LAWASIA Annual Conference in Seoul Elects New Executive Committee; Hong Kong Delegates Re-elected
SingTao · 4 SOURCESabout 21 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The 39th LAWASIA Annual Conference opened in Seoul on September 14, 2026, with legal leaders from over 40 jurisdictions electing a new Executive Committee for 2026-2027. Law Society of Hong Kong President Tang Man-lung successfully secured re-election to the Committee, while Yap Teong Liang was re-elected as LAWASIA President. The three-day conference, themed "Global New Order – Challenges and Perspectives," features discussions on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and rule of law amid geopolitical shifts.
Key Points
- Law Society President Tang Man-lung (湯文龍) was re-elected to the LAWASIA Executive Committee for 2026-2027, continuing Hong Kong's active participation in the organisation's governance .
- The Hong Kong Bar Association, as a sponsoring institution of the conference, sent a delegation led by Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet Senior Counsel to promote Hong Kong's common law system internationally .
- Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a keynote address emphasising the critical role of rule of law in an era of conflict, economic fragmentation, and rapid technological change .
- Conference sessions cover AI governance, data protection, intellectual property, banking, financial services, environmental law, human rights, and access to justice across more than 40 jurisdictions .
- The Law Society and Bar Association both plan bilateral meetings with counterparts from Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and other Pacific Rim nations to strengthen regional legal cooperation .
Why It Matters
Hong Kong's continued presence on the LAWASIA Executive Committee and active participation in this premier regional legal forum underscore the city's commitment to maintaining its role as a gateway between Mainland China and the international legal community . As global legal frameworks grapple with emerging technologies and geopolitical realignment, such regional dialogue helps shape standards that will affect cross-border business, dispute resolution, and professional regulation for Hong Kong practitioners .
Hong Kong's continued presence on the LAWASIA Executive Committee and active participation in this premier regional legal forum underscore the city's commitment to maintaining its role as a gateway between Mainland China and the international legal community . As global legal frameworks grapple with emerging technologies and geopolitical realignment, such regional dialogue helps shape standards that will affect cross-border business, dispute resolution, and professional regulation for Hong Kong practitioners .