You are here

RSS list

2024

05/11/2024
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said today Hong Kong has a significant role to play in facilitating international engagement and promoting the progress of international rule of law as China moves towards deeper institutional opening-up. Addressing the conclusion of the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity & Development, which is part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, Mr Lam noted that in an interconnected world, harmony through diversity is essential for achieving lasting success and mutual respect across boundaries. He also hoped the discussions in the forum could bring out a spirit of co-operation and collaboration in traditional fields and emerging areas, with the sustainable development safeguarded by the rule of law. The Secretary for Justice added that the staunch support of the Central People's Government in strengthening the city as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan can be demonstrated by the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Preparatory Office last year. “The IOMed Preparatory Office has successfully facilitated the conclusion of negotiations on the Convention on the Establishment of The IOMed last month. “A decision has also been made by all the negotiating parties that a signing ceremony of the convention will be held in Hong Kong next year and the IOMed headquarters will also be situated in Hong Kong once the convention has entered into force. “Upon its establishment, the IOMed will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services, thereby building Hong Kong as a capital for international mediation.” Co-organised by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Department of Justice (DoJ), the forum attracted more than 900 registrations from over 40 jurisdictions. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank General Counsel Alberto Ninio delivered a keynote address on promoting good governance and high-quality development under international law. It was followed by an exchange on the interconnectivity of rules and the contribution of the Hong Kong SAR to China's institutional opening-up, including the Hong Kong SAR's role as a super connector bridging the Mainland and global markets, the city's unique strengths in the interface of rules and mechanisms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the extensive practice and experience of the Hong Kong SAR in the field of international arbitration. The forum also discussed the importance of the rule of law in mitigating risks and safeguarding sustainable development for both the Hong Kong SAR and the nation against the backdrop of financial sanctions, foreign interference and the emergence of artificial intelligence. Delivering the event’s welcome remarks, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Commissioner Cui Jianchun emphasised that it is crucial for Hong Kong to strengthen the rule of law by reinforcing competitiveness in the legal field, improving connectivity of its rules and standards and bolstering confidence in the rule of law.
04/11/2024
The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual flagship event of the Department of Justice. Since its inception in 2019, the Hong Kong Legal Week has served as a dynamic forum where legal professionals, scholars, judges and experts come together to discuss critical legal issues that resonate not only within Hong Kong but (also) throughout the wider Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The theme of this year is “Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China & Beyond”. It emphasises Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway between China, the Asia Pacific and the world. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China. Our strong legal foundation, coupled with our close ties with and support from the Mainland, positions us as a critical hub for legal and economic collaboration across the region and beyond. Private law summitWe begin this week with today’s Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024. Building on the success of the inaugural summit in 2022, the Department of Justice once again partners with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) to organise this summit under the theme “Springboard to Opportunities: Utilising International Private Law & Technology to Facilitate Access to Credit, Investment, & Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The Asia-Pacific region is home to enormous economic potential and encompasses a diverse array of legal systems. While this diversity enriches our legal and cultural landscape, it also introduces complexities and uncertainties for businesses navigating cross-border transactions. To unlock the region’s full economic potential and ensure long-term sustainable growth, harmonisation and modernisation of private law across the region is essential. Recognising this need, today’s summit gathers leading legal minds from across the Asia Pacific, together with experts from UNIDROIT, to explore how the unification and co-ordination of various areas of private law can support economic growth and facilitate smoother cross-border interactions throughout the region. We will be hearing from them on how international private law and emerging technologies can unlock new opportunities for sustainable economic growth across the region, and how Hong Kong may contribute in this regard. Collaboration with UNIDROITIn the past few years, the Department of Justice has closely collaborated with UNIDROIT to promote the development, implementation, and deeper understanding of private international law and international commercial law across the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to these collaborative efforts, we are grateful for UNIDROIT’s strong support to the Department of Justice’s secondment programme, offering Hong Kong’s legal professionals from both the public and private sectors the valuable opportunity to work at the UNIDROIT Secretariat in Rome. This experience not only deepens their expertise in international legal issues, but also bolsters Hong Kong’s capacity in foreign-related legal matters. I am very pleased to note that one of our former secondees will be