Law Society Boosts Youth Education on Hong Kong's Rule of Law
Launched at the Hong Kong Book Fair 2025, the illustrated book follows a bear family to a trial at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, introducing young readers to the true meaning of the rule of law and the common law system. Crafted with contributions from experienced solicitors, the book conveys complex concepts such as equality before the law and judicial independence in a clear and concise manner.
President of the Law Society, Mr Roden Tong, said that, 'as the statutory self-regulatory body and professional association for solicitors in Hong Kong, the Law Society has a social responsibility to guide children in distinguishing right from wrong, especially when they encounter new ideas.' He added, 'by teaching legal principles early, a law-abiding mindset that shapes positive social values will be rooted in their minds. The book can be a tool for parents to teach the importance of the rule of law. We hope the public can easily learn the laws.'
At its book fair booths, a five-year-old boy, Pak-kiu, shared that the book introduced him to new legal knowledge, such as the courtroom's prohibition on photography. 'Now I even know who Lady Justice Themis is!' he exclaimed. The animated illustrations immediately caught his eye, especially the legal bears with lovely smiles. 'Their grins are so beautiful—I love how cute they are!'Pak-kiu also raved about his joyous moments at the Law Society's interactive booths, where he won prizes from a short legal quiz. Thrilled to return, he has already planned a trip back with his classmates to try his luck again.
The publication aligns with the Law Society's long-standing commitment to public legal education through programmes like the 'Teen Talk' GBA Study Tour, which has sparked an interest in law among young people.
At the beginning of July, 'Teen Talk' held a GBA Study Tour to Shenzhen. This second annual tour, conducted entirely in English, aimed to deepen students' understanding of 'One Country, Two Systems' by introducing them to Hong Kong's unique advantages as the only Chinese and English bilingual common law jurisdiction, fostering cross-border legal understanding and cultural exchange.
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Yenting Lin is a master's student in public policy at George Mason University. He holds a BA and BS from National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan. His research focuses on national security and US–Taiwan–China relations. His writing has appeared in Small Wars Journal, American Intelligence Journal, and The Defence Horizon Journal, and he contributes columns to Ketagalan Media, Asia Times, Modern Diplomacy, Geopolitical Monitor, and International Angle. The views in this article are his own.
