Hans Mahncke
Hans Mahncke: Advocate for World Hunger Awareness
College of Law Founded by Hans Mahncke
Hans Mahncke is a legal consultant who has practiced and taught law for many years. Hans Mahncke hopes to share his considerable knowledge about practicing law and the responsibilities of working as an advocate, which is why he decided to found Hong Kong’s College of Law. Hans Mahncke correctly sensed that many potential students would be eager to learn from him, as an established and experienced legal scholar and educator. Hong Kong’s College of Law has been a great success for Hans Mahncke.
Email: hansmahncke@outlook.com
Website: http://hansmahncke.wordpress.com/
Location: Macau, Hong Kong, China
Hans Mahncke Uses the Law to Better the Lives of Residents of Hong Kong
As a resident scholar at the Lion Rock Institute, a public policy organization dedicated to defending the economic rights of residents of Hong Kong, Hans Mahncke uses his knowledge of the law to fight for better economic policy to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s residents.
Led by the impeccable research conducted by Hans Mahncke, the Lion Rock Institute fights to retain a view of the free market that defends land ownership, lessens government influence, and creates a supportive community. Based on these principles, the Lion Rock Institute, supported by Hans Mahncke, seeks to defend those in poverty and those communities held under the thumb of the government. Hans Mahncke is a perfect fit for this organization, as his expertise with economic law, common law, and as a trained mediator make him well-suited to act on the behalf of those who can benefit the most from his experience. Hans Mahncke uses his expertise in researching and writing about the law to influence public policy for the better, as one axiom of the Lion Rock Institute is that making informed decisions about economic policy lead to better decisions for all residents of Hong Kong. For him, as for many who seek to change public policy to reflect the best interests of citizens, this is a fight worth taking.
You see, his fight is worth making not only because of his expertise in the law, but also because he and his family are residents of Hong Kong. They have made Hong Kong their home, a place to feel welcomed, equal, and proud.
Trained Mediator Hans Mahncke Uses His Expertise to Fight World Hunger
According to Hans Mahncke, the realities of world hunger are the result of the tragic consequences of political instability, trade barriers, and the harsh inequalities of race, religion, and belief. World hunger affects over in eight of the world’s population ‒ that is approximately 870 million people throughout the world ‒ causing severe malnutrition and health issues for an even greater amount of people. Hans Mahncke knows the effects of world hunger, and has fought diligently to change the consequences of hunger and malnutrition for those affected throughout the world.
As an established scholar of the law, Hans Mahncke is also a trained mediator. He has used this combined experience to fight world hunger by changing what causes world hunger ‒ by encouraging others to come together despite their differences and seek an end to this worldwide epidemic. As contributor to “An End to World Hunger: Hope for the Future,” an educational site for teachers dedicated to teaching children about world hunger, Hans Mahncke has used his combined expertise as an educator and mediator to help others discover the causes of this issue.
The efforts of Hans Mahncke and this site even won him recognition. He was awarded the Digital Diplomacy Award by the U.S. State Department, though you would never hear Hans Mahncke brag of this accolade. Instead, he would politely deflect this recognition ‒ like any well-trained mediator would ‒ back to the issue at hand, encouraging others to make themselves more educated on world hunger, its causes, and what you can do to fight it throughout the world.
International Law Scholar Hans Mahncke on Living and Working Abroad
Hans Mahncke’s family is not originally from Hong Kong. But the German law scholar and his family have made a very fulfilling life for themselves in Hong Kong, where Hans Mahncke researches, writes, and teaches at local universities.
While living and working abroad might seem daunting at first, Hans Mahncke has adjusted well, as he has used the experience to seek many different avenues of research and service through the law. Aside from teaching students about the finer points of economic law, common law, and laws surrounding the WTO (World Trade Organization), the extracurricular activities that Hans Mahncke participates in have helped him find a home in Hong Kong. He has been a scholar at the Lion Rock Institute since 2005, became a member of the Hong Kong Lawyer Editorial Board a year later, has served as an examiner for the Hong Kong Conversion Exam Board since 2008, and is an editor for Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong. Furthermore, Hans Mahncke found fulfillment fighting world hunger, as he was awarded the Digital Diplomacy Award by the U.S. State Department.
What these credentials show is that Hans Mahncke has found a home living and working abroad. For him, “culture shock” is not an issue; rather, what he will do next with his time in Hong Kong is the greater question. It is clear that the people of Hong Kong have welcomed his particular brand of cultural insight. As founder of the College of Law in Hong Kong, Hans Mahncke will continue to pursue his life’s work.
