Honorable Director Qiao Xiaoyang, President Deng Zhonghua, distinguished Chancellor Liu Chak Wan, President Joseph Hun-wei LEE, respected Dean Guo Li, dear seniors, teachers, friends, and esteemed guests, good morning!
Today, we gather at Peking University Law School to solemnly hold the Academic Seminar in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Birth of Professor Xiao Weiyun. As a co-organizer of this event, and on behalf of the teachers, students and alumni of the Faculty of Law at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), and entrusted by the Chancellor of MUST, Dr. Liu Chak Wan, I would like to express my highest respect and deep remembrance to Professor Xiao Weiyun. I also extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have attended this event, including seniors, teachers, friends, and guests.
In early June of this year, the two faculties reached a preliminary agreement to jointly commemorate the 100th anniversary of Professor Xiao’s birth with activities scheduled for the end of September. After I reported this to the university, the school expressed its full support. I shared the news with the alumni of Peking University Law School in Macao and the early alumni of the Faculty of Law at MUST. Everyone was very excited and enthusiastic about traveling to Beijing for the event. Dr. Liu Chak Wan, the Chancellor of MUST, along with Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE, the Vice Chancellor and President, and their delegation, made a special trip to attend. Additionally, 21 friends from Macao traveled to Beijing for the occasion, including alumni of Peking University Law School in Macao, faculty members, alumni, and specially invited guests from the Faculty of Law at MUST. Many friends from Macao were unable to attend for various reasons, so I would like to convey their heartfelt remembrance of Professor Xiao. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone at the Faculty of Law Alumni Association of MUST for their strong support. Special thanks are due to the conference team, led by Professors Rao Geping and Wang Lei, for their hard work in organizing this event.
Professor Xiao Weiyun is both a theorist and a practitioner. He has dedicated his entire life to the development of the country's rule of law and the significant initiative of "One Country, Two Systems and has made important contributions to the successful practice of "one country, two systems" from a great idea.
Professor Xiao Weiyun is a distinguished jurist and educator who has dedicated his career to Peking University Law School. Following the return of Macao to China, he accepted an invitation from the Macau University of Science and Technology to establish the Faculty of Law, making significant contributions to legal higher education in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Many people who have spent time with Professor Xiao hold deep affection for him. Not long ago, my mentor, Professor Liu Shoufen, reminisced with me about the 1970s and 1980s when she accompanied Professor Xiao in his work at Peking University Law School. Shortly after the return of Macau to Chinese sovereignty, Professor Xiao and Professor Wei Zhenying approached her and Professor Wu Zhipan to discuss the establishment of the Faculty of Law at the Macau University of Science and Technology. Professor Liu, now nearly eighty years old, still becomes quite emotional when recounting those memories. Following Professor Xiao's passing, many reports in Macau newspapers featured tributes from students of the Faculty of Law at MUST, each word imbued with respect and reluctance.
Looking back 20 years, to when I joined the Faculty of Law at MUST in September 2004, Professor Xiao Weiyun had just stepped down as dean and assumed the role of honorary dean. Professor Zhang Wen took over as the new dean. In January 2005, Professor Xiao visited Macao, and we met several times. The last encounter occurred at the entrance of Academic Building A. I was planning to return to the Chinese Mainland that day, and as I was about to leave, I unexpectedly ran into Professor Xiao. I vividly remember that January in Macao was particularly cold, with temperatures likely dropping below ten degrees Celsius. Professor Xiao advised me to dress warmly. Noticing that he was still wearing a dark suit, I suggested he should also wear more layers. Professor Xiao replied, I haven't caught a cold in fifty years. After a few pleasantries, we said goodbyes. A few days later, I received a call from Professor Zhang Wen. Upon hearing the unfortunate news, I hurried back to Macao and met again at the Casa Funerária Kiang Wu.
