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The Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung, SC, began his two-day visit to Beijing today (April 15).
"One of the key purposes of our visit is to hold discussions with the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) to enhance co-operation of the arbitration trade in Mainland China and Hong Kong. This is conducive to strengthening Hong Kong's role as a leading centre for regional and international dispute resolution," Mr Wong said.
At today's meeting with CIETAC representatives, Mr Wong will also discuss with them technical issues relating to the provision of arbitration services in Hong Kong.
CIETAC handles both domestic and international arbitration cases. As one of the busiest arbitration bodies in the world, it dealt with 1,118 disputes in 2007. Some of its 1,000-strong arbitrators are Hong Kong residents.
During his stay in Beijing, Mr Wong will also call on the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Legislative Affairs Office as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
While some of the meetings are courtesy calls, others will involve exchanges in views on a range of substantive legal matters, including the development of arbitration services on the Mainland and Hong Kong, further enhancement of mutual legal assistance and matters relating to legal services under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).
Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on Friday morning (April 17).
Ends/Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:01
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