Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Laws Programme

The Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Laws programme at The University of Hong Kong offers students an exciting and empowered future. The programme combines the study of law and literary studies, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection of law and literature.

Programme Structure

The programme includes a range of courses, including:

• Introduction to Law and Literary Studies
• Law and Literature
• Law, Meaning and Interpretation
• Language and the Law
• Law and Film
• Legal Fictions: United States Citizenship and the Right to Write in America
• Advanced Legal Theory
• Sovereignty in Law, Theory and Culture
• Language Rights and Linguistic Justice
• The Beginnings of English Law and Literature

Course Details: Language Rights and Linguistic Justice

The course on Language Rights and Linguistic Justice offers a broad picture of linguistic diversity and cultural preservation, tracing the evolution of language rights and exploring their historical connections with nation states, warfare, and globalization. The course is divided into three parts:

• The first part surveys international and national legal regimes in the protection of language rights, covering both minority language rights and official language rights, and their manifestations as negative and positive rights.
• The second part examines how language rights are realized in the domains of education, legal processes, and public services across jurisdictions, as well as the limitations of their reach.
• The third part focuses on the philosophical and moral basis of language rights, addressing sources of contention, and querying the concept of ‘linguistic justice’.

Programme Faculty

The programme is led by a team of experienced faculty members, including:

• Dr. Anya Adair (Director – Arts)
• Professor Christopher Hutton
• Professor Kendall Johnson
• Dr. Nick Luke (Deputy Director – Arts)
• Dr. Michael Ng
• Professor Scott Veitch
• Professor Marco Wan (Director – Law)
• Dr. John Wong

Student Experience

The programme provides students with a range of opportunities for engagement and development, including internships, capstone projects, and social gatherings. Students have the opportunity to participate in in-class debates, digital research internships, and other activities that enhance their learning experience.