The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, leading a delegation comprising young lawyers and law students, began his visit to Huizhou today (September 7) to have a deeper understanding of the latest developments of the Mainland's legal system, and the role of Hong Kong's legal services in assisting enterprises to contribute to the high-quality national development.
      
     In the morning, Mr Cheung and his delegation visited Biel Crystal's Science and Technology Park. Through learning more about the company's business development in areas such as optical glass processing and touch-screen research and development, they have gained a better understanding of the important role of Hong Kong enterprises in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and how Hong Kong can fully leverage on its legal services, which is compatible with international standards and practices, to assist enterprises to respond more effectively to the legal risks arising from cross-boundary businesses.
      
     The delegation called on the Huizhou Municipal People's Government in the afternoon. They met with Vice Mayor of Huizhou Municipal People's Government Mr Yu Jialiang and representatives from the Justice Bureau of Huizhou, the Huizhou Lawyers' Association and others at the Public Legal Service Center of Huizhou to learn more about Huizhou's promotion of the development of the GBA and its latest developments. Both sides also exchanged views on various matters including Hong Kong's legal sector starting businesses in Huizhou, strengthening co-operation in matters relating to the reciprocal enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, mutual assistance in corporate insolvency or debt restructuring, commercial arbitration as well as the protection of intellectual property rights.
      
     They then visited the Public Legal Service Center of Huizhou to learn about the handling of notarial instruments, and the latest developments regarding intellectual property notarial protection for original works.
      
     In the evening, Mr Cheung and his delegation met with Standing Committee Member and Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Huizhou Municipal Committee, Mr Lai Jianhua, for dinner. Mr Cheung expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all sectors of Huizhou for making detailed arrangements for the visit and their full support for young Hong Kong lawyers to integrate into the national development.
      
     Mr Cheung said that Huizhou has been pressing ahead with the development of the GBA and measures to enable Hong Kong and Macao residents to reside, work and start up their businesses in Huizhou since last year, including taking forward the harmonisation of legal service mechanisms in the GBA and providing support to facilitate cross-boundary practices for Hong Kong legal professionals. As at the end of last year, a large number of Hong Kong enterprises have been set up in Huizhou, and the realised direct investment from Hong Kong amounted to billions of dollars. He expected that enterprises in Huizhou and other GBA cities will proactively expand their businesses overseas, capitalising on the overall trend of national development. By providing a wide range of high-quality legal services to the enterprises, young Hong Kong laywers will have more opportunities to contribute to the rule of law development in the GBA with their professional capabilities.
      
     Mr Cheung and the delegation will continue their visit to Huizhou tomorrow (September 8).

Ends/Thursday, September 7, 2023
Issued at HKT 22:23

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