Hong Kong's Justice Secretary Promotes Legal Services and Arbitration in Paris During European Visit

2025-07-10 09:18 Last Updated At：10:07

SJ attends DoJ seminar to promote Hong Kong legal services in Paris

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, arrived in Paris, France, on July 8 (Paris time) to continue his European visit. He attended a Hong Kong legal services seminar organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and met with representatives of international organisations to introduce Hong Kong's advantages in legal services and its arbitration system.

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SJ attends DoJ seminar to promote Hong Kong legal services in Paris Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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SJ attends DoJ seminar to promote Hong Kong legal services in Paris Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In Paris, Mr Lam first met with the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Ms Elisa de Anda Madrazo. Noting that the FATF leads global action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, has always supported the FATF's work in maintaining the stability of the international financial system, and that the DoJ has actively participated in mutual evaluations among FATF member jurisdictions.

Afterwards, Mr Lam visited the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber (Chambre arbitrale maritime de Paris) and met with the Secretary General of the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber, Mrs Pascale Mesnil, to learn about its operation and the situation in the French arbitration sector, as well as developments in resolving international maritime disputes through arbitration. Mr Lam said that Hong Kong has been committed to optimising its arbitration system through multi-pronged policy measures, enhancing and consolidating its status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Lam also expressed hope for deepening exchanges and co-operation with the French arbitration sector.

On the morning of July 9 (Paris time), Mr Lam visited the office of the French National and Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF) and met with representatives of the Chamber of Arbitration for Sport (Chambre Arbitrale du Sport) and the Conference of Conciliators of the CNOSF to learn about the committee's services in sports arbitration and conciliation, and he introduced the DoJ's work in promoting the development of sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.

At noon, Mr Lam attended a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the French Republic, Mr Deng Li, and briefed him on Hong Kong's efforts in safeguarding national security, ensuring the implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems" by rule of law, and leveraging its unique advantages to promote development in various aspects.

In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended the Paris Seminar entitled "Hong Kong Legal Services – Gateway to China and Beyond", which was organised by the DoJ, sharing with about 130 guests and participants the unique advantages of Hong Kong's legal services under the principle of "one country, two systems" with guests. In his keynote speech, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in both Chinese and English. As an international legal and dispute resolution service centre, Hong Kong's common law system is rigorous and mature, belonging to the same legal system as the world's major economies and in line with international trade and business rules. Hong Kong's legal services industry is professional and comprehensive, providing high-quality legal services to global financial and commercial activities. Two panel sessions were held afterwards to discuss the co-operation between Hong Kong and France in commercial law, as well as the latest developments in the mechanism of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

During the Paris Seminar, Mr Lam also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre and Jus Mundi, an AI-powered legal research platform based in Paris, to further enhance co-operation in legal and alternative dispute resolution between the two places.

Mr Lam will depart for Rome, Italy, today (July 10, Paris time) to continue his visit programme.

Civil Aviation Department Completes Successful Aeronautical Search and Rescue Exercise Near Lantau Island

CAD search and rescue exercise strengthens collaboration and responsiveness

The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) successfully completed a joint short-range Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercise today (January 12) in the waters near Mong Tung Wan on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, Lantau Island.

The exercise involved eight government departments and one search and rescue unit, namely CAD, the Government Flying Service (GFS), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Marine Department (MD), the Civil Aid Service, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), and the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Garrison) respectively.

Today's exercise simulated a helicopter crashing into the sea near Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island. With the concerted efforts of helicopters and vessels dispatched by the Garrison, the GFS, the HKPF, and the FSD, all three people on board were rescued. The exercise lasted one hour, mobilising around 100 personnel from the participating units.

A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Department said, "In accordance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, CAD regularly organises Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercises to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination among relevant search and rescue units and promote technical exchanges. This is to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of an emergency."

This Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercise is divided into two parts: a short-range search and rescue exercise conducted today in the waters near Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island; and a long-range search and rescue exercise to be conducted tomorrow (January 13) in the South China Sea, approximately 50 nautical miles south of Hong Kong. CAD, together with the GFS, the MD, the Garrison, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, and the Guangdong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, will jointly deploy fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and ships to conduct the search and rescue tasks. The entire long-range exercise is expected to be completed in around three hours.

Hong Kong's Justice Secretary Promotes Legal Services and Arbitration in Paris During European Visit

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