On October 7, 2024, Professor Jasper Tsang, GBM, GBS, JP, visited The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) to share insights and knowledge on legal education and national security.
Professor Tsang engaged in an academic exchange on the topic "The Relationship Between the Rule of Law and National Security Education," where he shared pertinent insights with students enrolled in the General Education course GEK2035, titled "National Security Education in Hong Kong Schools: Practical Insights for Teachers," alongside the attending educators. Dr. Rebecca Cheng, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) at FEHD, and Professor Yan Zi, Head of the C&I Department, represented EdUHK, extending a warm welcome to Professor Tsang and acknowledging his invaluable support for the seminar. This event garnered significant interest, with over 40 attendees comprising both frontline teachers and esteemed colleagues from EdUHK.
Legal Education and National Security Education
Professor Tsang referenced materials on legal education provided by the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to explain the fundamental aspects of the rule of law to EdUHK students: 1) equality before the law for all individuals; 2) laws that regulate actual rights and obligations; 3) providing fair and practical procedures for dispute resolution; 4) laws must be open and clear; 5) the exercise of independent judicial power. During the session, Professor Tsang also discussed the purposes of legal education, basic concepts and significance of national security, and engaged in conversations with the participants on these topics. Guided by Professor Tsang, and the participants including students at EdUHK learned and compared the laws governing national security in contemporary China and other developed nations, realizing the importance of strengthening national security education and the necessity of increasing self-awareness of legal obligations to safeguard national security.
Promoting Legal Education to Enhance National Security Education
Professor Tsang provided a detailed overview of the eight categories of national security education involved in the framework of the Hong Kong National Security Education Curriculum and explained that Legal education is closely intertwined with national security education. Promoting legal education helps increase public awareness of the principles of the rule of law and legal systems, understanding responsibilities for safeguarding national security, raising public awareness of national security, and advancing the practical implementation of national security education on a deeper and broader scale. Professor Tsang emphasized that it is the responsibility of schools to promote and advocate national security. Students should not only understand legal provisions but also comprehend the legislative background and its significance, and recognize the various domains of national security.
This lecture deepened the overall understanding of legal education and national security education among students and faculty members present, and Professor Tsang's insights provided significant inspiration for all participants.