Hans Mahncke Shares Some Thoughts on Reviewing and Publishing Law Scholarship
Hans Mahncke has a long list of credentials as a law scholar. He received his advanced degrees in economic law, common law, and laws surrounding the WTO (World Trade Organization). Though receiving those degrees took massive amounts of researching, writing, and publishing, Hans Mahncke knows that the work only begins for law researchers once they begin researching or teaching the law professionally.
Hans Mahncke is an editor for Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong as well as various other law reports and publications. This kind of direct experience has taught him a few things about publishing law scholarship, but especially that studying the law takes time, practice, and collaboration.
First, understand that publishing takes a while. Most law scholars assume that they can go right to print once they’ve finished a piece of law scholarship. Hans Mahncke knows that this is rarely the case. Publishing any piece of scholarly writing takes time and many revisions, so writers should settle in for the long haul. Second, know that publishing is a collaborative process. When you send your research to a law journal, a reviewer, who is often an expert in your subject area ‒ and Hans Mahncke is one such reviewer ‒ carefully responds to your ideas. While they may not like your first draft, they’ll often give you good advice on revision.
Third, be careful where you send your research. Hans Mahncke advises you to never send the same piece of writing to the same journals, and to also be very careful of choosing the right audience to read your writing.
Hans Mahncke’s Take On Anti-Dumping Use Against China
As a well-known and respected legal scholar, Hans Mahncke has been a staunch defender of free trade principles. One area that he has invested a lot of his efforts into is the egregious nature of many Western countries’ anti-dumping regimes, which often have very detrimental impacts on the livelihoods of people in transitional and developing economies. Hans Mahncke is very concerned that over the course of the past decade, China has become the world’s number one target of anti-dumping measures. Given the unpredictable nature of these measures, Hans Mahncke says that they are an unfair and disproportionate response to China’s perceived economic rise.
While some may argue that China has been using unfair subsidization and government aid methods, Hans Mahncke points out that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has separate laws that deal with such trade behavior and that anti-dumping laws are not the appropriate mechanism. In spite of this, Hans Mahncke concludes that it is the easy access and trouble-free application that makes anti-dumping measures such attractive tools for erecting protective barriers against imports from China. Hans Mahncke finds that such use of anti-dumping law is not within the spirit of the World Trade Organization and its emphasis on free trade through comparative advantages.
Hans Mahncke fears that with the ongoing economic slump in many Western nations, the problem of anti-dumping law abuse will only get worse in the future. Through the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body, China has been gradually learning how to defend itself against these measures brought by other countries, according to Hans Mahncke. It is only a question of time until we will see the eruption of a full-scale trade war between China and its Western trading partners, a scenario which Hans Mahncke is very concerned about. Hans Mahncke hopes that this course of events can be prevented by countries resorting to the proper WTO laws and mechanisms. Hans Mahncke also highlights the habit of those European Union and the United States of slapping Chinese exports with both anti-dumping measures, as well as countervailing duties, a practice which he calls deeply flawed and unfair.
Hans Mahncke Joins the Team at the Lion Rock Institute
The Lion Rock Institute is a think-tank based in Hong Kong, and it is a prominent and influential group to be part of. Back in 2005, Hans Mahncke, a legal scholar who also lives and works in Hong Kong, received the exciting invitation to join the Lion Rock Institute as an Associate Scholar. Hans Mahncke was very excited about this opportunity, and the new challenges and working relationships that lay ahead.
Hans Mahncke’s excitement was due to the illustrious nature of the Lion Rock Institute, Hong Kong’s first free marker think-tank. But he was also excited because Hans Mahncke simply enjoys cultivating variety in his professional life. Through his association with the Lion Rock Institute, Hans Mahncke has had many opportunities to brief policy-makers on a wide range of issues, as well as helping the Lion Rock Institute prepare policy papers and reports, which have been very influential in guiding government policy. Hans Mahncke finds that pursuing his work from many different angles keeps it interesting and engaging.
It could be said that Hans Mahncke truly enjoys the scholarly side of the law, so the appointment to the Lion Rock Institute makes sense. At the Lion Rock Institute, Hans Mahncke has learned a lot from his coworkers, who include many established personalities in the Hong Kong public policy, political and media arenas. Known for their probity and expertise, his colleagues at the Lion Rock Institute are interested in legal issues relating to free trade, finance, property rights, education, and the economy, which makes the Institute a great fit for Hans Mahncke and his particular interests.
Hans Mahncke has truly enjoyed his time at the Lion Rock Institute so far, and looks forward to many more years of academic research and discovery. Hans Mahncke highly suggests getting involved with the Lion Rock Institute if you have the opportunity to do so.
