Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 Launched, Showcasing International Legal Expertise and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region.

2024-11-04 19:41 Last Updated At：19:58

Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit opens Hong Kong Legal Week 2024

The Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, an annual flagship event of the legal sector and the Department of Justice (DoJ) to showcase Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, was launched today (November 4).

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Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit opens Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit opens Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Themed "Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China and Beyond", the five-day event provides an opportunity for participants from all corners of the world to engage in a series of insightful discussions and fruitful exchanges with prominent experts, practitioners and government officials on a wide spectrum of topics, including international law, developments in alternative dispute resolution, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the rule of law in the region and beyond.

The Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024, themed "Springboard to Opportunities: Utilising International Private Law and Technology to Facilitate Access to Credit, Investment, and Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region", was held as the opening event of this year's Hong Kong Legal Week. Organised by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the DoJ, the biennial Summit brought together preeminent legal academics and renowned practitioners worldwide to discuss how the unification and co-ordination of various areas of international private law can support economic growth and facilitate smoother cross-border interactions. More than 1 100 registrations from 46 jurisdictions have been received for this event.

In his welcome remarks, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that today's Summit gathered leading legal minds from across the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to enormous economic potential and encompasses a diverse array of legal systems, to explore how to unlock the region's full economic potential and ensure long-term sustainable growth, harmonisation and modernisation of private law across the region, as well as how Hong Kong could contribute in this regard. Aside from the collaborative efforts of the DoJ and UNIDROIT in promoting the development, implementation, and deeper understanding of private international law and international commercial law across the Asia-Pacific region, the DoJ and UNIDROIT have also co-operated on other fronts. In particular, the Secretary for Justice expressed his gratitude for UNIDROIT's support to the DoJ's secondment programme, which offers opportunities to Hong Kong's legal professionals to work at the UNIDROIT Secretariat. He further noted that the DoJ places great importance on nurturing legal talent and will continue to provide professional development opportunities to legal talent with a view to strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading international legal and dispute resolution centre. To further the DoJ's capacity building initiatives, the Secretary for Justice announced that the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will be set up, and he extended a warm invitation to all to join the launch ceremony of the Academy, which will take place on the final day of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024.

The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Cui Jianchun, and the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado, also delivered their welcome remarks at the event. The closing remarks were delivered by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan.

Mr Cui said that China has been consistently innovating its diplomatic ideas to make global governance and international law fairer and more equitable. He noted that the HKSAR has been proactively responding to national development strategies and committed to reforms that benefit the people of Hong Kong. He said he is confident that Hong Kong will make the best use of the strength of "one country" and the convenience of "two systems", while leveraging its unique advantages, such as its systems, talent and location, to act as a "world-class springboard" for connecting China with the rest of the world.

Professor Tirado said that he is glad to be back to Hong Kong again to join the Summit, which has become one of the legal world's leading events in the international arena. He said he is also pleased to see Hong Kong back on its feet, stronger than ever, after getting through the pandemic, and has flourished back into its dynamic, efficient, cosmopolitan and multicultural self, an extraordinary and unique legal and financial hub that the entire world recognises.

Other conferences and seminars of the Hong Kong Legal Week include the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development organised by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and the DoJ tomorrow (November 5); "Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong", fireside chat on experience sharing of resolving sports disputes and the annual Hong Kong Mediation Lecture under the theme "Mediation and Sustainable Development along the Belt and Road" on Wednesday (November 6); and "Joint Contribution to the Construction of Rule of Law in the GBA" on Thursday (November 7). The Legal Week will end this Friday (November 8) with "Rule of Law: The Best Business Environment", at which the Academy will be officially launched.

In addition, an exhibition featuring the milestones and achievements in the construction of the rule of law by the country in the modern era, as well as the role played by Hong Kong in contributing to the developments, has been set up at the venue this year.

For more details on the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, please visit the dedicated website www.legalweek.hk. The event is broadcast live on the dedicated website and at webcast.info.gov.hk.

Hong Kong Cinema Shines at London East Asia Film Festival with Premieres and Awards

2024-11-04 23:59 Last Updated At：11-05 00:48

London ETO celebrates Hong Kong's cinematic brilliance at London East Asia Film Festival 2024

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO), the Film Development Fund, and the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region supported the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) from October 23 to November 3 (London time), which showcased six selected Hong Kong films and hosted three live question and answer sessions with creative talent from Hong Kong. A reception was held following the closing gala screening, bringing together creative talent from Hong Kong and over 50 guests from the local cultural and business sectors.

The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, addressed the audience at the closing gala ceremony. "The London ETO is proud to partner with LEAFF for the ninth time to shine a spotlight on Hong Kong cinema. Known as the 'Hollywood of the East', Hong Kong boasts a vibrant community of creative and ambitious talent which shares the vision of establishing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, as supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan," he said.

Four creative talents from Hong Kong graced the festivities, with actor Simon Yam and actress Sandra Ng receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary Award respectively. Director Vincent Chow joined Mr Yam for a Q&A session on November 3, while Ms Ng participated in her own Q&A session on November 2. Director and screenwriter Felix Chong also talked about directing and screenwriting in East Asia during a Q&A session on October 24. Further highlighting Hong Kong's cinematic achievements, "Love Lies" was awarded the Best Film in Competition.

The 11-day festival featured the world premiere of "Little Red Sweet", along with the United Kingdom premieres of "Out of the Shadow", "High Forces" and "Love Lies", as well as "Stuntman" and "Shanghai Blues".

Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 Launched, Showcasing International Legal Expertise and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region.

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