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The Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung, SC, today (November 24) began his three-day visit to Australia to strengthen ties and promote Hong Kong as an international legal services and dispute resolution centre.
He will meet senior legal and judicial figures, as well as representatives of the legal profession, business sector and academia, to brief them on the rule of law situation in Hong Kong. He will also update them on the latest developments in Hong Kong's role as a regional centre for international arbitration.
In Melbourne today, Mr Wong had meetings with the Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser, the Deputy Premier and Attorney General of Victoria, Mr Rob Hulls, and Chief Justice Marilyn Louise Warren of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Mr Wong also attended a roundtable luncheon to exchange views on legal issues with academics and legal practitioners.
Before leaving for Canberra this evening, he will visit the Law Institute of Victoria and call on Mr Charles Curwen, Official Secretary and Chief Administrator of Victoria's Government House.
In Canberra tomorrow (November 25), Mr Wong will hold meetings with the International Legal Services Advisory Council, the Law Council of Australia and representatives from the state member associations.
He will officiate at the launching ceremony of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association Canberra Region Branch and call on Chief Justice Robert Shenton French of the High Court of Australia.
Mr Wong will also meet Attorney General of Australia Mr Robert McClelland, before leaving for Sydney.
On Wednesday (November 26) in Sydney, Mr Wong will meet Attorney General of New South Wales Mr John Hatzistergos. This will be followed by a meeting with Chief Justice James Spigelman of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Mr Wong will meet the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and deliver a keynote address at a function organised by the Sydney Law School and Mallesons Stephen Jaques before concluding his visit.
Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on Thursday (November 27).
Ends/Monday, November 24, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:20
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