Hans Mahncke’s New College of Law
Though Hans Mahncke is an academic who has worked in the legal arena for many years and in a wide variety of capacities – including teaching, consulting and publishing – he has now added one more exciting job title to this impressive list: Founder of a College of Law. Indeed, Hans Mahncke recently founded a College of Law in Hong Kong, the city where he lives and works. Hans Mahncke decided to do this to highlight the fundamental importance of the rule of law for Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle. Hans Mahncke was drawn to found the College of Law, because his experience in law spans a considerable variety of subject matter, and he hopes to share his knowledge with as many people as possible. Hans Mahncke knew that starting his very own College of Law in the city of Hong Kong would be a challenge. However, Hans Mahncke rose to the occasion and has been able to turn his dream into a reality.
Hans Mahncke also hopes to introduce a new generation of students to areas of law that are vital to a well-functioning society. Hans Mahncke has spent many years teaching about the importance of the rule of law for Hong Kong and it is because of this experience that Hans Mahncke hopes to share the importance with others, as part of the curriculum at the brand new College of Law.
In addition to his editorial and law experience, Hans Mahncke brings a great deal of administrative savvy to his new leadership role in setting up his College of Law. Hans Mahncke has worked both on the academic as well as on the administrative side of universities, and it is the expertise he gained from these endeavors which stands him in good stead heading into his new venture with the College of Law.
How to be a Great Teacher, by Hans Mahncke
1. Treat your students with respect, says Hans Mahncke. As a teacher, you hold a significant amount of power over their lives, but everyone involved will be happier if you use your power for good. Remember that everyone in your classroom has something to teach you, and teaching will be a great way for you to expand on your own knowledge base.
2. In a similar vein, says Hans Mahncke, keep your cool at all times. Teaching can be frustrating and even at the college level; students can sometimes be unruly or rude. But if you let your students see you lose control, you will lose their respect in the long run, which, as a teacher, is something you just cannot afford to let happen if you want to do the best possible job. Your students may be difficult, but if you show that you cannot be swayed, your students will likely snap into shape.
3. When offering criticism, says Hans Mahncke, it is important to pair a critique with a compliment. No one likes to be criticized, explains Hans Mahncke. But if you pair a critique with a compliment, it shows the person you are talking to that you respect them and have confidence in their ability to improve. A criticism alone often has the opposite effect, says Hans Mahncke. Even in grad school, students deserve a bit of positive reinforcement. Hans Mahncke adds that this technique works in business too.
Hans Mahncke Brings Mediator Training to Law
Though Hans Mahncke’s experience in law spans a wide variety of occupations and contributions to the field, including writing, editing, teaching, judging, and reviewing law publications, Hans Mahncke has yet another specialty worth remarking upon. Hans Mahncke is a trained mediator. Though when many people think about the environment of a courtroom or situations surrounding a lawsuit, they often associate them with combative feelings and negativity; but Hans Mahncke knows better. Through his experience as a mediator, Hans Mahncke brings an extraordinary level of sensitivity to any case he becomes involved in. First and foremost, Hans Mahncke considers the courtroom as a last resort, and so this is the mentality he brings to his work as a mediator.
As a trained mediator, Hans Mahncke works hard to help many of his clients resolve their conflicts and difficulties with one another in a manner that is safe, respectful, and works toward a mutually satisfying solution for all involved. In particularly contentious situations, or when people become mired in a difficult and lasting conflict, it can make a real difference for the better to bring in the assistance of a neutral, outside professional. Typically, the perspective of a person outside the conflict can be more objective, and come up with new, more creative solutions that are more likely to please both parties. For many people who solicit his services in Hong Kong, this person is Hans Mahncke, founder of Hong Kong’s College of Law and trusted legal consultant.
Indeed, Hans Mahncke finds that his mediation experience is an incredibly gratifying part of his work in the legal field. First and foremost, Hans Mahncke considers law to be a way of helping others. Incorporating his mediation experience into his work with his clients is just one way that Hans Mahncke works to make law a real social good in the lives of others.
Hans Mahncke Envisions a Better World
Like many people, Hans Mahncke envisions a better world in the future, one in which much of the suffering in impoverished countries has been alleviated, and everyone has access to healthy foods and clean water. Through his background in international trade law, Hans Mahncke knows that much of the world’s problems stem from trade barriers and other restrictions to people’s economic activities. Hans Mahncke helped create an online awareness tool called “An End to World Hunger: Hope for the Future,” which has been such a successful project that it was recognized by the United States State Department back in 2001. It was then that Hans Mahncke was awarded by the department with a Digital Diplomacy Award for “An End to World Hunger: Hope for the Future.”
What people may not realize, however, is that “An End to World Hunger: Hope for the Future” is just one part of Hans Mahncke’s endeavors to bring attention to the issue of world hunger and ensure that people living in extreme poverty are given a chance at a better quality of life. In his hometown of Hong Kong, for example, Hans Mahncke volunteers his time and legal counsel to educate residents on the benefits of free trade, as well as the pitfalls of government subsidies for the long-term development of economies, thus alleviating hunger and poverty.
