Michael Wilkinson, a celebrated legal scholar and long-time professor at the University of Hong Kong, has passed away following a battle with cancer. He was 74.

Wilkinson, who had a long and prolific career training successive generations of Hong Kong lawyers – including the first chief justice, Andrew Li – served as a senior lecturer in the law department of HKU for more than 34 years.

Originally gaining his qualifications from the University of Cambridge, Wilkinson spent 13 years teaching in Africa prior to joining the prestigious Hong Kong university. He held many titles over the course of his long career, including associate dean of the university’s faculty of law, head of the department of professional legal education and chairman of the faculty’s board of studies.

“I have probably taught 60 to 70 percent of all lawyers in Hong Kong,” Wilkinson told the Hong Kong Lawyer, the Law Society of Hong Kong’s official publication, last year in what was one of his final interviews . He added: “The best part of my work is interacting with my students.”

When asked by the publication what advice he would give to someone considering teaching law in Hong Kong, he enthusiastically advised: “Go for it! It’s a very satisfying career. You can sleep well at night,” adding that a career in law is “very fulfilling.”

“The preservation of the rule of law is of fundamental importance to Hong Kong and we need lawyers with integrity and bravery to make sure we uphold the rule of law,” Wilkinson told the publication. The Law Society bestowed him with the title of Honorary Member for Life.

Wilkinson, who continued to teach while undergoing chemotherapy, is remembered fondly by his former students. 

Sheila Ahuja, a Singapore-based partner at Allen & Overy recalled Wilkinson as “a high-quality lecturer and unique individual.”

“I remember being taught by him vividly because I enjoyed it so much and respect him so greatly. He kept an incredibly large room of very diverse students strongly committed to the profession with his talent, vast knowledge and, rather importantly, wit,” Ahuja said.

“It is a great loss to the University of Hong Kong, and to the legal profession in Hong Kong more generally, but I am confident that his legacy will be honoured strongly and fondly in the years to come.  May he rest in peace,” she said.

Michael Hor, dean of the Faculty of Law at HKU, told Asian Legal Business Wilkinson was a great lawyer and a brilliant teacher. 

“His mastery of the subject was beyond question. He literally wrote the book on civil procedure, conveyancing and professional ethics. He also had the rare ability to put complicated concepts in simple and clear language. Most importantly, Michael respected everyone he interacted with, students as well as colleagues - and it was this quality which endeared him to anyone who knew him,” Hor said. 

HKU’s Faculty of Law separately released a statement, remembering Wilkinson as a “beloved colleague and friend.”

“We are heartbroken by Michael’s passing. Michael will always be remembered dearly as a great teacher, a wonderful friend and a great mentor. His wisdom, sense of humour and charisma will be very much missed."

“Words may fail us, but Michael’s friendship, collegiality, passion for teaching, love for legal scholarship, care and concern for his colleagues, students and friends, and selfless devotion to the common good of our law school and our legal community, will be in our hearts always,” the statement said.