Date: 4 September 2026 (Friday)
Time: 9:15am-5:30pm
Venue: Philip K. H. Wong Theatre, 2/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong (This is an in-person event.)
Registration: Due to overwhelming response, we have reached full capacity. Registration is now closed. Thank you for your interest in our event!
Programme: click here
Abstract
For over two decades on the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Justice Robert Ribeiro has shaped Hong Kong’s jurisprudence and enriched the common law far beyond its shores.
This Symposium to celebrate his jurisprudence brings together eminent judges, practitioners, and academics from Hong Kong and across the common law world. Speakers at the Symposium will reflect on the enduring influence of his judgments on the development of the common law.
Opening Remarks and Tributes
09:15 Registration
09:45 Professor Hualing Fu
Dean, Faculty of law, The University of Hong Kong
09:50 The Hon Chief Justice Andrew Cheung
Chief Justice, Court of Final Appeal
09:55 The Hon Andrew Li
Former Chief Justice, Court of Final Appeal
Session 1: Public Law and Criminal Law
Chair: The Hon Mr Justice Patrick Keane
Non-Permanent Judge, Court of Final Appeal
10:05 Confronting the Impossible: The Balancing Act of Constitutional Law
The Hon Geoffrey Ma, GBM
Former Chief Justice, Court of Final Appeal
&
The Hon Mr Justice Joseph Fok
Permanent Judge, Court of Final Appeal
10:30 The Public Law Legacy of Mr Justice Ribeiro in Hong Kong
Professor Albert Chen and Professor Cora Chan
Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong
10:55 Unravelling Complexity and Delineating the Limits of the Law in Criminal Cases
Professor Simon Young
Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong
11:20 Refreshments
Session 2: Tax, Conflict of Laws, and Civil Procedure
Chair: The Hon Maria Yuen, GBS
Former Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal
12:00 Ribeiro PJ: Clarifying the Opaque
Mr David Goldberg KC
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
&
Mr Stewart Wong SC
Temple Chambers
12:25 A Rock of Stability in the Conflict of Laws
Professor Adrian Briggs KC (Hon)
Faculty of Law, The University of Oxford
12:50 The Impecunious, the Vexatious, the Unmeritorious, and the Improper
Mr Paul Shieh SC
Temple Chambers
13:15 Lunch for speakers, moderators, and invited guests
Session 3: The Law of Obligations
Chair: Professor Steven Elliott KC
Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
14:30 Contracts, Unjust Enrichment, and Third Parties
Dr Jonas Atmaz Al-Sibaie
University College London
&
Dr Jordan English
Faculty of Law, The University of Oxford
14:55 Mr Justice Ribeiro and the Law of Defamation in Hong Kong
Professor Craig Purshouse
Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong
15:20 Equity and Trusts (via video conference)
The Hon Mr Justice William Gummow
Non-Permanent Judge, Court of Final Appeal
15:45 Refreshments
Session 4: Company, Family, and Property
Chair: Professor William Swadling
Faculty of law, The University of Oxford
16:15 Substance and Reality in Company and Insolvency Law
The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey Lam
Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal
16:40 Sea Changes in Family Law in Hong Kong: The Long Road to Equality and Fairness
The Hon Mr Justice Johnson Lam
Permanent Judge, Court of Final Appeal
&
The Hon Bebe Chu, SBS
Former Judge, Court of First Instance
17:05 Reconciling Principle and Practicality: Deciding Property Law Cases
The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger
Non-Permanent Judge, Court of Final Appeal
17:30 End of Conference
Enquiry: please contact Serene Chang at or Ruth Chan at .
