Lam says Legal Week deepens Hong Kong global ties
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok (林定國) said last week's Hong Kong Legal Week was built around collaboration, as the Department of Justice sought to take a leading role in helping the legal sector respond to a changing international environment and expand exchanges with the outside world. He said a key highlight was stronger cooperation with major legal institutions, including the opening of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law's Hong Kong liaison office and the organisation's 100th anniversary celebrations in the city.
Key Points
- Speaking on a radio programme on Sunday, Lam said the country expects Hong Kong to serve as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, adding that he feels a strong responsibility in his role
- Lam said one Legal Week theme was collaboration, aimed at encouraging more local legal professionals to understand the latest global environment and strengthen both internal and external cooperation.
- He described the opening ceremony for UNIDROIT's Hong Kong liaison office on the first day of Legal Week, alongside centenary celebrations, as symbolically important for Hong Kong.
- According to Lam, UNIDROIT has set up its first overseas branch representative office in Hong Kong, while also holding its 100th anniversary celebration events in the city
- Lam said only two UNIDROIT member states are from ASEAN, and argued that using Hong Kong as a base could help the body expand outreach and attract more countries to join
Why It Matters
Lam linked the Legal Week agenda to Hong Kong's wider positioning under national support, saying international organisations choosing the city shows confidence in its legal system and rule-of-law environment. For Hong Kong readers, the message is that the government wants the city not only to host legal bodies, but also to act as a bridge between the country, the Asia-Pacific region and international rule-based cooperation.