moderating a panel later this morning, which testifies to the success of the secondment programme. Capacity buildingThe secondment programme is one of the Department of Justice’s many policy initiatives providing professional development opportunities to our legal talents. To further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Justice places great importance on nurturing legal talents with a global perspective and proficiency in foreign-related legal affairs. We are committed to establishing Hong Kong as a leading centre for capacity building in international law. As outlined in our Chief Executive’s 2023 and 2024 Policy Address, the Department of Justice is setting up the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. The academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, international exchange programmes and more to promote exchanges among talent in regions along the Belt & Road. It will also provide training for talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs for the country, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law and the country's legal system. A dedicated office and an expert committee have already been set up to facilitate the establishment of the academy. We are grateful to have Prof Tirado (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Secretary-General) as a member of the expert committee, and I am pleased to see many of our committee members participating in today’s summit. To officially mark this new initiative, I am excited to announce that the launch ceremony for the academy will take place on the final day of the Hong Kong Legal Week. I warmly invite all of you to join us for this significant occasion. Other eventsI also warmly welcome you to participate in an array of other events this week. Tomorrow, we will have the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity & Development co-organised with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the legal forum, we are very pleased to have the General Counsel of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank deliver a keynote address on promoting good governance and high-quality development under international law. Legal experts will also share their insights on Hong Kong’s role in China’s institutional opening up, and rule of law as a risk management mechanism to safeguard sustainable development. On Wednesday, we will host events under the theme “Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong”. The day will explore three topical issues - the role of mediation in promoting a culture of mutual respect, harmony and inclusiveness, use of artificial intelligence in alternative dispute resolution, as well as the resolution of sports disputes. There will also be the 2024 Hong Kong Mediation Lecture in the evening, exploring the unique challenges and opportunities involved in the use of mediation in deals relating to natural resources. Thursday’s programme will focus on strengthening the rule of law in the Greater Bay Area. We will hear from experts on the proof of Hong Kong law and foreign law in the Mainland, the arrangement on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters between the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as legal services and juridical relations to facilitate and protect trade and social interactions between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The day will also feature a mock mediation session led by mediators from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and a discussion on the Greater Bay Area mediation platform. On Friday, apart from the launching ceremony of the academy in the afternoon that I have just mentioned, we will explore how the rule of law in Hong Kong, together with different components of Hong Kong’s legal and judicial system, are essential to provide the best business environment from the perspectives of our legal services profession and our enterprises, and how our legal professionals can play an important role along the Belt & Road. Alongside this week’s discussions, we are also featuring a special exhibition on the achievements in the construction of the rule of law of the People’s Republic of China in the modern era, co-organised by the Ministry of Justice of China and the Department of Justice, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China. The exhibition highlights key milestones in China’s legal evolution, both domestically and in foreign-related areas, over the past 75 years. ConclusionLadies and gentlemen, as we look ahead to the discussions that will follow, I hope today’s summit will inspire all of us to explore new ideas and opportunities. Let’s make the most of this moment to engage in meaningful exchanges and drive forward the future of international law. On this note, I wish today’s summit every success and extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for joining us, whether online or in person. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam gave these remarks at the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024, part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, on November 4.
04/11/2024
The Department of Justice (DoJ) today strongly condemned an attempted knife attack on a magistrate, stressing that it will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts. In a press release, the DoJ explained that the incident took place at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts this morning and emphasised that the attempted knife attack threatened the magistrate’s personal safety. It also made it clear that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts, and Police will thoroughly investigate the case, strictly enforce the law and bring any offender to account. Article 85 of the Basic Law clearly states that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. Judges should handle cases in accordance with law and evidence. Intimidation, in particular violence of any form against judges who are performing judicial duties, will never be tolerated. Such illegal acts not only disregard the law but also undermine the rule of law. Apart from saying that Police will follow up on the matter seriously, the DoJ appealed to the public to respect the rule of law and not to break the law.
