Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Secretary-General Prof Ignacio Tirado today signed a memorandum to establish the UNIDROIT Liaison Office for the Asia-Pacific Region in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

The agreement, signed during a virtual ceremony, marks the first time in UNIDROIT’s 100-year history that the organisation has established a regional presence outside its headquarters in Rome.

Mr Lam noted that Hong Kong’s robust common law system and world-class legal infrastructure make the city an ideal location for UNIDROIT’s first regional presence. He added that signing the memorandum is a key step in establishing the liaison office, with preparatory work now proceeding at full speed.

The liaison office is expected to open in November, and the Department of Justice will co-organise the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit and the Centenary Regional Event with UNIDROIT during Hong Kong Legal Week 2026. Mr Lam said these events will further strengthen the collaborative relationship between the department and the international organisation.