The Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International Symposium was held today in a hybrid format, bringing together officials, legal experts and academics from all over the world to examine the understanding and practice of the rule of law under various jurisdictions.

Co-organised by the Department of Justice, the Asian Peace & Reconciliation Council and the Asian Academy of International Law, the symposium was one of the celebratory events for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Welcoming remarks made by Chief Executive Carrie Lam and an opening speech by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Commissioner Liu Guangyuan launched the event.

Judge of the International Court of Justice Xue Hanqin as well as Chairman of the Asian Peace & Reconciliation Council and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Prof Surakiart Sathirathai also delivered keynote speeches.

At the panel sessions, speakers from varied fields shared their experience and insights on three seminal issues, ie rule of law under international law, fundamental elements of the rule of law, and practice of the rule of law in different cultural contexts, thereby facilitating mutual exchanges on the understanding and practice of the rule of law among different jurisdictions.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng in her closing remarks said that the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2020 was inspired by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular its Goal 16 which advocates “promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensuring equal access of justice for all”.

She noted that as an international city with a strong rule of law tradition, Hong Kong is most willing to contribute to Goal 16.

Ms Cheng also officiated at the launch of the Vision 2030 Task Force Report at the symposium.

The report details the fruits of the Department of Justice's and the task force's intensive work since the launch of Vision 2030 in devising a methodology for objectively reviewing the development and practice of the rule of law as well as on promoting the proper understanding and recognition of the rule of law, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of inclusive and fair societies at both the local and international levels.

Click here for the report.