Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law held in Hong Kong today
The Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law was held in hybrid format in Hong Kong today (March 14). The Conference was jointly organised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice (DoJ), discussing how the international trade law can effectively support the achievement of climate action goals set by the international community. The Conference attracted about 600 registrations from around 70 jurisdictions in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary of UNCITRAL, Ms Anna Joubin-Bret; and the Deputy Director General, Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Tian Ya, gave opening remarks at the Conference. The Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member of the International Law Commission, Mr Ma Xinmin, also gave a keynote address, with prominent speakers from around the world joining the panel discussions. Participants from diverse backgrounds and sectors, including academics, judges, officials, legal and dispute resolution professionals, as well as other professionals and representatives from international organisations, shared their insights on a variety of topics on climate change and international trade law.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Lam thanked UNCITRAL for its strong support and fruitful collaboration with the DoJ over the years, adding that the Conference also marked the first event co-organised by the Hong Kong Legal Talents Training Academy and UNCITRAL. He said that the various local climate change initiatives have demonstrated Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre as well as a green and sustainable finance hub. He further mentioned that the wide spectrum of issues discussed in the Conference illustrated how international trade law can effectively support the achievement of climate action goals set by the international community.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said the Conference highlighted the importance of concerted efforts to address the challenges of climate change to international trade. In addition to harnessing the use of international law instruments and sharing of experience and collaboration at the international level, capacity building that enables people to be better acquainted with the issues and equipped with instruments to address them is also of critical importance. In this regard, this Conference was an exemplary capacity-building initiative.
The Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will continue to work with UNCITRAL on capacity building in different areas and is planning to co-organise the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit in Hong Kong later this year.
Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law held in Hong Kong today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law held in Hong Kong today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law held in Hong Kong today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Town Planning Board upholds "Undetermined" zoning for the proposed Global Innovation Centre site in Pok Fu Lam
The Town Planning Board (TPB) completed today (March 14) the consideration of further representations (FRs) on the proposed amendment to the draft Pok Fu Lam Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/H10/22 and decided to uphold its previous decision of rezoning the 4.72-hectare site for the proposed Global Innovation Centre (the Centre) by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in Pok Fu Lam (the Site) from "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Global Innovation Centre" to "Undetermined" ("U") in the interim.
The TPB reached the above decision at today's meeting after thoroughly considering 1 861 FRs (including 30 with further responses to departmental comments) as well as the views and responses of the Planning Department and other relevant government bureaux/departments on the FRs.
Members noted that the grounds/views in the opposing FRs were mainly related to (i) designation of "U" zoning; (ii) suitability of the Site for the Centre; and (iii) procedural issues. Members also took note that most issues were similar to those raised in the representations and were duly deliberated by the TPB at the representation stage.
As for (i) members acknowledged that in accordance with section 6B(8) of the Town Planning Ordinance (the Ordinance), the TPB had the authority to amend the OZP in other manner that, in its opinion, would meet the representations. The legal advice we obtained from government lawyers confirmed that it was legally proper for the TPB to propose rezoning the Site to "U" to partially meet the representations. As for (ii), members considered that the purpose of the "U" zoning was to provide an opportunity for HKU to review the suitability of the Site and other possible sites in and outside Pok Fu Lam, in the light of comments of stakeholders including the Ebenezer and residents in the Pok Fu Lam area. As for (iii), members did not see procedural improprieties in handling the FRs, including following the administrative arrangements set out in the TPB Guidelines No. 29C.
In light of the above, the TPB considered it prudent to maintain the "U" zoning for the Site at this stage, which would allow time for HKU to review the development proposal for the Centre, conduct relevant technical assessments including potential traffic impacts during construction and operational stages, further consult the local community and submit a revised proposal for consideration by the Government and the TPB within a reasonable time. Any proposed development of the Site would be effected through rezoning in accordance with section 5 of the Ordinance whereby the public would have the opportunity to submit representations and the TPB would conduct hearings to deal with the representations before deciding whether to accept the rezoning proposal.
During the course of discussion, members saw the need to impress upon HKU to come up with the way forward for the Centre within reasonable time. To this end, members agreed that HKU should be invited to report to the TPB on the latest developments of the project within three months, which should include its decision on site selection with detailed justifications, a development timeline for the project as well as an update on engagement with stakeholders. Members also reaffirmed the importance of constructive engagement with stakeholders and emphasised their expectation that HKU should enhance its engagement with the community.
