Secretary for Justice Leads Delegation to Kazakhstan to Promote Bilateral Legal Collaboration

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to promote Hong Kong legal and dispute resolution services in Kazakhstan

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, continued to lead a cross-professional delegation comprising members of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution sectors, as well as the financial and accounting sectors, to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan, today (August 26, Almaty time). They attended the Collaborate2Win seminar and a networking lunch to promote the unique strengths of Hong Kong's common law system to the local industry.

At the seminar, Mr Lam highlighted in his opening remarks that while Hong Kong is a leading common law jurisdiction providing reliable and top-quality international legal services, the city has been making tremendous efforts to use its common law advantages to maintain and promote Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. He said that Hong Kong can be Kazakhstan's important and even indispensable partner in view of the city's unique status as a premier financial hub with common law advantages.

The seminar is co-organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), attracting more than 160 representatives from local legal and business sectors to attend. The First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich; the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, Mr Su Fangqiu; and Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC Ms Anna Cheung delivered speeches at the seminar.

Entitled "Hong Kong - A Premier Financial Hub with Common Law Advantages - Your Indispensable Partner for Global Success", the panel discussion was moderated by the Head of Business and Professional Services of Invest Hong Kong, Mr Herman Tse. The Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, introduced Hong Kong's status as the global gateway under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Executive Director of the Financial Services Development Council, Dr Rocky Tung, then presented the latest developments of Hong Kong as a leading international financial centre. Representatives from Hong Kong legal, arbitration and accounting sectors also illustrated the distinctive role of Hong Kong's common law system in corporate finance and investment protection, its business-friendly tax system, and the latest developments of the arbitration regime during the panel discussion.

Upon arriving in Almaty yesterday (August 25, Almaty time), Mr Lam and the delegation met with the representative of a local Chinese Mainland law firm to have a better understanding of the latest developments of the local legal service sector. Mr Lam also introduced the DoJ's initiatives to promote Hong Kong's legal services and to co-ordinate with financial, accounting and other professional services in supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, and discussed with representatives the common legal issues that enterprises encounter while going global. They then met with representatives from the chamber of commerce of Shaanxi in Kazakhstan to learn more about the latest developments of Chinese Mainland enterprises in Kazakhstan, and to promote Hong Kong's professional services to enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and Kazakhstan, to leverage Hong Kong as a major gateway for venturing into international markets.

Mr Lam and the delegation will depart for Uzbekistan this afternoon to continue their visit.

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam (centre) meeting with representatives from the chamber of commerce of Shaanxi in Kazakhstan yesterday (August 25, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows (from left) the Head of Business and Professional Services of Invest Hong Kong, Mr Herman Tse; the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho; the Executive Director of the Financial Services Development Council, Dr Rocky Tung; Partner of Baker & McKenzie Mr Simon Leung; Tax Partner of KPMG China Mr Stanley Ho; and the Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Ms Joanne Lau, sharing their insights at the panel discussion of the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam (fourth right) and the delegation meeting with the representatives of a local Chinese Mainland law firm yesterday (August 25, Almaty time). The Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho (third right), and Associate Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Ms Anna Cheung (fifth right) also attended the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam (centre); the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich (second left); the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, Mr Su Fangqiu (second right); the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho (first right); and Associate Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Ms Anna Cheung (first left) at the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, Mr Su Fangqiu, speaking at the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Associate Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Ms Anna Cheung delivering her welcome remarks at the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam delivering his opening remarks at the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam (second right) and the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, Mr Su Fangqiu (second left), exchanging views before the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo shows Mr Lam (left) and the delegation exchanging views with the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich (right), before the Collaborate2Win seminar today (August 26, Almaty time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two incoming passenger drug trafficking cases at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested.

In the first case, a 51-year-old local woman and a 26-year-old local man, arrived in Hong Kong from Rome, Italy yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected ketamine weighing about 36 kg inside their check-in suitcases. The two persons were subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 40-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 2 kg of suspected ketamine inside the false compartment of his checked-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

The two arrested persons in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drug, while the arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drug. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 27).

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 also 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 yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the arrested person in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases