Tag Archives: China

     The 19th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) from March 1 to 10 is running a “Special Focus on Hong Kong” feature programme, showcasing the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s film industry to Japanese movie lovers.

     As part of the programme, the Hong Kong Gala Screening featuring Hong Kong film “The Moon Thieves” was held in Osaka, Japan, tonight (March 5). “The Moon Thieves” was also chosen as the Special Opening Film of the OAFF this year.

     Speaking at the reception before the screening, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said that this has been the 13th consecutive year of collaboration with the OAFF to present a wide range of Hong Kong films to Japanese audiences.

     “We are much obliged to the OAFF for curating the ‘Special Focus on Hong Kong’. This year, a total of seven Hong Kong movies that span across various genres are presented, including ‘The Lyricist Wannabe’ contending for the festival’s prestigious awards,” she said.

     She also introduced to players in the film industry the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, which subsidises film projects co-produced by Hong Kong filmmakers and their Asian/European counterparts, noting that it will start accepting applications in the second quarter of 2024.  

     At the screening which was attended by some 300 film fans, Miss Au was joined by director Yuen Kim-wai and actor Kazuya Tanabe of “The Moon Thieves”, as well as other Hong Kong film professionals whose works have been selected for screening at the film festival. Yuen and Tanabe also participated in a sharing session with the audience after the screening.

     The “Special Focus on Hong Kong” programme was supported by Create Hong Kong, the Film Development Fund and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo).

        

     Following is a speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the luncheon of thematic event -“Hong Kong and Riyadh: Legal and Dispute Resolution Services for Businesses along the Belt and Road” organised by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre at Riyadh International Disputes Week today (March 5):

Ambassador Chen Weiqing (The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. This morning, our distinguished speakers from Hong Kong shared with you how our legal and dispute resolution services can facilitate businesses between Saudi Arabia and other Belt and Road countries, China and Hong Kong. From providing one-stop services covering listing and investment for business growth, to the use of mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes effectively and efficiently. I wish to take this opportunity to recap and highlight how one can make the best use of Hong Kong’s legal services for business development.
    
     Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong retains its own common law legal system, being the only common law jurisdiction in China, and giving Hong Kong the edge to connect with over 60 countries and territories globally that use the common law system whether in whole or in part. Hong Kong has established international relationships with jurisdictions around the world, and indeed is home to many regional and international law-related organisations as housed in the Legal Hub. Courts in Hong Kong exercise independent judicial power including the power of final adjudication at the Court of Final Appeal (CFA). Eminent jurists from other common law jurisdictions are appointed as non-permanent judges of the CFA giving Hong Kong further international standing and recognition. These inherent features of Hong Kong’s legal system give us an unparalleled advantage in providing legal and dispute resolution services not offered in other jurisdictions.  
 
Support from the Mainland and relevant arrangements  
 
     The Central People’s Government supports Hong Kong in developing in eight major areas, including the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, which is the pillar of support for all the other key areas.
 
     On January 29 this year, the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (REJ Arrangement) came into operation. This REJ Arrangement establishes a comprehensive mechanism for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters between Hong Kong and the Mainland China. With this arrangement in place, parties to litigation in a civil and commercial nature, including certain area involving intellectual property rights, will no longer have to re-litigate the same disputes in both places. It provides a more-cost effective and streamlined process for cross-border enforcement of Mainland judgements. Parties can benefit from having the choice to resolve disputes in Hong Kong which will be enforceable in the Mainland China through registration of the Hong Kong judgment in the Mainland China. This is unique to Hong Kong, being the first jurisdiction having the REJ Arrangement with the Mainland China with such wide coverage.
 
Other MLA (mutual legal assistance) arrangements and policies on dispute resolution
 
     For arbitration, Hong Kong and the Mainland China have also signed various arrangements over the years to provide a simple and effective mechanism for mutual enforcement of arbitral awards in both places, including arrangements concerning mutual enforcement of arbitral awards as well as arrangements concerning interim measures arrangements on property preservation, evidence preservation and conduct preservation, which provide better protection to the parties and are in line with the practice of international arbitration.
 
     Since 2009, the Department of Justice has been actively promoting the concept of “Mediate First”, including the enactment of the Mediation Ordinance in Hong Kong, and has promoted the concept to various provinces in the Mainland China as well as to another regional country for the first time last year. This is similar to the transformation of the Saudi ADR (alternative dispute resolution) system over the past decade, including legislative reforms, and the concerted efforts of the Saudi government and stakeholders including the National ADR awareness campaign in 2021. On this note, I wish to commend the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration for being one of the key contributors to the ADR development in Saudi Arabia.  
 
Legal talents
 
     Drawing on the strengths of the East and West legal tradition, Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution practitioners have a wide range of experience with international perspectives. With both Chinese and  English being the official languages and being conversant with the Mainland markets, they can greatly facilitate the provision of legal and dispute resolution services for those doing businesses with the Mainland. With over 14 000 lawyers including solicitors and barristers and 1 400 registered foreign lawyers in Hong Kong, you can be certain to have access to a large pool of multi-jurisdictional qualified legal practitioners in Hong Kong who are not only bilingual or even multi-lingual, but are also well-equipped with the necessary qualifications, expertise, and are knowledgeable in handling Hong Kong and Mainland cross-boundary transactions, giving you the professional advice you need.
 
     As I mentioned earlier this morning, the housing of the headquarters of the to-be-established International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong will further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. Together with the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy that is being established, Hong Kong will continue to leverage the advantages of our legal resources and nurture legal talents to provide top-notch services not only for the region, but also for countries along the Belt and Road.
 
