Recollections & Reflections
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 24, 2024
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
Checking WhatsApp, PETER sees a faded photo of a group of western men, women and one Asian man.
PETER (V.O.): Ah, our former HKU law teachers.
Examining.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How can I forget those who taught me from 1981-1984?
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Especially my former law teacher-mentor, Robyn.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For one or two, I couldn't remember their full names.
Examining.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And not all of them were there eg Malcolm - the one who has become my close friend.
Act 2
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, HK CLUB BUILDING - 15:00
PETER is chairing a MEETING.
PETER: As I'm taking the chair for the first time, I'd like to introduce myself a little. I was a HKU law graduate...
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): I worked in the Law Reform Commission secretariat and later designed and built Hong Kong's intellectual property system...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Geneva conferences, I was a British Delegate and then a Chinese delegate.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 2004, I was appointed by WTO's DG to settle international disputes between US v European Communities, and Australia v European Communities.
EXT. MTR CABIN - 17:10
Peter checks his former classmates chatgroup again.
PETER (V.O.): I didn't mention my first degree was in Philosophy, as it led me nowhere.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I didn't mention my postgraduate law degrees either, as without my undergraduate law degree, I couldn't do them.
Peter examines the faded photo again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I first met Peter in a 1980 HK Govt legal training scholarship interview.
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When asked by a white-haired gentleman why did I study Philosophy, my answer "to acquire wisdom" did impress him.
Reminiscing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's not Peter, but without Peter's endorsement, I might have been screened out.
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Of the three interviewers who interviewed me at the 1981 HKU Law School admission interview, the Chair Hartley Bramwell wasn't in the photo.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Albert who asked me whether I read newspapers was in the photo.
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Rodney Griffith posed all the tough questions...he wasn't in the photo either.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Many years later, Rodney told me that the success rate was 1 in 10. Those he didn't endorse would be rejected.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I did reply well: "If I was wrong...my alternative view is..."
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my first year, Peter taught me Constitutional Law, I can still remember his reference to "law-making by strings and mirrors.'
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 1998 when I was Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, I had one official exchange with him. And that was all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Malcolm taught me Property Law. Fearing I might fail in his subject due to poor time-management in the exam, I thought about silly stuff...
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 20:00
Having inserted an AI drawing entitled "Recollections & Reflections..." to a draft, Peter hears a WhatsApp notification.
PETER (V.O): My former law classmates and I are reminiscing about the past and reflecting on the impact of former teachers on us.
Recollecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Apart from Malcolm, I've lost touch with all the others including Robyn.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I'm still very grateful to all those who have played significant roles in my legal career development.
FADE OUT
THE END
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