Patrick Yu
Encyclopedia
Patrick Yu Shuk-Siu (born 1922) is a celebrated trial
and appellate lawyer
in Hong Kong
.
Born into an intellectual Chinese
family in Hong Kong, with ancestry from Taishan
Guangdong
, Yu was educated at home for many years before attending Wah Yan College Hong Kong
, a prominent Jesuit high school in Hong Kong
. In 1938, at the age of sixteen, he was admitted to the University of Hong Kong, where he studied in the arts program as a Government Scholar.
In 1941, shortly after the Pacific War
had broken out, Yu served with British Naval Intelligence and was commissioned as an officer in the Intelligence Corps of the Army of the Republic of China
. In 1945, Yu was awarded a Victory Scholarship by the Government of Hong Kong to continue his studies in England
. He studied at Merton College
, Oxford
until 1948, and later passed his Bar Examination.
Jobless and almost penniless, Yu was forced to find himself a profession. Within a 10 month period, he familiarised himself with all the "niceties" of the English common law
, studying in the Bar Library at Lincoln's Inn
. In 1949, he passed the bar exam of England and Wales and practised briefly as a chancery
barrister
in London
.
In 1950, Yu moved to Malaya
for a short period to work in his uncle's firm Shook Lin & Bok. He soon went back to Hong Kong
, and in 1951 became the first Chinese person to be appointed Crown Counsel of that British colony. Yu resigned in 1953 and commenced a private practice.
He soon built up a sterling reputation as an advocate
, and by the mid-sixties
he had already become the top criminal lawyer in town. It was also during this time he helped to establish the first law school in Hong Kong, The Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong.
In the 1970s, Yu was offered a judge
ship on the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, an invitation he declined. Two similar offers were made during the decade. Yu declined both on the grounds of the discriminatory employment terms. Yu was also known for his refusal to apply to become Queen's Counsel
, a mark of distinction envied by many practitioners in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and in many other Commonwealth countries.
In 1983, after thirty years of private practice, Yu decided to retire. He became an autobiography
author and story-teller, and has published two volumes of memoirs and stories since.
He became a life member of the Hong Kong bar association in 1994.
He is a cousin of Yong Pung How
, former Chief Justice of Singapore, and his younger daughter is married to the younger son of Sir Ti Liang Yang, former Chief Justice of Hong Kong.
Trial (law)
In law, a trial is when parties to a dispute come together to present information in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court...
and appellate lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Born into an intellectual Chinese
Zhonghua minzu
Zhonghua minzu , usually translated as Chinese ethnic groups or Chinese nationality, refers to the modern notion of a Chinese nationality transcending ethnic divisions, with a central identity for China as a whole...
family in Hong Kong, with ancestry from Taishan
Taishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, Yu was educated at home for many years before attending Wah Yan College Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong is an eminent grant-in-aid secondary school in Hong Kong. It was founded on 16 December 1919, by Tsui Yan Sau Peter . It is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus...
, a prominent Jesuit high school in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. In 1938, at the age of sixteen, he was admitted to the University of Hong Kong, where he studied in the arts program as a Government Scholar.
In 1941, shortly after the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
had broken out, Yu served with British Naval Intelligence and was commissioned as an officer in the Intelligence Corps of the Army of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. In 1945, Yu was awarded a Victory Scholarship by the Government of Hong Kong to continue his studies in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He studied at Merton College
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
until 1948, and later passed his Bar Examination.
Jobless and almost penniless, Yu was forced to find himself a profession. Within a 10 month period, he familiarised himself with all the "niceties" of the English common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
, studying in the Bar Library at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
. In 1949, he passed the bar exam of England and Wales and practised briefly as a chancery
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1950, Yu moved to Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
for a short period to work in his uncle's firm Shook Lin & Bok. He soon went back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and in 1951 became the first Chinese person to be appointed Crown Counsel of that British colony. Yu resigned in 1953 and commenced a private practice.
He soon built up a sterling reputation as an advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
, and by the mid-sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
he had already become the top criminal lawyer in town. It was also during this time he helped to establish the first law school in Hong Kong, The Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong.
In the 1970s, Yu was offered a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
ship on the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, an invitation he declined. Two similar offers were made during the decade. Yu declined both on the grounds of the discriminatory employment terms. Yu was also known for his refusal to apply to become Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, a mark of distinction envied by many practitioners in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and in many other Commonwealth countries.
In 1983, after thirty years of private practice, Yu decided to retire. He became an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
author and story-teller, and has published two volumes of memoirs and stories since.
He became a life member of the Hong Kong bar association in 1994.
He is a cousin of Yong Pung How
Yong Pung How
Yong Pung How, DUT . He was the former Chief Justice of Singapore, serving from 1990 to 2006. Prior to his judicial career, he was a lawyer, banker and senior government official...
, former Chief Justice of Singapore, and his younger daughter is married to the younger son of Sir Ti Liang Yang, former Chief Justice of Hong Kong.
Autobiography
- Tales from No. 9 Ice House Street, 2002 ISBN 962-209-580-1
- A Seventh Child and The Law, 2000 ISBN 962-209-524-0
See also
- List of graduates of University of Hong Kong