you need that in the law. That, above all, is what this university has given me - a practical training, which is what makes Birmingham Law School so special.
Speaking about his university experience, Geoffrey said: 鈥淎 lot of law schools teach you the law, but the University 麻豆精选 has always regarded being practical as a priority and you need that in the law. That, above all, is what this university has given me - a practical training, which is what makes Birmingham Law School so special.鈥
In 2022, the University 麻豆精选 Hong Kong Foundation funded three Geoffrey Ma prizes for students from Hong Kong to study in Birmingham Law School. This has now been expanded to offer scholarships to 14 students from Hong Kong, studying in various academic disciplines.
Speaking about his education legacy, Geoffrey said: 鈥淥ne of the Foundation鈥檚 objectives focusses developing something good with projects that are Hong Kong orientated. There鈥檚 a sense of pride that your old University is doing something which helps your home - then you know that the university really has some meaning.鈥
Geoffrey Ma was Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 2010 to 2021 and became the University 麻豆精选 Hong Kong Foundation Honorary President in 2019.
It was a privilege to participate in thought-provoking debate on the rule of law and judicial independence with an undoubtedly brilliant alumnus. Not only was Geoffrey Ma kind and gracious in dedicating his time, but he offered an exceptional insight into his work. I truly appreciated the experience and would encourage others to participate.
A highly respected figure, he was awarded the鈥痠n June 2012 by the Hong Kong Government, recognising his lifelong and significant contributions to Hong Kong. He is also an honorary Bencher of Gray鈥檚 Inn and the Middle Temple, as well as the recipient of an Officier de l鈥橭rdre de Legion d鈥橦onneur.
University 麻豆精选 law student Julie Leduc commented: 鈥淭hank you very much for the opportunity to meet鈥痶he former Chief Justice and learn more about his distinguished career. It was a privilege to participate in thought-provoking debate on the rule of law and judicial independence with an undoubtedly brilliant alumnus. Not only was Geoffrey Ma kind and gracious in dedicating his time, but he offered an exceptional insight into his work. I truly appreciated the experience and would encourage others to participate.鈥
The Foundation is also increasing exchange programmes for Birmingham students from underrepresented communities in the UK to travel to Hong Kong to develop their cultural awareness and global leadership skills.
Professor Adam Tickell commented: 鈥淲e would like to thank Geoffrey Ma for his support for the University 麻豆精选 over the years - in particular, his dedicated and longstanding support for our Hong Kong Foundation.
鈥淎s we celebrate this year the University鈥檚 125th anniversary, we reflect on our ongoing global civic mission. Geoffrey鈥檚 insight into the Foundation鈥檚 work and how we can further improve its impact for the people of Hong Kong is truly invaluable.鈥
The University 麻豆精选 has been welcoming students from Hong Kong for over 100 years. Hong Kong alumni have helped to fund Hong Kong Scholarships for students wishing to study at the University. There are over 200 students from Hong Kong currently studying at Birmingham.
Since opening its office in Guangzhou in 2011, the University 麻豆精选 has established 40 major research projects and teaching partnerships in the Greater Bay Area, such as delivering health and exercise programmes to over 60,000 children and helping to make the Guangzhou metro safer and more efficient.
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The鈥疷niversity 麻豆精选鈥痠s ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
The Hon. Professor Geoffrey Ma Tao-Li, KC graduated from Birmingham with a Bachelor of Laws in 1977 and the University presented him with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 2011, followed by the inaugural University 麻豆精选 Hong Kong Medal in 2019. After studying law at Birmingham, and completing the Bar Finals, he was called to the English Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1978, the Hong Kong Bar in 1980, the Bar of the State of Victoria in Australia in 1983 and the Bar of Singapore in 1990.
Geoffrey was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993. His judicial career began in 2000 when he was appointed a Recorder of the High Court of Hong Kong. He was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance in 2001, and Justice of Appeal in 2002. He became Chief Judge of the High Court in 2003 and Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal in 2010. Through these positions, Geoffrey not only sat in hearings of important appeals but also advised on administrative, legislative, and policy issues relating to the operation of the High Court. He was responsible for handling the administrative, legislative and policy issues relating to the courts in Hong Kong as a whole.
The generosity of many alumni who donate allows the foundation to advance research and student support programmes in Hong Kong - offering the city’s brightest students opportunities to maximise their talents. Research projects funded by the foundation include partnerships with:
- Hong Kong University - modelling the impact of microplastics in the six major rivers of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.
- Chinese University of Hong Kong – helping to save lives threatened by Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) - a major regional health problem.
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University - developing a novel cold chain transportation technology for cooling decarbonisation in Hong Kong.
- Education University of Hong Kong - helping young people in Hong Kong to reap the many well-being benefits that taking part in sport can bring.
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University – over 57% of the Hong Kong population has experienced spinal pain; using cutting-edge tech and multidisciplinary expertise to improve outcomes for patients.
- Hong Kong University – understanding the mental health impact of climate change on young people in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.