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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Police have staged the first inter-departmental tabletop exercise for the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), aimed at ensuring the park's smooth operation when it is officially commissioned in the first quarter of 2025. Over 150 representatives from various government departments and related organisations participated in the exercise. Codenamed WINGEDTIGER, it was held yesterday at the force's Kowloon East Regional Headquarters. The exercise simulated a series of potential incidents during concerts and international football matches, seeking to ensure that all stakeholders can respond to emergencies within the park effectively. Stakeholders were required to allocate manpower, adopt contingency measures, and co-ordinate actions with other units in response to different emergencies in real-time. Experts were invited to share their professional knowledge after the exercise. Police said the exercise not only strengthened communication and co-operation among various organisations, but also improved overall crowd management, collaboration, and responsiveness when handling large-scale incidents. It served as a rehearsal for various test events and on-site drills that will be carried out between now and the first quarter of next year, the force added.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Singapore tomorrow afternoon to attend the 14th China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Prosecutors-General Conference and related events. He will speak at a plenary session of the conference, and, as part of the Chinese delegation, attend bilateral meetings between it and representatives of ASEAN member states. Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on October 30. During his absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today attended the launch ceremony of an induction course for the new-term Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum in Shenzhen. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Tang said Shenzhen University’s participation over the past year has injected impetus and new elements into the forum, further broadening members’ horizons and enhancing their sense of national identity. He added that the new-term forum includes members of youth groups in Macau’s public security forces, thereby expanding collaboration and facilitating developmental and cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau youths. The security chief encouraged participating youths to undergo the induction course as a preparation for doing their utmost to serve the community in different positions in the future. The two-day course is being held at Shenzhen University. In addition to team-building and training activities, members will also receive instruction on national defence and military matters, visit a well-known innovation and technology company, attend lectures on national development, and more. Outstanding leaders from different sectors, including Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games diving gold medallist Lin Yue, attended an experience-sharing session today. The new-term leaders forum comprises 45 Hong Kong youths. Twenty-eight Shenzhen University students and 20 members off youth groups in Macau’s public security forces will also join the forum’s activities in the coming year.