Tag Archives: China

     Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the seminar “Iteration and Assurance: Cross-Border Arbitration Practice under the New PRC Arbitration Law and the Amendment to the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance” of the Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2026 today (October 23):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you today during the Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2026 for this seminar on the theme of “Iteration and Assurance: Cross-Border Arbitration Practice under the New PRC Arbitration Law and the Amendment to the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance”.

     As global trade and investment flourish, navigating commercial disputes becomes an inevitable feature of cross-border commerce. In this dynamic landscape, arbitration serves as a critical tool that offers a neutral, flexible and internationally enforceable mechanism to resolve cross-border disputes. To remain effective, however, our arbitration framework must stay responsive to the changing needs of international trade. Today’s seminar is therefore very timely, as we examine major arbitration legislative advancements taking shape on both sides of the border. 

New Arbitration Law of People’s Republic of China

     The landmark revision to the Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) came into effect in March this year. This represents the first comprehensive overhaul of the Chinese Mainland arbitral legal framework, aligning it more closely with international standards. Notably, the law introduces a dedicated chapter for foreign-related arbitration. Among its key innovations are provisions permitting ad hoc arbitration for foreign-related maritime disputes and commercial disputes between enterprises within the Pilot Free Trade Zones, the Hainan Free Trade Port, and other designated regions. It also establishes the legal basis for foreign arbitral institutions to set up offices and conduct foreign-related arbitration services in these zones. Furthermore, it explicitly encourages parties to foreign-related disputes to choose arbitral institutions of the PRC, and to choose the PRC as the arbitral seat, both of which include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Together, these dynamic reforms unlock unprecedented opportunities for Hong Kong’s arbitral institutions and practitioners to expand their operational reach in the Chinese Mainland and contribute their international arbitration expertise to foreign-related disputes. 

Hong Kong arbitration law reform

     In parallel, Hong Kong is proactively modernising our arbitration legal framework. The Department of Justice (DoJ) established the Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform last year with members drawn from the leading figures of the legal and dispute resolution sector, including Edward (Partner of Haiwen & Partners Hong Kong Office Mr Edward Liu) who will be moderating today’s panel discussion shortly. Based on the Working Group’s deep-dive examination of Hong Kong’s Arbitration Ordinance, the DoJ has formulated amendment proposals under four vital pillars: speed and convenience, confidentiality, scope, as well as fairness and justice. A one-month stakeholder consultation is now underway and will run until October 27. After considering the stakeholders’ feedback, the DoJ will take forward the legislative amendments and will strive to complete the exercise within next year. Through these statutory refinements, we hope to offer global users a modern, transparent and forward-looking legal environment for them to choose Hong Kong as their arbitral seat with sheer confidence.

Hong Kong’s strategic role as a premier dispute resolution hub

     Anchored in “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong’s robust framework and dispute resolution ecosystem serve as a solid foundation to support both national and international development. As emphasised in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan (First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030)) and the Policy Address 2026, the Government is committed to deepening Hong Kong’s development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. As a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, Hong Kong leverages its unique proximity to the Chinese Mainland alongside a trusted bilingual common law tradition. Reinforced by the deep expertise in both institutional and ad hoc arbitration, our multilingual legal and dispute resolution community offers global investors and Chinese Mainland enterprises an exceptionally professional, efficient and world-class arbitration environment. 

     As landmark arbitration legislative developments unfold in both the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, new horizons are opening for the arbitration community to maximise synergy in cross-border arbitration in the region. On this note, I wish you all an engaging and rewarding seminar. Thank you.

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     The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (October 23) hosted a press conference and unveiled details of Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 (HKFW x SMUHK), which will take place from November 2 to 6. The event is expected to welcome more than 45 000 participants from over 120 economies, alongside more than 1 000 speakers, 800 exhibitors and start-ups, as well as over 30 Chinese Mainland and international delegations.

     Marking the launch of both the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan), HKFW x SMUHK 2026 will highlight financial empowerment, tech innovation, and global expansion as key engines of sustainable business growth. HKFW x SMUHK is organised by the FSTB, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and InvestHK, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the Insurance Authority (IA).
 
A global innovation platform powered by Finance+
 
     As the Asia-Pacific region’s leading financial centre and the world’s top-ranked fintech hub in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, Hong Kong provides a strong foundation for advancing the “Finance+” vision. Backed by deep capital markets and global connectivity, the city is powered by a dual financial and technological engine: a robust financial ecosystem provides the capital needed to scale innovation, while technological advancement continues to transform financial services and unlock new sources of growth.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “In tandem with Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, which set out the blueprint for our city’s future development, this year’s Hong Kong FinTech Week carries the forward-looking theme ‘Fintech Nexus: Bridging the World, Building the Future’. Our position at the forefront of global fintech is not merely rhetorical, but a proven reality on the world stage. As one of the top international financial centres globally and a leading force in Asia, Hong Kong continues to make confident strides in expanding its fintech capability.” He added that the event will showcase how Hong Kong’s fintech capability is boosting the city’s development in gold and commodity markets, thus linking the international markets with Asia’s liquidity.
 
