Secretary for Justice in New York promotes Hong Kong as dispute resolution hub

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, concluded her visit to Washington, DC, the United States (US) and started her visit to New York today (July 16, Eastern Standard Time).
      
     At a roundtable discussion hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) and the Asia Society in the morning, Ms Cheng highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a global business and financial centre and the importance of the rule of law.
      
     Ms Cheng then met with the President of New York City Bar Association, Mr Roger Juan Maldonado, to exchange views on the legal sectors of the two places.
      
     In the afternoon, Ms Cheng addressed a business luncheon co-hosted by the HKETONY and the National Committee on US-China Relations. She briefed participants from the legal profession and business sector on Hong Kong's strengths as an ideal hub for deal making and dispute resolution in Asia under "one country, two systems".
      
     She highlighted Hong Kong's common law system, judicial independence and legal profession, which she said are important elements of the city's legal system. She pointed out that Hong Kong's robust legal system provides the bedrock for Hong Kong's development as a commercial and financial hub in Asia.
      
     She added that Hong Kong will continue to provide a favourable trading and investment environment for its overseas partners and thrive as an ideal venue for deal making and dispute resolution with the dual advantages of "one country" and "two systems".
      
     In the evening, Ms Cheng joined a talk hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce on the latest trends in international dispute resolution, including the increasing popularity of using mediation in resolving commercial disputes and the development of online dispute resolution.
      
     She also paid a courtesy call on the acting Consul General of the People's Republic of China in New York, Dr Zhao Yumin.
      
     Ms Cheng will call on the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, Mr Ma Zhaoxu, tomorrow morning (July 17, Eastern Standard Time) before concluding her visit to the United States.
      
     She will arrive in Hong Kong on July 18 (Hong Kong time).