Hong Kong's legal system has its roots in the common law of England. In this course, students will explore the development of the English legal system and the common law from its origins, and they will consider the role that it has played in shaping the development of Hong Kong. Students will discuss the ways in which law, politics and society have interacted at different stages of history. They will attain a deeper understanding of the rationale underpinning the most important rules and principles of common law and equity while gaining a deeper appreciation of the common law's core values. Students will also be introduced to the methods and techniques of legal historiography while developing their problem-solving, research and writing skills. Legal history is a broad and varied field. Topics may include: the origins of the common law in the reigns of Henry II and Richard I; the Magna Carta; the early history of contract and tort; the struggle for supremacy between crown and parliament;legal consolidation in the eighteenth century; the emergence of the civil law system in continental Europe; the impact of the industrial revolution on the common law; the reception of the common law in Hong Kong; and the impact of the common law on Hong Kong's economic, social and political development during the colonial period and since establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. Topics may also include areas of special interest to faculty members teaching the course.