SJ commences visit to Beijing (with photos)

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, is on a three-day visit to Beijing, during which he will meet with officials from various ministries and authorities. He attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Beijing Representative Office this afternoon (December 16).

     The HKIAC and the Department of Justice have been working closely to jointly promote Hong Kong's international arbitration. The HKIAC is the sole appointing authority under the Arbitration Ordinance responsible for appointing arbitrators and determining the number of arbitrators when the parties to a dispute fail to reach an agreement. It is also one of the seven designated arbitral institutions under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that the HKIAC is the first arbitral institution outside the Mainland to establish an office in Beijing, marking a new milestone. The establishment of the Representative Office enables Beijing to become more internationalised and diversified in the arbitration field and to better meet the needs of the country's development. He looks forward to seeing Beijing and Hong Kong continue to join hands to promote co-operation and exchanges in legal matters and dispute resolution. The Co-Chairperson of the HKIAC, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC; and Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong Mr Amirali Nasir also attended the opening ceremony today.

     Mr Lam also met with officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for discussions and exchanges on the progress of the Department of Justice's major policy measures. Mr Lam had dinner with Vice-president of the Supreme People's Court Mr Mao Zhonghua yesterday evening (December 15).

     Mr Lam will meet with the Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, tomorrow (December 17) to brief her on the establishment of a dedicated platform for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyers and a GBA legal information platform. They will also discuss the work of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and relevant training for foreign-related legal talent.

     Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Beijing and return to Hong Kong on the same day.