Secretary for Justice Paul Lam started his two-day visit to Macau this afternoon by meeting senior officials ahead of attending the 12th Mainland, Hong Kong & Macau legal seminar tomorrow.

He first met Macau Secretary for Administration & Justice Cheong Weng Chon to deepen collaboration between Hong Kong and Macau, with a view to facilitating the interface of legal systems and rules as well as the nurturing of legal talent in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

At the meeting, Mr Lam thanked the Macau Office of the Secretary for Administration & Justice for its continuous support to the Department of Justice, including co-organising a forum during Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 to jointly promote legal and dispute resolution services in the Greater Bay Area. He also introduced the department’s preparation work for establishing the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, noting that he looked forward to Macau’s support to jointly contribute to the development of the country’s capacity in the rule of law in foreign affairs.

The justice chief then called on the Macau Public Prosecutions Office to meet Prosecutor General Ip Son Sang. They exchanged views on the application of technology in criminal cases to facilitate investigations and prosecution work, and explored how Hong Kong and Macau could better the co-operation on legal assistance.

Tomorrow morning, Mr Lam will speak at the 12th Mainland, Hong Kong & Macau legal seminar opening ceremony. First held in 2009, the seminar is an important platform for the legal sectors of the three places to exchange views on topics of mutual interest.

He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. During his absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary.