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The Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung, SC, is in Guangzhou today (November 4) to meet with senior officials of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou. He also visited the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, the Legislative Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, and the provincial Justice Department and the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission.
At the meetings, issues of mutual interest, including professional co-operation, the development of arbitration services and mutual assistance on legal matters were discussed. Mr Wong said that the demand for legal services for individuals and enterprises has been increasing because of the close trading and commercial ties between Hong Kong and Guangdong. This had brought great opportunities for the development of the legal services sectors in both places. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had been in continuous close liaison with its counterparts in Guangdong, to facilitate mutual legal assistance and enhance interflow and co-operation between legal professionals in both places, he said.
Mr Wong pointed out that the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, signed in April this year, had further strengthened the co-operation mechanism between the two places.
He also elaborated on DOJ's efforts in promoting Hong Kong's arbitration services in recent years, and was briefed by the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission in respect of its development strategies.
Mr Wong believed that co-operation with the Mainland arbitration sector would enhance the services in both places. It would also be beneficial to both sides in providing quality arbitration services for the international community.
Following a meeting with representatives of Hong Kong law firms in Guangdong to obtain first-hand information on their operations in the province, Mr Wong will also meet the Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Ronggen, at a dinner reception, before returning to Hong Kong this evening.
Ends/Thursday, November 4, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
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