Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan continued his Europe trip on March 7 by calling on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in Vienna, Austria.

The visit aimed to strengthen co-operation with UNCITRAL, in particular the promotion of online dispute resolution under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the nurturing of Hong Kong talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs, with a view to contributing to China’s relevant work and consolidating Hong Kong’s status as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Justice (DoJ) explained.

During the meeting, Mr Cheung and UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret discussed further collaboration between the two sides. Consequently, it was agreed that the 5th Asia Pacific Judicial Summit will be held in Hong Kong on November 6 and 7.

As a highlight of this year’s Hong Kong Legal Week, the summit will enable judges and legal practitioners from different places to gather and exchange views on topics such as dispute resolution on investment, the department added.

Mr Cheung also thanked UNCITRAL for its support in its secondment programme with the DoJ, which enables the department’s officers to take part in UNCITRAL’s work and enhance their knowledge of international legal matters, strengthening Hong Kong’s capacity in foreign-related legal affairs.

Learning that the seconded officers from Hong Kong with common law expertise have played a positive role in UNCITRAL’s work, he highlighted that this is a vivid example of Hong Kong’s unique strengths under “one country, two systems”.

Separately, Mr Cheung called on Li Song, who is Permanent Representative & Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Vienna and Other International Organizations in Vienna; and Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Austria Qi Mei. He updated them on the latest legal developments in Hong Kong, and took the opportunity to learn about the recent situation in various aspects of the United Nations and Austria.

After a day’s stay in Vienna, Mr Cheung departed for Geneva, Switzerland.