Distinguished guests, respected faculty members and colleagues, and dear freshmen of the Class of 2026,
Good afternoon!
In this beautiful autumn season, we gather together at the foot of Taipa Grande. First of all, on behalf of the Faculty of Law, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all new students joining us today. At the same time, I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all guests who have supported the development of the Faculty, as well as to the parents who have placed their trust in Macau University of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Law.
Macau University of Science and Technology was the first comprehensive university established in Macau after its return to China, and the Faculty of Law was one of the University's four founding faculties. As a law school in a Special Administrative Region operating under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems,” our mission is to serve Macau, engage with the international community, cultivate local and cross-jurisdictional legal professionals through a multicultural environment, and promote the advancement of the rule of law. This year, we are delighted to welcome a new cohort of students, and we look forward to working together with all of you as we embark on this new chapter.
Since classes have already begun, you are now all members of the MUST legal community. Today, I would like to share with you a message that I have expressed before and would like to elaborate on further:
The calling of legal professionals is to uphold integrity in thought, follow the right path in action, promote righteousness, and safeguard justice.
Upholding Integrity in Thought
This is the spiritual foundation of a legal professional. As the ancient saying goes, “To cultivate oneself, one must first rectify the heart.” In my understanding, maintaining integrity in thought means, first, distinguishing right from wrong, and second, engaging in honest self-reflection. Integrity requires perseverance. Legal professionals often find themselves at the boundary between good and evil; only by remaining true to one's principles can one preserve clarity and purity of mind.
Following the Right Path in Action
This is the code of conduct for legal professionals. As stated in the Guanzi, “When the right path is abandoned, wrongful deeds flourish.” Once we depart from the proper way, what remains are merely improper actions. The right path is often difficult to follow, particularly for those in the legal profession. Yet adherence to the law is precisely the path that legal professionals must steadfastly pursue.
Promoting Righteousness
This represents the social responsibility of legal professionals. As the saying goes, “When righteousness resides within, evil cannot prevail.” Righteousness is a moral courage that is vast, upright, and unwavering. It must be actively promoted. When righteousness rises, corruption declines. As beginners in legal studies, you may initially regard law simply as a system of rules and regulations. However, when you learn about public morality and legitimate self-defense, you will come to understand that the promotion of righteousness depends upon the protection of the rule of law.
Safeguarding Justice
This is the ultimate goal of legal professionals. Justice is a value judgment, and throughout history people have interpreted it in different ways. In modern society, where the rule of law is widely regarded as a form of justice, protecting the rule of law means protecting justice itself. Legal professionals serve as the bridge between “good laws” and “their general observance by the people.”
The “calling” I refer to here is not submission to fate, but a conscious commitment to mission. From upholding integrity in thought, to following the right path, promoting righteousness, and safeguarding justice, the calling of legal professionals lies in the continual shaping of oneself across these four dimensions. It is a process that moves from knowledge to action and from self-cultivation to serving others. Every step of growth in this journey requires both honesty and courage: honesty in facing oneself, and courage in facing the world.
Dear students, some of you may still have doubts about your choice of major. However, I want to assure you that even in the age of artificial intelligence, law remains one of the most promising fields of study. For legal professionals, artificial intelligence is not only a tool that empowers the law but also an object subject to legal regulation. Lawyers naturally engage with questions of value because making value judgments is at the heart of legal work. Technology can transform society, but only law can ensure that such transformation moves in a positive and ethical direction.
One of my favorite films during my student years, The Shawshank Redemption, is currently being re-released in mainland China. I would like to share a line from that film with you:
“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.”
Therefore, hope belongs to all sincere and courageous legal professionals who carry ideals in their hearts. Let the prisons of darkness remain for those who are timid and driven only by petty self-interest.
Dear students, the path to becoming a legal professional is filled not only with flowers and applause, but also with challenges and trials. I hope that in the classroom you will study diligently and pursue knowledge with dedication; and outside the classroom, that you will conduct yourselves honorably and act with integrity. Cultivate both yourself and others, and move forward with courage and determination.
Once again, welcome to the Faculty of Law and to the community of legal scholars at MUST. I wish all of you good health and success in your studies. I also wish our faculty members and guests good health, family happiness, and every success in their endeavors.
Thank you.
