Lam reminds professionals of HK’s many advantages CE stresses city thrives by making the most of ‘one country, two systems’

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Friday called on the city’s professionals to continue capitalizing on the unique advantages given by the “one country, two systems” principle, as Hong Kong is expected to extend cooperation with the mainland in the legal sector.

Lam was speaking to legal professionals from throughout the world on the first day of the two-day 2017 Colloquium on International Law, themed “Common Future in Asia”. She stressed that Hong Kong has thrived as a vibrant international metropolitan center, by making the most of its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”.

The SAR’s success can also be attributed to upholding the rule of law, stressed Lam. Hong Kong has long enjoyed a very good reputation internationally over the rule of law, and in legal and dispute settlement services, Lam noted.

The city has attracted and will continue to attract prominent international organizations and arbitration groups to set up their offices here. Renowned international arbitration bodies, such as the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, have established Hong Kong branches, or chosen to conduct arbitral hearings in Hong Kong, explained Lam.

At the sidelines of the collo- quium, the city’s Asian Academy of International Law signed a memorandum of understanding with the China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law. This is a step forward in consolidating the city’s well-established legal services in the Belt and Road Initiative under “one country, two systems”.

Xu Hong, director-general of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the program would provide a platform for the city’s legal professionals to further contribute in promoting international law.

Xu said more similar cooperation moves would come naturally in future, adding that the first training session of this program would start in September.

Former chief executive and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa, also attending the forum, articulated a way forward for the city’s professionals — encouraging them to do well in the international arena.

At the event, former director-general of the World Health Organization Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun said she was a good example of how “one country, two systems” has benefited the city’s professionals, letting them step on to the international stage.

Born and trained in Hong Kong, Chan was nominated by China to be the chief of the world’s top health body in 2006.