AI+ and a thriving start-up ecosystem empowering innovation
 
     As Hong Kong advances its “AI+” agenda for cross‑industry AI deep integration, it stands as a global launch pad for innovators to commercialise and scale technology. Supported by a thriving ecosystem of over 5 200 startups and ongoing development of the Northern Metropolis, Hong Kong opens new global growth pathways, while the world‑topping Shenzhen‑Hong Kong‑Guangzhou innovation cluster demonstrates how aligned research, talent, capital and industry drive innovation and business expansion.

     Complementing HKFW x SMUHK 2026, the Global Fast Track programme will once again serve as a launch pad for high-growth start-ups and scale-ups seeking to accelerate commercialisation and international expansion. This year’s programme has already attracted more than 700 applications from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, wider Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.

Going global driven by financial empowerment and tech innovation
 
     As businesses increasingly look beyond their home markets for growth, Hong Kong serves as a trusted launch pad for international expansion. Retaining first place in the Asian Cities Internationality Index 2026, the city combines global connectivity, international business networks and market access, enabling companies to forge global partnerships and expand internationally.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “As HKFW x SMUHK enters its second decade, Hong Kong begins a new chapter with its First Five-Year Plan, unveiled alongside the 2026 Policy Address. This year’s three engines – “Finance+”, “AI+” and global expansion – reflect the city’s strategic priorities: driving innovation and economic development, transforming industries, and enabling multi-market growth. Hong Kong connects these forces, and this year’s event will bring together global innovators, investors and enterprises to scale internationally and seize new opportunities through our city.”
 
      As Hong Kong cements its status as Asia’s premier hub for two-way investment, this year’s event will welcome over 30 delegations from the Chinese Mainland, including those from Beijing, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, alongside delegations from North America, Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council regions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Central Asia, and other emerging markets. Their vote of confidence reinforces Hong Kong’s standing as Asia’s premier platform for companies seeking global expansion.

Global visionaries set to take the stage
 
     The HKFW x SMUHK 2026 main conference will specifically take place on November 2 and 3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It will feature 10 dedicated forums, including the Policy and Visionary Forum, AI & DeepTech Forum, Digital Assets and Web3 Forum, AI in Finance Forum, China-Global Innovation Forum, InsurTech and HealthTech Forum, GreenTech Forum, Founder and Startup Venture Forum, Tech Builder Forum, and Creator Forum. Esteemed speakers at the main conference include:
 
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and regulators:

• The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee;
• The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan;
• The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui;
• The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau;
• The Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan;
• The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong;
• The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong;
• The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue;
• The Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung;
• The Chief Executive Officer of the IA, Mr Clement Cheung; and
• The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau.

 
Global policy leaders:

• The Former General Manager of Bank for International Settlements, Mr Agustín Carstens;
• The Chair of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, Mr Ashley Alder;
• The Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic; Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations; First Deputy Chairman of the Management Council of the Tamchy Special Financial and Investment Territory, Mr Ayaz Baetov;
• The Minister of State and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Mr Bilal Bin Saqib;
• The First Deputy Governor of the Banque de France, Mr Denis Beau; and
• The Ambassador of Monaco to China, Ms Marie-Pascale Boisson.

 
Industry leaders:

• The Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Alger Fung;
• The Founding and Managing Partner of BAI Capital, Ms Annabelle Long;
• The Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, Mr Bill Winters;
• The Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence Systems of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Cao Liangliang;
• The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Onafriq, Mr Daré Okoudjou;
• The Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Primavera Capital Group, Dr Fred Hu;
• The Group Chief Executive of HSBC, Mr Georges Elhedery;
• The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pony.ai, Mr James Peng;
• The Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton, Ms Jenny Johnson;
• The Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Lam;
• The Professor of Southern University of Science and Technology, Professor Ma Zhaoyuan;
• The Chief Operating Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Vanessa Lau; and
• The Vice Chairman and President of the Bank of China, Mr Zhang Hui.

 
     Extending beyond the conference, participants will also have opportunities to take part in networking, business matching and community events across Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). A key highlight of this year’s programme is the two-day GBA Immersive Executive Tour to Shenzhen, offering first-hand access to one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
      
     For more event information, please visit www.fintechweek.hk and follow via official social media accounts:

• LinkedIn: Hong Kong FinTech Week and StartmeupHK; and
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/HongKongFinTechWeek.

