The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Judiciary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is cohosting the eighth Judicial Seminar on Commercial Litigation with the Supreme Court of New South Wales of Australia and the Supreme Court of Singapore in Hong Kong today (March 14) and tomorrow (March 15).
This year's Seminar is attended by four Chief Justices and 30 other senior judges from 10 jurisdictions throughout Asia and the Pacific region. Apart from the hosting jurisdictions, senior judges from the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme People's Court of Mainland China, as well as other jurisdictions including Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia, also participate in the Seminar.
The Seminar this year focuses on legal issues associated with cross-border insolvency, cryptocurrency, illegality, and other topical aspects of commercial litigation. The Seminar also examines different ways in which courts of different jurisdictions may enhance procedural justice and efficiency.
In his opening address delivered at the Seminar today, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR, extended his warmest welcome to all participants, saying that the Judiciary of the HKSAR was honoured to have the Seminar held in Hong Kong.
Chief Justice Cheung said, with the framework of commercial law in place, rights are protected, relationships are established, conduct is regulated, risk is predictable and minimised, disputes can be resolved, business can grow, consumers can be protected and fair competition is promoted. On the international level, this is crucial for ensuring growth and economic integration.
The two-day Seminar provides a convenient forum for senior judges of the participating jurisdictions to exchange views and share experiences in relation to best practices in the management of commercial and corporate litigation, and facilitates mutual understanding of matters relating to cross-border commercial activities. It also helps strengthen ties among the participants and build up their legal expertise in meeting new challenges that commercial disputes continue to present to them.
The Judicial Seminar on Commercial Litigation is an event convened jointly by the courts of the HKSAR, Singapore and New South Wales generally every two to three years. The three jurisdictions take turns to hold the Seminar. It is the third time for Hong Kong to hold the Seminar, with two previous editions in 2010 and 2016. The last Seminar was held virtually by the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2022.