HKSAR and Mainland Sign New Arrangement on Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Proceedings to Enhance Cross-Border Legal Cooperation

HKSAR and Mainland sign new arrangement on mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and Vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) Mr Mao Zhonghua signed the Arrangement on Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(New Arrangement) yesterday (April 20), enhancing the mechanism for mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings between the two places.

Over the 27 years since the implementation of the existing Arrangement for Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong Courts (Existing Arrangement), the volume of requests for mutual service of judicial documents between the courts of the two places has surged in recent years. However, the success rate for service of judicial documents under the Existing Arrangement is relatively low. In response to the strong demand from the legal sector, statutory bodies and members of the public for an enhanced service mechanism, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Judiciary and the SPC, after an extended period of prudent discussions, finalised the enhanced mechanism for mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong, with the New Arrangement signed yesterday. The New Arrangement aims to further promote the alignment of mechanisms and rules between the two legal systems.

The New Arrangement is not a completely new arrangement, but an enhanced version of the Existing Arrangement. The New Arrangement increases the modes of service, offers more options and flexibility, and introduces efficiency enhancement measures. This aims to promote timely and efficient handling of cross-border civil and commercial cases, strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of parties in the two places, and better accommodate the increasingly close-knit ties and judicial needs between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The DoJ will introduce the New Arrangement to the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services next Monday (April 27). The New Arrangement will come into effect only after the completion of relevant legislative procedures in Hong Kong. The DoJ will work closely with the Judiciary to complete the required legislative amendments work to implement the New Arrangement as soon as practicable.

The Department of Justice (DoJ), Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (April 20) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2 million.

A female passenger, aged 56, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand via Hanoi, Vietnam this afternoon. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 10 kilograms, in her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

After investigation, the arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 21).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs today (April 20) seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2 million at Hong Kong International Airport. One woman was arrested. Photo shows the arrested woman (centre). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs today (April 20) seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2 million at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases