Chief Justice Cheung Leads Hong Kong Delegation to 2025 Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium in Canberra

2025-03-26 17:30 Last Updated At：17:38

CJ concludes visit to Australia

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, led a high-level delegation this Monday (March 24) to attend the 2025 Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium in Canberra, Australia, and concluded his visit today (March 26).

The Colloquium is a biennial event which brings together the chief justices and senior judges of the final appellate courts of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Hong Kong delegation included Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro and Mr Justice Johnson Lam, Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal.

During the three-day programme in Canberra, Chief Justice Cheung met with delegations from the participating jurisdictions to strengthen professional exchanges and judicial connections with them, as well as to discuss various legal and judicial issues of common interest. At the Colloquium, Mr Justice Ribeiro gave a presentation entitled "Open Justice, Independent Adjudication and Judicial Use of Generative AI", while Mr Justice Lam spoke on the topic "Relevance or Irrelevance of Party Autonomy in Insolvency Proceedings".

Taking the opportunity of attending the Colloquium, Chief Justice Cheung visited the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Sydney before the event, and exchanged views on various judicial issues with the Acting Chief Justice. The delegation also met with several current and former Non-Permanent Judges of the Court of Final Appeal, providing them with updates on the latest developments in the rule of law and administration of justice in Hong Kong.

HKSAR Sends Rescue Team and $30 Million in Aid to Earthquake-Hit Myanmar

2025-03-29 23:58 Last Updated At：03-30 00:08

HKSAR Government fully supports disaster relief for the earthquake in Myanmar

On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, resulting in serious casualties and infrastructure damage. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government expresses its deep sympathy to the people affected by the disaster and families of the deceased. The HKSAR Government sent a 51-strong search and rescue team to the quake-stricken areas in Myanmar this afternoon (March 29) to assist in the search and rescue work. In addition, the HKSAR Government has immediately reserved $30 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for emergency relief support.

The HKSAR Government is maintaining close contact with various rescue organisations regarding the detailed relief programmes with a view to providing appropriate relief assistance to the people affected and help them overcome difficulties and resume a normal life as soon as possible. The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee will promptly process related funding applications from organisations.

In addition, the HKSAR Government has liaised with the Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, and will actively coordinate with various government bureaux/departments to collect the necessary relief supplies according to local needs, striving to deliver them to those in need as soon as possible to meet the current urgency.