Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi at Government House.

Mr Wang is visiting Hong Kong to attend the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation.

Mr Lee and Mr Wang had a working lunch together and discussed the work of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's international exchanges and co-operation.

Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the central government for its strong support in establishing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong.

Emphasising that the IOMed is a high-level international organisation, Mr Lee said the central government had demonstrated its staunch support of the Hong Kong SAR in its development as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

The process involved setting up an IOMed preparatory office in Hong Kong, completing negotiations, facilitating a consensus on situating the headquarters in the city, and hosting the convention's signing ceremony today.

Mr Lee said Mr Wang’s presence to witness the historic moment of the signing is a great encouragement to him and the Hong Kong SAR Government, which he added is well-equipped to promote the IOMed.

The Chief Executive stressed that basing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong will bring a host of significant benefits to the city.

Firstly, the IOMed will elevate Hong Kong’s international status and role in international mediation. In turn, the city will be able to make important contributions to the IOMed's work given its status as the only common law jurisdiction in China under the “one country, two systems" principle.

The city also boasts an established legal system, a solid foundation of the rule of law, diverse legal and dispute resolution services, and a wide pool of legal professionals with a global perspective.

Secondly, the IOMed will generate substantial economic benefits. Its service demand will create a large number of job opportunities for mediators, translators, researchers and more.

The IOMed will also attract international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong, drawing high-quality conferences and exhibitions to the city and further boosting other sectors such as hospitality, logistics and transportation.

With a status on a par with the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the IOMed will become a pivotal institution for resolving international disputes.

This will facilitate deeper economic co-operation between Hong Kong and overseas economies, including regions participating in the Belt & Road Initiative, thereby creating more business opportunities, Mr Lee added.

Thirdly, the IOMed will further enhance Hong Kong’s ecosystem relating to the rule of law, promote the popularity of mediation and encourage the community to resolve issues through dialogue.

Mr Lee highlighted that the IOMed will help Hong Kong to attract more legal and dispute resolution professionals from around the globe, contributing to the development of the legal framework for dispute resolution, and further consolidating the city’s status as an international legal hub.

He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Office of the MFA Commissioner in the Hong Kong SAR, and Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas for their continued support in deepening the Hong Kong SAR Government’s international exchanges and co-operation.

Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to enhance Hong Kong people’s understanding of consular work and protection policies, and raise their awareness of security and protection.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.