Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said today Hong Kong has a significant role to play in facilitating international engagement and promoting the progress of international rule of law as China moves towards deeper institutional opening-up.

Addressing the conclusion of the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity & Development, which is part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, Mr Lam noted that in an interconnected world, harmony through diversity is essential for achieving lasting success and mutual respect across boundaries.

He also hoped the discussions in the forum could bring out a spirit of co-operation and collaboration in traditional fields and emerging areas, with the sustainable development safeguarded by the rule of law.

The Secretary for Justice added that the staunch support of the Central People's Government in strengthening the city as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan can be demonstrated by the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Preparatory Office last year.

“The IOMed Preparatory Office has successfully facilitated the conclusion of negotiations on the Convention on the Establishment of The IOMed last month.

“A decision has also been made by all the negotiating parties that a signing ceremony of the convention will be held in Hong Kong next year and the IOMed headquarters will also be situated in Hong Kong once the convention has entered into force.

“Upon its establishment, the IOMed will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services, thereby building Hong Kong as a capital for international mediation.”

Co-organised by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Department of Justice (DoJ), the forum attracted more than 900 registrations from over 40 jurisdictions.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank General Counsel Alberto Ninio delivered a keynote address on promoting good governance and high-quality development under international law.

It was followed by an exchange on the interconnectivity of rules and the contribution of the Hong Kong SAR to China's institutional opening-up, including the Hong Kong SAR's role as a super connector bridging the Mainland and global markets, the city's unique strengths in the interface of rules and mechanisms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the extensive practice and experience of the Hong Kong SAR in the field of international arbitration.

The forum also discussed the importance of the rule of law in mitigating risks and safeguarding sustainable development for both the Hong Kong SAR and the nation against the backdrop of financial sanctions, foreign interference and the emergence of artificial intelligence.

Delivering the event’s welcome remarks, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Commissioner Cui Jianchun emphasised that it is crucial for Hong Kong to strengthen the rule of law by reinforcing competitiveness in the legal field, improving connectivity of its rules and standards and bolstering confidence in the rule of law.