Editorial | Hong Kong must build on foundations laid at successful Legal Week
The event provides a valuable platform for international engagement as the city tries to make its mark on the global legal landscape
A wide range of issues was discussed, including developments in dispute resolution, private international law and the 35th anniversary of the Basic Law. There was a focus on current trends and technological advances, from the regulation of digital assets to the application of artificial intelligence. Hong Kong must be at the forefront of these developments, helping to standardise rules across borders and ensuring that the benefits of new technology are maximised and risks limited. With its traditions, the law can often lag behind the rapid march of technological innovation.
The conference also featured the first Greater Bay Area Lawyers’ Forum, underlining the need for closer legal links between Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong while respecting each region’s different system. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, speaking at the opening, highlighted Hong Kong’s strong legal foundations and international connectivity, prime assets in the city’s drive to facilitate legal and economic collaboration. Hong Kong’s unique legal system, grounded in common law, provides a familiar and trusted environment for businesses and investors. The local legal profession, meanwhile, offers a variety of first-class services.
To play a central role, the city must be proactive and continue to innovate. The launch of the world’s first centre for mediation between governments in October was a landmark. This is Beijing’s initiative, but the decision to locate it in Hong Kong is significant.
The city is the most popular seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific and the second in the world after London. Hong Kong’s academy for training international legal talent, meanwhile, has just celebrated its first anniversary. There are exciting opportunities for growth, with a strong demand for legal services in the Greater Bay Area and among countries involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Legal Week provided a valuable platform for international engagement and exchange. The foundations laid must be built on if Hong Kong is to make its mark on global legal developments.