The Imperial German Navy had used the murder of two German missionaries as excuse to occupy Kiautschou (Jiaozhou) Bay and the harbour city of Tsingtau (Qingdao) in China’s Shandong Peninsula in November 1897. In March 1898 the Chinese government was forced to lease the area to the German Empire for 99 years. Sovereign rights were to be exercised by the German Empire during that period. In addition to the goal of establishing a naval base and to rigorously pursue economic interests in China, German strategists had also planned to turn Kiautschou into a “Model Colony” which would be economically flourishing, show European street culture, have a modern railway system, a German brewery and a modern educational system to demonstrate German supremacy in the Far East. The German control of Kiautschou ended in November 1914 when Japanese military forces occupied the bay during World War I. This seminar discusses the legal framework underpinning Germany’s colonial efforts in China as well as the legal system put in place at Kiautschou bay during the German rule.      

About the Speaker:

Prof. Lutz-Christian Wolff is Wei Lun Professor of Law at CUHK LAW. He specializes in International and Chinese Business Law, Comparative Law, and Private International Law and is admitted to practice in England & Wales as well as in Germany. Prof. Wolff is a CUHK LAW founding member and has served amongst others as CUHK LAW Dean (2019 to 2024) and as Dean of the CUHK Graduate School (2014 to 2019).

*The Law Society of Hong Kong has awarded this seminar 1.5 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Register here to attend the seminar on or before 29 January 2026, 5:00 pm (Hong Kong Time).