15 March 2005 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that law students from the University of the Philippines’ College of Law won the finals of the 3rd Hong Kong Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition held from 11 to 12 March 2005.

Sponsored by the Hong Kong Red Cross with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong and the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong, the competition aims to raise awareness among law students, practitioners, and the general public about the importance of the International Humanitarian Law.

In the third year of the competition, eleven universities from Asia participated in the event.   Consul General Corazon L. Belmonte-Jover informed the Department that in the final round held at the HK High Court, the team of Celia Torres-Villanueva and Mr. William Varias was adjudged the Best Team after besting another duo from U.P. composed of Mr. Mark Rabe and Mr. Marlon Marquez.   Mr. Rabe was likewise adjudged Best Oralist for the two-day competition.   The coach for both teams is Prof. Harry Roque of the UP College of Law.

The winning team will travel to Geneva, Switzerland for a field trip to the ICRC and UN Headquarters courtesy of the Swiss Government. The prizes were awarded on 12 March 2005 to the winning team by the Honorable Andrew Li, Chief Justice of HK and Swiss Consul General Francois Barras at the HK International Red Cross Headquarters.

This is the second straight year that the Philippine contingent received recognition for their participation in the competition.   In 2004, the Ateneo de Manila School of Law was given the Best Memorial award for their written submission.

The judges for the two-general/elimination rounds were from the Legislative Council in HK, the HK judiciary, the Consular Corps, and leading HK law practitioners.  The final round judges were Mr. Justice Patrick Chan of the HK Court of Final Appeal (Supreme Court), Mr. Justice Timothy Gall of the HK High Court and Mr. Anthony Neoh, Senior Counsel and Harvard Law Professor.   Consul General Belmonte-Jover said Mr. Neoh congratulated all participating universities especially for the two final round teams saying that “the level of advocacy displayed by both is of a remarkably high quality.” END
 

/jay