Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice, Mr. Paul Lam Ting-kwok, concluded his European tour with a visit to Rome, where he met with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). He extended an invitation for UNIDROIT to establish a liaison office in HK, which was adopted by its Governing Council and will be tabled for approval at the annual General Assembly later this year.
HK's unique legal advantages under the " one country, two systems" policy have gained broad international recognition, offering a vital opportunity to reinforce its status as a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. This also boosts global confidence and support for HK's rule of law. HK should deepen its international legal exchanges, actively participate in global legal initiatives, drive legal innovation, and contribute to enhancing the country's international discourse power, thereby supporting global rule of law development with HK's expertise.
As the country's only common law jurisdiction, HK operates under a bilingual legal system in English and Chinese, serving as a gateway between the country and the world. HK's robust and mature common law system aligns with the legal systems of major global economies and international commercial practices.
For instance, HK localized the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods into domestic law. HK's arbitration laws are also based on the New York Convention and the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. These achievements exemplify the internationalization of HK's legal system.
Additionally, HK plays a key role in regional legal cooperation. In 2017, HK signed the Free Trade Agreement and Investment Agreement with ASEAN, and in 2022, it became the regional arbitration center of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization.
These accomplishments highlight the city's value as a platform for international legal collaboration. With its highly internationalized legal environment and close ties to the Chinese Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region, HK is the ideal choice for UNIDROIT's Asia-Pacific liaison office, which will help promote its work in the region.
The proactive approach of the HKSAR Government to showcase the city's legal services and arbitration system to the international community is commendable. In recent years, HK has attracted several international legal organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific office of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation. The presence of these organizations not only strengthens HK's legal environment but also underscores its role as a "super-connector" and "super-value-adder" in aligning international legal regulations.
If HK successfully secures the establishment of the UNIDROIT liaison office, it will further consolidate its position as an international legal and dispute resolution hub. This will provide HK's legal professionals with more opportunities to engage in international affairs, broaden their global perspectives, and foster international cooperation and exchanges.
In the future, HK should seize this opportunity and leverage international legal platforms to deepen global collaboration. For example, HK could actively participate in the activities of these organizations while promoting internships, exchanges, and secondments of local legal professionals to these institutions. This would not only enhance their international outlook but also allow them to participate in global legal affairs.
Furthermore, HK should capitalize on its bilingual common law system to drive legal innovation in emerging industries such as the digital economy and low-altitude economy. By helping to elevate national standards to international standards, HK can continuously enhance the internationalization, diversity, and richness of its legal services. This will also allow the city to provide high-quality legal support for Belt and Road countries, as well as emerging markets in regions like the Middle East and ASEAN, thereby enhancing the influence of both the city and its motherland.
Additionally, the HKSAR Government and the legal sector should organize regular international conferences and seminars to promote HK's legal service advantages globally. For instance, this December's "HK Legal Week" will serve as an important showcase, with participation from the HCCH, including a half-day HCCH-themed session. By collaborating with the industry to discuss key legal topics, HK will further strengthen its influence in the global legal community.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; English Editor: Zoey Sun)
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