The second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), is being held from today to January 22.

Speaking at the course’s opening ceremony today, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam stressed that it is key to implementing the national policy of strengthening Mainland judges’ ability to handle foreign-related cases, in line with anticipated priorities in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The Department of Justice highlighted that this year’s course builds on last year’s inaugural course and focuses on company law.

The course has attracted the participation of 24 senior judges from 22 courts on the Mainland – including the SPC and courts in 12 provinces and three directly-administered municipalities.

The department said the course will feature an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s robust company law framework through lectures, dialogue sessions and interactive exercises on topics such as company structures, guarantees and liquidations.

Speakers include leading Hong Kong legal scholars, experts and judges, who will share practical insights into the city’s common law system and company law.

With the Ceremonial Opening of the 2026 Legal Year taking place this month, the department said course participants will attend this important annual legal event, and will also visit courts and international legal institutions in Hong Kong to learn more about the city’s development as a legal hub and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Secretary for Justice outlined that the last year’s course was the academy’s inaugural event following its launch in 2024, and that positive results had been recorded. He thanked the SPC for its continued support for and trust in the academy.

The department said the academy will continue to organise capacity-building programmes aimed at leveraging the unique advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong’s common law system.

By doing so, it will promote judicial and legal exchanges and mutual learning between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and further contribute to the country’s efforts to develop foreign-related rule of law, the department added.