Hong Kong Legal Week 2023, themed “Onward & Forward: Connecting the World”, began today.

An annual flagship event for the legal sector organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ), Legal Week 2023 features various conferences and forums over a five-day period and will be attended by more than 600 registrants each day, with more than 50 jurisdictions represented throughout the week.

Prominent legal and dispute resolution experts and academics from around the world are scheduled to discuss important topics such as international legal co-operation, mediation and arbitration, as well as opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area and the Belt & Road Initiative.

Legal Week 2023 began this morning with the 5th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit - Judicial Conference, in which guest speakers from various places shared their insights on international trade law topics.

In his welcome remarks, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam stressed that Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world under “one country, two systems”.

He added that Hong Kong, having direct access to the Mainland’s vast market, in addition to boasting strong international connectivity, is determined to serve as a super connector and a bridge linking the Mainland with the rest of the world.

Moreover, he told attendees the DoJ will set up a dedicated office and an expert group within 2024 to take forward the establishment of the International Legal Talents Training Academy, following its announcement in the 2023 Policy Address.

Mr Lam explained that the academy would leverage Hong Kong’s bilingual common law system and international status to promote exchanges among legal professionals, judges and government officials in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as around the world. He added that it will provide training for Mainland talent to carry out foreign-related legal activities, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law, and the Mainland’s legal system.

Mr Lam, Chief Executive John Lee and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Liu Guangyuan will speak at “Rule of Law for the Future”, an event on Friday that will mark the finale of Legal Week 2023. In addition, Mr Lam will attend a dialogue session to answer questions and clarify misunderstandings about the National Security Law.

For the first time at Hong Kong Legal Week, exhibition booths dedicated to the promotion of legal services in Hong Kong, Macau and the nine Mainland cities in the bay area will be set up outside the main event venue. Representatives from these cities will introduce developments and opportunities relating to the sector in the bay area and respond to enquiries from visitors.

The public can visit the event’s dedicated website for details and to access webcast sessions.