| Prof. Johannes Chan SC |
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|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Hong Kong (LLB, PCLL) London School of Economics and Political Science (LLM) |
| Occupation | Dean of the Faculty of Law (HKU) Barrister-at-law in HK |
| Website | |
| http://www0.hku.hk/law/research/profile/chan_johannes.html | |
Johannes Chan Man-mun (陳文敏), SC (Hons) is the Dean of the Faculty of Law for the University of Hong Kong.[1] He is a practising barrister-at-law who specializes in human rights, constitutional and administrative law.[2] In February 2009 he was banned from entering Macau and raised strong responses from both pro-Beijing and pro-democracy camps.
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Chan was born and educated in Hong Kong. He earned his LLB from the University of Hong Kong and his LLM at the London School of Economics and Political Science.[2]
Chan was called to the Hong Kong Bar in September 1982. Currently, he is still practising as a barrister-at-law who specializes in public law and human rights. He received the Human Rights Press Award in 1999. In 2003, he was appointed as the first Honorary Senior Counsel in Hong Kong.[2] He has appeared as counsel in many constitutional law cases, such as Lam Siu Po v. Commissioner of Police.[3]
Chan joined the University of Hong Kong as a teaching staff in 1985, became a Senior Lecturer in 1991, an Associate Professor in 1996, a Professor in 1998, the Head of Department of Law in 1999 and the Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2002.
Chan has published widely in legal journals regarding human rights.[4][5][6] He was a founding member of the Article 23 Concern Group and Article 45 Concern Group. He was also one of the founders of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor.
On February 27, 2009 Chan was invited to give a speech at the University of Macau. Under the newly enacted Macau national security law he was not allowed to enter Macau.[7] He believed the entrance block was related to his role in the Article 23 concern group in 2002.[7] The only explanation given by Macau officials on the block was that his name was on a list and that they were just doing their job.[7]
Earlier in December 2008, nine pro-democracy lawmakers were denied entry to Macau, where they planned to protest against Macau's version of the Article 23 laws.[8] Two pro-democracy figures including Frederick Fung (馮檢基), and photographer Felix Wong (王智強) planning to cover a corruption hearing were all barred from entering the territory.[7][8]
Legislator Nelson Wong said "it seems that Hong Kong lawmakers, journalists and academics are inferior to gamblers, sex tourists and loan sharks."[9] Ronny Tong said it would be better for Hong Kong people to not travel to Macau (casinos) for entertainment.[9] Pro-Beijing camp Regina Ip said the SAR government must react since it affects the human rights of citizens.[9] Albert Ho called on the Hong Kong government to stop allowing Macau senior officials from entering Hong Kong if they continued to turn away pro-democracy politicians.[10]
Macau Chief Exec Edmund Ho said that his officials had acted according to the law. He personally believed it has nothing to do with the legislation of Article 23.[9]
Casino tycoon Stanley Ho attending the CPPCC meeting in Beijing at the time, said "those who were barred deserved what they got. It was absolutely correct the government closed the door on the people concerned because they were troublemakers who stirred up shit. It was wonderful Macau had the new security law because it maintained order. It will be a huge loss for Hong Kong. Without the article, Hong Kong will be less safe."[9][11]