On May 8, 2023, the 23rd session of the "Shizi Gate" Distinguished Lecture Series (the second session of the 2022-2023 academic year) was successfully held at the N101 Lecture Hall of M.U.S.T. The event was organized by the Faculty of Law at the Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.), with sponsorship from the M.U.S.T. Foundation. The distinguished lecture featured Professor Liang Zhiping as the guest speaker, who delivered a lecture titled "The Old and New of Wildlife Conservation Laws." Professor Liang Zhiping currently holds a full-time dual appointment as a professor at the Academy of Chinese and Western Studies and the Guanghua Law School at Zhejiang University. He is also a member of the Expert Consultation Committee of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and a member of the Legal Affairs Committee of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation.
At the beginning of the event, Professor Fang Quan, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, presented a commemorative gift to Professor Liang Zhiping, expressing gratitude for his excellent keynote speech delivered to the faculty and students.
Dean Fang Quan (right) presents a commemorative gift to Professor Liang Zhiping (left)
Group photo of the guests
(In the photo, from left to right: Secretary-General Lin Weiquan, President Lao Chak Kuong, Associate Professor Huang Mingjian, Professor Liang Zhiping, Dean Fang Quan, Professor Cao Xia, and Chairman Zeng Xinzhi.)
At the beginning of the forum, Professor Liang Zhiping started by discussing the legislative history of wildlife conservation laws and recent academic research in the field. He proposed that controlling or even eliminating the consumption and related trade of wildlife is not only necessary for ecological conservation but also holds significant implications for public health risk control. From a long-term perspective, it is necessary to elevate the risks brought by wildlife trade and consumption as a matter of public safety and manage it accordingly. This involves establishing more robust regulations and management mechanisms by the National People's Congress and relevant government departments, promptly amending and improving related legislation, and implementing a comprehensive ban on the consumption of wildlife. It is important to clearly define the law enforcement departments responsible for market supervision of wildlife operations and their duties, increase penalties for illegal exploitation of wildlife, and include illegal consumption within the scope of management and punishment. Professor Liang Zhiping believes that the newly revised "Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" provides provisions on artificial breeding of wildlife, prevention of invasive alien species, optimization of listing systems, detailed regulations on the prohibition of illegal consumption of wildlife, wildlife damage management, and public health safety. These provisions reflect the principle that legislation should be revised according to needs. Professor Liang's viewpoint not only demonstrates theoretical depth but also closely aligns with the legislation and amendment practices of wildlife protection laws in China. It showcases a high level of concern for wildlife conservation laws and expands the theoretical and practical understanding of wildlife protection laws among the faculty and students of the Faculty of Law at M.U.S.T.
In attendance at the lecture were Professor Fang Quan, Dean of the Faculty of Law at M.U.S.T., Professor Cao Xia, Associate Professor Huang Mingjian, President Lao Chak Kuong of the Law School Alumni Association, Chairman Zeng Xinzhi, Secretary-General Lin Weiquan, and over a hundred students from the Faculty of Law. The forum lasted for two and a half hours, during which students actively asked questions, creating a strong academic atmosphere.
