Secretary for Justice Outlines Next Steps for Hong Kong's Legal Framework and AI Regulation

Remarks by SJ at media session (with video)

Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at a media session during the Second Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026 today (November 6):

Reporter: Looking ahead, what are some concrete next steps you want to see delivered moving forward based on the outcomes of Legal Week? Also, you have previously expressed the hope that AI-specific legislative proposals, particularly on combating AI-facilitated crime and protecting minors using social media and AI, could be drafted by the end of 2026. As we approach the end of the year, could you update us on the progress?

Secretary for Justice: First, in relation to your first question, I have just mentioned that one of the major achievements of this Legal Week is the formal opening of the Hong Kong liaison office (Asia-Pacific Liaison Office) of UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law). In this respect, I think the next step is to work very closely with UNIDROIT to ensure that the representative office after its establishment can function as intended. We will definitely provide whatever assistance that is required to assist its operation in Hong Kong.

Apart from that, of course, there are other things in relation to our effort to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. For example, we are very actively proceeding with the amendment exercise in relation to the Arbitration Ordinance. We are also going to proceed with the construction of a new Hong Kong International Legal Service Building. There are a lot of things going on, but all of these things aim at achieving the same objective, that is, as I mentioned, to strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international legal service centre.

In relation to your second question, I appreciate that the general public is very concerned about the progress of various initiatives in relation to the use of AI. First, a subcommittee of the Law Reform Commission is, I believe, finalising its recommendations in relation to certain AI-enabled crimes. I am confident that, in the immediate future, you will see a consultation document in this respect, as to regulating the use of AI by minors, as well as product liability. I am in the course of setting up an interdepartmental working team. I expect - it's in fact my direction - that a meeting will be held as soon as possible, I think definitely within this year. Significant progress has been made. When the time comes, we will inform the public of the actual progress.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: AI-found images

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 6) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 39-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 37-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (November 5) and seized about 62 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $310,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases