Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026 of Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy Concludes

Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026 of Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy concludes

The Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026, organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, concluded today (August 22). This two-day course, organised by the Academy specifically for local legal and dispute resolution practitioners, aimed to deepen the local sector's understanding of the Chinese Mainland's civil and commercial legal system, practical operation, and latest developments, while fostering professional exchange and experience-sharing between the Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. The course attracted over 400 registrations.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, noted that, as the country continues to advance high-level opening up, there is a substantial increase in the demand for cross-border legal services. He said that the Hong Kong legal sector requires more talent equipped with knowledge of, and practical capabilities in, cross-border civil and commercial law. This course directly addressed such pressing need, and is of importance in promoting legal exchange and co-operation between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, and enhancing the standard of legal services.

In his closing remarks, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said that as arbitration services in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong are developing rapidly, Hong Kong will fully leverage its institutional and professional services strengths, and support the Chinese Mainland and overseas arbitration institutions in expanding their international operations and establishing branches in Hong Kong. These efforts will help attract high-calibre arbitration professionals, further enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

After running the inagural Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course in 2025, the course this year focused on a range of key areas of civil and commercial law practice in the Chinese Mainland. Lectures covered topics including mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters, arbitration in the Chinese Mainland, and investment protection agreements. In addition, two thematic panel discussions examined, from different perspectives, the evolving landscape and challenges Chinese enterprises face in their overseas development, as well as the development in international investment arbitration, further enhancing the Hong Kong legal and dispute resolution sectors' understanding of the Chinese Mainland civil and commercial legal system and the relevant practical operation. Speakers included senior judges from the Supreme People's Court and other courts in the Chinese Mainland, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Commerce, experienced legal professionals from Hong Kong and overseas, representatives of Chinese enterprises, and arbitration experts, providing participants with a valuable platform for practical exchange.

The Academy will continue organising targeted training programmes to strengthen the understanding of the Chinese Mainland legal system and its practical developments. It will also promote exchange and collaboration among legal and dispute resolution professionals in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, supporting its development as a legal capacity-building hub, and contributing more effectively to the country's development of foreign-related rule of law.

The Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026, organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, concluded today (August 22). Photo shows the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, delivering his remarks at the closing ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy organised the Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026. Photo shows the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan (first row, fifth right); Co-Chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Mr Victor Dawes, SC (first row, centre); Legislative Council Member Ms Maggie Chan (first row, third right); the Director of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Office of the Department of Justice, Dr Yang Ling (first row, second right), with other guests at the closing ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy organised the Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026. Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (centre); Deputy Director General of the Research Office of the Supreme People's Court Ms Si Yanli (sixth left); Co-Chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Mr Victor Dawes, SC (sixth right); Legislative Council Member Ms Maggie Chan (fifth left); the Director of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Office of the Department of Justice, Dr Yang Ling (first left), with other guests at the opening ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Mainland Civil and Commercial Legal Practice Training Course 2026, organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, was officially launched today (August 21). Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, delivering his remarks at the opening ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 7) seized about 31 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried shark fins of endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $130,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.

A 51-year-old Mainland female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brazil via Ethiopia yesterday. She was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of suspected scheduled dried shark fins inside her check-in baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of dried shark fins was suspected to be from endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The woman was subsequently arrested by the Customs officers. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

The arrested woman has been charged by the AFCD with one count of illegal import of an Appendix II species.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases