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Application for the 2023 recruitment exercise for the secondment programmes is now open and will close on 4 May 2023 (Hong Kong time).

Information Notes for Applicants

Application Form

Application Procedures

Any legal professional who is eligible and interested in participating in the secondment programmes above should complete the Application Form above and submit it together with the required information to the Online Portal. on or before 4 May 2023 (Hong Kong time).

Information session

An online information session for the 2023 recruitment exercise will be held on 21 April 2023 (Friday) at 5:00pm to 5:40pm. If you would like to join the information session, please register here.

Enquiries

For enquiries on the 2023 recruitment exercise, please contact the International Law Division of the Department by email at yentlchan@doj.gov.hk.

Background

It is the policy initiative of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to nurture local legal talents through continuous provision of training opportunities, especially in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs, including secondment arrangements with relevant international organisations. By participating in the work of such organisations, local legal talents could gain knowledge of the operation of international organisations, broaden their horizons through working with international law experts, and inject a Hong Kong perspective in shaping the development of international law.

Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)

Since December 2020, a standing arrangement has been put in place with the HCCH for seconding Hong Kong legal professionals in both the public and private sectors to the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH at The Hague, the Netherlands. This arrangement was made pursuant to an agreement concluded between the Central People’s Government and the HCCH, and a memorandum of understanding signed between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) and the HCCH on 22 December 2020.

Useful Information and Resources

International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)

In line with the above policy initiative, a standing agreement has been put in place with UNIDROIT for seconding Hong Kong legal professionals in both the public and private sectors to the Secretariat of UNIDROIT in Rome, Italy. This arrangement has been made pursuant to an agreement concluded between the Central People’s Government and UNIDROIT, and a memorandum of understanding signed between the HKSARG and UNIDROIT on 12 May 2021.

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United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP)

Since October 2015, a standing arrangement has been put in place with the United Nations for seconding HKSARG’s legal experts to UNCITRAL RCAP. This arrangement has been made pursuant to an agreement concluded between the Central People’s Government and the United Nations, and a memorandum of understanding signed between the HKSARG and the United Nations on 26 October 2015.

Useful Information and Resources