Chief Executive Celebrates Opening of the UNIDROIT Centenary Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong

Speech by CE at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNIDROIT Centenary: Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific and Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNIDROIT Centenary: Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific and Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office today (November 2):

Professor Enzo Moavero-Milanesi, (President of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)), Professor Ignacio Tirado (Secretary-General of the UNIDROIT), Commissioner Cui Jianchun (Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning, and welcome to Hong Kong.

It is my honour and privilege to be here, with you, at the opening of the UNIDROIT Centenary Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific.

This is a day of double celebration. Today we commemorate 100 years of UNIDROIT's extraordinary contribution to the modernisation and harmonisation of private law. Equally significant, we're here to witness the opening of a new chapter of UNIDROIT – the establishment of its inaugural office outside its seat in Rome, right here in Asia's World City, Hong Kong.

UNIDROIT was established in 1926, under the auspices of the League of Nations. Back then, few could have imagined the profound impact it would have on the global legal landscape in the century to follow.

Today, UNIDROIT stands as one of the world's oldest international organisations dedicated to strengthening the rule of law in international private and commercial law. Its 65 member states come from five continents.

While the League of Nations no longer exists, UNIDROIT remains a prominent and independent inter-governmental organisation based on the 1940 UNIDROIT Statute.

Its mission – to study the needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and commercial law among states, formulating uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives – has become more relevant than ever.

UNIDROIT has been instrumental in reducing legal barriers to trade, investment and cross-border co-operation. In doing so, it promotes the connectivity and prosperity that our region treasures.

So, yes, Hong Kong gladly welcomes the establishment of the UNIDROIT Asia Pacific Liaison Office in our city.

It is a decision of profound significance – for UNIDROIT, for Hong Kong and for the entire Asia-Pacific region.

The Liaison Office will serve as a focal point for enhanced engagement with member states and stakeholders in the region. And it will play a crucial role in the legislative and institutional work of UNIDROIT.

Hong Kong, strategically located at the heart of Asia, is an ideal home for the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office.

We are a renowned international legal, trade and financial hub, and a host to many international organisations.

Hong Kong is also the only common law jurisdiction within China, our country, operating under the unique principle of "one country, two systems". Our legal system is renowned for its robust rule of law, buttressed by a deep pool of legal talent.

Our laws and dispute resolution framework are well aligned with international standards and recognised globally. Indeed, the 2026 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, published last month, ranks Hong Kong sixth in East Asia and the Pacific, and within the first quintile out of 143 countries and jurisdictions. And Hong Kong maintained its position within the top 10 globally in "Absence of Corruption" and "Order and Security".

The National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in deepening its development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, launched in September, sets out a range of measures to harness the unique advantages of our common law system.

And this year's Policy Address reaffirms our commitments in greater detail, specifically noting our support for the establishment of the UNIDROIT Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

The Liaison Office will also enjoy benefits from co-operation with other partner organisations here. That includes the International Organization for Mediation, headquartered in Hong Kong since last year, as well as the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization's Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre and the Hague Conference on Private International Law's Regional Office for the Asia Pacific.

The Liaison Office may also enjoy benefits from the stakeholder network established by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. The Academy was launched by the Department of Justice two years ago this month. Working together, I'm confident the two organisations can address UNIDROIT's needs for capacity building.

Such legal co-operation is essential in a city that thrives on openness, connectivity and rules-based international order.

We strive to attract global organisations and talent, enable international legal co-operation and position Hong Kong as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for East and West.

The Asia-Pacific accounts for more than 40 per cent of global GDP and encompasses vital trade corridors.

The Liaison Office reflects the importance of the Asia-Pacific region in UNIDROIT's work and will deepen collaboration, resulting in a better understanding and implementation of private law.

This Liaison Office is a symbol of our collective ambition to build a more harmonious and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

I wish to thank UNIDROIT for its enduring trust in Hong Kong, and to express my gratitude to our country for its staunch and unwavering support, without which this milestone would not have been possible. My thanks, as well, to all of you for your commitment to this shared endeavour.

I am confident that the establishment of the Liaison Office will strengthen the long-standing collaborative relationship between Hong Kong and UNIDROIT, serving as a catalyst for deeper engagement throughout the region.

Let us continue to work together – to harmonise, connect and build a future rooted in peace and prosperity.

I wish this conference and the Liaison Office every success. The conference, let me add, is the opening event of this year's Hong Kong Legal Week, five days of high-profile discussions and gatherings designed to strengthen regional and cross-sector collaboration, including the Second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum and the third Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit.

For those of you here from overseas, I wish you a memorable stay in Hong Kong, the world's rising East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and legal exchange, too.

Thank you.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNIDROIT Centenary: Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific and Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office today (November 2). Photo shows the President of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), Professor Enzo Moavero-Milanesi (second right); the Secretary-General of the UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Triado (first right); Mr Lee (centre); the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Cui Jianchun (second left); and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (first left), at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNIDROIT Centenary: Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific and Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office today (November 2). Photo shows the President of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), Professor Enzo Moavero-Milanesi (second right); the Secretary-General of the UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Triado (first right); Mr Lee (centre); the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Cui Jianchun (second left); and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (first left), at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, speaks at the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNIDROIT Centenary: Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific and Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office today (November 2). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Keynote speech by FS at Women Chief Executives Summit 2026 

Following is the keynote speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Women Chief Executives (WCE) Summit 2026 today (November 2):

Mary (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered, Ms Mary Huen), Amy (Chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and Head and Chief Executive of UBS Hong Kong, Ms Amy Lo), distinguished members of WCE, Consuls-General, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. My sincere thanks to Mary and Amy, and to their teams, for bringing together leaders from finance, technology and beyond. It was a pleasure to join your inaugural summit last year. I am delighted to return under this year’s theme, "Female Voices of Impact and Innovation".

