The Faculty of Law of Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) was invited by the China Law Society and the Macao SAR Legal Affairs Bureau to take part in the 2024“Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Mainland Youth Legal Exchange Week”, which was held in Beijing and Nanjing from July 7 to 13. This activity is hosted by the China Law Society and organized by the China Legal Academic Exchange Center, the Macao SAR Legal Affairs Bureau, and the Jiangsu Province Law Society. Professor Yi Zaicheng, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law, led the team and coordinated the participation of five current students. Alongside faculty members and students from the faculty, law students from other higher education institutions in Hong Kong and Macao, young legal professionals in Macao, and young volunteer members of the Legal Affairs Bureau’s “Legal Popularization Power” also joined the activity.
Figure I
Teachers and students of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. took group photos at the opening ceremony of the activity.
This activity arranged a series of legal-related exchange activities in Beijing and Nanjing with the aim of enhancing Hong Kong and Macao students’ understanding of the Chinese Mainland and its legal system. It also aimed to promote dialogue and exchanges among young people from Hong Kong, Macao, and the mainland to deepen friendships. During the activity, in addition to academic lectures and symposiums, the host arranged visits to the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, law firms, Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre, and other places to provide an in-depth understanding of the mainland’s legal system and rule of law. This helped strengthen the interpretation of the country’s history and improve the students’sense of belonging and identity to the country.
Figure II
Group photo of teachers and students from the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. visiting the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Since 2008, “ng Kong, Macao and Chinese Mainland Youth Legal Exchange Week” has been successfully held for sixteen consecutive years, making positive contributions to deepening legal exchanges between Hong Kong, Macao, and the Chinese Mainland. After the inception of the activity, the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. has actively responded to the call and organized students to participate, contributing to deepening Macao students’ understanding of the country and promoting dialogue and exchanges between young people from Hong Kong, Macao, and the Chinese Mainland.
Impressions on the activity of the students from M.U.S.T. Faculty of Law:
Ao Ieong Mio Leng (Student of the program in Juris Master)
This exchange activity visited many places, and each place was very unforgettable for me. During the process, I realized China’s profound cultural heritage and the strong development of the motherland, which made me feel reassured that the motherland is our biggest support. My spirit of patriotism and appreciation for Macao has been greatly enhanced. Additionally, being able to communicate with young legal talents from Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao has broadened my horizons in the legal field. I hope to explore more feasibility and opportunities for the joint development of these three places in the future, contributing to the country and the legal field through my own efforts.
Huang Si Hao (Student of the Bachelor Program of Laws)
During the “Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Mainland Youth Legal Exchange Week”, I gained a lot under the careful arrangement and care of the host. First of all, we attended the opening ceremony in Beijing, during which I learned a lot about the special lecture on “One Country, Two Systems,” including the meaning of a high degree of autonomy and “Macau governed by its residents.” In addition, we also visited the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and well-known Court, in Nanjing, which broadened my horizons and benefited me a lot. At the same time, I also got to know young legal people from the mainland and Hong Kong, and learned different scopes of law of both places. Finally, when discussing the topics at Southeast University, I learned about the country’s policies on the development of Hong Kong and Macao in the Chinese Mainland, which help to my future development opportunities. As the younger generation in Macau, we must adhere to “One Country, Two Systems”, uphold the Constitution and the Basic Law, and actively integrate into the overall situation of the country.
Huang Sheng Feng (Student of the Bachelor Program of Laws)
I am very honored to participate in the 2024 “Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Mainland Youth Legal Exchange Week”, and I am very grateful to the host and organizers from various places for their arrangements. During the seven-day activity, we visited many important locations in Beijing and Nanjing, gained an in-depth understanding of China’s history and development, and expanded our horizons. At the exchange meeting at Southeast University, I also had an in-depth discussion with other students on how to strengthen cooperation among legal youths from Hong Kong, Macao, and the Chinese Mainland, and reflected on the need to become outstanding legal talents and contribute to the international development of the country. Finally, I would like to thank the staff for their careful care and making us feel warm during the activity. This exchange activity not only enhanced my understanding of China but also inspired my enthusiasm to serve the motherland.
Chan Chi Fai (Student of the Bachelor Program of Laws)
I am honored to participate in the “Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Mainland Youth Legal Exchange Week”. During the past week, we visited Beijing to explore the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central, the law firms, the Supreme People’s Court and other places. I learned that legal professionals from all over the country have been working hard to safeguard “One Country, Two Systems” and promote related work in Hong Kong, Macao and the Mainland. Subsequently, we arrived in Nanjing traveled to the Memorial Hall to Dr.Sun Yat Sen, the Six Dynasties Museum, the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre, and Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall. These visits aimed to promote patriotism in the youth from Hong Kong and Macao, while also emphasizing that the Constitution is the fundamental of the basic law. Throughout this brief week, I forged strong friendships with students from across Hong Kong and Macao, developed camaraderie with my teachers, and engaged in discussions about the differences in the legal systems between Hong Kong and Macao.
Pang Chikuan (Student of the Bachelor Program of Laws)
Through this exchange week, I learned about the origins of the Constitution and the Basic Law, which benefited me greatly. Additionally, visits to historical sites and museums helped me understand the significance of China’s rule of law construction, particularly the informative section at Constitution Park, which showcased the spirit and authority of the Chinese Constitution. Subsequently, our visit to Southeast University allowed us to exchange ideas and discuss the paths of legal cooperation between Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao. Lastly, with the growing collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, along with the advancements in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hengqin In-depth Cooperation Zone in recent years, legal cooperation between Hong Kong and Macao has progressed rapidly. Therefore, I believe that this legal exchange week has brought about significant improvements in my studies.
