Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 to commence on Monday
Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, an annual flagship event of the legal sector and the Department of Justice (DoJ), is one of the most anticipated legal and dispute resolution events in the region and beyond. Themed "Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China and Beyond", the five-day event will start Monday (November 4) and run until November 8. The Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 will provide an opportunity for participants to engage in a series of professional and insightful discussions and exchanges with prominent experts, practitioners, government officials and academics on a wide spectrum of topics from international law, developments in alternative dispute resolution, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to the rule of law in the region and beyond.
Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 will open on Monday with the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit, co-organised by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law and the DoJ. The Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, one of the policy initiatives set out in the 2023 Policy Address, will also be officially launched on the last day of this year's Hong Kong Legal Week.
In addition to the insightful events, there will be an exhibition at the venue highlighting the achievements in the construction of the rule of law by the country in the modern era, and the role played by Hong Kong in contributing to the developments.
A series of international and important events to be featured at the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 are as below:
November 4
* Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024
November 5
* The Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development
November 6
* Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong
* 2024 Hong Kong Mediation Lecture
November 7
* Joint Contribution to the Construction of Rule of Law in the GBA
November 8
* Rule of Law: The Best Business Environment
For more details on Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, please visit the dedicated website at www.legalweek.hk. Live broadcasts will be available on the dedicated website and at webcast.info.gov.hk.
HKSARG responds to reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under HKHRDA incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 26) strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects US' reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
A spokesman for the Government said, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US has exposed its double standards by pointing the finger at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."
"The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The offences endangering national security stipulated by the related Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, aiming at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts and activities of endangering national security. It targets only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents."
He said, "The US openly clamour for so-called 'sanctions' with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called 'sanctions' and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security."
The HKSAR Government has been enforcing the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations. We have long been maintaining an effective mechanism for implementing the resolutions of the UNSC. That includes denying entry of vessels designated by the UNSC as well as suspicious vessels, keeping a close watch on and inspecting suspicious Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities evading UNSC sanctions. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has been implementing a comprehensive and robust control regime over the import and export of strategic commodities and maintaining active participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty through the Central People's Government. The effectiveness of our work has been well respected and recognised by our trading partners and internationally.
The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about US$270 billion with Hong Kong. Currently, some 1 390 US companies operate in Hong Kong. If the US insists on its acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies.
The spokesman reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.
