Pioneering Paulines

Alan Hoo graduated from St. Paul’s College in 1968, later furthering his studies in Britain. Hoo is a barrister and one of Hong Kong’s Senior Counsels. He has chaired the Basic Law Institute since 1999 and been a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference from 2003 to 2023.

Hoo had his political awakening within the College’s open environment. After listening to a speech by Queen’s Counsel Sir Oswald Victor Cheung, Hoo often attended sessions in the Supreme Court. Another source of inspiration was some of his classmates’ unbridled passion for discussing China’s politics. Hoo decried a lack of ethnic Chinese leadership in Hong Kong and was determined to serve his country in the future. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990. In addition to his legal work, he frequently comments on politics and policy. Hoo has promoted cultural exchange between China and Italy by founding the Marco Polo Society. He was awarded the SBS in 2004 and the Grande Officiale of the Order of the Star of Italy in 2009.

Aside from going to court hearings then, Hoo was also active in the Interact Club, which organised community service activities, and was active in the choir and basketball team.

胡漢淸在一九六八年畢業聖保羅書院，後赴英進修，現爲香港資深大律師，自一九九九年起任基本法硏究中心主席，在二〇〇三年起任中國人民政治協商會議全國委員會委員。

胡氏政治啓蒙由聖保羅說起，當時書院思想開放，胡氏聽畢張奧偉御用大律師在書院演講，已確定日後想從事法律工作，在學時經常到最高法院（今終審法院）旁聽法官審理案件。啓發胡氏的還有常談論國情的同班同學。胡氏不忿當時香港政治社會缺乏漢人領導，立志日後爲港爲國貢獻。一九九〇年，胡氏獲委任御用大律師。現今除法律事務外，經常對政制與公共政策發表評論。胡氏又推動中意民間文化交流，並成立中意友好協進會，在二〇〇四年與二〇〇九年分別獲頒銀紫荊星章和意大利星級司令勛章。

當時課餘除常赴法庭，胡氏亦曾活躍於扶輪少年服務團，組織社區活動服務鄰舍，又活躍於書院籃球部和合唱團。