HK Legal Week opens as UNIDROIT sets up first external office

The five-day Hong Kong Legal Week commences, coinciding with the inauguration of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Asia-Pacific Liaison Officein Hong Kong.

The inauguration of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law and the ceremony of its Asia-Pacific Liaison Office took place on first day of Hong Kong Legal Week at the Hong Kong Convention Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Chief Executive John Lee, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR Cui Jianchun made appearances at the event.

In his speech, Lee noted the establishment of UNIDROIT's Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in Hong Kong marks the organisation's first office outside its Rome headquarters.

He believes it would enhance the participation of countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific in legal cooperation.

The Asia-Pacific accounts for more than 40% of global GDP and encompasses vital trade corridors.

Such legal cooperation is essential in a city that thrives on openness, connectivity and rules based on international order.

We strive to attract global organisations and talent, enable international legal cooperation and position Hong Kong as a super connector and super value adder of the East and West.

The Liaison Office will have to bring expertises closer to where it is needed and will give the region a stronger and closer connection to UNIDROIT's work, to further assist in strengthening UNIDROIT's engagement with the government member states and non-member states, the legal profession, academia and the business community to ensure the Asia Pacific perspective, experience, needs and expectations will be properly and sufficiently reflected in UNIDROIT's work programmes.

The office will be located in Central inside the former French Mission Building, which was previously home to the Court of Final Appeal.

UNIDROIT expects the Hong Kong office to collaborate with its Rome headquarters to promote greater multi-regional cooperation.

The initiative to open a specific liaison office here in Hong Kong, with its strategic position for the Asia Pacific region, is precisely to give a sort of a stronger impulse to the development of our work basis of the grounding and vision.

This year's Legal Week spans five days under the theme of "Collaborate & Innovation: Legal Synergy for a Shared Future."

The closing event on Friday will be the second Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum, aimed at advancing the "soft connectivity" of legal and dispute resolution practices across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.