1. Paul Lam obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 1990 and a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws in 1991 from the University of Hong Kong.
50 Facts About Paul Lam
1. 2.
On 26 March 2013, Paul Lam was appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice, Geoffrey Ma.
3.
Paul Lam served as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association from 2014 to 2016 and as Chairman in 2017.
4.
Paul Lam was a member of the Special Committee on Discipline and the Special Committee on Pupillage and Limited Practice of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
5.
Paul Lam was elected as the Head of Parkside Chambers, succeeding Clive Grossman SC with effect from 1 September 2018.
6.
In 2019, Paul Lam was appointed as an arbitrator of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration for a period of 3 years from 21 February 2019 to 20 February 2022.
7.
Paul Lam has been appointed as an arbitrator of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission from 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2026.
8.
In 2019, Paul Lam was appointed as Professor at the China University of Political Science and Law.
9.
In 2021, Paul Lam passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination.
10.
Paul Lam served as a member of the Board of Review between 2006 and 2014.
11.
Paul Lam was a member of the Appeal Board Panel from 19 December 2007 to 19 December 2013 and Deputy Chairman from 19 December 2015 to 19 December 2021.
12.
Paul Lam was an adjudicator of the Registration of Persons Tribunal between 1 December 2008 and 1 December 2014.
13.
Paul Lam was a member of the Amusement Game Centres Appeal Board from 30 May 2010 to 29 May 2016 and Chairman from 30 May 2016 to 29 May 2020.
14.
On 16 May 2014, Paul Lam was appointed by the Chief Executive, Leung Chun-ying, as Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Apeals Board for a term of 3 years with effect from 1 June 2014.
15.
Paul Lam was later appointed as Chairman of the Administrative Apeals Board for a term of 3 years with effect from 11 June 2016, and subsequently re-appointed by the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, for a term of 3 years with effect from 11 June 2019.
16.
Paul Lam was appointed to the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards for a term of 2 years from 19 June 2014 to 18 June 2016.
17.
Paul Lam was re-appointed and his term was extended to 18 June 2020.
18.
Paul Lam was appointed as a member of the Air Transport Licensing Authority for a term from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2022.
19.
Paul Lam was appointed as a member of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board from 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2021.
20.
On 7 December 2018, Paul Lam was appointed as Chairman of the Consumer Council for a term of 2 years from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.
21.
On 11 December 2020, Paul Lam was re-appointed for a further term of 2 years from 1 January 2021.
22.
Paul Lam served as a member of the Complaints Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018.
23.
Since 1 January 2019, Paul Lam has served as a member of the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
24.
Paul Lam was a member of the Panel of Witness Protection Review Board from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.
25.
Paul Lam was appointed as a member of the Independent Police Complaints Council from 4 September 2019 to 3 September 2021.
26.
Paul Lam held that Hau was involved in the dumping of waste in the land possessed by Lau since early July 2009 and that Hau was liable to Lau for acts of trespass.
27.
In view of the contents of the email, Paul Lam decided to recuse himself because "Considering all relevant circumstances as a whole, I was driven to the conclusion that a reasonable, fair-minded and well-informed observer would conclude that there a real possibility that I would be influenced subconsciously by extraneous considerations arising out of the content of the Email due to my association with the Sender".
28.
On 1 October 2020, Paul Lam was appointed as a Justice of the Peace.
29.
Paul Lam is an honorary advisor to the International Youth Legal Exchange Foundation.
30.
On 19 June 2022, Paul Lam was appointed by the Central People's Government, on the nomination of the Chief Executive-elect of Hong Kong John Lee, as the 5th Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong.
31.
In July 2022, Paul Lam stated that the National Security Law is in line with the protection of human rights and freedoms offered by the Basic Law.
32.
Paul Lam said that it is legitimate to restrict freedom of speech in a reasonable manner in order to safeguard national security.
33.
Paul Lam defended the government and said that the ruling shows Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law.
34.
On 31 October 2022, Paul Lam said that everyone in Hong Kong must know how to respect and safeguard the constitution.
35.
In December 2022, Paul Lam sent a certificate to the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, "demanding" that the case be held without a jury.
36.
In May 2023, Paul Lam said that those found not guilty under the national security law could be arrested again if the government decides to appeal the not guilty verdict.
37.
In February 2024, Paul Lam warned that media outlets which interview wanted activists may risk abetting the activists.
38.
In June 2023, Paul Lam applied for an injunction to make the song Glory to Hong Kong illegal.
39.
In September 2022, Paul Lam opposed an attempt by Lai to hire a lawyer from the UK, with the Department of Justice saying it does not comment on individual cases.
40.
Later on 27 October 2022, Paul Lam appealed the High Court's decision, saying the UK lawyer would not add anything significant to the trial.
41.
On 9 November 2022, the Paul Lam lost his appeal, with the High Court allowing Lai to hire the lawyer.
42.
The High Court ordered Paul Lam to pay for the legal cost of the appeal.
43.
Paul Lam was asked why he did not respond to Leung's comments and "defend the dignity of the judicial system," and Paul Lam responded that he had no comment.
44.
On 28 November 2022, the Court of Final Appeal ruled that "no appropriate basis has been made out" in Paul Lam's appeal, allowing Lai to hire Tim Owen.
45.
Lee said that Paul Lam would seek to adjourn Lai's case from the original 1 December 2022 date until a later time, pending the NPCSC's decision.
46.
When Lee was asked whether Paul Lam should be held accountable for losing multiple appeals against Lai, Lee defended Paul Lam's contributions to the city.
47.
Lai's lawyers said that the multiple appeals by Paul Lam had impeded their preparation for the trial.
48.
On 21 December 2022, Paul Lam was ordered to pay HK$855,000 in legal fees to Lai, after Paul Lam failed multiple times to block Lai from hiring Owen.
49.
On 24 January 2023, Paul Lam promised that legislation to block foreign lawyers would be implemented in the first half of 2023, and that he would listen to "constructive" viewpoints.
50.
On 1 July 2021, Paul Lam was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Chief Executive, Carrie Paul Lam, "in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion of consumer rights protection through his chairmanship of the Consumer Council, as well as the development of trade and industries in Hong Kong".