Hong Kong has a key role in international legal services
Rimsky Yuen says Hong Kong's development as a hub for international legal services helps promote the rule of law while also keeping the city open to the rest of the world
Today, December 13, 2012, is an important date in Hong Kong's development as an international legal services centre. It is the date set for the opening ceremony of the Asia Pacific Regional Office of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. The fact that the office has been established in Hong Kong represents a vote of confidence in our legal system and the implementation of "one country, two systems". It also reinforces Hong Kong's status as a regional hub for international legal services.
For years, it has been government policy to build and maintain Hong Kong as an international legal services centre. The setting up of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in the mid-1980s was an early effort in this direction. In 2008, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chambers of Commerce established its secretariat in Hong Kong - the first and thus far the only secretariat outside its headquarters in Paris. And, this September, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission established its first arbitration centre outside the mainland.
The government's recent decision to allocate part of the space in the west wing of the former central government offices to house law-related non-government institutions also helps fortify this policy.
The policy plays an important role in promoting the rule of law, and also in maintaining Hong Kong as an international city.
The importance of the rule of law cannot and should not be doubted. I have on previous occasions reiterated the determination of this administration to steadfastly maintain the rule of law. Although this is not the occasion to discuss in detail the concept of the rule of law, it is necessary to stress that the concept has both domestic and international dimensions.
It is, of course, important to ensure that all Hong Kong people can enjoy their rights and freedom enshrined under the Basic Law, the Bill of Rights and other relevant legislation. It is no less important to ensure that the legal system of Hong Kong and our legal infrastructure can properly interact with those of other jurisdictions and function efficiently on an international level, so that activities with international elements can be undertaken and regulated (and, when necessary, enforcement action taken) according to a set of common standards consistent with the fundamental concept of the rule of law.
Apart from being an international and cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong is well recognised as an international centre for financial, shipping, logistics and other commercial activities. Among others, the availability of a wide range of top quality legal services on both a domestic and international level has made a significant contribution to this state of affairs.