Closing remarks by DSJ at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNCITRAL's Contribution to the International Transport of Goods in the Digital Economy - A Celebration of UNCITRAL@60 (with photo/video)
Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNCITRAL's Contribution to the International Transport of Goods in the Digital Economy - A Celebration of UNCITRAL@60 today (November 4):
Mr Lee (Principal Legal Officer of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Mr Jae Sung Lee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my honour to deliver closing remarks as we draw the curtain on this momentous occasion - a celebration of the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL jointly organised by UNCITRAL and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China.
As mentioned during the welcome remarks this morning, UNCITRAL has excellent collaboration with the DoJ. In fact, as mentioned by Professor Cheng (Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, Professor Teresa Cheng) in her keynote speech, Hong Kong has made valuable contributions to the work of UNCITRAL in various aspects and will continue our contributions. In particular, we supported UNCITRAL's contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy in the past and we are committed to continuing our contribution in the future.
The contribution of UNCITRAL to the international transport of goods in the digital economy has been thoroughly discussed by the four panels today. With the insights of members of the Judiciary, policy makers, legal scholars and practitioners, as well as stakeholders, we had constructive dialogues in four insightful panels.
The first panel titled "Digitalization and Platformization of Trade Finance - Past, Present & Future", set the stage by examining the transformative journey of trade finance. The speakers traced the evolution from traditional paper-based trade to the emergence of paperless trade, highlighting both the opportunities and the legal challenges that accompany this shift. It became clear that UNCITRAL's work on digital platform, digital payments and digital assets has been instrumental in providing the foundational principles that facilitate digitalisation.
The second panel, "Enabling Paperless Trade - Applying the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (2017) (MLETR) to Support Single Window Operations", delved into the practical application of an important UNCITRAL instrument on electronic commerce. The discussion underscored how MLETR serves as a catalyst to enable paperless trade, facilitating the use of electronic documents in different industries to enhance efficiency. We have learned the experience of Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong on how MLTER has been implemented domestically.
In the afternoon, we had our third panel exploring "The Negotiable Cargo Document (NCD) as a New Tool for Trade Finance - the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (New York, 2025)". This session celebrated the newly signed NCD Convention that bridges the gap between transport and trade finance. It facilitates the standardisation and unification for international transport, which unlocks liquidity in supply chains, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and landlocked countries. The panelists shared the pilot projects of the transport and banking sectors and emphasised the importance of widespread adoption of this Convention to foster trust among stakeholders in the global trade ecosystem.
Finally, the fourth panel addressed "Plugging a Gap in the International Legal Regime for the Protection of Maritime Creditors - the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships". The panelists highlighted the need for a harmonised legal regime to protect the stakeholders, from shipowners, financiers, to lienholders, by securing the effects of a judicial sale conferring clean title on the purchaser as vessels navigate internationally, and the benefits for international shipping.
As shown by these four panel discussions, we have already seen UNCITRAL's enduring contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy. They remind us that international co-operation is the bedrock of promoting a seamless global trading system. As we celebrate UNCITRAL's six decades of achievements, we are also called upon to look ahead - to embrace digitalisation, to promote legal harmonisation, and to secure that no stakeholder is left behind in this journey.
Ladies and gentlemen, as it comes to the close of the conference today, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers, moderators, panelists and participants who have made this event a resounding success. Special thanks go to UNCITRAL for its unwavering dedication to the progressive harmonisation, unification and modernisation of international trade law.
While today's event is closed now, other events of the Hong Kong Legal Week are still ongoing. I have learnt that some of you will also participate in the Fourth Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing you then. I also look forward to seeing you at many other sessions that await us throughout this week. Thank you once again for your participation and contribution.
Closing remarks by DSJ at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNCITRAL's Contribution to the International Transport of Goods in the Digital Economy - A Celebration of UNCITRAL@60 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by FS at Festival of Connoisseurs Gala Dinner
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Festival of Connoisseurs Gala Dinner today (November 4):
Patrick (Group Chief Operating Officer of Informa Markets, Mr Patrick Martell), Margaret (President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Informa Markets Asia, Mrs Margaret Connolly), Vivian (CEO of the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Chairman of AsiaWorld-Expo, Mrs Vivian Cheung), Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you for the gala dinner of the Festival of Connoisseurs. I extend a particularly warm welcome to our friends visiting from overseas.
