Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan speaks at the luncheon of a thematic event, "Hong Kong and Riyadh: Legal and Dispute Resolution Services for Businesses along the Belt and Road", organized by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, in Riyadh, March 5, 2024. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan highlighted Hong Kong's strengths as a common law jurisdiction to stress how the city could be an effective facilitator of business development in his speeches in Riyadh Tuesday. 

Cheung made the opening remarks and also spoke at the luncheon of the thematic event -"Hong Kong and Riyadh: Legal and Dispute Resolution Services for Businesses along the Belt and Road" organized by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre at Riyadh International Disputes Week.  

He stressed that Saudi Arabia was a very good friend and close partner of Hong Kong and cited recent collaborations.

Our home-grown arbitral institution, HKIAC is ranked the third most preferred and used arbitral institution worldwide. Our Arbitration Ordinance is regularly reviewed to ensure our legislative framework remains relevant.

Cheung Kwok-kwan, Hong Kong's Deputy Secretary for Justice

"Under the principle of 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong retains its own common law legal system, being the only common law jurisdiction in China, and giving Hong Kong the edge to connect with over 60 countries and territories globally that use the common law system whether in whole or in part," Cheung said.

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He said with the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation soon to be established in Hong Kong, it will further strengthen Hong Kong's role as a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. It will be the world's first intergovernmental international legal body dedicated to settling international disputes by mediation. 

With over 14,000 lawyers, including solicitors and barristers and 1,400 registered foreign lawyers in Hong Kong, he said, "Our home-grown arbitral institution, HKIAC is ranked the third most preferred and used arbitral institution worldwide. Our Arbitration Ordinance is regularly reviewed to ensure our legislative framework remains relevant." 

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Thanking the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) for the successful launch of the Riyadh International Disputes Week 2024, Cheung said he looked forward to further collaborations when the secretary for justice would lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia in May.