HKU law students lectured on integrity
You must abide by highest moral code, graduates told in wake of plagiarism
Students of the University of Hong Kong's Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCLL) course yesterday had the principles of honour and integrity hammered into them by academic and professional leaders.
In the wake of several cases of plagiarism identified for the first time in the programme this year, the students heard speeches by PCLL head Michael Wilkinson, law faculty dean Johannes Chan Man-mun and Law Society president Michael Lintern-Smith on the importance of honesty in the profession.
The event at which they spoke was an awards ceremony for graduating students, as well as an induction ceremony for new students.
Professor Wilkinson urged the students not to put him in the difficult position of having to prosecute anyone for plagiarism, as he had to several months ago.
Sixteen students were investigated and four faced hearings before the University Disciplinary Committee for copying up to 98 per cent of each other's work on a paper worth five per cent of one course. One student is reported to have faked an interview with a magistrate for the paper.
Of the four, two were expelled and barred from re-sitting the PCLL course, one was suspended for a year and the other suspended for several months.
Professor Chan said plagiarism was 'academic theft' and he hoped none of this year's students would commit such a serious breach of integrity.
'In future life, you will face a lot of temptations far more attractive than 5 per cent of a paper's marks,' he told the students. 'But just a small digression for the sake of convenience, greed or risk-taking could cost you a lot.'
Mr Lintern-Smith described the legal profession as an 'ancient and honourable' one, with unique rewards and unique demands of the highest standards of integrity.
'You must abide by the highest moral code that is known to society and must avoid shortcuts and give your all,' he told the students.
'Resist temptations of self-interest. The legal profession demands that only those who conduct themselves with honesty, integrity and diligence succeed.'
Top PCLL student Emily Wong I-cheung, who won the overall prize, said she felt sorry for the students who had been expelled but agreed that cheating was wrong and it did not matter if it was for a paper worth just 5 per cent of a course.
Irene Lee Wing-yun, who also won an award for excellence, said law faculty students had been reminded time and again of the pitfalls of plagiarism.
They were aware the consequences could be dire.
'Integrity is a very important quality a legal professional should have and so plagiarism in universities should be treated very seriously,' she said.
