Hong Kong’s legal hub ambitions to get further boost from Beijing as city plays vital role in Belt and Road Initiative: senior diplomat

Assistant minister of foreign affairs Hua Chunying highlights city’s legal hub status at Asia-Pacific Week 2023 of the Hague Conference on Private International Law

Hong Kong leader John Lee hails city’s rule of law and robust legal framework under unique policy of ‘one country, two systems’

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Hong Kong has been designated as a legal hub under national schemes. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 9:36am, 13 Sep 2023Updated: 6:23pm, 13 Sep 2023

Hong Kong will earn the title of “centre of law” under further backing from the central government, senior Beijing diplomat Hua Chunying has said while underscoring the importance of the city’s role in legal cooperation for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Hua, assistant minister of foreign affairs, on Monday pointed to the trade initiative to link economies into a China-centred trading network in her opening speech at the four-day Asia-Pacific Week 2023 of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) in Hong Kong.

This year also marked the 130th anniversary of the HCCH.

Hua highlighted the coming Belt and Road Forum in Beijing next month, stressing a shared vision between the initiative and HCCH to boost international legal cooperation.

Assistant minister of foreign affairs Hua Chunying has urged the city’s legal sector to build up Hong Kong’s reputation in the rule of law. Photo: Reuters

She urged HCCH to continue to improve international rules to practise multilateralism and promote inclusiveness and mutual learning in civil and commercial laws to convey a spirit of fairness and justice.

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