The five-day Hong Kong Legal Week 2023, an annual flagship event of the legal sector and the Department of Justice (DoJ), themed "Onward & Forward: Connecting the World" began today (November 6). During its various conferences and forums, prominent legal and dispute resolution experts and academics from around the world are brought together to discuss a wide range of important topics, including international legal co-operation, mediation, arbitration, and opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Belt and Road Initiative. There are over 600 registrations for each day from over 50 jurisdictions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East, Central Asia, South America, Africa and Pacific Island States.

     This morning, the event's opening was marked by the 5th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit – Judicial Conference, which was one of the highlights of the week. Guest speakers from different places such as Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand shared their insights on a variety of topics on international trade law. Jointly held by the DoJ and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit is a biennial flagship event consisting of two parts – the Judicial Conference and the Judicial Roundtable to be held tomorrow (November 7), signifying Hong Kong's status as an international legal, deal-making and dispute resolution services centre. Around 50 judges and officials in this region attended the Judicial Summit in person. This is the first time simultaneous interpretation in the language of Timor-Leste was provided with the support of the Asian Development Bank, showcasing the importance of this capacity-building event for participants from the region.

     In his welcome remarks, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that Hong Kong has distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems". Having direct access to the huge Mainland market and strong international connectivity at the same time, Hong Kong is determined to serve as a "super connector" and a bridge linking the Mainland and the rest of the world. He also pointed out that in line with 'The Chief Executive's Policy Address 2023', the DoJ will set up a dedicated office and an expert group within next year to take forward the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. Leveraging Hong Kong's bilingual common law system and international status, the Academy will promote exchanges among legal professionals, judges and government officials in the Asia-Pacific region as well as around the world. The Academy will also provide training for talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs for the country, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law, and the country's legal system.

     The Secretary of UNCITRAL, Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, and the Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Li Yongsheng, gave their welcome remarks as well. The closing remarks will be delivered by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan.

     Other conferences and seminars of the Hong Kong Legal Week include the Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development co-organised by the DoJ and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR tomorrow (November 7); the 6th Shanghai-Hong Kong Commercial Mediation Forum, fireside chat on arbitration issues around the globe, experience sharing of the practice of arbitration funding in major arbitral jurisdictions and the annual Hong Kong Mediation Lecture 2023 under the theme "New Domains in Mediation and Arbitration" on Wednesday (November 8). On Thursday morning (November 9), the Gateway to the Opportunities in the GBA, co-organised with the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province and the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice of Macao, will discuss advancing the legal practice in the GBA and a mock court case will be conducted according to the different modes of trial in the three places. The GBA Young Lawyers Forum will be jointly held by the DoJ and the Law Society of Hong Kong in the afternoon. The Rule of Law for the Future will be held on Friday (November 10) as the finale of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Liu Guangyuan; and the Secretary for Justice will speak at the event, and the Secretary for Justice will attend a special dialogue session to answer questions and clarify misunderstandings about the Hong Kong National Security Law.

     This year, exhibition booths dedicated to the promotion of the legal services in Hong Kong, Macao and the nine Mainland cities in the GBA will be set up for the first time during the Hong Kong Legal Week outside the main event venue. Representatives from the cities will introduce the new developments and opportunities of the legal services in the GBA and answer participants' enquiries.

     For more details on the Legal Week, please visit the dedicated website www.legalweek.hk. The event is broadcast live on the dedicated website and at webcast.info.gov.hk.

          

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for Wuzhen, Zhejiang, tomorrow (November 7) to attend the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

     The 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, with the theme "Creating an Inclusive and Resilient Digital World Beneficial to All – Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", is hosted by the World Internet Conference and undertaken by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province. Professor Sun will attend the opening ceremony and plenary session of the Conference, and deliver an opening speech at the Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macao Internet Development Forum. During his visit, he will also conduct a study on technology enterprises in Zhejiang.

     The Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Tony Wong, will also attend the Summit.

     Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon (November 9). During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.

     Hong Kong Customs on October 26 detected a large-scale suspected solid methamphetamine trafficking case, and seized about 1.1 tonnes of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $640 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Three men and a woman suspected to be connected with the case were arrested. This is the largest-ever solid methamphetamine case detected by Customs.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day selected a seaborne container, declared as carrying 611 sacks of seafood and arriving in Hong Kong from Mexico, for inspection. Upon examination, a batch of suspected methamphetamine, which was camouflaged as seashells and mix-loaded with genuine ones, was found inside 104 nylon bags. The batch of suspected methamphetamine weighed about 1.1 tonnes in total. 

     Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested a 60-year-old male driver and a 54-year-old man-in-charge of a warehouse on the same day, and further arrested a 46-year-old woman-in-charge of a logistics company and a 27-year-old unemployed man the next day (October 27) and November 4 respectively.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items in and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, announced today (November 6) the relevant per annum interest rate for the third interest payment of the series of retail green bonds due 2025 (Issue Number: 03GR2505R; Stock Code: 4252) (the Retail Green Bonds) issued under the Government Green Bond Programme.
      
     According to the Issue Circular dated April 26, 2022 for the Retail Green Bonds, the third interest payment of the Retail Green Bonds is scheduled to be made on November 20, 2023, and the relevant interest rate is scheduled to be determined and announced on November 6, 2023 as the higher of the prevailing Floating Rate and Fixed Rate. 
      
     On November 6, 2023, the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate are as follows:
 
Floating Rate: +1.93 per cent (Annex)
Fixed Rate: +2.50 per cent
 
     Based on the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate set out above, the relevant interest rate for the third interest payment is determined and announced as 2.50 per cent per annum.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (November 6) that a tender of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes (Notes) under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, for settlement on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
      
     A total of HK$1.5 billion 1-year Notes will be tendered. The Notes will mature on November 18, 2024, and will carry interest indexed to the Hong Kong Dollar Overnight Index Average (HONIA), payable quarterly in arrears.
      
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognized Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Anyone wishing to apply for the Notes on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the current published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
      
     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, the Refinitiv screen (HKGBINDEX), and Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) not later than 3pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme Tender Information
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     Tender information of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme: