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 at the "Rule of Law: The Best Business Environment" under Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 today (November 8):
Reporter: How effective is incorporating a new mediation clause into government contracts? What additional resources are needed and how much time or money does it actually save? And what sort of government contracts will it benefit the most?
Secretary for Justice: It would be a general policy that in the future, all government contracts will contain a mediation clause. The fact is that in case any dispute arises, the Government will try to resolve those disputes by mediation first, and only if mediation fails may we resort to litigation, arbitration or other means of dispute resolution. I am very confident that if people are willing to use more mediation to resolve disputes, that will certainly save time and cost, because I am speaking from experience.
The importance of this policy is to show to people that the Government is willing to take the lead in the hope that we can cultivate the culture in society as a whole. So whenever people encounter disputes, the first thing that they would consider is not to go to court, but instead to try to resolve disputes by mediation, by a means which in our belief is more economical, more time-saving, and resulting in a more harmonious result. So I think that is my answer to your question.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Sam Hou-fai, at Government House last month to exchange views on further promoting Hong Kong's co-operation with Macao and the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). To implement and enhance co-operation between the two places, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) cohosted an investment promotion seminar with the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Macao yesterday (March 6), receiving about 90 local representatives from various sectors, including manufacturing, branding, retail, food and beverage (F&B), import and export trading, as well as chambers and associations. The seminar aimed to update Macao enterprises on Hong Kong's latest business environment and new opportunities, especially in retail, F&B and trade sectors, encouraging them to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages to expand overseas.
Entitled Macao Enterprises Expansion Series - Hong Kong's New Business Opportunities Seminar (Retail, F&B and Trade), the seminar marked the first collaboration between the two promotion agencies in 2025, aiming to enhance learning from each other and strengthen co-operation between the two cities, as well as to explore new business opportunities in the GBA.
"Hong Kong and Macao share a strong bond as dynamic and complementary economies within the GBA," said Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau. "Macao goods have long been a favourite among Hong Kong consumers, showcasing the strong cultural and economic ties between the two vibrant cities. By expanding into Hong Kong, Macao enterprises can extend their reach not only to the local market, but also promote their products to the international and Mainland visitors passing through Hong Kong. Moreover, Hong Kong has many trade shows that attract international buyers. The city is an ideal platform for Macao enterprises to connect to the world and expand globally," he explained.
At the seminar, the President of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Vincent U, said, "Hong Kong and Macao have maintained close business co-operation and commercial ties for many years, including holding joint investment promotion activities to promote opportunities in the GBA. Building on this long-standing collaboration, we aim to further strengthen two-way investment co-operation and explore more opportunities for Hong Kong-Macao collaborations and the development of the GBA market."
The Head of Consumer Products of InvestHK, Ms Angelica Leung, and the Head of Tourism and Hospitality of InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, highlighted the latest industry trends and shared case studies respectively with Macao enterprises during the seminar, helping them to gain a better understanding of Hong Kong's market and advantages. They also provided information on the latest government policies, including details on industry events and available funding support to help businesses expand, enhance competitiveness through digital transformation and explore international markets. Macao enterprises that have a presence in Hong Kong also shared their practical insights at the event, encouraging local enterprises to raise brand awareness and "go global" via Hong Kong.
InvestHK will continue to collaborate with related Macao organisations to jointly promote business opportunities in Hong Kong, assisting local enterprises to expand overseas via the city.
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Macao cohost investment promotion seminar to encourage Macao enterprises to expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
