Secretary for Justice Promotes Hong Kong's Legal System During European Visit

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, began his European visit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on July 6 (Amsterdam time). He met with international organisations, judges from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), government officials and the local business community to promote Hong Kong's legal system and services, and its development as an international legal and dispute resolution centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

Upon his arrival, Mr Lam met with Hong Kong people and overseas Chinese organisation representatives living in the Netherlands and Luxembourg to learn about their work and life, and shared with them the latest developments of Hong Kong in various areas.

After arriving at The Hague on July 7, Mr Lam visited the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and met with the Secretary General of the HCCH, Dr Christophe Bernasconi. Mr Lam thanked the HCCH for its support for the secondment programme of legal professionalsof the Department of Justice (DoJ) and exchanged views on further strengthening the co-operation between the DoJ and the HCCH, including hosting an international conference about the Hague Conventions during the DoJ's flagship event - Hong Kong Legal Week in December this year.

Mr Lam then met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, Ms Anneke Van Dijk, and officials to introduce the latest developments of Hong Kong and discuss issues such as the development and direction of international legal co-operation.

Afterwards, Mr Lam had a lunch meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Tan Jian. Mr Lam thanked the Central Government for supporting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to actively participate in meetings of international organisations as part of the Chinese delegation, providing opportunities for Hong Kong legal talent from the public and private sectors to take part in various projects of the HCCH. He said that the DoJ will continue to strengthen international legal talent training, as well as exchanges and co-operation with international organisations to contribute to the promotion of the country's contribution to the development of international rule of law.

In the afternoon, Mr Lam visited the ICJ of the United Nations and met with the President of the ICJ, Mr Yuji Iwasawa, to exchange views on the latest developments in international dispute resolution, including the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation with its headquarters in Hong Kong. They also shared views on the training of international legal experts and professionals. Mr Lam then visited the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and met with the Secretary-General of the PCA, Dr Marcin Czepelak, to discuss the co-operation between the DoJ and the PCA in the fields of capacity building and international law.

In the evening, Mr Lam attended a business seminar and dinner organised by the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and Invest Hong Kong. Speaking at the seminar, Mr Lam shared with about 100 participants Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. He stressed that Hong Kong's legal system is credible and reputable, user-friendly, and closely tied with Mainland China and other parts of the world. These elements make Hong Kong's legal system exceptional among other common law peers.

Mr Lam will go to Paris for the second leg of his European visit today (July 8, Amsterdam time).

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences European visit in Netherlands Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for Welfare Sector 2026-27 invites applications

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced that the full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector 2026-27 is inviting applications starting today (January 12). The programme, which will last for two years, with a total of 427 places, aims to train students to become enrolled nurses to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the welfare sector and enhance the quality of care services.

In response to the keen demand for nurses in the welfare sector, the SWD has commissioned the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Saint Francis University and the Tung Wah College to provide the Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector for five consecutive years starting from the 2023-24 academic year.

An SWD spokesman said, "Applicants for the programme must be permanent Hong Kong residents with right of abode in Hong Kong and have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences. They must also have attained Level2 or above in five subjects, including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and any two other subjects in Categories A (Note) and B, in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; or an equivalent qualification. Applicants are also required to take note of other entry requirements as specified by respective training institutes."

The spokesman added, "To encourage young people and frontline staff currently serving the welfare sector to upgrade their professional skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who have successfully completed the two-year Diploma Programme and obtained the diploma under the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services launched in 2015 (or under the First-hire-then-train Pilot Scheme from 2013 to 2016) by the SWD; or those who are currently working full-time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals who aspire to pursue a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector are also welcome."

Tuition fees will be reimbursed to trainees in full on the condition that they have successfully completed the training programme and qualified to register as enrolled nurses within two years. Trainees will be required to sign an undertaking to work as an Enrolled Nurse (General) in NGOs or private organisations recognised by the SWD for providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, or correctional services for a continuous period of no less than three years after completion of the training.

Information seminars on the training programme will be held by the three institutes starting from January. Details of the information seminars are set out in the table below:

Training institute

Date and time of information seminar

Website

Enquiry number

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

2pm,

January 27

Programme content (Chinese only)

www.hkmu.edu.hk/nhs/tc/programmes-courses/nursing-and-health-studies/sub-degree-programmes/hdngf1_hdngosf1/

Application

admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/ug/online-application

3970 2928 /

3970 2957

Saint Francis University

3pm, February 6

Programme content

www.sfu.edu.hk/en/programmes/sub-degree-programmes/higher-diploma-in-enrolled-nursing-general-hden-swd/introduction/index.html

Application

onlineapplication.sfu.edu.hk/oa/admission/hdenswdForm

3702 4388

Tung Wah College

3.30pm, January 28

Programme content

www.twc.edu.hk/en/Programmes/hdn_swd

Application

www.twc.edu.hk/admission/

3190 6672

Applications will be closed at 5pm on March 2. For enquiries, please call the enquiry numbers of the training institutes.

Note: "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development will be accepted as Level 2.

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