
FADE IN.
EXT. LOWER ALBERT ROAD - DAY
Seeing an old office building in front of him, PETER stops to take a photo.
PETER (V.O.)
Immediately after I
was called to the
Bar in 1985, I worked
here as Assistant
Crown Counsel. I
was 31.
FLASHBACK
INT. OFFICE - DAY (1985)
Peter (31) in a black suit, shares a room with another CROWN COUNSEL (30s).
PETER
My first day as a
legal officer. Are
you a barrister?
CROWN COUNSEL
No, I'm a solicitor.
Like you, my first
day as Crown
Counsel.
PETER
Well, I can learn
from you then.
The Crown Counsel shakes his head sideways.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
At least you've done
your articleship. I've
to do my pupilage and
I don't even know who
would be my pupil
master.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Everything was
unstructured then.
For the following months,
we brainstormed with
each other and got
things done. He was
very much my pupil
master.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I was then in the
Civil Litigation Unit.
I took the initiative
to talk to the Law
Officer (Civil) to
see if he could arrange
some knowledge
transfer for Assistant
Crown Counsel like
me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Weeks later, I was
very pleased to learn
that a Principal Crown
Counsel would do a
training session for us.
FLASHBACK
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Big. Gathering around a PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL (40) are five ASSISTANT CROWN COUNSEL including Peter.
PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL
What I want to share
with you all is about the
etiquette of a prosecutor.
PETER (V.O.)
(Surprised and disappointed)
Is that right? I want to
learn more about civil
litigation...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It was so contrary to
my expectation that I
can't forget it...
Peter smiles.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I was then doing my
external LLM degree
with London U and a
paper I selected was
International Protection
of Human Rights.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
When I found that UK
hasn't actually implemented
its international human
rights legal obligations
in Hong Kong, I wanted
to talk to the Law Officer
responsible.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
He was six ranks higher
than me and was a
a secondee from the
UK Foreign Office to
assist the Governor.
FLASHBACK
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Secretary's desk. Peter talks to the SECRETARY (late 20s).
PETER
Do you think if it's OK
for me to talk to the
Law Officer for a while?
I've got some international
legal matters about Hong
Kong and should like to
discuss with him.
SECRETARY
He's quite easy-going.
Let me ask him first.
Having knocked the office door, the secretary speaks to the Law Officer(50s). She then signifies to Peter to step inside.
After some exchanges, the Law Officer wants to see Peter off.
LAW OFFICER
Don't talk about it, Peter.
Just don't talk about it.
Peter nods, rather reluctantly.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That was some four
years before Hong Kong
had the Hong Kong Bill
of Rights Ordinance 1990.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
A senior counsel did
seek my opinion on
the structure of the
draft bill beforehand.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Incidentally, I quite
envied the Law Officer's
secretary. Her boss
wrote a recommendation
and she was admitted
to read law at Cambridge!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Those were some of the
dramas happened here
when I was young!
Peter walks past the old office building.
FADE OUT. THE END