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The Legal System
Conference on the Hague Judgments Convention with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) in September.
The department organised the second Investment Law and Investor-State Mediator Training course with the World Bank Group's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and AAIL in Hong Kong in October.
During the year, the department continued to take an active role in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). A counsel from the department took up the chairmanship of the APEC Economic Committee from 1 September.
Grooming Talent
The department supports the grooming of local legal talent by offering internships and placements and by engaging less experienced lawyers to undertake court work. In addition, the department launched a new Pilot Professional Exchange Programme in mid-September to enable private-sector lawyers to experience working in the department.
The department has reached an understanding with the Hague Academy of International Law, a leading academic institution on international law, to organise regular courses in Hong Kong to provide high-quality training for legal professionals in Hong Kong and neighbouring regions from 2020.
The department is exploring fellowship, secondment and internship opportunities in renowned international legal bodies, such as HCCH, UNCITRAL and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law.
Legal Week 2019
The department inaugurated the first Hong Kong Legal Week in early November to draw together government officials, judges, legal and other professionals as well as academics and businessmen from overseas for a week of important legal events and international conferences in Hong Kong. The three key events of the week are the 3rd UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit, the inaugural Hong Kong Mediation Lecture and the 32nd LAWASIA Conference 2019.
Legal Hub
To consolidate Hong Kong's status as a leading centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, the government will provide space to law-related organisations in the West Wing of the former Central Government Offices (WWCGO) and the former French Mission Building. Together with the department's offices in the former CGO, the whole area will form a Legal Hub in the heart of Hong Kong. Renovation work of the WWCGO is largely complete. Selected organisations will gradually move in from 2020.
Vision 2030 for Rule of Law
The rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. The department will launch a 10-year initiative, Vision 2030 for Rule of Law, in 2020 to maintain and strengthen a fair and rule-based society, underpinned by the rule of law, towards sustainable development. The initiative will facilitate stakeholders' collaboration, encourage academic research and professional exchange,
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