Tag Archives: China

     Giving a keynote speech at the luncheon of the fifth Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Guangzhou today (September 5), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that distinguished and professional legal services are important elements for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area) to go global. It is also the driving force for enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong to join forces to tap the global market.
      
     Mrs Lam pointed out that laws of Hong Kong are well established and are familiar to the international business community. Legal professionals in Hong Kong are equipped with extensive experience and international perspective. She hopes Hong Kong can leverage these advantages to support and promote the development of the Bay Area.
      
     Mrs Lam noted that one of the key factors for Hong Kong’s extraordinary achievements since the return to the Motherland is the rule of law in Hong Kong. She said, “The independence of the Judiciary is especially important for upholding the rule of law and protecting the freedom and power of members of public and investors. Hong Kong’s judicial independence is fully protected by the Basic Law.” According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 published by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong’s judicial independence ranked first in Asia. It shows that the independence of the Judiciary in Hong Kong is highly recognised in the international community.
      
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, together with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Chunsheng, officiated at the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum this morning. Ms Cheng said in the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kong’s percentile rank in rule of law has improved from 69.9 in 1996 to 93.3 in 2016. These statistics suggest an upward trend in the rule of law in Hong Kong
      
     Under the theme “From Bay Area to International Arena”, the Forum aimed at promoting Hong Kong as a professional legal services platform for “deal making and dispute resolving”, providing cross-border transactional legal services as well as dispute resolution services for enterprises “going out”. It featured issues of interest to enterprises in the Bay Area as well as facilitated exchanges between the legal and dispute resolution sectors and businesses of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and furthered co-operation opportunities.
      
     The Forum was held in Guangzhou the second time. The venue was packed with over 1 200 participants including some 120 Hong Kong legal practitioners and dispute resolution professionals. The Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Philip Dykes, SC; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Ms Melissa Pang; the Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, also attended the Forum.
      
     A mock arbitration was also staged at the Forum to demonstrate effective dispute resolution through arbitration. In addition, a networking session was held after the Forum during which participants had opportunities to discuss with the legal practitioners specialised areas of law.
      
     The Hong Kong Legal Services Forum has been held on a biennial basis in different cities in the Mainland since 2010. The fifth Forum was jointly organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Asia Office of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center, China Maritime Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center and Asian Academy of International Law.

    

     Giving a keynote speech at the luncheon of the fifth Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Guangzhou today (September 5), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that distinguished and professional legal services are important elements for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area) to go global. It is also the driving force for enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong to join forces to tap the global market.
      
     Mrs Lam pointed out that laws of Hong Kong are well established and are familiar to the international business community. Legal professionals in Hong Kong are equipped with extensive experience and international perspective. She hopes Hong Kong can leverage these advantages to support and promote the development of the Bay Area.
      
     Mrs Lam noted that one of the key factors for Hong Kong’s extraordinary achievements since the return to the Motherland is the rule of law in Hong Kong. She said, “The independence of the Judiciary is especially important for upholding the rule of law and protecting the freedom and power of members of public and investors. Hong Kong’s judicial independence is fully protected by the Basic Law.” According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 published by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong’s judicial independence ranked first in Asia. It shows that the independence of the Judiciary in Hong Kong is highly recognised in the international community.
      
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, together with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Chunsheng, officiated at the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum this morning. Ms Cheng said in the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kong’s percentile rank in rule of law has improved from 69.9 in 1996 to 93.3 in 2016. These statistics suggest an upward trend in the rule of law in Hong Kong
      
     Under the theme “From Bay Area to International Arena”, the Forum aimed at promoting Hong Kong as a professional legal services platform for “deal making and dispute resolving”, providing cross-border transactional legal services as well as dispute resolution services for enterprises “going out”. It featured issues of interest to enterprises in the Bay Area as well as facilitated exchanges between the legal and dispute resolution sectors and businesses of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and furthered co-operation opportunities.
      
     The Forum was held in Guangzhou the second time. The venue was packed with over 1 200 participants including some 120 Hong Kong legal practitioners and dispute resolution professionals. The Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Philip Dykes, SC; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Ms Melissa Pang; the Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, also attended the Forum.
      
     A mock arbitration was also staged at the Forum to demonstrate effective dispute resolution through arbitration. In addition, a networking session was held after the Forum during which participants had opportunities to discuss with the legal practitioners specialised areas of law.
      
     The Hong Kong Legal Services Forum has been held on a biennial basis in different cities in the Mainland since 2010. The fifth Forum was jointly organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Asia Office of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center, China Maritime Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center and Asian Academy of International Law.

    

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, arrived in Shanghai today (September 5) to meet with the Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, Dr Wu Jinglei, to exchange views on the co-operation in the medical and health field between Shanghai and Hong Kong. She also led a delegation to visit Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to learn about the development of Chinese medicine hospitals.

     Professor Chan said, “During the Fourth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference held in Hong Kong last month, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government identified clear directions for a number of areas of co-operation. Regarding medical and health matters, Shanghai and Hong Kong have agreed to deepen co-operation in four areas, namely the development of Chinese medicine, hospital management, public healthcare and medical services.

     “I am grateful to Shanghai for supporting the development of the first Chinese medicine hospital in Hong Kong. They shared with us the advantages and resources in the field of Chinese medicine; supported the academic exchange in Chinese medicine and the flow of healthcare professionals between the two places; facilitated the standardisation of Chinese medicine in both places; and strengthened the co-operation in terms of international classification of diseases.

     “Hong Kong is pushing forward with the development of its first Chinese medicine hospital. With the support of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has recommended two experts in Chinese medicine from Shanghai to take part in the relevant committee for the preparation of the Hong Kong Chinese medicine hospital in the capacity of Mainland consultants and offer expert advice on the planning, construction and operation of the Chinese medicine hospital.”

     The delegation also visited Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine today to understand the operation of the studios of a famed traditional Chinese medicine doctor, the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology and medical wards.

     Professor Chan said, “During today’s visit, members of the delegation gained a better understanding of the operation of the hospital and its valuable experience in areas including scope of service, management mode, manpower training and scientific research, which will assist us in developing the first Chinese medicine hospital which can meet the service needs of Hong Kong people.”

     The delegation will proceed to Seoul, Korea, tomorrow (September 6). During their stay in South Korea, the delegation will visit the Association of Korean Medicine, the National Medical Center, the Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital at Gangdong and the National Rehabilitation Center. Professor Chan will also call on officials of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea and meet with Hong Kong people living there.

     The delegation includes the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; and representatives of the Food and Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority. Members of the Chinese medicine hospital’s user group have also joined the visit.

      

     Forty citizens who helped the Police fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony today (September 5).            Speaking at the presentat… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on child abuse today (September 5) after attending “The 17th Hong Kong Occupational Safety & Health Award” Forum and Award Presentation Ceremony:
 
Reporter: What are the determining factors? Given the several recent high-profile cases, what are the factors that your bureau is considering when it comes to calls to review the law with regard to child abuse?
 
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: It’s too early to talk about what the factors are. There seems to be a need to look at, at least to explore, if there is any possibility or need to review the existing legislation, and whether they are adequate in terms of dealing with this kind of, you can say, crimes. Although we are not very sure (whether) increasing the sentence will have any additional deterrent effect or not, somehow by looking at what the judges have said and what the community has been responding, there is a need for us to explore if there is a need for such review.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more