Hong Kong has the potential to become a leading international dispute resolution centre and is working hard to realise it.

This was the message from Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung to Australian business leaders in Canberra today. Speaking at the launch of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association's Canberra Region Branch, Mr Wong outlined the Government's effort in promoting Hong Kong as a centre for international arbitration.

He also met the Australian High Court's Chief Justice Robert Shenton French, Attorney General Robert McClelland, the International Legal Services Advisory Council and the Law Council of Australia.

Mr Wong updated them on Hong Kong's rule of law situation and the successful implementation of the One Country, Two Systems formula, and discussed the latest developments in alternative dispute resolution in Australia and Hong Kong.

He will fly to Sydney tonight for the last leg of his Australian visit.