Conclusion
 
     In Hong Kong, we strive to continuously enhance the standards of our people and the attractiveness of our framework, so that we can offer the best legal and dispute resolution services to those wishing to do business in Hong Kong and make good use of our connections to reach out to the greater Mainland markets.
 
     Before I conclude, I wish to express my gratitude for the hospitality and warm welcome from the people of Saudi Arabia. I am sure our Secretary for Justice will agree with me as he will be leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia in May this year, to further explore areas which we can deepen exchanges and foster a closer relationship between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. I look forward to welcoming you all in Hong Kong in the near future. Thank you very much.

  

     Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the thematic event – “Hong Kong and Riyadh: Legal and Dispute Resolution Services for Businesses along the Belt and Road” organised by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre at Riyadh International Disputes Week today (March 5):
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Introduction
 
     Good morning everyone. I am very delighted to be back in Riyadh since my last visit in February last year. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to today’s event organised by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and to share with you the uniqueness of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services that we take pride in.
 
Co-operation between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong
 
     Saudi Arabia is a very good friend and close partner to Hong Kong. It is my great honour to represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to join the reception and celebrate the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in September last year. During the visit of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, last year, six bilateral deals have been signed between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. There have since been ongoing collaborations in various sectors between the two places. Let me share with you a few recent examples. In November last year, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange became the first stock exchange in Asia-Pacific to provide direct access to Saudi Arabia’s capital market through the CSOP Saudi Arabia ETF. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has also included the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange in its list of Recognised Stock Exchanges last year, which facilitates enterprises primarily listed on the main market of these exchanges to seek secondary listing in Hong Kong. In December 2023, InvestHK and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster co-operation on investment promotion exchange and support.
  
Hong Kong and Riyadh
 
     The theme of today’s event is “Hong Kong and Riyadh: Legal and Dispute Resolution Services for Businesses along the Belt and Road”. China has been Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner over the past decade, and Saudi Arabia has been China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East for about almost two decades.  
 
     Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has signed more than 200 co-operation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organisations. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which is a comprehensive economic, social and cultural blueprint, share common goals. Hong Kong, being a “super connector” for and gateway to China, has much to offer in bridging businesses from Saudi Arabia to the Mainland China and rest of the world as well as helping bring Chinese enterprises to Saudi Arabia.
 
Hong Kong as a gateway to China
 
     With the staunch support of the Central People’s Government, and our well-established common law system, Hong Kong is well placed to be an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific Region. Being the only common law jurisdiction within China, Hong Kong has unparalleled advantages in offering top-notch legal and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to those doing business in Hong Kong, as well as China.
 
     Hong Kong and the Mainland have so far concluded nine arrangements on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, arbitration matters as well as reciprocal enforcement of judgments. These arrangements would benefit parties involved in cross-boundary matters, providing businesses and investors with confidence in exploring opportunities in Hong Kong and the Mainland China.
 
Hong Kong’s Arbitration and Mediation Services
 
     Hong Kong has long been recognised as a renowned centre for international arbitration, ranking the third most popular seat for arbitration in the latest 2021 survey. Our home-grown arbitral institution, HKIAC is ranked the third most preferred and used arbitral institution worldwide. Our Arbitration Ordinance is regularly reviewed to ensure our legislative framework remains relevant. Legislative amendments were made to permit the use of third-party funding and outcome related fee structures for arbitration. To attract top legal and dispute resolution talents in Hong Kong, the Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong provides eligible nationals of all countries to visit Hong Kong without the need to apply for employment visa to participate in arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong. We invite and welcome talents like you to visit and to experience the renowned international arbitration services in Hong Kong. 
 
     I am very excited to share with you that with the staunch support of the Central Government, the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), the world’s first intergovernmental international legal body dedicated to settling international disputes by mediation, will be housed in Hong Kong. The IOMed is also the first intergovernmental international organisation based in Hong Kong. This is a vote of confidence and recognition of Hong Kong as an efficient and effective venue by the member states to resolve international disputes through mediation. 
 
     Hong Kong is an important venue for training of legal and ADR talents. This year, the Department of Justice will take forward the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, to cultivate and foster legal exchanges in the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond. We will also be organising the fourth Investment Law and Investor-State Mediator Training this year for government officers, legal and mediation practitioners from various jurisdictions, and we look forward to your participation in the training course.
 
Today’s event
 
     Later in today’s event, you will hear from our distinguished speakers who are from various backgrounds and ethnicities and have called Hong Kong their home for years. They will introduce the full range of legal and business services that Hong Kong can offer, covering topics that align with the three pillars of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
 
Closing
 
     Before I conclude, I would like to congratulate the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) for the successful launch of this Riyadh International Disputes Week 2024. I wish you all have a fruitful and enlightening week. Thank you very much.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 5) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting five persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
 
     The first cluster involved one male and two females, aged between 26 and 30, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and fever about 15 to 44 hours after having dinner at a restaurant in Wan Chai on March 2.
 
     The other cluster involved two 29-year-old females, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting about 25 to 28 hours after having dinner from the same restaurant on March 3.
 
     All of the affected persons have not sought medical advice. They are in stable condition.
 
     Initial investigations of the CHP revealed that the affected persons had consumed common food and the food concerned were raw oysters and scallops. The incident might have been caused by norovirus and/or Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
 
     The personnel from the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have conducted an inspection at the restaurant. The CHP’s investigation is ongoing.
 
     To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Pre-cooked or leftover foods should be stored and reheated properly before consumption;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.