My Teacher's Teachings

FADE IN:

INT. FUNCTION ROOM - NIGHT

A reception. PETER helps himself to drinks and light refreshments. He chats with GENTLEMAN#1 (60s) and GENTLEMAN#2 (40s).

PETER

(To Gentleman#1)

Do you do some maritime

arbitration these days?

Gentleman#1's body language suggests otherwise.

PETER(Cont'd)

Having studied the law

of the land, I continue to

study, sea law, air law and

space law.

GENTLEMAN#1

(Smiling)

Haha, you know everything.

Gentleman#2's body language echoes that.

PETER

I studied both the private

and public aspects of the

law of "spaces"!

Microphone sounds. A CHAIRMAN (70s) is about to address the AUDIENCE. Peter stands by one side.

CHAIRMAN

(Holding a thick book)

This is Prof Bin Cheng's work

on General Principles of Law...

The audience try to understand.

PETER (V.O.)

(Surprised)

Wow, he refers to my teacher!

FLASHBACK & MONTAGE OF PETER'S PURSUIT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (1985-1987)

A/ Summer of 1985, Peter (31) works in the ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS.

B/ Autumn of 1985, Peter studies at home MATERIALS with titles on: (1) Jurisprudence, (2) Methods and Sources of International Law, (3) Law of Treaties and (4) International Protection of Human Rights.

C/ Summer of 1986, Peter sits London U's LLM EXAMS in Hong Kong.

D/ Autumn of 1986 - Summer of 1987, Peter attends sea, air and space law seminars at UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON.

E/ During the same period, Prof BIN CHENG (65) teaches Air and Space Law evening classes at BENTHAM HOUSE, and Peter is one of the students.

F/ Winter of 1986, Peter attends a Law of the Sea CONFERENCE at Manchester.

G/ July, 1987, Peter studies at the International Institute of Human Rights at STRASBOURG, France.

H/ Aug, 1987, Peter participates conferences at the HAGUE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

I/ Late 1980s. Prof Bin Cheng visits HKU and Peter greets him.

END FLASHBACK & MONTAGE

PETER (V.O.)

I was only born a year

after his publication of

his widely-held work.

I've learned to take a

jurisprudential approach

to discern the concept

and structure of international

legal domains.

CHAIRMAN (Cont'd)

I call upon you all to

contribute on the general

principles of law recognized

by civilized nations.

PETER (V.O.)

One controversy has been

what are civilized nations...

CHAIRMAN (Cont'd)

Another area we can

contribute is about the

reform of WTO...

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, the WTO as well...

FLASHBACK

INT. WTO - DAY (2004)

Teams of LAWYERS submit before a 3-member PANEL on the bench. Peter (50) is one of the panelists. A Chinese LADY LAWYER submits.

PETER (V. O.)

The third-party proceeding

is interesting. China

intervenes in disputes

between US v EC, Australia

v EC. As a Hongkonger WTO

panelist, this is best I can do.

These are my proudest

moments of international

law practice!

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

I had lunch with a visiting

WTO director friend last

month and had a feel of

the current trade politics.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)

In the proceedings, I knew

the respective interests of

disputing WTO Members,

I made them accept their

good faith responsibilities.

I applied my teacher's

teachings.

RETURN TO PRESENT

The chairman invites OTHERS to share their thoughts. ONE speaks after ANOTHER.

PETER (V.O.)

Should I share my rather

personal stories? Perhaps

not.

As the floor is closed, the audience resume their chats. Peter helps himself to light refreshments. A pretty LADY (20s) is nearby.

LADY

(To Peter)

Hi!

Peter is surprised and they exchange name cards.

PETER

Annyeonghaseyo!

The lady responds smilingly.

PETER (V,O.)

I like go skiing near Seoul.

...I once made a duty visit

to learn about the behind-

the-scene effort in

generating the Korean

Wave...

The chairman passes by and they interact. We hear Peter saying: "Prof Bin Cheng was my teacher..." The lady takes out her smart phone.

LADY

(Posing for a selfie)

Let's take a photo together!

A few moments later, we see three smiling faces squeezed into a vertical phone screen.

INT. STUDY - NIGHT

Peter works on his computer, researching with his smart phone.

PETER (V.O.)

I haven't seized the

opportunities to have

a photo with my teacher.

He's 98 now. He opened

my mind, and possibly

many others, with his

teachings...

Peter takes another look of book images in his phone screen, depicting: GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW: AS APPLIED BY INTERNATIONAL COURTS AND TRIBUNALS.

FADE OUT. The End

#MyTeachersTeachings