In recent weeks, Hong Kong has welcomed a series of international financial gatherings. In October, we hosted the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Finance Ministers' Meeting for the first time. This week, we welcome the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit. Today, your summit adds an important voice to these conversations.

While their agendas differ, these gatherings share a concern over how finance can support growth in a changing world. For the leaders here this morning, the central question is how to build institutions that can succeed through uncertainty and change.

In my view, two principles are essential. The first is drawing on the widest possible pool of talent. The second is managing capital with a long-term perspective.

Let me begin with talent.

In the financial world, capital is important. But an institution's strength depends ultimately on its people and their judgement. They must navigate uncertainty, distinguish lasting trends from short-term market movements, and take responsibility for decisions with multiyear impact.

Sound judgement is not confined to any gender, background or generation. Institutions that draw on a wider pool of talent are better equipped to navigate change, make sound decisions and seize opportunities. Broadening access to leadership is not only fair. It makes our financial sector stronger.

Hong Kong has made encouraging progress in this respect. For the first time in their respective histories, the CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) of both the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) are women. Bonnie (CEO of the HKEX, Ms Bonnie Chan) is among us this morning.

We all remember the joint study by WCE Hong Kong, KPMG and the Women's Foundation. It found that women held 45 per cent of senior leadership positions in the financial institutions studied, up from 34 per cent in 2018.

These achievements deserve recognition. They reflect individual endeavour, backed by education, family support, workplace opportunities and a culture that values ability. Yet barriers remain, particularly for women in the middle of their careers.

We need to remove all these barriers so that more women can advance and lead. The same principle applies to people from different backgrounds and cultures. Our institutions thrive when talent has every opportunity to flourish.

The second principle concerns how far ahead capital looks.

A major transfer of wealth is under way. In the United States alone, the baby boomer generation holds some US$30 trillion in financial assets. As this wealth gradually passes to spouses and younger generations, women are expected to control a substantial share of wealth by 2030. This is more than a change in ownership. It is a shift in who makes investment decisions and where capital is directed.

As wealth changes hands, investment priorities will change too. Financial institutions need to respond to the goals of a new generation, not simply repeat what worked for the last.

Nowadays, wealth management goes beyond transactional product sales to building multigenerational advisory relationships. Investment strategies should look beyond quarterly performance to opportunities and risks across market cycles. Institutions that respond well will be better placed to earn the lasting trust of their clients.

For those seeking to develop talent and manage capital for the long term, Hong Kong has much to offer.

Our economy grew by 5.1 per cent in the first half of this year. Tomorrow, we will announce our third-quarter figures, which will mark our 15th consecutive quarter of growth. We will also likely revise upwards our full-year GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast, putting Hong Kong on course for its strongest annual growth in five years.

But the case for Hong Kong extends beyond the current economic cycle. Our common law legal system, free flow of capital and deep professional expertise provide a reliable foundation for investors looking to commit capital for the long term.

Our connections with the Chinese Mainland and the world bring together people, ideas and investment opportunities. They make Hong Kong a place where international institutions can build diverse teams and serve clients across markets.

This year marks the beginning of our country's National 15th Five-Year Period. In September, Hong Kong also announced our own very First Five-Year Plan.

These plans also provide a longer-term framework for Hong Kong's development. Together with our institutional strengths, they give businesses and investors a basis for planning ahead.

In short, Hong Kong offers both access to growth and the continuity that long-term investment requires.

We will continue to strengthen our role as a trusted platform for international capital entering the Chinese Mainland, and for Mainland enterprises and investors reaching out to the world.

Looking ahead, technological disruption will test both our approach to talent and our management of capital.

Later today, you will discuss the "Human-AI Financial Institution". I believe the question is not simply how many AI tools an institution adopts, but how it becomes truly AI-native. That means rethinking how decisions are made, services are delivered and teams are organised. That means how AI is built into the way the institution works as a whole.

That also places demanding choices before leaders. They need to decide where to invest, which skills to develop and how to redesign roles. They need to balance innovation with the need to protect clients and maintain trust. And they need to ensure that responsibility remains clear as technology becomes more complex.

There are no easy answers. But we are more likely to find sound answers when different experiences and views inform the decisions.

Women must have a full part in shaping this transformation. A wider pool of talent brings more ideas and perspectives to the table, challenges familiar assumptions and helps institutions prepare for what comes next.

Ladies and gentlemen, the future of finance and business will be shaped by the choices leaders make today. Who should be given the opportunity to lead, how we invest for tomorrow and how responsibly we use technology will determine the strength of our institutions.

Let us open more doors to talent, take the longer-term view of capital and turn investment into lasting value. Hong Kong treasures your leadership and aspiration as we build that future together.

I wish the summit every success and all of you the best of health and business. Thank you.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Women Chief Executives Summit 2026 today (November 2). Photo shows (from front row, ninth left) Mr Chan; the Chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and Head and Chief Executive of UBS Hong Kong, Ms Amy Lo; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered, Ms Mary Huen, and other guests at the summit. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaks at the Women Chief Executives Summit 2026 today (November 2). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases