Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of the Legal Practical Training Course for Chinese Enterprises Going Overseas today (October 12): 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Hong Kong and to the opening ceremony of the Legal Practical Training Course for Chinese Enterprises Going Overseas, organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 

     First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, SASAC, especially the SASAC Bureau of Policies, Laws and Regulations for their staunch support, so that the Academy could build on last year's success and make the second edition of the course a reality. We are delighted to welcome over 30 general counsel and senior legal officers of our country's leading enterprises recommended by the SASAC. It is also our privilege to have around 20 distinguished legal practitioners and scholars from Hong Kong and overseas, including Central Asia and Latin America, to serve as speakers and moderators of the course. I extend my sincere thanks to each of you for taking the time to join us in Hong Kong for this important and meaningful course.

     Today, we are living in an era defined by profound geopolitical shifts, rapid technological transformations, and increasingly intricate economic and legal landscapes. For Chinese enterprises expanding their footprints globally, particularly along the dynamic regions of the Belt and Road, the journey of going global offers unprecedented opportunities, as well as complex and multifaceted challenges. Navigating foreign markets today requires far more than commercial ambition. It demands a sophisticated, robust, and proactive approach towards specific regions on risk management, regulatory compliance, and governing law, etc. A high-quality legal team which is able to provide pragmatic and strategic solutions would be essential for enterprises to safeguard their interests and achieve sustainable success overseas. 

     Hong Kong is the ideal place for such high-quality lawyers to assist enterprises to expand overseas as we have long served as a premier springboard for Mainland enterprises going global. The National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong to deepen its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, consolidating its status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, and leveraging its strength in professional services to assist enterprises in going global. Echoing the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the recently published Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and this year's Policy Address state that Hong Kong would better leverage our unique advantages as a common law jurisdiction under the principle of "one country, two systems", deepen Hong Kong's status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and strengthen regional co-operation with the Mainland. By strengthening our important role as "super connector" and "super value-adder", Hong Kong could make contributions to our country's participation in global governance and foreign-related rule of law, and provide high-quality legal professional services for Mainland enterprises going global. 

     In particular, the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform has been launched since December 2025 to serve, firstly, as a talent hub that brings together Hong Kong's cross-sector professional services as the main force to support enterprises going global; secondly, as an information hub that provides useful references to enterprises to facilitate precise connections between enterprises and Hong Kong's professional services; and thirdly, also as a capacity building hub to enhance the understanding of and to co-ordinate Hong Kong's legal and other professional services to efficiently meet the specific needs of Mainland enterprises expanding overseas. As stated in the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address 2026, we will continue to refine our existing work in supporting Mainland enterprises in going global, and actively collaborate with relevant Mainland authorities and stakeholders, including leveraging the advantages of the GBA lawyers and deepen Qianhai's position as a liaison point, to strengthen information integration and enhance the efficiency of business matching between Hong Kong's professional services and the GBA enterprises expanding overseas.   

     Speaking of connecting Hong Kong's legal and other professionals with the Mainland and overseas business sectors, I led a delegation of professionals from our legal, dispute resolution, financial and accounting sectors to Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in August this year. The visits provided valuable opportunities to showcase Hong Kong's professional services and to foster substantive co-operation with the legal and business communities in these regions, including the Mainland enterprises with a presence in Central Asia. In Xinjiang, I also had the pleasure of officiating at the opening ceremony and delivering a lecture in the Hong Kong Common Law and Dispute Resolution Practical Training Course. The training course, organised by the Academy, brought together over 100 lawyers from Xinjiang as well as lawyers from 15 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country, illustrating how the Mainland enterprises could leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages and professional services as they navigate global markets.

     Returning to this course, I am confident that the week ahead will offer valuable opportunities for intensive learning and meaningful exchange. The lectures will address a wide range of practical topics, from the emerging challenges faced by Chinese enterprises going global, including the European Union and the US (United States) export controls, measures and sanctions, to international commercial and investment arbitration. A highlight of this course will be the three dedicated panel discussions, focusing on emerging legal issues in Central Asia and Latin America, alongside the pivotal role of Hong Kong's professional services in supporting the Mainland Chinese enterprises going global. Beyond the classroom, you will visit important organisations and professional legal bodies, including the International Organization for Mediation.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you will gain a more thorough understanding of Hong Kong, and in particular what Hong Kong can offer to assist your enterprise to go global. To conclude, I wish this course a resounding success, and each of you a rewarding, productive, and enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much.

Ends/Monday, October 12, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:00

NNNN