Secretary for Justice promotes HK's legal and dispute resolution services in London (with photos)

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, yesterday (October 14, London time) appealed to the participants of the London Law Expo 2014 to choose Hong Kong as the venue for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Yuen was delivering a speech at the main panel session of the London Law Expo 2014 yesterday morning. He said that capitalising on its robust legal system and modern legal infrastructure, Hong Kong has been positioning itself as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region for a considerable period of time.

He highlighted that there are six reasons why Hong Kong should be considered as an ideal venue for international legal and dispute resolution services in the region. They are Hong Kong's geographic location and the trend of global economic development; Hong Kong's common law legal system; the rule of law and judicial independence; the presence of a strong team of legal and dispute resolution practitioners; strong Government support; and Hong Kong's modern and robust infrastructure, which supports the effective provision of international legal and dispute resolution services.

In respect of queries which have recently been raised as to the state of the rule of law or judicial independence in Hong Kong, Mr Yuen pointed out, "However, all those assertions and queries which sought to suggest that the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong are being eroded are no more than mistaken perception. Not only is there no evidence to support such bare assertions, the objective circumstances point to the opposite direction, i.e. the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong are as good as before."

Apart from attending the Expo, Mr Yuen also delivered a speech at a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Association to explain the legal and constitutional regime relating to the election of the Chief Executive (CE) by universal suffrage, as stipulated in Article 45 of the Basic Law, and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2016 on August 31, 2014.

He said that issues concerning constitutional development have always been controversial. It is exactly for this reason that it is necessary to be rational and pragmatic, so that the people of Hong Kong can reach a consensus and move forward.

"Irrespective of one's view on the formation and composition of the nominating committee, the election of CE by 'one man, one vote' will necessarily be a step forward, and will certainly be a system more democratic than the current system of election of CE by the Election Committee.

"There is no reason to allow perfection to be the enemy of the good, and there is no reason not to pursue universal suffrage simply because the community remains to have divergent views on what is the best system," Mr Yuen said.

Mr Yuen yesterday also met with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Mr Chris Grayling, exchanging views on matters of common interest including the latest developments of legal and dispute resolution services in Hong Kong and the UK.

Ends/Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, delivers a speech at the London Law Expo 2014 in London.
Mr Yuen (front row, second right) with participants of a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Association.