Chief Executive John Lee (sixth left), joined by Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (fifth left), meets with Minister of Justice He Rong (sixth right) in Beijing on March 18, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said his trip to Beijing opens a new chapter for effective communication and cooperation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and central ministries and institutions, paving the way for better and stronger collaboration. 

Together with mainland counterparts, departments and bureaus will spare no effort in solving problems, he stressed, Lee said, as he concluded his seven-day visit to the nation’s capital on Saturday.

The support and attention given by the central ministries and institutions is a strong impetus for Hong Kong's development, he added.

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Lee said that it was his first time to attend the opening and closing meetings of the National People's Congress in the capacity of the chief executive of the special administrative region. 

Lee thanked the Ministry of Justice for its continuous support to the SAR government’s work, and for deepening exchanges and collaboration between legal professions in the mainland and Hong Kong

It was also his first visit to Beijing as the chief executive since the full resumption of normal travel between the mainland and Hong Kong, during which he called on 11 central ministries and institutions.

Noting that this is the first time he led eight directors of bureaus on an official visit, Lee said he believes the trip represented the SAR government’s respect and gratitude to the central ministries and institutions, his dedication towards enhancing communication and building mutual trust between the HKSAR government and the central ministries and institutions, as well as Hong Kong’s proactive approach to integrating into national development.

Before departing the capital for Hong Kong, Lee met Minister of Justice He Rong.

The CE thanked the Ministry of Justice for its continuous support to the SAR government’s work, and for deepening exchanges and collaboration between legal professions in the mainland and Hong Kong. 

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He made it clear that the HKSAR government will continue to leverage the institutional advantages brought by the city’s common law system and global connections to consolidate its position as an international center for legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, as set out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (left) meets with Minister of Justice He Rong (right), in Beijing, China, on March 18, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The HKSAR government will also fully support and cooperate with the International Organisation for Mediation Preparatory Office set up in Hong Kong last month, in order to support the country in developing international mediation and nurturing talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs, with a view to integrating into the overall national development, added Lee.

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Separately, the Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to all central ministries and institutions for their warm hospitality, and to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council for its strong support and co-ordination of his visit to Beijing.