Hans Mahncke first became interested in battling poverty and hunger when he realized how ubiquitous the problem of global hunger really was, and how, at the same time, there were a vast number of affordable and practical ways of fighting it, most notably by eliminating barriers to trade. Hans Mahncke wanted to spread the word, both about the prevalence of hunger and about the potentially easy ways ordinary people might approach solving it. Through “An End to World Hunger: Hope for the Future” and his other awareness-raising endeavors, Hans Mahncke hopes that people will realize that they are not powerless in the face of another person’s suffering. He believes that all of us can make small choices, every day, which contribute to the betterment of the lives of people affected by global poverty.
Hans Mahncke: An Academic Active in His Community
One of the most important things to Hans Mahncke is being involved in one’s community. This might mean volunteering or supporting programs for the arts or programs which solve large societal problems where one lives, or even working to be a responsible global citizen. To Hans Mahncke, it simply means being an active participant in one’s community, whatever work you may do. Hans Mahncke has even spent many, many hours volunteering at a variety of nonprofit organizations located throughout his community. It is Hans Mahncke’s long-held belief that this is especially important for people who hold positions of authority, or those who engage directly with the laws of the community in which they live. For Hans Mahncke, this includes his own line of work as an educator and legal consultant.
Hans Mahncke knows from experience that it is not enough to know the law inside and out. To be truly effective, Hans Mahncke believes that lawyers and academics must be actively engaged in their communities. Hans Mahncke believes that they should be well informed about current events on both a local and national level, and they should be aware of any challenges their community may be facing, as well as how they can best use their legal expertise to alleviate these problems.
Equally important, Hans Mahncke believes that those working in law must keep up with a larger community of lawyers, to continue to educate themselves about different approaches to their work that they may be able to learn from others and build upon their skill set to become even stronger assets to their communities. In his work at the Lion Rock Institute, Hans Mahncke hopes that with time and even more dedication to his community, he can expand his areas of expertise and become even more fully engaged with his community.
3 Reasons You Should Travel, by Hans Mahncke
Traveling is a great way to get out of your comfort zone, says Hans Mahncke. It can be incredibly exciting and refreshing to experience life in another country, and to see even the most subtle differences between cultures.
Too often we think of other countries abstractly, says Hans Mahncke. We base our ideas of them too much on what we read in the newspapers or on what other people tell us, and often these preconceived notions are quite biased or completely wrong. If you are interested at all in creating a more interdependent world, Hans Mahncke says that it is very important to let go of these misconceptions. The fastest way to correct them is to actually travel to one of those places you’ve heard about. See it for yourself and wait to draw conclusions.
Face it; it’s easy to get stuck in one routine. Hans Mahncke says that this is a very common problem among many busy professionals, often to the detriment of our ability to be innovative when it comes to problem-solving. Traveling is not a magical solution to any problem, but a little distance can often give travelers a new perspective, so that when they get home, they feel refreshed and ready to tackle what may have seemed insurmountable before taking off.
With these tips in mind, Hans Mahncke hopes that more people will consider traveling for one more reason: it’s fun, says Hans Mahncke. What could be more exciting than an adventurous journey to a new place?
How to Be a Great Editor, by Hans Mahncke
With impressive editing experience at the Hong Kong Lawyer, Halsbury's Laws of Hong Kong, and a variety of law journals, Hans Mahncke knows a thing or two about how to be a strong and effective editor. Here, Hans Mahncke explains his top tips for being the best editor, whether you’re working on a magazine, a book, or an academic journal.
o 1. Whatever the subject of what you’re editing, know it well, says Hans Mahncke. If you’re editing an article that includes technical information about photography, look up the technical information you need to understand it. Often times, a fact checker can do this, but sometimes that is not possible, for budgetary reasons, and you need to be prepared to do it.
o 2. Respect the author’s voice, but don’t be afraid to make changes to their piece, cautions Hans Mahncke. Often times, editors worry that too much interference will make a piece read more like him or her than the piece’s original author. And it is important that editors respect the voices of the people who write for them. That being said, says Hans Mahncke, editors still bring something crucial to the work at hand: an objective view that it’s impossible for the writer to have. If something needs to be changed for clarity or flow, it should be changed, says Hans Mahncke. Don’t be afraid to make the adjustment.
o 3. Don’t be afraid to suggest significant changes to the piece’s original author. Many pieces are vastly improved because an editor points something out that the author could not have foreseen, says Hans Mahncke. Remember that an author and editor are a team, and that both of you basically want the same thing ‒ to make the writing better. If you’re able to see yourself as working in concert with the writer, you’ll be able to approach your work from a place of honesty and good will, says Hans Mahncke.