SJ attends Hainan Legal Week to deepen co-operation in legal services between Hong Kong and Hainan
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, attended the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week (Hainan Legal Week) in Hainan today (October 16) to promote Hong Kong's advantage in professional services and deepen co-operation in legal and dispute resolution services between Hong Kong and Hainan, driving the two places to contribute to the high-quality development of the country by leveraging the synergy of "connection of the two ports".
This year's Hainan Legal Week is themed "Law-based Free Trade Port Connect with the World". Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong and Hainan have maintained close relationships with close personal ties and business connections. During the National 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hainan will strengthen the construction of foreign-related rule of law and position the Hainan Free Trade Port as a preferred destination for resolving international commercial disputes. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will deepen its development into an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, leverage its strengths in professional services to assist Mainland enterprises in going global, and develop into an international hub for the pooling of high-calibre talent. He stated that the talent pooled in Hong Kong can make the most of their strengths to serve Hainan's needs, supporting Hainan to optimise its business environment governed by the rule of law. Also, Hainan shoulders the national strategic role of developing commercial aerospace as a strategic emerging industry. Hong Kong can provide tailored legal and professional services to support the commercialisation of aerospace development. Mr Lam encouraged aerospace enterprises from Hainan and across the country to adopt Hong Kong law as the applicable law in their contracts and choose Hong Kong as a venue for diversified dispute resolution.
During the ceremony, Mr Lam and the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province, Mr Qiu Lijun, signed a co-operation arrangement in the area of legal services, with a view to deepening co-operation between the Department of Justice and the Department of Justice of Hainan Province, including promoting legal services co-operation, foreign-related legal talent training, and mutual exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan. Mr Lam then attended an exchange session on advancing the implementation of the co-operation arrangement and met with leaders of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province and representatives of the Hainan Lawyers Association.
Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong this evening.
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (October 16) attended the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week in Hainan. Photo shows Mr Lam (third right) discussing with the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province, Mr Qiu Lijun (fourth left), and representatives of the Hainan Lawyers Association at the exchange session on advancing the implementation of a co-operation arrangement in the area of legal services. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (October 16) attended the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week in Hainan. Photo shows Mr Lam (left) with the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province, Mr Qiu Lijun (right), after signing a co-operation arrangement in the area of legal services. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (October 16) attended the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week in Hainan. Photo shows Mr Lam delivering a speech at the opening ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early before and after Chung Yeung Festival holiday
The Transport Department (TD) today (October 16) said that the passenger and vehicle traffic at land boundary control points (BCPs) will significantly increase before and after the Chung Yeung Festival holiday (October 16 to 19), especially amid the expected inbound peak on Monday (October 19) afternoon and evening when waiting times for public transport (PT) services will be longer. Cross-boundary travellers are urged to plan their trips early and properly, allow sufficient travelling time, avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible and heed the latest traffic and PT information of BCPs.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services before and after the Chung Yeung Festival holiday for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:
- The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from October 16 to 19 based on passenger demand;
- The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link will operate additional short-haul trips between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Futian and Shenzhenbei Stations (see details at the 12306.cn website);
- The frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) will be increased to an average of about one minute during peak hours;
- The cross-boundary coach service will be strengthened;
- The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land BCPs will also be enhanced beyond the normal weekend level; and
- The PTOs concerned will arrange additional vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for PT services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Travellers should avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. Passengers are advised to maintain order while queuing and heed the advice of on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting the HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic, and the traffic at Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads has become very busy during holiday peak periods. They should use PT services as far as possible, plan their trips early, allow sufficient travelling time and remain patient while waiting.
Motorists of cross-boundary private cars are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, before and after the Chung Yeung Festival holiday to secure smooth access for PT vehicles to the Port. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the Port during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Information dissemination
To plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions of major connecting roads to land BCPs and the inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check the real-time situation at the vehicle clearance plaza of Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or HKeMobility for the latest information on various land BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus and MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and HKeMobility. PTOs and relevant departments of BCPs will also disseminate the latest information to passengers through public announcement systems and other channels at major stations and BCPs.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and PT services across various districts, BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demand.
The Transport Department. Photo source: reference image
