The Hong Kong Legal Week 2025, themed “Linking Laws, Bridging Worlds,” commenced today, December 1. The event brings together representatives from international organizations, the legal industry, distinguished experts, government officials, and academics, both in person and online, to engage in discussions on topics including the integration of lawtech and AI, international law development, and alternative dispute resolution. Prior to the opening, attendees observed a moment of silence for the victims of the recent Tai Po fire.
The opening event featured the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit – Judicial Conference, organized by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. Approximately 50 judges from over 25 jurisdictions participated in the conference, with additional judges attending virtually. The biennial summit focuses on “The Future is Now: Legally Enabling Digitalization of International Trade,” comprising a Judicial Conference and a Judicial Roundtable scheduled for December 2. The Judicial Conference specifically addressed “Building Towards End-to-End Trade Digitalization,” covering issues such as trade digitalization, digital transformations in transport, and emerging trends in dispute resolution in the digital economy.
In his welcoming remarks, Secretary for Justice Mr. Paul Lam, SC, emphasized that this year’s theme highlights Hong Kong’s role as a connector among various economies and legal systems through collaboration and understanding. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong provides a strong legal foundation and international connectivity, positioning itself as a “super connector” and a hub for capacity building in legal and economic collaboration. The Judicial Conference served as a platform for sharing experiences and ideas on fostering digitalization.
The Secretary of UNCITRAL, Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, and Mr. Tian Ya, Deputy Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, also delivered opening remarks at the summit. The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr. Andrew Cheung, provided a keynote speech on the evolving judicial landscape in the context of trade digitalization, while Professor Teresa Cheng, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, delivered special remarks.
Deputy Secretary for Justice Dr. Cheung Kwok-kwan, in his closing remarks, noted that the insights shared during the conference underscore a collective commitment to facilitating and harmonizing the seamless digitalization of trade transactions. He highlighted the importance of continued engagement among judiciary members, government officials, legal specialists, and practitioners, setting the stage for ongoing professional interaction and constructive dialogue.
This year’s summit coincides with the first anniversary of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, which aims to promote international legal exchange and capacity building. To mark the occasion, the Department of Justice released an anniversary booklet reviewing the Academy’s achievements over the past year. The Academy plans to leverage Hong Kong’s bilingual common law system and international status to serve as a platform for legal professionals in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and other jurisdictions, particularly those along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Upcoming events during Hong Kong Legal Week include the Third Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development, co-organized by the Department of Justice and the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, featuring discussions on “Practicing Multilateralism and Upholding the International Rule of Law” and “The Promotion and Development of International Law through Emerging Technologies.” On December 3, a Symposium of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on Private International Law will be held, along with the annual forum “Capital of Mediation” and the “Hong Kong Mediation Lecture 2025.” The Basic Law 35th Anniversary Legal Summit is scheduled for December 4, and the week will conclude with the First Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum and a lawtech conference titled “The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century” on December 5.
For further details on Hong Kong Legal Week 2025, visit the dedicated website at www.legalweek.hk. The event is being live-broadcasted on both the official site and at webcast.info.gov.hk.
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