The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, led a cross-professional delegation comprising members of Hong Kong's legal, arbitration and mediation sectors, as well as the financial and business sectors, to visit Urumqi, Xinjiang. The delegation attended a seminar on advantages of Hong Kong's common law system and met with local leaders to promote Hong Kong's legal and other professional services, with a view to strengthening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Xinjiang and jointly contributing to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
      
     Mr Lam yesterday afternoon (September 12) attended a seminar on the role of Hong Kong's common law system in contributing to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and a networking dinner organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Xinjiang Lawyers Association, participants included Xinjiang's business and legal representatives. At the seminar, legal representatives from the delegation addressed key legal issues in cross-border business operations, and explained how Hong Kong's legal services can help safeguard cross-border investment and trade, while representatives from the financial sector highlighted Hong Kong's advantages as a financing platform for enterprises. Other delegates also shared relevant case studies and practical experiences. Mr Lam said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, and possesses unique strengths of internationalisation, high standards, and strong credibility in its common law system. As an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, Hong Kong's professional service teams are capable and willing to leverage their expertise to contribute to Xinjiang's high-quality development.
      
     During the seminar, the DoJ and the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region signed a framework agreement for legal service co-operation. Under the agreement, the department of justice of the two places will foster exchanges and business co-operation between Xinjiang and Hong Kong's legal sector. Additionally, the Hong Kong Bar Association signed a memorandum of co-operation with the Xinjiang Lawyers Association to strengthen the collaboration between Xinjiang lawyers and Hong Kong barristers, promoting further professional exchanges and co-operation between the legal professions of Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
      
     On the same day morning, Mr Lam met with the Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee, Mr Chen Xiaojiang, to learn about the latest development in Xinjiang, and briefed him the unique advantages of Hong Kong's common law system. Noting that Hong Kong brings together top international legal talent and provides high-level professional legal services, combined with various measures in deepening international exchanges and co-operation, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong can contribute to Xinjiang's opening up.
      
     Mr Lam also met with the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. During the meeting, he had in-depth exchanges with Vice Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Mr Pan Xi and the Party Secretary of Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Mr Liu Jiansheng, discussing ways to facilitate exchanges and co-operation between the legal sectors in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, support arbitration institutions in the two places to establish a platform for strengthening collaboration in international commercial arbitration and mediation, and to promote exchanges and training of foreign-related legal talent between the two places.
      
     After attending a luncheon with Deputy Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee, Mr Chen Mingguo, at noon, Mr Lam and the delegation visited the Silk Road Economic Belt Legal Service District and the Urumqi Court of International Arbitration to learn about their operations. The Silk Road Economic Belt Legal Service District provides high-quality legal services for local Belt and Road economic and trade co-operation. It aims to actively bring in more foreign-related legal service institutions with international influence to serve the development of core zones in the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Silk Road Economic Belt.
      
     Mr Lam today (September 13) visited a Hong Kong-invested enterprise and the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi. He also met with Vice Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction, Mr Xue Bin, to learn about the local needs for cross-border professional services and explore co-operation opportunities between the two places.
      
     Mr Lam will conclude his visit in Xinjiang and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (September 14).

Ends/Saturday, September 13, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:50

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