Learning The Law

FADE IN.

EXT. MTR STATION, KOWLOON TONG - DAY

Phone in hand, PETER in suit is checking a mail.

PETER (V.O.)

I don't even know my

route to the City University.

I recall the mail has clear

directions as to how to get

to the moot court venue.

Oh, yes, I've found it.

Peter takes escalators and walks towards a pedestrian subway.

INT. SCHOOL OF LAW, HONG KONG CITY UNIVERSITY - DAY

Reception area. A PROFESSOR (40s) greets Peter and they begin to chat.

PETER

This place is relative new

to me. But I should add that

when the University was

still a polytechnic, I taught

law here part-time in a

commercial law diploma

course.

The professor looks surprised.

PETER (Cont'd)

That was in 1985 when

the campus was still in

Mongkok and I was a

freshly law graduate

from HKU.

PROFESSOR

I joined in August this

year and the Dean in

September.

Peter nods.

PROFESSOR (Cont'd)

We'll strive to do better...

But it's difficult to compete

with HKU as it is the first

university teaching law

in Hong Kong.

Peter nods.

FLASHBACK

INT. HOME, TIN SUM SAN TSUEN - DAY (1981)

Around lunch time. Phone rings and Peter (27) takes it.

SOMEONE

(From phone)

I'm calling from HKU,

School of Law. We've

a place for you. If you

accept it, come to

register tomorrow.

PETER

(Exhilarated)

Yes! Yes!

MONTAGE OF PETER'S HKU LAW LEARNING EXPERIENCE 1981-1985

1. Peter attends law lectures at Knowles Building.

2. Peter reads attentively at the Law Library.

3. Peter has meals at HKU canteens.

4. Peter takes a rest in a Swire common room.

5. Peter studies 365 days a year.

6. Peter passes all his papers and gets a LLB diploma in 1984.

7. Peter passes all his papers and gets a PCLL diploma in 1985.

END MONTAGE

INT. CLUBHOUSE - NIGHT

Newspaper in hand, Peter, still in suit, sees something interesting.

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, a historian has

written a 50-year

history of Hong Kong's

legal education. I haven't

heard about the author

before. But I know

all the characters he

mentioned in his book.

Pausing.

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

Of HKU's legal education

history, I witnessed first

hand for four years in the

1980s, my wife one year

in the 2000s and my

son two years in the 2010s.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) It was a dream come

true in 1981 when I

was admitted. In my

second year, the

founding professor

actually taught me Trust

Law. His pet case was

Strong v Bird 1874. I've

never quite understood

his interpretation of the

rule in that case.

Pausing.

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

The late Professor also

shared with my class

why he labelled the

diploma of Postgraduate

Certificate in Laws as

PCLL and not PCL. It'd

be interesting to see if

the historian has covered

that.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.)

I meant to become a

philosopher rather than

a lawyer. As a lawyer,

I'm still working. As to

philosophy, it is still dear

to my heart.. Never mind,

I'll catch up!

Peter leaves the clubhouse looking energized.

FADE OUT.

The End

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