Hong Kong, 26 September 2022: A large audience and a brilliant address by the former Chief Justice of Hong Kong, the Honourable Geoffrey Ma GBM KC SC, ensured the HKU-Boase Cohen & Collins Criminal Law Lecture made a triumphant return as an in-person event.

In his talk, entitled “A Civil Practitioner Enters the World of Criminal Law”, Mr Ma traced the development of criminal law over the centuries, intertwined with his own experiences as a senior judge in Hong Kong’s common law system.

“It was a fascinating address from a jurist of immense standing in the legal world. On behalf of everyone at Boase Cohen & Collins and the University of Hong Kong, we are grateful to Geoffrey for sharing his wisdom and insight,” says BC&C Senior Partner Colin Cohen. “This was our fifth annual lecture and we have been fortunate to attract a succession of outstanding speakers. It was gratifying, as well, to return to an in-person event after the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Mr Ma served as Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal from 2010 to 2021. Born in Hong Kong, he gained his law degree at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Before joining the Judiciary, he was in private practice in Hong Kong and in Singapore. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2012.

In previous years, speakers Clare Montgomery KC, Edward Fitzgerald KC and Geoffrey Robertson KC all visited Hong Kong to deliver their lectures at HKU. Last year’s talk was given online from London by the UK’s former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald KC.