Secretary-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Wang Songmiao (fifth right), Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (fifth left), Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok (fourth left) and other guests pose for a group photo during the Legal Summit 2023 at the St. Regis Hong Kong in Wan Chai on July 18, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong’s robust legal system has offered solid safeguards for the city’s business development. In the nation’s wider opening up, the city must further leverage this unique advantage to maintain an open and free business environment and serve the nation’s growing needs for legal talents and services, guests told a legal summit forum on Tuesday.

The event is Hong Kong’s first series of forums which allow city-based State-owned enterprises to discuss legal issues. Launched in 2022, this is the third time that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council has staged the event, but the first time that it has been held offline.

During the forum, officials, legal pundits and business leaders exchanged ideas on vital legal and business topics, including Hong Kong's legal and business environment in the new era of international relations, the city’s new approach to international commercial dispute resolution, and its latest economic and trade status.

Addressing the forum, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that the rule of law is of great significance in protecting the rights of the people and enterprises and ensuring long-term prosperity and the stability of society.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers a speech during the Legal Summit 2023 at the St. Regis Hong Kong in Wan Chai on July 18, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Lee noted that under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong enjoyed a highly free and open business environment. The principle has provided adequate legal guarantee for promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation. In the nation’s high-quality opening up, such legal guarantee is of vital importance.

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Under the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is going full steam ahead to build an international legal and dispute resolution service center for the Asia-Pacific region.

It is also actively serving the country's huge demand for international legal talents, enhancing cooperation with mainland and international institutions, and promoting exchanges with domestic and overseas institutions on international legal issues.

In the face of international political and economic challenges, Hong Kong must firmly uphold national security and the rule of law, so as to provide a stable and safe business and investment environment for the SAR and the country, Lee stressed.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok delivers a speech during the Legal Summit 2023 at the St. Regis Hong Kong in Wan Chai on July 18, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said that Hong Kong is the nation’s only region that implements common law. With a well-established and up-to date legal framework, the city was also rated as the third most popular place for arbitration in the world.

Additionally, Hong Kong and the mainland have reached nine mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters to facilitate cross-border business activities.

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Lam pledged that the Department of Justice will continue promoting the advantages of Hong Kong as the Asia-Pacific international legal and dispute resolution center under the 14th Five-Year Plan" and facilitate Hong Kong’s legal practitioners to better serve mainland enterprises and the development of the country.