Joint Legal Workshop Strengthens Korea-Hong Kong Business Ties

Speech by SJ at Networking Reception of Joint Legal Workshop - Success for Korean Business Growth in Hong Kong and Beyond

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Networking Reception of the Joint Legal Workshop - Success for Korean Business Growth in Hong Kong and Beyond co-organised by the Department of Justice, the Korean Ministry of Justice and Invest Hong Kong today (July 30):

Consul-General Yoo (Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, Mr Yoo Hyungcheol), Director Shin (Director of International Legal Advisory Division of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, Mr Shin Donghwan), Mr Charles Shin (Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. I am very delighted to join you here tonight as we celebrate a new and significant milestone in the relationship between Korea and Hong Kong.

The Department of Justice of Hong Kong and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOU) on September 25, 2019. Today's Joint Legal Workshop and Networking Reception is indeed the first joint event organised in Hong Kong since the signing of the MOU. I am very pleased that over 150 participants from the Korean business sector, and Hong Kong's legal practitioners, take part in this event. I am sure that the workshop this afternoon has provided useful insights as to how Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services can facilitate the establishment and development of Korean businesses not only in Hong Kong, but also beyond.

Korea has always been a close partner of Hong Kong. The Consulate of Korea was established in Hong Kong 75 years ago back in 1949. At present - I am quoting the figures provided by the Consulate General - about 16 000 Koreans are active in different fields in Hong Kong. As at 2023, Hong Kong is home to 146 Korean companies, including 21 financial institutions. I just learnt from the Consul General that the number of companies should be much greater, instead of 146 which refers to fairly big companies only. Hong Kong is also an important entrepôt for trade between Korea and the Mainland, with trade between the two economies through Hong Kong amounted to HK$261.7 billion in 2023. There is no doubt that Hong Kong is not only, by itself, an important partner of Korea in different areas but also acts as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" between Korea and the Mainland, in particular, the Greater Bay Area which encompasses nine cities in Guangdong plus Hong Kong and Macao, with a population of over 86 million and an estimated GDP of US$1.7 trillion.

A very key reason for Hong Kong's significant role just mentioned is its rule of law based on our legal system, which is the only common law jurisdiction within China safeguarded by the "one country, two systems" principle. Our common law system is marked by essential advantages and characteristics, such as an independent and trustworthy judicial system, business-friendly civil and commercial law, and an abundant supply of lawyers with rich international experience who can provide one-stop professional legal services on a wide spectrum of matters, from setting up of an office or business in Hong Kong to simple sale and purchase contracts or complex international commercial transactions in joint ventures, M&As (mergers and acquisitions), or IPO (initial public offerings) projects, etc.

I am afraid that I cannot leave without mentioning the Paris Olympics. I wish to congratulate Korea on winning nine medals including five gold medals so far, and I hope Korea will win more. I am most impressed that Korea has captured its 10th consecutive gold medal in women's archery team. On the other hand, we are, of course, very proud that Hong Kong has won two gold medals in fencing, and one bronze medal in swimming so far. What is most telling is that, apparently, Koreans are very good at using bows and arrows, whereas we are very good at using the swords. Bows and arrows, and swords, complement each other forming a perfect set of individual weaponry. I believe this serves as an excellent example suggesting that by combining our respective strengths, we can achieve great results together.

Before I conclude, I wish to thank the Korean Consulate General and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea for their support, without which today's event would be impossible. I firmly believe today's event is only the beginning of a new chapter of long and strong co-operation between Korea and Hong Kong. I definitely look forward to visiting Korea in the near future. Finally, I wish you all a very pleasant evening with a lot of wine and food. Thank you.

Speech by SJ at Networking Reception of Joint Legal Workshop - Success for Korean Business Growth in Hong Kong and Beyond Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Update on cases of Legionnaires' disease

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 16) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

From September 8 to 14, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases:

A female patient, aged 60 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Tai Po District;

A male patient, aged 66 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Shatin District; and

A male patient, aged 68 with good past health, who lives in Yau Tsim Mong District.

"Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

As of September 14, 81 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

"Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

Immunocompromised persons should:

Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;

Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and

If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

The public should observe the health advice below:

Observe personal hygiene;

Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;

Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;

If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;

Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;

Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;

Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and

When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

Wear gloves and a face mask;

Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;

Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;

Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and

Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

​​The public may visit the CHP'sLD page, theCode of Practice for Prevention of LDand theHousekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Managementof the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP'srisk-based strategyfor prevention and control of LD.

Source: AI-generated images