The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, continued his European visit in Rome, Italy, on July 10 (Rome time) to promote and strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and to promote Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems" to the local legal and business sectors.

     Mr Lam first visited UNIDROIT and had lunch with the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado. Mr Lam thanked UNIDROIT for its support of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the secondment of local legal professionals to UNIDROIT. They also discussed opportunities for UNIDROIT to participate in the Academy's capacity-building programme and the relevant work of organising the 2026 Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit in Hong Kong. During his visit to UNIDROIT, Mr Lam also officiated at the opening ceremony of the Asian Transnational Law Centre.

     Mr Lam then attended a seminar co-organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and UNIDROIT entitled "Hong Kong as a Gateway to the Asia Pacific" and delivered a keynote speech. Mr Lam said that, as Hong Kong is a legal hub, the DoJ has been strengthening co-operation with renowned international legal and dispute resolution organisations and securing their presence in Hong Kong. Recently, in addition to the International Organization for Mediation that will be headquartered in Hong Kong, the DoJ, with the support of the Central Government, has also been exploring with the UNIDROIT Secretariat the proposal to set up a liaison office in Hong Kong. The DoJ thanked the UNIDROIT Governing Council for their support of the proposal to be considered by the UNIDROIT General Assembly. The proposal, if passed by the General Assembly, will help promote the work of UNIDROIT in the Asia-Pacific region and further enhance Hong Kong’s position as a regional centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, Mr Lam added.
 
     In the evening, Mr Lam had dinner with the former Minister of Justice of Italy and recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, Professor Oliviero Diliberto, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
 
     Mr Lam attended a networking lunch and meeting hosted by the Italy China Council Foundation and supported by the Italian confederation of small and medium private industries today (July 11, Rome time) and elaborated to local legal and business sectors Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. He also learned more about the developments in local enterprises and legal services and explained to them how Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services are conducive to international investment and trade.
 
     In the evening, Mr Lam will call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Italy, Mr Jia Guide, to brief him on the exchanges and co-operation between the DoJ and UNIDROIT, and the latest work progress on dispute resolution services.

     Mr Lam will leave Rome tomorrow (July 12, Rome time) and arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of July 13.

Ends/Friday, July 11, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:58

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