The One Country, Two Systems concept is working well in Hong Kong, a city where the rule of law prevails.

This was the message from Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung during a roundtable discussion with academics, think-tank representatives and legal professionals in Canada yesterday.

She said there is no doubt Hong Kong's stability and continued development as an international city depended on the successful implementation of the concept.

The key strengths of our success remain as relevant and important now as they were more than six years ago, she said. They are our common law system upheld by an independent judiciary, the free and unfettered flow of news and information, a level playing field for business, and a clean, respected civil service.

Ms Leung stressed that the spirit of Hong Kong had not been stifled, adding that people are quick to speak up if they feel their rights and freedoms, or the systems underpinning Hong Kong society, are in any way being compromised or undermined.

On the first day of her trip, Ms Leung met Canadian Minister of Justice Martin Cauchon in Ottawa to update him on the successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems, the rule of law and Hong Kong's constitutional developments.

She also briefed him on CEPA and the importance of Hong Kong as a platform for foreign businesses and service providers to enter the Mainland market.

Ms Leung then met Secretary of State for Asia Pacific David Kilgour to discuss matters of mutual interest, before concluding her Ottawa visit by calling on Chinese Ambassador to Canada Mei Ping.

Ms Leung will visit Toronto on November 19 and Vancouver on November 20 and 21.