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     The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) 30th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony was held today (October 23). Under the theme “30 Years On: Empowering Language Capabilities for Tomorrow”, the ceremony looked back on SCOLAR’s journey and achievements in promoting biliteracy and trilingualism, and the development of language education, while also looking ahead to future directions.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, noted that five universities in Hong Kong have been ranked among the global top 100 in the latest global university rankings released by international higher education institutions, making Hong Kong one of the cities with the highest density of elite institutions worldwide. This achievement not only reflects the efforts of higher education institutions but is also inseparable from the solid foundation of language education. The Education Bureau (EDB) has been promoting biliteracy and trilingualism, with the aim of enabling students to write fluently in both Chinese and English, and to communicate confidently in Cantonese, English and Putonghua. The EDB also seeks to leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantage of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being connected to the world, in order to nurture high-calibre talent who possess both a deep cultural heritage and a broad international perspective for the benefit of the country and society.

     Dr Sze commended SCOLAR for its three decades of dedication to conducting research and promoting the development of language education in Hong Kong, as well as for providing valuable and professional advice. He also expressed gratitude to schools, teachers and partners from all sectors of the community for their steadfast support over the years in promoting biliteracy and trilingualism. The EDB would continue to work closely with SCOLAR and partners from various sectors to lay a solid foundation in language competency for the next generation, equipping them to actively integrate into and contribute to the nation’s overall development, broaden their international horizons and seize future opportunities.

     The Chairperson of SCOLAR, Dr Anissa Chan, extended sincere appreciation to former chairpersons, past and current members of SCOLAR, as well as partners from education and other sectors for their longstanding support. She said that, over the past three decades, SCOLAR had worked cohesively with various sectors to implement a wide range of initiatives, creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to learn and use language in response to the needs of society and the development of language education. Looking ahead, SCOLAR will build on the achievements of the past 30 years and continue to uphold the spirit of innovation, partnership and community engagement, collaborating with various sectors to write a new chapter in the development of language education.

     The celebration featured a rich programme. Through videos and presentations, SCOLAR showcased the achievements of the Scheme on Early Language and Literacy Development in Chinese and English Language of Young Children, the Research and Development Projects, and the International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching. Student representatives from the Student Language Ambassador (SLA) Programme reflected on their growth journey as SLAs and shared their learning experiences. Winners of competitions sponsored by SCOLAR and community partners delivered impressive performances, demonstrating through their outstanding language proficiency the achievements of SCOLAR’s efforts in promoting community participation and language use. During the chit-chat session, SCOLAR’s 30th Anniversary Ambassador, Hins Cheung, together with representatives who had participated in SCOLAR’s programmes, shared their experiences in learning and using language, showcasing the positive impact of SCOLAR’s initiatives.

     The ceremony was held at the Y Theatre of Youth Square, and was attended by nearly 600 community partners, teachers, parents, and students who had participated in SCOLAR’s programmes. For more information about the ceremony and SCOLAR’s latest initiatives, please visit the SCOLAR website (scolarhk.edb.hkedcity.net/en) or follow its social media pages. read more

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, began his visit to Beijing today (October 23). In the morning, he called on the China Securities Regulatory Commission and met with its Chairman, Mr Wu Qing. The two sides had a detailed exchange of views on strengthening collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong in securities market regulation and development, as well as further deepening mutual market access. The Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Julia Leung, also attended the meeting.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan called on the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and met with Assistant Minister of Commerce Mr Yuan Xiaoming, to exchange views on further deepening economic and trade co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, accompanied Mr Chan at the meeting.

     In the presence of Mr Chan and Mr Yuan, Mr Yau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on strengthening the economic and trade co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong with the Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the MOC, Mr Sun Yi, and an MOU on strengthening the exchanges and co-operation with free trade zones and ports with the Director-General of the Department of Pilot Free Trade Zone and Free Trade Port of the MOC, Ms He Yongqian, respectively, under the mechanism of the Mainland and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Co-operation Committee.

     Through the signing of the MOUs, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the MOC will further strengthen exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in key economic and trade areas, and deepen the alignment of the Mainland’s pilot free trade zones and free trade port with Hong Kong, fully leveraging their respective advantages, jointly serving the country’s high-level opening-up and bringing economic and trade co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong to new heights.

     Mr Chan thanked the MOC for its continuous strong support for the HKSAR Government’s efforts to promote Hong Kong’s economic and trade development. He said that the HKSAR Government will leverage the advantages of Hong Kong’s internationalised business environment, professional services system and global resources network to further give full play to Hong Kong’s dual roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, enhance its competitiveness and international influence, and consolidate its status as an international trade centre, while contributing to the country’s high-quality economic development.

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2026 Policy Address that, following the signing in 2024 of an amendment agreement to further open up the services market of the Mainland under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the two sides will sign an MOU to continue jointly pursuing the comprehensive upgrade of CEPA, with a view to deepening co-operation between the service sectors of Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as further expanding Mainland market access and areas of liberalisation.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan also visited an artificial intelligence company and met with its senior management

     Mr Chan will depart for Hong Kong tomorrow (October 24) morning.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 23) announced that one new melioidosis case was recorded in the past week (October 16 to 22). The CHP appealed to members of the public to maintain pe… read more