The Honourable Madam Justice Bebe Chu Pui-ying, SBS
朱珮瑩女士
Bebe Pui Ying Chu, SBS was appointed in October 2003 as a judge of the Family Court, HKSAR, and was appointed the Principal Family Court Judge in 2009. She sat in the Family Court until September 2012 and was then appointed Deputy Judge, and later, in April 2015, Judge of the Court of First Instance, High Court, HKSAR. She retired at the end of June 2024. She has a wide experience in Family Law, and was appointed a member of The International Hague Network of Judges in relation to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
During her period of appointment in the High Court, she dealt with a variety of general civil cases, including but not limited to commercial disputes, contractual disputes, cross border investment disputes, property and land disputes, trust, probate and inheritance disputes. She has also sat as an additional judge of the Court of Appeal.
She is on the Roll of Honour of The Law Society of Hong Kong.
After her retirement from the Judiciary, she has been appointed as the presiding arbitrator in a number of cases involving cross border investment and contractual disputes. She has also been appointed as mediator / evaluator in various cases involving family disputes.
"We owe a duty to protect the rule of law."
Maybe I should quote from my principal, Helen Lo. When I was an assistant solicitor, she told me that money was not everything, and that I should never do anything that my conscience would not allow just to make money. I followed Helen’s wisdom, I enjoyed litigation, I wanted to do family law, and it was not easy because it didn’t bring me lots of money. We owe a duty to protect the rule of law. Everyone should also have a dream. Don’t be afraid to have a dream. And then you work hard towards your dream. And if you work hard enough, success will come. I would also add that when success comes, don’t forget the underprivileged or the underrepresented. I always believe in doing pro bono work and charitable work to help those less fortunate than us.
Glossary
Key terms to aid your reading experience.
HKU Experience
LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
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An undergraduate law degree in common law jurisdictions, currently offered in Hong Kong by the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and City University of Hong Kong.
JD (Juris Doctor)
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A graduate-entry professional degree preparing individuals for law practice. In the U.S. and Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree.
PCLL (Postgraduate Certificate in Laws)
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A mandatory professional qualification program in Hong Kong that prepares law graduates to become solicitors or barristers.
Hall of residence
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Living in a residential hall is an HKU tradition, fostering independence and close interaction among students from diverse backgrounds.
HKU Law Campuses
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Caine Road Campus (1969 - 1973)
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Knowles Building (1973 - 1989)
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K.K. Leung Building (1989 - 2012)
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Cheng Yu Tung Tower (2012 - present)
UK Postgraduate Education
United Kingdom Bar Exams (“London Bar Final”) (formerly in place)
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A now-obsolete two-part qualification exam for aspiring barristers wishing to practice in the UK or Hong Kong, held three times a year at three-month intervals. Graduates could take multiple exams simultaneously, often sitting them early after graduation or the next summer.
Training
Traineeship
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Aspiring solicitors who completed the PCLL must be employed under a two-year training contract with a law firm to qualify as solicitors. This period is also referred to as an “articleship” in some interviews.
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Non-law graduates were previously able to serve five years as a solicitor’s clerk to qualify as solicitors. The significance of this system subsequently waned due to the popularisation of legal education.
Pupillage
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Aspiring barristers who completed the PCLL must complete a one-year pupillage, assisting barristers with case research, drafting, court attendance, and other tasks to qualify as barristers.