Generous Donations Enrich Historical Collections
Treasures of Hong Kong’s Past Find Permanent Home at HKU
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The Deacons Archives include a share certificate of the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Company Limited in 1900. The Company now known as Hongkong Land, was founded in 1889 by Sir Catchick Paul Chater, one of the city’s most influential figures, and Mr James Johnstone Keswick of Jardine, Matheson & Co.
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Judicial Robe (Court of Final Appeal) donated by former Chief Justice Andrew Li.

Hong Kong’s oldest and largest commercial law firm, Deacons, and the former Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, the Honourable Andrew Li Kwok-nang, have made generous donations of precious items to enrich HKU’s collections.

Deacons has deposited its archival records permanently at the HKU Libraries. The Deacons Archives contain the bulk of the early surviving records of Deacons and its predecessors, including client files, deeds and papers, legal documents, accounting records, letter books, photographs, etc. Among all are several volumes of documents related to Chater business transactions which relate to Sir Paul Chater’s estate. An exhibition on some of the collection items was held at the Main Library in April.

The Honourable Andrew Li has donated his court dresses to the Faculty of Law, which is displaying them in the permanent exhibition, De Lege Lata, on Hong Kong Legal System and the Legal Profession. “I wore my judicial and professional uniform day in and day out for 37 years. This Law School is our oldest and leading Law School. It is fitting that my professional and judicial uniform should have its permanent home here,” said the former Chief Justice. De Lege Lata is open to the public throughout the year, with reservations required for viewing the court dress. For details, please go to http://www.hku.hk/law