The 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination (GBA Examination) was successfully held in Hong Kong and Zhuhai today (May 27).

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said, "Under the strong support of the Central Government and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the GBA Examination was successfully held three times. We hope that the GBA Examination can be converted from a pilot scheme to a regular examination such that in future, more Hong Kong legal practitioners will obtain practice qualification to provide legal services in the nine Mainland municipalities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) on specified civil and commercial matters to which the Mainland laws apply.

     "These lawyers with dual qualification will, in the course of their practice in the GBA, co-operate with their Mainland counterparts and share their respective experiences and collaborate in resolving cross-jurisdictional legal issues that arise in practice. This is conducive to accelerating the nurture of talent in international legal affairs in the GBA, deepening the alignment and harmonisation of rules and mechanisms in civil and commercial matters in the GBA, as well as facilitating the integration of Hong Kong legal practitioners into the national development."

     Examination venue was set up in Hong Kong for the first and second GBA Examinations in light of the pandemic. Examination venue was again set up in Hong Kong for the third GBA Examination, thereby facilitating the Hong Kong candidates. According to the memorandum of understanding signed by the MoJ and the Department of Justice (DoJ) in 2021, the DoJ co-ordinates with the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) in handling examination-related work in Hong Kong. The DoJ is thankful to the HKEAA for its tremendous efforts in ensuring that the GBA Examination can be successfully held in Hong Kong.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Senate President of the Philippines, Mr Juan Miguel Fernandez Zubiri, during the latter's visit to Hong Kong today (May 27), to exchange views on matters of common interest. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, also joined the meeting.

     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong and the Philippines have maintained close exchanges and co-operation in various fields such as trade, investment and finance, and that Hong Kong is an important trading and investment partner for the Philippines and other countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He encouraged more Philippine enterprises and talents to develop in Hong Kong and make better use of Hong Kong's professional services and internationalised business environment for expanding into Mainland markets, including that of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     Mr Lee also stated that Hong Kong is continuing to strive for early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and expressed his gratitude to the Philippines for its support in Hong Kong's bid for accession.

  

     A man who went missing in Kwai Chung has been located.

     Ng Ming-biu, aged 96, went missing after he was last seen at Tai Kok Tsui Market, Mong Kok on May 24 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located on Lei Yue Mun Road, Kwun Tong today (May 27). No suspicious circumstances were detected.

     A man who went missing in Kwai Chung has been located.

     Leung Wa-shing, aged 82, went missing after he left his residence on Tai Loong Street on May 25 morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located in Kwai Fong Estate this morning (May 27). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
 

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, will depart on Sunday (May 28) for a five-day visit to Beijing.

     Mr Lam will call on the Legislative Affairs Commission and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the National Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and meet with the senior officials of the ministries and authorities to strengthen exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on legal and dispute resolution services, so as to fully leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems", contributing to the promotion of the rule of law development of the country and the city.

     Accompanying Mr Lam on the visit will include relevant Law Officers and government counsel.

     Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on June 2. During Mr Lam's absence, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will be the Acting Secretary for Justice.