EdUHK Holds Orientation Day for 2026/27 Master of Laws Programmes

The Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures (AAPSEF) and the National Security and Legal Education Research Centre (NSLERC) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held an Orientation Day on 25 August at the Tai Po Campus for new students of the 2026/27 cohorts of the Master of Laws in Digital Governance [LLM(DG)] and Master of Laws in National Security Law [LLM(NSL)] programmes. The event was attended by Dr Sze Chun-fai Jeff, JP, Under Secretary for Education; Dr Henry Ho Kin-chung, Member of the EdUHK Council; and Dr Johnny Ng Kit-chong, MH, JP, Member of the Legislative Council. A number of EdUHK Associate Vice Presidents, as well as the Co-Executive Directors and Associate Co-Director of AAPSEF, also joined the event to welcome the new students to EdUHK.

The event commenced with guest-sharing sessions, followed by programme briefings and a student affairs session. New students gained an overview of the positioning and development of the two Master of Laws programmes, as well as information on programme arrangements, academic integrity, graduation requirements and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools. Dr Huo Xiaobin, Professional Consultant of the NSLERC, also introduced campus facilities, catering arrangements and other practical information to help students adapt to campus life.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr Henry Ho Kin-chung said that legal education is not only about mastering legal provisions and case law but also about developing independent and responsible judgment. He encouraged students to remain committed to truth, openness and responsibility; to read widely and ask questions boldly; and to pay attention to the close links among law, technology and economic development, while actively participating in academic activities and engaging with social development.

In his opening remarks, Dr Sze Chun-fai Jeff recognised the importance of advancing digital transformation alongside legal development. He thanked the EdUHK programme team for providing a high-quality learning platform to nurture talent needed in the new era. He encouraged students to uphold a sense of patriotism towards the Country and the HKSAR, reflect on the role of education in the age of artificial intelligence in a safe and supportive learning environment, and develop both digital literacy and humanistic concern as they pursue academic excellence.

In the guest-sharing session, Dr Johnny Ng Kit-chong noted that the rapid development of artificial intelligence has created both opportunities and challenges for the legal profession. Citing intellectual property, life sciences and cross-boundary data as examples, he highlighted the legal issues and demand for talent arising from emerging industries. He encouraged students to explore frontier technologies, including embodied intelligence and quantum computing, remain curious, and make good use of their time at the University to gain knowledge across different fields.

Professor Gu Minkang, JP, Director of the NSLERC and Programme Leader of the Master of Laws programmes, introduced the Centre’s background and the positioning of the two programmes. He explained that the programmes focus respectively on digital governance and national security law, integrating legal studies with knowledge of emerging fields. Both programmes aim to equip students to apply legal methodologies and interdisciplinary perspectives flexibly in rapidly evolving areas of development.

The Orientation Day enabled new students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the programmes, academic requirements and University resources, while the guest-sharing sessions brought forward-looking perspectives to the new academic year. EdUHK will continue to nurture professionals with legal literacy, digital capabilities and interdisciplinary perspectives through cross-disciplinary programmes, research and professional exchanges, in response to the needs of society and industry and in contribution to the long-term development of HKSAR and the Country.