04/11/2024
Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, an annual flagship event of the legal sector to showcase Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, was launched today. Themed "Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China & Beyond", the five-day event provides an opportunity for participants from all corners of the world to engage in a series of insightful discussions and fruitful exchanges with prominent experts, practitioners and government officials on a wide spectrum of topics. The topics include international law, developments in alternative dispute resolution, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the rule of law in the region and beyond. The Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024, themed "Springboard to Opportunities: Utilising International Private Law & Technology to Facilitate Access to Credit, Investment, & Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region", was held as the opening event of this year's Legal Week. The biennial summit brought together preeminent legal academics and renowned practitioners worldwide to discuss how the unification and co-ordination of various areas of international private law can support economic growth and facilitate smoother cross-border interactions. More than 1,100 registrations from 46 jurisdictions have been received for this event. In his welcome remarks, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said that the Department of Justice (DoJ) places great importance on nurturing legal talent and will provide professional development opportunities to legal talent with a view to strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading international legal and dispute resolution centre. To further the DoJ's capacity building initiatives, Mr Lam announced that the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will be set up, with the launch ceremony taking place on the final day of Legal Week, which he invited everyone to join. In addition, an exhibition featuring the milestones and achievements in the construction of the rule of law by the country in the modern era, as well as the role played by Hong Kong in contributing to the developments, has been set up at the venue this year. Click here for the event details.
02/11/2024
Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 will begin on Monday, with “Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China & Beyond” as its theme. An annual flagship event for the Department of Justice (DoJ), it will run until Friday, and will allow participants to interact with experts, practitioners, government officials and academics on topics including international law, alternative dispute resolution and opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. The schedule will begin with the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit, co-organised by the DoJ, and will conclude with the official launch of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. There will also be an exhibition highlighting achievements in the development of China's rule of law in the modern era, and the role of Hong Kong in contributing to it.
01/11/2024
From November 18, applicants for the new issue or renewal of 21 driving and vehicle licences must provide and verify their Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address as an e-contact means for receiving electronic messages issued by the Police Force and the Transport Department in the future. Applicants will receive a one-time password during the online application process, the Transport Department explained in a press release, noting that applications cannot be processed if an e-contact means cannot be provided or verified, or if the e-contact provided is inconsistent with the verification record. This is a necessary step in preparation for the Traffic e-Enforcement System to be implemented gradually in the first half of 2025, it added. At a joint press conference held by the Police Force and the Transport Department on the arrangements, Police Traffic Branch Headquarters Superintendent Nip Hoi-kwan said that after implementing the Traffic e-Enforcement System, which entails the digitalisation of fixed penalty tickets, drivers who violate traffic rules will be given e-tickets if they have logged their e-contact means with the Transport Department. “Apart from that electronic ticket, we will provide a physical paper-form ticket during the transitional period so that if the driver or vehicle owner does not know how to handle the electronic ticket, he can still use the paper ticket to handle it.” The majority of the penalty tickets could be digitalised in around one year’s time, he added. The Transport Department stressed that licence applicants must ensure that their Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address is correct. Otherwise, they will not be able to receive notifications, leading to penalty tickets and tunnel tolls not being paid on time, and subsequent surcharges. Separately, it reminded the public that it would only issue SMS messages which bear the ID “#TDeContact”, with the prefix “#” for easy authentication. Moreover, it will not send SMS messages or emails with hyperlinks. Users may refer to the Transport Department’s thematic webpage, the HKeMobility mobile application and the Agent T Facebook page for details. Call 2804 2600 for enquiries.