This morning, we admired the craftsmanship on display. Tonight, we meet the people behind it.
My sincere thanks go to Informa Markets and its partners for bringing this inaugural festival to Hong Kong. You have assembled nine premium clusters, more than 50 world-renowned brands and over 3 000 overseas visitors. To have achieved this in less than a year is truly impressive.
With fine jewellery, exceptional wines and spirits, supercars and superyachts on display, there is so much to admire, and no shortage of temptation. If you are here with your spouse, I suggest agreeing early on what counts as a souvenir.
Hong Kong knows how to bring together good food, fine wine, elegant craftsmanship and people who appreciate them all. This festival has found the right home.
Tonight gives us time to get to know one another over dinner. I also hope our overseas guests will take the opportunity to discover more of Hong Kong.
More reasons to stay
Giving visitors more to enjoy is central to our tourism and events strategy. This year, we have more than 230 events on the calendar, spanning finance, business, culture, sports and entertainment.
We also schedule events close together, so that visitors can enjoy several in one trip. This week is a good example, with FinTech Week, the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit and this festival.
A visitor arriving for a conference may stay for an exhibition, enjoy a concert or bring the family to our theme parks. That gives people more reasons to come and to stay, and the benefits reach beyond the venues to our hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions.
To sustain that appeal, we keep introducing new experiences, so that returning visitors always find something fresh.
That is why I allocated $100 million in the Budget this year to attract high-quality, large-scale international exhibitions with distinctive new elements. I am delighted that the Festival of Connoisseurs is the first exhibition supported under this initiative.
From art to wealth
Our vision, however, goes beyond a longer visit. We are developing Hong Kong into a leading international wealth management centre, and wealthy families are gathering here in growing numbers. Last year, Hong Kong counted more than 18 000 ultra-high-net-worth individuals, ranking second among cities worldwide. We also hosted more than 3 300 single family offices, an increase of over 25 per cent in two years. And this year, Hong Kong became the largest cross-boundary wealth management centre in the world.
These families share more than a need for wealth management. Many are passionate collectors of art, wine, jewellery and the finer things in life. This festival speaks directly to those interests, bringing discerning customers together with brands and specialists who understand what they value.
Art is a good example. Hong Kong is already among the top three arts trading centres in the world, and we intend to become a global hub for premium arts trading.
Under Project Skytopia, the Airport Authority is developing an art and valuables storage facility. Scheduled to open in early 2027, it will offer museum-grade storage and private viewing rooms for collectors and art businesses.
Facilities like this form part of a broader effort to make Hong Kong a place where wealth owners and their families can manage their assets, pursue their passions and plan for the generations to come.
Increasingly, these families are asking not only how to grow their wealth, but what it should achieve. Hong Kong is a natural place to find the answer. We have a long and generous tradition of philanthropy, with more than 11 000 recognised charities and some of the most active foundations in Asia. Together with deep capital markets and strong professional services, this city has every ingredient to become a leading centre for impact capital in the region.
We are building on that advantage. Our Impact Link platform connects family offices with accredited charitable projects in Hong Kong and beyond. The latest Policy Address goes a step further, matching resources from family offices and businesses with community welfare projects.
A place to call home
Of course, no family chooses a home for its financial services alone. They choose it for the life they can lead. In Hong Kong, that means world-class dining and a vibrant wine culture, outstanding museums and galleries, and country parks, beaches and beautiful sailing waters within easy reach of the city centre. Few cities offer so much, so close together.
For the brands and businesses in this room, all of these adds up to more than a finance story. It means customers and partners who value art, culture and the craftsmanship you represent. And beyond our city lies the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a market of more than 88 million people with rising wealth and a growing appetite for quality products and exceptional experiences. So a conversation that begins at this festival can become an enduring presence in this region.
Looking forward to a bigger festival
Ladies and gentlemen, an inaugural festival asks a great deal of everyone involved. The organisers took a leap of faith. The brands brought their finest pieces halfway around the world. And many of you travelled a long way to be here. Thank you for your confidence in Hong Kong.
I understand that next year's festival will be even bigger. As Financial Secretary, I am always pleased to hear about growth. And tonight, I am happy to leave the spending decisions to you.
I wish you all a wonderful evening, and the best of health and business in the year ahead.
Source: AI-found images
