Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot today (March 30):

Ms Barrington (Director of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Louise Barrington), Ms Tung (Deputy Director of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Sherlin Tung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. On behalf of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong (DoJ), it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the 22nd Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Moot). For those coming from other jurisdictions, a very big and warm welcome to Hong Kong. I would like to start by thanking the Vis East Moot Foundation for holding the Moot in Hong Kong again this year. 

     I am very delighted to learn that over 1 500 students and coaches from 154 university teams around the world will participate this year. I also wish to extend another very warm welcome to over 400 arbitrators for joining us. This Moot is more than just a competition. It is a platform for gaining knowledge in international arbitration and trade law, while honing the legal and advocacy skills of our young legal talents. 

     I understand that the Moot will focus on the use of international commercial arbitration to resolve international commercial disputes, and involves the harmonised legal texts of UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) including the CISG (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) and the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, both of which apply to Hong Kong. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s commitment to adopting established international commercial law and practices.

     Hong Kong is a leading international financial, commercial and trading centre well known for its strong rule of law, independent judiciary, and well-established legal framework. Under the important principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China. Our unique legal system is bilingual in both Chinese and English, which enable people and friends from around the world to navigate with ease. And it provides very strong legal protection to cross-border business transactions and investments, which helps to establish Hong Kong as a deal-making, legal,and dispute resolution services hub.

     Hong Kong is and has always been one of the most preferred seats of arbitration in the world. Arbitral awards made in Hong Kong are generally recognised and enforced by the local courts, the Mainland courts and in over 170 Contracting Parties to the New York Convention. In addition, Hong Kong is the first and only common law jurisdiction outside the Mainland where, as a seat of arbitration, parties to arbitral proceedings administered by designated arbitral institutions would be able to apply to the Mainland courts for preservation measures. An award creditor of a Hong Kong arbitral award may also make simultaneous enforcement applications to both the Mainland and Hong Kong courts.

     To further facilitate the conduct of arbitrations in Hong Kong, starting from March 1, 2025, the Hong Kong Government has regularised the Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings, now known as the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong. This initiative enables eligible visitors to participate in arbitration in Hong Kong without requiring any employment visa. Hong Kong launched the Scheme back in 2020 on a short-term basis. The arbitration community has been supportive of the Scheme since its launch, finding it conducive to maintaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. The streamlined process under the Scheme covers arbitrators, experts and factual witnesses, parties to the arbitration, parties’ representatives, and other persons directly related to or involved in the arbitration such as tribunal secretaries, tribunal-appointed experts. The DoJ will issue a Guidance Note on the Scheme to the relevant arbitral and dispute resolution institutions soon. I really look forward to seeing many of you coming to Hong Kong to participate in international arbitration in future.

     To conclude, I wish each and everyone of you a rewarding mooting experience and a very fruitful stay in Hong Kong. Please do seize this opportunity not only to showcase your advocacy skills but also to forge connections and explore the vast possibilities and opportunities Hong Kong offers, including our fascinating food and drinks and entertainment. Let us look forward to another successful year of the Moot! Thank you very much!

  

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     The Transport Department (TD) today (March 30) said that the passenger queue for taxi service at the Sung Wong Toi Road Taxi Pick-up/Drop-off Area is relatively long and it would take some time for boarding the taxis. Spectators are advised to use the MTR to leave the Kai Tak Sports Park.

     Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via on-site broadcast and the "Easy Leave" (QR code displayed on-site) as well as the latest traffic news through the "HKeMobility" mobile application, radio and television broadcasts.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     Spectators of the Hong Kong Sevens held at the Kai Tak Sports Park are gradually dispersing. The Transport Department (TD) today (March 30) said that the overall traffic conditions have mostly been smooth so far:

     MTR: Spectators are urged to take the MTR to leave the venue as far as possible. The service of the Tuen Ma Line has been further enhanced and spare trains will be deployed as needed. Services of the East Rail Line and the Kwun Tong Line will also be enhanced accordingly;

     Taxis: The Taxi Pick-up/Drop-off Area has maintained normal services. The waiting time will be longer amid the dispersal peak and your patience is appreciated. The TD has made all-out efforts with the taxi trade to mobilise more taxis for picking up passengers, including disseminating real-time information on passengers queuing to the trade directly. The Kai Tak Sports Park Limited has also mobilised taxis via instant messaging platform; and

     Special bus routes: A total of 10 special bus routes departing for Central via Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, Siu Sai Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Tseung Kwan O (Hang Hau), Tseung Kwan O (LOHAS Park), Tsing Yi, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai are ready and will operate subject to the passenger demand.

     Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via on-site broadcast and the "Easy Leave" (QR code displayed on-site) as well as the latest traffic news through the "HKeMobility" mobile application, radio and television broadcasts.

     â€‹In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary cold shelters in various districts today (March 30) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.
 
     Clean mattresses and blankets/quilts, hot meals and hot water will be provided to shelter users free of charge during the opening of the temporary shelters.
      
     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location.  The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
      
     Anyone seeking temporary refuge, or those with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters, may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.
      
     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
——————–
 
Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——————
 
Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall 
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
 
North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung:
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     All matches of the Hong Kong Sevens held at the Kai Tak Sports Park are scheduled to conclude after 7pm today (March 30). As more spectators are expected to disperse at the same time, the Transport Department (TD) urges those leaving the venue to take the MTR as far as possible. The TD has been steering public transport service arrangements and the overall traffic conditions have mostly been smooth so far:

     MTR: The service headway of the Tuen Ma Line will be further enhanced to about 3.5 minutes and spare trains will be deployed as needed to expedite the dispersal. The service level of the East Rail Line and the Kwun Tong Line will also be enhanced accordingly. Passengers can travel directly from Kai Tak Station or Sung Wong Toi Station to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station within 15 minutes, and it only takes some 24 minutes to Central Station via interchanging at Hung Hom Station and Admiralty Station;

     Taxis: In view of an outflux of spectators, the waiting time is anticipated to be longer and your patience is appreciated. The TD has made all-out efforts with the taxi trade to mobilise more taxis for picking up passengers, including disseminating real-time information on passengers queuing to the trade directly. The Kai Tak Sports Park Limited has also mobilised taxis via instant messaging platform; and

     Special bus routes: The route departing for Central (Causeway Bay and Wan Chai) will be advanced to commence service from 6pm while the remaining special bus routes will operate after the tournaments conclude, subject to the passenger demand and traffic conditions on-site.

     Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via on-site broadcast and the "Easy Leave" (QR code displayed on-site) as well as the latest traffic news through the "HKeMobility" mobile application, radio and television broadcasts.