01/11/2024
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today hosted a briefing on the consultation report on the proposed legislative framework to enhance protection of the computer systems of critical infrastructures. Over 200 stakeholders, including local and foreign chambers of commerce, potential organisations to be designated as “critical infrastructure operators”, cybersecurity service providers, cybersecurity audit firms, proposed designated authorities under the proposed legislation, sectoral professional bodies and statutory bodies attended the briefing session. During the consultation in July, 53 submissions were received, of which 52 supported the legislation or raised positive suggestions. Mr Tang today responded to some major concerns from the submissions, including actively considering relaxing the incident reporting time, and reiterating that the legislation has no extraterritorial effect nor does it target personal data and commercial secrets. Mr Tang stressed to the participants that the proposed legislation aims to enhance the security of computer systems of Hong Kong as a whole by reducing the likelihood of disruption or damage due to cyber attacks and facilitating the smooth operation of essential services through stipulating three types of obligations: organisational, preventive, as well as incident reporting and response obligations, to be fulfilled by the “critical infrastructure operators”. He also assured them that the Government will maintain communication with the stakeholders and listen to their views, pointing out that the Security Bureau is actively considering some of the suggestions received during the consultation period, and that 10 working meetings for stakeholders will be held starting this month. The bureau hopes to finalise the bill for introduction to the Legislative Council this year, Mr Tang added.
31/10/2024
The Expert Advisory Group on Legal & Dispute Resolution Services (EAG), established by the Department of Justice earlier this month, held its first meeting today. During the meeting, the EAG considered and endorsed its terms of reference and discussed future work and issues for follow-up.  The EAG is chaired by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and vice-chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan. It comprises experts from the legal and dispute resolution services sector who are tasked with advising the department in respect of the promotion and development of the legal and dispute resolution services of Hong Kong for a term of three years. Its terms of reference include considering, formulating and advising on the overall strategies and initiatives for the promotion and development of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services in and outside Hong Kong. The EAG also advises on the wider use of out-of-court dispute resolution services in Hong Kong, and serves as a forum for raising and discussing such issues as may be of concern to the legal and dispute resolution sector to enhance Hong Kong as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, it considers and deals with such other matters as may be incidental to any of the matters stated above. Meanwhile, the Working Group on Mediation Regulatory System, chaired by Mr Lam and vice-chaired by Mr Cheung, has also been established this month for a term of two years. Its members will advise the department on the mediation regulation regime in Hong Kong, including reviewing and making recommendations to reform or improve the current regime in relation to situations such as accreditation and disciplinary matters.
30/10/2024
The Housing Department today alerted the public to a fraudulent website purporting to be the Cash Allowance Trial Scheme's website and that seeks to obtain people's personal and credit card information. The fraudulent website is “https://cashalwaysget_hk2024.site”. The department made it clear that the fraudulent website has no connection with the scheme and the case has been referred to Police for follow-up. Anyone who has provided personal information to the website should contact Police. Call 3105 3333 for enquiries.
29/10/2024
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today attended the 14th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference in Singapore, where he delivered a speech at the plenary session. The conference, organised by the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore, brought together officials, prosecutors and legal experts from 13 delegations to share their views on the conference's theme “Fostering Co-operation on Combating Financial Crimes”. Addressing the plenary session, Mr Lam elaborated that Hong Kong has been adopting a multipronged approach in combating financial crimes with international elements, including adopting international regulatory standards, establishing a collaborative network for effective prosecution and asset recovery, making better use of emerging technologies and encouraging knowledge and experience sharing, in order to build a trustworthy and secure financial environment. He also mentioned that Hong Kong has established a comprehensive co-operation regime for the mutual legal assistance and surrender of fugitives, and that geopolitical considerations should not be allowed to hinder international co-operation in fighting financial crimes. The fight against financial crimes with international elements is a daunting and ongoing challenge, Mr Lam said, adding that he hoped Hong Kong and all other jurisdictions will continue to strengthen collaboration to jointly combat related crimes. At the conference's closing session, the justice chief remarked that the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference will be held in Hong Kong next year. During his visit to Singapore, Mr Lam attended other related activities. As a member of the Chinese delegation, he attended bilateral meetings between the delegation and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos and Thailand, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. Yesterday, he attended a lecture given by Prosecutor-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Ying Yong on the theme “The Chinese Prosecutorial System in the Process of Comprehensive Implementation of the Rule of Law”. Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Singapore tomorrow and return to Hong Kong.

Pages