SJ visits Guangzhou and Shenzhen to deepen legal co-operation (with photos)

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a delegation comprising 20 representatives from the Hong Kong legal sector and visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen today (June 8). The delegation arrived at the first stop of the visit, Guangzhou, and visited the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court and the Guangzhou Internet Court.

     Mr Lam called on the People's Government of Guangdong Province in the morning. He met with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Zhizhong. Mr Wang was accompanied by the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province, Mr Chen Xudong, the Director of the General Office of the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, Mr Deng Juliang, and other officials.

     During the meeting, both sides discussed matters on the taking forward of the work of the working group on Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation on legal and dispute resolution services, and also the preparation for the fifth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Legal Departments Joint Conference. They also exchanged views on the taking forward of the trial measure of the GBA Legal Professional Examination.

     Mr Lam stressed that the delegation composing of not only colleagues of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Intellectual Property Department, but also representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association. He said that the DoJ will continue to promote the alignment of rules, harmonisation of mechanisms and exchange of talents in the GBA and also encourage the Hong Kong legal sector to anchor to the principle of "learning, sharing, and exploring" so as to further contribute to the high-quality development of the GBA.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lam visited the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court to learn about the organisation structure and the work of the Court. Mr Lam participated in a roundtable meeting with the President of the Court, Mr Hong Shiquan, the Vice President of the Court, Mr Li Chisen, and other officials. During the meeting, the Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Thomas Tsang, shared the latest developments of Hong Kong's legal regime on intellectual property rights. Representatives from the Hong Kong legal sector shared practical experience in handling intellectual property cases, for example, the difficulties in verifying expert evidence. Representatives from the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court also shared the latest development on the legal protection of intellectual property rights in the Mainland and in the adjudication of foreign-related intellectual property rights cases.

     Mr Lam agreed to further promote the use of mediation to resolve disputes on intellectual property rights and strengthen collaboration of the stakeholders of both sides on the proof of Hong Kong law and Mainland law, thereby facilitating the handling of legal matters and dispute resolution of intellectual property rights in the GBA in a more efficient manner.
      
     Mr Lam then called on the Guangzhou Internet Court. He was briefed by the Vice President of the Court, Ms Tian Hui, on the Court's organisation, scope of cases, notable decisions, and the process of online mediation and litigation. Through exchanges and discussions, Mr Lam also learned how the Court capitalises on innovative technology to efficiently resolve disputes.
      
     Mr Lam then met with the President of the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Haibo. The two sides agreed to deepen collaboration, actively explore different modes of co-operation and exchanges, and jointly contribute to the strengthening of the rule of law in the GBA.
      
     Mr Lam will continue his visit in Shenzhen tomorrow (June 9).