Hong Kong Legal Week 2022, the annual flagship event of the Department of Justice (DoJ), successfully concluded today (November 11). Internationally renowned legal experts and academics from the Mainland, Hong Kong and overseas gathered during Legal Week to have in-depth discussions on a wide range of topics, attracting around 8 200 participants from 40 jurisdictions registered for on-site or online participation. It demonstrated Hong Kong's close connection with the world while the city has fully leveraged the unique advantages of its common law system under "one country, two systems", consolidating its leading status as the international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region.
There were a total of 27 overseas speakers and guests coming from the "three sisters" of private international law - the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) - as well as Japan, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and more, attending Hong Kong Legal Week 2022 in person this year. In addition, UNIDROIT co-organised the Asia-Pacific Private International Law Summit held on the first day of Legal Week, while HCCH hosted the HCCH Conventions Supporting Transnational Litigation in Civil or Commercial Matters: A Workshop to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on the second day. The Workshop on ASEAN Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) on the third day was fully supported by the ASEAN Secretariat. Representatives from six ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat joined the Workshop in person in Hong Kong, with other ASEAN member states participating online. Experts on ODR around the world gathered to discuss how cross-border trade and investment between ASEAN and Hong Kong enterprises could be further promoted through ODR services.
The Rule of Law Congress: Rule of Law and Justice for All was held today as the finale of Hong Kong Legal Week. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung; and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, delivered their remarks at the opening session. In his keynote speech, the Secretary-General of the UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado, talked about the rule of law for sustainable development.
It was followed by three panel sessions moderated by the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Chan Chak-ming; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC; and the Vice President of Y Legalites, Ms Sharon Tam. During the discussions, they explored with prominent panellists as well as young lawyers and students different aspects of the rule of law.
The Rule of Law Congress and Hong Kong Legal Week 2022 came to an end after the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, delivered his closing remarks. Meanwhile, the DoJ's efforts in promoting the rule of law continue on all fronts, including the Law Drafting Competition 2023. The competition, organised by the DoJ, provides university students with the opportunity to devise a legislative proposal and draft their own proposed bill. Through participating in the competition, they can better understand the importance of good legislation to the rule of law, and further appreciate Hong Kong's unique advantages as the only common law jurisdiction in China, and also the only place in the world with a legal system operating in both the Chinese and English languages. For more details of the competition, please visit the DoJ's website.
Hong Kong Legal Week 2022 brought together world-renowned experts to share their insights. The full event will be available for review at the dedicated webpage.
Ends/Friday, November 11, 2022