Chief Justice Completes Visit to Australia, Honors Late Sir Anthony Mason

CJ concludes visit to Canberra, Australia

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung of the Court of Final Appeal today (June 16) concluded his visit to Canberra, Australia.

At the invitation of Chief Justice of Australia Stephen Gageler, Chief Justice Cheung and Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, attended a ceremonial sitting at the High Court of Australia on June 15, held in honour of the late Sir Anthony Mason, Chief Justice of Australia from 1987 to 1995. The sitting was attended by members of Sir Anthony's family, government officials and dignitaries, as well as serving and retired senior judges.

Sir Anthony served as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal from 1997 to 2015, for a total of 18 years. During his tenure, Sir Anthony made an immeasurable contribution to establishing the Court's reputation as Hong Kong's apex court under its new constitutional order, and to securing the confidence and trust of the community it serves. In recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong, he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2013.

During their visit to Canberra, Chief Justice Cheung and Mr Justice Ribeiro had informal exchanges with Chief Justice Gageler, other senior judges in Australia, and Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann of New Zealand, who also attended the ceremonial sitting, reaffirming the longstanding professional ties with these common law jurisdictions.

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung of the Court of Final Appeal today (June 16) concluded his visit to Canberra, Australia. During the visit, Chief Justice Cheung (left) had informal exchanges with Chief Justice Andrew Bell of New South Wales, Australia (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung of the Court of Final Appeal today (June 16) concluded his visit to Canberra, Australia. During the visit, Chief Justice Cheung (first right) and Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro (second left), Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, who also joined the visit, had informal exchanges with Chief Justice of Australia Stephen Gageler (second right) and Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann of New Zealand (first left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCMA visits Macao

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, visited Macao today (July 22) to meet with officials of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to gather their views in preparing for Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan.

Miss Tse met with the Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao SAR, Mr Cheong Chok-man, to explore ways to deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao with regard to Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, and to leverage the distinctive advantages and vital roles of the two SARs of having strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. The government officials of the Macao SAR also shared their experience in drawing up five-year plans.

Miss Tse said that the Government of the Hong Kong SAR is working at full speed to draw up Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, which will set out the city's development vision and strategic directions for the next five years. The Plan will definitely have a close connection with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), of which Hong Kong is a part. Hong Kong will work more closely with Macao to jointly explore forward-looking and strategic development directions, and to leverage respective strengths to promote the development of the GBA.

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, was among the officials joining the visit.

SCMA visits Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCMA visits Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases