Where does one start with this !
SCMP report
- Hong Kong’s status as sole common law jurisdiction in China makes it a good connector for mainland and places with similar legal systems, Beijing official says
- City’s strong rule of law should be highlighted in face of criticism from the West, official adds
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Senior Beijing officials in Hong Kong have urged the city to use its common law heritage to contribute to the country’s global trade Belt and Road Initiative and highlight its strong legal system in the face of criticism from the West.
Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office Chen Dong on Saturday said, apart from being one of the world’s freest and most competitive economies, Hong Kong was the only common law jurisdiction in China, and was recognised by the world, making it a good connector between locations with similar legal systems and the mainland.
Chen, along with other mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials, was speaking at “The One Country, Two Systems and ‘The Belt and Road’ Initiative International Law Conference”, organised by the Hong Kong Basic Law Association.
Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office Chen Dong. Photo: Yik Yeung-manThe belt and road strategy is Beijing’s trade initiative to connect more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa via a “New Silk Road” of railways, highways and ports.
Chen said more than 20 of the countries involved had common law systems, with Hong Kong well positioned to provide support for dispute resolution work. He also highlighted that the city had around 10,000 locally registered lawyers, 1,500 foreign lawyers and more than 2,000 mediators.
He added that the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre last year had handled more than 500 disputes involving about HK$54.6 billion (US$7 billion).
