Speech by SJ at opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot today (March 30):
Ms Barrington (Director of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Louise Barrington), Ms Tung (Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Sherlin Tung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. On behalf of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong (DoJ), it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the 22nd Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Moot). For those coming from other jurisdictions, a very big and warm welcome to Hong Kong. I would like to start by thanking the Vis East Moot Foundation for holding the Moot in Hong Kong again this year.
I am very delighted to learn that over 1 500 students and coaches from 154 university teams around the world will participate this year. I also wish to extend another very warm welcome to over 400 arbitrators for joining us. This Moot is more than just a competition. It is a platform for gaining knowledge in international arbitration and trade law, while honing the legal and advocacy skills of our young legal talents.
I understand that the Moot will focus on the use of international commercial arbitration to resolve international commercial disputes, and involves the harmonised legal texts of UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) including the CISG (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) and the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, both of which apply to Hong Kong. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s commitment to adopting established international commercial law and practices.
Hong Kong is a leading international financial, commercial and trading centre well known for its strong rule of law, independent judiciary, and well-established legal framework. Under the important principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China. Our unique legal system is bilingual in both Chinese and English, which enable people and friends from around the world to navigate with ease. And it provides very strong legal protection to cross-border business transactions and investments, which helps to establish Hong Kong as a deal-making, legal,and dispute resolution services hub.
Hong Kong is and has always been one of the most preferred seats of arbitration in the world. Arbitral awards made in Hong Kong are generally recognised and enforced by the local courts, the Mainland courts and in over 170 Contracting Parties to the New York Convention. In addition, Hong Kong is the first and only common law jurisdiction outside the Mainland where, as a seat of arbitration, parties to arbitral proceedings administered by designated arbitral institutions would be able to apply to the Mainland courts for preservation measures. An award creditor of a Hong Kong arbitral award may also make simultaneous enforcement applications to both the Mainland and Hong Kong courts.
To further facilitate the conduct of arbitrations in Hong Kong, starting from March 1, 2025, the Hong Kong Government has regularised the Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings, now known as the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong. This initiative enables eligible visitors to participate in arbitration in Hong Kong without requiring any employment visa. Hong Kong launched the Scheme back in 2020 on a short-term basis. The arbitration community has been supportive of the Scheme since its launch, finding it conducive to maintaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. The streamlined process under the Scheme covers arbitrators, experts and factual witnesses, parties to the arbitration, parties’ representatives, and other persons directly related to or involved in the arbitration such as tribunal secretaries, tribunal-appointed experts. The DoJ will issue a Guidance Note on the Scheme to the relevant arbitral and dispute resolution institutions soon. I really look forward to seeing many of you coming to Hong Kong to participate in international arbitration in future.
To conclude, I wish each and everyone of you a rewarding mooting experience and a very fruitful stay in Hong Kong. Please do seize this opportunity not only to showcase your advocacy skills but also to forge connections and explore the vast possibilities and opportunities Hong Kong offers, including our fascinating food and drinks and entertainment. Let us look forward to another successful year of the Moot! Thank you very much!
Speech by SJ at opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
