The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, led a delegation comprising representatives of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, a Legislative Councillor and other representatives today (September 21) to attend a seminar in Hainan with about 280 participants including representatives of Mainland enterprises and the legal sector, to promote the unique strengths of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services, strengthen co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong, and to facilitate Hainan enterprises to go global, contributing to the high-quality development of the country.

　　Under the theme of strengthening Hainan-Hong Kong co-operation for mutual benefit and win-win results, the seminar, held in Hainan for the first time, was organised by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Hainan Province, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (Guangdong ETO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Department of Justice, and co-organised by the Department of Justice of Hainan Province and the Hainan Lawyers Association. Vice Governor of Hainan Mr Cai Zhaohui, Mr Cheung and the Director of the Guangdong ETO, Miss Linda So, officiated at the opening ceremony of the seminar.

　　Mr Cheung met with Mr Cai prior to the seminar and exchanged views on various subjects, such as strengthening co-operation between the two places, and the role of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services in promoting the development of Hainan.

　　Speaking at the event, Mr Cheung said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The seminar provided a valuable platform for promoting co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong, both situated in strategic locations along the Belt and Road, to support Hainan in expediting its development into a globally influential and high-level free trade port, unleashing its huge development potential.

　　He mentioned that Hong Kong's legal system is in line with international standards. With the strategic positioning as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, and the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world, Hong Kong can play the role as a "super-connector", bridging Hainan with global markets and facilitating Hainan enterprises to go global. Moreover, Hong Kong's legal professional sector can provide Hainan enterprises with comprehensive support on legal and dispute resolution services.

　　Miss So noted that the relationship between Hainan and Hong Kong has always been close, and that Hong Kong is the largest source of external investment in Hainan. After the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, relations between Hainan and Hong Kong have scaled new heights with frequent mutual visits of senior officials of the two places, and broader and deeper co-operation. Legal and dispute resolution services are the key to the co-operation. The Guangdong ETO is committed to encouraging co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong. Amid the rapid development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and more outbound business expansions of Hainan enterprises, she hopes that the legal sector and enterprises in Hainan can take this opportunity to learn more about Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services and explore greater collaboration between the legal sectors in the two places. She also urged the two places to join hands to smoothen the path for the further development of Hainan enterprises.

　　Followed by three panel thematic sessions, the discussions focused on various topics, including the advantages of Hong Kong's cross-boundary legal services, co-operation of legal services of the two places, and capacity building of Hainan-Hong Kong legal talent. A number of distinguished speakers from Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution sector shared their insights with the audience in their capacity of being part of the Hong Kong delegation.

　　Mr Cheung and his delegation then attended an exchange forum on Hainan-Hong Kong legal services co-operation and met with Hainan's legal professionals to learn more about the policy of the Hainan Free Trade Port development, such as attracting high-quality foreign legal organisations and talent. Both sides also explored co-operation opportunities in legal and arbitration services in areas including intellectual property and finance. During this trip, Mr Cheung also visited the first partnership association set up between Hainan and Hong Kong law firms to have a better understanding of the latest developments of Hong Kong's legal sector in Hainan.

　　During their visit in Hainan yesterday (September 20), Mr Cheung and the delegation also met with the Standing Committee Member of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department of the Hainan Committee of the CPC, Ms Miao Yanhong, to exchange views on topics such as capitalising Hong Kong's advantages of its professional services that are in line with international standards, and deepening co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan.

　　Mr Cheung and the delegation concluded their visit and will return to Hong Kong in the evening.

Ends/Thursday, September 21, 2023

Video: DSJ led delegation of legal professionals to attend a seminar in Hainan