SJ begins visit programme in Beijing (with photos)

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, started the first day of his visit to Beijing yesterday (May 29) and called on the Supreme People's Court, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and the National Supervisory Commission. He continued his visit in Beijing today (May 30) to call on the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the National Development and Reform Commission to exchange views with senior officials of the ministries and authorities on issues of mutual interest.

     Mr Lam and the officials in his entourage called on the Supreme People's Procuratorate in the morning to meet with the Procurator-General, Mr Ying Yong, to discuss the strengthening of legal exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as the implementation of the Record of Meeting of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Department of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Exchanges and Cooperation on Legal Matters, so as to strengthen the training for the staff of both sides, and to share their work experiences. Other important issues have also been examined at the meeting.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lam met with Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Mr Cong Liang to discuss and exchange views on topics including advancing Hong Kong's status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, participating in and contributing to the country's Belt and Road Initiative work plan, and developing Hong Kong into a training base for the country's talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs.

     Yesterday morning, Mr Lam called on the Supreme People's Court and met with its President, Mr Zhang Jun, to have an in-depth discussion on topics including enhancing mutual legal assistance between the Mainland and Hong Kong, deepening the legal systems' connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promoting the nurturing of the country's talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs, and to consider concrete implementation work.

     On the afternoon of the same day, Mr Lam visited the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and met with its Vice Chairman Mr Weng Jieming to explore implementing measures to better utilise the advantages of Hong Kong's common law system and setting up exchange mechanisms, with a view to enabling the state-owned enterprises to have a better understanding of Hong Kong's legal system and dispute resolution services. In addition, both sides also discussed ways to contribute to the country's cultivation of a team of foreign-related legal talent.

     Mr Lam then met with Deputy Director of the National Supervisory Commission Mr Zhang Fuhai to explore further strengthening the legal exchange, co-operation and staff training between the two places on important issues including anti-corruption and anti-money laundering.

     Mr Lam will continue the third day of his visit in Beijing tomorrow.