The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, met with
officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the
National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in Beijing
today (November 29) and exchanged views on various legal and
judicial matters.
In the morning, Mr Yuen met with the Assistant Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Mr Le Yucheng, and briefed him on the
setting up of the Asia Pacific Regional Office of the Hague
Conference on Private International Law (Hague Conference)
in Hong Kong in mid-December.
Mr Yuen expressed his gratitude to the MFA for its efforts
in the past few years in promoting the establishment of the
Hague Conference's regional office in Hong Kong, and holding
discussions with the Hague Conference on the Host Country
Agreement.
He said that the Hague Conference's decision signified
that this renowned international organisation had cast a vote
of confidence in Hong Kong for being a regional legal services
centre and upholding the rule of law.
Mr Yuen met with the Director General of the Department of Regional Economy of the NDRC, Mr Fan Hengshan, in the afternoon and exchanged views on the development of Hong Kong's legal and arbitration professions in Qianhai and Nansha.
Mr Yuen pointed out that the legal and arbitration sectors are very concerned about the development of Qianhai and Nansha. The introduction of Hong Kong's arbitration services in the areas and permission for Mainland and Hong Kong law firms to set up partnership associations there will facilitate the growth of a legal environment and attract overseas investors.
Mr Yuen arrived in Beijing yesterday (November 28) for a three-day visit. He met with the Executive Vice President of the Supreme People's Court, Mr Shen Deyong, and the Vice Minister of Justice, Mr Hao Chiyong. He also attended a dinner reception hosted by the All China Lawyers Association to promote further exchanges and co-operation between the legal services sectors in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Tomorrow (November 30) he will meet officials of the
Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of
the National People's Congress (NPCSC), the Hong Kong Basic
Law Committee of the NPCSC and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs
Office of the State Council. He will also host a reception
for members of the China International Economic and Trade
Arbitration Commission.
Ends/Tuesday, November 29, 2012