At that time, I had just arrived in Macao, and I had not been in Macao for a few days before the unfortunate news, so I did not know much about the situation. However, during that time and in the years that followed, I frequently heard visitors to Professor Xiao in the hospital mention that he had expressed concern about my professional title in his final moments and was worried about my future development at MUST. This deeply touched me, filled me with regret, and left me somewhat surprised. While it is understandable that I felt moved and regretful, the surprise stemmed from the fact that, in layman's terms, I am not a student of Professor Xiao. In the tradition of Peking University Law School, the degree of closeness between students and professors does not seem to influence the professors' willingness to care for all their students. As the old saying goes, “It's easier to find a professor of classics than a professor of humanity.” This reflects the professor's kindness and compassion. It highlights the teaching process in which the professor integrates knowledge with practical application, going beyond merely imparting information and addressing questions.
Speaking from personal experience, Professor Xiao is a beloved educator and a kind mentor. As the saying goes, “Peaches and plums do not need to speak; the world will find its way to them.” In the context of "One Country, Two Systems, Professor Xiao's significant achievements far surpass my own qualifications. However, as a college professor who has dedicated 20 years to legal education in the Macao SAR, I have genuinely witnessed and appreciated the remarkable contributions of Professor Xiao and other esteemed faculty members at Peking University. There is no doubt that Professor Xiao and others seniors of Peking University are pioneers and founders of legal higher education in the Macao SAR under the "One Country, Two Systems
The following words were recorded in the "Special Issue on the Establishment of Macau University of Science and Technology" in the year the university was founded:
"The Faculty of Law at the Macau University of Science and Technology, with the support of Peking University, offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degree programs in Law. The faculty currently emphasizes the Chinese legal system and Macau law, ensuring that undergraduate students are well-prepared to meet the needs of Macau society upon graduation. Additionally, the Faculty provides instruction in various areas of international law to broaden students' perspectives and enhance their capacity for foreign exchanges.
With the care and support of university leaders and individuals from diverse backgrounds, along with the collaborative efforts of faculty, students, and alumni, the Faculty of Law at MUST has successfully navigated numerous challenges and continued to thrive. Over the past twenty-four years, the training programs and pedagogical approaches proposed by Professor Xiao and other senior educators from Peking University at the faculty's inception have proven resilient, demonstrating their high-level vision and foresight. Experience has shown that these plans and ideas should be regarded as the natural choice for legal education in the Macao SAR. Throughout these twenty-four years, the curriculum has undergone several revisions; however, the foundational principles have remained steadfast. Undergraduate courses continue to offer dual-track instruction in Chinese Mainland legal subjects and Macao legal subjects, while postgraduate education emphasizes a comparative law perspective. Additionally, the cross-disciplinary legal audit program provides students with the opportunity to study legal subjects across various jurisdictions.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of MUST, I wrote a poem titled "Reminiscence on the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of the Faculty. The last two sentences are:
Why blame the banana leaves when it rains outside the window? Tending to the soil will ultimately yield good crops. This spring has already surpassed the early spring landscape, and in the future, take a moment to look up and appreciate the beautiful scenery.
At present, the legal education in the Special Administrative region has long been "a path of peach and plum, green and thickening". For me, the final words of Professor Xiao, which I have never heard personally, along with the true essence of legal education in the Macao SAR as outlined in the curriculum plan from its founding period, will inspire and guide me as I move forward.
In recent years, the Faculty of Law at MUST and Peking University Law School have actively fostered cooperation and exchanges. This summer, Peking University Law School organized a “One Country, Two Systems” for Beijing-Macao Young Law Students Study Camp, which greatly benefited our students. As the saying goes, ancestors planted trees, and the descendants enjoy the shade. As future generations, we must also continue to plant more trees for those who come after us. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. The Faculty of Law at MUST will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors, focusing on cultivating local and interdisciplinary legal talents, promoting the construction of the rule of law in the Special Administrative Region (SAR), and collaborating with the people of Macao to jointly create a vibrant chapter of successful practice regarding the "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics. I believe this should serve as the best tribute and memory for Professor Xiao Weiyun.
Thank you all!
September 29, 2024 at Kaiyuan Building, Peking University Law School
Dean Fang Quan delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar
